The Angels... oh my...

Here's John...Liz and Nick...{John, in a rare moment...usually, he has a favorite 'sign', he gives the camera...oh dear....}

Ahh...The two Goddess's... {oops...3 .....Sorry Scarlett!}oh my...The Lizard...and Me.......{she cracks me up...} We always wind up doing our hair, the same way... without knowing it...{it makes her sooo mad! We think...a lot...alike...} ah, but no more... my hair..{she calls it 'Mermaid Hair'... whatever that is...} is not getting whacked! She said, "That's o.k.... I have a lot more years left, to let my hair grow..."... She, is... her Mother's Daughter....Damn...

Ahhh...Three Generations... Pattie...{Fern Hill}... Nichole...and Steph...{Stephanie Brandenburg Studios} Liz used to babysit, Nichole... She Loves all of the Girls... Angels....

Bud and Renate...{a.k.a. The Love Birds...} We have known them forever...They have never missed any event with the Kids... They are Wonderful People...We Love Them....

Carolyn A. What can I say....One of the most Giving People, I know... She is an Angel...no doubt.....

Nick, and his Gal Pals...Ashley and Kaley! They are Antique Hounds! How Cool are They!!!

Oh My Gosh...Kristi... She and Liz go Way Back....Kristi and Liz started going to Gold Rush with me, when they were around 8.... We'd roll out, about 2 a.m.... they would pile on a bed of pillows, in the cab of the old Ford...They amazed everyone, at the Shows... They worked their tails off... and we all had Amazing Meals, at Michael's...Those Girls worked as hard as any Adult...and I treated them, that way...They earned their stripes...Kristi, will always be my 'Second Daughter'... 

Ahhh...Liz's little, Best Pal, Jaelynn... and her Sweet, Mom...Elizabeth...

Nick's Sweet Family.... Good Folk! It was Great seeing them... The Babies, are Growing So Fast!!!

Brittany, and her Darling..Josiah... He is a whirlwind...and... should be, at 2! Liz has known Brittany, forever... what a Sweet Girl....





Ahhh...Gayle...She is one of the most amazing Women I know... Lord, the Mountains she has climbed...We Love Her So....She always shined at Liz...They hit it off...right away...when Liz was quite young... it's a 'Soul' thing...

Barb H. {Sisters' Garden and Bloom...} What can I say about Barb... She is an amazing, caring Soul...Beautiful...We Love Her...Much...

 Dale F..... He and Liz, have grown very close, the last few years...I thanked him for coming, and said how much Liz appreciated him, being here...he looked me in the eye...and said, he wouldn't have missed it, for the World....{I tear up, just thinking about it...} Dale, wouldn't have missed it, for the World... That's how Dale is...

 Sweet Katie! It seems like, just yesterday, when the Girls, were hanging out...Mall Shoppin'.... Teen Agers.... what happened... Oh My... Now, Katie is a Mom... Liz, will soon, be a Mom... and we are discussing what these Babies, are to call me...I'm not loving 'Grandma'... I'm thinking.... 'Me Ma'... or, Bud suggested 'Baba'...I don't know...When I think 'Grandma'...I think 'rocking chair'...I'm not ready for a rockin' chair...{well...I'm ready... I just can't afford to sit!}Pal, Gayle, said she couldn't wait, to be called Grandma... Hey... I want to hang out, and show the world, to a young spirit...yes...experience life, with them...{that's my Dad, in me...} We'll figure it out...

Hope You Dance... all of Ya...

Barb C.

I Hope You Dance...Each...and Every One, of You...

It was great seeing so many of Liz's old friends... When she moved out on her own... I didn't get to see much of them, any more...{except for Katie...she and Liz have been friends since they were very young... and now, is Daughter in Law...!} Brittany...and Kristy...it was great seeing them... {they both have darling little Babes of their own...} My Gosh... the time sure slips away....

Liz invited some of our mutual friends... the ones that she has become close to...over the years...It was wonderful to see them, as well... I know everyone is so busy.... I truly appreciate them, and everyone... taking the time, to spend with Liz...

