Adventure is in my soul.

Today is the first day I have all to myself and not have to be responsible for a baby. It's been a very stressful and exhausting month dealing with packing up everything I own and also being in charge of a baby.  

To get to know Incline Village before I make the decision to move here, I checked out the three thrift stores here in town. The prices at the stores are too high to flip for a profit, so you have to wait for when things go on sale. Also there isn't a great selection of things to buy. I'm sure since Tahoe is more a vacation home place, there aren't a lot of people having a house full of treasures to get rid of.

I didn't buy the artwork "adventure is in my soul" but it is sort of fitting for what my life is like right now. I'm very fortunate to have cousins letting me stay at their home here in Tahoe while they're boating around the east coast. So far I love the peace and  quiet (when the grandsons aren't here) and all the trees everywhere. Yesterday it snowed and today it's bright and sunny. I'm still not sure I can handle the big snow fall when it hits but so far it's been what I've been looking for. Being able to go outside and feel safe in whatever I'm doing. 

I did pick up a few things at the Hospice thrift shop which is a very small store. And yes, I would so redo their racks and make it at least look a little better.  I have to gather enough stuff to make it worth shipping down to Campbell or making the 5 hour drive down. I think it's going to take me while!  

Another Pick here in Tahoe

I stopped by what was billed as a rummage sale but it really was a tiny garage sale. It was a property manager who was selling what was left in I wasn't going to stop but saw this XL mirror and knowing these thing sell well decided to check it out. I already have someone in mind to buy it here in Tahoe so I'm just waiting before I transfer it down to Campbell if that falls through. I've only been to one thrift  store so far but I plan to check them out as soon as they open this week. 

Thrifting in Tahoe - Fire King Mug

Now that I'm up in Tahoe, I went on a quick pick to the only thrift store open on Sunday. Since most thrift stores are affiliated with a church so it makes sense they're closed on Sundays. Didn't find much that was cheap enough to flip this time around but I did pick up this Fire King mug for a $1.00. I think I can flip it for $8.00 which would leave a little meat on the bone for another picker that shops at my booth at Cranberry Hill. It would be nice if I can find a few more to make a set. 

So well I'm here I'm also checking out if I would like to live here full time. It's rumored that there is no long term rentals here in town. Since it is a vacation hot spot, it's much more profitably for property owners to due short term rentals. It's getting extreme hard for people who work in town (teachers, restaurant workers etc) can't find affordable  housing and commuting into town during the winter isn't practical. So even if I like it here I don't think I will be able to find a place to rent.  

Mid century modern chairs

My niece restored these mid century modern chair and she added new leather cushions. I think it turned out great!  She didn't over do it and kept them looking original which is super. During the pandemic shut down she had time to refinish them for her house. She found out that her boys prefer the big oversized cushiony type sofa chairs so she decided to sell these. Hope she gets what she wants for them because they turned out great! 

Update - the chairs sold for $400 each!

Meeting another Annie

This morning on our after breakfast walk I met a German Shepherd who was super friendly and really liked Henk. Of course Henk had bacon for breakfast so that could also help with the intense interest. 

As we were getting ready to walk away, the owner said "let's go this way Annie" and I stopped and turned around and asked again what the GS name was. I have to say I almost started crying seeing a GS with the same name as my fur baby. It's been over a year now and I still miss Annie everyday. I'm still not over the loss of her in my life. 

This is my last full day here in Carmel and I really don't know when I'll be back here. I'll now be about 4 hours away instead of 2 and I'm not a big fan of long car rides.  

Still I think meeting Annie 2 is a sign that living in Carmel is where I'm suppose to be! 

Life at the beach

I thinks this will be one of the last times I'll be at the beach here in Carmel with the boys. They will be moving to Holland in a few months and that will be a permeant move for them. Living here in the states is just too expensive so moving closer to Jip's family just makes sense. It's a little sad the boys in a few years will have no idea who I am as I don't plan to travel international anymore.

