Dawn (Hostess) has a son named Jack. His first costume was a Jack-o-Lantern. Future costume ideas include a Jack-in-the-Box and a Jack (like the little metal toy).

Autumn has fully arrived so I will have to wait until next year for more g-sale shopping or hostessing. I have already placed priced items in storage for a May 2009 sale. I think it is a sickness. Or I guess you could call it a hobby or maybe necessity.

Notice the freshly cut hydrangea bloom on our hostess table. Our trip to the mall for rolling racks was diverted for a quick stop to the frontage road berm in front of Sport's Authority. Snip. Ahh! Nice.

Our little not-babies-anymore girls stopped by for a visit after nap-time. In order of appearance: Nora, Dawn, Jess (me) and Molly.

Dawn's Mom made us aprons for our price tickets and cash. They worked out so well! Thanks Mrs. Dawn's Mom. Dawn selected an apron that matched her lower level couch pillows. She looked marvelous indeed.

My apron was the first toile item I have ever owed. I felt oh so interior designer-ish wearing ottoman fabric!

Baby clothes at our garage sale:

• Stories of who wore what and when to help remember our child’s blurry days of babyhood.
• Taking clothes out of the pricing box because we were not ready to see that one go
• Pink rack, blue rack and sliver of green and yellow because Dawn did not know what she was having…she is one of those.

In the doings of the sale I found opportunities to silently pray for some of our customers. It seems that there always happens to be a hand full of people that appear to be needing love. I tend to let few items like a snow suit or an extra stuffed animal or book get tossed in without charge.

Just throw it in!

So many people have been generous to me via hand-me-downs that of course I can’t resist paying it forward. Let this be an encouragement to you to spread the love with second hand clothes. What have you been hanging on to in the attic for someday when your neighbor could use it today?