Gettin'...a Little... Christmas... goin'... : )

Much... More... Comin' In...

{oh... dear... : ) }

I'm going to have the Shop...Open...this Weekend...

Gotta!!!

oh...my...

: )

Love to ya...

Barb C.

Let It.....SNOW!!!!! : ) : ) : )

Oh MY!!!

The First...

Snowfall...!!!!!

: )

When I...saw the Beautiful... Snow... Coming Down...
In Huge...Flakes...!!!!
I Grabbed the Camera...
Polly's Leash...
and...Polly...
We Ran out the Door!!!!
I was snappin' pictures...
Of Everything!!!
{I didn't even put my shoes...or jacket on...
I was... so...Entranced... by The Beauty!!!}
Polly was Having a Blast...too...!!!
: ) : ) : )

then... she spied a Squirrel...

I...should have had...
Skis...
: )

I...Wish... you wouldn't.... : )

What a Beautiful Morning....

Sunday's Was...!!!

I worked outside... picking up... Grapevine... we had cut back...

and I cut the Clematis... in the Greenhouse...back....

{It's quite a Monster! }

and piled Bushels...of it... on the Ford...

The Sun...was So Warm...

it was... lovely...

I headed down by the pasture... where I toss... branches... and yard clippings...

As I was working at my job....

Talkin' to Scout a Roo... and Basking in The Sun....

I noticed... on the little road... across the way... by...the little Creek's... bridge...

a Pick up...

sitting...on the shoulder...

I wondered... what that truck... was doing there...

My gut... told me... what... I was pretty sure... it was doing...there...

I thought.... it was probably....

Trappers...

{I don't like trapping...

I have seen too many maimed Critters... from traps...

if...they are lucky enough... to survive... the jaws...

They chew their legs off... to escape...}

or...they were seining... for minnows....

in the little creek... that runs through our pasture...

I thought about it...for  a minute... then... pulled the Ford around...

to talk, to whoever was there...

I pulled up... nose to nose... with the truck... then saw...the people were inside....

so... pulled up...door to door...

with the driver....

He was a little younger than me...I suppose... and I saw...he had a young boy... with...

I thought... probably...his son...

about 12, or so...

: )

I said... "Good Mornin'!"

 he said...

"Good Mornin!" back...

I asked...

"What are you Guys...doin' on this Beautiful Day?"

He said... " Aww.... were runnin' a few traps... : ) "

I asked......

"What Ya Trappin' for?"...

"Aww...Coon...Beaver...whatever..." he said...

I asked...

"What ya gonna do with 'em?"....

He... paused....

looked... ahead... then...back at me...

and said...

"I'm gonna skin 'em...and sell the pelts..."

I looked ahead... then...back at him...and asked him...

"What's a Pelt...worth...these days? : )"...

He sat there... eating a cookie... as he was thinkin'....

and said...

"Well... I guess... I don't know"....

I sat there...for a moment...

lookin' down the road...

thinkin'...

then I said...

"I sure wish... you wouldn't... : ) "

I went on to say...

"I live... right there... and we sure enjoy... watching the Beaver...

 they take care of our... brush...

 and we watch an Old...Ground Hog.. every year... raise her brood...

 We sure enjoy...the Wild Life..."

He said...

"You live here? We aren't goin' on your property.... we go under the bridge...and North... "

I said...

"I see that.... : )

 and... I sure wish... you wouldn't... : ) "

I looked at him... and his son....

and said...

"My Dad.... hunted when he was young.... fished and trapped... too.... it was a way of life....

to put food and money... on the table...

he shared many stories...with me... while I was growing up...

but... I'll never forget.... the day...about 30 years ago...

I went fishin' and caught the Biggest Catfish... I had ever seen..

I was So Proud...of that Fish!!!!

John wouldn't skin it for me...

{He hated cleaning fish....

: ) he catches...and releases...}

I knew my Dad would... so...I proudly...took the Big Fish... to him...

and.. Dad... Cleaned him...

no questions...asked....

When I came back... to get the fish...

Dad handed it to me...

all cleaned...

with tears... streaming down his face...

yet...he was smiling... at me... 

