Life’s a Traveling Circus
Life’s a Traveling Circus
I got to do something on Monday and Tuesday that I’ve wanted to do since about 1982; attend the Round Top Texas Antiques Show and Sale. I used to read about it all the time in Country Living magazine (one of my favorite magazines) but since I lived in Northern California the possibility of going just didn’t exist. Even when we moved to Texas it didn’t occur to me until this spring. I was watching the weather on the local news while we were having heavy rainstorms, and lo and behold! I happened to see Round Top on the weather map. Turns out it’s about 90 miles from here. I called my daughter Libby and asked her if she might want to go to the fall show, so when the time came she took two days of vacation and we headed out.
The drive was really pretty; first time I’ve seen pine trees since leaving California. We passed through Bastrop where there was a horrible forest fire a few years back, and then into ranching country; green rolling hills and trees. I miss big trees; trees here in Austin are dinky.
When you get close to Round Top, every little town preceding it has tents in the fields along the road crammed full of pretty much everything you can imagine. In the market for an RV? Here’s one:
Can’t you just imagine some old fire and brimstone preacher rolling through small towns and villages holding revivals? Do you have loftier aspirations? How about this?
Your own glass conservatory, just right for the backyard. Seriously, I would be tempted if I had an acre or two. It was cool.
I love antiques, collectibles, old things re-purposed. I wonder who used them, who cared for them, how they used them. I love the beauty, the craftsmanship, or the plain utilitarianism. Creativity is such an amazing blessing.
I first saw one of these Wooten desks years ago in the pages of The Magazine Antiques. It was all the nooks and crannies and drawers that got me . . way better than a rolltop desk! Libby wouldn’t let me buy it; I don’t know why. It was only $49,000. (I have expensive taste; it’s no wonder Mike used to turn pale when I said I was thinking about buying something.) I saw a living room rug for $29,000 and another for $6,500; she wouldn’t let me have those, either.
The one thing I actually hoped I would find I would’ve bought in a heartbeat if I could’ve figured out a way to get it home; a vintage drafting table. Perfect for drawing and watercolors, but too big to fit in the back of my car. Plus, I really don’t have a place for it, but that hasn’t stopped my scheming yet. The sale goes on until Sunday; I know there’s somewhere in the house it will go, and a way to get it here.
So, after two days, I came home with two glass Christmas ornaments; a penguin in memory of Mike, and a toy soldier. I was saved from having to stop at the World’s Smallest Church With Active Worship and ask forgiveness for reckless spending.
