There is Good News....and bad...News...

The bad news is...Peg's biopsy showed...it is cancer...
The Good News....
It's large cell, not small...like the dr. said it was, in MO.
If it was small cell...they couldn't do radiation...
So...She will hopefully be started, at the end of the week, with a Strong Dose of Chemo, and radiation....soon...{they plan to hit it Hard...and this will be a tuff road...for Peg...and her Family...}
I almost wrote, to a friend, this morn..{but...refused to allow...'cancer' near any thought in my mind...}That cancer is not a death sentence....being born, is....each of us are dieing, from the very moment, we are born...
So...may it be a Mack Truck... or a banana peel... we will each face our Maker..someday...and, nothing...will change that...no amount of money... can buy another moment...here....
But...I am keeping only...Positive thoughts...in my Heart, and Soul...I am not asking for prayers... to keep Peg from dieing...{we are all going to die...} I just...don't feel it is her time...my gut...says...Peg is going to be fine...no matter.... I simply...will not think...or believe otherwise... I am at peace...after all... I could be worried... distracted......and twisted... for Peg...and slip on a banana peel...and I'd  be gone....then...what? Peg, would be... without me...
We don't remember...years...months...weeks...days...or...even hours...on this journey....We remember...Moments....I will not...throw away my precious 'moments'... worrying about what could...or may happen, tomorrow...
I feel so Blessed...for the Fragmented, mirror... images...that float in my mind...when I drive down the road...or work...down, the rabbit hole...of all the wonderful 'Moments'....I have had...with the Ones...I hold dear... If I should die, tomorrow...I thank God...for the Amazing Memories....and Angels...he has sent this way...
Please...Continue...to Pray...for Peg...and her Family....as they, like so many others...work through this...and I... will pray...for everyone... We All Need Prayers... Love....Strength...and...Hope...
God Bless....
Barb C.

Me...Peg...and Amy... at Heart of Country...in February...this year... oh my...we were Exhausted... but...Peg...oh no...Full of Fire... She...has the Fire...to Kick This... Please...keep her in your Prayers....I don't think...The Mad Hatter...could take life...in Wonderland...without...The March Hare...down the rabbit hole.... with....
I truly...do not...

I will forward comments...and e-mail to Peg...as they come in... and Thank You All....from the bottom of my heart....

They Sit...Waiting for the Promise...of Spring...

The Vintage Chairs...and Glider...Wait...

They wait.... For Spring... The Promise...of Spring...

I sat down, and asked God to guide me, to what I needed to see, in my

Streams in the Desert...this morning...

I opened it, to July 26th....it read....

" By faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope." {Galatians 5:5}

There are times when everything looks very dark to me...so dark that I have to wait before I have hope. Waiting with hope is very difficult, but true patience is expressed when we must even wait for hope.... When we see no hint of success yet refuse to despair, when we see nothing but the darkness of night through our window yet keep the shutters open, because stars may appear in the sky... and when we have an empty place in our heart yet will not let it be filled with anything less than Gods Best...That is the greatest kind of patience in the Universe. It is the story of Job in the midst of the storm, Abraham on the road to Moriah, Moses in the desert of Midian, and the Son of Man, in the Garden of Gethsemane. And there is no patience as strong as that which endures because we see "him who is invisible" {Heb. 11:27}. It is the kind of patience that waits for Hope....

Dear Lord, You have made Waiting Beautiful...and Patience, Divine... You have taught us that Your will should be accepted...simply because, it's Your Will... You have revealed to us that a person may see nothing but sorrow in his cup, yet still be willing to drink it, because of a conviction that Your eyes see further than his own....

Father... give me Your Divine Power... the power of Gethsemane. Give me the strength...to wait, for Hope...to look through the window, when there are no stars... Even when my Joy is gone... give me the strength to stand Victoriously in the Darkest Night... and say..." To my Heavenly Father... the Sun Still Shines..."

I will have reached the point of greatest strength once I have learned to wait for Hope..." {George Matheson}

Strive to be one of the few who walk this earth with the ever present realization...every morning...noon, and night... that the unknown that people call heaven, is directly behind those things that are visible...

