Monday, July 30, 2012

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN...



Hey, Y'all, four short years ago we said goodbye to our little piece of Texas. We left a Victorian cottage we loved.
We left our friends. We left our family. We left Texas for the second time in our 30 year marriage.  A bittersweet parting...sad, but the opportunity of a lifetime for sweet hubby.


We followed the road north, and further north, and still farther north to Washington state. It was a place so foreign to us at the time. We'd never lived so far north.

Washington state is a gorgeous juxtaposition of rugged highlands, lush coastal lowlands and mountains unlike anything we'd ever experienced before. We eagerly looked forward to finding a house and settling in. We didn't really know about RAIN until we moved to WA. Lots of rain. Sometimes cold rain, sometimes freezing cold rain to Texans like us.




Upon our arrival to WA I entered a personal journey I never imagined before our move. We lost our dear grandmother (GG) just a few months after we moved to WA. Her imprint on my life is evident to anyone who knew her and knows me. Her death caused me to search DEEP for my purpose...or maybe it was just the inevitable direction our lives take in mid-life. Regardless, it was another key turning point for me...for our family.

I must admit to many months I wasted being depressed and sad, feeling like I was missing out on everything in Texas not feeling a part of anything in our new state. I felt like a stranger in a strange land for sure.

We learned to appreciate rainy days. And on those glorious days full of sun, we learned to soak it in. We learned not to take our blessings for granted...to be THANKFUL.

Creativity seems to have rooted itself in each of us while we lived here. Our son wrote a symphony. Our daughter learned to sketch portraits. Sweet hubby envisioned and brought to life several patents for a high tech company. And me? Well, I remembered I love to write and junk, and JUNK and WRITE!




Then a wonderful person invited me to share a booth with her at Clayson Farm Primitives Show! Her warm smile shook away all the loneliness.


I was thrilled to unpack Garden Cat and set up in a new place with my new friend, Pam of Bugaboo Vintage Design. It was the beginning of a tremendous "game-changer" for me.



I met some wonderful new junker friends and signed up for vintage markets in Seattle. From the wonderful whimsy that is the JUNK TRIBE at 2ND SATURDAYZ




to the incredible vintage variety that is JUNK SALVATION by the Funky Junk Sisters. I found what was missing...my life in JUNK! I'd almost forgotten how much I enjoy meeting new people at antique shows and vintage markets.













JUNKIN' PEOPLE!! Folks who understand WHY I'd rather wait in line in the pouring rain for an Estate Sale than shop inside at a department store...



Did I mention INSPIRING people?






Did I mention CREATIVE people?























Did I mention GREAT people?





What has evolved is a wonderfulness that I don't think would have happened if we hadn't made our way to WA a few years ago. 

Life is really crazy like that! It was in here in the Great Pacific NW that I've met some my dearest friends--in the Northwest and in Texas!




I am truly so blessed to have met so many wonderful, creative, eclectic, amazing 
Junkers and regular folks here in the Pacific Northwest. Blessed to have so many new friends. Parting is once again BITTERSWEET.

Thanks to each of you for sharing your smiles, great attitudes and your love of junk!



Now, we find ourselves headed back on those now-all-too-familiar roads back to TEXAS to a new chapter in our lives. Scary and yet quite comforting--kinda like fried pickles!










HOME!







I'll be setting up GARDEN CAT at two fantastic VINTAGE MARKETS this fall--the first is in October at Petticoats on the Prairie Vintage Market 

with the fabulous Rodeo Queens...

 

and the awesome sister-in-law team of Tracy and Suzanne at their Rusted Gingham Barn Show in November.


Needless to say, have JUNK--will travel!

Here's what I've found the last few weekends to haul back to TX!









Until we catch up again...sweet friends be safe, always stop for pie, keep on junkin' and always make time for a friend...

Peace, love, and all the good stuff to each of you, dear friends.

