Gussied Up...

The phone is dead...and buried.... I have a new one... and...thankfully...the old one didn't take all of my info...to the grave....I chose a phone that suits me better... it's little...and pink... and...I think we are friends...the other...well...I hate to speak ill...of the dead... but we never really connected... {I still have the old one....the old...old one...the NOKIA.... sitting here...next to me.... WE.... Connected.... and it was my Pal...the last one...ahhh...not so much.....}
My Wonderful Neighbor....May.... and I went to the Lighthouse Supper Club...last night...we were supposed to, last week.... but... she had issues... We had a most Amazing Time.... Catching up....I so Love Her... she is so...Honest...and pure.... I am Blessed, to have her as a Neighbor....
We talked about Ireland.... and how Beautiful it is....I told her...if I ever get there...{it's on my 'bucket list'...}I'm Sure...I'll see Iowa....I always do...wherever I roam....in this Country....Where it is the Most Beautiful...I See...Some Part of this State.... Well....The Movie said it all...when asked.."Is this Heaven?"....answer.."no...this is Iowa..." Enough said....
It was Great Hearing Eddie, and his Band.... he played Danny Boy...for May.... and I sipped Martinis...all evening...Life is Good! { I think those may be my last... I'm ready for a change....we'll see...}
I left the old blue flannel, at home...it was all Long... Black...and Stilettos...
We Gussied up.... Fun...I Love Getting Dressed Up...once...in awhile....}
Love to Ya!
Barb C.
I'm headed to Allyson's....for supper, tonight...and delivering a cool old folkart weathervane...it'll look cool in her house...

Kalona Shopping....

I took these images a week ago.... a friend had told me about Magdalena's....and she was right...it was Darling! The Lawn was incredible.... wow....Allyson, and I had so little time...we couldn't get everywhere....gee... guess we'll have to go back!!!!!

Plan on spending the day, in and around Kalona.... There is Great Food....and the Cheese Factory, is just minutes from Sisters' Garden...Rug Cottage...Old Man's Creek.... {closer to Frytown, on, and near Hiway 1}...It's an Amish Area... so there is all sorts of goodies, for the eyes...and for the appetite! I love driving down the gravel roads...taking in the Beauty.... It's Lovely! Click on the images to enlarge!

Magdalena's phone is...319-656-2168...
when I clicked to enlarge... it was pretty blurry....Just go....The shops are all different, and fun! Once you get there...they will all send you to the next...they are a Great Group of Shop Owners!!!!

One Shouldn't Wash the Cell Phone...with the dishes...

I guess Polly must have put her paws, on the counter... when I went outside, this morning...to look out the window....so...if you are trying to call me....ahhh...call the house....319-846-8173...
I was wondering why it wasn't ringing....I was quite surprised...when I saw it, laying at the bottom of the sink....as I was doing dishes....I Pulled it out....it lit up...showed, sweet Polly's picture... on the screen...almost...as if, it tattled, on who pushed it...over the edge.... then...the screen went black....I tried to resuscitate....took the back off....it was Full of water... then...pulled the battery...got out the hair dryer...and now...have it buried in rice.... I hope I can save the info, from it....oh dear...

It Is....What It Is....

It's a little after midnight.... I was getting ready for bed... took off the old flannel shirt...that I wore today....I found it, inside an old Amana Wardrobe I bought... in January... I tried it on, ... it is torn, on the side...and the one pocket is loose... but...it felt so good on...I washed it...and Love to wear it....
I have to wonder....what folks think.... when they see me wear this tattered old shirt...? Especially... at a Very Nice Restaurant.... I never realized...until...this very moment... what it 'looks' like...all I know...is how it 'feels'...and how it makes me 'feel'...when I wear it...and...that would be...'Good'...
It Is...What It Is....
{here's to you...Ed....}

The Illinois Run....

