Countdown to 127!

I'm not sure it could get any better than last year's adventure (see photos from 2010 below!), but we're still counting down the days until we make our quest to the world's longest garage sale!

Countdown to 127: 113 days, 9 hours, 47 minutes, 41 seconds

127 Countdown

"I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living."

-John D. Rockefeller

Countdown to 127: 118 days, 23 hour,410 minutes, 2 seconds

Countdown to 127!

Countdown to 127: 134 days, 06 hour, 50 minutes, 32 seconds

Countdown to 127- The Raven's Nest

Now, I know you may think that the lives of the ladies of Secondhand Happenings are nothing but work, compulsively sifting through junk and wandering through garages and thrift stores (especially during the 127!), but we do occasionally take time out for more recreational activities. In 2009, the World's Longest Garage Sale brought us through the town of Dunlap, Tennessee. We asked the locals what kind of trouble we could get in to after the sun went down and the sales closed up, and were referred to the Raven's Nest. We had a blast, and were able to meet some fantastic natives!

Music was provided by these fine gentlemen

Erika had a very special serenade

Dancing was provided by Secondhand Happenings and this gentleman

All of our new friends!

Countdown to 127:

162 days, 2 hours, 44 minutes, 35 seconds

Countdown to 127!

Countdown to 127: 168 days, 23 hour, 50 minutes, 20 seconds

Countdown to 127- Sno Balls

Secondhand Happenings recently had a very fun, snowy outing, but as with almost everything, it left us longing for the 127. This past year, the World's Longest Garage Sale introduced us to a new tasty treat: New Orleans style Sno-Balls. Let's make one thing clear: a Sno-Ball is nothing like a Sno-Cone. The ice is shaved, so finely that you could very easily mistake it for a snow ball with your choice of flavor syrup drizzled over it. In the middle of a hot, southern summer, there's nothing more refreshing.

Countdown to 127 (and New Orleans style Sno-Balls!)

176 days, 11 hours, 12 minutes, 23 seconds

127 Countdown!

"I've been so lonely for rummage sales" -Bargain Betty

Countdown to 127:
190 days, 11 hours, 1 minute, 13 seconds

Secondhand gifting 101 with Bargain Betty

Dear Reader,
As Christmas quickly approaches (as well as the 127! Well, sort of...) we have been combing the thrift stores around town for gifts. We can't write about them just yet because we don't want to spoil any surprises, but thought it would be nice to dedicate our weekly countdown to 127 to the subject of secondhand gifts. Today I had the opportunity to speak over the phone with Bargain Betty, a seasoned secondhand veteran.

Secondhand Happenings: Bargain Betty, thank you for taking the time to speak with me during your holiday preparations.

Bargain Betty: You're quite welcome!

S.H. Do you think that there is a better selection at a thrift store or garage sale than at a department store?

B.B. Oh yes! and way cooler stuff.

S.H. What is your favorite secondhand gift you've given?

B.B. I don't now, I buy so many of them! Probably an out of print Edgar Guest book I found for my son. That's my favorite, when you find something you can't get anywhere else.

S.H. I hear that you know a family who only exchanges secondhand gifts.

B.B. Yes, they are happier than anyone. They find better quality items!

S.H. With December being so far removed from the garage sale season, where have you been shopping lately for gifts?

B.B. Well, you look all year. By December you should have most of your shopping done. But I always love the Goodwill!

S.H. What is one item that you would not give secondhand?

B.B. Underwear. That's about it.

S.H. Is there a difference between giving a secondhand gift and the practice of " regifting"?

B.B. I think the reason people regift is because people get so much stuff they don't need or even want. In this culture we are overrun with stuff in our own houses! I don't care if it's regifted or used, if someone really wants or needs it then give it! If you don't care about it, it's not much of a gift.

S.H. Bargain Betty, thank you for your words of wisdom.

Countdown to 127 (And shopping for Christmas 2010!)

224 days, 22 hours, 49 minutes, 5 seconds

Drop it Like it's Clock

In the last post I mentioned that I have been collecting bell jars for the past couple of years. The 127 seems to be teeming with them. I brought home five from our trip this past summer, most of which were covering not-so-charming anniversary clocks. After purchasing these beautiful glass domes, I would carefully pack them in the trunk and discard their gaudy metal and plastic entrails onto the backseat. "What should we do with these?" asked the ladies of Secondhand Happenings. Well, drop them, of course! The concept is simple- when the feeling strikes, pick a clock and drop it, leaving its fate in the hands of the next passerby.







Countdown to 127: 239 days, 1 hour, 54 minutes, 12 seconds

Countdown to 127!

127: Accommodations along the way

If you decide to make your 127 excursion more than a day trip, which we highly recommend, you will quite obviously need to find some sort of accommodations. In our experience, the hotels are generally booked with all of the traffic. Sometimes we make our reservations ahead of time, but we also like to just wing it and see where the road takes us.

This year we had a close call in Tennessee, when we decided last minute to stay in the quaint town of Dunlap which only had two hotels. We arrived at the Mountain Inn and Suites and they only had one room left, which happened to be the jacuzzi room. Oh the poor, distraught ladies of Secondhand Happenings. ;) We couldn't turn it down! The Mountain Inn is highly recommended. Reasonable rates, lovely rooms, and a free breakfast at the restaurant next door.

Another fantastic option is sleeping in the car. Hotel de Helfrich ,as we like to call it, is Elizabeth's station wagon. The back seat flips down and it's just comfortable enough to be sleepable. We spent the evening preceding our 2009 trip at the northernmost point of the sale in a church parking lot.

Awake, alive, and ready for garage saling!

Thank you, Fayette United Methodist Church, for the use of your parking lot. (get it? misteaks?)

Hotel de Helfrich has such a lovely view!

Girltalk

They look like little car sleeping angels...

We quickly warmed to the idea of a jacuzzi,

And also a king sized bed!

Countdown to 127: 246 days, 1 hour, 19 minutes, 5 seconds

127 Countdown

Countdown to 127: 252 days, 13 hour, 57 minutes, 47 seconds

Farmer's Kitchen

In 2008, I hesitantly followed Laura and Liz into Frankfort Kentucky’s “Farmer’s Kitchen”. I was hungry after looking through yard sales all morning and was nervous as to what this diner would have to offer. I studied the menu, and decided on a ham and cheese sandwich with sweet tea. After devouring my sandwich and gulping down several glasses of tea, I had to admit to my friends… they had picked out a great place to eat! We were not able to stop at the Farmer’s Kitchen this year because of the time of day that we past through Frankfort, but I would recommend it to a hungry 127 shopper! -Erika