Trapped!

Melissa Sandfort

rattrapA few weeks ago, the Lion’s Club held their annual Holbrook auction. It was a HUGE gathering with thousands of items for auction ranging from cattle panels to coins to furniture. About any treasure you wanted to find could be found there.

I’ve been to auctions before but never bid on anything. When the festivities began at 9:30, I put my bidder number in my purse and moseyed along, just taking in the excitement. I had my eye on a few things, and when they began on the trailer where “my” items were and I threw out my first winning bid, it was a rush! My first purchase? A #6 crock and #4 butter churn. From there, I moved on to some apple baskets but planned on staying all day or until I went home with an old feed bunk, matching weathered table and wooden gate.

Finally at 6 pm, the feed bunk came up for auction. There were a few eager men gathered around the items and my plan of attack was put in motion. I told myself I wouldn’t pay more than $100 for all three items and much to my surprise, I was the only bidder and took them home for $10 total! I’d say I got the best buy of the day.

As with any sale, they grouped smaller items together in hopes of speeding up the process. When we looked through my stack of apple baskets, this old rat trap was there. I chuckled to myself because out of the hundreds of auctions and farm sales my grandfather has been to over the years, his best finds have come from buying a box of miscellaneous items they threw together. The best treasure was oftentimes hidden at the bottom of the box.

I’m not saying the rat trap was the best treasure by any means, but it sure did conjure up fun memories of grandpa digging through his $5 box. I’m hoping the cats that enjoy laying in the feed bunk (which was, by the way, the best treasure) will keep rodents away and I won’t have a use for this rat trap.

Until we walk again …

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