Ahhh....Treasures...

I found the Old Cuckoo Clock, at Bob's... I love Cuckoos...it came from a Cedar Rapids Estate... They have always fascinated me, since I was a child... visiting a distant relatives home... I would sit patiently, and wait for that little bird to come out...then.... it would happen so fast... I just had to wait again, to get a better look!

Nothing says 'Holiday Home', more than an old Clock... There is just something soothing, comforting, and homey, about a 'key wind' clock ticking away... {I'm listening to one now, right behind be... in the Kitchen...it's the same feeling I get, when I hear a gentle, Spring rain, on a tin roof...}

I can imagine, how the Children, of years past, must have lay awake, in the wee hours of Christmas Morning... wondering if Santa had come.... wondering what time it was... listening for the Old Clock to strike... and hoping, it wasn't too early to go flying down the stairs!

{I still do this... when I wake up, in the night.... I listen for the old clock to strike...wondering what time it is... hoping it's around 5... and not too ungodly early to get up.... and usually am very disappointed, to hear it strike, 1...2... or three... grrr...}

A Cuckoo has always eluded me... I have had several, wonderful, old, old Cuckoos.... Black Forest Cuckoos... from the 1880's... but... bills to pay... I never got to keep one, for home...

I have an old Cuckoo, that needs some work, in John's shop... I've asked him, to bring it up, and I'll see what it needs...This one, pictured, needs a little gluing...and another piece, to the number 12...but... I love the Case... the French Horn... the Rifle... the Carved Deer...I'll clean and spiff, both of them up...They are both, pretty large clocks... they will be a great addition to the house, and shop... I really miss hearing that little bird.... I'm going to keep one of these...and... the other will be at the 'Primitive Open House' in December, for someone else to enjoy... or... for the Little Shop to enjoy...

After grocery shopping, Friday.... I popped in at Bob's shop... 3rd Street Resale... in Cedar Rapids... Found some fun stuff...Bob and I always get along... no matter... we both sit, on the same side of the isle, politically...so... if we ever have issues... we both let them go... because we are allies... a very good thing...Tracie, Bob's beloved, stopped in, as I was shopping.... I always love seeing her... She is such a kind, and gentle spirit.... I found all sorts of treasures... everything from Christmas... to jewelry... I bought a wonderful pair of Crystal Lamps... and a single, fancy, Crystal Chandelabra.... {I just made this word up... It's a very goopy, prismy, double lighted table lamp...{Chandelierish...}{made that word up, too... spell check hates me...} it definitely has 'Muchness'....oh dear...} I don't get there, enough... Pal, and Show Partner, Mark, has a booth there.... I keep telling him... I want to really work on a 'Farm House' look...when we do shows, together...he says he doesn't have much, that fits that category... Hmmm... I saw several things in his booth, that would be perfect.... ahhhh... what to do.... I even bought one of them... The darling Match Holder... Oh My Gosh... Talk about Early Iowa Farm House... I have Never seen a Cooler one...

Had some sweet Southern Iowa Gals, pop in, yesterday... They really liked the concrete, I had in the back of the truck... I unloaded, flipped things around... we played, and played with it... {I got a real work out!} That stuff is so cool... and they had such a great eye... it was fun to play... just wish the toys would be a little lighter...Then... Dale popped in... we had a good chat...

I'm working in the house, today... and... maybe outside...and... maybe in the shop... So much to get done, before Winter arrives...

Hope Everyone has a Happy Halloween! Filled Fun Surprises with and the Best Treats!

Barb C.

Lovely Vintage Ornaments... I have never bought so many, in a group... seems a shame to split them... Maybe I will price the collection... and try to keep them together, a while longer...

Odds and Ends... I love the tin abc plate... very old.... Tracie had neat Cameos and Bob contributed to the jewelry hunt, for my Memory Trees... I love the worn Velvet, on the little pin cushion...I'm going to try and apply the Cross, to my denim jacket... it's from a Lodge... I Love it... fun stuff.... Here's the awesome Match Holder... Now... If this isn't 'Farm House'....what would be?{love the wonderful old gnarly paint!} My goodness... People cooked with wood burning stoves... heated with them too.... lighting was oil lamps, and candles... Matches were a necessity in every home... This one, is quite large...6 and a half inches tall...and over 5 inches wide...pretty big, for a match holder...it still has it's original lid, with the 'striker' on it!

I Had to Laugh...

