Saturday 8/20/05

I awoke from yet another dream of being attacked by a strange animal. The night before in my sleep I had a vision of being frightened and tormented by an angry five-foot jackal in my living room. Last night I dreamt I was chased and trampled by a pink French poodle the size of a quarter horse. Is this due to the increasing presence of pet dogs at yard sales? Or is there something I should not be eating before I retire to bed? Regardless I set out early today to see what littered the yards of divestment before the heat of August made my odyssey unbearable.

Callan Cir. - Candler Park “Yard Sale”

This sale was in the yard and driveway of a home facing the tennis courts in Candler Park. Two women watched over a moderate collection of clutter they wished to divest. A box of books included “Finding a Husband after 35”, J. G. Ballard’s “Crash”, Copland’s “Generation X” along with some popular fiction and cook books. Other items gathered there were a onion roaster, a tennis racket, some tiki head party lights, pillows in the shape of gift wrapped presents, a somewhat abstract painting of a man on a grid, lampshades and some bicycle parts. A card table next to the driveway contained a small selection of stuff that may have belongs to a neighbor. On the table was an eight-inch tall plastic replica of a Marshall amp. The seller said it actually worked and you could plug a guitar in it. Also on the table was a collection of manuals for 3D Max.
I bought nothing but noticed that mosquitoes had bitten me while I browsed the sale.

Micro working Marshall stack and friend.

Springdale Rd. Druid Hills “Estate Sale”

This sale was advertised as an estate sale in the 805 classifieds the AJC. When I arrived at this two- story French eclectic brick manor I was disappointed to see that the sale was in the rear outside a detached three car garage and not inside the home proper. Assembled there was a large collection of mismatched clutter. The assembled goods extended into the garage where a confused collection of bathroom fixtures including toilets and sinks were piled next to old soiled oriental carpets and stacks of old real estate business files in cardboard file boxes. Leaning against the garage door was a bright fauvist style painting which may have been a landscape. Near the files was a box of old men’s sweaters topped with a leather bound Hebrew Sidur. In the driveway outside the garage was a confused collection of home décor, garden tools and a variety mixed merchandise. Among the stuff strewn about were two Dish TV receivers, the omnipresent disassembled ceiling fan, some skis, a new looking vibrating leather recliner with a remote control, an unopened box of the UGA Monopoly knockoff - Dawgopoly, a sculpture of two pigs straddling a motorcycle, several boxes of empty CD cases, two small masks made from coconut shells and a framed print of a golf club. Partially covered with what appeared to be a hand painted bed spread with cartoonish women on it was a 1981 Mercedes. Some media found there included a set of audiocassettes “Breaking the Success Barrier” and a book ‘Goddesses for Every Season”.
I was happy to find yet another unused Millennium item, a pair of Millennium toasting flutes. These tall champagne flutes with 2000 etched into their crystal surface, were still in their original box. Seemingly the 1000-year event came and went without these vessels being filled and raised in celebration.I bought nothing.

More discarded memories from the 1000 year non event.













Fauvist landscape?


















Hogs straddle thier hog and ride.

McLynn Ave. – Morningside “Estate Sale”

From the ad in the AJC I knew that this would be a full-fledged estate sale. The sale had started on Friday and I had fears that resellers may have pillaged a lot of stuff. When I arrived I was glad to see the type of things I was interested in seeing were still there, for on the porch was an array of home health care equipment and piles of 1964 newspapers. The cover of a vintage copy of the AJC Sunday magazine carried the headline - “Atlanta the Hollywood of Health Films”. Inside I found the professional sellers at their card tables in the living room. I immediately headed up the narrow staircase so I could begin my intensive examination of the contents away of the suspicious eyes of the resellers. The second level was one room created from a refinished attic. On one side was a desk with a copy of the score to “Happening Now”. The Eddie Lunn/ Bob Oldenberg musical featured a Peter Max style cover and featured such songs as “Communication Gap” and “Hymn to Rebellion”. Next to the desk was one of those rolling chairs often seen in rehabilitation wards. On the other side of the attic was a lot of old Xmas decorations, a box of old rulers, an old Monopoly game as well as the games Password and Probe. On the floor were two boxes one held the contents of a Lincoln Log set and the cover of the set. The other held some wooden imitation tinker toys. The Lincoln Log cover stated that Lincoln Logs were America’s National Toy. Given that no toys seem to be manufactured in the United States at this time I doubt there is a current National Toy.
Downstairs in what could have been a dining room I found on the wall a framed photo montage featuring the heads of family member. Below it were two unframed prints of the current and former Georgia Governor’s mansions, a WebTV keyboard and receiver and a table full of sewing supplies.
A small kitchen had the usual old glassware and cooking implements, a George Foreman Grill in its original box and several avocado green fondue pots. I was delighted to see the presence of used food, as partially filled jars of old spices were priced at 25 cents. In a nook off the kitchen I found a bowl shaped like a pineapple, a VHS tape of hints from Heloise, a few old telephones, a fire extinguisher and a ceramic figure of a farm wife with a basket of apples in one hand and a baby in the other.
In the front of the house a card table in the salon held a stack of old sheet music with titles such as “Gypsy Love Song” and “Hills of Home”. Mixed in with the music were guides for learning to play the recorder, the clarinet as well as an EZ method for mastering the ukulele. Near the musical guides and scores was a pile of old linens and cloth napkins.
Some books found on a shelf in a hallway included “Best Jokes of All Time”, “Microwave Miracles”, “Eight Weeks to Optimum Health” and several titles on arthritis and several on gaining wealth. One book displayed alone on a antique table was a hardbound program to the 1926 unveiling of a statue of Confederate VP Alexander H. Stephens in Washington D.C.
I bought nothing.

