Yesterday...Storm....Strange...

Son...Justin...Sold his two old fixer-upper Four Wheelers... and his Boat...and bought this New Buggy! {new to Justin!} Oh my... He's having Fun...and...I know he'll get a lot of Good out of it... John asked him..."What's the Best thing about it???"....
 Justin's reply..."It's Paid For!"....ahhhh....yep! : ) {This is John and Justin...John...Holding On...For Dear Life!!!!}
{ holy smokes!}

FLYIN"!!!! LOVE IT!!! {holy...smokes!}

After the Storm Raged...Polly and I took inventory... Everything....was...fine.....Almost...
As we were leaving the shop...I felt...something was missing....
The two...Amazing Lion Heads...that were hanging...on doors...flanking the shop...were gone....
They had...Both....fallen...to the ground....and crumbled...
See...I really don't get that...
They were 5 feet apart...on independent, free standing doors...
It struck me...as being....very...very...odd....
Everything else...was fine...things that should have been....Destroyed....by 80 mph winds....stood...fine...and two...concrete...Lions....totally independent of one another...flush mounted...were in ruins....
don't get it....

ahhhh...don't get it...
I am...Very Thankful... there was a lot...of Damage...all over...the area...we lost a tiny limb...and....some...Beautiful...Lions...
It could have been....much...worse...

It started out...as a Cloudy...Misty....Morning... and...actually...stayed cool enough...

I was Open...'til 5!

Justin brought his new Buggy...to show me! and took me for a SPIN!!!

 Love It! It makes me happy...to see him...enjoy life....so...

John and I...have worked ours...away.....it seems... 

I know...Justin...Katie...and 'J'...will have a lot of fun...when they go fishing...and camping...with this....

Life is soooo short....and...kids...grow...soooo fast...

 I'm glad...

They make... 'Fun'....a Priority...

I buttoned everything up...at 5....it kind of felt like...rain...but...it's been so long....since rain has been through...I figured... it would miss us....once again...

 But...then... as I was watching a movie.... DISH...went out... up 'til then...I had no idea... a Storm was Raging....just outside...the wall... Holy Smokes!

They said...80 mph winds.....

and...we got almost 2 inches...of RAIN!!!!YAY!!!!

Some folks...had a lot of damage...we had little....I am thankful...

Love..to ya...

Barb C.

Closed...Today...Picking up a LOAD...For the 4th of July Show...in Mt.Vernon, Iowa!!!

Don't Miss It!!!

Mark and I will be There!!!

With TREASURES!!!!

 this is the

 Annual 4th of July

Lincoln Highway

Antique Extravaganza!!!!

Open Air Market, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Rain or Shine!!! & Paved Surfaces Only!

Free Admission...and Parking!!!

Located in Historic Uptown Mt.Vernon, Iowa!

Antiques!!!!

Cafes!!!!

Shopping!!!

{and..The Best Coffee...Anywhere!!!}

FUEL!!!

COME EARLY!!!!

{Other Great Shows...and Shops...in The Area!!!}

Open...Today! 9 - 1 !!!

These Darlings....Smile at me....every time...I walk through the Old Garden Gate!
I nearly pulled them...this Spring...thought they might be a weed....but...waited to see what they would do....
Oh My! They Thank me...Everyday... for being...a Poor Weeder!

It's Raining...this morn....

a Lovely...Gentle Rain...

The Thunder...is Rumbling...in the distance...

Love...It!

I'll be here 'til....maybe later....if it doesn't gett too Steamy!

Hope to See Ya!



A Hot...Afternoon...Down the Rabbit Hole...

I spent...the Hot Morning....Tending to Critters...and Plants...I don't know...how Hot...it got....don't want to know....I do know...I felt like I was in a Sauna...while Grooming Old Scout...around 10:00 this morn...we were both dripping wet....
When I got Chores done... I worked inside the Shop... and took a few images...
It really wasn't too bad...Down the Rabbit Hole...
I keep the lights...low...and doors...shut...
It was actually...pretty relaxing....
I didn't have a Soul...through....
{I have Smart Customers...}
But...Throughly...Enjoyed....a little...Alone Time...
I'll be Open...tomorrow...
9:00 'til 1:00
It's gonna be...another...
Hot....Afternoon...
Love to Ya...
Barb C.

