Country Junction ...mmmm....mmmm.... in Dyersville, Iowa!

Oh my.... Mark and I stopped in, at Country Junction Restaurant, after shopping with Cathy, and the Girls, at Plaza Antique Mall, in Dyersville....{'Field of Dreams' location} It was amazing.... The food was Great.... The service was....Great.... The home made pies... well... they are out of this world! {I am a huge 'Pie Connoisseur'... I have made pies since I was 15.... I know a good one!} Kay does an amazing job....Kay's brother, John, is a dear friend... They are both, the sweetest... be sure and pop in... it's right on Hi Way 20... just minutes from Dubuque...{ I brought a variety of slices of pie home, for John...oh my...}

Raisin {their #1, best seller.... oh my gosh.... and... Strawberry Rhubarb....} Mark and I were in Heaven.... We sat in the Silo portion, of the restaurant.... It was so comfy! We had a Millstream Beer, from Main Amana, and Cajun Pasta... Wow... we each took half of it home....Very Nice! This is above the bar... A beautiful, Silo.... Cool!

Country Roads....

I jumped in the truck, yesterday...and headed North... to see my dear friend, Vi... She called, and was wondering what I had been up to.... I thought.... I haven't seen her, for a long time... and I need the road...

Bob and Vi, have a shop, in Manchester, Iowa... about an hour north of me...I don't remember how I found them, but I love them...they are dear souls....I bought a couple of gnarly old urns, and some littles...then, was going to head home... but... decided to continue on north.... Strawberry Point, and Elkader... I used to go to Elkader, the second weekend in October, in my former life.... We'd load up the Horses, and spend the weekend, on the massive trail ride... used to be over a thousand horses, on the 20 mile, Sunday ride... I always rode bareback, it was a long ride, through the hilly, and winding trail...{sometimes, the trail would be straight up, a limestone ledge... I'd hang on to my horses mane, and lean over his neck...then, lean way back, on the descent, into the Turkey River....}you, and your horse, had to be in pretty good shape...They had trailers, to pick people up, who couldn't go the distance... we always made it...those were the days...

I snapped this, while heading north, out of Manchester.... The leaves are just begining to turn...

This is a landmark, as you drive into Strawberry Point... Love It... This is the Franklin Hotel, in Strawberry Point... I stopped for lunch, here... It was very, very nice... The dining room, at the Franklin... I snapped this image, as I was leaving Strawberry...the little Cross... just peeking through the trees... a little reminder... Folks always think Iowa is flat... nope... it's amazing... some is kind of flat... but, for the most part, it is rolling hills... this is the beautiful Catholic Church in Elkader.... The Buttery....

This is a Darling Store, in Elkader... {www.thebuttery.net} {new blogspot coming soon!} The store is great.... Jodean is gearing up, for the Fall, and Holiday Season...She has selected the most unusual Cottage Furnishings.... some, like I have never seen... Lovely... Jodean said, I was a day too early.... I am missing the Witches Night Out.... She was working on her costume.... what a fun girl! Try and visit Elkader... It is just Beautiful....

There are 2 other stores, there, and I had a very relaxing time, meandering through... Elkader is nestled in a valley.... not far from the Mighty Mississippi, and on the Turkey River, in North Eastern Iowa... It is an amazing drive, in the Fall. It is wonderful there.... it seems as though you have stepped back, in time, a hundred and fifty years... I enjoyed the ride... and the people...

I stopped at Hoges Auction, in Coggon, Iowa, on the way home ran through fast... left a few bids, with sweet Marvel... I'll be calling, to see what I purchased.. if anything.... I ran into Mark there.... He and I purchased the most Gnarly Deer, all mossy, and grungy, yet, in excellent condition.... Thought they would be stunning, for the Mid West Show, in a couple of weeks...

I Ran Away....Through the Mist... Over the Staffordshire...through the Broken Thoughts... and... Down the Rabbit Hole...

I bailed in the Ford...and went to see friends... up north... Northern Iowa, is amazing, in October... and... my pal Vi, is food for my soul....After leaving her store... I decided to continue on, up north... I'll have images, in the morn....and...a lot to share...

Barb C.

thanks carolyn a., for the sunflowers... she is an angel.... there just isn't much color, in my world yet...i'm still quite twisted...and still... getting hit, from every angle, it seems...better days ahead...{7 days... 'til i can rescue my pollyanna...i know...a few of you think i'm crazy... i guess you, that think i'm crazy... have never experienced, unconditional love...so sorry...for you... and... bless your hearts...}{ my polly didn't deserve this... she was protecting our home... she is my best friend... and, i'm sure is wondering, what she did to deserve this... God only knows, how much i miss my girl....}

Liz Update....