They are all Angels...

Barb C.

{I'm turning my energies, towards Heart of Country....and Nashville...we have some bad weather coming, as does a lot of the Country, this week... So, think I might bundle up, and start unloading the Big Truck...to reload...before it hits...}

There were about 25 people, that stopped by...and we took lots of pictures, for the Scrap Book....

This is one of Liz's Sweetest Friends... She stayed at Liz's side, almost the entire Shower....You're looking at an Angel....

The Shower....

Liz's Baby Shower was great.... a bit stressful... the last hour of preparation...I knew, if I could get it pulled together, by one... I could get myself  ready, in an hour...{you know... it crossed my mind, this morning to get me ready...and not jump into work....but, John had me trying to help him run a line, down the drain, in the basement... and I was already behind the 8 ball...I'd get ready in time....}the Shower was 2 til 4... well... I was looking at a little less than an hour, and Nick came in the house, with who, I thought was daughter in law, Katie...carrying Justin J... I was a mess... but, Katie has seen me a mess, many times... I told her to come on  in...she whisked by me... at that moment...I realized, it wasn't Katie.... It was Nick's Sister...I looked at Nick..."that wasn't Katie, and Baby 'J', was it"...." Nope", he had invited his family to come an hour early....I looked like the creature from the black lagoon.... I sprinted upstairs... and literally threw myself together....oh dear....
Other than that... The day was Perfect... I'll have a report tomorrow...It was a Wonderful turn out...Liz had a Beautiful Day....She loved seeing everyone...I loved watching her...After everyone left...and we were cleaning up... she said how blessed she is, to have so many wonderful people in her life...
Yes...She is....

Liz's First Baby, sat up on the Balcony...overlooking the Guests....Liz found her, the other day... she was Proud to be here....

Liz frosted the cakes, as I was running around this morning...Good Job!

We had plenty of food, and we used a tiny, old heart cookie cutter, to cut, cheese and ham.... it worked great!

This Dolly, is Nick's Niece.... SWWEEET!

I made a huge batch, of Southern Sweet Tea.... we had lemon crisps... and all sorts of Sweetness... Oh Dear...

It was a Very Sweet Day!

Barb C

This is Why I Sleep with my Dog.....

My eyes popped open, at 3, this morning...I walked into the kitchen, to get a drink of water... it was so cold in the house... because the door was standing wide open....

I was sure it was shut tight.....when I got home, last night...I worked in the kitchen for at least an hour, before I went to bed... The door was shut...

I went back to bed... thinking I must have not latched it...

Then, when I let Polly out, this morning, I found a mess, going out the west door of the breezeway...{I rarely use that door...}Things were toppled and broken...in a heap, by that door...{ I have lots of totes, and stuff I'm getting rid of, out there...if you don't know your way... it could be a challenge! and it sure was, for someone! } Then, I knew... someone had been inside the house...I haven't found anything missing... and they must have been pretty quiet... because Polly didn't bark...

We've had this happen, over the years...we live on a major hi way... that's why... I sleep with my Dog....

Well... I'm getting busy...

Hope Everyone has a Great Day!

Barb C.

{and...she keeps me warm!}

{our kitchen sink is stopped......John worked on it all afternoon... funny, how these things decide to quit, just when you need them the most... oh dear...}

"Our Darling"

This was one of My Favorite Treasures, Lynn got today.... I don't think he knew, how much I would Love this...tho, he knew, I would like it.... He, and Lea, pretty much know what I Like...But... some things, truly touch my Heart... These little Plaques... really sing to me....

It rode home, in my coat pocket...Love It! 

Shower Eve...