Agarian mother and child figure near fire protection device.



















Score to long forgotten and overlooked 60's musical.

















America's National Toy (when Americans actually made toys)

Amsterdam Ave. - Virginia Highlands “Yard Sale”

There was not a lot left in the yard sitting in the hot sun when I arrived. In the shade of a tree a mother and her son watched over a tarp covered with plastic tanks and helicopters. The scene look like it could have come from a war room for staging this nation’s next foreign invasion. Leaning against the wall of the ranch home was a large painting of a terrorized looking face. There were also some tiki torches and a garbage disposal.
I spent little time here and bought nothing.

Highland Ave. – Va. Highlands “Yard Sale”

When I arrived here a woman who brought a large dog to the sale had the seller’s pet cat cornered against some hedges. Fearing a fight and troubled by my dreams I left for my car. In my haste all I noticed was some women’s clothing, an old microwave and two flatbed scanners.
I bought nothing.

Oxford Ave. – Lake Claire “Yard Sale”

This sale was in the shade of the porch of two-story frame folk Victorian. While I was there I was assailed by the noise from construction at the home next door and the wail of a car alarm. In the din I saw a Lynyrd Skynard t-shirt, a pizza cooker and an old VHSc camcorder and some women’s clothing.
I bought nothing.

Saturday 8/13/05

Having started back to work I did not care if I woke up early and visited sales before the early bird scavengers stripped them bare. But after less than a half hour of visiting sales I realized it was also too hot to continue. So Today I did not venture far from home.

Sinclair Ave. – Inman Park “Moving Sale”

This was the only AJC advertised event I attended today. I was greeted by two wide eyed white manikins. They wore a sign stating that they were Italian Pucci designs. I envisioned the vibrant colors or a Emilio Pucci ensemble draped over their pale forms. Next to the ivory twins ware a pair of five-foot metal towers that resembled oil derricks. A sign indicated that these forms were yard trellises. On the porch of this turn of the century Victorian bungalow was a stack of 78 albums, with a copy of Madame Butterfly on top. Also on the porch was an old Remington Quiet Riter model typewriter and two pairs of flip flops packed in plastic baggies. At the door I was met by a loose dog wearing a bandana, inside another shopper lead her dog around on leash. This is the first time I have encountered shoppers bringing dogs inside a sale, I hope this is not a trend. Inside the home two rooms were open for shopper’s perusal. Among the clutter gathered there were some old pairs of glasses, several old posters of past Inman Park festivals, a Davy and Goliath action figure still in its original box, a partially used bottle of baby oil, a large electric grinder, a framed picture of Uga, two packs of Nsync thank you notes, some model train cars packed in plastic baggies, a large gourd with a face carved into it and some Halloween and Easter décor.
Two shelves contained a variety of old books. Among the titles were “Teenage Sports Parade” an Olympic pin guidebook, “New ideas in Science”, “Old Time Pickling and Spicing Recipes”, “Going Crazy” as well as many titles on Psychology and Sociology. Other media included some VHS tapes, some DVDs and a small selection of movies on laser discs.

Unsent Nsync thank you cards.















Moralistic action figure and dog.













Face in a gourd.

Arizona Ave. – Lake Claire "Yard Sale”

A large sign nailed to a utility pole directed me to this sale near the Lake Claire Land Trust. Perhaps this sale had been pillaged by shoppers for the sign alone could have covered the stuff available for sale in the driveway of a local ceramics artist. Among the few things remaining for sale were several books on ceramics, copies of “Guerrilla Marketing Handbook”, “The Art Market” and ‘Sell What You Make”. Other stuff there included some children’s clothing, a German dictionary and some children’s swim fins.
I bought nothing.

