As I was headed Home...from my Amazing...Botanic Garden Get Away...
and... Lovely Stay...in Davenport...at The Hotel Blackhawk...
I was encouraged...by the young man...at the Coffee Shop...to check out...
'Riverbend Antiques'
He said...it was one the Largest Solely Owned... Antique Shops...in the Country...
I Believe...that is True!
Holy Smokes!
I arrived early...and waited....
I thought about heading home... but...after window...peeping...
Jethro...and I decided to stay...put...: )
I'm so...Glad we did!
What a Journey!
I Totally...Clicked...with Ron...
I gathered...some Darling...Soulful...Treasures....
A Big...Chandelier...
That...Awesome Victorian...Chip Carved Mirror...
{a Gift...for Mark...for Helping...so Much...at The Tag Sale!}
and...The Gnarliest...Worn...Velvet Covered...Organ Stool!
oh my!
But...The Best....'Treasure'...was meeting...The Catman...
He is such...a Soulful...Man...
Tells it like...it is..
a Straight...Talker...
I...Like That...!
He is also...a Huge..Animal...Lover..
I Love That!!!
yes...we Hit It Off!!!
He took me through his Buildings....and Beautiful... Hibernian Hall...
Ron...refers to it... as his...
'Man Cave'!
Oh My...
I went up...on the Choir Loft...and gazed...
It was...Incredible...
On his brochure... it says..."250,000 Items... in 4 Historic Buildings..."
oh my...
{The Buildings... all date...from the mid 1800's... oh my...
Filled with...Soul...}
Ron also... took me for a private tour...of his...Incredible...Home...
What a Gift...
He has walls...covered...with his...Darling Daughter's...Photos...
She is 15...and The Apple...of His Eye...
{as we visited... listening to him...Sing her Praises...
reminded me...so... of another...
Wonderful...Father... I once...knew...
with tears in my eyes...I told him so...
What a Gift... he is...to her...
He sees it...the other way...around...
Trust...Me...
I Know...
He...is...the Best Gift... a Daughter... could Ever...Have...: ) }
Yes...
This...trip...was an...Amazing...'Journey'..
These...Old...Gnarly...Grungy...Soulful...
Treasures...
sure...
have been a Blessing...
in my...life...
and...have taken me...to some of the most...
Wonderful...Places...
and...Put the Most...Beautiful...People..
on my Path...
When you get to Davenport, Iowa...
Stop in...and see 'The Catman'...
Tell him...
Barbara...sent ya...
: )
Love to ya...
Barb C.
| Ron "Catman" Bellomy yes... He's a Cool...Cat! |
| This was the First...thing...that caught my eye...when I walked in... I Had...to get it...for Mark... {if he doesn't like it...I'm keeping it...it is...so...Gnarly!} |
| The Rooms...go...on and on...and On! Several Buildings...Full...and Neat...as a Pin! |
| You Name It...Ron's Got It! He's been here...for 42 years... oh...my... |
| Fun Stuff! |
| Everything...from Upholstered Furniture...to Lighting... |
| oh my.... |
| I Loved...this Amazing...Sofa...and matching Barrel Chair.... Yowza! |
| The Man...Cave... Seriously.. I wanted to Move In!!!! |
| Awesome!!!! |