Wednesday, March 30, 2005

A Good Saturday after a not so Good Friday


Harvest decor seeking a new home on the eve of Easter. Posted by Hello

A symbol of the not so old south glances at an older symbol. Posted by Hello
This is the first Saturday in spring and I am looking for the usual signs such as Azaleas in bloom, Wolf not wearing a shirt in Little 5 Points and a banner headline above the 805 garage sales ads in the AJC announcing Spring Value guide. Well the weather is spring like but none of those things have happened yet (I’m glad Wolf still has his shirt on). Today is the Saturday before Easter, which makes it Good Saturday or Easter eve depending on your religious convictions. Catholics use the term Good Saturday while rabbit worshipping and chocolate devouring consumers use Easter Eve. In regards to faith, religion and yard sales there was a noticeable lack of sale events on Good Friday. There were a few in the suburbs (where perhaps the folk are less observant) but none that I cared to drive the distance to experience. Thus there are no Friday sales reports. But there were plenty on the traditionally not as somber Good Saturday.

Saturday March 25, 2005


Price list at Hudson Dr. Posted by Hello
Park Place – Oakhurst “Big Fat Oakhurst Yard Sale”

Someone must have taken the feeding tube off this sale since it was not so fat when I got there a little after nine AM. But one of the things I continually heard today was sellers remarking how rabid and vicious the early bird scavengers were. In the yard of this Tudor home opposite the East Lake Marta station was a moderate size pile of clutter. Facing the sidewalk was a large painting of a Magnolia. Among the things found here were a full aquarium setup, a Technics turntable, a scarf from Costa Rica, and a bag of napkin rings. A box of Lps included a lot of old disco including a recording by Sylvester. Books included a autographed copy of Carl Hiiamsne’s “Sick Puppy”, “Your Household Guide - 1951” tips include “to whiten laces wash in sour milk”, “Basic Real Estate Appraisal”. “The Man who Planted Trees” a very old paperback of Erskine Caldwell stories and a copy of the most common book found at all yard sales “What color is your parachute”. Henceforth that tome shall be identified simply as “WCIYP”
I bought nothing

Sterling Ave. - Candler Park “Yard Sale”


It’s nice to have sales close to home again. This one was a small affair with the seller divesting a number of things she had when she had a booth at Kudzu flea market. There was a mixture of antiques and household discards. Among the selections were a metal box with a delft cow and two old computer mice, a bag of wooden bananas and a cardboard box full of dirt encrusted glass insulators. A selection of books featured, ”The rise to Globalism”, “In the days of McKinley” and “I love you America”
I bought nothing

Stillwood Dr. – Virginia Highlands “Garage Sale”

This sale was in the garage of a condo development that resembled in a Tudor Village. The parking was very tight as it should be in a mock Tudor village. This sale had also been pillaged by early birds thus there was not a lot left when I arrived. Everything here was arranged in a tidy manner. Across the back of the garage was a clothesline of women’s clothes with the t-shirts on hangers. Several T-shirts carried the name Alston & Bird. On the wall were some large purple Xmas stockings. On the ground several tennis rackets, a box of doorknobs and a full PC setup selling for $200. In the center was a table with a bag labeled craft rocks, a basket of candles in the shape of apples and another basket with Indian corn and Thanksgivingesque folk craft dolls made of straw. It is ironic that in the weekend before Thanksgiving I found Easter décor and on the Day before Easter I find Thanksgiving décor. Perhaps yard sales are antipodes for these holidays. A few dozen books were for sale including “Confessions of a shopaholic” and “How to lose friends and alienate people.”
I bought nothing.

