My girlfriend and I spent all day Friday going to garage sales.  There was a small town near us that was celebrating Memorial Day with a town filled with sales.  It was one of those really disappointing days, where we found very little that screamed our names.  OK, here’s what I bought…Avon Chapstick, a bag of Indian corn that I thought I’d lay in our bird feeders so the bear has something new to eat (beside our feeders), a bag of popcorn still on the cob (if you’ve never tried it, you should.)  Two baby stuffed animals perfect for our dogs.  Stuffed animals made for babies don’t have plastic eyes or beans in them, so if your dog destroys them, they won’t find anything inside (or outside) to make them sick.  An Amish table was set up at their fairgrounds, where they allow anyone to set up a table for a fee, so naturally I had to buy some cookies and small pies for Rich, and that’s all I can remember right now.  I always buy treats, drinks and lunch since my girlfriend drives, and that’s how our day went.  We had full tummies, and you can’t beat that.  I can’t remember what she bought, but I’m pretty sure it was less than what I bought.

We did go to a sale where a woman was selling basically everything from her craft room, and she had so many things…it filled an entire room…but she was selling everything for what you would pay for them in a store…Oh, I did buy three metal stencils there, and they are a little bent, so I hope they still work.  It always frustrates me when you go to a garage sale, and they are selling used things at retail prices..My mom used to price things that way and I’d ask her about it and she’d say “I’m not giving them away.”  I, on the other hand, just want to get rid of the things I’m selling, so basically do give things away.  What’s the point of going to all of the effort to take things to your garage, price them, and then at the end of the sale, put them back where you found them?  My system is anything that doesn’t sell goes to our local Family Center, where they have a small thrift store, and all the money raised, goes back into our local community.  Sadly, most people think the money raised at local Salvation Army stores stays in the community it serves, but all monies raised there, go to the national Salvation Army, and they aren’t affiliated with their local chapters.  I served on our local Salvation Army board many years ago, and was quickly disillusioned by their practices, and stepped down.

That was probably a lot more information than you were looking for.

Yesterday, we went to visit our close friends who have a home overlooking Lake Erie…it was a nice day, but as we were driving home, a thunderstorm moved through, so by the time we got home, Honey’s anxiety was out of control, so we went to the basement (Rich’s man room), and watched television with her until all storms and fireworks were over.

Today we were supposed to visit college friends, but the forecast is thunderstorms, and the idea of Honey having super anxiety two days in a row, is hard for us, so we’re probably going to the cemetery to put flowers on my parents’ grave, and spending the rest of the day at home.  I realize most people wouldn’t put their dog’s anxiety ahead of spending time with friends, but we don’t have children, and our dogs are an extension of our family, so we prioritize accordingly.

I hope you and your family have a happy Memorial Day weekend.

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