Live Auction!

Have you ever been to a live Auction?  You'd think that with all the PBS Antiques Roadshows Michael and I have watched in the last 14 yrs or so that we have been to many auctions, but that isn't the case.  While we were in Sabetha, Kansas (for the annual Wenger reunion) we found out about a live auction that was taking place through Hartter Auction at the old Armory on Main Street in Sabetha.  We decided to go and check it out!

I was so excited I couldn't stand it!  Before walking in, you have to register/sign up for a number if you want to bid on anything.  Michael and I both signed up for a different number so we could both bid on different items.  We walked around before the auction started to see what treasures we would be interested to bid on.  Wow, there was so much to look at!  Old tools, old barber shop items, old coins, furniture, jewelry, household items, comic books and more!

The first box I put my bid in for was a box of misc. stainless steel looking items.  I mostly wanted the one vase in it - but I already knew I would not go very high in my bid.  I ended up getting the whole box for $1.  There were some real treasures in there including a whole tea service set, a beer stein from Germany and a silver plated bowl from Oneida!

Michael and I were able to talk with other bidders when we weren't focused on making bids.  We made friends with Kevin and Sharon from Missouri ~ who are dealers and have been doing this sort of thing for over 20yrs!  They had some good advice for us and great stories as we continued on in our auction experience.  They do have an e-bay site ~ so make sure to go check it out!  They are great folks and have great seller reviews on e-bay!

One of the items I really really wanted is an old print stamp set.  As you might know from reading my craft blog post, I am into stamping, scrapbooking, cards and crafts.  When I saw this set and found that all alphas and numbers were accounted for, I couldn't keep my eyes off them!  I was prepared to bid up to $40 if I had too!  I ended up getting them for $15 and it also included a couple of lithographic tins too!

I did also bid on a couple of boxes of costume jewelry ~ and when I got back to the house, while I was showing off my treasures, some of Michael's cousins were interested in some of it and ended up buying some pieces!  So, basically, I made all the bidding money back for the jewelry items.  (I can see now why dealers are in this whole auction / reselling business!  It did make me think about maybe learning more about doing it myself!)

I will say that I really enjoyed going to my first auction and totally plan on attending more in the future!  I have attached a link for any of you thinking about going to an auction in the future!   Here it is:  Good Advice before going to an Auction.

Happy treasure hunting!

~Joyce

Our new friends Sharon & Kevin

   

Freedom of ?

I know that everyone always says that two things you don't talk about for fear of what will happen are politics and religion. I think that the results of a good or bad conversation about either of the two is exactly what our forefathers intended to create with the first amendment.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The time in which our forefathers gathered to create our constitution is a lot like today...Believe it or not, while creating the greatest government ever, there were vastly differing opinions. Much like the society that we live in today, these men gathered and knew that government was necessary yet they all had different avenues to get to the final result. One thing that is apparent in the first amendment in particular is the fact that conversation is a GOOD thing. We aren't all supposed to think the same way. We aren't all supposed to agree all of the time. In fact, the very freedom of speech that was protected was not so that boisterous people can get their way and not be ridiculed, yet so that an open discussion could be held without persecution.

People who stand behind the idea that MY opinion is the only way. And MY way of doing things is the only correct way and hide behind this amendment are fundamentally wrong in their thinking. This country has risen to be the most powerful nation in the world because of open, intelligent discussions between people who hardly agree at all. Yet one thing is true of all of us....we believe it is our RIGHT to HAVE these discussions.

In some parts of the world, the mere mentioning of something that is different from someone else is punishable by law.

If our law makers today would sit back and think about this concept, maybe we(the US taxpayer) wouldn't be paying a salary to people who ABSOLUTELY, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES would even listen to each other's side of the story.

It's gone far beyond just politics though. It's become a part of our ever day life to ignore other people's views because of the idea that we are the only ones who could be right. Sometimes in life there isn't a definite right and wrong way of accomplishing things. As long as we are heading the same direction and have our eyes set on the one and only absolute truth in this world which is the teachings and moral standards of Jesus Christ we should be able to have these conversations without feeling discriminated against.

Our freedom of speech DOES NOT give us the right to say whatever we want to without scrutiny from others which creates dialog. ALL it protects us from is being criminally persecuted because of our words.

What are your thoughts? I want to know. We all should want to know. Lets have a discussion. I, personally, LOVE nothing more than to have educated discussions with people, even and especially when it is a belief or idea that is the opposite of what I hold. It gives me the opportunity to understand things from ALL points of view. It gives me the opportunity to decide for myself and educate myself on other ideas if I so choose. It gives me the feeling of a TRUE AMERICAN! Politics and religion (and nothing else) for that matter scares me to talk about with anyone. I'm not afraid.

God bless you all! Please comment!

LEEEEERRRROOOOOOYYYYYY JEEEEEEENNNNNKKKKIIIIINNNNNNNNNNSSS!!!!

Yup...that's all I got...Busy week...Writers block....Love you guys, and I want to write something good...but all I got is nothing.

On the Pontoon

Out here in the open....

Ok, so, I guess it is obvious that the whole band is needing some R&R, since no one else posted to the blog this week!  ;-)

We (the band) are going to spend some time together at the lake this weekend.  Interestingly enough, we've been working on the cover song "Pontoon" from Little Big Town.  I have to admit it sounds pretty darn good!  You'll have to come out and hear it at one of our upcoming shows.  (Next two shows are both Aug. 17th!  Just sayin'....)

I look forward to just having chill time with no agenda.  Since our lives are all so different, we don't always have time to just be together.  Usually we see each other at practice each week - but it isn't the same as just enjoying one another's company and building tighter relationships.  I am guessing this outing will only strengthen our bond as a band/musical group.  Who knows...maybe with no time pressures or agendas, we'll even have time to write some new music together - or take some personal interview videos to share with you all in the future!

Well, I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  We'll see you out on the pontoon!

  ~Joyce

Beth, Eric, Josh, Michael & Joyce