Arts and Crafts Festival Draws Crowds, Delights All Ages

Rows upon rows of tents brimming with treasures—from the practical to the "it's ridiculous but I must have it"— kept us wandering far longer than we'd planned.

But I should have expected that.

The Lutz Arts and Crafts Festival offered something for everyone this weekend. My favorite find: Redneck Steak Moonshine Beef Jerky. For a woman who is too cheap to order herself a meal most of the time—I usually just eat what the kids don't finish—a $10 bag of beef jerky seemed pretty extravagant. But after a sample, I didn't think twice.

(The entire bag was gone before we got home. So much for making the good times last.)

I also spotted a purse made from recycled cowboy boots. (Dear Santa...)

My daughters scoped out a tent filled with handmade toys from two rows away and talked me into early Christmas gifts. My oldest picked a marshmallow shooter; my youngest, a rubber band gun.

We ran into my sister and nephews, too. My sister, a teacher and fabulous decorator, had bags full of amazing finds — from home decor to personalized  gifts for her sons' teachers. I sheepishly showed her my bag of jerky. She promised to one day teach me how to shop.

But the fun was in more than what we took home. The weather was beautiful, the vendors were friendly and my girls behaved like little angels.

Well, sort of.