Putting the Bizarre in Bazaar

"We're all silly here," Rosie Bentley laughed, doing a little twirl.

With her shiny tiara and fluffy tutu, she might cause raised eyebrows anywhere else.
Here, however, at the United Methodist Church's 26th annual Fall Bazaar, she's far from the strangest thing you'll find.

Take a look around, but give yourself a minute to adjust your eyes to take in the hundreds (and we mean hundreds) of dishes, books, kitchen items, dozens of bicycles, furniture pieces and thousands of other finds, including skis, stuffed animals, lamps, record players and more, all at discount resale prices.

"We unloaded two trailers - that's tractor trailers - full of merchandise, and it continues to come in," Bentley said. "It's all throughout the church."

And she's not exaggerating. As of Tuesday, donated merchandise had already spilled out of the fellowship hall, around a staircase, in nearly a dozen classrooms and onto the lawn. Think hand-knitted items, toys, puzzles, skis, sleeping bags, luggage, coats, shoes, lawn chairs, inflatable swimming pools and a Victrola, and that's not all. "It's a big sale," Bentley said.

Parading around with cohort Rickey Jacobs, Bentley makes it look fun. After all, with her tutu and Jacobs's found horse costume, the pair looks like they're straight from a variety show. Look around at the meticulously organized piles and the carefully priced items, however, and you'll see that it's a lot of work. "We've been here all week," she said.

But, as Bentley said, you've got to let loose some time, so giddy up and check out the sale.
A silent auction Friday (from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.) brings even more opportunities to shop.
The main event promises to put the bizarre in bazaar, and The Mountain Times got a sneak peek.

Photos of our finds are on our Facebook page and in an album on http://www.mountaintimes.com.
The bazaar happens Friday, Sept. 17, from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 18, from 7:30 to 11 a.m.