You never know what’s going to come in the door during a Big Flea Shop N Drop. I was particularly intrigued by this roughly two-foot-square propane oven range. Made by Semer, a Brazilian appliance company long-ago absorbed into Brastemp, a mark now owned by Whirlpool, it’s the cooking solution you never knew you needed. Some possible uses for this exotic appliance: Roast a chicken while camping! Enjoy a cup of tea without leaving your potting shed! (Might want to check local codes first.)

I have a hunch this item has great cultural currency and would love to hear about this range from anyone who’s Brazilian or has lived there.

Early reports on the space are that the front door is “tricky” and lighting is not excellent. If you’re a lawyer, particularly one with a booming personal injury business, we strongly encourage you to let us carry your donations inside.

But remember, it’s not all donations at Shop N Drop! We’re selling as much as we can before the flea market, and Saturday will offer you an opportunity to purchase things before your neighbors get their paws all over them.

For example, this candid photo of the first President Bush, surely a rarity in Del Ray.

You really could own this bad boy. Also: It’s stamped “official”!

Another intriguing possibility: This car seat, which Big Flea legend maintains is a third row for a Honda CR-V.

You can pay upward of $900 for a new one of these, or just come down and make us an offer.

It was beautiful, but it's over.

This Saturday, Dec. 10, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., is Big Flea’s first Shop N Drop of the season. For the moment, we’re taking stuff at 406 E. Mason Ave. You can make donations here, of course, but you can buy things, too.

Hey, can we talk about donations for a second?

The spirit of generosity with these things is often overwhelming. Sometimes so much so that we end up with stuff we can’t resell, like mattresses and upholstered furniture, or things that — we need to be honest here — no one is going to buy. That CRT monitor or your old tube TV? We just can’t seem to move those. That TV armoire that you can’t use now that you have a flatscreen? Maybe someday we’ll have the space to build a barn out of all of those, but for now, please, no.

Here’s a list of other stuff, compiled by a Flea operative, that for one reason or another, just isn’t right for Big Flea.

• Books
• Clothing/linens
• Chandeliers/ceiling fans
• Stuffed animals
• Building supplies
• Cribs, mattresses, and bed frames

Here’s something we could really use: A car. Last year we gave away a 1986 Volkswagon Cabriolet, and it would be presumptuous to assume we’d get another ride that sweet, but a flea market can hope, can’t it? And of course, mugs. Stereo equipment. Kayaks. Mid-century modern furniture. Ice cream makers. You get the idea.

See you Saturday!

But Walker was not alone in providing generous financial support for the Big Flea. Weichart Realtor Bobi Bomar once again created a matching grant program that also raised $1,000 in donations for the Big Flea. Both also volunteered at the event and we can’t thank them both enough.

The Big Flea would also like to thank its other generous supporters:

* Gentle Giant Moving Company – provided a full day of moving donations from our warehouse to the Rec Center – WHOA!!! These folks totally rock! I can’t say enough about how super they are!!!

* Anonymous – A local real estate developer provided us with free warehouse space for us to store our items in Old Town. We literally could not have done it without his support.

* Seasons Culinary and Evening Star – the two food service providers did what they do best, provided super yummy lunches for hungry volunteers

* Jeremy Stewart of Weichert Realtors – provided a generous financial sponsorship for this year’s event

* Caboose Café and St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub – provided coffee and muffins to get our dozens of volunteers going each morning.

* BLT Shirt Printers – discounted our Flea tshirts and got them to us super fast!

* Whole Foods – provided bags for all to collect their goodies in

* Rubini Jewelers – appraised our jewelry donations and provided a display case that made selling and security much easier.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!