changing seasons

One of the most important activities that I enjoy during summertime in Maine is shopping. Well, shopping for a true-blooded shopaholic is an all-year-round activity and perhaps a whole-year-round season. But for me who is a former shopaholic convert I only look forward for summertime yard sale because I can get a lot of value for my dollars.

I enjoy “treasure hunt game” when I was a kid and now that I am a grown-up I apply that skill I learned from childhood in my yard sale hopping and shopping spree. I love to challenge myself with my sense of creativity to convert or transform old things into something new and useful. I love the feeling of victory when I can find things under the rubble of piles upon piles of old stuff. I love the feeling of triumph when I stumble on some really new things that owners didn’t have the chance to use because they didn’t actually realize they have them until it’s time to dispose them. And most importantly, I love yard sale because I don’t feel guilty spending my money on my splurges because the stuff are really cheap.

So summer is almost over in Maine. It’s also about time for cleaning-up-the-mess season too. And during this time of summer, it’s my turn to go “gaga” over yard… garage… or barn sales that I can fine all over the place. And last weekend, my friend and I went around town yard-garage-barn sale hopping the whole day and end up with lots of stuff that added up to my accumulated earthly possessions.

Ceramic Picture Frame: $1

Satin and Beads Picture Frame: .25 cents

Never-been-worn dark blue and white Sling-Back Heels: $5

Liz Clairborne Leather Wallet and Check Case: $2 and 10 cents

But garage-yard-barn sale in Maine is not just for cleaning up the mess. A lot of those sale all over the place are there for charity reason and fund-raising. Items for sale are donated by Mainers. Items are mostly not priced and bargain-hunters are just asked to make donations… like these ones I found at the parking lot of the Health Center in Sacopee Valley.

Mini Grater and…

… Delicate Porcelain Leaf Tea Cup and Saucer: $3 (donation)….

…fun… time… and moments I spent with treasure hunting: PRICELESS

As my Hubby will always say – somebody’s junk is someone else’s treasure. And for me, I found some treasures in somebody else’s junk, so to speak. But on the hindsight… after checking all the stuff I brought home and admiring them for awhile… I was thinking maybe next year… it’s my turn to stage my own yard sale because I did accumulate a lot of stuff that I don’t actually use and maybe it will be more useful to other people. Perhaps my junk will also become somebody else’s treasure.

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Maine Township