127 Yard Sale Final Notes, and a Sarcastic Story

Like all good things, even mega yard sale-ing must end. The threat of major storms helped us make up our minds, we were heading home instead of sale-ing into Kentucky and then picking up I64W over to Martha Collins. So, we went I40 to 165 and it was dice-y several times with rain, thunder, and wicked lightning. Poor David in the 42' Kountry Star was trying hard to provide encouragement over our walkie talkies as I followed behind in our car. Yes, we RV'd it (forgive all the inappropriate verbs; it's late), and later this week after a tad bit of editing, I will post a video of a violin concerto in the RV.
If you ever decide to try RV-ing, go to our favorite place that we've rented from for over 7 years, www.familyrv-rentals.com in Whiteland, IN. Their units are luxurious, clean, and reasonable. We started with Class C rentals and have moved up to Class A Diesel Pushers--amazing! Plenty of storage room for all of our yard sale finds. Here's a picture of the unit we rented this year, it was the first time we used a gas engine, but when you make a spur-of-the-moment decision to rent, you can't be too choosy.

I wanted to share this funny story (insert big eye roll here) before I close these notes. David is very uncomfortable haggling. Now, this is the guy who can negotiate with the best of them, but when it comes to yard sales, flea markets, antique sales, nope, ain't gonna happen. His opinion is, "they've set up in _______ (insert weather condition), and are selling 'rock-bottom' (his phrase not mine) and the least I can do is preserve their dignity ("preserving is for fruit not people"; my phrase not his). Since Thursday, I have acted as the haggling coach to which he has repeated every phrase back with feigned confidence; "Is this your best price?", or "Would you take a little less for this?" Never never insult, cut down, laugh, or guffaw at an item no matter the condition. Walk away, walk away, walk away if the price isn't right or you feel confused, unsure, or indifferent.
So here's the story: We are in Clarkrange, TN in the park behind the Cumberland General Store looking for silverplate. He calls me over to a large tent that had some silverplate items. I found a small Reed & Barton tray for $4. He takes it and as he walks toward the dealers, I whisper, "Ask if that's the best they can do on the price." Imagine my humiliation when he turns around and says in his so-called library voice (anyone else's normal speaking voice), "Honey, IT'S $4". Me: "I KNOW, ask anyway". He (louder): "Come On, they've worked hard to put on a good yard sale the least we can do is pay them for their trouble!" I notice the two young  female dealers are following this exchange. I can't let it go, "Honey, this is part of it". He to them: "Okay, she wants me to haggle so will you take $3.99"? in his most sarcastic voice. At this point they are cooing and fawning all over him the two little redheads in their cute tight jeans and skimpy tops. "We sure wish more visitors were like you," as they pry the money out of his hand. They giggle and coo a bit more as they hand him the bag. "You come back and see us, okay?" At this point the humiliation has left me  and I am standing there just taking it in. "Are you happy?" I laugh. "Why, yes, yes I am" he replies strutting his way out of the tent.
YOU cannot teach an old dog new tricks! UNTIL he sees something he wants. He sees an item and I cannot bear to even leave the car. He runs back over after a few minutes of conversation, "I tried the haggling, wow, it really works!" Insert really big eye roll right here!
Good night, my king size bed with plush down comforter and heating blanket set on "High" is calling me.

Even though I am a beekeeper, I buy honey wherever I travel. These are 2 jars of comb honey.

Today was fun but for me the finds were few. There were several items such as jugs and silver that I was unsure about. In that situation, it is better to walk.
Today's finds: cotton fringed dinner napkins, faggoted hankies, glass floral frogs, and a piece of turkey blood stitched homespun. Not a bad day!

Bumper to bumper traffic in all directions. It took 2-1/2 hours to go 20 miles.

Tennessee is known for delicious fried pies that can be found in restaurants, gas stations, and all along highway 127.

A look at today's finds!

Close-up of beautiful violin.

Today's purchases are a Karl Meisel violin, sewing basket w/ contents including silverplate sewing scissors, and bone crochet hook, misc. Cookbooks, picnic basket, plus a few other things.

Vendors at Clarkrange, TN. Storms had vendors and 'salers running for covers. Many just called it a day after one storm flipped canopies.

Smoked Boloney is Delicious

Smoked bologna sandwich and bbq pickles for my lunch.

