I snapped this... near home... crossing the Old...Cedar River.... She's down... it's been so dry.... Beautiful...always...

This is a Cemetery, in Manchester, Iowa... I have always noticed it...while driving through... but...last night....coming home... it grabbed me.... I realized... the Cemetery, is situated, on both sides of the hi way... It was then...an unsettling feeling....came over me.... like I was driving through...a Cemetery.... and should show some respect....

It crossed my mind.... since I was a child... driving through Manchester, with Dad....passing by the Graves, that were there then... had been there... for a hundred years prior, and...are still there...and will be... when I am gone...All of those people...the lives... the families...friends.... Each Stone is Representing a Life...or...Lives...

and...I never really 'got' that... like I did... last night....

I never knew a Soul...who is there.... but....they have seen me...many...many times....as I have grown up...traveling down hi way 13....{this hi way...and the number '13'.... has been woven into my fiber...since I was a child...} Some things... are Wonderful....concerning... 13.... others...very sad.... I guess... that's life....

I don't remember going through Strawberry Point, and not seeing this Amazing Strawberry... I remember Dad pointing it out to me...the very first time I saw it... then... I remember the Kids' faces...the very first time we pointed it out to them.... Happy Days....

A Fresh Coat.... The men were busily painting the Old Church, in Strawberry.... Lovely...

This Beauty is in Elkader, Iowa... Nestled in a Most Amazing Valley... The little town was bustling...even tho, it was a Monday... Good to see....

Marquette... what a treasure....on the Mississippi....

John and I used to take a Drive...on Sundays... and...we would come up to this area... Marquette...Mc Gregor...Prairie Du Chein, Wisconsin... We always chuckled, at this Giant....So Cool!

I had fun digging in this Store.... oh my...there was all sorts of 'Stuff'.... but...mostly.... Fun... I went up on the 3rd floor... that they call a 'Flea Market'....It had a bit of everything... modern... and old... I found...on a bottom shelf...a massive Ironstone Platter...that had a little crack...but...in a pattern I had never seen....and...a smaller one...also...from the mid 1800's... and an old Shaving mug....I'm going to use for my new Coffee Cup...Treasures...

I had to laugh.... the owner of this store... loaded a settee in his Mercedes Convertible... and helped me load a pair of Italian lamps and shades...and a Victorian Mirror, in Sally...He said... we were quite a pair... I agree...{ I actually thought about, how I could get a big metal glider... strapped on Sally's Back.... but.... I had no ratchet staps....so...I'm headed back, today, to pick up...with the Ford...I think...I had better keep the straps away from Sally...If there would have been a couple...I would have bought a cupboard...too...

The Sun Set..was Beautiful... I enjoyed the Day...The People... The Food...{I ate at Old Man River's, in Mc Gregor....very good...} I missed Chris, at The Olde Time Shoppe...but her husband, let me in....and I found some neat things...as always....} I didn't plan on doing any shopping.... but...I'm glad I did... It was a good day... The leaves...were past their peak... but...no matter... it was Lovely...

Barb C.

The Shop....oh my...

I Snapped images for my Canadian Friends...as Promised....You see... I can't stand back...to get a panoramic view.... Vignettes..is the best I can do... The shop...is only 24 x 32..... but...it seems to go on and on...hence...'Rabbit Hole'....it's something you have to experience.... I know the Gals...keep wanting me to send pictures... but... I can't capture...through a camera lens... what I see... I'm not a good photographer....

The Shop...is a mess.... and I made it Much worse...yesterday...much worse...

I have deliveries to make...this morn...then...I'm jumping in Sally....and heading North...to see what's left of the Beautiful Fall Colors, of North East Iowa...and the Mighty Miss.... John is staying with Jethro...when he's on his tires...we'll take a ride.... {I couldn't drag him out of here... for anything!}

Hope you all have a Lovely... Day...

Barb C.

Jethro...oh...my...

