My Angels....

My Angels..

 I came down with a Killer... near Migraine, yesterday....and these Darlings went to the Store and got some life saving Aleve....

It took it away...but.....then...I was Exhausted....Drained... but... pretty much got the booth set....

Silly me.... didn't eat anything.... yesterday.... until Michael's...last night...then...started in on the Best Gold Margs.... oh dear....

{and...a Martini...on the House!}

I was so stressed... yesterday.... literally shaking....{Steph {Stephanie Brandenburg Studios....Camelot Cottons}and I are running parallel Dreams...it seems, these days... she was stuck on ice...with Semi's overturned...everywhere, on her way to Salt Lake.....and had to set her booth...with MAJOR STUFF....alone...totally alone...}

and.... Nothing I can do...or she can do... to change it... but...keep working...

Thankfully, it's been a Good Show... and My  Friends {customers} have been Amazing.... They are why I keep coming back....I Love 'Em!!!

I'll try and get some images of the show... today...

Love, to ya...

Barb C.

Oh...Dear....

Ahhh.... What can I Say.....
Had a few... amazing...Gold Margs.... and...a Dirty Martini.... from Sweet 'Michael's....What a Great Night.... I... can...not tell ya... the Hades... I have been put through, today.... God Bless....I have been TESTED.... but... have behaved....{pretty much.... oh... my....}
Thanks... to All....
Love to Ya!
Barb C.

Oh My....

The Truck was Packed tight...to the back door... I got it ALL UNLOADED!!!! Sold Like Crazy...{"the Sexy Thing"....didn't last long.....Boo Hoo...but went to a Most Loving Home....} Laura {The Rusty Pumpkin} and I are headed to Michael's! Yee Haw! {she sold Great Too!} We are hooking up with Tom R., Rosie...and Pals!

Love to Ya!

Barb C.

{my thighs are feelin' it...tonight....climbing up and down out of that truck... is a killer I need to work out!}

Just Remember....

I have had some e-mails...about folks coming to Gold Rush! Just remember...I am alone...and... it will take me some time... to get everything done...It will for Sure...be the end of the day, Friday, before I get everything out...if then... This a First Time....without anyone... so....as I told Brandon...if I get too tired... I'll get "Louis"....unloaded.... {sofa}...and let ya'll dig! {I'll recline, on Louis...point ya to the receipt book...and wrap...{that reminds me...wonder if I packed the cork screw?}
Just Kidding...
But...I will be in a Major Mess... for a bit.... so...enter at your own risk!
I'm bringing a Selection of Peg's Gourds....You will Love'em...!
Can't wait to See Ya!!!!
Barb C.

As The Boys from South of 80 Would Say...."Daaang"....{I Love ...hearing them say it.... too...}

Daaang....Whoo Eeee....
John scraped on this Old Darling... Then...I scraped...I Love seeing all of the History.... in the paint layers.... It has turned out Amazing.... I Am In Love....
I took a hard, paste wax.... and went over the inside...and out... We have Officially Bonded... I stood back... looked at it...when I was done, buffing...all I could say...was
Daaang....
{I think my knees buckled.... just... a little bit... this Old Cupboard... Really Surprised Me... She Sings a Mighty High Note!!! }
Daaang.....
Love to Ya....
{I Know... this song is Crazy... but.... I gotta tell ya.... This Old Cupboard...Really Surprised Me! It Turned Out... to be One...I would put in the House..... Believe me... I Now... Believe in Miracles....and This Old Cupboard...well... Sings... a Mighty High Note!... {very....very.... cool...}
{wonder...if the Group, 'Hot Chocolate'... could have imagined...their song... being in reference to.. an 1870's Farm Cupboard????... oh my...or...the Old Farm Cupboard, imagined.... being described as a 'Sexy Thing'...Ahhh... only in a Mad Hatter's Brain...}
Man.... I gotta lay off the Mercury...

Barb C.

Gold Rush Gatherings...{Ya Know it's Cool.... when it Looks Wonderful...on the Bed of the Ford!!!}

Oh My....

 I Do...Do...Do....Love....

This 'Louis the XV' style ...Sofa!!!

