Views of the Neighborhood – Sure Sign of Recovery

~ John W. Howell

A sure sign of recovery in any disaster area is when the folks get together to put on a craft or Garage sale. Well, we had both this week. It is almost as if the last five months have led to pent-up sale demand. We will visit both, but I have to warn you the attendance is a lot less than other events in the past. Since there is a scarcity of housing, it is estimated that three out of four Winter Texans could not find a place this year and stayed home or went somewhere else.

The craft sale.

Craft sale

These are crafts made primarily by Winter Texans.

A lot of shell jewelry. The creator is from North Dakota.

Some nice watercolors.

Some original wood art.

A friendly oil painting artist.

Beads and stuff.

This woman painted the crab and heron.  Both were honored by being duplicated on the side of a ferry. The crab is on the Mark B. Goode and the heron on the William G. Burnet.

Now on to the city-wide garage sale.

 

City Wide Garage sale Port Aransas

This is one of the stores that the owners decided to move away. They are selling everything.

Slim pickings. They were mobbed early. The Producer and I tend to amble in and miss some stuff.

The city-wide sale is all over town. There is a map which you can use to go to all the stops. We went to the civic center, and that was it other than the store above.

Tables filled with typical garage sale fare.

And like most garage sales there is always someone on the phone. I was interested in whatever was free, but I didn’t want to disturb her.

Stuff.

More stuff.

The sale is sponsored by Keep Port Aransas Beautiful. Donations accepted.

Garage sale Port Aransas

You can also join the organization by paying $10.00 or buying a shirt.

It was good seeing people out and about for these two events.

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Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

63 thoughts on “Views of the Neighborhood – Sure Sign of Recovery”

  1. I LOVE craft sales. I love meeting the artists and hearing their stories.

    The seashell jewelry is cool stuff! Back in my other life, I used to buy broken china jewelry for my then wife. Like, at least one piece a week. Their business was right across the street from mine, so it became a ritual.

    It’s good to see this. Even if attendance was down, I always believe things can get better.

    Peace

    Liked by 1 person

  3. I made it down to the beach yesterday for the first time in ages, and I could have used one of those shell-collecting bags. I love that the ferries have some art on them now, too. I’ve been on both ferries, and have good memories. Actually, it was on a ferry that I bought my first stapled together copy of “You Might Be From Port Aransas If…” for two bucks from a guy who was wandering through the traffic selling them. I wish I still had that. It was funny stuff.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Wonderful tour, John. Life is returning and before long, Harvey will fade into the background – something that was but isn’t anymore. Thank you for this glimpse. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

      1. I have a theory that the true story behind the recovery would be interesting as a book. How it changed things, a bit of uplifting stuff, how Spring Break might not feed the coffers. Also how it effected the pets, what happened to Peggy and the alligator, etc.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. I can imagine that it’s fun to just walk around and see the stuff and the people.

    I heard a news story on NPR that mentioned rebuilding in Arsnsas County. Is that just the island or is the island part of a larger hunk of land?

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Nicely done, John. Most of us enjoy these types of events – personally, I hate being on the ‘selling’ end of a sale. I end up wanting to pop someone being rude.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. I see what you mean about the attendance being low compared to other pictures you’ve shared in the past of these types of events. But, it will come back. I absolutely LOVE the shell jewelry!! Wow!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. I’m sorry that I cannot leave a comment because I am way too busy … but … if I were to leave a comment, I’d say that I liked this post and its message. But, once again, I’m too wrapped up in my own doings to take the time to comment. Maybe next time. Until then, keep up the good work.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Me too. It is nice to see folks trying to rise above. One nice thing the donation (clothes etc) people said demand has fallen off which means people are making it on their own.

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