The Hippie..and Flower Child...

I was visiting with Peg, yesterday... I told her, I think I'm turning into a Hippie...{bright colors...paisley...peace signs...long hair...vegetarian...animal rights thumper...I'm still a Red Neck, when it comes to drugs...just pass the Tequila...}{and lime...}She said she's been a Flower Child, her entire life...{Dear Lord...Nashville, look out...} I don't know...I guess I've been 'old', for so long...it's kind of fun, being a little carefree...and colorful...Maybe...it's the New Year... Spring is getting closer, every second...Patty, {Fern Hill} gave me these wonderful earrings, and the bracelet...that says it all... My Motto, since last year...Ed {Leftovers} called last Spring, to see how the Sale was coming together... just after I had seen a picture, of myself....a friend had inadvertently taken... and I had pretty much...lost it... I had no idea, how much I had let myself go... and I looked so bad...I didn't even know that person...I told him how I felt... and he was wonderful.... a real friend...we hung up...then, a few moments later, he called back... and said he'd forgotten to tell me something...."it is what it is..."...No worries...a few hours passed....and we all gathered at the table, under the Old Oak...John had been looking around at all the 'stuff', that was here, for the sale...and suggested we play the theme song, from Sanford and Son....Oh my Gosh! I said...No Way! This isn't Junk... It's Great Stuff!!!! {The Empire!} he asked us all, if we knew the name of that music...none of us did..."It is What It is"....Hmmmm....seems, I had just heard that....I shared Ed's advise, with the group....and it was almost eerie, how many times we heard that motto during the Sale...we'd all look at each other, as someone, would walk up, and blurt it out..."I know this old crock has a chip...but I love it! And...It is what it is!" hmmm...

I think I started thinking about things, at that very moment....Taking better care...it's been a slow process...and...I don't think I made a conscious decision...I have come to understand...you can't beat stress....it always wins...so...I'm simply not going to play with it, anymore....in my next 30....

Now...Go...have a little fun!

Barb C.

Iowa Burnt Offerings....

I am a very good cook...in a Bohemian, sort of way....I can make a food dollar Scream! I got that from my Czechoslovakian Mother...she...could make a  Penny Scream! What a Woman!

After John cut his thumb, last week...I have been trying to keep him from doing much.... He is an Amazing Cook...{almost...as good as me...} I had prepared an over the top, omelet, by his request, several days ago...{he buys eggs, from a dear friend...10 dozen, at a time...I like it!....we always have eggs on hand!} and... I slightly... burned it... So....Tonight....since his thumb was throbbing... I asked him, for a request... "An omelet"... he said..."and... if you burn it...like the last one... it's o.k."...

Hmmm...Well...I didn't 'burn' the omelet....tonight...I served it with heavenly.... buttered Potato Bread... cottage cheese... with a hint of Dill....and...Sweet and Hot, Pepper Relish....{the omelet had bacon...brie cheese... scallions...portebello mushrooms... fresh spinach...cheddar cheese...fresh ground pepper... and 4 organic eggs... mmmm...mmmm...} and.... I served it to him...with a Bow...and.. Curtsy...It put a Smile, on his face....{ no... I didn't do anything to the food... really... after 30 years... ah...it is....what it is......all good...}

Barb C.

{while I was beating the eggs...he stood there watching {supervising...}...and asked if I'd make them, like he does..and put a little sugar, in the eggs...my reply..."no"...and..."get out of my kitchen"....}

Just when I thought I'd lost it...I found...'Soul'...

