A...Long Day...

But...a Good Day... Spent the day with Mom...{through everything...we Laughed.... a lot...}
She is totally blind...can't stand...or transfer, without at least 2 people...and a gate belt.... {they believed me, finally...at the Hospital....oh my...it was...a long day...} I don't write about my activities....other than antiquing...much.... but...I do live another...several lives... one...is being my Mother's Guardian....I work hard at it...but...feel...I fail, at being a good daughter....some times...but...this is...the Best I can do...I'm sure there are others...who do...much better than I....Bless their Hearts...
I will say...we Both...had a very Long day... Mom's surgery went without a hitch...a Great Surgeon...is a Plus!!! We started at the Nursing Home...at 11... the Special 'K' Bus...picked us up...at 11:15... {they are Great....I can't transfer Mom, into a car, from her wheelchair...anymore...so a Handicap Bus...is all we can do....} It's soooo hard on Mom, tho...I keep chatting...and reassuring her.... {think about taking a Loud...Roller Coaster Ride...Blind folded....and being 91 years old.......oh my...traumatic...for her...and me....}Stress, can bring on Grand Mall Seizers...{she has a brain tumor....that triggers Grand Mall Seizers....she has beaten my arm, bloody... into the pavement...while having one...as I cradled her head...from hitting the concrete...they are horrible...and...they have happened while grocery shopping...or just walking, into her house...they are a Horrible thing...} It took many hours...from start, to finish...but...she is in no pain... and....I brought her, her favorite supper...Fried Chicken...and Mashed Potatoes..with Beef Gravy...
 I feed Mom....she can't eat by herself, anymore... without her sight...and her left side...for some reason...just doesn't want to work, anymore...{it's the Meningioma...{brain tumor} I'm pretty sure...she says it's from a stroke... tho...there is no evidence of a stroke...}Think...that is the hardest part...Mom has dementia... I just...realized...how long...I would not...admit that.... I simply could not...let anyone think...Mom...didn't have her faculties....{I still...have a very hard time with that....something...about respect...you simply do not question, your elders...at any cost... } {that...will be in the book..someday... 'The Care Giver..."} most...don't know me...that way...that..is another life... oh my... when I say... "It's not the Years...it's the Miles"...trust me...
I visited with the staff, at the Nursing Home, and Mom's Doctor...before I left, tonight.... Think...everything..is on track... I am concerned about infection... Mom's 91 year old skin...wouldn't let the Surgeon close up, like he wanted to... so... it has to be watched closely... biopsy results...in...in 36 to 48 hours....
Visited with Peg...this eve...she was eating a steak...Bless her Heart.... I was looking up on line, what she should be eating....as we visited...and SHE YELLED AT ME!!! Told me to quit worrying...they had all sorts of directions...on the food to eat...during chemo... I said...well...it appears..it was what I had said...anyway... High Fat... High Protein!!! The Biggest Bang...for the smallest amount! { I Loved hearing her yell at me....Spunk!}
Then...visited with a friend, going through 'teenage daughter' issues...oh my...been there...{was one...{teenage daughter}..that is...and a Hand Full...I will Admit!} {what am I saying...I still am...a hand full...} oh my...All I can say...is ...Life is short...
Mom was singing...in the Hospital... "Wooden Heart"... ":Later than you Think"..."One Day at a Time"... and several other Oldies... the nurses got a Chuckle...I thought about asking her to quiet down... but...then thought...I don't think so.... she wasn't that loud......she is 91...and had just been through...so much...if it bothered anyone...they could ask... I wasn't about to....{plus...she sings in perfect key....amazing...}
Yep...it was a Long Day...{I even ran into my Dad's Oldest Daughter....at the Surgery Center, at  the Hospital...  {I should have played the lottery...I never see her... who would have thought!} Strange...she said, she's 75....I about fell over...she looks like she's in her 50's... good genes...I guess... {she doesn't have those 'miles' tho...oh dear...}
Oh Well...I have had enough...for today...I drove Old Sally...and we Listened to Chesney..."Alive and Well"... and, for today...that's good enough...for me...