Well...it started off...a bit dicey.... I was hurrying....and scurrying....{did manage to wash that gray out of my hair...while taking a quick shower....this morn....man...was that over due...or what...} I was flyin'....had Scout to tend... deliveries to make.... and two pick ups...one...nearly to Chicago... So....as I was Runnin' Hard....taking care of Scout....I noticed the Ford was gone...so...got Scout done... then....ran to the Bank...in Sally...by then...I was running later than I should be.... but....figured John must have needed the Ford for something....then...I waited and waited....finally....I could wait no more...nearly two hours...so... I started unloading the little Ford...it had some heavy stuff on it....then...I loaded it back up....with the deliveries.... I gotta tell ya...by then... I was not in a good frame of mind.... I was going to have to take the Ford with nearly 200,000 miles on it....hasn't been serviced....since...who knows....years....with a Big Load... to Chicago....I was just tieing down the load....and getting into the Ford....when John comes rolling in....We unloaded....and reloaded....and...I left...I wasn't sure I was going to make it home tonight....If I didn't make it to the last stop...before 5:30....I would have been sleeping in the truck.... I beat feet....and somehow....made all of my stops....Picked up some cool stuff... and....for not totally blowing my cool....this morning...{I did blow...a little... poor Steph got the brunt...I vented on her...when she called...oh dear...{funny...she understood everything I said.... hmmm...}I treated myself, to a Lovely Supper...in Davenport, Iowa... at The Lodge...{The Castle Lodge... on Hiway 74, and Kimberly...}
They Have Amazing Food....and the Atmosphere....is Wonderful....They were playing Mozart... I strolled in...in my Gnarliest Flannel... and....all was right with the world....The Chef came out...and visited with me... and my Server was delightful! I don't know why....folks insist on going to a chain.... when for the same money....you can have the best...of the best....
I went to Peru Antique Mall...today...in Illinois....as I was paying...I told them how much I Love their Mall...The nice Man said..."It's Bright....and Clean!"... I'm sure I got one of those looks on my face.... like I do....when my gears are turning... knowing I had better choose my words....very...very carefully...{Peg loves it...and bursts out laughing...when this happens....it's a Mad Hatter Thing...I'm kind of like a Mood Ring....I can't help it...}

These are a few treasures I gathered.... at my first stop.... it actually turned out to be a Very...Good Day!{Love The Buggy! I have All Sorts of Things in Mind...for that Darling.... Christmas....Linens....Vintage Quilts....oh...my/....

My 'Happy Place'...in Iowa.... it's just off of 80, on 74, in Davenport...turn east, on Kimberly...you can see the Big Turret, from the Hiway...it's sooo cool!

I really like the Man...and...he has never been to my store... so....I said..."Well... I have a Shop...that is Dark....and Dusty....and...I Love it...it's not the Bright...and Tidy..." I said..., "that makes me Love your Mall...It's the Cool Stuff In It!!!!"....I think that is what we have in common...cool stuff...and diversity! From Early Primitives...to Victorian....and Lovely...Lovely Glass.... I LOVE IT ALL!!! and...It All Sings in Perfect Harmony...when put together...If it's Old...and has Soul...it's Home....whether Bright and Tidy...or..Softly Lit....and Soulful.......it's all Good!
I stopped at Coal Valley...and saw the Girls there...it was Great seeing Eileen...I bought a Darling Primitive Toy Cupboard from her.... and look foreword to seeing her at the Bishop Hill Show!
You will be happy to know...as TORQUED OFF...as I was...when I left.... this Morn.... I thought of John...While I was eating my Unbelievable Supper....and ate 3 bites of the Amazing Prime Rib...{yes...it was as AMAZING...as I remember it to be...and yes...I still plan on eating my Boca Burgers...in the Morn...} 3 bites of the Garlic Mashed potatoes....{with butter...sour cream...and the potato skins....YUM...and beautifully garnished....}...most of the Asparagus....{what can I say....} and 2 bites of the KILLER....DROP... To Your Knees...{told John, as he was dishing up his nightly ice cream, with it...The BEST CAKE YOU WILL EVER EAT!!!!} CAKE!!! and took the rest home, for John...{he just buried the Cake...in a mountain of New York Vanilla...and went back to the t.v.} Man...
Oh Well....I soaked in...the Best of the Best....and...scratched a few more 'to do's'...off the List...
Love to Ya....
Barb C.

