The New Orleans B&B

It is very nice... Lovely Columns, and 14 foot cielings... Our room is beautiful, with a Jacuzzi Tub...And a Massive Chandelier over my bed... Oh my...

Allyson, and 'The Jester'...

This 'Jester', was quite curious.... He guessed what state we are from, with the first try... O. Kaaay. Our accent, he replied... Hmmm.... I questioned him, about the oil spill... No one is talking about it, here... I find that odd... He went ballistic... Said we should impeach our President, and put a woman, he is fond of, in his place... My reply... " Oh, the one who repeatedly said, during the last election, when questioned about 'off shore' drilling, "Drill, Baby, Drill!!!!" Hmmm, guess he forgot about that... His eyes dropped, and he, well, was a little speechless... I say, if you want to point fingers, be careful... they could ultimately point right back at you... Lets concentrate on fixing this, and making sure, this won't happen again.... It is heartbreaking....{ I heard a comment, about the last administration... that put the entire blame on them... so there is plenty of 'blame' out there} We, are the ones to blame... we the people... we must keep ourselves informed...I was reminded recently, about 'The Frog' story... A frog is put into a pot of cool water, on the stove.... He basks in it, and the water gets warmer and warmer, as he enjoys his sauna... 'til, ultimately, he's cooked... Sound familiar? I think we've been basking, for many, many years... Remember what I said about pointing fingers...hmmm...

The 'Iron' of New Orleans...

The architecture is as you would expect... amazing.... The buildings, saturated with history....Allyson described it, as once being a 'Grand Dame', and now, a bit tarnished.... I think it has been this way, from day one... Mysterious, seedy, beautiful.... alluring.... It is a River Town... a bit on the wild side... and yet, a thriving community...closer knit, than one might think.... Part of me, could move right in... the other part, well, is ready to head home....

New Orleans...The French Quarter...

Allyson and I arrived, yesterday, 'round noon... New Orleans is quite the city.... We are staying at a huge Antebellum Mansion, on the edge of the French Quarter... So, walking distance to the attractions...It's hot, and humid, kind of like August, in Iowa....It's a different world, here... Can't decide what to think... It reminds me of a huge carnival.... steeped in a 200 year old tea pot...The people are very interesting, and they almost have an aura of, " I've seen it all... been exposed... and, am tired"....{ those would be the locals...the tourist, they are here to have fun, and seem oblivious.... and, are having lots of fun...} I have visited with several folks... Some, who grew up here, some 'transplants', They seem to be on the edge... looking for a way out....I had a long visit, with a young man, who is actually an actor... He grew up here, had many obstacles, and hurdles growing up, but wound up, in Hollywood...When things slowed down there, he was offered a wonderful job, from an old friend, back here, in New Orleans... We visited for sometime, it became very spiritual.... Allyson stood back, and witnessed this... I believe, and so does the young man...{he said it first} It was a life altering encounter.... A woman from Iowa, walking into a store, on a side street, in New Orleans.... on our departure, learning all about this young mans life.... God, we believe, sending confirmation, through our brief encounter.... well... it was amazing.... You really had to be there.... Wherever this young man lands, I have no doubt, because of his faith, and his ability to 'see', he will be, exactly where he needs to be...and he, accepts that.... { he doesn't believe in 'coincidence' either...} Allyson and I ran up and down Bourbon Street, enjoyed all the great architecture, sampled several southern drinks....and specialty foods... We ate Oysters, and lots of pralines....Don't worry about the calories... we must have walked 20 miles...and we perspired off every ounce of alcohol.... oh my.... My leg is still a mess...So, this morning Allyson is on a walking tour, and I'm hanging out, at the Mansion...I visited with Ed, last night, { leftoversantiques.blogspot.com} Check out their blogspot.... It's absolutely stunning... I follow them, so you can get there from here....} Ed has been to New Orleans, and gave us some great ideas, of places to visit.... The Garden District was one of them... We had that on our list, and are intending on going today, or tomorrow... He also mentioned, the River Road.... and checking out the Plantations....That, is up my alley... We'll try and do that, on Thursday... Wish Y'all Were Here! Barb C.

From Natchez, MS., to White Castle, LA. oh my....

My, very first, Mint Julep... It wasn't my last Whoo Hooo!!!! This was beautiful... I was speechless... the entire time, we were walking through this amazement... Every time I turned around, there was something more amazing than the last beautiful vision I had captured... Can't wait to get back to Natchez...

