Sunday, April 30, 2023
They Always... Always, Find Their Way. Always.
Worked inside, and out... yesterday.
Had some Very Fun... Visitors!!
; )
I'll post one of them... at a later date.
; )
Above is the Sweet Little Cabinet, that found it's way to the Rabbit Hole, last week.
<3
Love those little 3 sided glass cabinets. ; ) They're fun to set, and reset.
They remind me of a large version of a Cloche.
: )
You can create a Whole... Other Little World, inside them.
<3
Had a Wonderful Surprise... yesterday, when Melyse, and her Hubby, popped in.
<3
I've known Melyse's Parents, forever.
Elaine, and Jerry.
Jerry is an Auctioneer, have attended many of his auctions, over the years.
Elaine, sadly passed away, a few years ago.
She...was such a Kind, and Gentle... spirit.
<3
I see Elaine, every time... I look at Melyse.
<3
She, and Melyse, were very close.
We always talk about Elaine, when she visits.
Elaine... LOVED Antiques.
She, and I shared many of the same interests.
I attended the last auction, Jerry had, before he retired.
It was his, and Elaine's Household.
Bought.... a bunch.
Always think of Melyse, when I eat off of an old, old...
brown transferware platter, that belonged to Elaine.
Melyse gave it to me, at the end of the auction, she said her Mom...would want me to have it.
<3
I treasure it.
We talked about my Sister, Chery... and I showed them the Mama Robin, who is sitting defiantly on her Nest.
<3
We talked about 'Winks'... and how, our Loved Ones... are often Much Closer, than we think.
<3
Melyse told me... at the auction, that day... seeing so many of her Mom's things...go away, was so incredibly difficult.
Jerry had given their Kids...everything they wanted, but... some things, slipped through.
Told Melyse... sometimes.... 'The Old Souls'...have a way, of finding their way back, always, always...
find the Hands, they are supposed to.
Always.
With that, they put their little Treasures, in their vehicle...and went to get cash.
My card reader isn't working, and... Melyse didn't have her check book.
I was outside, attempting to string the weed whip, when they returned.
{GADS!!! Stringing a weed whip... nearly puts me Over The Edge!!}
When Melyse returned... she asked about an Old... Gaudy Welsh Pitcher, she'd spotted, inside The Rabbit Hole.
We walked back inside... she found it, and brought it to me.
It's from the mid 1800's, long... missing it's handle, but... so Incredibly Beautiful, and...
Soulful.
<3
We visited a bit more, then... I noticed the Black... Victorian Beaded Cape, draped over the back of an old wing back chair, beside us.
I'd purchased it at her Mom, and Dad's Auction... a couple of year's ago.
Nearly sold it, at JJ, had Many... handle it.
It's Stunning.
You really... couldn't see it, I'd thrown the Beautiful Crazy Quilt, I'd just picked up, last week, on top of it, when I first got to The Rabbit Hole, Friday.
I reached under the Old...Quilt, and pulled the Cape, out.
Showed it to Melyse.
Her eyes welled up.
She said... "That's a Family Piece. It was my Great Grandmother's, on Mom's side."
It wasn't supposed to be on the auction. Somehow... it slipped through.
She said... she hadn't seen it at the auction... really, didn't 'see' much, that day...
Everything... was a Blur.
: (
I handed it to her. She asked 'How much she owed me'.
<3
{seriously?}
Told Melyse, earlier... that day, "These 'Old Souls'... have a way, of Finding Their Way, to The Right Hands. I've Seen It Happen, Over...and Over. "
just... a few minutes later, Saw It... Once, Again.
; )
<3
Melyse says she has a picture of her Great Grandmother wearing the Cape.
Told her, I'd love to see it.
<3
: )
Headin' back... Down The Rabbit Hole, runnin' a little late.
Oh dear!!
; )
Gotta Fly!!
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{Thanks so Much to Pal, Bill... for Stringing The Weed Whip!! ahhhhh....
but, it didn't last long.
