There Is a Place... like No Place on Earth.

"There is a Place... like no Place on Earth. 

A land full of Wonder, Mystery, and Danger.

 Some say, to survive it, you need to be as Mad as a Hatter...

which, luckily...

I am."

; )

{Lewis Carroll 'Alice in Wonderland'}

<3

Yesterday was a little 'round the bend...

; )

Late afternoon, as I was heading to the store, noticed an SUV parked by The Rabbit Hole.

Then, saw a young Man... walking towards me, and Jethro.

It was a nice young Man, who'd stopped here a wile back.

We visited for a long, long... time, that day.

He Loves...

'Old'.

Especially Bottles, and Books.

; )

He dug through the 'Dug Bottles' from Jerome... on his last visit, took a pile Home.. with him.

; )

Told him...to go ahead, and dig around, I'd be back... in a few.

; )

When I returned... noticed his vehicle was still parked by The Rabbit Hole, figured he'd call me if he found something he couldn't live without.

; )

Three hours later...

Received a text, from the young Man, whom... I figured had left, without finding anything, this visit.

I was mistaken.

The young Man's name is Scott.

: )

I've been working inside, and around... The Rabbit Hole, the back door... was unlocked.

; )

Scott... 

found his way 'inside'.

; )

He said...

"I didn't realize there were 'things' INSIDE... the building."

Hahahahahahaha!!!

I Roared!!.

'oh.... yes.'

; )

Told him... I'm only Open by Appointment, and The Rabbit Hole, itself...

 isn't 'open'... just yet.

Scott went Wild... over The Rabbit Hole.

<3

Said it was The Coolest Store he'd Ever Seen!!

Hahahahahahaha!!

{told Scott... he should've seen it 'before' IDOT, and Fairfax.

He knows the story, filled him in, on his First... visit.}

Scott said, he was so worried, when he was heading here, and saw the horrible construction on the North end of our Land.

{West Cemetery Road}

said...

his heart absolutely... Sank.

: (

After our first conversation...

concerning the IDOT, and the Fairfax Battles, he thought sure...

they'd taken The Rabbit Hole, but... he kept driving, and

 Found...

'The Rabbit Hole', still standing.

<3

{Told Scott, we have Lawyer Meardon, to Thank... for That.

; )

Scott remembered 'Lawyer Meardon's' Part in This Mess.'

; )

He saved our Land, Scout's Barn... and The Rabbit Hole, when Fairfax's hired engineer wanted to run Stallman Dr. right through it.

: )

{the book is coming}

Scott said... as we stood outside The Rabbit Hole, with his Treasures,

"I... look at that building, then... remember being inside... it's like it's Not Possible.

It's like... when you step inside, it goes On...and On... and On.

Never Ending"

; )

{I hear that... often. ; )

that's why it's lovingly referred to as...

'The Rabbit Hole'.}

; )

He went on, and said..."I'm sure... all the time I spent inside, never found the end of it!!"

"I've Got To Come Back!!"

; )

Told Scott... to give me a little time.

I'm shootin' for The July 4th. Weekend, to formally...

re-open to the Public.

'Regular Hours'.

; )

Starting to set up... today, at 'Vintage Market Days'.

Stay Tuned!!

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{It takes a Special Person, to 'Understand' 'The Rabbit Hole'.

Scott... gets it.}

; )

Let The Fun... begin.

<3

I've been on the phone, most of this day.

oh my.

Have Much... to get done, for Vintage Market Days.

Starting 'Set Up' tomorrow.

Show Opens...

on 

May 8.

It's nice that we have some 'Time'... to 'Set'.

The way I procrastinate... 'Time'... is Good.

; )

We Always 'Pull it Off'... no matter.

: )

Get 'er Done.

: )

This is our first time, at this Event.

Grateful... to be included.

: )

The Vendor List... 

is 

Impressive.

Amazing People.

The Promoter, is Wonderful.

{Becky}

Very easy to work with.

; )

The Event's we've stayed with, for decades...

were the ones who had, and have...

 Incredible Promoters.

; )

My Hat... has been Tipped to Them All, year, after year.

: )

Unless you've 'Promoted' an Event, Ya have No... Idea.

; )

It's like Herdin' Cats!!

Hahahahahaha!!!

{my opinion}

; )

Put together a list... this morning, of everything that needs to be done, for this event.

{between phone calls}

oh... my.

; )

It's 

'Show Time'.

