ITS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE AUCTION

Hello family, friends and peekaboo'ers

Me and the Mrs attended the annual Christmas train show at Phil and Marsha’s house this last week. They once again gave a darn good show and we got to enjoy all the doings with a foursome that included a grandpa, dad, and 2 young children who really added to the fun and spirit of the season.




We later enjoyed a cup of hot cider with cookies and lively conversation. This event really gets us in the Christmas mood, and for me it’s all about the priceless gift of friendship and sense of peace that comes with the season.

So a Merry Christmas to all of ya and may the spirit spill onto you and your kin.

ART

Albion Normal School and Twin

Our adventure to another Master's auction started early (6:45 am) which I've heard referred to as the B-crack of dawn by Reagan's Mom and others. I particularly like early mornings and the Misses was more than willing to go along with this line of thinkin. She's a real peach!

We headed to Albion, which is south of Burley and about 3 hours away, and arrived at 10 am to get a pretty decent parking spot and plenty of time to preview the goods. The sale was held at the Senior Citizen Center which use to be a training center building for the old Albion Normal School.

My limited understanding is that this school use to be like a university and Vo-Tech program all rolled into one. It looks like its been closed for many years and heard tell that the State recently sold it, so maybe something will fill the boarded up and empty buildings.

The sale started promptly as usual at 11 am with the customary announcements, but unfortunately there wasn't much stuff and many of the good items listed on the handbill were simply not there.

But we were not deterred and soon had a few odds and ends loaded in the truck.

How can she buy anything with her hands in her pockets an standing behind Lyle?

When they started selling the few furniture items and a small pickup, we took this opportunity to get a burger and chicken taco from Al and Debbie's lunch wagon (and both darn good - and I'm talking about the food and the folks). We had the usual "tailgate" dining venue and it was a pleasant day to be outside.

We then rejoined the sale, picked up a few jewelry items, silver pieces, and artwork and paid the billed by 4pm. We were soon headed to Jackpot and arrived at the West Coast Resort Hotel about 6 pm. It's not the best place in town but "Big and Rich" were playing and all the better rooms were taken. We caught the shuttle bus to Cactus Pete's and soon were at the buffet enjoying shrimp, crab, prime rib and such. We hit the gaming tables and I was soon puttin the big hurt on a bottle of the Grand Marnier.

The Misses was over at the craps table and as per her usual was having a great time gambling someone else's money. Not sure how she does it but it's become so common that I think she'd be disappointed if it didn't happen.

We caught the shuttle back to the room at about 11:30 and headed to bed.

The next morning we grabbed breakfast at Barton's and played a few hands of 21 before heading to Twin Falls by 9 am. We arrived at the sale on Main Street at about 10 am and the parking was a bit limited. The house and yard were small and not much area to work in, but the quality and quantity of stuff was much better than the day before. We soon staked out a place in the shade and picked up a couple items by noon.

Prices were crazy high and I got tired of getting shoved and stepped on by tattooed and pierced goons. The crowed was big, and so were many of the locals, and they were only outnumbered by the million or so houseflies swarming around.

We grabbed a burger from Kathy when the furniture started to sell at about 12:30 and enjoyed another lunch on the tailgate down the street a bit and away from the buzzing crowd.

The sale moved quickly and the Masters boys were surprised at some of the high prices, with several items going for more than retail. They finally got to the garage area about 3pm where all the tools were laid out and we scored a few choice items and some inventory junk for Main.

The sale wrapped up at 5 pm and we chatted for a few minutes with the boys as they had a burger in the shade.

I also poked my head into the trailer to say goodbye to the girls.

I'm not sure they were ready for the photo op but they're pleasant folks all the same.

And by 6 we were headed to Sizzler in Twin for dinner before heading home. The drive seemed to take forever and it sure seemed like we had been gone a week instead of a night, but we arrived home safe and sound at about 8:30pm and were soon headed to bed.