Casson Ave. – Lake Claire “Yard Sale”

Not far away this sale on the sidewalk in front of a frame bungalow a wider selection of clutter was presented. Among the stuff arranged on and around a table was, a Ouiji board, a box of plush animals, CDs of Mozart and Debussy, a small strobe light and a plastic bag of old cosmetics. In the bag along with old lipstick tubes and half empty jars of nail polish were two bottles of pharmaceuticals. One contained a prescriptions for Trimox another for Diclofenalac. One of the larger items for sale was a George Foreman grill. With the Atkins diet on the wane perhaps these meat cookers will suffer the same fate as bread makers suffered when carbs were banished. Next to the grill was a box containing a tooth whitening kit. One component of the kit appeared to be missing. There was also a rack of women’s cloth’s including some bright orange faux lizard skin pumps and a pair of high heeled sneakers.
I bought nothing.


Bag of used cosmetics and pharmacueticals.



















High healed sneakers.















Vibrant faux animal skin pumps.

Palifox Dr. – Lake Claire “Yard Sale”

The word for this sale was meager. When I arrived a man was walking away with a large mirror, the last substantial item from a small selection of things in the driveway. Among the few items that remained were some old Ethernet cables, a road atlas, a small desk lamp, an even smaller alarm clock a tee shirt with the horse from Guernica on it and a cell phone battery.
I bought nothing.

Ridgecrest Ct. – Lake Claire ‘Yard Sale”

When I pulled in this cul de sac I recalled that I had written about a sale here last year. This sale was quite different than the estate sale I had visited. The driveway and the carport contained an array of large plastic children’s playscapes. Other stuff there included some U.G. A. folding chairs, a set of scuba gear and a framed antique print of a baboon.
I bought nothing.

W. Parkland Dr. – Druid Hills “Garage Sale”

There was no garage at this house in the far end of Druid Hills. Instead a selection of stuff was arranged around the edge of a two-car driveway. The stuff was presided over by two teenage girls standing behind two tables. One table was marked stuff under two dollars the other stuff over two dollars. The adjoining tables made it difficult to tell where the under and over began and ended. Among the clutter was a toy scuba diver, a set of doggie sweat clothes with Vikings logo, Cds’ of music to relax by, some PC speakers and a selection of clip-on ties.
I bought nothing.

Note: I later checked a PDR to enquire into the pharmaceuticals found on Casson St. Trimox is an antibiotic and Diclofenlac is an anti-inflammatory agent prescribed for arthritis. This site does not advocate the purchase of used prescription drugs from yard sales.

What’s happening with this site…

If this site is starting to look messy at times with repeated images and dysfunctional style here’s what’s happening. Two weeks ago I purchases a new laptop and I have not mastered the touch pad or the scrunched together keyboard. Last week the blog provider changed the software to make it easier to post images. Sadly it’s only easier when you know what you are doing. But in time all this will come together and the site will be better than ever.

Saturday 8/6/05

Today I planned to go to the march and rally for voting rights downtown but before the rally I had a time to visit a few sales near home.

Oakdale Ave. Candler Park ‘Multifamily sale”

This sale was in the front driveways of two neighboring homes near the Candler Park Marta Station. One of the homes had a peace flag at the end of the driveway the other had some balloons promoting the sale. The peace flag home had the more extensive selection of clutter. At the end of the driveway a box containing some old toys and broken items with a sign saying “silly things 25 cents”. Other items included a vase in the shape of a bird, an old globe, a box of lps, a pc a scanner, a smiling orange teapot, a plush M&M wearing sleepwear, a device or sculpture of some sort with wires, alligator clips and a flower shaped base and two very tall speakers. On top of a table was an assortment of monkey figurines. Near in the sidewalk in the yard was a box marked free that contained some broken and unidentifiable electronic gear.
The other home had more utilitarian stuff with a collection of books on resume writing and a copy of the omnipresent WCIYP. There was also a copy of “How to think like Leonardo”. Other stuff found there was an old microwave over, a printer and a dirt devil.
I bought nothing.

Thing with wires and clips.
Collection of monkey stuff.
Happy orange teapot.

