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.

How We... Roll. {'Catch Up'... Post from the weekend.}

Saturday... was a Lovely Day!!

Great Day for a Drive to Deep Southern Iowa.

Even Better... 

Sharing The Day... with Pals,

Dale... and Wanda.

{'Dale Frese Antiques', Watkins, Iowa

Wanda Tuetken, 'Gatherings', Anamosa, Iowa}

Above...

 we were crossing The Des Moines River.

Ottumwa, Iowa.

Such a Cool... Old River Town!!

<3

Wanda, and I... have enjoyed a Smokin' Bloody Mary, or two...

over the years.

: )

Bubba Q's in Ottumwa... 

Serves a Mighty Fine, 'Smokin' 

Bloody Mary.

; )

{Dale... was Drivin'.}

; )

Wanda suggested, on our way Home... we might stop at a shop she'd visited a while back.

; )

Holy Smokes!!!

<3 <3 <3 

The shop had Just Closed... but there was a phone number on the door.

; )

The Dude who owned the shop... was kind enough to come back and open for us.

; )

HAD To Have That SIGN!!

<3 <3 <3 

'Horse & Hound'!!!

: ) : ) : )

SERIOUSLY???!!!

<3

Tho, Dale's Van... was PACKED, we HAD enough room for that 10 foot 

SIGN!!

; )

Could've So Easily... Kept That Sign!!

<3

but, 

it sold nearly as soon as we unloaded it.

It's Goin' To a Great Home.

<3

Sunday... was a Crazy Busy Day!!

; )

Sweet Virginia, had another Load... of Treasures she wanted me to gather.

<3

Virginia... has an Amazing EYE!!!

Love Everything she's sending.

That Turkey Platter is nearly 2 feet wide.

Incredible.

<3

French Books, Early... Brown Staffordshire.

<3 <3 <3 

oh my.

'Soulfulness'

Indeed.

<3

After leaving Virginia, headed to Pal, Mark Nutt's, in Norway, Iowa.

{Nutt's About Antiques'}

: )

Had a Great Visit with Mark, and his Lovely Sis, Mary Beth!!

<3

It's Been Far Too Long!!

; )

Found several Fun Things, at Mark's...

including the above... 

<3

It's part of an Old, Old... Cast Iron Bell's Yoke.

<3

Neither of us had ever seen one.

Love It!!

<3

Just as I was leaving Mark's...

the phone rang.

It was Pal, Steph.

{'Stephanie Brandenburg Studios' Mt. Vernon, Iowa,

and

'Fern Hill' South Amana, Iowa.}

Steph was on her way Home... from a Quilt Show.

She invited me to have Supper, with her Family.

<3

I was so weary... almost declined, but Steph... wouldn't take 'No' for an answer.

<3

: )

As we were visiting, Steph said...

"Oh no... think I just blew a tire, on the trailer'.

: ( : ( : (

Told her to slowly pull over.... onto the shoulder.

Asked her where she was.

We were unbelievably only 6 miles apart, on 151.

Me, and Jethro... headed back, to find her.

: )

Told Steph... to keep Rollin' on the shoulder, Slow...Slow...Slow, with her flashers, Jethro, and I brought up the rear, with our flashers.

Wanted to keep a close eye on that outside tire, to make sure and catch it, if it should start beating up her trailer's fender.

Figured... we could limp it on the rim, on the shoulder... to Justin's Shop.

; )

That... we did.

<3

Yeah... Boy.

; )

THIS is Why... when Steph asked Years ago... if she should buy a 'single' or 'Tandem' 

axle trailer, well... there's Only One Way to Go, in my opinion.

{Especially Knowing How 'We' Load... Trucks, and Trailers.}

: )

If Ya blow a tire, on a Tandem Axle... you'll still have a tire to limp to safety on.

A single axle, ya

sit.

; )

Plus...

Trailer's with Tandem Axles Pull Much Better, and can Haul... a Much Bigger Load.

; )

; )

The Justin's... 

fixed Steph up, today.

<3

'Family'

; )

That's how we roll.

<3

Grandson, Justin... and Gizzy, helped me unload Jethro, of Virginia's Treasures.

<3

Gizzy.... Loved Virginia's Yellow Lab Painting.

; )

<3

Yesterday... was on The Road, 

'Mushroom Huntin'...

Jethro 'style'.

; )

Traveled from Ely, 

to Ladora, then, to Marengo, Iowa.

: )

Harvested 10 pounds!!

<3

; )

<3

; )

Many, Many...

 To Be Grateful For.

<3

: )

Pal, Gail... called today, as I was eating lunch.

<3

She'd Just... crossed my mind, as I was on the road this morning.

<3

'Blessing'.

<3

So Many, Many... Many...

'Blessings'

'Folk's' to be Grateful For.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Here We Go... again.

When I got 'Home', tonight...

after 

'Riding The Storm', and trying Desperately to 'Outrun' it, which...

Jethro, and I successfully did.

