Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Irish Eyes are Smilin'!

Well.... it's that time of year, again! St. Patrick's  Day....around the corner!
Time for Corned Beef... and Cabbage! {Sprouts will do!} I made great use, of some of the Ironstone, I bought, at Duwa's Auction, Saturday....during supper, last night...
I Love Ironstone...It's Beautiful... Yet... Tuff!
I picked up a dozen little oval servers, at Barntiques, Saturday.... they will be great, for the Garden Party!
I have to get Busy!
Have a Most Amazing Day....
Barb C.

Monday, March 7, 2011

The Mourning Dove....

As I sat down, to write this morning... I heard, a most mournful sound, through the kitchen window... it was so perfectly repetitive...I wasn't sure, what it was... I quietly walked out the door...to see a pair of Mourning Doves, fly from our roof, to the Maple Tree....They are quite large... and so Beautiful....One...is still cooing, as I continue to write....
Life is Amazing... and...this is my Blessing..for the day....
Go Receive the Blessings, that Await You....
This mid 1800's Currier and Ives print, hangs in my bedroom...in memory of a Beautiful Dove, I once loved...and cared for....
This print, was a gift, sometime back... from Nancy, at Rug Cottage...
Blessings... 
Barb C.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Another Day...Alive...

John and I attended a Funeral, yesterday morning, for a Old Friend of his....I didn't know Leo, very well... but what I did know of him, he was a kind, and loving soul...a Family Man... a Good... Man...
I dropped John off at home...after...then had to make a quick run to Bill Ackerman's Antique Show, at the Fairgrounds, in Iowa City...{still going on today} It was Packed...with people, and Lot's of Great Antiques....I truly enjoyed seeing everyone....
Then...I stopped at Barntiques and Rug Cottage.... found some sweet ironstone pieces... Hooked up with Wanda, and Terry, {Gatherings} at Sisters' Garden... Ran into Marion, and Connie.... and so many friends there... had a great visit with Barb H., and Sweet Elaine....{all the shops looked Wonderful} I forgot my camera...so you'll have to go check them out, yourself!
I was going to hit the shops, in Kalona....but needed to get to the Duwa's Auction, before they closed... I had left a few bids...and thought since I was so close, I had better see if  any of my left bids, were successful.... one was... so...I'm glad I went down....
Had a Lovely visit with Dwight and Junell{Auctioneer, and Clerk...}....until late .... good folk....
I'm glad to be alive...and to have had this day, with friends...glad our paths, crossed... all of them...
Leo will be missed by many.... but...I know, within my heart... we will all be together, again....
life here...is such a blink...
Hope You Have a Most Happy Memory Day....
Bought this Vintage Cameo, from Sandy, at Bill's Show...She thought it was a Mourning piece...or, a 'transitional' Mourning Piece....It can be worn as a Broach...or, Necklace... I wore it, all day... and received many compliments... it's lovely...
Darling Tiny Italian Shelf Lamp! Oh My... I have never seen such an itty bitty lamp...with shade! The shade is ruff... but... I'll throw lace fragments all over it, so who cares!
I must have been in a 'purple' mood, yesterday... Love the little velvet jewelry box... and the Sun Colored Amethyst Pieces! {once clear glass, but over the years, with Sun exposer, has turned them purple...they will keep getting darker...} The creamer is very old...pressed glass, with a hand made handle.... later 1800's.... but the glass dome, is actually for a watch keeper.... While repairing, a Watch Maker, would place the watch, under the dome, for protection, from dust, or anything disturbing to the piece... very cool...
Love all of the buttons... the napkin ring is embellished with Strawberries... Fun Stuff! It was a good day......
Barb C.

Friday, March 4, 2011

A God Thing....This is Why...I do....what I do...

{Gerry...Melissa... and Nancy...first timer's, 'Down the Rabbit Hole"...cords hanging... piles...Everywhere...single file.... oh my... Brave Little Souls!}


