It's so hard to keep something secret at an auction. You think you're the only one who knows there are 20 Halloween postcards in a shoebox full of postcards and that you're going to get them for a song. Once the bidding shoots past $500, you realize that lots of people knew about your secret treasure. Yes, this happened to me.
Still, I had high hopes of not having a lot of competition for the contents of a closet at an auction Wednesday night. First, not that many people knew the house was open. There wasn't much inside worth looking at - just some mattresses and clunky furniture. It was only by chance I heard the auctioneer tell one of his assistants that they were going to sell off the Christmas in the closet in one lot.
Did someone say Christmas? I made a beeline for the closet. It was filled with stuff. Not good stuff. Lots of plastic flowers and pine cone wreaths and little artificial trees. But I poked around enough to see a few things, and some very inviting boxes. And then I waited for my turn to pounce.
This was another one of the boxes in the closet, and I honestly would have bought everything in the closet just to get it. It's the size that long-stemmed roses come in, and it sports pink stripes.
Only one thing worried me, and that was this guy who was hanging around the doorway of the house throughout the whole auction. Kind of a good-old-boy type. We kept eyeing each other suspiciously. I heard him tell somebody that as soon as they finished with the house, he was going home. I was fairly certain he was going to wreck my evening.
Finally the auctioneer went into the house, and the good old boy said, "Joe, if you'll just auction off that doorstop, I'll get out of your way." The doorstop! He was waiting for a cast iron, made in China, teddy bear doorstop!
"That's what you were waiting for?" I cried.
By this time he was the proud owner (being the sole bidder) of the doorstop. He had been worried that I wanted it. He was quite relieved. You could feel the tension evaporate. We were this close to hugging.
Then it was time to bid on the contents of the closet, and I was so excited I bid when the auctioneer dropped down to a $10 opening bid. If I'd just contained myself, I probably could have gotten it for $1. Not only that, I was so excited that when I raised my card it flew out of my hand. Normally I at least feign restraint.
Buried in all of the junk in the closet were four tall bottle brush trees and two German sleds with pretty glass glitter.
A herd of celluloid reindeer, only one of whom needs minor antler surgery.
Lovely old ornaments and a corsage still on the original card.
Miscellaneous trinkets, and do you see what I see?
Another spun cotton head!
I just wanted to show you this picture again so you could admire the Cowpuncher boots box. The Christmas box and the poinsettia greeting card box on the right are pretty nice, too, but they don't have a branding iron.
Inside the pink striped box were rolls of wrapping paper in springtime colors.
There were a couple of rolls of Christmas wrapping paper, too.
Both of them with an angel theme.
So that's what was in the closet. More or less. The rest - the artificial trees, the plastic flowers, the string of lights with a note "These stopped working in 1991" - you don't want to see.
Okay I am TOTALLY jealous on this score...I think I will go lock myself in a closet (and wish it was as great as yours).
p.s. I would have loved to have seen you hug door stop man.
Posted by: laurie magpie ethel | June 10, 2010 at 11:13 PM
Oh, my, how did you contain yourself?? Mr. Oodles will be glad to know there was no PDA at this auction.
The Cowpuncher box is awesome. What can be cuter than those angels looking at their own reflection in the Christmas ornaments? Precious!
Posted by: Tina | June 10, 2010 at 11:58 PM
Well girlfriend you scored on this one! Glad the other dude just wanted the doorstop!!
Posted by: Linda @ A La Carte | June 11, 2010 at 12:02 AM
Well you are on a roll I suggest you buy a lottery ticket! Great closet full of treasures for a song! Congratulations. Hugs, Diane
Posted by: Diane | June 11, 2010 at 01:04 AM
Last post I couldn't even comment...you have totally outdone yourself. Where to start! Just bowing for Barbara, the queen in vintage finds with a special degree in Christmas ornaments! Last week I could only watch some one taking the most beautiful German glass ornaments out of a box and another lady taking the rest. Hope to have more luck tomorrow!
Posted by: LiLi M. | June 11, 2010 at 02:36 AM
Barbara - If you went out and battled the weather & temps Wed. night, as I sat home bundled up in my long jeans, turtle-neck, sweater and blanket with a cup of Hot tea - you deserved to find some GOODIES!!!!
Posted by: Sue | June 11, 2010 at 06:02 AM
10 smacks for all that - and the wrapping paper! (I'm drooling as I type) How do you manage it B?????? Signed jealous in Michigan
Posted by: Julie | June 11, 2010 at 06:50 AM
Oh, dear - I feel that envy setting in again.......
Posted by: HeidiAnn | June 11, 2010 at 01:32 PM
I just laughed when you said the card flew out of your hand, I can just picture it! xo, suzy
Posted by: georgiapeachez | June 11, 2010 at 02:26 PM
LUCKY!!!! When we cleaned out my grandparents attic, there were some strands of lights with notes like that...WHY?
Posted by: Jenny S | June 11, 2010 at 06:40 PM
You must have been *dying* when you got your loot home & saw all these goodies including that One Spun Head. I agree - time to head out for a lotto ticket!! -amy
Posted by: Into Vintage | June 11, 2010 at 07:19 PM
Great score! I went back and read your canasta post. My husband and I are very competive canasta plays. we have made a truce to not play cards with each other for a while. It was getting a little tense. We now play skip-bo.
Posted by: Cathy | June 11, 2010 at 07:19 PM
I love a great auction story- and can so relate to being absolutly sure that someone else has there eye on what you want and being so relieved when they say "SOLD" and its yours.
Posted by: Beth Leintz | June 11, 2010 at 10:51 PM
she digs..
she scores...
schweet...
I love to see all your loot, but wish I lived closer cuz then maybe some of it could be my loot!
w00t!
Posted by: judy | June 11, 2010 at 11:33 PM
Jealous!
Oh so jealous!
Posted by: Melissa | June 12, 2010 at 08:47 AM
This was a very moving story. I laughed, I cried, I got to play "Where's The Spun Cotton Head"! There was mystery too. What's in the striped box? Is that good old boy going to steal it all out from under her? And a very happy ending, with you getting the contents of the closet! This has got to be your greatest auction booty yet. I love it all, especially that wrapping paper. Congrats!
Posted by: Carol @ Old Glory Cottage | June 12, 2010 at 11:24 AM
I am green, really really green with envy!
Posted by: Patti | June 12, 2010 at 11:55 AM
It's all good...lucky ducky.
blessings,
glenda
Posted by: Glenda | June 13, 2010 at 03:40 AM
Fabulous! I loved your description of that "auction tension" between two people--I have felt that myself, many times. Also the heartbreak of your "secret find" skyrocketing up as a million people bid on it--oh, yes, I've experienced that, too, LOL!
Posted by: Janelle | June 13, 2010 at 01:30 PM
You've made me remember how much I miss going to auctions! They can be so exciting. I keep thinking I'll get to one soon but the only times I've had the chance there weren't any that looked interesting. I'm going to make it a goal to get to one soon!
Posted by: Nikki | June 14, 2010 at 10:38 AM