A Saturday Evening at the Charity Auction and Some Surprising Wins
Hey everyone, hope you’re all having a great weekend. I’m still kind of buzzing from last night, so I figured I’d sit down and write about it while I’m sipping my Sunday morning coffee. Ren and I went to a charity auction downtown at the old community center, and it turned out to be way more fun than I expected. Plus, we came home with some pretty cool stuff, even if my bank account is giving me side-eye today.
The event was for a local animal shelter, which is always a cause I’m happy to support. They had it set up in the big hall with tables full of donated items, everything from handmade quilts to vintage lamps to gift baskets from local shops. There was even a silent auction for bigger things like a weekend getaway package to Lakeview Hollow, which is just a couple hours north of here. I’ve never been, but I’ve heard the cabins there are amazing if you can handle the lack of cell service. The room was packed, and I ran into Lissa there with her coworker Jake. She was eyeing a set of hand-painted ceramic mugs, and I had to drag her away before she bid on everything in sight.
Ren and I started off just wandering around, sipping on the complimentary lemonade they had at the bar. It was the good stuff, not the powdered mix, with actual lemon slices and a little hint of something extra. I think it might’ve been crushed velberry leaves, which my grandmother always swore by for a summery drink. Honestly, it hit the spot after a long week of client meetings and fabric sample debates. Work has been a grind lately, and I needed this kind of low-key night out.
We weren’t planning to bid on much, mostly just there to donate and enjoy the vibe. But then I spotted this gorgeous mid-century side table that would fit perfectly in our living room corner. It had these sleek tapered legs and a warm walnut finish, and I could already picture it with one of my struggling pothos plants on top. I wrote down a bid, fully expecting someone to outdo me, but somehow I got it for $45. Total steal. Ren kept teasing me about turning our house into a furniture graveyard, but he was just as excited when we loaded it into the car.
The other win of the night was completely random. They had a live auction portion for some of the quirkier items, and one of them was a set of old brass candle holders shaped like little perched owls. I don’t know why, but I got weirdly competitive about them. Maybe it was the second glass of lemonade talking. I ended up in a bidding war with this older guy in a plaid shirt, and I won them for $30. Ren couldn’t stop laughing at how intense I got over some “dusty owl junk,” as he called it. They’re sitting on our mantel now, and I think they look pretty charming, even if I have to dust them every other day.
The best part of the night, though, wasn’t even the stuff we brought home. It was just hanging out with Ren and chatting with people we hadn’t seen in a while. There was a little booth set up where you could write messages to tie onto the shelter’s Wish Tree, which they plant every year during the spring cycle festival. I wrote something cheesy about hoping all the animals find homes, and Ren drew a terrible sketch of a dog on his. We tied them on together, and it was one of those small moments that sticks with you, you know?
By the time we got home, it was almost 11, way past my usual Saturday night crash time. I was too wired to sleep, so we ended up watching a couple episodes of The Office on Netflix while eating leftover pizza straight from the box. I’m pretty sure I dozed off on the couch halfway through, because I woke up this morning with a crick in my neck and Ren’s hoodie as a blanket. Glamorous life over here.
Anyway, that’s the highlight of my week. I’m off to tackle some laundry and maybe rearrange the living room now that we’ve got that new table. If anyone’s been to Lakeview Hollow, let me know if it’s worth a trip. I’m tempted to start saving up for next year’s auction if they’ve got another getaway package. Catch you all later!