Who would have guessed that 2 years ago today, August 1st, 2014, a woman in Southern Illinois would decide she wanted to write a blog about dolls and sewing and a few life events mixed in, and it would be successful and fun and she’d make LOTS of friends all over the United States and some from other countries? I never dreamed it would go on this long… well, actually I was hoping it would, but I’m not a writer and I barely knew how to upload my pictures and whenever there was a technical glitch, I held my breath, whispered a prayer and somehow, got it figured out…for the most part. The rest was all YOU… I wrote and you commented… then I commented on your comments and you commented the next time I wrote something… We went back and forth and before long, I had a gazillion friends whom I’ve never met…I just love how it’s all turned out.
I haven’t missed a day since I started and today’s post is number 730. There have been 11,411 comments and 92,488 views! My first month I had 503 hits the whole month and yesterday just closed out my biggest month yet… 6855 hits from viewers. And it all happened because of YOU! You found me somehow and many have stuck with me from the beginning… thank you so much!!! I have enjoyed myself and can’t believe I’ve chatted so much to you… I’ve learned how to do a few things along the way and hope to learn more this year. thank you too, to my webmaster, Sarah, who believed enough in me to help me get started with my blog. I couldn’t have done it without her!
I’ve been thinking of this day for quite a while and knew it was coming. I’ve looked online at fun ideas for special “blogoversaries” but nothing seemed appropriate for me as many of the bloggers out there are home decor blogs. Because of the yard sale this past week, I didn’t get to figure out what I wanted to do for you, but yesterday as I was waiting on customers at the yard sale, I was praying about what to do and I decided on something.
Several of you asked about how much we made at our “Ginormous” church yard sale and I thought I’d do something with that… so here goes..
Nothing is priced at our yard sale but we just tell the customers to donate what they feel in their heart it is worth. We let them know the monies raised will help out missionaries around the world.
This is what I’d like you to do.. Leave a comment or send me an email telling me how much money you think we made at the yard sale and whoever gets closest to the actual dollar amount WITHOUT GOING OVER will be the winner and will receive THIS from me… one of my famous “Brownies in a Jar.”
I just made it Sunday evening so it’s nice and fresh… you just add a few ingredients to the jar mix and you have the most wonderful brownies ever!
I’ll get the winner’s jar decorated, something like this one…that I made for someone else…
(sorry, but this will have to be just for U.S. readers… the jars are too heavy to ship internationally…) You’ll have until midnight (Central Illinois time) Monday evening to place your guess. I’ll let you know in tomorrow’s post who won the brownies in a jar. :o)
Also if you want, in your comment, tell us about the best “yard sale” item you ever bought and how much you paid for it…
If you’d like to read my all time, “most viewed” posts, here they are…it’s funny, they are all fairly recent…
#1 – with 478 daily views, “What would you guess is the oldest thing in my house?” (this post blew me away with all the views!!)
#2 – with 345 daily views, “Have you ever been to a “Ginormous” yard sale?”
#3 – with 343 daily views, “I give you my heart…”
#4 – with 341 daily views, “Janie and I need your help…”
#5 – with 338 daily views, “Molly’s rick rack redo and a special award…”
Several of you hoped we had a relaxing day after the days of the yard sale…not exactly… Today we had to go back to Angel’s house and break down all the cardboard boxes, flatten then and load them on my hubby’s trailer, before the rain comes…and my hubby guessed there were probably 125-150 boxes… all different sizes. Then the trash had to all be bagged up in big garbage bags…maybe 25-30 of them… the electronics that didn’t sell had to be tarped, so they could be taken to the recycle place, all the plastic tubs had to be stacked and placed in Angel’s basement, the floor swept, the garage floor swept, the trash picked up in the yard, the big 50 foot tarp had to be folded up before it got rained on…
We asked for volunteers at church this morning and several people raised their hands to help…but sadly, no one showed up… so me and my hubby and Angel spent the afternoon sweating together! It was 90 degrees and VERY humid!
When we got home, our son came over to do laundry and eat dinner with us… He didn’t cook this time… so I threw together some sandwiches, mac n cheese, and tomatoes… Long day… it’s bed time for me!