All in all, it was a fun time and we're looking forward to the next trip, so stay tuned and remember what the Misses says - "if you can't get it for cheap - biddem to the Moon!"

ART

A fun trip to see Paul

Paul is actually a place, not a person, and is about 12 miles north of Burley. The sale was out where old homesteads still exist. The crossroads run every mile and each square mile (640 acres for those that care to know) has one cluster of buildings and the rest is open farm ground. The sale site was just that – an old home and a couple large buildings and a large shop.

The sale was on Friday at 11 am which caused me and the misses to get up mighty early to make it at least an hour early to get a good parking spot and preview the goods. This was no easy task seeings how we didn’t get home from the Thursday Caldwell auction till after midnight, mostly because we had a lengthy tailgate meeting with the boys.

Anyway, we got up and gone by 6:45 and hit the Kopper Kitchen for the usual breakfast fare. We made good time and were in Burley by 10 and the sale site shortly thereafter to score a decent parking spot and time to scope out the stuff.

The description of the goods for sale by Lamar was, as usually, right on and maybe even a little understated. A lot of stuff was still new in the package. They started with the household goods, kitchen, and books and it wasn’t long before we had a nice pile of stuff.

There was a pretty good crowd and several trollers looking to see or take our stuff so the misses spent a fair amount of time doing guard duty in the shade of a big pine tree.

It was a very hot day, getting into the upper 90's, so it was nice to borrow a chair and park it in the shade and enjoy a burger. We watched as they sold furniture and stuff too big to pick up. I joined Lamar in the shade for a quick "DB" photo op.

He's got the strongest hands, since he writes all of the clerking details all day long without a break. And they have sales 3 or 4 times a week so this is just a warning in case he wants to shake your hand.They use clipboards and actual carbon paper. Low tech and it's been work good for years so no sense changing things.

The sale continued after lunch over by the shop where all the tools were laid out on tables out in the bright sun. I fished out the big red umbrella from the truck and did my best southern belle impression and stayed out of the sun. We got quite a few good things and endured the blistering heat till the bitter end.

The sale ended about 4:30 and we were all loaded and paid by 5:30 and on our way to IF for the weekend. We arrived about 7:45 and enjoyed a wow-wee-woo greeting and a great stew and fixins waiting for us on the table. A little later the napping couch on the deck got its evil clutches on me and I soon succumb to the dozies. And in case you ain't never seen this thing here's a picture, but it's useless to try and avoid it so just go ahead and get on and enjoy.

We had a great time, fabulous meals, and time was made for Sunday-go-to meeting. It's been more than 3 months since I put on the suit but it felt like old times.

We don't look half bad in the shade (and a fair distance away!)

We left shortly after church, filled to the brim with the love of family, spirit, and yet one more meal and a sack of food to-go. The drive home was uneventful with thoughts of hitting the road soon for another round of fun.

And we are! - with another trip already in the works. We're headed to Haggerman in August so stay tuned!

Well, that's about it for now, so until next time, keep your hand raised till you get something to go home with!

- ART

A real nice visit with the In-laws

Just wanted to tell all who care to read about it that a recent visit by the In-laws was mighty enjoyable. Like always, the time went in a hurry but we had fun down at the Main and enjoyed Emma's baptism and all that. I snapped a couple photos and I thought they looked worth sharing so here they are.

They are such a good looking couple


And here are the women folk in their DUP mountain bluebird aprons.

and here's Great Grandma with the newest addition to the family.

Well, that's about it for the time being.

See you around the auction barn.
- Art

A little bit about the regular joints

I thought I’d add a segment on the places and folks where I get my weekly auction fix. Not that these places aren’t as interesting as the road trips, mind you, but I tend to forget just how nice it is to see the regular gang and catch a bargain or two.