There is barely...and I mean...barely... a path, through...'half' of the 'Rabbit Hole'... I was working inside... trying to reassemble... and I heard someone...at the Green House Door...  It was a sweet Girl...{center}...with a broad smile, on her face... asking if I was open.... {I stood at the door... in horror..... as you know...I posted this morning...I would be CLOSED... until...Showtime.... } The Girl {Melissa} pleaded... through the debris, all stacked... in the Green House.... She said, she wouldn't be more than a few minutes... her, plane, for home... was coming in, shortly.... so ... she would love to just look around.... Oh my.... I said...come on in... but be very careful...I don't care about the stuff... I just don't want anyone to get hurt.... not realizing.... her Aunt...and Grandmother...were waiting to come in...as well... oh my... {to say I was humiliated... would be a Huge... understatement...} It was single file... but the Gals, kept saying, not to worry... it was fine...{oh my gosh....} Then...I started visiting with the Grandmother...and...It Was...Fine...{Gerry...{left}...} She said, she was also an Antique Dealer....  she had picked up...a little, 'Remember Me', cup...and asked...how much.... I said... "you take that home with you...for being so brave....and...remember me...".... she said... "I love pretty things... pretty dishes...".... I told her..."me...too"... She asked..."do you know how old I am?".... I said...I never see people, by age... she said..."I'm 79"...oh my....I said...{thinking she was pretty sharp, and agile...for 79....} then her Granddaughter said..."how old...Grandma?.... you have that backwards.... you're 97"... I Nearly Fell Over.... She was Amazing.... Sharp as a Tack... Brave...and... Sure Footed! I think they all had Fun... digging through the Carnage.... and I was Delighted...they braved it! Blessings! They Made My Day!!!!Gerry...Melissa...and Nancy.... little Angels...
I looked at Gerry... {before I knew how old she is...and I so connected, with her...what a Soulful Spirit...} She and I agreed.. on how silly people are..to buy...the 'new'... ah...'stuff'...it is so...'nothing'...no 'soul'... I sooo could have just kept her...right here... in my little rabbit hole.... she was amazing...
 Gerry...so...'got it'... an Angel....  
Amazing... Simply...Amazing....
I invited her back,{ and her family...} for Wine, and conversation... during the Garden Party... {and...a chance to see the Shop...on it's ear.... I so Hope they can Make It!}
What a Blessing...
This is Why...I do what I do...
The Amazing...People....
Love to Ya....
Barb C. 
{if this little shop...could only talk... it always Welcomes me Home... and seems to somehow,  draw folks, with the most Soulful Spirits...inside... no matter, how much I may Protest...it is a Real Blessing...It always leads me on the most Wonderful Journey...down..the Rabbit Hole... }

MISSION.... IMPOSSIBLE.... { no worries...'impossible' isn't in my vocabulary...}

The Shop is Officially....DESTROYED....
With the latest additions... late...last night... it's official...
there isn't the tiniest of spots... that hasn't been torn up...
I have turned it...Completely...Up Side...Down...Side...and...
Side Ways....
{the 1954 sofa...and chair, pretty much...was the last straw...}
Truly...like Falling Down The Rabbit Hole....
I will be CLOSED...'til Further Notice...
{ 'Garden Party' Opening...April 8th... and 9th...}
I have A Grand Vision....oh dear... it's Wild... and...a bit ...Mad...
But... Wonderful...a... Whole Lot...THEATRICAL!
{no peeking}
I'll be posting a few images... as I go... and will still be working...shopping...gathering... stashing...and... delivering... as usual... just won't open the doors..to the little shop....{Rabbit Hole} until..."SHOWTIME!"
Love to Ya!
Barb C.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Gatherings....

{ Funky....handmade.... Weather Vane, and Directional...made way back.... I love the Gnarly Iron stove fragment....attached to the pipe! had to get it for the shop!}





Had a Great Lunch... with Sweet Val....She's helping out, with the Garden Party! Yeah! Peg is getting all jazzed up... and getting her gourds ready for Spring! Val and I hit 3rd Street Resale...and we found some fun treasures!
This is an early pewter piece.... it appears to be dated 1782... Bob said it came from an estate that had lots of great early pewter....Like It!
I bought a pair of these sterling butterfly pins.... very sweet...
This large compote...isn't super old... but it's substantial...and has a lovely form....{I love the pearl inlay!} a Great Server!

It was a fun day.... Dale is on his way...and the grunt work begins.... we got everything loaded...and it was a late night...as predicted...
Have a Wonderful Rest of Your Day!
Barb C.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Ain't Like Mama's Chicken....

I watched Martha, a while back... she had some Girls on, cookin' chicken... They soaked it in a brine..{overnight..} seasoned...then rolled in flour...then fried...in oil...{they recommended peanut oil} so... I picked some chicken up... tho...I rarely eat meat, I thought I'd fry it up for John... and did, this afternoon... before I head out, on the road....
I gotta tell ya... It ain't Mama's Chicken! It's very tender... but...very salty...{I even rinsed it before I rolled it in flour...} It will pass... but... I'll go back to my Mom's recipe... { buttermilk...seasoned flour...brown in lard ... then turn down the heat...  cover, and let cook slowly... mmm....mmm... } {drain grease... save the pan crispies...for GRAVY.....Oh Baby....That's Mama's Chicken...Iowa Style... not New York City....Style... ahh to each his own!}
A Late Night....
Love to ya!
Barb C.