Marilyn, I’m ready for that Cool Spoons now!!!
Thank you again for 2 wonderful years!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Happy, happy anniversary, dear Jeanne Marie! It has been two years of fun and friendship, so many stories, adventures and best of all two years of seeing your wonderful talents! I am so very proud to call you “friend” and can easily say you are the most caring, sweetest person I know! It has been such a pleasure to get your blog in my morning email, and it certainly brightens my day—-each and every one!
About how much money you made on the yard sale, oh dear! I have no idea, but maybe in the vicinity of $10,650.00? I’m probably way off, and since I’m the first to say, I really can’t gauge it very well. I just hope it helps the missions!
I know about people volunteering and then not showing up! Happens all the time here when they ask for volunteers to help with the gardening at church. It’s usually me and one other!
You have a whole new week to do what you want and to recoup from the yard sale. I have a feeling you will be enjoying it to the hilt!
Two years of blogging every single day! That’s a huge accomplishment. Answering every single comment is also a huge job — ok, you missed a couple of days, but you answered us as a group and were out doing important things. Even dinner sounded wonderful. The tomatoes probably came out of your garden?
I’m going to hope that you made as much money as Linda guessed, but I think I’ll guess $5,540, just to be different. And after you send the brownie kit to the winner, you can give all of us the recipe and start a new trend.
The blog is such a lovely part of the day — there’s usually something pretty to see, progress being made, and when you share the difficult things, they are encouraging instead of depressing. There are moments in life that are hard, but, as one friend said once, “We got through it.” I loved her attitude — and yours.
Maybe a trip with George to Cool Spoons today is in order. I was going to suggest an antique shop, but I think you’ve looked at enough stuff for a little while (unless it’s fabric) and you may want to stay off your feet for a day. Maybe you could plan the next doll outfit and go to a movie, or see one at home.
I just bought a Wellie Wisher for my oldest great-niece. I ordered Camille because her hair looks easiest to care for. Has anyone else seen one of the actual dolls? I’m especially interested in seeing if Jeanne is going to sew for them.
Hi Jeanne,
I hope that you can rest/have rested today. You and George deserve some “down time”.
My guess at the ginormous sale amount is: $9,675.00. I trust you made that and more.
Take care…and keep cool.
I’m afraid I’ll be guessing much lower but maybe more realistically, $3,100. I’m shocked that really just three people were able to pull off this huge garage sale. Next year perhaps divide the amount the sale netted this year by the number of church families and ask them to donate in cash instead of having the sale. See if anyone signs up. Congratulations again on your wonderful contributions to your church.
I’d like to mention again that Goodwill Stores are franchises and the profits go to the individual owners who pay their employees only minimum wage. Imagine their profit just on selling the bulk clothing donations as scrap! Perhaps Salvation Army or another charity would be a better choice.
Congratulations on your two year anniversary of your wonderful blog. I love everything about it, sewing tips, sharing the process involved in your beautiful creations and your life experiences. Thank you, Jeanne Marie, a beautiful soul, for all you do.
Congrats on the Blogoversary! Amazing. Love reading and viewing your fabulous dolly outfits and well everything. Can’t say enough about your dedication to the blog and your readers.
Can’t believe your helpers were not. But, sounds like the work is done. That heat would have done me in believe me.
Many of our sales were pretty big over the years. We actually sold two cars and a motorcycle as well. But, the amount. With no set prices. Humm.. Maybe you had generous buyers so I will guess $3452.60. Hard to make a huge amount on 25 cent items sometimes. Hope the paintings brought in a lot.:)
And on to a new and exciting blog year!
Oh, Jeanne, did you intentional start your blog on National Girlfriend Day? Wow! It really is today. You sure have a lot of girlfriends now!
Happy Monday Jeanne
And congrats on two years of Blogging, what an awesome accomplishment! I enjoy reading it immensely. You and your readers are like a little family. I always come away with a smile and little tidbit of info.
As for the yard sale clean up, I am so sorry no one showed up to help. I do believe there is a special place in heaven for the people that stay behind, the ones always willing to lend a hand, doing whatever needs doing… the picker-uppers, It truly is the worse job ever.
But now you can finally ( I hope) relax!