Day One of yard sale-ing begins!
Will head to KY-TN line to the Alvin C. York historical site and work back down to Crossville.
Will post pictures along the way!

Notes from the World's Longest Yard Sale

I'm heading towards the 127 Yard Sale, www.127sale.com, starting tomorrow August 2nd through Sunday, August 5th. One never knows what will be found and there is always an unofficial "it" purchase that every vendor seems to have. One year it seemed that chamber pots were the "it" item, another year birdhouses, and another year, quilts reigned.
When attending an event like this it is best not have a specific item in mind but a loose idea of what you want to look for. If you are looking for vintage costume jewelry mimicking items found on the Titanic, good luck. You will drive yourself crazy and walk away disappointed. But, if you think costume jewelry, vintage or retro (familiarize yourself with these 2 terms), you will probably be in luck. This year I am generally thinking, bee stuff, quilts, and silverplate, oh, cookbooks too.
I will randomly post and maybe put up a video too; giving you an insider's glimpse of yard sale-ing in all of it's kitschy  glory!

For your enjoyment, a video from the 127 yard sale. This fellow is usually in the park behind the Cumberland General Store in Clark Range, Tennessee.

Fizzy Foot Bath Bombs

I was inspired by www.freshpickedbeauty.com 's recent post for wonderful rose petal bath bombs. I longed to make them, but realizing that I've used our bathtub...thinking...thinking...NEVER, I knew it was a waste of time and ingredients. Yet, the idea lingered; the thought of a tubful of fizzing water filling with fragrance then the soaking of tired skin, aahhh, I just couldn't shake the comforting thought of this. How could I make this work for me? Blink, lightbulb goes off, foot soak!

I do make time for relaxing foot soaks because I can do something with my hands like reading, typing, and if I'm too tired, I could watch a few minutes of television. Seriously, am I the only one out there who doesn't soak in a tub filled with rose petals? Overly dramatic, yes, but we are in the middle of a drought and I would feel so guilty filling the tub because in my mind after the soak comes the slogging of many buckets of water downstairs, through the main door, and out to the landscaping and gardens. I really don't think Fresh Picked Beauty had THAT in mind.

I played around in the kitchen with this idea and came up with Peppermint-Tea Tree Fizzy Foot Bath Bombs. They smell wonderful and the "test" bomb was delightful leaving my feet pleasantly scented and soft to the touch. The only caveat: do not over spray them because it will activate the fizzing action. 10 spritzs  is all you need. Maybe 11 if your environment is really dry.

Enjoy them! And, leave me a comment to let me know you liked this post.

Peppermint-Tea Tree Fizzy Foot Bath Bombs

Makes: depends on the mold that you use

Ingredients
200 grams Baking Soda (plain old grocery store brand is what you're looking for)
100 grams Citric Acid (you can Fruit Fresh anti-browning fruit powder from the grocery)
5 grams crushed dried mint leaves
5 grams Sweet Almond Oil (use olive oil in a pinch)
15 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

15 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
Water in a spray bottle 

Preparation:

Mix together the dry ingredients.

Stir in oils.

Spritz then use your hands to mix in the water.

Quickly press into molds. If you don't have a suitable mold, just make patties or blobs of the mixture.

Use parchment paper underneath while waiting 24 hours for them to dry! I found that any other surface caused them to stick.

Fill a tub or bucket that can contain both feet with warm water and drop in two bombs. Let the relaxing begin!

Just a few ingredients

Crushed mint, baking soda, citric acid, essential oils, and almond oil about to be mixed.

spray bottle of scented (plain works) water, ice cube tray too.

Peppermint-Tea Tree Fizzy Foot Bath Bombs!

Totally tomatoes!

Click this to view----->   Janine Washle talks about different types of tomatoes

Fancy No-Bake Cookies and Loving School Lunch

As a child,  Mom's meals reflected what she knew, German food. She was a wonderful cook baking German tortes and breads, simmering red cabbage with apples and cloves, frying dinnerplate-size schnitzel, making sauces; ..."gravy is for people who can't make sauce", one of her many verbal culinary jabs at southernisms she didn't quite understand. All delicious but not the dishes our neighbors were eating.