{excuse...any misspellings...spell check...has Quit! must be the Heat!}

This Well Coiffed....Rabbit...Sporting a Tuxedo...is a Keeper...{more coming in...} Donita...{his Creator}...said this verse...made her think of me....and hand painted it on....his Serving Tray....hmmmm...
He is.... The Rabbit Hole...Door Greeter....

Went down to visit Scout...this morn...carrying this...Wonderful Iced Coffee...{kept refilling...throughout the Hot Morning...}{I curried...and curried him...he was covered in sweat...by 10:00...I wiped him down...with...good fly spray...{flies are visious...when it's hot....and dry...they draw blood...} ran his water...over the tank...for about 10 minutes...and flushed it out...He was...Thankful....

It's....True.... : )

Don't know...if it was the Old Gnarly Chair...hanging from the ceiling....of the Rabbit Hole...or...all of the beads...I gathered...while in New Orleans...{ Bourbon Street Lady...in the Lyrics...}or....Simply...it is... a Hot....Afternoon...that brought this old song...to my mind....I remember Loving it..when it first came out....I was 12.... It will always be...one of my...All Time...Favorites...
I Love songs...that when you listen to them...you can see the story...in your mind...{this one...be it...a bit... risque'...is...a window...of sorts...to the writer's mind...a Great Story...}

I had it dark....in the shop....today...and...it actually...wasn't bad...it was...kind of...Peaceful.......

This Old Lampshade...is a keeper.... seems...fitting...for the shop...It's hard to find....ones...that....just seem...'perfect'....

a Soothing...reminder....

I have a tag....on the 5 foot tall...Angel...in the shop.... "Guardian Angel....Priceless"... A Friend... rescued Her...years ago...from a dumpster...outside of a Church....about 40 miles North...She has found a Safe...Place....Down the Rabbit Hole... Love...Her...

"Simply...to thy Cross...I Cling"....

I have had this...Big Shelf....in the shop...from almost...Day One.... He Greets Folks...as they walk in...High...Up...above a doorway....He....simply....Belongs...here....

OPEN Today...'til 1: 00

I'll be Open... 9 - 1

Today...and Friday...

Thanks!

Barb C.

{Stay Cool! Critters...too!}

I can be here...if you ring me...anytime today...

The Shop...has no air.... so it will be a bit...

Toasty!

Fire....Prayers....Rain...

I would like to ask...you... for your Prayers....for the Folks...and Critters...in Colorado...

and Surrounding States....

I know...Prayers.... work....

{So Many of You...have Shown me that...}

Rain....Rain...Rain....

I can't begin...to imagine...what they are going through...

and...Pray...You...and I...

Never will...

Thank You...

Love...to you...

Barb C.

A Trip...with Sally....

Got The Trunk...Packed Tight!

I need to pack ratchet straps...in Old Sally.... The seat belts...worked pretty well....tho! {and...Thanks...to Justin...who fixed Sally's Quarter Panel! Great Job! She had a Big...dent...when I bought her...Good as New!!!}
I was very pleased with Sally...she got nearly 30 mpg...and we cruised right along!

I took the back roads...to Illinois... Love all of the Little Towns...

Bought a Modern...Dress Form... She rode Shotgun...and had a Lovely view...of the Mighty Miss!

Picked up another...early 1900's wooden Bird Cage.... Like 'em!

I had sold...the cool old Shadow Box...that was attached to the entrance door....so...I thought this...Gnarly...Old Clock Shelf...with a Drawer...would be a perfect replacement! It Is!

Love...Love...Love...This Old Wooden Bowl... It has a tiny tin patch...I always...wonder...anymore...if these are imported...I Loved this one...enough...I really don't care... I could easily keep it...myself... {love the wire scoop...I always pick these up...when I find 'em!}

There is...Something....about.... Old Hand Turned Stoneware... this old Darling has a few chips...and even...a tiny hole...in it's side.... but...I couldn't leave it behind...it is so Old... {mid to late 1800's...} and...wasn't a million dollars... so...it made it's way home...with the rest of the Old Gnarly Treasures...gathered...and packed...into Old Sal...

