Pulling Things... Together....

It seems, these days... 

I keep working all the time....

but, am moving in 'Low' gear....

I locked The Ford in 4WD the other day...after loading him heavy with brush....

and, accidentally put him in 4 Low....

: )

I laughed... after I released the clutch and The Ford 'Jumped' to attention...

 then dug in...deep...at a snails pace... 

oh my....

{about snapped my neck! }

: )

 Laughing out loud...stunned...

said....to The Mighty... Little Work Horse....

"Yeah... that's it....: ) The Gear... I'm in, too...Old Boy..."

oh....I'm moving.... but... the World is moving in Warp Drive....

I and the Ford... are in 4 Low.

: )

Guess...the Blessing is...

We are moving... Forward.

: )

Liz, Scarlett... and our Fiend from Wisconsin, Steven....

came out, yesterday... and helped get the Gazebo emptied....and hauled to storage....

Unloaded a trailer.... 

Then... came back, and worked on the trees....

oh my... there were so many broken branches....

Steven... climbed John's Beloved...Oak.... and trimmed.... : )

It looks... Amazing.

What a Beautiful...Gift.

Then...Brandon and I... got the Dancer... Fountain... going...

That was a Mess... {John's Favorite Job... he and I would do...every Spring.... 

{ahhhh... not so much... : ) }

I received a call...as we were cleaning the yard, yesterday.....

I...had to sit down....

Harold... one of the Nicest... Men... I have Ever Known....

{Dwight and Junell Duwa's Clerk.....and Dear, Long Time... Friend... 

'Duwa's Auction' 

had suddenly Passed away....

I... am Stunned....

I'm sure... Everyone is....

He... will be Greatly... Missed. 

oh my.

I remember... having so Much Fun...with Harold... : )

He and I would laugh...and carry on.....

He got the Biggest Kick...out of The Ford... and the Monster Loads...we'd Pile On!

He... was such... a Dear.... Soul.

oh my....

Today....

I keep moving forward....

Much to get done... before  John's Celebration.....

oh my...

Love to you...

and Thank You...

for The Continued Prayers...

Barb C.

As we worked in storage....
Miss. Scarlett... rode the old hand made... Pedal Car....
This was something... I bid on... at The Sale of The Century....
{I bid... High... knowing I'd have commission coming....}
{seems no one else... saw it's 'Wonder'.... }
It's all hand made.... and reminded me... so much, of John...and Dad....
We'll have it at John's Celebration.... : )
I could see... John Building  something like this... for himself... when he was a little boy... : )
oh my.

John's Favorite Tree...
The Old Oak....
The Kids gave him the 'Face'.... Many years ago...on Father's Day...
Liz said... she was surprised, when he placed the face on  the Tree....
requiring him...to put a few nails... in The Old Soul....
{John even hated trimming it... didn't want Anything... hurting.... the Old Oak... : ) }
When we built on...to the House.... John made sure.... we wouldn't disturb... the Old Oak.... in any way....
Mark, stopped by...the other day....
and out of the blue... he said....
"I think.... the last thing John saw... was that Old...Oak Tree..... He gazed at it.... for a moment..... up...into the Branches....
then... his eyes rolled back..... and Barb... I really think... John.... left us... at that moment. "
oh my....
oh...my.

John would have Loved.... the job...Gift... Steven gave us.....
{This is what Steven does for a Living...... he is... 'Good'...at it.... }

oh my.....

This was taken in 2011.....
Harold and I...are at the far left.....
I don't remember what I said.... but he turned Bright Red!
I...LOVED to Spar...with Harold......
{He Sparred Right Back! : ) : ) : ) }
We Shared Many Laughs....
Laughter... is such a Gift.....
I Treasure... the Folks... like Harold.....
{ John...Dad...Mom.... Justin... Liz....Peg....Dwight...Jan.... Mark....Lynn....Cheryl S.  Pattie....Julie...Wanda...Amy... Linda...Rosie...Cindy B. .... Cindy M..... Dale F. ....Michael and Ed... and...so Many... Many...More....
The 'Characters'...
 who have crossed my path...over the years...
on this 'Journey'.... that have given me...
 The Gift...
of ...
 LAUGHTER......
The kind.... of Laughter....
That Leaves You....Breathless....
The Kind...
that makes you Cry! and... unable...to Utter a Word!!!
The Kind...
That makes your Stomach Hurt!!!
oh my....
PRICELESS....
{Don J. is center....Junell and Dwight Duwa, are in the back... Aletha and Renate, are far right.... }
We had just... after a Long... Long Day.... at The Auction.... got The Ford... Loaded...
{then... could barely get out the Door!
I think.... we even had to re arrange.... this LOAD... and contemplated.... letting the air out of the tires!!!!!!
oh my...  : ) Good Times. }
oh my.....
: (
I, am... Stunned.
God Bless.... Harold, and His Loved Ones.....
He will be Missed.

