Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Sally...Found Her Stride

Oh my...I haven't hit the wall...yet...
Pal, Lynn rang...We had business to finish...he and Lea live about 70 miles South, of me... What a Wonderful Excuse... to Bail in Sally...Top Down... and Fly....{made a detour to Fern Hill...more on that, tomorrow!}
Sally is the Best Therapist...I know...
I had a nice visit with Lynn, in Sigourney.... then, headed North....My brother...{on Dad's side lives in Millersburg, Iowa....Sally and I trotted through....on our way Home...} I used to ride my horse, to Millersburg, in the Spring, after school was out... when I was a teenager...it took 2 days... a friend would beg to go with...and... would ride with...once...It was a grueling ride....60 miles..or so...we always walked the last five miles.... oh my...
It was cool...driving through the tiny Burg...Lots of great memories.... I saw my sister in law...mowing... she didn't look up...I didn't stop...since Dad has been gone...seems...He...was the Common Denominator...between that side of the Fam...so...we don't keep in touch...{we didn't much...actually when Dad was living...oh well...their loss...Bless Their Hearts!} and...that's o.k. {did I mention...I am... the Black Sheep, of the Fam?.... well I am... and...That's O.K.!Bahhhh!}
I snapped an image of the house, they used to live in...where I spent such wonderful Summers, as a child...
We used to go swim, at Lake Iowa... I loved it...my sister in law...flying down the gravel road, leading to the Park...dust filling the car....and all of us kids...covered in a fine layer of dust...by the time we arrived... on a hot...hot... July day....then we'd get to the beach....and all bail in the cold water...oh my... it was Grand!
Sally and I...travelled down that same road...{we could have taken black top...but...it wouldn't have been the same.... by the time we reached the Park...we were both coated with dust..and....that's o.k.}
We trotted through the Park...stopped and visited with the Ranger... then...headed for Home...Sally and I took the black top...towards home...an Extremely Curvy...Winding...Hilly... Road...where She found Her Stride....I Opened the Old Gal Up.... She Handled the Curves...Like a Thoroughbred! {I Truly Didn't know She had it in Her!} I decided to treat myself, to a nice supper, at Phat Daddy's...in Marengo...I was alone... but... thought I'd take something home, for John..... Just as I was about to order...Mary Anne, {Erenberger Antiques, Amana, Iowa... } asked me to join her daughter, Kate, and herself...for supper... How Cool is That! The chances of running into them....so far from Home...well...is pretty slim... It was Lovely!
It was a Grand Day....
I am Totally Running on Fumes...
but...Running...none...the less...
Me and Sally...
A Beautiful Iowa Day...
It's All...Good.......
Love to Ya...
Barb C.
{If you had a thought Iowa is Flat...ahhhh...think again...it is Amazing...Beautiful.... I had to include some of my mistakes...while snapping images...I was driving...while clicking.... so...they are...what they are... } {the Cows were a hoot... they were very intrigued!} 

The Image...in the Rear View Mirror... Country Roads...
Ahhh...Lake Iowa... Small... Secluded... Perfect...
A Typical Iowa Farm House...LOVE IT!!!!
Sally's Nose... Taking on The Gravel Roads.... She didn't mind a Bit!
I knew the Family who lived at this Farm...{had a Horrible Crush, on the Farm Boy...oh dear...}
The Park...in Millersburg.... We used to have so much fun there....
Black Angus....Gotta Love 'em!
Me...Sally...and the Road.... ahhhh...it doesn't get better than This!!!! {80  degrees...and THE SUN SHINING!!!! Ye Haw!}
Entrance, to Lake Iowa.... If you need a quiet...secluded... no frills...all Scenic....place to land...check it out...it's small...but BEAUTIFUL!!!! {and...Friendly! The Ranger was a Sweet Heart!}}
An image of my neck....and a shadow shot of the cam.... a Photographer...I ain't....It Is...What It Is....

Monday, May 30, 2011

All Wrapped Up...

