Welcomed...Back....to 'My Happy Place'... With Open Arms! {whew}

After our little...ahhh... Crazy... Amy Winehouse....Tribute Party....last year at Michael's... last August Gold Rush...I wasn't quite sure...how I might be received...

and...I was a bit...apprehensive...to go back...to say the very least... {oh dear}

Laura... was... wondering as well...{we...ahhh....got a bit...loud.... and...well..a bit...crazy...} {mostly me...and Peg...oh dear...}

I whisked in...and went directly...to the Beautiful Bar....where Laura was waiting... {the Canadians...Bev and Linda...were en route...}

They had Live Jazz... and it was Lovely...as Always...

But...still... I wasn't sure....how the Owner...Michael, was going to take me... {and...there's no getting around...Michael... he Greets all of his Guests...{oh dear}...... oh dear...}

So...after a Martini...with the Girls... {and the Canadians...saying I really shouldn't worry...I couldn't have been That Bad... {as Laura...rolled her eyes... and...said..."ahhh...it was bad"...{we were a party of 14, last year... and...well... we were having a Really...Good Time...}

I got my nerve up....and we walked to the entrance...where Michael...and his Brother...stood waiting...for us...

All I could say was.... " Are you going to feed me Supper...tonight....after I got so Rowdy... last Year?"....

They Roared...

and said..." Of Course!!!! We Love Our Gold Rush Girls!!! and...after all Girls Just Want to Have Fun!!!!"....

Holy...Smokes...

They Forgave My Ruff...and Rowdy Ways!!!

Gave us Big Kisses!

I promised...to behave... : ) and they put us...in the Library....in the Back Corner... {They called it their 'Time Out Booth'... and...took Great Care...of Us....

Oh My!

I have stewed about this...since last Fall....

I LOVE Michael's...

and...I was so Happy... to Be Back!

The Girls and I had a Lovely...Lovely...Time....

I told Laura...as bad as I felt...for getting so Crazy....it was all worth it...it was the last event...Peg and I had...where we Laughed.... 'til we cried... Amy...and Allyson...were there....Tommie...Polly Ann... Dick...and his Girls....Laura... oh my... It really..was soooo much fun... and...now...something to remember...with great joy...

Last Year... Good Times... : )

yes..... very good.....

Yes...Girls...just want to have Fun... and Laugh... there isn't enough...Laughter...in the World...
these moments...tho...Crazy....I will always...Hold Dear........

Whew...a Long Day... But a Good One!

Sweet...Angie... bought the Amazing...Grungy...Farm Cupboard...we Played Heck....Getting it into her Van... but...we made it Happen! The Fun...Never Ends!

Whew...It was a Long Day....I hit the Field...RUNNING...and bought a Huge Load...! ..while doing so...Laura. sold the big Built in Farm Cupboard...for me! I dragged everything back to the booth...and sold most of what I bought....even sold my Big Room Sized Rug... I use for shows...: ) it went to a Sweet....20's something couple...that are buying their first Home!

It was Great seeing everyone today....Janet...and Gal Pals... as well as all the Other Sweet Hearts...That always Make Gold Rush... One of My Very Favorite Shows!....! It was a Crazy day...and I was running on fumes... I didn't get a lot of my totes...unpacked.... didn't have time...and had to stay off of my foot.... {I could barely get my boot off last night... : ( }

I looked at this old Darling Cupboard...on the way out...tonight... I'm....thinkin'....

I'm meeting Laura {Rusty Pumpkin} and The Darling Canadians...for Supper....at Michael's... shortly... {If...I'm not Barred....oh dear...I got a Bit....Unruly...last Fall.... maybe I should wear my 'Shades...'....

I'll be unpacking...smalls...first thing...I have a feeling...it's going to be a Busy Day!

Love to Ya!

Barb C.

GOLD RUSH!!! Day 1 !!!

I am Up....

And Runnin'!

I've got all the Bigs....in the booth...

Now Totes...of....Smalls!

I'll be working on it...All Day....

It's great seeing everyone... again... Laura...{the Rusty Pumkin} in next to me... She is always so Fun!

Gotta Fly...

Come Visit!

Love to Ya...

Barb C.

Tired....

I gotta tell ya...

I looked at my Old...Cowboy Boots...

I kicked off...

when I got to my room...

and...they...pretty much..said it all...

I'm...Thinkin'...

Really...Thinkin'....

Hope...to see ya... at Gold Rush...

Love...to ya...

Barb C.

Oh...My... Gathered....on the way...to Gold Rush!