; )

Let The Fun...

begin.

<3

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{was thinkin'...

 'this'...

preparing for 'Vintage Market Days'... might be easy, if...

those phone calls, today... weren't from

 Every Side of The Universe!!

'Life'.

; )

The 'Extremes'... are very interesting to navigate.

; )

Ask... any Good, 'Show Promoter'... 

they'll tell ya.}

; )

At the end of the day...

; )

Too many miles.

; )

<3

{Above is an old image... it made me laugh, when it popped up.

; )

Was thinkin' about the Young Man, having such little Faith...

in The Ford's hauling ability before loading the Garden Gazebo.

The Ford may look small... 

but, 

He can Haul.}

; )

Sharin' the same pasture.

Beautiful Spring Day...

in Iowa,

for a 

'Ride'.

; )

Spent about 4 hours... on The Road, with The Ford.

<3

{I Gotta Tell Ya, That Little Ford, 

is very 

Difficult to Hold Back!!

; )

He Loves to RUN!!!

'Quick'!!}

; )

; )

Met with my Friend's Son, and Sweet... little Grandson, today, in deep Southern Iowa, to pick up a load.

: )

My Friend's Son... was a little perplexed, when I backed The Ford... into his building.

He thought I'd be bringin' a 

'Flat Bed' to pick up this...

'Load'.

; )

Told my Friend's Son...

"That's what I did."

; )

He... shook his head, said... he'd expected me to be pulling a flatbed 'trailer'.

; )

If... that young man, only knew...

The Load's, that little... 25 year old Flatbed Ford has 'Hauled'.

; )

and

Continues... 

Faithfully... 

to.

; )

Believe... we may have made a 

'Believer' out of him... after we were loaded.

; )

<3

When The Kentucky Derby, rolls around, 

can't help... but think of 

Admiral.

<3

I hated school.

Felt... it was a waste of time.

My 'Life' back then... revolved around Horse Sales... and Auctions.

Farm Auctions, buying scrap, for Dad, and the Horse Sales.

'City Folks', and 'schools', didn't fit in, 'understand'... 

my

'lifestyle'.

; )

{Country Girl}

One... bright, sunny... Spring Day, I ditched school.

; )

{Couldn't Stand.... being in a 'Classroom' on Such a Beautiful Day.}

: )

Didn't bother to grab my bridle.

I'd trained Admiral... so well, he didn't need a 'bridle'.

<3

A piece of twine, or... a rope, would suffice.

; )

What I didn't count on... was a Cedar Rapids Gazette photographer, capturing mine, and Admiral's 

'Escape'.

oh... dear.

Busted... when The Sunday 'Gazette' came out.

uh...oh.

{Mom... was Not Happy!! Nor was The Principal, at Roosevelt Jr. High.}

uh.. oh.

That was the tipping point, when I decided to move away from 'Home', quit 'School', and get my GED.

Done, and Done.

; )

To this day... I've Never regretted my 15 year old 'self's'

 'choices'.

Not Once.

; )

We Finished that 'Ride' in The Lead.

; )

<3

; )

<3

There's 'Somethin'... about a Horse.

<3

I bought Admiral... when he was a weanling.

He was 4 months old, I was 12 years old.

<3

'We' grew up together.

; )

Several Folks, over the years... have asked me about Admiral.

; )

 my reply...

"He was my first Love. Some days... I 'Like' Him... More than my Husband!!!"

; )

That... always got a Laugh!!

; )

<3

Admiral... passed away, at the age of 26.

He was laid to rest... here, at Home.

<3

Admiral... and Scout, share the same 'Pasture'.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{the book is coming}

<3

Grateful.

So Incredibly Grateful to All of 'The Thoroughbreds'... in my life, especially...

on

'Derby Day'.

<3

In my opinion... being an old 'Horse Trader' from decades ago...

; )

God... 'fine tuned' horses,

 then...

He labeled

His Very Best...

'Thoroughbred'

<3

I.. was Blessed to have Known, Loved... and Grew Up... with one.

; )

He's buried here.

<3

Admiral... was a Winner.

<3

His bloodlines went back to 'War Admiral'.

yet, he was just my Beloved... Horse.

'Best Pal'.

; )

<3

What a Race.

; )

<3

Things that make ya go... 'Hmmmmmmmmm.'?

Spent the majority of the day... yesterday, workin' in the front Greenhouse.