North Rock Springs Dr. – Morningside “Moving Sale”

Up a steep driveway a sign on this relatively new home proclaimed “Casa de Pinto and Freemen” another sign indicated buyers to go to the rear of the casa. A selection of stuff was spread around the back patio. Inside two rooms were open for shoppers.
The majority of outside stuff was framed artwork and posters, including a large photo of the intersection of Haigh and Asbury streets. Other framed art included some prints of English fox hunt scenes. The most cryptic item outside was what appeared to be a pair of wooden stilts with images of woodpeckers on the footholds.
Inside the home was on the too clean and upscale side. In the dinning room arrayed upon the table were a selection of cheese trays and a few pieces of fine china. On the wall I noted a print of the death of Orpheus. Below it was a massive five-foot long plush dragon flanked by a variety of kitchen appliances such as crock-pots, mixers and ice cream makers. Next to the crock-pot was an unopened box of surgical gloves. Another glove nearby was a first base man’s mitt with a baseball in its grip.
In the other room was a less elegant selection of stuff. On the floor was a framed sampler with the words “wear it out, use it up do without’ embroidered upon it. Nearby was a pile pf Latin American fabric works, including a Panamanian Mola. One of the larger items in the room was a ride able toy Volkswagen with a printout of its ebay value stuck on the windshield. A box of Lps contained titles such as “Bach takes a trip” as well as a four record set of Italian language lessons. On the kitchen counter was a German lead cast for making a toy Prince August. There was also a small ashtray in the shape of North Carolina, and a carved coconut with the name “Topsy the Florida nut”. Topsy is casting his eyes towards a plate with the confederate flag emblazoned on it.
When I was leaving a teacher from a preschool was negotiating the purchase of the dragon.
I bought nothing, but considered buying the mola.


Hudson Dr. - Virginia Highlands “Yard Sale”

There was not a lot left when I got here. But a large sign detailing the items for sale and their prices(sometimes discounted) was there serving as a reminder or what latecomers missed The seller like others today complained about the vicious early birds. The few items remaining included a flatbed scanner, some golf clubs and a box of blank legal forms including last will and testaments.
I bought nothing

Rosedale Rd. - Virginia Highlands “Yard Sale”

This sale was also well picked over. Among the remaining stuff was a 10-speed bike; a pile of children’s books a big toy tractor, a plastic toy guitar and a toy vacuum cleaner.
I bought nothing.

Cumberland Rd. - Virginia Highlands “Yard Sale”

Yet another depleted site. Here a couple sat in lawn chairs looking over a few dozen things. The remaining stuff includes framed movies posters from Airplane, Grease and Superman, a monitor for $10, an ice cream maker, a ceramic figure of a boxer (a dog not a pugilist) sitting on a torn tennis net, a treelike object with test tubes or bud vases blooming from it and a copy of WCIYP.
I buy nothing.

Greenwood Ave. - Virginia Highlands “Yard Sale”

With each sale the quantity seems to lessen. Here I find a large brass bed, a few golf awards, a large stuffed Santa and a cassette entitled “This is bass”.
I buy nothing

Somerset Ave. - Poncy Highlands “Yard Sale”

Here a woman is selling an assortment of clutter and Girl Scout Cookies. Among the items is a blue wig, which the seller told me, belonged to a clown who used to live with her. Also in the yard is an assortment of unclownlike women’s clothes, a few hardware items and a pair of speakers. I buy a framed print of a chicken. This is the last frame I will need for my Roadside Memorial series. But shortly after I arrive home Cindy sells one of her new prints and uses my newly purchased frame on her work. This gives me yet another reason to go to more yard sales next week.

Book found in Candler Park Posted by Hello

Este casa tiene mucho trastos.  Posted by Hello

Oversized dragon coming to a preschool soon. Posted by Hello

woodpeckers astride stilts Posted by Hello

Basket of apple candles. Posted by Hello

Sunday, March 20, 2005

Finding feet and strange faces


Faces found on Briarcliff. Posted by Hello
For some unknown reason spring weather is not here yet. St. Patrick’s day has come and gone usually marking the first holiday held in pleasant weather. Six weeks ago our local groundhog General Lee forecast an early spring. It did not come. Perhaps the rodent general should have his eyes put out, so he will never see his shadow and then we will always have early springs. Regardless people are hoping for the best and there were a lot more sales than the disappointing past weekend. But the most unusual thing this weekend is that I actually found myself buying stuff.

Saturday March 19, 2005


The X plate Posted by Hello
McLendon Ave. - Lake Claire “Yard Sale”

Perhaps the early season sellers are always parents who buy their children too much stuff or have children who get bored easily with the stuff they are given. Large plastic toys dominated this sale located close to my home. In the center of the driveway was a massive plastic playhouse. The father and son were washing it down when I arrived. Judging by the size of this structure and current property values they should not be selling it but renting it out as loft space. Next too the poly home was a poly car and a large poly tractor. Adult items at this locale included a VCR for $5, 2 small wooden sailboat models, an retro styled telephone that now just looked old, some chafing dishing still in their original box, the Addams Family game and a wok.
I bought nothing.


