This is my story for Friday Fictioneers this week. It’s a weekiy challenge to tell in 100 words a story matching the picture prompt. It’s hosted each week by the gracious Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s picture was supplied by Dawn M. Miller. Thank you Dawn..
In the 1950’s a lot of old farms were being sold, and auctions were held. Dad loved both antiques and auctions so he enjoyed going to see what was available. The lamps and other old furniture placed around outside reminded him of his childhood in south-western Ohio.
I used to also love auctions, especially when Dad bid on a “mystery box”. Those could contain anything from books, to figurines, to dolls, to whatever.
He used to refinish old furniture. It was surprising sometimes what appeared from under the paint. Finished pieces would end up in our home to be admired.
Link: http://www.rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/7-february-2014/
Musings on Life & Experience 
Your story brings back some lovely memories, although the auctions I went to with my dad were horse auctions. But I’ve seen beautifully refinished pieces and have wonderful memories of my grandparents’ farm.
janet
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting. The auctions and the furniture will forever live in my memory.
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Dear PRS,
A sweet memoir. Dad sounds like a delightful person to have instilled such pleasant memories in his daughter. Enjoyable read.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle for reading and commenting on my story. Dad was a sweet person and I have lovely memories.
I just want to add that I finally found out how to successfully transfer the picture prompt to my post.
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I have some inlaws who are obsessed with garage-saling and then refinishing some of the finds. I love the idea of a mystery box. I think I’d bid on it too, just to see what it is. 🙂
-David
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It’s great. You never know what you’ll find. To a child, no matter what it is it’s a treasure.
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We never cease to be fascinated by other people’s junk do we? Nice story.
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. A lot of things at an auction probably were junk, but if you knew antiques, you could sometimes find a treasure.
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a lovely memoir. i’m also fascinated with old things, those that have wonderful stories to tell. i like the idea of a mystery box and finding out what secret treasures lie inside. 🙂
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. You can find some lovely things at auctions. Of course, to a child like I was at the time, most things in a “mystery box” would be treasures.
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I love pieces of furniture with history. Nice story.
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. Auctions are great places to find well-made furniture at less expensive prices, if someone doesn’t outbid you.
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. If a piece of furniture is old enough, the scars on it just mean it has more of a history.
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A nice nostalgic piece of writing.
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting. I couldn’t resist thinking back to those auctions when I saw the lamps sitting out on that porch.
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Auctions, like Friday Fictioneers, can be addictive…but oh so much fun!
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Yes, they can be fun. I had a great aunt who also liked to go to auctions. If a person doesn’t get carried away, they can be great inexpensive entertainment.
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Nice! I thought I was reading a true story (am I?)… really takes the reader back to a special time and place. Nice job!
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. Yes, my dad did go to farm auctions in the 1950’s. He liked to collect antiques to furnish our home, and he refinished old furniture. He also enjoyed those auctions because the furnishings reminded him of his childhood in small towns, and of his grandparent’s farm where he used to visit when he was a young child.
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That history really shined through in your story. Really nice writing.
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Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
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I like how the picture brought out such sweet memories for you to share with us.
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. I’m glad other writers enjoyed my memories. When I saw all those lamps on the tables, the memories of the auctions Dad went to came back to me. He was a collector of antiques as well as other things like coins, arrowheads, etc.
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Lovely to bring out memoirs.. I hope some of thosse precious furniture still remain somewhere… with memories like this they are invaluable…
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it Bjorn. I’m sure those pieces remain somewhere, but I don’t have them. The last piece was a large, heavy teacher’s desk, and that was left in the mountains in India where we lived for a short time. My husband didn’t find someone to move it, so it was left behind. I still have the momories though.
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I love garage sales, auctions, estate sales, flea markets – just about anything with used stuff. I have spent many hours over the years, with my parents or my in-laws at auctions at flea markets. They are so much fun. My house is decorated with mostly old, junky-junk stuff that I love and I can remember where most items were bought. I like your story very much and thanks for sharing it! Nan
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it Nan. I’m sure your house is lovely. After he retired, my husband used to go to the local flea market where we lived and spend time browsing and talking to the sellers there. He had been an engineer and used to bring things home to repair. Going to auctions and sales can be like a treasure hunt.
