The "almost" birthday present.

We drove 102 miles in the early morning hours to go to an auction. There was nothing there the blacksmith really wanted for himself. But there was something I wanted. 

 THIS

We arrived an hour after the sale started, so it was was kind of hard to look through everything. However this Iman Action service had a great set up. You could sit in a nice heated building and see just what they were selling via televisions all throughout the room. If only they would have given me a paddle with my number, then I would've  felt like I was at a Sotheby's auction. 

Just to show you a few things that were auctioned. 

This bow tie quilt went for $120.

 Sold for $110

 Sold for $75

 Sold for $50

 Sold for $95

 Lone Star Sold for $85

 Flower garden with hole sold for $40

 Appliqued sold for $85

School house sold for $90

 I didn't get this price.

 I didn't get this price either. 

 Sold for $40

 Sold for $125

 Log Cabin sold for $50

 Coverlets sold for $20 each

 I wanted this Noah's ark rug but when we left, they were no where close to selling it.

This wall hanging was actually a rug too, again we left before it sold.

Well what did we get?  2 hamburgers.  Not the beautiful oak hall tree. As we walked out the door, the blacksmith said "sorry I didn't get it bought for your birthday". It went for $300 above what we were willing to pay.

But Life is still good!  It was a fun day.  

Another sewing machine!!!

Today was another auction in Osage County. . . Missouri that is. 

Let me show you a few things that were there. 

 A double wedding ring quilt top.

 A double wedding ring quilt. (It had a few stains.)

 A nice hand quilted churn dash quilt. It had a really neat big flower printed back. 

 A complete featherweight, including original grease tube and oil can. It sold for $225. 

 A lonely featherweight in a card board box. It sold for $175.

 Tons of vintage 36 inch fabric. 

Feed sacks, now these knocked my socks off. They were divided into 5 stacks and sold per stack. They brought right at $500 for all 5 stacks. 

Some of this vintage fabric came home with me. However it's not for me. It's for my friend Mara. 

 Trading stamp books, most were full ones too!

I drooled.  I'm sure it cleans better than my HE washer that is agitator free!

 Crocks, crocks, and more crocks.  

 The one he's holding went for $135.

 This one sold for $170.

This Western 15 gallon sold for $165. There was an 8 gallon Western with fruit markings.  It sold for $135.  A 12 gallon Western with the mother in law tongue markings sold for $150. A 12 gallon Western with complete handles sold for $110. 

The blacksmith bought this knife. His dad worked for Eagan Tire company in the 50's and 60's. It was a knife just like the blacksmith was given one Christmas. He lost it years ago, but now he has a brand new one! 

I saw the thimbles and since they were also an advertisement for Eagan, I bought them too. Inside of each holder is thread, needles, and safety pins. 

 This is what I came home with for Mara. 

These 3 pieces I pulled out to show you their sales tag. The first one was from F. W. Woolworth Co. 2 yards at .39 cents. The middle one was from J.J. Newberry Co 5-10-25 cent stores for .35 cents a yard. The striped one is also from Woolworth's for .39 cents per yard.

The next 3 pictures are of fabric I did bid on for myself, mainly for the tags. However sadly, I didn't win these. 

South Side Dry goods is the store where I bought the fabric for my wedding dress. However, not in 1945 as this ticket indicates. 

I am now the owner of sewing machine #11.  This is a Singer 301. I thought that would complete my set. I have now been told by my sewing machine man Phil, that I really need a Singer 201-2.

Oh well, there is always the sale tomorrow!

Friday Fun!

I started my day off with a trip to Central Dairy. It was featured in this month's issue of Midwest Living. My friend Betsy works there. I had one of the workers take this picture of me reading the magazine. (I then emailed it to Midwest Living) I left the magazine for Betsy as she can't find it out yet, in town. 

Before I went to town I won this great give away from a call in radio show, where my friend Betsy works. Yes the same Betsy that works at Central Dairy. I won two movie tickets, a large pizza with lots of sides, 4 free coupons from McDonald's, and a $25 gift car for some car detailing! No it wasn't a rigged phone call to win either!

I then headed to Mennonite country.  There I purchase this huge roll of quilt batting. It was literally stuffed in my jeep. That was even after I had the back seat taken out. 

I found these novelty prints there. I love the one with antique sewing machines. It even has my 1931 crank Singer on it. 

It was on to the produce auction. I was a little concerned that I wouldn't get anything since it had started two hours earlier. I ran into another retired co-worker. He said actually the first two hours everything was sold in "big" lots. That was mainly for people who would resell or restaurants. 

I saw them selling beautiful fresh made pies and baked good, corn, egg plants, cucumbers, tomatoes, a 75 lb watermelon, spaghetti squash, green beans, pears, peaches, fresh eggs and the list goes on and on.

Beautiful flowers sold by the bucket fulls. 

Boxes were much more of a manageable size. 

I came, I saw, and I conquered. Okay I won the bid. I wanted okra and I got it 

So far, I've canned 4 pints of pickled okra, fried some fresh for dinner, and I have some diced chilling in the freezer.  I have another bag I will tackle in the morning. 

And then there was this today . . . 

Sorry it's not a very clear picture. 

But you try to open your living room window, to look out and photograph a COPPERHEAD.

You see I found this guy laying next to our front steps last night when mowing grass. If you remember I shot a snake earlier this week, but this one was next to the foundation. No way could I get a shot. I know a shovel would be an option for some, but not for ME.

Our dog was bitten by one 3 weeks ago. It makes for one sick ,pitiful dog. I didn't want that again. 

I am happy to report he is gone tonight. GONE.  Thank you Mr. neighbor man who stepped in for the absent Mr. Blacksmith. 

Life is Good.

More auction goodies

Crawling out of bed at 7:30 for an auction didn't seem like a good thing this morning. But after we arrived there shortly before 8:30, I knew it might be worth our time. 

It's always a social thing, time to see old friends. Of course people watching can be fun too, good most of the time. 

Today I found this 8 gallon Buckeye crock. The Buckeye pottery company was in business in Ohio from 1882 until 1938.  What a steal for $37.50!  It will hold plenty of turnip kraut next time. By the way, we canned 23 pints yesterday. 

Currently E-Bay lists these Buckeye crocks; a 6 gallon for $99, an 8 gallon for $499 (slightly different from ours) and a 10 gallon for $242.  I'm pretty proud of mine!

I also grabbed this 1953 Landwehr Dairy calendar. I have several things from this local dairy. My mother worked there in the late 50's. It's a shame this wasn't a year older, then it would have been the same age as me!

This vintage aluminum dish pan with handles was only one dollar. It will be great to take to the garden to put vegetables in. 

I did give up on a Singer Featherweight machine after $225, of course another $10 and the other bidder bought it. 

Another great day in the country.

Life is good!