Second Star To The Right...

I have never been so happy to see the skyline of Dallas as I was Sunday! At least I could see it. When we left from Zapp, it was water as far as the eye could see. The show began with rain...high heat and humidity in the middle...then arklike flooding to end it on a high water mark! This had to be one of the toughest shows we've ever had. To all of you who came out to shop, see us and party...a great big ol' Texas thank you is coming your way.I didn't tell y'all about our adventure when taking the trailer down the Saturday before the show opened and I won't bore you now with the details. Suffice it to say, Cat Daddy ended up changing one tire on the trailer 3 (count 'em, THREE) times! Nuff said!

Thursday he loaded the back of the truck down with primo junk, the backseat with everything else, the poodle seat with me, and we hit the road.

Notice the big orange fan? That's the one prop that goes to every show! Everything in our tent is for sale except for Cat Daddy and that fan. When it's hot and humid, they are both my lifesavers and I don't care how noisy either one is either!

We made excellent time going to Warrenton with only two pit stops along the way. One was for diesel and the other...well, if you've never been here...oh mylanta!

The Czech Stop is in West and everybody traveling on I-35 stops! This place is a service station/sandwich shop/kolache/cookie/cake...well, you get the picture. The very best egg salad and pimento cheese, bar none! I've been known to fall in the floorboard and throw a hissy fit if Cat Daddy doesn't turn that signal on to exit!

I really hate to tell y'all this, but I didn't take a whole lot of photos. Between trying to get unloaded, setting up and visiting, there just didn't seem to be enough time. I'm so sorry, but Zita will tell y'all, I was working very hard trying to get it all out. I'd get to talking to visitors and totally forget to take pictures. Y'all know me...I love the sound of my own voice! I've been doing a little lurking of my own though and it looks like the show is well covered. Besides, y'all know I can't hold a candle to Sweet T's coverage!

I don't want to drone on and on about how hot it was...but good gosh-a-rover...the humidity was brutal. On the plus side...my skin has never looked so good!

What amazed me was the shoppers. The crowd seemed a little slim this time, but those who came out to shop did so with a vengeance! We're talking serious shoppers...power shoppers! I noticed that the market is changing. Just guessing, but I would say that 90% of our buyers are women. This creates a whole different set of dynamics for displaying and merchandising. They either want to dig in a huge pile of stuff or be blown away by over the top displays. Either way...it's a challenge to keep it fresh.

I can't help but smile while I'm there. Seeing old friends is like going to a family reunion with relatives you really like. Meeting new folks is always a treat for me. This time was no exception. I got to mix and mingle with great new people. I'll be showing some photos of the blog party later. Y'all know I managed to find the time to go to that!

One of my biggest thrills this time was meeting Zita of Mlle Magpie. She is everything you have pictured when you read her posts. So much style, grace and poise! Clever, funny, cuter than a new puppy and just a joy! To think she traveled all the way from Canada alone just blows my mind. I don't think I would ever have that much nerve...ever! She said she is coming back in the spring and I just can't wait to see her again.

Pam, the hydrangeas were gorgeous and several(and I do mean several) people asked me for my source! You can't imagine how happy it made me to say a dear friend sent them to me. Thank you so much!

A special thank you to Fancy as well. She schlepped bittersweet to me from Missouri on Sunday. Between the hydrangeas, bittersweet, pumpkins and tree limbs I snagged from Mindy, the booth spruced up rather pretty.

I will be posting more later, but for now I am still pretty wrung out and the words are not flowing...but I'm smiling...so that's good, right?

And just wait until you hear about Cat Daddy's coozies!