{ I do not ask my cross to understand...my way to see...

Better in Darkness...just to feel Your hand... and follow Thee...}

Peg will get her biopsy results, today... I told her to call me....when she gets them, to tell me I'm right...and it isn't cancer...

Please keep her, in your Prayers...Today...This Morning...Noon...and Night....

along with all...who suffer...in the darkness...waiting..for hope... it may be Your Prayer... that is the tiny...twinkling Star...they see afar...in the Blackest of Sky...

Love to You...

Barb C.

{I hope you pick up a Streams in the Desert....it truly has been a Raging River of Hope....in my life...}

Yesterday's Gatherings... OPEN TODAY 12 - 4 !

Love...Love...Love...these 1800's Cast Iron Card Holders, from Church Pews... !

Gnarly Pin Cushion...{one, can Never have too many 'Gnarly Pin Cusions'! The Tool... oh my...I have no idea what it's for...no one did... it's dated 1882...and is a Fancy Thing! and....A Late 1800's Square Tea Pot.... oh my...I thought of Peg, when I saw it... Perfect for the March Hare, to serve The Mad Hatter, a Spot of Tea...in Wonderland! I have never seen one, quite like this...Very.....Very....Fun!

Simply....Beautiful..... Oh My...The first thing my eyes fell upon, in the 'Shoppe on the Corner', in Waterloo... I nearly dropped... It's mid 1800's... still has it's matching bowl... and...in Bleeding Heart, pattern....it's not perfect...{like the proud owner} but...it truly took my breath.... It will be Lovely...with a tree in it, for Christmas....and priced, affordibly....

Treasures...on the Table...

Love the Turn of the Century, Cameo Locket.... there is just....'something'...about a Cameo....So Feminine...yet...there is a 'Strength', about them, as well.... I have always loved them, since I was a small child, and my Mother wore one, on her neck scarf.... Lovely....

I'll be working in the shop, today.... getting as much done, as I can...Mom and I have to meet with a surgeon, this week...{a worrisome thing...} so... it may be a bumpy ride...this week... with many unknowns...guess... that's life... all we are sure of...is this very moment... things tend to change...in a blink of an eye....
I'll be loading the shop...full... and, basking...in the chaotic serenity, of The Rabbit Hole... With my thoughts...always...always.... with The March Hare...as I see her...at every turn there...
Results, tomorrow...and they will be Great!!!! {Prayers...to Peg...and to all who suffer...}
Love to You...
Barb C.

Calico Hen House... and a Lovely Day with Mary...

Mary and I hooked up, at The Hen House... it was Packed...with people...Skip, the Staff, and dealers...all do Such an Outstanding Job... Between Gatherings....Barntiques...and, today The Calico Hen House...{Cedar Falls. Iowa}Open Houses...I'm on Overload.... Lovely...Lovely...Stores...

It was Great spending a little more time with Mary....we went to a new store, in Waverly...{The Changing Season} she is just opening...and looks like she has a wonderful eye...Neat Stuff!

We also visited a Great Shop, Downtown Waterloo...Shoppe on the Corner {on facebook, www.Shoppeonthecorner10@yahoo.com

Rug Cottage and Barntiques Open House Today!

I Popped in at The Rug Cottage, and Barntiques, on Hi way 1, between Iowa City, and Kalona, on Thursday... had a lovely visit with Bill, and Nancy....Bless their hearts.... Nancy has been so wonderful, about keeping Peg, in her Prayers... {as have Brenda, and Barb H., and so many others, Kalona Way...Thank You ...}a Special 'Thanks' to Carolyn A., she has been keeping Peg in her Heart.... : )
They were working like busy elves, getting the Shops together.... They Look Wonderful! { I wasn't much help....pretty much destroyed, an area, when I bought a piece of furniture....out of there....oh dear}...Nancy gifted me with a jar of my Favorite ' Sweet 'n Hot' Pepper Relish...{ I can almost drink the stuff!  Love It!}  I hope you can get there.... It is such a wonderful area to shop.... So many great shops... and the Amish have  all sorts of  'Country' places....with bakery...and  and goodies.... The Cheese Factory, is a Very Popular Stop.... {Love the 'Fudge Cheese'....{oh dear...}
I'm on the road, today....then. Open, tomorrow....12 - 4....Holiday Open House... here...down the Rabbit Hole...next weekend....
Have a Most Lovely Day....
Barb C.

