He Would Have Went to Kill...

This is Scout... He's about 1300 pounds... Just like the Kill Buyers like 'em... As long as we live, so does he... He will die here... He's family... Our neighbors give him an apple a day, and all of the organic grass clippings they have... I can feed him an apple, that I hold with my teeth, and he'll gently take it from me...{ I tried to have John snap a picture today, while I do this, but after 5 apples, and no picture... I gave up...}{ he couldn't believe I would let him get 'my' picture... for the 'cause', I'll sacrifice...} Horses, and all God's Creatures, Great, and Small, are our Gifts...Sad.... I was drawn to a tiny sentence, in my Streams in the Desert, just now... "God will examine your life not for medals, diplomas, or degrees... but for battle scars"... I hope all who read this, will always fight, for what's right... and step up to the plate, when no one else will... If you see an animal, or person suffering... don't point a finger, lend a hand... God Bless... Barb C.

Horse Slaughter House { I Can't Stop Crying...}

This was Admiral, he passed away, here at home, at 28.... I bought him when he was 4 months old... I am proud to say, he Never saw a Sale Barn... Below, is a loch of his tail, I clipped, the unbelievable morning, we found him dead, in the pasture... It's been many years, now, almost to the day... he died... and I sit and weep... And... they think we should bring back the Horse Slaughter Houses... Oh My... Here we go...

I tried to leave a comment, for our local news, kgan, but was too late.... A group of horses, here in Iowa, were found, locked in a shed, dead and dieing... The Sheriff said he thought the horses were doing better, the last few months... he'd kind of been keeping an eye on them... REALLY! The neighbor said, he thought the feed wasn't too good.. he'd been watching them... REALLY!!! This doesn't happen. in a week or 2...I hope ALL concerned, spend their last days, just like these horses did...Then, they had men on the news, that said we should start the 'Kill' buying back... And slaughter horses....That would end, all of this abuse... Oh my God...No wonder we live in this warped society... We kill things, because they are old, or unwanted...God Help These people... You say you want to 'Kill'... O.K. hope you go out, with the same terror, these beloved, once, mans best friends, are asked to... And may God Help You... As your mind is racing, as you are being beaten, on the back, and in the face by the cattle prod, herding you and others, closer to the knife, and wondering what you ever did, to deserve this horrific treatment... { I saw a mare and her foal, being sold seperately, at a horse sale, they beat the frantic mare back, with a cattle prod, as she was desperately trying to reach her terrified baby...I jumped into the ring, and grabbed the prod from the bastard's hands... Go See.... Just go see....It will break your heart... if it doesn't... Then, GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!}

Have you ever been to a Sale Barn? Go... Please go... Have you ever been to a Slaughter House... GO PLEASE GO!!!!!!! I HAVE!!!!{ put yourself in the animals place... and... if you have never been beat, with a cattle prod, try it once.... see how it feels...} This is why, I QUIT EATING MEAT!!!!I have decided, if I can't kill it, myself, than I shouldn't eat it... I may be a lot of things, a hypocrite, I don't need to be...}

I would hate to be a family member, of those who want to slaughter these horses... I think how people care about animals, is a reflection of how they treat people.... God Bless Them...

There are so many to blame, here... How about helping take care of these animals, instead of pointing fingers... see why the man couldn't feed them... OH NO... JUST TURN A BLIND EYE!!!! This Makes Me Sick...

These poor horses, are kind and gentle creatures... Trusting man... How sad... Horses built this country.... Broke the ground...pulled fire trucks, what they did for Farmers, should never be forgotten... This is how we repay...

The tears I shed, today, are, yes, for all the abused animals...the abused children.... the abused people...But, equally shed, for Mankind... Pathetic, Ignorant, Shameful, Greedy....Mankind... What God must think, as he looks at us... I'll bet he is shaking his head...

Shame on Us...

Barb C.

I don't kill anything... A fly, I will swat at... From Spiders, to all Animals.... All of God's Creatures have a purpose... Some folks say, the bible says God put animals on earth to feed us... Yes... this is true... and when we respect them, like the Bible Says... Then, we will talk...

I respect Animals, more than people, I guess...They, are not sinners... Just us.... We are the only creature that kills for 'sport'... interesting... and, as my dear friend, Peg, says.... " we are the only creatures that poop in our own nest"...{ meaning, destroy our environment}...what a group we are....

Confessions....

I Gotta Tell Ya.....