<3

{That Old... Jethro, in my opinion, could 

'Out Run' most anything.}

; )

<3

I'd intended on catching the blog up, over the last few days... 

<3

'Today'.

; )

well...

this 

'day'

 has taken many 'turns'.

; )

oh... dear.

: )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{stay tuned}

<3

; )

{'The Book' is coming. ; ) }

Hahahahaha!!

<3

Girls... Trucks... and Trailers. oh... my.

I'll have to write about yesterday... and today, tomorrow.

; )

oh my.

; )

Always... an Adventure.

; )

; )

Steph's Truck, and Trailer... are Safe and Sound, at The Rabbit Hole.

; )

Stay Tuned.

Tired.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

'Soul Sisters'

; )

Clean... Livin'.

Spent a little time...

Down The Rabbit Hole, yesterday.

<3

Above... is The Rabbit Hole's Mascot.

<3

Sweet Pal, Donita

{'Whispering Pines Ornamental Concrete', Monticello, Iowa}  

gifted him to me...

long ago.

<3

Donita hand painted the above quote...

on

The Tuxedo Rabbit's tray...

; )

Seems Donita knows 'The Mad Hatter'

well.

<3

{Love That Girl!! <3}

Above is the Bunny, that came from Sweet Virginia.

<3

The Rabbit Hole...  most definitely is in

 Transformation...

Mode.

We make a pretty good Pair.

; )

Above... is one of the Clocks, my Clock Pal sent Home with me, a while back.

It's So Cool!!

<3

The Lilac's that Peg and I planted by The Rabbit Hole are Blooming!!

Their Scent is Intoxicating!!

<3

; )

The Amish Dude, slipped by, yesterday... 

Love That Kid!!

Marvin hasn't Changed a Bit, since 2020, when he and his Crew....

roofed the house.

: )

He's like a 'Fart in a Skillet'!!

Hahahahaha!!!

Bursting with Energy!!!

: )

Must be all that 

'Clean Livin' '

; )

Was thinking about mine, and Wanda's Southern Iowa Adventure, yesterday...

I'd planned on taking The Ford, then... wondered what Pal, Dale... was up to.

Dale's got a Ford Transit Van, that holds Tons.

Some of the things Wanda, and I are going to see, today... are kind of fragile.

Thought if Dale was willing to drive his van... it would be a bit gentler on the potential inventory.

Dale was Up... for a Day Trip!!

Yay!!

; )

Headin' out... shortly.

It's gonna be a long day.

I've been awake since midnight.

Gads!!!

; )

{More... Coffee... Please.}

<3

Fact.

: ) : ) : )

Better get 

Crackin'!!

Yeah...

Boy!!

; )

{I Need some of Marvin's ENERGY!!}

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

It Is... What It Is.

but first...

Coffee.

; )

Big Storm rolled through again, last night.

Seemed a fitting... end to the Day.

; )

Had All Sorts of Running to do.

Busy, Busy... Day, but a Good One.

; )

Took Justin 'J' to Lunch.

It was fun listening to his stories.

<3

He Cracks Me Up!!!

Justin's 16... Goin' on 40!!!

Hahahahaha!!!

; )

He's kinda like I was, growing up.

His Friend's are mostly a little, or a lot... older than he is.

; )

Justin, often gives Them... advise, when it comes to working on small engines, and...

BIG Ones!!

: )

His hands... will be Permanently Black, kinda like my Dad's were, most of the time...

from 

Turnin' Wrenches... and having their hands in Greasy Engines.

; )

Justin LOVES... workin' on Engines.

He's getting mighty Good at it.

; )

He's learned a Lot... from the Folks who live near them.

Many... are older Farmers.

They know how to get things Done!!

; )

Son, Justin... has taught him Much.

He's a 'Fixer'.

; )

Meeting with some Amish Folks, sometime today.

Need to get estimates for Repairs, around Home.

They did the Roof on the house, 6 years ago.

They Did Amazing Work, Quickly!!

; )

When Justin, and I returned Home... from lunch, The Girl's had arrived.

<3

Gizzy.... came Running up to Justin.

<3

Gizmo... is Lost when Justin isn't in sight.

<3

<3

<3

Priceless.

: )

Heading to The Rabbit Hole, today.

See if I can made heads or tails of it.

So much... to get done.

It's going to take all Spring, and Summer... to get things pulled together, at best.

The Cedar Rapids Estate Home, is ready for us to get started on.

Looking to have that Sale, in late May.

For the next couple of weeks, I'm going to be pulling things together for

'Vintage Market Days', 

May 8 thru 10.

I'd Really... wanted to have a Memorial Day Weekend Sale, here...

but...

don't believe I can pull it off, with The Show, and Estate Sale, both, in May.

Sure wish we could've had the Estate Sale... earlier.

Oh well.

It is... what it is.

; )

I'll probably have a Big Event... in July.

The 4th falls on a Saturday, this year... so, maybe have something July 2, thru 5.

Gonna be thinning out a LOT!!