This was one, of many amazing Mid 1800's Iron Gates, surrounding family graves... This one has corn, and a butterfly... I could have stayed all day, taking images of this wonderful resting place...

Allyson, at the Cemetery, in Natchez, overlooking the Mississippi...

Our beautiful Hotel, on the Miss, in Natchez...

The White Room... The Ball Room...at Nottoway Plantation... Oh my...

Allyson was commenting, that she thought the woman in the painting has a beautiful dress... I said, I thought she liked Allyson's, too... She was looking right at her!

Our room is on the 3rd floor... The view is amazing! Allyson and I, can wonder through this Plantation, all night, if we wish... We wish....What a wonderful treat...

Our Room... How Cool Is This... The window opens, to a wrap around Veranda... Oh My... The tour guide says it isn't haunted... The other staff says otherwise... I'll let ya know...

I'm headed for the Veranda! I can not begin to express the amazement, I have experienced, today... I am not going to write a long post, because, I intend to go sit on the 3rd story Veranda, continue sipping the most wonderful Mint Julep's, that Sweet Jennifer,{ our Darling Bar Tender} has introduced me to, then turn in, and spend a peaceful night, in the most magnificent room, at the Nottoway Plantation... Allyson and I, have run of the beautiful, 53,000 square foot,{yes... 53,000 square feet...} 64 room Mansion...{ and a window or door, for every day of the year...oh...my....} So, sorry, but I must take advantage of every second...

I wish you all were here... what a party we would have!

My Love to Ya!

Barb C.

We started in Natchez... We are going back, again, someday... It was wonderful... The Cemetery was amazing... Then we did a little antiquing in St.Francisville, LA, we had a great Shrimp PoBoy, and headed for White Castle... It's Amazing... Here are some images of the day...

We Are in Natchez, Mississippi... Oh My....

We had quite the day... A wonderful day... The South is truly Amazing... We had a flat tire... well, not really flat, just getting there, and loosing air... so we stopped at a Truck Stop, and had it changed... Then we rolled on, and took a scenic route, only 50 mph., for a hundred miles... but, it was the most wonderful hundred miles, I have driven, in a long, long time... It was between Jackson, MS., and Natchez.... Amazing...{ Lynn, you would never make a farmer, here in Mississippi... The corn has ears on it, already, and it's stalks are about 3 feet tall... Not quite like home...{ maybe it's a miniature version... I don't know... It has tassels, I don't know what it is... But our farmers would cry, with a crop like that...}Thanks to Allyson's sister, Bethany, who jumped on her computer, back at home, we found the most Amazing BBQ, in Memphis.... "Jim Neeley's Interstate BBQ" It was something I will never forget... When we arrived in Natchez, it felt like home... I may have to stay... A cool Red Ford Truck, with a massive diesel, was impatiently waiting at a light... It was all jacked up, with lights, everywhere... I said to Allyson, if I didn't know better, that would be Justin.... {My son...} Yep, home... We travelled through this wonderful, historic town, as it was getting dark... We stumbled across this, most amazing hotel... It reminds me much, of the Opryland... Oh my! It's right on the Mississippi, and we have the most amazing view... We checked in, then headed up town... had some wonderful Gumbo, fried egg plant, and the best strawberry cake, we have ever eaten... I washed it down, with a glass of red wine, and.... all is right with the world... I intend to take lots of images, tomorrow, of all the sights... We are staying at a Plantation, B&B, near New Orleans, tomorrow, then, another Mansion, in New Orleans, for the rest of the week... If we turned, and went home, today, this would have been a perfect 'get away'... Getting to see Peg and Mike's Amazing home, and having a wonderful supper with them... Eating Fantastic BBQ, in Memphis, Staying in the Fantastic 'Natchez Grand Hotel', Eating at the fun and funky 'Cotton Alley Cafe', for supper... Wow... I'm on overload... We were told there are lots of great Antique Shops, in St. Francisville, it's on our way South... Can't wait!!! Wish You All Were Here!

I'll Keep Ya Posted!

Barb C.

First Day... Headed South...

Allyson is Dwarfed, by this gnarly old bowl... Love It!

Peg and Mikes Beautiful Home...I could have just stayed there...