Oh my... I have been cleaning...to no avail... Getting ready for the Shower.... Just can't seem to get it together...{Dale F. called, this afternoon...... and left a message..."don't worry about cleaning the house... we're coming to see Liz... just...don't worry"....see.... this is why I Love Dale... what a guy...{ he's single.... come on Girls!} Pal, Lynn, was going to Duwa's Auction, today.... and... Bless his Heart...I left a bunch of bids with him....He stayed all day... and got me some wonderful treasures.... one, I didn't see.... but he did.... and knew I would Love it... Oh My.... I surely did... Angels... I tell ya ....Angels....so, I ran down, to the Auction, to pick up treasures, this evening... Then...Dwight and Junelle Duwa, Bud and Renate... Harold, and his Lovely Wife... and Lynn and I had a wonderful supper... after the Auction... It was Great... {Thanks, Dwight and Junelle... it was Lovely...they bought all of our suppers... how sweet...good folk...} I think I did most of the talking...oh dear...{no surprise there...}
 I just got home...and think I have a long way to go... Liz brought some stuff out, earlier...hmmm... I'll get it... ah... somehow...

I made lots of heart cakes, today... with 'free range' eggs, {from John's Friend, Dean!}... and...real, butter... Mayo... and all sorts of sinful stuff... what can I say....I'm a bit Bohemian....{ oh...and the old Yellow Ware Bowl, has a crack in  it... and still holds batter, like no other...I hand mix everything... no electric mixer for me... and... the serving{mixing} spoon, is 'coin'.... I love it... it has always whipped up the Best cakes!}

I have them all cooling on an old pie carrier... and will frost, in  the Morn!

This is one, of the Amazing Treasures, Lynn got for me, at Duwa's, today...{late 1800's wool, floral wreath... Love It!!!!} OH MY!!!!

Love This Funky Chair!!!! COOL!

Barb C.

Gnarliness....

I've got some roots, gnarling up, in old blue jars, for Heart of Country... I'll be taking some wonderful Laboratory, and, Apothecary Jars... Thought it might be fun, to have a touch of Gnarliness, in a few of them... What's more Gnarly...than bunches of unruly, free spirited roots! They seem pretty Happy...and...ALIVE!

It's great to see 'Life'... in January...in Iowa...

Barb C.

Elizabeth's First Baby....

I ran across these images, as I was cleaning, this afternoon......in preporation, for her Baby Shower, on Sunday...

This image was taken Christmas Morning... about 18 years ago... Liz was 5... She had fallen in Love with this Old Dolly... She begged me, for her...I told her, I'd have to think about it...and set it back, for several months...On Christmas Morning, I had the Old Dolly in a Gnarly Old Wicker Buggy....with tons of clothes, I had gathered for the Old Doll.... I told Liz, we could have the Doll's Face repainted, and restored... She looked at me, with those Big Brown Eyes, and said..."Oh No, Mama... I Love Her, Just The Way She Is"... {wonder where she got that from?} and gave the Old Doll a Gentle Squeeze...We still have that Baby... I should try and find her...

Amazing...I was telling Liz, last night, about the Big Mirror... and the sight, behind it...She said that mirror had been there for at least 15 years... My Lord.... where does the time go... it seems... it was just a couple of Christmas' ago, I gave Liz, her first Baby...

as I was cleaning the Old Medicine Cabinet Mirror, I wondered... if it could speak, what it might say... like.."You think I look bad... what happened to YOU, these last 15 years!" Oh my... 15 years...

Steph just texted me...said Red Wine, makes you live longer... I called her back...and said...Guess we'll live forever...

where's the cork screw....

I'm off the wagon...

Barb C.

Hmmmm...

As I was cleaning today, I ran across these Old Coin Silver Spoons {ca. late 1700's to Civil War era...actually hand made, from silver coins... slightly less silver content, than Sterling..} I don't remember where I bought these...

I'm sure it will come to me...{well... almost, sure...} They weren't with my collection...so, I gave them a gentle bath, and packed them for Heart...Folks that attend that Show, know what Coin Silver is...around here, people don't understand it...my friend Julie, got me interested in it, many years ago...Then, Martha Stewart wrote about it...I use it, for every day...The spoons are very thin, so, no heavy duty work, for them... but they are great for a Coffee Spoon... and make you feel good, when you use them...they feel wonderful in your hand...

