Yard Swap Party

I saw this on Carolyn Arnette's Facebook status in early May, 2010:

Our "Ultimate Girfriend Yard Swap" will be Sunday, June 8th, at 1:00 p.m.   Remember, beyond being economical, eco-friendly, and an excuse to clean out your home, this Swap with your Girlfriends is far more fun than a yard sale with strangers!  And best of all - NO MONEY NEEDED! " Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" and a Reason to socialize too.

Bring 3-10 items.  We will also accept  "extra" items, just to make it interesting.  You may have an extra kitchen item, piece of jewelry, a book or two, CD's, DVD's, etc. that we cam make them into a set.  

You may drop off  your items any day between May 30th and June 5th. Snacks and beverages will be served.  

Beyond being economical, eco-friendly, and an excuse to clean out your home, this Swap with your Girlfriends is far more fun than a yard sale with strangers! 

That sounded like such a neat idea so I asked if I could come, too -- just brazenly invited myself!  I especially wanted to go because I wanted to see how Carolyn organized the event.  

During the week before the party, each person is asked to bring at least 10 items that are good but they don't use.  Carolyn organized everything for display in a room.  When people arrived, they first had a potluck meal.  Then they ran it sort of like a Chinese gift exchange.  People drew a number, went into the room, and chose an item.  The next person could take that item or go choose another one.

Since I had a funeral to attend, Carolyn graciously had me come by and make a list of things I'd like.  My high school friend, Phyllis Flick, was there and kept my list.   That evening I went in and Phyllis had kept about 5 of the things from the list.  The left-over items are donated to a charity so I got to choose 5 more items.

Watch out, I just may get energetic and try one of these Yard Swap Parties!

p.s.  Carolyn is the first cousin and best friend of Leslee from Alaska. 

Another p.s.  2018  I got a sturdy oak office straight chair.  It has been a delight to use in the garage for putting my boots on.

Lunch with Leslee from Alaska

Leslee Orbaugh and I accidentally met through a mistaken email in November, 2007.  We first met in person in May of 2008.  This year I enjoyed two lunches with her!  We ate at Red Lobster one day and had a chance to talk one-on-one.  

On May 25th, we dined with Lois Horne (my dear friend since 1st grade who was a college roommate and went twice to the Iditarod dog sled races in Alaska.  She got to visit Leslee at her home in Anchorage this year!) and Phyllis Flick (my high school friend who happens to be Leslee's cousin).

 Leslee is just one of those special people.  We have a lot in common and she's very outgoing and wise -- one of those people with whom you can discuss life and its meaning.  It was great to see her, though our time together was too short.

Lois the Musher - Part #2

I predict you will feel cold by the time you finish Lois's latest post  --  Whew!!   Only Our Little Lois would choose to live through something like this! 

Click here:  Our Magnificent Mushing Madventure (Chapter 2)

Leave It to Lois

My friend-since-first-grade, Lois Brown Horne, has always been known to be curious and interested in MANY things.  She taught home-ec at Buffalo Gap High School for 20 years.  She then went back to James Madison University and became a licensed psychologist, another field in which she has been quite successful.

One of her interests is the Iditarod Dog Sled races in Alaska.  She is a junkie and can tell you all about the mushers and their dogs -  and her predictions.  

• TOP TEN PICK - FROM MY GUT
• TOP TEN PICK - FROM THE HEAD
• TOP TEN PICK - FROM THE HEART

"...When I blogged my 2008 trip, I thought it was a once in a lifetime experience. However, rather than 'scratch an itch', that trip only 'fueled the fire' that has, maybe, become an addiction. People (friends now) in the mushing community warned me, but instead of heeding the warning, my sense of adventure was fed by those warnings....."   

The post for yesterday is most amazing and I dare say you don't have too many friends who have done this. Click here:  Magnificent Mushing Madventure (Chapter 1)

Lunch with Leslee (from Alaska)

May 1, 2008 - This is Part #2 from Email Mistake Yields New Friend

TA DA! Email pals meet in person in Harrisonburg, VA.

Mary May Angelil, Leslee Orebaugh from Alaska, Lois Brown Horne

I was not disappointed at all.........quite the contrary, Leslee was absolutely delightful! She's lively, self-confident, open and has had a fascinating life. We all have so much in common and talked over lunch for more than three hours! Lois went to the Iditarod Dog Sled races in February so they had lots to discuss.

I look forward to spending more time with Leslee, keeping touch through email, and maybe visiting her some day but I have NO thoughts of moving to Alaska (BRRrrr... )

Email Mistake Yields New Friend

It never ceases to amaze me what a small world it is. Email has opened a whole new world of possibilities, as illustrated by the emails below.....

November 16, 2007 - I received an email that was a comment about a joke. I was a bit leery because I didn't recognize the email but I hesitantly replied saying, "Do I know you? Your name isn't ringing a bell."

November 17, 2007 - leslee@ replied, "No, and it shouldn't ring a bell. You sent this to Carol Nesselrodt and I mistakenly thought I was replying to her. My error. Sorry."

November 17, 2007 - I replied, "I don't know Carol either but it's fine if she wanted to share a cute email. With names like Nesselrodt and Orebaugh you must be from or connected the Shenandoah Valley so I KNOW you're a nice person!

November 18, 2007 - leslee@ replied, "Oh, you are so right. We are from the Shenandoah Valley. You must be to in order to recognize their origin. Again, sorry for any trouble I may have caused.

Oh, by the way, I am in Alaska (have been for 20 years) and today it was 31 degrees and no snow. We had about a 1/2 inch last night. We probably will not see the ground again until March. My cousin emailed and said the valley had some cold weather."

November 18, 2007 - I replied, "Wow, I've never known anyone who actually lives in Alaska. I've heard wonderful things about it! How did you happen to end up there?"

November 19, 2007 - lesslee@ replied, "How did I end up here . . . well you will never believe a flip of a coin but that is exactly what happened.............. "

.......And that's how it all got began....... a series of emails as I got to "know" Leslee and her fascinating life story.

December 23, 2007 - lesslee@ wrote
”Subject: we are closer than you think
We are so much closer than you think. I had a good laugh yesterday when I was telling my cousin and best friend (Carolyn Jean Bradburn Arnett) about how you and I met. She says you have been to her home and than you went to school with another of my cousins (Phyllis Mason Flick). So, how's that for a small world.”

April 29, 2008 - Leslee is here in Harrisonburg, Virginia!

She’s visiting Carolyn (her cousin and best friend). On Thursday, Leslee, Lois (my friend since first grade), Phyllis (her cousin, my good friend since high school) and I are going to have lunch together. (Carolyn has to work :( , poor dear.)

As I told Leslee on the phone, I feel like I'm going to meet a movie star and should ask for her autograph! Who would guess a mistaken email message reply from Leslee to me on November 19, 2007 would have opened such a plethera of connections!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May 1, 2008 - Click here for: LUNCH WITH LESLEE, My Email Pal!

Go to Alaska in February???

I must take a moment to share a special blog with you. Lois and I have been friends since first grade, were college roomies, and have stayed in touch all these years.

Lois taught high school home ec. for 20 years and decided she wanted something different. She went back to James Madison University and got a degree in Psychology (I think that's right.) She became a licensed psychologist and first went into practice with a group. A few years ago, she and a partner started their own practice, which has gone quite well.

As a friend along the way, I had never noticed how totally SMART and curious Lois is. Just being around her makes one feel alive! How many people do you know who go to Alaska in February to help with the Iditarod dog sledding races?

Hope you also enjoy traveling with her: http://www.iditaroddreams.blogspot.com/