It's Going to be an Amazing...Most...Wonderful...Positive...next 30...{Seconds...Minutes...Hours...Days...or...Years....whatever I have left...}
Having said that.... I, as I'm sure some of you know, have been twisting, for some time...as I'm focusing on the shows coming up...'Heart', on my mind...wondering what 'Look', is going to inspire...and make our booth, a little different....{It's always, 'simply iowa'...I just need something over the top, or need a piece to inspire, with color, or style! It always comes...I have Faith...God always points me in the right direction...really... however...He lets me dig for it!} The thing is... not much, out there, has been singing to me...I see wonderful things... but...not much, 'touches' me...I thought...maybe, 'I', had lost touch...and am unable, to...'feel'... soulfulness....
Anyway...while Jo and I were second hand shopping, for my new 'wardrobe'...I found some little treasures, some of them we shared with you, yesterday...One of them, is a tiny, '20s, drawered box...I now believe, was constructed out of many playing card, store display boxes.......
I really didn't take time look at it...It was in a showcase, at a second hand store...and was a bit pricey...even so... it seemed to have a little 'voice'...I asked them to set it aside for me, and I'd see what my total amounted to, then...maybe...
Well...I had spent plenty...even second hand clothes, ad up...Jo has such a great sense of style...and had found some great things, for me...  I need clothes...but... they aren't going in the shop...oh dear... when the cashier asked me, what I had decided... and placed the tiny drawered box, in my hands......I melted... 'Yes...I will take it'... The tiny box had such a Soulful presence....
Jo and I had been so busy, I hadn't examined the tiny box, until this morning, when my friend, Robin, emailed me about it... Robin is one of the most soulful people, I have never met.... she follows the blog...and loves, early, early things...Soulful things...she asked about the tiny box, this morning...so...I thought I had better look a little closer...{she picked it out of all the odds and ends we had posted...she knows 'soul' and can feel it, across the miles...and through a computer screen...oh my...}
Oh dear... In each of the tiny drawers, there are scraps of carefully folded papers...one, the original directions, from an old newspaper, on how to make the little box... another...a beautiful, heartfelt, handwritten poem, to 'Mother'...another...a handwritten, and colored, 'Iowa' banner...in another...directions, on how to make a 'May Basket'... a needle and thread, and a few paperclips, were tucked into another...as I told Robin...This little box, isn't near as early, as the things she normally is attracted to...but...it blows the needle off the 'Soul' meter...oh my...
I felt good... knowing I can still...'feel'...and those wonderful... sentimental feelings....came over me like a wave...a 'priceless' wave....
Have an Amazing Day...

Barb C.

Gatherings.....With Sweet Jo....

Jo and I had a wonderful. last couple of days... we shopped 'til we dropped! Jo helped me put a wardrobe together, for Nashville! She has always worn a 'Oilily' style... and I Love it! She helped me with a look that I like...'Anthropologie'... a free spirited, Gypsy Style! Lot's of hot pinks, lime green...Paisley...oh dear... Not a look I wear, when I'm out Gathering... but at a Show... it will be so fun! I have a look, forming, for Heart of Country... It's going to be...Way Cool!!!!! Jo has really inspired! 

We had great fun...

I found a jar of the coolest rubber balls... pastel thread wooden spools...a beautiful, Black Transferware Platter....very early...Lovely fragments. of hand made lace....just loads of great 'littles'... and...of course...another fricken...quilt.... oh my Gosh! Jo found some fun stuff, too.... she was very Happy!

She liked the Old Rope Bed...and said sleeping on the Old Feather Tick, was like sleeping on a Cloud.... and rested well...We had supper with Dale, and his Mom, Coletta, Tuesday night...it was great... Then, last night, we had a wonderful supper, with Liz, at Leonardo's... {my camera was dead! no images....}Jo is getting ready to head home...{she just said, she'd like to stay a bit longer...I would Love to keep her!!!} We are going to spend more time together...and that's that!

Hope You all have a Great Day!

Barb C.

{I will have to say...we Both Love that Golden...'Rooster'... he's, pretty much... Blow Your Mind!}

Cock a Doodle Doo!!!!! Ya Hoo! A Fun Day with Jo!

Jo and I went Junkin'!!!!Found all sorts of Fun Stuff!!!!Lot's of images, tomorrow!!!
{I found this Amazing....mid 1900's Metal Rooster! Cool! Cool! Cool! It's Heavy, and Gnarly....Perfect!}{Did I mention...it's HUGE!!!!}

Barb C.

{I love this song...Liz told me about Melody Gardot, last year... she definitely calms the 'cleaning' nerves!}

I took these images, the other day...my camera, was all fogged up, from sleeping all night, in the truck...if...I could only have people wear glasses, when they come in the house...with this same effect...ahhh...no more dust...cob webs... critter hair... oh yes... like it....

A Visit From My Friend...Jo...

My Dear Friend, Jo...is coming  to stay a day or two...She's been visiting her son, in St.Louis...and is driving up here, this morning... stay with me...then...head back to Des Moines...Jo started out being a wonderful customer...then...a Dear Friend...Then...a Show Partner..in Nashville! She is an Interior Designer...Antique Collector, and Dealer...She is a real Fire Cracker....Her life has been a roller coaster, the last few years... oh my...The Love of her life, Wade, died, while getting in his truck... hauling cattle, to another farm... one moment he was talking to his friend...the next...he was gone...then...she lost, Pidge, Wade's beloved little hound...She and Jo had become  inseparable...they clung to each other, after Wade's loss... Jo is so resilient...always looking ahead... she's now building another home, and shop, on their property, south of Des Moines...I so, look foreword to seeing her...
However, I don't look forward to her, seeing my messes here...I cleaned around, yesterday... but...oh dear... well...it is...what it is.... Liz said she's coming to see me, not inspect the house... so true...Jo is a Farm Girl... I think she can handle the house.... I decided to leave the tree up.... Jo has inspired me, about decorating the tree.... She has been in many magazines, and had her home photographed repeatedly over the last decade... it is amazing.... Christmas Decorating, is all Jo's... Oh My Gosh...I have Never seen Anything Like, What That Girl Does.... Whew...'Over The Top', is a Huge Understatement! Jo is the one who got me started, piling tree toppers, all over the top of the tree... When I saw hers, many years ago...I burst out laughing.... oh my Gosh! I was dumbfounded...and LOVED IT!!!! So...I wanted her to see this one....I've stayed with Jo, over the years... I hope I can be half the hostess, she is...
We are going to go Antiquing...and just....hang out...It's going to be a good time....
Barb C.