Nothing surprises me anymore... so... when I tell people a story... or, we are in conversation... and they get chills...{it happens, often} I don't think a thing of it....
Life is a Journey... and their are no, coincidences, on this Journey... oh yes...I mean it, when I say, I see people as a Spirit... yes... they have a physical, flesh body... but if you look closer... we all have something that surrounds us...that is ageless...weightless...an Aura, an Energy, that fluctuates, with our feelings...{ask anyone who knows me well... my 'energy', is like a 'mood ring' they say, they can feel it, when I'm on one extreme, or another...hmmm...}....I also know it leaves our bodies, when we die...{and...I believe, goes to Heaven... some, may linger here, for a while...{ I have seen evidence of this, as well... believe it, or not...} I remember running my hand, through my Dad's hair, a few hours after he died...at that very moment, I knew he was totally gone... My Sister, Chery, as well... I clipped a bit of her hair, after she past away...nothing... she was gone...the energy, that surrounds our being, leaves our bodies... Animals are the same way...
I called my Little friend, from Franklin, Tennessee, yesterday... Scarlett Scales...{she is on face book, has a web site, and a blog..She has an open Store, in Franklin, and does Brimmfield, and the Country Living Fairs!}
Scarlett and I, pretty much turn it loose, when I'm in Nashville... {she's engaged, this year... so...we'll have to behave... ah...Scarlett...not me!} Scarlett and I have many parallels... She has a very close relationship, with her Dad... She's been 'Old', since she was very young, and she's a whirl wind...We are about 20 years apart... but our Spirits, are simpatico...{this story, is not about death... it's about how our Spirits are drawn to each other...and how, we are connected, by something, we don't understand...I gotta tell ya... it's like falling down the Rabbit Hole...and if you haven't seen the movie, 'Alice in Wonderland' with Johhny Depp...go get it.... and watch it a couple of times... I think you may see a parallel or two...}
I wanted to let her know, I'm coming down, for 'Heart', and would so Love to get together...{Scarlett has done the Heart Show, many times, and, The Garden Show, in Nashville, a week prior, to Heart...This year, she has committed to the Garden Show... her inventory fits it, best, this year...}
I also wanted to tell her, about Liz, naming her Babe, Scarlett.... She was thrilled! I told her how I knew it was going to be a girl, from the moment she told me she was expecting...I also told Scarlett, I was relieved, it was a girl, because the 'boys' name was going to be 'Absalom'....{nothing wrong with Absalom...my Dad's name was Marion... it would just take a bit of getting used to...}I laughed... Scarlett didn't... she said "oh my Gosh...I just got chills...." then silence..."Way back in the day... back in the late 1700's, early 1800's...a Great... Great...Great... Grandfather, built a Huge Antebellum Mansion, that is known as the 'Absalom Scales' House...His name was Absalom..." She was taken back... it really didn't surprise me...
If you pay attention, to the journey...and keep a watchful eye out... you'll see...these types of things happen, all of the time...little, and, not so little signs...what they mean.... well, that's for each of us to figure out...
Hmmmm...
Have an Insightful Day!
Barb C.
here are some words, that keep crossing my path...Romeo...Scarlett...beautiful...simply...{that one, started over 10 years ago...and keeps coming...} and..of course the phrase, 'it is what it is'...
hmmm.....{ I have also found it, very strange... I deleted a lot of the old songs, I love, off of the blog... and guess what... They are playing most of them, over and over on the radio... what's up with that...?...They don't play 'old' songs on the stations I listen to... I must need to hear them... strange...}

Spooky...

