The latest gizmos of years gone by

I admit it, I'm a sucker for the latest gizmo.

Not that I actually rush out and buy it, at least while it's still "the latest gizmo."

My "latest" purchase was a yogurt machine, bought for a buck at a weekend garage sale.

The yogurt's waiting at home in the fridge, for me and the cats -- the only ones in the family who can stand fermented milk.

It wasn't the first batch I'd made, just the first with a bona fide yogurt-maker.

I'd been lusting after a yogurt maker since, well, since the one I bought Saturday was new -- about 1983.

Now if I just wouldn't have gotten rid of that yogurt-cheese maker at OUR last garage sale.

I did make good use this weekend of a steam cleaner I had seen demonstrated on an infomercial, and although it looked impressive on TV, it wasn't enough so for me to call the 800 number.

It was, however, enough for me to lay down a fraction of the retail price at a recent yard sale.

"Do not use on wallpaper, unless you wish to remove it," the instructions read. Lucky for them, that's exactly what we wanted it for.

It did do a good job at its original purpose, however, cleaning the coffee stains out of the carpet in both of our cars.

By way of full disclosure, I should note that I'm the only coffee drinker in the family as well.

I've also made good use of a bread machine purchased at a garage sale, although it's not good for a low-carb diet.

Of course, not everything's that useful -- does anyone ever actually exercise on home gym equipment before they put it up for sale? And, although I enjoy stargazing, the nearly-new telescope I snagged earlier this year is still in the box in the closet.

I swear I'll put it to use before it gets a sticker on it reading "$5 or best offer."