Aunt Shirley and Uncle Joe

Aunt Shirley and Uncle Joe are both in nursing care, unfortunately in two different homes, this is a summary of today's telephone conversations.

5:40am
UJ Dave, call me when you get a chance

7:45
AS. Dave call me.

8:00
Me. Called Joe, Joe said he had not spoken to AS

8:10
Me. Called AS, she said that she had not spoken to UJ.

9:00
UJ. Called to say that he could not remember AS's number. Asked me to tell her to call him.

9:10
Me. Called AS and asked her to call UJ.

9:15
9:16
9:20
10:30
11:00
11:10
12:00 pm
12:30
1:00
2:00
AS. Tried to call UJ

2:02
AS. Called me to tell me that UJ was not answering his phone.

2:10
Me. Called UJ to tell himAS was trying to call him. He said OK.

2:15
Me. Called AS to tell her that UJ was in his room.

2:20
2:25
3:00
3:15
3:30
AS. Tried to call UJ

3:35
AS called me to tell me UJ would not answer his phone. Asked me to call UJ to tell him to call her.

3:40
Me. Called UJ to tell him to call Shirley. Said he could not. Told me to have her call him.

3:45
Me. Called AS to tell her to call UJ.

3:50
AS. Called ...

As of 8:49 this evening each of them have called me over a dozen times each. They have not spoken to each other. I'm on my way to the nursing home to dial the phone for them.


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Hankies

In the category of "What????" and "Why????" are hankies. I can say that outside of the 80 plus year old's, that I have never seen anyone use one of these. The very idea of carrying a snot laden rag around in my pocket all day, just seems a little gross. After all who can ever forget Grandma taking her stiff and crunchy hanky out of her pocket book, spitting on it, and then using the now moist rag to wipe cookie crumbs off of your face.

So, who in the world is buying them now? I'm just not sure. All I know is that they do. Pretty, flowery, feminine type hankies sell for a couple of dollars to a couple of hundred dollars. Men's hankies sell for quite a bit less, but still do sell. Unused, or at least clean hankies are normally the way to go. I just can't imagine selling Aunt Millies used crusty hankie for very much, but then again you never really know.

Sell them on EBay or Etsy. I normally sell mine across the auction block. It usually doesn't maximize your cash, but then again I'm a little lazy and the auction can be the quickest and easiest way to sell. The hanky with the dog on it sold for $175 on ebay!

Rookwood Vase

Rookwood production pieces like this one used to bring strong prices. A vase like this one would have sold in the $250-300 range just a few short month's ago. Right now I would suggest Stashing items like this. The tough economy, high shipping costs and just plain lack of enthusiasm from buyers has resulted in a drastic drop in value on items like this.

We recently sold this piece for $125.oo, less than 1/2 of its previous selling price. Hold off if you can, if not be careful when buying. You can still make money, even in a down market if you adjust your purchase prices to the appropriate levels.

Mountain Lions

I really didn't do too much this weekend, so I spent a few minutes looking back at old photo's of treasures past. This one popped up and I thought it was pretty cool so here we go.


This mounted mountain lion showed up a a local auction several years ago. I was immediately interested in it because cool looking, unusual items often sell very well. The problem with this mount is (was) you have to be very careful about selling certain types of animals. I'm really not sure about why, after all they are already dead, but the department of wildlife frowns on the selling of certain mounts. Their frowning comes with high fines, jail terms and public embarrassment.

So, before bidding on it I did some research. This particular type of taxidermy it is legal to sell. I ended up purchasing it for around $100. The question now became what do I do with it. Initially I attempted selling it at the antique mall. I priced it at $450, I chose this price after some Internet research showed other dealers asking $1,500 or more for similar mounts. The antique mall that I have space in has a price point of $8.00 so needless to say, it didn't sell.

Being a consummate daredevil I decided to try the auction route. This may seem like a crazy concept to some of you but, buying at one auction and then selling at another can be a very effective method in money making. Auction goers tend to become "groupies" for one particular auctioneer (or auction company), and will ignore all other auction companies. It seems silly to me because I try to go to every auction I can, but then I really don't care because it enables me to make more money.

The other auctioneer in this case was a whopping 40 miles from where I initially purchased the lion. The result of this gamble, a profit of $800 after commissions. That's right $800. The lion was advertised the same at each auction, the difference being the stuffed animal buyers went to one auction and would not go the other.

Insane? Sure, but then again, who cares. Your goal as a dealer is to make a living for yourself. Paying attention at all auctions to see who buys what, and where they buy it at can really payoff for you.

Marked Woman, or How I Ruined Raggedy Ann...

Priced to Sell!

Recently, we held a very successful household tag sale. Most of the time I try to lead the sellers to the auction route, in this case we determined that the most effective means would be having a tag sale. It was a lot of work but the payoff was worth it. Over the course of 3 days we sold over 90% of the items in the house, but it was not without incident.

Chastised, threatened, humiliated over a $1.00 figurine. I made the fateful error of using an erasable marker on a Raggedy Ann figurine. I was unaware at the time of marking this item that the removable marker could not be removed. It seems that removable markers, while not permanent, become permanent when not used properly. Bisque figurines apparently constitute improper use. Raggedy Ann was bisque.

Enter in one of our tag sale patron's, who we will simply call that Whiny B*#ch.

Whiny B*#ch was very upset because of my inappropriate use of an "erasable" marker. I tried explaining that although unfortunate we would make every attempt to remove the now unremovable markings from the front of the doll. Whiny B*#ch followed Stephanie (my wife) from room to room while she looked for anything that might lead to the restoring Raggedy Ann to her original pristine condition. It was to no avail. Raggedy's pristine appearance, just like her lost virginity could never be returned. Water, soap and scrubbies did not work. We even tried contacting the erasable marker company, their response almost equaled the Whiny B*#ch's, "They were meant for use on dry erase boards only!". Oops.

Whiny B*#ch left in complete and utter disgust. She was last seen slamming her car door shut while nervously lighting a cigarette. She sped off wheels squealing in an apparent display of disgust.



Embarrassed and not knowing what to do, I purchased the figurine myself. I plan on carrying her with me everywhere with me to remind me that not all markers are created equally. I'm now a dollar poorer, and I will forever be reminded of the day that I took a clean ceramic dolls beautiful finish and ruined it. I will spend the rest of my days taking care of her, with the hope, that someday we will be able to unring the bell.





Meeting Gus!


Favorite Movie TARZAN



Smelling the Roses

Greater Youngstown Home and Garden Show

This weekend we will be conducting an antiques and collectibles appraisal show at the Greater Youngstown Home and Garden Show. The event is held at the Austintown Plaza in the Austintown Expo Center. We will be conducting the show 1:00 to 3:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday, March 17 and 18.

Sandusky, Home and Garden Show

On the road again, this weekend Sandusky. We will have an antiques and collectibles appraisal show this weekend in Sandusky, Ohio. The event will be held at the Kalahari convention center from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.