This is one story you almost have to SEE in order to believe!!!!! Highway 127 is a rural highway which comes right through the middle of Crossville, Tennessee where we live. Anyhow--once a year, for four days (although it seems to go on much longer), there is a HUGE event along this highway which begins in Covington, KY and goes south for 450 miles ending in Gadsden, Alabama. The event is called the WORLD'S LONGEST YARD SALE. It is always held beginning the 1st Thursday in August and finishes on the following Sunday. This year's dates were August 6-9.
Anyone who is a junk collector, antique collector, crafter, quilter, cook, farm machinery buff---or just a person who loves to attend yard sales or whatever you call them (garage sales, red tag sales, moving sales or WHATEVER) probably already knows about this huge sale. You'll find everything from antiques, collectibles, furniture, dishware, fresh garden produce, homemade jams and jellies, food vendors, live entertainment and so much more!!! We see people who come from miles and miles away, with huge trucks and trailers in order to get great deals and go home with lots more JUNK!!!! I hear that people make this special event their annual vacation!!!!
Twenty one years ago, the folks in the small town of Jamestown, TN (in Fentress County, north of Crossville) started this 'yard sale' along Highway 127 --as a scheme to get travelers off of the interstate and back into their rural area, hoping to draw more tourists to the area. The sale has grown and grown for these 21 years---and it's been estimated that more than 5000 vendors line up along the 450 mile scenic yard sale route. Like I said, you have to be here to get the real picture!!!
You must understand that I am NOT a yard sale person AT ALL---so events like this make me run the other direction--just to get away from the area. But I have friends who would LOVE it---or DO love it.
The picture above and those below (taken this weekend here in Crossville) are only a tiny piece of what was ALL along Highway 127 for miles and miles and miles. As one person said, "It's the Tour de France for JUNKTIQUERS!" I love that word!!!! If you want to come to this big event next year, just remember the first full weekend in August. You would be welcome to stay with us but I'll guarantee that we will be GONE!!!! Oh Well!!!! ha ha
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On another subject, while I was sitting on my 'throne' (sofa) today playing with my new TOY (click on GEORGE'S blog today for information on this new toy), I saw a Daddy Cardinal and his baby on our deck. The baby was VERY young and was shaking all over --wanting Daddy to feed him. I had more fun watching the two of them---so of course, I got a few pictures. It was shady on the deck --so the pictures aren't very good, but you'll get the idea. Such JOY!!!!
"Hi, I'm Baby Cardinal and I'm SO hungry."
"Please Daddy... Feed me. I'm famished."
"Why are you making me WAIT, Daddy???? A bug is gonna fly in my mouth if you don't feed me NOW!"
"Yummy Yummy. Thanks Daddy Dear. You are so nice to me."
"Now--can we go back to the nest?? I don't like this big ole' world. Puh-lease!"
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OH--aren't they just so sweet???? I hope you enjoyed seeing more of our birds. If you are new to birding, you may not know that the young Cardinals don't have the red beaks yet, but like many of the baby birds, they are pretty big already!!!!
Whether you enjoy Yard Sales or watching the birds, life can be so much fun!!!
Hugs,
51 comments:
morning, ms. betsy! first, i don't mind yard sales at all! we don't have that in the philippines, so i find it kind of fun! if tennessee was any closer i'd be there in a heartbeat, hahah! i'm needing bigger shelves for my books!
as for the birds, my goodness, such pretty cardinals! we have so many of them over here, too! i'm hoping another set of wrens will adorn my windowsill. but if it's cardinals this time, i'd be delighted just as well. happy tuesday to you! thanks for this!
Betsy,
I must confess...I love yard sales but I think I would O-D on that one!
Your Cardinal pictures are wonderful, we had a pair in our yard a while back and we loved to watch them. Unfortunately, we can't feed the birds where we live because of attracting bears!
Have a great day.
Sunny :)
That is one heck of a long yard sale. I feel the same way about them as you but I have noticed a lot of US bloggers mention going to yard sales. We call them garage sales here.
Your birds are very cute so to are your captions. I don't think we have cardinals here but I don't know a lot about birds other than our local ones. I love watching them though.
I will put you on my follow list.
I checked out George's blog. I love your new toy. I want one for travelling. My husband Bill, has a Mac and a blog.(But he's not as active as George) I have his hand me down PC.
Bill’s Ponderings
What a sweet baby being fed!
Yep, that yard sale ran through here as well Betsy. You could not PAY me!...LOLOL!
Hi, Betsy. I used to go to yard sales regularly (especially when my children were small), but have stopped in recent years because I am unable to resist buying books, and my shelves are already full to overflowing!
I love your cardinal shots and the funny captions. We've really enjoyed all the baby birds chirping about our gardens of late. They are so endearing.
