Thursday, April 28, 2005
Saturday April 23, 2005
I have no reports from the yard sale front today for I was helping Cindy with her booth at the Inman Park Festival.
Does wealth matter? What the clutter of a Druid Hills mansion reveals.
A piano bench laden with sharp objects greets buyers when they enter.
April 21, 2005
Springdale Rd. - Druid Hills “Estate Sale”
While I often note to my peers in a sarcastic throwback to old class references that I live north of the tracks. Behaving as though Lake Clairians live in some sort of higher level of luxury and social esteem not found in Edgewood or points south of that buffer of iron rail. But social critics may point that while I may be above that line of demarcation I am still below Ponce de Leon and not in the collection of homes known as Druid Hills. That noted neighborhood, which contains the former estates of soft drink magnates and driven Miss Daisies, does perceive to be the home of a higher society but it’s not what it used to be. One of the cola estates became the site of a mental hospital and another an arts center (there is a fine distinction between the two). With the rise of income and property taxes other handsome mansions were left to churches and charities. When in-town housing bottomed out in the early 70’s tile roofed Italianate manors were taken over by the Hare Krishna and dazed collections of hippies. Of the later my favorite was the New Clear Family, whose tied dyed laundry could be seen hanging from the windows on a Mediterranean manor on Ponce de Leon.
But with the passing years some of the glory has returned and so has wealth in the form of MD’s and bourgeois businessmen who once again may consider that commoners such as I reside south of Ponce De Leon.
The closeness of Druid Hills makes it a favorite stop on my visitation of sites of clutter divestment. Stopping by after work I was pleased to discover that this sale extended throughout the entire two floors of this large colonial revival mansion. Upon entering the large salon I encountered a grand piano with a sign telling potential buyers that it’s a 1923 Steinway model M. I know nothing of pianos but more notable was that the piano bench was covered in deadly sharp objects. Laid out for trouble or sharpening were two machetes with tooled leather scabbards, a knife with a camo handle, a knife with a handle made of some type of antler, a sword of unknown origin, a steak knife as well as a few other objects coming to points. Also in the salon was a large table lamp with the silhouette of a gunfighter in rusting steel. Between the lamp and the sharp things was a metal covered copy of Madonna’s opus “Sex”. Off the salon was a large screened-in porch; there I found a large mounted sailfish resting on two rocking chairs as well as a strange carved head attached to a rope. I was not sure if this was art, folk art or just something scary.
Going back inside I decided to go into the basement in hope that there might be some unfound treasures below. Descending a narrow wooden staircase I found a number of things strewn about on the concrete floor including a 1998 fantasy calendar, a set of golf clubs, and an electronic device labeled a loop analyzer. A nearby box yielded a trove of naval awards, such as a wall plaque for 1000 miles in an EA6B Prowler, another award was for classroom discipline and there was a 1996 certificate of achievement from Radio Shack.
Further back in the reaches of the basement I found an old filing cabinet with a bevy of old unopened Cock N Bull brand ginger beer bottles on top. When I attempted to open the file cabinet I notice that the bottom drawer was locked. Removing the top drawer I was able to lay my hands on goods untouched by earlier buyers in the lower drawer. All I found was a cache of even more Naval aviation citations. I headed back upstairs passing a foyer where a computer and a collection of folk art were on display. Among the art was a sculpture of two Native Americans paddling a canoe, a carved snake with confederate battle flags on its back and a small painting of the grim reaper. Atop the computer was a trio of tiny plastic Izzies. In each passing year since 1996, images this dreadfully embarrassing Olympic mascot are becoming rarer and rarer. It was good to see this small family, each figure representing some Olympic event, one for relay, and another for weight lifting and a third for whatever event uses a large red ball.