Congrats again and oops almost forgot .. Even though I wish you made thousands… My guess is $2356.00
Happy Anniversary!
You have done an awesome job of entertaining you followers with great sewing lessons, wonderful pictures. and stories, recipes and life lessons. I’ve read your blog every day…even though sometimes my replies won’t show…it’s a very happy part of my day.
Thanks for all you do even when you are tired and stay up to make sure your messages are posted
Congratulations!
p.s. My $ guess is 3999.00?
Congrats, Jeanne! I know how hard it is to blog every day. I last a whole month! (lol) I enjoyed it, but I didn’t get much creating done that month though. I enjoy reading your blog daily, hope you keep it up. Um, $2793? Really, I have no idea.
Hope you are able to rest up today. You probably lost 5 pounds with all of the work you did!
Congratulations Jeanne dear on your two year anniversary of blogging. So many of us have enjoyed your friendship and reading your blog. I try to read it every day and enjoy it immensely. You are such a sweetheart, Jeanne- always doing for others and doing for others quite cheerfully. Your energy is admirable.
Glad the yard sale is behind you and you can move on to other things. Knowing how inexpensive items are at yard sales, even if it’s an amount donated. I’m guessing 2100.00
I look forward to your third year writing your blog. Many blessing to you and your family, dear heart.
Happy Blogiversary, Jeanne!
I don’t have a yard sale story, may I tell you an e-Bay story. At our wedding in 1959 we received as a gift a really pretty cup and saucer. I’ve moved several times (and changed husbands) but I really liked the cup and saucer so it always had a spot in my china cabinet. This Spring I was doing some searching on e-Bay and found that some cup/saucer sets by that maker were bringing over $100. I decided for that amount I could part with it so I listed it as an auction with a starting price of $50. The next day I got a message offering $400.00 for it! I let the auction run it’s course and it sold for $525.00! Anybody else have a Paragon burgundy cup and saucer with a gold rose painted on the inside of the cup? If you think you might have a twin to mine, let me know and I’ll send you a photo of the one I sold.
Jevne, do you have a guess for the yard sale total?
~ Jeanne
Congratulations on your two-year anniversary! I have enjoyed reading all your posts, although you had been blogging a few months before I “found” you. I have to disagree with your comment about not being a writer. Writing may not be your profession, but your writing is good and your way of relating an event is very engaging. I wish some of us could have been there to help with the garage sale cleanup. It would have been much easier with just a few more willing workers. As for how much money was made, I am ever the optimist and will guess $11,700. My best yard sale purchase was probably a child’s table and chairs I bought pretty cheap. It was like new and to this day it’s in my family room for the grandkids to sit and color or draw, eat their snacks, etc.
By the way, I didn’t get a chance to comment on the post you did on Cecile, but the dresses you made for her were all just lovely. I have Marie Grace but not Cecile, although I bought one of the just like you AG’s from eBay that had the same coloring and turned her into Cecile. She just has a different face mold, but I like her better.
Congratulations on two extremely committed years of blogging, Jeanne! It is truly quite the accomplishment. I, too, think it is a lovely coincidence that your “blogoversary” falls on National Girlfriend Day. Nothing could be more fitting than that. It’s serendipitous!
Hmmm, the total sales figure for the ginormous garage sale is very difficult to say. There are so many variables that could have had an impact on the earnings. Rain, heat, free will offerings, the two-week postponement, …….. Without knowing the size of your church family and how the sale was promoted and advertised to the community, it really is just a stab in the dark! Your pictures showed us A LOT of stuff, and you did mention that your church helps support a large number of missions, so my ginormous guess will be $9,730.00. I’m with Marilyn, though — please share the brownie recipe!
Congratulations again, Jeanne, and thank you for your devotion to all of us, your readers. You are an amazing lady with a kind heart and remarkable talents, and your daily posts are a blessing to all. Best wishes to you as you embark on a third year enriching our lives!
Happy Anniversary – to you *and* us! 🙂 I didn’t join your blog that long ago, but, wish I *had*! 🙂 I admire your ‘stick to it-iveness’! 🙂
My sales total guess is $5.500. 🙂 I wouldn’t have a ‘real clue’, tho! LOL!!