This is a Modern...Wire Dress Form....{10 to 15 years old...I would guess...} She's covered in lights... I had to have her....She's Just a Fun...Girl!

From what I was told..This is...Very Old...{ I have never seen one...The Clerk told me... there were two others that had just sold...to another dealer...one with the original...old...old..lable......} I think it's Way Cool! It holds a candle... Sweeeet!
{in a Gnarly...Grungy...sort of way!}

I bought several Old Letters....from the 1820's to the 1870's.... Love 'em!

Stopped at Jumer's Castle Lodge....{my Happy Place...in Iowa... : ) } on my way home...for supper...

It's...such a Treat...it truly is...

I always sit...in a Big...Tufted Highback Chair...in the Lower Dining Room......and have this...Beautiful Cupboard...as my Guest.... Love It!

The Food...is Incredible... and no more expensive...than any chain...But...Look at what you get! A Beautiful Atmosphere....Excellent Service.... Amazing...Food....{I took half home...for John...} The Garlic Mashed Potatoes...are Over The Top! The Chocolate Seduction Cake...will Blow Your Mind...{I ate Every Bite...of That! So Sorry...John...but those are the perks...for Being There!!!} They have Lovely....Music....it's....Wonderful!

And...as you  see...You Must Be Properly Dressed.... {oh my...just as it is...at Michael's...in Rochester....it doesn't matter...how you are dressed...{if you think these old jeans look ruff.... you should have seen my HAIR!....I looked  like the Red Headed Witch of the West!!!! Holy Smokes!} and yet...they wouldn't have treated me any better...had I been wearing an Evening Gown... I Love this place....

As I jumped in Sally...for the trip home... I heard something....something....very strange.... it was Locusts....or...Cicadas....I couldn't believe my ears.... That's a sign.....a sign....Six weeks...'til Frost.... I called my Southern Iowa Farmer Friends....Lynn and Lea.... To my surprise...they also heard them...yesterday....This Is June!!!! They don't start singing 'til August!!! Scary....

It was a Lovely Day....Found some Fun Stuff....Saw...some Beautiful.....Countryside... I'm So Glad...That Coin said...Go! Go! Go!

Hope You had a Lovely Day...as Well!

Barb C.

The Color...Purple... {Sun Colored Amethyst}

Sun Colored Amethyst...
Old...Old...Old...
{tho...like all good things...it has been reproduced....}
These are the Real Deal...
Not all glass...will turn Purple...over the years...
Only the ones...with Manganese in the glass...{put in...the glass...from around 1880 until the teens...I have read...} to make it clear...
 Manganese is sensitive...to ultra violet rays...from the Sun...so...with exposure...over the years...it has turned purple...
I have always been fascinated by it... I have seen Lightning Rod Balls... That are...Stunning!

I escaped...Yesterday...

I rarely eat meat...but...sometimes..I get a Craving...for BBQ...

I was watching the Food Channel...with the BBQ Competitions...night before last...

I knew a trip to Cedar Falls, Iowa... Famous Dave's....was in my future...

{Either that...or a trip to Memphis....John Hardy's "Interstate BBQ"....

{oh dear...holy smokes....Allyson and I Loved It!!!}

So...gave Sally a Bath... and bailed in! It's about 60 miles North....

{a little closer...than Memphis...but...well...I would have to say....it's worth the trip! I could be there...in a day...I really had to think about it...I truly...did... : )}

Just as I got to my turn....to go West....only 10 miles from Famous Dave's... I got a Wild Hair!

Headed East...another 65 miles...to see Kathy... at Plaza Antique Mall...in Dyersville, Iowa...

It had been way too long...between visits...

I Love Kathy...and her Family...She does So Much...with the Cancer Society...and was such a Support...this year...concerning...Pegadoo....

The Mall...looks Amazing...Totally Full Up!

I found several Soulful Treasures....and had a Lovely Visit!

Sally and I burned up a lot of fuel...but...we sure enjoyed the Beautiful...Iowa...Day!
{and...doubling back...{only...a hundred and thirty miles...out of my way...: ) } to Famous Dave's...was worth it... It's not "Interstate BBQ".... but...it's pretty darned...good!}
{when I get a Craving....get outta my way!}

Hope You...had a Lovely One...as well...

