Four Months - How is that possible!

*Tap *tap?  Is anyone still out there?  I shocked myself when I looked and saw that I haven't posted for FOUR MONTHS.  I never thought I would see that day!  Before I actually blog, I want to thank Lynn for sending me postcards from around the world.  She's a long time blog reader and friend and has remembered me on her vacations for several years.  I really appreciate you Lynn!

So, I have finished up TWO Junk Ranch shows since I last posted.  The October show was a great show as always - still hot though, but now nearly as bad as June.  I sold a lot, saw old friends and make new friends.  I've done is so many times now, it's pretty much an easy set up and tear down.

My usual set up with new/old junk.

Local news story about the Junk Ranch.  They shot it in my booth and that's pretty much all my stuff in the story.  Excuse my narrative during it.  ;)

Near the end of the day, a big popup rain shower hit.  It made a mess of a few things as we threw them under the tent.  But, we were rewarded with a huge rainbow right overheard.  

That was October 5th.  On December 6th (this past weekend) we had the Holly Jolly Junk Ranch.  You might remember last year that Day One was sunny, warm and full of customers.  

But, that night straight line winds and horrific rain moved in, which resulted in decimation on the field.  I lost 5-60% of my inventory as well as my brand new $400 canopy.  

This year I am happy to say that the show and the weather were pure perfection.  The people lined up at the gates in the mornings and my booth was packed for the first hour and steady all day long.  I sold vintage and things that I had made.  Lots of happy customers and a very happy ME!  

There is an old truck on the field that is a perfect photo op during the show.  This year, I took my personal blowmold collection out and placed them in the truck.  I also have a life size store display Santa that I took and put in the back so it looked like a parade float.

  

It was all lit up at night as looked super cute.  

The side of the old farmhouse was decorated too.  These aren't my blowmolds - but I wish they were! Love that huge Santa!

Amy and Julie do so many fun and extra things to make it a fun show.  Santa was set up for photos and that was pretty much expected at a Christmas show.  

But the Grinch roamed around and delighted/scared kids all weekend too.  I'm not sure who was in that outfit, but he did an outstanding job as the Grinch!  Down with Santa????

My booth is first in the door and always busy.  This was just as the gates opened.

My junk looked good at night!  Cheap magnetic lights from Amazon did the job perfectly with some Christmas lights added in for cheer.

It was a great weekend.  The Bean helped me in every way with every single detail.  It's my business, but I swear he could set it up just like I do now.  He pays attention.  Normally, the husband helps load in and out, but this time he said it was just too much and didn't want to be involved.  Now, I don't want to husband bash or talk smack.  But, WHAT THE HELL?  All he does is set things in the truck and out of the truck so it speeds it up a little.  I think he thinks this is "mine" so I need to do it myself.  But, I also think he forgets who organizes his taxes, writes his checks to his workers, washes his uniforms and makes plans around HIS schedule for "his" job.  I also think he needs to be reminded about that.  And that is the end of that.  

Thanks for stopping by and continuing to stop by to see if I ever post anymore.  I'll try to get better about it. I know blogs are sort of a dying thing.  But, I do so love to write and talk about stuff even if my life seems quiet and boring over here.  I'm always on Instagram @sharamonkeybox with photos and tales every day.  Come over is you aren't already!

  

What's Been Going On Around Here

Just popping in to say THANK YOU for all the super sweet comments everyone left on the past post.  It's so nice to hear from people that are still stopping by here from time to time.  

Have I ever blogged about the fact that we bought the Bread route from the company?  Almost all chip, cookie and bread routes are now independently owned all over the USA.  We had to take out an $80,000 loan, lease a box truck, file for an LLC, tax number, etc.  And when I say "we" I mean "me" because The Breadman doesn't know how to use a computer.  I've tried to show him - but NOPE.  He still needs a PHONE BOOK because he can't GOOGLE.  Anyway, I digress.  Because of his lack of computer skills and bookkeeping skills - I have suddenly become a bookkeeper and a tax person.  We bought the route in April of 2018 and plugged along for a whole year- saved every penny we had so we could pay our taxes and did everything the right way.  He built up the route so it had quite a bit of equity in it in less than a year.  He had made more equity in a year than most routes do in ten years.  Part of that is because the person running it before him did a HORIBLE job.  But part of it is because The Breadman takes care of his customers and built up his sales.  

