Round-top...or bust!!!

Has this ever happened to you??  You are paddling along blithely through the river of life and you hear about this amazing....something-or- other...and then all of a sudden, it's all you hear about or read about every time you turn on the TV or open a magazine???  Well, that's how Round Top, Texas was for me!!!  Just one year ago, I'd never even heard of this strange and mysterious place!!!  But after hearing about it time and again...and being told over and over how I "just had to go"  the plans for an antique adventure were hatched!!

With two dear friends and my brother riding shotgun...ok, not all at once, but you know...we hitched up our 29-foot trailer and headed south!

Giddy-up! With Lyle Lovett's, "That's Right, You're not from Texas, But Texas Wants You Anyway" as our anthem, we road tripped the 11 short (not really) hours to Round Top, Texas in search of treasures.

Of course no roadtrip is complete with out great food stops!!  And Fred's Cafe in Fort Worth did not disappoint!

There is a reason I make it a point to stop at as many roadside eateries featured on "Diners, Drive-in's & Dive's"!  If Guy endorses it, I'm all in!!

  In addition to the mouth-watering tex-mex and the country music, of course,  a trip to Texas isn't complete without extravagant local gas station purchase...the cowgirl hat!

After good food and fabulous treasures, another highlight of any great trip involves scoping out the perfect accomadations...and when you are antique-ing down the small back roads of Texas, this sweet little cottage was perfectly quaint!!

 

Let the shopping begin!!

Score, $45 pair

 

Where oh where could I use this...cool beyond belief!!!

 

Brass buckle and leather belt, Spanish origin, turn of the century. $15!

$90 super large globe for Eryn's patio!

One of our favorite finds? Cowhides! We bought five and have three more on order!

One full trailer! Tucked among the treasures were also a great 12-foot farm table and a uniquely beautiful wooden chest from Tibet. 

Oh Round Top, you didn't disappoint! We'll see you again!

Until next time...we will spread the word!!  Giddy-up!

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Really???

There are days Amanda and I pinch ourselves...really?? ...we ask...really??  This is our job??  We get paid to do this??  Really???  On the days we find ourselves headed out on the open road....

....to fabulous destinations (complete with grain bins and "vintage" gas stations)...

 

(Please ignore my finger..new phone...camera is in a different spot!!)

...to rent trailers, that may or not be filled for the return trip home....
...ummm, did you print the directions?? 'Cause my cute new (very expensive) cell phone doesn't get a lick of service here and we are in the middle of NOWHERE and don't have a clue where to go...ok, let's pull over and get directions from...that cow...oh, I have a bar...oh, it's gone...oh now I've got two bars...google it quick!!...is that a map under the seat...what do you mean Sparks, Kansas isn't on the map...how big is this place anyway???...population; 9...is that for real??...oh, ok here we go...just a few more miles....

...and...here...we...are...don't hyperventilate, Amanda...each tent represents a possible find, a potential treasure,

a probable gem...
...MUST. STAY. FOCUSED....where do we begin???...Let's start at the back and work our way forward...oh did you see that??...let's go over there...oh, we said we were going to start there...Eryn, stay on track...

 

 ...where are we???...is this a barn???...in a forgotten town that has been brought to life by piles of junk, loads of treasure hunters, and rows of great finds...just waiting to be discovered...yep, it's a barn...and I'm feeling woozy from all this fun...time for a power-up visit to the food stands...

...when you travel to such exotic destinations as Sparks, Kansas, Population: 9,  you are not going to find a fabulous salad, gourmet anything...so, we committed fully to the experience...pulled-pork sandwich, hot dog, chips, iced tea and amazing home-made peach cobbler topped with fresh ice-cream!!!...back to work, folks...slave-driver, I know...but someone's gotta do it...

...a long list of clients...when inspiration hits you gotta go with it...

cause you can't come back, ya know...

...and who can pass up sturdy chairs for $7...for real, $7each...can you say "AsterHouse Pickers"...through the piles of trash, past the rows of tourist-y trap-y stuff, we came away with some great finds...my first McCoy pottery piece...a wooden dough bowl...metal signs...on these trips, you just never know what you are going to get...more flea, or more market??...but always worth it...somebody, please, pinch me!!

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