Wednesday, May 26, 2010

~JUST LET ME EXPLAIN....~

~Miss K at Age 3~

Last Saturday, like nearly every Saturday during the Spring and Summer months, I went Estate Sale-ing.  With my hubby and our Miss K in tow we set out early for a day of treasure hunting.

I had ten houses on my list to visit and I was hoping to make it to every single one.  That's a lot of homes to crowd into just a few hours.  Miss K has been with me a couple of times during my junkin' excursions... although I do believe the last time she tagged along was back when she was only about 5.  Today she is 7.

A lot can change in the mind of a little girl in two years.
~Sweet At 5~

Anyway, the first house on our list was in a grand neighborhood in Oklahoma City.  The house wasn't terribly ancient...maybe 45 years old.  But, it was large and a bit overwhelming at first sight.  That didn't stop me from taking the hand of my only grandchild and walking excitedly through the front door.

"Now, you remember the rules, right?  No touching!"  I said!

"I KNOW Nana!  I won't!"  she quipped...

After walking around for just a few minutes and wading through the sea of people crowding in on my sale :) I was ready to check out.  I was purchasing a lovely vintage damask tablecloth and twelve matching napkins (in pink, of course!), a set of vintage (never used) linen place mats and matching napkins in a rose-pink color, a package of linen napkins in cream (also never used), two oval needlepoint pictures, an old Quaker Lace tablecloth, two silver-plate sugar shakers and a pair of white bisque-style figurines.  As you can imagine my hands were quite full.

(A pretty good haul for one sale!)

While I was waiting impatiently patiently in line to pay I listened intently as my Miss K chatted non-stop to the men and women standing around us. 
 ~Acting Cool at 7~

"We are going to TEN SALES today!  This is our very first one!" she blurted out!

Then she continued, this time directing her comments to me...

"Where's the lady who lives here anyway, Nana?  Doesn't she want all her stuff anymore?"

I thought for a second, realizing for the first time my granddaughter had no real understanding of what an 'estate sale' was...  My first thought was to just say "No!  She doesn't want all this stuff anymore!"  but that would have been too easy for me.  No Noooo Nooooooo!  I had to TRY to EXPLAIN...

And so...I began to say it this way...

"Well honey...sometimes when people get older and find they don't need big houses and lots of  'things' anymore they move into a smaller place and sell off some of their favorite treasures.  Or~sometimes they get weak, kinda like Papaboo, and so they go and live in a nursing home with other people who need extra care~

Or...

Sometimes they, ummmmmmmmm, well grow old or get sick and um...then go to heaven!!"

I actually felt pretty proud of myself at this point as our bright-eyed girl SEEMED to understand exactly what I was saying!

Then all of a sudden I heard this...

"YOU MEAN SHE'S DEAD!?  Nana!  Is the lady who lived in this house DEAD?"

Instantly all the eyes in the room were on me!  Iknow I turned five shades of white...or red...or maybe even green...

I couldn't pay and get out of that house fast enough!
I can tell you this~next time I will be shopping alone!  All alone!!!!

Blessings as you enjoy hump-day!

Love to you~

39 comments:

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Rebecca,

I am so sorry but I just had to laugh! I can imagine you turning the various colors you mentioned and sweet Miss K , standing there so innocently, demanding the answer to ," you mean she is dead???"

Out of the mouths of babes!!
I run our church's flea market and I can always tell when someone cleaned out "grandma's home". I look at it this way and maybe you can tell Miss K this. All of those things were once loved and cherished by someone and now those things that meant so much to that person are being passed on to be loved and cherished by someone else. And the original owner would be thrilled to know that her possessions are being passed on to someone who will love them just like she did.

Hugs,
Debbie

Mosaic Magpie said...

Speak the truth, little Miss K.
You gave the others at the estate sale something to smile about. Thanks for visiting my blog and your nice comments.
Debbie

Tristan Robin said...

you happened to be the first blog I've read today ... thank you for making it such an enjoyable one! LOL

art linkletter was so so right!

Anonymous said...

too cute! she will appreciate this story when she is older...hope you still got the gooodies....as my father would say "you will never see them again!"

Ginger said...

That is just toooo cute! I can just see her saying all that. Out of the mouths of babes. You are so blessed to have her and someday that memory will be one of your favorites. Thank you for the chuckle this morning.(Sounds like you got some good loot)
Hugs
Ginger

Anonymous said...

ha cute story and oh my she looks like you Rebecca.Amazing how fast they change in just a few years right? lol.Oh the days of the teenager shopping I can remember well.lol.