The day after Maggie died... Liz called, and said she knew Maggie had already whispered in another Dog's ear..... that her Mom, was coming, and would soon be there to rescue....She said Maggie was 'Pure Love', and wouldn't want her, to be sad.... so.... she drove to the animal shelter, and brought Benny home.... He is wonderful.... Liz looked at others.... but, they didn't seem to want anything to do with her.... Benny watched, from his cage... just sat there, patiently waiting his turn... then, went right to Liz....{ Benny had been there, for several weeks...} She knew him, immediately....They have been a blessing, to each other... Liz is stronger than me....

I want to send a Special Thank You, to Lynn and Lea, from Southern Iowa. I have been so busy, running... getting ready for the sale.... I hadn't checked the mail, until yesterday.... There was a Beautiful Sympathy Card waiting for Liz and I, with the most lovely, heartfelt sentiments... I feel bad, I didn't thank them, when they brought up all the wonderful stuff, for the sale...

What Special People...

I read the cards, to Liz.... she was very touched.... Me too....

We both want to Thank Everyone, who called and E-Mailed... visited... and prayed...

Thank You.....

Barb C. and Liz

Liz...and Benny

{it's so good... to see her smile...}{ I think that's a smile, on Benny, too... Please Rescue... these Babies, deserve the best... and all of my readers, are the 'Very Best'....} {I have edited this, over and over.... but, as I am looking at this image.... I look into Benny's eyes.... there is something, about a dog, that has been at a shelter... can you see it... it's a sadness...thankfulness... and wisdom... all rolled into one... so sorry... if you can't see it...}

Cleaning up....

I'll be working on putting everything away...today... Sort of, just keeping to myself....

We worked, 'til the darkness, drove us away last night....

I put Johnny Cash, on as lead, this morning... this song... really says it all....

Peg told me, when she came up, this time, to help, for the sale.... she almost didn't come.... I haven't been calling her..... I turned to her, yesterday morning... and said..."see... this is why I don't call.... I have this insanity, constantly swirling around me...always... always...." { like this song says.... 'I will let you down...I will make you hurt'...} My old pal, Julie, used to hear portions of it, every morning....how much can a friend endure....no one knows the stories...in their entirety....I used to think, everyone lived this dream/nightmare.... I guess not....my phone is ringing... no offense.... but... I won't be taking calls, today.... I'm just going to tumble down the 'Rabbit Hole'...and see if I can still 'feel'....

Barb C.

Fall Harvest Sale....History....

Thank You.... all of you.... Each and everyone of you.... The sale was good... folks who brought things out, seemed happy.... some, very happy, to have cleared out, a lot... I am happy, for them.... I didn't thank, everyone, who was here for me.... during the most difficult, last two days....That would be.... Everyone who was here.... and my blog friends... you all came to my side, and rallied around me... and...my Pollyanna....The kids, John...rallied, as well... I am blessed...

You see... I am heartbroken.... and lost... tired, weak and raw.... frankly...done... just done....My mind is racing.... I just feel like, shutting everything down... yep... just done.....Liz told me, to put my best face on... I did.... I made it, through the sale.... but I'm done....

I don't know what way to turn...at this point.....dare I say...I Quit...

Enough... enough of everything...

Barb C.

White Flag....

Thanks to everyone, who has attended the Fall Sale... and all of the sweet comments... However... I raise the 'white flag', this morning....as you all know... you want to bring me to my knees... bring in the animals.... A man, somehow, worked his way, through the boxes, and massive lamps, and mountains of storage, in my breeze way, then walked into my house, he said he'd seen some things in the window, and wanted to look at them...{this is the first time, anyone has ever walked in the house, during a sale, in 15 years....} and into my kitchen.... where my Polly stopped him, and bit his hand as he went back out the door... We fixed his hand up, it wasn't bad, but was bleeding.... sent him to the doctor, to have it looked at, no stitches, they cleaned it and wrapped it... but... my Polly has to be quarantined for 10 days... I called the vet, right away... by law, he said, whether your pet is up to date on shots, or not, they must be quarantined, for 10 days....at the pound..... I asked them, at the shelter, if our vet could keep her, and they agreed... Polly has never been away from home.... I've had her for 8 years, she was rescued, as a pup... I had Liz and John take her...it's an hour and 15 minutes away...I could never bare to leave her....Polly has never bitten anyone... She's my best friend....

Simply Iowa!

Sweet Sarah, and Matt, from De Witt, popped in, this morn! Sarah made me the Darling Pumpkin! What sweethearts! The sale is going well... Treasures coming in... and treasures going out! I'll have a better update, later! Hope to see ya!

{It was great seeing everyone! Judy, Anita, Gayle...and so many more... I just can't think...}

Barb C.

It's a Crazy Sale!

Here's Tom.... He's looking a little 'Crazed'.... It was 'Hat Day', yesterday... oh my... I think we've all gone 'Round the Bend'! Pal, Laura came and shopped.... I can't wait to see her at shows... She has the coolest stuff.... and is starting a new Venture! " the Rusty Pumpkin"...how cool!