Pages

Our Awesome Travels

Our Awesome Travels
Taken In Quartzsite Arizona Dec 7th 2015

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Mennonite Relief Sale, Day two

Where are we today ?
New Hamburg Ontario


        After a good night at the Mennonite Relief sale friday night, selling reserved seat tickets, wandering about and experiencing the furniture auction, back home and finished posting our blog, it was after 11 pm when we finally headed off to bed, much later than usual.

        Now we want to be up shortly after 5 am and think maybe should set an alarm clock. Well we have not done this in quite a few years, so went to set my clock radio (alarm not work, I guess it retired too). Suzies alarm has not worked for years either. Now looking for a small travel alarm we have not used for probably 10 years too, not sure if it works but set it anyway. Found out we have a start timer on our bedroom TV, can set it to come on at a certain time, lets see if that works. So finally to bed, but I woke up at 5 am anyway, I found out that both the travel alarm and tv alarm both work.

        A bit of early computing a coffee and off to the fairgrounds shortly after 6 am. Nice to get there before the large crowds begin but still a small lineup getting parked in the fields.
early morning quiet
people behind the scenes getting setup


6:30am the arena is pretty quiet
quilts for viewing
        This is a major fundraiser and the hundreds of volunteers are busy getting everything ready to go. If you like like Quilts and enjoy auctions this is the place to be. Other than that there is all types of food available as well from Swiss/Amish, Russian Mennonite, Hispanic Mennonite, Asian Mennonite baked goods, preserves, fruit pies, homemade ice cream, sweet cider apple butter and the list goes on and on.

truck load of donated pies coming in for sale

        One of the big favourites is the fresh strawberry pies. People began lining up before 7am in the arena waiting for them to begin selling at 8 o'clock. Volunteers arrived with their knives and large bowls to begin cleaning strawberries, folding boxes, make the whipped cream and getting things all put together.
volunteers in the stands cleaning berries
loading up the pies
whipped cream and box them up
        The lineup just for the strawberry pies was the full lenght of the hockey arena before 8 am and continued moving steady, but still a long line for well over two hours.
to the right is the lineup for strawberry pies
        By 8:30 am the quilt auction began and the arena seating was filling up pretty quick. At this point the pie line was diverted outside halfway down to make room for seating. They have 207 quilts to sell and will take somewhere around 4 to 5 hours.

        Even my mother dropped out to wander the sale and stopped to chat with us for a bit, so nice to see her out and about, wish we were done working by then so we could walkabout. But she kept on going after a short visit and headed back home.
seating for the quilt auction
        Every 25 quilts (about 50 minutes) a fresh auctioneer steps up and our nephew Greg was on duty for number 25 to 50. We watched until about 10 am and they were selling for as little as $200 with a lot around $500. And even a few over a thousand, the most expensive one we saw was $1600. Now remember this is a fundraiser and are donations, no taxes to pay here for anything.
Greg in action
Our Nephew Greg Auctioning Quilts today, this short video turned out much better than yesterdays, considering my small point and shoot camera.

          One of the highest bidders was the owner of Len's Mill Stores with many outlets in Ontario. In the past years he has purchased a large number of high priced quilts. Last year I believe he paid around $9,000 for the highest priced one here. I wish we could hang around to see him bid on the feature quilt this year.  To view and read about i the feature quilt click here. As of shortly after noon Aunt Delores (Suzie's Mom's sister) said the highest price paid for a quilt was $6,700. not to shabby! Down from last year.

        But alas our work was done here and we wanted to walkabout and grab a bite to eat.
Lineup for the donut project
parking in the fairgrounds was full

even plants for sale
        We took our supplies back to the car and returned for Pork on a bun to start with. That's easier said than done. Long lineups and people stopping to talk. People we have not seen for a long time and people who know Suzie's mom. Can't miss Suzie she looks just like here mom.
Suzie chatting

getting the pork ready
cooking the pork, Canadian Peameal Back Bacon
        Somebody asked yesterday what was a hot Tea Ball. Well here is a picture below, a deep fried ball of cake like batter, coated with icing sugar. So very good and absolutely no calories at all!
Tea ball
        Now after a few bites to eat, pork on a bun, and we split a sausage on a bun and a few fries, we checked the outdoor auction that was going on, walked about and kept running into more people asking how Suzie's mom was (everybody knows Suzie). It took us a very long time to walkabout the fairgrounds.
Outdoor auction
        We finally made it over to the children's play area and Kids Auction, they have fun here as well, everybody gets involved.




Greg and Shelly doing the Kid's Auction
        Then the final area to check out, various other foods being prepared and sold.
Latin American Mennonites
Asian Mennonites making spring rolls
Packaging up Egg Rolls
        Then finally we made it home close to 1 pm. Now I am whipped, after a late night, early morning, walking about the grounds a few times and especially standing and talking to all these people just did me in.
Omer waiting for us to get home
        Omer was there waiting for us and it did not take me long to crawl inside and just lay down to rest up my weary bones. Sure not used to all this. I think a chiropractor adjustment will be in order next week. Supper tonight was a very simple (gourmet ?) grilled cheese sandwich with a few slices of ring bologna and a little ketchup on the side, took care of our hunger needs after a busy weekend.
our gourmet supper tonight
        That's it for another year of the Mennonite Relief Sale. Some of the food vendors were sold out by noon, and this wind down and are wrapped up by around 3 or 4 o'clock. Today. More volunteers arrived and to pack all the tents tables and their wares.

         Oh I forgot to mention that the whole town of New Hamburg (one that were not at the sale all day) had a massive community yard sale every street was packed with cars and sales too. Police guiding traffic and keeping everything safe.


        Thanks for joining us for another success full year at this great worth while fundraiser.
Check out the map below to see where we have been this summer
View Summer 2012 in a larger map

12 comments:

  1. Wow that is one huge undertaking getting that event going!

    ReplyDelete
  2. It sure does look like a very major event. I usually get up early because I just wake up early. However, if I need to be up, I set an alarm. If not, I wouldn't get any sleep worrying about whether I'd sleep right through or not.

    The garage sale also sounds like another fun place to go. Enjoy all the festivities!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am usually up early too and did in fact get up before the alarms went off.

      Delete
  3. After the last couple days of work... you need some downtime!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Paulette would love that Quilt Auction. Me? I'd be bidding on those Strawberry Pies instead.

    One of the great things about retirement is no alarm clocks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Some amazing hand stitched quilts here for sure. The pies, you just need to stand in line for.

      Yes No alarm clocks is nice, its been a long time since we worried about sleeping in and it did not happen for me anyway.

      Delete
  5. Sure a busy weekend, but worth it for a worthwhile event. Sure some good looking foods they sell and such a variety to enjoy. Liked the looks of those Strawberry pies. Have a Great Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lotsa different foods to taste, if you can get them before they are sold out. Kinda relax a bit today.

      Delete
  6. OK, next year I am driving out from BC for one of those pies!

    It turns out you didn't need one, but all (most?) cell phones have a built-in alarm clock feature. That is what we use for the once in a blue moon that we need one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for tip on the cell phones, never thought of that!

      Delete

We love it when you take the time to drop us a line.