October 2016

October finds us getting ready for the Huffines Art Trails Show. Here is the link to get all of the info:

                                             http://www.huffhinesarttrails.com/

Last year, the show was cancel due to a Texas Monsoon. So, it will have been two years since we have seen many of you. I think it is supposed to be cold, so bring your jackets!!

If you need something special regarding a bell/bells, email us quickly so we can get it ready to bring.

Just an update - we have moved our boat from Lake Travis to the coast. More on that story when you stop by and see us at the booth.

AND.... guess who stopped by our property this week? The Monarch butterflys. Apparently they like us and 50 of them have been roosting in the live oaks out in the front yard of The Big House. They have been there since Thursday of last week (13th).  It has been great watching them flutter around out there. My pictures aren't great, but here are a couple.

                                         Sorry - this one was taken at night with my phone.

Ok, that's it for now. See some of you this next weekend!!

First Fall Show Coming Up!

We took a short break and visited friends in Pacific Grove, CA. The weather was beautiful as was the coastline. Saw otters and seals; no whales.








Now we are back and getting ready for our
trip to Midland for Septemberfest. It is always a
good show, nice customers and the museum folks treat the
artists very well.

If you are a reader who is planning to attend this show and you want something specific - a  6 or 7 dot bell or a personalized sail - email or call us by Tues if possible. We can try to accommodate you.

End Of Summer

First, let me say that The Rockport Art Show was great. The weather wasn't bad. Hot but not miserable. The show has a new director and he did a bang up job. All went smoothly, sales were good and we were once again located next to Joey and Paula Blazek from Beaumont. Besides Joey being this year's poster artist, they are just very nice people.
We managed to sample the meals at several great restaurants and checked out one of the marinas for a possible new home for our boat!

Back at home, we have survived the mini drought and then the wonderful rains. Weather gets weirder and weirder. We have had one "norther" and are expecting another? In August? Crazy.

Next up on the bell agenda will be Septemberfest in Midland in mid September. I think the museum grounds are back to being able to be used again after their refurbishment. I'll post again about the show.

Finally, for those of you who have followed our personal life and know about our boat adventures and plans.... I am going to wake up that other blog listed in out "links" - A Relevant Life. I started that blog early in my retirement which coincided with the purchase of Hey Jude, our trawler. Lots of plans have come and gone, but we now have made a big kick start to a  commitment to her and to ourselves.  She is going to leave her home at Lake Travis and be transported down to the Texas coast.
If you want to know more, make your way over to that other blog and I will fill you in.

ROCKPORT - Be There or Be Square!!

What a great way to celebrate the 4th of July!

Come to Rockport and visit this art show. We hope to see all of our regular customers. Dress cool cause it is always hot.

We are very excited that our regular artist neighbors Joey and Paula Blazek will be our neighbors again. However, more importantly to know.... Joey is this year's poster artist of the show!!

We are working hard to be able to leave early and enjoy Thursday night in Rockport.
If you are reading this and thinking you want a 6 dot bell, email or call us and make sure we reserve one for you.

We Told You So!

Just to make sure you were paying attention when we warned you about those darned yellow jackets. This bell hangs on the side porch of The Big House on our property.  I looked up inside this bell this morning and this is what I saw.

So.... be careful out there!!

KING WILLIAM SHOW

Yikes! So I totally missed posting about the Woodlands Waterway Show!! Well, it was great, as usual! The weather was probably the best we have ever had there. Thanks to everyone who came to the booth to buy or order a bell or just to say hi.


Now, we are getting ready for the King William Show this next Saturday. The Fiesta River Parade is tonight and sadly, it has been raining on and off all day. It's raining here in Boerne right now; not sure about downtown San Antonio. Hopefully the weather will be good Friday for set up and Saturday for the art show (and funky parade).


I was working in the shop yesterday and uncovered the one and only sail left from our initial Fiesta experience many years ago when King George Fisher ordered a nice number of small bells to give as his official Fiesta gift that year. I promptly grabbed up that sail and framed it.

Somewhere we have pictures of the shop packed full of these sails laid out waiting for the adhesive that was holding those little round decals onto the sails to dry. Nice memories.


Happy Fiesta!!

The End of a Journey

Well, it's over and we are home. I could say that now that we are "seasoned" travelers in handling lengthy air travel and that the trip was so much easier because of that. However, the truth is that the  second and longest leg of our journey home was easier mainly because the seat next to me on the airplane was EMPTY!! We were therefore able to spread out which enabled us to sleep considerably more than we did on the way over. Now, let me add that Philip has slept 16 out of 24 hours since we got home, so that has helped also!

We had a memorable trip and have already discussed what a second trip might look like. But it is nice to be home. Our cat remembered us and the two Texas grandkids seemed very happy to have us back. 

Tomorrow, we will be back in the bell shop and our thinking will turn to getting out those orders that came in while we were gone. 

As I took a quick look back over my pictures, I thought I would just share a last few highlights.

Colors of a robe on a Buddha in Anghor Wat.

In all the little towns we travelled through, pots full of flowers and plants were in front of all stores, business and most homes.

Beautiful pool full of lily pads in Cambodia.

A street sign in Kanchanaburi.

A sad commentary, but a more positive use of a bomb casing.

Some homes were on the immediate side of the road.

Others were high in the air. 

Buddhas were, of course, everywhere.

Philip found street food where flavors were coded by "Little Dots" just like our bells. 

                                                          

That's all for now. Thanks for following our trip