This past weekend my best friend, Natalie, drove down from Chicago to experience the Highway 40 yard sale with me. I took to Craigslist before her arrival to determine our garage sale action plan. What’s that you ask? It’s a 4-day yard sale that runs 824 miles from Maryland to Missouri– all along Highway 40, which happens to cut through the Indianapolis area. Score.
We set out around 8:00 AM Saturday morning. Our first stop was a multi-booth yard sale of sorts.
It didn’t take me long to spot my first find of the day– a vintage scale for $10. I love its blueish turquoise face. And the fact that it’s from Chicago.
A couple yard sale stops later, we hit a blogger’s paradise. Blue Ball mason jars, old wooden crates, and vintage scales galore. I could picture blogger heads exploding everywhere.
I thought this vendor had quite a few blue Ball mason jars until I looked under the table they were setting on and spotted a crate and box full of more jars.
Natalie and I walked away with four blue Ball mason jars for $5. Yes, 4 for $5. I bet your mind is blown. Looking back, I should have bought all of them, turned around, and resold them like crack to other bloggers. Maybe next time.
This vendor also had vintage scales.
And vintage wooden crates and milk cans.
The vendor made the mistake of telling me that she has a big yard sale every fall at her house. Needless to say, I know where I’ll be the weekend after Labor Day this year.
They had quite a few vintage things at our next yard sale stop.
I picked up a vintage “Indiana Hurryin’ Hoosiers” 7UP bottle for Brad’s office, which is decorated in Indiana University stuff, while at this particular sale.
We stopped at a couple more yard sales before our final stop at a antique mall, where vendors had set up booths outside the antique mall. Some booths were good, and some were filled with crap.
Dented box of Nice ‘N Easy, anyone?
I may or may not have grabbed one of these toy snakes, threw it at Natalie, and yelled “AHHH!” Natalie may or may not have screamed and instinctively slapped my arm really hard. It was totally worth it though.
But not all the booths were bad. I found (and purchased) a vintage Anchor Hocking hobnail milk glass ice bucket for $5 at one booth.
One booth had some great old windows, wooden crates, and Ball mason jars.
We walked around the antique mall on the property before calling it a day. This is where I spotted an old Avon perfume bottle shaped like a spool of thread and thimble that was in my grandma’s sewing things that I inherited. Natalie picked up the bottle and proceeded to spill the 30 year old perfume on herself. I coughed and gagged every time I came within a 3 feet radius of her. Have I mentioned that I have a sensitive sense of smell? I was going to make her hitch hike home. But she said she was sorry, and lucky for her (and me) I keep wet wipes in my car.
Keep in mind that we only drove 13 miles of the 824 miles of yard sales. Seriously, imagine the possibilities!
Nicole @My Thrafty Life says
June 7, 2012 at 12:18 PMI love that ice bucket!i am crazy for yard sales, so I would be all over this!
smalltownbigwardrobe.com says
June 7, 2012 at 12:45 PMI can so see Natalie doing that – she is so funny!!! Thank goodness for wet wipes. 🙂 Those vintage milk crates and jugs are amazing – and I can’t wait to see what you do with the Ball jars!
DecorandtheDog says
June 7, 2012 at 1:09 PMYou’re a nicer friend..I would have made her walk. 😛
Sweet finds! My blogger mind is officially blown.
Primer and Painted Nails says
June 7, 2012 at 1:27 PMSooooo lucky! What a yardsale!!! I get giddy thinking about it…. Wish Dallas had something like that and I’d be in Heaven.
the girl in the red shoes says
June 7, 2012 at 1:40 PMWhat a fun sale! I totally want to do it!
Paisley Print Shoes says
June 7, 2012 at 1:42 PMOh my gosh, SO JEALOUS. Looks like a blast!
-Katie
Chiwei @ One Dog Woof says
June 7, 2012 at 5:19 PMUm.. yeah, I’d roadtrip with you. And I’m not kidding! My bro/sis-in-law lives in Broadripple, so we’re always trying to plan a visit 🙂
Rachel says
June 7, 2012 at 5:36 PMThat looks so fun! I LOVE the scale you bought–that is fantastic. And I so wish I could have taken home one of those old windows . . . they’re gorgeous!
Kylie Helm says
June 7, 2012 at 6:25 PMI need to look that up! I am CRAZY for a good yard sale!! And Missouri is a close neighbor to my North so I may just see ya next year!
-Kylie
absolutelyarkansas.blogspot.com
Sarah says
June 7, 2012 at 7:54 PMUgh I am dying to do this!!! I am on my way in Indy in a matter of moments…may have to make a few extra stops!
[email protected] says
June 8, 2012 at 1:09 PMMy blogger head just exploded! I’ve never heard of this, even though Missouri is right next door to me. I’ll have to mark my calendar!
lmcniff says
June 8, 2012 at 6:50 PMi have NEVER heard of anything like this…it’s amazing!!! i think i would be camping out so i didn’t miss anything! that scale is awesome…and those blue jars…i would have bought them off you 😉
Meggan says
June 8, 2012 at 11:50 PMwhat amazing finds!! truly a blogger paradise!!
Kim @ keller-creative says
June 11, 2012 at 12:59 PMWOW! That looks amazing. I cant believe the deal you got on those mason jars (at the raleigh flea market last week ONE was $8). I also love the milk glass!
Caitlin @ Desert Domicile says
June 11, 2012 at 8:53 PMAmazing finds! I’m totally down for a trip next year if that’s not creepy to say haha My best friend lives in Indianapolis and I’ve been meaning to make a trip out there for 4 years now!
lindsaykubica says
June 27, 2012 at 9:00 PMI WANT ALLLLLLL OF THAT!!!!
Connie says
May 28, 2016 at 2:53 PMI live in muskingum county, and love flea markets! The rt. 40 event is best for us, it’s close, and helps us since we are both disabled. When is the event closest to zanesville, Ohio?