Last we chatted, I explained that this was the year I was going to organize my Christmas decorations and then share  that experience with all of you.

I’m not the worlds best “How to” blogger. Here is how my blog would’ve been written:

1. Untangle Christmas lights and plug them in to see which are still working. If it doesn’t light up, toss it.
2. Gently roll up lights, hold them together with a twist tie, put them in a Ziploc baggie, label the baggie and seal.

3. 

   

   

   
   
4. Pull everything else out of the 1000 half filled tubs  of Christmas decorations you have drug around for over 50 years. Throw away what’s broken, donate items that hold no sentimental value for you and place remaining items that are similar in a Ziploc baggie. Label the baggie and seal.

5. 

   

   
   
6. Put all baggies back into your tubs, label the tubs and have your husband put the tubs into the garage until next year.

7. 

   
   

    

As you can tell, I like the cut and dry version about how to do things. I am a “read between the lines” kind of person so I assume others should be also. You know what they say about assuming.

Instead of reinventing the wheel, here is a great reference about how to organize your Holiday Decorations.  🙂

Now since I didn’t have to write that great “How To”, I had more time to go to my first Estate Sale of the year.

I thought you might want to come along.  🙂

We headed out on Saturday morning and went to this sale first.

This 9000+ square foot home was on a 2 acre wooded lot. It had been built in 2008 and had been meticulously cared for.

Most sales are open for 2-3 days. The second and third days shows markdowns of 30%-50%. Saturday was the second day of this sale. There was nothing left but a few glass flower vases, some empty fancy boxes and a white 3/4 zip sweatshirt. I bought the sweatshirt…for $1. 🙂

The other sale was in Bloomington and Saturday was the first day of the sale.

In contrast here is a picture of that house.

 

This home was built….a long time ago, and was about 1000 square feet. For that reason we waited in line outside, in 28 degree weather for about 20 minutes before getting in.

Once we made it inside the front door there was an overwhelming amount of stuff.

A living room packed with Antiques…

And then tools, and tools and more tools.

Wade guessed that there were at least 500 screwdrivers in one box. You could hear people muttering to themselves, “Oh my gosh, Oh. My. Gosh!!” as they stopped to realize the massive quantity of tools in such a small space. Multiples of the same tool, over and over again.

But it didn’t end there. The garage and sheds out back were full of…you guessed it, tools and other random things.

 

I  bought this vintage four-foot metal level. I found this level in the kitchen by the other kitchen utensils. 🙂 Currently it is just sitting on the back of this dresser in the family room. I am considering making it a coat hanger in my entry way.

I put this picture on instagram yesterday and a follower of Old Lake George commented about the picture saying…

She used these planers as bookends!  What a great idea! Maybe I will go back on half-off price day and get some planers for the bookshelf I need to build 😉

Cheers to a great first full week of 2016!

Wendy