Oct 31, 2008

Oct 27, 2008

Road Trip Travels: Mustang Island & Fulton

It's been SO LONG since I've been to the beach, and my babies have never experienced the ocean. I could NOT wait to share this wonderful part of Mother Nature with them. We arrived at the hotel on Mustang Island at 1:30am the day after we left Warrenton so no one got to see the ocean that night. We knew she'd be there the next morning though.
Those of you that live next to the ocean don't get how lucky you are. There is no power in the world like the ocean - it is Mother Nature at her finest. Something you can be around and have absolutely no control over and love every minute of it.
When I woke up the next am and heard the sound of the waves I could not get downstairs fast enough to put my toes in the sand and taste the salt in my mouth. I had to force myself and my babies to actually put some clothes on and not go frolic in the sand in our PJ's. God - I love the ocean!
The next day we drove up to Fulton to see the Fulton House - fabulous!
This is the front yard of the Fulton House - standing since the 19th century - can you imagine? It has survived many hurricanes.
Wonderful balustrades on the stairs in the front hall. Makes me rethink my own staircase issues.
The Library or Men's Study - fabulous furniture.
Beautiful plaster work in the dining room.
Onion Skin toilet paper in the bathroom - bet that wasn't Charmin Soft.
Master Bedroom - a gorgeous bed that makes you want to sink in.

Guest bedroom - LOVE the linen sheets and bed cover - lot's of inspiration here.

Oct 23, 2008

Road Trip Travels: Warrenton

It's so cool how blogs bring people together. I would have never met some of the nicest people ever or known about Antiques Week in Round Top, Texas if it wasn't for Blogland.
Warrenton was the hit of the show in my book. Best deals and best junk.
I finally got to meet the famous Ms. Theresa Cano of Garden Antqs Vintage!!!
She has the most amazing stuff and knows how to merchandise it. Such talent!
I loved the way she set up this bed - made me want to grab a good read and fall in.
LOVE the old trim and the wasp nest.
You have to stop and look at every thing or you'll miss something.
Theresa was so incredibly sweet and engaging. I got too busy chatting and looking that I forgot to take a picture of her. She let the girls pick out some fancy 'ol buttons. What a treat!
We thought that this vendors name was too funny.
Dead People's Stuff. Of course all of it is dead people's stuff.
Couldn't come all this way with out checking out the Junk Gypsy girls.
Just add a tank top, lots of jewelry, a cowboy hat and boots and you'll be set for the Prom.
Can't wait to go back next year!

Oct 21, 2008

Road Trip Travels: Round Top & Brenham

So that table bought from Susan Wheeler of Pink Lemonade was not going to fit in the back of the Jeep so we had to trek up to Brenham to pick up a trailer. After spending an hour and a half chatting with the U-Haul gal about her cat we finally got hitched and drove to the town's center.
Warning to those with short wheel based vehicles - they are great for 4-wheeling on those tight switchback roads up the mountain side but they SUCK for trying to park a trailer!!!!!!!
45 minutes later (so much for trying to shop today) we hit up the best little soda shop ever - Must Be Heaven! The girls are sitting with the shops scarecrows. Not sure the small one even notices them - she's too busy eyeing the ice cream sundae (candle). Brenham was having their Scarecrow Festival so they were all over town, even hangin' out on the corners.
Back to the purpose at hand - shopping! This vendor had a double booth of nothing but handmade birdhouses and signage.
How amazing are these colors?
Long day of getting not much accomplished and the small one is running out of steam. Off to the square at Round Top for some Texas chow.
Town's volunteer Fire Department - had to take this one for the hubby.
Been around since 1904.
Lizzie Lou's wicked ride - right next to the famous ...
This is Bud the owner - he was taking roll call. If you aren't on time you don't eat. Be early is my suggestion - the atmosphere is worth it.
View above my head - couldn't have asked for better company. I had the Pork Loin with peaches and pepper. OMG!!!!!! Melt in your mouth.
Mom and I were trying to figure out the plan of exit if, God forbid, there was a fire. Good thing this place is right behind the Fire Department.
Eye glasses are at every table - we fought over them. Mom and I were enjoying the wine a little too much and the girls were tired so back to the spider shack for us for the night.