Ya Know it's Wonderful...when it looks Stunning...on the Bed of the Ford! I Love the Vintage Down Filled Cushions... but...I have 2 sets of Vintage Floral Covers, that go with.... oh my....

Gerri, the Sweetheart, I got the sofa from...{it's been in her home... but...she will be moving to an apartment... and....sadly...can't take it with...} she bought it, many years back.... and had the sofa professionally lightened.... It's double wicker...oh my...

The below image, is of a 'Louie' Style, as well... it is upholstered, not wicker...Gerri clipped this out, because it was so similar....{the price, is not...no worries..}

Gerri is also parting with this Darling.... Mid 1800's Cottage Commode! Gerri formally worked for a well known, Local.. Family owned Furniture Company... Her Eye, for Style... is Timeless! She preferred to furnish her home, however,  with Vintage... not new.... oh my.... She has had some Beautiful Things...  

This is a Darling Little Step Back.... that came from the Chelsea, Iowa Estate Sale....last week.... John is getting the hardware on it...and screws fitting better, in the door.... It's all square nailed....and... very...sweet....Love It!

John and I got this Big Girl Loaded, last night... Oh Boy! We worked Hard, yesterday! It was Record Hot out... {in the 90's....} but... I really didn't mind the heat...it's been so cold... and dark...it felt Great soaking it all in....

I visited with Steph, yesterday...{Stephanie Brandenburg Studios} she's headed to Salt Lake City...in a Big Truck.... to do a HUGE Market Show.... alone....{seems... she is running into the same wall...I am...}

I told her how emotional...I got... the night before...{sometimes... when someone hurts me... it takes me a while to 'get it'....I am always blindsided... I guess... I just never see it coming... from the ones, I love most...} We both decided to have a Martini Lunch... when we get home... and do a lotta Soul Searchin'....

She and I seem to run parallel, to one another...we also, tend to blame ourselves....way too much... I always say... how difficult I am to work with... I'm done with that... I'm not so bad....I Treat Folks with Respect... Treat them Fair...Give My Friends... ' my Last Dime... Help 'em....Whatever The Case May Be...I Give 'em my Best... I Also Bust my Butt... and Love What I Do!

 No Apologies!

{ahh...the 'respect' thing...I Really Don't Tollerate....Lack..of it.......Really...it brings the Mad Hatter out... pretty quick...

No Apologies}

I'm looking foreword to Gold Rush! and.... if I get too worn out.......Ya See That Fricken' Louis the XV Sofa! That's where you'll find me... Baby!!! {oh yeah.... I'll have a bottle of Gnarly Head.... for late... in the day... reclining... on...Sweet Louie!}

Back to Loading!

Love to Ya!

Barb C.

{here's a short list, of what's goin'... I'll write more, later...}

3 Gnarly Cool Well Pumps...

A Wonderful, Old, Old Metal Stock  Trough

A Sweet Yellow Wheelbarrow

Very Fun Vintage Floor Lamp

Multi Drawered Bin

Wonderful, Early... Hand Dovetailed Cradle{With HEART Cut Outs, on Each End!!!}

Paul Bunyan {he's so Excited to see all of his Old Pals in Rochester! {and tell everyone, all the Gossip, from his trip to Heart of Country!}

A Sweet Chimney Cupboard

The Darling Step Back

A Very Sweet Jelly Cupboard {no pun intended} from the Chelsea, Iowa Farm

an Old Red 3 Drawer Stand with Great Cast Pulls

A Darling Single Door, Primitive Hanging {or sitting} Cupboard

Loads of Glass...Lace... Textiles...Wooden Ware....Ironstone... Transferware....

I have 3 hours... or less... to get unloaded...this is a partial listing... oh my....

Steph says... 'No Worries'... Funny... I really Don't... have any Worries...

it is.... what it is....

All Good!

Love to Ya!

Barb C.

Loading For Gold Rush!

It's Gonna Be a Great Show!

I'll have a Listing...of what I'm taking....Soon!

Barb C.

The Whole Ball of Wax...

Simply....Like, I 'used to find'.... 10 years ago.... tho, these images can't begin to show.... the paint of this old Darling.... is Perfect.... the way I Love it.... Just Right...Inside...and Out.... oh dear...

