Kenny Chesney - Wild Child

Wild Children... May God... Bless 'em.

My Pal, Brandon... sent a message last night...asking if I was heading to What Cheer....today.

I'd thought about it... but... there is so much, coming down... I didn't know if I was going to go.

Then... I thought... why not. : )

Miss. Scarlett...Liz... Brenton.... {one of Liz's 'Angels'... }bailed in The Old Gypsy...
with Brandon... and myself...
 this Morning.

{Climbed...Up...and In... : ) }

We all... Bounced Down the Road..... to What Cheer. : )

It was so Great... seeing Everyone.

Always...is. : )

I Love What Cheer.... 

Free Spirited... Gypsies..... are abound. <3 

I...really don't need a thing... but gathered a nice load. : ) 

The Best... 'Thing'... I Gathered... were Smiles.... from such Wonderful.... People.
Free Spirited....
 'Wild.... Children'.....

: ) : ) : ) 

Love to ya...

Barb C.

{ Many Trucks were still pulling in...

 The What Cheer Flea Market runs through Sunday.... : ) }
{Google It.... You'll get all of the info. : )
You'll have a Good Time.... there. : ) }

{ Love... Love... Love... the Song...... I posted above.

oh my... 

I dedicate it to...

 All... of The Beautiful...

 'Wild Children'...

 I have been so Very Blessed.... to Know.....
 have Known...
 and...

been Loved... by.... throughout my life.  }

my little 'treasures'... of the day.
What is it... about these... Old... Gnarly... Toy Trucks?
oh my....
: )
They.... 'Melt' my heart. : )

yes....
There is.... No Place.... like... Home.
the rabbit hole
{I always..... seem to wander.... trying to 'find'... inspiration.
yet...
when I get 'Home'... I find... there truly... is No Place... like Home. : ) } 

Gnarly... Old Bikes....
Vintage... Wheels.....
and... a
Stairway....to Heaven.
: )

Handmade.... Planters....
 {The Ladies... who made these... and planted them up...were soooooo..... Precious.}

Daughter, Liz....
She put this shed up for me.... the other day... all by herself. : )
She is.... her Father's Daughter. <3
I looked at her... yesterday... and Thanked her. : )
Thanked her... for Never Leaving my Side.
When I look through the phone.... and the numbers.... that have called....
Hers... is there... 10 to 1. <3
: )
oh my.... What a Gift.... She has been... in my life. <3 <3 <3 

Peg gave me these paintings... a while back.
She did them... in 1977.
oh my.
oh.....my.
: )
I'd say... the Girl... has Talent. : )
I have been so...very Blessed... to Love...
and have been Loved... by the  Most...... Amazing...Artists.
John.... had such a Gift..... too.  : )
They, are Free Spirits....
'Wild.... Children'....
I, can't begin... to put into words... how they Inspire me.
{and... the Best Ones... are so Humble. oh my. } 

Liz, Miss Scarlett and me....went to visit The Farmer's Wife... the other day.
I have been wanting to get there...for years.
It's Darling. : )
I found this bottle of Wine... that is made near Anamosa, Iowa.
It was Very Good.
: )
{I...Love the Label. : ) }

As the Girls... were leaving.... I walked them out....
we were Showered... by This Amazing.... Rainbow. : ) 

I caught a little flack.... over the height.... of the Old Gypsy... today.
But...
not too much. : )
These Folks....... 'Get It'...
What a Gift.... that... is. : )
{I told my 'Riders'... on the way Home....
 "I think.... The Old Gypsy.... is Happy.... in her new Home. : )
She... just.... seems to 'fit'.... " ... <3
Guess... there is something.... about being Too Big... or...Too Small...
down...
the rabbit hole. : )
However...
Those who dwell there... never seem to notice. : )  } 

Almost Home

Summer... down the rabbit hole.