It got bound up, again... in less than a minute, after he pulled away.
; )
I gave up on it, I'll give it another try, when the Wind stops Howling.
Too Ugly...today, to work outside.}
; )
Saturday, April 29, 2023
Friday, April 28, 2023
OPEN Today!! April 29!! 11 - 4!! 101 Williams Blvd. Fairfax, Iowa!!
Yesterday...
Down The Rabbit Hole, was Incredible.
<3
Such a BEAUTIFUL DAY!!
The Weather... was PERFECT!!!
<3
Business... was a little slow, but...
with So Much Work, outside... to get done,
probably a Good Thing!!
What a Pleasure it was, to work, in such Beauty.
<3
It was Great to See Dan, and Jo... {Jo-Dan's}
and Pal, Dale. : )
Dan shared images of the 'Honor Flight' he'd just taken.
WOW!!
Always forget to tell Dan, "Thank You" for His Service!!
Forget...that Folk's have many other 'Facets' of their lives, besides 'Antiques'.
: )
I'd worked cleaning out the Volunteer Strawberry Bed, rearranging things outside... got a start cleaning, and raking along the fence lines... before, Dan, Jo...and Dale... popped in.
Kinda had Pile's... of brush, and leaves... everywhere.
; )
They didn't mind. : ) Just.... stepped over the debris.
<3
When I first started cleaning, outside... decided I'd better start at one end, and follow to the back.
Peg...had given me a big, Twig Stand/Shelf... year's ago.
It's held... old fruit jars, and garden treasures, for several years.
It's...kinda fallin' apart.
Decided I'd take it down, redo that area.
Noticed up high... on Peg's shelf, the... Bird's Nest, that has been there the last couple of years.
It's raised Sweet Robins.
{Peg... would be Delighted. <3
She was a Bird Girl!! Loved to collect Nests, that had been abandoned.}
Thought... I'd better get it down, before the Family... returned, this year.
The Shelf, is not as stable as it was last year.
Pulled the Nest down...
carefully.
I was going to save it, put inside The Rabbit Hole, along with so many others, Peg had collected for me, over the years.
<3
Oh... no.
: (
Too late.
<3
I gently... put the Nest back, began shoring up... Peg's old...Twig Shelf, to make it secure.... for The
'Family', another year.
<3
Wasn't long... before I was getting Scolded!!
<3
The Mama Robin... wasn't Happy, with Barbara.
; )
Pretty soon, she flew back... and sat on her little 'Soon to Be'... Flock.
<3
Oh... but she gave me the 'Stink Eye'.
; )
I moved on to another area, not to bother The Robin, any further...
noticed The Robin, fly from her Nest, and climb into the Trough/Fountain!!
Deep Water!!
What???
YIKES!!
I've NEVER Seen a Robin, take a Bath... in Deep Water!!
She Flipped, and Dived... in the Tank!!
Incredible!!
then...
she shook herself off,
and headed to the decorative iron piece, that I'd placed on the fence, last year, after the derecho took it down, from above The Rabbit Hole's door.
<3
<3
The Beautiful Sun...
dried her feathers....
in no time.
; )
It's AMAZING, what one will see... down The Rabbit Hole.
oh...my.
: )
Thought about the Mama Robin, yesterday, as I worked.
Seems...we have a Lot in common.
; )
We Don't Like People Jackin' our 'Nests'... around, Screwin'... with our
'Family'.
and...
We LOVE Our Long, Luxurious...
Baths.
: ) : ) : )
Hahahahahaha!!!
INDEED!!
; )
Grateful...to Pal, Dale.
He noticed the Load... on The Ford, and offered to help me unload.
; )
I, happily... accepted his Kind... Offer.
{My back, did too. ; ) }
Today, is Sister, Chery's... Birthday, in Heaven.
<3
I think of Chery, so often.
: )
The Bittersweet is leafing out, around The Rabbit Hole.
Chery LOVED Bittersweet.