I'm heading off to Lake Tahoe to check out the area and see if it's possible to live there full time. I've been checking out the rental market here in Monterey but so far nothing has popped up in my price range. So the wandering life continues.

Full time babysitting

Watching his little guy is a full time job!  Luckily I'm down in Carmel and the weather is perfect - warm and sunny!  It's nice to be able to go out for walks any time during the day and have safe and the street are clean. Still I'm exhausted all day and it doesn't get better at night. 

We do spend most of our time outside on the deck which is super for both of us! This was one thing I really missed when I lived in Alameda, not having any outdoor space. 

It's a little noisy here during the week because when someone buys a home here (happens all the time) they almost all do a major remodel. Not that most of the home here need it but when you spend millions on a vacation home, making it fit your life style is not big deal. 

Carmel is famous for not allowing any trees to be cut down, so each home has to be built around massive California oak trees. Because of that, all the homes are custom and no real mega home can be built, that make Carmel so charming. That's the best part of our walks around the neighborhood, seeing all the creative ways people designed their homes around these trees. 

How so very different life is here

It's been near perfect weather here in Carmel and the best part is being able to go for a walk anytime we feel like it. The streets are quiet and clean, no worries of getting mugged just for my phone. We've been spending a lot of time out in the backyard enjoy the sunshine and peace. There has been a bird that keeps flying around very close to Henk, much to his entertainment.  I finally figured out there's a nest in this flower pot right by the back door. It's not the most ideal place to have nest but Henk is enjoying watching the bird come and go. 

The house next door is up for sale and it's interesting that there's no sign out front that it's for sale. I'm not sure why that is but several buyers have stopped by to look at. Actually a lot of homes are up for sale (population getting older here) and I can't imagine how many more that aren't advertised. 

Yes this is where I would love to have a home of my own. 

Worth $400?

Went to the thrift store this afternoon to just walk around and try to get Henk tired enough to sleep for more than 30 minutes.  The Yellow Brick Road store has done a complete over haul of the store layout. One new feature is a wall of very $$$$ books. I've been looking for a first edition of Julia Child's books and was super excited when I saw this but more shocked at the price tag of $400!  It is signed but it's the fourth printing which I wouldn't think was as valuable .  When I got home I ask my book guy if it was worth $400 but he needs the bar code information, so we'll be going back to tomorrow to get it. I know with all the new apps out to find out what things are selling for, thrift stores are starting to raise their prices. Pickers are having a much harder time finding things they can flip. 

Update: This book unsigned is worth $48, so the question is does the autograph add $350.00 to it's value?

Being a single parent

Didn't think at 65 I would be a single parent! Down in Carmel with Henk and it's been challenging to say the least. He's not sleeping well, which means I'm not sleeping at all.  Since it's just me, it makes it even harder since I can't just pop on over to the store to get food when his parents didn't send any down with him. They said "just feed him whatever you're eating", which would have been cashews and coffee. :(

Taking a very cranky and hungry baby to the store isn't ideal at all.  Now the challenge is how to get some sleep before my brain shuts down. 

Letting Go

I had this chair for well over 25 + years and it was sad to let it go. I'm at the very end of my move out here in Alameda  and the chair didn't make it into the moving truck because I still needed to use it. 

When I moved in my studio in the Cupertino Hills, I took the back off to save space and it worked out very well.  Now that I don't know where or even when I'll have a place of my own, I had to toss it. It was very sad when I saw all the paint splatters from all my art projects on it as I dropped it off to be tossed into a dumpster.  The memories of all those years Annie would sleep under the wheels as I worked late into the night.  A lot of memories in one beat up chair. :(

Another Big Move - Again!

