Ya...know...it's gonna be a Great Day...when it starts out...'Heart and Soulful'....

I spied...this.... at my first stop...

yesterday...

The Sweet Lady...I was visiting...

made it...years ago....

I asked her...if...it was for sale...

she said...

"Sure!"

I LOVE IT!!!!

Really...Really....Love It!

What a Beautiful...

Gift...

as was...our long visit...

{She...and Cocoa... her...Beloved...Four legged...Best Buddy...were such a Joy...

They even sent...Treats...home...for my Polly...: ) }

At the end...of our visit...

she said..

"It was sure....nice...getting to know you"...

: )

I said...

Whole Heartedly...

"The Pleasure...was... Truly....All....Mine..."

yes...

It Truly....was....

: )

Lovely...

Blessings!

Hope You have a Beautiful...Day!

Filled with Many...Blessings!!!

Love to ya..

Barb C.

Yesterday's... Gatherings... and...The Lovely...Journey...: )

Oh my...

What a Crazy...Busy...Day!

I met with the Most....Darling....Lady....

Her Yard...was Incredible....

She was such a Sweet...Soul...

an Animal...Lover...like myself....

a...Yard Bird....

She was paring down...her yard art....

so...called....

I Loved It All!

But...Especially... THE MAMA FROG!!!!

oh my...

She is so...Old...and Gnarly...: )

and has her Babies...perched...on her back....

: )

She's a Big Old Gal!

Must Weigh....50 Pounds!

Then...I spied a Litter...of the Gnarliest...Grungiest...Little Pigs!

oh my....

She also had all sorts of her Home Made...Concrete Blocks....

from Years ago....

That she had spent...many trips...gathering...stones for...many years ago...

just the Perfect ones...to Embellish them....

They...are....so....Amazing...

I said..." What I Love about them.... is how you, the Artist.... Gathered...and Placed them... then...'Nature'...over the Years....

added her... Finish...'Surface'....to them..."

I bought...several....

They are...Awesome....

The Ford is Loaded...

but...I need to unload...before I get more images...

it looks like a Big Old Puzzle!

Then...I popped over to Pal, Val's!

I Love....visiting Val...

She lives...in the Most Amazing Home...

I refer to.... as...

"The Crown Jewel" of Cedar Rapids...

but...the Truth is...

if Val...lived in a Card Board Box....

I would Enjoy Her....Just...as Much!

Val...Is....an Angel...

She said..."You don't want to take pictures...now...I have such Messes....! "

I said... yes....I do....

I'll bet...most Folks...when they drive by...don't realize....

Val...Does...All....Of The Landscaping....

her...little...self....

Plus...she has a HUGE Vegetable Garden...at a Friend's...Farm!

talk about a Worker!

Wow!

I bought...some...darling...Treasures...she was done with....

Fun Stuff!

Then...I popped over to see a Friend...who had a Most...Beautiful...Clock...for sale...

I don't Have...One...Like This...One...: )

So...Bought It!

Love It!

am...Keeping It!
: )

A Good...Day...

a Very...Good Day!

I'm making deliveries.... today...

The FUSO is Loaded...for What Cheer....

The Weather Guy...says it's gonna be

 Cold...and Wet...

but...Those What Cheer Vendors....are TUFF!!!!

{as are the Shoppers!}

It's all...GOOD!

ahhhh...

It's all about....The Journey!

Love to ya!

Barb C.

 

LOVE THIS MAMA FROG!!! Her Darling...Babies...Perched...on her Back!
Sweeeeet!

I don't have...a Mantle Clock...like This One...: )
When it Strikes...it Chimes... on the Big Bell...on Top!
It has a Most...Beautiful...Resonating...Chime...
yes...for now...This One...is a 'Keeper'...: )

Ahhhhh...
another...
Vintage...French....Cross....
Love This...
It has...my Beloved...Morning Glories....and Cat Tails....
and...our...
"Promise"...
What...could be...More...
Soulful....?

