Bummer, or was it?

Yesterday's auction ended up being a big bummer, so my blogging about it today isn't what I was expecting to deliver. Here's the thing though- I took it as a learning opportunity, and I'm hoping that my readers will too. Not every event turns out the best, whether it be an auction or a well thought out and magnificently decorated party. For instance, this year I planned the Christmas get together to invite my side as well as Mark's side of the family. I cleaned and shopped and cooked and wrapped presents and came up with games like a madwoman in the days preceding, but the day of the event I ended up somewhat disappointed in how it turned out.

Mark's brother was mopey and commented on how my food wasn't ready at the scheduled time. He wouldn't participate in the games and claimed he didn't realize that we were exchanging gifts, so my side of the family, including the little kids, had to wait until after Mark's family left to open our gifts.

Reflecting on the day, I put my own disappointments aside, and concentrated on the fact that the little ones, whom Christmas is about anyway, had a blast playing musical chairs and opening the silly gift prizes they won. They hadn't even noticed the tension with the adults.

So...about the auction...it was a bummer for me because I brought Mark along hoping he'd catch the bug. Instead, it was long and boring, mainly because there were dozens of hoity toity dealers present from out of the area who jacked up the prices outside of my realm of understanding.

Here's how I am choosing to look at yesterday's "bummer" auction: it was only a bummer for me, the gal with the shallow pockets. It was a success for Robbie's Auctions in Amery, Wisconsin. What's great about that is I really like them, and if they do well, it means they stay in business and continue to provide their fantastic services. It's a win-win for everybody.

I teach my children to try to look at the bright side of what they consider a bad situation to see that it is really more about perspective.  Now I am choosing to use my own advice.

I would love to hear how you have taken a bad situation and framed it in new light. Please weigh in!

Have a blessed and prosperous 2014!

Christine

Stay Tuned...

Tomorrow I am going to a live auction and promise to show you how it went in my next blog post:)

Christmas Goodies

My idea of Christmas goodies aren't of the confectionary kind. Sure, I love decorated gingerbread men and spiked apple cider as much as the next gal, but my favorite kind of goodies for Christmas are typically made out of wood or fabric and most of the time have the aged patina that brings about feelings of Christmases long long ago.

Six o'clock last evening brought the end of the bidding wars on some gotta-have-ems at the online auction and today I got to go pick up my winnings, which to me feels like Christmas mornings running down the stairs to scope out my loot. Mark scoffs at the way I refer to my auction hauls as "winnings" considering I do pay for them. I've got to face the fact that he just hasn't been bitten by the auction cootie bug. Not yet. It'll happen though, mark my words.

Today I scored a black cast iron horse, two beaded purses, two vintage coloring books, a framed wall mirror that is super heavy, and some old sheet music, but my three biggest goodies were a pine corner cupboard, a red and green table, and the piez de resistance - a red and white antique rolling tool chest!

Ta da! Isn't it just too much? And the inside is darling with its penciled notes from a friend dated 1953. If tool chests could talk, what would this one say?

I haven't forgotten about my promise of a post or two dedicated strictly to auctions.I am headed to one tomorrow and I will try to remember to take some pics. In my clamor for more goodies I often forget to document my journey.

Signing off for now - may visions of vintage teakettles dance in your head.

Bella fortuna!

Christine