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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The Big Picture

Sometimes life has a way of
reminding you of what's
really important,
and it's typically not
what you think it is.
I know for certain this week
that it's not the stress I'm
feeling as I prepare for 
both of my barn shows this 
weekend, or the 
inconvenience of losing
my pickup truck to an
unfortunate accident.
They're minor issues
when I look at the big
picture.

My friend's husband passed 
away last week, and so I'm reminded
that life is short, and that 
instead of sweating the small stuff, 
I should be happy for it,
because it means my 
life is moving along as I 
want it; happy, healthy 
and blessed.  

Steve was someone I saw
infrequently, around town, 
at an occasional
happy hour, and at 
my Christmas party every year. 

But he was also a big fan
of my barn shows and it was
not uncommon for me to turn around
at some point and see him
standing there, taking it all in,
and then quietly ask questions as to
where I found things, why I buy
what I do, how impressed he was,
etc., etc.

He was also a reader of 
this blog, and would always
comment on a post or two I had
written, and mention
how much he enjoyed
my musical play list. 

It saddens me to no end,thinking 
about my friend, Lori, now a young
widow left to finish raising 
their beautiful daughters 
without him,
and also, selfishly, knowing
there is one less person out there
reading my words and quietly
cheering me on in my 
pursuit of happiness.

Rest in peace, Steve.





Monday, November 21, 2011

Love Lost


Well, it's a done deal,
my insurance company,
has decided the 
damage my truck 
incurred when an 8 point
buck ran into it last week
while my husband and son
were driving home
from deer hunting
(the irony!)
was too extensive,
and has totaled it.

The news was tough to take,
because I loved that truck,
and now I'm left to search
for a new love.

Sigh...





 

Friday, November 18, 2011

Crazy Girl

(Image courtesy of Madison & Mabel)

I've been crazy busy
(again)
getting ready for two barn
shows, 
but first show's first,
so check out what we've put
together for this weekend's

And then be sure to stop back
on Monday for some sneak peeks
of what's at The Barn 
for our holiday show,
December 2nd & 3rd!

Monday, November 14, 2011

The Irony of It All!


My husband and youngest son
spent almost 12 hours 
in a tree stand Saturday
hunting for deer
to no avail.

On the way home
an eight-point buck
leapt into the path 
of the vehicle my husband
was driving.   
How ironic that they 
didn't shoot a deer
but they did kill one!

The good news is 
they weren't hurt.

The bad news is
my beloved truck 
suffered significant damage.

We find out Wednesday
if it's repairable or 
totaled.  

In the meantime,
I'm wondering how this
truck-loving girl is going
to make do without it this week,
and perusing 
the truck "for-sale" ads 
- just in case! 

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Wishful Thinking


Sometimes I wonder who I am
anymore because I find
myself doing things
or thinking about things
I never thought I would. 

Like driving a truck.
It's supposed to be my
business vehicle but
it's become my ride of choice. 

I'll often leave my
minivan parked in the 
driveway even for jaunts
around town, just because
I like the feel of my big old
truck so much.

I think it's cool.
I'm sure it's not, but then again
I've never been on the cutting
edge of cool, so I don't care.

Another thing that's
surprising me these days
is the amount of time
I dream about moving
to a farm. 
First off, rest assured
I have absolutely no desire
to actually work a farm,
or even own animals 
or crops - I haven't 
strayed that far
from who I am!
 
Maybe it's the
bucolic setting I imagine
that's calling my name.

A place where
girls like me are supposed
to drive trucks around
town - where it's the norm,
not the exception.

So, I spend lots of time
perusing farm listings,
looking for just the right
combination of a charming
farm house and an equally
adorable barn
in which to house my
growing business offering
my style of home decor.

Keep in mind, this is all 
a daydream because no one
in my family is even 
remotely interested in 
moving.

In fact, when I suggested it to
my family one evening, my youngest,
13, thought he'd summed up the 
problem when he suggested
I "paint, design new window treatments,
order a new couch, and call it a day".

So, instead,
I dream.


this one's only about 45 minutes from
where we live!
look at that porch!
the driveway!
the pasture!

sigh...

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Wonderful Wednesday


If you're my friend or have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that Wednesday is my favorite day of the week, right?

In fact, you're probably 
tired of reading about it 
and already know I love
Wednesdays because it's my
auction day,
blah, blah, blah,
and wish I'd tell you 
something you don't
already know!
Like what the hell's happened to my hair!  
Someone asked me that this week.  
Seriously.
So, for the record, listen up people, 
I just don't have the time
or the inclination to straighten 
my hair anymore - it is what it is, crazy!
Get over it.

But, I digress, let's get 
back to the auction talk!
I know, I know, 
but I just can't 
help myself!

I love everything about this day -
the drive over the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge
(it was beautiful this morning!),
the hour long drive there,
and back because it's my
time alone,
the regulars,
(heck, I even had a dream about one last night!)
and the
 built-in dinner plan
(The Amish sell rotisserie chicken that my family eats every Wednesday night!,
and the thrill of the hunt!

Some weeks it's awesome,
some weeks it's horrible
and some weeks it's so-so,
like today, but every Wednesday,
no matter what, beats any other
day of the week, hands-down!  

This is what caught my eye today:

I liked the scale on this medical cabinet, 
because it was on the small side
and I thought it would make a great bar or
would be perfect for toiletries in a bathroom. 


The yellow base and enamel top
was a cheerful combination, but
I saw this early in the day and didn't
end up bidding on it because I didn't
know what was waiting for me in the fields.
(As it turned out, I should have bid on it!)


I passed on the full size 
styofoam Liberty Bell replica.
(I know, what was I thinking, right?)
 

I loved the base on this factory cart
and would have had a new zinc or 
salvaged wood top made for it because
it would make an awesome coffee table.
But, I forgot about it until it was too
late and they had already auctioned it off.
Dang it.
Double dang.

 

Okay, if you know me, you already
know why I loved this piece, but
for those of you not familiar with me
and aware of the fact I should be on a 
12-step program to shake my addiction, let
me just sum it up in two words:  
metal 
drawers
Enough said.
(Oh, and yes, I got it!)
 

Some of these metal chairs
were fabulous, but most of them
were just "off"; wrong scale,
wrong idea, too big, etc., but I
have to admit, I liked the big seats.
(and I can not lie!)


The headless men?
Uh, I'm not sure what to say except
I think they'll make great
Christmas presents for my girlfriends.
 

Another workbench I thought
would make a great bar.
(Noticing a bar theme with me?)
Hmm.
 

Now you totally get the gift idea,
don't you?   It's the gift that keeps
on giving coming and going.
 
 
 - TOY STORY 4 -
Woody and his friends are
mistakenly sold at auction and bought 
by a crazy-haired
auction obsessed junk chic.
Good stuff, right?

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Holiday Kick-Off


If you've been to 
Chartreuse and Co.,
in Buckeystown, Maryland
you know all about 
our monthly tag sales and are
probably planning to shop
the barn this weekend for 
our holiday kick-off event!

If you've never been
to one our shows,
then this is the weekend
you want to make that happen,
because the barn is absolutely
packed with our most incredible
collection of antiques, vintage decor
and seasonal accessories we've
ever had!

Check out our Facebook page
for sneak peeks of what's 
available in this show.

Here's a sampling of 
what you'll find in my shop,
The Kramer Angle,
at Chartreuse.





I hope to see you 
this weekend!