Second Hand Shopping....with my Friend...

Peg is going back home to Missouri, in the morn.... her most favorite fun, is 'Second Hand Shopping'.... So, we jumped in the truck, and hit the shops... She found some great treasures...and, so did I... Lots of great cookbooks.... flannel shirts, jeans, paisley blouses, nice, comfy heels...{hard for me to find....}and...more great books... I was on a roll!
We had a nice supper, and she's gone... I always Hate to see her leave...I didn't have a thing for her, for Christmas... I never buy something, just to have a gift...it has to be just right....I have something in mind...but, we'll see...
I'm getting ready to tackle the Tree... oh dear... I think Thursday is the day....
Have a Great Tuesday!

Barb C.

'As Found'...

I just came up, from the shop... and closing up, the Open House.... checked my e-mail...and had a sweet comment, from Jan {Summer Sundays}... She hoped the Open House went well... it did... in so many, many ways...
It reminds me of a story, that I heard, years ago.... about the Christmas Visitor.... an old woman was waiting for a 'Special Visitor'. She had been promised, He would come, that night.... but, instead, was disappointed by others, that came wandering, and begging at her door... She helped each of them, but was saddened, because her 'Special Guest' {Jesus} never came to visit.... ahhhh...but He had... he had been the visitors, every time...
That is how I felt, this weekend... From Special, long time Friends, to Folks, I have never met.... they accepted me...and the Little Shop...'as found'... I started tearing up, when I commented on Jan's blog... It is sooooo about the people...friends...true blue...that love you...no matter....'as found'....
Thanks to everyone, who couldn't make it, but sent folks, my way... {Amy T. a Special, Thank You!} I was never disappointed, by anyone, who made the journey here, from near and far... just seeing their faces... and the love they had, about their being...was truly, my 'stream in the desert'...I don't think folks realize, what a difference they make in someones life, just by 'being'.... I was 'gifted', over and over.... what Wonderful Blessings, stepped through those rickety old doors, this last week....Thanks to All...who made the effort, to come, and be the 'Special Guest'...
Barb C.
{I didn't intend on writing this tonight.... but the tears are still going... this is truly, straight from the heart... My deepest 'Thanks'...to all...}

'tis the Season!

The Primitive Open House is Wonderful....{  tho...my primitives, are a bit slim, this year...} Folks seem to be finding a few treasures...but.... the visits have been the most Fun! Folks who are Antiquers.... well... it's kind of like a Big Family... we share common ground... {hey, Debra!} we may not agree on everything... but we agree on one thing... the love of these old, soulful... treasures.... It's much fun, and heart warming to be in the circle, of others who are just as passionate as you are...

The snow was Perfect... everything is... just .... great.... I'll tell ya all about it, this week...

Hope to see ya... and have an Inspirational Sunday...

Barb C.

{Peg and I hooked up the Wonderful Street Light Bells, from the Red Wing Stoneware Factory, in Minnesota, yesterday morning....at the South Greenhouse Entrance... Last night, when I was closing, they really touched my Heart.... Beautiful! We will be here from 10 'til 6.... come visit...}

Quilts...Anyone?

Several of these old Darlings have made their way, to loving hands...but...oh dear.... I won't count how many remain... {and there are still more to be unpacked}... oh my.......

Peg and Dale...see...it's all about the Laughter....

I won't say    why... they were laughing....ahhhh...ya just had to be here.... and, I hope you can be...come visit!

Precious 1870's Childs Sleigh!

This darling Sleigh, will be holding Christmas Gifts, by a dear friend's Fireplace, this Christmas....{oh...if I were a wealthy woman... I could have soooo easily stashed this in the house!!!!}

Christmas...ahhhh....

Peg and I worked our tails off, yesterday.... and the shop is coming along....We had a great surprise... Dale popped in... with gifts, in tow....Dale and I argue, and spar... better than any pair of siblings... some folks, even think we are married...{oh dear} our reply... we would kill each other... But....as much as we bicker...we laugh, ten times more... Dale has been such a dear friend... He knows me, too well...He found this Amazing Tree Topper, and  brought it to me yesterday...I have never seen one like it... it's huge! I am truly Blessed... If my friends only knew.... they don't have to bring me gifts... their Friendship, is the most Priceless Gift, they could ever give to me..... Oh dear....tears....

