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  • EPISODE 893 MR. VOGEL’S ESTATE SALE, OCT. 31, CROSSHILL == HAVEN FOR ECCENTRICS?

    EPISODE 893     MR. VOGEL’S ESTATE SALE, OCT. 31, CROSSHILL == HAVEN FOR ECCENTRICS?


    alan skeoch
    oct 21, 2023

    Confession:  I am addicted to rural AUCTION SALES…have been so for 50 years.
    Thoroughly enjoy these sales.   I m not alone.   Men seem more affected by this
    addiction than women as you will see in this episode.  Just what do we buy.
    Treasures?  Hardly.

    Mr Vogel’s collection of odds and ends were Sold on Oct 21 by
    Gerber Auctions.  Just what was sold?

    The barn is empty now….it was jammed full ofthngs Mr. Vogel admired

    WHAT DID THESE MEN  BUY?

    Before I can catalogue what the men bought….it might be helpful see some of the things 
    that were up for sale….the small things.



    Both of these barn builders drills sold for $100 plus 18%….a good buy if you need holes in barn beams for wooden nails.

    The  huge wheel was once part of a cutting box…sold for $6 and the young man who bought it was ecstatic.


    Marjorie bought the rope, a good hammer and a grease gun which she gave away…she paid $2



    This Buzzsaw sold for $20 and included a deposit left by a raccoon on the movable bed.


    THIS washing machine,, circa 1880 sold for $300 plus 13% tax and  5% auction  fee….I had considered bidding $30.  But the main reason we drove 
    80 km was so I could buy the machine with the iron wheel.  It would look terrific in a 19th century movie.  What did it do?   I have no
    idea but several bidders must have known … sold to a high bid of $370.  We failed.  Correction, I failed even though Marjorie encouraged me to
    keep bidding.  
    she must think money grows on trees..

    “Alan, we drove for two hours, spent $60 or more on gas…and bought nothing.”
    “Not quite nothing….but darn close to nothing.  The people and the ambience was worth the trip.”
    “Are you thinking of your Episodes?  What reader would be interested?”
    “People like you and me, Marjorie.”
    “Alan…none of your friends are interested.   Face it.”
    “My two best friends want to come to every sale we got to.”
    “Who are they ?”
    “You and Woody, our dog.”
    “The people we meet are interesting, I’ll grant you that.”


    The buyers….winning bidders…piled their treasures on the ground.   Here are some of the collections….inclding our own
    collection.  Ours?  Did I say ‘ours’?  Indeed I did.  Marjorie came with me and was shocked to discover there was absolutley nothing that
    she wanted. She bid anyway and got  a $2 bargain….rope, hammer and grease gun.

    “Close your eyes Marjorie…Now open your eyes….you will see wonderful things that Woody has already seen.”
     



     “Alan, you said this was going  to be a great farm auction….but there is noting here that a woman would want.?
    “I needed you to drive the car while I navigated.”
    “you were not much good as a navigator.”
    “I really thought that by following Mennonite buggy we would find the auction.:
    “Some drove bycicles….Other Mennonites were just exercising horses.”
    “Eventually we found one buggy heading south to the auction.

    “Have you ever heard of GPS?”
    “Heard of it…but do not know what GPS means”
    “WHat do you think it means?”
    “GPS .. Good Potato Soup?  A recipe?”


    HERE ARE SOME OF THE COLLECTIONS— ENVY IS NOT APPROPRIATE


    MR VOGEL WAS A COLLECTOR OBVIOUSLY AND HE WOULD BE PLEASED THAT SO MANY COLLECTORS CAME TO HIS AUCTION.

    WAS THE TRIP WORTHWHILE?   IT WAS TERRIFIC.   WE MET SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE AND ONE PERSISTENT LITTLE 
    MENNONITE BOY WHO WAS FASCINATED BY MY CAMERA AND TRIED TO GET IN EVERY PICTURE.   I WAS THE ONLY PERSON
    TO RECORD THE AUCTION.  MENNONITES DISLIKE CAMERAS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN INDICATION OF
    VANITY.  PERHAPS THEY ARE RIGHT.

    NEXT EPISODE 894  … YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET TWO PEOPLE WE FOUND INTERESTING.

    WHAT DID WE BUY?  (SEE BELOW)


    Left to right….chicken crate, bag cart, rope, buggy jack, broken corn planter, 3 legged stool, hammer
    part of wooden rake,   And a two man log, ice or rail carrier.  Of these only one cost
    $40…for which  one would you pay $40.?  Do not hurt my feelings by saying “None”.
  • EPISODE 890 HONEY COMB … THEFT FROM LITTLE BEES … SUGAR SYRUP PAYMENT

    EPISODE 890      HONEY COMB … THEFT FROM LITTLE BEES … SUGAR SYRUP PAYMENT


    alan skeoch
    Oct. 23, 2023

    So much news today/!  Grim news from the middle east where the horrific events 
    of the Hamas / Israeli war are dominating all media.   This episode is just a small
    sweet morsel of relief.  Andrew gave me a big slice of honeycomb from one of his 
    bee hives as a Birthday gift.  Today we ate it by the spoonfull.


    Just a few questions for those who like research.

