A Day...at the Farm Auction.... and more....

Oh my....I remember these days... from when I was a Small Child... Farm Auctions....Dad would leave me, from the time I was 7...to do his bidding, for him...on the Scrap Iron Piles...
Those days are gone.... rarely, are they at the Farmsted....They sort everything now....and take the antiques to an Auction Houses....This was a treat.... tho.... I couldn't buy many treats.... the prices were Unreal....I'm sure the Auctioneer, {Jerry}...and the Family, were Thrilled...!
It doesn't matter...

There was  Great Crowd...All Day!...

The owner, was kind enough, to give me a private tour, of the Old Farm House... so...so...sad....It's going down...unless...someone will move it....{not likely} It looks, like it almost weeps... Very...Sad...

Ahh...Old Tractors....Gnarly Old Tractors...

These are Amazing Draperies...all Tasseled... a Huge Amount....They are from an Early 1900's Lodge.... and will cover a Huge Wall...Gold Rush Bound!

This board is amazing... has a few square nails in it... and a couple of knot holes...I'm sure it was cut, at least a hundred and forty years ago... I had to laugh.... As I carefully took it off the wall...of the old shed, it was in...I was being watched... while I carried it to the truck... I was watched...as I carefully loaded and strapped it, to the side of the truck...I was watched....I was beginning to feel like a bug, in a jar...or... great entertainment...I had quite an audience, of Bib Overalls...{Think I should video tape my escapades.... this board, ain't nothin'...}

I spotted this Amazing 20, plus inch wide board, {by...as long as the Ford...} nailed on one of the old shed walls... I hoped I could get it bought...and did...

Sweet Garth...{virginia rose}Thank You...for lending a hand... Much appreciated.... There were piles and piles of Scrap, just like this...Everywhere.... Dad would have been in his Glory...{but oh dear.... the Scrappers were paying more than market value...it was unreal...}

I waded through this decrepit old building...with rubble, 3 feet deep.... and found some cool stuff... I set it out, and asked the Auctioneer to sell it separate...he obliged....

Can you see the Wonderful Cemetery Gate.... buried in the Wire....?... I did step up to the plate, on that....had to get it....I won't make much.... but...if I have to live with it... well... it's all good....

Tractors...and Tractors....

A Doctor's Buggy, and a Surrey... I should have bought the Surrey...it went for under 400.00...tho...if I would have been on it... who knows... it could have went over a Thousand...

Wonderful Old Silo....

Great Old Wagon....

Old Trucks....

On the way home...called John, to see if he'd like a Pizza, from Connie's Angel Inn, in Walford...{only 4 miles from our house}...He was all for it! I was a mess...after loading the truck... I washed up, at Connies...had a Nice Irish Draw...... and waited for the Pizza... some guys, at the end of the bar...were very intrigued, with the 'pink thing'.....wanted to know all about the signatures....then...asked me...if they could sign it....oh my.... "You Bet!"...I said....This Crazy...Ugly...{originally a make-up case} has been a real treasure....{I catch a glimpse of it, in many of my photo's.... like that crazy Travelling Gnome...oh dear...a Treasure... and...now...Folk Art!}

I got some cool stuff...and...had a Great Time! I saw many old pals, I haven't seen forever! {some, that are blessed to be alive...and are true survivors...}
A Pretty Good Day...
Barb C.

A Long Day...Chery Would Have Been Proud!

Benches... Bisque Pots... 40's Lawn Chairs... Stained Glass Windows...A Wonderful...Old, Old Wire Basket.... Gnarly...40's, Round Trays.... They Are So Sweet...and I'll have the Stack, Choice for 2.00 each! Fun!... a Darling Glider... and....The Cab Is Completely Packed.... A Good Day....

This is Janelle... and Joyce, looking at a Treasure! We arrived late.... Janelle said she had sold like Crazy, earlier.... I still found a Darling, Vintage Seed Box! She had some Sweet Things!

