Welcome back to part three of our yard sale series. So far we’ve gone over the basics, marketing, and product placement. Now, let me introduce you to the Number One Yard Sale Rule: once it leaves the house, it doesn’t come back in. Honoring the Number One Rule is easy if you remember the Golden Rule of Yard Sales: if it has any sentimental value, I don’t care if it’s a bottle cap, keep it. If you remember that Golden Rule, then rest is easy. You’ll be ready to part with everything in your yard sale. That means at the end of the day, whatever hasn’t sold gets sorted into two piles: dump and Goodwill. …

Welcome to the second installment of our yard sale series. I’ve learned through experience that having a successful yard sale is all about marketing and product placement. As I shared last week, I put an ad in a newspaper or two. I also create an event on my facebook page (my niece Caitlin helps me with that) and ask my friends to share. I don’t do twitter ‘cause, honey, the only one I want twittering me is Charlie. To refresh your memory, here’s my ad: If you saw something you liked on the Homeshopping Network that you wished you’d bought but didn’t, most likely I did, and I’ll be selling it on Saturday. Yard Sale …

It’s one of my favorite times of year here in Maine: yard sale season. I just love yard sales, don’t you? I love going to them and I love having them. Because the thing is, if you go to a lot of yard sales, you have to have a yard sale every once and a while to get rid of all the stuff you bought at the other yard sales. It’s been awhile since I’ve shared my tips for having a successful yard sale. It’s too much to cover all of it in one blog post, so I’ve divided it into three parts: the basics, how to set it up, and the number one yard …

About this time every year, we get ants in our house. Can’t figure out how they get in. Not big carpenter ants, which gross me out, and would have me calling the exterminator for lickity split. Our ants come in phases: first little ants, then tiny ants, then medium sized ants. Just when one size disappears, another kind takes it’s place. We buy them little ant traps, and those eventually do the trick. But when they’re here, ants sure are a nuisance. Here’s Charlie’s ode to ants. Our Uninvited Critters Well, I feel compelled to write About our sorry, little plight When spring is lovely as can be And suddenly we start to see Ants! …

The other day, I noticed I had a missed call on my iphone from my sister Irene. So, I unlock the phone, see if she left a message, when I accidentally facetime her. Oops! I hang up before she answers because it’s first thing in the morning, and frankly, I’m not exactly looking my best. You know those movies where the woman wakes up all tousled and sexy? She rolls over and looks at the guy next to her. “Hi,” he says and flashes that killer grin. And she smiles back and murmurs, “Hi.” Not high on the scale of witty comebacks, but he seems to like it because guess who’s late for work that …

We had a little get together to celebrate my sister Irene’s birthday last week, just the family. If you’re not going to spring clean, the next best thing is to have a party at your house. They say you should have two a year: one in the warm weather and one in cool. That way, you’re motivated to do a couple of good, deep cleanings, and get your yard in order, to boot. The yard is Charlie’s department. He’s got one of them rider mowers that he just loves. Has a little shed with a ramp he keeps it in. I plant the annuals, take care of the potted plants, do a little weeding from …

A new gal was getting her hair done down to Hair Affair a couple weeks ago. Merry just moved to Mahoosuc Mills, and was lucky enough to get an appointment with Pasty. (She must know someone.) So we’re gabbing like you do at the hair dressers. At one point, Merry was talking about how she lost someone dear to her (she didn’t share who). “I feel sad every once and awhile, sure,” Merry says. “But I made a decision to honor her by packing as much joy as possible into my life.” Wow, I’m thinking. What a great way to look at things! I’m taking that and running with it. It’s my birthday month. I …

Since getting his new hip, Charlie’s been on half time down to the mill. Having all that free time on his hands has turned him into a poetry writing fool. Here’s his latest. I Got a New Hip I got a new hip I’m a happy guy Got the big thumbs up From a fella drivin’ by I’m walkin’ down the street Not lookin’ at my feet Shoe laces, I can tie ‘em Maybe on the second try Wear clodhoppers so I don’t slip I got a new hip I got a new hip Man, alive I can walk up stairs, hey, I can even drive! (Automatic, of course, But it’s better than a horse) …

So, I’m sitting there watching the tube with my husband, Charlie, reading the latest AARP Magazine when I think, when did this happen? When did I go from joking about this magazine to actually reading it? Not just leafing through, not scanning it, but enjoying it? I mean, finding the articles interesting and helpful. Sharing the occasional tidbit with Charlie. And me and the Women Who Run With the Moose love the “Movies for Grownups” section. The celebrities on the cover used to be old looking, you know? Now I see the latest issue and say things like, “Hey, Kathy Lee’s not looking half bad!” In fact, this month I got more excited about the …

Charlie’s on the mend from his hip replacement. Every day he gets better and better. It’s a marvel to see him bend down and put on his socks by himself. He’s doing physical therapy a couple times a day, plus he takes a short walk. Without Scamp, of course. That’s because Scamp can be a little unpredictable, especially when he sees another dog. He only weighs fourteen pounds, but that four on the floor is a powerful thing. The hardest part for Charlie is the nighttime. Especially at the beginning. He just couldn’t get comfortable. No position seemed to work, so he dreamed a lot. I’ll let him tell you all about it.  The Dreams …