Page Ave. - Candler Park “Yard Sale”

This sale was perplexing. In the yard leaning upon a tree was a large metal sign saying “God Forgive U.S.”. Nearby on a table was what appeared to be a mounted collection of pocketknives. Among the knives on the board was also a pair of handcuffs. Perhaps it wasn’t a collection but a demonstration kit for showing baggage screeners what not to let on airplanes. One the ground nearby was a medium size animal trap and a box of unused rattraps. Books at this sale included works on investments ‘The Practice of Personal Tranformation” and “Sharpnel in the Heart”. Other stuff here included a selection of garden tools, a rug with a large image of a deer, a eerie clown painting, a volley balls set and a bag of baseball bats.
I bought nothing.

Another disturbing clown.
Devices for trapping animals large and small.

White tail buck hidden in a carpet.

While walking in the voting rights I did see a sign for a yard sale on MLK. I was tempted to leave to 15,000 person strong procession but then on closer inspection I noticed that the sale was last week.

Saturday 7/30/05

It was a damp and rainy morning. I presumed a lot of sales were cancelled or that a lot of stuff set out in yards was quite wet. The rains ended by 9:30 and I set off to see what was left.

Mell Ave. – Candler Park “Multi Family Sale”

There was a lot of stuff in front of this large craftsman home and a lot of it was wet. The seller did manage to cover the paper items. Box of books on graphic art was dry as well as several books on cats. Covering both genres was “Why Cats Paint”, a large book that examined what type of works certain cat artist create. Most appeared to be highly abstract as realism must not be in vogue in feline art circles. There was also a collection of books on Akido. Other books included “Hitler and Stalin” and “What you can do With a Law Degree”. Also in the yard was a pile of old backpacks, a large turtle made out of wicker, a pair of fuzzy dice with flames on them, a birdhouse, some colored light bulbs and a door knocker shaped like a cats face.
I bought nothing.

Cathead door knocker.














Wicker turtle.

Josephine St. –Candler Park “Yard Sale”

Josephine is a very narrow one way street in Candler Park. The houses are very close together and have very small yards. At this house the entire tiny yard and porch were covered in clutter. Among the stuff there was an unopened Goddess calendar, toys, children’s swim fins, a single framed Elvis stamp, a pair of Hello Kitty slippers, some old recessed ceiling lights and a car radiator. A small table held some books and videotapes. There I found “Homosexuals in History”, “Tantric Yoga”, ”Phallic Worship” ‘The Art of Happiness”, some Anne Rice novels, a few old dusty law books and ‘How to Get more Cash at Your Closing” on VHS. Another box contained a disassembled Kirby Vacuum cleaner.
I bought nothing.

Further down Josephine was another sale that I walked to. This one had less stuff and everything seemed a lot cleaner and newer. Overall there was just not much here but some items included a Candyland game, a teddy bear, a few ceramic planters, a spice rack and a Krupps Coffee maker.
I bought nothing.

Euclid Terrace – Candler Park “Yard Sale”

There was even less at this sale. Due to the rain everything was crowded into the front porch. But most of the room there was taken up by a child’s bed, a desk and a table. Other stuff included some women’s clother a red white and blue plush elephant, a wine rack and a round can of imported sardines.
I found the sale claustrophobic and bought nothing.

Harold Ave. Lake Claire “Yard Sale”

This seller erected a small tent over the contents she had for sale. Crowded under the nylon cover was some incense, a statue of Moses, A coat hook made from a door knob, a small electric space heater, a yoga mat bag and a collection of buttons with Hindu Gods on them. Outside the cover was an inversion table and some free Yoga magazine.
I bought nothing.

People of Faith in Sagamore Hills

This Friday the 805 classified in the AJC listed two estate sales not far from one anther in the Dekalb neighborhood of Sagamore Hills. The Sagamore community, named after the home of Theodore Roosevelt was built in the early sixties and consists of mostly grand ranch style homes with large yards and expansive interiors that shame nearby ranch home communities such as Toco Hills.
The interesting twist to today’s sales is that both estates were of persons involved in religious activities. While both homes were similar in architectural design and both owners were people of faith each sale was unique.

Alderbrook Ln. – Sagamore Hills “Estate Sale”

This home was the grander of the two with a well-landscaped yard and narrow Greek revival columns on the front porch. Entering through a small kitchen I went directly to the dining room where below a wallpaper covered wall with an antebellum scene I found a small collection of books and other media on a desk in. The books contained many religious titles and a number of Bibles. Some of the titles included “Christian Psychiatry”, “Clinton, My Life”, "Sexy Birds of the South", “Sex and the Bible”,” Meet Robert E. Lee”, “The Pill Peddlers Joke Book” and ”Now that you’re a deacon”. Mixed in with the books were two VHS tapes, “Jesse James” and “Return of Jesse James”. Also on the desk was a new looking “Journal of Travels and Adventures” the journal was blank.
Dominating the living room was a large ceramic hound resting on the floor as though guarding a selection of framed art. One of the framed items was a long narrow tile with the kitchen prayer on it another was a print of a young man playing guitar. Other stuff in the living room included a ceramic switch plate that said the King and I, pieces of a disassembled rocking chair, an oil rig for a scale model railroad, an old Radio Shack TSR50 personal computer, A children’s vac-u-form kit, a plastic Magnus chord organ and a box of plastic finger tips with red nails.
Among the religious stuff were several packages of material for making bible school bulletin boards. One contained cutouts of figures that looked like they stepped out of 1963 and another had cut out scenes from Christ’s childhood.

