I have had more photobloggerati adventures in the past month than I can keep track of. I was home from my San Francisco date with Relyn, Julie and Diana less than 24 hours when it was time for me to head over to the Barn House for the Summer Flea Market extravaganza. I think my sleep patterns are forever altered to match that of an 18 year old who never gets more than 4 hours of sleep a night and attends parties more regularly than classes or a job.
Aside from the fact i had every car window open to the max, singing at the top of my voice to a blaring rendition of Bob Dylan performing Maggie's Farm it was well worth staying awake another 24 hours to witness and photograph the set-up of the circus tents on Friday evening. This particular tent was dubbed the Taj MaTent. More on that later in the post....
Welcome one and all to a day on the farm.
Here is The Queen of Tarte about to perform the magic i describe in my Somerset Life article; Cinderella on wings....flying hither and thither, grabbing this and wrapping it over that, pushing one thing through the maze of objects until it is suddenly married in perfect union to another...."
See what i mean? Admit it. Now that you have seen this you know you cannot live without one of these for your holiday centerpiece. Honest to god, i swear this is a real fish-head preserved forever using i don't know what kind of chemical process.
That's Natalie and her little girl Hattie who is as cute as a bug.. and she was as dirty as a beetle by the end of the day. See that pretty white dress she is wearing?
All little girls should have this much fun going to work with mommy!
When i saw this full size tractor sitting in front of The Barn House Boys outdoor booth i just stood and gaped a moment. Then I got a grip and realized that this was to be expected. This is what they do here. They one up themselves in style each and every time they have a sale. This is a real live question... who bought that tractor? I know i saw it chugging down the road, lights ablaze while driving home on Padden Parkway later that night.
Meet Joe. There is no one like him in all the world. He rockets around the farm so fast he is usually a blur, just shape and form. This is a rare moment of stillness and it is the only time i have ever captured a clear photograph with him so much on the move every moment of everyday. It was the end of the day of the sale and a well deserved moment of rest.
Here are a few treasures i found and loved.
tennis ball sized opals...
sparkly hearts... XO
blue and blue!
Now i will explain the reason i titled this post The Busy Life of a Photograblogfriend. I can see now that it will never end... the meeting of like minded people with big hearts, fabulous style and endless good humor.
While in San Francisco with my blogirlfriends i reflected on my surprise and delight about everything going so well amongst strangers. And now, after this endless and exhausting weekend of being among more strangers' I finally understand the reasons why thousands of people all over the world give up watching Dance With the Stars and Fox News in order fire up their computers each and every day. We tap, tap tap out the words that fall from our minds and read, ponder and understand what emanates from each others hearts.
The reason is so simple and obvious it's a wonder i don't win a prize for finally naming it out loud. It is friendship. Unadulterated friendship. Considering just my own experience i see that i I have received support beyond measure, laughed without breathing and felt a powerful bond between myself and others. Some i have met and loved, others i may never meet and will love none the less. It shocks me.
Meet Tiffany and Kim. I had never met these two before this weekend at Barn House. I actually thought i might be at my laughed out limit after traveling with Relyn for 12 hours in a small vehicle just the day before. But no. It started all over again. I was all excited and thrilled with their company. They laughed like crazy women at everything. Mostly themselves and their antics. I realize now i am not the only one smitten with my own humor. I began thinking about how much fun it would be to go on photography expeditions with these two. I threw caution to the wind and immediately answered yes when Kim mentioned she would also like to meet up mid distance for a day of taking photos. I said yes and when!
I know now It will never end, this finding of new blogirlfriends i want to know and be with. These are not the only people i met this weekend either. Oh no. There were lots of new faces around the midnight pre-sale campfire and i got to know all the other Barn House family much better.
This is what i saw late in the afternoon as i walked up to the house for dinner. Dexter is a new member of the Barn House menagerie. He weighs in at over 800 pounds, is beefy but gentle as a lamb. He is always looking for friends. The sheep twins don't like him. He doesn't know he's a cow. He actually thinks he is a horse and wants to hang out in a herd. Tiffany had gone off in search of some quiet in order to make a phone call and found herself hanging out next to the fence. Dexter stopped by for a chat.
Notice how she has placed her camera on the ground in order to be able to pay closer attention to Dexter'.