Oh dear....
John had been acting suspicious....the last few weeks.... disappearing... without a trace...spending a lot of time on the computer....one day... last week...was gone the entire day....{not at all like him....when we are trying to pull the Sale together...} He left a note...saying he was with a friend... and would be back by noon.... but... when 4, rolled around...and no John...I was concerned...I kept asking Mark, if he knew where John might be.... "No"...he said... "No idea"...{ I'd hate to play poker with Mark....oh my....}{ John stays close to home....and won't have any part of a cell phone...}
John has let go of things...he has had for years... The '58 Buick Special...even went... I thought...he was just tired of them...and wanted to put those things, in hands of Folks, who would better enjoy them...
Then...he came rollin' in....with Jethro.....oh my...
an '08 Mustang...
John drove all the way to Kansas City, and back...last week...to bring him home....
Wow....{he left at 3 in the Morn....}
John and I have many 'likes' in common... Fast Cars... and Mustangs... are two...  when they are rolled into one...All The Better!
Jethro...{John named This Mustang.... after LeRoy Jethro Gibbs, NCIS...one of John's Most Favorite Shows....{Mark Harmon...reminds John of his Dear Friend, Mark Prabel, he lost a few years ago, to Cancer....also, an Awesome Race Car Driver...and Builder... he misses Mark, so...and speaks of him often...}
Jethro...is a True Muscle Car... oh my...Sweet Sally...is a Loper...Sweet Little Automatic... wouldn't Scratch a Tire... if Her Life depended on it....She's a Lady...
 Jethro...on the Other Hand... Shoots Flames Out His Tail Pipes! He's Fitted with a Tight Pattern 5 speed....and High Performance Speed Tires....{John says...they are 200. a tire... and remember that when I am Dumping the Clutch...with The Pedal to the Floor! oh...dear....Watchin' the Smoke Roll!!!! }Wowza!
 Jethro has been in a Nasty Fight....The front wheel knocked completely off...the Aluminum Rim...even had a big hole in it... back glass... gone... Radiators...Grill...Front Fender...all Gone... He even had a few parts stolen, from his engine, while waiting to be auctioned off.... I'll have images of him...as he gets put back together... Son, Justin is doing some of the Body Work...and all of the Paint Work...{John can't be near it... it makes him sick, for days...just the whiff of  Chemicals will take him down....} Justin is Learning...on Jethro... a Good Trade to have... He is doing a Wonderful Job!
I haven't seen John this excited over a car....in...well...since the 70 Fastback Mustang, he rescued.... back in the early 80's.... It...was also Fast....he sold it to a young man....and warned his Dad....that car could hurt him....{before they bought it...}it was in a Ball...in a week... The Boy....Wrecked it...and thankfully...wasn't hurt....the Mustang was Totalled.... It was a Beauty...It was Black...with Gold, painted 'Boss' Stripes... I spent hours...hand waxing it.... what a Beauty....
John said, Jethro is mine....I don't think so.... He's All John... I'd like to drive him...sometime... but, John is Sure Proud of this... and he let a lot of his things go...to get it... and.... he's working his tail off.... to put him back together... I Think....this is kind of like Sally....is for me... a "Bucket List"...thing...
I sat in Jethro...today...and put Skynyrd on....Sweet Home Alabama...it just seems Fitting...for a Mustang...
I'll have more images...as he gets put back on his tires... oh dear....
Barb C.
{I gotta tell ya... My Heart Jumped in my Throat...seeing Jethro... On This Trailer....BEAUTIFUL!!! Some folks see a Wrecked Car... Not Me! I See A Most Beautiful Mustang! Wowza!}

{here is John...working on a ding, in the rear quarter...it's really cool watching him...take these dents out...he knows exactly where to tap, around the dent, to work it out....amazing...}

There is Life....

I had to snap images of the Old Fountain...in the Green House.... It always 'Grounds' me... I have let it 'Live'...It's Mossy...and Overgrown...with Morning Glorys... Creeping Charlie...and Clover.... It's Full of Wonder....

Just the other day...I spotted a Snail! and...Baby Snails... ! {the blurry image, is of one of the Snails....I haven't seen this type of snail...since I was 5 years old...living along the Cedar River, in the Tiny Town, of Cedar Bluff, Iowa...I loved watching them, their sweet little antennas, going every which way....} I often wonder, why...we don't see so many of the the little Creatures, we used to... is it Chemicals...? I remember...Salamanders...and Mud Puppies... Walking Sticks... all sorts of Gnarly Creatures... I don't see them...much...anymore...

We don't use any weed killers... or sprays, of any kind...{and the yard looks shaggy...} but....The Birds...and Bugs... and even...Snails... seem to find it Homey...and that's all good with me...

{Went out to a Wonderful Supper...with Two of my Favorite Artist Friends...last night! We drove Sally... with the top down.... and 'Sweet Home Alabama' Blaring! We had a Lovely, New Orleans Style Supper...at Augusta's, in Oxford, Iowa.... and thoroughly enjoyed each others company.... They Surprised with me this darling little box, they had seen me admire, at an auction, a while back... but I had to leave, before it sold.... What a Kind thing to do... I Love It!!! I Love Them...Too...)

Hope You All Have a Most Beautiful Day....Filled With...Wonder...

Barb C.

Lovely Fall Day....

It was a Lovely Fall Day...Filled with Lovely People...
I'll be Open, Sunday... Noon 'til 4... and hopefully... have the Shop better situated....
I'm having supper with friends...and...am so looking forward to them...
I listened to the song...'Alive and Well'....by Kenny Chesney... throughout the day....
It Is Amazing...
I am Alive and Well....for today...that's good enough for me...

Barb C.
{this is an image from a tin, of a Tall Pie Safe... that's in my Bedroom...  Pennsylvania Hex Design... for 'Good Luck'...}

Fall Colors....

In our front yard....

As I shuttled stuff, back and forth....yesterday afternoon....I stopped for a moment...and looked up....

What a Beautiful Gift....

