The Trip...

We started the day off...in Alpha, Illinois....What a Darling Show...I never miss! but....didn't get any images there...{This is the line at Bishop Hill...Holy Smokes!}When Wanda and I arrived at Alpha...we were late.... it opened earlier, than I thought...so we were running Hard...and Fast! We bought some Great Stuff there!!! Then...we beat feet...to Bishop Hill....Thankfully...we were in the first...20, or 30 people... Holy Smokes! What a Crowd! We had a Great time, there, too! Loads of Primitives...and Friends! Quite an Event!!!!

Ran into Soooo Many...Friends! This is Eva, and Mark.... I bought an Amazing Piece from them....

Awwww...Here's Sweet Pat.... She Always has Most Wonderful Treasures!

This was one of my Most Favorite Booths! Loved...Everything In It!!!

I spied this Darling Little Ironstone Pitcher...over the fence, at Bishop Hill...while waiting....bought it...first thing!

These Folks....had Amazing Treasures! I bought the Old Stone Fruit Basket....oh my... LOVE IT!!!!

Mary Ann, and Denny Erenberger...from Amana...was set up....They always....have the most unusual Primitives....

As I was paying for the Ironstone pitcher...the man I purchased it from, said his wife....was setting up...at 3rd Sunday, in Bloomington...{our next stop...an hour or so, away} He said they were opening Set Up...{Early Bird Buying...} Early...
OH MY GOSH!!! I called Wanda...said...Go! Go! Go!!!! We Gotta Fly!!!
Wanda wanted to run into Chery's Shop...at Bishop Hill...and there was a little Garage Sale...I never miss...that a couple of Elderly Folks...always have....that I hated to miss.... So...We Loaded..{thanks to the Helpers...at the Show...for helping us load!} I dropped Wanda off...then ran to the Sale...
I found a few little treasures.... but...spotted this...AMAZING...OLD Rooster...in their Yard!!! {that wasn't for sale...; (...} I visited with the Wife...about it... "No Way"...she said... "Everyone...has wanted that Rooster...and has attempted to buy it....for YEARS!....he'll Never sell it!"... about then...the Husband, asked what we were talking about.... I said..."That Old Rooster...I'd make ya a good offer...on that Old Rooster"... he said.."How Much???!!!"...I said..."What would it take...to make you Happy...???" He thought a moment... looked me in the eye....and shot me a price... I had one word for him...
 " S O L D ! ! ! !"
The blood drained from his face...{let me assure you...it was a lot....it wasn't 20.00....it was pricey....}
I looked at him... and said..."If you don't want to sell it.... I won't hold ya to it...you have had it ...for years...and I don't want you to regret it...." I told him...it was for resale...tho...I hoped...I could enjoy it...for a Long time...but...if he and his Wife...truly...wanted to keep it... No Worries!!! I'd be back...next year!
He said..."Nope! I Like it...but Don't Love It! {his Wife said the same thing...: ) } They had been married over 60 years! What a darling Couple! I have always...just loved stopping there....and visiting with them...and always...find Treasures there...I like going to see them...as much as the Show...: )
The Man...Grabbed that Heavy Rooster..{I BEGGED Him...to let me!!!! He's 82 years Old!!!} and carried it to the truck... {about 50 feet!!!!} Oh My! {They don't make Men...Like That...anymore!!!}
I was Delighted....to buy the Old Rooster... It was my FIND...for the Day! and Told them so!
I had visited....soooo long...Wanda walked...several blocks... to find me...{oh dear}
We Bailed in the Fuso...and Beat feet...Towards...Bloomington!
We Shopped 'til we Dropped...Saturday..at Bloomington.... Holy Smokes...Loaded Heavy! Got a Huge...Pine Cupboard...the 8 foot Drawered Piece... 6 Corinthian Topped Columns...Big...Cool Laundry Baskets...and Tons of Dibby Dabbies!Wanda...bought...Loads...of Great Smalls.... and I spied...the Best Birdbath... I have seen in YEARS!!!! With no price...and the dealers were gone...until, the next morning.... That...Drove Me Crazy! {all I could think about...all night...was that Frickin' Birdbath!} We had a Lovely Supper....at a Fabulous Italian Restaurant...and...threw back...some...Cool...Refreshing Beverages...that night...it had been a Long.....Hot....Day!
We arrived...at the show...at 6:30, the next Morn...and Hit It Hard!!!! I had left my name, with the Birdbath Owners neighbor...and kept checking back...every few minutes.... until...they arrived! And Bought It! Oh My! The owner helped us load it...and...so much of our other Big Purchases! What a Sweet Heart!
We were all dripping with sweat...by the time we headed out the gates... oh my...it was before Noon....
but a Real Cooker Outside!!!
Then...we hit the road...again! We were headed to Missouri...
The Fuso...was getting a bit thirsty...so we pulled into a Truck Stop...All the Semi pumps were down....so we were directed to where the RV's Fuel up... Diesel....There were six Diesel Pumps....and just as I finally got one started {they were a Mess! You had to lift two handles...on two separate pumps...to get them to work...}...filling the Fusie...Wanda said..."is that Diesel?".... OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!! CORRECTION! There are FIVE Diesel pumps....ONE that doesn't read...Gasoline...oh no....simply a little sticker...that says...'Ethanol Blend'....OH MY GOSH!!! I Whipped that Nozzle out of the tank....and was...HOPPING!!!!! I had just pumped in...1.7 gallons of gas...in my Diesel....Truck....
Got on the phone...called Justin...{who owns a diesel truck....and Mark, our other Mechanic....}...all the time...  wondering....how far I'd have to walk...to find a garden  hose...: ( : ( : ( {and...how much fuel...I'd have to drink...before...I got it goin'....I hate...syphoning gas...: (}