Well....The Memorial Day Weekend Sale...is...HISTORY
I would like to Thank...EVERYONE Who Attended....
From Everyone...who brought Gnarly...Cool Stuff...at Great Prices....Helped Tarp...Cover.... Come Miles and Miles.... and Hang...with The Mad Hatter... and Mad March Hare....We Can't Thank You Enough...
Peg...{Mad March Hare...}Where do I begin...with Peg... She has Big...Big...Wings.... I always tell her...when she reaches the 'Pearly Gates'...All of the Angels...will Simply Step Aside.... and let her right in....she has served Purgatory...right here...with me....Bless Her Heart.... Mark...{the Awesome Book Keeper...oh my...} He was Amazing... {He helped with the set up, and tare down... Bless His Heart...}Carolyn A. running from one end of the property, to the other...helping.... Gayle... with the World...on her shoulders... came... and helped....busted her butt... Maurina... who just lost her Beloved Brother... came...brought stuff... and helped out the entire week..Lynn and Lea... Drove from Southern Iowa...and helped move Heavy stuff... and brought such Fun Stuff.... Love 'em! John...Worked so hard...and with the Help of Justin...saved so much...keeping the tents in check...while the Storm Raged...oh dear....Cindy B.,...Brought some Cool Stuff...and a Great Tent! Thanks! Dale F.,... Brought Amazing Things...and...helped out...soooo much! It Has Been a Great Weekend....
I Feel so Blessed...
I have been surrounded by Wonderful Folk... My only regret...I haven't had enough time to visit.... Seems I have been pulled around, all weekend.... Good...and.....Not... I love to Visit with The Folks who come to the Sale.... Dang...
Thanks...to EVERYONE who Shopped.... {Laura...and Ethan} The Rusty Pumpkin.... I so wanted to Visit with them...Vikki...who brought fabulous Danishes... Amy.... Tom and Lorraine...David.... Cathy...Stanley and Klarika...Janet and Linda...and So Many Others.... I wanted to catch up with...but...had no time...was running too fast...Dang....
I think it was a Good Sale...I'll do books, tomorrow.... Sold A Lot.... The Weather..tho...Crazy...didn't seem to effect us... {It's a God Thing} Let me tell ya... I have been dancing on a razor blade... I can't Thank Those Enough.... Who Have Believed in Me.... and Trusted... I am Looking Up...and Thanking The One...I Have Trusted...He Didn't Let me down... {the journey...} I hope...I made enough...I won't have to pick up a Show, before the 4th of July....Mt.Vernon... but...if I do...I do...{I would like a few days off...to get the house cleaned....and lawn work done....}
I am... pretty much...Exhausted... It's close to ten...and.... I have had enough...
Thanks to Everyone.... Everyone...
God Bless...
I had to Laugh...I snapped the image of my bare foot...at 7, this morn...My first day...warm enough...to run Bare Footed....{I am such a Hick...} I Hate Shoes...but What A Cold Spring!!!! It was around 90, today...Windy....and incredibly Humid... LOVELY!!!!
The weird thing...I had bought a print, of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, for Peg....at the Botanic Garden Show...for her Birthday Gift....and one, of the Mad Hatter for me...I hadn't read the caption, until, today, when I gave Peg, hers.... I about flipped... Oh My... The Shoeless Mad Hatter...coincedence...? ah...not so much.......
Barb C.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

The Storm...then...a Great Day!

Once again...Young Antiquers were all over the place, today! We Love 'Em!!!! We really try, to encourage them....and educate them...tho, they are very, very knowledgeable, about what they are collecting.... Amazing....
Cheri, and Mark... sporting their Cool Hats!!!!  Cheri purchased the Vintage Beaver Hat from me....It looked Amazing on her...
 
The 'Justins'....
Two of my Most Favorite Men!
It was Fun having the Kids, stroll around the Sale....
I was very Thankful, to Justin and John...while we all hunkered down, in the Shop...during the Horrific Storm ....They kept the tents, from Sailing Away!....Man!...