The Celebration of Life...

John Helm's

 'Celebration of Life'

will be held

 Saturday, July 19th 2014

{John's Birthday}

from 2 p.m. 'til 8 p.m.

at our Home 

101 Williams Blvd. Fairfax, Iowa.

Friends and Family are Invited to join us.

John passed away, unexpectedly, on May 25th 2014.

The day John passed...

one of his dear Friends commented...

"John enhanced every life.. he touched."

Truer words were never spoken.

If he touched your life... we hope, you'll join us 

and share your Favorite Memories... of  John with us.

John had a Poet's Heart and an Artist's Soul.

We will have some of his Beautiful Creations, on display.

We will be serving John's Favorite food throughout the day,

feel free to bring a covered dish, if you wish... and visit.

Eulogies will be read at 5 p.m.

Interment will be at a later date.

For more information you may call

Barb at 319 241 1348
{This is posted for The Gazette.... }

The... Dance.

oh my.... : )

I keep workin'.... in the House....

preparing for John's... Memorial....

'Celebration of Life'....

I...want everything... to be... perfect...

for Him.

oh my...

This may be... the most difficult... endeavor... of my life.....

I captured these images... this Evening...

the below....

is how....my eyes... see... everything... these days....

I...so...

miss... my...

Friend. 

Love...to ya...

Barb C.

Numbers....

I haven't mentioned this... to anyone...

not, even Peg... until this morning....

I was racing around... cleaning... house...

Jan and Liz... were coming to help...

I sat down... for a moment, to check my e-mail...

and glanced at the time...

it was 9:11...

I see 9:11... often...

I see it... when I check my cell... when I drive... and... seems most of the time...when I check the time...on my laptop...

It has been going on... for the last three years...

about the time, Peg got so ill....

I never mentioned it, because it concerned me....

It left me... unsettled...

Those numbers... make me think...of the Unthinkable... that September day....

This morning... I couldn't brush it off...

So... I looked online, to see what was said about this....

and... prepared myself... for what ever... I may find...

I was...Pleasantly surprised....

it was all.... good...

Most of the writings...said... The Angels...were trying to get my attention....

'Whispering in my ear'....

: )

Others...described a person, that has those numbers come to them... have a purpose... and... maybe, one door is closing... but a better one... will be opening....

I've never looked into any of this.... before...

but... when this number...wouldn't leave me alone... I had to address it.

It's no Surprise... it's the Angels....

I have called them all in....

Prayers...have sent them... to surround me.

I... over the last many months... have felt 'numb'....

That... isn't a bad thing.

: )

I have been sheltered.... and feel like I'm wrapped in a cocoon...

and, still...able to function... 

That... is a Miracle....

I...am Blessed....

When folks...have asked me, what they can do for me....

the first thing... I say....

"Pray"...

They... always look a little... disappointed....

oh my....

It Is The Prayers... and Angels... that have 'Kept'... me.

What a Gift... Priceless...Gift... Prayer and The Angels...sent... are.

When Peg, called this morn... 

She was so... sad.... and crying.... wishing So... she could be here with me...

: )

I said... "Girl...You Are Always... With Me"....

I, then shared the 911.... information with her.....

she got chills... and the hair on her arms...stood on end.

We Must...Stay Positive....

Be Thankful... for All of The Blessings....

There are...Many.

She called me back... a little later... and Thanked me... for sharing this all with her...

and helping her... find 'Patience'...{something...we both struggle with...}

 and see the Gifts... Blessings...that are around us....

I called her back...this eve....

I thought about her Birthday...I missed...

and mine... the numbers...

I was born on 5/6/63

5 and 6 are 11...

6 and 3...

are...

9.

: )

Love to ya... 