Well... John decided to work on the cold water faucet, in my bathroom today...... This side of the house was built in 1955... I hated the built in medicine cabinet, in the bathroom...so I hung, a huge Victorian Mirror, over the Medicine Cabinet...{it went nearly to the ceiling...} and...well... why in the world, would I ever take it down... ahhh... to clean behind it? Nah.... Oh my Gosh.... While he was fixing the sink... I thought I'd take the old Mirror down... {it needs a little repair...} To Find THIS!!!! The Munster's House! {actually, I do see a slight resemblance, to Lily...oh dear...}

I have all sorts of events, to share with you, that happened, today... but...I gotta go clean a mirror...

Barb C.

Pink Hearts...

Spent the day, Tuesday, focusing on the Baby Shower...this coming Sunday...I baked Strawberry Hearts...and will do more, today, in other flavors.... I'm freezing them, then will decorate them, just before the Shower...I have never had a Baby Shower before... Thankfully, Liz isn't super Girlie... and I think we'll just have some food, and take pictures... put a Memory book together, for Scarlett...
If I have a theme... I can do anything... and...the Theme, is 'Scarlett'... Old South... Sweet Tea... and Hospitality...I think I can pull it off!
I'll be sharing ideas, as I go...If you have any... I'd Love to Hear Them!
Have a Lovely Day...
Barb C.
{ I do love having get togethers... It gives me a chance to put all of the Cake Stands... Platters... and Old Serving Pieces out, and let them SING! {There truly is Nothing more Beautiful, than Vintage Serving Pieces... Just think... back in the day... when everyone sat at a Dining Table... and ate together... These Old Beauties, were used, almost Daily... But...Always on Sundays... and Holidays...now...we've become a 'Buffet Society'... How Sad...}
{and...I have warned the folks, I know, that Liz has invited...... the house 'is what it is'...it will be sanitary... if ya want spotless...come help clean...}

Standing Within the Fire....

Standing Outside the Fire...
I put this Garth Brooks Song, on, because it seems, I'm always standing Inside the Fire... It's hard for my 'sane' friends to understand... and they hurt, for me...as I'm dancing on the Hot Coals...
These Amazing lyrics, truly explain my thoughts...and being...
 God...I love Country Music... Poetry...set to music...

Standing Outside the Fire

We call them cool
Those Hearts that have no scars to show...
The ones that never do let go,
And risk the tables being turned....

We call them Fools,
Who have to Dance Within the Flame....
Who Chance the Sorrow, and the Shame...
That Always comes with Getting Burned...

But...You've got to be Tough, when Consumed by Desire...
Cause.... it's not enough just to Stand, Outside the Fire...

We call them Strong...
Those who can face this world alone,
Who seem to get by, on their own...
Those who will never take the Fall...

We call them Weak...
Who are Unable to Resist...
The Slightest Chance, Love Might Exist...
And, for That...Forsake it All...

They're so Hell Bent on Giving... Walking a Wire...
Convinced it's not Living...
If You Stand Outside the Fire...

Standing Outside the Fire,
Standing Outside the Fire...
Life is Not Tried...It is Merely Survived...
If...Your Standing Outside the Fire...

There's this Love that is Burning,
Deep in my Soul...
Constantly yearning to get out of Control....
Wanting to Fly...Higher... and Higher......
I Can't Abide...Standing Outside the Fire...

Standing Outside the Fire,
Standing Outside the Fire...
Life is Not Tried... It is Merely Survived...
If...Your Standing Outside the Fire...

My Deepest Love, to all of the Hovering Angels... with the Buckets of Ice Water...{even getting their Loving, Little Wings Singed, occasionally...while getting a bit, too close...}

Good Things...

Ahhh...Sweet Sarah... She sent these Darling Little Girl's Hangers, for Liz's, Little Scarlett... It was so Great seeing Sarah, and her Family... always....Priceless...

Chery brought this Sweet Memorial... I had to have it... { Chery always has something, that I can't resist....} This one says "At Rest"....

 and  "Our Darling" I don't know why I Love these hand made Memorials so...Maybe, I think they deserve to be Loved, and appreciated... They were at one time, held very dear...and... tho, the original owners, are now, long gone... I respect that Sentimental way of being, that seems so Lost...{this one is made from feathers, and wax flowers...from the last quarter of the 1800's...}

This is a bad image...of the Gnarliest Old Dry Sink... Love It! On top, is a round Chick House... I Love them!

