Saturday....in St. Louis!

Allyson had the Hammer Down...

Headed to The Missouri Baking Company, on 'The Hill', in St. Louis, from Hannibal!

That little Girl....Loves her Sugar!!! : ) : ) : ) 

It was Crazy Busy, all through the Neighborhood!!!

Cars parked Everywhere!

The Traffic, was INSANE! 

I told Allyson, that Folks who live there, have to learn to be Courteous, and...Patient!!!

Crazy!!!

Allyson knew Exactly what she wanted!

but...

had to try a couple Intriguing....

little Delicacies. 

: )

The Architecture...was Darling, throughout 'The Hill'.

Could've spent All Day, just taking Pictures! 

but...

We Were Starved!

Went to 'Mama's' Italian Restaurant for Lunch!

It was Amazing!

I Really...wanted a Big Glass of Wine, with Lunch...

as, most everyone else was, enjoying Wine, with theirs, but....

I knew I wouldn't have much 'Spunk', if I started sippin' Vino, in the early afternoon. 

: )

Allyson asked me if I wanted anything from The Bakery, earlier.

I, said 'no', at first....

then, I said...

Yes!

A 'Cannoli'!!!

John, and I.... LOVED watching The Sopranos.

I, remember John saying....on several occasions, 

"All these People do...Is Eat!!!"

{Why Not??? Italian Food Is Incredible!!! }

They LOVED 'Cannoli', on The Sopranos, and...I always wondered what they were like.

So, Allyson and I, shared a Cannoli, after Lunch!

Allyson, wasn't too crazy about it.

I, on the hand... : )

Loved It!

: )

Maybe, partially... because of  the fond memories...of watching The Sopranos, with John.

<3 

and, I kinda like 'Sugar'...too. ; ) 

We Totally Flew by The Seat of Our Britches, on this Excursion.

So...did a little checkin' around, about where to go, while in St. Louis.

: )

When I saw 'Jon ' Paul'

oh...dear.

: )

Bling!!! Bling!!! Bling!!!

: )

We headed for Their Door!

Holy Smokes!!!

HEAVEN!!!

I've Never Seen So Many Awesome Chandeliers....

in One Place....

in my Life!!!!

Hundreds...and Hundreds of The Most Beautiful

CHANDELIERS!!!!

Dating from The 1700's to Modern!!!

They let us go through their Storage, and Workshop!!!

Oh My GOSH!!!

It was AWESOME!!!

This Chandelier....dates from The 1700's!

Who Knew???

We got a quick lesson, on how to tell...

but, for myself, 

I think it would still...be very difficult, at a glance, to tell....once they've been electrified.

The Proprietor, knows at a Glance. 

; )

That, comes with time, and experience...I suppose.

WOW!!!

I was So Impressed, by his Knowledge!

I IMMEDIATELY  Fell in LOVE...

With This!!!

{Above}

I, knew right away, This...had come from some sort of a Theater!!!

It's Gnarly... and Massive!!!

Also...

Sold.

: (

The Proprietor, is completely restoring it, for the New Owner.

{They do Tons, of Restoration. Amazing. }

Allyson, and I...spent several hours, at Jon 'Paul.

Everyone, was so Kind.

: ) 

What a Wonderful...

Treat!!!

Allyson bought this Amazing Set, from the Art Deco Period.

{1930's}

Compote, with Two Side Lamps...

for a Sideboard, or... Buffet. 

: )

We'd Never...seen Anything, like them.

Absolutely Stunning!!!

Hand Carved....Stone.

<3 

When the lamps are lit...

They Glow!!!

So.....Beautiful!

I, purchased two, Vintage... Beveled Glass, Jewelry Caskets.

: )

We hurried along, and hit two Antique Malls, Very Fast!

They were Huge, and we had only Minutes!!!

They closed at 6, so no time for Pictures!!!

I'd love to go back...

there were Several...Great Things, there,

 but would've needed The Ford, to get 'em Home!!

Allyson picked up a Huge Bottle of Sangria..for us to Enjoy, at the Hotel.

: )

We got checked in, then... sat back, and sipped Sangria, from the little plastic cups, in our room.

: )

PERFECT!!!

It was an Amazing... Saturday, in St. Louis. 

Great Food...

Lot's of Bling!!!

and...

Good Times.

<3 <3 <3 

Busy day, ahead...today.

I'll write about our Beautiful Sunday, either tonight, or...tomorrow.

: )

Hope, you have a Lovely Day, filled with Blessings.

Please, remember to keep all who suffer, in your Prayers.