Have a beautiful day,God Bless!

Victorian1885 said...

Too funny! I would have loved to have been there to hear & see that!
My Sweetie & I are down sizing to a Condo this summer and we will be having a "moving" sale..selling stuff right off of the walls etc.
Too bad we live so far away..I would love you to bring Miss K to our sale! Take care and enjoy the day..

Wanda

The Quintessential Magpie said...

LOL! Oh, Rebbecca! What a hoot! And she is so cute I think you might want to keep her as a shopping partner, particularly if you keep finding that much loot! She can carry it for you. ;-)

I have a bit of sunny news for you. I had a drawing of followers, and you were one of the two who won! YEA! Please drop by and say, "Happy Birthday" to Mr. Magpie. I did the giveaway as part of his birthday festivities.

XO,

Sheila :-)

Unknown said...

ohhhh, how sweet. She was probably horrified being in the house of a lady that was dead..
poor baby. Some life lessons are hard learned for little ones.
Anyway, it sounds like you rescued some nice things for others to enjoy...
happy day to you and Miss K
glenda

Oklahoma Granny said...

Oh, the innocence of a child. Funny story. Probably not funny while it was happening but it's one of those times you can look back on and see some humor.

Denise@alloverroses said...

Oh what a precious story! I just their innocence don't you? Thank goodness they give us these things to laugh at later down the road! Thanks for my morning chuckle!

Hugs, Denise

Unknown said...

Oh, Miss K ... you are the most adorable! Another precious moment of 'outta the mouths of babes' to treasure forever & share with her in laughter later down the road.

We all have had these moments sometime in life ... they bring a smile now.

Have a beautiful day, Rebecca.
Hugs, Marydon

Sandra said...

Aw, the words of a child! I had to giggle a little bit. What a sweetie your grandchild is!
I hope you have a great Wednesday!
P.S. We are having really mellow and cool days! It's misting at the moment!
Sandra

Mari said...

HELLO SWEET PEA,
OMG I ALMOST FEEL OFF MY CHAIR, WHAT A LAUGH YOUR SWEET ANGEL GIRL GAVE ME.....GIGGLE!!! YOUR MISS K IS AS BEAUTIFUL AS SHE IS SMART, GOD BLESS HER :) AND YOU TOO SWEETIE, ONCE AGAIN I HAD A GREAT TIME VISITING YOU, HUGS TO YOU DEAR ONE~MARI

Connie said...

That reminds me of the time I took my granddaughter out to lunch. She's not 30 and expecting her first child TODAY!! Yippeeeee, squeeeeal and sitting on pins and needles, chickee!

Anyway, she was 5 years old and we (she and I) went to a restaurant in Macy's and she ordered the steam veggies with cheese sauce, Perrier and cheesecake. Even at 5 she had great taste and is vegetarian to this day. When asked if she would eat chicken, she replied, "If you make me eat that, I'll retch." Imagine the surprise in my eyes. Five years old! Well, she's our greatest accomplishment to this day. So I can truly hear Miss "K" saying that. Out of the mouths of our "grand" children come things we'll cherish forever. I know I DO, sugar. Hah.

xoxo,
Connie

Cinnamonstitch said...

Gotta love the little ones :), They keep you honest and on your toes. That truly gave me a chuckle, what a cutie face.
~Cynthia

Melissa/Piney Rose said...

What a funny story! Love it.... and just reading the wonderful stuff you had in your arms in the check-out line makes my heart race!!!

Brenda Pruitt said...

Oh, out of the mouths of babes! My daughter is a real estate agent. And once she had to go to a meeting with her now six year old son. He kept asking her if someone at the meeting was a man or a woman. He said he just couldn't tell.
Brenda

Cheryl said...

Rebecca...I am still laughing about what your Miss K said because it sounds just like some of the things that my almost seven year old daughter has said when we have been out estate saling! They are SO honest! It is just one of the things that makes them so precious. Hugs to you...Cheryl

Anonymous said...

aw...what a sweet post! i love that you were out shopping with your granddaughter...she's a sweetie pie by the way!....passing on your love of vintage goods...and great treasures...that's so nice...

and I say so what...an innocent child speaks her mind! it's not the first time...!!!! it was actually cute..

so my advice...is take and take and take her again!

ciao bella
creative carmelina

Deanna said...

Rebecca, Your sweet Granddaughter is such a cutie! Very cute post!!!
Glad you shared. Happy Hump Day to you as well. I am soooo glad it's Wednesday.

I keep learning from these young ones.

