The Estate Sale

Greetings.
My Mother called Friday and was bouncing off the walls because of an Estate sale listed in the paper. I have never been to an estate sale before. She and Tami acted like I was from another planet. Why shop if you don't need anything and you don't even know what's going to be there to purchase? Did you know that my Mom knows how to get my attention? She pointed out that lots of quilts and fabric were for sale and that got my attention. I'm on vacation and there isn't anything on my To Do List that can't wait. Tami gave me the address and directions and off I went. The front door and garage were open and people were going in every direction. As I walked into the front door I looked around at dishes, pots and pans and trinkets everywhere. A women asked me what I was interested in and I said quilts and fabric. She said up stairs and to the right, you'll be in heaven. As I started up the stairs I saw quilts hanging over the rail. They looked old and hand made. They seemed prices a bit high and I kept going. The door to my right was a small bedroom that must have been used as a craft/sewing room. There were drawers stacked on table tops and boxes of "stuff"on the floor. There was a pile of six lap and baby size quilts that were pinned, basted and ready to be quited. As I looked at this pile I started thinking about my quilt tops piled high waiting to be finished. The boxes had lace, ribbon and trims, some used and some that had not been opened. It was starting to become an out of body experience as I looked at the variety of must have just in case stuff. As I watched people going through all her things I started feeling a bit obtrusive. Was it her wish that strangers go through her stuff? There was an embossing template that hadn't been opened and it looked like something I would use so I picked it up and moved on to the next room. This too was a small room with a daybed that had a SOLD sign on it. Her closet was opened and I could tell from her clothes that she was a petite women who occasionally dressed up. She wore a size 5 shoe. There was a box of greeting cards on the dresser that she had saved. As I read some of the notes written in them I felt guilty, like I was reading somebody's mail. It looked as if she kept in touch and had lots of friends that did the same. As I proceeded down stairs I noticed a small book case. There was large family bible and various Christian books. I felt saddened by the fact that her family didn't want that beautiful bible. I thought about purchasing it but such a heart ache came over me I just couldn't. Her family tree was written in it and various other family notes. There was a small pocket size New Testament that I picked up and because there wasn't any personal notes in it took it. Downstairs there was silver, crystal, cook ware and appliances for sale. I wasn't interested in any of that so off to the garage I went. There were boxes of oil paintings. It looks like the lady of the house was interested in painting. Some of the paintings were good, not that I would know good from bad. I thought about purchasing a few of them for the frames but talked myself out of it. There was a box full of costume jewelry so I look through that. There was a small black butterfly pin with gold etching on it and K24 engraved on the bottom half of a wing. I didn't notice that until I got home and looked at it under a magnifying glass. The area between the wings is gold and has delicate etching on it. So I picked it up and went to the cashier with my big purchases. It consisted of the butterfly pin, embossing template and the small New Testament Bible. She looked at me said, "how does $1.75 sound?" I gave her the money and walked around a bit more. There was a walker in the yard with a $10 for sale sign on it. There was also had an electronic Singer Sewing machine and a Serger for sale. I noticed a small framed dress form but no dollar amount on it. I wonder about the lady that at one time owned and used all that stuff. I wonder if she intended to have strangers going through everything. After going through her home I feel like I know her. She was a Christian lady who liked to paint, sew, and quilt. She must have enjoyed entertaining because she had beautiful silver and crystal. There was a couple of boxes full of wine being sold too. I didn't check that out. I'm not sure that is even legal. So my first estate sale turned out to be a sad experience. I thought about that lady for the rest of the day.

When I got home from church today I did some organizing in my sewing room. I found some great decorative buttons I forgot I had. I will use them on some of my wall hangings. I need to make a list so my family knows what to do with my stuff. I don't want strangers picking through it.
Have a blessed day.