Thursday, January 31, 2013

Pachelbel's canon in D Major - Romantic Modernized Version


Love is... {GOLDEN}

Re-posted from Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats

{ I am Sooooo Excited...for Audrey... She popped in...a while back...and we gathered all sorts of Treasures...from The Rabbit Hole...for her Photo Shoot...in the Green House...for a Contest she was entering...
 SHE WON!!! SHE WON!!!
{No big surprise... Audrey... is Amazing... as Beautiful...Inside...as Out...
always has been... I watched her grow up.. She has...always... had...
The Love...of Old... and has been all "Heart and Soulful"...
her entire life...she is...Gifted...
She decided...after her second child was born, to leave her job...and follow her Heart...
Stay at Home...with her two...Darling Children...and Nephew...{her Sis...Kristi...is like my Second Daughter...she, and Daughter Liz...went with me...to Antique Shows...since they were 8 years old... The other Dealers...watched them grow up...and commented...on what Hard Workers they were...I was Soooo Blessed...to have these...Young Women...in my Life..}
Audrey...has built a second... Wonderful Kitchen...{all Vintage... : ) }just for Sweet Cheeks...and Creates...Everything...from Home...  with a Passion!
Wow... Tho...it may have been a risky move...to some...It wasn't to me... I knew...whatever she put her Heart into...Audrey...would Make Happen!!!
She came with...to Heart of Country...several years ago... doing photography...for me...
One...of her...many Talents! {Audrey...has an Artists..Soul...}
 I Love...watching her 'Gears Turn'...as she meanders...through...the Rabbit Hole...
I so enjoyed...'Playing'... with her... and her... Tasty Treats.... the other day...
 The Rabbit Hole... and I ... were Honored... to have her come...visit....
I asked her to re post her Blog..on mine... so..you could enjoy... The Beauty...of her talents...{and...her...Treats... Taste...even Better...than they Look!!! }
Be sure and visit her...often... she comes up...with some Amazing...Over the Top...Ideas!
Below... is Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats Blog Post...from the Contest Shoot...Enjoy!
Love to ya...
Barb C. }

For those of you who don't know, I live in Iowa. I love my home state and wouldn't move away for anything...but...I gotta say...things can get a little dreary in the winter months. All the COLD, snow, being shut-in, the lack of "green" when I look out my front window...not very cheery. I needed something to perk me up :)

Luckily one of my fellow party gals had something up her fabulous sleeve! The UBER creative Genevieve of Superchickland threw down a super FUN  Valentine's Day Kandy Kone Styling Challenge....and I knew I wanted IN!


Each of the 8 participants had to come up with a dessert table theme and color scheme...and then Genevieve created 6 of her AHhhhhmazing CUSTOM Kandy Kones and sent them our way.

In Genevieve's own words:
The Challenge Deets!
1 ~ Challengers were asked to INCLUDE 6 custom Kandy Kones in a VDay themed display!

2 ~ They were asked to FILL their kones creatively!
  3~ And MOST IMPORTANTLY, they were asked to STYLE their kones in a unique, imaginative, trend setting way!

 
The judges!
Bird from Bird’s Parties, Courtney from Pizzazerie, Genevieve from Superchickland
My theme: Love is {GOLDEN}
I wanted to work with a palette of pale pink and gold! I knew I'd be incorporating lots of vintage goodness...but honestly...I let this display flow pretty naturally.


I asked my talented friend Barb Conner, of Cross Creek Antiques in Fairfax {Simply Iowa}, if I could set-up in the front greenhouse of her shop. Barb has the MOST amazing antique shop EVER...I've spent a LOT of time there (I grew up directly across the street!) I venture down often when I'm in party planning mode...for inspiration...and to find the perfect party props :)


It was a chilly afternoon to be setting an outdoor display...about 13 degrees I think...but the sun was shining so that was a definite bonus! Barb did laps with me through her shop...pulling pieces to work into the dessert table...it was SO fun just watching things come together!

