The garage sale was a mad house.
But also a great success too. Girly Girl and Chino brought all their stuff {mostly children’s clothing, shoes and big plastic play things, which were both a hit} and by the end of the 4 hour sale we both went home with just a few boxes of unsold goods. Some of the things I thought would sell, didn’t, but after all was said and done, I was shocked to learn I had made $473. I was thrilled.
I found out the lady in the stall next to me {whom I’ve always called British lady in my head} reads the blog. Which was kind of funny actually because the first time I saw British lady walking her dog around the neighborhood, I knew she was a normal one. Little, if any make up, no particular workout outfit, no water bottle, no headphones, she wasn’t chatting away loudly on her cell phone every time she walked by, she wasn’t in a pack, she kept up a good walking pace and she didn’t have an orange glow about her… SHE WAS A REAL ONE. Not a Stepford wife. I knew I’d like her. And I was right.
The other surprise of the day was when the secretary/manager of the HOA Snoopervising committee came up to me during the sale {she’s the one who accepts proposals but doesn’t make the decisions} and mentioned how much she enjoys reading the blog. She finds it amusing. I nearly peed my pants.
Mavis Wears a Dress
It’s a crappy photo for such a momentous occasion I know, but it was taken with my phone. Which according to the HH is outdated {iPhone4} and I should buy a new one. BUT IT STILL WORKS. So why would I buy a new one?
I knew there would be two occasions where I’d needed to dress up for the HH’s conference last week, but I only own one dress {the funeral dress I’m wearing above}. Unless of course you count my pilgrim and Oktoberfest dresses. So I had to borrow the other one from The Girl. But it was black as well, so all was well with the universe.
Conversation with the HH on the way to dinner:
HH: Don’t you have some earrings?
Mavis: No.
HH: You don’t own a pair of earrings?
Mavis: 22 years later you are just noticing this? The only piece of jewelry I own is my wedding band.
HH: Then why don’t you BUY some?
Mavis: Because I don’t WANT ANY.
HH: Well maybe you should get some.
Mavis: Again, I don’t want any. So what would be the point? I wouldn’t wear them.
Do you have conversations like this with your husband too?
Ahh mini vacations… they can be so much fun.
~Mavis
Tell me something. Anything. So I have something to read while I rest here in my room today.
Jenny says
Hey- love ur blog. I’m sick with a cold in spokane, wa. So I know ur pain. Glad you’re feeling better though!!!!
Btw- we watched the documentary Black Fish on Netflix last night. It was excellent. But only watch it if you’re ok with never going to Sea World again?!
sheila says
The earring convo cracks me up. It sounds like one I had with my mother awhile back about rubber bands. I don’t use them; don’t need them. I throw them away. My mother, on the other hand, has an entire kitchen drawer dedicated to nothing but rubber bands. Last week, I noticed my junk drawer was “junked up” and full of rubber bands. In the trash they went. I’d bet the farm mom put them there. Moral of the story, watch out for someone giving you earrings you don’t want! 😉
Kathy says
Mavis, I’m with you on the no jewelry. I just never cared for it. I think it got in my way when I was digging in the dirt or at rummage sales. LOL
The pastry looks great. I may have to splurge and go to our local coffee shop and sit and have a cup of coffee and a pastry tomorrow.
Too funny about the HOA woman reading the blog!
Kim says
Hi Mavis – maybe I missed it, but did you ever talk to stroller mom?
Mavis Butterfield says
Other than Hello… no not yet. Now I’m afraid she reads the blog too and knows I call her stroller mom. Gaaa.
Deborah says
I’m sorry Mavis, but I just can’t stop laughing. I KNEW there had to be someone from the neighborhood reading your blog. I pity that predicament, but it’s kind of funny from where I’m sitting.
In my humble opinion, I don’t thing there is any shame at ALL in being referred to as “stroller mom.” Please don’t let that stop you from reaching out. (And wouldn’t it be great if she walked up to you in the very near future and said, “Hi Mavis. It’s nice to meet you. I feel like I already know you.”) 😉
Leanna says
Not about jewelry (I bought all I needed before we had children), but about pedicures and massages. YUCK!! If you want to spoil me take me out to dinner. 🙂
Nancy D says
I’m so glad you’re feeling better! I agree with you about the jewelry! My son and I just made a double batch of blueberry jam with the end of last years frozen blueberry stash to get ready for this years berries. It’s always sooo wonderful when there’s not enough to fill the last jar and you HAVE to eat it now and not just look at it on the shelf. You kinda suspected the neighborhood was reading your blogs huh? 😉 Rest up!!