Barb C.
{I found a Sympathy Card... in the door... the other day.
It was from Nick, a Jehovah's Witness... who has stopped by... when he saw me working outside....
We always...have such Beautiful Conversations.... : )
He is such a Kind...and Gentle... Spirit...
I...asked him...to please... Pray for John... and 'Keep' him....
He was so... Happy to do that...for us...
God Bless Him.... : )
I, have studied... and visited...in Many... Churches...throughout my life....
including The Jehovah's Witnesses....
and ultimately... find myself... simply, in The Lord's... Hands...
John and I... are Christians... but.. we never belonged to any organized religion....
That is our way....
We love.. appreciate... and respect.... Everyone....
We are all... on this 'Journey'....
Together...
and are All... God's... Children....
I began thinking... of all of the Wonderful... Chaplains.... that Prayed... over John...and Mom...
{along with me... and over me... : ) }
There were Ministers... Reverends...from many... different denominations....
that...somehow... 'found' their way... to us...
oh my...
: )
God... Bless Them....
and... the Angels... Sent...
Through... Prayer...
Love...and Light. : )
Love You. }
I decided to post The Above Tune....
because... it reminds me... of John and my...relationship...
{except, we always had my Dad's Blessings....}
I... am no Angel...never was... never will be...
{but...I Know... God Loves Me... so did John...  : ) }
and why...I feel So Very Blessed...to Have So Many Angels... in my life...
oh my.
: )
 I love...the so called... 'Bad Boys'...
 why...?
 because, I see how Good... they Really Are!
{It's the 'Good' boys... your Mama should worry about... : )
The Bad Boys... have Hearts of Gold...
 and are Marshmallows... inside...
God Love 'em! }
{and...It Never...would have been a 'Bike'...
Mustang... Camaro... Firebird... Trans Am...
but...
Never... a
Bike.
: )
and... Never... would a Bible... hit the ground... from my...hand. ever. : )}
Below... is some, of what I found... about seeing the repeated number...
of...
911....
and some... of what I read... to our... Peg.
{click on the image...to enlarge... : ) }
Please... keep her...
in Your Prayers... too....
<3

--

Patience.... {I don't have time...for that... }

I put... my Business Hat on today...

and was ready to take on the World...

Only to find...

The World.... wasn't ready for me.

Again...and again... 

I was asked to be... 'Patient'...

oh my....

That Is a Tuff... request.... to honor....

I'm always... calculating...when being backed into a corner....

My friend, Mark.... is a Very Good... Pool Player....

I, said to him....

Life, to me... is like shooting a game of Pool....

Always thinking ahead...right from the 'Break'...

It's not just the obvious shot... you have to consider....

it's the ones..after, you have to think about... too...

before you take that 'easy' shot....

You may get one ball in... then leave yourself... with no other options....

It's the same in Chess.... Checkers... Cards...

and...Life.

I know, rushing into decisions... isn't a wise.... move....

just to get the Game... done.

It's just so difficult... not to pick up the Eight Ball... and Fling it Out The Window....

when the 'game'... gets so.... Insane.
{especially......when you are playing... 8 Tables... all at the same time.... }

oh my....

I'm turning my energy... towards John's Celebration of Life...

 {The 19th of July is John's Birthday...
We're having it....

 here at Home....
{4 p.m. 'til 8 }

I...want to make things... Beautiful... like he...was.... 

and Show...Folks... what This... Amazing Man... did... with so little.....

Everyone... is Invited. }

Mom's Gathering... will be the following Saturday, the 26th....

: )

I'll have more than...enough... to keep my mind... occupied...

and...won't have to have too much 'Patience'....

it'll be more about...

'Gettin' 'er... Done'...

I prefer that way of thinking....

just... keep...

'Running those.... 'Tables'....

Love...to ya...

{and Thank You...So Much....for the Continued Prayers.... : )
Keep 'em Comin'!!! : ) }

Barb C.

I unloaded the Ford... from The Sale...
{Old Ceiling Tin.... and Loads...of Gnarliness...}
 outside...and in the Shop.... then...got all the Brush...picked up, and loaded, yesterday....
Then... when I went to dump it... in the Brush Pile.....
the ground was too soft.... and I had to straddle the the Huge Ruts...
 the man made, when he got his car stuck ... last week....
I backed the Ford in...a couple of different directions...  they were both... risky....
I opted, to wait... until it dries out...a little.... and have one of the Boys... guide me in....
I Don't want to bury... the Ford... up to his axles....
hmmm....
guess... I do... have a little...
Patience... after all...
who knew?

Dreaming was as Easy as Believing It was Never Going to End...

I.... hate the Night....

Last night...I sat at the old... Table....

