A Beautiful Sampler {ca.1874}

Found this beauty, on my travels, yesterday.... It dates from around 1874.... The makers name was Maggie E. Davies, from New York... She was born in 1861, and was thought to have done this, when she was 13. She was later a Dress Maker, at her home.... The Sampler is mounted on, what appears to be, it's original stretcher... I fell in love with this, because of the motto, it's so true... and all of the glorious detail....{if you 'click' on the image, you should be able to read it....}{ and, I Love the girl, who had it... she's a keeper...} it does have some tearing, in a few places... but, I guess I would too, after 136 years.... It's pretty large... 28x23...and, if it never sells... well..... guess I'll just have to keep it myself....{how sad...} I have all sorts of stories, from Allyson's, and my trip... I'll tell ya later... Barb C.

Fast Foreword....

Here's Brandon... I was shocked to find, Pal, Mark, had the lil' Mustang ready, so Brandon was here, and he drove Sally home for me... { My poor customers...{friends...} you never know what I'll put ya up to...}

Brandon called me, on this little cart... he had to have it... Me too! I love these little darlings! Can't wait to see what he comes up with! Be sure and check out Brandon's blog... {house things} He is, truly amazing... He has a spot, upstairs, at Sisters' Garden, on Hiway 1, between Iowa City, and Kalona... It's a 'Must See'!

Seems, I'm back on track... or am having an illusion, that I'm on track... Amazing thing, resilience... Actually... It's God.... 10 years ago, had I been hit from every angle, I'd be curled up in a ball, for days... or my mind would be... Today... like my thoughts have gently been persuaded to think... the last 2 months....'it is.... what it is....' 'Judge not... lest ye be '...

So... a fairly, normal day it was...

Worked in the shop, watered all the plants... I can't believe they were so thirsty... It's been like a Monsoon around here... Brandon came to visit... {house things} He scoured the shop, and unearthed some fun treasures... We headed out to pre-veiw a Farm Auction, near here... Duwa's Auction's, from Wellman, Iowa, is having it, today... It was so fun seeing it... I haven't seen a 'real' Farm Auction', for years... Now, they do machinery, at the Farm, and pull all the household, and antiques, to an Auction Facility... Not nearly as fun... Brandon was impressed.... I left a few bids with the Auctioneer, cause I can't attend, today...Dale is going to be there, I asked him to keep an eye out for me, too... Today, I'm meeting with Allyson... My dear friend, who took me with, to North Carolina, last year, and New Orleans, this year... I have some little treasures for her, as a small gesture of my gratitude... then we are jumping in the Mustang, and hitting shops... I think we're headed for Sisters' Garden, Barntiques, Rug Cottage, maybe Artifacts, and Decorum... Our wonderful 'Car Doc' Mark N. from here, in Fairfax, did a fantastic job, on the lil' Mustang's tune up... WOW... What a difference! I invited him out to supper, last night... I was also hooking up with Darling, Gail H., {John declined... I just brought wonderful Pizza home for him}... { we went to Leonardo's..it's so cool there... I wrote about it, months ago, "the boys are back in town"} We had a great time! These two, have done so much, for me, and our family... oh my... Good Folk... I love 'em... I shared a little of my 'Mary Todd' day, from the day prior... { my Old Friend, Julie, would listen to my daily event's, every morning, on the phone, over coffee... and after hearing all of the crazy details, in her, soft, low toned, intelligent form of vocabulary, would ask...

"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln... How was the play?"... Oh.... Only, dear, sweet Julie... {see, my life has been a roller coaster ride...well... forever...}{ it's called a 'Journey'....}

I'm back, in 'Fast Foreword'... and, 'The Beat goes On'.... life... 'is, what it is'... And... I'm sill not smokin! It has to be God's Hand... I should not only, have been smokin' cigarettes... I should have been eating them, at every meal!{ along with every 'Snickers', and 'M&M', I could lay my hands on...{ I have stayed away from them, too...}{ I will have to admit... the Gin and Tonic's, have been very good, on these very Hot, Sultry days.....} Oh my... As Gail, Mark, and I were talking, last night... We all agreed, we are all so very blessed... We're still breathing... getting up, everyday... taking wonderful nourishment, surrounded by Folks, who love, and care about us... Life is Good...

Hope you have the most, Amazing Day... Filled with Muchness....

Barb C.

{ I decided, should I start smoking again, the Mustang goes... Sally is a pretty good watch dog...}

Where there is much light, there is also much shade....

Every flower, even the most beautiful, has it's own shadow beneath it, as it basks in the sunlight.... {Streams in the Desert}

The Beat Goes On...