I gotta tell ya... these don't look too heavy... the Ford was even panting...a little... oh dear... After visiting Fern Hill... being so captivated, by the Elegance, of that amazing store... purchasing some Pearl earrings...sampling the wonderful lotions.... and oils....I headed towards home... and... right past a private landfill, for trees and brush...and...stone...and....concrete...{remember, Peg and I found that Amazing Fountain, last year...In the Dump!}{you can't see it, from the road... it's a mile back...down a single dirt lane... full of ruts... in the timber... secluded... ah...a place a Gypsy would love to hang out....{my old pal Julie shared this spot with me... I'll take it's exact location, to the Grave...they don't care if you take out... you just can't bring things there, unless you live there...} I ran across these wonderful concrete bases, for columns..or urns... oh dear... and...cool square pieces, to use with them..from an old porch... The problem, was this... they each weigh...mmm... I would guess a hundred..or a hundred and twenty five pounds...{I don't really want to know...} The closer I got to them, with the Ford... The higher I would have to lift them, onto the bed... I opted for close... and higher...{over 4 feet high} Oh my... But... I'm the winner! I couldn't leave them behind...

I was laughing, at myself... thinking... what kind of a person, would be so entranced, by the most amazing, feminine, soft... and glittery notions...at Fern Hill... then... turn a truck, down a mud road.. almost have to lock in four wheel drive.... then... dig, and unearth the buried treasures...Then... load, 4 to 500 pounds of concrete... oh dear... the answer is... {a combination of two...Mad Hatter...and Gypsy!}

A Mad Gypsy!

Have a Great Saturday!

Barb C.

Fern Hill...Christmas...

Merry Christmas.... Love it... Amazing.... Did I mention, Fern Hill has Vintage Quilts.... Hundreds of the most Amazing Vintage Quilts.... and New Amish Quilts....Oh Dear... Silver Bells... I love the 'Silver' look... The soft, silver... tarnished silver... oh dear.. Ahhh...Christmas... Home Made Fudge.... Grrr... Home Made Pie...Grrr... Steph's Studio... I sold her the Gnarly Sofa.... Couldn't ya just flop on it, and flip through a great Mag! One of Steph's Quilts...Amazing... Well... I got as far as Fern Hill, yesterday....and enjoyed every moment of it.... You know how I love Christmas... Well... Fern Hill is really Amazing...with all of the unusual Christmas Decor... It's not Vintage...but... my favorite 'Vintage' was brand spankin' new, once! I loved all of the Massive architectural pieces... and am thinking on a Corner Cupboard...Linda and Patty, tried to tempt me with their Wonderful Homemade Fudge, and Pie... but... I declined... {I'm Trying.... to be good...boo hoo!}{Fern Hill is open 7 days a week....319-622-3627...They Ship around the world... They have been in most issues of Country Gardens.... and contributes to many Quilting magazines, Country Gardens, and Architectural Digest.... They are...simply...Amazing....}

If you are traveling through Iowa, on Interstate 80.... Fern Hill is only a few miles south of 80...in South, Amana....You Must stop in and see them... and be entranced!

If you are a Quilter... or sew... You Must Stop... Their fabric selection is to die for... and...Stephanie Brandenberg, designer, has one of her studio's there, as well as her entire line....{Steph is an unbelievable artist... her lines are from her original oil paintings... she just came out with castings, from 150 year old textiles... they will knock your socks off!} amazing...{Stephanie Brandenberg Studios} She is in Houston, Texas, doing a Textile Show, now... Patty will join her tomorrow... These Girls really move and shake!

Gypsy?

I'm on the road, again, today.... Making deliveries... and visiting old friends... I have to say... at the Mid West Show... I had many compliments on the booth... and...my appearance... I was a little shocked... I asked Mark{my Show Partner} about it, later... His reply... "Well... most people are used to you in jeans...and a flannel shirt... and... you were wearing shoes... at the show..." Oh my gosh... I am such a hick! Actually... I heard several times... in passing... the term...'Gypsy'...hmmm...{guess my hair is pretty dark.... and I like 'Barefoot Bubbly' champagne...and... my wine of choice is 'Gnarly Head'}.... Oh my Gosh... I've turned into a Gypsy! Totally lost my mind...and turned into a Gypsy... My sister, Merry Jo, always said I was a 'Free Spirit'... and old Henry Katz... always called me, his Barefoot Princess...as I was hauling in loads of iron, on the Ford Ton Flatbed...{ not much has changed.... I should call the little Ford... 'The Gypsy Wagon'!} Oh my Gosh... I think I hear tambourines!

Hope everyone has a Gnarly Thursday! {go ahead... kick off those shoes...and...hmmm... let me see your palm....oh dear....}

{oh my gosh.... my favorite perfume/ fragrance, is, and has always been Patchouli Oil....John has always said, when I pull in with the Ford, racked and stacked.."The Gypsies are home"...Oh dear... The Mad Hatter... and Gypsy.... I smell trouble... and Patchouli...}

Barb C.

The Little Tree...it has 'Muchness'...