The Bittersweet, here... all came from sprigs she'd given me... back in the 1990's.
<3
Chery... is the one holding Pepsi, our little Hound.
<3
{Merry Jo, and Mom. ; ) }
Chery, and me... felt the same about having our pictures taken.
; )
I wasn't born, yet... when this image was taken.
Chery, and I...were 21 year's apart.
but...
we were the Closest of all of our siblings.
Chery passed away, in '03.
Some of Chery's Bittersweet... beside The Rabbit Hole.
It's so Beautiful... in the Fall.
<3
Chery's Memorial.
John planted the Flowering Crab Tree, in 2004, the Spring after Chery left us.
The IDOT took it, with their 'Fairfax Bike Trail Project'.
Bless their hearts.
Helper, Eric... helped me move Chery's Memorial... under John's Old Oak, when IDOT came through.
Couldn't save The Crab Tree.
Tried.
: (
As I cleaned Chery's Memorial, this morning... thought of Eric, too.
Lost Eric, in January... this year.
He...was such a Good Kid.
<3
He was So Careful... while moving Chery's Memorial.
: )
He knew... how Precious it is to me.
<3
Chery... along with Dad, showed me The Love...of 'Old'.
<3
Chery, loved Old Clocks, too.
<3
I had the plaques engraved in Chery's Memory.
John mounted them to the Open... Concrete Book, I'd found.
<3
John, adored... Chery, too.
: )
<3
It's difficult to read, now... but, had a poem engraved, on copper,
for Chery's Memorial...
that seemed so fitting, back then.
Does, to this day.
; )
it reads...
"Time Is Too Slow...
for
Those Who Wait.
Too Swift...
for
Those Who Fear.
Too Long...
for
Those Who Grieve.
Too Short...
for
Those who Rejoice.
Time...
Is,
Eternity.
Hours Fly, Flowers Die,
New Days...
New Ways...
Pass By.
Love Stays.
<3
{Poems... by
Henry Van Dyke}
Happy Heavenly Birthday...
Chery.
<3
April 29, 1942
-
December 22, 2003
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Special Friends.
Had a wonderful Surprise... this morning.
Dear, Dear... Friend, Jo Brantley, gave me a call.
<3
It's been Far... Too Long.
<3
The image above, and below... were taken when I stayed with Jo, while doing JJ, in Des Moines, back in 2014.
What an Amazing Time... we Shared.
<3
Jo's Home... was Incredible.
She's an Artist, and Designer.
Always had the Most Incredible Antiques.
Loved Everything... Jo gathered.
She, and her Pal... Sharon, used to come visit The Rabbit Hole, way back in the day.
We've known each other... for at least 20 years.
<3
Jo...went with to Heart of Country....back in the day...
where we shared a Booth.
She went back, with Pal, Wanda... and me, the year after she lost her Husband, Wade, suddenly.
She's been such a Rock, over the years. Helped me so much... when John left us, also... so suddenly, in 2014, shortly after my visit.
Sadly... I've lost touch, with Jo... and many others.
These last several years, my mind has been focused on other issues.
Consumed.
Sadly.
Jo...said, this morning... she's glad, we're still Fighting the Fight.
<3
Hopefully... it'll keep them from doing what they've done here... to someone else, in the future.
Indeed.
Jo, said... "You're writing a Book, about all of this, aren't you?"
Told her... that I am, but... can't publish it, until we see how 'The Story' ends.
; )
Jo... has remarried. 'Bob'. : ) They are Very, Very... Happy.
<3
They live in a Lovely... Home, in Kentucky, not far from Paducah.
She's invited me to come visit... for so long.
Someday... I'll surprise... Jo, and Bob.
<3
Jo might be sorry she's extended the offers.
I, may never leave!!
: )
Love Kentucky!!
They live on Kentucky Lake.
oh...my.
<3
Jo called to wish me an early Birthday Greeting.
<3
She's Always... been So Incredibly Thoughtful.
Always.
<3
{Sharon, Too. <3 }
Yesterday... was insane.
