Texas...Looks A lot Like...Iowa...

Had a Great Day! In Sooo Many Ways...Great seeing Everyone! Janet...Connie...Linda... Soooo Many Blog Followers...WOW! Thanks For Swingin' By!
Lynn, Lea and Peg.... were PRICELESS! {Especially, tonight at supper....Cindy B. joined us, at My Happy Place....We Laughed SO Hard! {our neighbors.... said our laughter was contagious...and it was Great to hear us laugh...I'll tell ya... we were ROLLING!!!!...oh my...Sorry....for any inconvenience....but...we had an Amazing Time...Tomorrow...we are going to be a group of 25.... Whew....Michael's... Love It!} {ya'll are invited!}
I had some Lovely Gals come through.... who do 'Round Top' in Texas.... I often am asked, if I do 'Texas'....I never have.... I always say..'no'... the Gal said..."You look a lot like 'Texas'... well...'You' don't...Your 'Look', is 'Texas'...I stood there, for a moment, and replied...
"No...I don't look like Texas.... Texas, looks a lot like, 'Iowa'...."
It was a Great Day...Peg and I are....ready to call it....

The Booth turned out Great! Thanks to Peg, Lea and Lynn....! By the time, I had a moment, to take images...it was disassembled... Lynn and Lea brought all sorts of cuttings from the Farm...Corn Stalks...Wild Cherries...{looks like white Bittersweet! COOL!} Pumpkins...and Gourds....Lovely! Peg sold 90% of her Amazing Gourds....wow....We hung huge Plum Colored Theatre Drapes, on the wall...with all sorts of lace....and french toile... then had the 9 foot corn stalks, in front of the velvet... and, behind a gnarly, old, old work bench....it was pretty cool! Paul Bunyan, was mighty pleased, to be back at Gold Rush! I'll try and Fluff...and take a few images, tomorrow....I expect it to be Very Busy, tho....

Lynn had fun... shopping...and visiting with Folk!

Here's my neighbor, Laura {the rusty pumpkin} and her Pal, Cathy! What Fun Girls! {Cathy said, after I took the image..."I wondered what the heck was in your hand... A CAMERA!.." I caught her off guard! She is Such a Sweetie Pie!

Laura, with a Cool Jeweler's Cabinet...it lasted about 5 minutes, in her area.... It sold, Immediately! To Alice, and John...{Alice's Wonderland, Mt. Vernon, Iowa} It was Great seeing them!

Lynn, and Lea... Laughing their Tails off... at Supper...and Guess what Comedian they were laughing...and pointing at....

Ahhhh...yep...That would be Peg.... She and Cindy B., were very entertaining....Peg...truly had us all...ROLLING! Oh Dear...The March Hare....

{Lea was actually crying....so was Peg...they were laughing so hard! I gotta tell ya...we were so tired... it felt Great to Cut Loose! Oh Man!}

See Ya!
Barb C.
{Thanks, to Polly Ann...{Polly Ann's Mt.Vernon, Iowa} She is set up here, as well...she rang me about a cool birdbath...she thought I may like it!..I bought it, and it sold...already...! Thanks Girl!}

Gold Rush!

Well....we are here! Thank God...for Lynn and Lea! They helped us unload...{and...are helping us set the booth...oh my gosh....ANGELS!!!}We were running late...and I couldn't get backed into the door, at my booth... so...there was a bit of a skirmish.... but...we got 'er off the truck! The Booth is a DISASTER!!!

This DARLING Little French Settee...wa my FIND of the DAY!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!!!!

Peg and I did a little shoppin' on the way up....had to, once again...strap to the back! Yee Haw!!!!

Ran into Dick T. and His Gals! They were having a bit of fun with us last night! We are all staying at the same hotel....Oh...Dear....I Smell Trouble!!!!

Peg and I had 2 and a half Margaritas, last night.....she was a noodle... a stiff and sore, noodle... and this morning... that was 2 and a half, too many! Yeeeesh!
We are out the door!
Come See Us....
Love to Ya!
Barb C.

We're Off!

A few Treasures to pack in....Then We're Off!
Hope To See Ya at Gold Rush!
If Not...
Have a GRRRREEEEAAAT Weekend!
{I'll be posting, in Rochester!}
Love to Ya!
Barb C.
{now....where did I put those Ruby Red's...???}

11:26 p.m. the truck isn't close to being loaded.... but....Peg and I had Fun!

Oh Dear...
Peg and I did everything...but...what we intended to, today...went a hundred different directions....I bought...and sold...so did Peg....She was whipped.... me...ahhh...another day...another dollar! A Great Day! I bought 2 cupboards...sold a Great Bed...and delivered it... ran a  hundred and fifty miles... in a BIG Circle! We topped the night off...with a Margarita... and Great Conversation...with a Great Friend...Whew...what a ride...I'll be up at 5, get the loading done....then...Away We Go!
Oh Dear...
See in Rochester!