One...of Several...Hand Made...Border Stones...I gathered...from The Sweet...Lady....Yesterday...
Love Them!

Pigs...Is...Pigs!
Now...these...are The Sweeeeetest...Little Pigs!
They have Years...of Gnarly Moss Growing on them...
They look...like they have been Happily....Rooting Around...The Pig Pen!
LOVE THEM!!!
{I Love....Moss Covered...Concrete....
 Folks...try and 'create'...this look....
but...'Nature'...will Not... be
Upstaged....
Only She...
and...'Time'...can make it so....Incredibly...Wonderful } 

Pal...Val...
The below images...are all of Val's...Lovely 'Crown Jewel'....
She works...so Hard.... to keep it...so....Beautiful...
and...Loves...Every Moment...
Doing So!!!
She is such...a Gift.... to...me....
Love HER!!!!

Val has got all of her Heirloom Babies..... Smiling...away...in her Green House...
It was....Absolutely...
Beautiful...
: )

She had just....taken the cover off of the Fountain...and had it Singing...
So...Very....Peaceful....

The Ford...is Loaded Heavy ... with Pure... Gnarliness....: )

 

This...Little...Piggy...

 

oh my...

It was a Great Day...Gathering...for The Memorial Day Weekend Sale!

The Ford...is Loaded Heavy...with all Sorts...of...

Gnarly...Grungy....Unusual...

Soulful...

FUN STUFF!!!!

I'll be posting...

Images in the Morn!

Love...to Ya!

Barb C.

 

the 250 mile... 'Journey'... : )

 

It was a Crazy...Day!

Just...got Home...

Had some Sweet Folks pop in....

and do a little...Shoppin'...

and...a Dear...Man...bring...some Awesome...Treasures....

around the Noon Hour....

then...around 2:00...a Gal phoned...from near the MO. Line....

Said she had some things...for sale....

I bailed in the Ford...

and drove...

and drove...

She had some...very nice...things...

but...sadly....nothing...I needed....

: (

So...The Ford and I came home...

empty....

It was all good...

I enjoyed...the drive....

a Beautiful...Day!

and...

The Hi Way...is my Beloved...Friend!

Then...Bart called...

while I was enroute

and...less than 10 minutes...from my door...

I found...some...Wonderful...Treasures...: )

oh my....

I guess... I need...to stay a little closer...to Home...: )

Seems...this is where I always find...the Gnarliest Stuff...!

I'm looking at a Mess...of Gnarliness...in the morn....at two separate stops....

: )

Close....to Home!

Life...is Good!

{There's gonna be some...'FUN'...Surprises...

at The Memorial Day Weekend Sale....}

: )

Love to ya...

Barb C.

{Cindy....What Cheer Flea Market is advertised for Friday through Sunday...

but...Folks are setting up...all week....

and...for 2.00 you can shop...during the week....

I always like to shop there...on Thursday and Friday....

{I go Both Days! So Much...keeps rolling in...!}

I'm setting up....Thursday...I think....Maybe...Wednesday....

depending on the weather...

It's Rain or Shine...and...there is Much...Shopping...inside Buildings...

which...is where I will be..: ) }

I see a 'Pattern'...here...
I bought this....Amazing... Table Lamp... from my Friend... this...early afternoon...
What is it...about....Vintage Lighting....with me....these days?
Love...It!!!!

I have a Sweeeeeet load...in...and on the Ford...from Bart...
but...This.... is One of My Favorite...Treasures....
of the Day....!!!
It's a Hand Forged...Boot Scraper...from an Old...Gnarly...
 Farm House....near Clarence, Iowa...
 

Love...all of the Detail....
This must date....from the mid 1800's...
It's like a piece...of Art...
Wonderful....

Beauty...in The World...

 

Yes...there is...

Beauty...

in The World...

: )

Yesterday....

I spent the day...Enjoying...Every...Moment...of it...

I had an Antiquing Appointment...before Noon...

and gathered...some...Lovely Treasures...