This old wagon, is soooo cool.... Peg has filled it with gnarly old twisted branches, she finds on her timber walks...

Peg's cool stuff!

She has extremely tall ceilings... I could have spent a week, taking pictures of all of their wonderful treasures!

Peg has planted all sorts of wonderful things, all over, around the house... She has darling little vignettes, everywhere, nestled in the beautiful moss, that seems to blanket everything... Heaven... Heaven!

The 10 cent doll house... I can't wait to get it home, and play with it...

We left C.R. around 1:30, and headed for Peg's... I have never been there, and was dieing to see it... We ran across a 'sale' sign, along the way, and had to stop! I found a darling old doll house... for a dime... and 2 porcelain signs... { not, for a dime...} Allyson took a tour, of the lady's old, old stone house, as I was digging around! She loved it! We kept heading south, and drove past my pal, Charlie's... I told Allyson, he'd be at work, then I saw someone moving around, his barns... It was Charlie! I told her to lay on the horn! I called him, and said we had just driven by... He said, " were you in a silver thing...? and layin' on the horn...?" Yea, that's us! He wished us a safe trip, and I said I'd be down to see him, when we get back.... I just love that guy!!! Then we stopped in Palmyra, MO. at the Midwest Antique Company... We ran through fast, and I found a wonderful, huge round bowl... Don't know much about it, but it's hand done, huge, and gnarly! { My 3 major requirements...} Allyson found some cool retro Chinese prints, and we both bought some darling wire baskets! Yeah! Then, on to Peg's... Oh my... It was absolutely wonderful... She and Mike had prepared a fabulous supper for us, and we got the Grand Tour... She and Mike built their home, a few years ago, on a pond... The setting is amazing... Peg's landscaping is as beautiful as the Botanic Gardens... Wow... I could go on and on... But, it's 11, and I am pooped... We will be in Memphis, for lunch... Can't wait...

Sweet Dreams...

Barb C.

Leaving Today... Headed for New Orleans...

Friends, Stanley and Klarika, helped me hang the massive chandelier, in the shop, on Tuesday... I love it... I promised Tommie, { my friend I bought it from, I'd let it hang around, for a while... my pleasure...}

I'm feeling a bit melancholy, today... Leaving for New Orleans... I think I always do this... As much as I run, 'home' is where I love to come to roost....It's like Rhett said to Scarlet... "You get your strength, from the red earth of 'Tara'..." I get mine, from the black dirt, and from my circle of friends and family{ two and four legged members...} I went to the Doc, yesterday, about my leg....{ It's still, half again the size of my right leg... It's pretty nasty... I thought it should be better, it's been almost a week... one of my friends had me shook, about blood clots....and I didn't want to worry, all the time, so went in....} She wanted to do some tests, but, no insurance, no way... So, I have strict orders... blood thinners.... and leggings... I keep watching the news about the oil spill... If they have anything for me to do, to help those poor animals, I'm all over it... I have doctored critters, since I was young, and they don't scare me a bit... I just want to cry, when I see it.... Folks are talking about boycotting B.P..... B.P. didn't want this to happen... if it's all about money and oil, they certainly don't want this... This is a horrible mess, if anyone should be brought up, it should be the ones who installed this line... Just think... How many shut off's do you have in your home, for natural gas... how many, for your water line? Lots...Who ever installed this, was reckless... B.P. will pay... Cash... But the environment, may never recover.... and those poor creatures, that have no idea, what they are exposing themselves to, will suffer with their lives...

I know everything happens for a reason.... I have wanted to go to New Orleans, since I was 17... Turn it loose, get crazy, and wild.... Allyson asked me to go with her back in February, long before this tragedy... I must need to go, for a reason... see something, be touched, or touch someone... I know this isn't a {just} vacation... I feel it in my bones... It's some sort of a mission... I read my Streams, just now, oh my... I glanced through the pages, nothing seemed to fit... So, I asked the Lord, to show me...Show me what would be the perfect words, for today....my eyes went to a little poem, at the bottom of page 353. It reads...

"Give me a new idea," I said,

while thinking on a sleepless bed;

"A new idea that'll bring to Earth

A balm for souls of priceless worth;

That'll bring men thoughts of things above,

And teach them how to serve and love,

That'll banish every selfish thought,

and rid men of the sins they fought."

Oh my... Once again, just what I needed to see...