Was wonderful to visit with my Friend's Daughter, Anne.
The Estate, we may be handling.
Difficult, too.
oh my.
Had to do a bunch of research, before...and after... concerning this 'mess'... here.
Went... around, and... around...and around, with a couple of Folks, concerning The Mess, between appointments.
oh...my.
Wish I had more time... this morning, to write about Jo.
<3
Have...to get to The Rabbit Hole.
Open, today...
11-4.
{April 29, and 30... 11-4, as well. ; ) }
Must've tweaked my back, while shoveling that mess of a driveway... 'gravel'... and spreading it, Wednesday.
: (
Not good.
Must've twisted...wrong.
Have to unload The Ford, this morning.
Concrete statues, table...and chairs, a sweet little cupboard, that I'm gonna have to manhandle from The Ford, to, and through... The Rabbit Hole.
That'll be interesting.
; )
Whatever This Day... Brings,
It sure Started Off....
GREAT!!
<3
So... Wonderful, to Hear Jo's Voice!!
: ) :) : )
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{ Ya Know... when Someone is a Very Special Friend.
You can go for a Long, Long... Time, without talking to them, and...
in a moment...
Start Right Off, in Conversation... catch up...
like, no time... has passed between you.}
<3
Thursday, April 27, 2023
Pretty Day... mostly.
Always Great... finding The Road.
'Springtime' in Iowa.
Seeing Cattle, Calves... Lambs, enjoying the New...
Tender Grass, in the Pastures.
<3
Even noticed a few Burros, taking in the Warm, April... Sun... beside a little Creek, Grazing Away!!
<3
Farmer's are making their way... to the fields.
<3
As I was getting ready to Bug Out... to make Deliveries, yesterday, this Sweet Family...
Popped in.
; )
They hadn't been here, for a long time. They said that they try to catch me OPEN, but... haven't had much luck.
: (
{Haven't been open much, for the last 3 years. : (
Told 'em... I'm sure workin' on it. : ) Gave them my number, told them to give me a Head's Up, and I'd sure try to be here for them. <3 }
Stumbled across this Amazing... Old, Old... Crazy Quilt, yesterday.
<3
The tag referred to it as a 'Cutter' Quilt.
{A 'Cutter' is a quilt that's suitable for cutting up, into smaller pieces, for projects.}
I... don't see it, that way.
<3
Can't imagine it any way... but,
'Whole'.
It's 'Artwork'.
<3
When I returned Home, Helper, Brandon... and me...
raked, and raked... gravel from that horrible driveway IDOT left us with.
They... were supposed to Fix it, long ago.
: (
We raked up at least 10 gallon's of that mess.
Filled in ruts, that ought not be. Never were, 'before'.
It was so loose, and small... told them back when they did this..., 'this'... would happen.
Ya can't snow plow this mess... without 'this' happening.
Certainly not close, to what we had.
Very troublesome.
Worrisome.
Can't mow over it.
Rock's will fly.
I'll have to send another letter, to District 6.
Seems... they've long forgotten us.
Pal, Bill... and, I... are looking at an Estate Sale, this afternoon.
This one, is pretty Tuff.
It's a Sweet Friend's... Estate.
I think of her... often.
Don't ever remember seeing her, without a Smile.
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
On The Road... again.
Bailin' in The Ford,
Finding The Road...
Today.
; )
God Only Knows...
How Much I LOVE
'The Road'.
<3
{except the one... I've been left with, so far...
in front of Home...
{151 in Fairfax, Iowa.}
since IDOT's Condemnation.
It's a Big... Old... Mess.
You should've seen the young Man's face, from The Gas Company... yesterday, when he saw our Still... Gutted Basement, because of IDOT's wrongfulness, that can't be repaired... until The Drainage Issues are Fixed.
It's only been about 3 years.
oh...dear.
; )
Bless Their Hearts. }
{Curvy Roads... make Skillful Drivers.