He said...

"That...sure was an Old... Fish....

 I wonder... how long.. he swam that Old River"....

My heart...sank....

That was the last time... I kept a fish....

I went on...to say...

 That was the day... I realized... there comes a time... in your life...

you'd rather see the Beauty... of Nature...

alive...

A Lesson taught... by two... Big...Old... Fish..."

I  smiled... and told the Guys... to have a Great Day....

they said... I should...to.... : )

 and I drove away....

There are some... that are going to say... I stepped out of bounds....

but...

The Critters... don't speak English.... so... I spoke...for them....

Kindly...Quietly... Respectfully...

from my Heart...

That's all...

They...can take it... or leave...it...

John said...

when I shared the story with him...last night....

"Hey... some people have to trap,
 and hunt...to eat... these days... "

I said... I knew that.... and that's why....

I asked the question...

"What's a Pelt worth today?"...

for that reason....

Dad... would have known... before he trapped... to put food...and money on the table...

what a pelt was selling for...

Love to ya....

Barb C.

{I shed... tears... when I think about that day... with Dad... I have few... regrets... in life...

That... is One...

a Big... 'One'...
{The song I posted...really.. was  my Dad... every...word.. : )}

{ Scout a Roo... Sure Enjoyed Sunday...as Well!!!
 and The Apples... Bud and Renate have been Bringing!!! Oh Boy!!!!!!

He's Spoiled...Rotten!!!

Just...as He Should Be!!!

: ) : ) : )  }

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



the simple things...

 

It's the simplest things... in life...

that are so many times....

the ones...that refuse to be ignored...

I thought about that... this Morn...while I was making my way to my Coffee...

as my eyes... once again...

came to rest... on three... old... spoons...

sitting on the kitchen counter...

Several weeks age...

as Maurina and I were... sorting through the 'Mountains'...

in the Hen House...

preparing for the Fall Sale....

I found buckets...of old Flatware...

and began sorting...

and ran across these three...

Old... Tablespoons...

They had lost their shine... long...long...ago....

and there ain't Nothin'...that will ever bring it back....

They have been used...and used.... one... has endured so much stirring....

throughout it's life...

a large portion of it's bowl...is gone....

Though... they were mixed in... with hundreds...of others...

I knew... as I sorted.... these three...

were 'Kin'...

I set them aside....

and then... that Evening...I took them inside the house...

They are the most...interesting...old spoons...

all crusty...

and even...pitted...

yet..still..heavy...in my hands...

as if... to say...

"I still have a lot...left"...: )

I gave them a good bath... (tho, you'd never know it}....

and set them aside....

they sat here... in the kitchen...since...

This Morning...

the Sun....was Shining with such...

Radiance...

and...

Brilliance... 

on the top of the Old Harvest Table....

I thought...

what a perfect... time..to let the Old Spoons...

Shine.... : )

Love to ya...

Have a Great Day...

enjoy this Gift...

you and I, were so...very Blessed... to receive...

and...

SHINE!!!!!

Barb C.

 

 

 

 

Traces...of Christmas... Past....

As I was movin' and shakin'... down the rabbit hole.. yesterday...

I found myself working around an Old...Chest of Drawers....

I've used it as a Work Horse... for Years....

I wondered... if I had stashed... anything inside....

{well...I Knew... I had stashed things...inside it....

I Wondered... 'What'... : ) }

There... tucked inside... every drawer....

was Wonderful...

Vintage... Christmas...

I carefully pulled the Gnarly Old Gift Boxes out....

Gently... opened each of them....

to find... some of my very...Favorites....

The Gnarly... Ones...

The Ones...

I'm sure... I held back... from the totes.... when we packed...Christmas...

many years ago...

: )

I sat on the floor... examining...each one....

: )

That...was my 'Gift'...for the day...

: )

I also, ran across, an article...I had written, 9 years ago....that was published in

The Cedar Rapids Gazette,  tucked in one of the drawers...

I may have posted this... before... I don't remember...

but... This Much... I do...

while...sitting on the floor...surrounded by...

'Christmas Past'....

Things haven't changed a bit....

My Love... Passion... for 'Old'....