The company is now restructuring and they bought back his route and he is buying a better route with more money and a lot less stops and driving.  He was able to pay off the route he has now, put a nice down payment on the new route and we are getting a good chunk of cash too.  His new route consists of the Children's Hospital, a Sam's Club and a Walmart and a Walmart Super Center, plus the biggest ChickfilA.  In addition to bread and buns, he also sells Taki chips, BIMBO cakes and Boboli pizza crusts.  So each stop is a lot of stocking in big stores like that.  But, he will only drive about fifteen miles round trip each day and now it is over 100 a day.  

Long time readers will remember the day that he was working for Wonder Bread and they called and said, "Come in, no one had a job anymore."  We went through a rough couple of years with no job, then a route, then working nights loading trucks, to being back on a route.  Buying the business was scary stuff, but it was job security.  And, he is a very HARD good worker and the customers love him.  His current customers are not happy that he is leaving their stores!  I am happy that he is a hard worker.  I try to handle everything here at the house, plus all the paperwork, paying our part time pull person and making sure he has a hot meal so he can go to bed and get up at the ungodly hour of 1:00 AM.  Between all that, the booth, the constant Junk Ranch prep, doctor appointments for me, my Mom and my Dad - I AM TIRED TOO.  :)

Also, this is a new thing for me.  High blood pressure.  Ugh.  Stress and anxiety can do that to a person.  Plus, I love chips.  LOL  Trying to cut back on salt and drink lots of water.

 I have found two happy laces that I like to visit when the anxiety and stress kick in.  Both equally addicting and spendy......The Goodwill Bins and the Casino.  HA!  I alternate between the tow form time to time, either bringing home bags of junk or HOPEFULLY money!

I won a $1920 jackpot in June and a $1600 one in May.  I've found great stuff in the bins for the booth and for the Junk Ranch - both of selling as is and for crafting.  So, I make a little at the casino, then spend a little at the Bins.  Or I lose a little at the casino, so I go to the bins to recoup.  It's all fun.

I found all these safety pin beaded baskets in the bins last week.  I found one, but threw it back. Then I kept finding them, so I bought them all.  They aren't my favorite, but I appreciate the time and work.  People seem to like them, so they are headed to the Junk Ranch and then Instagram if there are any left.

This little one made with metallic beads and beaded flowers is a keeper - it has the loveliest colors and patina.  Maybe I will sell it someday, but for a bit, it's staying here.

Thank you again for all the comments!  I'll try to be back with more bin finds and jackpots!  (One can dream right?) :)

Junk Ranch Spring Edition 2019

Another Junk Ranch is in the books!

Wednesday is the day we start set up.  But, this particular Wednesday was a wash out - it poured rain all day and the fields and street were flooded.  The Junk Ranch takes place in a big old field, so it was a nervous day waiting to see what Thursday would bring.  Luckily, the rain stopped late Wednesday night and the sun came out early on Thursday.  Load in was delayed until noon Thursday to give the field time to dry out.  My spot was a little soft, so I had to carry all my items into the field before setup.  I usually set up my booth on Wednesday and then have all day Thursday to get the merchandise displayed, plus a couple hours on Friday morning to finish up.  But, this time I had five hours to do it all PLUS carry it all in.  I was an emotional mess.  But, I had The Bean and The Breadman with me plus a fabulous Ranch Hand named Tadpole came to my rescue with a Gator.  The boys piled in on the Gator and Tadpole drove it to me.  I started setting up the area while they schlepped it all to me.  I ended up having it show ready in less than five hours from pull in to pull out time.  It was nice to know that I was able to do that - but I really don't want to have to do it again.  I was EXHAUSTED.  

The show hours were a bit different this year so maybe we could beat the heat.  The gates opened at 8:00 am each day and closed at 3:00 on Friday and 4:00 on Saturday.  It was still hot even though we had earlier hours and it was two weeks earlier than usual.  But, it stayed dry, so that was what really mattered for a successful show for me.  

I have found a lot of  vintage paintings this year and I found an easel, so I made a little art corner.  I sold quite a few of the paintings.  It also blocked the area where the two tent legs were awkward.  

My best friend from high school came to see me!  We have only seen each other twice in over thirty years.  I didn't have much time to talk, but it sure was sweet of her to come see me!

This little sweetie got the vintage sombrero from my booth.  It was the real deal and child sized.  I have never seen such a cute sombrero.  Or little customer, for that matter!  

The little gals were investigating the inside of the old metal dollhouse that was under the table.  

My sign out front.  I need to have it permanently painted because I have to redo it every show and sometimes every day if the moisture gets it.  

Okay, more booth shots.  I just threw it all up this time, but I did make some themed vignettes.  Side-eye Jesus got a lot of attention, but didn't sell.  That's okay by me, because he's a conversation starter.  