Months ago, while visiting my friend, Charlie, in Southern Iowa.... He told me, he had been saving something, for me.... we walked to his front porch...and inside a little old box, sitting by his front door... was this Gnarly, Little Tree...{ It brought tears to my eyes...still does....} I love these trees.... They are from the mid 1900's...usually covered in bright berries, and fruit...{Jan, from 'Summer Sundays', recently bought some beautiful ones from me....} This one.... well.... to say the least.... Charlie knows me well... It had been discarded.... and thrown in the box, where it lost all of it's beautiful color... Yet.... retained it's berries... as if to say..."The World can attempt to drain me... but... the World can't take away my 'Muchness'!".....The Little Tree, is a Survivor.... I LOVE THESE THINGS!!!!

I'll be working on Christmas this weekend...for the Little Shop's Open House... I can hardly wait... A Celebration, for the Best Survivor... ever.... our Savior....

Hope Everyone has the most Beautiful Wednesday....

Barb C.

Darling Little Church Pew....

I adore these tiny, little pews...Only three feet long... They can go anywhere... and feel right at home... A child's room... the end of a hall.... the foot of a bed.... an entry way...a kitchen....on the porch... This size, is perfect....

This little sweetie, came from Northern Iowa, and is Pine... Very old... has remnants of the old paint... We've waxed it, so it's nice and clean... I love the applied medallians, on each end, and the wonderful cut outs... it still has the Hymnal Tray, on the back....

It's a Dollie! It's going to a new...happy...home....

I'm staying close to home, today... Maybe work on the spare room...maybe sit in the recliner, and watch Sponge Bob.... Who knows...It's going to be incredibly windy today... 40 to 60 mile an hour winds... Yuk... I hate the wind... It's...Unsettling, to me... So...I'm hunkering down...

Hope everyone has the most wonderful Tuesday!

Barb C.

Fall Mid West Show...History...

Well..... We all survived... It was a Great Show... Images... well... guess you just had to be there...{Janet....} I forgot my camera... so... no images, 'til we were taring down.... all I can say is.... I heard it over and over... This was the most beautiful show, bar none.... I'm not just saying it... The customers were Blown Away....It Was an Amazing Show.... Lots of happy people...Lot's of bags being carried...lots of furniture being hauled out...and the shippers were thrilled!

I bought some fun stuff! Chery and Lois saved some wonderful textiles back, for me... oh my... I love them! {The Amazing Woven Silk Victorian Panels, from a Museum, Sold...{They looked like woven Amana, or Amish rugs... but they were all in silk... and were drapes....Oh my...{the colors were to die for...}

It was So wonderful seeing Everyone... Cindy B. from Lady Bug Antiques, had saved some Silver Plaques, with the Motto's I collect...{At Rest} Love 'em! It was great seeing my dear old Pal, Linda G., {it's been...forever..} Jean S., and friends...Deb, from Sisters'...Stanley and Klarika...Carolyn A....Lynn and Lea...John W.....Allyson...Connie...Wanda {Gatherings} Linda...Amy and Lydia... Matt and Sarah... Dale F.... Colleen... Dan and Jo {Jo-Dan's}...Gail....Polly Ann {Polly Ann's} Just Everyone...Hugs and Kisses... oh dear!

Liz came and helped sooo much... I will have to say, the booth was pretty good..... we had 32 feet, covered all the walls with a natural, soft white, canvas... then, Sweet Barb, from Sister's Garden, was so kind to cut a huge variety of Greenery, and Crab Apple branches, and had them ready, when I delivered some things, her way{and I picked up the Gnarly Martin House!}...I filled in with my own Bittersweet, and Sweet Annie...We bordered the entire booth with it, and the Log Doors... It was pretty cool... The crowd seemed to like it...{ it's kind of funny.... when we start setting a booth... we always have many, many raised eyebrows... from other dealers.... we do look like a disorganized bunch of Ya Hoos... But... by the last minutes, just before the doors open... it all falls together... and we get the nod, of approval....}

It was an Amazing Show... Just when you think it can't get any better... It blows you away.... oh my!

Barb C.

{next Mid West Show...April 10th... be there....}

{A SPECIAL THANKS to Amy... She popped in, at load out...and helped us load...Liz said, "who is that Woman?!" Wow... she was running... and loading! What a Wonderful Surprise!!! I owe her a a Big One!!!}

Last weeks Dancing Partner... I thought, when I talked about it, last week, in the blog, it was about 10 foot long... ahhh nope...11'3.... We waltzed around the truck, several times, loading, and unloading... He's Californy Bound... The Guys from Urban Country thought it was as cool as I do...

Mid 1900's Log Doors... They really made the little Lodge table look great! I found these at Mary's, last week...{Dark Horse Antiques 319-240-0897} It was a fun Look!