John built this addition...fitted with Antique Architecture...{massive...architecture...I might add...that I harvested, throughout the Mid-West} with 16 foot ceilings...all ....pretty much, alone.... I think the only saw he ever used, was an ancient SKIL Saw...with a dull...smokey blade..scaffolding, that would sway around...{yeeeesh!} a rickety old aluminum ladder... and...Lots of Carpenter Angels...I swear! He scared me to death.... I'd be holding on to the ladder... or hanging over the balcony...trying to steady the scaffolding...begging...{well... in a calm...reasonable tone....{begging never works....}trying to persuade him to get down.... wait for help...{real help...I'm not good with heights...my palms are sweating now...just thinking about it...I will climb... but....no likey!} {my palms were sweating...profusely...just watching him....} and then, he'd order me OUT!!!!! The smoke, that came off that old saw, is a scent, that will live with me, forever....I know there was a Hand of God, in the making of this room... so much of it is Church related...He calls himself a "Wood Butcher"...I think he's...amazing....but...needs to stick to wood....and not extremities...

Saws are for cutting Wood...Not Fingers....

John has learned, the table saw can be surgical tool, as well woodworking apparatus...Oh dear...Last Thursday, he nearly lost his thumb...I will have to say...he can be a bit over confident, at times...{I had to walk away, more than once, when he was building the addition...oh my...} I repacked it, last night... oh dear.... poor thumb, it looks like it went through a meat grinder...He's very...very lucky...and, I think a bit more cautious.... I hate power saws...I'll use a hand saw, or whittlin' knife...or my teeth, before I reach for the power saw... I spent the afternoon, Sunday, in Marion... visiting Antique Shops...and Friends...It was Great...All of the Shops, were Amazing...and...very Busy! Yeah! I found some new treasures...{heavy, of course....} I have a couple of Road Trips, to take... soon... and...it feels good, to be back in the saddle...I'm taking the tree down, today...my Pal, Jo, may be spending a day or two, here...so...I need to get the house straightened up.... Have a Great Monday!!!! Barb C.

Turning of the Page....

My next 30 Years...{...30 seconds...30 minutes...or...30 days... whatever I have left, here....}

 I Love this song...and it is so fitting, for New Years Day...When we stand at the Crossroads, of this Journey, called Life....make resolutions...reflect...and face the unknown... I jotted down some of the lines, I love, in this song....

 In my next 30 years....
 I'm going to celebrate my age...the ending of an era...the turning of a page....
 Focus in, on where I go from here...Lord, have Mercy, on my next 30 years...
I'm gonna have some fun...
Try and forget about some of the Crazy Things I've done....maybe now, I've conquered all my adolescent fears... I'll do it better in my next 30 years
 I'm going to watch my weight
The next 30 years, will be the best years of my life...
I'll Settle all the Scores...
Cry a little less...Laugh a little more...
 Find a World of Happiness... without the hate and fear...
 Figure out just what I'm doin' here, in my next 30 years...
Spend Precious Moments with the Ones, I hold Dear...
Drink a little lemonade, and not so many... {ah...anything that can hold a flame...}
Make up, for lost time here....in my next 30 years...

Well...those are my Goals..for the New Year.... I feel o.k., with some of the Mountains, I climbed, in 2010... I quit smoking... bought Sally...{something I have Dreamed of, for 30 years...}been eating healthier...let my hair grow...tho, there have been some rough waters...held the Ship together...{one day at a time...Thanks to God...and The Angels, that are always hovering...{some, with singed wings...just like mine...}

2011 is sure to be a Wild Ride... I wouldn't want it, really, any different...This is a 'Journey'... and you learn much more, by climbing, and falling...than sitting on a rock....{remind me, I said that, when my heart is broken....my body is badly bruised, and beaten....as I'm looking up, and asking...'why'....}
Hope You all have a Wild Ride, this year......Just...Hold on Tight...it hurts when you hit the Ground!
Happy New Year...
Barb C.

{Oh,...and...you will, hit the ground.... but...there are Always..Always...Angels, right there, with a hand outstretched...take it... get up... take hold of 'life's' Mane... Swing up...grab the Reins...and put the boots to it! }