And the bling...who wears this sort of thing while petting a cow? A full on double string of pearls, matching bracelet and diamond rings? It was the sweetest thing in the world to see her befriending that sad little cow. Now am i not right in saying that bloggers are simply the best people to make friends with?
Ok. This is the Taj MaTent. There was to be a contest for best styled camp amongst those who were staying overnight on the farm. Debi won hands down. It was palace of cream white linens with down pillows everywhere. It has a kitchen, lamps and a boudoir at the back for sleeping and changing costumes....
This is a little nest display Cindy made for the greeting cards i created using photographs from her Tarte Barn. See the pretty lavender gown? I sold nearly all of them! I am quite happy to have such good fortune in friendships. It was my new friend leah who pushed and tugged me into doing them in time for the sale. Thanks to you both!
Finally it is time it is time to close up shop and rest and recuperate until the next sale. We ate amazing food, laughed at each other's silly jokes and helped one another put the place back in order.
If you can make it from New York, Texas, France or Portland try to come next weekend for Queen of Tarte monthly sale!!! If you come we can be amazed together at our good fortune with finding great art and friendship in abundance!
Love, robin
The best way to convince a fool that he is wrong is to let him have his own way.
Posted by: Isabel Amateur | April 29, 2011 at 03:12 PM
Don't you envy the freedom of birds, that they can fly without mechanical assistance? And no ticket needed!
Posted by: cheap kamagra | April 26, 2010 at 06:47 AM
I have seen many blogs with The Barn house Show photos
but I must say yours really tell the story the best!!! You have a wonderful eye for detail and I love your tale of friendship and treasures!!!
Posted by: buy propecia | January 29, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Robin, I was oh so certain I had left you a comment about your marvelous photos... better late than never, I suppose, so please let me thank you once again for sharing both time with you and your remarkable talent. I am so blessed to have been able to visit with you and to watch you work your particular kind of magic. (and if the 'Cleopatra' shot doesn't prove I trust you, well,I don't' know what would!)
The photos you took of our 'Taj Ma Tent' make me forget how much work went into it all, and cause me to remember the feeling of sitting and relaxing in the presence of friends both old and new. A treasured memory I hope to repeat again soon... Thank you, Robin...
Posted by: Deb @ Retreat | December 27, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Its not a beautiful thing but a very beautiful thing. That is friendship.
Posted by: Facaderens | October 01, 2009 at 12:16 AM
I always find it interesting that your photographs are part of a narrative rather than the main event when they could just so easily stand alone. Um, I love the rusty old tractor and the tent shot in B & W. Lovely.
Posted by: mooch | August 05, 2009 at 08:55 AM
Oh my gosh, Robin, I want to hang out with you, too! Puhleeze???!!! You obviously know how to live life to its fullest. And the places you take us... a campout in a white taj matent...siiiiigh... And your photos are simply stunning. There's a real intimacy about them. You're a talented woman, Robin.
Btw, I think you should send a portfolio of your photos to Country Home or a similar magazine. Really.
Posted by: susanna | July 31, 2009 at 07:03 PM
Robin--your photographic talents are absolutely LEGENDARY! So sorry I didn't get a chance to chat with you . . . so much going on!
Glad you liked my "tennis-ball opals" (great name!).
Ormolulu Debi
Posted by: Debi Burton | July 28, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Simply beautiful!
Posted by: Rosa | July 26, 2009 at 09:18 AM
Robin, Oh So Scrumptious Photos, which perfectly captured the uniqueness of BarnHouse..loved the pic of our sunflowers, you make everything look so beautiful!! Celia and I were thrilled to meet you, would love to see you at our "Mad Hatter Vintage Flea Market" set for October in Spokane!! Best, Glad & Celia
Posted by: gladys hanning | July 22, 2009 at 10:46 PM
What a remarkable artist you are! I feel so fortunate to have had a minute or two to sit with our tired, (dirty) feet propped up for a nice long visit! What a great time!
JOY!
Posted by: Joy Bayer | July 22, 2009 at 08:33 PM
we bought a boat on ebay, we were going to pick it up, long long road trip, right past your house. i was going to come for coffee. the deal fell through. wahwahwahwah.