Gerald, and Darla had it... I Love It! She's a Big Girl.... 54 inches wide... and 71/2 feet tall...all Square Nailed....Older Than Dirt... One Piece...

 John is completing the Crown.... and She's Ready to Sing! 

Here She is... closed..... I Love Her...With Her Arms Outstretched!  Saying 'Welcome!' come see my Treasures, I am Proudly Holding....Just For You! I can't wait to Adorn Her... with all sorts of Wonderful Gatherings!!!!

Ahhh...Treasures....{Love it all...I was very glad to find the group of Old Nesting Eggs...they are wood... and from way back... You would put one, in a nesting box, to encourage the hen, to 'set'...and start a family!

Here are a few of the Treasures I brought back from What Cheer....I ran, to Bob Jacoby's Tag Sale, after I unloaded this, Saturday... it was about an hour away.... Bought 2 cupboards there.... a Gnarly Old, Old...Stock Tank...and some wonderful, worn...and well loved Velvet Trinkets.... oh my....

I  went to visit Mom, yesterday.... We had a nice visit.... I took her over, her favorite Meal... Fried Chicken.... Mashed Potatoes... Lots of Gravy...and a Pecan Cluster Blizzard...{and Watergate Salad}...She ate almost every bite... I was shocked!...

Mom is blind...and her left side refuses to work.... {she has a non malignant brain tumor, that causes this...} she is confined to a wheelchair...

I always feed her... when I go in with food... and, have convinced the staff, to do the same, this year.... they want her to stay independent.... but...she was glad, when they started feeding her...

Justin....sent a text to  me, with Happy Mother's Day...and Liz popped out, with flowers... then...I went to her house... with some things, I had, for her...I had been saving a Victorian Napkin Ring, that was engraved, "Mother"...in Beautiful Script.... in Honor, of her Very First, Mother's Day....

I held Miss. Scarlett... and fed her...

Just Then....

My Mind...clicked...

I spent the afternoon, with my 91 year old Mother...feeding her....then... the next stop...I am holding, a few weeks old, Wonder.... feeding her....

When I left Liz's... My Mind was racing.....

I jumped in Sally.... and hit the Highway...

Mom... all the Folks...at the Nursing Home... The Kids... The Load.... I have Got to Get Pulled Together...and Loaded... Wondering How...this Old Body is going to get the truck unloaded... and the Booth set... at Gold Rush...alone...

 My body hurts.... I bought an old cupboard, in the basement of the Old Farmhouse, at Bob's Sale, on Saturday...I was on the bottom, of the old narrow stairs... lifting the cupboard, straight up... .... lifting... step...by... step... Bob was even struggling....it was a mess....but we got it...

When I pulled in the drive...last night... I had the top down, on Sally...{I had just given her a good bath... inside and out...she sparkled...}

I sat there...for a minute... then...put her in reverse... and hit the highway...

Cranked up...Sweet Home Alabama....and Drove...

like everyone tells me...

I'll make it Happen...

I always do... 

Love to ya...

Barb C.

{It's the Journey...Barb... It's All About The Journey...}

Happy Mother's Day.....

{I have loved this song...since I was a little girl... Mom used to sing it...around the house....}

This is my Mom... Holding 'Mister'... one of our horses...back in the 60's... She must have been close to my age.... maybe, 46...or so... She was a Firecracker!

 Little over 5 feet tall... but could put the fear of God, in me... with a very few words...and the tone in her voice...{even when I towered over her slight frame....oh my.... I don't remember a spanking... ever... she didn't have to.... a look... and a tone.... oh my...} {what am I saying..."could"...at 91.... she still does!}

She was an Amazing Cook... Seamstress... Homemaker... She could make a 10x40 trailer.... like a Palace... She reupholstered... re-painted... made curtains...and all of our clothes, when we were little...{I'm sure she made the dress, she is wearing in this image....} She was a 'Beauty Operater', as they were called, in the day... did all of our hair.... {oh dear....I remember Merry Jo, crying her eyes out, more than once... when she didn't like her hair cut.... I only remember once.... for me.... I always kept my hair very long...when I was 8, or 9... I could sit on it....but... I was always with the horses... and my hair was always... a gnarled mess....I would squawk...when she would brush it out...{I remember Mom taking the vacuum to it... on more than one occasion... sucking the straw out of it.... oh dear...} so...Mom, one fateful day... trimmed it... to my neck.... I Cried!!!!}

Mom was a penny pincher... had to be....{there would not have been many Christmas'...without Mom... pinching pennies... or... Birthdays...or...a lot of things, we got... Mom was the one... who...somehow...made it happen... Dad... really wasn't good with money.... oh dear...} She could make a Wonderful Meal... out of very little....

