Carolina auctions

After the wedding we headed north to find auctions. Day one we found three auctions in South Carolina. The first called Big daddy auction, the next was held in an old mill. We drove 30 more miles and found the third auction We stayed until bed time and bought stuff... I mean treasures. Day two, we found three auctions in North Carolina. We went to our first whole sale auction for dealers at noon, with boxes coming in on a conveyor belt. Slow start, so we left and found another whole sale auction that started at 3:00. We stayed for a little while and bought a few items. We headed to the last auction for the day and stayed until almost 11;00 and bought some more stuff... I mean treasures. Day three, we find a flea market and antique store and bought so more stuff...I mean treasures. We had the best hamburger with pimento cheese in it and on it from a local diner with a very busy waitress. We checked in to a hotel and went to check out auction. We were disappointed to find out that we were on the wrong night. the new stuff night and not the antique night. So, we leave and go back and price and repack all our stuff... I means treasures. We realized that we were in Tim Tuckers area. So we went by for a visit. We need to go see our old Farm Bureau buddies every chance we get while we travel. We leave his office in a very cold rain and head to our next auction that starts at 11:00 and lasted until 3:00. It was very fast paced and loud with no time to eat, talk or even go to the bathroom. Mark bid while I wrapped and took notes. We bought a lot of stuff.. I mean treasures. The van is getting full but or stomaches were very empty, so, we head to a Tokyo express and eat at 4:00. Checked into a hotel and head to another auction. This one is so different, it is set up with tables and chairs, very social, very friendly with home made cake and nachos and cheese. We bought some stuff and I mean cheap junk and new stuff. We almost gave up and left when they brought up 4 good pieces and we bought all of them. The next morning , we got up and priced our stuff... I mean treasure,s and headed to another auction. Too many left bids and furniture, so leave and find another good antique store and buy more stuff.. treasures. The van is really full, may be time to head home. Instead, we spent the day buying stuff, I mean treasures at antique stores to over-stuff our already stuffed van. Then we go to one more auction. The next morning we head to a flea market to sell our lower end stuff to make more room. We stay 2 hours and sell the rest of the table to a dealer to sell and we head to Mark's sister for a relaxing night, good food and a good visit.

A kingdom moment

Started my day by reading in my EKG bible study book. "We are all God's precious movable possession for his purpose where ever He places us far beyond what we expect". Look for Kingdom moments in every day activities.
We are parked. We hear a train and see the bar coming down. A man, on the phone, smoking a cigar
is racing toward the track. Suddenly, he hits reverse, getting off the track as the bar comes down and the train speeds by. A matter of seconds. I don't have all the answers. I just know that God is in control. My bible chapter for the day is Psalms 91, We live within the shadow of the almighty, sheltered by God...He is our refuge, shield, protector. He orders His Angels to protect.... Then we come to Cowpen S.C. and went into a mission thrift store. There was a young black man in there smiling and laughing and speaking to every one and handing out candy. When we were leaving, he said, "have a blessed day". Mark answered that we already have. I told him that if he wanted to be blessed to read Psalms 91 and the man loudly started quoting Psalms 91 from the KJV. Every one in that store was blessed. I smiled at him and told him that I was impressed. God is good.

Savannah wedding

Our family gathered in Savannah for the wedding of Carlie, or Evelyn or Evie. She is our lovely niece and she looked like a Greek goddess on a beautiful spring day. Sara looked really sweet in her brides maid dress. Carrie was delightful to watch as she put her heart and soul into capturing every precious moment. Mark and I watched the grand babies at the hotel to give their parents time to attend pre- wedding events. We swam and ate breakfast in bed, walked the riverfront and had a picnic in the park. We saw Drew in his new apartment and met some of his new friends. We enjoyed our weekend.

