Can you say "hyperventilate"? My friend Dhelia and I drove up to the annual White Elephant Sale that benefits the Oakland Museum of California on Sunday, and boy, did we score.

The best thing about it is that it was a last-minute trip and I had basically no expectations. I had heard that it was a fabulous rummage sale, but with little to no budget for spending, I didn't expect to buy a thing. But, when you go on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. and by 2:30 they're putting up signs that say "75 percent off" — watch out people!

When we walked into the giant warehouse in an industrial district off Highway 880 and paintings lined the walls in a whole quadrant of the space, we felt practically paralyzed. Dhelia had long-wanted a modern art painting for her living room, to mix up her collection of plein aire landscapes and add a bit of an edge to her formal room. And, there it was — a large abstract piece in purples and golds with a reckless scribble of black. To me, it said Dhelia — feminine with the purple, elegant with the gold, and a bit daring with the black. Price? $300. By 3 p.m? $150. SOLD!

I found a little pastel female portrait — a study of a Manet — but it was original and lovely. The sticker said $6. I got it for $3.

I browsed through the 96,000 square-foot warehouse, filled with everything from furniture and linens, to sports gear and china, and came upon champagne glasses with hollow stems. I had broken more than half of my wedding crystal and these seven fun glasses for — get this — $4, were perfect.

A few minutes later, all the glassware that fit into a brown paper bag could be had for $1. I piled in another eight, almost matching flutes. 

When we went back to the art area, and Dhelia was ready to buy her painting, I couldn't help but hope for a special find. And there was another large abstract — with purples and sands. It reminded me of the estuary near the river beach in Carmel. But I wasn't here to spent $500, much less $150. Dhelia suggested we take a closer look. The saleswoman pulled it off the wall and said, "I can't believe this. It couldn't be right." (Now this was music to my ears.) This was a four-by-five-foot painting. Including the late afternoon discount, the price? $25. Not $2,500. Not $250. Plain and simple $25. "Are you sure?'' I asked.

"That's what it says," she said. So, lickety split, I said, "sold!" We high-tailed it out of there before anyone could say it was a mistake. 

We barely fit it into the station wagon. But once home, we put it on practically the only wall it would fit on — on the screened porch. Like Dhelia's piece, it added a little edge to my traditional space. We're still moving it around a bit, but I'm thrilled with my cool piece and great bargain. When we asked my husband how much he thought I paid for it, he had the nerve to say $25. Can you believe it? Man, can husbands take the wind out of your sails — or sales. He'll learn to love it.

Next year, we're there!

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Standing By My Vintage Female Portrait
Julia's Screened Porch