Proceeding to the top level of this manor I found four bedrooms and two large closets. In one bedroom I discovered a ceramic anteater, a large selection of women’s clothes, an array of purses covering a four-poster bed and a pair of riding boots. In another bedroom I found ski clothes with a lift ticket attached from Red Lodge Mountain resort in Montana, a medal from a croquet club, a blood pressure monitor and a Norman Rockwell plate. In a small bedroom or a very large closet were large circular racks of women’s clothing and a table full of Christmas decorations. Among the holiday fare were two one foot high Santa figures one carried a 9 iron and was dressed as a duffer the other resembled a wizard and was wearing a raincoat. Behind this room was another large closet or dressing room that had a selection of camo outfits, a Swedish army uniform, and several wooden nutcrackers of the Xmas variety. I presumed this was the military room. There was also a leather biker’s jacket and a pullover adorned with a drawing on Santa visiting an outhouse.
In what appeared by its size to be the master bedroom I found scattered about a large hand bell, an old horseshoe, and a hat made of feathers.
When I returned downstairs I found a man on the floor of the salon with several dozen stainless steel surgical tools spread out in front of him, he was telling the sellers that there were none here he really needed but said he wanted the case they came in. They did not want to sell just the case.
In the library was a wall of books as well as a bust of Dante, a ceramic ram’s head and a horse braid. Browsing the books I came across “ The secrets of numbers”, “How to pick up a man”, “Clipped Wings” a novel that was previously published as “Barge of Dreams”, “Man and his mate”, “Electric fryer cooker recipes” a work from 1927 entitled “Diseases of children for nurses”, “The value of sincerity” one of the proverbs of sincerity listed in this work was ‘your word is as good as a bankers’. Other books included “Cacti and succulents for modern living” bound volumes of Clinics in Plastic Surgery, “Imitation of Christ” and “Flowers of Evil”. Those last two works were back to back on the shelf. On a sofa in the same room were some 78’s from June Valli and Ezio Pinza and a ceramic boot. For some strange reason every week I seem to encounter a ceramic boot.
In the dining room was a cabinet with some expensive Madame Alexander dolls on display and a table covered with china and odds and ends. One of the odder ends was a pair of prints showing humanoid dogs peeing against a fence. Perhaps this is what they do after the poker game. Other art in the room included a large print of a jaguar and a painting of Sacre Cour.
In the kitchen hanging over the stove was an original painting with an image of the Venus of Willendorf tied to the moon and surrounded by eyeballs and yellow squash. In a cabinet was a full set of tumblers with the words Moscow Mule, a set of barware celebrating the War Between the States, and a mug from an ENT specialist with a nose protruding from the vessel. Around the kitchen were the usual kitchen items and cookware and a small painting of a skull.
Behind the house was an old garage. At the entrance were two dusty gnomes looking drunk and holding large bottles of Guinness Stout. One lay knocked on his back as if he had swallowed several bottles. Also in the outbuilding were a massive scale, two shop vacs and several cases of the ever-present mason jars.
As I was leaving a customers was laying down a scrapbook that she decided she did not want to purchase. The book priced at $95 contained some postcards ticket stubs and other memorabilia. Among the ticket stubs was a 688 club ticket for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, another for Husker Du and an empty pack of 688 matches.
I bought nothing, but tried to remember if I was working at 688 on either of those nights.
While I often note to my peers in a sarcastic throwback to old class references that I live north of the tracks. Behaving as though Lake Clairians live in some sort of higher level of luxury and social esteem not found in Edgewood or points south of that buffer of iron rail. But social critics may point that while I may be above that line of demarcation I am still below Ponce de Leon and not in the collection of homes known as Druid Hills. That noted neighborhood, which contains the former estates of soft drink magnates and driven Miss Daisies, does perceive to be the home of a higher society but it’s not what it used to be. One of the cola estates became the site of a mental hospital and another an arts center (there is a fine distinction between the two). With the rise of income and property taxes other handsome mansions were left to churches and charities. When in-town housing bottomed out in the early 70’s tile roofed Italianate manors were taken over by the Hare Krishna and dazed collections of hippies. Of the later my favorite was the New Clear Family, whose tied dyed laundry could be seen hanging from the windows on a Mediterranean manor on Ponce de Leon.
