The Estate Sale. Auntie B, & "Aunti" biotics

 Two weeks ago there was an estate sale that I'm still recovering from...that's right, recovering!  Pour yourself your favorite beverage and sit back for the story.

It all started on a Saturday, and actually there were 2 estate sales.  The first one was a quick 'in & out' and resulted in this pretty little ring for $7.

It was a good start to the day!

When The Enabler - I mean, my husband and I arrived at the second one, the driveway was full, the garage was full, as was the 3 season room off the garage, and the house!  This was going to be a good one!

Right away, I spotted these:

There was no price on them, but the woman (let's call her Kathy) holding the sale came out of the house and said I could have them both for $8.  Sold!  She set them aside for me and invited me to keep shopping.  

As we shopped, we chatted with her and she told us the story of this sale.  Her Auntie B and uncle lived in the house and she had been working on cleaning it out for a year.  How did I not know about the sale she had last year???

The house had been packed with stuff with just little paths to get through it.  Auntie B was a saver and a shopper.  The evidence?  Lots of vintage clothing and many other items still with price tags. I know what you're thinking.  Yes, this was a hoarder situation.

Kathy took a shine to us and told us the house would be going up for sale and we should buy it..oh boy!  My husband started taking a closer look at the house while I shopped - mostly in the garage and 3 season room.  

Back in the garage I spotted this:

And sitting next to it:

$5 each!

They had just been pulled out of a box and there wasn't a chip or scratch anywhere; and the pumps still worked.  I was so excited!

Nothing else was really jumping out at me but we were invited to come back again the next day since more would be put out.  I went home happy!

On Sunday we went back and Kathy greeted us with a big smile.  She wanted to show me some vintage fabric and clothes she still had.  Once again, I started in the 3 season room and spotted this:

I wasn't sure what it was, but is sure was pretty.  I picked it up:

A bird feeder with the price tag still on it - $29.99.  I bought it for $5.

Kathy then took us into one of the bedrooms that was loaded with boxes, some of which contained Tiffany style lamps, Hummels, and fur hats.  She opened the closet and started pulling out dresses from the 40's, 50's, and 60's.  All in pristine condition.  She had me try on a lamb's wool coat trimmed in mink and and a mink cape. Both were gorgeous!  Sadly, we didn't take pictures.  I know.  What were we thinking?  

At this point, I was noticing the musty smell in the house...

We then went into one of the other bedrooms (also full) and she opened one of the dressers that was full of fabric.  SOOOO much fabric.  This was my favorite:

Then she pulled out this gorgeous silk:

The receipt for it:

Note the price and the date!

Kathy told us she had already donated a huge amount of fabric already and wasn't offering a price on what was left.  She asked me to check with people I know to see if there was any interest in it.  

Once again, there was that musty smell...

I looked through the living room and found a few more treasures:

This beautiful parasol:

Musty?  Yes, but a day in the sun took care of it.

Look at the beautiful detail:

Some lace doilies for chair arms and backs:

Musty again, but a good wash and drying in the sun was the cure.

This Arthur Armour charger:

This candle lamp caught my husband's eye:

And a cute little bunny:

We left with 20 less dollars in our pockets, a box of goodies, and no further thoughts of buying that house. 

In a nutshell, it was going to need all new windows and flooring, the full bathroom would be a total gut job, and there was wallpaper...LOTS of wallpaper.  Then there were the rotted soffits and the moisture in the basement...and that musty smell... more work than we wanted to take on.  

It was a good day - or so I thought!

After we were home for a while, my husband remarked, " I can feel that house in my sinuses."  I replied with, "Funny you should say that, my ear feels funny."

I used all my home-remedy tricks but by Wednesday morning I knew my ear was full of fluid.  I got in to see my doctor that day and I was right. No infection, but lots of fluid.  She put me on a 5-day course of prednisone and said if it didn't feel better by Friday, she'd give me an antibiotic.  After a few sleepless nights (prednisone does that to me) it wasn't better.  

So here I am finishing my course of antibiotics and kicking myself.  I should have known better than to spend so much time in a musty house.  Never again!  

My sweet Enabler even has a plan.  He will go in the next questionable house, take video and photos to bring out and show me.  

I absolutely LOVE that man!

I did come home with some great finds, though!  

Which one is your favorite?

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