Oh I was bad; went to an auction one block away...

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

A woman on the next block died last winter. She was a sweet person that visited with me many times. She shared cuttings from her garden with me.

The estate had a huge auction on the lawn today. Any- and every-thing you could imagine was being sold. She was a retired school teacher; her husband was a successful wheat farmer, and she...had...stuff. Good stuff. Pretty stuff. Lots of stuff. All kinds of stuff.

Her grown daughter died more than 30 years ago; her challenged son, in his 60s, now lives in another state with an uncle. There are only distant relations here.

I was torn as to whether I should go to the sale, or not. I do not know her out-of-state family. I didn't want to take advantage of her passing. Still, she herself loved a good auction, groups of happy people, and a good sale. She was generous and kind.

I went. I saw. I came home with several - too many - items.

Her husband loved all things "John Deere." They had John Deere everything - a hot commodity here in North Dakota. What wasn't actual farm and gardening equipment was decorative items, or useful items painted in the classic green and yellow.

I came home with a vintage three-piece set of two metal lawn chairs (rockers) and a table. The old 1950s kind. A couple years ago she had taken them to an auto painting business and had all three pieces painted John Deere YELLOW in a tough automotive paint. I loved them in her shady yard. Now I can love them in my shady yard!

I also purchased a small, lacy-look, metal teacup display rack. It holds four saucers on the footed bottom tray and the four matching cups hang from hooks under the handle. English china cups and saucers included.

Add a genuine iron water pump and handle, from her family farm, a flowerpot stand shaped like a filigree ice-cream parlor chair (screaming yellow), a case of twelve, 2-pint Ball canning jars ($2.50), and a small box of assorted costume necklaces, and I called it good.

Oh yes; I bought the hubster a little something, too. A two-year-old huge John Deere riding lawn mower, complete with a double bin grass catcher. I got it at a good, but fair, price and taught a couple farmer dudes to not underestimate the little ole grey-haired gal.

I called DH to let him know I'd be at the auction later than expected, but he should come down and pick up his mower. He was shocked, but when I got home the yard was mowed.

Featured Answer

plllog

11 years ago

Oooh! He must have been happy with the mower to put it right to use!

What a wonderful way to celebrate the life of this lovely woman, who enjoyed auctions herself.

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Comments (14)

happy2b…gw
11 years ago
It sounds like you had a good day, and you certainly made your husband's day. I have a feeling that the deceased would be pleased.
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nanny98
11 years ago
Yes, you did just fine, and, I'm thinking that she would be pleased for you to have her treasures and think of her many times in the future. It would make me glad.
User
11 years ago
What a nice way to keep the memory of your neighbor alive. Seems like she led a giving life and would probably be very pleased. I am envious over the pump and 50's lawn furnture, how fun!
Yayagal
11 years ago
What a fun day and you're honoring her as she would want you to own something of hers. The yellow chairs sound wonderful. I love vintage.
cynic
11 years ago
Glad you went to the sale. I don't see how you could be taking advantage of anyone by attending and buying at a public auction. No need to feel bad about that.
vicsgirl
11 years ago
Sounds like you had a great time. And your neighbor is up in Heaven smiling down, seeing her "stuff" went to a good home.
grandmamary_ga
11 years ago
What a nice time you had. I'm sure your friend was watching from above and happy that her neighbors were enjoying her things in their home. I also love a good sale.
OklaMoni
11 years ago
good for you! I told my daughters to have an estate sale, or auction, after they pick through my stuff, and split the proceeds. Then sell the house as is, and again, split.

At this point in our lifes they agree to this.

None of my stuff sounds as neat as what you acquired. You did good. :)

Moni.... who prolly goes to the neighborhood garage sale tomorrow.
marilyn_c
11 years ago
Sounds like you did good!

I love estate sales. Almost everything in my house...except my fridge and my tv came from an estate auction or flea market. I remember hanging out until the end of the day, waiting to buy something really neat I found in the garage at a sale in Galveston....it was a huge, sort of primitive, cupboard. An antique dealer had the same idea and she kept jumping the bid by $50, but I had passed up a lot of neat stuff, to hold onto my money to bid on it, and I hung in there, and I got it. I paid a little more than I wanted to, but she left in disgust, so I think it was worth the money.
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
11 years ago
Congratulations on all those great finds!
pipsmom49
11 years ago
Would love to see pics!
Jasdip
11 years ago
Good job Caroline! Do Harry and Sam approve of the new furniture? It sounds perfect for your yard.

Your hubby must have been so excited to see his new toy! LOL
caroline94535
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Harry and Sam may "approve" too much! LOL I want to put the set out in the back yard. It's heavily shaded under the spruce trees and the bright yellow looks great there, but boy dogs being boy dogs...

They "know" they are supposed to go in the far left corner of the back yard. Until Sam infiltrated our family, Harry never went anywhere else. I was very sick while Sam was a puppy and he was lucky when I could creep to the door, open it, and let him out once in a while. He would run out, bark and run, chase squirrels, and sprinkled everywhere. I'm still amazed he was so quick to figure out the "house training." He had only two tiny accidents right by the door. Those two were my fault for not being able to move fast enough to get the door open for his little baby bladder.

Of course, once he started marking all the fences, and the trees, and the old telephone post, Harry took up the same habit. So I don't think I should put the chairs there. Everything on the patio is "safe" for some odd reason, but any thing in the back yard is fair game.

We pick up the large yard twice a day; it's always clean and fresh out there, but they will still mark.

I'll be getting photos of all the treasures, soon.

Of course, I have been wanting DH to build an arbor/gazebo/deck/ramada type structure, raised about 18" from ground level that would solve all the problems.

Someday.

Oh I was bad; went to an auction one block away...

plllog

Comments (14)

happy2b…gw

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Oh I was bad; went to an auction one block away...

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caroline94535Original Author

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caroline94535
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