I Can Haz Macro Lens

THURSDAY the set up
It was early, 8:30 am. I had just enough coffee in me to begin thinking about getting dressed. I looked outside and it was overcast, then sunny, then overcast again. A nice cool day to unload antiques in my driveway. My doorbell rings, I look at the clock, 8:50am, I look at the outfit I have on, fluorescent polo shirt with a pelican pattern on it (crazy wild shirt) hot pink reindeer jammie pants, and purple silver and yellow striped socks, and my hair was rather big. I thought it must be family, like Dad or Granny so I go to answer the door hearing all the clown clothing jokes Mr. L had been saying earlier that morning. It was not Granny, or my Dad. It was some guy asking if he can have a sneak peek at my sale. He was 23 hours early. I told him that I have not even began setting up, and he specifically asked for post cards. I told him I did not have any for sale, but if he still wanted a sneak peek he can come back about noon. I decided to get dressed quickly and get myself out there to start setting up.
I pulled out the stack of folding tables and shelves my grandpa built. Covered them with sheets and tablecloths and dragged out 6 plastic bins filled to the top with newspaper wrapped glasswear. I also had several misc. cardboard boxes, tabletops, and bins full of stuff for the sale. I had decided on a $10 and under sale. It was difficult, I had to reprice everything. I had things that were worth way more than $10, but I want to be free of it. I had bought these items for cheap with my keen eye to spot an antique pattern or feel of an object quickly. I have held onto some of these items thinking I was going to sell them on ebay, or become an antique dealer. I realized that this career would only feed my hoarding habit. As I unpacked plates and bowls, teacups and saucers, piggy banks and candlesticks, I remembered where I had found them, I remembered why I loved them. The patterns, the colors, the shapes, the stories they had to tell. I really do love these things. I made a mental list of why I was getting rid of these things for so cheap:
1. I want to have that sweet macro lens for Pearl and Ruby
2. Mr. L wants his garage back
3. I want to feel lighter
4. I want to let go of that chaos
5. I want to be free
6. did I mention the Macro Lens? 
I want to be free.... my mantra for the day. It made it easy to change a price on a set of made in occupied japan bowls from $30 for the set of four to $10 for the set. For me to change the price on an amethyst glass planter from $14 to $8. For me to change the price on an English bone china cup and saucer from $15 to $5. I wanted to be free.
Another rule was whenever I entered the house I HAD to bring out at least two items with me. I was bringing out armfuls of things. I was proud of myself for being so fast with this process, seeing candle holders I have not burned candles in in years, grabbed them all, not selective, just scooped them all up and headed for my driveway. I did this several times through the day. I worked out in my yard from 9am to 6:30. My hands were black with newsprint, my pants littered with old price tags, my shirt damp with my sweat. I was ready. I had also already made just under $10 from neighbors checking out the sale.

FRIDAY the first day of the sale
Generally Friday is the busiest day. Strange but true. Mr. L took the day off and we sat in our driveway chatting with people of our community, laughing, and reading our books. It was really nice, people were really great, no crankies! At the end of this day I made almost $200. All items were priced to sell, only a few items were priced at the $10, most were $1 and under. I was feeling lighter.

SATURDAY the last day of the sale
Again another sunny lovely day. Traffic was much slower, I read a lot from my cameras manual, and my book. I never said no to any offer, I wanted to be free. At the end of the sale I was over $300 closer to my macro lens. I packed up my stuff. I got a sunburn. I began with any surface in my garage covered and stacked with things to sell, at least 4 cardboard boxes and two crates of priced things and 6 plastic bins full of stuff. I packed these containers lighter (I struggled getting them out before) and I only used the plastic bins. Mr. L said I sold almost half of what was out there. I believe him. Tables that could not hold another item were sparse by the end. In fact I kept taking things off of the shelves and placing them on the tables. By the end of the sale I had both shelving units cleared and most of one table. YAY!!!! We are planning another one in August. I have SO much more to weed out.

Mr. L was so helpful that day so I handed him $40 to go play poker with a local group and we joked that if he came home with $1000 I got to have my macro lens. Whe I woke up on the couch during the beginning of saturday night live I realized that he just might come home with money. He called me 45 minutes later from the car. "Honey?" he said, I groggily said "Hi" he then said "You can have your macro lens" I woke up really quick, "what!?" he said " I won!" WOOO HOOO!!!!!

I get my macro lens!!!!




I will catch up later on with you all, the food bank just called and asked if I could work, and daddy will be here soon for breakfast with granny. XO!