The pump had quit in the Stock Tank... Fountain, found an extra pump while cleaning.

That was Good. Got it goin'. Made The Fish...  Happy.

; )

Then... cleaned out the Fountain in the Greenhouse.

Got it goin.

; )

Moved Many Mountains, yesterday.

That Old Concrete Snail... is an Armload.

; )

He's not for sale.

I've had him a long time.

<3

He can't take 'weather'... anymore. He's pretty fragile, but... he watches over the Greenhouse, just fine.

; )

Heading back there, shortly... 

Keep pickin' away at it.

; )

Was pretty busy, yesterday... Folk's poppin' in, as I worked.

Nice Folks.

Before I started to work, went to the North end of the property, 

where Fairfax is tearing out West Cemetery Road, and the little bridge.

: (

It's sickening.

We, in my opinion... didn't need to replace that little bridge.

We're getting along just fine, without it, but then... Folk's wouldn't be making Millions, by replacing it.

{my humble opinion.}

: (

Lawyer Meardon wants me to keep an eye on this project.

At this point... Fairfax has the East side of our property landlocked.

: (

As I was capturing images, a Man came walkin' up to me...

pretty 

'Boldly'.

I put my hand out, to shake his hand... introduced myself, 

: )

told him... as I pointed towards our Barn...

" I own that 'Land'."

; )

He... softened up, after that.

: )

I asked him where the culvert is, going under Stallman Drive, by our Barn.

Seems there isn't one... any more, according to the Man.

Hmmmmm???

I asked him where the 'Flood' Water's gonna go.

???

He said... he 'thought' according to Fairfax's hired engineer, 

it's all going to go to the North.

{The Creek Runs... Southernly.}

Hmmmmm.

That oughtta make our Neighbor's to the North... real happy, if... indeed that's true.

; )

{I... personally don't believe that, but... time will tell. It always... does.}

Asked him where the drive is... giving us access to our property on the East side of our land.

He seemed confused about that, too.

Hmmmmmm.

He said... that's not in his work plans.

{Boy... does That sound Familiar. ; ) How Many Times... have I heard IDOT say those exact words. }

Another Outfit, will be handling that side of this 'project'.

; )

Hmmmmm....

The Man... pointed out where the New Road is going to be.

; )

I... just stood there, looking at the 'Elevation'.

; )

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!

; )

West Cemetery Road, and Stallman Drive corner... looking North.

Cemetery Road, looking South to Stallman Drive.

That's Scout's Barn.

Lawyer Meardon saved Scout's Barn, and our Land, from this project.

It would be GONE without Him, for 'This Mess'.

Looking East on West Cemetery Road, Highway 151 intersection is at the corner.

'Before'.

I don't want Folk's to Ever Forget... what the 'Before' was.

Before.

Don't want Folk's to Ever Forget... how tiny that 100 year old Bridge 'was'.

and...

Never forget The Millions, that are being spent to replace it with one 3 times as long, and wide.

; )

'Bike Trails'.

Hmmmmmmmm.

Had the 151 Bridge never been elevated so high, for a 'Trail' for 'Fairfax'... under it, that wasn't Supposed to be, according to our Recorded Agreement, with The Iowa Department of Transportation...

well... 

West Cemetery wouldn't have Had to be moved, and... there'd be No Reason for a Monster West Cemetery Road Bridge.

yep...

; )

It all ties together, again... in my 'Humble Opinion'.

; )

Hmmmmmmmm.

Think of All of The Money that tax payers would've saved.

Think... of All of the Drainage issues, we, and I believe, now... other's would've been spared.

Hmmmmmmmm.

; )

My Old... Crystal Ball, tells me...

'Elevation' is gonna be a Big Problem, for Many.

but...

what do I know.

???

{I'm an 8th grade dropout.

Certainly... not an engineer, or a lawyer.}

Once it's DONE, The City, like IDOT... will say,

'So What'.

It's Done...

Now.

; )

Bless their hearts.

Believe me, I've tried, and tried... to warn The City of Fairfax, and... Neighbors.

Very Sad.

Busy Day...

ahead.

Have a Dude giving me estimates, today.

The Sweet Gal, who bought the 'Horse & Hound' sign... is on her way to pick up.

Have to unload The Ford, heading to Southern Iowa, in the morn.

Ready for another 'Road Trip'.

Get the Hell outta Fairfax, for a bit.

; )

Love to Ya... 