Have I got a story for you!
d

Tara said...

Out of the mouths of babes! As much as we love them, it is soooo much easier shopping without them in tow!

Tanza said...

Aaahhh SWEET, very SWEET !!! She is so pretty too !! I NeVer realized Miss K's hair was soo blonde at one time .. what a cutie pookitie she is !! Lovin' all the pics .. And, I think, you 'splained yourself soo well .. She is a smart one !! hahaha ..

Thanks for sharing a sweet laugh !! Happy day my friend ~
hugs ~tea~ xo

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

Yep u never know what they will say or do! But they sure make life fun. Wish mine lived close enough to go shopping like this. lol
gosh you found a lot for the first stop..
Thanks for the get well wishes
Love
Maggie

Stella said...

Sounds like you found some wonderful linens and made some wonderful memories. Now everytime you go to a sale you will remember this special time with your granddaughter. Thanks for sharing. Stella

Lin said...

Love it! (I can so relate....)

Love, Lin

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Oh dear, Rebecca, I too laughed; fairly hard actually! Miss K reminds me so much of my grandson of the same age. One never knows what will come out of his sweet little mouth either. They are so precious these little ones of ours! Miss K looks a lot like her grandmother. Hope you're having a wonderful week, my sweet friend.

Blessings,
Sandi

Brenda ~ The Heminger Farmhouse said...

Hi Rebecca, this is too funny & cute :) Your're Miss K is such a hoot, lol :) Kids do speak their mind, don't they. I'm sure when we were that age we too have said things to embarress our parents, though luckily, I don't have any memory of doing so, LOL :) Gotta Love them :)

Hope your day has been a wonderful & creative one, warmest always, Brenda

Mary H said...

~~Rebecca~~..just taking a break for minute and thought I would get caught up a little on blogs. I read yours today and thought it was hysterical. I could just picture the setting. I know just how you felt...I had something similar one time when my oldest granddaughter was that age and she thought she would help by "making the deal", every time I would nonchalantly ask a question or maybe ask "would you take a lower price", she would say no, I think that is worth it and why would you ask them to take a lower price. I was mortified!...needless to say, I too go alone now. Even my hubby "gets the look" if I hear him ramble a bit! Love to you as we chuckle about our grandchildren's antics...Mary H.

Ana said...

Hi Rebecca,
Kids are the cutest, aren't they? I know you felt a bit uncomforable, to say the least :-) but one day you and your sweet little Miss K will look back and have a good laugh. What a cute little post. Have a wonderful evening my dear friend.

Hugs and Blessings,
♥Ana

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Oh, that is sooo cute...you better print this out and keep it for her wedding! But secretly, don't you just LOVE estate sales????

karen said...

So funny. You have to watch those estate sales . When my dad died we sold off all mom and dads rent houses because mom did not want to mess with them. Well the people who bought one put and ad in the paper. Large Estate Sale. So we had to go because when we sold it to them the house was empty. Well while we were paying for some stuff we bought the lady was telling us the great story about the people who lived there and how you can find just wonderful bargains at estate sales. Then my brother said you don't have to tell us all that crap our mom sold you this house. She just laid her head down on the table. And than looked back up at us speechless. It was so funny.

Dolores said...

Ahhhh, these are the cute remarks you must have written down (which you do).....how cute!
Sounds like a perfect day.....

My Pink & Cream Cottage said...

Hi Sweet.....love this post can just see your many shades of pink/red... so how did the remainder NINE estate sales go haha...
Hope all is well with you Hun

Lyn xxx

Pink Roses and Teacups said...

Good Morning dear Rebecca,

Oh your story was such a hoot! So cuuute! You and sweet Miss K are making wonderful memories together, and one day you will talk about them and laugh again!
Out of the mouths of babes, as they say! Thanks for sharing!

Hugs,
Debbie

Suzy said...

How cute!
" Kids say the darndest things"
(the late Art Linkletter)

Beth Niquette said...

Your Miss K is adorable. She's a natural ham, I can see! lol

Sara's Sweet Surprise said...

Rebecca~I just had to tell you how much this tickled me. "Out of the mouths of babes." Thank you bringing this *sweet surprise* to my day.
I love the Katherine Hepburn shot of the delightful Miss K.
Sweet wishes,
Sara

Sara's Sweet Surprise said...

Rebecca~I just had to tell you how much this tickled me. "Out of the (projected)mouths of babes."
Thanks for brightening my day.
I adored the Katherine Hepburn pose of Miss K.

Sweet wishes,
Sara

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