    How much nectar can a honey bee carry from flower to hive?
    What kind of nectar is best?…red clover or golden rod?
    Why did one of Andrew”s hives become empty…no farewell  note left behind,…
    not a drop of honey left as payment for their landlord.  Why?  Where did 
    they go?  Will they survive?  Who made the decision to vacate?

    Andrew put two hives on our farm…near the pond.  Why is one hive filled with
    tame bees and the other filled with angry bees?  Do bees have personalities?

    Finally:  If I eat honeycomb will I begin to buzz?    
    If I eat honey from an angry bee hive, will my personality change?
    Why does a bee hive only have one queen bee.  Why are bees not
    monogamous like human beings?  

    Why are bees essential for the survival of human beings?

    alan

    P.S.  I feel a buzz coming on.

    Did you notice the horse?   


  • EPISODE 889 ROGER WILLIAMS PLAYS AUTUMN LEAVES…coupled with episode 888.. THE GLORY OF AUTUMN LEAVES, Fifth LINE OCT 17, 2023


     EPISODE 889   ROGER WILLIAMS PLAYS AUTUMN LEAVES…coupled with episode 888..      THE GLORY OF AUTUMN LEAVES, Fifth LINE OCT 17, 2023


    Helen found this recording of AUTUMN LEAVES played by Roger Willliams.  See if you can couple my pictures of autumn leaves on the fifth Line with

    the tinkling piano keys.  It is Credited as one of great piano concerts of all time.   Thanks Helen, Tommy , your dad,, would be proud of you
    I can hear the leaves falling ….

    alan

     
    It’s not hard to find Roger’s “Autumn leaves” but just to select which version of the archived you want to hear. I chose this one, so as not to be up all night, although it lacks the purity and undoctored sound of his original. Somewhere in my basement lurks several versions on each of 33 1/3 record, cassette tape and CD. Thanks for the memory and my first awareness of its origin and history , along with the gorgeous autumn drive. Keep on “tripping”
     
    Helen H
     
     

    EPISODE 888    THE GLORY OF AUTUMN LEAVES
     
    alan skeoch
    Oct 18, 2023
     
    EVERY  year we have a chance to celebrate our changing seasons.  Each season
    chances dramatically with he autumn being most dramatic.  So here is my tribute to
    the falling leaves with pictures taken on a slow drive down a country road between 
     Highway 401 and Highway 24.   No traffic today.  Perfect for casual photography.
     
     
    I HAD NOT expected Birthday wishes but was moved by so many nice notes.   Thank you.  Your notes encourage me to try and
    keep this daily blog gong .  There will be a few skipped days for reasons like this trip down the fifth Line.
     
    For most of you living in Southern Ontario all you have to do is look out he window or go for a casual walk.   For others, like Australian
    David Skeoch, here  is a reminder why many Ontarions do not go to Florida for the winter. for those who do it might be a  good
    idea to save  this email. .. and enjoy both worlds while sipping a pina colada (sp).
     
    When I was a teen ager there was a pianist whose tinkling  AUTUMN LEAVES 
    reman in my memory bank tooth’s days    Must seem if I can find him.  See if
    you can find the piece and play it as you watch this cavalcade.  Hint – first name was Roger I think.
     
    alan
     
    I leave the sumac leaves as a closing
     
     


  • EPISODE 888 THE GLORY OF AUTUMN LEAVES, Fifth LINE OCT 17, 2023

    EPISODE 888    THE GLORY OF AUTUMN LEAVES


    alan skeoch
    Oct 18, 2023

    EVERY  year we have a chance to celebrate our changing seasons.  Each season
    chances dramatically with he autumn being most dramatic.  So here is my tribute to
    the falling leaves with pictures taken on a slow drive down a country road between 
     Highway 401 and Highway 24.   No traffic today.  Perfect for casual photography.


    I HAD NOT expected Birthday wishes but was moved by so many nice notes.   Thank you.  Your notes encourage me to try and
    keep this daily blog gong .  There will be a few skipped days for reasons like this trip down the fifth Line.

    For most of you living in Southern Ontario all you have to do is look out he window or go for a casual walk.   For others, like Australian
    David Skeoch, here  is a reminder why many Ontarions do not go to Florida for the winter. for those who do it might be a  good
    idea to save  this email. .. and enjoy both worlds while sipping a pina colada (sp).

    When I was a teen ager there was a pianist whose tinkling  AUTUMN LEAVES 
    reman in my memory bank tooth’s days    Must seem if I can find him.  See if
    you can find the piece and play it as you watch this cavalcade.  Hint – first name was Roger I think.

    alan

    I leave the sumac leaves as a closing


  • EPISODE 887 MY 85TH BIRTHDAY TODAY…A LUCKY MAN

    EPISODE 887    MY 85TH BIRTHDAY TODAY…A LUCKY MAN

    alan skeoch’
    oct. 16, 2023

    STORy for today is nearly ready but has been suspended   This is my 85th birthday

    and I have been well treated including a large bottle of Glen Fiddich Scotch
    which I have sampled….cookies,, preserves , honey comb. made syrup,
    white wine, apple jelly, cheese….more than I deserve

    alan