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Happy May Day!!

Happy May Day!!

; )

Two Full Moons in May.

oh... dear.

; )

Hahahahahaha!!!

That...

 oughta keep May...

'Interesting'!!

: )

{Pal... Rhonda always posts the Best, on FB.}

<3

Played Down The Rabbit Hole, for a bit, yesterday... while waiting to meet with a Sweet Couple, from Victor, Iowa.

: )

Fun... Folks.

Heading back there, today.

Have much to do.

Focusing on the front Greenhouse.

It's become a Major... 'Catch All'.

Also sorting for 'Vintage Market Days'.

It's going to be a Fun... Booth.

; )

Reflecting... 

The Rabbit Hole.

<3

Had to Laugh... when I read the below, yesterday.

: )

Love It!!

Hahahahaha!!!

Every Girl... Should Have at LEAST...

One Tiara!!!

Hahahahahaha!!!

; )

Found Two... Beautiful Tiara's while traveling with Pal, Allyson... to Savannah, and 

St. Augustine, a few years back.

; )

thought...

'Why Not???'

; )

The above image is from The Rabbit Hole, long ago.

'The Queen' I was referring to was The Amazing... Old... Old, French Pier Mirror,

 Pal... 

Chicago Ray 'Graced' The Rabbit Hole, with.

<3 <3 <3 

Chicago Ray... has brought The Rabbit Hole Several... Amazing Pier Mirrors, over the years.

<3

LOVE THEM!!

<3

; )

We're takin' an Interesting Load... to Vintage Market Days, next week.

This will be our first time at this Event, but... I've set up there, for The Midwest Show, several times.

Very familiar with the booth, we're in, and the facility.

That's always a plus.

; )

Pal, Bill... is taking a booth next to 'Simply Iowa'.

That'll be nice.

I'm certain he'll be bringing Ton's of Cool Stuff, Too!!

; )

We'll both be Restocking Daily.

; )

Nice... that this event is only 5 minutes from The Rabbit Hole.

; )

and...

I'm HOME Every Night!!

Like It!!

; )

Better Get Crackin'!!

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Hopefully.

Believe... Sister, Chery...

would 

Hope

So

Too.

; ) 
<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C. 

and...

Sister, Chery.

<3 <3 <3

Gypsies... and Mad Hatters.

<3

Indeed.

Pal Steph... asked me to find her a couple of pounds of Morel Mushrooms.

; )

Just happened... my Favorite Mushroom Hunter, texted yesterday morning, letting me know...

he had 2 pounds, if I was interested.

; )

Picked them up... for her.

When I pulled in at Home, looked inside the bags... at the Morels, noticed one...

that had a teeny, tiny... little plant holding on for Dear Life!!

: )

Sent the above image, to Steph.

<3

THOSE Mushroom's, were Meant for Steph.

; )

She'll save that little 'Plant'.

' Baby'.

<3

Knowing Steph... she'll design one of her Fabric Lines around it.

: )

{Stephanie Brandenburg Design Studios}

<3

Love It.

; )

Haven't gotten The Fountain goin' yet.

Haven't even tried.

It's certainly not the same... walking into the Green House, without it goin'.

I'll work on it tomorrow.

; )

The Beautiful... Pier Mirror came from Dear Pal, Barry, 11 years ago.

He... Always came up with the Most Beautiful Things.

<3

Barry, sadly... passed away, a while back.

Pal, Gail... was very close to Barry.

When she and I visit, we often speak of Barry.

<3

He was a Good Man.

; )

Over the years I've met so many... Wonderful Folks, who share this insane Love of Old.

<3

; )

The funny thing is, you could put us all in a room together, and the Only thing we have in common with one another... is The Mutual Love of Old.

<3

It's a Very... Very... Strong Bond, between us.

<3

' Family'.

'The Love of Old'

is something our own Family... and Friends, can't quite understand.

; )

We're kind of a Motley Crew.

: )

A bunch of 

Gypsies... and Mad Hatters.

: )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Happy Heavenly Birthday... Chery.

Indeed.

<3

Chery... in a nutshell.

<3

: )

Chery was holding 'Pepsi', standing next to Sister, Merry Jo, and... Mom.

; )

{long before I was a 'thought'.}

; )

Chery and I were 21 years apart... 

When I... finally, 'grew up'... we became

 'Best Friends'.

; )

Miss... Chery, every day.

<3

Always will.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.