Barb C.

{my head is spinning... do I get work done.... or head for the Hills...hmmm...Heads...for the Hills... Tails...work...}

Plaza is Located...on Hi way 20, near Dubuque... easy...to find!

I Adore....This Book! I intend to read it...before it goes down the Rabbit Hole... It's about the Childhood....of  a woman growing up...in the mid, to late 1800's.....it was published, in 1901.... Good Reading! A Lovely Window...into the 1800's.... Love It!

Tho...it was based in New England....It Sounds...Like Iowa...to Me! {click images...to enlarge...}

As I captured this image...I saw the word...'Purple'... hmmm... {after, I had titled the post} hmmm...Must be my Word...for the day!

Can't wait to read this book!

I found these darling Treasures....at Plaza, yesterday...the Mirror on Stand...is from the turn of the last...Century...and..is Very... Gnarly.... Nicky Looks...So Sweet...in it!

Love...Nursery Rhyme...Anything!
 These are The Three Bears...and Tom, The Piper's Son... The Pigs...get me...Every Time! Love 'em!
These are late 1800's...one...from Germany...the other...American...Both...Sweeet!

I Swear...It Was Heads! {and...I only flip...once...that's the rule... : )} I'll get a few...chores done...then...It's Me...and Sally! On The Road...Again!
 Hi-yo Silver....Away!!!! {A Fiery Horse...a Cloud of Dust!!!! and a Mighty.... Hi-yo... Silver!!! Away!!!!}
Oh my.... I have been hangin' 'round the Rabbit Hole...toooo...Long!
{hmmm...Old Sally...is...silver...in color...and...the way...I look...this morn...I really do...need a mask... Yikes! Maybe...a Big...Gaudy Pair of Sunglasses!!! oh...yeah....: )}
Have a Grrrrreat Day!

Things...with... "Heart"...

After eating breakfast...this morn... I thought about...what I was going to post, today....

Yesterday...was a pretty quiet day...Had a few folks...pop in...Liz...and Miss. Scarlett....

Then...it hit me...

Everything...that transpired, yesterday...revolved around... "Heart"... and things...that make my heart swell...

A man, met me at the shop...as I was opening... he looked familiar... as we began to visit...he told me, he and his wife....always stopped on their trip, across country... {they are from Washington State...near, where my Sister, Merry Jo, and her family live...} He said...How Much...They Enjoyed the little shop... His wife...wasn't with...this time....she had, sadly...passed away... last Fall... His heart...was heavy...I could feel the grief...surrounding him... He said...he had to continue 'Gathering'...because, they both enjoyed it so...and..he feels close to her...when he finds...the things she loved, so......

I told him...the story....about my Dad... and...when we least expect it... they give us a 'wink'... from the other side...and...the Good News...is...we'll All be together again...one day...when our Journey, here is through....and...how...we must...enjoy....every moment...as we both know....it's a short one...and...Today...is all we have....

I shared the 'Heart'....story...with him...

When Dad passed away... it was Friday, the thirteenth of February...25 years ago....

I had baked him a Heart shaped cake, and took it to him, with his lunch....on the 12th...

{Dad was involved in a fire, that caused an Aneurysm, while he was trying to put it out...that night...}

After the fire...I was in charge, of going to the scene... and get Dad's things in order...

I sent John...I couldn't go...

{I couldn't go near that area...for several years...}

When John returned...he said everything was burned, beyond recognition... but.. then, he said...

" The strangest thing tho...in the center of the building...was a half eaten Heart shaped cake... that was sitting there...like someone had just set it there...it hadn't been touched by the fire..."...

 John had no idea, I had taken that to Dad...

After that...when I'd find myself...least expecting... sometimes...when I was as down...as I could be.... out of nowhere...and...from a fragment...maybe...of some little thing...there...would be a 'Heart'...

A gentle reminder...I am not...alone...

I told Andy....{the kind...man...} to pay attention...he, too... would see...gentle...little reminders...

I think... he felt a little better...when he left... I hope so...

As the day...went on...a Sweet Girl...from Nebraska...popped in...

