Warrenton in Review, Part 1....

Dumb blonde confession right up front:
About 60 miles down the road, I realize that yes,
I've brought my fancy schmancy digital camera, but that no,
I've left the rechargeable batteries at home. Just great.
So we picked up a couple of disposable cameras at H.E.B.
(to you non-Texans, that'd be the greatest grocery store chain on God's green earth),
and I vowed to just make do.

Here's the skinny if you're new to all this talk of Warrenton... here and here.

My booth space opens up in just 6 days, and this was only a one day trip.
The mission at hand was to cover as much acreage as possible
and score some really good deals to stock my booth.

Mission accomplished on both counts!

My wonderful workhorse of a huband gallantly pushed my
Wonder Wheeler all day long, made numerous trips to the car
to unload treasures, all the while remaining good natured and tireless.
Methinks he's a keeper. Oh, and it's his birthday today! Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!

There's so much to share, so let's just get to it.

Oh, and if I post a pic and don't credit you or your shop,
please, please forgive me! I can match most of the pics with the right dealer,
but hey, I'm the idjit that forgot the batteries, remember?

First up, here's a pic of me and the oh-so-fab Theresa of Garden Antqs Vintage.

She's set up right outside Zapp Hall, and for my money, 

she has some of the very best merchandise I saw all day. 

She is an absolute master with display and setting up vignettes. 

I'm only sorry that my accursed $5 camera didn't capture all the shots 

I snapped. I did manage to get a nifty shot of one of her girls, though....

Theresa was there with her husband Cruz, 

and I was instantly met with warm hugs of recognition. Good people.

I was fortunate enough to get to meet several other blogging buddies, 

each one just as nice and genuine as I'd imagined.

Between Royer's Cafe and Zapp Hall, 

Mindy from Primitiques 'n Poetry is set up.

Isn't she just the cutest little thing?

She's another master artiste from my must-go-see destination shop,
Winnie and Tulula's. This is her first trip to the big show,
but you'd never know it from a quick tour of her tent. Wow....

Girl's got mad skills.

I purchased this sweet little silver vase and platter from Miss Mindy...

She and her boyfriend David, who endeared himself to me 

always and forever when he gave me a furniture painting tutorial, are a great team. 

He's a pro-photog, so check her blog for more pics. 

He was snapping away, and it's a safe bet that his shots look better than mine.

Just to the left of Zapp Hall and within shouting distance of Theresa's tent 

is the awesomely awesome Troy from Junk Exchange.

 I think I remember him telling me this was his first trip to Warrenton, 

but I'm sure it won't be his last. His tent was always packed, 

and he and his partner Rod make you feel at home the moment you meet them.  

Look at the pretties I acquired from Mr. Rash...

Look at that darling nightstand! And ya know what else? 

He has some of the best prices I came across.

Ironstone I scored from Troy. My momentary nemesis Theresa 

was scoping out the Ironstone while I was there. 

I put her in a headlock and walked away with the spoils. 

(kidding, of course. Theresa is a doll).

Random Warrenton Awesomeness...

Right about now, I need to head outside and start cleaning some junk.
Booth opens up in T-minus 6 days,
and I bought a ridiculous amount of stuff.

I have way more pictures to share than I have time,
so please pop in all this next week for LOTS more pics
from my all-too-short day at Warrenton, and for the scoop on Debbie, Cat Daddy, and lots more!

One more thing, if you like my apron, please visit my friend Bunnie at
Apron Unlimited. She made mine, and it got raves in Warrenton.
She'll be more than happy to make you one, too.
~ Anne

A thirst quenched....

An eruption of color lit up the late afternoon sky
after a steady rain this afternoon. Driving home from work,
I phoned my husband and said "Get the camera. Now.
There's a rainbow outside like you would not believe!"
One of these days, I'll learn to take my camera with me,
but after seeing these images he captured,
I'm thankful he was the one behind the lens.

Wow.

It's been a brutal Summer here in the Texas Hill Country;
the water supply has been substantially depleted as a result
of the extended drought. It's also gone down as one of the
hottest Summer's on record, with temperatures lingering
well over 100 degrees for weeks on end.
Crops and gardens dying. Wells drying up.

And then as if by divine providence.....

Prayers answered.

We've received a good soaking this past week,
and the parched earth audibly heaves a grateful sigh.

Just beyond a grove of trees 

across from our property.

There are no words, except "thank you, Father...."

Tree of Life....

I am completely mesmerized by this tree.

I pass it each day on the way home from work,
and it's long been my intention to photograph it and share it with my readers.

There's something so tragically grand about it ~
arms lifted Heavenward, spindly, thirsty fingers twisted
and reaching downward for sustenance.
Mind you, this is not the result of our recent drought,
it has been dead or dying for many years now.

By trade, I am a Respiratory Therapist in a hospital setting;
it has been my lifelong vocation to offer
comfort and healing to the sick and dying....is it perhaps for this reason
that I feel empathy, daresay even a kinship with this tenacious survivor?

It brings to mind the venerable words of poet Alfred Joyce Kilmer...

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Amen.

You oughta' be in pictures, kid....

Uh, yeah.....

That's the idea here, but I am severely stymied, hampered,

vexed (oooooh, that's a fab Jane Austen word!) by the lack

of a decent camera these days. Now, one might ask, how can

a newly minted blogger hope to sustain a readership,
cultivate a business, make friends, build a fanbase (as if, LOL!)
without pretty pictures of shabby treasures?

And shabby treasures I do have, some so lovely
that only a picture will do them justice.

Just imagine if no one had been around to snap images such as this....

Or this......

What fanciful stories these photographs share with us!
And what stories I wish to share with all of you,
the way you have shared your lives and loves and treasures with me, 
inspiring me to leap head first into the wonderful world of being a shop owner.

But first, a camera. Tips? Recommendations?

After all, a picture speaks volumes, and I have a lot to say......

photos c/o creative commons