08/15/2026
Good afternoon y'all,
I often get asked, "where do you get your stuff?". It's a long story. Pull up a chair and fix your favorite beverage...
This started with moving from Chesterfield to Appomattox 30+ years ago. Going from a 2 story house with a full attic, plus a half attic, and a full basement to a cracker box was tough for Momma 😉. I was a pack rat back then, hard to believe, right?🤣. Bless Dad's heart❤️, instead of making me let go, he bought a tractor trailer container 🚛 to store my childhood treasures and things Connie didn't want to get rid of.
Then family members passed and we inherited their treasures. We're sentimental, if you didn't know.
Friends would move away and give us treasures.
I have moved 12 times in 30 years. Occasionally, I would have a yard sale but most of the time I would be in a rush and put it in storage.
Finally, Dad said no more paying rent on storage, so he bought a shed.
Then Momma decided to step away from nursing and try opening her own gift shop. She opened Scents of Thyme in Spout Spring for a little while, when she closed we put it in storage.
Time passes and I decide to try having a vendor space for something on the side to make a little money and downsize my stuff. Good intentions, but not what happened 😳.
Instead of pulling from what we had in storage because we considered most of it treasures from family, friends, and the past; I started going to yard sales, estate sales, and auctions to get merchandise.
I had several different locations and some at the same time. Nina Bell's in Appomattox, Big Red Flea in Farmville, Woodlane Antiques and Crafts in Altavista, and the Appomattox Antique store downtown Appomattox. Each time I pivoted to do something else in life, I would put treasures in storage... (Another shed purchased)
So here we are today. I have plenty of "stuff" but I don't know what or where it is. I find myself rotating seasonal decor around and around and buying stuff when I get a good deal. We have several storage sheds full, garage, backroom at the shop, and any hidey hole I find, I fill it up 😁. It's out of control 🤯🌀😵💫🌪️🤣.
The truth is antique dealers, vintage shop owners, online resellers, thrifters, all of us just don't stop looking, browsing, and shopping. It's in our blood and it's the thrill of the hunt. Our problem is letting go of some things that really need to go; not anymore though.
To sum up the whole story, I am thrilled that we got the small shed done. It's organized. I'm inspired to keep going, but I think I will wait for cooler 🌬️❄️weather. Half is holiday decor, half sellable merch, and some of my personal stuff. As we work through them we will determine what we're going to do. I initially thought about a yard sale next weekend, but it's too d*mn hot 🔥 🥵. August is not the month for it. So we will plan it for another day, when it's cooler 🥶.
(This is so typical of my rambling brain🤯, but I don't want to keep this stuff forever under the pole barn.... so maybe mini porch sales... What do you think? I could put it out there and see what happens in small batches so it's not overwhelming, but it's moving...)
My brain 🧠 doesn't stop 🛑 ever.
If you made it through this, this far, God Bless You!!! I'm a rambler. Thank you for being supportive and understanding ❤️. You are appreciated and I look forward to seeing y'all next weekend 💚