Ahhh.... an Old Red Glider...This will be Perfect for Spring... Just around the Corner... 

Here are a few images from the Anamosa Show... The Crowd was strong, the entire day... tons of people... Nice people...It's funny... You can be fed the most amazing personal comments... then let one negative comment, steal your joy... how sad...It was great seeing everyone... and visiting...and... meeting the Sweetest blog followers...{Angels...} Thank You, for all of your Kind Words... { I see Leann, my neighbor... I was very blessed, with Great, Great... neighbors...}

It was wonderful, seeing Kathy, from Plaza Antique Mall, in Dyersville...{on highway 20, not far from Dubuque....} I don't get up there often enough...I miss that...and...Kathy...

{I truly laughed, and laughed...danced to Barry White, that Connie B. was playing, during set up...we kept telling her to Crank it Up!... and had a wonderful time, during set up, and throughout the Show..... somehow, things just unraveled, during tare down... stressful...}

Barb C.

The Angels have Spoken...

{Polly, from 'Polly Ann's', in Mt.Vernon, gave this 'Gnarly' plate to me...{Polly does the lettering...very cool} She is such an Amazing Little Soul.... Love Her...}

Patty called this morning...wondering how the Anamosa Show was... I told her... We had a very nice visit...  she said I need to sit down, and have a Board Meeting with God...I also got an e-mail from Gail... who told me to quit sniveling...buck up...focus on Nashville...she reminded me of how blessed I am, to be a part, of one of the most Prestigious Shows, in the Country...and basically...get my Crap together... Angels...both of them are Amazing Angels...
 I told Gail, I feel like a Snappy Quarter Horse...{known for running the Quarter mile...}that is running a mile and half track...like a Thoroughbred....the rider is getting heavier..and starting in, with the crop...I'm getting winded...but...still running...
Then, I took Patty's advise, and opened my Streams...to August 5th, 
{2 Corinthians 12:9} My Grace is sufficient for you.
and a portion, of the poem, by Annie Johnson Flint is as follows;
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving has just begun....
{pretty fitting...it always is...perfect...}

God didn't say, might be sufficient... or may be.... He said "Is Sufficient"... and...I... believe it...
I hate to disappoint people... or, do the wrong thing... I felt bad, about making people angry...I felt bad, about disappointing my Family... and not doing better... but... I did the Best I could...and that's all I can do... Anita...Vikki...Amy...Liz... well... they are all Angels...
I'll keep the bit in my teeth... nose out...and keep running with the Thoroughbreds....and know... there are always Angels... and Grace... and Everything will be fine....
Barb C.
{Peg is headed home.... I won't see her 'til I pick her up, on the way to Nashville...my little 'One Winged Angel'...My Wings, are all singed, from getting too close to the fire...so, we are a good pair...}

Just burn them....

Let me start, by saying how great the Anamosa Show was on so many levels... Polly....Peg...Amy...Mark...Sarah...Matt....Wanda...Ginger...Chery...Bill...
Vikki...Brandon...and...so many others...{a special thanks, to Connie Bennet...our very wonderful neighbor...she is amazing...} Bloggers... friends...Good Folk.....no.....Great Folk...
 My sales were down... but... o.k....tho...I take that personally...My Fault...
I hired the Boys, to come help load.....and to be there by 4...  we took a large portion of one of  the doors, we upset some Folks... I appolgised....I should have told the boys, to come later...My Fault... I was trying to hurry...I simply have a lot of baggage..{by the time I found out, I had annoyed some Folks, we were nearly loaded....I asked Mark if we should pull out, and wait...when I was told...he thought we could have it done in 20 minutes, more...and...we did...we had 4 trucks loaded, in an hour and a half.... I thought that was amazing....not good enough...Once again... my fault...}
 Ya know... this truly isn't worth it...I'm done...we threw all of my old Farm House Doors, I use for walls, on Justin's truck... to Hurry... I told John to burn them... Just burn them....
I'll do Nashville... then...try and figure out the rest of it...
Thanks, to all of the kind, patient, wonderful people, this weekend....and all of those who bought...Thank You...and to all of those, I ruffled feathers...well... Bless Your Hearts.... I am...so sorry...
This is simply too much...I'm broken...just...broken....
Enough...
My Love to You...
Barb C.
Peg sold tons of her Beautiful Gourds....and Mark did well.... it was a Beautiful Show....Cecilia, and Jon, did a Lovely job...as always...