Sparks

Mom, Aunt Dot and I were driving around Adel looking at spring flowers. I noticed that Sparks was only 1 mile away. The last time that I went to Sparks, Mark and I had been to an auction and bought a lot of stuff including an out door table and chair set made out of steel and glass. It was tied to the back. I was driving and was pulled over by a local police. I did not know what I had done wrong until he asked us to get out of the truck and look. We had been dragging one of the chairs making sparks on the road and sharpening the leg to a point like a sword. He was very nice. He helped us tie it back on and told us not to be sparking down the road of Sparks any more. So, I wanted to give Sparks another chance to buy stuff. We found I thrift store and went inside. It was mostly furniture and appliances. I did find a few pieces of glass. So, I asked the man how much for the purple glass. He went to ask. While he was gone, I noticed that the four glasses were vintage Tiara pattern, but the candy dish was new, with bees on it. He told me 30 dollars for the set. When I told him I was only interested in the glasses, he went back somewhere and came back with the answer. She does not want to break up the set. Okay,, it is not a set, but I decided not to give up yet. So, I found two little glass top hats that may have been fenton. This time, he had to go in a different direction to ask a different person. He came back with this answer. He does not want to sell them, because they may be collectable. We saw a few other pieces, but he did not seem interested in giving me prices so, I gave up. We got in the car and laughed. I have never tried so hard to give someone money and fail so miserably.

scare crow

Yesterday I went to Adel to take Mom and Aunt Dot out to lunch for her 80th birthday. Among other things, I gave her a shirt that said that 80 is the new 50. I have always thought of Mom as being 52 years old because of her energy an constant activity. This is getting harder to believe, now that I am 54. After lunch, we came back to the farm and helped Uncle make my first scare crow. Uncle Virgil never does any thing half way. He is having problems with birds eating all of his fish. So, he got a propane cannon that goes off every 20 minutes making me jump every time. Then he went up town and bought a new red shirt jeans and hat for his scarecrow. I took pictures as we built him and named him something different as he progressed. We stuffed him so full, that he looked like popeye, jojo the giant and maybe even female. Then, I called him gigi for go away birds and for their business. Later, as we were screwing in bolts, I called him Frankeinstein. Soon, as we screwed his country hat on, he looked like Tennessee Joe with a head ache We laughed and struggled and stuffed and worked on this fellow for 3 hours. He had to be just right and then we cross the pond and set him up by his cannon. I sure hope that he sends the birds north, where they belong. I will never forget Mom's 80 birthday.

traveling sick

We came home last Sunday night from Beaches to peaches, where we had a good week of selling stuff. Sunday night, I was sick all night. When I got up Mark said that he sure would like to go buy some more stuff and come back by and see Sara this week. Well, since I was too sick to see the grandchildren this week, I repacked the bag and we took off for Alabama. Traveling sick sure cuts down on food cost. The first day all I wanted was pretzels lunch and grits and eggs for supper at Huddle house. The next day grilled cheese sandwich was the only thing that sounded good. Finally by the next day I felt like eating. So, we picked up Sara and went to a Greek Restraunt and split a plate. I was a pretty cheap date this week. We bought a lot of stuff and got to see our little sunshine and her roommate. I feel better and ready to see the Grands. Sure am glad that I was better, because we picked up kids and took Olivia to gymnastics and Riley to soccer and then fed kids and daddy supper. Then the kids spent the night. The next day we got things ready for setting up at Allen's warehouse, outside of the Calico. Then we went to the Art Center for the play. The women were great. The play was funny and the acting was great. The kids spent the night with us in the R.V. We got up the next morning and Becca helped us sell stuff while Riley went to soccer. Had a great weekend. Would like to thank Jimmy for the opportunity to sell stuff at his place. Mom was right, we buy and sell to each other. Jimmy and Gene bought from us. I bought from Jimmy and Keith. Mark bought from Keith's brother and Kenny bought from every one. A good time was had by all.

The women

We love our local art center. People like Jane Simpson, Connie Fritz, Ken Collier, Larry Sims, Mary Norman, Miss Ponda, Miss Sally, Miss Kathy and Ken Collier and, too many to name them all. Over the years they have turned my kids into animals and Orphans and brides and lions on stage. They have taught the to sing, play instruments, dance, yoga, art, pottery, and even given two of my kids summer jobs. Today , Sara, is teaching art to handicap adults. She started out at art camps in Moultrie. This weekend they are at it again. Larry Sims is directing a play with all women, bless his heart. Two of those women are Carrie and Anna, my girls, and I am very proud of both of them. We try to help out a little by feeding the husbands and kids during practice. We will be going to the play Friday night and keeping kids the other nights. Plan to go to the play, The Women, Friday, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Support our local art center.