The Estate Sale Diaries-Friday December 7th

At 7;45 this morning I was cursing myself for getting caught up in Green Hills traffic just to go to an estate sale on Estes Road. But the sale had looked more intriguing than a second sale in my home suburb of Bellevue, so I went to Estes first.

Congestion, thy name is Green Hills. Narrow road shoulders. No parking in the cul-de-sac where a smallish line of people waited outside a pleasant brick home. I was lucky to find a spot out on Estes that was not blocks away.

When I saw the front and side garden I knew my trip was worth it. How I wished that the estate sale company was selling the hardy primroses whose crinkled winter leaves lined the front walk. How rarely are primroses seen blooming here in spring! The garden had a nice shrubby St Johnswort and a forest of Hellebores, or Lenten Roses. The foundation planting was bright with nandina berries. Someone had loved this garden.

At 8:30 the doors opened and the line shuffled in. "More stuff upstairs!", said the estate sales lady, and we had to agree, for inside the stuff did not end. I confess to not going upstairs to the obligatory Crammed with Christmas Decorations Room, a constant at Nashville estate sales. I went right to the kitchen, where I had no competition.

And there, for 12 dollars I found the pan of my dreams-a 13 and 7/16 inch cast iron skillet.

There was more cast iron. A nine inch and a 6 inch skillet. I did not need them and passed them by, but they were soon gone to someone smart. Left behind was a set of overpriced Calphalon( a 55 dollar dutch oven) and a big set of vintage All-Clad too scratched and aged to be worth 250 dollars.

For a few dollars I bought a tri- cornered glass canister, a tiny sieve, a fancy peeler, and an oven mitt still wearing its store tag. Also two small steel beating bowls, and a nice cluster of measuring spoons (for who can have too many).

There was a stamp collection in a back bedroom, and boxes of old LPs, which always bring collectors. On the coffee table were seven or eight antique books from the mid 19th century. On top was a Dickens with an inscription on the inner cover in spidery 1858 handwriting. I saw no more, for the book started to fall apart in my hands, and my curiosity evaporated.

And I did find it curious that such a well-equipped kitchen had only one major cookbook. No surprise though that it was "The Joy of Cooking".

Here are some pictures of what else was for sale from the estate sale website.

And here- is my big find of the day, found at the Bellevue sale. Birding binoculars for $26 dollars. My binoculars broke last spring, and until today, I was without. Perhaps they are not top of the line, the latest thing, or a birding status symbol, but they are mine for a good price, and they will do.


Some pictures from the estate sale website for the Bellevue sale follow.