It's... The 'Crooked' ones, that'll Drive Ya...
Crazy.}
; )
Making Deliveries... this morning, then... beating feet, back Home,
to do Yard Work.
; )
Oh...My!!
There's Something... about Driving Down The Road.
Especially... Country Roads.
<3
Back Roads.
<3
They're nearly as much of a Sanctuary, to me...
as The Rabbit Hole.
<3
Therapy...
For Sure!!
; )
Driving...
listening to Music...
Cranked Up!!
; )
Wind... in my hair.
Oh... Baby.
; )
Do some some of my best...
'Thinkin' ' ....
Dreaming...
while Driving.
<3
It's a Beautiful... Sunny Day.
Perfect.
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Reflections.
: )
Had kind of a difficult day.
but...
It turned out, pretty good.
<3
Grateful.
; )
Spent most of the day...
reflecting.
{and... dusting. {not that it needed it. ; ) }
Soul...
Searching.
; )
Had an issue with the gas company, they sent a super nice... young Man, out...
: )
When he walked through the House... to get to the furnace, he said...
"Isn't that The Mad Hatter's Hat on the newel post?"
: )
I, said...
"Yes... it is. You're lookin' at Him."
; )
"You've Just... Met, 'The Mad Hatter'."
; )
He Laughed!!
; )
{If... he Only... knew. ; )}
I truly enjoy cleaning house.
Never seem to have enough time, to get it done.
but...
when I clean, and dust... I get to visit Friends.
<3
So many Gifts, over the years... from Friends, and Loved Ones.
<3
What a Pleasure it is... to Dust them off.
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Monday, April 24, 2023
It's All... About 'The Journey'.
Thanks...to The Folk's who stopped by The Rabbit Hole, over the weekend!!
; )
Truly enjoyed visiting with Pal, Patti... {Fern Hill... South Amana, Iowa. }
<3
We've both been through a Bunch, over the last few years.
So Grateful... we have each other, to bounce thoughts off of.
; )
She's been such a Blessing in my life, over the last two decades.
<3
Pal, Mark...
{Nutt's About Antiques, Norway, Iowa }
also...popped in.
: )
It's been Too Long, since we've had a moment to visit.
Mark, has been a Rock... over the Decades.
Mark, and Patti... are 'Family'.
I've met some Wonderful People, through The Rabbit Hole, and the Old...Souls.
<3
We're making Plans... for The Memorial Day Weekend Sale, here...
May 26, through May, 29th. 2023!!
It'll be here before we know it!!
; )
Pal, Bill... will also be joining us, along with many Friends and Neighbors!!
It'll be a Big Sale!!
; )
I was thinking...last night, about the Folks who've crossed The Rabbit Hole's path, over the years.
One Gal... who crossed my mind, was a Girl... who attended the Marion Sale.
When Bill told her about The Rabbit Hole, her Eyes... Lit Up!!
: )
She said... " Oh My Gosh!!! YOU... have that place, that little 'House'... in Fairfax??!!"
She said... "I LOVE That Place!! It's like walking into Another World!!!"
: ) : ) : )
I, sadly... didn't remember her.
She visited during a Sale, we had here.
It's so crazy... during Sale Time.
but...
Those... are the type of comments, I so love to hear, and... often, hear.
<3
The Rabbit Hole, is an acquired taste.
; )
{Kinda like Patchouli. ; ) Ya either Love It... or, Ya Don't.}
; )
It's not for everyone... but, for those who Dig It, well... it's pretty 'memorable'.
; )
{I've had more Folks... comment on the Patchouli, in a positive way, in the last few months,
than I have in the last 25 years... I've been wearing it.
From Daytona... to Papa Juans, in Hiawatha, Iowa.
At every event... Sale.
; )
I've dabbed it on Folks, and shared it's label...
all over the Country.
: )
John, was one of those... who didn't like it.
but...
He put up with It's Stench, and me... for decades. }
; )
<3
I've been working hard, between Events, trying... to get The Rabbit Hole, back on it's feet.
