Auction seemed to be the theme of the day Thursday as I discovered "Waukesha County's best kept secret" on a rare day off. I had no idea such an interesting place was as close as Eagle on Hwy. 59. The House In The Woods Auction Gallery is surrounded by hills and beauty at the bottom of a wooded drive. As a matter of fact, the gallery is so naturally built into the hill that it could easily be mistaken for someone's home, and founders Carl and Lynne Seitz do happen to live right next to it. 
There are so many entertaining things to see and do at the House In The Woods; sculptures outside, wind chimes 40 feet up a tree, gnomes in the wall, old and newer art and artifacts on display, food, drinks and a game room, . . . it's surprising they don't charge admission. I wasn't there for a live auction, which are held several times a week year-round, but wouldn't mind seeing and hearing one. They've now gone high tech with closed-circuit t.v., real-time auctions on ebay, and a constantly updated website, but still retain the sing-song action of a seasoned auctioneer.
Later in the day, at Country Springs Hotel, I did visit a live auction. The annual HOPE Thanksgiving Dinner and Auction fundraiser for Cooperating Congregations of Waukesha County (CCWC) was Thursday night. I'd been to the last two dinners and wasn't going to go to this one but someone gave me their spot. It was an enjoyable night out with silent and live auctions that raised tens of thousands of dollars for all the various worthwhile programs at CCWC.
