Things to do in December

December is a jam packed month if you live in Texas and are looking for something fun to do.  You can literally drive to a different part of Texas during the month and find a great event to attend.

I want to start out telling you about my friend Ann Perry's Open House at her shop, The Tin Rabbit, in Melrose Texas.  It's this Thursday, December 1st and I'm so bummed that I'm going to miss it, but if you are anywhere near Nacogdoches Texas (Melrose is about 20 miles from there) this is one place you should try and attend.  She opens up her shop several times a year and the Christmas Event she has here is always so magical.  You can contact Ann for more info.   Take a look at previous pictures of her Open House:

This is inside her gorgeous home, so you just can just imagine how great her shop will be decorated.

Dec 1-4: Canton Tx Flea Market. We are really excited to be selling here. I'm sure you saw from the last post that we will be located in the 6000 Pavillions!  Hope you can come out and see us.

Now, let me just tell you about Judy Hill's Open House, which is this Saturday, Dec. 3 in Kilgore Texas.  Judy is calling her Open House: A Garden Christmas and this is one event you definately want to make plans to attend.  If I even tried to explain just how talented Judy is, my words wouldn't do justice.  Judy literally opens her entire house and just about everything in it is for sale.  You'll see displays that you never even dreamed of.  For more info., contact Judy HERE.  Take a look at her previous open house:

Can you see just how beautiful her home was decorated during a previous show.  You just don't know where to turn next and let me just add, if you see something you like you might want to add your sticker to the item or it will be gone (Judy provides stickers at the front door for you to mark your item).

Once you leave Judy's place, you can head on down the road to McKinney Tx for their annual Holiday Home Tour.  I was fortunate to attend one year with Nancy of Ella Elaine and it was just so much fun.  There's always lots of places to shop in McKinney, so I know you'll have fun being here.

On Dec. 10, our famous junkin' friends, Jolie, Amie and Janie are having a Junk Gypsy Prom at Marburger Farms, Round Top Tx.  I believe there are limited tickets for this event, so if you are interested in attending you might want to contact them ASAP.  If you haven't had the chance to see their new HGTV show that aired this past Sunday, you missed out.  What a fun adventure it's going to be for them.  I'm so glad I DVR'd it and I can tell it's going to be a hit show. 

And finally, I had to share this event.  On Dec. 31, Festival Hill in Round Top Texas is having a New Years Eve Gala.  This has always seemed like such a fun event to attend and while I haven't had the chance to attend one yet, I do try and stop over at Festival Hill every chance I can.  I love walking their beautiful gardens and seeing their gorgeous Historical Buildings.  It's so peaceful and relaxing here.  Check out their website for more info.

I'm joining Kathleen for her White Wednesday posts.  Check out her blog for so much inspiration.

Facebook pages to check out:
Judy Hill
Ann Perry
Junk Gypsy's
Festival Hill

Seeing Red

This past weekend at the City Wide Garage Sale in Austin had me seeing Red.  A red bike that is.  There were several sprinkles of red in my booth this time, from the bike to the vintage Christmas Balls, which were a big hit, to the Madonna that had a touch of red on her.  It was another successful show and I can't thank the customers enough that came out.

There seemed to be a really good crowd out at the show on both days.  I wanted to start out showing you the bike, which found a new home:



It had a good look to it and the customer really loved it too.  Here's another view of it:



I really loved the Christmas wreath and so considered keeping it but when a guy came up and said he had to buy it for his wife, I thought how sweet.  So off it went to a new home too.

Here's more pics of my booth:





The horn in the above picture was a great find and while it didn't find a new home I've decided to use it during my Christmas display in my office.







I sold the rusty table above and all the small tables/carts that I took.  The rusty table was originally a typewriter table and it had a really good look it.

Yes, this cart found a new home too:



Okay, now lets talk about this cabinet:

I knew that when I bought the cabinet, being one solid piece and heavy, that it would take someone special to love it.  Well someone did love it and it is going to look great in their kitchen.  It originally was taken out of a kitchen to be replaced with new cabinets (okay don't get that), but it's now back in a new kitchen and since my husband delivered it he said it was perfect there. 

Keep watching my other blog, Discarded Forlorn, for more show pictures.

We'll be back in Austin in January 2012 and it will also be time for the Red Barn Show in Round Top Texas the week before the City Wide Sale.  In the meantime, come and see us at the Canton Texas Flea Market this week.  It will be our first time to sell there and I'm really excited to be setting up with Ethel in the 6000 Pavilions.  Some of you may know Ethel from visiting her store in Tyler.  Hope to see you soon!

City Wide is This Weekend

I just wanted to remind you all that the City Wide Garage Sale in Austin Tx is this weekend.  We can't wait to be there and set up our booth.  We've been planning and gathering things for the last show of the year there.  We've gathered white and silver things with a touch of industrial and Christmas.

Here's a quick preview of what we are bringing:



Hope you'll make plans to come out and see us. Remember early shopping on Saturday morning at 8:30 am. I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.