Wednesday....

Volunteer Strawberries...growing just outside the Greenhouse Door...it's like an Easter Egg Hunt..in June... they are hiding all around...I had fun, this morning...searching for them....
 This is what Strawberries are supposed to look like... We have grown so accustomed to those Huge...Monsters...we get all year 'round...at the store... these look like mini's... ahhh...but the taste....a little sweet...a little tart... and...somehow they capture... a  'green' Summer...taste... a bit, sweet grass....that's the only way I can describe them... except...Wonderful...No Hybrid, can even come Close...to capturing that... 

I am trying to get a bit of organization, flowing, back, into the shop...oh...dear...

This Big Pitcher...isn't perfect... but...it is...about a hundred and seventy years old... so...I make No Apologies...

Tea  Leaf...Ironstone... Love...It! It's from the last quarter, of the 19th century.... {1860's on up, to turn of the century..} It always touches my heart....It was made in England, for export to the United States.... It was a Huge Success... The Farm Women, were so tired of plain...when the Gold Tea Leaf came out....they all had to have it! It was also known as Farmer's China....Wonderful....

Love this Little Doll House...Think...I could just move right in...

Love the Old Milk Glass Cake Stand...It's been Forever...since I was able to find a Square one!
I'll be on the Road...tomorrow...Making Deliveries...and picking up.... A Very...Very Long Day....I am working on taking a trip, to New York...and... Vermont....in July....I have never been there...so...it would be a great opportunity...
Had a lovely...quiet...visit, with Pattie...from Fern Hill....inside The Little Shop...this early...afternoon...we discussed, the recent loss, of her Beloved Brother, John....I sat and listened....recalling...the same...emptiness....when I lost my Beloved, Sister....Chery... There is something about losing a sibling.... part of your circle...part of...your 'pack'...a huge void...whether....you were close...or saw them occasionally...... it's still... an indescribable loss...
I am Thankful...we both know...they are both waiting for us...In an Amazing Forever Home...
Then...we went out to lunch with Steph...{Pattie's Sweet Daughter...and my Dear Friend...} and Steph's Darling...youngest Daughter, Nichole...then...Linda...Pattie's Forever Friend, Joined us...it was Great! {Mary Ellyn called...I missed her..here, at Home! Dang!!! Next Week! Dubuque!!!!}
It was a Great...Afternoon....
A Lot...of Reflecting... and being So Thankful.. for...Today... Friends...Life...
No Matter...
Love, to Ya...
Barb C.
{be sure and scroll down...and click on the tunes... oh my...some will make ya think...others...well...will confirm.. I am...Crazy...I could play Fog Hat.... or...Kiss....or...ACDC...but...I choose...Emmylou...and...Waylon...oh ...yes...once a Country Girl....Always...
 and...yes...Save...the last Dance...for me....{I had to sneak in Roy....what would life be...without a 'Pretty Woman'...?}{like there were any doubts...really...?}{ I gotta tell ya..."Lovin' her was easier"... was one of my Very Favorite Songs....Like Emmylou said..."you don't know me"....love to ya.......

A Horse Smile....

What a Smile...Scout is such a Cool Cat! {ahhh...Horse...}
{look...he even has a space...between his teeth...just....like...Mine! Must be a Family Thing!}

Here he is...tasting the camera.... MMMMMmmmmm....

This is his third apple...{This Is Not...how you give a horse, an apple... always hold your hand pretty flat....}I make him work for it... and try and get him to bite the apple in half... I know how to do this without getting chomped! I can put an apple in my teeth...and he'll gently take it, from me...I used to feed my Beloved, White Cloud, doughnuts, from my teeth...{she LOVED Doughnuts!!!}.Horses are very smart..and won't intentionally hurt you...{unlike the human species...}

Scout has to have salve in his eye, three times a day... and pain meds, daily... He seems a bit better, today... He's such a Good Boy...

