What We're Writing--Debs is Antiquing!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I have been making progress on Kincaid/James #20, now that things have settled down a bit from all the book launch hoopla (which has all been great fun--and just in case you missed this tidbit, A KILLING OF INNOCENTS debuted at #8 on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller List!) For the new book, I have the bones of the plot, many character names and backstories, and maybe, just maybe, a title. But we will talk about all of that the next time, because this week I have been not writing but shopping--I mean researching--as it is once again time for the spring antiques market in Round Top, Texas!

My daughter and I were lucky enough to snag a room actually in Round Top, which was quite a feat. Situated about halfway between Houston and Austin in the rolling hills of central Texas, Round Top is a one-stoplight cluster of old buildings, many of them built by German immigrants in the late 1800s. Here's our little one-room cottage, dating from about 1890.

Most of the antiques markets are set up in big tents in the fields of surrounding ranches. This is Marburger Farm, the show we buy tickets for.

There are eight of these football field-sized, double-aisled tents at Marburger, along with some smaller tents and buildings.

This is one aisle of one tent, and the variety of STUFF for sale is just astounding. China, glassware, silver, jewelry, clothing, art of all sorts, furniture (lots of really hideous mid-century modern again this year!) Even vintage typewriters.

It was so windy our first day that Kayti and I nearly blew away. We had to literally hold on to our hats and more than once they got away from us.

Hats, by the way, are a must, and not just for sun protection. There is an unspoken fashion code at Round Top, which consists of denim, bandanas, hats, cowboy boots, and LOTS of jewelry, especially turquoise. You cannot over-accessorize in Round Top. Add a flowered dress or skirt to the above and you are rocking it!

I would go just for the people/fashion-watching, and to enjoy a few days of views like this.

And this.

It was wildflower season but, alas, we somehow didn't manage to get any photos of the bluebonnets.

I might, however, have figured out how to have shopper's luck. I said that I had no agenda this year other than to enjoy the trip with my daughter, and that I was definitely not in the market for a quilt.

So I brought home this. (Any quilt experts out there want to guess at dates for the fabrics? It came from a collection in Ohio, and is in mint condition.)

And then there was this little darling.

Last year I looked and looked for a Staffordshire dog to commemorate A KILLING OF INNOCENTS, but couldn't find one that I liked and/or could afford. This year, bingo! Now this guy is adorning my mantle!

I'm hoping this allows me to call the trip research...

REDs and readers, have you ever stopped looking for something, only to have it then fall into your lap? 

Girls Just Gotta Have Fun--Marburger Farms

DEBORAH CROMBIE: In spite of the chaos of the last couple of months, I did get in a little road trip R&R, when I was still a little wobbly from the bang on the head. My daughter and my oldest (I mean as in since we were in third grade!) friend and I made our second annual pilgrimage to Round Top, Texas, home of two semi-annual antiques fairs that bring buyers and dealers from all over the country. Last year we went to the official Round Top fair. This year, we went for the Marburger Farms fair, a week earlier, and I think even bigger now than the Round Top fair. Check out the Marburger Instagram feed.

We stayed in Brenham, which is about halfway between Houston and Austin, at a lovely place just off the picturesque town square. The first afternoon we explored Brenham. It's the home of Bluebell Ice Cream

and a lot of cool murals.

The first thing we discovered was--you guessed it! The book shop!

An hour later, here I am with my friend Franny and my loot.

Then we discovered Brenham at night.

Seriously, it was very cool.

In a Larry McMurtry sort of way. And very, very quiet.

It was bluebonnet season, by the way, and the wildflowers were gorgeous. Here's Kayti among the bluebonnets planted beside our hotel.

The next morning, it was off to Marburger Farms! This is the first thing we saw, which doesn't look all that impressive until you realize that there are more than half a dozen of these tents, and that they are huge, and filled with stall after stall after stall of STUFF.

 Here's just one vendor.

 And a stall I discovered with English pub signs--and the vendors turned out to be fans! But I still couldn't afford a sign, even if I'd had a place to put it.

Here Kayti and I are getting photo bombed by some guy in a red shirt.

And, now, for my finds.

In the very first tent, I came across these Royal Doulton bird plates. They looked like they were hand-painted, and I adored them.

Here they are in my dining room so that you can see all four.

Here's the stamp on one plate.

And then look what I found on another!

Does that look like a signature and a date to you? 1755???? That would be amazing!! I definitely have to do some research.

And here's my other treasure

a gorgeous 1920 Arts and Crafts ceramic pot. I can't quite make out the artist's name on the tag, so am going to have to do some research on that, too.

There was lots more shopping, until we were very hot and very tired. We gave up about four, just as the thunderstorms rolled in. Back in Brenham, we had some great Mexican food, and maybe a margarita... or two. And the next morning we got up and drove back to Dallas.

Great memories, and I hope we can do it again next year! 

REDS and readers, do you have any special "getaways" in your life?