Thinking...

and.... Sobbing......

So...many things...on my mind...

John... oh my... we never saw this coming....

I'm a Dreamer... John was too... : )

I'm glad...we didn't see this... coming...

The last days...were filled with 'Hope'....

I'd change...Nothing...

for that Priceless... Gift.

: ) : ) : )

Then felt a nudge...on my hand.

It was Phil... John's favorite Kitty.....

He kept... nuzzling my hand.... and gently... nipping... my arm.

The Cats.... were John's....

I change their boxes... and feed them....

but...make no mistake.... John was King in their eyes....

: )

They haven't come around... much, since he went 'Home'....

Critters... Mourn...too...

It was a Gift... having Philly... come to me... last night.

It truly was.

I Thank God... for Sending... His four legged...Angels... to me throughout my life....

They have 'saved' me.... over and over.....and...are now.

I sit here, this morning... trying to figure out... how... I'm going to get everything handled....

{bills... bills...bills....}

With everything else... spinning around....

Getting through the Long...Winter...

Mom and John's... awful last many months....

doing shows... to keep the Wolf Back....

The Sale.... here at Home....

The Big Sale... that required me to be 'gone' for an entire month....

just after John...went 'Home'...

The Flood.....

now...

John's Celebration of Life....

 Getting the Yard...and House done...for that...

 My Sister and Brother in Law... coming that week...and staying here...for Mom's...

the Following week...

oh my...

{I am so far behind...on everything... oh my....}

Yet...all I can think about... and have thought about....since February...

 are the Medical Bills...

and... maybe...not having a Home....

The Dr.'s kept saying.... throughout John's stay....

when I reminded them...Over and Over....

John doesn't have insurance....

they said... over and over...

"Don't worry about the Bills"....

I...was worried... about the bills....

John...said... he knew I could figure it out....

They assured us... it would all be...'fine'...

It's not 'fine'... and they want their money....

So... today... I'll work on the yard... then...the house... this evening...

Tomorrow...I'm putting on a different hat....and make some visits....

I want to get a handle... on these Mountains... and see...exactly where we are at....

then....

I'll do whatever it takes... to chop that Mountain...down to size...

{short of losing the things...John held...most dear. 

As long as I have a Breath...in my Body... I won't let that happen.... }

I'll do whatever it takes.....

I'm not good...at this kind of stuff....

It's not...my 'Long Suit'....

but...it seems... the people... I had thought, knew what they were doing....

and trusted them...on our behalf...to handle it...

didn't...

{and...it was their...'Long Suit'...}

but... like John said...

'You'll figure it out'....

yup...

That I will...

Pray for me....

I Need All The Help I Can Get....

Our Lives... Depend...on It.

Love...to You...

Barb C.

Angels....
It kept running through my mind... last night...as it has... for months....
where will they go... if I can't keep the 'Ship...afloat' ?
What will happen... to our Beloveds....?
This Morning... I thought....
I don't have a choice... I Will... keep this Ship... Upright....
too many Angels.... are depending on me.... : )
both...
Two Legged... and Four Legged.
Get 'er Done.

Groundhog Day....

I spent the day.... the 4th....

working on the yard....

This place, looks like a Jungle.

Being gone for a month.... and with all of the rain....

oh my...

as John would say...

"This Yard... is Getting Out of Hand."

It truly was...

Brandon, kept it mowed....

but...oh my... the wild grapes... and Mulberry trees... along with Everything else....

has had free reign.

Liz and Scarlett came out... and helped, too.....

: )

We took a 5 mile detour...to get across the creek.... and unload the Ford... so I can load brush....

It's piled... everywhere....

I have things, on the Ford...to unload, here, before I can load brush... but today, it's raining....

so... I'll work in the house...

Many mountains, here to move, as well....

I left a comment... on FB this morning...about...'Life'...as I know it...

these days...

oh my.

John replaced my stolen ring.... years ago.... with a Garnet...

The Beautiful...Ring......
doesn't look so pretty... on my left hand... these days....
At least, my hand isn't purple... anymore...
It's still swollen... but has turned... green.... and yellow...
It's on the mend....
I can... grasp things... now...
My right arm... was doing better... until, yesterday... when I moved a concrete birdbath.... and heard it 'Pop'...
and give way....
Liz and I... had quite a time... moving mountains yesterday...
If... I keep my arm wrapped... and completely straight.... I can lift a ton....
just can't do any 'curls'.... my elbow.... tendons... are gone.
for...now.
{I fell...when running to Scout...the night of the flood... a week or so... ago.... oh my... this poor old body... of mine.... : ) I...ask an awful lot...of it.... I...hope....I can give it... a few...easier days.... for a while... }

He loved Red... and things, that sparkled....