I was pretty busy, yesterday, with folks just poppin in... I'm not usually open on Monday's... But, I'm not open, on the days I'm supposed to be here... so... what the heck... If I'm here... I'm OPEN!

Anyway, I was visiting with Patty, {fern hill}, as a couple of very nicely dressed gals, driving a very nice car, were shopping... They came walking out of the shop, with my plaque, that was set in a display, tacked to the door, not for sale... and the one gal, held her fist up, to me, that was clenching two, dollar bills... and said, " I'll give you 2 dollars for this... here"... and was attempting to walk right past us, while throwing the money at me... REALLY!!!! I said, laughing, ah, no you won't... she said, "oh yeah, I will... here"... I about dropped... I took the plaque out of her clutches, and said, ah... this isn't for sale...It's never been for sale.... She said how much one of her friends would just love it... I kept walking... Grabbed my drill... proceeded to screw it to the door... Oh MY!!!!

Just had to share!

See Ya..

Barb C.

More Treasures....

Was on the road, again, yesterday... Visited pal, John, and Polly {pollanns} we're all gearing up, for the 4th! I'll be pricing, packing and loading, this week...Peg is coming up... So, the Mad Hatter, and the Mad March Hare, will be at it again... She's bringing some of her wonderful gourds!!!! Yeah!!! And will be at the show, in Mt.Vernon, with us! Ginger and Garth popped out,{ they are also doing the Main Street Mt.Vernon Show!} {virginia rose} with a cupboard they thought had my name on it... they were correct... and John is doing some minor things, to it, today, and it will be great for the 4th! Mark and I are going to have some fun stuff! Everything from vintage concrete, to a 12 foot showcase.... I'll have a listing, later in the week! I'm off, and running! {still a little hungover, from Saturday...whew... this old gal isn't up to that craziness anymore...It takes so much longer, to get out of the fog, the older I get... Oh my... STUPID!} Have a Great Day! Barb C. This little trike was at Polly's house... Had to have it... It'll be fun, sitting with a display of patriotic textiles, and little flags, for the 4th!

Hey Robin!

Here is the other coverlet... Love the color... and it's nice and heavy... Barb C.

The Party!

This was taken, before the music started.... looks pretty calm.... Yeah... " The Calm before the Storm!"... { at least the Police weren't called... It's a good thing, the Boys from Texas weren't here... There would have been a riot!!!} { just kidding...}

The Girls... These Gals got out on the drive, and danced their hearts out.... Fun, Fun, Fun!!!!!

Deb and John H. ....I love these two... They have a great eye, and come up with the most unusual things.... Deb has a great Store in Cedar Rapids.... { More on that, later!}

Jack, Tina and Maurina... and... My lonely bottle of Gold Margaritas.... It got pretty much annihilated....{ No wonder this picture is blurry... whew...}

Tom and Cathy... What a Sweet Couple...

Tom and Cathy R. had invited John and I, to their Anniversary Party.... {and Cathy's Birthday!} Dale F. was going, too, so we were going to ride with him.... John pooped out on us.... We had worked outside, loading furniture, yesterday, and it was Hot! John isn't much for being out in the heat.... So, Dale and I were on our own!

I have known Tom, for years....and always admired him so... He owned one of the Best Antiques Shops, in the area... He is very knowledgeable, in so many categories... He travels all over the Country, doing top of the line Antique Shows.... and, along with Tom and Paula V., Louie and Colleen P. and Tom' s wife, Cathy, they promote one of the best Antique Shows in the area... The Midwest Show...in Cedar Rapids...

I met Cathy, several years later... Tom is a lucky man.... She is such a stunningly, beautiful woman.... Her outer beauty, tho, is totally eclipsed, by her inner beauty.... She was celebrating a milestone, and, for some reason, I thought she was 10 years younger, than she is... I gave her a card, to wish her a 'Happy 29th'... from her 110 pound friend.... { If she doesn't tell, I won't either!} { I think she could pass for 29, a lot easier than I could, at 110.....}

Everyone had a great time... I got loud, and unruly, as always...at a fun party... They had a great band, I supported them, with all sorts of whoops, hollers, and whistles...... { Hey, there's one in every crowd!} { Tequila seems to have that effect on me...} No one was dancing.... soooo... well... I love to dance, and started dragging folks out... it was great... Hot... But great! We all had a great time visiting... And tho, I love to argue politics...and hash out the World's events... this was a Fun Party! No Politics.... No Oil Spill.... Not Tonight! So... when folks would start leaning that way...I'd interrupt, and say..." Let's talk about sex..." Oh my... you could hear a pin drop... and... back to the fun!{works every time!}