I've been working with some new Cake Pop decorating techniques, and this gave me the perfect reason to play with them some more! I made some with a golden "marbled" effect that really stood out.
These are my Pink Sparkle Pops! They were seriously shimmering in the sunlight...I couldn't even capture all that beauty in the photograph...these pops DAZZLE!

I almost always add some semi-homemade treats to my dessert displays. It's a nice way to add some variety to the table, without the stress of creating everything from-scratch. For this particular table, I added gold-tone food coloring spray to decorate some store-bought meringues and heart-shaped marshmallows. Easy Peazy!
I also added some small ivy topiaries throughout the scene for a little pop of color...and life!

Vintage lace...nothing sweeter.









No Valentine's Day table would be complete without Conversation Hearts! I love reading these things...some of them seriously crack me UP (clearly...it doesn't take much!)


 





I also want to thank my friend Kristi of Luella B. Photography and Design for working a little editing magic! I take my own party photos...but I'm by NO means a professional. Example...in the full dessert table shot you could see my silver 4Runner parked outside in part of the background - LOL! Kristi made my car magically disappear...for which I'm BEYOND grateful...it was one of those DUH moments when I got home and was looking through images. Lordy...I really am close to losin' it some days!

I hope you enjoy my submission! It was really fun to put together...and gave me a chance to play around in my kitchen...which I rarely pass up :)

~Audrey

Sources:
Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats  Display Styling, Desserts and Photography
Super Chick Studios Custom Kandy Kones
Simply Iowa  Vintage props, event location
Green Party Goods Striped paper straws (Cake Pop "sticks")

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Get Me Through December


Snow...from the inside...out...

My...my...
What a difference...a few hours can make...
I was working...in Rain...yesterday...
today...
It's like a Blizzard...
Cold...Windy...Lots...of Snow....
It's...Blustery...to say the very least....
yet...so...incredibly...Beautiful...
It...reminds me of...December...
it truly....does...
Justin...is putting his...Little Buggy...to work...
getting us Plowed Out...
{He Loves...this kind of Work..: ) }
I Love...watching him...: )
I'm heading down...The Rabbit Hole...
going through totes...and packing...for 'Heart'...
I always Love...playing there...
but...on days...like this one...
There isn't a Cozier....Place...on Earth....
Yes...
My Happy Place...
Hope you...have a Lovely Day...
all Snuggled...in....
Barb C.
Simply...Iowa....
Snow....from the inside...out..
I stood at the Kitchen Window...this morn....
with a Steaming Cup...of Brew....
watching it Snow...and Blow...
being so...Thankful...
I was on the inside...
looking...
out...
Justin always gets right on it...when it Snows....
He is Soooo Fast...and Good... at getting it all cleared away...
{He Loves This!}
I....Love watching him....
He's a Mover...and a Shaker!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Julie Andrews - Getting to know you


Getting to Know...The Old...Corner Cupboard...

This...is what
 I Love....
There is always....always...something...about a piece... that draws me to it...and makes me Fall in Love...with it...
on This...Old Corner Cupboard.... It was This...
The wear... the Gnarliness....
The Wonderful...Old...Old...original..to the Cupboard...Cast...Turn Latches...
oh yes...
I took a moment...before I unloaded it...onto the Ford.... to really...'Look'...at it...
Get...'Aquainted'...with the Old Darling...
before..we Danced...out the Back...of the Fuso...
When I had left a bid...with Lynn...I wasn't sure I'd get it... so...did a quick...overview...and moved on...to the next piece...
Then...that Evening...when Liz and I picked it up...We had worked our Tails...off...Loading...Unloading...and setting the Anamosa Booth...all day...
Then....headed south...bucked Strong...Cold... Winds....for an Hour and a Half....{sometimes...having the truck...Floored...and only reaching 45mph....}
Then...when we loaded it...oh my...It was COLD!!!!
Too Cold...for any...proper...introduction...
So...today...was the first time...I really 'Met'...my new... Old Friend....
He's pretty...Wonderful...
He's constructed...with the Tiniest...square nails...
When I opened the doors... I realized....how very...Old...he is...
I could...feel it...
He's had...a Journey...
one...that has spanned...over a Hundred...and Forty Years....
 A....Most...Lovely...Old Farm...Cupboard...
I'm going to call Dwight and Junell...and see...where he came from...
John has a couple...minor repairs...to do...
Then...He's Headed to Nashville....
Wonder...if the person...who created this Old Corner Cupboard...could have ever imagined...where his Cupboard...would be...someday...
At The Grand Daddy....of All Antique Shows...
Heart of Country...
Nashville...Tennessee...
{when this cupboard was constructed...the Civil War...was still...a Very Recent...Memory....}
oh my...It's All...About...The Journey...
Yes...It Is...Precisely...My Cup...of Tea...
: )
{Received...a call...from Nashville...this afternoon... it was my Porter..Red... making sure...we were coming... He is such a Sweet Man... we had a Lovely...visit...: )
I So...look forward to seeing...Everyone... in Nashville...
Good...Good...Good...Folk...}
 