It was a very Crazy Morning...I don't how hard the wind blew.... but we nearly lost two tents....the trees were shaking like Crazy!!!
Huge down pours, of Rain...and Lightning...was Unbelievable.....
Oh my....We all sat in the shop...for over two hours....as the Storm Raged....
Then...it cleared off...and it turned out to be a Great Day....!
We didn't lose anything...{amazing}
We are all Beat....
I'm getting to bed....
Love, to Ya!
Last Day of the Sale...Monday!
Come Visit...and we'll make some DEALS!!!
open at 8!

A Lovely Day! Through a Wonderful...Evening...ahhh....A Very Late 'Dusk'....

Sweet Alice...{Alice's Wonderland... Mt.Vernon, Iowa} Popped out, and gathered up some Fun Stuff!!! It was great seeing Alice, and John!
{I am out of Coffee...so they ran and got some for us...Thank Goodness...I was In Trouble!!! Bless Their Hearts!!!!}
TROUBLE!
These are some of the Crazy Culprits, that stuffed my Purse...in Rochester....Naughty Girls!
But....always Fun.... I Love 'em....
A Magician...A Mystery Writer...and their Darling Fam...
We had great Fun, Visiting... They found some Gnarly Stuff!!!
Sweet Girls!
They had no way of knowing it...but they bought some treasures that were very dear to my heart...A Locket...and a Jewelry Box.... too long of a story.... but...they touched me...
We all agreed, it is so Great to see so many Younger People, diggin' this stuff....
Oh Dear...Mark sported a Hat...all day... Alice and  Mark Looked like a pair of Hoods..... I had to get an image.... They crack Me Up!!!
Sweet Audrey...{Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats} She gathered and gathered, for a Birthday Party she is Decorating! What a Gal!
This Cute Couple...found some neat old stuff! Again...they are decorating their house... and using the Gnarly...Soulful Stuff... Awesome!
A Sweet Trio!!!
Polly {Pollyanns...Mt.Vernon} Peg...and Chloe!!!
Oh Dear...We turned it loose, last night.,.. Had Blues and Jazz Playin'...and some Sweet Red Wine! Fun!
It was fun visiting with everyone.... Bob...Dale...Kelsy...and Everyone!!! Matt and Sarah...Colleen...Wanda...Terry {Gatherings Anamosa, Iowa}...Awesome People... ....I was glad to see Gail H. today...{she brought some wonderful Treasures....oh my...} and everyone... who popped in....
It's All Good!
We had a Great day....Lots of Folks passing Through...and a Very Fun Evening!
It sounds like we are going to get Hit Hard, with Rain...this morn, and early afternoon....so I'm out the door...getting stuff tied down...
Hope to See Ya!
{Tomorrow sounds Good...!!!}
Barb C.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Seriously....Dude....Oh My...It was a GREAT Opening Day!