<3

There...are many. 

Love, to Ya....

Barb C. 

Jerry Lee Lewis -Whole Lotta Shakin Going On (Live 1964)

Not...yet.

Couldn't write about 

'Saturday...in St. Louis'... today.

I tried, but... it didn't work.

Stay Tuned...

: )

There's a Whole Lotta 'Bling'...

comin'.

; )

oh...my. 

; )

<3 

Love...to Ya,

Barb C.

{Have an Insane, day....tomorrow. Loads, coming in.

So Much...work. 

I hope to post Lots, but...Hold Tight!!!

There's a Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On...

down the rabbit hole. ; ) } 

<3 

Hannibal, MO. Great Place!

What a Wonderful Town, and Folks!

It'd been Many years, since I'd been to Hannibal. 

The last time I was there, I was with Peg. <3

We didn't find much, back then. But... we had a Wonderful Time!

John, the Kids...and I were there, decades ago. We had a Great Time.

Allyson and I, were really taken back, by the Mark Twain area.

Found a Very Cool Shop... 'Lydia's Cabinet of Curiosities'.

The Man, working there, was Amazing.

He showed us some Incredible Art.

WOW!!!

Museum Pieces. 

WOW!!!

We never expected to see such Amazing Pieces.

He was so Knowledgeable, and willing to share his expertise. 

He preserves Paintings, and Frames, for Museums, as well as, Collectors.

I noticed a Beautiful Corn Painting, and...a Painting of, all things...Coconut!!!

The Corn Painting, was done by a well known Artist, so...for an Iowa Girl, like myself...it was out of my price range.

It, was Stunning. 

The Coconut Painting, was Striking.

So Unusual!!!!

It was done, in the late 1800's, and was found in a Barn, near Hannibal.

It was so Beautifully Done.

Allyson, loved it, as well.

She purchased it.

<3

I didn't get an image, but....I bought a Lovely....'Pansy' Painting.

It's also from the Victorian Era. 

Beautiful.

<3

Coconut!!!???

I'd never seen a painting of Coconut.

 The Owner, had only seen a few, of this subject in his life.

Very...Unusual!

That 'Corn' Painting... is AMAZING!!!!

Everything, is...there. 

The above Marble Statue, is nearly life size.
Breathtaking.
Jesus, and John the Baptist.
It's 5500.
So little, for such a Beautiful Piece. <3 <3 <3 

Allyson, and I...so enjoyed visiting with the Artist. : )

We felt like Sponges, taking in all of the wonderful knowledge.

We spent a lot of time there. 

Amazing. 

There were several pieces of Local Art, as well.

The Cuckoo Clocks, covered in bone... were very unusual. 

The Wooden Sculptures, are life size, and have hidden compartments.

We'd never seen Anything...like them.

Amazing. 

We went on, to Ralls County Clock Company.

Amazing!!!

The Lovely Woman, who owns it, was happy to show us around. : )

We had such a nice visit. 

<3

The first clock we were shown, was this Amazing...Cuckoo.
It has a Music Box, that plays on the hour.
She had it play, for us.
<3
The tune it played, first... was 'Somewhere My Love', my Dad's favorite.
I, wasn't expecting that.
Made me cry.
I had the Organist play that, over...and over, at Dad's Funeral, in 1987.
I, can't hear it, without thinking of Dad. <3 He Loved It...So. <3 

They do Clock Repair, there...as well.

They keep very busy.

It was such a Treat, visiting with a Fellow Clock Lover!!!

<3 

Beautiful....Beautiful, Store. <3 

Then, we Hit The Road!!!

Headed further, South....to St. Louis!

Allyson, wanted to get to 'The Hill', in St.Louis, it's an Italian area, and get some Bakery...to take Home.

So...that, was First Priority.

Wait, 'til ya see Those....Pictures, and where else we Visited, on Saturday.

WOW!!!

I'll post about Those....tomorrow.

: )

It's gonna take me most of the week, to blog about this 'Journey'.

We Flew...by The Seat of our Britches! : ) 

Love...to Ya!

Barb C. 

Friday's... Journey along 'The River'.

Writing this morning about our First Day...

on the road.

: )

When Allyson picked me up Friday morning, we had No Plans, no...idea, which direction we'd be headed.

I flipped a Quarter, said... "Heads South, Tails...North!"

It was Tails!!!

We looked at each other, and said...

 "Yeah...Not Happenin'!!! : ) : ) : ) "

Fate, lost out. ; )

We Headed South!