It Rained...and Hailed... as I unloaded the Fuso...
I was Sopping Wet!
and...Frozen...
but...got a lot done...
back at it...in the morn...
It'll be...in 3 to 6 inches...of Snow...: )
Oh Boy!
The Fun Never Ends!!!
: )
John is fitting...the hand cut pieces...to the Beautiful...Old Sofa...
It's Going to be...Over The Top!!!
Holy...Smokes!!!!
I bought these old Coke Sign Fragments...that are mounted to the Opera House Windows...from Anamosa, Iowa...
at The Show....
I had cleaned them up...a bit...when I brought them into the booth...
{You can see the second one...tucked behind the Simply Iowa Sign}
Today... I gave them...a Good...bath...
They Perked Right Up!
{It's Amazing...what a Little Elbow Grease...can Do!}
The Old...Corner Cupboard....
When I Opened it's Doors...
I had...such a Wonderful Feeling...
It has that...Old....Scent...that no one... can recreate...
Oh my....I Love...that Scent....
{Patchouli...is a Close...second...}

Merle Haggard - Workin' Man Blues (Original)


Get 'er...Done...

It's Crazy...Warm...
and...I'm Diving...In!
This Old Truck..when I am finding my way...towards it...always seems...so...
Ominous...
But...then...when I slide..The Big Door...open...and dive in...
It's not so...bad...: )
It's gonna get down to Zero...and Snow...a lot...
in the next 24 hours...
so...It's Time...
Nearly....'Show Time'...!
ahhh....
The Fun...Never Ends!
Have a Great...Day!
Love...to Ya!
Barb C.
{I had to post Merle..{a.k.a. 'The Hag'...seemed fitting...from one...'Hag'...to another...: ) }

Monday, January 28, 2013

Living In Fast Forward With Lyrics


Rewinding...real...slow... : )

oh my....
seems I have two speeds...
these days...
 Fast Forward...
or...Rewinding...real...slow...: )
Today... I was rewinding....
Yep...tho this image was taken...a year ago...
It could have been me...today...
Basking in a Big Bath Tub...
Smelling...Yesterday's...Roses...
Sippin' a Spot of Tea....
Funny...no matter...how motionless...the Body...is ...
The Mind...Never Rests...
I have to unload the Fuso...completely...tomorrow...
it's going to be warm....and That's...The Day....
It's going to get...Mighty Cold...the rest of the week...
I'm still trying to figure out...how....I'm going to get everything in...
Two...Massive...Corner Cupboards...
a Large...Primitive...Corner Cupboard...
a Wonderful...Green Store Cupboard...
an Amana Cupboard...
{Maybe...an Old...Old Red Step Back Cupboard
and...The Incredible...Missouri Cupboard...: ( }
a Harvest Table....
{or...two...}
{Odds...and Ends...of Smaller Furniture...}
A French Sectional...Sofa...and Chair...
The Victorian...Metal Sofa....
Wire Plant Stands...
a Most...Wonderful...Chick Incubator...
Architectural Fragments...
A Pair...of Amazing Lodge Columns...
A Pair...of Beautiful...Large...Terra Cotta Topped Corinthian Columns...
Oil Paintings...
Concrete...Garden Pieces...
Gnarly Lamps...Chandeliers...and Shades...
30 Totes...of Smalls...and Supplies...
Walls...and Big...Room Sized Rugs!
ect...ect...ect...
oh my...
oh...my...
Yes...the mind...never rests...
Hope You...had a Lovely Day...
Whether...you were... In Fast Forward...
or...Rewinding...real....slow...: )
It's...all...Good...
Love to Ya!
Barb C.
{ I have been...soooo Good...on my diet... no meat... little Fat....High...Protein...low sugar...
then...tonight... I ate a Huge...Greasy... Cheeseburger... Potato Wedges...Hot Wings...and a Huge Bag...of Peanut Butter...M&M's...watching my Favorite... Law and Order Criminal Intent...reruns...{Love...Vincent D'Onofrio } oh my....oh my...
Sometimes...your the Windshield...Sometimes..your the Bug...: ) }
{Thanks Melody... { www.imagenouveauphotography.com  } for the Images...
I so...enjoy them...}