I spent the HOT weekend.... working down the rabbit hole....
oh my...
it's quite a sight.
The last two sales.... took me in other direction....{Tents...Gazebo... Yard... and... several road trips... to gather things, that had to be gathered... THEN. }
 Thankfully Peg...and Liz.... {Katie, too...} did their best... to pull the rabbit hole up....  oh my.
{I nearly... locked the doors... but, I thought people would rather 'dig'.... than be locked out. }
yes....
It's quite a sight.
Indeed.
: )
but... little by little.... I'm gittin' 'er done. : )
The Currier and Ives picture, above.... always reminds me of this time of year.
'Little Daisy'... : )
I Love these Old... {late 1800's {1860's and 70's..} pieces.....for two reasons.....
One... They are all hand colored.
They came out... black and white.... then women, children.... and Folks... who couldn't work on their feet.... {older Folks...or...ones who had physical problems....}
would each have a color.... these would be passed along.....
One person might only paint blue.... another... red.
They are reproduced.... so.... you have to look closely at them....
If you see the paint.... outside the lines.... : ) then you know.... it was hand done. : )
<3
The 2nd.
My Friend, Eudora.... collected these too.
I remember visiting with her... about these. : )
There are MANY... Currier and Ives Paintings and Prints.
Eudora... collected 'The Littles'.... : )
Like... the one above.
They were all Children....
Very... Wonderful. : )
I...sure... Miss... her. <3
I'm working outside... today.
I took the day off... yesterday... didn't do a thing. : )
I...think...working in the heat all weekend... kinda sucked me dry.
oh my... I was wiped out... yesterday.
It's gonna be 'slow and easy'...today.
I'll do what I can do... then... sit under the Old Oak....
for a bit.
It's gonna be another Hot and Steamy one.
Love to ya...
Barb C.

Just brought in this Huge.... Cloche..
My Friend, Jo.... had it in her Home...for Years.
When I bought it from her... she said... "I've always Loved That... didn't think I'd ever get rid of it....."
{She's moving to Kentucky... }
I said... "I Love it too... ! <3 ".....
she said...
"You should... I got it from YOU!!!"
oh my....
my memory... is... Toast... : )
but, thankfully... not my 'taste'... in Good... Things! : )

Love This....
It has a big chip... in it... : )
but... it should. : )
It's a Child's Plate.... from the late 1800's.

This Painting..... is something I found for someone.... many years ago.
She had it in her home for a long time.
Then... a few years ago... she had a sale... and, to my surprise... was selling it.
I Bought it.
Had to... it fascinates me.
: )
This is a painting...done in the late 1800's using an 1850's Ironstone Platter... for the 'canvas'... : )
The platter... is cracked... and repaired.
Then... it was framed.
: )
oh my....
simply... soulful.
I, nearly brought it in the house... to keep... but... decided to offer it for sale... instead.
It's one of those things... like so many... down the rabbit hole... I really don't care... if it ever sells.
: )
{no wonder... why I struggle... : )  hahahahaha. }

It's such a beautiful... painting..... and... being able to see...the old platter.... through the worn areas.... makes it even better.
: )
I so... Love... Vintage... Ironstone.

This is a Majolica Rabbit. : ) {Match Holder... }
Seems I've had many Rabbits.... of every shape and size.... find their way...down the rabbit hole... of late.
: )
This Bunny.... and the Rooster, in second to the top photo... came from a Dear Friend's Collection.
These date from the late 1800's.... and are so.... whimsical...
I have had a Majolica Pitcher... for years... one, of the first pieces... I was Really Excited about....
I bought it at an Estate Sale... for 5.00 : ) {I was in my 20's.... }
Majolica.... is so Over the Top... and has so much going on..... : )
It makes me...smile. : )

I've also... been gathering late 1800's Children's Tea Sets....
Odd pieces... from here and there.
: )
They seem so Happy... when they are all... Piled together. : )