Then...met with Melissa...and her Darling Family...

{Jacquie's Daughter... from the Estate Sale...: ) }

She...upon arrival...

handed me... one of Jacquie's....

Beautiful....Paintings....

as a Gift....

: )

I tried...to explain...

The Pleasure...

The Gift....

was...All...Mine....

Just...finding the Peace....

The Soulfulness.... that was so... Enveloping....

from the first...moment....

I found myself.... in her Mother's  Home....

{Sanctuary....}

at a time...when my Soul...needed it...

so...desperately...

What... a Gift....

I will Treasure.... this...always...: )

After...leaving Melissa...

I bailed in the Ford....

Picked up...a Great Load....!

Love the Tin...{Zinc} Building Front!

{it's going to be made into a Store Counter! }

and...all of the Dibby Dabbys!

I am meeting with some Folks...today....

then...am going to look...at More Treasures!

{The Rabbit Hole is Closed...

accept by Appointment....

and...what I Post.... is not for sale....

 until the Memorial Day Weekend Sale...

I will...however sell... what was here...during The Garden Party....

or...Prior...}

It's...a Beautiful...Sunday...in Iowa...

Hope...it's Beautiful...

Where You Are...as well....

: )

Love to Ya..

Barb C.

 

Melissa....and a Beautiful 'Heart' Painting...by her...
Most...Amazing...Soulful....
Mother...
What a Beautiful...Gift...I will...
Treasure...
Always...
 

 

Jacqueline... Titled this....Beauty...
"She Who is The Delicacy of Beauty...Living Within Your Heart"...
It was painted... in 2000
Lovely...Lovely...
: )

ahhhh.
The Journey...

Love...this Beautiful.....Angel....
She is Cast...Iron...
and...so...Very...Very...Old...
She will be...at The Memorial Day Weekend Sale....
I look forward...to enjoying her...until then....
yes... I do...
: )

This...Old...Massive Tin and Zinc....Store Front...from the mid 1800's.... is...
a Pile...of Fragments...
I'm going to have John...work his Magic....
and Create...an Amazing....Store Counter...with it...
oh my....

I noticed...as I strolled through...The Rabbit Hole....yesterday...
how...many...Beautiful Vintage Lighting Pieces.... that have landed there....of late...
One...can Never....have...toooooo Many!!!!

Love...Love...Love.... This Old Wire Clam Basket....
oh my...: )

Seems...I have been also...Gathering...some Very Unusual...Pails...
This One....
is...
Awesome!

Love...this early....1900's Table Lamp....{I have one in the House...that's similar....}
Love the Vase...in the Center!

Picked up...these Gnarly Funeral Home...Vase Stands.... yesterday...
oh my....
: )

Let There Be...Light!!!!

I so...enjoyed...the time...I spent...in the Green House...yesterday....
The Pansies...and Violas.... are...Smiling...Big!
and...Their...Perfume...Filled...The Old...Glass...Structure....
It was almost...
Intoxicating!
yes...
it was....Lovely...

When Val, and I cleaned the Old Fountain....
just before The Garden Party...
Peg and Liz....were so...Sad...
All of the Gnarly...Grungy...Moss...
was gone...
I reassured them...
It wasn't gone...
Give the Old Darling...a little time...
and...'Life'....
would once...again...return...
: )
{sigh....}
yes...
It is...coming....to Life!
The Moss is growing....
and the Beautiful...Green...
with...it's...Promise...of  Spring...
has returned....
with All...of it's...Glory...: )
 

As...I closed the Door....
leaving...for the Night...
I peeked through the door....
for a moment....
and...nearly....went back inside....
What a Gift....this...Little Rabbit Hole...
has been to me...
Such...a Blessing...
I think...of All...of the Angels...that have passed over...it's...little
Threshold....
Blessings...

Wind..in my Sails!

On the Road...today...

Yes...

I have Wind...in my Sails!

