Happy New Year! At Last.....

Whew.... this is the first New Years Eve...I've actually been awake, to 'Ring In'...in years....Thanks to friends...keeping me on the phone.... It was great hearing from them!

John fell asleep watching a movie... so...I didn't open the Champagne...I bought this wine, on sale, at Target, today... and when combined, with Great Conversation...it wasn't too bad! We were invited to a couple of parties... but...this isn't the night to be on the roads...It was Relaxing...Just being at home... We baby sat, for Jr., and that was wonderful....It's all good...

I'm hitting the sack...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

{It's Gonna be a Good One....Hang on Tight!}

Barb C.

Hope Everyone has The Most Amazing New Year....

Time...Marches on....

What?

As I was making a delivery, yesterday...My friend asked, what will I be doing, tonight....I looked at her, like...What?...Tomorrow night? What...why...Tomorrow Night?...My face must have been totally blank... It's pretty sad, when you know, New Years Eve, is around the corner...but don't know when it is.... I had picked up a bottle of Italian Champagne, last week....for the occasion... John probably won't have any...but...I will... I was awake, in the wee hours...thinking...maybe I'll throw some great snacks together, for us... and just have a nice, quiet end.... to the Noisy, Old Year... then, Gently....quietly...peacefully, welcome the New Year..... I have a bit of work to do, this morning...and...I think I'm going to take Sally out for a spin...it's supposed to rain, but be in the 40's...most of our snow is gone.... it's going to get slick, tonight...and turn cold....The Little Mustang, is better than Therapy...and She'll have good footing, this morning...{Mustangs aren't much for snow...and ice...} We may not get to go on a ride, for a long time.... Hope She starts... I'll be posting later... Barb C.

When You Say Nothing...at all....

My friend, Cathy, reminded me, today... The days are getting longer.... Oh...Yes...
I had a meeting with her, this evening....I gotta tell ya....it is soooo great... when people love what you do...I know, I don't work in oils...and, I have never sculptured, anything...{I have whittled a few things, for repairs, on old, primitives, over the years....oh dear...what a sight...my 'whittlin' knife, is a massive, butcher knife...when folks watch me...I scare them to death...they are sure I'm going to lose a finger...or limb...or something...they just, stand back...but...I guarantee, when I'm done... it looks exactly as it should...something about the 'soul' in a piece...it just speaks, to me...}
Anyway...Cathy was enamored with the Little Shop...{a Huge Compliment...} I get so.... well, sad... when I hit a spell...when no one comes, and visits.....sometimes...I think...I'm the only one, who loves this wonderful, old stuff... I start second guessing... start thinking about another job...or two...or three....
Well...for today... I won't think about that....
I walked through the shop, today..and snapped images of Spring...Flowers... Color...Life...

John had a Funeral, about 90 miles away, for his Uncle.... I had to be at the Nursing Home, with Mom...she's been having a few issues...and her Doctor was coming, today.... I will say...for almost 91...she's doing pretty good...I listened to her, rattle off her ailments...oh dear.... very few... {tho, she doesn't agree...I know lots of Folks, half her age, with many, many more!} I guess, none of us, really realize, how truly Blessed we are... There is always someone, who has it worse than most of us...we truly need to be more Thankful....
So...Thankful, I will be... Thanks to Sweet Cathy....for boosting my ego....and...loving what I do, almost, as much as I...
Barb C.

Blessings....

I'm just giving a thought, to start putting 'Christmas', to rest....

As I look around...at the many Blessings I have received this Christmas... I am humbled...

 From the most thoughtful gifts... to lovely cards...phone calls...and e-mail... all, I hold very dear...

The Last Several Years...have been a 'Landslide'...

I am so Thankful, and Blessed...to have those, who can't understand my Life...

Care enough, to Love me... anyway...and Stand with me....

Run down the road, with me... do shows, with me...

Attend the Sale's, here at home...

Lug stuff, for them...

Bring a few bottles of Wine...

{or a bit stronger}

to soften the blows...

and...put up, with my increasingly 'raw nerve'...

and...some days... very, short fuse...

Work tirelessly, at my side... when I have hit the wall...and can go no further...

and...listen...

Blessings....

My Love, to You All...

Barb C.

A December Morn...that is...Simply....Iowa

Polly and I took a walk this morning, around the Shop... These are a few images, we captured, of our, 'Simply Iowa'....

Treasures...

I gathered these little gems, last week.... The Truck...well... it reminds me of my Dad....Makes me wonder, where it has been, all of these years... Must have been buried, somewhere...then, found, by someone, who found a little merit, in it...I think it's...Grand...

