I arrived at Tampa Airport at 5am after a long red eye flight from San Francisco, California. When I arrived I was pleasantly surprised that the weather wasn’t as humid and hot as times I have visited in the past.
It was a good transition from the cool Northern California air to the tropical south, however, this warming atmosphere soon lost its comforting glory to this thick blooded mountain girl. As the sun rose high in the sky, the humidity and heat prevailed as did the hustle and bustle of the town of Brandon on that fine Saturday morning.
When thinking of the state of Florida, visions of white sandy beaches, palm trees, retirement communities, and Spanish moss may come to mind. Vacationers often overlook the rich historical nuggets of the southern state and likewise, the phenomenal flea market and garage sale experiences.
The Journey Began on that Fine Saturday Morning
My sister, 5 year old niece, and I packed in the empty sedan that we knew would soon be filled with treasures from times past. We started route to a neighborhood well-known and advertised for its prime yard sales. Every other house in this community had open garages waiting to sell items that ranged from lightly used children cloths, clunky turn of the 21st century jewelry, and our favorite pieces screaming to tell a story.
Without its story this tapestry could possibly be yet another piece collecting dust in someone’s garage. Asking the owner stories behind historical pieces can seem a bit intrusive to some sellers but the risk is well worth it. Stories give life and depth to a piece that allow a personal connection to the past. Stories make the treasures come alive!
The History is Just as Important as the Treasure Itself
When this peacock tapestry was spotted in the beginning of our hunt that warm Saturday morning, this trio of history picking gals in the red sedan knew we found something special. The older woman who had sold it to us gladly shared its story. With what seemed like it held a key to her own life’s story she handed it off as much more than just an object. After hearing her heartfelt story, this hand-made tapestry will forever be remembered for its dawn circa 1940 when she and her late husband found it while stationed at a military base in Spain at the time.
The young couple was eager to come back home to the US with authentic cultural pieces that symbolized their time in Spain, and indeed they did. They came home with numerous tapestries, intricate painted pieces, and best of all, the memories of their exploration of a foreign country in their most impressional years. A half of a century later, the tapestry along with all the other Spanish treasures were being sold to buyers of that day’s yard sale extravaganza. Im not sure if anyone else that day had asked the stories behind these historically rich pieces, but we did.
Stories make garage finds into treasures. May history always be a practice of your treasure hunt exploration. Its the stories that help give the piece life once more.
I can’t wait to go back to Florida.
May your treasure hunt begin too.
Humble Tree Company 