The offer I made...on the pieces I had wanted....

can't be...finalized...

so...

I'm not Penniless!

Blessing!

There must be...Lot's of Gnarliness...out there...

I'm gonna need the Cash For!

I received a call...from a Friend...yesterday...about...a Gnarly...Thing....

so...

I'm gonna check it out!

Had a call...from some folks...who want to visit The Rabbit Hole....

Tomorrow...

I explained...I can be Open...by Appointment...but anything I post...for the

Memorial Day Weekend Sale....

can't be Sold...until then...

: )

The Big Truck...is Loaded...for What Cheer...

I'll also be taking the Ford...with

a Major Load...of Garden!!!

{With Liz...and Miss. Scarlett's Help!}

Pat's  Booth...

will be Packed!!!!

I'm setting up...Wednesday...I think...

and stay through...Saturday!

Rain...or Shine!

See Ya There!

Love to ya!

Barb C.

 

This Little Girl...
Sits...and watches...
Day in...and Day out...
In the Old...Kitchen...Cupboard...
oh my...if...she could only... talk....
: )

Rest...in...a Little...Peace... : ) George Jones....

Just...saw...

George Jones... passed away...
Today...

oh my...

What a Gift... he was to Music...

He was a Cooool Cat!

Love...to ya...

George...

See..ya later...: )

Save...a Little...of that...

Whew!

White Lightnin'!!!!...

for me...

: )

Barb C.

{I loved the story...about George....
{ One...of Many...Great...'No Show Jones'....
Stories... : ) }
His first wife... pulled all of the keys...to every car... so he couldn't get...a little...
'Shine...
{legal 'Shine...}
However... she forgot about the key...to the riding...lawn mower....: )
George...drove for over an hour... on his Rider....
to...get a little... 'Shine...
Yes... George...was a 'Character'...
I have Loved him...since I was a Child...
Loved...Loved...Loved...
His second wife....
Tammy Wynette....
Yep... they are...
Together... Again!
: )
The Music... in Heaven...
Is...
Simply...
Divine....
: )
Can't...wait...
To Hear It! }


The Journey....

What a Day!

I travelled... Many Miles....

After visiting Anna...and Cindy....

I made a stop...at

Frond Design Studio...

Stephanie Brandenburg's Incredible....

Studio...

She is a Shooting Star...in the Fabric Industry...

Her Fabrics...are all created from her...Original Art...

Incredible...

I don't know....anyone...who works...harder....

and... has a more....

Loving...Spirit....

Her Staff... {Friends}...are...

Equally...

Wonderful...

Joey... creates...a Beautiful... Lunch...Daily... for the Crew...

I...was Blessed... to be...One of Them...

Yesterday...

: )

Wow!

Wow!

I enjoyed...meeting some of  the other Artists... who were visiting...as well...

What a Gift!

{I Love....Creative Spirits!}

Steph... is going to use The Beautiful Settee...

John Created.. at her Trade Show...in Houston

later this year...

oh my...

It's Going...National!

{World Wide!}

Joey... made an... Over The Top...

Shrimp...and Pasta...Dish...for us...

All...Organic...

and...Seasoned...to Perfection....

Joey...ROCKS!!!

After I left...

I travelled... many...many Miles...

Looking at Some Great... Antiques...

Thousands...of Wonderful...

Treasures...

but...

came home...

with an empty...Ford...

It's all good...

at the very End...of my day...

I was shown...some things...

and... left offers...

on them

that...

will take every penny I have....

when they are accepted....

So...it was a Blessing...I didn't...Spend...earlier...

: )

Hope You...have a Most...Beautiful...Day!

Love to Ya...

Barb C.

 

 

 

Joey's....Incredible... Meal...
I had told them...to eat without me... I didn't know how long...I'd be...at Anna's...
But...Joey wouldn't hear of it...
and prepared...this...Beautiful Gift...for me...when I arrived...
What an Angel....Joey...is.... : )

 

Our...Joey...: )
He was telling me...about all of the ingredients... that made...
His...Over the Top...
Dish!

