Shopping and junking in the coulee

Do you know what the phrases “multi-family,” “too much to list,” “something for everyone” and finally, “and much more” mean to a specific group of yard sale shoppers? To put it simply, a bonanza -- and we don’t mean the Bonanza Boys, Ben Cartwright and sons, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe, of television fame -- we’re talking about stuff. Yes, stuff, all kinds of stuff, and the more stuff available at the sales held in the Coulee, the better the whole experience is.

If you were among those shoppers out and about on Friday and Saturday last weekend, braving heat and humidity while rooting through a full monty of choice stuff, you probably found some great bargains — if not, the hunt will be on again as the summer sales continue.

Just in case you missed out, you did miss out on two sales held on Holly Street in Coulee Dam, where friends and neighbors Cora and Pat opened for business on Friday morning, much to the delight of shoppers, with all kinds of home decor, jewelry, framed art, clothes and household stuff. At Cora’s sale, her best sellers in morning trade focused on earrings, necklaces and clothes for the family. But across the street, Pat offered some nice collectible and vintage goodies such as dishes, teapots and glassware.

Balloons tied to a mailbox on Hwy. 155, about six miles north of Coulee Dam, marked the switchback driveway to one heck of a yard and moving sale where potential buyers checked out Kathy and Missy’s stuff, all displayed on tables, tarps and a manicured lawn. Old canning jars, outdoor magazines from the 1970s-80s, Arizona Highway mags., and several nicely kept antiques, like rockers and oak chairs, were mixed in with toys, home decor, bedding, and home/garden items.

A fine antique Kitchen Queen, originally from the mid-West and still housing the tin flour canister and sifter, was up for sale, and Kathy said that she now has several offers to consider. She mentioned that 18 boxes of flooring, leftover from their own kitchen remodel, sold, and the buyer was glad to find such a deal.

Those of us who stopped by Margi’s deck sale in Grand Coulee’s East Heights were treated to a spectacular view of Lake Roosevelt, almost like a bird’s eye sight, and a deck load of home decor, glassware and clothing to check out. The prices were great too.

Do you think this column is full of two alpha letters? Say what? It’s all about discussing the best (available) shopping around the Coulee and references to rusty, junky and funky stuff, hence the letters b and s. So, with that in mind, thumbs up to you, shoppers, and — shop on. Back again, in a couple of weeks.