Monday, July 10, 2017

CATCHING UP

Hey sweet friends!

After 20 years filled with busy family life we recently found ourselves with an empty nest and a lot of life choices to make. What was important now that the kids had grown up and moved out? What was next?
I've always had writing, my antiques/vintage business, Garden Cat Vintage, and a schedule jammed full of appointments and responsibilities, but a quieter household opened the door to possibilities we hadn't been able to consider before. In early 2016 we began looking at places in Fayette, Austin, Lee, and Washington counties. This part of Texas has always been one of our favorites.

We looked at fixer-uppers, barndominiums with "potential," and luxurious new homes (with hefty price tags!) Nothing seemed to fit where we were at in our lives or matched our preconceived notions about where we should live next. After six months of looking in a hundred mile radius, my husband suggested we should give it a rest. I agreed, but of course, I couldn't help checking the web to see is something interesting had popped up.


Indeed something interesting did "pop" up and I made an appointment to look at it. My husband was headed out on a business trip at the time. I literally dropped him off at the airport and he reminded me to not sign anything or make an offer until he could look at it. He thought he was joking. By the time he arrived at his destination, I had toured our new house-to-be, fallen madly in love and knew without a doubt it was meant for us.
It is a place in transition, just like we are. It is good place for us.


This was our thirteenth move and eighth house to purchase. We call our new place LoveBee Farm...also known as home.


Until next time,

Peace, love and all the good stuff

Monday, March 7, 2016

RUSTY CHIPPY SHOW


Hey, Y'all!
The bluebonnets are blooming along the blacktops so that must mean SPRING is almost here in south central TEXAS. And that must mean...
ANTIQUING & JUNKIN' SEASON is upon us...yay!
We've been hitting the roads picking and 
finding all kinds of funky and wonderful things for our space at Hermann Antiques Mall in Brenham, TX 
and for RUSTY CHIPPY SHOW coming up this weekend!


It's our third year to do this FABULOUS show at Walker Fairgrounds in Huntsville, TX and we're so honored and excited to be a part of it!
We're planning a "Flower Market" booth full of everything Garden, blooms, herbs, and vintage. 

In addition, there will be fantastic vendors from all over Texas and the U.S. setting up their goods--everything from handmade jewelry to rustic farmhouse to beach cottage to retro-chic to just good old GRADE-A-JUNK!
Until next time,
Peace, love, and
all the good stuff

Monday, January 4, 2016

BLACKTOP SERENDIPITY--OFF TO A GREAT START



The Garden Co. Market and Café is located
at 217 Kessler Ave., Schulenburg, TX.
Hey, Y'all-- Happy 2016!
The new year found me on the search for a little piece of the country, lots of vintage goodies, and always a fabulous restaurant along the way. I found all three in Schulenburg, Texas just off I-10 at the
The Garden Co. Marketplace and Cafe'.  

A beautiful garden surrounds the Café with lots of
lovely plants and needful garden items for sale.
The Café is located in a renovated farmhouse where a chandelier made from vintage garden tools welcomes you from the wonderful old front porch benches and rockers.

Pots of colorful succulents can be
found throughout the garden.
Inside, the house has been taken back to it's original ship lap, hardwood floors, and wavy glass windows. One of my favorite things is the room with a tree branch attached to the ceiling with little lights and pendulum lighting seeming to grow out of it.
The careful attention to little details does not disappoint from homespun linen napkins to fresh flowers abounding on nearly every surface, the ambiance is cozy and welcoming.
The décor is simple-chic-nostalgic-modern-country-elegant with old black and white pictures, worn wood, and vintage tables and chairs, but this place isn't just about fabulous farmhouse decor, the food is FABULOUS too!

The Garden, even in winter, is lovely with cold
weather plants, wind chimes, and metal yard art.
With an emphasis on farm-to-table, the menu offers everything from baked brie to gourmet burgers to wood-fired pizzas. Not necessarily what you might expect in a small Texas town.
Beyond the funky back porch a variety of herbs, flowers, and plants as well as an assortment of garden goods fill the Market side of The Garden Co.
The Silo at The Garden Co. Market
Even the old silo has been renovated into a whimsical space and is used to display colorful exotic scarves and purses as well as hand-made jewelry, soy candles, and many other beautiful items.
Metal and wood shelves filled with interesting
items are artfully arranged in the Market.

More of the wonderful items available for sale in The Garden Co. Market.
And as if all this weren't enough...The Garden Co. Market and Café has announced plans for a second Garden Co. Market and Café to open in the spring of 2016 in ROUND TOP, TX at Rummel Square.
Can't wait to hit the blacktops for that!
Until next time,
Peace, love, and
all the good stuff!



Tuesday, August 18, 2015

SUMMER ROAD-TRIPPIN IN THE PACIFIC NW





L-O-V-E Bridge in beautiful Portland, OR
Hey, Y'all! I recently traveled to the Pacific NW and although I didn't get to stay very long, I did manage to get to some great new vintage shops, a highly touted summer JUNK show, and even got to go to some touristy places too.


Eye-CANDY yumminess at Bungalow Bling, Snohomish, WA
As soon as I recuperated from a long day of air travel, I headed north to the little towns of
M & M Antiques, Monroe, WA
Snohomish and Monroe, WA to visit Bungalow BlingAnnie's On First, Faded Elegance, and M & M Antiques as well as several must-go-to thrift shops. I always manage to find lots of treasures and I love seeing so many junkin' friends.

Junkers Nest, Sumner, WA
 This time around we planned an extended weekend visit to Portland, OR, but stopped in Sumner, WA on our way to visit Junkers Nest. This new shop is full of adorable vintage treasures, one-of-a-kind repurposed furniture, and many other needful things.

Junkers Nest, Sumner, WA
One thing I forgot to take into consideration was traffic on a the I-5 on a Friday afternoon in late July. . .so when we f-i-n-a-l-l-y arrived to the magical

Plucky Maidens Junk Fest Summer 2015
vintage market, Plucky Maidens Junk Fest, the show was in full swing. Our dear friend and Chief Plucky Officer, Pam, is the beauty and brains of this extraordinary show featuring wonderful vendors from WA and OR. Her summer Junk Fest is held at The Oaks Amusement Park along the lovely Willamette River which was the most perfect setting for a summer day of junkin' wonderfulness.
Plucky Maidens Junk Fest Summer 2015
Plucky Maidens Junk Fest Summer 2015
From there we spent a lovely evening at McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse --which has delicious food, local brews, and live music in an enchanting setting.

 
 
Some much needed rain greeted us the next day, but hardly dampened our enthusiasm to see this lovely "City of Roses"(and incredible vintage and antiques shops!!)--PORTLAND!
Portland, OR
Portland, OR
Monticello Antique Marketplace, Portland, OR

Monticello Antique Marketplace Front Window
 
Monticello Antique Marketplace, Portland OR

Monticello Antique Marketplace, Portland, OR
Portland Rose Gardens
Portland Japanese Gardens
Camas Antiques, Camas, WA
Fresh Picked at Camas Antiques, Camas, WA
 The following day we meandered through Oregon's lovely wine country toward the Pacific coast and
Oregon Coast

Pacific City Beach, OR
followed Highway 101 to Long Beach, WA. Luckily, we were able to stay at the Inn at Discovery Coast,
 

a chic seaside inn with an industrial farmhouse vibe and incredible views.
 
 Here's a peek at what came home with us.



 
 

Until next time,
Peace, love, and
all the good stuff!