A Perfect Birthday....a Perfect Day....

Oh My.... Where do I begin.....

The Beautiful May Day.... I couldn't have imagined a more perfect day.... It was so lovely, slightly brisk.... in the morn.... I had to unload a pretty stout load of concrete... first thing...{before 7}  so...brisk was great... then... Hit the hiway.... sun shining...met my pal, to go through his loads, headed for What Cheer... {the little Ford looked like I was seeting up, for the show....after I bought from my friend... they tried to flag me over, at the gate, at the show, to send me to my booth! the gate man, looked a little puzzeled, when I told him I was there to buy....not, to sell!}

I found Joyce, and was glad I did....because I started on that end.... I found the most Amazing Big White Step Back Cupboard.... Oh My Gosh! I went, searching for this exact piece! There it was... just waiting! Darla and Gerald had it.... Love It!!!! Gold Rush! Unfortunately, that's when I discovered, I had left my memory card...in my Lap Top.... I was so Mad!

{no images of the show!!!}

Here is a description, of What Cheer....

It Was Packed.... when I arrived... Tons of People!!!!

Tons of Vendors!!!

Awesome Stuff!!!

I haven't seen What Cheer Look so Great....Forever!

I ran into EVERYONE!

Jo Brantley!!! My Sweet Friend from near Des Moines.....was even set up!

Lois...Chery... Cindy B....{Cindy...not a good judge of age....don't let her guess...Love Ya...Anyway...}

Dale F. Elaine and Ericka...{Sisters' Garden}... Dave H.... Kim...and her Hubby...Garth and Ginger...Gary S. and Chery...{even ran into my favorite Fairfax Neighbors!} Duane... Carol Timmons Husband.... I visited with him, and gave him my Sympathies.... Bless His Heart...for being there....

I was so happy to see Laura,{ The Rusty Pumpkin} we shared a Big Hug!  Laura has been a customer, and friend, for many years... she has just started her own Antiques Business... and is sub-letting my 3rd booth, at Gold Rush!!!! she will be my Neighbor! We are both Very Excited! Come meet her...Next Friday, Saturday...and Sunday!

Barb and Dan Olmsted, is also joining us, in Graham North!!! at Gold Rush!!! {Park Place Hotel, Marion , Iowa} Our Little Island, of Graham North... is becoming a Very Cool...and Happy Place!!!!!

I had an Amazing day...

Bought 3 Gnarly Old Farm Well Pumps...

Wire Baskets...

Hanging Cupboards...

Church Pew...

Church Windows...{that I traded for a Dry Blue Step Back Cupboard, around 8, last night...sight unseen...I have to go get it, this morning... }

A WONDERFUL HUGE METAL DOUGH BOWL...on it's ORIGINAL STAND!

{from an Old Small Town Grocery Store...}

{Thanks for the Call...Joyce!}

A Darling, Yellow Wheelbarrow!

Scads...and Scads...of Smalls!

The Cab Is FULL!!!

Stopped at Fern Hill... on the way home... visited with Patti, Roxanne, and Mary... it was after hours... so we all had a Birthday Toddy...and a Wonderful visit...

Joyce, from Colorado, pulled a muscle, at What Cheer....so my Birthday Supper, at Phat Daddy's was cancelled... I didn't want to go alone.... {hope she feels better, today...}

so... I ate crackers.. and cheese with the Girls...

then headed to see Mark... in Norway... He had been at a Tag Sale... He wanted to see what I got at What Cheer... We did some trading! Yee Haw!

By Then... it was pushing 9...

I had been up...since before 5...and had walked...miles... loaded and loaded... driven...and driven...

John didn't expect me home...for supper... so I called Angel Inn... got him his Favorite Pizza.... and an order of fries...for me... blew past the Angel... ran home... jumped in Sally...took her for an 8 mile Birthday Spin...ahhh...the Icing...on a Perfect Birthday Cake....of a Day...

A Much Need Ride...in The Mustang!

Cranked up 'Sweet Home Alabama'... let the windows rattle!

We ate supper, in the recliners... where I woke up....at 6 this morning...

You Know... You Love Your Job....