 

Then...after I was done...eating...
Here comes...Joey...
with this...Beautiful...Desert!
Heaven!
Heaven!
{hmmm...just noticed...the 'Heart'...on the Goblet....{sigh....} oh my...)
: )

Steph  and  Shannon...
Taking a moment...to rest...on the
 Beautiful...
Settee...
: )

How...Do You...'Mend'...a Broken Heart?... you don't... You....Embrace...it... and...'The Journey'...that Brought it...to...You... : )

 

 

A...Beautiful...
Broken....
Heart....

Oh...My....

Hearts...
in...Hand...
oh my...
Yes... Jacquie....
Dad...
and...me...
we...'get it'....

What...an Amazing...Day...

I had Deliveries...

to make...

and... a Million...Miles...to cover...

but....was called...to Anna's House...

She is ...what some would call...an...

'Elderly' Woman

but...not by... me...

My Dear....Neighbor... May...

called me about her...a couple of weeks ago...

Said.... she had a friend...who...was very...ill... with cancer...

Advanced...in years...

who...needed to sell some of her...collections...

I was so...busy...with the Tag Sale...I couldn't get to Anna's...

Then...My Neighbor... showed up...at the Tag Sale...with...Anna...

I looked at Anna...and thought...

This...couldn't be the Woman...she had called about...

Her Spirit...was  So....Young...

and...Free!

I was Craaaaazy Busy.... when they stopped in...

We agreed to meet...in the next couple of weeks...

Then...this Morn...My Sweet...Friend...and Amazing...Sale...Bookkeeper...

Cindy...called...

it...was about...'Anna'...

asking...if....I could come...take a peek...

at some of  her...friend...Anna's... Treasures...

Cindy....turns out...is also...Close Friends...to Anna...

: )

{Interesting...as...Both...May...and Cindy...Live Far Apart...yet...

are...Angels...in my Life...}

I knew...

I had...to make time...

for...

Anna....

: )

After loading the truck...for deliveries...

I met...with Cindy....and Anna...

at Anna's....Lovely...Home...

Now...the Dr.'s tell Anna...

she has....cancer...in her liver... and adrenal glands...

I took one look...at Anna...

and said...

Straight...from...my Heart....

"You...Have Much Life..."...: )

{ I Have...No...Worries....about... Anna...}

She...is Amazing....

She is so...Strong... and Vibrant...

Anna... Wants...to Live...

and...as long as she... Believes...it...

Keeps...Looking Up...

and...

Trusts...

it will be...

Anna... is Strong....

 as I told her...

we are all... terminal...

all we have... is...this very moment...

So...

Embrace It!

I asked her... to Please... not let...Any Opinions...

Steal...her Joy....

She kept...apologizing...for her 'Collections'..

I asked her...to

 "quit"...

She Loves...her Treasures....

and...who cares...

after we are gone...

Someone...will

Call an Auctioneer...

They will be placed...in the right hands....

but...Today...

Love Them...

and...Enjoy them...

: )

When we went to the basement...

she handed me...

Hearts...

Beautiful...

Hearts....

I shared...with Cindy....

Whether...they know it...or not...

That...was a
 'Wink'...

I dropped one...

and it broke...

Anna said...

"Let me find...another...for you!"...

I said...

"It's This 'One'...

 that will always... mean the Most...to me...

I'll never forget...this...very...moment..."

Yes.. It was an...Amazing....Day...

I have Many...more Stories...from today....

That I will share....

Tomorrow...

So...Many...Miles...

So...Many...

Blessings...

Life...is...

Good...

Love to Ya...

Barb C.

 

 



New... Lines...? : ) ahhhh... No...Lines... : )

"She Couldn't Keep Her Colors....

Inside The Lines...

So...

She...

Drew...

New Lines"....

 

: )

Love This...

a Friend...posted it on FB last night...

I Simply....

Had to Share...

