First Auction of the Year….

I went to my first auction of the year today. I haven’t been to an auction is quite awhile.  It was a nice day, super cloudy and about 72 degrees.  I headed up the the new “Eastern Kansas Auction”.  I say new.. because it used to be not far from my house, and they stopped having auctions for a while.. now they’ve moved to a new location up on the hill in Ottawa.

No Truck Stop up here.. just this cool old sign.

These beautiful flowers were sitting in the office at the new auction barn. Don’t you love the silver basket vase?

What would an auction be without old men talking?

I didn’t know it when I took the photo.. (because I was pretty sure I was leaving before I bought anything) but see that green circle thing?  It’s a Fiesta cup holder.. it’s mine 🙂 now.

How cute is this little girl with her dog?

How about some tools, a boat or a lawn mower?

My loot

Some super cute pink Christmas Ornaments (for me)

I bought two stained glass windows that came from a George Washburn (designed) House in Ottawa, some Mary cherry dishes.

Cute little painted box (for me) the Fiesta cup holder and a blue and white rug that was in with some stuff.

When  I come home my kids run out to see what I got.. and to see if they just might have snagged something too. Here’s child #5 looking over the backseat at my junk.  This is the “do you have anything for me mom” face?

WHAT? You didn’t get me anything? He’s an animated little booger isn’t he?

You did? Where is it?

I don’t see it.

I see it!

My Unusual Sunday…

I woke up this morning and got ready for church. I took 2 of my 5 children with me (we need to be at church earlier than the Man and the other children).

I seem to have the worst luck when it comes to getting my food through the drive-thru.  I went back to the Golden Arches today.. to get my McGriddle I did not receive last week.  I called them last Sunday, let them know what they did…and gave them my name.  Can you believe the snarky chick behind the counter gave me grief TODAY? I gave her my best “mom” voice and finally received my product.

I headed to church and to my confirmation class… (they are some of my favorite 7th and 8th graders on this planet).   Unfortunately they did not want to be photographed this am..

No that is not a kid asleep.. he’s awake really..

They are not on the phone or looking at their nails.. they are praying…

Look these two look sort of interested..

Um.. ok.. it’s really them not their teacher.

So after church I headed BACK to McDonald’s.  Why you ask?  Because I had plans to take child #3 to the American Girl Tea Party at the library.  Some of you would say.. “Why didn’t you go home?”  and to you I say; “You must not live in the country!”  We live so far outside of town, that it’s better to stay in town and use the WiFi in the Golden Arches then drive home only to turn around and come back.  My 2 hours in town waiting wasn’t suppose to be very eventful.. but let me tell you it was… I wish I would have brought my camera in.. to prove what happened.

Now the layout of our McDonald’s is like most McDonalds; except ours only has 2 spots with plug-ins, and both were taken.  I saw my favorite spot by the RedBox had one lonely man sitting there.  He looked nice enough, so I asked him if #3 and I could sit there.  He said; “Sure”.  We chatted about .. where we live etc.. And then the older men started to arrive.  When I say older.. I mean men that could be my father.  They arrived at the table with all kinds of stories…. Here’s some of what I learned today:

  1. Ottawa Ks used to have a Montgomery Wards, and City Hall ran it off…
  2. The Swimming Pool in Ottawa was segregated in the 1950’s.
  3. Some of the men went to a 1 room school house.. the same school house I had my wedding reception (and vote in).
  4. They love to talk about the river and one of them even ice skated on it for nine miles. A couple others even were Baptisted there.
  5. They called me “mixed” company, and caught themselves before they said anything bad
  6. I think it’s cute they asked about my Dad and where I was from.
  7. A couple of them went to school with one of my neighbors.. and if he knew when that neighbors wife was making “creamed turnips” he would drive STRAIGHT to their house.  “You’ve never had anything like Bessie’s creamed turnips”.
  8. I think these men have driven every square inch of this county, and the knowledge they have in their head! Holy Smokes they are so cool to listen to!
  9. They are as enchanted with German Baptists as I am.
  10. They accepted me into their group.. like I had been there forever

I only wish I had brought my camera in..  If I had you would have seen 6 men vary in ages from 40ish to 80 ish.. that get together to talk about the weather, politics, women, friendships, crops, money and everything else in between there.

Child #3 and I  left our new friends, and headed to the library for our tea…

Child #3 and her American Girl Doll.. in matching outfits..

Check out these sugar cookies.. so cute.

#3 and one of her friends

#3 and her SWAG from the tea party.. We also received a photo of her and the doll in a silver photo frame.