Thursday 18 December 2014

Our trip to the U.S.A. (14)- tag sales

On the 6th of July, Sunday morning, it was one more glorious day! The sun was shining! There was no clue that two days earlier a hurricane had passed!Or almost!


We started the day with coffee and muffins that Marabeth brought from the local baker's. They were delicious! If I remember well they were pistachio (I loved it), walnut, blue berry and more!
Then we decided we wanted to hit some thrift stores but first go around the neighbourhood to some tag sales!
What is a tag sale you might ask!
People in the States do that usually on Saturdays and Sundays. As most live in houses they take out into their gardens items they don't need and sell them very very cheap.Sometimes whole neighbourhoos organize tag sales..And they advertise them in the local newspapers.
Other names for tag sales are : yard sales, garage sales, estate sales, car boot sales although each is a bit different. I would say what I went to were tag sales and/or yard sales.
Using second hand things is very popular in the States. People buy clothes, appliances, books, toys, everything second hand! I adore that!
Reduce, reuse, recycle!
So we started from a nearby house. The owner's grandmother had died and what he had inherited from her was the contents of her little beach shop. So he was selling new things but very cheap.



Some things that were there did not look American, mostly Chinese made. But what I later found out during my stay in the States was that most items sold are China made!Even the most popular souvenirs at museums like the Statue of Liberty  souvenir!
Anyway at this tag sale we bought a snorkeling mask (one for hubby and one for me for 10 dollars, that's about 7.50 euros for both).
There were so many beach related things but as I said before they weren't things I couldn't find in Greece.
What I did buy was this set of fishermen's glass floats. These are very popular among sea glassers especially if you find them at a beach but I loved those. And they were only three dollars.But it was one big heavy thing that I was afraid might break during the trip back to Greece. It arrived safely though!
 Here it is at the beach house along with my own store bought glass floats. See how smaller they are?
 I also bought these three Indian dolls. If we hadn't visited the casino a couple of days earlier I wouldn't know that such dolls are expensive. They are original,made by Indians with their own serial number on each and they are lovely, each one dollar!A bargain!
See the photo from the casino shop? They are at the bottom shelf.
Also the seller gave us a couple of gifts for free.
Then we went to one more house.
They didn't have too many things out.
 I wish I had bought that red suitcase then because by the end of the month one of our suitcases broke and we had to buy a new one.
 Me looking at books.
This is what I got. This lovely blue and turquoise runner for the beach house. Looks handmade.Sewn and painted.
And some children's readers for school.
And the lady who was selling her things heard that I am a teacher and gave me some books for free which was very nice of her!All for 5 dollars!
(to be continued)



10 comments:

Anonymous said...

What lovely photos it looks like a very pretty place. I love the glass floats and the mat - perfect in a beach house. It was kind of the lady to give you free books for school x

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

It's so much fun to go to sales or the thrift store for bargains. And you never know what you'll find! I love the books and the glass floats! Hugs, Diane

eleanna said...

Ariande, you found little treasures! Oh, I' m so jealous...

Decor Asylum said...

Πολύ ωραίες οι αγορές σου και τι τέλεια ευκαιρία για περίπατο!!1 ΟΙ γυάλινες μπάλες που πήρες, απλά υπέροχες, ειδικά εκεί που τις τοποθέτησες :)

Mii Stitch said...

Another nice day in the States :)

Anonymous said...

really like the little indian dolls!
these tag/yard sales are great!
pitty we don't have things like this here...

Marie-Anne said...

Your glass floats are lovely!!! and I like the way you display them at your summer house. I also have one of those indian dolls, a big one,and I remember well it was not cheap when I bought it some years ago!

Ο κόσμος της Ράνιας said...

Όμορφος κήπος και ξετρελάθηκα με τις μπάλες και τις κούκλες !!! Πραγματικά πολύ ωραίες !!!!

Purple Pixie Dust said...

I am very much enjoying your visit to the states. you did find allot of goodies to take home. hugs Lynda Ruth

Sarah in Stitches said...

It looks like you had a wonderful time! I love yard sales. You never know what you'll find! :D