I really never know what all I have because I buy it, price it and store it all year long.  When I started putting it out, I had chickens, sheep, pigs, butter boxes, butter signs, milk bottles and breadboards - so a farmyard theme developed on this side.  One gal picked up a butter box and said, "What would anyone DO with an old butter box?"  Then she opened it and declared, "IT IS EMPTY".  I think she was in for a difficult day out on that field if the thought of a vintage NOS butter box baffled her that much.  It made me chuckle.  

I enjoyed the "scary doll" holding a pistol.  The gun sold pretty early, the doll did not.    

A truly horrible shot, but I took some old book pages from a 1930's Farm Animal book and framed them.  I sold most of them and now I need to find more because they were SUPER CUTE.  

I love old toys and I always take a lot, but they really don't sell well.  But, this time I sold a lot of them!  Yeah!  

Always plenty to see in my booth.

This side was pretty much all the things that I had taken to the Junk ranch a time of two, so I marked it all down and then I even had a half price sale on Saturday afternoon to move some of it out.  Now it will go to the booth.  

The souvenir plates are popular lately.  I have about 50 of them, but only took some with me.  I thought people hung them on the wall, but most of them said the actually eat on them!

This was the half off area before I made it half off, I had to pull somethings that I didn't want to practically give away.  Like that Irmi lamp.  

Cowboy area, office supply area, coffee area.  I still love my crates - easy to make small things seem like big areas.  

I had a few extra tubs full, so I just let people dig in them. It was interesting that the mentality of digging in boxes meant that they wanted it super cheap.  That's why I prefer to display it -but I'm still cheap on my prices.  

Annalee's are popular too.  Thank goodness!

Here was the line behind me at load in.

And the line in front of me.  

I had my first theft.  It really made me sick.  I wouldn't have noticed it if it hadn't of been the single most expensive thing in my booth!  I had two really old cast iron Turkey doorstops.  They were iron and super heavy and worth double the $68 I had on each one.  I had gone to the bathroom and when I came back, I noticed one was gone.  I was excited!  Until The Bean and Lara said no one had paid either of them for it.  The next day, the owners of TJR told me that someone else had a metal bird stolen from their booth.  So, someone had made a game of stealing metal birds!  I bet they took more, but people either didn't realize it or didn't report it.  

It's always fun selling at the Junk Ranch, but by the time we are all done tearing it down, we almost all say we are DONE and will never do it again.  But, then a few weeks pass and we all get excited about it again.  I think it's like having a baby.  You forget the bad part and just remember the  good stuff.  The good stuff for me are all the friends I have made with the vendors and my favorite customers that drive across town to see me and that drive from states away to see me.  They bring me gifts, cookies and homemade sweet tea.  Seriously, great folks.  

So with that, I have started making and buying all ready!  October will be here soon!  :D

PS If you read this - please leave a comment?  Just so I know that someone is reading it somewhere.  

Neosho Citywide Sales

The Bean and I got up early Friday morning and headed to Neosho.  He's still my yard sale road trip buddy, which is nice for a multitude of reasons.  I wouldn't travel alone, I love his company, he shops too and in case there's another F-L-A-T, he can change it for me.  We usually stop at the AR state line and hit Goodwill right as they are opening to use the restroom and to make a quick run through the aisles.  This time we were too early to do that (I WAS TOO EARLY!), so we just got some gas and used the restroom there (TMI?).  We hit our first sales in Neosho about 9:00, which I am sure is late to the die-hards, but there's a drive and I really don't want to deal with the die-hards that are there trying to get the furniture and tools and stuff very first thing.  I never go in mind of what I want - I am just happy to find what I do find.

First stop was at a motel where people set up in the parking lot.  It's really more new stuff, but The Bean collects knives, so he usually finds one there.  So, I stop there first thing to appease him.  There is also this family that buys storage sheds and estate sales and they bring all the clothes and leftover household goods and smalls there.  They line them up on these 40 foot long tables and everything is a quarter.  A lot of times it is store buyouts and there is old medicine and crap that no one wants.  But, this time there was a lot of older stuff like I like.  I spent $10.00, so that was 40 items.  I dug and found a pocket of vintage Christmas, which was probably my best find of the day, really.  It wasn't a lot, but it was in perfect condition and the price was certainly right.

I got most of that Christmas there, but I did find a little bit here and there throughout the day.  The old indents are my favorite and I need them for inventory - but COME ON!  They cost a quarter for all of them and they are beautiful.  So, that will be a conundrum for me.  There's a sneak peak of some of my finds.  