Well....The Old Store Cupboard is home... The Little Ford was Squatting... It took 3 of us to get it loaded.... We dragged an old Stock tank inside the garage...swung the Cupboard, to one side.... then, leaned it on it's back... on top of the tank... Then, lifted the end, that was going on the truck, first...took a board...and wedged it, under the end...as close to the tank, we could...to get it several inches higher, than the bed, of the Ford.... then...I backed the Ford, under it....{I've seen Dad load massive pieces of machinery, this way...}

I haven't decided if I'll have John cut the end off, where the drawer is missing...or...have him build a drawer...I'm leaning to trimming it...it would still be a little over 10 feet wide...The man told me it was blue, on the phone...it's old...dry....white... Perfect! I'll have John put an 'Over the Top', {Massive} Crown, on it...It will be Wonderful... It came from an 1870's, or '80's Women's Apparel Store, in Belle Plaine, Iowa... So I want it to look... very Sweet!!!!

Another Big Job...Crossed off the List...whew...

Love, to Ya...

Barb C.

{I got a hold of the vet....this morn...they were going to squeeze Scout in, around noon...so we flew to get the cupboard....but...they came, while I was gone... and got him all taken care of...out of pain... and left me with meds...I'll be talking directly, to her, sometime, today...I am just sooo thankful...he's feeling better....It breaks my heart...when I know an Animal is hurting...and I can't help...I Must Have Meds On Hand...ALWAYS....After reading up on this...it is chronic...and the longer the flare ups...the sooner, he may lose his eye....there is no cure...it breaks my heart...}

Trelliss'....Big...Trelliss'....

I bought these...for some friends...that have an Amazing Place for them....However...they live far away....and I needed to get them picked up....and stored at Dale's...til they can come get them....I was supposed to get them, earlier in the week... but with the truck being serviced...{a Much Needed...and Extremely Rare Occasion...poor little Ford...Thank Goodness...He's a Ford...nothing  else could take the  Beatings I Ask It To Endure!} I called the man I bought the trelliss' from... told him I'd be there... just before 5...that was fine, with him...{ I was actually busy....here...oh my...my customers got me...in stocking feet....no bra... no make up...and, a ripped  old flannel shirt...that I wore, yesterday......but...they all went home...with great stuff...I did get a shower in...just before heading to pick up the Massive trelliss'...}

As I approached the shop, where I had purchased them...around 4:30....the man called, and said he had to leave....something had come up...I understand....things...come up....."You can get those...yourself...can't you?"....Oh yeah...I thought....they are only HUGE....14 feet tall...the widest one...was 5 feet wide...or better...constructed...very well...of 1x1's..."Oh yeah......".... I said..".nothing new"..."I'm pretty used to loading...alone..."...

 I struggled with the largest one...

and...

 it took me down....

to the ground...

but....

I Got Back Up...

and got those Mothers Loaded...

drove all the back roads...

for nearly 40 miles....

Thankfully...Dale was there....and was kind enough to help me unload...

he was shocked...I got the big one loaded...alone...

I gotta tell ya...

when I'm Torqued...

 and something...or...someone... attempts...

 to Get the Best of Me...

I come up Swingin'...

I'm glad...there was no one there...to help...

 I may... have gotten a Bit...Ugly...

They May have Seen...

The Mad Hatter...

as Peg{the March Hare} would say....

Oh...Dear...

Love to Ya...

{I am...stressed...from every angle...these days...don't screw with me....}{The 'Scout' thing...has me broken... just...broken... my Critters... are my weakness... I can't hardly think...of anything else...I took him some apples...this eve... I reached to touch his face...{his eye...now tearing...I have no way of getting ahold of the vet... } He Rolled back... I startled him... I just wept...the neighbors stopped...I totally Choked...Animals...can't understand...why they hurt... I just want to make it better... but can't....Helpless....} {I  shouldn't judge... I simply can't stand it...when an Animal suffers...for Any Reason...because...most of the time...it can be remedied...}

Disappointments...Sorrow...Sacrifice...and...Helplessness...Life...

