I took a drive out to see Audri at the Farm Estate Sale she’s preparing for, just outside of Spokane. It was 100 degrees outside so it was nice to get out into the country for a tiny bit of a reprieve. Audri will be hosting the sale at the farm in a couple of weeks, August 21st – 25th.

The couple that lived at the farm loved collecting items that were meaningful to them. Some items were collected on travels and others were collected over time reflecting an interest in major historical events such as the civil war and includes collections of everyday household items to jewelry, farm and ranch items, hundreds of paintings, and list goes on… Of course, there’s a lifetime’s worth of their personal farmhouse accumulation as well. 

Of all the personal family sales I visit, the farm estate sales are the most special to me, along with the stories of the families who built their life in this place that they called home. And after this dear life of theirs, the family finds the courage to open their doors and let others in to look around and buy this lifetime of accumulation. I imagine for some, it’s a heart-wrenching journey and possibly for others, a way to deal with their loss and find closure. I can’t help but think of this when I’m here.

A collection that stuck with me was the countless cattle brands collected over the years, all carefully catalogued by hand including where each one came from. Page after page, after page, a notebook full. This respect of an item’s history is so dear and true.

And I always love the barns. You’d probably find me here first. Yes, they’re covered in years of farm dust but there’s so much to appreciate here. If only these walls could talk.

To find out more about the upcoming Farm Estate Sale in Spokane, Washington, visit Audri’s Attic Facebook page where she’s frequently sharing updates and images of what’s to come. The sale will be held August 21st – 25th, 2019.