Kara says
So did you buy that console table for $30 or sell it for $30?
Still trying to convince my husband to move to the Pacific Northwest so we can grow year round. We live south of Buffalo and can only grown 6 months out of the year. Our greenhouse collapsed over the winter 🙁 but we just bought a new one at an auction. Hopefully it’ll be resurrected by the end of the summer.
Glad you are starting to feel better!
Mavis Butterfield says
I bought it for $30 and I plan to paint it white and use it in the guest room.
Sherry says
Glad you are feeling better and hope you are resting up. I got the giggles when I read about the secretary/manager of the HOA Snoopervising committee telling you she reads your blog and finds it amusing!
Nice pic of you in the dress! As for me, I do not own a dress. Nope, not even one. And I own one pair of earrings that were very inexpensive and part of a set of 3 small silver hoops that the other 2 pair when to my daughter. And your phone is outdated? Ha ha, I have a $15 flip phone (tracfone) that I have had for years in case of an emergency and to text my son or daughter when needed.
Great find for $30 too, nice looking table!
Rebecca says
Hi Mavis,
Glad to hear you had a good time on your mini-vacation. You looked nice in your black dress sans jewelry. Tell the HH you have nailed understated sophistication – – – HA!
Congratulations on your windfall from the garage sale! Last year I had a yard sale on Labor Day Weekend and made $190 and am planning on doing the same this year. It feels so good to clear out unused stuff while making some mad money at the same time.
Mavis says
Understated sophistication. Love it. Ha!
Mavis says
Agreed. Pastries fix everything!
Marcia says
Ha ha ha! I love the earring convo too.
I don’t have any earrings either. My ears aren’t pierced. I do have other jewelry, most of it gifts. But seriously, I wear a necklace or ring or bracelet about 4 times a year. Otherwise it’s just the wedding band.
I own a few dresses, but only one that fits. I should get rid of the big one and the small one (the perils of pregnancy in your 40s).
Laura Dietrick says
It is funny you had this conversation. Every year for Christmas my mother in law gets me earrings. The last 9 years I have gotten earrings. I don’t have pierced ears. I have mentioned this to her several times and I always get the same response of too bad, it’s the thought that counts. So every year I donate them to a shelter. My mother gives me bracelets, necklaces and other jewelry. I don’t wear it. I just donate it. She says that I dont girl myself up anymore like I used to. Yeah well that was before I had a kid and when I had time…and money lol. Its not important to me anymore.
Julie says
If you like European pastries, next time go to La Parisienne (it’s on 6th I think, next to the Space Needle), best pastries ever, and they really taste like in France!!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Julie! I am over by the space needle often so I will look for it next time. 🙂
Chris M says
Glad you’re feeling a little better! Love earrings! Love jewelry! Love wearing dresses! 🙂 Differences make the world an interesting place. Was thinking I should suggest you wipe down your phone with an alcohol wipe since you’ve been sick, wash the bedding, and throw away your toothbrush. No sense perpetuating the germs. But, it’s just advice not the Germowner Association (GOA). He he!
Lilypad says
I don’t own a dress either—when I gain weight, it’s always around the middle and I don’t want to look pregnant!!—but I do have a nice black camisole and matching cardigan that I wear when I have to dress up. I have three skirts that match it, so that’s covered. (Yep, I wear black all the time too. It’s easy!) Tomorrow, I have to go to my 30th high school reunion so that top combo will be seen in public yet again. 😉 I am an introvert and would much rather lie on my bed and read, but my friends want to see me and this is the only time it will work. Sigh.
I do love earrings though, and I have a lot of old-fashioned ones with stones like garnets (which I love because it was my grandmother’s birthstone) and amethyst and pink quartz etc. I never wear big flashy ones. I don’t wear my engagement diamond ring and wedding ring any more (see above, that part about getting chubby!! they don’t fit and I don’t want to pay to resize them yet again, I have yo-yo’d a bit in the last 22 years!) but I have a nice filigree band from Austria that I will wear tomorrow.
I hope you are feeling better soon. My son has had a few bouts of diarrhea this summer and we think it’s from the unusual summer heat here in the Pacific Northwest. I know you love it for your garden but I am really looking forward to cooler weather.
Mrs. Mac says
Super jealous of your bakeries! Was just talking to a friend this week about the paltry assortment of baked goods at our local bakeries.