Quite a day, yesterday.... Sweet, Janet and her Darling Sis, Linda, made the trip from Wisconsin, to shop... It's always so wonderful to see 'em! They never fail, to come visit us in Rochester... {Gold Rush} It was a Hot, Sultry day... Steph, and her Darling Daughter, Page, came over to help load a cupboard, for Janet.... Then we went to enjoy a late lunch.... Had a great, long overdue visit... Steph bought a house, nearby, in Fairfax... Check out her blogs... {stephanie brandenberg studios} {fern hill} .... About the post, last night... It's all about 'Life'... I get spinning so fast, I forget to look around...{I'm watching a Spider spin her web, at this very moment... It's amazing} Our incredible Journey through life, is always full of surprises... Just when ya think you have it all figured out, you realize how naive you truly are... And oh, how little you really know... The good thing is... as you are faced with unexpected circumstances, you learn, and grow... {melt down, first... then, stop, look around, get you bearings, and realize... "The Beat Goes On"}... Maybe, it's my age...I would think by now, nothing would surprise me... Well... that's what I get for thinkin'! About being an 'Old Soul'...and Premonitions... I have always been an Old Soul... from my first thought, I can recall.... I know an Old Soul, when I meet them, as well... And, I believe, we all have premonitions... its just, do we choose to see them, or ignore them...{ and are we watching for them... some folks call it intuition... or, an Angel's whisper... I, personally think of it, as a 2x4 in the forehead...wielded buy Angels...if I choose to ignore...} The phrase, 'It is, what it is", has been repeatedly sent my direction, for almost 2 months... It seems to be coming from everywhere... This has been the 'dot', at the end of so many thoughts, and wonders....While I was laying in bed, this morning... I realized, life truly 'Is, What it Is'...and, that's o.k. No worries... Life is good....very good... As time marches on, so must we... Hope everyone has the most Amazing Day.... Barb C.

Premonitions....

Are you an Old Soul?... Do you believe in 'premonitions'?... I am... and do...{ should have paid more attention to the signs...} Some may say I'm 'round the bend'... and they would be absolutely, correct... It's been an unbelievable day... and, there truly, is, no more I can say...ah, except... The Beat Goes On.... God Bless.... Barb C.

I Did My Best... But The Mad Hatter Came Out, in Me....

Oooh.... I did my best... Wrote my very best, professional letter... so, as to not get off track, with an emotional outburst.... Ooooh... I almost made it..... { I get quite passionate, when the object in jeopardy, concerns a loved one, an animal, or something we have worked our selves to death for...and especially what is 'right'... it's an American thing...} I wasn't going to bring up the word 'encroach'... but, after being belittled, by one of the council members... well... all bets were off...{ Have I ever mentioned... at the Very Top, of my priority list, Stands, the Word... 'RESPECT'... it costs nothing, yet... is priceless...I do my best, to give it... and when I'm on the receiving end, of the opposite... Well... Meet The Mad Hatter, Baby....oooh boy....} You would have been proud of me, tho... I didn't say one naughty word...{I still can't believe it... Angels... Angels...} I am a vocalist... used to sing in a band, and at weddings... so I have a pretty good set of pipes... As the Councilman, rolled out his sarcasm, and smirk... I sat there, and listened, 'til he was finished....{ I could feel the Mad Hatter, emerging from somewhere deep in my soul... oh my... I blew... very quickly, and precisely...Eyes locked on his... I wasn't backing down.... and my pipes were singin! I repeatedly called him 'Sir', and stayed on track.... pointed, and respectful...{just a little on the 'loud' side....I didn't know I could talk that fast... and, get my point across, without taking a breath! I think all of the council's hair, was blown back a bit... It was a good thing I brushed my teeth, before I went}....I'll be attending more meetings...{ just to make sure, this proposal goes through, correctly... 2 more readings....}In my Mad Hatter siege, I said, "you folks would never see me... if you wouldn't threaten our way of life... a simple way... live, and let live...all we want to do is work, pay our bills, and breathe"....I think that's when the word 'encroach' slipped out... well, was fired out...like 'buck shot', out of a 12 gauge... oh my.... I was assured, our property is 'grandfathered in'....Well... what about everyone else... I say, if you own property, it's yours to the property line.... Period....{ thankfully, a dear friend of mine is on the council... she is a very calm, and sensible woman... and kept me from doing further damage...} Bless her heart....Thanks to everyone, for sending Angels... I know it was them, that kept me from jumping over the council's table... They all said, it sure was a good thing, I read that newsletter...{ I'm sure they meant it....} I told them, twice... it was the Hand of God, that brought it to my attention... I truly believe that...

I do Love this town... Good people... trying to keep everyone happy... I told them, they really should keep in mind, this is a small town... that's what makes it attractive, to so many...Maybe they should work on keeping it that way...