I think...sometimes....I get running so hard...to 'Get 'er Done'...

I forget...to stop...and look up...

I grabbed the Camera, and captured this image....Thinking, of the line, in 'I Hope You Dance'...about, giving the Heavens above, more than just a passing glance....

Then.....I bailed in the truck...Back to Work... and this song had just begun, to play... 

I just sat there...the truck...running... sitting in the drive... and soaked in every word....

This song...Is For Everyone I Know.....and...those I don't....

and...was meant..for my ears...too...

I Hope You Never Lose Your Sense of Wonder...

Get Your Fill to Eat...But Always Keep That Hunger....

May You Never Take One Single Breath for Granted...

God Forbid, Love Ever Leave You Empty Handed....

I Hope You Still Feel Small...When You Stand Beside the Ocean....

Whenever One Door Closes...I Hope One More Opens....

Promise me.... You'll Give Faith a Fighting Chance....

And...When You Get the Choice...to Sit it Out...or Dance....I Hope You Dance....

I Hope You Never fear Those Mountains in the Distance....

Never Settle... for the Path of Least Resistance....

Living Might Mean Taking Chances....But...Their Worth Taking....

Loving...Might be a Mistake...

But....It's Worth Making....

Don't Let Some Hell Bent Heart....

Leave You Bitter...

When You Come Close....to Selling Out...

Reconsider....

Give the Heavens Above....

More...

Than Just...a Passing Glance....

And When You Get The Choice...

To Set It Out....

or...Dance....

I Hope You Dance....

I Hope...You Dance.... I...Truly Do....

Love... to Each...and Everyone...of You....

Barb C.

Hearts and Horns....

A Strange combination...
I bought this...from  Jan...at the end of the sale...she had it in her truck....and I couldn't stand it! {it has TWO HEARTS on it!} She brought some Cool Stuff! Made a lot of Folks Very Happy! Paula did too... I Love the Violin..., I used to play Violin...when I was a child... Poorly....I might ad...but...seems I am always drawn to them... the inlay, on this is beautiful....{Thanks...to everyone...who brought stuff... cool old stuff!}
Spent the day, with Peg, yesterday...getting things shoved around....Bless her Heart...I truly don't know what I would do without Peg.... She is an Amazing...Grounding Force... I Love Her Dearly... I told her...I am sure...God sent her to me... She has been my rock...my Angel...
I still have soooo much to get done, outdoors... the tents come down today.... The shop is packed full...Peg and I Man Handled the Huge Wardrobe, into the front of the shop....and it's parked there....it's staying there... for a while... I'll get it all reset....There are  Messes...everywhere....
The back greenhouse...is full, as well... oh my...
I hope to take a  day off... in the next couple of weeks... Maybe...John and I could take a drive, to Northeast Iowa... It's so Beautiful there.... this time of year....
Hope Everyone...Has a Most Amazing Day...

Barb C.

Fall Harvest Sale....History....

I would like to Thank...Everyone who attended the Sale...Some...driving Great Distances... It was Great Seeing You...Each of You....
Thanks to Everyone who busted their Fannies....putting this all together...and Enduring Long....and Grueling Days....{especially Holding down the Fort...when Kansas Blew Through on Thursday!!} Thanks to the Folks who Shared Their Cool Stuff... with Others... so they can enjoy them for a while!
It was Lovely seeing all of the Children....That Visited....They Light Up My Life...
Thanks....Again...
Love, to You...

Barb C.

Fall Harvest Sale! 8 a.m 'til 4! Last Day! Hope to See Ya!

It's been a Lovely Weekend...and still...We are looking forward to seeing you....Today!
Lot's of Great Stuff...Waiting to find it's way to a Lovely New Home!

It was Great Seeing Everyone....Yesterday! Thanks to Laura... for the Lovey Punched Work Motto...It was wonderful seeing her, and her Sweet family! Sarah, Matt....Susan...and her Sweet Husband...{Happy Birthday, Susan!} Colleen, Audrey, Daryl, Kathy, Tommie, and her Darling Mom.......Pat and John...all good...

Sounds like it's been Wonderful at What Cheer...Amana...and Anamosa!!! Great Weather...is Such a Blessing!

We're going to go out...and do it again...today....we'll start packing up...around 3 or 4....It's getting Dark, so much earlier now.... a sure sign, Fall is here...

Hope Everyone....has a Most Wonderful Day....

Wherever You May Be!

Love to Ya!

Barb C.

Fall Harvest Sale Today! 8 a.m. til Dusk!

I'm Gathering Treasures...from the House...today.... and in the Morn! Friends are bringing more Goodies....as well! I'm selling off a Huge amount of Quilts...on the Worn side...but Very Old...for 15.00 each...
 We'll be hauling the Iron Fence up Front.... 50 feet plus, an Amazing Gate....All for 850., Wow!  The Cupola....is Sale Priced...Today...at 150.
Loads of Stuff to dig through!
Hope to See Ya!
Barb C.