15 comments:

  1. Awesome! Your blog is fabulous!
    People like you will find friends anywhere!

    Cheery wave from Bev

    http://44thstreetfabric.blogspot.com

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    1. Hey,Bev--THANKS for your kind words. And even more, THANKS for stopping by...so nice to meet you! Peace, love, and all the good stuff to ya.

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  2. So glad I got to meet you at Plucky in April. I hope your journey south brings on some new adventures and rekindles the old friendships and familiarities. See you in blogland :>)
    Annette

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    1. Hey, Annette--It was such a wonderful pleasure to meet you and Mary Jo!! I'm pretty sure they'll be many new adventures down south...and I hope our paths cross again one day soon somewhere along the way. Peace, love, and happy junkin' to ya.

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  3. Hey Lisa, welcome back HOME! So where is home now? B/CS? You know you could do Round Top, or maybe you aren't ready, so how about City Wide in Austin, or the Fredericksburg Trade Days or so many other shows too if you are looking for other shows to do. Of course you've picked two really good ones. Hoping to see you down the Junkin Road, oh yeah forgot to mention Canton? See I'm already planning your schedule :)

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    1. Hey, Sweet T--THANKS for the warm welcome!! I LOVE that you're already planning my schedule!! I'm hoping we can meet a lot down the blacktops that criss-cross the Lone Star state. I'll be living down the road from you--close enough to holler, "Let's go junkin, sweet T!" :) Peace, love, and lookin' forward to seein' your smiling face. xxoos

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  4. Are you seriously coming back to live in Mckinney?? That is super cool???

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    1. Hey, girl--Texas, YES!! But not back to McKinney just yet. We're headed for the south central part of TX--probably College Station where our son is a proud AGGIE! :) Hope to catch up with you though when I head up to big MAC for a visit. xxoos

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  5. Lisa, I love LONG blog posts! This was such fun reading. So glad we met along your journey, and even more thrilled you're back home in Texas! whoop! God has a way of bringing people together in unexpected ways and times. You are one of those unexpected joys!!

    Can't wait to share some sweet tea with you and visit more. I'm sure we'll find each other at the fall shows, and we're certainly thrilled to have you at our Barn Sale! It will be here so soon!

    Happy traveling, sweet friend. See you soon!
    ♥Tracy @ Rusted Gingham

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    1. LOL--Well, Tracy--you know me...always one more word or pic! Editing thyself is not my best attitribute! :) I'm so thankful to have met you and Suzanne...who would'va thunk it--WHOOP for sure!! Thanks for your kind words and encouragement. I'm looking forward to lots of visits and junkin' with you and Suzanne. I'm so excited about the Barn Sale--I've got a special stash of stuff just for the occassion!
      See ya soon, sweet friend xxoos

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  6. Welcome home girl. Now...take your boots off and sit a spell. Sunny days ahead!
    Deb
    P.S. Your daughter is the cutest thang ever!

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    1. Hey, girl--My fav QUEEN of BLING and JUNK. THANKS for the warm welcome--I'm so happy One Gal's Trash asked me to pass a hug on to you a few years ago...can't imagine not meeting you anc CD. Peace, love, and happy junkin' and Congrats on the new venue in the fall!! How exciting! Thanks also for the kind words about sweet girl-- :D xxoos

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  7. We're also dis-placed Texans at the moment. Congrats on making it back to the Great State and soak up some Texas-Friendly for me! Keep on junkin'... -diane

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    1. Hey, girl--THANKS for stopping by the old blog! I so understand being a displaced TEXAN. We've left twice and once I get there this time I'm really stayin' put! Just remember TX will always be there to welcome you HOME. Peace, love, and a big ole hug to ya! Happy Junkin'!

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  8. How cool that you're coming back to Texas!! I cant wait to meet you in person and maybe get a signed copy of your book. :) Hopefully i'll catch you one day at a fabulous Junkin show. Come to Canton please.
    BTW, I have the same exact picture of the waterfall pic in Washington. Your's is much clearer though because it was pouring rain( big surprise) when i was there.

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