Since I saw the show on HGTV about,I have always wanted to go to that sale.Not the WHOLE thing,mind you.
And the baby is precious!
I have wanted to go for years to that yardsale but always miss it. Thanks for givng me the date as I will mark it down. Love to go junking! LOL Adorable bird photos. You should do a bird book!
I'm not a big fan of yard sales but it might be fun to check this one out one of these days.
Love your bird pictures.
That is definitely on my sister's bucket list. She is a master of yard sales. I once said that if I needed a house furnished, all I had to do was give her 50 bucks and a free morning. She gets amazing bargins.
I can't "dicker" so I am useless at them.
Love your baby Cardinals. I get tickled at the fledges. They can be standing on food and will wait for a parent to feed them. Reminds me of teenagers.
Now that you mention it, I heard about this sale a few years back. I bet it was something else to see!
Love the baby bird, too!
I tried a yard sale ONCE. We live way in the back of our housing addition, so after all that work, only a couple of people found their way back. That was the LAST one.
But baby Cardinals..that's a different story. What a cute series of pictures.
Have a blessed day!
I've always heard about that yard sale. Never have seen it though. Love your baby cardinal pics. Those are just precious.
Betsy: Neat info about the yard sale. I enjoyed your bird story.
Your cardinals are just too cute! I wish we had them but we are too far north.
I saw the longest garage sale on our news! I'd be in heaven but it's way too far to go for me. If I lived where you do I'd do the whole thing!
I love watching birds...and going to yard sales. But I don't enjoy this particular big sale because of all the traffic. It's hard to find a place to park and there's way too many people. So I avoid this one. But I love to go to yard/garage sales in the Glade!
Vol Fan and I went to that yard sale one year. And once was enough for me - I'm not THAT into digging for treasure!!
Hooray for the new computer!! Sitting the the recliner, watching the tube, while messing on the internet - that usually sums up my evenings:)
Unbelievably big yard sale! I used to enjoy them, but like you, now I'm tempted to run the other way. That baby cardinal couldn't be any cuter. Enjoy your new laptop Betsy!
I've done the worlds longest yard sale. It is FUN!!!! But I wouldn't want to do it every year. Covington KY is just around the corner from me. ;)
Now that's one helluva yard sale there!!! Cute Cardinal photos...headed to George's to see your new toy!
Betsy,
I had no idea you lived where THE yard sale was born. This has been a popular subject on several blogs (as you can imagine). I like junking -- on occasion. I'm always on the search for old salt and pepper shakers, but they have to be *just so*!!!! I'd get tired quick and quit, I'm sure. I won't be renting your house while you are away!
Love the baby cardinal. They are so much fun to watch. We had 15 doves in the garden yesterday morning. I bet half were all *young ones*.
Hugs--
How wonderful is the new "toy" huh? What a nice birthday gift. What a very thoughtful husband. I love the photos of the baby cardinal, I have never been fortunate enough to see one. Your photos were so good. Now as for the yard sale, whew...bring lots of money and patience!
That is one HUGE yard sale,but,I'll take bird watching anytime.Those baby Cardinals are so cute.
Blessings,Ruth
Such sweet shots of those beautiful cardinals!
I love yard sales but I'm not so fond of huge crowds and trying to find parking, so I've never wanted to try that one!
A garage sale like that sounds like heaven to me. But after having my antique store they really don't hold the excitement they once did. It still sounds like fun. I'm sure to you it's like the people in Sturgis and the motorcyclers - all the people who live there leave town when it's going on.
I love yard sales! I rarely get to any but I'd like too! LOVE the bay/daddy bird pics! So sweet!
xoxo huggies!
Oh that baby! What a sweet little exchange you captured. Wonderful!
Hello Betsy,
Yep, that longest yard sale came through north Alabama where our home used to be..I've never been to it though..but NOT becasue I don't love JUNK..LOL August is so darn hot and it just hasn't really called my name.
I know you love your new laptop..now you can plant yourself and not miss a thing!
Hugs to you,
Stephanie
Hey Betsy darlin
You were closer to that yard sale than I was. I'm sure there are many great finds and treasures but it's just never been my thing. But that precious little cardinal was priceless. I've seen the adult birds feed one another during the courting season but never the baby.
Hope all is good with you on the Cumberland Plateau.
Happy Twirls
Ahhhh...so sweet!! I love cardinals to begin with, but babies (forget about it!). I've seen that big yard sale on TV and it starts just a hop, skip and jump from Cincy...just across the river. Hope you had fun.
I'm not much of a garage saler my self and that would just overwhelm me.
As for the baby birds now that is more my style.