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Alison Krauss & Union Station - Restless


Restless...

Restless...
I don't often...get this way...
but...today...I am...
Restless...
It's raining....ice...outside...
I hate...Ice...on the roads...
This...is on the Glass... and...Everything...Else...! oh my....
 
I've been caught out...in it...a time or two...
and...I gotta tell ya... it leaves ya feeling....
Totally Vulnerable...
You...may be able to keep your wheels...out of the ditch...but...the other guy...coming at you...or..next to you...may take You There...
With Him!
Yikes!
I had wanted to go to an Antique Show....this morn...in Northern Iowa...
but....no...way....
and...I keep Loading...and Reloading...the Truck...in my mind...
Setting The 'Heart' Booth... over and over...in my mind...
Seeing the Projects...in my mind...that still...have to be done...
So....Very...Many....
My brain is filled with...everything...from the shoes... I need to bring...
to the Maintenance...of the Fuso...
and...the Thousand...things...in between....
I am...Thankful....we aren't leaving...today...for Nashville...
and...Hope...it will be good roads...weather...and...
Smooth Sailing...
Went to Allyson's...last night...for a Lovely Supper...
It was so nice...visiting with her...and her Darling...Sister... Bethany...
along with...all of their Four Legged Family Members....
{Allyson feeds all of the Stray Cats...and has wonderful...Cozy Houses for them...on her Porch...
When I went to walk onto the Porch...they all came filing out...of their...Posh...Homes...one...had a Very...Strange...tail....{and was Sooo Fat....He Waddled!}
Turned out...it was a Opossum...!
He was Happy...as a Clam...Snuggled in...with all of the Cats....
Loads of Food...Fresh Water...Warm...Little Cabins... oh yes...life...is Gooood...at Allyson's!}.
Love this...Illustration....it's a Grand Wood...piece...from Farm on the Hill....Gotta Love...our Beloved...Critters!!!
 
After...the Lovely Meal...we sat by the Fireplace...and visited...
Such...a Good...Relaxing...Time....
I also...had the Wonderful...Opportunity...to Visit...and Touch...
some of my Oldest....Friends...
The Cupboards...The Tables...John's...Tin Covered Pieces....
{We ate...at the Massive Tin Covered...Table....oh my....}
It was...Lovely...
Allyson...over the years...has bought...so many of the Cupboards...
I have held...most Dear...to my Heart...
It was...such a Treat... to take the time... and...Stroll down Memory Lane...with...Them...
oh my....
I remember...each and everyone of them...so well... all of the little details....and...
the Journey...I had...encountered...with each piece...
It was like... reading 'This Is Your Life'... with each Old...Darling...
I have to get moving...or I'm Going To Explode!!!
Restless!
Hope you...have a Most...Wonderful Day...
Off...the Roads...if...they Glisten!
Love...to ya!
Barb C.


Saturday, January 26, 2013

The Tennessee Waltz - singer Patti Page 1950


Heart of Country....moments...away...