Old... Dishes... Tea Cups... Tarnished Silver...

and... Sweet....Little Ornaments....

In the article... I wrote... what a Lovely Gift... to give someone...

Instead of a plastic... tray...

or tin container...

why not pile cookies... or candies.... homemade... or not... 'treats'...

on a Pretty...Plate..or Platter...

Tie a Ribbon on it....

a Sprig... of Green....

and a Little Ornament...

or... a Tea Cup... filled with Chocolate or... Mints...

 and a Tea Bag.... or two...

Greenery.... Ribbon... Ornament....

and...a Darling.... little Tea Spoon!

{ a Monogrammed one...with the recipient's initial... would be Sweet! }

Maybe...add a Vintage Christmas, Post Card...

These are Soulful old things.... that will be used...again... and again...

with...

Sentiment...

They needn't be expensive...

10.00 to 20.00 would make a Lovely... little Gift...

a Treasure....

I'm headed back down... : )

Can't Wait... to Play!!!!

Love to ya!!!

Have... a Beautiful Day...

It's Your Gift!!!!

Barb C.

 

 

Sing!!! Sing!!! Sing!!!!!!

Oh My Gosh!!!

We brought in...The Gnarly...Old...Old... Farm Cupboard...

I found in an Antique Shop...the other day...

this Morn...: )

All....Square Nailed...

Older...Than Dirt...

and...Painted...

SILVER!!!

Whew!!!

oh my...

I couldn't have painted it...

but...

I'm so...glad...

someone...did...

Fifty Years Ago!!!

Cause... It's Gonna SING!!!

With Vintage Christmas...

Down The Rabbit Hole!!!!

{don't you miss... the Open House...

Dec. 6th through 8th.... : ) }

{The Bad Company Song... "Can't Get Enough" came STRAIGHT to my Heart...

when...I thought about... My Day!!!

Lord... I Love...This...Old...Gnarly...Grungy....Stuff... : )

I...Truly...do...... : )

and...I...simply...

Can't Get Enough of It!!! : ) : ) : ) }

 

I found this... Tucked inside a Drawer.... IN... The Rabbit Hole!!!
It's...
EVERYWHERE!!!!
{yes... I found...Much more... than this... little sample... while working in the shop...
and then...
there are...
TOTES...and....TOTES...
Filled...with...Awesome...Vintage Christmas in Storage...
This...Amazing... Gnarliness... Runs....Through...My Veins!!!!
LOVE IT!!!!
 

Whew... What a...Daaaaaay!!!!!

What a Crazy... Day...
I had to pick up...an Old Cupboard...this Morn...
and thankfully... had a Girlfriend... on the bottom of it... as we...took it...one step...at a time...
Up...a Flight of Stairs...
{she's a Brick...House... too... : ) }
I must have looked a SIGHT!!!
I strattled the top... then pulled it up... and back...step...by...step...
there was nothing to get a hold of...
my hands kept slipping....
as I was pulling Up! Up! Up!
then...at the very top...
Lost my balance...
I Plopped...
Flat... on my Butt...
Splatt!!!
nearly doing the splits...
Lord..Thank You...
for not having any Eyes... upon That Sight!
oh...my....
Then... ran into a Friend... I hadn't seen...forever...
I gave him a Big...Hug...
I don't know...exactly what he thought my intentions were...
but...
he stood back...
and Gave me One Back...
and attempted to lift me off the ground!
{seriously...
 not a good idea...
I am... a Brick...House....
My Feet Stayed...Glued... to The Floor...
My Dad... always referred to me...
as a 'Husky Girl'...
he wasn't a kiddin'.... : ) }
My Friend... couldn't...
: )
in an instant...
I thought... I'd return the favor...
and tho... he's a Pretty Stout Lad... at least 6 feet tall...
pretty...Buff...
I lifted him...Clean...off his Feet... : )
He said...
"What do You Have Goin' On???"
well...
I'm a Brick...House...
: )
oh dear...
A friend said... sounds like Dolly...
ahhhh...
Nope...
I don't have Those... kinda measurements...
I'm built... more like a boy...
always have been...
I think God Knew... exactly... what my body... would need to be equipped with...
It has Served me...Well...
No...Complaints...
Husky... and all...
: ) : ) : )
{I'm... working on the soft spots... in the Mortar... : ) }
Hope You... Had a Great Day!
I sure did...
Didn't work in Christmas Land.... but... I did... in the Shop...
to Prepare..
for The Mother Load!!!
Love to ya!
Barb C.

