6TH RUMMAGE SALE OF 2010

On Saturday, July 24, we, along with some of our neighbors, had the first ever Golden Hills Drive
 Neighborhood  Rummage Sale. We were up at 4:30 putting out  signs and balloons, and then home to set up tables and get the stuff displayed on the tables. At 6:45 we had shoppers, and although we weren't completely set up, we had our first sale. We had alot of people come out for the sale, and we sold alot of "stuff". It was a perfect day, the only day all week that rain showers or storms weren't predicted!!

  

It was great having it outdoors, so much more room to display all the "stuff". We got to visit with alot of folks, and were able to sell alot of  outdoor summer items.

We rented the tables from the Community Hall and were able to display the "stuff" and spread things out.The shoppers were pretty steady all day long and even after the sale closed at 2:00 we still had folks coming. It was a huge success and at least  two of the neighbors said they would be willing to do it again. The neighborhood kids had set up a lemonade stand, so we treated ourselves to brownies, cookies, and tea for lunch....delicious.

 

We were surprised when we counted the proceeds, it was the best sale ever!! We made $543.00 in 6 hours, not a bad days work!!! We were a little disappointed that Darrell's tools didn't sell better, so I'm looking into doing a little something different with the tools.

  

BUILDING PRODUCTS INCORPORATED SUMMER SHOW

Friday, July 16 we left at 5:30 a.m. to attend the annual Building Products Incorporated  Summer Show that we have attended every year for the past 10 years. We look forward to it every year, it is a fun time. You can always count on it being hot and humid in Sioux Falls the middle of July. We arrived in Sioux Falls around one o'clock after having a lovely lunch in Mitchell, S. D. at the Corner Cafe, just sandwiches, but homemade and good, complete with my Peach Smoothie....YUM! We had a little time before checking in at the Ramkota, so we went over to Schaap's  RV and looked at RVs. They had a Big Horn, which was very nice and some Montanas to look at. Didn't care for the Montanas, but the Big Horn had a similar floor plan to the Heartland Landmark that we want. After that we went over to the Convention Center, checked in, got our goodies and hotel, and to our delight, we had the nicest room we've ever had in the 10 years we've gone. A microwave, fridge, large room, conveniently located. We went over to the show, registered for prizes, Darrell visited with some of the venders, had popcorn, ice cream, and pop, sat down and watched the crowd for awhile.
We had a little time before the dinner at 5:30, so we drove out to Spader's RV and we were able to look at a Keystone Alpine. It was very nice, but I still like the Heartland Augusta.
BPI always hires entertainment, so before dinner we were treated to a hypnotist. He had about a dozen folks from the audience come up and he hypnotised them. It was really interesting, and because we had sat like right in front of the stage, it was more enjoyable, because you could see by the looks on their faces they were in some kind of trance.

After doing some things on the stage, driving a car, singing opera, he sent the crowd out in the audience, they had to go up to everyone and say "I'm James.....James Bond, which they did. Then he told them to pick the closest person to them and dance an  Irish jig very good with that  person, the person that was the closest to him...WAS ME!!!!OMG!!

So, we danced an Irish jig very good!!! Anyway, it was fun, and then we had dinner and a few words from the owner of BPI. 

                                  

In the morning at the hotel we were treated to a wonderful breakfast! And then everyone went their separate ways, back to their lives.

                                   

We were off to the Farmer's Market at Falls Park, which we do every year, and get our first fresh tomatoes and cucumbers of the season, and it is sooooo good!!

                                  

Ever since I became a Master Gardener, I have heard about McCrory Gardens in Brookings, and have always wanted to see it, so after watching a show at the Cinedome and taking a dip in the hot tub at the hotel, we drove over to Brookings, which is about 50 miles from Sioux Falls. It was a very hot, humid day and we wondered if we would be able to stand it long enough to see the gardens. Luckily about the time we arrived, clouds started moving in and a cool breeze was blowing.

                                 

And we were practically the only ones visiting the gardens,probably due to the stormy weather predictions and the clouds that had moved in. We loved the gardens, and are so glad we took the time to drive over to see it.

                                

It was a good time to visit the gardens, the flowers were beautiful! And luckily we wandered as long as we wanted and never got rained on.

                                           

                                            

We got back to the hotel, turned on the tv and they were saying that downtown Brookings was flooding.....boy!! we were so lucky!! We drove home the next morning, picked up our girls, and life starts  again......

SILVER CITY VOLKSMARCH & PIE & ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Sunday, July 11, we walked the 10 K Volksmarch at Silver City. Maggie and Marlee walked with us.

The weather was perfect for the walk, what a beautiful walk!! Everything is so lush, thick, creek was  running full, there were  times when I was walking Marlee, she just disappeared in the weeds!  It had been a long time since we had been in Silver City, it was a place in earlier years we used to visit quite often. It was predicted to be a hot, humid day, but for the whole walk the sun stayed under the clouds.  There was a place on the walk,where you walked on the narrow path, and on either side of you, nothing but large ferns, it was beautiful! I never knew South Dakota grew so many beautiful ferns! We want to go back, and this time, I will bring my camera! The dogs never acted tired, this their second Volksmarch. The walk took a couple of hours and then afterwards.........the Pie & Ice Cream Social at the Silver City Community Center...YUM!YUM! 

Darrell had apple pie, his favorite, I had rhubarb, one of my favorites, and we shared a sloppy joe lunch, it was very good!!

Clint and Nikki visited the rest of the day, we were glad to see them, it had been a while, we've all been having busy summers! It also rained the rest of the day, so we felt fortunate we were able to do the walk in the morning!!