The Little Shop Welcomed Me Home... with Open Arms....

It Is Alive...
I so dreaded, walking into the Little Shop... It's taken me a week... to muster up, the strength...to walk through those doors...
I stripped it...took everything...that meant the most ... for the 'Cause'... Nothing... was off limits...
Left so much...in Broken...Shambles... 
Things...I swore...I'd never sell...I put on the Block...
Things...that made the Little Shop...'Special'...
It was difficult...to Face it...
But...I should have known...
It Would Welcome me Home...
With...Open Arms...
  the Most Precious, and Dearest...most Soulful things...
No one, even looked at...in Nashville...
They came Home... with me....
Blessings...
The Old Fountain was Begging for Water...
I carried Gallons...
It's Moss is Alive...
Emerald Green...
It Touched this Irish Heart...
The Water is Flowing...
and
All is well...
The Little Shop...
Is Broken...and Beaten...
But...
Has Faith... in me...
And...
Will SING!
Maybe...not in a day...or a week...ahhh...
She'll Sing...
Soon....
Barb C.

Lots of Love....I Could Feel It... To My Core....
The Little Shop...was Happy... to Have Me Home.....

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Harper's Quilt....

I spotted this Funky Vintage Quilt, at Fern Hill, {South Amana, Iowa...319-622-3627} before I went to Nashville...An Elderly Friend of Patty's, had brought it to her store, to sell... I had never seen Patty behave, in such a manner, with a quilt....To say the very least...It was Puzzling, to her....{Patty deals in some of the very finest Vintage Quilts, Amish Quilts, and has a huge Variety, of  Quilt Fabrics, including her daughter's, and my friend, Steph's line of all hand designed Fabric!{stepanie brandenburg studios} So...The Girl Knows Her Textiles! It was interesting to stand back...and just watch her face...while attempting to figure this old Darling out...
 Of Course... I LOVED IT!!!!
I asked her what it would take to buy it....she about fell over...
It was perfect Craziness...for the Spring Mad Hatter Booth! Paisley's...Polka dots....unbelievable, funky patterns...tiny pieced....Apple Greens....Pinks...Oranges... then...Huge Squares, of  Nondescript, fabric...truly...made no sense at all....PERFECT!!!!
So...I bought it...and had Grand Thoughts of it in the Booth!
Then... Miss Audrey Called... {Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats}... said she was preparing for Harper's first Birthday... and wondered, if I had a Fun Quilt, for a 'back drop'... at the party.... As we all know...I have quilts, out the wazoo... but... I also...just found...The Perfect Quilt...For Aud...This is Audrey...and I told her... it's also Harper... {she is her mother's daughter!...{little did I know...}
 Audrey stopped by, before I got to the shop...had already found an old quilt... then...I took the Mad Hatter one, out of the bag....Oh My... She nearly dropped.... so.... It went home, with her...
She also bought a little child's cupboard, for Harper... I delivered it, yesterday... Audrey told me, how much Harper, and Dane, Loved the Old Quilt... I was glad...
I had no idea... while I was there, Harper was fussy...{ear infection....} so Audrey pulled the Old Quilt out, and threw it on the floor.... That Little Girl, totally changed.... the minute she touched that quilt...all cares were gone...just laughs...and squeals! Take her off.... back to fussy.... It was uncanny!  They call it The Magic Quilt... oh my....
It Is Truly...Magic!
Who would have thought... I'm glad I was it's Bridge...It has found the Most Perfect Home!
Love to Ya!
Barb C.
This is a Happy Squeal!

I Walk Slowly...But I Never Walk Backwards...{Abe Lincoln}

I felt that way...today...and many other days, of recent....
Got little done, today... think I have a bug... Very...very tired... Got a Darling Child's Cupboard, dug out...and delivered... to Sweet Aud....{Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats} and some of the truck unloaded....and...lots of phone business done... but... nothing...in the shop...{I got the Wine bought...for the Garden Party! Yee Haw!}
It was great catching up, with folks...since I have been gone...
I hope I have shed some optimism, Heart of Country, is always an indicator, of how the rest of the year unfolds... It's going to be a Very Good Year....{we should be able to get caught up.....the Mid West, seems to be the last to feel the pains, of a recession...and the last to pull out of it... I can see the light...}
Hope Ya Have a Wonderful Day!
Barb C.