But with the passing years some of the glory has returned and so has wealth in the form of MD’s and bourgeois businessmen who once again may consider that commoners such as I reside south of Ponce De Leon.
The closeness of Druid Hills makes it a favorite stop on my visitation of sites of clutter divestment. Stopping by after work I was pleased to discover that this sale extended throughout the entire two floors of this large colonial revival mansion. Upon entering the large salon I encountered a grand piano with a sign telling potential buyers that it’s a 1923 Steinway model M. I know nothing of pianos but more notable was that the piano bench was covered in deadly sharp objects. Laid out for trouble or sharpening were two machetes with tooled leather scabbards, a knife with a camo handle, a knife with a handle made of some type of antler, a sword of unknown origin, a steak knife as well as a few other objects coming to points. Also in the salon was a large table lamp with the silhouette of a gunfighter in rusting steel. Between the lamp and the sharp things was a metal covered copy of Madonna’s opus “Sex”. Off the salon was a large screened-in porch; there I found a large mounted sailfish resting on two rocking chairs as well as a strange carved head attached to a rope. I was not sure if this was art, folk art or just something scary.
Going back inside I decided to go into the basement in hope that there might be some unfound treasures below. Descending a narrow wooden staircase I found a number of things strewn about on the concrete floor including a 1998 fantasy calendar, a set of golf clubs, and an electronic device labeled a loop analyzer. A nearby box yielded a trove of naval awards, such as a wall plaque for 1000 miles in an EA6B Prowler, another award was for classroom discipline and there was a 1996 certificate of achievement from Radio Shack.
Further back in the reaches of the basement I found an old filing cabinet with a bevy of old unopened Cock N Bull brand ginger beer bottles on top. When I attempted to open the file cabinet I notice that the bottom drawer was locked. Removing the top drawer I was able to lay my hands on goods untouched by earlier buyers in the lower drawer. All I found was a cache of even more Naval aviation citations. I headed back upstairs passing a foyer where a computer and a collection of folk art were on display. Among the art was a sculpture of two Native Americans paddling a canoe, a carved snake with confederate battle flags on its back and a small painting of the grim reaper. Atop the computer was a trio of tiny plastic Izzies. In each passing year since 1996, images this dreadfully embarrassing Olympic mascot are becoming rarer and rarer. It was good to see this small family, each figure representing some Olympic event, one for relay, and another for weight lifting and a third for whatever event uses a large red ball.
Proceeding to the top level of this manor I found four bedrooms and two large closets. In one bedroom I discovered a ceramic anteater, a large selection of women’s clothes, an array of purses covering a four-poster bed and a pair of riding boots. In another bedroom I found ski clothes with a lift ticket attached from Red Lodge Mountain resort in Montana, a medal from a croquet club, a blood pressure monitor and a Norman Rockwell plate. In a small bedroom or a very large closet were large circular racks of women’s clothing and a table full of Christmas decorations. Among the holiday fare were two one foot high Santa figures one carried a 9 iron and was dressed as a duffer the other resembled a wizard and was wearing a raincoat. Behind this room was another large closet or dressing room that had a selection of camo outfits, a Swedish army uniform, and several wooden nutcrackers of the Xmas variety. I presumed this was the military room. There was also a leather biker’s jacket and a pullover adorned with a drawing on Santa visiting an outhouse.
In what appeared by its size to be the master bedroom I found scattered about a large hand bell, an old horseshoe, and a hat made of feathers.
When I returned downstairs I found a man on the floor of the salon with several dozen stainless steel surgical tools spread out in front of him, he was telling the sellers that there were none here he really needed but said he wanted the case they came in. They did not want to sell just the case.