Ripley Dr. Virginia Highlands “Yard Sale”

This is in a very small yard on a very narrow street. The early morning yard sale vultures are having a difficult time parking their SUVs on the limited blacktop. Crammed into the yard space are rolls of fabric, a futuristic looking crystal chandelier and a wooden box with the words bridal registry on it. Dominating the sale is a table stacked with some big paper mache reindeer and other Xmas décor. Mixed with the Xmas stuff are some 4th of July decorations. On another table is a plastic tree covered in plastic lemons and a set of China with large letters on each plate. The seller tells me they can be used to spell out messages in the place settings.
I buy nothing.

Highland Terrace - Virginia Highlands “Yard Sale”

This was a rather small affair. When I arrived the sellers were complaining how those annoying early birds were knocking at their door at seven AM and then took most of the goods by eight. What’s left is mundane some shelving units, a pine desk, a few dinning room chairs, a window air conditioner and the book “ Jump up and kiss me- a guide to spicy vegetarian cooking”
I buy nothing.

Wessington Dr. - Virginia Highlands “Yard sale”

This is also a minor event. Some of items around the driveway include several clock radios, two pair of golf shoes, an Xmas welcome mat and a copy of Mario Cuomo’s “Reason to Believe”
I buy nothing.

Ray St. - Morningside “Packrat Sale”

When people advertise that they are packrats I believe that the sale is a cathartic rite of passage into some new point in their lives. Something has had to happen to make a massive accumulator give up all or some of the massive amounts of clutter they have been bringing into their domiciles. In a small one storied home were a lot of books and a lot of people. Only two rooms of the home were open so this made it even more crowded. Some of the book titles that caught my eye included “Edith Head a biography”, “Girls with Hammers” “Cooking in a southern manor”, “Weeds of Southern Turf grass” and the intriguingly titled “I am the most interesting book of all”.
There was a number of artworks for sale including two bird sculptures made of gourds, a snake make of a long skinny curved gourd, a metal casted abstract horse and a ceramic eerie figure of a woman without arms. On the walls were a number of prints including a print of an Iguana eating mangoes and a Hiroshige woodcut. That reminded me that I had two Hiroshige woodcuts hidden away. Until I saw this one and its appraisal never realized that they might be prints of the original Japanese woodblock. The seller was also parting with a number of small Japanese décor items including some masks and the figure of a seated rat wearing a kimono. On a sofa was a large doll collection. It included two 90210 figures still in the box (Dylan and Brenda) and a box with a pile naked dolls looking like evidence of genocide in Barbie land.
I bought two books “Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads” a work on taxidermy and natural history museums and “Thou improper and thou uncommon noun” a book on the etymology of words that were once names.

Briarcliff Rd - Virginia Highlands “Multi family sale”

After picking up a few things at the Kroger I pulled into this nondescript apartment complex that is now condos. There at least a dozen different condo dwellers were divesting themselves of clutter. Among the wide variety of stuff I encountered was a plastic relief map of the United States, a bread machine, an ice cream maker, a 3D Arc de Triomphe puzzle, a snow board, a large framed Rod Stewart lp cover, a Grateful dead bota (labeled as a flask), a teapot shaped like a cat and a large doll house. It is here that I discovered two feet; one was simply a foot that looked like it came from an amputated manikin the other was a gag-severed leg that one could hang out of a car trunk. Some décor items included a painting of a Zebra, a portrait of a irritated looking woman, a plate with LA city hall on it, a wild Turkey decanter with a wild turkey fighting with a falcon (the falcon has the high ground and though smaller looks like he might win the struggle) and a small bust of Bach painted with green hair and red lipstick. Next to a big U Haul truck were multiple boxes of books. Some titles include Heidegger’s “Discourse on thinking” McLuhan’s “The Medium is the massage”, “No more bad hair days”, “Cats, cats, cats”. One of the more interesting items found was a set of paddles and shuttlecocks. On the paddles were cute pictures of Pandas. The idea of the game was to hit the Panda with a shuttlecock. The seller told me someone had brought it to her from China. The idea of throwing shuttlecocks or anything at such a loved and endangered species startled me. If someone in China actually threw a shuttlecock at a real Panda I’m sure they would be arrested and sentenced to death by being pummeled with shuttlecocks. . Their families would then be charged for the price of the shuttlecocks.
I did not buy the hit a Panda game but bought two books, “Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable and a copy of a limited edition work “ Vern C. Gorst Pioneer and Grandad of United airlines” The books were a dollar each. The second item I may try and sell on ebay. I will report my progress on that at a later time.