This is Mom, Liz, and Miss Scarlett...at Mom's Sister, Helen's Funeral...in July...This was a Hard Day...for Mom....

I visited, throughout, the day...with Nurses...and Doctors...we all agree...all we truly have..is this very moment...better enjoy....
Love..to You...
Barb C.
{Yep...if this seems a little unlike me...I have been enjoying Spiked Egg Nog...and Loving it! Happy Holidays!}{Mom got Percocet....!}{It's been a Long..Day...} : )
{Mom kept Thanking me...for being there... I said..."No...Thank You...For being...my Mama"....} {for the record...my Mama...made all of my clothes...she was .... is,...amazing....}

Always...a Surprise...

Lovely Ironstone lid...some folks, like friends, Jean, and Renate S. have a Lovely Collection, of Ironstone Lids.... they are like pieces of Artwork...within themselves....

As with most everything, in life....if you look a little farther... oh, what Surprises await....

This Lovely Old Ironstone Lid...was someones...long ago....canvas... {late 1800's...early 1900's...} The artist even added something to the snow....so when the light hits it...it sparkles... I imagine, it was a Christmas Gift...for someone, very special...I treasure it....and have it in the Big Cupboard, in the dining room....where I can enjoy it, year around...I gaze at this image...and almost...find myself, there...at the Old Church...with the Snow all around...Sparkeling......{it reminds me of the Little Church, on the Hill... that is now, long gone...in Cedar Bluff, Iowa...}

Hope, you all have an Amazing Day...

Love to You...

Barb C.

{taking Mom in for surgery, this morning...It's going to be a long day... }

Home...

I took Polly for her morning jaunt around  Home....she so, looks forward to that... and snapped these images.....It's a Lovely morning... the Sun is shinning... and for that moment....it was good....

 Life is 'Good'....

It was Great seeing Mike, Peg's husband, for lunch...yesterday... He is such an Amazing Man....They are a Perfect Fit....

I asked John, if I could take Jethro...for a spin, yesterday...to get groceries...{he said you don't have to ask me, just take him.... I will ask...}

It was great, going down the hi way... he so wants to fly...and...I guess, there is a part of me, that wants to, as well....

I'll be working in the shop...putting things together...

I visited with Peg... yesterday...and her daughter, Mel.... they called while she was getting her first Powerful Treatment...

I had just gotten off the phone, with a dear friend, who had said, I need to reassure Peg...that I will be fine, and I can get along.... and not to worry...

I said...{to Peg and Mel, what I told my friend...}" Too frickin late for that!!!!! I already told Peg...I Miss her...Every Moment... and Folks Totally know, the Rabbit Hole, is looking pretty Shabby....and...I Need Her....She needs to Kick this Crap...and get her Little Fanny Back to Me....I Can't be Without The Mad March Hare...} Peg said....the day before....she and I are joined at the hip...and she is sorry, for that...Oh my gosh.... I wouldn't change that...for..Anything....anything...Peg looks at me... like I look at an Old, Broken Down Cupboard... She sees the good... and looks past..all of my imperfections....she knows me...Peg is....The Wind Beneath My Wings....there have been a precious few...in my lifetime... 

 God Bless Them...

Please continue to keep Peg, and all those who are suffering, today...in your prayers....

and, I thank you...for that...

love, to you....

Barb C.

{ Liz just called...and told me, Nick, her husband...was on the computer, last night...she leaned over his shoulder...to see what he was working on....Nick was adding Peg to an online, prayer list....

oh my... That... brought me, to my knees... Bless his Heart........}

Sunday...

It was a quiet day...Folks stopping by....some...I hadn't seen in so long... but...each...with a message...{and...Cup Cakes... : )   } it was very wonderful....yet .... It was a somber, day...I try...so hard...to 'shine'... but...The Mad Hatter...that I am...wear my emotions...very...close to the surface...and try as I will... I can't 'shine'...for very long...with everything...everything...

everything...