I found this Holt Howard soup tureen at a Church Sale about noon.  I was amazed it was still there - and only $2.00!  The tomato shakers were by it, so I put them inside the tureen along with a little 10¢ Kewpie doll.  When I got home, they were still inside so I'm not sure I paid for them.  I thought the shakers went with the tureen, but they were priced $3.00.  I did tip them $2.00, bit now I have guilt over that $1.00.  I will remember next year and tip more.  Things like that really bother me!

We stopped at an antique store that had tents set up in the parking lot.  I scored the vintage musical bunny out of a bin at a tent full of newer baby junk.  You never know when you will find an oddball vintage item.  So much of this stuff was picked up an item here, an item there.  But in the end, it looks like a lot and it all meshes together.  

Close up of the Christmas because WHY NOT?  Those indents are so, so fabulous.  

The Quince and Cherry prints were at a sale with a lot of good stuff, but nothing was priced.  My pet peeve.  But, then I noticed a sign - everything $1.00.  Well, WHOOPIE!  I only bought seven things because we were afoot and the car was a long ways away.  

I think I got the chocolate box there.  And that embroidered baby announcement.  The people selling it liked it, but wondered who would want such a thing.  "Lots of people", I said.  I bought the old Goodyear breast pump from a scroungy, but very nice, guy in a roller rink parking lot.  He looked at it to determine what it was and then said, "Ouch".  :)  I don't understand how so many people are selling things that don't know what they have until I walk up with it.  

Can you see the elephants on the card tablecloth?  The glass heart was a 25¢ impulse buy because it looked nicer than usual.  It turned out to be a Robert Held piece from Canada worth about $40.00.  

Dogs and deer were at the 25¢ tables sale.  They'll be worked into something Christmas-y.  That fruit is old and made of wax.  I rarely find that stuff in good shape.  The BINGO thing is a box top, but still cool.  The roller skate is Avon, which I do not like - but I am on the hunt for some roller skating items, so I grabbed it.  

Some books and odds and ends.  If I like it and it's cheap - I buy it.  I bought a box full of those white balls, pool chalk and lots of other weird gaming stuff.  Someone guessed the balls are Foosball balls, and I think they are right.  

I picked these up at the quarter sale.  I thought someone might like them for a buck or two.  I have young customers looking for "old stuff" from the mid 80's.  Ermergerd.  They are kitschy enough someone might like them.  

  

When I was unpacking, I found these sweet little Wintery barn paintings in my bag.  I'd never seen them before - what on earth?  Then I flipped them over and found the little girls on the reverse.  So, I accidentally scored some nice paintings too.  

The Bean has a collection of mini monuments, so it was fun to find these three to add to the collection.  

On the way home, we stopped at the Goodwill because it was 4:50, and the traffic from Walmart corporate was about to let out.  I'd rather kill time that be in all that traffic.  Plus hello?  Goodwill!  It was there that I found the most hideous thing EVER.  

STEP AWAY FROM THE GLUE GUN.  

Can you EVEN?  

The vintage doodads aren't a bad addition - but all those dang 1980's bows?  Blech.  

I thought it was a ceramic light up tree and I could tell it was hot glue, so I thought I could pop off the stuff and hopefully the tree would be salvageable.  

*Fingers crossed!

SUCCESS!

Although it's not a lighted tree - just a tree.  But it's still pretty neat and I know it will sell.  

Plus I saved the good vintage stuff for my creations too.

Win-Win!

So, next weekend there are TWO citywide sales - one in Bella Vista and one in Elkins - both about equal distances from my house - 20 minutes or so.  Bella Vista is sprawling and on hills, but I had good luck last year.  Elkins is a new sale this year, so who knows?  There are a lot of brand new homes and a lot of really old small houses (Yes, please), so it could be a mixed bag.  Either way, I'll be back with a report!  I'm trying to get back on the blogging train.  Woo-woooooooo! :D

Where O' Where........?

Where o' Where has the time GONE?????  That reminds me of the old HEEHAW "Where o' Where are you tonight...?" skit. But, I'll spare you my singing and Raspberry blowing.

