A Day with Liz Riding Shotgun!

Whew!!! What a day! While shopping at Sisters' Garden and Bloom,{sisters' garden and bloom} yesterday, with pal Val, and having, as I predicted, a Great time, I received a call from Judy Donavon, { Hickory Hill} from Cascade, Iowa {northern Iowa}... I had mentioned to her, way back, that if she should ever decide to sell, her amazing Seed Cabinet, from the General Store, there in Cascade, give me a holler! { She loved it, and wasn't ready to part with it, last year...} The phone rang, while I was meandering through Sisters', and Judy was hollering, on the other end... " Still interested in the Seed Cabinet?", ah...Yeeeah! She said she was moving in an awesome old Farm piece, and needed some room... I was elated! I told her I'd be there first thing in the morning... She also advised me to bring Men... It's 10 feet long, has 5 'c' roll back, bins, and 10 glass front drawers... and it is HEAVY!!! I told her I'd do better than men, I'd bring Liz.... Liz and I were running down the road, a little before 8:00, this morning, we flew through Mt. Vernon, to get a jolt of Great Coffee, at FUEL, then buzzed our way to Cascade! We made short order of it, had the Seed Counter loaded and strapped down in minutes! { Judy, had 2 friends helping, too, it was a walk in the park!!!} Judy's store looks great, and Liz and I drooled over several pieces... but the one thing I could not walk away from, was the sweetest little Teddy Bear... Oh my... He is wonderful, and had to come home with us... We had to make a delivery, after we unloaded the Counter, and had a very interesting time getting the piece out of my Shop... I thought the entire back corner of the Store was coming with... But we all survived, got the piece loaded, and on our way South, this time... Just as we were heading out, Dale F. pulled up, and he decided to join us, on the run! So we all crammed into the little Ford, and headed South! We stopped in at Barntiques, {rugcottage@blogspot.com} and{proprietor} Nancy was Great! She is a fellow blogger, and is a real Sweet Heart!!! I spied a beautiful Currier and Ives print, { I love them} titled 'The Carrier Dove', and my heart melted... I had taken in a Dove, that had a broken wing, years ago, and it lived for a long time... When she died, I was devastated, so now when I see Doves, in concrete, or prints, I bring them home... I told Nancy the story, and she gave the print, to me... We fought about it, and I won, a little, but what a gift... I truly love it! We had a fun time, and found some really good stuff! When you are on your way to Kalona, on hwy. 1, be sure and stop by... And check out Nancy's Blog! She does a great job! I love her images!!! After stopping at Nancy's, we of course, HAD to go to Sisters'... That Barb is such a Dolly Babe! The Store looks amazing, as always... and 'Spring' has 'Sprung', there, for sure! All of the stores were very busy, today, and it was good to see folks getting out! On our way home, we headed to Iowa City, and stopped at 'Decorum', visited with Mark... I could hardly get out the door... I would pay for something, start heading out, then find something else, pay for that, then find yet, another, something cool! Oh my!!! Dale and Liz, threw a bag over my head, so we could leave, and then we headed for 'The Hamburg Inn'... I Love this diner! It's been in Iowa City, since the 30's, and has had several Presidents, and Candidates come dine, over the years... They have 'pie shakes', where they actually blend a big slice of pie, with ice cream, and make a shake... oh my... Liz and I shared a Rhubarb {homemade, and really good and tart!} pie shake! {they are HUGE!!!} We all were stuffed, when we left, and we somehow, all squeezed back into the little Ford... It was a long, but wonderful day, lots of laughs, great gatherings, and the best people you could ever spend a day hanging around with! Ahhh, a good day.... 'til next time, Barb C. I do want to mention, I did get some news today, concerning an old friend... She has been diagnosed with the 'C' word...{ I won't give that word time on this space...} She is in my prayers, and I hope yours too. I have known her for many years, and that ugly 'C', doesn't stand a chance... She is a 'spit fire', and has the will, and stamina to kick it's 'ugly butt'! Hang in there Baby! We love ya! You are in the 'Arms of the Angels', they will carry you through... God Bless You... Barb C.