In the library was a wall of books as well as a bust of Dante, a ceramic ram’s head and a horse braid. Browsing the books I came across “ The secrets of numbers”, “How to pick up a man”, “Clipped Wings” a novel that was previously published as “Barge of Dreams”, “Man and his mate”, “Electric fryer cooker recipes” a work from 1927 entitled “Diseases of children for nurses”, “The value of sincerity” one of the proverbs of sincerity listed in this work was ‘your word is as good as a bankers’. Other books included “Cacti and succulents for modern living” bound volumes of Clinics in Plastic Surgery, “Imitation of Christ” and “Flowers of Evil”. Those last two works were back to back on the shelf. On a sofa in the same room were some 78’s from June Valli and Ezio Pinza and a ceramic boot. For some strange reason every week I seem to encounter a ceramic boot.
In the dining room was a cabinet with some expensive Madame Alexander dolls on display and a table covered with china and odds and ends. One of the odder ends was a pair of prints showing humanoid dogs peeing against a fence. Perhaps this is what they do after the poker game. Other art in the room included a large print of a jaguar and a painting of Sacre Cour.
In the kitchen hanging over the stove was an original painting with an image of the Venus of Willendorf tied to the moon and surrounded by eyeballs and yellow squash. In a cabinet was a full set of tumblers with the words Moscow Mule, a set of barware celebrating the War Between the States, and a mug from an ENT specialist with a nose protruding from the vessel. Around the kitchen were the usual kitchen items and cookware and a small painting of a skull.
Behind the house was an old garage. At the entrance were two dusty gnomes looking drunk and holding large bottles of Guinness Stout. One lay knocked on his back as if he had swallowed several bottles. Also in the outbuilding were a massive scale, two shop vacs and several cases of the ever-present mason jars.
As I was leaving a customers was laying down a scrapbook that she decided she did not want to purchase. The book priced at $95 contained some postcards ticket stubs and other memorabilia. Among the ticket stubs was a 688 club ticket for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, another for Husker Du and an empty pack of 688 matches.
I bought nothing, but tried to remember if I was working at 688 on either of those nights.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Rocky Ford – Kirkwood “Awesome Yard Sale”
Using no gas I bicycle over to this lone Sunday sale. Here I find an extravaganza of dark delights. I am greeted in the driveway by a large framed print of Betty Page holding a whip, beyond that is a pile of plastic Halloween gadgets and a selection of wrought iron sconces and candlesticks. Further up the driveway I notice what appears to be a marionette of a Goth voodoo witch/dominatrix and a pair of plastic toy pistol holsters. No pistols are to be found. On the ground is a selection of tiki torches, a vinyl apron and several pairs of black platform heels. More normal stuff includes several VHS tapes of Bevis and Butthead, a pillowcase with the words “Dreaming of my prince”, some photo developing tanks, a red bowling ball and a disassembled ceiling fan.
I buy a framed print of an iridescent jungle scene. This is the last frame I need for my roadside memorial series. The series is set to show at Eyedrum next month.
Using no gas I bicycle over to this lone Sunday sale. Here I find an extravaganza of dark delights. I am greeted in the driveway by a large framed print of Betty Page holding a whip, beyond that is a pile of plastic Halloween gadgets and a selection of wrought iron sconces and candlesticks. Further up the driveway I notice what appears to be a marionette of a Goth voodoo witch/dominatrix and a pair of plastic toy pistol holsters. No pistols are to be found. On the ground is a selection of tiki torches, a vinyl apron and several pairs of black platform heels. More normal stuff includes several VHS tapes of Bevis and Butthead, a pillowcase with the words “Dreaming of my prince”, some photo developing tanks, a red bowling ball and a disassembled ceiling fan.
I buy a framed print of an iridescent jungle scene. This is the last frame I need for my roadside memorial series. The series is set to show at Eyedrum next month.
Gas prices are up; yard sales are everywhere so there is no need to leave your neighborhood.
Drum and leather in Kirkwood.
At this time of year when sales are in abundance one thing that I find most pleasant is not traveling far to get my weekly fix of examining the clutter of others. Today I went to seven sales and never ventured north of Ponce de Leon Ave. In addition to saving highly priced fossil fuel it’s good to know what my nearby neighbors are divesting themselves of.