I Love Seeing Young People...Buying Antiques....{I Love these Girls....they are soooo fun!} I watched them, as their Gears were Spinning!
Kristi, and Audrey, popped in...{Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats...} I didn't get images...Dang! and some of Tommie's Pals...{FUEL} It's been Wonderful, meeting so many new faces...
My Wisconsin Girl.....Becky...and her Best Bud! I Love these Girls... They also drive 4 hours, each way...to shop...They brought the trailer....and...FILLED IT!!!! Yipee!!!
Liz and Justin 'J'.... Oh My...It was so great having all the Activity...Fun!
Here's some of the Crew...around the Old Oak...Mark, Katie....Pegadoo...Aletha...Maurina....
So many friends popped in... Linda, Janet...{thank you... for driving 4 hours...each way...I know that makes a very long day....} Kim...{I'm so sorry to hear about the flat tire.... that Stinks!...but...so glad to see ya... and Please send images of the Amazing Velvet Drapes...{if you need a hand, with them, let me know....they will be stunning...Trust Me....}
I was so surprised by how many Bloggers and followers came to visit! Yeah!!!! They know me, better than I do...! Friends and neighbors....Mary S...Chery...{I wanted to Get PICTURES!!!! They Looked to Dang CUTE!!!!}
Liz...Miss Scarlett...and Stacia...our Neighbor Girl....who has moved to Minnesota... It was like a Reunion, here, yesterday....My Sister, and Cousin, whom I Never see...slid in....{they knew I had to be home, this weekend...}  Oh My... I was so busy...I had little time to visit with everyone I wanted to....it was great seeing everyone...!!!!}
Seriously...Dude...
Oh My Gosh,,,,This Neighbor gal came rollin' in, as we were all wrapped in quilts...frozen, under the Old Oak...{if that tree could talk...oh my...}
I have never heard anyone give someone such LIP! Poor Mark..... {and Dan {Jo-Dans}....This Little Gal...had them spinning...and us falling off our seats! It was like a watching a Comedy Routine.... oh dear....
{when this Gal...stood at the table....under the Oak...turned to Mark...Ordered him, to help her... rolled her eyes... as she looked at him, all bundled up, in the quilt...and said.."Seriously, Dude"....I Nearly FELL OFF MY CHAIR!!! You Simply Had to Be Here! Oh My...
{she was a Pistol...Seriously....}
Ahhh....SWEET VIKKI!!!!!
She brought us TWO HUGE TRAYS OF AMAZING CINNAMON ROLLS!!!! {Huge...Cinnamon Rolls!} Bless her Heart!!!! She Truly is an Angel!!!!
Thank You Darling!!!!!

It was A Great Day....'til the very end...Dan, Jo, Dale, Mark, Peg, Maurina and I sat around the Old Oak...{Froze} sipped Margs, 'til late...Then went to Leonardo's, and had Pizza...{Thanks Dan and Jo....for a Lovely Supper!}
We had a Great crowd...and lot's of fun folk...'til late! {after Dusk...}
We have Mega Arranging to do, today! The weather has been difficult....cold....a little rain.... but...all in all...what ya gonna do....HAVE FUN ANYWAY!!!
Thanks to Carolyn...and Gayle N. for bringing cool stuff out... and helping!
It was great seeing Sandy  {Amazing Grace, Amana, Iowa} and so many others...
I have got to go...
Everyone is already here, working...but, I told 'em...I Had to Check in with all of my Sweet Blogland Friends!
More later!
Love to ya!
Barb C.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Take My Word for It....

Oh My...I was bouncing from one end of the property...to the other....all day...images? ahhh....sorry... I will get 'em tomorrow... oh my... too many Irons...too many Fires... Jan... made it..with amazing stuff.... Mary...in the morn...Mark is bringing in another load...Dale...as well... oh my...Lynn and Lea...brought more...this Eve... Peg and her Darling...19 year old... Antique Lover, Grand daughter... Chelsea..kicked butt... working the displays... I was useless....
I was helping others....as they came rolling in... I didn't get Jack Done...Come Dig!!!!
Dang... well... it is...what it is...
There is Much Cool...Amazingly Gnarly...Stuff...to be had...
Can't Wait To See Ya!
Love to Ya!
Barb C.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Huge Cupboards....Baby Robins...Awesome Flowers...Squeezing Louie, Through a Mansion Door...Breaking Bread...and Sipping...Good, Red...Red Wine...Ahhh...It Must Be Close to Sale Time...

I bought this Huge Darling...at Gold Rush...from Sweet Friend, Pat... It's all dovetailed together.... hand dovetailed drawers... on both sides.... Has screens, on this side...3 narrow sliding glass doors, on the other...oh my... it's fricken cool... it needs some work...but, whew... it'll be a Smoker when it's done!!! {I Love Pass Through Cupboards} We are going to do something Fun with it...outside... It will Greet Folks, to The North End of the Sale... God...I Love Old Cupboards....
Amy snapped this image for me....our three little Robins, that were nested in the Whirly Gig Cup...on top of the old Tool Bin, next to the shop...flew the Nest.... Poor Babies...it's so dang cold....and wet...and windy.... I hope they make it o.k.....oh dear...
Peg and I picked up 2 wonderful Baskets, at Green Endeavors, near Mt.Vernon...on Hiway 30.... oh my.... Cathy's Baskets are to die for....
Peg's Big Weakness...Bread.... She made Mark and I Break Bread with her...this evening...so...I grabbed a bottle of wine...and we sat in the shop...out of the God Forsaken Wind...{Cold Wind} and told stories...drank a little wine...and ate, amazing soft...soft...bread.... {Peg is telling Mark...about her horrible addiction, to bread....she...simply can not help herself...!}{sorry Amy....We were all Mad...we didn't keep ya around...you truly are...the life of the Party!}