When You Consider it A Perfect Birthday Gift...Just Spending the Day...Doing It....

Oh My...

Love to Ya...

Barb C. 

Sweet Red Wine...Straight From the Bottle...

My Last Toast...at 47....

I celebrated, this Eve... broke the cork screw...in the cork... but...by gosh... had a back up... and...drank the entire bottle... from...the bottle...

John and I had a nice supper... I have the Truck loaded, for deliveries...in the morn.... and look foreword.... to a Great Birthday....

I'll spend the day, at What Cheer...surrounded by friends... and all that I Love...

I Love the Beautiful Platter... John got from...Sweet Colleena...

Life is good...

{I found the Amazing Sweet Red Wine...at ALDI'S....Love It!!!}

Cheers...

Barb C.

{I heard Jesus, He drank wine...I bet we'd get along...just fine...I bet... He'd understand...a Heart...like mine...}

My Birthday Gift...

I watched John...Tare Off... as I was Loading the truck....for deliveries, early in the morn... Thought... he might be getting me a Birthday Card... we don't exchange...anymore....

After I got the truck loaded...I came up to the house.... then...John came in...carrying a garbage bag.... with something inside... it was a Lovely Ironstone Platter.... with a Beautiful Bow.... I looked at him... and said..."Colleen".... {I knew he had gotten this gift, for me... from my Sweet Friend...Colleen Boland Frese... The Bow...gave it away.... she took care of John... for me.... what a Sweet Pea...Thanks... Colleena....} Thanks John...I Love it! Ahhh... Ironstone... and...driving across town.... what a Sweet Heart!

We celebrated, my Birthday, tonight... I am on the road, tomorrow...making my first delivery, before 7....then... meeting with a friend... and hopefully buying some fun stuff... then... shopping What Cheer...then....Supper, at Phat Daddy's..... in Marengo, Iowa... with Joy, and Pals...from Colorado.... it will be a Long.... Birthday ...all good....

Love to ya...

Barb C.

Actually...I was Thrilled... John sanded, and fixed the headlights, on Sweet Sally.... I Really Appreciated That!

Leftovers Antiques....Oh My...

I was just skipping through Blogland... and checked out Leftovers Blog....{www.leftoversantiques.blogspot.com}{I follow them...} You Must...Must...Must... check it out...and the Amazing article, that was written, about the Store...{www.texasliveblog.com}{when you get to that page... click on 'read more'....}Holy Smolies!
Michael was just up, here in Iowa...Visiting us....we had such a Wonderful time....I have been watching...how his Vignettes, are coming together.... and have been Blown Away... Soulful....So Incredibly...Soulful....
If you can't make it to Texas...to Shop their Over The Top...Store...they are happy to ship... {I need to be better about that...}
The Shop... in my Opinion...is one of the Very Best.... in the Country.... It's a Very Young Store... With a Very Old Soul... I Melt....
Now... go check it out.... and have a Tall Iced Sweet Tea.... Near....You Are Gonna Need It!
WOWZA!
Love to Ya...
Barb C.
{I just went back, to Leftovers, blog...Michael just put part of his collection of Stapled Plates...from the late 1700's...and early 1800's...He was so kind, and gave one to me, from his collection, when he came up, for a visit, a few weeks ago.... It is one of my Most Favorite Treasures.......{a bit scary, tho...when Liz saw it.... she wanted to make sure...that when I die... it goes to her....oh dear...hope she doesn't get too impatient...} Michael wrote about the process, it took, to repair these plates, back in the day... AMAZING....{check it out!}
I had to put an image of my 'Patched' dinning table.... {only me and Harold could Love}....I bought it from Harold....many years ago, at The What Cheer Flea Market... Harold is gone... but...I see him, often, when I look at the Mid 1800's Strapped...Patched...Walnut...Work Horse....There is just something...about a Well Loved...Lovingly...Repaired...Piece...
Oh yeah....it's the 'Soul' factor...
Love to ya...
Barb C.
{the table had a 2 foot bow, in the middle, when I bought it, from Harold...{I loved it...anyway...} John carefully...over several weeks... worked the bow out... another pair of Loving Hands...included in it's long...long journey...}

Colorado....