Posted by: margie | July 22, 2009 at 02:56 PM
Here's what I know. 1) You make magic with that camera of yours. Oh my! 2) The reason you have such an easy time making new phtoblogfriends is that you are a marvelous person.
I miss you.
Posted by: Relyn | July 22, 2009 at 01:59 PM
Robin, I cannot express to you how happy I am to have meet and had the pleasure to get to know you this weekend. It truly would not have been the same without you and Kim! I didn't even know you were snapping away while I had my little tete a tete with Dexter. I love that you captured extactly the moment and feeling between me and him.
I also know what you are trying to say about blogging friendships. Many have doubted whether or not blogging friendships are genuine and deep, or solely superficial. I am proud to say that they really are deeply connected and genuine relationships. If you can find a husband in a bar, why can't you find best friends on the internet? (geez, I crack myself up!! ;)
Love to you, and count me in on that photography road trip!
I just put up a post about the weekend too, cute pic of you and Kim on there.
xoxo, Tiffany
Posted by: Tiffany ~ Shabby Scraps | July 21, 2009 at 07:55 PM
I have told myself I needed to go to the Barn House and I know why. What fun you had! Thanks for sharing.
I would love to hang out with you sometime just to pick up a few photography tips. You are amazing! Loved the story in Somerset Life.
Posted by: Marilyn | July 21, 2009 at 04:49 PM
Ditto to all the above, your photos capture the mood so perfectly...and I too have had the GREAT pleasure of meeting blog friends and finding immediate and close connections.
long live the blog!
x..x
steph
Posted by: Stephanie | July 21, 2009 at 03:14 PM
Ok,I'm reading backwards, but Oh, how fun is this! That Hattie is a sweetie! And how amazing to spend time with blog buddies. Isn't it the best? I love these photos and how I want to be there for this special day!
Yesterday someone asked me, "What do you get out of your blog?" thinking it might make money and surprised when it didn't. I said "the people, the friends, the joy of it all!" and that's exactly it! So glad your cards were there, but hey, do we get to buy them, too?!
Posted by: jeanie | July 21, 2009 at 12:29 PM
What a wonderful series of images of an even more wonderful place. Looks like it was a ton of fun!!!
Posted by: Marcie | July 21, 2009 at 10:03 AM
ahhhh Robin dearie...your photos are just as whimsical and magical as you are...I would love nothing better than to spend a day with you laughing and sharing...heck dear, I'd even carry your equipment around all day for you...I could be your photograblogcaddie. xoxoxo's
Posted by: JudyG | July 21, 2009 at 09:21 AM
I love to pay a visit to the Barn House, you photograph it so beautifully.
Posted by: Liss | July 21, 2009 at 06:19 AM
Friendship is truly a beautiful, beautiful thing. :)
Cxx
Posted by: Claire | July 21, 2009 at 05:31 AM
I can't begin to tell you what a treasure it was to meet you this past weekend. I think one of my favorite moments of the weekend was sitting with you and Tiffany and talking photography, photoshop, and all the things we could do together with our cameras! I do hope you have named her by the way... :)
Robin, you are such a special person to know and I truly hope that we will keep in touch and get together for a girls photography day sometime very soon! That really would be so inspiring and so full of laughs with the two of you!
Much love to you my friend,
xo
Posted by: Kimberly | July 20, 2009 at 09:33 PM
Robin, it is always so special to have you here at our place and to spend time with you at Cindy's barn. BUT, this time you stayed with us for "The Barn People" after-party! I laughed so much I can still feel the knot/cramp in my stomach. What a wonderful weekend and we are so honored you are sharing these moments with us.
Much Love,
J & J
Posted by: Barn House | July 20, 2009 at 09:23 PM
yes, yes, yes, on the friendships via blogging. very eloquent and true. :)
love the photos! it sounds like you have been VERY busy. :) I am just amazed at that tent! What a setup! Very Arabian nights like. Perfect for summer.
Posted by: elizabeth | July 20, 2009 at 08:48 PM
oh i would just be in heaven at this sale.
it looks so amazing.
how beautiful to be surrounded by such awesome creativity.
that mannequin head looks like it could have been wonder woman.
Posted by: meg duerksen | July 20, 2009 at 08:17 PM