Aletha...and Lynn....ahhhh...a day with Old Cupboards.... it was all good... She sent a couple home, with us....Like 'em!

Peg...and Pattie...{fern hill}.... going through the Amazing Gourds...and....having a great time...until late....the work will be there...in the morning.... {Peg looks whipped...she was....} a day...with the Mad Hatter.... is almost too much...for the March Hare.....{wait til she gets to Gold Rush!}

Barb C.

GOLD RUSH! OPENS FRIDAY MORN at 8 a.m.!!!!

Well....The Truck isn't done... Got a call last night, to come look at some stuff...so...I did...and gathered a few more Gold Rush Nuggets! I went through totes, yesterday...and...Wowza! I'm taking some Really Cool Stuff!!!! {it takes me all day, Friday to set up...so keep stoppin' back! }
If you are thinking about coming to the show...
It's located at the Olmsted County Fair Grounds...in Rochester, Minnesota...
Very easy to find! On Hiway 63.
Peg is bringing some of her Latest Collection! Come meet the Artist!
 Lynn and Lea, Our Southern Iowa Pals, are bringing some fun stuff up, as well!
It is a Lovely area....lots of Hotels, and great Dining Establishments...{Michael's! on Broadway!}
We will be set up, along with many Iowa Folk, in Graham North...my cell# is 319.241.1348, if you need help finding us....{there is an information desk, near the Out Side Vendors and Kay, the Wonderful Promoter, is Always Happy to Help Out!} Remember....The Show OPENS FRIDAY MORNING!!!! 8 a.m.!!!!!!!! You get in, when we get in! It's a Gold Rush! {be patient...and keep going around... things will be put out all day!!!}
I have a Great Feeling about this Show...I'm looking forward to seeing Everyone...!
Have a Great Day!
Barb C.

We're Lookin' Up!

Oh Dear...

Well...got the Massive Cupboard delivered...yesterday afternoon...
Seems I'm SPINNNNNING!
John, unbeknownst, to me...had started unloading the FUSO...had stuff...all piled around the truck...{Bless his Heart...} it's just....sometimes...EVERYTHING is a BIT OVERWHELMING....
it truly is



SHOWTIME!!!
Peg is enroute...she's visiting her Dad...today...and coming in, tomorrow...
She asked if I had my 'Plan'...for the booth done yet...
NOOOOOOOO! {or as Amy Winehouse would say..."No! No! No!....}
I told her...every time, I have a 'Plan'....set in my mind...The 'Center' of my 'Plan'...sells...so...I start all over again....and again...and...yet...again...So...{I am not complaining...Thank God...for the sales...}
No Plans...'til I'm LOADING the Truck...and the back door is LATCHED!!!! {thankfully...I have stashed some cool things back...for Gold Rush...}
The truck has to be loaded a certain way...
Bones for the booth, at the tail...
Doors...Rugs...Lights...Cords....Fabric...
then...the Big Pieces... then the smaller, bigs.... and the totes, way at the front... we only have a limited amount of time, to get everything out...and set....
Peg says, I am The Mad Hatter....and turn into another person....during 'set up'...{I don't see it...}She remembers, the one, and only time, she helped Julie, and I, at this show....Peg had never seen me set a booth, before... I'll just say....I get very...Focused...
When the booth is set...I'm back...to me, again...{says, Peg...}
I scared Peg...to death...{I think she still has nightmares...poor Peg...}
I don't think I'm that bad...just, like this moment...as I'm writing....I'm also, in three other places... and...maybe not here...at all... my mind rushes, to where it needs to be, at the moment...and...the one thing, that I don't have... is HUMOR!!!! I am very...very....serious.... Focused....and those who know me...don't like seeing me, this way...wound very...very...tight....
Sorry...it's what keeps us alive...
So...I am wound....
The Truck Will be Done...today...
I'll have a 'Plan'... by tonight...
oh my...
IT'S SHOWTIME!!!!!!
Love to Ya!
Barb C.

The Lead Song...'Landslide'....how appropriate!

I had to laugh...when I saw the Hammer, next to the Gnarly Head Bottle..{that Abbey made into a candle for me....} sitting at the end of the Truck Bed.... "well...if the Hammer won't fix it...hand me the Gnarly Head!"....

Count Down...to SHOWTIME!

I have been getting lots of e-mail, from folks who are so excited about Gold Rush! And I...am So Excited to see All of THEM! It's going to be a Great Show....I can Feel it in my Bones! I have squirreled aways some really Fun Stuff...as well as, some pretty neat Primitives...{hope I can get everything in the truck...we may have to bring a second truck...oh dear...}
I'll be sorting and loading this morn, then, making deliveries, this afternoon...
Thanks to everyone who stopped by, over the weekend!
Liz, Katie and I went to supper, and a movie, last night....we saw 'Friends With Benefits'...it was fun... the movie is worth seeing...but is a strong 'R' rating...After thinking about it... John has always been my friend, for nearly 30 years, with benefits.... One of my favorite lines in the movie, is, in my words..."You know you have found the right one, when you want to spend all day Saturday with them, after the date, Friday night." That is so true...
Have a Great Day...
Images of the load...coming soon!
Love to Ya!