They both said....fill it up...and drive it easy....
Poor Little Fusie! I had POISONED HIM!!!!!
He ran...but...he was definitely...not...up to par....Very....Sluggish.... Kind of like me...when I take a Benedryl.... Sleeeeeeepy....: (
Colleen had told us...some places to check out...and to call...another friend...who knew the area...., about a place....on our travels...
When I talked to him...he told us...about a Shop...he really enjoyed....so, we headed there...
Oh My! It was Amazing! I Loved Everything! {and told the Owners So!!! Repeatedly!}
When we walked in the Shop... The Owner said.."You must have been at Third Sunday"...I said..."Yep....both days...and found some neat stuff..." I'd asked about a couple of things...and planned to make a trip back...in the Fall...I need some of what they have...then....{Big...Staffordshire Platters...and Compotes....}but...not on this trip....{had many places to go....and was keeping track of Funds...and Fragile Purchases...but...I thought...I WILL Be Back!!!}
Wanda found some things...and as we were walking out the door....Wanda asked if there were other stores in the area, he would recommend....{he didn't hear her...so I asked him...}
He said...."By the type of things I see you look for.... I would send you to..........{I won't say where.... but...it was a Store that carries mainly... Imports...from China...and Reproduction Antiques....It's not a bad place.... it simply doesn't have Antiques...in otherwords....it was a slam...a...Big...Slam...and...had I driven there...on his recomendation...I would have paid him a visit...on the way out of town...}"....
Have you EVER SEEN A VIPER SMILE!!!!????
I turned to him...Like a Cobra!!!! INSTANTLY!!!! {I even surprised myself....as Whipped as I was...I never thought...I could be that quick...} Ready to STRIKE!!!! And with a Smile on my Face.....I said...
"Wait a Minute...IS THAT..What YOU Think...We Buy?????!!!!...Is It...REALLY....???!!!!!" {my voice...always.....changes....and I sound like my Sister, Merry Jo...when she gets mad...I hate that...} {the man had been leaning forward...on his stool...behind his desk... but....by the look on his face....HE SAW A COBRA....ready to STRIKE...and tho... we were 10 feet apart....he leaned...WAAAAAY back..on his seat....and said...Sheepishly..."oh...you Know...that place..? "...
"Ahhhh...Yes...I Do...".... and walked out the door...and...will never...go back...
Look...I know...we looked a sight....and..probably...didn't smell too good...
But...I'll guarantee...I would have dropped A LOT...of Money....in the Fall....
I was SMOKING!!!! I Pulled in front of his shop...Laid oh the Horn...of the Tired Fuso....and Gave Them a Big Wave!!!!
Thanks Boys!!!!
That had me TWISTED...the rest of the day!
I called Peg....and said...Make Room...We Are Coming in...For a Landing!!!!
It was several hours...to her door...but...so worth it...
We had such a Lovely Visit.... Wanda bought Tons of Gnarly Gourds...that Peg can't use...because they are too thin, to carve.... and we all had a Relaxing...Time...!
I hadn't slept good...nor had Wanda...Friday night...I may have had 3 hours of sleep....and it was HOT....No Air...in 'ol Fusie....So...when I dropped into Peg's Feather Tic... that Sunday Night...I slept like a Baby!
We were up and running...Early...Monday Morn!
Hit Many Shops...Fast....
I found the Giant Swans...was hoping...they wouldn't accept my offer....when they did....I thought Wanda...was going to DROP!
The Nice...Man...at the Shop...helped us Load...
I still don't know how we got them in.... oh my...
Then...the next stop..I found a Cupboard.... and...a Kind Man..there...helped us load it....The Swans...filled the floor...of the back third, of the Fusie... so...he found cardboard...and we started stacking on top of them...Holy Smokes....
Then...we stopped at another place.... It Was So Hot...in There....I didn't want to ask for help...moving a Cupboard...The women working...were sitting in air...one was older...one was pregnant...and one..was a bit...shall I say...grumpy...: ){the Awesome Early Cupboard...we strapped on the back of Fusie} It was Buried...and I needed to see the back...I had to move a Canoe...off of it...and all sorts of stuff... I saw a sign...on the top, of it... and Wanda warned me....it could fall...but no...I slid the cupboard too far.... the sign fell...and broke...so...The Old Cupboard...cost me another 85.00.... Grrrr...Then...when I was moving a Grinding stone...for the 10th time...to make room...before we loaded.... the cupboard onto the back... I put the iron shaft...through my Tail Light!!!!
Oh My Gosh!!!!
It was 100 degrees out...and...I think...warmer...inside the building...yowza....
I was TWISTED!!!!
But...we got on our way...headed North... and hit...one last shop....where Wanda found some Awesome Treasures....!!!
A nice Man, there helped us...load...I loosened the ratchet straps...on the Cupboard... tipped it ahead...opened the door....and he climbed up...and fed things...on top of everything...he said..."Looks like things have shifted in here....there is a Cupboard....all sideways..." Wanda said.."No...we had to load it that way"....It was an Ugly...looking Load! I mean...Ug...Ly...! : ).... but...a Good One!
I missed our turn....and it took us a bit out of  our way...{Farmer Friend, Lynn... guided us...on an Alternate Route!} but...by then...who cares...
The Truck was running good...The Sun... was setting....
and we were in Iowa...
Holy Smokes!
What a TRIP!!!
It was great seeing Everyone...throughout the Shows...
Love to Ya!
Barb C

