I was driving around my county, Washington County this afternoon with my friend Cathy Stewart and  we passed Blacksmith Antiques, in Coila, a beautiful and spooky place crammed with a million old things. Brian La Brake presided from his post in a corner over this sea of bottles, posters, jewelry, tables, stones, dolls, lamps,  and all kinds of glass.

Brian’s father was a geologist who taught him to collect stones and other small objects, and he sure took that to heart. it’s an enchanting place, I bought Maria a beautiful stone,  an old heart necklace and a small antique doll. I don’t know why I bought the antique doll, except it was old and cheap.

Coming around the corner i saw Brian sitting in a corner of his barn, his head barely visible from the clutter. He said sure, I was welcome to take his photo. National Geographic once came to take it also, he said. I enjoyed this portrait.