McLendon Ave. - Candler Park “Yard Sale”
Less than two blocks from my home I came upon this relatively small sale. At this home that seems to have at least one sale a year I found a pickup truck top with two window unit air conditioners resting atop it, a 60’s wedge shaped stereo console, a T-shirt saying “I’ve been good all year”, a guide to reptiles of North America and a switch plate featuring the image of a crucifix.
I buy nothing.
Iverson St. - Candler Park “Yard Sale”
Only about three blocks away I was directed by sign to this sale in front of and on the porch of a 1920’s craftsman bungalow. Leaning against the wall in front was a massive 3 X4 foot photo tribute to Barbra Streisand. In a box nearby were two action figures still in the original boxes, one was Golem the other Harry Potter, there was also a figure of a humanoid yellow M&M sitting in a chair. Up on the porch a variety of stuff was on display including a large plush lizard, two rainbow colored slinkys, a set of hot wheels cars, a teapot shaped like a wigwam, some women’s clothing and an old cell phone. Some of the books included two copies of a Melissa Ethridge biography, and “How to make money on the information superhighway”
I buy nothing.
Less than two blocks from my home I came upon this relatively small sale. At this home that seems to have at least one sale a year I found a pickup truck top with two window unit air conditioners resting atop it, a 60’s wedge shaped stereo console, a T-shirt saying “I’ve been good all year”, a guide to reptiles of North America and a switch plate featuring the image of a crucifix.
I buy nothing.
Iverson St. - Candler Park “Yard Sale”
Only about three blocks away I was directed by sign to this sale in front of and on the porch of a 1920’s craftsman bungalow. Leaning against the wall in front was a massive 3 X4 foot photo tribute to Barbra Streisand. In a box nearby were two action figures still in the original boxes, one was Golem the other Harry Potter, there was also a figure of a humanoid yellow M&M sitting in a chair. Up on the porch a variety of stuff was on display including a large plush lizard, two rainbow colored slinkys, a set of hot wheels cars, a teapot shaped like a wigwam, some women’s clothing and an old cell phone. Some of the books included two copies of a Melissa Ethridge biography, and “How to make money on the information superhighway”
I buy nothing.
Euclid Ave. - Inman Park “Yard Sale”
Passing through Little Five points but less than a mile from the prior sale I came upon this small sale on the porch of a one story Victorian home. Among the items gathered there was a print of Felix the cat with broken glass covering the artwork, some women’s clothing and a very strange handmade vase with a snarling face and an extended tongue. Some books included “Avid Media Composer guidebook” “Roads of Consciousness” and “Lying, cheating Stealing, death and personal survival”
I buy nothing.
Passing through Little Five points but less than a mile from the prior sale I came upon this small sale on the porch of a one story Victorian home. Among the items gathered there was a print of Felix the cat with broken glass covering the artwork, some women’s clothing and a very strange handmade vase with a snarling face and an extended tongue. Some books included “Avid Media Composer guidebook” “Roads of Consciousness” and “Lying, cheating Stealing, death and personal survival”
I buy nothing.
Spruce Ave. - Inman Park “Moving Sale”
Just a few blocks down was this larger sale in the parking lot of the lofts adjacent to the Inman Park Pool. As advertised in the AJC the sale featured a lot of picture frames, all quality frames but priced on the high side. Some more interesting stuff included a Tivo box, some hanging lights identified as coming from Pottery Barn, a Denon amplifier, a coffee grinder, and some paper mache fruit. Original art featured a large painting of a woman at the beach contemplating a shell and another of a face that appears on fire. Among the media here was a unopened two tape set of 20 years of CNN, “The purpose driven life”, “What should I do with my life”, “The right risks”, “Feng Shui made easy” and a bunch of old National Geographic magazines.
I buy nothing.
Just a few blocks down was this larger sale in the parking lot of the lofts adjacent to the Inman Park Pool. As advertised in the AJC the sale featured a lot of picture frames, all quality frames but priced on the high side. Some more interesting stuff included a Tivo box, some hanging lights identified as coming from Pottery Barn, a Denon amplifier, a coffee grinder, and some paper mache fruit. Original art featured a large painting of a woman at the beach contemplating a shell and another of a face that appears on fire. Among the media here was a unopened two tape set of 20 years of CNN, “The purpose driven life”, “What should I do with my life”, “The right risks”, “Feng Shui made easy” and a bunch of old National Geographic magazines.