Eyes popped open, at 3....a.m.... just in time for the Wedding... and it's been GO...ever since...it's after 8, p.m....Hit City Wide Sales.... some opened at 8.... some 10...some noon...some 3....some 4... oh dear....In between, I previewed a Farm Auction...and visited, pal, Joyce's, Barns Full...then on to The Farmer's Wife's Sale...that opened at 5...{I didn't get done diggin' in Joyce's  Barn, 'til 6:30....} Luckily, Janelle was open 'til 7...{www.thefarmerswifeiniowa.blogspot.com}I'm just getting down supper.... then have to be up Early.... to unload... and get back on the road again...I left bids, at the Auction  preview, today...we'll  see....Another Auction...tomorrow....oh dear...
It's Bloody Mary Time....My Body, Hurts....all over....
love to ya...
Barb C.

On the Run....

I'm on the Road, again, today... It looks like it's going to be Lovely....
I woke up, early...and watched The Royal Wedding....So Beautiful... I remember... it was just yesterday, I think... watching Charles and Diana...It was Beautiful....
This was my Sister, Chery's Birthday.... so, in her memory...I'm going to spend the day, like she would Love to....Garage Saling....I do miss her.... Much...
I hope, whatever you choose to do with your day....it's Wonderful...
Love, to you...

Barb C.

Go...Rest High..on That Mountain....

I spent the day...out Junkin'... with a Sweet Friend....She never knew... what it meant to me...... to get away... ahhh... to Run...{in reality... I think...we both.... were runnin'... with all 'good' spoken.... and no 'saddness'...ahhh.... good, for each other....}
I doubt she knew.... how crushed I was... about the Tragedies... down South....
We had a Great Day... and found some Wonderful Treasures...
Met some Wonderful Folks....
My Heart Bleeds... for the Losses... in the South....
Love to You....
My Prayers are With You...
Barb C.
{You Must... click on this 1870's  poem.... it reminds me...of someone....or...some...place... perhaps...a Rabbit Hole...}

Peaceful...Happy Place...Prayers to The South....

My Heart is Broken... for our Southern Friends... I awoke, on the recliner, at the wee hours....with the t.v. reporting this tragedy....What can anyone say... God Bless You All....

I snapped these images, of my Peaceful Place.... yesterday... of some of my favorite things...down the Rabbit Hole....

I know...in a Blink...it can all be gone....I can be gone.... I'm Thankful, for my Faith...and the moments I may have here...with the ones I love....

Prayers to You...

Barb C.

Sorting...and Loading....{and...Dancing...}

I'm still unpacking treasures... Oh dear... Lots of interesting things... I am scouting for a couple Big Pieces... I keep thinking about an Amazing Cupboard, I saw on the trip to Chicago... It's a lot of money... but...Wonderful... It just keeps Haunting me....It is very Large... 8 feet wide...or so... 8 feet tall...or so... wonderful dry, buttery yellow...with old dry blue underneath... it has open shelves, on the right....{like a Buttery...{buttery; a shelving unit, where you would place butter, in crocks, to cool...on an early farm} and a full working cupboard, on the left side... I Love It! But...the money... oh dear...[sigh]....
I have to go to Illinois, to pick up a Wonderful...Early...Early Loom....In Shocking Blue... soon...{I would be pretty close, to where the cupboard is...oh dear...}
{I just called the guy...and had him put a 'hold' on that CUPBOARD!!!{I can't help myself...just writing about it.... gets me goin'!!!} he shot me a bit better price... oh dear...I need to sell...sell... sell....}{send a prayer...}
I gotta get goin...Gotta make it happen!

This is the Loom....{it's all pegged...so it is in pieces, now...we will put it together, and see how she sings...!} I will try to sell it, as a Loom... first... but...I hate to say it...I may have John make a very cool something out of it...a Most wonderful Table...or Island, type Counter...perhaps... This is Sooooo Old... {early to mid 1800's...and the paint is stunning, in person... very...very cool...}

Love to ya... Barb C.
{I am so glad, I don't know...if someone can see me, in the kitchen... Everytime I hear this song , as I'm working in the kitchen.....I find myself dancing... a Waltz... by myself....{oh dear... } I just love this song... it's happy... peaceful....}

Gold Rush....May 13th 14th and 15th...

{click on image to enlarge...}

I have been walking through the buildings...and gathering...for Gold Rush...It will be here....long before we know it.... I am pleased, with what will be going... I see, as I gather...

 this will be the most Soulful Booth...

I have ever Created, at Gold Rush...

