Old, Amana Table... Old, Church Window...

Dale helped me bring these in tonight...The beginnings of the Holiday Open House... All it takes, are a few Gnarly, Old Soulful Pieces, to get my fire burnin' and wheels turnin'...

I am so looking forward, to getting the Holidays Goin'!

Vintage Reindeer...Santa's, of Course!

These were probably part of a store display... I would guess, at least 60, or maybe, 70 years old.... Perfect for the Holiday Open House! They are life size...and very fun!

BIG Amana Basket...Filled with Vintage Rag Balls...

This Old, old basket, is close to 3 feet tall... and about 30 inches in diameter... Peg and I filled it with old, hand wound, rag balls... I love them... I only buy vintage ones... there's just something, soulful, about a hand wound rag ball... They make you wonder, what the person had in mind, for that fabric.... why she saved it, and who's clothes the old strips, belonged to... Guess, I think, too much...

Civil War Era Ironstone Platters...

I love the color of these Old Darlings....{1850's to 1860's...Civil War Era...} I should have measured them... They are Big... Would easily hold a 20 pound Turkey...

Like 'em!

Beautiful Lamp....

What can I say... Liberace, and I would have been close... I love, goopy... prismy...velvety... over the top, Romantic...stuff...as much... as I adore, hand made... grungy... rusted... faded... mossy ...Stuff...

I have 3, over the top, cool lamps... very...very...cool...

2 Gallon, Salt Glaze...Minnesota Stoneware...Red Wing...

I picked this Old Red Wing Crock up, yesterday... It has a crack, up the back... but... who cares.... It's Beautiful... and a very sweet size... I love pieces that are Salt Glazed, and hand decorated... It has a cool raised stamp, on the bottom... Perfect for a Christmas tree base...

Gnarly....

See... I think this is the coolest old storage jar, from the 1800's.... When I talk about 'Gnarly'.... and things, that have lived, a rather, 'Colorful Life'.... this is what I'm talkin' about... I'd buy this, many times over, before I'd buy a perfect one... This one, truly has 'Muchness'.... and a story to tell...a pretty severe gash... but...it's held together, for at least fifty years, just this way... a real Survivor....

{as I was taking images, tonight, Dale popped in.... I told him, how much I love this old Crock... I said it had a Frankenstein scar... He got a big laugh, outta that!}

Sharpening Stone....

I love these, that rest in their own wooden box... This one was from an old Norway, Iowa, Estate... Very cool...

Ironstone Platters...

I have picked up several platters... to begin filling the gap, of ones that have found new homes... I Love Building Ironstone Stacks... I have had one Stack, almost 30 inches tall... then started letting go of a few... It's getting there....{A friend of mine had a stack, over 3 feet tall once, she said... The largest platter was nearly 30 inches... oh my...

Ahh...Therapy...

Jumer's Castle Lodge...{The Lodge} I Love this Place... I could move right in... Oh my... After a Long Day running... lugging... hauling... loading... and... stressing... a Great Meal, and Great Company... by a Roaring Fire... and a couple of Martini's...{with four olives each...whew...} {I wasn't driving!} Well,... that spells 'Therapy'... for me... This is the Main Dining area... a very bad image... Go see it in person... It's Wonderful... Maurina, making a 'Bee-Line', for her favorite spot, at the Castle... right next to the Fireplace... ahhh... Maurina, by the Fire Place... Maurina phoned this morning...as I was soaking in a Hot, Hot Bubble bath....It's been way too long, since I have soaked in a bubble bath... {I know that sounds bad... I shower, daily.... but, I prefer a bath...{a long...hot...steamy...bath...} just... no time...for, way too long.... so... today was a treat....} I have a million and one things, on my plate..... but... when she asked if I'd like to make a run to Illinois... well....I didn't think for long.... I was grabbin' a towel...and out the door!

I gathered some great stuff, for the Primitive Open House, in December... and the Holiday Open House, on the 13th and 14th of November...{Like I needed one more thing... I am a sick person!}

Then we made our usual stop, at Jumer's, on the way home.......My old pal, Julie and I used to always stop there for supper....after a long buying trip...{12 hours on the road, an hour, basking in elegance...like it! { and... am coming to realize... deserve it... life is way too short...} It is amazing... I could so live there....Jumer's Castle Lodge, in Davenport, Iowa... {the 'Kimberly Road' exit} I guess I am sort of a Goddess.... I Love a Wonderful, Over the Top, Dining experience! {that's the big reason, I do Heart of Country, in Nashville.... It's at the Opryland Hotel... You want to see 'Over the Top'.... They treat you like a Queen... and, I'm all over that!}

It was great therapy... Maurina is a good listener... and... sympathiser...we both hoe, a mighty tuff row... But...we are still standin'.... And... moving forward! My favorite saying, these days, "I'd Rather Die Standin'...than live... on my knees"...

I'm...{We're} still Standin'! {and... lookin' up... giving 'Thanks'...}

Barb C.

{images of gatherings, tomorrow...}