She has stopped with every trip, visiting her Grandparents...and is Fascinated...by the Old Fountain...This was the first time I had met her... she stops...it seems...when I'm out and about...

We had a Lovely visit...she took images of the Fountain....and...said...how much...she Loves...

"This Place"....

{the Soulfulness}

It's not about the Stuff...{I don't think..she's big...into Antiques...} it's about....the feel...

I had to agree... The Old Fountain...always greets....and...has become, a 'World'...of it's own...all...alone... I simply put water in it...and...it 'Lives'....

I told her...the story...of Christmas Day...many years ago... and how...I always think...Christmas...should be like a 'Norman Rockwell' Painting...and never is... and..that Christmas Day...was no different... Things had been said...during Christmas Dinner... that were painful... I excused myself... and found my way, down the Rabbit Hole...

I started cleaning out the Old Fountain... I had it dressed for the Holidays... with Pine Cones...and Evergreen...branches...as I pulled them out...something in the water moved! It startled me! I jumped back...then, peeked in the water...to see...three little Fish... and a feeling came over me...

 "There is Life!"....

The little Fish...had, I think...been brought in...months earlier...in water plants.... but...what a gift...they were to me... That Christmas Day...when...I was at such...a dark...place...

{It brings tears...to my eyes...even...today...{and...yesterday...as I shared the story...}

The Old Fountain...is...a 'Soulful Treasure'...to me...

a reminder... There is...Life...

Liz...and Miss. Scarlett... popped out...as well...

It was so Great...seeing them... I love watching Scarlett....as she "Sees'... things...for the very first time...

Children...are Priceless...

It was late afternoon...Scarlett was fascinated...by the Big Fountain...outside... and...she Soooo Loves...Miss Piggy! {The Sow} She pets her...and hugs her...as if she is real....

Liz was walking around the yard...in front of the shop...and said..."What's this?"... and handed me...a Shark's Tooth...fossil... in...the shape...of a Heart...

How a Shark's Tooth...Fossil...found it's way...to the Rabbit Hole... I'm sure...is quite a story....in itself...

but...to me...another 'wink'....on my...Journey...

Love to ya..

Barb C.

Miss. Scarlett...and...Miss. Piggy.... Priceless....

Scarlett Roared!!! When Liz made the 'Piggy' Sound!!!

The Hollyhocks...are in Bloom... They are such...'Free Spirits'... and pop up...and Smile... where They...want to...
 Love 'em....

This Old...Cupboard...has been in the house...for 20 years...I'll never forget the day...the Kids and I brought it home....From an old Farm... near Cluttier, Iowa...
Talk about Heart....
 An Elderly Farm couple...had taken us...to three of their Farms...they had lived there...all of their lives... they showed us...all sorts of Oak furniture...they had, throughout their lives...and was ready to sell...
I never was, much into...factory made furniture...So..I asked if they had anything...Pine...and with paint...{They thought I was Crazy..."who would want Old Painted stuff?" } The Woman asked...her husband...where the Old Cupboard was...that was in their house, when they got married...{over 60 years prior, at that time} "Oh...that old thing?...it's in the shed...at the other Farm... the Boy...stores his oil, in it...." We made our way...to another Old Farm...and when I saw this...in the Shed...I melted....It's a big...stepback....Cupboard... I Loved...the paint...and told them so.... The Elderly Woman...said... "I remember...that cupboard...so well... I remember...sitting...in the Kitchen...feeding my little girl...at the breakfast table...as my Mother in Law...painted it white....that was the year...my little girl died"....oh my.....I stood there...looking...at my...Little Children...and felt such...sorrow...for her....I could see... those moments...in her eyes...The Happy Ones...at The Breakfast Table....Then...the Horrible...Loss....
It's...no wonder...these Old Pieces...feel...so Soulful... they have been exposed...to many....'Journeys"....

This...was a Beautiful Mid 1800's Compote... that...even...in pieces...I can't bare...to throw away...it rests...on the Old Cupboard's...work surface...

The tiny...Heart..'Winks'... I have gathered...over the years...

The Old Fountain...A 'World'...of it's own....

Some...may see a Shark's Tooth... ahhh...but to me... It's...All...Heart... {wink}