 I may have a difficult time...setting all the walls.... myself...{it may take a bit longer, to pull together...} 

As I look around, at the Treasures... that are going to head North, with me... I Truly have No Worries....

I will have a Load of Concrete Urns... Birdbaths...and...Lovely Garden Pieces... 

I will also have some Substantial Furniture...and...Amazing Upholstered Pieces...

If...nothing else...I will be very comfortable...In The Little House...I will Build... at Gold Rush....

Another... Rabbit Hole...

Come Visit...Truck-pool...share expenses... 

I will be Dining at Michael's, on Broadway, Saturday Nite....

the 14th...

{as always...}

Come Join Me....

Love, to Ya...

Barb C.

{you  can get in, on Friday... with us...during set up... for early shopping...It's wonderful...however...I rarely get my booth set, until late Friday...{and...I doubt I'm the only one...} so, you will miss a lot if you can't shop both days...Plan to stay over...it's worth it...}

{talk about 'soulful'...LOVE...LOVE...LOVE... This Feist Song... This is Soul...}

{I was referring to "Let it Die"...}

Easter Sunday...Present...and Past...

Easter was great.... We had all sorts of food...I always say, I'm not going to do as much, because we always have so many leftovers... but...I just seem to get out of control.... We had Ham...Grilled Rib eye...Shrimp... my secret recipe Baked Beans....Potato Salad...Fresh Fruit Bowl...Brie Cheese Melts...Vegetable Tray... Jello...with Fruit Cocktail...{Mom Always made Jello on Easter!} Rosemary Garlic Bread...Smoked Oysters...Key Lime Pie...and Loads of Easter Candy....Then...I topped it off...when I got home...to The Best Red Wine...I have ever had!{Landshut...Sweet Red {plum raspberry}   Rheinhessen} It's a German Wine...oh my...The sad thing is...I have had it so long..I don't know where it came from...

I so enjoyed the day, with the kids... and babies.... that are all growing so incredibly fast...

 After the kids left...I jumped in Sally... and went to Keystone... a tiny Burg...then, a mile and a quarter, out in the country... where my Favorite Easter took place... It was a moving experience...

Tho, the Old House is Long Gone...I see it, Standing Proudly, just as it did, the first time I laid eyes on it... 40 years ago....

I stood in the old driveway... and closed my eyes...I could so plainly hear the old screen door slam...and...for a moment... I could smell Mom's Fried Chicken...{as Only She can make it...} just, as it was That Perfect Easter Sunday... so long ago... yet...almost like it was yesterday....

When I turned back, to Sally...I caught a glimps of the old light poles, lined up, in the ditch across the road, from the House's Resting Place... that had been there, forever... so weathered...and worn..and wondered, if they remembered me...what they might say, if they could talk.... what they had seen...all of the Easter Sundays...over the past 40 years...

I wonder....

Love to Ya...

Barb C.

{Hope You All had a Most Wonderful....Easter...}

I bought this little old high chair...while shopping in Illinois, with Michael...I bought it to sell...It's very old...{mid 1800's} hand made... well constructed.....plank seat...has had numerous, very well done repairs...{has went through many, many children, in it's days...} But...it came in mighty handy, yesterday....I walked down to the shop, to retrieve it, so 'J' would have his own...his size...seat! He loved it! John said we had better keep it around a while...ahhh...I think he's right! and...It seems very comfortable, with all the old stuff, in the dining room.... Yeah!

I always pull out the Bread Plates, for a Gathering... These date from the 1870's... I put bread on them....or crackers... They are so beautiful...and seem to anchor the table...Family Dinners would be strange, without them...The top one says, "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread" and, in the cross, "Simply to the Cross I Cling" "Rock of Ages" and is patented Dec. 7. 75...., the bottom one, "It Is Pleasant To Labor For Those We Love" I have had these for years.... I always have some in the shop, for sale...I pick them up, no matter condition... the one with the Cross, I have used forever, has a chip, or two... but always serves, proudly...

As Sally and I were trotting towards home...the sky was so gray...{and has been it seems...for weeks....} then off in the distance, I saw this pure white...little cloud floating along... and had to capture it... the first thing that came to mind...There IS a Silver Lining...