I always think I need to blog- but I really don't go anywhere fun this time of year and the junk is in short supply.  There are three citywide sales coming up in April, so I am excited for that.  One is in Neosho, MO which is about 80 miles away, but a straight shot up the four lane divided highway, so it's an easy trip.  Another is in Bella Vista which is only maybe 35 miles away.  Bella Vista is a "village" that is nothing but retired people and about thirty golf courses and Country Clubs.  It sounds like vintage heaven, but in reality - they all retired there and had an estate/moving sale before they moved to sell off all that cool old vintage junk.  Damn them.  But, it's close and you can still find some vintage, so why not go?  The third is a new one in Elkins which is just a hop and skip up the highway.  It's an older town with new subdivisions, so it should be a mix of old and new.  I intend to sniff out the old stuff.  :)

I have been busy sorting stuff.  A very nice teacher friend retired and cleaned out her craft room.  She had bought and hoarded craft supplies thinking that once she retired, she would craft all day long.  But, when she really DID retire, she decided that she enjoyed being outside painting furniture and working in the yard more that staying inside the house.  So, she cleaned it out and offered it up to me all for FREE.  I was expecting a box or two of craft supplies.  But, when I got there - it was a lot.  Like it filled my car up to the tip top including the passenger seat.  A lot of it was shoe boxes full of random things that needed sorting - I am good at that since I am the queen of shoe boxes full of random crap-ola.  There was boxes of scrapbooking stuff, which I sorted out into keep, donate, sell and give to my scrapbooking friend piles.  The best thing were boxes and totes full of new Stampin' Up Rubber Stamp Sets. I'm still sorting them and researching them to see the best place and way to sell them.  They are heavy, so ebay is debatable.  I may try locally on Facebook or in my booth.  Except she has a booth there and said they never sold well there.  Hmmmmmm.  Sorting her stuff made me want to sort my own stuff.  So,  a lot of mine went to Goodwill so I could make room for some of the things that I kept from her.  The circle of junk.  I mostly kept punches and papers and things I could use for my crafts like banners and a new project I am wanting to try.

Speaking of the booth. I did speak of the booth, didn't I?)  For about five months, the checks have been iffy.  And by iffy, I mean - they have bounced.  That's not good.  It's not that the money isn't there - it's in one account and he transfers it over as the checks come through so they are covered.  Sometimes, he "forgets" to cover them, so they bounce.  He issues a new check and we have to pick it up.  He thinks of this as a a minor inconvenience, when it is actually a real pain in the rear end to have to watch your bank account, make a second trip up for the second check and then hope that one goes through okay.  FINGERS CROSSED.  Sheesh.  Then, this month, I went in on the 1st and was told the checks wouldn't be ready since February was a short month, but they would be in  a couple days.  Okay, I can understand that.  But, what ended up happening, is the checks weren't "ready" until the 13th. And, even when they were "ready" I had to wait while he actually wrote the check that day.  It's such a hassle.  He gets our rent and commission money instantly, but we have to fight to get our money. 

The funny this is, I had decided to leave, so I was having a big sale trying to clear things out.  Then, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and stay - then the check was 13 days late.  (insert forehead smacking emoji here).  So, my booth is a wreck with the sale and people digging in it.  I'm not sure if I am staying or leaving.  My brain says leave, but my wallet likes the money.  But, can I get the money????  Gracious.  What a mess.  

The Junk Ranch is May 31-June 1 from 8-3 this year.  A week early and earlier hours, so hopefully we won't croak form the heat.  It will still be hot though, I am sure.  I still haven't unfurled my tent from the big windstorm at the Holly Jolly JR, so who knows if I am even ready for a show or not.  But, ready or not, it'll be here soon.  I've bought a few things, but mostly plan on taking what I already have and having a sale to clear some stuff out at good prices.  I'm also going to take some Christmas, even though it's June because the Christmas Event was cancelled on the second day and people were wanting certain things I had there then.  I'll just take what I see and throw it together.  I've done this enough times, I can make it NOT look like it's thrown together.  

I stopped into a flea market the other day that I never stop at because it is sparse and not the things I want to buy.  It's still that way, but I did find this tiny box of vintage Christmas ornaments.  It was $5.00, but 40% off, so  nice little treat for my time.  It will go in my collection since it is FREAKING ADORABLE.  You understand, right?  As I checked out the lady informed me that the store was going out of business.  I could have forecast that based on the emptiness and sad booths.  

I picked up a set of these huge brass Lion head drapery tiebacks at Goodwill.  They were in the sealed package from JC Penney's dated 1981.  The plastic was all yellowed, so I opened it for the photos.  I paid $3.98 for them and they sold for....$128!  Whoop!  I accepted a Best Offer on them after a very nice lady sent me messages about them.  I knew they were meant to be with her.  Niceness pays and that's still a heck of a profit.  You just never know what you'll find out there!

I hope you are all well.  And my ALL, I mean the three of you that might pop by to read this post.  If you're on Instagram - follow me at @sharamonkeybox  I post there several times a day.  Junk, journey's, stories and whatever floats my boat.  But, I promise I'll still come here from time to time.  

See you then?