When Peg was here... in May... she set this display...
{one of several... : ) }
: )
 on 'Maggie's' Sofa.
{The Darling Little Sofa, I gave Liz... many years ago...
 it's a Louis the 15th Style...and sooooo sweet!}
One day Liz came home... to find... Maggie, her Beloved Pup...at the time...
had used it for a 'Chew Toy'.... : (
It had been in John's Shop...for the last few years....
We were always going to do something... with it.... : )
We never did... I couldn't bare... to pitch it... so.... now it resides... down the rabbit hole. : ) }
It was completely buried.... after the last two sales.
When I began picking things up....this last week....
I had seen Peg's recent 'Touches'... : )
{I worked everywhere... but... down the rabbit hole....preparing for the May Sale... Peg worked her Magic.... there. }
She'd taken the Nests... and put them in picture frames....
and... put the little Cow Bank... on the little shelf...
then, like Peg....
she...tastefully.... sprinkled everything..... in vintage lace. <3
: )
I had to preserve it.... : )
I called her... and told her... how... Much.... I Miss her. <3 and.. see her... Everywhere...
down the rabbit hole. : )

Just found these Darling... Teeny Tiny.... early 1900's Watch Part Boxes....
They have tiny little vials... inside them... with... even a few remnants....of Tinier... little watch parts... : )

I had...to work with The Elves.
oh my...
They have been so 'Gone Through'.... they looked like they had been in Miami on Spring Break!!!!
I helped 'em back on their feet again..... : )
oh my...
Those Elves... Do... know How to Party....
{Who Knew?... : ) }

Rascal Flatts - I Won't Let Go (Lyrics)

More.... Shenanigans.... : )

I kept working on the Old Grandfather Clock... today.

{had the shop Open...too. }

{The rabbit hole... is a Disaster... but....

I figured... the mess... will be there... tomorrow. : ) }

I am Obsessed with getting the Old Clock... Running.

Perfectly.

{I KNOW it will....}

 Those Weight Driven Clocks... that were made in the early 1800's...to mid... 

are Work Horses....

They Don't Quit.

{kind of like the 7.3 Diesel... Ford had.... from '99 to '03 }

Even after my Clock Man... quit....

I couldn't give up.

I...Know... these amazing... movements.

so.....

I messed around.... with it... 

{shenanigans.... : ) }

until... the Old Clock's Heart...started Beating..... 

that was my Gift... for the day... : )

Along... with all of the Folks... who popped in....

and...

didn't mind the messes... or... the heat. 

{it's pretty Toasty... down the rabbit hole... these days. }

The Old Clock... is still going to need some tweakin'.....

but...

like I Always Knew.... : )

He's gonna make it. : )

It was such a Gift... to hear his Heart.. Beat.

I'm going to be open... 12 'til 4... tomorrow.

Hope to see ya.... : )

Barb C.
{The Old... Clock... doesn't belong to me. It belongs to a Friend.... who bought it Many years ago.... from the Estate... of the Secretary of War... who served under Herbert Hoover... briefly.
{He lived in Cedar Rapids }
yes... this.... Old... Clock... has had quite a Journey.
I... understand that. : ) I...Admire... That. <3 : )
I have had offers.... on the Old Clock....
a few hundred dollars.
oh...my.
oh...my.
: )
Have you Any....Idea.... how Painful... it is... to hear that. : )
It's not.... going to happen.
This Old Clock... deserves... Better.
I am pricing it at 1200.00 {a Steal....}
{If it never Runs.}
If... I were a Wealthy Woman.... {monetarily}
This Clock.... would be in our Home. }
The Fact is....
If I saw This Clock... at a Show... for 12,000 dollars....
it wouldn't surprise me. }

Thich Nhat Hanh on Compassionate Listening | Super Soul Sunday | Oprah W...

San Francisco - Scott McKenzie

Shenanigans..... : )

The Shop will be Open Saturday...

11 'til 4. 

{such as it is. : ) }

Instead of Cleaning....

I worked on this Old, Old.... 

Grandfather Clock.

: )

{Just got the movement back today. : )

My Clock Guy.... kind of gave up.... on this Old Soul....

Not Me. : )

He's Tryin'... to Go.... : )

He Will.. Run. <3 {I Know It. : ) } 

As Daughter, Liz... would say...

