Let it Snow!

I ran out the door, this morning, with camera in hand...

 It is Absolutely Breathtaking Outside!

 It's Snowing, like crazy...a light, downy Snow....

 The Statues are all Adorned with a Brand New Winter Coat!

Mother Nature is giving us, a Most Beautiful Christmas Card.....  

A Beautiful Cardinal, was perched in the snowy branches...

His mate, was close by... they were chatting, to each other...

Merry Christmas...Eve... from .... Iowa...

Polly and I... Wish You, a Merry, Christmas Eve, Day....

The Beautiful Wreath, that Bud made... it's perfect for the Newel Post... and I Love the Bracelet...{we won't discuss, the sinful...home made chocolates....}

Soulmates....Bud and Renate.....

Bud and Renate, invited me to Supper, Tuesday night...{John, too... but...he's not much for going out....} I met Bud, at their shop, 'Renates', in Amana...He had made some of the most beautiful Christmas Wreaths, this year, and wanted me to pick one out, for the house.... I couldn't hardly choose.... They were all Wonderful.... Then, we went tho their home, {which is so beautiful.....Renate is an Art Instructor, and Bud, is also an Artist, and Decorator...oh my....I just love being there...it's Early Iowa...and, Modern... they work, very well together....Everything has the right 'bones'...it's just, very Classical...Timeless...

Renate prepared delicious hors d'oeuvres, and we all had a lovely visit...Renate gave me the most Wonderful Bracelet, she Created...oh dear... and... some sinful Homemade Candy...{Renate is an amazing Cook!} {I apologised to Bud...for not coming by more, this Fall...as I was shopping myself into the ground, at his shop...What Great Stuff!} I have been in my cocoon...and not out and about... but...I made up, for lost time...oh dear.... }

I Love this image of Bud, and Renate... When I think of 'Love Birds', I see their faces... They have been together, forever... and if you see them together... you understand why.... oh my...I know Bud won't like this image... {he's like me...we hate having our picture taken...} But...look at how he is looking at Renate... This is how they always look at each other... They are a perfect pair... They look stunning together....always... They are very blessed...me, too... I Love 'em...

Barb C.

P.H.A.T. DADDY'S

Bud, Renate, and I, had a wonderful Supper, at P.H.A.T. DADDY'S, in Marengo, Iowa...Tuesday evening.... Bud and Renate are close friends with Mike, the head Chef, and owner...Bud decorated the Restaurant, several years ago, when Mike opened... It's Lovely... Bud made it Artsy, yet, an inviting place, where friends and families gather.... The food is amazing...and...affordable...Marengo, is just a few miles west, of the Amana's....so, an easy drive from Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City...only a few minutes from interstate 80...When in the area, treat yourself, to a Fabulous Meal...a Glass of Wine, from one of our local Wineries... and...relax...

Barb C. 

This is one, of several Beautiful Wreaths Bud creates, and has for sale, at P.H.A.T. Daddy's....

The Tree....

The Tree is Done... gifts, are wrapped...still need to do a bit more shopping... Went to dinner with Bud and Renate, last night... it was wonderful...they, are wonderful... I'll be telling you, all about it, tomorrow...

Barb C.

{It's a little after 7...I'm going to go sit beside the Tree, have a glass of wine... and...Reflect...
Happy Holidays...}

1880 Handmade Book Cover...from my collection...I'm Letting Go....

As I was redoing the paper houses, in the Old 'Favorite Things' Cupboard, I ran across a few things, I'm going to let go of... The image, on the top, is the inside...where you would slide the book's cover...it's all hand quilted... silk...It may have been for a Bible...The outside is, I believe, woven wool, and all hand embellished...It has a cord, that runs the seamed outer edge. 

Pretty Wonderful, for a Hundred and Thirty Years Old....

This, ever so detailed, handmade book cover, is originally from Canada {I think... the date is laid out differently, than we do, here...{29 Dec.} here {Dec. 29}...I bought it, in Minnesota, several years ago... and have truly loved it, so... It wasn't cheap...but, find another... I need 145. for it... it is truly... Amazing....

Barb C.

{ There is a city in Minnesota, by the name 'Mizpah'...however, 'Mizpah', also translates to "Watch Tower", or "Look Out", and has Bible References, as well...}

{click on image, to enlarge....}

Looking for that 'Hard to Find' Item? {be sure and check down the rabbit hole...}

Here's Sweet Amy...oh dear...What a Live Wire! She brought me a Wonderful Czech Cookbook, I had ordered from her, a while back... We were discussing the 'rat race', traffic, during the Christmas Rush... She had been looking high, and low, at the Malls, and Retail Stores for some little wooden spoons, affordable, to go with her hand made Lotion... to no avail... Then...she asked me, "you wouldn't have some small wooden spoons, would you?" with, a look on her face, pretty much knowing, I would say, "no"... however... SHE WAS MISTAKEN!!!!! The Little Rabbit Hole, HAD 4, SWEET, VINTAGE, TINY WOODEN SPOONS!!! Something that the Mega Malls Didn't... {tee hee}... oh my... Just to see her smile... made my Sunday... 

Barb C. 

Ahhh...Santa...{he really is watching...oh dear...}

Ahhh...Santa...

Santa was out and about, on Sunday...and popped in, to visit... I gotta tell ya... when I heard those Sleigh Bells... and the low, soft..."Ho...Ho...Ho...!", even as old as I am, my heart skipped, a little... I know 'Santa'... and, he truly is, Santa... always has Joy, in his heart... a smile on his face, no matter... a caring ear, to listen...and adores children...his children are very blessed...{he also shakes his finger, when Peg and I  slip, with a wee little profanity, at sale time...oh dear...Santa really is watching...}

Thanks, Santa...

Merry Christmas to You...

Barb C.

Simply Iowa Potion....

I was working on Sweet Peg's Memory Tree...all afternoon... and there were a few things, I wanted to apply...but couldn't figure out a way to do it... I needed teeny, tiny vials...to attach, to the Tree... but...I found a really small one...that she can actually open, and on occasion, get a 'whiff' of the shop...Peg lives far away... so when she wants a little reminder....it'll be in the little bottle!{I gotta tell ya... it truly smells exactly like the shop...I love it...Peg will do her usual, over exerted, from the depths of her bowel, gaggy cough...she does when working in a Sweet Annie, Mega Dusty, Cob Webbed, Mouse Turded area...as she sniffs down memory lane...
{tee hee!}

Ingredients...

Sweet Annie...Lily of the Valley, {dried, from the Spring Sale} Moss... 2 strands of my hair... a pin and needle...{stress...hence...the hair, and pins and needles...} a tiny Christmas bead, from a Vintage Garland....{Christmas, Year 'round, ya know}.... mouse chewed candy wrapper... dust,{ from a 150 year old Farm Cupboard}... Vintage Lace Fragment... 1880's Crib Quilt Fragment...

{Simply Iowa raised, Cookie Fed, dried} Mouse Turd.

The bottle is corked, and bound, with a piece of French Toile, and a jeweled Heart...

a Perfect Simply Iowa Potion... gently shake...pop the Toile...and sniff...

I think Peg will like it...

Barb C.