It's a Banana Pudding Kind of Sunday

Sorry to have been MIA for a week, but I've been gathering things for the next City Wide Garage Sale in Austin, the weekend after Thanksgiving, and just taking care of life.  Today after church I was hungry for homemade Banana Pudding and had to go and make it.  You know I love to share my family stories with you, growing up "in the country", spending every weekend at my Aunt and Uncle's place, playing outside until it was dark and my aunt would come looking for me.  Well, with the weather turning a little cooler at least this past week it was and now it will be back up to the 80's next week, I guess it had me thinking of family memories.

My aunt and grandmother (on my dad's side) were excellent bakers, I guess that's where my love for baking and cooking comes from.  They had so many recipes that was kept in their cookbook, hand written ones, one's passed down from generations, one's their mother made (yes they were sisters) and if you are new to my blog and haven't read past stories, click here and here.

My mom kept the cookbook, pages are falling out it, and from time to time I will call her for a recipe that I remember so fondly them making, like fruit salad for Christmas.  No I'm not talking about just mixing all kinds of fruit in a bowl and calling it a salad, the kind I mean is taking whipping cream and beating it until you make a pudding like mixture and add it to the fruit with freshly grated coconut and pecans, oh my I can't wait to share this recipe with you soon.  Or my aunt's Tea Cakes she would make in the summer, sort of like a short bread cookie but not so sweet.  Then, there was my grandmother's chocolate pie, that toward the end of her life it became lumpy, never mind that, we still enjoyed it with a home made pie crust no doubt. 

I also want to share a new recipe that I've been tweaking until I think I've got it perfect, Butternut Squash Soup, that is so awesome you'll be glad I shared it with you.

But today I want to share my families Banana Pudding Recipe with you.  I've created a new category below my header for my recipes and I hope you'll check it time again to see what I've added next.

Click HERE for the recipe.   I hope you try it and if you do let me know how it turns out.

Hope you are having a great Sunday.

Good Junkin Day

Today we decided to head out to a different direction than where we would normally go junkin and I say it was a good day.  You know you are serious junkers to be up at 3am, but that's what time we were up. We wanted to hit the road by 4am and we didn't miss it by much time.  Coffee and homemade pizza bread in hand we were all set. 

We found so many great treasures.  Take a look:

Can you see my husband found another bike! A Schwinn no doubt. He's sold each one he's taken to the City Wide Garage Sale and this one will be there too.

I know you can't really tell by this picture, but can you see the awesome cabinet we found. It originated in someone's kitchen and when she decided to add "new cabinets" she took this one out.  My questions is why? Why would you part with such a great piece. Here's a close up:

It has the original glass door knobs on it.  And to give you idea how solid it is, it takes three people to load and unload it.  It's one solid piece and would look good anywhere.

I also found a great silver french horn from the 1800's that's engraved. A metal swing, loads of old screens, an industrial cart, industrial table, clothes rack (I've been on the hunt for one of these for a while), a fold up metal bed, an industrial stool that originally came out of gas station, old burlap sacks, a primitive ladder, old bottles, silver, ironstone, and several other things. I'll post pics hopefully tomorrow of all my treasures from the past two days that we found. You can find all this and so much more at City Wide during Thanksgiving weekend.

Another thing I love to do when we are on the road is stop and take pictures of old houses. I wonder why they are abandoned and no one seems to want them anymore. They always have such character:

If only they could talk.    Hope you are having a great weekend.

November Canton

Yesterday bright and early, Junkin buddy and I hit the road to Canton.  It was a little chilly when we got there but it was the best weather ever for finding treasures.  We found several great things, from some wonderful old ephemera, a victorian bench, ironstone, a metal medical cabinet, and lots more.  I'll post pics of my finds soon.  Do you need to be convinced that you need to go to the Canton Texas Flea Market?  Here's what you can see in you do go this weekend:

All pics above are of Lillie's space of The Junk Palace.









These pics above are of Maggie of The Veranda's booth.  They are both located in the Dry Creek Landing building.

Just a reminder that I will be in Canton for the December 1st show in the 6000 Pavillion.  If anyone knows of a very reasonable place to stay in Canton, please email at garden_antqs@yahoo.com, I'd really appreciate it.  The places I've looked at all cost a small fortune. 

Hope you all have a great weekend, T

Blog Party & Famous People

**Warning ~ There's a lot of pics in this post!**

This past Warrenton Fall Antique Show found me seeing/meeting so many people, from the friends that came out, those that attended the Blog Party, meeting the HGTV crew, and I even got to meet one of the Picker Sisters.  We just had a blast each time someone stopped by.  This will be a random post of those that I saw at the show:

Of course seeing Elizabeth was a nice surprise.  Here she is with Debbie.

This past Blog Party I hosted Michelle Delgado, who is the Annie Sloan chalk paint distributor out of Houston, and she came and did a demonstration on this paint.  She took a plain chair and turned it into a beautiful chair.



There she is in the background working on the chair and here is Billy with Brian.