"Shenanigans!!!"...

So... the rabbit hole... Is What It Is... : )

My Friend, Mark.... is having a Sale... 

at his 'rabbit hole'... : ) in Norway, Iowa...

{on the Main Street }

only 8 miles West...of here. 

Stop and Visit us... if you're out and about! 

Love to ya...

Barb C.

{ just found the Top.... video.. tonight....

I can't begin to tell you.... how very Much.... it Touched me.

I remember...vividly... sparing with Dr.'s.... concerning my Mom....

saying....

"You are 'listening'... but not 'Hearing'...."

It is soooo Frustrating... when your 'Voice'... falls on deaf... ears.

I Hope....you'll watch it. : ) }

yeah......

{Shenanigans.... : ) }

{I have been Blessed.... by so Many... throughout my Life.... that have

 had this Gift.

Deep... Compassionate.... 'Listening' <3

I...guess... I'm Spoiled. : )

Makes me Think....

Maybe...

We All... Should Strive.... to 'Be'....

This. <3}

Flatt & Scruggs - "Foggy Mountain Breakdown"

Old... Trucks, Cigarettes...and Homemade Wine. 'Simply Iowa' ... in a Nutshell.

Found my way down the rabbit hole... today.
: )
Hope...to have the doors Open... this Saturday and Sunday.
{stay tuned. : ) }

The last few weeks.... have been a bit... insane.

: )

I heard...again, today... folks have been wondering... where I've been.

{Thanks... for Thinkin' of me... and Mine. <3 }

Seems my world... has revolved around... picking up.... cleaning up... 

book work.... yard work.... 

Peg... is having a hard time...

: (

oh my... 

 My Polly... is also.......... not well.

{Liz lost her Beloved...'Benny'... in the midst... He was The Best... Hound. oh my... }

then...here I am.... playing with Old Toys....

Old...Trucks... 

Little ones... and Big...ones.

I spend my quiet hours... thinking... and processing.

oh my.

John's Birthday... was the 19th. 

Liz bought me several of The Sopranos dvd's... 

{John and I...Never... Missed an episode... or...a re run. 

I haven't watched it...for over a year.}

We watched them....

and... ate John's Favorite Pizza.... along with Ice Cold Coke. 

: )

It was His... Day. : ) : ) : ) 

I'd posted many images of John... on fb on his Birthday.

Some...I had posted last year.

I didn't know... the captions I had written...would also be attached.

A Woman....... responded.... who had just lost her 'Beloved'... 7 weeks ago....

thinking... I had just lost John.

She... said how Broken... she was... and didn't quite know... how to help me... because she... couldn't find her own feet.

{oh my... }

I then, explained to her.... John had passed away... a year ago... May.

and... Sadly....

I...too... was unable... to shine a light... for her.

The only advise I have....

 "One Day... at a Time." 

The Truth....

If I didn't have to get out of bed... I wouldn't.

If... 

I didn't have so many....

 and so much... riding on my shoulders....

: )

You'd...

 Never.... 

See

 Me.

but... 

I've come to the 'Understanding'... I have to Function...

during the day.

I... can do that.

: )

Those who don't 'know' ....

'won't'.

: )

I visited with a Wonderful... Couple... from Fairfax, they called me to look at some things... they wanted cleaned out of their garage.

: )

They have been Married for over 60 years.

<3

They knew John. : )

{better than they know me. }

after all the 'dealing' was done....

we began to visit.

They asked... exactly what had happened... 

: )

oh my...

I made it through.... almost... 

without.... melting... completely.... to the ground.

They... Understood.

{few do. } 

As I told the Mrs. 

When John... slipped away.... so did... half of myself.

She said... her Mother said the very same thing....

when her Father... went 'Home'. 

She said....

"They buried half of me... today. "

yep...

They both... worried... about 'the day'... they, too... would go through this.

I WISH.... I could be more of a Beacon............

I...think... maybe... that's part... of why.... 

'If it's not 'Business'.... I'm not... 'Home'

I really... don't want to be around... Friends.

not... this way. : (

'Sale Time'...