Have an Amazing Friday....

Barb C.

and I wept....

When Peg arrived, yesterday... she had a box of all of the gourds she had been feverishly working on, in tow...she also had a darling little Christmas Gift Bag, she handed me.... I rolled my eyes....I haven't done any Christmas Shopping, yet.... I can't begin to even think about it.... I opened the bag... to see this Amazing Gourd Vase, with the most Beautiful Necklace, woven into the top.... I was breathless.... she asked..."Do you remember that necklace?".... I stood there, for a moment... and I realized it looked vaguely familiar.... but... I would be drawn to it, no matter.... when a 'heart' finds it's way to me, in a strange circumstance, I always see it as a message from Dad... {that's a long, long story....} So, I didn't know if I'd seen this before, or, just believed I had.... {my brain....oh dear...} Peg burst out laughing.... She said.... do you remember, at your Fall Sale... you had bought a box of vintage jewelry?...." Yea".... I said.... {the Sale had been crazy..... the 'Polly' incident,and all..} but. I do remember....I bought a box of the gnarliest stuff, from Bart.... I put it on the 'Hold' table...and people kept digging through it.... I was so busy, when I finally had a little time, to go through it, myself..... it seemed something was missing.... I had bought it, and set it aside... but...couldn't remember what all was in the box... but... knew it was all neat....and something was just... wrong.... missing....oh well.... Peg had pulled that necklace out of the box....to use on my Christmas present..... Mark knew about it.... and kept the secret..... Peg said, the necklace reminded her, of a dream I had told her about.... {I wrote about it too...} about being at an auction, running back and forth, then, taking a break, only to discover, my teeth were all falling out....{my brain....oh dear...} she said, the tiny mother of pearl hearts, and moons, reminded her of teeth... and she just had to do something with this necklace....she said it was a joke.... Well... all I saw... was another little sign, from above.... and a Darling little Angel, handing it to me.....and I wept...

Hope Everyone has an Amazing Thursday...

Barb C.

{Peg wrote, on the Gourd..."And in Our Dreams...Oh, What We See"...

I say... 'Reality', can be the real 'Shocker'....}

Peg's Gourds...and...Wow...

Peg brought up another small group of her Unbelievable Gourds, yesterday....Friend, Audrey, {Sweet Cheeks}, had asked  Peg to make an ornament, for her baby's first Christmas.... it was adorable... Audrey loved it! She picked it up, yesterday... Then, she took it to work, and left a message for us.... the office folks were going crazy over them! This will be Peg's last showing, here, this year...

Hope you can come visit, over the Primitive Open House, and check these amazing works of art out, for yourself.... all I can say is....wow....

Spent the Day....Running...

Had lots of things to get done, yesterday...unfortunately....away from the shop.... But...I also made some fun of it.... and hit the Shops in Marion! Warehouse Antiques, on 5th ave....Park Place Hotel Antiques...
Antiques of Marion... Marion Mercantile....and, Scott's Refinishing.... I missed, on 8th Ave., Remember When, and Antique Avenue....Just ran out of time! It was great to see everyone, and ran into several folks I hadn't seen for a while...I wished everyone a Merry Christmas, if I don't get to see them, again, before...and hurried on my way! I found some Sweet Treasures, and some interseting things, for the Open House! Peg will be here, around 10, or so... and I'm trying to get a few things done in the house, before I take on the long, long day, in the shop...

Mark popped in, last night, he had picked up a nice big wooden bowl, for me, from Maurina, {Somewhere in Time} in Czech Village.... {I need to get down there, and do some visiting... Between, Maurina's, Czech Village Antiques, and Bob's shop, 3rd Street Resale...{across the river} it's always a fun trip!}
I'm grabbin' some breakfast, then, heading out the door!
Hope Everyone Has an Amazing Wednesday!!!!
Barb C.