Oct 19, 2008

Road Trip Travels: Marburger Farms

Alrighty folks, here we go!!!! This was definitely the Road Trip of a Lifetime. I must be frank though, I did not take a lot of pictures. I was busy corralling a 3 and 4 year old and enjoying myself too much.
This is the road in to Trails West Retreat where we stayed during our time in Round Top. It's about 6 miles outside of the center of town. The girls called this the Sleepy Hallow road .... scary at night, right down to the Spanish Moss hanging from the Live Oaks. Beautiful!
This is our cabin - Rebecca's Cabin. One bedroom with kitchen and futon - great for families. And they don't charge any extra for all the spiders and roaches. Never in my life have I seen daddy long legged spiders the size of a saucer. I AM NOT EXAGGERATING. I made my mom sleep with the lights on and jumped out of bed twice because the little suckers wanted to snuggle. Last night we were there I hit the wine bottle(s) so I could sleep.The playground on the hill was a big hit and distracter for the girls. First morning out - shopping carts ready and loaded.
We got out early with intentions of eating breakfast at the Marburger cafe that opens at 8:00 - what they fail to tell you is that only the vendors can get in at 8:00am. Everyone else gets to wait until 9:00. Well good thing we were early - because we got there a little after 8:00am and we were 4th in line. By the time the gate opened at 9:00 the highway was a parking lot!!!!
WOO HOO - I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT WE ARE HERE!
Gee, Mom, neither can we. When can we eat already?
The girls looking at the menu. Hurry up MOM!!!! All that stuff will be there after we eat. No! Put that candle stick down and don't even think about stopping to look at those bergeres.
Chandeliers and Sea Shells - what more could a girl want?
USS Texas battleship made by hand by a gentleman that served on her.
French Vanilla
Peg and John at French Vanilla are multi talented.
John told me that this piece was the top part of a fireplace mantle. So the shelve that the objects are sitting on would have been the top of the fireplace - about shoulder height. Columns were on either side of the firebox. The cream frame in the front and the gold one in the rear with the round top came home with me!
A sink full of ironstone and a wall full of beautiful brushes. What talent! And what hospitality! They were so wonderful to talk to. Peg and John brought their puppy, Hannah, with them and she was the center of attention with the girls.
This is Beau Reicherts booth - he does this with his mom. How cool is that? This - my friends - is an 18th century autopsy table. And, yes, I was very serious about a potential purchase. Place a nice slab of glass on it and call it a dining table (and a major conversation piece).
Gears on the bottom of the table. Up, down, slide it at an angle. What a FABULOUS piece. Beau previously had a booth at Uncommon Objects in Austin and was one of the top sellers. I can see why. This guy told me about every piece he had and took the time to talk at length with me. A genuine sweetheart - a nice catch ladies - too bad I'm already taken. Too bad I didn't take more pictures.
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Beau has an actual coffin table with a human skeleton in it. He showed me a picture on his iPhone. He couldn't bring it to the show due to some law about human remains?!?!?!?!
This is Susan Wheeler of Pink Lemonade out of Olympia, WA. Her booth was AMAZING!!!! I wanted everything in it!!!!! She was so incredibly nice and engaging. She kept the kids busy with her measuring tape. They had to make measurements of all of the furniture in her booth.
She had everyone taste is covered. Modern. Traditional. Italian. Jewelry. Liturgical.
I almost bought this beauty - just didn't have a place to put it. It is the face of a locker made in to a table with rebar legs. The patina on this piece was so warm and screamed "touch me!".
I wanted this statue SO bad - I may email her and ask if it's still available. Santa Clause is coming to town soon.
This table caught my eye immediately - it's very industrial and the most beautiful matted silver. Can't you just see it loaded with magazines laid on the horizontal? This baby came home with me and is the reason I ended up with a U-Haul trailer. Hey - it gave me reason to find more awesome stuff. Just wait until the next post!

It's only Marburger folks - we still have Round Top and Warrenton.