While I 1) have vast experience with the CCHS radio fundraiser and 2) I did attend a car auction once with dad and Tack Branham (when I got the little, blue Ford Ranger I drove in high school), I had never been to a property auction prior to this past weekend. Andy had been planning on attending the Casey Fork extravaganza for several days (looking for bike equipment), but I was a little hesitant; I spend too much money when I go pilfering through the Dollar Store (Pam has even commented on my random purchases before - last visit it was a plunger, cereal, and conditioner I think). What would the excitement of an auction inspire me to load into Lucy and Willie's Elantra playground? But alas, my desire to both clean my house and to squelch buying irrationality were both eclipsed by the lure of Colonel Joe's voice. Andy called, asking for lunch money (the Mennonite community sold pies, homemade ice cream, BBQ chicken and pork plates that looked ridiculously good) and the auction called, asking for my unadulterated support.
Conclusions:
1. Bryant Realty can hold an auction like nobody's business. There were a ton of items up for bid, but Jeremy, Jeffrey, Ryan, and Joe got through things quickly, in organized fashion, and seemed to have a little fun with it. The two ladies in the number and "check-out" trailer were friendly and efficient.
2. Four big saw horses for $5 is a steal.
3. I should've got into a bidding war with the joker who got the dog house for $20. I don't care that he was roughly 12 years old.
4. Who knew a tiller would go for about $2000? I realize that's not a conclusion.
5. I should've spent less time walking around looking at garden tools, tandem bikes, and kitchen furniture and more time eating pecan pie.
Advice:
Auctions are awesome. That is all.
***
Andy picked up lots of necessities. Here's a sampling (I will then follow with a description of the most exciting purchase...)
A feeder and waterer for the chicken coop. I think.
Basically a hand tiller for gardening. Some guy tried to bid against him. Yeah, better luck next time, fool.
I have a Wal-Mart bike that has been ridden maybe two times in the past year. This apparently is a really nice bike rack that good ol' purple passion will never be on.
Who doesn't love a grab bag?! Andy got this box o' bike tools for $5.
AND NOW, for the most exciting expenditure of the day...
A PALLET FULL OF BEEKEEPING EQUIPMENT!!!! Do either of us have bees? No.
Would love to hear your thoughts: What do you think is running through his mind?
I urged him to also purchase the sign. Once again, necessity. Oh, and by the way, if you go to www.honey.com you can read about the Save the Honey Bear campaign as well as get a good recipe for canning peaches. That's not a joke or euphemism.
These are obviously the sanded wood implements that secure the combs to the foundations and supers. Or, they are the wood things that I thought looked like a cute city skyline.
This seems important.
Success!
And now, a little instructional video...
Loved hearing about your outing to the auction! Looks like you guys found some neat treasures! I have not been to many auctions, but my experiences have been both exciting and little terrifying! I am a slow, indecisive shopper, a browser, one who abhors pressure, so auctions always send me into a bit of a panic. I think this stems from reading a Paddington Bear book when i was about seven. Paddington accidentally buys something extravagant at an auction when he "waves" at someone he knows. I'm terrified that something like that will happen to me-- It all moves so fast!
ReplyDeleteI have also chuckled at your recent recollections of high school English class. I have had the unique experience of being both a student and the instructor in that classroom ( in the span of about 6-8 years), so your musings have brought back lots of memories. Every now and then, one of my colleagues will suggest using the old vocab books again, and the rest of us will all groan and yell, "Dear God, NO! All they do is copy them!" The answers to those vocab books are now all posted online by students, so the cheating has gone high-tech! :-)
On yet another subject, I am in the middle of Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and I have thought of you many times during my reading. You've read it, haven't you? Many friends have insisted that I read it, but I thought it was on your radar or mentioned in your blog somewhere. I am enjoying it immensely, except for the guilt I now have at picking up a Chilean avocado in the grocery store! Can't seem to find those at our farmers market.
I hope your summer's been grand!
Tell Andy that I am inspired by his video. Maybe Tommy and I will go out to auctions and be inspired :). All I am saying, is be glad that my grandpa, Buie, wasn't there. He takes auctions way to serious and will get into a serious bidding war. I am scared to go to auctions as well, Melissa. I share the same fear of waving and obligating myself to some unkown treasure. However, there is also that bit of grandpa that if I made my mind up to buy something, I would make damn sure to get it!
ReplyDeleteMelissa,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your comment! You, Kristi, and Paddington are not the only ones fearful of accidental purchases. When I first got there, Andy and I were talking to a friend of Dad's and both men were using hand gestures. It freaked me out. I was certain we would be taking home that 3 trillion dollar tiller. As I relaxed a bit, though, I really started to enjoy the experience. Good thing I didn't have my own number, though. I'm both far too competitive and far too delusional about stuff "I might use at some point" to really be an auction participant. Andy was smart to keep the number in his pocket.
Ha! But just so you know, no one in the Class of 98 ever considered cheating in your classroom. NEVER. Right, Kristi?
I don't love some of Kingsolver's fiction, but AVM is probably one of my top 3 favorite books of all time. When I was reading, and even now when I buy things, I did occasionally think "Barbara Kingsolver's family doesn't buy X" or "maybe I should get this instead," but I try to cut myself some slack. Ideals motivate and inspire us, but sometimes reality doesn't or cannot match up. I do the best I can with my circumstances and just hope to be on a path a little more similar to the one she describes in the future.
Oh, and I hope yours as been equally fantastic!
Kristi - Enough said. I really want to go to an auction with you and Tommy now. Can't promise that Andy or I would help you all out much, though, if a fight were to break out. :):)
That had to be a fantastic auction, loved the items you all bought. Anxious to have that local Marrowbone honey soon!!!!!!!! In the early 70's when Gary and I first married we did not miss an auction in the county. Ms. Mae Jarvis bought all the nice antiques and we only bought junk but I liked it. Now I would love to have an auction here, but maybe a garage sale will have to work.
ReplyDeleteHa! Carolyn, I promise, you will get the first jar if we actually figure out the whole bee keeping adventure.
ReplyDeleteI love the thought of you and Gary going to auctions and getting outbid by Ms. Jarvis:). Thanks for sharing that memory with us...it really made me smile.
And, if you'd like, I'll bring some numbers to hand out at your yard sale. Andy will practice his fast talking.