Here are a few things I gathered yesterday....a Pile of cool old linens...this is one, late 1800's in Velvet....with a darling hand made, applied Floral....Yum!  a Bisque Pot.... and this Whiskey Bottle....from 1916, for 'Medicinal' purposes...only....{is there any other reason?}

Old, Old Cotton Batting Chick...this is the biggest one, I have ever seen! at least 3 times larger than the others I have had.... Sooooo Cute!

Barb C.

The Shop is OPEN TODAY! NOON 'til 4!!! Come Visit!

It's a Lovely...Lovely Day..... I'm getting my Stuff done, Early....so I can enjoy the Shop!
Hope Everyone has a Great Day!
Love, to You!
Barb C,
{ I have felt sadness, for friends, this morning....several, who are going through, some difficult times...Please know, my Prayers are with you, all....
I hope you remember to Look Up....and Hand it Over....Accept Things, you know, you can not change...and know this is part of Your Journey..., as well as, Your Beloved's...
I have no doubt, we all will be together again...two, and four legged Creatures, of God...{Finned...Feathered...Scaled...as well....they all have a purpose, and Journey, too....}
For Everything....There is....a Season....
Love, to You All...
Barb C.
{I read from Streams, this morning....}
Does Sorrow lay his hand upon your shoulder,
And walk with you in silence on lifes way,
While Joy, your bright companion once, grown colder,
Becomes to you more distant, day by day?
Run not from the companionship of Sorrow,
He is the messenger of God to thee;
And you will thank Him, in His Great tomorrow-
For what you do not see;
He is God's Angel, clothed in veils of night,
With whom "we walk by faith" and "not by sight"...
{2 Cor. 5:7 kjv}.
Love to you...keep looking up....and, remember...you never walk alone....

Everything Tells a Tale...if you Simply... ask it too...

As I sifted through the treasures, gathered, yesterday afternoon, at Bob's Tag Sale.... after reading comments, from my friend, Lin, on face book... asking, why.....anyone would save a hundred and fourteen year old piece of cake....I looked at my gatherings....and the answer was right there.... Sentimental... I'm very sentimental....and have a deep thought process...when it comes to history....

As I examine the Early 1900's Linen Scrap Book....It tells me quite a story.... I see an image of a child...with a Mother...or, older Sister....carefully making a Linen Book....{why a woman....it was an important part of women's duties, to be able to sew....this would be a great learning tool, for a young girl} then, hand stitching the page edges, so they would be finished...then....carefully selecting Beautiful fragments, in advertisement form, to tell a story...of their life...

These Folks were Farmers...At least 4, in the Family... maybe 5... two girls, and a boy...I suspect, the Grandparents lived with....From a fragment, of an address label, I surmise, they came from The Lamoni, Iowa, area....Had a Nice team of Horses.... Kittens....running around....Lots of Chickens, Ducks and Geese....their Dog...was a Collie...or Border Collie...had a love for animals, in general...The Farm, also had an Orchard.... with Apples, and Grapes, as well as Strawberries, and Berry Bushes...They Loved to Garden...They had a Beautiful Garden....with not only what they needed to survive...but a Garden Filled with Beautiful Flowers....In a nutshell...or...an Old Linen Scrapbook....They had a Wonderful Life....

The same thought process, went into

 The Cake....

It was saved...it was very special, to someone.... after all...it took the prize...at The County Fair, in Minnesota! This may have been a Recipe, that was handed down, for generations....and had great meaning, to all the Women Folk, in that Family...or...It may have been the one, and only thing...that woman, was ever awarded for.... and she held it very dear...The scenarios, in my mind, are endless...I could write a different one, every hour....but...the bottom line is....It Has a Story...and...It is a Survivor....at the very least....just being here...for a hundred and fourteen years...well..that's quite a story...all....by...it's... self....

Love to ya...

Barb C.

{ I was a bit surprised, that there were no images of Pigs....Cows or Calves... so, I think the Child who created this, was quite young...and chose images of things, that she was nearest to...The Horses were the only mode of transportation...so knew them, fondly...but, I would guess... the Child was kept close to the house...and small animals...}

{I reminded Lin...

she doesn't get it...and, maybe, that's a very good thing...

her kid's won't find Cockle Burs, atop, old spools of string...in her cupboard.... tiny acorn's, from the Old Oak...nestled in Humming Birds Nests...Hair Clippings...broken dish fragments....and wonder...

"what the".........

Barb C.}