Saturday Sale.1

Haul: mostly metal

We went to Barb’s Backyard Antique and Garden Spring Sale on Saturday, and, like last October, found some really cool stuff. We didn’t find as much as at last Fall’s sale, but I think I got the raw materials for some great garden displays. From top to bottom: a thick rusted hook, an old metal cage lamp, 3 circular steel planter rings (the search is on for terra-cotta pots to fit them), a sweet metal folding chair with perforated back, a black metal set of drawers, a river-rock-and-concrete wall pocket and a terra-cotta half-pot. Grand total: $84, including some miscellaneous items Paul picked up. The sale actually began on Friday, so by the time we arrived early the next morning it seemed like maybe the ‘good stuff’ had gone … you shouldn’t think there was nothing left, however, there was still plenty to consider.

Patio dressing galore

There was no lack of patio dressing available, in various styles. Wall decorations, garden ornaments and endless tchotchkes required close study. Much of it fits easily under the ‘shabby chic’ or ‘country’ umbrella, and although that’s not my thing, it’s a treasure trove for aficionados.

Tools, tools, tools

I loved all the rust on display, mostly on tools. Garden tools, tools for mechanics — tools with uses long forgotten — they’re all here, and all would look great in a garden setting. I rein myself in and settle on the multi-hook hanger at the top of the first photo.

So distressed

My favorite indoor space featured offerings for the kitchen. All kinds of kitchen items and furniture were in this outdoor room and I loved looking at the vintage colors and distressed surfaces. I was hoping for some colorful metalware, vintage snack tins or enamel plates but didn’t find any. Maybe they’d been  snapped up the day before …

I wish ...

There’s always something at every sale that I don’t buy, but later wish I had. This table is that thing. A mosaic of colorful mineral slices on a metal base, I think it would’ve looked great either indoors or out at the Rancho. It looked homemade, and with its mix of stones in odd shapes and colors, was right up my alley. It had a $100 price tag on it, though, and although I’m sure Barbara would’ve given me a deal, I just didn’t ask. I spoke to Barbara and she was saying maybe she’d take some time off from having her twice-yearly sale but somehow I don’t think she will. Putting on a big sale  like this is a lot of work, as she pointed out, but I can tell she enjoys it. So maybe in the fall the table will reappear and I’ll get it then.