The Crowd at Bloomington...was Crazy! {this is nothing...I didn't think to get an image...until we were rolling out the gates...} I'm So Glad...we Shopped Early Bird...and with that ticket...we got in...before it opened...on Sunday Morn...It was a ZOO!!!

This Early Ironstone Piece...rode with us... in the Cab... It was Scary...in the Back...Whew...

Here's Colleen...! She and Daryl...set up at Bishop Hill...then Early Bird Shopped....in Bloomington...on Sunday....
We are All...Frickin'...Crazy! But...then.... All The Best People Are!!!!

There are Many Open Buildings...at Bloomington...and Inside..too!

These are Great...Old Laundry Carts! They Roll...so Nice...and I Love the Old Canvas...!

This is a Bad...image..of the Coolest Birdbath...oh my...

Awwww....Pegadoo...and Mike... What Lovely...Lovely...People!

Wanda was Thrilled with the gourds! Very...Gnarly!

PEG IS WORKING ON A GOURD!!!!!! YAY!!!! Please...keep her in your Prayers.... She Says...THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!!! {and...so...do I... : ) }

I sat...on Mike and Peg's, deck...overlooking their Pond....and soaked...in The Most...Wonderful....'Peace'...It truly is...God's Country....

The Boys and John...unloaded....early Tuesday Morn....Wanda came...and gathered up...her Treasures....

Even...Brutus...lended a Hand...What a Good Boy!