Joy...From Colorado... made her way... back....to the Rabbit Hole...Today... Brought a Dear Friend...Joan, with...
It was wonderful, meeting Joan....and...seeing Joy.....{antiques by joy} Joy is the most Peaceful Spirit...I believe...I have ever known...the temperature...drops...in the room..when she walks in...
 Peaceful... Amazingly...Peaceful...
As she was leaving... we hugged... and ... She whispered in my ear...I...was her Inspiration...
I Gotta Tell Ya...It's the other way...around...
When I say...It's all about the Journey...{a well worn message... from....a dear friend}.... It IS... All About The Journey...
They found some Treasures... and...I am So Thankful...
We are headed for What Cheer, tomorrow....and...Friday...{a friend... just called...I will hook up with him... before he sets up...at the Flea Market...}
See... it's these Loving....Caring, Folk...that call...and let me go through... Treasures... that...I Can Not...Thank Enough...They Help Us Survive... They Bless Us....It Is...About The People...Always...}
They wouldn't have to...they could sell their treasures...to anyone... but... they give me the opportunity...{I tear up...Truly... it is...a 'God' Thing...}
I think about the card...I gave to the Best Banker, in the World...a while back...{Fairfax State Savings Bank}
The Quarter Moon, was Smilin'...up...high in the sky... and a Little Cat...was sitting at the Edge, of a Cliff...peering...at the Moon... wondering... how he was Ever... going to get to the other side...
The next caption;
The Quarter Moon...was forming a Bridge... across the Cliff..to the other side...
The Little Cat said, to the Moon..." It may not have meant much to you... but... to me... it was Everything..."
This... is how I feel... when Folks, Extend a Hand....and...I tell them...From The Bottom of My Heart...How Very Thankful, I am...{I hope...they know... how Very Sincere...I am...}
It may be a Little Thing...to Them... To Me... and Mine... It Means Everything.....
Everything...
Thank You...
Thank...You...
Blessings....to You...
Love to You...Barb C.

Remembering Carol....

Love this Old Pie Safe.... Bought it...Many years back... while Julie and I were doing the Monticello, Iowa, Show...that Pete and Cindy Hall Promoted....{what an Amaziing Little Show....! I didn't realize it then... just how Great, it was...oh my...}from our neighbor, Carol Timmons...It hadn't sold during set up...and made it, through several hours, of the 'one day' show.... I kept looking at it.... Carol....said it came from an Old Bakery... in Eastern Iowa.... It was made for a Commercial Bakery...{1880's} the top lifts off it's base....very...very cool...it was near Christmas...so...I bought it...to keep... John's Christmas Gift, to me...tho, he didn't know it, at the time...{ I introduced him, to the Old Pie Safe...and Thanked him...for it.... when he came to help us load.... he actually Liked it! always a Plus....{but...even if he didn't.... it was going in the house....I'm bad....}We moved it into our booth, at the show....Seemed...  EVERYONE Wanted it!!! One couple got pretty mad, that I wouldn't sell it to them.... they offered me a substantial profit.... but....Carol had given me a very good price... I told her how much I loved it.... and I wasn't about to sell it....

It has rested in the kitchen....piled full of, dusty Ironstone....and some of my most favorite serving pieces... I see Carol...at What Cheer Flea Market..... and always tell her how much I Love that Old Pie Safe....and how it's filled to the Brim... with my Most Favorite Things...! How...it's one of my Most Favorite Cupboards...and...Thank her...for selling it to me... 

Carol has a Darling booth....filled with great things she has rescued...and repurposed...as well as Great Antiques...She has an Amazing Eye...

Had...an Amazing Eye...

While visiting with Wanda, yesterday, {gatherings} she asked if I had heard that Carol had passed away... I about dropped...I just saw her... she looked great...She had cancer... and no one knew... guess she wanted it that way...

I'm going to What Cheer, this weekend.... I am so... going to miss her....

She was a Kind...and Gentle Spirit...

The Old Pie Safe...means all the more to me... I see Carol...her Sweet Face... I guess...as I always have...when I look at it...{I only buy from people I like....for this reason...}

I said a Prayer for Carol...last night....