Every year we have Red-winged Blackbirds at the pond. It is just too funny watching Papa Redwing getting his babies all lined up and them feeding them and teaching them whatever Papas teach their babes. I don't know why I didn't take pictures. I guess it was interesting to watch I just forgot. There is always next year. MB
I forgot to say that I sent you an email with a link to the meteor showers. MB
Hey there Betsy. So precious to see the baby being fed and great that you could capture it on camera.
I have never been to this huge yard sale event but I have heard of it and have wanted to attend. Sounds like a lot of fun.
What a great picture of you and George on your header.
We went every year till the last few. Found my daughters cradell in 97' in pikeville at the 127 sales. Best find ever! But if you are looking for old glass bottles and old stuff you would be in heaven. I like the newer stuff myself. I do like yard sales but I haven't had much luck at these sales. You can find lots of everything at them. We went 111 and didn't get in that mess this year. My inlaws still go every year. Very pretty drive though.
Cute birdies!
We saw a little of that yard sale in AL one year while passing through. Amazing!
It's fun to watch those baby birds wanting to be fed.
I'm with you, I run as far as possible to get away from this yard sell. However I might travel back in that direction for a few Cardinal photos. :)
First of all welcome back I just finished reading all your posts I missed..so glad you had a nice birthday..sunrise and sunsets..man you must have been tired at the end of that day!! Very nice photos of both of you!!
I see you visited more falls..now there's a surprise!! tee he Nice photos of them with all that greenery around them...I can hear that water flowing from here!!
Lastly I want to know what YOU bought at this incredible flea market!! I bet you found something!! A picture of a waterfall?? lol!!! Good to see you back..hope you are having a quiet and relxing week..with your birdees!
I'm not a yard-saler at all, either. I have enough junk of my own, thank you. However, I shall try to keep this a secret from my Gardening Daughter; she and her husband are died-in-the wool junkers. If they learn about this, I'm sure I'll be dog-sitting for a weekend.
Love the baby/daddy Cardinal photos! I have quite a few Cardinal juveniles at the feeders, but have not seen one this young in the yard.
Oh, goodness, Betsy. I think I'd be getting out of town that weekend, too. I can't imagine that many miles of junk on the sides of the road and the traffic--UGH. I'm just not that determined to find useful junk, I guess. :)
LOVE the baby cardinal pictures. Our cardinals are just bringing their second brood to the feeders now. And the older ones from the first brood are joining them. I just love that this extended family is all helping to take care of the newest family members. They are so cute!
I have heard of that yard sale. I'll bet it's a neat place to look around.
Kay
I used to like yard sales when I had a larger home and needed things but now living in a teeny apartment, I have absolutely no use for "stuff"... I do not like clutter.
The bird sequence here is adorable!
I've never gone to a yard sale; I avoid them too, but I know that bloggers get some marvelous bargains.
I've heard of that sale! My sister who lives in Ky has gone... OMG!!!!
Too much for this gal,
I just LOVE how daddy Cardinal feeds the babies. How precious is that! Thanks for the great pictures!
Hugs :)
Robin
Please don't tell my hubster about this HUGE garage sale. Although it could turn out to be a delightful all-day photo shoot. ;-)
Hi Betsy,
I've heard about the yard sale for years and seen specials and news reports on it also but I've never been. While I not much into buying at yard sales I have met and talked to some of the most interesting people. Everyone seems to have a story and once you get them talking ....
The baby Cardinal is adorable. I saw your new Macbook, very nice. When are you going to add a webcam to your bird feeders.
Hugs,
Judy
What's fun is reading about how much you enjoy your life!
Girl...I would love to go to that hugh sale myself. I am in the Antique business...I sell lots of things, but mostly glassware and jewelry (depression, carnival, 40s,50s,60s,)..pottery (Hull, Weller, McCoy, Roseville, etc). I love any kind of vintage jewelry, but my favorite is Eisenberg. I loved the birdie pics. I have been trying to take pictures of some red headed woodpeckers..but couldn't get close enough with my camera. LOL...I'll be in the middle of doing something and my husband will call me outside to see these birds LOL...
I'm not much for yard sales either, Betsy, but this sure sounds like a huge one. I hate to think how much junk a person could accummulate from a trip there.
Adorable baby cardinal photos!
I have heard of that yardsale, but didn't know when it was. It reminds me of the Covered Bridge Festival in Parke County here in Indiana. I forget what the last count was of visitors, but it was at least a million! I know a couple that come from Missouri every year to attend...and it is the same old stuff...over and over! sometimes we go, but I don't last long....
I've heard about this yard sale for years but have never been nearby when it was going on. I would love to attend only the thought of finding a place to park amoug all of that gives me nightmares. Sounds like fun though. I have enough junk to get rid of and probably should send some of it your way ha ha
Betsy, 127 runs all the way up to Ohio and through our little town too! There were some participating in the garage sales here but not as many as down south.
Love the cardinal photos--beautiful birds. :)
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