Texas three step

I am back from my long trip to Texas. It is a bi-annual thing, might even make it tri-annual if I do the Winter show but that one you can catch bad weather if you're not too lucky.

It wasn't a great show, definitely the worst of the three that I have done so far. But still adequate and probably better than the shows many of my peers had. Will tighten the belt and keep moving.

Sad thing was that people loved the merchandise, high rollers came in and sniffed around six or seven of the high ticket items and just couldn't pull the trigger.

I heard the same sad refrain from many, "You know how much I lost in the market today?" I don't care how rich or poor you are, the economy is traumatizing right now, with five and six dollar a gallon gasoline all over the country and a conflict in the middle east that doesn't look like it has any sort of pretty ending any time soon.

I just don't get it. About three days after the war started Trump said that we had taken out 100% of Iran's military capability. He repeats it over and over. My question then is who the hell is lobbing all these missiles at the U.S., Israel and Gulf states if the Iranian Army, Air Force and Navy has been so decimated?

100% is a lot but I never took too much to the new math and things might have changed since I was in school.

Anyway back to the post mortem, might as well give you the blow by blow breakdown. Left on the 15th and drove to Phoenix to drop off a painting with Steve, then hightailed it to Tucson for dinner with friends in their beautiful home.

I have sold them a lot of art over the years and loved both the delicious rib dinner and getting a chance to see all the paintings again.

Beautiful sunset.

I found a motel nearby and took off early the next morning for Texas.

Crossed New Mexico without much of a thought. 

Saw some mildly arousing landscapes.

Third day I got to Hill country, pulled into my first taste of Texas Barbecue, David's Old Fashioned Pit BBQ in Fredericksburg.

I sat down next to the sheriff, ate perfect chicken and moist brisket, potato salad and green beans. Mighty fine.

Took me about three more grueling hours to get through the Austin area to the section of Hill Country I was heading to, Carmine and Giddings.

Found my hotel. The place was owned by some very nice people from Gujarat but the spicy aroma of their kitchen made me want to wretch as it floated into the office.

Made me want to cry it was so piquant and definitely not my favorite flavor set.

Place looked spartan from the outside but was recently remodeled and served my needs perfectly.

I arrived at the Big Red Barn at eight the next morning to start my setup. 

I probably should have arrived a day later, a five day setup is excessive, I can usually finish setup in a day and a half. 

Have it down to a science after all these years.

Had some lighting problems, took a couple trips to the hardware store to resolve and finally found a great solution.

The first time I did the show I had over 80' of wall space. They got rid of the pass through booth model, second time was about 56'. Too big an area to patrol. This time I got a thirty foot booth which gave me about 46'. It was okay. Next time I go back to a twenty footer, see how that works.

Here's how it shook down.

I figured when I set up that the mostly black and white wall on the left would make me the most money and it did. All price point. Sold a lot off that wall. Country western star Zach Bryan bought three pieces off it, didn't want a discount, I gave him one anyway.

Next time I bring more in this range. I did sell some nice things and a few more high ticket items but the crowd is much more decorator based than collector and I need to adjust more for that.

I bought well. 

Bought a nice mission basket from my great pal Ron Munn and an early San Carlos Apache. 

Bought a nice open bellied Pima pictorial from Bill Spencer.

Found a great Carmel painting by Carl Sammons and a lovely early saltillo blanket, which I have since sold to a client.

It was a nice space but I had some chemistry problems with one fellow dealer, who was unhappy with both my volume and content.

I got a daily finger wagging and was presented with a list of words I could no longer utter which included words that started with a c, b and h.

His wife was Church of Christ and he told me that he was saddened by this new breed of dealers californicating his precious show.

Next show I am moving. A little too old to self censor at this point in my life.

Not like I was testing the limits of probity, just mild adult conversation.

Only one guy but enough to make it not so fun.

Round Top is like a rite of passage in the South. 

People come from many surrounding states to promenade down its halls.

Typical costume is cowboy hat, backless sun dress, boots and large conspicuous cross. Women were also typically very beautiful and there was a steady parade of them.

Here are some people shots.

Certain few also had their eccentricities but who am I to judge?

Best thing for me was seeing my little sister Laurie who drove up from Corpus Christi with her husband Steve, who I had never met before. Great to hang with them. Really enjoyed her husband.

I will share a funny story. I like to play with the customers and I can be playfully flirtatious on occasion. A woman about my age walked by with her daughter and her friends. Mom had a nice figure and was wearing elephant bells. Do you remember, 1969ish, tight at knee and very wide flare? She had a snakeskin buckle and I told her how good she looked, reminisced about the jeans.

Later she walked by and I said, in a loud voice, "Jan, would you like some candy, little girl?" offering her some skittles. Her daughter flips out and gets in my face, telling me that her mom is a happily married woman. Next moment, Mom spins her around and out of the corner of her mouth, tells her to shut up as they hurried away. I was on the floor laughing.

I bought maybe the most beautiful piece of silver I have ever seen at the Carmine Dance Hall.

Gorham, from Providence, Rhode Island but lacking customary date marks. 

I figure 1904-1905. Does have finishing marks, will try to track down with the archives. My expert friend Michael thinks that it might be an exhibition piece.

It is in the hand hammered athenic, martele finish. Grapevine handle.

I paid a fortune but it was so stunning it hit me over the head. Will be a privilege to own it, for however long I do.

So what else? A long ass show, with many great meals at Las Patronas and with friends.

Best skillet of mole I have ever tasted, incredible beans with bacon, quail, ribs, parilladas, carnitas, Manuel treats us like family.

I took a trip to Brenham for my favorite quesobirria tacos at El Rorro.

Barbecue from both Truth and Nathans.

And after packout I treated myself to a prime 22 oz. porterhouse at JW's. Expensive but worth it.

So what else? Trip is a blur. Three days back, stopped by Sublette's in Tucson and then Barry and Steve's in Phoenix. Came back home with a sore throat and cold. Tired, back hurts, lots of laundry to do. Going to try to ease back in but have clients coming over Friday and I need to get the shop together.

No more shows until May. Want to spend time with my wife who is hurting right now. Wish her well, please.