Westminster Morningside “Yard Sale

Once again more kids stuff. In the yard of this home near Emory was evidence of a babycentric world as a double stroller (not for sale) sat in the driveway. Children’s stuff included clothing toys, Cds of lullabies and a large rocking horse. Which was more than likely deemed unsafe for a small child. A box at the entrance marked free held a pile of torn wicker baskets.
I bought nothing.

Clifton Rd. “Lake Claire” “Apartment Sale”

This is the first time I’ve been in this apartment building at the corner of Clifton and McLendon that I have walked past thousands of times. Inside it is almost bare. In a corner are two swords, which is strange because I once remarked I never saw swords at sales. There is also a fur rug, a nose bra for a Mercedes, Xmas tree ornaments shaped like fruit and throw pillows with images of playing cards on them.
I buy nothing.

Pile of Barbies. Posted by Hello

One Foot Posted by Hello

Another foot Posted by Hello

Cat teapot and ceramic shoe. Posted by Hello

A true deadhead knows a bota from a flask

A game of throwing things at an endangered species.

Friday, March 18, 2005

I have now come to have high expectations for Friday sales. But this Friday was a no great event, even with these two sales relatively close to one another.

Breckenridge Ct. Northcrest “Estate Sale”

This seemed to be more of a moving sale than an estate sale. It was not inside the home but on the driveway and in the garage. This was also not a very interesting sale for a Friday. Arranged on and around tables was a mundane collection of household items. The only remarkable find was a coat rack made out of bullhorns. Not a standing coat rack but one that was to be wall mounted with the horns perturbing outward where one could be impaled if they fell against it. Some of the things scattered about were stacks of well-folded sheets, some Fourth of July decorations, several handball rackets, a Spiderman costume and a mirror with an ornate frame. Books included a French dictionary and “The lawn chair astronomer.
I bought nothing.


Frazier Rd. Rehoboth “Yard Sale”

This sale was the more interesting of the two and had a lot more stuff. A wide driveway next to a one-story ranch was covered in a vast variety of clutter. Scattered about I found several old doors, a old low tech looking fish finder the size of a microwave oven, a pair of shiny silver hardhats, a selection of five gasoline cans, a jump rope, and an exercise bike. There were a few books including “Men who can’t love” and “the Satan sellers”. The latter was a text that reveled the inner working of a satanic cult. Two interesting décor items were an undersized wagon wheel light fixture. If the wheel were really used on a wagon the wagon would have been the size of a go-cart. But when I was leaving I noticed they had a matching light fixture made with a diminutive oxbow. The ox for this would have been no bigger than a cocker spaniel.I bought two framed bird prints. I needed the frames for my roadside memorials series, which is now almost fully

Sunday, March 13, 2005

A Disappointing Saturday 3/12/05

After the wonderful sale on Friday, this weekend was one disappointing sale after another. The weather was great. But perhaps the citizens were brow beaten by one cold weekend after another had given up for the month. I hope next week is better.

Rogers St. Kirkwood “Moving Sale”

Following some well-placed arrows that led from McLendon under the tracks and into Kirkwood I arrived at this home hoping for the best. Inside the house were two rooms with a meager selection of stuff on display. Among the selection was a machete, an old meat grinder, a set of fireplace logs, an assortment of tools, some Olympic pins and an unopened package of cough drops.
I bought nothing.