Oh well... back to 'life'... I hate confrontation...{ I have been 'churning' for 48 hours...} But... I would hate myself, if I stood by, and didn't protect our Livelihood... Some of the folks in town, who have always thought I was 'Mad', now know it as 'fact'... Oh well... like Alice says...

all the best people are...

Barb C.

'Encroachment'....The 'Frog Story'....

My mind has been whirling, all afternoon, about this word...after visiting with our very sweet, and knowledgeable, City Clerk... When I used this word,{encroachment... encroaching...} for my definition, of changing set backs, for fences, from '8' feet from the property lines... to '25'.... Our City Clerk, corrected me, immediately..."This is not 'encroaching'..." Hmmm....It sounds like the City is Encroaching... Her reaction, got me thinkin'... Am I mistaken... Am I using this word, out of text? So, when I got home, the first thing I did, was look up the word 'Encroach'...{I told her, this morning, I'm not too bright... I'm no Lawyer, after all... Just seems to me, if we are paying taxes... tons of taxes, on this property, on every square inch of it... well, I thought, we should be able to use every square inch of it...the fence should really be 'on' the property line... after all, we maintain it... every square inch of it...{along with the City's and State's land, John mows...}I asked her, what the land would be good for, the 'set back' area... she thought we could enjoy it, as a yard...{we are taxed, 100% Commercial, on our entire property... every inch of it... even the creek bottom.... I do a lot of sweating, twice a year...Every inch, is very precious...} hmmm I'll tell the Farmer that... he can't use his set back area, to grow anything... I can't use mine, to sell anything... we're talking thousands of square feet...between 6,000 and 12,000... oh my....} So, after looking up the definition... I find... I was using the word, exactly, the way it was intended... Here's what I read, for the definition... En-croach 1. To advance beyond proper, established, or usual limits: Make gradual inroads: 2. To trespass upon the property, domain or rights of another, esp. stealthily or by gradual advances. Hmmm. Yep, I think I was using the word 'Encroaching' correctly. This is truly what I meant to say... The 'Gradual Inroads'.... Yeah... That's it... Have you ever heard the 'Frog Story'? Oh, I'm sure you have.... this seems fitting... There once was a Frog... He was asked, if he'd like to bask, in a wonderful pool...{I'm sure it was a Big City pool} He was thrilled... He bailed in... the water was lovely... it kept getting warmer, and warmer... ahhhhh.... it was like a wonderful Sauna... Ooops... 'til he was cooked... That Sauna, was soon boiling....You see... we are like The Frog... We trust others, to control the fire... That's all well and good, until it isn't... Wake up... Speak up... I'm NOT ASKING FOR MORE!{ I'm asking for, much, much less...} I'm asking, to be left alone, in my little Lily Pond...This is Our Piece of Dirt... Just let us live, and survive... Fairfax, is a small town... I have lived here, going on 30 years... It has grown, by leaps and bounds...Other folks want a small town life, too... The funny thing is, once they live here, they want Big City Rules... I say, if you don't like it... the Big City would Love to have you back.... I'd love you as a neighbor, but, leave the baggage, at the City Limit Sign... I'm going before the Council, tomorrow night... I didn't have time to get on the agenda... oh well... I'll wait, and speak at the end of the meeting... I thank God, for bringing this, to my attention... I am the Passive Frog... Usually throw this little paper away... Too Busy! But... not yesterday... I was pitching mail, and when I got to this... something said, "You had better read it..."... oh my... God does work in mysterious ways... My stomach hates this... but... my Heart says it's the right thing to do.... These folks, know all the 'ins and outs'... but... I know what's right, and what's wrong... I may be no Lawyer, but I'll do my best... Like my Dad would say... "Just do your best... that's all you can do... If you have done your best, there will be no regrets..." I'll keep ya posted... {put me in your prayers... it's me against the 'Giants!' ahhh... what the hay... a few more battle scars... I'm gettin' pretty used to 'em...} Barb C.

Illinois Bound...