Life...is a Big...Coloring Book...

for me...

It's always been difficult...

Keeping...within 'The Lines'..

: )

and...yes...

I have drawn... many of my own...versions...

over the years...

I think...

That's where I'm at...in my Life...

I'm ready...to ....

go...Free Hand!

oh dear...: )

Yep...let the Wind... Kinda...

Blow me....

Around....

It's a Beautiful Day...

Filled with Sunshine...

and...Promise....

Hope You...Have a Day....

Filled with...

Sunshine...and Promise...

Smile...at Everyone... you Meet....

and...

Dance!!!!!

Love to ya!

Barb C.

 



Riverbend Antiques... Ron "Catman" Bellomy... {Cool...Cat...: ) } oh my...'The Journey'...: )

As I was headed Home...from my Amazing...Botanic Garden Get Away...

and... Lovely Stay...in Davenport...at The Hotel Blackhawk...

I was encouraged...by the young man...at the Coffee Shop...to check out...

'Riverbend Antiques'

He said...it was one the Largest Solely Owned... Antique Shops...in the Country...

I Believe...that is True!

Holy Smokes!

I arrived early...and waited....

I thought about heading home... but...after window...peeping...

Jethro...and I decided to stay...put...: )

I'm so...Glad we did!

What a Journey!

I Totally...Clicked...with Ron...

I gathered...some Darling...Soulful...Treasures....

A Big...Chandelier...

That...Awesome Victorian...Chip Carved  Mirror...

{a Gift...for Mark...for Helping...so Much...at The Tag Sale!}

and...The Gnarliest...Worn...Velvet Covered...Organ Stool!

oh my!

But...The Best....'Treasure'...was meeting...The Catman...

He is such...a Soulful...Man...

 Tells it like...it is..

a Straight...Talker...

I...Like That...!

He is also...a Huge..Animal...Lover..

I Love That!!!

yes...we Hit It Off!!!

He took me through his Buildings....and Beautiful... Hibernian Hall...

 Ron...refers to it... as his...

'Man Cave'!

Oh My...

I went up...on the Choir Loft...and gazed...

It was...Incredible...

On his brochure... it says..."250,000 Items... in 4 Historic Buildings..."

oh my...

{The Buildings... all date...from the mid 1800's... oh my...

Filled with...Soul...}

Ron also... took me for a private tour...of his...Incredible...Home...

What a Gift...

He has walls...covered...with his...Darling Daughter's...Photos...

She is 15...and The Apple...of His Eye...

{as we visited... listening to him...Sing her Praises...

reminded me...so... of another...

Wonderful...Father... I once...knew...

with tears in my eyes...I told him so...

What a Gift... he is...to her...

He sees it...the other way...around...

Trust...Me...

I Know...

He...is...the Best Gift... a Daughter... could Ever...Have...: ) }

Yes...

This...trip...was an...Amazing...'Journey'..

These...Old...Gnarly...Grungy...Soulful...

Treasures...

sure...

have been a Blessing...

in my...life...

and...have taken me...to some of the most...

Wonderful...Places...

and...Put the Most...Beautiful...People..

on my Path...

When you get to Davenport, Iowa...

Stop in...and see 'The Catman'...

Tell him...

Barbara...sent ya...

: )

Love to ya...

Barb C.

 

Ron "Catman" Bellomy
yes...
He's a Cool...Cat!

This was the First...thing...that caught my eye...when I walked in...
I Had...to get it...for Mark...
{if he doesn't like it...I'm keeping it...it is...so...Gnarly!}

The Rooms...go...on and on...and On!
Several Buildings...Full...and  Neat...as a Pin!

You Name It...Ron's Got It! He's been here...for 42 years...
oh...my...

Fun Stuff!

Everything...from Upholstered Furniture...to Lighting...

oh my....

I Loved...this Amazing...Sofa...and matching Barrel Chair....
Yowza!

The Man...Cave...
Seriously..
I wanted to Move In!!!!

Awesome!!!!