It's almost....too much....

Please...keep Peg in your Prayers...

this is going to be a tuff week...for her...and her Family...

Love, to you...

Barb C.

{Sweet, Amy...I am so sorry...I simply could not stay...at the shop...another moment....last night...it was time, for me to go.... Thank You...for Everything...and, I do love you so...}

Happy Birthday # 2!!! Justin!

I can't believe it! 2 YEARS OLD!!! { I guess we blinked!} I'm gonna try and sneak away, from the Open House... for the Party... if not... It's gonna have to be a Play Station Date!
Justin has become quite the Little Man...
He's a 'Melter'!
Happy Birthday Sweet Pea...
Love....Gram

Open House...Sunday... 10 - 6!

Oh my... it was a lovely day.... I didn't get any ads in...totally forgot... but...had a Great day...anyway...
It was probably a good thing...I didn't advertise.... I was nowhere near...where I would have liked to be...in the Shop... but...I'll keep working on it.... I'll have much more done, by Amana's Prelude...weekend...the first weekend in December...
Had all sorts of 'Well Wishes'...to send to Peg...{ and a Sweet Care Package...to take to her...} it all means so much.... I sure miss her... I see her everywhere...in the Rabbit Hole...things just don't seem 'right'...with out her Crazy Expressions....and Contagious Laughter....
It was Great seeing everyone... all the Sweet Hearts...we shared some laughs...cider...and a glass of Farm House Wine....by candle light...this evening.....it was very nice....
An old friend, ...once said to me, many years ago...as she had observed, over the years... the folks who stop in....how lucky I am, to have such Angels...that come visit...the Shop....... she sure hit the nail, on the head... I do...feel very Blessed....very...Blessed....
Love, to You...
Barb C.

Holiday Open House...Today 10 - 6!!!!!

I'm putting this Awesome 8 foot Harvest Table out...Wonderful 2 board top...{2, 15 inch boards...} Pine... Old...Dry...Puddy Colored Paint.... It's a Sweetie!
The Shop...is what it is...{without Pegadoo...} {she told me to...not to worry..."it is...what it is"....} Thanks to Liz...for lending a hand... !
The Cider is heating up...the Coffee is on...Stop By....
Love to ya...

Barb C.
{The bottom shelf, is optional... would make a great work table...in a kitchen...!}

Holiday Open House.... Saturday...and Sunday...10 - 6 !

I was Crazy Busy....today.... Veterans Day... Lot's of Folks stoppin' by.... and...the shop...is...what it is... I forgot to get my ads  in...so...it may be a quiet weekend...and...that's o.k.
Too many irons...too many fires...my mind...and memory...are toast...
Thanks, to Daughter, Liz...for coming out this afternoon... and helping....get some of the Christmas out.....soooo much more, to go...but, the good thing is...I'll be having another Christmas Gathering, as always... over Prelude, in The Amana Colonies...the first weekend in December... So...I'll Shoot for the Moon Then! and keep working....'til then...Hopefully...things will be perking along...better....
I'm putting furniture, on the Shop Lawn...in the morn...some is rough...some is ready... I'll just keep working...getting things out, throughout the day... My body hurts...and...I'm tired...tonight...I'll be up and running...early....
Love to You...
and...Hope to see ya...over the weekend...

Barb C.

Open House Prep....

The Shop...is Full....I will have Loads of Old Stuff...Out in The Shop's Yard...as well.... Just got a Bunch of Concrete in...a Wonderful ...{Wonderful...} Harvest Table....Several 1800's Clocks...all cleaned....oiled and ready to go.... I will have a Variety of Amana Style Christmas Trees.... { fashioned from mid 1800's Amana Yarn Winders...these are Great!} Lots of Vintage Christmas...{I'll be putting more out..throughout the Holiday Season!} Some Cool Upholstered pieces...just....a lovely...group...of vintage gatherings....
Hope to see you....
love, to...

Barb C.