Headed South, to make a delivery... then East... across the Mighty Miss. Have a very diverse day, ahead... City Council, is making changes to the codes, and will be having a hearing, tomorrow night... Seems when changes are made, and more is added,to 'clarify'... the People lose... So, I'm going to City Hall, look over the proposed changes, and see how much we are{potentially} going to lose... I have been asked to run for council, a time or two... have been flattered, just to be considered... but, have always declined... Why.... We have much more power, sitting on this side of the room... 'The Peoples' chair... We tend to forget that... We The People... have a voice... we should be using it... Then, down the road... Have a harvest table to get, and a few other things... then, back to Cedar Rapids, to help a friend, with some business... It's going to be a 'Brain Rattler', today... I just want to have a peaceful day... After I wrote this...'a peaceful day'... I turned to my Streams... realizing, I will be confronted today, by Giants... I hate confrontation... just when life seems to be perkin' along... a brick is thrown in your path, of contentment... Why is that? Ah, yes... It's those pruning shears, again... They clip, and cut.... a painful thing... but, after the pruning, we grow and grow... Vigorously... Tho, I know I would so much enjoy the day, just letting my mind wander, down the highway... I would not be learning much... I have a feeling... there's gonna be some serious gardening going on...I'll put it in God's hands... He knows exactly what I need, today... A little trim, here and there, I'm ready! Hope Everyone has an Amazing Day! Barb C.

Vintage Concrete Fountain...

This was one of my favorite purchases, yesterday... Love the Gnarliness, of the moss, that has dressed it's surface, perfectly... Found it at the show, in Bishop Hill... The little boys, seem quite content, in their new home... the South Green House, at the shop... Barb C.

Antique Shoppin' 'til we were Droppin'!

We Started out at 6:00 a.m. and it's going on 9:00 p.m..... We had a GREAT Day! Our first stop was at Apple Ann's Show, in Alpha, Ill. { Alpha... first stop... hmmm... there is something Biblical here....} It was an adorable show... Very fun! Great prices... Allyson bought some wonderful stoneware bowls... and 2 neat old Cane Fishing Poles... I bought all sorts of stuff... Everything from wonderful lace, to an Alabaster lamp... The weather was amazing... and people were crawling all over!

Our next stop was Bishop Hill... It was a wonderful show... It was difficult to find a place to park!!! Tons, and tons of people! This is Michelle, and her Darling Mom... They are the Sweetest Girls... I bought a huge stack of heart shaped cake tins from them... I could have bought soooo much more.... Their Ironstone prices were wonderful... { the punch bowl is haunting me... only 125.00.... what was I thinking....} You must go visit their store, in Dubuque, Iowa! 'Willows' 471 W, 4th Street... {563- 690-1593} If you love country, you will Love Willows!

Here is Dale and Allyson... We were quite the trio! Had a wonderful time, and we are thinking about taking a trip to Brimfield, this Fall...... Just for fun! Yeah!!! We'll see... I'll have to do some serious saving up!

This is just a blink, of the Bishop Hill Show... It was amazing!

Here's Mary Ann... { Erenbergers Antiques... 'F' Street Amana, Iowa... {319-622-3230} She had sold, and sold... She has an amazing store... It's a 'Must See', if you Love Early American Country....

I bought this darling, old, old iron legged wash bench... I'm so glad I snagged it, when I did... I saw one person, after another, try to buy it... I also bought the old pillow, ticking...that is resting on top of it...Love it's form...

Bought the gnarly 3 drawered stand, and the wonderful drawer, that is resting on top... I Love The Drawer... it is covered in the most beautiful, Victorian velvet fabric... oh my...

Ahhh... Ziggys... This darling shop, is in Galesburg, Illinois... I have shopped there, for years.... Never leave, empty handed... Today was no different... Bought this wonderful, 1960's, blue and white coverlet, from one of my favorite Gals... It has Angels On it!!!! Be sure and stop, at Ziggy's, when traveling through... He's on the Main Drag... You can't miss him... He's always open... and always has something new in!

Funny... I was just talking to Joan, {anything goes here} about stone fruit...I never can buy it... too expensive... I found 7, beautiful pieces, today, 2 wonderful clusters of grapes... a peach, lemon, orange, pear, and banana at our last stop... for 12.00.... All of it... Oh my... It now belongs to Allyson... She is starting a collection... What a wonderful, affordable start....

I have many more treasures to unpack... it was a great day... I love all of the places we stopped... Found some great Garden... a darling old glider, with tulips in the seats...one of the most darling fountains... beautiful glass...and, a 7 foot harvest table, that I have to go back to Illinois, to retrieve...We all brought back treasures... Ran in to so many folks, I knew... Wanda and Terry, from Gatherings, Anamosa, Iowa...{gatherings iowa} She said after reading yesterdays post, couldn't get the vision out of her mind... me, with a wet 'T' shirt... It is a scary thought.... Try being the one, in the 'T' shirt.... She was haulin' loads and loads out, too.... Larry and Linda... 'Painted Pony', Susan Shire, Gwen, The Moffit's... and sooo many more... { I woke up, and was horrified! I didn't mention Matt and Sarah... or Colleen... Daryl.... See... this is what happens... when you get old... brain lapses... ahhhh... they know I love 'em...}It was a good day...

Hope your day, was even better!

Barb C.