Irwin St.- “Inman Park”- Estate Sale

This was not in Inman Park and not an estate sale. It was a few things in the garage of an infill town house in the Old 4th Ward. To make matters worse this was the same stuff the seller had put out in December. (See December Archives). The bag of plastic lemons and the gift pack of bungee cords seen before must have sold.
I bought nothing.

Piedmont Ave – Midtown “Yard Sale
This was a barely a sale. A young woman set outside her apartment building with a few books, two pair of fuzzy dice and a small set of speakers.
I bought nothing.

Clermont Ave – Virginia Highlands “Estate Sale”

The paper said estate sale, the sign said moving sale but it looked like the home was trying to be on the tour of homes. There were three rooms open, all had very clean and polished expensive furniture. Copies of Country Life and Traditional Home were neatly stacked in wicker baskets on the floor.
I bought nothing and wasted little time here.

Kentucky Ave – Virginia Highlands “ Yard Sale”

This was a real yard sale but there once again wasn’t much here. A copy of Windows for Dummies, some jigsaw puzzles, a propane tank, a bike helmet and some plush toys.
I bought nothing.

Friday 03/11/05


Santa with dogs. Posted by Hello

A rat rug. Posted by Hello

Music for lovers. Posted by Hello
Scott Blvd. Decatur “Estate Sale”

This was perhaps one of the most delightful sales I have had chance to visit this year. Not because I found a bounty of items to buy but the disorder, randomness and sensual surprises of this symphony of clutter and chaos made it a masterpiece. To add to all this today was the day the city was on alert after a defendant had shot and killed three people including a judge in the Fulton county courthouse. The hubbub all over Atlanta was not just over the killing but that the felon was at large. He could be at this sale, buying a change of clothes for his getaway. The drama was made more exiting when I came upon a strange series of synchronistic events at the sale relating to the crime.
The site of the sale was in a house at the end of a very long driveway coming off a street near Scott Blvd. I knew immediately that I was in store for something special when I spotted two old customized Chevy vans for sale in front of the home. The house is a one-story ranch with a full basement. But most of the contents are scattered around the extensive grounds. Inside the house I am met by an Octogenarian lady who is seated in front of a large television blaring the latest on the manhunt in progress. Perhaps she is hard of hearing for the television audio is heard in every room of the home. The first synchronistic event: In the living room is a court reporters typewriter. One of the persons murdered today was the court reporter. I have never seen one of these devices at a sale before. I have never seen one outside of a courtroom before. In a room off the living room are piles of records of all types, 78’s, Edison disks, LPS, 45’s. One of the first 45’s I examine is Frankie Laine’s “Wanted Man”. That is synchronistic event number two.
Event number three, in a bedroom I ruffle through a pile of clothes. There is a T-shirt that proclaims “ I Escaped”. These events together put this sale on a higher plain.
Aside from the eerie events I the sale is a amazing delight. On a table in the living room are a quartet of Taco Bell Chihuahua’s (these have been showing up a lot lately) below the table is a very large box of unwanted beanie babies. I head to one of the bedrooms I find two soap dispensers one has ghosts floating inside the other penguins. On a dresser is a box of cleaning products including an insect fogger kit. Next to this is an Avon bottle in the shape of a stick shift. In the pile of clothing where I came across the I escaped shirt, I find a tie with images of Tabasco sauce bottles and a Michelangelo t-shirt and a Hard Rock Café shirt from Honolulu. In the other bedroom is a bounty of records. I was once a collector and would stop and go through every disc. I no longer have the time for this but peruse a few. A 78 by the Mills brothers is entitled “WPA” and Lp is entitled “Serenade for Lovers” there is also a box set of the entire soundtrack to a stage production of “Marat/Sade”, which I would buy if I had a turntable. It was one of my favorite records during my college days. When my friends were listening to Grand Funk Railroad I was singing along to lyrics such as “ Four years after the revolution and the old kings execution, four years after remember how those courtiers took their final bow. Down with all of the ruling class, throw all the generals out on their…” Some things you learn in college you never forget. Also in the same room was a framed photo of Santa Claus holding two terriers and a plaque from the Japanese Bicycle Promotion Institute. There was a large selection of books here as well including “Blood Ship” from 1922, and “ Diary of a fat housewife”
In another bedroom I find yet another rat item. This time a throw rug with a rat on it. Near it are two embroidered pictures of Mt Fuji. On a table is a dancing Christmas cactus. It did not have batteries so I could not see it dance and sing. On top of a large Kimball organ is a selection of sheet music. One is of “I got Spurs that Jingle Jangle Jingle” this tune came from the film “Forest Rangers” There is also a time clock sitting on the floor.
I make my way through the kitchen to discover a few food items for sale, a jar of olive oil, a container of pasta sauce, some Crisco and a can of macadamia nuts.
When I get out to the deck I see the extensive beauty of this sale. A steady wind is blowing a half dozen wind chimes hanging about the property creating a song to accompany the vista of chaos. From the deck, down to the driveway and out to a large tool shed is an astounding assortment of clutter and debris. In the center of it all is a medium size decrepit wooden cabin cruiser. Flanking the boat are a brigade of bicycles mowers and wheel chairs left there like the playthings of some attention deficient giant. Before descending into the visual cacophony of the driveway. I looked about the deck. Among a selection of glassware, household utensils I find a framed photograph of welding supply salesmen, next to some plastic fruit
Examining the chaos at ground level is a wonderful experience. Everywhere I look is visual paradoxes. A copy of the LP “Sophia Loren in Roma” lays propped up next to a massive doghouse. A box of mosquito coils sits on top of a microfilm reader, a mug with a relief pistol on it rests on a rowing machine. Beyond the boat is the large cinder block tool shed. A tarp hanging in front of the shed flaps wildly in the wind slapping a beat to the music of the wind chimes. The inside of the shed is a berserk scene. Where a man or woman once attempted to provide refuge and relief for broken electronics and appliances now is now a sea of confusion. Every horizontal surface seems to contain a salad of dissected CB radios, socket wrenches and unknown assorted byproducts of mechanics and technology. On top on one such jumble is a book “How to clean almost anything” In another part of the shed is a pile of unopened bottles of Fanta Orange soda of some old but unknown vintage. On the floor rusting wet vacs and out board motors mingle together in the midst of the confusion.
The last territory of this wonderland I explore is the basement. In the expanses of this full basement I find hand cranked Victorlas, rusting Kelvinators and even more books and records. Lying on a table next to several boxes of Model railroading landscaping materials is a moldy copy of “The Riddle of Lester Maddox” beneath it is a guide to the homes of the stars, it has maps of where to stalk the homes of Steve McQueen and Doris Day. In a basement nook are cases of slides. Examining a few I see a dinner party by the sea, one is labeled Expo 67 and another Halloween ’66.
I do not have the time to go through them all.
I buy a Piedmont Airlines bag for $2.00. When I was leaving I noticed sign for a new development that is planned for this home site. This is such a loss. This is not an estate sale this is a folk art environment.

