Field Notes: Neither Rain Nor Common Sense Will Keep Me from Garage Sales

This morning's hunting adventure took me to Nappanee, Indiana.

I make the trip to Nappanee about once a week because I have a booth at Dutch Lady Antiques in the Coppes Commons complex. But this weekend is the Apple Festival, which means something very important: TOWN-WIDE GARAGE SALES.

There was just one tiny problem. It was raining. And by raining, I don't mean a gentle little autumn sprinkle. IT. WAS. POURING. There is a famous saying: Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. Technically, that's about the postal service. But I'm fairly certain it also applies to people driving around Indiana looking for old junk. So off I went.

I had already done my reconnaissance the night before. This is why I LOVE when people post photos of their garage sales on social media. I studied the pictures. Zoomed in. Took mental inventory. And identified THE SALE. Apparently every other vintage hunter within driving distance had conducted the same investigation. Because when I arrived, several of my fellow junkers were already there. Some of them are my friends. Which is lovely. Except when we're all looking at the same stuff. Then it's every woman/man for herself.

And this sale was GOOD. The first thing that got me was a handmade child's kitchen cupboard. The gentleman selling it told me his grandfather had made it. Which immediately made it wonderful.

Then, while we were negotiating the price, he started showing me what was inside. He opened the cabinet. Vintage tin litho dustpans. Amazing condition.

Then he opened a drawer. A whole set of tin litho children's dishes. Also amazing condition.

Then another drawer. Vintage child's cooking utensils. AGAIN. AMAZING CONDITION. At this point the cupboard had become some sort of vintage clown car. WHAT ELSE IS IN THERE, SIR?

Just take my money.

His grandfather had also made a child's toy box. Did I need that too? Apparently I did. LOAD IT UP.

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I rounded out my purchases there with about a dozen vintage calendar dish towels, a Fire-King Delphite blue bowl, an old Santa coloring book and a wonderful vintage flocked reindeer.

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And then there was one of my favorite finds of the day: a round Hoosier cupboard canister jar with its original lid. I absolutely love it.

By this point, I had already purchased a child's cupboard, a toy box and enough miscellaneous vintage goods to suggest that perhaps the weather was not doing enough to discourage me. So naturally, I continued. I spent the next couple of hours tooling around Nappanee. Some sales understandably didn't open because of the downpour, but several hardy souls looked outside, saw the rain and apparently said:

“Fine. Let the junk people come.” And come we did.

I picked up a fantastic green wooden picnic basket, a little wooden step stool, a couple of children's books, an English pottery bowl, a few bone dishes, a pottery planter, and a vintage mug holder.

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Then I found a whole box of Christmas ornaments. There are newer ornaments mixed in, but there are some great old ones hiding in there too.

I also came home with two beautiful pieces of art, which were a bit of a departure from the tiny kitchens and Christmas debris. One is a signed and numbered print of an American bald eagle. The other is an original watercolor of a lighthouse, signed by the artist. Both are just lovely.

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So after several hours of driving around in pouring rain, getting in and out of the car, opening umbrellas, closing umbrellas, dripping on garage floors and making increasingly questionable decisions... I finally headed home.

Soggy? Yes.

Successful? Also yes.

And somehow I managed to fill the car.

Please note that THE ENAMEL-TOP TABLE I BOUGHT YESTERDAY WAS STILL IN THERE. Did I unload yesterday's purchases before beginning today's hunt? No. Did that stop me from buying furniture today? Also no. You'd be amazed what you can fit into a vehicle when failure is simply not being considered.

The clothes will dry. The shoes will dry. The car will eventually get unloaded. Probably. But there's a larger problem. Just when I thought I was finally catching up on cleaning, researching and pricing everything I've already bought... I'M BEHIND AGAIN. Apparently this is my natural state.

Take the back road.

Find the good junk.

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