I Hope everyone had a Beautiful Christmas...I truly enjoyed the Kids... It's fun seeing them chat, like adults...when did they grow up? Jr. was a real Joy...I played with him, going up and down the stairs...oh my...is he ever quick!

 We all enjoyed all of the candy that friends sent.... That Sweet Loraine...I wrote about her 'Famous Fudge' last year... I gotta tell ya...It makes me Crazy! I Have Never Eaten Fudge, that was that, Creamy...Dreamy...ah...Heavenly... It's out of this World!

Dale F.and his Mom, made Turtles, and Chocolate Bark... oh dear.... Allyson, made her amazing Rum Balls...Justin's pal, Josh, and his Family sent out a big Tray of Goodies... and Katie prepared pounds of Goodies...oh my... Difficult to be, ah....good...yeeesh... 

I'm cleaning up Holiday debris.. and going to go see Mom...

Hope You all Have a Marvelous Day!

Merry Christmas!!!

It's late, in the day.... I tried to post, early...but...slept in...then the Kids got here a bit early....I put Katie to work...slicing and dicing... We had Oyster Stew....and all sorts of finger food... it was Grand! I received wonderful calls, and e-mails...they truly mean so much....
I'm headed to kick back...and watch 'A Christmas Story"...I LOVE THAT SHOW!!! I could watch it over and over!
See ya Tomorrow!

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!
Barb C.
{I've spent much more time, with the Tree, this year...{hours...instead of moments...}instead of sitting in the kitchen, working at the dough board, I go up to the balcony... and sit there... do my work...and look down on the Tree...it's very relaxing... It's only taken me 10 years to figure this out...}

The concrete book, on stand, with the bench by it, is a Memorial, to my Sister, Chery...Tho, it doesn't seem possible...Chery has been gone, seven years...December 22nd...Chery didn't like the Holidays...much...
Funny thing...she always made them So Wonderful, for everyone else...
Can't wait to see her, again...

Let it Snow!

I ran out the door, this morning, with camera in hand...

 It is Absolutely Breathtaking Outside!

 It's Snowing, like crazy...a light, downy Snow....

 The Statues are all Adorned with a Brand New Winter Coat!

Mother Nature is giving us, a Most Beautiful Christmas Card.....  

A Beautiful Cardinal, was perched in the snowy branches...

His mate, was close by... they were chatting, to each other...

Merry Christmas...Eve... from .... Iowa...

Polly and I... Wish You, a Merry, Christmas Eve, Day....

The Beautiful Wreath, that Bud made... it's perfect for the Newel Post... and I Love the Bracelet...{we won't discuss, the sinful...home made chocolates....}

Soulmates....Bud and Renate.....

Bud and Renate, invited me to Supper, Tuesday night...{John, too... but...he's not much for going out....} I met Bud, at their shop, 'Renates', in Amana...He had made some of the most beautiful Christmas Wreaths, this year, and wanted me to pick one out, for the house.... I couldn't hardly choose.... They were all Wonderful.... Then, we went tho their home, {which is so beautiful.....Renate is an Art Instructor, and Bud, is also an Artist, and Decorator...oh my....I just love being there...it's Early Iowa...and, Modern... they work, very well together....Everything has the right 'bones'...it's just, very Classical...Timeless...

Renate prepared delicious hors d'oeuvres, and we all had a lovely visit...Renate gave me the most Wonderful Bracelet, she Created...oh dear... and... some sinful Homemade Candy...{Renate is an amazing Cook!} {I apologised to Bud...for not coming by more, this Fall...as I was shopping myself into the ground, at his shop...What Great Stuff!} I have been in my cocoon...and not out and about... but...I made up, for lost time...oh dear.... }

I Love this image of Bud, and Renate... When I think of 'Love Birds', I see their faces... They have been together, forever... and if you see them together... you understand why.... oh my...I know Bud won't like this image... {he's like me...we hate having our picture taken...} But...look at how he is looking at Renate... This is how they always look at each other... They are a perfect pair... They look stunning together....always... They are very blessed...me, too... I Love 'em...

Barb C.

P.H.A.T. DADDY'S

Bud, Renate, and I, had a wonderful Supper, at P.H.A.T. DADDY'S, in Marengo, Iowa...Tuesday evening.... Bud and Renate are close friends with Mike, the head Chef, and owner...Bud decorated the Restaurant, several years ago, when Mike opened... It's Lovely... Bud made it Artsy, yet, an inviting place, where friends and families gather.... The food is amazing...and...affordable...Marengo, is just a few miles west, of the Amana's....so, an easy drive from Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City...only a few minutes from interstate 80...When in the area, treat yourself, to a Fabulous Meal...a Glass of Wine, from one of our local Wineries... and...relax...