Love this Old Oil Painting... It was in the shop... and is sold... but...I didn't get any images of the Rug Cottage, and Barntiques....{I wasn't thinkin'....got some blurry images of the cutest 'Sausage Shaped' Long Haired...tiny....Kitten....but... only I can tell you what it is....} So, you'll have to go see for yourself....and...Enjoy...! 

'Gatherings' Open House... Lovely....

Sales were Brisk...this morning, at 'Gatherings', in Anamosa! The Store was all Decked Out...and Smelled AMAZING! {Love her Candle Line!} It was fun seeing some old friends... I REALLY... enjoyed Wanda's Home Made Fudge...and Cecilia's Wonderful Hot Cider!

The Open House runs through tomorrow... Go Visit!

I popped in Marion, to grab some Briwax, and chatted with Annette...it was good seeing her... {Antiques of Marion, then quickly, to Marion Mercantile...not enough time, for Park Place, Remember When...Antique Avenue, or Warehouse.... I'll need an entire Day!} {Marion is a Wonderful Antiquing Destination! and...there are other cool shops...very Artsy...and Fun...oh...and Great Food! : )  }
It was a busy...busy afternoon...ran into Ginger, and, The Queen of Hearts.... always...always...good seeing them...they Inspire....
I haven't heard from Peg.... today... I am getting a bit... concerned... left a message... hope.. to hear her voice...soon...{ results may be { could be...should be...may...be...? } in...today...}
I have her Sweet Gourd Necklace, she gave me, at the Fall Sale... hanging from the rear view mirror..in the Ford... I can't tell you...how many times, my hand has held it.... the last week.... I've spent more time in the truck...than anywhere... Peg has been there with me.... her beautiful...beautiful...artwork....there... resting...in my hand... I can feel her energy...within the tiny little gourd....
Please...keep her in your Prayers...and, Thank You....for it....
Love, to You...
Barb C.
{just talked to Peg....no results today...not 'til Monday... oh...my....  } { but...we laughed....and...she called me a 'Doofus'...so...for today...that's good enough ...   : )   }

Gatherings Farmstyle Christmas! Today!

I'll be headed to Anamosa this morning...to check out this 'Farmstyle' Open House...... Wanda has been working very hard, on the Store, I am so excited to see it! She says it is Packed with new Merch., and Ready to Go!

Check out her blog http://www.gatheringsiowa.blogspot.com/

{Gatherings is located on Main Street, Anamosa, Iowa 319-462-6070 }

On the Road...today...

Large Bisque Flower Pot....
An old friend, got me collecting these... several years ago... I love them... the color...the style..and form... Grant Wood painted some of them in his portraits... they were popular in the early 1900's... Made by Macomb, Western and Red Wing Stoneware Companies, in Illinois, and Minnesota... Allyson has a lovely collection, on her Fireplace Mantle... Bud has a Huge Collection, for sale, at his shop, in Amana {Renates} Mary S. {Dark Horse Antiques} also, has many, throughout her store...I always have a few, around...they come and go...and don't uasally stay around, too long.... I buy chipped, cracked, painted and gnarly ones, as well, as perfect ones... love 'em all....!

