By Marie Dawson

Arnaudville – Despite the heat, the road from Grand Coteau to Arnaudville was lined with vendors and bargain hunters during the 7-Mile Garage Sale earlier in July.

In Grand Coteau, Creola Café chef and owner Carol Baughnon had to turn away regular customers looking for one of her outstanding New Orleans-style roast beef po-boys. But she continued to supply the hungry crowds of bargain hunters with her homemade burgers.

Members of the congregation of St. Charles Church, Goudeau, had set up a monster rummage sale on an empty lot in Grand Coteau.

Down the road, vendors had set up shop at Beau Chene High School and were drawing large crowds. There were individual garage sales going in front yards along Highway 93 and drivers had to pay close attention as cars veered off the road, looking for one more treasure.

In Arnaudville, there were tents set up and you could find everything from farm implements to folk art. Juanita Leonard, a folk artist from Colfax who has been featured on programs produced by Louisiana Public Broadcasting, sold out of most of her paintings. The majority of her work features themes centered on religious events, such as “The Baptism.” In that painting there is a large group of women, all carrying handbags, walking towards a baby in the lower right-hand corner. The sky is a brilliant yellow, befitting such a special day.

Another couple from Pollock were selling pickled vegetables from their garden and an unusual purple-hull-pea jelly. To overcome any qualms about such an unusual concoction, they were passing out tasting samples.

From the trees surrounding Le Petit Cadeau to Cypress City Antiques, crowds braved the intense heat to check out the offerings.

The next 7-Mile Garage Sale is scheduled for March 21, 2009, which gives everyone a chance to clean out their attics and earn a little extra money.