Barb C. 

This is one, of several Beautiful Wreaths Bud creates, and has for sale, at P.H.A.T. Daddy's....

The Tree....

The Tree is Done... gifts, are wrapped...still need to do a bit more shopping... Went to dinner with Bud and Renate, last night... it was wonderful...they, are wonderful... I'll be telling you, all about it, tomorrow...

Barb C.

{It's a little after 7...I'm going to go sit beside the Tree, have a glass of wine... and...Reflect...
Happy Holidays...}

1880 Handmade Book Cover...from my collection...I'm Letting Go....

As I was redoing the paper houses, in the Old 'Favorite Things' Cupboard, I ran across a few things, I'm going to let go of... The image, on the top, is the inside...where you would slide the book's cover...it's all hand quilted... silk...It may have been for a Bible...The outside is, I believe, woven wool, and all hand embellished...It has a cord, that runs the seamed outer edge. 

Pretty Wonderful, for a Hundred and Thirty Years Old....

This, ever so detailed, handmade book cover, is originally from Canada {I think... the date is laid out differently, than we do, here...{29 Dec.} here {Dec. 29}...I bought it, in Minnesota, several years ago... and have truly loved it, so... It wasn't cheap...but, find another... I need 145. for it... it is truly... Amazing....

Barb C.

{ There is a city in Minnesota, by the name 'Mizpah'...however, 'Mizpah', also translates to "Watch Tower", or "Look Out", and has Bible References, as well...}

{click on image, to enlarge....}

Looking for that 'Hard to Find' Item? {be sure and check down the rabbit hole...}

Here's Sweet Amy...oh dear...What a Live Wire! She brought me a Wonderful Czech Cookbook, I had ordered from her, a while back... We were discussing the 'rat race', traffic, during the Christmas Rush... She had been looking high, and low, at the Malls, and Retail Stores for some little wooden spoons, affordable, to go with her hand made Lotion... to no avail... Then...she asked me, "you wouldn't have some small wooden spoons, would you?" with, a look on her face, pretty much knowing, I would say, "no"... however... SHE WAS MISTAKEN!!!!! The Little Rabbit Hole, HAD 4, SWEET, VINTAGE, TINY WOODEN SPOONS!!! Something that the Mega Malls Didn't... {tee hee}... oh my... Just to see her smile... made my Sunday... 

Barb C. 

Ahhh...Santa...{he really is watching...oh dear...}

Ahhh...Santa...

Santa was out and about, on Sunday...and popped in, to visit... I gotta tell ya... when I heard those Sleigh Bells... and the low, soft..."Ho...Ho...Ho...!", even as old as I am, my heart skipped, a little... I know 'Santa'... and, he truly is, Santa... always has Joy, in his heart... a smile on his face, no matter... a caring ear, to listen...and adores children...his children are very blessed...{he also shakes his finger, when Peg and I  slip, with a wee little profanity, at sale time...oh dear...Santa really is watching...}

Thanks, Santa...

Merry Christmas to You...

Barb C.

Simply Iowa Potion....

I was working on Sweet Peg's Memory Tree...all afternoon... and there were a few things, I wanted to apply...but couldn't figure out a way to do it... I needed teeny, tiny vials...to attach, to the Tree... but...I found a really small one...that she can actually open, and on occasion, get a 'whiff' of the shop...Peg lives far away... so when she wants a little reminder....it'll be in the little bottle!{I gotta tell ya... it truly smells exactly like the shop...I love it...Peg will do her usual, over exerted, from the depths of her bowel, gaggy cough...she does when working in a Sweet Annie, Mega Dusty, Cob Webbed, Mouse Turded area...as she sniffs down memory lane...
{tee hee!}

Ingredients...

Sweet Annie...Lily of the Valley, {dried, from the Spring Sale} Moss... 2 strands of my hair... a pin and needle...{stress...hence...the hair, and pins and needles...} a tiny Christmas bead, from a Vintage Garland....{Christmas, Year 'round, ya know}.... mouse chewed candy wrapper... dust,{ from a 150 year old Farm Cupboard}... Vintage Lace Fragment... 1880's Crib Quilt Fragment...

{Simply Iowa raised, Cookie Fed, dried} Mouse Turd.

The bottle is corked, and bound, with a piece of French Toile, and a jeweled Heart...

a Perfect Simply Iowa Potion... gently shake...pop the Toile...and sniff...

I think Peg will like it...

Barb C.