I'm on the road, again, today.... many..many...miles...... don't know when I'll get to work on the shop... maybe, tomorrow...Saturday...on the road again...I'll be open Sunday, noon 'til 4....
John and I worked on projects, in his shop, yesterday...oh my...It rained...and rained... I was outside, cutting evergreen branches...and got a Cold Shower...Twice... I'm hand making some Lovely...Old Fashioned Christmas Trees...in time for Open House...{John has had a Huge Hand in them...he is such an Amazing Artist...}I'm very fussy, about what we use, to make these trees...so...they will be in limited quantities.... I'll have images, very...soon...
Hope You All...have a Most....Wonderful...Day...!
Love...to You....
Barb C.
{Talked to Mel, Peg's daughter, and Peg, yesterday.... {I Have...to hear Peg's voice...Every Single....Day....} Mel said, the Mayo Dr., said...the MO. Biopsy....was....'Inconclusive'.... {the one, they thought in MO. was 99.9% sure...was cancer... so, Mayo did their own...yesterday...results, Friday....
I am Totally thinking...Nothing But Positve Thoughts... I will not...allow my Heart...a hint...of any other thoughts... Please...keep her, in your prayers...they WORK!}
Love, to You!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like.......

Oh my... yesterday...was Insane... totally.....insane... so many miles... so many... dead end roads.... and, today...doesn't look much better... spinning...spinning...

I picked up some darling little Christmas Morsels... on my travels...The Holiday Open House is coming Fast... The weather is turning... oh my... oh...my....



I don't usually buy things from the 50's and 60's...but Christmas and Holiday......is an exception...Fun...Stuff!

 {don't get me wrong.... I am Thankful...for all of the kind faces... good Samaritans... a Fabulous Supper... in the company of strangers, now friends... kind folks...opening doors... and going that extra mile...yes...yes...all good... just...sooooo many miles... and so much...hurry up...and wait.... but...it's All Good....}
{Peg is now at Mayo...I'm on call... so, if they need me...I'm Gone...
Please continue to keep her in your prayers... she meets with the Dr.'s this morn.... Thank You...for all of the phone calls...and e-mail....I send them straight to Peg...You...have no idea...how very much that means, to her...and her Family...
 Love to you...
Barb C.}

Here...for a Good...time...

Had to make a delivery, to Northern Iowa, yesterday... and told Mary {Mary "Dark Horse Antiques Janesville, Iowa} I would stop an visit, when I did...

Mary had a battle with cancer, 3 years ago... had a double mastectomy... took chemo, which, has damaged her heart... and now...with other health issues....they aren't sure..if...they can give her, a needed pacemaker...

When I arrived...I was a bit concerned about Mary....through all of her trials... {and there have been some major ones...} she has handled everything with Grace...and Laughter...she is amazing....she seemed...yesterday...low...{like I would be...but...not...Mary...}

We sat in her shop, and visited...and...it was good...

Then...she and her husband, Tom, surprised me, and saddled up the horses.... {Tom took a spill, off of a horse, 2 years ago...and cracked his pelvis...was hospitalized, for a lengthy time....the two of them...have had some Real Mountains...}

The Missouri Fox Trotter, is Mary's horse....he is 23 years old....the horses, nor Tom and Mary...have ridden, since Tom's accident...} These Horses were amazing... they stood while they were saddled, and mounted... I think...they, too...were ready... for a ride...

It was Wonderful...to see Mary Smile! and, Tom...was just as excited.... The doctors won't be happy...that Mary is back riding...but... I don't think...Mary...much cares...what they think...

It was Great to hear her Laugh...That Amazing..."Mary"... laugh...

They kept wanting me to ride... but...I'm still a bit 'twisted', from last week... and was just fine...taking in their enjoyment.... both Tom and Mary's...and the Beautiful...Gentle... Geldings...

Animals...Critters.... are Truly...God's Gifts....to Us...

I'm back on the road...this morning...it was a late night... and I'm sucking down coffee... have several stops to make... and check what was delivered to my door... yesterday...{too tired..and dark, outside...when I got home.... Thanks Kevin, for finding my check book, and the check I was supposed to deposit...yesterday....blowing in the yard... oh my...if I didn't have Angels, following me around...I'd be a mighty Lost Soul!}

Hope you all...Everyone...has a Most Amazing Day...

Love to You...

Barb C.

{Please keep Pegadoo, in your prayers, today... she and her family are on the road, to Mayo....she checks in..in the Morn... Love, to Ya...}