This time around, I've purged a whole lot more and was very selective to what I put into storage. The final plan is to have everything shipped down to Gilroy  which is about 3 hours south of Alameda.  The logic behind that decision (it was the  mover guy idea) was it cost a whole lot less there (very true) and the mover had to drive the truck back there anyways so why not store my stuff there. These are things I don't need until I finally settle on a place to call home.  If and when that happens the mover guy will just load up the truck again and bring everything to me where ever that happens to be. So in less than a week I start the gypsy life with my little grandson Henk in  tow. Our first stop is Carmel then off to Tahoe. Wish us luck!

Fast Camera Big G

This photo of Henk just cracked us up today during lunch! He's starting solid food and he was enjoying his strawberries. He still is at the gumming his food stage. For some reason he took his hand off the berry. I was very fast in getting a photo of everything before it fell out of his mouth. :)

Auction Week - Last One?

Henk checking out the auction online

It's auction week but it's also the weekend before my big move starts. Movers and truck are scheduled for Tuesday to get things into my storage unit and where else things are going. 

I'm debating do I go to the preview on Sunday just for an hour and sort of say good bye? I didn't go last month because I was headed down to Carmel but I know this will be my very last auction here in Alameda. I scanned through the online catalog and didn't see anything super cool but you can never tell just by what's online. I do enjoy just looking around but is that a wise use of my time?

I do have a nice backlog of things at Cottage Crafts so I'm sure they can't store any more stuff for me. If I do get anything, it would have to be super special and fast to flip.

What would you do?

It's the small things

While I was down in Campbell dropping off a car load of stuff for my booth at Cottage Crafts, I went my bank in Cupertino. It's such a difference being back home! My home bank (I think) is the last one that doesn't have the tellers completely encased in plexiglass cages. It's so hard to talk through that bullet proof glass. 

There is a Goodwill just down the street so I stopped by instead of going to get my car washed. Yes, when in town I get a car wash which is only $10.00 instead of the $40.00 here in Alameda. 

While I was in Goodwill I saw a woman walking around with two boxes of these coffee filters.  I was so sad thinking I was just minutes away from getting them. I decided maybe she missed some boxes so I looked on the very top shelves (tippy toe moment) and there they were! I mentioned to her I was so happy that I also found some boxes and she said she drinks a lot of coffee but decided it would be nice to leave a few boxes for someone else. :) 

When I've asked for my daughter to pick some up for me when she goes to Target, she always gets me the small size which is just a little to small for my pour over cone. And yes I asked her to get #4 not #2 but she always thinks it's was too big. She an instant coffee drinker so just doesn't understand fit matter with coffee filters. I'm finally getting to the end of all those small ones, so I was thrilled to find the right size!

There wasn't anything else worth getting at this store because it does get picked over pretty fast. A lot of resellers in the area so you just have to been there when the new carts come out to get to the cool stuff.  

Just one more thing

It was a wild and crazy day yesterday! It was non stop getting errands done in between Henk's naps. One good thing is everything I had to do was close by. Made yet another drop off at Salvation Army so I do a quick run in. I found this artwork in the bins for $3.99. There is one section (see photo) in one of my booths at Cottage Crafts that has a very narrow empty space. I thought I really should find something to fill that space. I'm a door person from way back so this artwork just spoke to me. I really debated if I should get it because I am purging once again but it just hit all the right cords. It will really make the booth look finished and it's a theme I like, so it came home with me. Hopefully it fits!

How much would you pay?

I found this so interesting today. I was again at Salvation Army dropping off more stuff this morning and when I did a quick run through the store I saw these glass vases stuffed with costume jewelry and a price tag of $99.99! I had to do a double take and make sure I was reading the label right. Then I realized that SA doesn't have any jewelry out so where does it all go?  I can't believe they don't go through it and do a quick test on the maybe good stuff. I was curious enough to do the math on how much each item in the vase would have to sell for if there wasn't and gold or silver. Even if there was silver in there the spot price is very low right now so I can't see making a profit on the scrap metal. 

I also have to mention, I've never seen these jars before, so they must sell. Can't believe this is the first time they've done this.  So now I'm in search of someone who has purchased one and how they did. 

