Farm Auctions,

I

I have been on the farm for six days. Mostly, I've been doing house cleaning and yard work. On Friday I took a break to go to a farm auction. The auction was at a farm not far from here. The owners had died or gone to a nursing home, I imagine. That's usually the case. Their children want to sell the contents of the house and barn. It was a big two story house with two barns. Well, you can imagine how many things there were to be auctioned off. There was every thing from paper towels to antique clocks. I never buy from antique stores when I can buy them at auction for much less. I was looking for an antique table for my printer, but there wasn't one I liked. When you arrive, you get a paper with a number on it. You use that to bid. Bidding is fun. I decide what I will pay for an item. Sometimes I bid higher, but not a lot higher. Some times I win, and sometimes I'm outbid. Farm auctions are a social event in the country. People come early and bring a folding chair. I see a number of people I've seen and spoken to at other auctions. There is always a food truck with breakfast and lunch food. They usually make good cheeseburgers or pulled pork sandwiches among other things. After 911, for about a year or so, French fries were called Freedom fries. There are usually old order people there. They are like the Amish, but some are more strict than others. My farmer and his family are old order. They call themselves German Baptists. The women make their caped dresses and wear sheer white caps. No TV or movies for them. They do, however, have electricity, and they drive cars. they are the kindest, friendliest people I know. The only thing I bought at the auction were old fair canes. Every summer, my Dad would have one go at winning a cane. When the ring went on the can, it made him happy. On the farm, we have simple pleasures. The current fair canes have plastic tops. Not nice. The old ones have wooden tops with gold tassels. I collect them in memory of my dear father. Other people collect them too, but I outbid them. The day was sweltering. In the pictures, you will see two German Baptist ladies in pastel dresses. Just looking at them made me feel cooler. I included a mother and son from another old order. I don't know what they call their order. There is a picture of the food truck and some quilts for auction.