Business... is, business.

{Above is The Coolest Crazy Quilt, Ever. <3 

It was at The Firecracker Show, on the 4th.

I, couldn't buy it.

 Too many 'obligations' 'these days'. 

Told the Sweet Vendor, who offered to sell it to me, for what she had in it, 

I... simply couldn't.

{Grateful... for the offer. : ) }

If... I could've purchased the AMAZING IOWA CRAZY QUILT, 

it wouldn't have been for resale.

That One, would have to be a 'Keeper'.

<3

sadly...

business is business}

; )

Allyson, and I... enjoyed a Lovely, and Relaxing... 

4th of July.

: )

Went to The Firecracker Antique & Vintage Market, at the RV Park, in 'Main'

Amana.

It was GREAT... visiting with Friends.

<3

Always tell Folks... this 'Antique Business' is more like a 'Family'...

; )

kinda

like 

'The Mafia'...

; )

Hahahahahaha!!!

Once You're 

'IN'

There Ain't No Gettin' Out!

; )

We all come from varied walks of life.

Some, are Quite Well to Do... 

Some, are poor as Church Mice.

Some... have Master's Degrees, 

some...

never finished High School.

but, 

make no mistake...

We 'Understand' 

'Respect'

Each Other.

<3

Hahahahahahaha!!!

yes...

we all share the 

'Sickness'

as,

some would call it....

 The Love of 'Old'.

<3

I remember writing about Auctions, several years ago.

{Many times, about 'Duwa's Auctions, Wellman, Iowa}

<3

Oh...dear.

We'd Beat Each Other Up... All Day Long, at an Auction.

then,

 at the end,

 we'd help each other load, then, go out for supper together.

: )

There are NO Friends at an Auction.

; )

Dad taught me that... when I was about 7, he trusted me, to do his 'Bidding' for Farm Scrap, at Farm Auctions.

'Business is Business'.

: )

Ya bid as high as 'Your' Market... will bear, then... stop, should the bid get too high.

Walk away.

Never look for the back bidder, while bidding.

It can't matter, who's bidding against you.

Look at The Auctioneer, make Certain... 

The Auctioneer, and his Ringman, Sees You.

; )

That's your 'business'.

<3

The only time I'd back down... at an Auction,

 was when I knew 'Family' was bidding, at an Estate Auction.

There was No Way, I would bid on something a 'Family Member' was trying to buy back,

 from their

 Family's Estate.

Made me Sick when It Came to That, for them.

: (

Over the years, I've seen Cousins, Brothers and Sisters.... at Auctions, 

end...

 Family relationships, over bidding wars for their Grandparent's 'treasures'.

: (

Heartbreaking.

Also... over the years, I've had Friends walk up to me at an Auction, and say...

"I was bidding on that too, but, then I saw you bidding on it, and backed off."

: )

Told them, when that happened, that it was very nice of them,

 but don't

 Ever Do That!!

<3

because...

I couldn't do that for them, in return.

: (

Often, at an Auction, I bid for others. 

Customers, and Friends.

May have an item pre-sold... if I could get it bought, where we hoped I could.

: )

If someone had left a bid with me, I'm bidding on their behalf, and would bid to Their limit.

: )

<3

Didn't know Pal, Mark... was setting up at 

The Firecracker event.

Mark has set up there... over the years, Outside, but...

It's been so hot, 

didn't expect he'd agree to set up there, this time.

Turned out, Mark called the Great Promoters, told them, they'd better count him out.

: (

Too Hot.

: (

 They found Mark a Spot, Inside... With Air!!!

: )

{that, in my opinion... is what Great Promoter's 'Do'. : ) }

See The Beautiful Angels?

Wrote about them, last year.

Mark bought them, along with several other Beautiful Pieces, from an Early, Northern Iowa... 

Church.

I would've bought Them last year, but.... 

I Couldn't.

: (

Can't buy anything, 'these days' I can't sell. 

: (

again...

too many obligations.

Business... is, business.

; )

I Could Never, 

'sell' those

 Angels.

<3

Like the above Crazy Quilt.

<3

While I visited Mark, at the Show, he said,

 "there's something... I want to give to you."

Mark and I go Way Back. 

: )

30... plus, years.

He's Family.

<3

We, have often... over the years, found things that reminded us of one another, and Gifted each other, with 

'Treasures' that would Fill Our 'Addiction' Habits!!!!

Hahahahahahaha!!!

We All, in This 'Family' do That.

: )

<3

I look around the house... and See 'Faces'.

<3

Gifts...

 from

 'Family'.

<3

'Treasures'

<3

Never... in a Million Years, did I think Mark was going to say...

"Barb, I want you to have those Angels."

I, melted.

Melted.

Melted.

Melted...

into

 a 

pool

 of

 Goo.

 knees went weak.

: (

many tears, hands were trembling.

oh dear.

: )

When I get them 'set' here, at Home...

I'll share an image.

<3

Priceless.

Priceless.

After leaving The Firecracker Show, Allyson, and I...

went to The Amana General Store.

I'd never been there.

If 'Antiques' aren't involved, well....

I... pretty much, am unaware.

{sickness. : ) }

It was Very Cool!!

Packed Full of Teas and Coffee.... Candy... Iowa Advertising...

All Sorts of Everything!!

; )

Then we opted to head to Fern Hill, in South Amana.

; )

Dear Friends, {Family} Steph, and Patti.... Run The Shop, There!!!

AMAZING!!

; )

Patti, to my surprise wasn't working.

She was at her Home.

Her oldest Son, was visiting... from out of state.

I... gave her a call, to see if it would be ok to come Visit.

Wanted to show Allyson what a Slice of Heaven... looks like.

: )

Patti was Thrilled to Have Us!!

<3

{Family <3}

Told Pal, Allyson, and Wendy... {Fern Hill Gal : )}

"Gee... Patti actually seems Happy to Have 'Us'... visit."

Hahahahahaha!!!

{Grateful... Someone Does!! : ) }

oh my.

: )

Me, and Pal... Allyson, walked over the Beautiful World, Patti, and Dale...

Built, 25 years ago... or so.

: )

Dale, has very sadly been gone, for 5 years...now.

I... 'See' Dale, Everywhere.

<3

He, and Patti... had a Special Love.

; )

Their Pups..., and Tony's...

 {Patti's Son...}

a

 Total of 5

Pups...

Joined Us.

: )

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

When it got too hot, on the deck, we went inside...

and, sipped Georgia Sweet Tea, that Tony had just made.

{He's from Atlanta. Allyson LOVED It!! 

She's a Sugar Girl. ; )}

It was a Lovely, Lovely...

4th.

: )

Many, Many...

Blessings.

<3

Didn't hit all of The Shows, but...

that's ok.

; )

Grateful...

for

The Day.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Started writing this post... a few days ago.

It's been incredibly difficult to finish.

haven't finished it...well.

Thinking, about.... when Allyson and I... were 'Junkin'...

Visiting,

with

 Friends, there was Whole Other Bunch of 

Unimaginable Heartbreak unfolding in Texas.

makes me sick

Finishing this post 7/7/2025.

 Praying for Texas... and, Everyone... who is

Suffering Today.