Oh My!!! Found some Fun Treasures.... on the way to Gold Rush!!! Love the Bust... she rode shotgun... never once...complained... about my smoking...or...Singing...Loud...in the cab! She's kind of a Prima Donna.... and...Was No Help... Unloading... However... : ) !

Bless her Heart.... : )

{ as I was flying...down the interstate...today...{in the Fuso...and not...the Flat Bed Ford...: ) }this song...came to my mind....'Take it Easy'...Yep......the "Four that want to Own...me..and Two... that want to 'Stone Me' and...One...says... she's a 'Friend'... of mine..."... rang...sooo true... hmmm...... The Journey... : ) }

The Grungy...Old Built in...Iowa Farm Cupboard....Looks...Frickin'....Amazing...  Thanks...to Tim...Laura...and Cindy...for helping me set...the Awesome...Old Darling...on her Feet..... LOVE HER!!!!

The Bust is dated 1867.... but...the woman I bought her from...said she dated from around 1910...and was from a Prominent...Estate in Wisconsin! 

Who Knows??? all I know...is she is My New Best Friend!

I have Tons...of Smalls...to Unpack!

The Doors Open...at 8:00... for You...and Me!

Come Dig!

Hope to See Ya!

Love...to Ya!

Barb C.

I also found this...Early 1900's Tin Silhouette... Running Horse...Weather Vane.... He was Mounted on a Barn...in Northern Iowa.... Oh  My... He's a little over 3 feet wide...and still has traces..of old paint... they had him Harnessed up! Very...Very....Gnarly....

I lugged...a Load...of Concrete in ... and Massive Cupboards....

I'm gettin' 'er Done!
Take it Easy...
Love...to Ya!

Gold Rush!!! Here I Come...! and a Visit...from The Canadians!

The Canadians!!! Ayyyy!
They Marveled...at 'The Queen'...
As they walked inside...The Rabbit Hole...they asked..."So...where is it...you hide the Fairy Dust...that Showers us... as we come inside".... Too...Funny....Love...Love...Love...The Canadians...

Had a Long...Hard Day...Loading...and...I am...Beyond....Tired...

Holy...Smokes...

The Beautiful...Sunbury Sign was picked up...this Morn...and it was Soooo nice meeting The Sweet...Sweet Folks...from The Historical Society.... Good People....

Then...The Canadians....oh my...what can I say...about those...Wonderful...Crazy...Girls.... I do Love them so...They Treated me to Lunch...and we had a Lovely...Visit....

I have a Heavy Load...on The FUSO... and... The Boys....got the muffler fixed...and the running lights working...and...said...they didn't know I needed help yesterday...... they would have come...right away...had I asked... {I guess...I thought...when they saw me struggling.... they would have offered.... my mistake... : ) }

oh well...

I tend to get a bit...RAW...when I am tired...and Frankly...I am...beyond...tired...

Actually...I am...over the Rainbow... at this point....

I'll be on my own...this time... and that's o.k.

It's a lot of work...getting the Big Dawg's...off the truck...and situated...then...there is...all of the Concrete... and...the massive amount...of totes...

oh my...

But... it's all good...

as Everyone....always says...

" You can do it...you always..do..."

Yes... I always..do.... : )

I am so looking forward...to seeing my Minnesota Friends...

What a Wonderful... Wonderful Group....of People...

I have laundry goin'... and bags to pack...

Hope to see ya...at Gold Rush!

Love...to Ya!

Barb C.

This is 'Alice'... {far right} she fell down the Rabbit Hole.... with her Sis...and Daughter...Susie...I gave Alice...this Vintage Night Gown... that has...'Alice'...hand stitched...on it.... I so Love...These Girls.... I Truly Do!

Sweet Dane...and Audrey! {Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats! } They Wished me A Happy Birthday....Sunday...and brought me DELICIOUS..... CUPCAKES!!!! Oh My!!!! They are The BEST!!! LOVE 'EM!!!! {Audrey...and Dane...too... : ) }



A Busy...Busy...Day...today... Whew!

I'm Loading Away!

Friends...poppin' in....

and PROJECTS...to get DONE...

I have No Idea...what is all going on the truck...

Concrete...Cupboards...Architectural...Garden...Primitives.... and...who knows...WHAT!!!

I'll keep throwing it on...'til...me...or the FUSO...have had...ENOUGH!

Hope to see ya at the Show...

GOLD RUSH...

FRIDAY. SATURDAY and SUNDAY

OLMSTED COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA!!!!

{only 180 miles North of Cedar Rapids, Iowa}

{This is a Great Show...and HUGE! I'm in Grahm North...on the Back Wall....Come...Visit!}

I ain't askin' nobody for nothin'....if I can't get it...on my own....