'Show Time'...

I Got Ya...Covered!

: ) 

yes... 

I'll git 'er done. <3

but... 'my'...

'our'...

time....

'Memories'

are...

all I have.... left. 

I...don't want to... bring this... darkness... and sorrow... 

to Friends... who... all... have their own... 

Crosses... to Bear.

{we all.... do.... 

Every Single... One of Us.  }

I don't want to see Folks.... unless... we can Laugh..... together.

: )

I spoke with a Dear Friend... today... 

She has been such a 'Gift'

Angel....

........ oh my.

She said... "I wonder, in 5 years... what our conversation will be...."

{she.... has been down a Very....similar path. }

Well.... 

: )

I... pretty much know. 

I...think... she does too. 

John's name still comes up on her caller id.

 It always will. : )

Her Husband's name... still comes up... on my phone... too....

It's been.... Years... for my... Friend. : )

<3 

{and... if... you didn't 'Know'... you wouldn't. 

What a Woman. }  

She is Someone... I have Admired... from the Moment... I met her.

nearly...

20 years ago. 

{Maybe More... I Lose Track... these days. : ) }

She reminded me... Instantly... of  Katherine Hepburn.

I met her...shortly after she lost her... 'Beloved'....

{She is also...Passionate... about 'Old Soulfulness'... <3

yes....

These 'Old Souls'...

'Antiques'...

 have introduced me.... to the Most... Beautiful People.

One reason... I am... so Passionate... about them...also. : ) } 

It was when she was selling some of her.... Wonderful... Treasures... 

and moving.... in to her new Home.

I imagined... then... they'd  had a

 Hepburn / Tracy... kind of Love. <3 

She... is.... an Inspiration. 

I never knew... how Much... of an 'Inspiration'... until this last Year. 

I am Blessed....

The Lord... has sent me such... Beautiful... Angels....

Angels... that 'Keep' us... in their Prayers.

Thank You.

Thank...

You.

May God... Bless You All....

: )

all I can do...

for now....

is..

Thank You.

 but know...

 None of You... are far from me.

and... I Don't forget....

 'Kindness'.... 

Love to ya...

Love.

 To You.

: )

Barb C.

Grandma... Bought a Big Truck.
'Gypsy'...
 : )
I HAD to find a Truck... to pull the Trailer.
The FUSO... is Great... but... I can't do shows alone... Up and Down... out of the Big Box Truck.
John sold my Ford... several years ago....  I have nothing to pull the trailer...
that...I CAN... easily {: ) } unload... alone.
I was borrowing Katie's Truck.... every time... I needed the Trailer.
Liz's car... is on it's last leg... so... I thought... I'd buy a Truck... she can use it... and when I have to pull... she can use Sally. : )
{and... yes... Miss. Scarlett can Climb Up.... All By Herself.... : )
Guess... there are some things.... you are simply... Born with... in this... Family. <3
Climbing Up... in Big.. Old... Ford Trucks..... yup....
That... is a Beautiful.... Gift.
What an Attribute.... : )
{Grandma... doesn't look so graceful..... but... I git'er done. : )  }

I have Hunted... Like a Coon Hound... for This Truck....
for MONTHS.
I had a Very Specific... List.
Ford.
1999 to 2003
{the only years... with THIS motor }
7.3 Power Stroke Diesel...
{They Run a Million Miles... {literally...}
3/4 ton to 1 ton
6 Speed.
Period...
{with a very limited budget. }
I found this one.... with most Everything... I needed....
Deep.... in Southern Iowa.
sadly...
It's an automatic... {: ( }
but...
It has a 6 Inch Lift!!!!
: ) : ) : )
Just like my '79 Ford!!!!
: ) : ) : )
and...
the Nice man... kept the price... within my budget. <3
oh my.
{These Ford 7.3 Trucks.... are Insane.
No one... wants to part with them.... when they do.... oh my.
 I knew... I'd have a lot of money out... to get the Old Gypsy... on her Feet.
New Tires... Batteries... Lock Outs.... U Joints....
and... a custom... drop hitch... : )
Some day... when I have money... 'STACKS'!!! and.. Body Work!
: )
A Guy tried to sell me a bumper when I was hunting tires....
I said...
"No Thanks... : ) 'Pretty'... doesn't pay the Bills. : ) "....
{tires... do. }
Thanks.... so MUCH...to Son, Justin... without his Help... I never could have made this... happen.
He Is... a Genius.... when it comes to these Ford... Trucks.
<3 <3 <3
{Finding... and Driving... This Truck...... has been the most fun.... I've had... in a Long... Long... Time. : )
I Thank... Justin... for making That... Happen. <3 }

