Last week I mentioned yard sales, and one of the longest ones begins this week. The 12th Annual Highway 52 yard sale goes for over ninety miles, from the I-65 Orlinda and Portland exit (117) all the way to the Overton/Clay County line east of Celina, Tennessee. The dates are this Friday, May 20 and Saturday May 21, but you'll find a few people setting up on Thursday and staying open on Sunday if the weather is good. Last year they reported over 800 sellers.
The many stores and businesses on the route have sidewalk sales, weekend specials, and food. When you're in Celina, be sure to stop at Ain't That Nice, a wonderful shop on the square. I bought these pretty cobalt blue dessert dishes there last Friday while we were camping at nearby Dale Hollow Dam.
People bring everything, and I mean everything, out to sell during this event. In the past I've seen fine antique furniture, stoneware crocks, delicate lace, glassware, videos, 8-tracks, farm implements, plants, plumbing supplies, cars, rusty old tools, mowers, chain saws, wore-out tires, thousands of knick-knacks and enough clothing to dress everyone in the state. There have been a few piles of rubbish and moldy smelling stuff that I thought should be hauled to the dump instead of to a yard sale! Oh well, you just never know what people might be looking for.
Most things are priced fairly, some are extremely expensive, and other stuff is dirt cheap. I've found some great bargains, including an old wooden ironing board ($5) and a brown Bakelite AM tube radio ($8) that looks fabulous in my spare bedroom.
There are clusters of sellers at crossroads, in towns and more populated areas, but of course there are gaps along the way with none at all. Be aware of signs for other sales down the side roads, too. Take plenty of cash and change, a hat, sunscreen, chigger spray, an umbrella, some water and snacks.
It will take longer than you think, because of the slow traffic. Take a friend along to spot the good sales so the driver can keep her eyes on the road. People & kids dart out and drivers slam on brakes to snag a good parking spot. The shoulders are wide from I-65 to east of Lafayette, but after that it's narrow till you get into Celina. Have fun and be careful...see you out there!
For more information: http://www.tn52.com/tn52_yard_sale.htm
Useful Notions: As you shop yard sales this year, think about how you can use things for something other than their original purpose. The old ironing board I bought is now a plant stand on my back porch.
“You can tell a lot about a person by what they sell at their garage sale. What kind of books they read, what kind of music they listen to ...” ~ Wynetta Wilson
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