This... Old Darling... turned out... Great!!!!

Can't wait to see the Pie Safe... when it gets done... : )

My Sweet Neighbor...from up the road... called... said she had something for me...
It was This...Darling...Lamp Shade!!!
Love It!
It'll be Fun.. Filled with Old...Gnarly... Silver...Christmas Ornaments!!!
I'll rig it up...so it'll
 Hang...Once Again! 

I walked into the Greenhouse...
this afternoon...
to find...
a HUGE PILE... of Stuff!!!
Things... I didn't Drag...Home!
COOL...THINGS!!!!

I thought...
Who?...Where?...
did this stuff... come from...???

wait a minute...
I Know... that wall hanging....

Then...
I saw the Old... Pillow...
and a Pile... of Candles...
I knew... exactly... where these Wonderful Treasures... came from...
It was... Gerri...
Peg's Mother in Law...
: )
She's moving...
and...Peg's Hubby... Michael...
made a delivery...
I called Gerri... Immediately...
and asked her what I owe her...
She thought...
{silly girl}
because I had helped her... I should just... 'Have'... all of these Treasures...
Ha... Ha... Ha...
Ain't Happenin'!
THIS
Cool Stuff... will be at The Christmas Open House...
with Gerri's NAME... on 'em...
{Love That Girl...: ) }

Then... another Neighbor called...
had some Old...Frames... from her Grandmother's Farmhouse...
She was going to...
'Give'...them to me...
Ain't Happenin'...
I bought them all...
Seriously...
These things.... have value...
and...I'm so Very Thankful...
Folks.. think of The Rabbit Hole...
before they send them away....
But...
Fair...is Fair...
To Them...me...
and...
The Soulfulness... : )

Oh...My....Gosh....
I went to pick up...an Old Cupboard....
and found Three...
Giant Santa Faces...
Now...
as you know...
I Have...MOUNTAINS... of Christmas...
What do I bring home???
MORE CHRISTMAS!!!!
oh...dear...
but... as I always tell Peg....
as she Rolls Her Eyes....
{glad she wasn't with me...today... }
"I don't have any... like... theeeeeeese......" : )
 

oh... my....
{sigh..........}

This Old Cupboard... is...FUN!!!
Older than Dirt...
all Square Nailed....
Someone painted it Silver...
back in the day...
{it used to belong to a Dear Friend... Mary S.
and...now... Me!}
I NEVER...would have painted it...Silver..
But...
What a Great Old...Gnarly...Christmas Cupboard!!!!
so...
I'm Thrilled... someone... did... : )
{It was...kind of a Beast... going up the stairs....tho...
 one...step...
at a time....: )  }

 

 

In the Early... Morning... or... in troubled...times...

I have had youtube issues...

and couldn't post music...

to the blog

the last few days...

and Sure... wanted to post...

the Sister Act Video...

and Shug Avery...

because... in a nutshell...

it sent...a Powerful Message...

When I heard... Whoopi... say..

"O.K. You Guys.. Relax...O.K. Take a Deep Breath... You'll be Fine... Don't Worry...

Ya... Ready?"

as the Children... barely... squeaked... out a tune...

in the Choir...

{like... the Mornings... as I try and take on the day...

or... in...'troubled'...times...}

Then she said...

"Come...Stand... Next to Me"

"You all are goin' to have to do...Better than This"...

"Alright you Guys... Take your Cue from Me"...

: )

She reminded...of what The Lord... whispers...in our...ears...

if... we listen...

and...

I Dance!!!

They Belted it Out!!!

OH HAPPY DAY!!!!

Lalalalala!!!!

Then...in the Color Purple...

Shug Avery..

In The Church!!!

oh my...

My Hands were in the Air!!!

Feet...