John came, and helped pack up... what a blessing! And...That's Sweet Cathie..{in the white jacket...} {This Girls Art}.... It was Great seeing her, and her Sweetie, Bill! I think they really Loved the Show...It was STUNNING!!!

The Booth is almost set...

It's been a long, long day... It was wonderful seeing everyone, again... and the booth is about done... I'll finish in the morning.... Show opens at 10... Don't miss it! It is Stunning!!!!!

See my calender of events, for location...{easy to find...Hawkeye Downs Fairgrounds, Cedar Rapids, Iowa...{on 6th Street, south west...Just off of Hi Way 30}

Images tomorrow!

Barb C.

Before....and...After...

This Old Corner Cupboard, was at an estate sale, early this year.... I didn't get it bought... and... it didn't sell... the family sent it to auction, where I asked my friend, Maurina, to bid on it for me...{the auction was during my Spring Sale...}I paid one fourth, of my estate sale offer.... who would have thought...

It was kind of a mess... but... it had fine bones...and a very sweet voice... I knew it could sing, if given the chance...It's little drawer, is all hand dovetailed... and, until we started scraping on the nasty, newer paint...{layers and layers} I didn't realize, it's walnut.... I love walnut... So, John worked his magic... {no stripper... all hand scraped} and even scraped the inside, down to the original blue paint...{he left some of the earlier red, if he would have went down farther, it would have went to wood...} He replaced the crown, with crown moulding, as early as the cupboard...and picture framed the top, where the doors had been... {they are long gone...we could have replaced them, with early doors... but this old cupboard has the most amazing cut outs, for plates...{like none I have ever seen,,,} I think, should I wind up with it... I would want to see the top open.... I do Love This Old Darling!}} The wonderful old tin patches, on the bottom door, are Old, Old Patches!!{John does them, just as well, tho... but this time, he didn't have to!} The Old Girl, is pretty substantial... it's around 7 feet tall... and close to 4 feet wide... not too deep tho... so... not too intrusive, into a room... It's a Sweetie!

The Old Corner Cupboard is Smiling.... It's headed for the Mid West Show, to Make it's Debut!

Stop by our booth, and say Hello!

{click on the image to enlarge...}

Another Day...

The Curious Cows, at one of the farms, I visited today...They gathered together, and watched me load the truck.... I think they thought I was crazy... Smart Cows...{I wanted to take them all home with me...} I'm home... Several hundred miles... it's almost 10... and I've had enough.... I've had to load, and reload, this load...three times.... tires rubbing... Everything on this load is Heavy... The big dog, six legged, 10 foot table, was fun, standing on it's end....loading....then...unloading...over and over...and basically, dancing with.... The log doors, will bring you to your knees... not to mention, the 6 massive columns, I had to keep moving, and unloading, and shifting, and flipping end for end.... so the weight was distributed evenly...{ Yes... I even swore, a few times... I was ready to light a match...It's been a long...long...day...} I have deliveries, in the morning...{Oh Boy!... I get to unload, then, reload...again...and... first thing, in the mornin... Ya Hoo!} then, get things pulled together for the show...

Yes... I'm having a night cap... I've earned it...

Barb C.

On The Road...again....

This is the Wonderful Old General Store Coffee Grinder, from Norway, Iowa.... We ar getting it all spiffed up, for the Show.... It's a Sweetie! Headed for Central Iowa, then North... to Northern Iowa...a lot of miles...hundreds of them...

I'll be diggin' through barns and buildings...in hopes of finding some fun, and interesting things...

John has everything about ready, here at home...So... we should be able to be loaded for Mid West, tomorrow....I need to get some greenery, for the booth, and fabric, for the wall coverings...

Hope everyone has a Great Thursday!

Barb C.

A 'Half Day Off'....Basking in Domestic Duties...

Took the Old Clock in to Marv, to get, hopefully, repaired....yesterday morning... {he looked a little nervous....}{I'm so spoiled by John....when I take some, basket case to him... he may, for a moment think it can't be saved... then, I tell him, he can fix it.... I have no doubt.... and... he does.... Marv hasn't quite got there, yet.... he looked a little perplexed....} Then worked on domestic duties... Grocery Shopping.... I love to grocery shop... Mom, Chery and I, were the Queen Grocery Shoppers...Chery was the best....she spent days, clipping coupons....she shopped at a store, religiously, that doubled coupons...and always had everything organized, when she went shopping.... She would spend hours in the store... She'd pick up two cans, of something.... check the prices... check the weights...just because one is priced a bit less, doesn't make it a better deal... it may be several ounces less...She and Mom, would always make 'bulk purchases'.... if canned mushrooms were on sale... they would buy cases of them... same with laundry soap, paper towels, toilet paper, ice cream, roasts.... their freezers and cupboards were always Packed Full!!!!... Chery would unload, all of the groceries, in the kitchen, and leave everything out, {except frozen stuff, of course} and then, get her receipt out, and check every single item off the receipt... oh dear...{this made me crazy... Mom didn't even do this....{Mom would make sure, she got the sale price, on everything, tho...} however... Chery caught many, many errors over the years... and it added up, to quite a lot....and you wonder where my 'Obsessive Compulsive' comes from...oh dear... it runs in the family...}