It's been extremely difficult, on so many levels.
{won't get into IDOT, and Fairfax. We know 'that' story, which seems never ending.
People ask me, often... where 'that' stands. I assure them, 'Josey Wales'... is On Top of It.
: )
Reminds me of the quote...
"The Wheels of Justice Turn Slowly.
But They Grind Exceedingly Fine."}
Indeed.
Sometimes... while working at The Rabbit Hole, trying to put... the brokenness back together, somehow... make it what it used to be, 'before'....
I...get overwhelmed.
Impatient.
Frustrated.
angry.
: (
I've learned a lot, over the last couple of weeks,
that has really helped me understand, and... deal, with some of the frustrations.
Kinda started figuring it out, believe it or not... at the last Fairfax, City Council Meeting.
After it.
Who Knew...something 'good' could come out of there??
Can't 'fix'... what they do, and have done.
but...
I, can work on how their actions affect my spirit.
It was a shocking revelation.
Truly.
Still... trying to unravel it all.
; )
The Rabbit Hole.... isn't close, to what it used to be, before.
The truth is, it may never be again.
Kinda like me.
; )
I'll never be the same person again... either.
We'll 'be'... the Best... of who, and what... we can be, with what we've got left.
I believe that's true for anyone, anything... that's survived a Wreck... Battle, a Storm...
major trauma...
in life.
Take what you've got left... and do the Best you can with it.
: )
I'm doing my best.
: )
I...know that, in my heart.
Might not seem like it, to some... who are looking from the outside... in.
That's o.k.
: )
Like Dad...always used to say, when I'd get frustrated, and sad... because of a horrible... unexpected loss,
"Did you do your Best?
If you know in your Heart... you've done your Best, you should have no regrets."
<3
So... what others think, their opinions... truly...don't matter.
It's between you, and your heart, in the end.
One Day at a Time.
; )
One... Moment, at a Time.
<3
When I find my way... to The Rabbit Hole, well...
I feel like it embraces me.
<3
We... kinda, embrace each other.
<3
My Old...
Friend.
<3
; )
It's All... About The Journey.
; )
Love to Ya.
Prayers... for All.
Barb C.
Sunday, April 23, 2023
The Rabbit Hole... Will Be OPEN Today!! Noon 'til 4!! 101 Williams Blvd. Fairfax, Iowa.
Oh...my Goodness.
; )
Some Mornings... There Isn't Enough Coffee on
The Planet!!
; )
Oh My!!
These 'Next Thirty Years'...
should I be Blessed to have them, are gonna be 'Interesting',
I have a feeling.
; )
Have a Milestone... coming up.
I'm actually, looking Forward to Whatever I have left.
; )
I remember my most difficult 'Milestone'.
It was nearly 30 Years ago.
; )
{yesterday : ) }
It was my 30th. Birthday.
Man...
That One... Hit Me Like a Mack Truck!!
Hahahahahaha!!!
Spent that day... calling old Friends, I hadn't talked to for a decade.
: )
We reflected on all of the Crazy Things, we did... and pondered about Where We Are Going.
Hahahahahaha.
after all...
It was Time to Grow Up!!
: (
Get Serious... about Life.
: (
Lookin' back, oh my Goodness, well...
That...
didn't happen.
; )
{Gratefully.}
Make no mistake... there's been some VERY Serious Business, to have to deal with, over the last 30 years.
Especially... the last decade.
but, through it all, looking back, it's been the
'Insanity'... that's kinda saved me.
Guess I'm more like my Dad, than I thought.
<3
I...hope so.
; )
Dad... was pretty Easy Goin'.
I'm Striving to Get There.
Take care of Business...
but, uh...
Keep The 'Crazy', too.
a little of it.
; )
Yeah....
Boy!!
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Figured the Wild Garlic didn't kill me,
Yesterday.
Thought I'd give it another try, this morning.
It's mighty tasty.
Mother Nature, is Good to Us.
😘
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