Summer was on a roll when I first met Lynn.
Lynn wrote that she was an antique dealer coming to France to buy for her shop, she asked me if we could meet for a coffee in Aix.
We hadn't even sat down at the cafe and I knew we were going to be fast friends. We spent the entire afternoon talking about those things that two women who love home, family, and antiquing could talk about, then we went shopping to a few of my favorite brocante hang outs.
Lynn bought and bought and bought… my favorite brocante hang out proved to be her lucky star, a bingo of lovely things for her shop in Georgia. As closing time approached the shop owner kept his shop opened as Lynn was far away from checking out. I stood in amazement as I watched one beauty after another being tagged for Georgia. I was envious of a shop I had never seen, from the looks of the antiques she bought I knew she had good taste, and a fortunate clientele. I wanted to hop in one of the boxes just to be able to go see.
After dinner we said our goodbyes, Lynn promised to send me a photo of her shop when she got home…. Never did I expect that she would invite me to Georgia, then on to Texas to attend the fair at Marburger.
Shamefully, I had never heard of Marburger, or Warrenton, or Roundtop. I must be living under a rock, or somewhere far far away…. but then
again it explains why so many Antique dealers from Texas come to France scooping up French
antiques and roping them homeward bound.
Lynn filled me in with the details: Twice a year over miles on a back road in Texas a slew of small towns become a haven for antique dealers, interior designers, architects, antique buffs and a million other people searching for home decor treasures. It is consider the largest antique show in the U.S.A.
Towns with double digit populations explode to 30,000 overnight for a two week period every April and September. The first fairs open up in the fields in Warrenton and the last fair opens at the Grand-Daddy of them all at Roundtop. Lynn is setting up in the creme de la creme in Marburger.
Lynn has invited me to help her drive her truck loaded with antiques from Georgia to Texas (Which is really a joke since I fall asleep at the wheel, I guess I'll serenade her with my snoring.) then help her set up her stand, and be part of the things I love best…ANTIQUES!
Soooooooooooo, I am leaving this Tuesday for North Carolina first to visit my dear dear friends Ellen and Frank. Then I'll go to Savannah for a few days to help Lynn prepare for Texas, then we will drive to Texas, stay in Texas for about ten days (imagine the TEX MEX I am going to pig out on!!!!), during that time I will go to Austin to see Mari, a blogging friend who has asked me to speak at her shop about none less than Antiquing in France, and then (does it ever end…) fly to Willows for my Mother's birthday. How do I pack for all that?
I will be blogging at the home of my friends,
on the road with Lynn,
then Marburger fair,
Austin,
My childhood home… September 15th until October 14th.
French Husband and children are happy for me… I am taking suitcases of old stuff…(clothes are so overrated)… I'll be the girl with a skunk line and one black dress.
I am goofy with excitement.
SO Brother Mathew I will be blogging about Brocante Hell….and soon home to slug you for saying that!
(Lynn King's stand will be at Marburger Farms, Tent B, section 6. Lynn's stand is called: "The
Side Door". September 27th until the 3rd. We will be in Texas on
the 22nd to set up and check out the scene as well.)
I hope to see you somewhere along the line.
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