It was so great to see everyone! Steve G. Diane K.{ Found out that she and several of the other gal's are cigar smokers... oh my.... what a party...I was a good girl.. in that respect... no smokin' for me... sorry, Ed....}, Jack, and his new friend, Tina...Lori,{ Lori just opened a new store, on Mt.Vernon Road, in Cedar Rapids... Dale says it's great! I need to check it out!!!} Paula, Deb and John H., Colleen P., Jo and Dan, Maurina, and so many others, I don't get to see, often enough... I'm licking my wounds, this morning...didn't get home, til after 1.... Haven't danced like that, for a long, long time.... It felt good.... I just filled John in, on all the fun he missed out on.... He didn't look too sad....Parties aren't his thing.....{ but he would have had a great time!}

Everyone was Buzzing about the 4th... Between Cindy B's{ Smokehouse Square Antiques, Amana, Iowa...319-622-3539} Show on the 3rd, and 4th, at the Festhalle Barn, in Main, Amana.... Hanson's Grove {on Highway 1, near Solon, Iowa... and minutes from Mt.Vernon} and Main Street Mt.Vernon, Iowa... It's gonna be a WONDERFUL 4th!!!

Well... I'm out the door!

Hope everyone has an Absolutely Wonderful Day!

Barb C

{p.s. everyone brought food.... and it was Wonderful!}

The Victorian Light!

Another.... Good Day...

This book, is amazing...I read this, as I was quickly flipping through the pages... {written prior to 1935...} The Crazy Quilt They do not make them anymore. For quilts are cheaper at the store Than woman's labor, though a wife Men think the cheapest thing in life. But now and then a quilt is spread Upon a quaint old walnut bed, A crazy quilt of those old days That I am old enough to praise. Some women sewed these points and squares Into a pattern like life's cares. Here is a velvet that was strong, The poplin that she wore so long, A fragment from her daughter's dress, Like her, a vanished loveliness; Old patches of such things as these, Old garments and old memories. And what is life? A crazy quilt; Sorrow and joy, and grace and guilt, With here and there a square of blue For some old happiness we knew; And so the hand of time will take The fragments of our lives and make, Out of life's remnants, as they fall, A thing of beauty, after all. { Douglas Malloch} Oh my... This is, my Treasure... For the day.... This Wonderful, Coal Black Shawl, was the reason I went back to the sale... It was forgotten, at the check out...So, I have it, to thank, for all the beautiful Gatherings of the Day.... It is absolutely Stunning.... I can't begin to describe how it entrances.... I didn't even notice the Paisley... But, of course.... Paisley always speaks to me, even when hidden from the eye... I would guess this to be 1860's or '70's... It's a Stunner... This old Crazy Quilt, is amazing... To be honest... I didn't open up, either Crazy Quilt, 'til I got them home... Then, they blew me away... I didn't need to see their beauty, I already knew it was there... the pieces I have photographed, of the Peacock, and the flowers and urn... are all embroidered on, and have been cut from another Victorian fabric... Amazing....

This is the coolest old grind stone... Thought my Southern Iowa Friends, or Springville Pal, may like this, as much as I do... or... maybe a little more! It's very, very cool!

These are wonderful buttons, I bought from my old friend, Julie... She has the coolest stuff...

{Sorry Kathie} Here's a better image of the Plant Stand, I got in, yesterday... It's a gnarly dawg!{ it's sold}

Hey Robin... Finally... An Early Coverlet... It is sewn in two pieces, has a few, small stains, but, it's in good shape!

These are the Beautiful Pastels... The Sun, really made all of the images I took, while unloading, look washed out... These, are, Amazing... And I love them... I'm trying to find a wall for them... if not, they will be for sale...

Ahhh... The Craziness...

It was a Great Day, really....Went back to the Tag Sale, and found MORE great stuff!!!! more Crazy Quilts, more textiles, 2 beautiful Pastel Still Lives, that were hid away, a beautiful Rope Bed, a lovely Blue and White Coverlet, { Robin, take a peek!} A neat old concrete fountain, a cool stained glass window...A massive tin tray, with cool cut out handles, oh, and more vintage Christmas... {I can't help myself... I don't have any, exactly like these....} a beautiful, Victorian Hanging Lamp... complete...I could go on and on... I was so tired of unpacking, I just put everything left, outside, back in the truck... Tomorrow is.... another day....