Would you take the chance and pay $100 for a bag full of costume jewelry? 

Just plugging along

It'a been a very slow process but I have to have everything sort out and packed up by Monday when the movers come to put everything in storage. Having to watch the baby during the week has pretty much cut my packing time down to just a few days. Yes semi panic has set in. The real issue is babysitting for 10 hours a day and then having to go up and down a flight of stair with heavy boxes makes for a very long day, especially since it's only me, the young ones just don't get it. OK rant over.

I've been making a few runs to Salvation Army when I don't have the baby and I go in for just a few minutes to check things out. Timing is everything when doing free style picking because with so many resellers out there, it's hard to find the good stuff. 

I'm trying really hard to stock my booth at Cottage Crafts since I don't know when I'll be close enough to send in anymore stuff. I'm heading to Tahoe to see if that's a place I can live so it's too long of a drive to bring anything down on a regular basis. 

Tami and George (the owners of CCB) are just wonderful in taking care of my booth and making sure my things get put out and look good. They really are my picking angels. :)

In the picture is the French style Corning Ware bowls I picked up a few days ago. It was the surprise pick because not only was it in perfect condition (just needed a good wash) but it was also 50% off, which I didn't know about until I checked out. I'm one of those pickers if I get a good deal on something, I pass it along to the next person.  I have other pickers come in and check out my booth to see if I undervalued something and most of time I have. As they say, I leave a little meat on the bone. 

Doing all the little things before the big move

It's getting real now that I only have a few more weeks before I have to move out. Gets a little overwhelming having to keep track of all the paper work that still has to get done as well as what to pack now.Making many trips to Salvation Army too!

Working out what craft supplies I OK with getting rid of is very sad but the thought of moving everything into storage yet again just doesn't make sense.  Some of the paper I've had for over 25+ years and if I haven't use it by now, I'm not every going to. 

Spent most of the afternoon sorting most of the paper out into bundles so I can bag it and sell it off at Cottage Crafts's ZZ booth. The rest will be donated to a reuse craft store in Berkeley. 

In the morning I got my meal prep done and trying to use up my cooking supplies. I do enjoy cooking and filling the house with all those great smells! I did do a quick drop off at Salvation Army so of course I had to go in and check things out. I did score a 3 piece French mixing bowl set for $10.99. When I got to the counter I found out it was half off! It's for my consignment booth so getting it for $5.00 was even better! 

I will be up in Lake Tahoe for June and July house sitting which is super. Amazing how many people are planning on coming up to visit me now. ;) I want to check out the area and make sure this time if it's a place I can live. Safety won't be an issue but the snow may be a deal breaker since I don't ski. I will be looking for a job and place to live while I'm there but at least this time I won't be going in blind. Really looking forward to the hiking and being able to be outside more. 

If that doesn't work out the plan is to go to Hawaii for a month in August and do the same thing, check it out and see if I can survive there. It's the gypsy life for the next several months not my preferred life style but it's what life is throwing me right now. Wish me luck!

The Squirrel Runs Deep

I've been listening to the YouTuber named Christopher Lin from the Daily Refinement channel. He was a top seller on eBay before he was shut down. Long story on why that happened by it did open up everyone's eyes to what can happen to resellers or flippers in general.  Most of us don't have line item receipts for the things we sell, so in theory we could get shut down because we can't prove how we got the items. I don't plan to become a reseller online but the tips and insights from his group does translate well for anyone flipping, especially if you want to make it profitably. 

So during one of these sessions, he made the comment "the squirrel runs deep" when they were talking about how to stay focus and how much it costs (eBay sellers) when you don't. That comment just cracked me up! It's is so true especially for someone like me who is a bubble thinker. I always have ideas swirly around in my head and I do have to make an extra effort to stay focus if there's a task I have to get done. Their motto is keep it simple and  if set up correctly and working don't change it.