They say time flies when you’re having fun. I guess that we are having a lot of fun then, because time is sure flying. Last weekend was Northfield’s Defeat of Jesse James annual celebration. I always try to take in as much of the activity as possible because it is a great place to meet old friends. People come back here from all over the country and even from around the world to renew old acquaintances and meet new friends. There are so many things to see and do and eat. There is a great antique car show in Riverside Park. There is a carnival, a rodeo, a great parade, and of course, one of the best (and longest running) antique tractor pulls in the state.

I had the pleasure of announcing the tractor pull again this year.

It literally gives me goose bumps to hear those tractors roar again. It is so great to see the Allis Chalmers, Minneapolis Moline, “M”s, “H”s, Olivers, and of course the John Deeres. Not to mention Case, Ford, Cockshutt, and Twin Cities. These pullers really put their hearts into this competition. Those tractors never looked so good in their youth as they do now. Hats off to all these dedicated people who are preserving a piece of the past for us all to enjoy.

We are working on getting several auctions ready right now. On Tuesday I had the pleasure of looking at some of the best paper items I have seen in many years. There were “Better Little Books” from 1946 such as Dick Tracy, Roy Rogers, Blondie, etc which looked as if they had never been read. “New” old coloring books with Little Orphan Annie, Skeezix, etc. Wonderful paper dolls, advertising, Dionne quints, Lindbergh clippings, WWII era papers. These will all be on the September 27 auction in Northfield along with Jesse James gang photo, Northfield posse photo, many old jackknives, toy tractors, numerous advertising tins, all sorts of primitives, glass and pottery. This should be a fun auction.

Closer on the calendar is the Rich Wood antique milk glass auction in Albert Lea on Saturday, September 20. You can see the pieces pictured on our site. Many people don’t realize that other colors of glass are milk glass also, and not just white pieces. There are many nice blue pieces from Portieux and Vallerystal in France, as well as pink, green, and various colors of slag. If you have never seen any pieces besides the typical “hen on nest”, come to Albert Lea. You don’t often get to see this much milk glass here in Minnesota.