Friday sales are pretty tough for me. I rarely think to look in advance to see if there are any good estate sales going on. Besides, if there were any, they usually start at 8am and I have to be at work at 8:30. It’s hard enough to get the boys up and dressed and then out the door to the bustop! Can you imagine me booking out at 6am to go stand in line for a number? If I did, I doubt if anyone to make it to school at all on Fridays. If I do happen to catch a glimpse of a sale that looks good, I’ll try to swing by during my lunch break. By then, it’s been picked over…but still, you never know. On this particular Friday, I took a chance on a lunchtime getaway and came away with a few finds. The selection had definitely been picked over but here’s a few that I found: When I came back to the office after lunch, I had an email from my co-worker and fellow yard saler, Ramona Holloway. Her friend, Janet, was going to have a yard sale and she forwarded the information to me. And yep, she listed cookbooks! I worked up some confidence and emailed Janet directly to ask about the cookbooks. She was super nice and offered to let me come by later that evening to take a look. Wow! Can you imagine? I’ve never been given exclusive “preview” access before the crowd! How can I get this inside track on more yard sales? When I arrive at Janet’s home, she shows me into the living room where everything priced and ready to go. I make my way over to the cookbooks and grab these: I’m going to search these Mexican cookbooks until I find a specific recipe. Or, I find the proper way to cook the meat in this certain recipe. I know that sounds odd and cryptic, but I’ll definitely let you know if and when I find it. As I’m going through the cookbooks, Janet and I talk and get to know each other. She’s super cool. Plus, we were both at the recent PRSA luncheon on social networking. Turns out, she’s the current President of the Charlotte Public Relations Society chapter—no wonder she looked familiar! We both have aspirations of cooking more often but don’t always have the luxury of time. It was nice to know I’m not the only one who wishes they could try new recipes and cook more often! As I finished making my selections, she showed me some unique salt and pepper shakers in another box. I’m already the proud owner of Pepsi bottle S&P shakers but I just had to have these: Plus, I found a hairdryer! I’ve been borrowing the hubby’s lately and he’s been encouraging me to buy one that I come across at a yard sale. I brought it home and as soon as I show off my new find—guess what happens next—yep, he offers to trade his for Janet’s hairdryer. Oh well, I can give up the hairdryer. I’ve still got some great finds and I’m really glad to have met Janet. Not a bad Friday after all! Who knows what Saturday morning will bring?
The Plank Grilling Cookbook (Guillen, Lowrey, Everly, Bernsdorff), Every Last Crumb (Providence UMC, Charlotte, NC) and Paraclete Pantry (Church of the Holy Comforter, Vienna, VA). This last cookbook is personalized and autographed on the title page. It reads: “Autographed for Mildred Andrews by Rosemary Pollard May 13, 1959”
The Complete Barbecue Cookbook, The Essential Mexican Cookbook, Good Friends, Great Dinners (Susan Costner), The Tess Mallos Fillo Pastry Cookbook, Tropical Seasons: A Taste of Life in South Florida (Beaux Arts of the Lowe Art Museum of the University of Miami) and 30 Classic Mexican Menus (Idella Purnell Stone).
Royal Crown shakers! These were really heavy and had a metal screw top. They just looked and felt antique—I liked these and just had to get them!