Since I'm letting go of  the 'Away' Events, and concentrating on The Rabbit Hole, won't be needing the 'Show Props'.

Old Doors... Windows... Wooden Ladders... etc.

Many, Many... Changes are Coming.

It was very difficult letting the 'Shows' go.

but...

know,

it was the right decision.

; )

The Rabbit Hole... needs me, as much as I...

Need

It.

<3

Heading to Deep... Southern Iowa, tomorrow.

Pal, Wanda... is gonna Ride Shotgun.

<3

It's been Far Too Long since we've shared an

Adventure!!

Better get Crackin'.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{but... First,

 Coffee.}

; )

It's All... About The Journey.

Got to thinkin' the other day...

{that's always... a little, Dangerous. : )}

Since The Iowa Department of Transportation, and Fairfax... don't want to admit there's a 'Bike Trail'... where it Ain't Supposed to be, per... Our Signed Recorded Agreement, and...

they've made Every Feeble Attempt, in the Book, to Try to 

'Re-Brand' it, 

makes me think, perhaps... it should just be called a...

 'Jethro Trail'.

; )

Hmmmmmm.

???

{Confident... Lawyer Meardon could Make That Happen...

 ; ) 

He's Damned Good... at 'Impossible'.}

; )

Gotta Love Those Old Fords...

Especially

'Mustangs'.

<3 <3 <3 

; )

I've always said...

'There should only be One 'Car' on the Road...

'Mustang'.

; )

Everything Else... should be a Ford Truck!!'

<3

Hahahahahahaha!!!

; )

; )

Seems, me... and Clyde Barrow,

{Bonnie and Clyde}

have 

Two Things 

in

Common.

; )

'Ford has

Every 'Other' car...

'Skinned'.

and...

I, too... wrote a letter to The Ford Motor Company, several years ago.

: )

also....

 Praising The Ford Motor Company...

<3 <3 <3

but, 

had a Big Beef with Ford, concerning their 6.0 Diesel Engine.

Dear Friend's had Just bought a New F-350.

BIG MONEY.

The Motor Blew, early on... Ford wouldn't stand behind it.

: ( : ( : (

Ford... in my opinion, should've recalled them.

The 6.0's had some Major Issues.

: (

Ford... didn't recall the 6.0.

My Friends switched to GMC, after that.

Many... did.

Big...

Mistake, on Ford's part, in my opinion.

: (

Don't know What... made me think of 

That...

yesterday.

??

; )

{Do... Love.... the Bonnie and Clyde Video, with The Steve Miller Band.}

; )

; )

<3 <3 <3 

{Just Doin' My Part!! }

<3

Went to Iowa City, yesterday... to meet with Lawyer Meardon.

Parked in front of the Old... Library.

The Meeting went very... well.

; )

As I was walking up to Jethro... to head Home, noticed some Young Men, having a Good Time, 

on the 

Old... Library's Beautiful Entrance.

; )

Said...

"Howdy Boys!! How Y'all Doin' This Fine Evenin'!!!???"

: )

{It was BEAUTFUL!!}

They All said...

"GREAT!!!"

Then, a few shouted...

"How Are You... Doin'!!!???"

: ) : ) : )

Waved my arms, at Old... Jethro,

and said...

"GREAT!!!"

<3 <3 <3 

: ) : ) : )

They Went Wild!!!

Hahahahahahaha!!!

Wanted me to Take 'em for a Ride!!!

: ) : ) : )

Hahahahahaha!!

<3

{That... Made My Day.}

; )

After my 'conversation' with Son, Justin... earlier, yesterday...

about how my 'Ford Fleet'... is 

'So Old'.

and...

I need something

'Newer'.

: (

My 'Ford Fleet'... is 'Family'.

<3

and...

Many... Appreciate Them, almost, as Much as I do!!

<3

Those Young Men, and Jethro, are probably pretty close in age.

; )

Told 'The Boys', that I was sorry, no 'Rides' in Old Jethro, tonight.

It had been a rather... Long, Long... Day.

Perhaps, another time.

; )

Asked them if I could capture an image of them, they said...

"Sure!!"

then, one... Young Man, asked... if I'd share those images with him.

{Quin}

'Of Course!!'.

; )

{notice... I misspelled 'Too'.

; )

 Yeah... I'd already had a Toddy, before noticing Quin's text, at Home.

I... don't text, and drive.}

; )

Priceless.

<3

A Day... Filled With Angels.

<3

Yesterday... was a Great Day, All Around.

: )

Many, Many...

Blessings.

<3

Discovered the above post, yesterday... while Lawyer Meardon was Workin' Away...

 on

 Major Things.

: )

{Bless His Heart!! <3}

It's so true.

'The Boys', and, many other's...would tell Ya one thing.

: )

Fairfax, Iowa 'City Hall' and The Iowa Department of Transportation...

'they'...

most likely, have a very.... different

'opinion'.

; )

bless their hearts.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Yes... indeed.

; )

<3