I want to send apologies out, to the three people who popped in, yesterday....Whoever you are....

I was interrupted, yesterday, while getting my stuff ready to go... I was running around, gimping, with a bad leg, packing, coloring my hair, taking a shower, washing clothes, and bedding, the washer motor, burned up, before my eyes,{thank God I bought a back up, at a garage sale, a couple of weeks ago! It works Great!} all my bra's were in there { I don't own many} { sorry to those, who don't want to know this} so, when a guy knocked at the door, to go see the shop, I was wet headed, bra less, in an old 't' shirt, and men's pajama bottoms... now, this would be great, for my daughter, Liz... Me, ah, not so much....I asked him, what he collected,what type of stuff he was looking for...{ I just knew I didn't have a thing for him... } and we went round and round....finally, he said everything.... He was insistent... I told him to go on down, I'd be there in a minute... { I'm really not usually this short, with folks... But, I'm tired, hurting, bra less, and a MESS!} So, I gimped down, and a couple of women pulled up.... I said hello, they followed me, and I made my way to the man... I said, "why didn't you just go on in...the door is open?" He said, "well, it was stuck, and I didn't want to push it..." { He didn't seem to have a 'pushing' problem, to me...{ sorry, that wasn't nice...} So I walked up to the door, and gave it a kick.... The women ran for their lives... I felt so bad... The guy, well, he wasn't fazed... much... I guess I need to get away... So, sorry, to the gals...didn't mean to scare ya... Just then, the phone rang... It was the Doc, they had a cancellation, and if I could be there in 20 minutes, I could get in... Oh Joy.. They got to see the 'Goddess', too..

I'm taking the lap top... I'll keep you posted... I know we are going to have a great time... And let God, be our guide... { He knows I like to have fun, I'm sure we'll find some! But, I think there is more to this trip... We'll see...}

Barb C.}

Peg and Chloe, have found their way home, to MO. I don't think the sale would have been near as grand, without that litlle energizer bunny.... Allyson and I are stopping at her house, on the way to New Orleans, today... I know, Iwill be blown away... The images of her gardens, look like the Botanic Gardens... She always 'poo-poo's' when I start going on about them... I can't wait to see them in person!

The Princess turns 23.....

Here is Liz, around 9 years old, when we had our chickens... Our eggs were off the charts... It was Liz's job, to gather the eggs... But, we had a mean rooster, and brother, he had us all on the run... Those were the days...

My, my... 23 years ago, today, the caboose, to our family was brought to us.... My Sister, Merry Jo, flew in from Washington State, to keep an eye on 2 year old, and extremely active, Justin, while I was in the hospital... Back then, they kept us for 5 days... {scheduled C-section} She weighed 9 pounds, 6 and a half ounces, and was 23 inches long... { Just a little smaller than her brother, Justin} Merry Jo, my other sis', Chery, and Mom brought in all sorts of darling little dresses, to the hospital... I couldn't wait to play 'dress up', with my new dolly... She slept on my chest, in the hospital, almost every minute... She was a cuddler, since day one... She always wanted to be held, and was a wonderful baby... Slept through the night, soon, after we brought her home... She remained my 'side kick', until she was around 12... Then, the war was on... Me wanting to keep her my baby, and hold on tight, and Liz, pulling away, as hard as she could... We are so much alike, it's scary... I did the same thing... when I was 12.... I was scared to death, but my friends kept saying..."She'll come back to you"... I didn't believe it... but, they were so very right... She's my side kick, again, and I love it... and her... Liz has been part of the Antiquing, since it began... She's travelled all over the country, with me, and I visited with the school, and told them, {like my Dad told my school} She would learn a lot more, interacting, and helping with the business, than she could ever learn at school, during the same period... They agreed... Everyone loved her, at the shows... they couldn't believe, how hard she worked... Liz has truly been a blessing to us... She will always be our Princess...

Happy Birthday... Love Mom...

This blurry version, is Liz, at 18... Come to think of

it...

Those years, were a blur!

Here she is, today, in her little house, with her big dog, Maggie, and the cool piece she bought from Lynn, at my Sale... We got it to fit... She's a lot happier, now, than she was earlier... when she thought it wouldn't fit... My, my... Sooo much like her mother...

Oh dear...

1940's Table and Chairs....

I'm posting this set, for our elderly neighbor.... Wanted Pal, Polly to see... She could make it beautiful....