Had a wonderful surprise, today! Kathie, {this girls art} popped in... Unfortunately, to purchase the wonderful { I mean Awful} wire plant stand, I had bought at Gail's sale, yesterday... Only to find, I had sold it, this morning, over the phone, to a dear friend....{who also saw it on the blog} I reminded her to call, if she sees something... I really do have a cell phone growing out of my ear... and never mind a call... She left deflated, but, not empty handed... I really felt bad... Wish I had another one... She left me with a 'wish list'... so, I'll see what I can do!!!

As I was unpacking all the wonderful treasures, that will be headed for Mt.Vernon, in just little over a week...Oh My... Tho, I love everything, and actually brought the huge Pastel Paintings in the house, hoping to find a spot, { they are waaayyyy cooler, in person!} My favorite find, was a book... from 1935... " The Romance of the Patchwork Quilt in America" { also, in the house...} I bought it at the sale, and didn't take a moment to read it... just bought it...along with several other, very interesting books... As I was taking a break, from unloading the truck, I sat down, and looked through the books... This one stole my heart... It has many illustrations, of every quilt square, you can imagine, and identifies them all... but, there are also poems, and stories written by quilters... this is priceless....

I have gathered at least 6 wonderful Crazy Quilts, this last week... Every single one of them, has their own little voice... I am thankful, they fell into my hands... I hope to find wonderful homes, for them... if not... they are always welcome here...

Barb C.

A Good Day...

Had some sweet gals, pop in, first thing this morn... mowed... for one day... no rain... Praise God...

Hit some good sales... Met some very nice folk... all is right with the world...

My lil' Ford, is beginning to look like a rolling Antiques Shop.... Oh my... seems I never get it completely cleaned out, before I'm on another journey...Oh well...

Found some interesting things, today... a very cool, vintage, tiered wire plant stand... Love It!{it's round, and fancy, iron footed... cool...} a sweet boudoir swivel chair... ya gotta love 'em!... 5, darling, vintage metal lawn chairs... all different styles... how fun! an 1880's General Grant, Bread Plate... I love early glass....can't help myself.... Darling, huge Christmas Ornaments... { Ya know... I really needed more of these....} Sweet, tin stuff... Patriotic Drapes, and vintage Patriotic Fabric! PERFECT FOR THE 4TH Of JULY!!!! IN MT.VERNON!!!! MARK AND I HAVE 4.... COUNT 'EM... "FOUR"!!! BOOTHS!!! Yeah, Yeah... You thought I was crazy, for bein' out buyin' all this gnarly old stuff...Well, let me tell ya... Mark and I are going to have a killer booth.... We've both, been out beating the bushes... and I sure hope you all can attend, Main Street, Mt.Vernon, Iowa... on the 4th.... I guarantee, you will not, be disappointed...There will be something for EVERYONE!!!!

Mark and I are putting up the Big Tent, so we will be selling, no matter!{ It poured, half the day, last year, and we didn't have a tent... we still sold like crazy! This is a great show... We bought well, too!} I CAN NOT wait, to start putting all this stuff together... It's gonna be a Winner! Mark and I have truly been blessed, with our Gatherings... and we can't wait to share them, with you!!!!

Barb C.

An Amazing Beauty....

The difference between a pieced quilt... and a Crazy Quilt... Repetition... Verses... Spontaneity...Oh, don't get me wrong... I love vintage quilts... Pieced, or Crazy... I love early comforters, and old, wool blankets... I love vintage textiles.... But... there is something, so wondrous, about a Crazy Quilt... It's like, organized chaos... I can sooo identify, with that...Crazy Quilts, are a little time capsule, with the quilter's favorite thoughts, embroidered on them.... This one is dated, 1894, has a darling heart, many flowers, butterflies, and bees...wheat, several 'Star of David' patches..., hoops, and other wonderful geometric designs... several initials and some of the most beautiful stitching, I have ever seen....... Tho, unimportant to me, the condition is incredible... I saw several pieced quilts, at this sale... some already sold... I wouldn't trade one of them, for this Beauty.... It truly is, a work of art....

Treasures of the Day!

