2017 Community Yard Sale!

The 2017 Yard Sale, another epic event written into the history of Southfield Estates. This summer’s community yard sale was packed with drama as well as fun!

Despite the historical trends, we had a lower than expected resident participation rate leading up to the weekend of 24th/25th, and this was to be by no means the only challenge the community would face.   

The night before the big event all systems were go, the signs went up, the balloons were ordered, and the residents scrambled to stuff last minute sale items into place and prepare themselves for the onslaught of visitors.

As the morning of Saturday the 24th crept onto the Southfield estates streets, all slept peacefully, unaware that a storm was gathering just at the edge of the sleepy hamlet..

Forecasts called for temps in the 80’s, a partly cloudy day, with some chance of showers.. a perfect New England summer day! But something was amiss.. The sale started at 9 and the streets were a buzz with traffic a slight mist tinted the morning as the bargain hunters emerged from their cars and made for the sales tables ..

And then it struck.. Without warning, without a thunder clap or lightning strike! Torrential rains poured out from the skies, people were trapped in cars and garages, some under tarps and the lucky ones under umbrellas. A rain so hard it washed the gypsy moth caterpillars off the tree trunks and sent torrents of pollen stained rain water cascading down driveways, streets and bargain hunters backs!

Then it was over... as quick as it started , it stopped and drifted off leaving steamy misty yards, sale tables and visitors to ponder what they just witnessed .. How had they survived the ordeal? It was miraculous actually and made for great fun and laughter for the rest of the weekend :)

The rest of Saturday was a picture perfect with temps in the 80's, a partly cloudy day, no more showers.. a perfect New England summer day!

Sunday ended up being just so-so.. 80's and sunny not a raindrop in sight.. so just an average day for a New England summer day :).. I don’t want to complain it was alright... Not the best.

Oh ya and the sale went off without a hitch, more traffic on Sunday, they all braved the elements and showed up to our surprise! These new Englanders are a hardy lot..

Thanks to all of you who helped make this a success and all who risked life and limb to support our community yard sale!

See you all next year.. I will keep my snow blower handy.. Just in case!