$4 thrift store painting fetches $191,000

A painting bought for $4 at a New Hampshire thrift store turned out to be a lost work by N.C. Wyeth, selling at auction for $191,000. Titled ‘Ramona,’ it was one of four pieces created by the artist for a 1939 edition of Helen Hunt Jackson’s book.

After experts considered it lost, the painting resurfaced with a New Hampshire woman who bought it for $4 at a Savers thrift store. She discovered its true value after posting a photo on Facebook and contacting curators. The painting sold for $191,000 at Bonhams Skinner auction house.

‘Shrek’s Swamp’ listed for a weekend stay

Airbnb is offering a free weekend stay at ‘Shrek’s Swamp,’ a Scotland home designed after the fictional ogre’s tree stump abode from the Shrek movies.

The stay, hosted by ‘Donkey,’ can be booked for up to three people. Airbnb said the stay is not a contest, but will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis.

The stay is completely free, and the home, modelled after Shrek’s house from the 2001 DreamWorks animated film, features oversized furniture, earwax candles and an outhouse. The listing states children are welcome, but must be at least five years old.

Endangered rhino calf born at sanctuary

The Indonesian government announced the birth of an endangered Sumatran rhinoceros at Way Kambas National Park, in Lampung Province.

Siti Nurbaya, Indonesia’s minister of environment and forestry, said the female calf was born to mother Ratu at the park’s Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary.

“This news is certainly happy news, not only for the Indonesian people, but also the world. I give my highest appreciation to the parties involved in the birth of this Sumatran rhino. Hopefully, we can continue to receive happy news from the births of Sumatran rhinos and other protected animals in the future,” Siti said in a news release.

The birth marks the fourth calf born as part of the Indonesian conservation breeding programme and brings the sanctuary’s total number of rhinos to nine.

Man sets Guinness record with nativity collection

An Iowa man was awarded a Guinness World Record for his collection of 2,324 nativity sets.

Mike Zahs, who started collecting the traditional Christmas decorations in the 1950s, assembled his sets at the Hills Bank in Washington to be officially counted. He said it took six weeks to set up all of the scenes. Zahs said his collection includes a total 2,539 sets, but Guinness World Records only accepts nativity scenes that include a Mary, Joseph, Jesus, three wise men, at least one shepherd, at least one angel, at least one animal, a stable and a star.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 7th, 2023