I quit wearing it...a couple of years ago... when the band...that I had bent...crushed...and had worn so thin...had broken...in two....

I slipped it on...last night....

oh my...

{a Man...who duct taped his shoes... and wore threadbare... 'T' shirts... bought me... this beautiful ring.... }

The nights...and mornings... are the worst....

I rarely use the word 'hate'....

but...

I 'Hate'... Night time.....

and Mornings....

I work... and work...and...work... throughout the day.....

even then... it's so...difficult...

There are so...many 'Firsts'....

Like...yesterday...

It was the First 4th of July.... without John....

oh my...

As I trimmed... the trees... I trimmed where John had... last year...

It was the First... trimming... without him....

When I picked up...a belt, for the mower....

day before, yesterday....

I couldn't hardly walk inside the store....

The last time... I had... was just a couple of months ago... John was with me....

I remember that day...like it was...yesterday.

We had just come from the D.Q. {his Favorite Stop... after his treatments...}

He, sat in Jethro... and visited with a man.... until...I had taken too long... because they couldn't find the right belt.... I looked up...and John...was slowly walking inside... hanging on...to the new...John Deere mowers.... {he was so....weak}.... making his way...to the counter.... to help....

oh my....

Every morning... it's the first... morning... since, yesterday....

I knew, John wouldn't be here....

The only time.... I get any relief, so far... is when I sleep....

but... then... when I wake up....

for a split second...

I feel.. relieved .... It Was All...a Bad....Dream...

: )

then...

in a blink of an eye....

I realize... it Is...a Nightmare.......

but...

a Real... one.

It's like the movie...

'Groundhog Day'....

This day... keeps repeating itself... over...and over....

At Night....

when the 'world'...stops spinning.....

before... I find my bed....

is the second... 'Worst'....

it's then... I feel most...alone.

Thank God...for the Critters....

Friends.. would be there... at a moments notice....

but... what could they do....

but feel...sad... too....

I'd never put any of this... on them.

They have enough... themselves....

The Kids... are Fighting their...own Loss... and Grief.

oh my....

The Blessing is.... I am numb....

Seems...everything...is coming at me... so fast and sharp.....

I feel like a human dart board....

but...I 'feel' none of it....

I...just walk on.

The Bill Collectors.... Flood... People.... they don't faze me.....

not anymore.....

{I appealed...Medicare's waiting period.... {per The Hospitals request... {even tho...I was told by The Social Security Office...it would be Fruitless... when John was in the Hospital...} only to find out... I had waited too long, to 'appeal'...seems there is a limit...on that too....

oh my...

I said... to them... "I am appealing it...anyway... and...Beg...You... to Please.... pick up...just March through May.... "... {I wrote them a long letter.... John...was eligible... and entitled... he just filed... late.... now... I guess... we are two peas in a pod... He took bad advise.... so did I... from the Social Security Office... and from a Legal Source... guess... that was my... mistake. I also...trusted them... }

I'll just keep putting the fires out... until...I can't...anymore.

It's...the Memories....

that are the Most... Painful....

They have a Razor Sharp... Arrow....

and find their way.....past and through...all of the others...and go straight...to my heart....

They...carry with them....

 'Loss'...

and knowing.... I'll be alone... the rest of my life.

Even...when...I'm surrounded by people....

I'm alone... and always... will be.

The void...in my life... is beyond... my comprehension...

I...have suffered.... 'loss'... in my life....

but nothing... compares...to this.

 I'll just keep on working....

I can do that....

I have no choice....

I only...wish... the days... wouldn't have a beginning... or an end....

then...I wouldn't have to stop...at all...

Love to ya...

Barb C.



We are Mighty Proud... of that Ragged Old...Flag.

