I'm not really MIA

It's been a busy time around Osage Bluff and it doesn't look like it's slowing down anytime soon. 

Last Thursday we loaded up the Casita and headed to northwest Missouri to help our friend Mara. Her husband, who was a good friend and a fellow blacksmith, had passed away earlier this year. The auction was set for Saturday. 

The back forty shed had lots of yard decorations. It seems Ed loved to out do all the neighbors at holiday time.

Friday the weather was beautiful. Sun shine and a cool breeze all day. It was perfect weather to load up a huge amount of tables.

Vintage bikes sat along the side of one shed. I was sure my friend Tammy would buy these. I guess I lost that $1 bet as Tammy left early.

The contents of the blacksmith shop were carried outside.

There were tools, motors, golf cart, more tools, more motors everywhere.

The empty shop was then filled with items from the basement and garage.

There were small groups of collectibles everywhere. 

These silhouette pictures were just beautiful. I wanted them all. 

I was in charge of arranging quilts. Here I rolled and stacked more than a dozen chenille bedspreads.

These were the extremely heavy old quilts. Most would have made great moving blankets. The one exception is the dark brown one on the right. Mara knew the history of it. It had been made by a locals mother before the 1900's. For wool, it was in surprisingly good shape.

These were the "good" quilts that I folded. The one on the top left corner is now mine. Well almost. We left before they were sold and I left a bid. Nancy purchased it for me, at $15 under my top price. It is a newly made quilt using feed sacks. It is a trip around the world pattern, and is hand quilted. Do I dare tell you that Nancy only paid $45 for it?  The third one down on the same stack was a beautiful hand appliqued one. It featured yo-yo's. It was all done on white and also was hand quilted. You'd be sick if I told you it only sold for $25, so I won't tell you. Stacks # 5 and 6, were quilt tops.

These vintage minnow traps were eyed by my blacksmith. But it wasn't to be had. We always set a price we are willing to pay before the bidding begins. They were over the top for us.

This is what it took to get the glassware set out. . . three blacksmiths!

And then it rained. Saturday morning at 3:54 the rain drops started hitting the Casita. I laid there and worried about all the stuff outside. Luckily some had been covered the night before. 

However, the rain didn't keep the bidders from coming. If it poured too hard, the auctioneers would go inside the building and work a ring or two. 

We left before it was over due to other obligations we had. We drove home in some hard rain. We saw a lot of traffic in Columbia, Missouri due to the MU football game. 

It was a bitter sweet time helping Mara and her girls. We wish her the best as she continues without her side kick. Rest in peace Ed.