It was the elementary school cafeteria that gave me my first tastes of American food, greens & vinegar, fried bologna (cowboy hats) and mashed potatoes, meatloaf doused in a ketchup topping, ruby-red stewed tomatoes, and no-bake cookies. So delicious were the smells coming from the Falls Mills Elementary cafeteria that it was difficult to concentrate on schoolwork and as lunch period approached, the smells became more distinct. It was easy to pick out the pungent smell of mixed greens, the ketchup-y topping of meatloaf, and hamburgers had a smell all their own. But it was the no-bake cookie that had my heart.


Ah, the no-bake cookie. It wasn't until adulthood that I discovered the recipe for this childhood treat. Because I had no background for making it, I admit, I messed it up several times. It requires candy making skill and we didn't make candy at home. 


Recently, having a hankering for no-bake cookies caused me to do what I do best, fiddle with the recipe. And fiddle I did until I conjured up:  Fancy No-Bake Cookies. Notice, only three ingredients, easy...and fancy.

Fancy No-Bake Cookies

Makes: One 8" x 8" dish

From L to R: Prepared ganache, natural peanut butter, oats

Ingredients:
2 cups ganache, recipe follows
1 cup commercially prepared peanut butter (Jif) OR
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
3 cups 1 minute oats


Preparation:
Put ganache, and peanut butter in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Stirring constantly, mix the two ingredients until thoroughly warmed and combined. Remove from heat.
Stir in oats. Immediately spread in a buttered 8" x 8" glass dish. Refrigerate about 2 hours until set.


TIP: After stirring in oats, drop cookies onto a parchment-lined baking sheet by spoonfuls. Warm as needed in order to drop the entire batch.
Natural peanut butter makes the cookies softer than commercially prepared peanut butter. Knowing this, add more as you like. 
Lastly, these aren't as sweet as the classic, so you may add 1/2 to 1 cup powdered sugar while melting the ganache and peanut butter together PLUS a 1/4 cup of heavy cream to smooth it out.


Ganache:


1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream


Preparation:
Melt chips in a double boiler. Warm heavy cream in a separate saucepan. When chips are melted, slowly stir in cream. Cool at room temperature. Use as desired.

Picnic Series-The Last Leg, Installation 6

Post By: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle

        
          Who likes doing dishes? A show of hands? Though I cannot actually see you, reader, I am 99% positive you are not sitting at your computer raising your hand. I have literally only met two people in my life who like to do dishes, point being, when it comes to parties, no one volunteers to use their personal   cutlery and dinnerware. Why? Because no one in their right mind wants to throw a party, cook food and clean house in preparation for guests only to have to wash all those dishes as soon as the guests leave. Dishes for 20 could take more time than most are willing to spend. Thank goodness we live in a modern society, right? There is this fantastic new invention called disposable plastic ware! Go ahead, "oooh" and "ahhh", take it in. Now stop. I hope it was clear that the three previous statements were meant to be delivered with the utmost sarcasm.
         Of the aforementioned facts, a few of them do ring true- 1. No one enjoys dish washing, 2. We live in a modern society with lots of convenient tools available, 3. Plastic-ware does exist.
         Really though, it is time to get with the program, there is a way to avoid dishes without utilizing plastic whose destiny is to end up on a landfill. Your items need not be plastic, there is yet another option.  Along with the advent of plastic dining ware came another, a dining ware that was biodegradable. This is clearly the better option; it is readily available online and is about as inexpensive as the other options. Few people are aware of the the fact that biodegradable forks, knives, spoons and plates, bowls, and even cups are all out on the market. With either product, you can still escape the monotony of dish washing...
         This is the last segment about picnicking so we just thought we would end by reminding you that there are environmental options out there for almost everything you do. Please go out and enjoy your summer but do not forget that your choices have long term effect, making the environmentally friendly choice is not only good for you, it is good for the generations to come.

Here are links to websites where the products mentioned above are available:

• http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=181
• http://www.sustyparty.com/?gclid=COnwk8HUgLECFQHDtgod32ticg
• http://www.biocutleries.com/?gclid=CNaLpdLUgLECFWyHtgodvkPELQ
• http://www.smarter.com/se--qq-biodegradable%2Bdinnerware.html
• http://www.foodservicewarehouse.com/education/biodegradable-dinnerware/c5263.aspx

Saturday's Super-Food Supper

Post By: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle


In an effort to utilize alliteration, we thought Saturday would be a positively perfect opportunity to feature food that is beneficial to the body! Below you will find 4 recipes, together they make a tasty table spread! Not only is everything incredibly tasty, but each dish also features a "super-food." Super foods are foods that offer notable amounts of important vitamins and minerals. 
The recipes are below, but first, a little more info about our featured super-foods:

Carrots:  

• Full of Carotene, which the body converts to Vitamin A. 
• Excellent source of the Vitamins B & C
• Great for your hair and eyes 
• Full of fiber, benefiting the digestive system

Extra Virgin Olive Oil:

• Contains the antioxidant Vitamin E
• Data indicates olive oil consumption is good for maintaining healthy levels of cholesterol
• Has mild Laxative properties
• Helps build a balance between the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats

Quinoa:

• Contains high concentrations of two flavonoids- quercetin and kaempferol
• Contains anti-inflammatory agents
• Provides more then half your daily value of Manganese
• Full of protein-great for Vegetarians who need to intake protein in the absence of meat

Dark-Chocolate: 

• Studies suggest that eating dark chocolate in moderate amounts is good for cardiovascular health
• Brimming with natural antioxidants-good for your immune system
• It is delicious!

Beta-Salad 2.0

 Ingredients:

• 2 cups Grated Carrots
• 1/2 cup Almond Slices
• 1 cup Parsley
• Lettuce Cups

Directions:

Grate carrots and add to a bowl. Add your almond slices and parsley. Stir together and serve in lettuce cups. Serve with pomegranate dressing (recipe below) for best flavor.  

Pomegranate Dressing:
Ingredients:

• 1/4 Cup Pom Juice
• 1/4 TSP Salt
• 1/4 TSP Pepper
• 2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 TSP Honey

Directions:
Whisk ingredients together in a small bowl, serve on Beta-Salad 2.0. 


Quinoa-Veggie Soup
Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked Quinoa
• 4 cups Vegetable Broth
• 1 1/2 cups Veggie Meatballs
• 2 cups Tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
• 2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a little more for garnish
• 1/2 cup Sweet Onion
• 2 cloves minced Garlic
• 1/4 chopped Basil
• 1/4 TSP Sea Salt
• 1/4 TSP Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Directions:
Add the cooked Quinoa, meatballs, and tomatoes to warm vegetable broth. Set aside. Saute your onions, then add to broth. Simmer the mixture for 15 minutes. Remove one cup of broth and vegetables (no meatballs) and puree in a food processor. Add the puree back to the rest of the broth. Stir together well. To serve, divide among four bowls. Top each bowl with basil, dividing equally between the bowls. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil on top for garnish. 

‘Summer Dreams’ Tomato Bread

(Makes two loaves)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup tomato juice (homemade is what I use)

• 1 cup water

• 2-1/2 tsp active dry yeast

• 1/3 cup honey

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil or olive oil

• 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions

• 2 TB minced fresh Italian parsley

• 1 TB minced fresh rosemary

• 1 TB fennel seed or sesame seed

• 1 clove garlic, pressed

• 1 tsp salt

• 5-1/2 cups flour, divided

Directions:

In small saucepan, combine tomato juice and water. Cook over low heat to 105-115°F. Pour into large warm mixing bowl and add yeast; stir until dissolved. Add honey, oil, scallions, parsley, rosemary, fennel, garlic and salt; mix well. Add 1 cup flour and stir until smooth. Stir in more flour until a firm dough is formed. Knead on a lightly floured surface about 5 minutes. Shape into a ball and place in a large greased bowl; turn to grease all sides. Cover bowl and set in a warm place to rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size. Punch dough down and divide into 2 equal parts. Shape each piece into a loaf and place in a greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until doubled in size. Bake at 400°F about 30 minutes or until loaves have a hollow sound when tapped and crust is brown. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack.

Dark-Chocolate Fudge

(Recipe from "The Home-Made Sweet Shop")

Ingredients:

• 4 cups Superfine Sugar
• 1 cup whole milk
• 6 TBSP Unsalted Butter, cut into small pieces, plus extra for greasing
• 12 oz. Dark Chocolate, cut into small pieces
• 1 TSP Vanilla Extract. 

Directions:

Grease a 8x12in baking tin and line with baking parchment paper. Prepare and ice bath water. 

Put the sugar, milk and butter in a large heavy pan and cook over a moderate heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves. 

When the sugar dissolves and the butter is melted, stop stirring. Bring mixture to a boil. 

Without stirring, let the mixture cook at a slow rolling boil for about 10 minutes, or until it reaches 238 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir in the chocolate.