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I can imagine the excitement of opening a mystery box! I used to do it as a kid with mystery packs of 7″ singles.
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. It was great as most things are treasures to a child.
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Very nice memoir of childhood, sweet and winsome. It took me back to a more innocent time. Ron
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. I’m glad you enjoyed it. My parents were older when I was born and my brother was away in the U.S. Navy. I was fortunate to get a lot of attention as I was the baby and the only available grandchild on my dad’s side.
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I know a lot of people who go to auctions simply to buy the $1 boxes. I’ve bought a few myself. You can always count on one or two good items in there, sometimes a real treasure.
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it, Russell. There are some great things in those boxes sometimes. I enjoyed the contents even more I’m sure because I was a child. All those things seemed like treasures to me at the time.
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Just the idea of a mystery box is worth the money. What nice memories you have with your dad. This was a pleasure to read.
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it, Linda. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I do have nice memories of my dad. He had a good childhood and wanted me to have one. I also have nice memories of my Mom. She was older when I was born, so wasn’t working and gave me a lot of attention. I tried very hard to give my children a good childhood.
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Ah that’s so nice. You are carrying on the legacy of good parenting thanks to your parents who sound like they were wonderful people! 😀
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Thank you, Linda. I’ve tried just as my parents did.
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In my poverty stricken youth I clothed my children from jumble sales – a wash and a stich and they ere well dressed.
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We were always happy to get used clothing from a friend for our children. I always thought of it as economical. I was raised that way. When I was young, my mom was always looking for ways to save money. I think many people were. A friend’s mother gladly accepted my outgrown shoes for her daughter. She was 6 months younger and I wasn’t hard on my shoes. When our kids were in high school, their favorite place to shop was the large thrift store near our city. My daughter’s friend’s dad was a doctor, but that girl loved to shop with my daughter at the thrift store. They delighted in buying a whole bag of clothes for little money.
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sounds like a great dad. lucky girl.
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. Yes, my dad was a great father. I could always depend on him to be there if he was needed.
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Lovely story. But I’d be kinda terrified of what would appear from under the paint from stuff bought by people in my family!
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Thank you Perry for reading my story and commenting on it. I’m left to wonder though where your family buys furniture.
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sweet memories – eh? mystery box is really a good concept !!
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting. Those boxes no doubt drew more of a crowd. You could participate in the auction for very little cash and perhaps get something worthwhile.
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What a lovely story 🙂 Great job!
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I have some great memories
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Love the idea of a “mystery box”-must have so exciting:-)A sweet peek into some lovely memories!
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. As long as a person doesn’t get carried away and spend too much, auctions can be fun. I do have some lovely memories.
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:-)true
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Nice. Makes me want to go hunting and see what I find.
I used to have a friend who bought stuff and give them as gag birthday gifts. I once got a box filled with old science fiction magazines.
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. Auctions can be a lot of fun. Sometimes you can find some treasures, some unexpected. My son collected comic books. There are some types of magazines, if in good condition, appreciate in value. He kept his in special plastic bags.
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Nicely told. Great piece of nostalgiana.
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. I appreciate it. I have some lovely memories.
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How I wish i got my hands on one of them mystery boxes now 😛
Must be pretty fun opening them!
A lovely read this was 😀
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. Yes. Auctions can be a lot of fun, expecially if you bid on something not knowing what’s inside. You get to use your imagination. Anything can be a treasure to a child.
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My ex and I always loved to see what we could find at auctions and yard sales. To actually buy pieces, refinish them and discover their pasts; that would be very cool!
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Thank you for reading my story and commenting on it. My dad loved to bid at auctions on things from the period of his childhood as it had been a pleasant time for him. He could bid on furniture and get a bargain if it needed to be refinished. He knew a good piece when he saw it.
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I always liked guys like that!
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we both thought the same on the photo…auctions! 🙂 your memoir not only about the fun event but a lovely tribute to your dad. what a blessing. thank you for sharing…such a heartwarming story.
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Thank you for reading my story and for your comment. Thank you.
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Thanks for reading my blog. I invite you to follow it. I will follow your blog. Best wishes, beebeesworld
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Thank you for reading my story, Beebee. Thank you for following my blog. I am following yours.
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