Home Again, Home Again!

How amazing was this last week....!

First of all, can I say how much of a rare gift it was to share this time in Texas with my sons, my husband and my older son's girlfriend...we all had an AMAZING time! We shopped, shopped, shopped and then, shopped some more!

Brothers of Industry

Brothers of Industry

Prize for the Largest Find!...Moooo!

 And in between shopping (and drinking bottles and bottles of water, ) we ate barbeque (and an occasional Shiener Bock to go with that bbq brisket) & blue bell ice cream, we attended a book signing party for Rachel Ashwell at an awesome antiques shop called Leftovers, we ran into SO many good friends (if you want to find the Californians in the middle of a 90 degree hot and humid day in Texas, look for ANYPLACE with a fan or air conditioning!) and we made many new friends...among them, Debbie (and Cat Daddy!) from Talking Trash...  Donna from DH Interiors & Vicki Davis from Texas Rose
And let me just say...we found some Fabulous things! 
And oh, we needed to. We have 5 shows (yep, 5!)coming up in the next 4 months along with our usual flea markets up and down the California coast...my brain was buzzin' all day long, thinking about the looks I wanted for each of those shows...a soft green palette warmed with wood for the CALM show in May...an urban farmhouse look for Remnants of the Past in April...and that is only the beginning!   Then there is the Farm Chicks show in June and the LA Gift mart in July.....What can I say?   I am really, seriously, unbelievably excited....
For now, the truck is loaded up and we are on our way back to California...next stop Alameda for the Alameda Antiques Faire...Find US...in C3 & C4 (we just found out today, Friday!) on Sunday April 3rd... promise it will be worth it!    and a quick link into White Wednesdays 

Treasures on the Truck!

Gone to Texas...

For many of us, (and you know who you are!)...twice yearly our thoughts start to turn toward Texas...not because the blue bonnets are in bloom, though they are stunningly beautiful sweeping over the fields in painterly patterns...and not for the Bar B Que (though, seriously, yumm!) and not even for the big Texas welcome, BUT because, twice a year...April and October (and a good week or so ahead of that...) Round Top and Warrenton Texas...and literally every field and dance hall in between host hundreds of thousands of us as we search for that perfect chest of drawers, that amazing chandelier that you just KNOW will look fabulous in your bathroom (and yes I AM looking for one of those!), and that curious...just what is that? thing that you simply must have!  Dealers come from around the US and  Europe to bring their treasures to share with the rest of us...Its overwhelming...its gorgeous...its long days...it can be hot & humid or rainy/muddy...its people, people, people, and its FUN! (if you like being overwhelmed, and people, and traffic (how can a small country town, population 77 manage hundreds of thousands?) and if you like "the Hunt"....then I imagine, I will see some of you there!!
I will post a few photos of some of the wonderful dealers and their finds next week as I am able...internet permitting!
I am  linking with Faded Charm for white Wednesdays...thanks as always for visiting!
In the meantime, may your week ahead bring you productive days...rest full days...joy with your loved ones...trust and comfort in the midst of it all!
all the best,
kate

sunshine and progress!

It is a beautiful day today!   Sunshine, clear skies, and warm...what a blessing...We have not been in our house for quite a while (long story...not necessarily blogworthy, but suffice to say we are in the midst of a lot of work here and a lot of meals out, sigh...) but today is one of those days that make me hopeful that the work WILL get done, the rooms will soon be filled with homey things again, and the scents of the garden (the jasmine is blooming right now...delicious!) and of home cooked meals will soon be ours again...
If I have been remiss in keeping the blog going, (oh, and I have)...I excused myself to myself by pointing out the many tasks that have overtaken my days...but really, it is so necessary to keep all this in perspective...and I had a little flash last night in my quiet time...(love it when you get that little nudge) as to what is of lasting value, worth and purpose...and the busy ness just is not it!...caring for others, listening to others, helping to make them feel cared for and valued in this life, being able to say "yes, send me" when called...that just means so much more...
SO  to each of you...how are you all doing?  How is life treating you...is it sunshine and progress, or is it busyness and trials...?  Either way, I am here...how can I be a friend?