Immediately place the pan over the ice water bath for a few seconds. Stir in the vanilla extract. Pour into tin. Leave to cool. 

Lift out of the tin by the sides of the parchment paper and place on a chopping board. Cut into squares and serve. Store in airtight container. 

Picnic Series- Installation 5

Post By: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle

A Piece-It-Together Picnic!

When you want to picnic but you don't want to go out and get all the necessary food, it is time for a piece-it-together picnic. The idea is similar to that of a church luncheon; everyone brings a dish they enjoy or have on hand. All you have to do is call a few friends, just decide a time and place. Then you all show up with one edible item. By the time you and your group of friends are assembled, you should have quite the nice little array of food. Now enjoy the food, fun, and fellowship as you all dine out amongst nature's beauty! 

DIY Paper Pockets

Post By: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle

Today's post is going to be an instructional post, giving step by step instructions for how to make paper pockets! Simple to make, these pockets can be used for many different purposes. At the bottom there are pictures of what we did with our pockets and extra suggestions for how to use these little cuties! Without further ado, let's get started!

Step 1: Gather supplies!
You will need:

• Paper
• Scissors
• Something Round 
• A sewing machine (or a needle and thread)
• Candy 
• Markers or Stickers for decorating! 

Step 2: Take your round object and trace a circle onto your paper.

We used the bottom of a candle stick.

Step 3: Once you have one circle, cut it out and use it as a stencil. We took out first paper circle and traced as many circles as we could on our scrap piece of craft paper. You can use any paper you like, but remember, in an effort to be eco-friendly always try and maximize the space on one sheet of paper.

This was our piece of paper, we started tracing...

...and ended up with this. There are enough circles
here to make thirteen paper pockets.

Step 4: Cut all your circles out!

Step 5: Grab your sewing machine and get ready to sew paper. To do this, take two of your circles and lay them on top of each other. Place them how you would normally place a piece of fabric. (Pictured below)

This is how your paper circles should look before you sew.

Hold your paper circles and begin to sew.

Sew halfway around the circle and then stop. 

Grab some candy; this is what we stuffed into our paper pockets.

Use your finger to push in each piece of candy. Don't put too
much inside or you will have a difficult time trying to close it up.

Your candy should be inside and pushed back as far as possible.

This is what the stuffed pocket will look like. Now it is time
to finish sewing the pocket closed. To do this, pinch the paper
together and continue to sew the perimeter.

Once you have sewn around the entire circle cut the strings.
You need to pull all the loose strings to the back of your pocket
and tie a knot. This keeps the stitching from unraveling.
 Cut off the extra string and...

...TADAHH! The completely sewn circle will look like this! 

Step 6: Time to decorate! This is where you can get as creative as you want. You can use markers, stamps, pens, stickers, buttons, tissue paper, or paint! It is up to you!
Below are some of the designs we made using just a few pens.

These would make really cute party favors.
We put a bunch of them in a basket by the door so our guests
could take one as they left, to add excitement we wrote the following little poem:
"Even thought it is time to go,
We just wanted you to know:
Having you was such a treat!
Please take a little something sweet!"

We also thought these little pockets would be a really cute something
to receive in the mail. You could use them as a thank-you card,
a thinking-of-you card, a get well soon card, or just to say hello!

Back to the mail idea, you could reinvent your traditional Christmas
card. Try replacing it with a paper pocket filled with candy canes!
If you want to stick with a plain Christmas card, that doesn't
mean you couldn't break these babies out at another holiday! ;)

These pockets could be used to make someone's day..stash a few in
your desk or purse and when you see someone in need
of a pick-me-up, casually pass them a pocket with an uplifting message!

We really like the idea of making someone's day so really, get
creative! You can say any number of things; say something
sweet or just order someone to "HAVE A GREAT DAY!!"

If ordering someone to have a nice day doesn't float your boat,
try a gentler method- crack a few jokes!

On an entirely different note, try switching out the candy for
a few flower seeds and some soil. If you use biodegradable paper
(most paper is) then you can make a package that can be buried!
That is right, with seeds and soil, this paper pocket is ready to be planted!
Dig a hole and toss it in, later on you can enjoy a few pretty flowers.

 You can use scrap fabric as well as paper, and the decoration possibilities are just about endless. You can put just about anything inside as well.With these pockets, the sky is the limit!