She was a hard worker... and so compassionate...towards Critters...She was very 'Proper'... and Lady Like... Could Dress, on a dime... and look like Jackie....She wore little make-up... but never went anywhere, without wearing red lipstick...{I can see her now.... putting it on...while looking in the rear view mirror...} She was Always....always.... 'put together'...{now...you know.... I am much more like Dad...oh dear...}She could sing...beautifully... did...often...especially Sunday Mornings.... she would sing in Czech, with the Sunday Morning Czech Party, on the radio...and dance, in the kitchen...while fixing Sunday Dinner...When Mom laughs.... and.... she laughs...often.... everyone is drawn, to her....

She would roll her eyes...and scold me, for carrying a roll of Charmin on the dash of the old Ford...she'd lower her voice, to a whisper.... {tho, there wasn't a soul around, for 200 feet....} "get that off your dash.... that looks terrible"...{I still use Charmin... instead of Kleenex... I Don't... put it on the dash....much...} or,  if any of us would be arguing... in the house...again... in a whisper..."shhhh... do you want the neighbors to hear?... " ahh... again... 200 feet away...... and her favorite saying... "Don't Air Your Dirty Laundry!"... now...they call it Therapy... 

Mom was a terrible driver...{she was so short...it was hard for her to see over the hood, of those old cars....} She was even a worse, passenger.... I started driving, on the road,  when I was 12.... many times, when I'd be coming to a stop sign... or approaching a rear bumper, of the car ahead of me.... Mom would Brace for Impact! I swore her feet were going to go right through the floor board! I always stayed calm...when she would carry on... Guess... I'm like Dad, that way...

I remember when Merry Jo and I would argue, in the back seat.... she'd get that tone... " You Girls Are Making Me a Nervous Wreck! Do Want Us To Have An Accident???Do you want me to stop this car????"...ahhh... we didn't.... {and she Never Had To....} oh my...{I gotta tell ya... I crack up...every time I think about it.... her voice would quiver...{she was kind of theatrical!} oh my... when I was little... it scared me...and Merry Jo... when we were older... ahhh... not so much... but... we complied...} 

She was a Very Beautiful Woman.... I always thought she looked like the actress, Barbara Stanwick...

A very Strong... Beautiful...Woman....

She was 43, when I was born....

What a Woman...

I Love Her...

Happy Mother's Day...To All...

{the Dads... who have been 'Mom'...too... Happy Mother's Day...}

Barb C.

My Birthday Gift...to me...

{oh my gosh...I wust want to SQUEEZE that tiny little Sugar Bowl....}

Oh Dear... This is a Child's.... Romantic...Staffordshire.... Sugar...early, to mid 1800's

Dean had it... at What Cheer... I Frickin MELTED! I have never seen one, in person... I told him how much I loved it... held it... {caressed it...actually.....oh dear...}....set it down...carefully, on it's little perch... started to walk away.... with a facetious grin... he asked, why I didn't ask for a better price...

 For one reason...I thought it was priced fine.... but, out of my league.... it was worth every penny, he was asking...

so...with a smile... I said.. o.k.... how much would you take....

he took 30% off... I about dropped... {and...nearly cried...and...Bought it... }

Oh My Gosh...

I LOVE IT!!! 

Happy Birthday to ME!

{Thanks, Dean...}

{I never buy stuff for me...on my Birthday... I give myself a day...to do whatever I wish...That is...the Very Best Gift....}

{THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CALLED... TEXT... EMAILED.. FACEBOOKED...and... Personally...Wished me a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! THEY CAME TRUE!!!! IT WAS A VERY...HAPPY DAY!!!!}

Love to Ya...Wish You All Could Have Been With!

Barb C.