Mavis Butterfield says
Isn’t it weird how really good pastry shops and bakeries are so hard to come by anymore? So often now they all taste the same. It’s such a nice treat to find a real one. 🙂
Sherri says
Hi Mavis,
I am still experiencing garden envy. The birds and chipmunks ate around 95% of the seeds I planted and I am apparently to lazy to put a net up as a prevent defense. I have a lonely watermelon plant, a single asparagus bean plant, a handful of snow pea plants, maybe 6 underwatered and bound to be hot radishes and possibly 3 carrots. Oh, I forgot, three tomato plants offering up around 6 tomatoes between them. I planted several times. I even saw the culprits! I think I was in it for the exercise.
My friends and I don’t go garage sale touring, we go junking……same thing- it just sounds more basic, yet trendy. I didn’t know they allowed garage sales in Gig Harbor. Enjoy the mini vacay and continue to look fabulous in your dress sans earrings. Let the hubby know that everyone is too busy admiring how you look in that dress to worry about your naked ears!
TTFN (ta ta for now),
Sherri
Leta Frank says
I laugh so hard after reading about the committee member who also read your blog. That just made my day.
Sue says
I’m so glad your back, I was very worried when I didn’t hear from the post. You are such a part of my day and have to say it’s to blooming hot here in the South to wear dresses.
Mrs. Chow says
Mavis, I’ve had a long, hard day, and you just made it all better, you funny girl. Thank you.
Mavis says
Glad I could help. Hope tomorrow looks brighter!
Mavis Butterfield says
Sorry to hear you had a hard day Mrs. Chow. 🙁 I was actually talking to Lucy about you yesterday wondering what you’ve been up to. How are your fruit trees doing? And the home renovations? I’m so glad all we have left to do is carpet and paint.
ilona says
First, you rock that black dress; and second, just the pictures of those pastries made my mouth water … the first thing I thought of when you wrote that you made $473 was that you could feed your family for almost half a year!
ilona says
p.s. My definition of a “mini vacation” is: no less than 3 but no more than 6 days off (whatever “off” may mean to any particular individual) in a row.
Mary Ann says
I have the same old iPhone and my husband is at me constantly to let him get me a new one. It still works just fine, why would I want to get a new one?!
I have always loved jewelry (looking at it), but I don’t like to wear it — too uncomfortable. I have diamond earrings that we had switched out to platinum settings because my ears have a bad reaction to silver or gold, but even the platinum makes them blow up, so I never wear them. They’re beautiful 1/2 carat each diamonds that sit there doing nothing! I should just sell them, but I don’t know how you do that safely.
Seattle Terri says
Try painting the posts with clear nail polish
Sandra says
My husband serves on several boards and is a partner of his firm, so I too have to do the “corporate wife” gig from time to time. Not my favorite thing, but I can deal – especially when they do a company day at the Mariners! I don’t own a dress — can’t wear the fancy shoes necessary. (Avias and Birkinstocks just won’t do.) So I wear nice pants and a dressy cardigan or jacket. No complaints yet!
On the neighborhood front, we have newish neighbors who have pet names for everyone also. They call the family across the street The Bundys. They won’t say what they call us behind our backs. I am sure it is mildly insulting, but funny. My husband and I just call people by their dogs names or breeds – Primo’s dad, the labradoodle family, the lady with all the Jack Russels, etc. It seems normal to me to have descriptors for people you don’t really know.
Mavis says
Ha. I love the dog names for families! And I’m glad I have someone else who doesn’t wear dresses. Pants, here I come!
Chyrl says
The earring exchange made me laugh out loud! I don’t think my Husband has ever noticed mine even the time I wore two different earrings by accident. I’ve also done that with shoes once but surely everyone has done that!
Mavis Butterfield says
It always amazes me what he notices and what he does not. Husbands are funny that way.
JC says
My fiance just asked me if I own lipstick the other day. He also has this thing about sandals. He strongly feels that the strip of skin under the “knuckle” of the big toe needs to be covered, to the point where he rants about it and is completely disgusted if a girl wears those sandals like these (http://www.dsw.com/Womens-Shoes-Sandals/_/N-272u?activeCategory=102442) Barefeet is totally cool though. Men are wierd.
Lana says
You rocked that dress! Do buy a fun dangly pair of earrings just because they are awesome to wear sometimes. Hubby has an iPhone 4 and is really getting tired of it’s slowness. I told him to get a new one but he will not part with the money. We do no contract service and buy phones outright.We have a great coffee house where I like to meet pals. They do not care how long you stay and it is beautifully decorated and quiet. I like that it is not a chain and in a downtown area.