Oh My...Life is such a roller coaster ride....all the ups...downs...{please...don't advise me....to take anything for the ups and downs...walk with me...there isn't a drug...that could make this journey, any easier...}
I have been tripped...three times this last week...and got my heart skinned...by people I considered...friends...watched a dear friend, lose her brother...very suddenly... and deal with a Huge Open House...with a Smile...as she is preparing for his Funeral...

I had to snap an image of this Wonderful Iowa Church...and Beautiful Cemetery... on my way, to my second to last stop....headed for home...last night...
It Touched me....

This is the only image that turned out, from my visit to Fern Hill's Amazing 25th Anniversary ....yesterday... It Was Packed!!!! I am so Happy For Them.... It Has Been an Very Hard Week...For All of Them....Bless Their Hearts...

This isn't the load, I had intended to have on the Ford...last night.... It was supposed to be An Amazing Sofa...as a Gift...to the Little Shop.... but...instead...the Sofa...was a Gift...to the Ford...2 new tires...and a new rim.... I picked up 2 Victorian Wire Plant Stands...a Very Gnarly Metal Lawn Chair...a Huge Ledger... 4 Old Hollow House Columns....and a variety of dibby dabbies...

I bought this 1870's, Belle Plaine, Iowa, Ladies Garment Cupboard.... out of a dilapidated garage... It will take me an hour or better, to get it cleaned off, and loaded...{it's 12 feet wide...and 6 feet, or so, tall...one piece...} I usually don't show, the Before images.... This Cupboard will be stunning Cleaned up...and displayed...beautifully...as it so deserves to be....I could see it's Beauty Shinning.... She Sings with a Lovely Voice.... no matter where she stands...{Thanks Shelley...I Do Love It!}

I Traded the Wonderful Sofa...that replaced Louie...on my way home, last night, with it....for a pair of  new tires......for the Ford...{I couldn't wait any longer....the belts were broken... in the right front tire...and it was a game of Russian Roulette...where it would finally give out...I just had no idea...it would cost so much....} and Scout's  eye is hurting him, again...It comes on so suddenly....I read up on that, last night....oh my...my heart breaks... the vet never told me...what to expect, with his disease... {tears...and more tears...}
 I have miles....and miles to go, this week...Stress...
Oh yea...I watched a PBS special...on stress...oh my... Very Scary...
I'm headed to pick up some things...this afternoon... I bought, when the Ford was Down...
This week....I have a trip to Illinois...and then... get the massive cupboard, I bought yesterday, dug out of a garage... And...who knows what else....I tried to reach the vet...for pain meds...for Scout...no answer....no machine.... dang...{I can't stand this...more than anything....} My Gut Twists....
John and I watched a Survivor, type show...with two guys...last night... John said he thought it would be fun, to do that...
I said...oh my...what they do is a piece of cake.... I do this everyday...hunt...gather...lift...push...pull...deal..with the elements....deal...deal....deal...wonder...who's your friend...who's your foe...sacrifice...stew...and stress...wonder...if...and what, tomorrow will bring...
Now you know...a tiny bit...of why old Sally, is so important to me...She's my Rescue...for a few hours...sometimes...only minutes...but...oh my...I savor those moments...
I guess...I am am incredibly blessed...to have my health...the true friends I do......my loved ones...critters...and have had...even it be, for moments...some of the most wonderful treasures...in my hands....I guess it's all about the journey....
Love to ya...
Barb C.
I feel blessed...no floods...or tornado's...fires...and the kids are all good...
Sometimes...tho...I feel like the young boy...in 'Once Upon a Time in the West"...He is standing....in the desert heat....with a harmonica..shoved in his teeth...being demanded to play...or...he will be shot....the boy...has his hands tied...behind his back....and his older...heavier.. brother...standing on his shoulders.... with a noose around his neck....The boy...plays....until...he can't....and drops to his knees... then...flat on his face...in the dirt...as his brother hangs....above him.....
I know...I need a little down time...but...I'm afraid...if I slow down...my knees will start to buckle....
What a place to be....