Between Gail's Sale, and Top Drawer's Sale... I had a pretty sweet load! I was pulled away, early this afternoon, by a sweet gal, who is selling off her Red Wing, Salt Glazed Stoneware, Pine Step Back Cupboard, and Pine Harvest Table... She also has all sorts of wonderful bottle molds... We had a very nice visit, and will be chatting, more, soon! Carolyn A. had called me about Gail's Sale, and I didn't want to miss that, so scheduled it all together! Then, as I was getting ready to hit the door, at Gail's, Rosie, a dear friend of Gail's, told us about another Sale, in Cedar Rapids... So I followed Rosie, and found some great stuff! It was sad, tho, the gentleman who lived their, was an antiquer, too... He would come to my sales, with his friend, Jim... Jim is such a kind soul, and a dear friend, to this man... The man, was nearly blind, and his wife didn't go with, much... so he and Jim would run around, antiquing... The mans wife was in the hospital, and Jim, had just dropped his friend off at home... shortly after, the man fell down the stairs...and wasn't found, for several hours... He passed away, due to his injuries... When I was informed, about his passing, today, I had to go to his sale... I always loved the things he bought, he was such a kind soul, and had such a love for early things...{ he didn't care if they were perfect, either...}I wanted something, to remember him by... His wife passed away, shortly after... how sad...He will be missed....

Gail's Sale!

Sweet Carolyn A. called me about Gail's Sale... I'm so glad she did! Gail is moving, and is getting rid of! She has great stuff, and was fun to meander through, and gather all sorts of treasures! Gail has been into Antiques, forever... and she's cleaning house, and downsizing... She has a great eye, and buys fun, unusual stuff...

If you are near Cedar Rapids, Gail's Sale, is just off East Post Road... Turn on 36th street, then go to Palomino... You'll see her signs! She'll be putting more stuff out, the next two days! Go See!

For Marilyn... My Sympathy...

This is for a dear person, who just lost her beloved four legged, best friend... I know exactly, what you are feeling... It's a pain, that is piercing, to the very core, of your soul... John and I have suffered, great losses...and we know... Some folks, just can't seem to understand, why or how, we could have such love for these creatures... Well... Here's how I see it... There was only one Man, who ever walked the face of this Earth, that ever equaled, the Unconditional Love, of a Dog... and He's been gone, over two thousand years... The words, I said to my daughter, Liz, when she was overcome, by grief, after losing, her Best Friend, Molly... as she was sobbing, and cursing, because the grief was so incredibly painful... "It is Better to Have Loved, and Lost, Than to Have Never Loved at all..." I told her, God Bless you, for feeling... To be able to hurt this deeply, was a wonderful thing... Some people aren't capable of Loving, that much....and certainly, not feeling...How sad, for them... We should rejoice, that we can feel, and have compassion... We have all decided, if Dogs, don't go to Heaven, we won't go, either... Just send us, where the Dogs go... I believe they do... What a lonely place Heaven would be, without our Beloved Friends... Our Sympathy goes out to you... along with our prayers... We'll all meet again... He's there waiting for you... God Bless... Barb C. and John... { When John, told me of your loss, today... I was sitting in my chair... He said, you loved your babe, as much, as I love, my Polly... He walked out the door... I sat there for a moment, and called her, to me...She jumped on my lap... and I realized, the only thing the Lord did wrong, was have our beloveds lives, so much shorter than ours... I know, someday, long before, I ever think it should happen, my girl will leave me, too...{tears... and more tears...} All we can do, is love them, and make their lives wonderful...He knows, how very much he was loved.... What a Lucky Best Friend.... You were both, very blessed...}

The Flower Child....

Yes, yes... I know, this is really the 'Fisher Boy', but, in my world, a little boy, is as much loved, whether carrying a bamboo pole, or, a mid summer bouquet.... He is precious... I have had a few of these little concrete darlings, and have adorned them, at shows, with a sweet bird's nest, with a tiny Robin's egg, that the little boy, seems to be gazing at, while perched on top of an old primitive cupboard... or, an American Flag, that he seems to be waving, ever so proudly... this little man, can be quite diverse... and, is darling, inside, or, outside! I am fussy, when I purchase these... they have to have a wonderful surface... that is truly, what makes them sing....

Pine Ridge Tree Farm... Fun!

As I was weaving my way through South Eastern Iowa, and visiting Charlie, I popped in, at Koral Fuson's darling store, near New London, Iowa... She does such a great job! Her store is wonderful, filled with great primitives, and fun country stuff! Her daughter, is a florist, and also has her store, with Koral's, and it's a great mix! She and Amy, from 'The Nest', are just a hop, skip and a jump, apart, and hopefully, I'll hit Amy's shop, when she and Koral, have their Wonderful Sale, in mid July! { be sure and check out Amy's blog...} I so enjoyed our visit... I had wanted to stop at Iris City, in Mt. Pleasant, but had such a great time, visiting with Koral, and shopping, time slipped away... Oh well, another time.... Here's Koral's info... Be sure and visit! Pine Ridge Tree Farm Antiques and other Charming Wares 2850 New London Rd. New London, Iowa 319-367-2422 Open Tues-Fri. 9:30-5:00 Sat. 9:30-3:00

I love the Massive Cupboard, on the back wall... Oh my... If the truck wasn't already loaded, it may have had to come home to Fairfax!