The Nice... Couple... in Fairfax.... had several clean gallon jugs... sitting on a table in their Garage....
The Mr. asked me... if I was interested in them....too... : ) He said they were filled with Homemade Wine.... : )
I said...
"Only... when they are Full!"
The Mrs. said.... to the Mr. ....
"Go Get her a Jug!!!"...
{I about Fell Over! }
It's so Pretty.... I almost... can't drink it. : )
{Almost. : ) }
{Miss. Scarlett was looking at this jug tonight...
The Sunlight... coming through the window... through it.... }
she turned to me and said....
"Grandma... This Is So.... Pretty!"...
{She has quite an Eye. <3 }

My Wish

Thanks....So Much!

Thanks So Much...

to All... who Contributed... to this July Sale.

: )

It was a Success.... 

indeed. : )

This is one.... pile.... that was gathered Quickly.... on Day 1.
oh my....
{Glenn Miller and his Darling Daughter... Carly... were Fast...
The sale was  was picked.... pretty... clean... : )
Thank You. : ) }

I was going to capture a few images....this morning...

but... there...truly... isn't much to see.

We were Blessed.... in so many ways...

The Weather... was PERFECT.

Not a drop of rain... all four days.

BLESSING!!!!

Had Amazing Shoppers.... that were Truly... Fast on their Feet!!!

Had the Best... Helpers.... : )

A Special Thanks... to Kate H. and Dale B.

Kate took care... of us all.... : )

 Dale B. ... came early... and Played... his Fiddle... for us.

What a Special... Gift... they were. <3

Liz, Katie... Lynn and Lea.... oh my...

: )

Dale F.... Tom...  and Dave J.  also brought some things... and helped out!

yes... it was all... Good.

{Even had some Goodies... from a Wisconsin Angel... left our our door... <3 }

: )

oh my.....

I... have fallen down the rabbit hole.

 : )

Have to get books done...  things picked up... and put away.

The 'rabbit hole'... is in 'NEED'... 

desperately....

{I almost kept the doors locked to the rabbit hole.... but...I knew..

Folks wouldn't have been happy... so... we let 'em dig. : ) }

I'm beyond... exhausted... and don't think... I can say when... 'the rabbit hole'...will reopen.

The house... is also... a disaster. 

I have to make some sense.... of our own 'Nest'...

 and... somehow...find my feet.... before I can go much further.

: )

Thanks, Again!!!

To Everyone... Who Helped!!!... Attended!!! Shared  Business!!!!.... 

We sent Folks... Everywhere...too. : ) : ) :  )

There was Great Antiquing... within an Hour... radius of here...

oh my. : )

Love to ya...

Barb C.

{I'll post the dates.... when the rabbit hole... has found it's feet again. : ) }

{Thanks... So Much... to my Little Friend from Santa Fe... 

: )

and her Fam. : ) <3 }

oh my....

Sale...

Day One...

was insane.

: )

{there is Still  TONS... of Amazing Stuff...but..

Tons.. went out.}

Daughter, Liz... captured a video... of when the Gates Opened...

this Morn...

: )

I can't seem to post it here...

so...

check out 

'Simply Iowa'...on Facebook.

You will... chuckle.

I did.

<3

Love to ya...

Hope to see ya...

Sale Opens at 8... in the Morn.

: )

Barb C.