Getting Pumped!
Oh my...
Heart of Country...
Moments...Away!
well...
The Preview Party...is Valentines Day...
but...I know...that is merely...a Blink!
I drifted through some of my images...from the last couple years...at 'Heart'...
oh my...
{sigh......}
There is...Something...about The Energy...you Feel...at This Show!
I'm....pooped...by the time...we pull in...at The Opryland...
but...then...
when we walk through the Loading Docks...
and see...Steven...and Susan...{Promoters}...
and all of the Wonderful...Dealers....and Porters...
ZING!!!!
The Adrenaline....gets goin'....and Whew!
It's SHOWTIME!!!!
: )
It's hard to stay on track!
There is Soooo Much....Wonderful Stuff....
I am Constantly... Rubber Necking...while unloading!
I am Soooo Excited This Year!
So Many...of our Iowa Friends...are Making Their Way...to Nashville..to Shop!!!
It's Gonna Be a Party!!!!
Hope...You'll be There...with us!!!
Love to ya!
Barb C.
{When I stroll...through The Opryland...Hotel... { gaylordhotels.com }and take in...the Incredible...Beauty... from the Cascades... to the Delta....I hear...'Tennessee...Waltz'....Patti Page... over...and over...in my mind...
yes...Over...and Over...and...It...Never...gets...Old....
Love....it...
I truly...can't describe it...The Most...Incredible...Ballrooms... The Massive Murals...Fountains...and Waterfalls...oh my...It's...like walking through...The Old...South...
My Sweet Friend...Scarlett...{ www.scarlettscales.com } sent me a message... the other night...{She just opened a New 5000 sq. ft. Store...in Franklin, TN. You Have to Visit!!!!}
She was in Atlanta...at The Westin Hotel...on the 73rd...Floor... at...their...Revolving Bar...{like...my Happy Place...at the Opryland...before the Flood...} and...was Wishing...I was there...with her...: )
{Miss. Scarlett...and I...have had...some...Fun...in Nashville..: ) oh my..: ) }
I told her...tho...the Beautiful...New Cascades Bar...no longer...revolves... we'd just have to sip enough... that...we Believe...it Does!!!
{sigh.....}
This is the Portico...where we first pulled in....12 years ago...with The Great White Hope... {The 81 Ford, Ton Truck...Loaded...like The Beverly Hillbillies..with Trailer...in Tow...: ) }
The Ford...had well over 200,000 miles on him....
When we pulled in...to check in...amongst...the Limos...the Valet...asked if I would like him...to park the Ford...: )
I said.."Honey...I think...I'd better handle...this one..: ) "}
My Gal Pals...from The Under 200.00 Booth... {Love...These Girls!!!} They are my Next Door Neighbors...we...have a Very...Fun...Time... : ) : ) : )
The Florals...at this Show...are..Incredible... I'll be doing my Presentation...."Heart...and Soulful"
near...this Amazing...Heart...
What a Lovely...Place...to Be... : )
This was taken 2 years ago...before the Show Opened...
Pegadoo... is making her way...to our Booth....
It...Is...a Stunning...Show!
This...was one of my Favorite Items...at the Show...
A Vintage...Garden Rabbit...
You will see...so many...Rare...Objects...at Heart...
It Is...Breathtaking...
This...was our Booth....2 years ago...
Paul Bunyan...{The Giant Cupboard...} Enjoyed His...Second Visit...to Heart... {He's not For Sale...but...was a Most....Amazing...Old Work Horse!}
This...was last years...booth... Man...it was a Good Time!
Wanda...and Jo... Last Year...This was at check in... Oh My...It had been a Long day... and... the work...hadn't begun!!!
This...is the Lobby...at The Opryland.. oh my... {The year before... I had Danced...through there...at 3 in the Morn...in my Dress...and Stocking Feet!}...
Ahhh..yeah...we tend...to have a Pretty...good...Time!}
Another...Most....Beautiful...Booth...LOVED THAT CUPBOARD!!!}
There is Always...always....Beautiful...Old Treasures...at Heart...and Great Dealers...that are Always...so Willing to Share...Knowledge...what a Gift! 
Oh My!