I'm not like the others, in many respects.... I rarely shop with a list...{unless it's for a Holiday Dinner...} I don't clip coupons...I don't always check my receipt.... sometimes... if I think the bill is a little more than I think it should be.... and, I have gotten some good refunds.... when 'sale' items aren't ringing up, 'sale' price...I do 'stock up', when things are on sale.... I don't buy pallets full, like Mom and Chery.... I Love in store, 'mark downs'! When things are marked down, to move them on quickly.... oh dear.... Then the freezer gets stocked! I'll buy things then, I don't normally buy... when the regular price, is 4.29, and it's clearanced, for .45 cents.... We try it, the kids get some... friends... I Love a Bargain! Our little freezer has paid for itself....over and over...

I spent a couple of hours, Grocery Shopping, yesterday... Dare I say... it was relaxing?... I kept thinking of Mom, and Chery.... I caught myself, laughing out loud.... I really miss our times together...

Barb C.

{ Chery and Mom saved their families, thousands of dollars, over the years.... They were both amazing 'Savers'...tho, they were tight, budget wise.... they were the most giving people, I have ever known....maybe, that's why, they worked so hard, saving, and penny pinching.... so, they could 'give', and had it to 'give', when needed to....I wish I could be that devoted.... too much of my free spirited Dad, in me, I guess... tho....I think... the girls have rubbed off on me, too....

a little....}

New 'Iowa Farmhouse Style' post... finally...

Finally took a minute to write about the redo, in the spare bedroom...{Justin's old room} I had John paint it Granny Smith Apple Green... {He won't let me paint.... I paint fast, and heavy... one coat... Thick....I have patience for many things... painting isn't one of them...}{ I Love this Color! It goes with much, much more than you might think... and it really calms the nerves... I'll take all of that, I can get... } I'll be sharing images, as I go... It will be like a bedroom from the mid 1800's to early 1900's... I'll be putting some of our Patriotic things in this room, as well...The rug is a turn of the century, worn, wool room sized rug... Oriental... The colors are great....{it even has a little orange in it... unusual, when the primary rug color is red...} I'll be posting all sorts of images, in the next couple of weeks...{check out 'Iowa Farmhouse Style', for more details...}

Steph{stephanie brandenburg studios} and I went to Leonardo's for a long, Martini Lunch today... a much needed session....She's leaving for a Fabric Show, in Houston, Texas, next week... and I'm still trying to stay vertical... oh dear... It was great therapy, for both of us...

Hope everyone has a great Tuesday...

Barb C.

Norway Auction...

Tom Sandersfield... My favorite Auctioneer.... He and Jimmy, gave me a hard time, all day...they poked and prodded...always fun, and lighthearted... I love those Boys... Good Men... Jim Arp...my second favorite, Auctioneer...{sorry Jimmy... but... Tom and I go wayyy back... to the days he was the 'Second Auctioneer', with Vernon Brecht... I was about 10, when Tom started with Vernon... those were the days... oh my...} Sally was Full... Poor little Mustang... Little Ford was wrapped, stacked, and strapped... I'm sure driving one of 'my' loads home... made John's day... tho... he had a lot of fun digging through the contents of the old garage... and found some cool stuff! John squeezed in the Ford, somehow.... {welcome to my world....} Visited with Dale, and Mark...yesterday morning, before the sale started... they were at the auction, looking through, and I asked them, if I should come.... They both thought I'd find some stuff.... Norway, Iowa, is where Mark lives, and Dale grew up, and has lived in this area his entire life.... it's just 10 minutes from me... A small Farming Community, it's largest business is Frontier Herbs... a wonderful, worldwide Natural Products Business...{they were doing things right, before it was the 'right thing' to do... Organics...}