Peg and I...it seems...got Nothing done...today...and so much must be done...before the  Sale...We ran, and got plants...then... Val Called.... Louie. the sofa...wouldn't fit through her door... everyone had tried...to no avail....so Peg and I ran to her house...{she was going to have the sofa taken apart...to get into her bedroom...YIKES!!!! Not Louie!!!!} I got it in....no sweat...
Then, to the store... then home...and we tore into the garage.... then...the wind picked up...oh....my...gosh....wind advisories... by 6...we had enough....messes.... everywhere...Amy popped out... helped out.... Dale brought a load...and piled it in a tent.... When Amy and Dale left... Peg and I...and Mark...looked at each other... and said...enough... we retreated to the shop... {warm shop...} drank wine...broke bread... and will take it on...in the morn...there is no fighting Mother Nature...
It Is...What It Is....
We'll get done...What Gets Done...
Wear Your Grubbies...and...Bring a Truck!
Love to Ya...
Barb C.

PARTIAL 'Memorial Day Weekend Sale' Listing....

2... 13 and a half feet...6 legged, 1870's Store Tables...{amazing}
Hand Dovetailed Work Bench
Dressers
Oak Wardrobe
Store Showcases...
Stands
Benches..
Stoneware...{crocks}
Several Hand Dovetailed Amana Trunks...
Early Free Standing Wooden Farm Scale
Several Mid, to Late 1800's Farm Cupboards
{some Gnarly... some refinished...}
Hoosier Cupboard
Iron Beds
Oak Sideboard
Oak Ice Box
Funky Vintage Folk Art...
1860's Cast Iron Fence...
{I was digging through mountains of 'smalls'...the other day...{I have listed 'BIGS'...I gotta tell ya...all the 'smalls' will make ya dizzy!} I found, in a box...these darling pocket mirrors.... from the late 1800's...or so.... One is Naughty...so I put her under the Sweet Little Girl....oh my.... Fun...Fun Stuff....}
3 foot Church Pew {Cute!}
Old Toys...
Metal Signs...
Farm Primitives...{great Farm Fragments...for landscaping...and planters...}
Garden Gates
Metal Lawn Chairs, Swing...and Small Glider
Bird Baths
Concrete Urns...
Quilts
A Huge Amount of Small Antiques...
There will be Items Added Daily...so...if you can...keep checking back...{many do...}
Peg will have a New Assortment of Amazing Gourds...
John is Cleaning Out His Shop...Oh Dear...Who Knows What He Will Unearth!
We always have a lot of fun....shoot our best prices...and try and make Everyone HAPPY!!!!
There is some very Fun Stuff Here...
I'll try and get more images....Everything is tarped...or packed in, 'til the rain quits.....We haven't even started on two of the buildings...yet...
We'll still be workin' when the Sale Starts...Friday Morn! {nothing new!}
THIS IS ONLY A PARTIAL LISTING...Oh My...
Love to Ya...
Barb C.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Oh My...Tom's...and Tommi's...A Perfect Pair....

Tom V. brought out the most Amazing Bunch of Gnarly Folk Art....{He and Paula...always bring the most Fun Stuff...at Very...Very  Reasonable Prices...Bless Their Hearts...}
Tommi {Fuel...Mt.Vernon, Iowa} Comes and lends a hand...{ahhh....literally...oh dear}and...usually falls in love...with a Treasure or two....

Civil War Era...CAST IRON FENCE...First Time...offered for sale.....oh my...