A vista of clutter and confusion. Posted by Hello

Vacuums among debris. Posted by Hello

This site should be preserved. Posted by Hello

Splendid disorder. Posted by Hello

A fantasy of Fanta. Posted by Hello
Clarenton Ave. - Avondale Estates “Estate Sale”

After meeting Cindy for lunch at the Our Way Café, we stopped at this nearby sale in a Tudor style one-story home. This was or is the home of a tile artist and the entire back deck of the home was filled with the artist’s work. Inside the home only three rooms were open. A crowded living room and dining room was filled with women’s clothing, bolts of fabric Xmas décor and other clutter. The garage is packed with dark furniture, tools and sporting equipment. Cindy who always buys more than I do, regardless of being the one who chastises me for attempting to fill our home with clutter from my yard sale habit, emerges from the garage carrying a two foot long terrifying looking plastic rat. She asks me “don’t we need this?” I refrained from answering.
In the dining room I found a souvenir voodoo doll from New Orleans and a framed print of a shoe. One recurring theme at this sale was items related to Newfoundland. In the garage I spotted an LP by a Newfoundlander and some tour books of the province. In the dining room I found a very simple commemorative plate from the same province. The plate simply has a small figure of a seal on it and the Province’s name. In the living room I found books on this distant frigid outpost.
I bought nothing, Cindy Bought two pairs of shoes and some Xmas ornaments.

Framed image of an old shoe. Posted by Hello

Work of Avondale tile artist. Posted by Hello