Barn House: August 2010

The unexpected happened on July 31st here at Barn House!

(look at these beautiful ladies!!!)

(the line about an hour before we opened)

WOW! Last weekend was a pivotal moment in time for Barn House, to say the least. It was incredible!! It was exhilarating on many different levels!! We had a spectacular turnout of customers and friends of BH, and the most incredible treasures and displays from our featured guests! After every show, The Boys evaluate the good and all of the things we can do better in preparation for our next event.

But, let me step back a bit. After last season, we decided that 2010 was the year for us to focus on core values of why we moved to the country, why we started our little business and also on making time to nurture the friendships we have made over the years of being in The Beautiful Pacific Northwest. Also, we threw a few things out in The Universe about inviting only good, positive and clean energy onto our farm. Our home is the most sacred place on Earth for us and we must honor and protect it. Everything else much kindly and gently be escorted off the premises (y'all know what I mean?).

Angela, Heather and Thea (Thea's Interiors of Portland)

Our Flea Market last week was an AMAZING collaborative effort! It was a week-long celebration of friendship. It was a celebration of why The Boys and our Special Guests spend hours/days/weeks/months preparing and moving our “stuff” back and forth and back again (then forth and back again-again-and yet again). It was a celebration of why very special friends of BH drive/fly from all over the country and even Canada to be a part of The Barn House Experience.

The VERY popular Parking Boys and Girl of BH (with J&J)

There is no air conditioning and there is certainly no asphalt parking. Folks will be slowly guided through a bumpy/hilly pasture by a group of polite and honorable teenagers (pictured above) who will inevitably remind them of what good home training is all about. These kids are really wonderful young human beings!

Liz (Seabold Vintage Market) and Cindy (Tarte)

Folks are likely to get snatched up and hugged (and possibly kissed) by a complete stranger or someone they only know from Blog World. And at certain times, folks might just not even be able to hear themselves think with all of the laughter and shenanigans in the air.

Lynne G, Angela and Heather

AND, you might just be shocked beyond believe to be greeted at the front door by very famous photographers/stylists/writers like Heather Bullard (Senior Editor for Flea Market Style Magazine), Tiffany Kirchner (The Fancy Farm Girl and photographer/writer for Somerset Life and Where Women Create) and Kimberly Taylor (Mimi Charmante and Kimberly Taylor Images).

Me and "My Girl," Kim (aka, Mimi Charmante)

Thanks ladies for saving our tails by working the entrance and being so super sweet to everyone who came in during early buying. Your friendship means the world to us!! We owe you BIG time!

There was singing.

Lara Blair (Modern Prairie Girl and Lara Blair Images) anointing us with her beautiful voice along with "Dusty The Musician" doing his thing...

There was lots of dancing.

Lisa (A Thing for Roses) and Debbie (Worthy Goods)

Me and some of our other girls / favorite photographers - Robin (Bird Tweets), Tiffany (The Fancy Farm Girl), Cheesy-Me and Lara Blair (Modern Prairie Girl) -- Just silliness in the air EVERYwhere!

There was an awesome Sheriff that helped with a BIG traffic/crowd control issue in the morning. There was also a near riot when Katherine’s Folie ran out of her 400+ Red Velvet Cupcakes (who knew grown men loved cupcakes so much -- very strange! lol). Thank goodness for that Sheriff!

There were those moments when folks could no longer hold back tears of how special moments throughout the day(s) touched their hearts.

Portion of Seabold Vintage Market's space...

We should have started filming a new series called, "The Real Boys of Barn House - What really goes on behind the scenes!" For those that know us, y'all already know that The Boys love a good party (to say the least). So of course, there was the Pre-Show Dinner Party in the backyard the night before the show.

(photos courtesy of Seabold Vintage Market - Joey and Cindy - Two Peas in a Pod)

There was an After-Party on Saturday late afternoon and another one on Saturday evening. AND there was an After-AFTER Party celebration with just The Boys and The Queen and King of Tarte on Sunday night. Can you imagine the incredible stories we all have to tell???? There was so much love in the air! You just wouldn't believe it if I tried to explain it in detail (not to mention most of what goes on at BH stays at BH - lol)!

Calamity Jane's incredible space

This week long celebration validated many-many-MANY ideals that we hold true to our hearts. #1 is true Friendship. Our only regret is not being able to spend more time during the show with folks that came from all over to visit us and The BH Family. (there was a minor traffic jam that required a tiny bit of attention---thank y'all...thank y'all!) During the really busy hours, I took on the role as Trolley-Taxi-Driver for folks who had to park up and down our country roads. Joe was running up and down the street like a lunatic trying to secure additional parking from neighbors. The 7 Parking Boys and 1 Parking Girl were all sweet as pie during what we will call The Best Thing That Happened To Venersborg In The Last 100+ Years! Most of our close neighbors really still do love us (we pray)!! :o)

The Brough's Primitives Space

We also didn’t get enough pictures, but we will direct you to our friends who documented our Flea Market waaaaay better than we were able to. Please visit their sites to see their amazing photos and stories from last week. (If I missed anyone, please email us at theboys@barnhousebh.com and I will do my best to add folks to the blog list). Their pictures and stories are much better than ours...we thank them all for their hard work here and/or visit to our little show and the kind words on their experience here on our farm. :o)

Mimi Charmante

The Fancy Farm Girl

Modern Prairie Girl

Seabold Vintage Market and once again Seabold Vintage Market

The Little Red Shop

Auntie Joy

Calamity Jane and Monticello Antiques and Joyce

Yesterday on Tuesday

A Thing for Roses

A View from the Coop

Annie, Fannie and Abigail

Bella

Beth Evans Ramos - Living a Greener Life

Camas Antiques

Little Cottage and once again Little Cottage

Notes from a Cottage Industry and again here

Retreat, Retreat, and Retreat

Teresa Sheeley

Thea's Home

AND, we would never-EVER forget two of our favorites...

The Worthy Goods Girls

If you were here, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and generosity!!! If you were not able to make it BUT were sending lots of positive energy our way, we thank you too!!! Check out our little slide show of some pictures we were able to snap right before the show started.

The Boys of Barn House are in the midst of finding the right formula...and the right balance. It feels REALLY good to know we are moving in the right direction. EVERYthing about this show felt INCREDIBLE and we wouldn't change one thing at all. Thanks to all of y'all, this was THE BEST BH event EVER!!! Thank you, thank you and thank you -- more than ever!!

Much Love,
Joe and Jermonne
The Boys of Barn House

P.S. - Now it's time for us to get back to doing a little of this (which is nothing but just sitting in the pasture)...

And this (ain't much but lovin' our babies)...

And this (ain't a whole lot but loving on a turkey or 9 of 'em that are just gettin' too big for their britches)...

And getting back to these (Ol' Miss Celie and her chicken friends)...

And we certainly must get back to our BIG (dirty) Boy of Barn House, Harpo...who surely needs a good cleanin'...

But, most importantly, it's time for ME to get my a$$ off this here blog get back to this...THE Boy of Barn House...My VERY Best Friend "Joe-Joe"...he sho' is C-R-A-Z-Y, but that's my boy! (he is asleep, so yes I can safely say he crazy -- AND, you can see it in his eyes if you look close!)