I used to have a small group of friends who would invite me along for a shopping day before the holidays. They would busily check things off lists, agonize over the perfect gifts and lug shopping bags out to the car. Meanwhile, I’d be finetuning my personal shopper skills — by shopping for myself, usually in the shoe department — and wondering when they would be ready to break for lunch. Perhaps this is why I am no longer asked to participate.

Here’s a seasonal shopping tradition I like much better: the Holiday Silent Auction going on right now as a fundraiser at Monroe Arts Center. The auction fare includes an eclectic mix of items for bid: Repurposed, handcrafted and vintage finds. Themed dinners and local flavors. Specialty services and one-of-a-kind experiences.

Let’s start with some original art from Monroe High School’s art department — pottery, ceramics, glass mosaic and paintings, including a particularly appealing watercolor of limes by Kaitlyn Murphy. There are several pieces on display from the tech and engineering department — a rustic windmill-inspired metalwork design, and a metal cat tail sculpture that has inspired some fast and furious bidding.

A number of auction items fall under the “eat, drink, yodel” category. If you’re looking for cheese you’ll find several options, like a basket of Italian cheese from Grande Cheese. As a wholesaler, Grande’s cheese isn’t available locally, so this would be a great opportunity to get a taste. Beer? Yes, of course, with offerings like a four-pack of “Agriculture Ale” from Cheese City Beer Company. On the Swiss side of things, I was drawn to the scissor cutting by Linda Schiesser. Scherenschnitte is often black on white, but this Swiss cross tree is red on white. It’s fun and whimsical. Raclette is another Swiss tradition, and the bidding sheet for the “Raclette Dinner for Four” is filling up fast.

The auction at MAC always brings in some famous makers and famous flavors. On the docket: Kurt Klein’s pies (choose your flavors), Katheryn Etter’s divinity (by Mary Etter Flynn), and Henry and Joseph Najat’s honey.

I always admire the pieces crafted by local woodworking artisans. Eric Anderson is back with a large bowl made from maple and walnut. Keith Ginner is offering up some beautiful cutting boards. Steve Esser created an octagon-shaped box, precision-crafted in the traditional chip-carved style.

A couple of fun things in the auction are perfect for those who want an experience. For example, you can bid on four hours of consulting time with Mike Davis. He’s a member of the Wisconsin Master Gardeners Association. He knows all about soil amending and composting and his thumbs are extremely green. 

Leisure Lanes put together a bowling fun pack featuring pins, pop, and pizza. Dan and Ashley Wegmueller pulled out all the stops with an incredible package including two night’s lodging for up to 11 guests at their Brown Swiss farm near Monroe. Hike the trails, feed a baby calf, and learn about life on this fourth-generation dairy farm. This experience would be ideal for a family group, out of town guests, or a girls’ weekend getaway. It includes local treats and homemade baked goods, a cheese fondue dinner (with wine), and even a flight in a World War II-era open cockpit plane flown by Dan, who pulls double duty as farmer and pilot. He takes some amazing photos when he’s up in the air over Green County. 

Monroe Arts Center’s Holiday Silent Auction continues through Saturday, Dec. 14. Final bids are accepted until 1:45 p.m. that day, after which they wrap things up with a fun show called “Ring in the Season.”

— Noreen Rueckert is director for Green County Tourism and Green County Cheese Days, and helps out with Main Street Monroe’s Concerts on the Square. Her favorite cheese is rumored to be Feta. She has the best office in the county — overlooking Monroe’s Square from the tower of the Historic Green County Courthouse. She dabbles in photography and graphic design, adores cats and iced coffee, and secretly loves the Cheese Days Song.