I learned something...today...

A valuable... lesson....

Sometimes.... The More you give... the more people expect...

I had run my butt off...this morn....{Mom's business... bills...ect...} then knew...I had to unload the Huge Pass Through Cupboard...for Gold Rush....and...get another...heavy Dawg...out of the back green house....{it took 3 of us...to get in...} and...remove the back of the green house...in order to get the Pass Through inside.... {it's 36 inches deep...5 feet wide.... and...Big...All Over...}

Eyes watched me struggle....but never offered to help....

in fact...they went out of their way...to avoid helping...

Ya know...I do...an awful lot....for those...eyes...and pay them...very well...

Those days...are over....

I moved everything...by myself....

and...I'll never ask...for their help...again...

and... they...can do the same... I'll help them....just...as they helped me...today....

I ain't askin' nobody...for nothin'...if I can't get it on my own...

and...I can...get it...on my own....

and...did...

This is the Massive Top...for the Pass Through...
I slid it out of the FUSO... and carted it...on a 2 wheeled Dolley... then...Woman Handled...it....

The base...was tricky... I had to wheel it down... then find something as tall as a steel post....in the doorway...{24 inches....or so....the post would have gashed the top of the cupboard...without it...} I found a little table... threw a rug over it...flipped the Massive Base...on it's top...and slid it through..the tight doorway....I prayed the little table...could hold the weight...{at least...300 pounds... } it did...until the very end...then...the poor little legs...let go....but thankfully...held long enough....to get the cupboard...inside....Bless it's little Heart...}

I'm angry... and hurt...

but...mostly....done...

I break...my back...to keep Everyone.... alive....

I'm done...

Love to Ya...

Barb C.

They can leave...this long haired...country girl...alone.....

{ I will have to admit...I asked the Lord...for Help...with this One.... I Prayed...before I tackled It... I have seen Big Men...Buckle... and Bow...to This Dawg... But... The Angels...and I... we... made it happen...so...I do ask...Someone...for Somethings...and...He Never...Lets Me Down! The Load...was Light...and Swift...}

Jethro...oh....my....Love...to Watch Him....Strut....

Jethro...is wearing His New BLING!!!

John fitted him...with a little 'Eye Candy!"...

Window...and Side Louvers....

Holy Smokes...

He Likes to Strut!

He is Very Thankful...and says so...every time...I start him up..

In His...Wonderful...Gravelly....Growly....Voice...

Just think...if it weren't...for the talent...in John's Hands...

He may still be in a Bone Yard....somewhere...

Yes...Jethro...is very...Thankful....

Sweeeet!

Love...to Ya!
{Quite a Leap...from Alison Krauss...to 'Strut'...Bob Segar... kinda like getting off of a  Sail Boat.........and....into.... Jethro...oh my...a bit of a Shock...to the system........ : ) } { This...song...Fits..the Old Boy....}

Barb C.

A.... Lovely....Day....

Had a Lovely Time...with The PEO Group... There were about 40... Ladies.. and they were all so kind.... They served a Lovely Luncheon...then....I shared with them...My...Love...of Old.... One Lady...said...I brought tears...to her eyes... but...I also made them Laugh.... and that's...always...Fun! I think...they enjoyed...the Old... Soulful...Treasures.... I know....I did.... As I went through the Old Cupboards...pulling, some of my most, Dear Things...to my Heart... It felt so good.... It's been way too long...since I have been able...to Play...with my Toys...
What a Treat!

I threw on a dress... for the presentation...and...dress shoes... oh my.... by the time I got home...I wanted to cry.... my foot...hurt so bad.... but the only shoes I can wear...are my Old Cowboy Boots...and I couldn't get all of the What Cheer Mud...off of them....They are pretty...bad.... so... I hobbled up...to the door...of the Rabbit Hole... and...there...was a Beautiful Bag...hanging on the door...with these...BEAUTIFUL...Vintage... In Perfect Condition.... Cowboy Boots...That Fit Like a Frickin' Glove!!! A Gift...from Son in Law...Nick!!! I slid those Babies on...and wore them the rest of the day.... with.... my Dress!!! Love 'Em!!! { Nick...too! } What a Doll!!!! Ahhhhhhhh... { sigh.......}

The First Daisy..... Just outside...the door... a Volunteer... What a Lovely...Lovely...Gift....
I'm working in, and around the shop...today...
Gold Rush! This Weekend!

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

Filled...with... Daisies!

Love to Ya!

Barb C.