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Monday, June 15, 2026

To Everything "Burn, Burn, Burn"

 




"To everything burn, burn, burn

There is a season burn, burn, burn

and a time to every purpose under heaven"

My twist on the lyrics by the Byrds and Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

I just happen to think of this, while we were burning things that no longer are needed or wanted.  

In 60 years of life

38 years of marriage

30 years of Town Hall Trinkets, LLC estate sales and resell business, you may have a few things to burn.  

Truthfully, I've filled and emptied my storage buildings and barns multiple times in those years.  If you do, what it is I do, you'll understand the magnitude of items that you acquire.  I can think of only a few other life long pickers that are part of this "club."  Many claim "picker status," but few achieve, maintain and have been consistent for as long as members in this "club."  We are relics in this business and we are few and far between.  I normally don't speak like this, but it is the truth!   

I am 100% positive this will be the LAST  time I fill and empty these buildings.  I thought this would make me more sad.  I actually feel blessed, yes, blessed by the mess.  I had so much fun all these years doing what I love and making a living at it.  I feel my picking days were the BEST time to be in this business.  

I may not longer be buying out whole houses, but I sure had some great ones!  Dr. Forrester estate in a historical home and property was an X on my bucket list for dream buy out.  I was given the keys to free range it and clean it out.  We rented an actual semi trailer to haul it all home.  It is my all time highest money buy out. 

I may not longer be doing huge estate sales that take multiple sales to clean out, but I sure had some good ones.  Melzer estate was an X off my bucket list for dream sales.  It was our all time highest money sale over the course of 1 year of sales.  

I may never go to another old farm auction, but I sure went to some great ones.  Not only went to them, but set them up, clerked, worked the ring and did the auctioneering.  Aunt Milly (my friend's aunt) sale was also an X off my bucket list.  I was under contract and hired an auctioneer, who hired another auctioneer and the 3 of us did an ALL day auction!  So much stuff!  Also, the highest grossing auction I was involved in.

I may never set up and sell again at major shows or flea markets, but I sure have had some awesome booths over the years.  Urban Farm Girl (Rockford, IL), Elkhorn (Elkhorn, WI), Cranberry Fest (Eagle River, WI), A&R Antique shows (Wausau, Schofield, DePere, Eagle River, Stevens Point, Door County, WI) and Art in the Park (Wausau, WI). 

I may never have another antique booth, but for several years I had 5 booths in 4 different cities.  

I may never get to stand in line to be first at a market or estate sale, but I sure did go to and was able to be first plenty of times.  Junk Bonanza (St. Paul, MN), Junk Jubilee (DeMoines, IA) too many in my local area to mention.   

I say all of this to say, to everything....there is a season.  

As I work on my own estate sale, by doing the Swedish Death Cleaning for my family, I am excited to regain some of my buildings back.  I mean, this is a process of a couple years for sure.  I want to go through it and make good decisions on what to do with rather than just an auction or sale.  Besides, Al still wants stuff too and I'm not headed to the "burn barrel" (cremation) yet.  Like how I did that? hahaha

Back outside, it's beautiful in Wisconsin today!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.


19 comments:

  1. I am so happy for you, and very proud of you. Here in Montreal, after a few very hot and humid days, we got needed rain 🌧 yesterday and the weather is absolutely gorgeous. Sunny, partly cloudy ⛅️ and comfortable. This is my kind of weather.

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    1. Thanks, I'm pretty proud of myself as well. Yes we need some gorgeous days!

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  2. OMG that song was Bob doing the same thing. He had things piled so high on our own burn pit he was getting rid of. Yes loved your cremation sentence. hahaha We had a wonderful day here in Michigan too. Rain tomorrow. Janice

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    1. Too funny! I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. It's sprinkling here this morning too.

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  3. The hunt is the best part of the job. I never resaled much but I did love a good hunt.
    Cathy

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  4. Love the change of the words to fit what you are doing. There just comes a time when the cleaning out of things is a blessing. It was for me too. Have a very good day.

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    1. Thanks. I can't wait to reclaim my old shop/studio space.

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  5. To everything there is a season. You know I am singing that song now!

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  6. You're doing good my friend...You had an amazing romp in the treasure hunt and sale world and you're transitioning so very gracefully to where you need to be. (But please tell me that the wood cupboard thing, chairs/stools/jar canister and other treasures didn't go to the burn bin????

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    1. no those are in my van for hiding....ahaha. However, I did sell one of the pink lamps from this post.

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    2. Also, about doing it gracefully....I had older dealers at my stage NOT be so graceful to me - so I knew then and now, I don't want to act like them. I get it now tho...

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  7. It sounds like it was an interesting business -- and I'm thinking it was also a very tough one -- you had to be strong, able to handle dirt and dust and have a great organizational skill.

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    1. I was pretty strong. My organization skills for others was better than that of my own. Thanks for the comment.

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  8. What an interesting life you've had. Memories to live on.

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    1. Thank you. I've been blessed. Yes, memories live on.

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  9. i have always appreciated antiques, refurbishing and upcycling things. i think you know when it's time for a change...you can feel it in your bones, onto the next chapter!!

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