I'm Just Mad About Chevrons

We've had a number of new likes on our Facebook page the past few weeks. Thanks for giving us the thumbs-up! As we like to say here at Estate Sale Stories, your scraps of attention make this all worthwhile.

Let's celebrate the new arrivals with a fresh post.

I don't recall where this house was. Somewhere behind a suburban Dominick's, when Chicagoland still had those. At any rate, it didn't take long before the unique aspect of this estate sale became clear.

Everything had chevrons.

These serving platters had chevrons.

And these serving platters had chevrons, too.

Not to mention the matching chevron bowls to go with them.

There were chevrons on a hat.

And on these saucy little chevron shoes.

This scarf would go nicely with them.

Or one of these.

Don't forget your chevron headband and... um... matching fabric scrap.

Here's a chevron box you can use to store all of your chevron stuff.

And another if you have more.

Or you could just pack it all away in one of these sets of chevron suitcases.

Beats Me Bonanza

I don't recall where this estate sale was located. Some place just up the road from a Burger King where we almost had lunch except that the help was a bit too slow and the patrons were way too rough-looking. So basically, just about anywhere in the greater Chicagoland metro area.

This was the wallpaper that inspired me to take out my phone and snap a few illicit photos.

It was in a bathroom (so at least there was that), obviously from the seventies, and the remarkable thing about it -- aside from the fact that it existed at all -- was that there wasn't a butt crack or bare boobie to be seen among all those bathing beauties.

We must have gone to this sale around the time of the (most recent) John Travolta sex scandal, because when I saw this in one of the bedrooms I thought, "Possible caption: Looks like a massage John Travolta might be interested in." Please hold your applause.

Same sale. One of the other bedrooms. There was a boxed set of twenty or so books on the occult and  UFOs and psychic phenomena. I picked one out at random and this is the page it opened to. Pretty spooky, I'd say. And dig that double-duty monster on the left.

Odds and Ends from Here and There

Even though we haven't posted anything in a while -- okay, okay, TWO YEARS -- doesn't mean we've stopped attending estate sales. Or taking photos.

I don't remember which lovely suburb this place was located. Wherever they grow stereo speakers the size of prize-winning pumpkins, I think.

After all, the bigger the speaker, the higher the fidelity.

Why did I take this photo? It's hard to say. There's nothing especially remarkable about this chair, or the rug, or those curtains, or that little plaque hanging there on the wall. Life is full of little mysteries, isn't it?

These signs were all over the place. And by "too cheap" they mean "still slightly more than you'd like to spend."

Odds and Ends from Here and There: Easter Edition

The original plan was to post a retro Easter picture along with a message that Estate Sale Stories was taking Good Friday off, and would "rise again" on Monday. Get it?

But you, our dozens of faithful readers worldwide, deserve better than that. And so, we present this collection of Easter goodies to brighten your springtime holiday.

This photo reminds me of Easter my freshman year of college: blurry and a little nauseating. That year, my celebration the night before was to blame. This year, I blame the Edison Park Holiday House.

What's sadder than a bunch of Christmas decorations in August? A smaller bunch of Easter decorations nearby. From the River Grove Bordello.

Scariest. Easter bunny. Ever. From the Chicago Tiki Lounge and Upstairs at the Chicago Tiki Lounge.

It's a stuffed animal orgy! And the Easter Bunny is Lucky Pierre. From the Skokie Toy Chest.

Easter finery, yours for the taking. From the Almost Empty Prospect Heights House.

And the Easter bonnets to go with them! From the Mount Prospect Doll House.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a happy Easter!

Odds and Ends from Here and There: Green Things

St. Patrick's Day is right up there with World Religion Day and National Hobby Month as far as holidays go. But people seem to like it, and Lord knows we need something to celebrate this time of year, so here we go.

We'll start with this Richard Simmons DVD, because he's always good for an easy joke and we could probably all stand to lose a few pounds.

Moving right along. I miss these phones, along with those orthopedic-looking shoulder braces. This one looks like it would happily put an eye out if you were unlucky enough to aim it in the wrong direction.

I wish I could have taken this trio home with me. They would have gone perfectly with that phone above.

Faithful readers of this blog have already seen this photo. It's hard to believe toilet paper used to come in a rainbow of pastel colors, and with roses and flowers printed on it, too. It's true: the past really was a more elegant and civilized time.

I'm sure this is still perfectly fine to use.

I wanted this picture for my office, but I was afraid it would send the wrong message to management.

Two of these trolls are dressed for the wrong holiday.

How to raise an envious little girl.

The only things this walker is missing are some streamers for the handlebars and a couple rear-view mirrors.

Never paint a room this color. This color is reserved for hospital emergency rooms and that place where the school janitor waits until class is over.

Thanks for stopping by. May your St. Patrick's Day be green!

Odds and Ends from Here and There: Signs

If you go to estate sales, you're going to see signs. And while these aren't the stars-and-pig-entrails kind, each one still deserves some kind of interpretation.

This must be a free-verse update of the original: "Nice to look at, delightful to hold, but if you break it, we mark it 'Sold'."

Three lines are still battling it out for supremacy on this one.
1.) By the sign painter formerly known as Prince.
2.) Also, we cannot "B" expected "2" spell correctly.
3.) We "R" not responsible... and cannot "B" trusted.

As in somewhere between "good" and "poor".

Listen to your mother.

Parents: you have been warned.

Sometimes estate sale companies forget to specify whether the address is on the N. or the S. end of the street. When that happens, desperate and still-alive homeowners take matters into their own hands.

While this is a lovely gesture, these cookies look like something that should be picked up with an old shopping bag over your hand.

Although not posted by the estate sale company, this is still one of the weirdest signs I've seen at one. From the ever-popular Albany Park Underground Bar.

There's nothing funny about this sign.

Until you see what's in the garage.

If your name happens to be Holly and you have a Pantry, this is your lucky day.

It's worth mentioning that this was not taped to a mirror.

How do you like it, how do you like it?

Surround Sound? That's last year's technology. All-around sound -- that's where everything's going. That's what you want.

First aid? This doll needs an ICU, stat!

Honestly, your guess is as good as mine.

Why, thank you.