I buy nothing.
New York Ave. - Lake Claire “Yard Sale”
Reversing my path and heading back towards home on Dekalb Ave I stop at this sale behind a home near the land trust. A delightful sign that appears to have been drawn by a toddler directs me to the sale. Most of the stuff here looks like it’s been in a basement for a while which is true of a lot of sales near the land trust. A large area is covered with old gallon paint cans, on some blankets and drop cloths are piled a mix of clothing assorted dinnerware and old camera gear with foggy lenses and a yoga mat. In the driveway are boxes of Lps that yield a variety of classical music and 70’s and 80’s rock including Lou Reed, Joy Division and Rick Wakeman.
I buy nothing.
Reversing my path and heading back towards home on Dekalb Ave I stop at this sale behind a home near the land trust. A delightful sign that appears to have been drawn by a toddler directs me to the sale. Most of the stuff here looks like it’s been in a basement for a while which is true of a lot of sales near the land trust. A large area is covered with old gallon paint cans, on some blankets and drop cloths are piled a mix of clothing assorted dinnerware and old camera gear with foggy lenses and a yoga mat. In the driveway are boxes of Lps that yield a variety of classical music and 70’s and 80’s rock including Lou Reed, Joy Division and Rick Wakeman.
I buy nothing.
Claire Dr. - Lake Claire “Yard Sale”
Just a few blocks away but much more prim is this sale in the yard and porch of a brick Tudor home. There is a lot of cat stuff here, including a box that says cat decorated stuff as well as a large print of a cat and another box of Cat pins. On a table are two separate dishes with snowmen on them and a basket of faux pomegranates. On the porch are a few books including on by Rush Limbaugh. While there a passing customer picks it up mutters “that son of a bitch” then sets the book down.
I buy nothing.
Just a few blocks away but much more prim is this sale in the yard and porch of a brick Tudor home. There is a lot of cat stuff here, including a box that says cat decorated stuff as well as a large print of a cat and another box of Cat pins. On a table are two separate dishes with snowmen on them and a basket of faux pomegranates. On the porch are a few books including on by Rush Limbaugh. While there a passing customer picks it up mutters “that son of a bitch” then sets the book down.
I buy nothing.
Norwood St. - Kirkwood “Far out Sale”, “Chic Shabby Cool sale”
Across the tracks but still less than a mile from home this sale again proves that Kirkwood has the best up and coming sales. In the middle of the yard next to a for sale sign is a large floor tom drum flanked by leather apparel. Next to the driveway is a large print of a Russian icon stuck into an old wooden window. Another framed item of interest in the driveway is a framed copy of the Desiderata
Some books here include “Be the person you love to find” “Mother Teresa”, a Frida Khalo bio, “Keeping the Love you find” and a blank book with “Reason is powerless in the expression of love” written across the cover. There is nothing written on the pages of the blank book. Other things scattered about include some pillows, two fireplace screens, a box of half burned candles, a coffee grinder
And a large box of empty plastic bottles.
I buy nothing.
Across the tracks but still less than a mile from home this sale again proves that Kirkwood has the best up and coming sales. In the middle of the yard next to a for sale sign is a large floor tom drum flanked by leather apparel. Next to the driveway is a large print of a Russian icon stuck into an old wooden window. Another framed item of interest in the driveway is a framed copy of the Desiderata
Some books here include “Be the person you love to find” “Mother Teresa”, a Frida Khalo bio, “Keeping the Love you find” and a blank book with “Reason is powerless in the expression of love” written across the cover. There is nothing written on the pages of the blank book. Other things scattered about include some pillows, two fireplace screens, a box of half burned candles, a coffee grinder
And a large box of empty plastic bottles.
I buy nothing.
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