'til we meet again...

Love to You...Sweet Pea....

Barb C.

I'm Mad....all the best people are....

Sweet Amy, brought this Darling Purse to me...a while back... It Is Perfect.... I'm trying to figure out, another use.... Maybe..it will have to be a Show Bag....and carry all of my bookwork.... Every time, I see this Character.... I soooo understand, the Depp version....of course...I clicked with many of the Characters.... I also, see my friends, in some of them...Peg IS The March Hare! oh my....

So...Thank You Very Much...Sweet Amy.... I Love It!

Also wanted to mention, the Red Queen...{Queen of Hearts...} she popped out, a while back...I believe...if we had enough time..She...and I...could solve...many issues...with the World...Oh Dear...What a Treasure, she is...

I feel so Blessed, to have had the opportunity, to meet some of the Best...{mad} people...through this business... What a Journey....Down the Rabbit Hole...

Running errands, today...Oh Boy!

Have a Great Day!

Love to Ya....

Barb C.

Black Cats...and Miss. Sally....

Of Course....I forgot my camera...
Patti invited me to lunch...with she, and Steph...{Fern Hill} {Shephanie Brandenberg Studios}.... it was Great...Leonardo's...

Patti was stopping by...on the way home...and was following me...I was driving Sweet Sally.... I was flyin'.... Sweet Home Alabama Blaring... when I thought I felt my phone calling me... it was Patti....
 a Very Pregnant Black Cat... was waddling across the four lane hi way... she pulled over... and said..."What do I do?".... {about in tears....wanting to rescue, the cat...I told her...I would help her... {I am a rescuer... but...we have 4 'rescued' cats...that make my life a living Hell... in the house.... So...Rescue...I will... {I love ALL Creatures...Great...and Small...}She...takes it to Her House...} I turned Sally around.... and went back, to where Patti was.... walking, in the ditch...searching for the cat... I rolled down my passengers window... creeping along....no cat...anywhere...just then...Patti said..."STOP"...I hit the  brakes....too late.... what she saw, from the ditch...that I didn't... was a frickin' gully... 2 feet wide.....3 feet deep.... Sally's front right tire, dropped straight down.... nearly lifted the right rear tire off the ground....and was resting on her bumper... I.... gently put her in reverse...ahhh...no way... she was STUCK...  I got out of the little Mustang... walked around.... to the right side...saw the horrible mess... knew the only way out...was to lift...and push...with everything I had.... she was buried... told Patti, to get in... put 'er in reverse... she said...I would never be able to lift it enough...to get it out.... I said...Just put it in reverse.... and... gently....give 'er a little gas...Don't....spin the tires.... Patti did a Great Job! and I am pretty strong....{especially...when I don't want a frickin' Wrecker... Touching...Sweet Sally...} {Mustangs are light...} and she backed right out of the Horrible Hole....{It broke the bumper... and the unit, above the head light.... if I had been going any faster than 1 mile per hour..... the radiator support...and radiator, would have been GONE....I think air bags would have blown... yee haw...}
A Sweet Young Man....pulled over, just as I got back in Sally.... said he'd seen her...with her front end, down in the ravine...and thought we may need a little help.... what a Sweet Heart! but... we had it under control.... I had him walk to the ravine... he couldn't believe it... oh  my....
The Black Cat....well... she was GONE!!!! Who knows where... Cat's are pretty smart.... I told Patti...Pray for her.... She'll be fine...
Sally... Well.... Thankfully, I know an Amazing Body Man.... and he got her put back together.... after all... she's like the Driver.... not perfect...never was... she is... what she is....Simply...Sally!
Oh My...
The Fun Never Ends!
Barb C.

After All...Tomorrow Is...Another Day.....

Stayin' close to home, today....sooo much work to be done... before I start pulling stuff, for Gold Rush.... I have oodles of new arrivals, that need to be dealt with...

My mind is racing, with which direction to run, this week...or...just stay put....so...like Scarlett {O'Hara} I'll think about that, tomorrow....after all... tomorrow is...another day....

Have a Lovely Day...

Barb C.

{The Depth of a Tulip....}