There was not a lot of stuff in the two bedrooms. In one I found a pair of riding boots, a coolie hat, some old Xmas lights, a Braves/Army Reserve beach towel, a Patricia brand blood pressure monitor and a board game that involved finding America’s landmarks. One of the more obscure items I found was a color TV degausser. The owner must have had a problem with people putting large magnets next to his TV set.
The entire front room that may have been the formal living room of the home was nearly completely occupied by stacks of large plastic bins from 5 to 20 gallon sizes. In the kitchen I found a typical assortment of kitchenwares as well as a thermos like device labeled a “Pump a Drink”.
In the carport I found some old tools and a guide to biblical maps. I bought two old Pyrex mixing bowls to replace some bowls that were broken or lost.


Caermic hound guards artwork.












Book found amid bibles and Clinton biography.
















Guide to Bible maps and charts.












Artwork found in Sagamore Hills.


















Box of faux fingertips.

Princess Circle – Sagamore Hills “Estate Sale”

The second Sagamore home appeared smaller and more modest from the exterior but its interior space was deceptively large and featured an extensive basement. In addition all the rooms of this home were open for the sale. The living room contained a long wall of bookshelves holding a large array of hardbound titles of all varieties. The study area had bookshelves against three walls. Most of those books were titles dealing with theology. In the full basement was an entire room with shelves on every wall housing a mix of paperbacks and hardbacks. The religious titles while mostly in the study were also scattered in the other rooms. Some tomes on Theological issues included “Pastoral Psychology”, "Bad Girls of the Bible", “The Compulsion to Confess”, “Bad Girls of the Bible”, “the Idiots Guide to Religion Online”, ‘The Dark Night of the Soul” and “The Problem of God”. In one corner of the study was a shelf housing mostly works on nonchristian creeds. Some of the works included “The Glorious Koran”, “Essential Kaballah”, “Hinduism”, “Lao Tze’s way of life” and ”The Handbook of Yoga”. Mixed in with the nonbelievers texts was “The Book of Mormon”.
Secular works covered the arts, sciences, medicine, literature, cooking and other topics. Some selected titled include ‘Idiots Guide to Jazz”, “Basic Handbook of mental Illness”, “The Alarming History of Medicine”, “Say Goodnight to Insomnia”, “Don’t Call them Jerks”, “The Dilbert Principle”, “The Man Who Became Caravaggio”, “The Golden Bough” and ‘Bushisms”. Some cook books included “Taste of North Africa”, “Low Cholesterol Gourmet” and “365 Ways to Cook Hamburger”.
Aside from the extensive collection of books there was not a lot of other stuff on the upper floor of the home. The study contained a while leather recliner and matching footstool, the perfect accessory for an avid reader. There was also a large desk and some file cabinets. The living room contained a few items of furniture and kitchen and dinning rooms offered some sparse furnishings and cooking implements. Two racks of clothes were in a bedroom. One held men’s ware the other women’s ware. But in a nearly empty bedroom I found a small sketchbook with images of Oklahoma done in pen.
The basement contained a large assortment of everyday clutter ranging from toys to stereo gear and odds and ends.
When I descended into the basement a Hispanic couple there was teasing their toddler with a full head covering ghoul mask that was priced at one dollar. A box of LPs contained “Marlene sings German for the OSS”, “Bouzouki my Love” and an exercise disc entitled “Keep Fit and Be Happy”. The clutter on the lower level included a pair of inline skates, a pair of troll like creatures made of broom straw, a kit for creating a hook rug with the image of a soccer ball, several public health certificates, an outstanding supervisor award and an opened bag of dog biscuits. Strangely this sale like the prior sale also had a children’s injection molding kit this one was called “Shrinky Dinks”
I bought two books “Island of the Colorblind” and “A History of Reading”


Creatures made of broomstraw















A unique theological work.



















Kit for making soccer rug.



















LP for keeping fit and happy.


















Marelene entertains the OSS.

















Sketches of hills of Oklahoma.