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