Saturday mornings you’ll find me headin down to The Main auction about 9:30 so as to score my usual parking spot and feast on a fresh maple bar and a cup of my homemade joe. I see the regular crowd and the proprietor and put a warm howdy on Junior, Miss Elaine in the office, and the clerking girls. They’re all pretty glad to see me, as they know I’ll run the price up and help out on clerking, and that makes everyone a bit happier. And besides, I enjoy the action up close. Maybe one of these days I might even take the mike for a minute or two.

Here's Del, he's one of the regulars at Main and at Caldwell.

On Thursdays me the the misses head to Caldwell Auction (that is if she aint bowling) and we get there about 6 pm. I draws me a map of the back room so as to remember where I saw stuff I want, and the misses generally hangs out in the front room where the better stuff is and folks can sit in the bleachers while the auction goes on.

This is Wendy at the Caldwell Auction office,. She's about 5 foot nothin and a real hoot!

This is the owner Wes, and the name of his auction business is Handlebar Enterprises
Hmmm, I wonder why?

And this is a regular named John (looks a bit like Hemingway huh?) and he decided the hat really setoff his eyes. I'm not sure he's really the type for this hat but I paid him a compliment and he seemed happy about it.

We always end up about the last to leave and of late we've been know to have staff meeting on the tailgate and enjoy a round of storytelling. Just recently Miss Judy came for a visit and scored some fanciful dishes and it seemed right like she enjoyed herself. We hear tell that her folks might be comin our way and partake of the auction runs and I couldn't be more thrilled. I'm just hoping they come early, get a number, and bring a truck - as thems are the rules.

Here's a photo at the Caldwell auction when Miss Judy visited. Not the best but hey, its really a phone and not a camera.



Well, that's about it for now. I should have another round of stories to tell as we're heading to Paul, Idaho on Friday the 13th for another visit with the Masters boys, and then to see the inlaws for a fun weekend.

Later y'all
- Art

Buhl was great!

Me and the Misses headed out early to enjoy a breakfast at the local Kopper Kitchen and arrived at the auction site with the help of “Rita” at 10 am with a close parking spot. It was a bit chilly and windy but the air was country fresh and there was stuff aplenty.

The Masters boys were all very glad to see us and the auction started promptly at 11 with the usual announcements and fanfare. Our pile of acquisitions grew immediately and by 1 pm we had an impressive collection. Here's a photo of our pile at lunch time.


They began to sell the furniture and large equipment around 1:30 pm, which falls into the rule to “never buy anything you can’t pick up by yourself.” We took this opportunity to have a “burger by Kathy” and sit in the truck to warm up.

After lunch the sun came out and the wind died down and it turned right pleasant out. The flatbed trailers of tools were next on the block and we scored many flats and boxes of good ole stuff. The auction wrapped up at 4 pm and by 4:30 the truck was full, the bill was paid, and we were on our way to the border, arriving in Jackpot at 5:30.

Check-in was a breeze and we were soon enjoying the buffet of roast, ham and several desserts. The gaming was fun throughout the evening and we turned in at 10pm with a belly full of Grand Mariner and a thin wallet.

We woke well rested and to an inch of snow on the ground. The restaurant was busy but the gaming area was quiet, so after breakfast we headed across the street to the Horseshoe to see if our luck was better there. Turned out it was and we headed for home at 11am after cutting or prior night’s losses and arrived home safely at 2pm.

A good time was had and we hope to be heading to our next trip by the end of the month.

Till then, I'll be hangin around the auction barn,

ART

I have arrived!!

With the help of Miss Judy (AKA #5)I now have a "presence" on the web. I can now share auction road trip stories to all those who wish to hear (read?) about the fun me and the Misses are having at the auction.

Our first ART (auction road trip) is scheduled for next weekend and I'll be sure to take the camera and be prepared to eloquently describe the highlights - including the results of our Jackpot visit!

I'm still learning the ways of blogdom and how to post photos and other stuff. Until the next entry, remember the auction creed - go early, get a number, and stay to the bitter end.

Bidem to the Moon!

ART