Its Show Time!!!!

Here's Mark... He'd had enough, 2 hours before we quit, for the night... Poor Peg, was staggering... me...I'm tired...and my feet hurt... Other than that...It's all Good.... The Show has some, Great Stuff!

We worked until after 10, tonight....and Poor Peg, was about to collapse! The Boys, Justin and Josh, were a God send! We are almost done! We have about an hour left, of detail work... So we have to be up and running, by 5, show opens at 7:30....See Ya There!

Double Sided Hardware Store Nail Bin...Headed for Anamosa Show...Sunday!

We will have several Store Pieces, at the Anamosa Show! I'm bringing a Wonderful, Old, 8 foot, six legged, all pegged, table...with 10 Drawers! 4 on each side, and one on each end! Very Cool!!! The Amana Wardrobe... a 9 foot Nail Bin, in original Pumpkin Paint! A Cute Blue Chimney Cupboard... Just all sorts of Old, Gnarly Iowa Finds...with Lot's of Soul! We'll be setting up, tomorrow, the Show starts Sunday, at 7:30 a.m., Early Bird...then 9 to 3... I can't wait to see ya!!!!

Sunset... On Eastern Iowa

Peg and I were headed home, from Mark's, in Norway, Iowa...last night...and she mentioned the amazing Sunset... I pulled onto a gravel road, just as the Sun was slipping below, the Frozen Farm Field....It was amazing... we saw Sun Dogs, on the way there... it was only 2 or 3 degrees... but the Sun was so Bright...and Beautiful... So warm on my face...ahhh...Winter in Iowa... 

1880's Amana Wardrobe...and...The Whitlin' Knife!

I had Peg and Dale, running for cover, when I grabbed my Whitlin' Knife!

{a Very Long... Very Old...Razor Sharp...Butcher Knife...Oh Baby...}

I bought this Old, Original, Amana Wardrobe, at Duwa's Amana Auction... Somehow the crown was broken...and left a substantial chunk of it, glued on the front of the Old Charmer! I Have No Idea...What kind of glue they used...{and I kept stating that...  over and over....as I was precariously, struggling with The Whitlin' Knife....} but...I gotta tell ya... I couldn't tell the crown fragment, from the cupboard front.... I had to whittle... and shave... and slice...and use the Old Knife, like a 'Draw Knife'...{That's when things, can get a little hairy...}{well...hitting the top of the long blade, with a hammer... and holding the blade steady...and at an angle, that won't get too deep...is challenging...} 'til I had it smooth enough, to accept, another crown board...I was standing on an old plank seat chair...  Peg and Dale were watching...until they had to stop...{the knife only slipped a couple of times... I barely bled, at all... really... just a couple of nicks....{Don't try this, at Home!}  I'll have it ready for Anamosa...other than the crown... all I have to do is blend the surface...with a little Beauty Cream... it's Lovely... and a Darling Size! {great in any room, and would be perfect, as Peg says, for a t.v.}

Dale found an old child's block, and said I should definitely keep it.... It has a cute mouse, on it.....So we put it in an old cupboard, up front... not for sale...{Peg told me to tell you, her block didn't say anything, at all... she was wound, like an Eight Day Clock, today... The Mad March Hare...all the way...oh dear...}

It's difficult to see the fragment on the top... oh my...what a bear! But...I'm the winner...and still have all of my fingers!

Barb C.