Oh... Charlie....

You see... this is why I do... What I do.... Friends... I have known Charlie, for many years... He and I think, much alike... He is such a kind, and gentle spirit, and, is able to see the good in things, that so many dismiss... He knows immediately, when something has my name on it, and puts it aside, for me... Like this incredible birds nest.... I have never seen one like it.... It is constructed with moss.... live moss.... the inside is lined, with what appears to be, something like angel's hair... maybe milk weed silk... I don't know, but he saved it, and several others, for me...What a friend....{ he had one nest, on his truck dash, for a few days, and the guys at work, really ribbed him....thanks for putting up with the jokes...You are a Dear Man... and a Great Friend!} I found several fun things, at Charlie's Barn... But the best thing, was having a long overdue visit, with Charlie....

Runnin' Down the Road....

Well, I'm back on the road again... Headed North, this morning, then, way South.... Have an old cupboard to pick up, either tonight, or tomorrow, from pal, Bart, in Cedar Rapids... The way the rain keeps coming, I may have to take an enclosed truck! Kay wanted to know about the Paper Christmas House, that is on the image, with the gnarly hands... I collect them, myself, and have several in the shop... They are from the first half, of the 1900's, some are German, some are from Japan...You can usually find these, for under 20.00, mine, in the shop, from this size and smaller,are priced from 6 to 12.00. They are wonderful when they are all gathered together, like a village... I keep mine out, year around, in the house, and shop.... Love 'em! Hope Everyone has the Most Wonderful Day! Barb C.

Hand Soap... No Pun, Intended....

I bought these gnarly old, old shadow box, framed 'Hand' soaps, from Tom and Meg J., in Amana.... Oh my gosh... I thought they were the coolest things!!!! { great in the bath, or bedroom!}

The Weekend Gatherings...

There is a very soft spot, in my heart, for Rusty Old Trucks...

I love this old basket, with a fabric covered handle.... I found the Old, Old, Amana Mattress Covers, in Main, Amana...

I bought these new, old stock, brooms, with their original paper labels, from a Cedar Rapids store, in Main, Amana.

I nearly filled this old cupboard, with wonderful ironstone, and soft paste, from the Amana Sales....

I bought the compote, full of buttons, and the wonderful little ironstone pitcher, inside it, in West, Amana... I adore the little pitcher... It has been broken, into a dozen pieces, then carefully glued back together... It's a survivor....

I gathered a dozen, or more little butter pats, shopping the Amana's...

Gathered an entire collection, of sweet little motto cups... Some say 'Present', some, 'A Gift', some, 'Think of Me'... they are precious...

Bought some sweet late 1800's children's dishes... I can't hardly walk away from them... Found several vintage wire hanging baskets... They are fun to have hanging around!

Maurina had this huge punch bowl... I used to have one in the house, it's twin, but I sold it....This one has a crack, in the bottom... but, no worries... I used mine to serve a variety of breads, chips, or fruit.... And, it was beautiful filled with vintage Christmas! So that crack won't make a bit of difference!

"Absent, but not forgotten" I love this motto... This was found in West, Amana....

This is a blurry image of a darling Shadow Box, that Maurina had, in Czech Village.... It's pulled wool, Victorian, and wonderful...

There are so many more things... You'll just have to come visit...

I want to mention, as I was taking pictures for you, this evening, I discovered something had been stolen, from the shop.... It was something I loved.... Tho, I love, everything, in the shop... or, it wouldn't be there... It was stolen, yesterday... I know who took it, and, they also altered a price tag... But, at the time, I thought, well, maybe I did do it myself.... I get running so fast, and get so forgetful... but, after seeing this, and how they moved things around, so I wouldn't miss this little treasure... well, nothing would surprise me, about these folks....

I want you to know, if you read this, you are in my prayers... This is your journey, and God Bless you, and your wife.... Only Angels pass through the doors of that little shop... So, I know there is a special lesson, for you, and I here....

God Bless...

Barb C.