: ) : ) : )

Allyson, and I...absolutely Love....The South!

{North, is Great, Too... <3 but, I gotta tell ya, There's Just Somethin' about The South!}

I, Love...'River Towns'. 

There's 'Something'...about them, too. <3 

The River, The Mighty Mississippi, has been calling, for some time. 

We decided to hit the River Towns, through Southern Iowa...to St. Louis. 

: )

We had a quick bite to eat, in Mediapolis, Iowa....at Coconuts Cabana.

I'd stumbled across it, several weeks ago, and...was so impressed, wanted Allyson to check it out!

We had a Lovely Lunch. 

<3

Mediapolis, is Such a Darling Town!!!

FLOWERS EVERYWHERE!!!

<3 

We spoke with several Locals, who told us about a Gentleman, in Town...that cares for most All of them. <3

They, are very Proud...of Their Town.

It...Shows!!! <3 

We stopped in Burlington, and checked out the Cool, Historic...Architecture, and a Bar, that opened about a year ago, called 'The Valley Monster Pub'.

It Was So Cool!

Thought of Grandson, Justin!

So many cool mounts, and River related things.

Fishin', and Huntin'...'Stuff', and...even a Big, Old...Swamp Monster, in the window!!! 

The Valley Monster Pub, is Awesome!

They were gearing up for the 'Ragbrai' Folks, the entire Town... was starting to Buzz....with Cyclists, so...made Tracks... before it got too Crazy!!!

As we were headed on down The River, we came to Fort Madison.

It's an...Old, Old... Town. 

We went by, an AMAZING...Old, Victorian. 

Had, Allyson turn around.

Had...to take a closer look. : )

We pulled in the drive, not knowing if it was a Home, or...a Business.

Turns out, it...was kind of both. : )

A nice Man...came walking up to us... and said he working on restoring this Gem, as he has, several others...over the years.

He even had some Cool Things, for Sale!!!

: )

We went inside, and was totally taken in, by that Wonderful...Old...Old...Home.

I, could've moved right in. 

As Found. 

: )

It sits on 10 Acres, and...is Absolutely...Beautiful.

It's gonna need some roof work, and...a little, here...and there.

but, Oh My.

I...Love....it's Original 'Bones'. <3 

The nice Man, was Steve, and was so Gracious...to let us shop...and, give us a Tour, of the beautiful Property.

: )

So Much...History! : )

Where the Awesome Sitting Area, is...used to sit a Huge, Brick...Chicken House!

There was a Darling, Brick Smokehouse....as well, it's pictured, in the first image, to the right of the House!

So Cool!!!

The House was built in the 1840's, or so...then...The Victorian portion, on the front, about 50 years later!!!

It's... all local Brick.

Stunning, Home. <3 

We found some Fun...Treasures!!

and, had a Wonderful Visit!!

Headed to Keokuk... and visited with Loretta, at The Heritage Antique Mall!!!
It's been over 5 years.
: (
Wow.
It was So Great to See Her, Again!!!
The Mall, is even Better, than I remembered!!!
Allyson and I, found some Darling....little Treasures.
: )
Everything from Victorian Coffin Handles, to a Gypsy Instrument!
: )

We stopped at a little Flea Market, that was just getting ready to close, so hurried along, and found more Fun!

: )

Thanks, Loretta, from Heritage Antique Mall, for sending us! 

 : )

Found the little Singer, along with old, gnarly Farm Iron, Ironstone...and cool wire baskets!

Allyson's little RAV, was filling up....and, we hadn't left Iowa, yet!

We made it to Hannibal, MO., by 7ish, and hoped...to have Supper, with Peg's Beloved. Michael.

{and, Daughter, Mel. <3 }

It was just too late. : (

Hope to see them next week, when they come to CR.

<3

Michael invited us to come stay, over...with them...but, we were Beat. 

He told us to be sure and have Supper, at Fiddlesticks, in Hannibal.

We Did!!!

It was Fabulous!

Nearly fell asleep in the booth, there.

oh my!

Long...and Hot...Day!

Allyson's Sweet Potatoes!
YUM!!!

That's all of Friday's travels.
: )
We spent Saturday....in some Amazing Places.
: )
I'll be posting about them...tomorrow.
AWESOME...Places. <3
Great Folks!
Stay Tuned!!!
Now...
We have to Fly,
 and Beat Feet, for Home.
We are taking a different River Route, Home.
It's been Such a Treat, to Run... beside it.
There's Somethin' about....'That', Old....River. <3
Love...to Ya!
Barb C.