The Ford was still partially loaded, and it was close to the start of the Auction.. So, I asked Mark, if he thought I needed the truck... He didn't think there was much 'big' stuff, I'd want... so, he said bring the car... Well... I filled the Mustang... and then called John, had him ask Justin to help him unload the truck, and bring it, too.... I bought the contents of a shed... a wonderful old General Store, Enterprise {2 wheeled} Coffee Grinder { a Big Daddy!}.... 2 beds... loads of littles {children's books... fabric... rugs... unusual chick feeders...an old, old teeny tiny sprinkling can...lovely old frames... a wonderful old Gilbert Store Regulator Clock... with a fancy pressed oak case.... {it's spring is sprung... and the winding arbor is broken off.... {where the key fits, and you wind the clock...} I will tell you... someone had some bloody knuckles, after that spring blew... I have had this happen...when winding a clock... oh my....} The Lady who was having the sale, is 87 years old... and a very sweet, and charming woman... She helped me fold many old quilts I had purchased, and pointed out the ones her mother and grandmother made... Nothing fancy... but, wool...and warm... she said, in those days, it was most important that the quilts were warm.... She told me the old clock had been in her home, her entire life... I'll have it running, in no time....{no pun intended} Dale helped 'ring' the auction... My favorite Auctioneers were having the sale... It was good to see everyone... Dale helped us load, and we went out to supper together... It was a long day... I'll be unloading, cleaning, sorting and repairing, today...

Hope you find much rest, on this most Beautiful Sunday....

Barb C.

Old Books....

These Old, Old books have been fun, to see... they have been quite entertaining....

This is a cool book...1833.... Old Dictionary... very interesting to read.... I have a passion, for old, old books.... tho, it seems, I have little time, to sit down and read them... Just pulling them off the shelf, and flipping through them, is relaxing, to me... The old dictionary isn't dated... but... it calls fire arms, muscets... a Firelock, a soldier's gun.....so... I would guess it's from the earlier half of the 1800's... The 1833 book, and the dictionary are leather bound, and lovely... The other, 'Ladies Companion', is from 1851, and quite interesting... I will make a point, of spending a little time, with this one...

I didn't get the truck unloaded, entirely, yesterday.... I'll have John lend a hand, this morning.... I have an old grinding stone, complete, with it's stand... and a little too awkward for me to handle, alone.... I bought several grinding stones, from Carole.... and an early Amana stand, for a wooden wash tub... I'll see if John can get the centers out of the stones, and then, stack them on the old Gnarly stand.... they will be wonderful for the Mid West Show, next Sunday... I'm going to have some wonderful Surprises, for the show....

I was the Bobbling Clown, again, yesterday...{remember the blow up Clowns, from the 60's... it was about 3 feet tall, and weighted, on the bottom... the kids could punch it, and it would weave around, but would always stand straight up, again.... well..... that's my life, it seems... I'm the Clown...I guess the blessing, in this statement is...I keep standing...} I quit a little early... turned the phone off... and came up to the house... where my best Girl, was soooo glad to see me....{Pal, Mary S., gave me a little sign, that says, something like, "May I always be, just half the person, my dog thinks I am"....

People... what in the world, is wrong with them....I just don't get it....

I'm headed to an auction, this morning... we'll see.... seems I have money gushing from every orifice,{ spell check doesn't recognise the word 'Orifice'.... so... I looked it up, in the gnarly early 1800's dictionary... it was there... it means... 'any opening'... for me, it means...'Every Opening'}.... these days.... always plenty of palms out....and...Winter ahead.... oh dear...

Well.... I've got today... and, that's good enough for me...{still standin'}

Have a Great Saturday....

Barb C.

On The Road...again....

Maurina had this little Cross... She knows how much I love this kind of stuff... It is going in the bedroom... along with all of the 'Rest in Peace' plaques... Some may think this is a little 'dark'.... well... I see nothing brighter, than Heaven... and... 'Resting in Peace'... well... one can Never have, too much Peaceful, Rest...and... if it weren't for these little plaques.... who would remember these folks... I think about them....who they were... where they lived.... what their life was like, 125 years ago... they may be absent... but... not forgotten... Be sure and check out their blog... It's Lovely... Sisters' Garden... is so Peaceful... and... Balanced... Being 'Balanced'... is a 'Good Thing'.....It's beautiful.... A Cool Load, from Carole's.... The cab is full...too... I unloaded from Maurina's, before I headed to the Amana's... That was a heavy load...oh my...it's been a long... long... day.... Spent the last two days, on the road... I took Sally, on the road for appointments...in the Iowa City area yesterday... so enjoyed a very relaxing visit at Sisters' Garden, Bloom and Barntiques and Rug Cottage...I truly admire, all of the Women, that bring so much inspiration, and stability, to my life... Barb H., has been a truly amazing 'Rock'... I had a great surprise, at Sisters'... Sharon, from Sweet Repose, was just leaving...it was so nice, to see her... { I look like a sight... I've dyed my hair, black, again.... Must be this 'Goth', 'thing' I'm going through....everything seems a bit 'Dark' these days...and my nerves are, well, simply... raw...I guess it's good timing... folks will just think I'm getting ready for Halloween....}