 Carolyn of Carle Inc. was also there with her beautiful jewelry and HGTV reps sent goody bags to give out.  I think we had a great turnout to the party.  Thanks also to Cheryl of Zapp Hall for providing the wine.  We again had lots of goodies to eat (thanks to everyone that brought something) and it was great visiting with all that came out.  Just take a look at the fun times. 



There's Anne and Tom



HGTV reps with Aimee.  Go to their blog to read more about their new adventure.  Be sure and watch HGTV Thanksgiving weekend to get a preview of the Junk Gypsy show.  I was excited that my booth was filmed but who knows if it will make the cut.


Teresa, Theresa, Anne, and Amy




Rex and Shelley



Amy and her mom Terri



Debbie, Lisa, and Kristi

TOT with Renee



Honey with her sister Donna and her niece Jessica (thanks Honey for telling me her name).



There's Judy with Gina.

Here's more fun pics:


Here's Julie.  She comes all the way from Florida and she's in a shop called Alyssa's.



Dancin Diva's, well it sort of looked they were dancing (Cindy with Deb).  Thanks Cindy for my cute apron.



Ron and Binky



Binky with Robin

You just never know who you are going to see in Warrenton and when I saw Tanya of Picker Sisters I just had to have a picture with her:




That's Tanya, myself, and Cindy that sets up in the big tent.  It was kinda funny because everyone kept pointing her out and I just politely went up to her and asked for a picture.  I really enjoyed watching their new show on Lifetime.

Look at who else I got to see at the show:

Stephanie, Janet, and Kristi with their Red Neck shirts (hey for some reason I didn't get a picture of Robelyn~Where were you Evelyn? Her new name as given to her at the show).

Christie with Theresa



Debbie with me.  Debbie your words of wisdom meant so much to me, thank you!



Lori and her crew



The Man!



So glad to finally meet Dixie and Candy



Teresa with her hubby



There's Cher!



Nancy and John stopped by



Brandy, Kristi, and Mickie (Brandy and Mickie are the mother/daughter team that does the Accumulations Vintage Home and Garden Fair in Driftwood Texas.  They will be having another one coming up at the beginning of next year.  I'll post details as they get closer)



Susanne with her cutie pies!  (Don't forget she's having a huge Show this weekend, check out her blog for details).



Alex and TOT

Can you tell by looking at all our faces just how HOT this show was.  I think it was the worst show we've had in a long time because of the heat.  Nevertheless, we still all had a good time.  So glad to have seen everyone.  I've posted links to everyone's site so if you can click on their names you'll be directed there.  There were also so many others that I didn't post pics of and so glad you all stopped by as well.  Can't wait for the Spring Show to see you all again! 

Wait until I do the post on "The Man's" birthday!!  Yep, it'll be a good one.  Be sure and check out my TEXAS ANTIQUE EVENTS TAB at the top of my blog to see what's happening in November.  There's lots of events going on.  Have a great rest of the week. 

A New Month

Do you feel the excitement with the start of a new month and the changing of the seasons.  Do you wonder what this month will bring.  There's definately a crispness to the morning air here and I just love the start of a new month.  November is packed full of things to do in Texas, from antiquing to attending sales or spending time with family, it's all good. 

We will literally hit the ground running this month.  So much to do, so many places to go, and spend time with family for our Thanksgiving feast is high on my list.  I can't wait to see my boys and family all under one roof.  Making my boys favorite desserts and getting to sit and catch your breath and visit is a welcoming time.

You all probably know that the Canton Texas Flea Market starts in a few days.  There's always a treasure or two to find there.  Once you've shopped it, head on down the road to see Jo at The Quinlan Trade Days.  I've done a post on her before, which you can check out here.  She just got back from a shopping trip and I'm sure you'll find something with her, if it hasn't already sold.

Just this week alone there is so much more you can do in Texas.  Huntsville will have the start of a new monthly Flea Market, Kate's Gilded Lily Trade Days, begins on Friday.  You can find out more info. HERE.

Bloom and Bee Swanky in Waco will have their Christmas Open House starting this Thursday evening.  Check out their blog for details.

The girls @ Rusted Gingham are having their annual Barn Sale in Gonzales and several of my friends are setting up there.  See their blog for more info.

And if you are in the McKinney Texas area, check out Stephanie and other vendors at the opening of Treasure Spotter's Market.  She's already filling up her new space, indoors too, and it's looking great!  Check her blog for details.

You can find Robelyn of Red Neck Chic at the Funky Finds Sale in Ft. Worth on November 12.  Her blog will have info. on this.

On November 19, my friend is tentatively having an open house at her shop.  She is so talented and you won't be disappointed at her creative vignette's she'll have there.  I spoke to her this morning and she's working very hard to make this happen.  I'll have details for you as soon as she gives me the go ahead.  Just in case you are wondering who I am talking about, take a peek here at what she's had before.  Don't tell her I told you though (wink).

Of course at the end of the month, we'll be back in Austin for the City Wide Garage Sale.  We are going on a buying trip soon and should have lots for you to choose from.  Remember early shopping on that Saturday at 8:30.

Don't forget to turn your clocks back this Saturday.  Hope to see you soon!