127 YARD SALE DAY 1: FRANKFORT-HARRODSBURG, KY

For the past couple of years we have had some pretty good luck with the weather. Last year we had a day or two of rain, but we prepared in advance and were able tackle it like pros, but still didn’t experience anything like the grueling years before…what I remember as: “the Amazon jungle with the sunshine of Death Valley and I’m wearing a parka”.

Even though we were prepared I couldn’t help but be a little worried when I checked the weather in Chattanooga.

But before I go on about our first day—I can’t forget to mention how we start every first day of 127: at Rick’s White Light Diner in Frankfort.

We have visited the hilarious and talented Rick for eight years now and honestly I can’t imagine starting the yard sale without having his wonderful food while drinking a beer and listening to him tell us that we, “are crazy for driving out from California for that yard sale”. Gustavo (my husband) had the special, a soft-shelled crab po’ boy and I had a Cajun shrimp omelet, Eggs Benedict and two beers (heck I’m not driving!). I cannot recommend this place enough and if you do go there tell him the two Californians that do the yard sale every summer sent you! 🙂

Rain is okay in small amounts but that forecast was making me worried. Rain really affects vendor turnout and vendors who have paper or wood products are severely affected with this kind of weather. Just think of all our Patchwork Show vendors and products who are only outside for the afternoon let alone a week!

I could tell the weather was going to an issue from the first stop at the Eagle Lake Convention Center in Lawrenceburg. Usually we have a stop before that but the effects of rain earlier in the week and anticipation of rain during the weekend meant less vendors and less stops. All 3 of our typical larger stops had fewer vendors even though it only rained for 30 minutes.

I wasn’t too upset about it since we managed to find some items and more importantly our stop for the evening was new: The Beaumont Inn in Harrodsburg.

Kentucky’s oldest family-operated inn, The Beaumont was formerly a girl’s college and dates back to the 1840’s and feels as if you have stepped back in time (albeit with modern appliances). Set on gorgeous grounds, the property has a small farm, pool, spa in a converted bungalow (I had a wonderful massage there), a dinning room and a lively bar called The Old Owl Tavern. There’s even a second bar above the Old Owl that hosts bourbon tastings that we didn’t visit but plan on hitting up next year. After dinner we sat out in the back garden and watched the sunset surrounded by fireflies—I have never seen them before!

This was certainly a treat and a very relaxing way to start the yard sale that I now can’t imagine doing differently next year.

XO, Delilah

FINDS OF THE DAY: glass cornbread baking dish (!!!!), cast iron cornbread baking dish, a few great deals on Pyrex, a 22-piece coupe set (WOW), blue and white glass displays and vintage swizzle sticks.