Today, I was on the run... Maurina is having a yard sale... and was was kind enough to give me an invite... I ran over, first thing... we had a great time... I found all sorts of fun stuff...{Images, in the daylight, tomorrow...}She took me through her Store, in Czech Village... then bought me the most wonderful lunch, at the 'Blue Toad' {next door, to the Famous, 'Red Frog'....}... Oh my... we had Potato Dumplings... gravy... their special, home fries.... red cabbage, and a Blue Moon... Oh dear... it was Mid West, 'Soul Food'...{the very cool, Bartender, even had the recipe for 'Root Beer'... oh dear... I have been hunting this recipe, for 30 years... It will drop you to your knees...and... it truly tastes, just like root beer...{he made us a sample...it's amazing...} Then my old Pal, Carole, from near Amana, invited me over, to go through her barns... and buy.... It was Grand....We had a wonderful time... It was great seeing Carole, and Jerry... It's been a lot of years... They said something, very nice... They said they called me first, because over the years, I always treated them fair...I was, and am... truly... touched...by that statement... made my day...

I left my camera at home, today... I would have loved to have taken so many images... oh well...

Hope everyone, has a wonderful...Friday....

Barb C.

{ Polly keeps putting her cold nose, under my elbow.... she's ready for bed... me too... and it's only a little after 9... oh dear...}

Polly's Home...

Thank God, for the Most amazing Vet, and Staff.... I didn't get any images there... as soon as I pulled up, they brought Polly out... oh my... She was going crazy... Pulling the poor trainer around and around... so... I loved her up, and corralled her in the Mustang...it was a long, long trip home... Polly was a nervous wreck... poor Girl....The closer we got to home, she seemed to know...When I parked the car... she flew towards the house...{dragging me...all the way!}I let her in... then she bee lined for the bedroom, and sat, staring at the bedroom door......No way, was she climbing on my bed, 'til she got a bath! So, she jumped in the tub, and I gave her a nice long bath! Then we went downstairs, and watched t.v.,{She has her own Wing Back Chair, in the t.v. room... all day, she refused to lay on the floor...whatever room she's in... she's on a chair, or sofa... When I did laundry, she even jumped on the old sofa, in the basement... She has Never jumped on that sofa.... Poor Baby... No flippin floor for her! She has eaten all of her rib tips, and is totally in love with the Dog Treats, Liz made, for the Dog Cancer Tribute... She sniffed those out, immediately! She has slept, a lot...I think we will both... sleep well, tonight...

Thanks to Everyone, for Everything....

Barb C.

{Betty G., I know we have never met... but... You Are an Angel... I'm sure of it... Thank You...}

{I hope you have a minute, to read, all of the wonderful comments, from all of the Angels, that keep me from falling off the cliff... Oh my.... Thank You....and... Thanks... to those, who don't leave a comment... but keep us, in your prayers.... oh my....}

Sweet Mary....

Mary met up with me, before I went to get Polly...We had lunch...at Famous Dave's, in Cedar Falls...She thought I needed a friend... Mary... is the most wonderful, friend...She loves her Cats... Like I Love my Critters...Mary took one of our Kittens, that was kind of a dwarf... some of my other friends wanted him.... but, I knew he had to go to Mary... Mary battled cancer, shortly after she took 'Munchkin' home... she says, he kept her going... Her husband snuck him into the hospital, after her surgery... the first thing Mary asked for, upon waking, was her Kitten......

Munchkin is very blessed to have Mary, too...

{I found this wooden carved Kitty, at Bob and Vi's... it had Mary's name on it...it even matched her top!}

{Meeting at Famous Dave's, worked out great... I took rib tips home for Polly, Nicky and John... They all were very pleased...}

I wanna come home...

My Polly gets to come home... this, afternoon... I know... some of you think I'm crazy... But... when I moved away from my Mother's home, and, out on my own... I was 15 years old... My Best Friend was Dolcey...a Great Dane...{rescued} We moved into a 10 by 50 trailer, in the Winter... it had an old screen door, with plywood over it, for a door,{no lock}{not good, with -10 below outside...}... and no pipes under the sink,{they had frozen, and broken} just a 5 gallon bucket... that I poured down the tub drain, after washing dishes... the furnace wouldn't turn on and off, so I did it manually... but...we had heat... I bought the trailer, for 600.00...{I am so thankful, for that Home...That I had enough money to buy it....} we lived there all Winter...

{I have heard some of my friends make fun of that old Trailer Court.... They say, it's got a lot of 'White Trash' in it... well... they only say it once... to me, anyway... after I tell them, that's where I started out... Good... Kind... people there... and... great memories...} I don't think I could have made it, without Dolcey's unconditional love...

Having Polly taken away... well... I really couldn't grieve more, over a human... sorry... if this offends some of you...{ tho, she is alive...and has been with wonderful people... just having to give her up... well... it's like, I would imagine, having a child taken away...wrongly...unjustly...}

In my life... I have Never... been loved... by any human...so unconditionally... as by my Animals...They Love me... no matter...