Smokin'!!!!

Loved the line...

"Sinners have 'Soul'...too..."

I'll try and post... them both... this morn...

The Color Purple... wouldn't share at all...

yesterday...

but... like I told my friends... yesterday...

If... something wouldn't let me share them... online...

well...

I was Singin' Those Messages...Everywhere I Landed!!!

Oh...Happy Day!!!

Hope You... have a Wonderful Day...

and Belt It Out!!!

Hands in The Air!!!

Feet...

Smokin'!!!

Today Is a GIFT!!!

You...Me...
We...Are... 'The Choir'!!!!

We Are Blessed...to Have This Day!!!

Love to Ya!

{I'm back in Christmas Town...and picking up an Old...Silver...Cupboard...

Today!!!

Oh!!! Happy Day!!!!}

Barb C.

{It was Great...Visting Fern Hill...yesterday... {Patti...Roxanne...and Joey...} then...Smokehouse... Cindy B. and having a chance...to visit...with...Elsie...it was...Good... to hear her...Voice!!!
and...It's Always a Gift...to hang... with...Sweet... Brandon!!!}

 

 



Vintage Christmas Ornaments...Elves... Garland... Wreaths... Cardboard Villages... Lights... Boxes.... Trees...Stacked... 10 Feet...High! oh...my... : )

What a Day!!!

Woo Hoo!!!!

Brandon came out.... and we Plowed through...Seven or Eight...

Big Totes!

Just another... 25 or so... to go....

: )

What Fun...it was to see... this 'Christmas Past'...

Soulfulness...

: )

It's gonna be Bagged....and Priced to Sell!!!

During the Christmas Open House...

December 6th through the 8th!

Here... down the rabbit hole...

I went through my 'Christmas Past'... images...

of the house... and shop... tonight...

oh my...

I do.... Hold Christmas... Near...and Dear... to my Heart...

It's the time...of year.... when...

'Magic'...

 is in the air...

I Love... the Whimsy... of...

Victorian...Christmas...

{Make No... Mistake... I Celebrate...

Christ...

 Every Day... : ) }

Brandon...popped out... and we... Dug!

Our Heads...where...

Whirling...!!!

I won't put any 'Christmas' out... until after Thanksgiving...

That's the Rule...

here...in our Home...

but...

I Gotta Tell Ya!

Playin' with All....of These Wonderful...Toys...

has got me...

ITCHIN'!!!!

: )

I hope... these...old...treasures....

will find their way... into hands...

that enjoy them...

just...

half... as much... as I do...

: )

Love to Ya!!!!

Barb C.

 

 

 

 

 



Oh....Happy Day!!! : )

CHRISTMAS!!!!

oh...

Happy Day!!!!

As I browsed through... images to post...this Morn...

and revisited....The Vintage Christmas...Past...

I felt a Smile... Slowly Climbing from my Heart...to My Face!!!

I'm going to be Playing... in Tons of It... today!

Oh Happy Day!!!!

{Listening to The Sister Act 2... version... of

'Oh Happy Day'....
Then...Throw In...
"God's Tryin' to Tell You Somethin'"...
from The Color Purple!!!
Whew!
Happy Daaaaay!!!!

: )

I was Dancin'...All Over That Kitchen Floor!!!

Hands...In The Air!!!
My Feet Are Smokin'!!!
I Have...Chills!!!
Whew!!!!
LOVE IT!!!
WHEW!!!
: ) : ) : ) }

Happy Tuesday!

To YOU!!!!

I'll have images...this Eve... of 'Christmas.'...

that will be here for The Open House...

Dec. 5 thru 7!!!

Oh...Happy Day!!!

 : )

Love to Ya!

Barb C.
{ Pegadoo... just called... asked...
"What are ya Doin'...Girl ???"
: )
I said...
"I'm Cuttin' a Rug... in the Kitchen!!!"
She said...
"what 'rug'... in the Kitchen... are you cutting???"
: )
I said...
"My Feet Are Smokin'!!!! I'm Dancin'... Hands In The Air.... and...
'Cuttin' The Rug!!!"...
oh dear...
Wish She Was Here!!! }