There is Approximately 170 running feet of  this Amazing Fence...Tom R. was kind enough to Bless The Memorial Day Weekend Sale...With It's Presence....
It Is Stunning....

COOOOL STUFF!!!!! {this is a thimble full...oh my...}

Fun...Fun...Treasures! Lynn...Tom R.....
Tom V....Mark...and...Peg and I diggin....Dale...tomorrow... and so many others... bringing Great Stuff in...Oh My!
 A Storm was Brewing all day...and cut loose, around 5.... {last image...Peg was headed for the basement....Lynn and I sat outside...and stared at the sky...ahhh....Farmers...and Antique Dealers...we are... Simply...Crazy...}it's going to rain, tomorrow...but...Peg and I have Plenty to get done....inside...Oh Dear...{You Have No Idea...}

Memorial Day Weekend Sale....UPDATE!!!!

Peg, Mark and I...Got much done, yesterday... {thanks to Maurina...who said she was bored....and popped out, to help clean, and organize....what Great Friends, I am Blessed with...}
Mark brought out a wonderful load....Cindy B. {smokehouse square antiques {Amana, Iowa} Brought a nice tent...and some cool treasures...to sell... Lynn...from southern Iowa is coming up...with a major load...I will be getting the Fuso unloaded... {Big Rain tomorrow....} I want to have the outside put together...and secure...}
There are some Great Antiques, and Fun Stuff Rolling in... always...at very Fair Prices!!! We want Everyone to be Happy!!! and...do our very Best...to Make It Happen!!!
I will have loads of images this Eve...or...maybe sooner...Cool Stuff!!!!!!
Sale Opens May 27th...at 8 a.m.
Wear Your Grubbies...
And Bring a TRUCK!!!
Love to Ya...
Barb C.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Prayers to Joplin....

I didn't know how bad Folks got hit, until this morning.... Peg and I thought we were going to get it, here... at least 3 Tornadoes hit within 30 miles of us... We could feel it..in the air... I  heard sirens...yet...they never went off... I think it was just my brain, thinking they should be singing... {Carolyn was here, as well, for a bit...I kept saying..."is that a siren?...is that a siren....? do you hear a siren?...} It was very tense, for several hours....
From the South, to Minnesota... it was a very scary day...
Our hearts go out to all of those, who have been touched by this Disaster....
{the Critters, too...oh my....I always think of them...}
I opened my Streams...to this Poem...it was marked, in the worn, book...tho...I don't recall marking it....

Earth's fairest flowers grow not on sunny plain,
But where some vast upheaval tore in twain
The smiling land
After the whirlwind's devastating blast,
And molten lava, fire, and ashes fall,
God's still small voice breathes healing over all.
From broken rocks and fern-clad chasms deep,
Flow living waters as from hearts that weep,
There in the afterglow soft dews distill
And angels tend to God's plants when night falls still,
And the beloved passing by the way
Will gather lilies at the break of day....

God Bless...
Barb C. John...Peg ...and Family...
{Peg gave this to me, for my Birthday...it seemed perfect, today...well...everyday...}

Sunday, May 22, 2011

There Ya Go...Makin' My Heart Beat Again....

Oh My....From Mid 1800's Romantic Staffordshire....to Mid 1800's...Paisley Throws....Oh Man...There Ya Go...makin' My Heart Beat Again... What Is It....About This Wonderful...Old...Old...Stuff? That gets the 'Paddles' Charged?
Peg and I...and John...Busted our Butts...doin' yard work... then...working in the Greenhouse...preparing for the Sale...{with Tornado warnings...and crazy winds....oh my...}
 I get so weary.... and...totally wonder why....why do I do this crazy business.... then... I walk into the house...this evening...and see the Romantic Staffordshire...and Amazing Paisley Throw....I dragged in...this weekend... and Drop....
Yes...yes... I will have some Amazing Treasures...at the Sale....for all of those...like me...who are Stuck Like Glue...to the Gnarliest...Most Soulful... Treasures...
Can't Wait to See Ya!
Love...to Ya...
Barb C.