This has been a horrible 10 days...and with the loss of Maggie... just before... I'm waiting for the next shoe to drop...

Barb C.

{ I have sent Prayers out, for Carolyn M... She is at rest... with her beloved, Roger... Heaven is a Sweet Home...and a bit more beautiful, with Carolyn's decorating abilities...can't wait to see what she does with the place...May God Bless their Souls...}

The Gnarliest Quilt...

I found this Unbelievable Quilt, while on my trip to Elkader, last week... {Turkey River Mall } It knocked me off my pins... I am not a quilter... But I appreciate, and love them so... If... I were to ever make a quilt... this would be exactly what I would create... A primitive Log Cabin...{or...maybe, a "Crazy Quilt"} surrounded by Big, Beautiful Floral Fabric...something, off the charts, beautiful... oh my....

The Old Quilt is quite large....{full size, at least... with the center, being about the size of a crib quilt...} I would so love to visit with the one, who created this quilt, a hundred, plus... years ago...I have a feeling...we have much in common... I showed it to Peg, and Patty, yesterday... Patty's jaw dropped...{Fern Hill} {I told her, it would make her smile... she was speechless....} and Peg...well... she said it was absolutely me...} I have always loved a 'Leather and Lace' look... It's the whole package... Like, the Iowa Farmhouse.... You would see a beautiful, ornate Wardrobe... then, open the doors, to find it filled with gnarly old bed ticking, from Grandma's House.... and Grandpa's old Coveralls, in need of mending... fifty years ago...but never got done......It's hard to explain... maybe a bit 'Bohemian'...but... when I laid my eyes on this Quilt... it spoke clearly, without saying a word...

This old quilt's handwork, is amazing.... The Log Cabin center, is nicely bordered, with the Floral Fabric... every inch of this quilt, is finely hand pieced...{tiny, close stitching} It is filled with the softest, pulled wool....It has a lovely, very early, gray and black, pinstriped back, that Wanda liked... of course...{Gatherings} I guess... there's a little something for everyone, in the Old Darling...

Well Gals... I LOVE everything about it...the entire package... It's truly, one of a kind...

Barb C.

Treasures...

I Love Funky, Weird, Gnarly, things... so... this old tool, was right up my alley...it's very cool...

My friend, Don Mc., thought so too.... he snagged it, out of my pile, at the Estate Sales Check Out...{he didn't know, he was in a 'sold' pile...} thought he was going to buy it... ah... not so much... I asked him to step away from the Gnarly Tool... it was in my pile... he graciously, put it back... Poor Don....

the heart shaped pieces, are a buckle... love 'em... and the tiny wire whip, is for 'Horlick's Malted Milk'... very sweet...

A Few Treasures from the Estate Sale....

Had a busy day, with Liz.... I started working at the shop... but she needed some help... so we wound up spending the day, together... it was very nice... Liz had borrowed Sally, while her car was getting a check up, she brought it back, last night...... and.... I gotta tell ya... just bailing in that little car... with the top down... radio cranked... toolin' down the Hi Way... with Liz.... was the best pill, I could take....It was a warm, 80ish, out... Sunny... and perfect.... oh my...{we even gave Sally a much needed bath!}

Here are a few images I took, this evening, while unpacking the Estate Sale Stuff.... I panicked,

as I was digging through the truck... I was missing some very cool stuff.... I called Bob, the friend who was having the sale, and he said Mark had taken those items with him... Thank goodness...

These are 2 early quilts, I found.... and I'll be darned... one is red and white.... I was asked this morning if I got a red and white quilt.... my reply..."ah...nope".... see... no brain cells... I think they both date from around 1870.... the red and white one, has a tag that says it's early 1800's.... I don't think so.... I love the Comforter, I think it's 'Flying Geese'... the fabrics are very, very early examples.... The quilting is wonderful, on this quilt... and the triangles are tiny... like 'em.... I love quilts like this, that have a huge variety of fabrics.... This is also, hand pieced... oh my... the time.... these 2 inch letters, are sweet... I would guess from the 40's or 50's... fun... This is a double jar lifter... for canning... it's on it's side, in this image... It's really cool, with jars in it... I have never seen one like it... I loved the wear on this Kraut Cutter... and the lolly pop top... Old Egg Basket.... I don't think one can have too many wire egg baskets.... This wire basket is quite large... it was filled with old rag balls... I like it empty... very gnarly... This is a tiny little clock... maybe, 3 inches square... I love porcelain dials...{faces} so, grabbed it, too.... There are quite a bit of 'littles', to go through, yet... I'll have more images, in the next day, or so...

Barb C.