I stopped at a yard sale yesterday and
found several old things and bits and pieces
that I like to have on hand for projects.
When I spotted these 3 old trophies, I liked the cows
and the patina they had, so I decided to buy them
to sell in my shop. When I took them to the elderly man
to pay, I asked him if they were his trophies. He responded that they were.
I asked him if he was sure he wanted to sell them, and he said,
“Yes, it’s time we clear some things out and I don’t have anyone to leave them to.”
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It made me sad that he didn’t have any family member to leave the trophies
to that he won as a young boy in the mid-50’s.
to that he won as a young boy in the mid-50’s.
There were only 2 trophies, but when he saw that
I was buying them, he went into his garage and got
a 3rd trophy off his shelf and said I could take that one as well.
When he handed me the 3rd trophy, he said that
his cow won Best in Show two years in a row
and that in addition to the small trophy, winning
Best in Show also meant you got to keep
a huge “traveling” trophy. When you have the
traveling trophy, you must return it the next year
and the new winner gets to hold it for a year.
Well, he won that trophy with his cow
2 years in a row and if he won it a 3rd year,
he would get to keep that huge trophy as his own.
A few months before the fair where he would
have entered his cow for the 3rd year,
a case of rabies swept through their farm,
killing many animals, including his prize-winning cow,
so he wasn’t able to compete and keep the large traveling trophy.
I really had no intention of keeping these trophies
and don’t have a great place to display them right now,
but meeting the man and hearing his story really
endeared me to these trophies that he kept for over 60
years, but has no one to leave them to.
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If they don’t sell, I’ll create a place to display them.
Someone already contacted me, asking if I’d be
willing to sell just one of the trophies, but the answer is “no”.
I think they belong together, so I’ll either sell them together,
or I’ll keep them myself…but it would just seem wrong to separate them after all this time.
Learning the story behind old things means a lot to me.
I feel like I got the prize today…the story behind the trophies
of the prize-winning cow of his childhood and
the pleasure of meeting that elderly man.
I plan to have a photo print made of the 1st photo above,
and take it to him, as a remembrance of his trophies and cow.
Speaking of prizes, don’t forget to enter the Hello Violeta Giveaway
for a Linen & Vintage Lace Mini Wallet & Drawstring Bag. It ends on June 19th.
Both are lovely, so enter now!
Blessings,
Angie
You Can Find Me at These Parties:
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What a wonderful story Angie. Aren’t you glad you were able to talk directly to this man and learn so much about his prized possessions? I agree that they need to stay together. I’m sure he’ll be so thrilled to have the picture.
That is so wonderful of you, to take him a photo of them. It’s a beautiful story but makes me sad too.
How neat to take the time out to listen to the old fella talk about his cows. That says a lot about your character as a person! The trophies have a wonderful patina for sure, and make a great setting together. I also think it is thoughtful of you to photograph them and give it him.
Pat
Angie,
What a lovely story.If they sell I hope they all go to a good home.They really are neat trophy’s.
((((Hugs)))
Anne
hi Angie … love the trophies, especially with the story. They are really a prize. I bet it is hard to part with them.
Blessings.
Audrye Z. @ Timeless Treasures
I love the story of the trophies, Angie…and how nice of you to make a print for the man. Are they going into your etsy shop?
What a lovely and touching about the older man and his trophies, but it makes me so sad that he doesn’t have any family to leave them to.: ( But you are an angel for buying them from him and insisting on selling them as a set… and also for giving him a print of the lovely pic of them. I hope that when you do list the trophies, you will share the man’s story in your item description, so that just the “right” person buys them.
A touching and at the same time sad story. The significance for me is, that our Almighty God has blessed us with precious time here and we should make the most of it and remember Him everyday. Sad because the old man has nobody to leave his treasures to, but I am smiling because a wonderful person like you were sent to cross his path and buy the trophies from him. Great thought to send him happy memories.
Hugs
Sumaya
What a lovely and touching story.. LOVE this.. You are truly a blessing for sharing this and being able to send him some happy memories and have new ones to share yourself.. LOVELY LOVELY post.YUMMY!! Stopping in via Thee Networking Blog Hop! Officially a happy follower here with smiles.. Excited to indulge more and look around a bit. Hope you will stop in and visit my blog as well ~ Very lovely and inspiring space here.. Wishing you a beautiful start to your week.. xo ~ Marilyn( hop co-host) via http://www.theartsygirlconnection.com ..
I love that story! I also love that you are going to take a photo of them to give to him.
What a bittersweet story. My son and granddaughter have shown their cows for 4H and I know all the work that goes into it.
Great story!
New follower from the Blog Hop
-Buffi
My Wonderfully Dysfunctional Blog
love your blog name! i have a weird obsession with clocks! found you via the blog hop and am excited to follow along 🙂
Angie, Thanks for sharing this sweet story about the trophies. I think they are wonderful!
I was at an estate sale several years ago – one of those entire content sales where everything was for sale, from the furniture to the cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink. In the corner of the garage was a large pile of ‘trash’. That’s where I found a box of handwritten journals that had belonged to the woman who’d passed away. Her entire life was in those pages – beginning in 1927 and covering every year until the mid-80’s. Her family was going to throw them away – but I ended up with them instead. It just broke my heart that they meant so little to her family. I eventually sold them as a set – but I did keep and frame a beautiful 20’s era photo of the author that I found in one of the journals. It’s one of my most favorite old photographs and to this day sits displayed on my dresser.
You are so sweet to go back with a pic of his trophies – he’ll be thrilled! I recently went to a sale given by a 95 year old man. He was telling me all about the pieces I liked, how much he paid and even showing off his designs and drawings from when he was an engineer! He was so proud and I had a great time talking to him. So glad you rescued the trophies so they can stay together where they belong!
I recently bought an entire collection of vintage loving cups too.
Are they still available? If so, how much?
Kelly