Sally and I stopped, at a tiny, Old, Old Cemetery, not far from my 'Happy Place'... I parked Sally, the Sun, was briefly shinning... and visited every stone... It was very Humbling...

I saw Scout grazing on hay, in the pasture, when I rolled in...I grabbed a couple of apples, and went and spent a little time with him... he ate them down, in a flash...then, tried to eat my camera... He is such a Sweet Heart! There is something so Calming...and Grounding...about a Horse...They are Amazing Creatures...

Easter with the Fam....

This is Nick, Liz and Miss Scarlett... Some nice Ladies, where Nick works, made the Darling Lamb Cake, for them... Miss Scarlett was all dressed, in her Easter 'Best'...What a Little Princess!

Justin...and Justin 'J'...all Dressed in His Easter Sunday Best! What Handsome Lads! Justin 'J'...really should be called Mr. Personality... Oh Boy!!! He's a 'Charmer'!

Nicky was oblivious, to all the action... Polly...not so much... was fighting for attention...and hand outs, all day... I finally had her go to bed....SPOILED!{and feeling much better...back to her Old Self...}

Ah....There is no better place in the World, than Mama's Arms....

'J'...The 'Dipper'... I got a kick out of him....he had to dip everything he ate.... I don't care if it was a carrot...or strawberry...it HAD to be dipped in something.... and....he kept his napkin close... doesn't like his hands...or face mussed... {I was the same way...when I was little...oh dear...and look at me now... my hands are in EVERYTHING! I make Peg Crazy... Paint...glue...stain.... I have to have my hands in it!}

Miss Scarlett's Foot....Steph has been bugging me to get an image of her, as she calls them...'Feeps'... so...this is for Steph!

Oh My...

I know this Stance...as well...Oh Yeah...a Melter...

I Gotta Tell Ya....

Oh dear...I know this Stance... Justin 'J'... 17 months...  I see...somewhat... a Familiarity...already....
 I have seen his Great Grandfather...Grandfather...Father... and, well... I Gotta Tell Ya...I may have held this Stance, myself, once or twice...
Oh Dear...What a Melter.......

Happy Easter....

I wish you....a Peaceful Easter....Filled with Many Blessings...
I'll put some food together...Visit with the Kids....and Grand Children... then...if it isn't too late...take Sally for a drive...to the Farm, where I enjoyed my most Favorite Easter....in 1971....Tho, sadly, the old house is gone...I still see it...just as it stood...that Warm...and Sunny...most Wonderful... Easter Sunday....When...for that day...Everything was Right with the World....
It's many miles away...down some gravel roads... a Happy Place....
Love, to Ya....

A 'Belated 'Thank You'... Sue...Blocking The Door... and 'The Painted Cupboard' In Amana...

This is a Beautiful...Dipped Chocolate Strawberry...From Matt, and Sarah... they brought it, for me, to the Garden Party... {it was Great seeing Colleen, as well...{She and Dale Promote the Collector's Eye...and I know it was a Very Long Day...for her...still...she made the effort...To come visit....Thank You...} The Strawberry was Delicious! I feel so very blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful folk... Thanks to Everyone...who stopped by...and Hung Out... It was an Amazing Weekend! I plan to do it in the Fall...with the Mid West, and Collector's Eye Shows... I'll have to come up with a Fall Theme! Oh Dear...A Harvest Moonlight...Open House!!!! Ye Haw!!! I can see it Now!!!  STRAW EVERYWHERE!!! Oh My...

This is Sweet Sue...from Antiques of Marion... I had mentioned, she locked Michael, Peg and I... OUT.... {we overstayed our welcome...} She stood in the window...holding the sign, as we loaded... just in case, we had any thoughts of coming back inside...oh my... we are a Mess...

Michael and I LOVED 'The Painted Cupboard', in Amana...Dave and Sue, do an Amazing Job.... The next images are from their shop...Wow! It's Very Wonderful!

All of the Shops in Amana are Amazing! We Hit Them All!!!! {South Amana Too! Fern Hill!} It was Great Fun! And we Both Found Some Awesome Stuff!!!
I'm working in the shop, today...getting it put back... Kids are coming for Easter...I'll be cookin' and cleanin' in the morn!
{My Prayers go out to St.Louis...and the South...the last couple of weeks... oh my...}
Love to You...
Barb C.