The Sale of the Century... in a Nutshell... and...on Every...Level. {more images coming soon... : ) }

The Great Staff...from The Machine Shed Restaurant, Jan, Mark...and Lynn....
Moved Mountains from eight storage locations... over two days....May 26th and 27th....
I...could not be there to help....
with the unimaginable... that had transpired, here... at home.....
but.... they kept me updated....
and said.... they were a bit worried.... as the piles... were being mounded...in the Huge... Old Hanger....
yet...space was dwindling....
I arrived... on the 28th...
looked inside....
and saw...exactly what I had expected.
I knew... this was going to be a Whale... of a Sale....
the first time... I peeked into each  storage area.... and calculated... what was there....
oh my....
I also knew... what kind of a 'job'... it was to be....
and had no doubt... it would get done.
and... it did.
Thanks... to a Dream.....Team.
God Bless Them All...

Everyone... Busted their Butts....
I knew... I had The Best... at my side.......
no...worries....
From the beginning....
Denny... said....
{The Man...who was put in charge... of helping with this move.... }
"I am at your disposal.... what ever you need... or want.... consider it... 'done' "
{I...can't tell you... what a Gift... that was... I told him that... over and over..... I have never had...that kind of help.... in my life.... I think... I even saw a Halo... around his head... a time or two... oh my.... }
Along...with the Wonderful...'Clerks'... who handled ALL of the Book Work... oh my... What a Huge... Gift... That Was!!! 

Jan... worked...Tirelessly....
I drove back and forth daily.... {3 hours a day... every day... for weeks....} Jan was there... before I arrived... and worked until... I was ready to head home....
She set displays... over and over.... and over.... as we kept pulling more and more...then...more.....
{I have to say.... I am usually... in charge of all of the 'set up'.... and...when I have 'help' with 'set up'... I usually... re set...  other's displays.... {I don't mean to hurt feelings... but... I have a certain way...of 'seeing' things.... and it drives me Crazy... when things aren't just.... the way...my mind... envisions them....}
I don't say this... about myself... but, to get the point across..... I will....
'I...am Good... at what I do.... some, would say.... very good.... and... if I see...something 'out of place'.... I...move it. '
Not...with Jan.
I had no problem... standing back.... and letting her, take The Lead.
why?
Because I know.... I'm pretty good...
I also know...
She is The Best.
The Best... Designer... I have Ever Seen... {and...I know Many.... from all over this Country.... Coast to Coast. }
I... was Honored...and felt...Privileged... to work under her.

yeah.... there was something...for Everyone.....

We....sold...and sold....and sold.... oh my........

This was one of Jan's....Dolls...

Jan made several of these... years ago... all by hand....  they sold all over the world.... 

Our First Arrivals... : )

They and their Husbands... stayed the night... oh my... : )

Julie...and Kenny Moore... popped in... then brought their Box Truck...back...
: )

Levon....
oh my...
He was the Highlight...of the Sale....
He called me... 8 times... before the Sale...
{on the morning he arrived... he called at 6:30 a.m. I was Not Coherent... He wanted directions...
Seriously... I couldn't find my way to the Coffee Pot.... that Morning... : )
He found his way.... : ) }
and kept asking me questions....
He's from Indiana....
and couldn't be here the first day.....
He kept saying... with each call....
"Aw.... You Know....You are Making Me Crazy!!!! You Know...You Are Making Me Craaaazy!!!"....
I loved it... : )
He was Such...a Cool Cat.... and FUNNY!!!! oh My!
He Cracked Me Up!!!!
He Bought...Tons....
then...sent his Equally... Fun... Brother... 'Harry'... back to buy the 'leftovers'....
oh my....
Love These Guys!!!

Cindy... : ) She and Tom...came and Helped... Loads....
oh my...
Writing Tickets... was a Huge Job!!!
Love Those Two...
: )

Mark spent many days...helping..... oh my...
and... we had a Lot...of Fun....
When things got down to the wire... I had him help price... we Flew!
He was an Angel.... Is... an Angel... : )

This was our Supper... many nights... oh my... : )

Jan... really worked her Heart out....
and... I think... she Loved...Every Moment....
She can't sit still.....
She and her Friend, Larry.... Graciously... invited us to stay.... with them...
What a Gift... that was....
: )

Our Sisters' Garden... Buddies...
Love These Girls..... : )

Jan signed and dated, her signs.... She is an Amazing Artist... and Blows... My....Mind....
Some of her Artwork... was the Top Selling Items... on This Sale....
Amazing...

Liz and Dale F. came and Helped... throughout....
Godsends.... : )

My Farmer...Friend...
Lynn....
: )
He knows 'signs'.... {along with a lot of other...things... : ) }
But... he was Great Help... in Moving... then...Pricing.....
Love Him... and his... Darling... Decorating... Genius of a Wife...
Lea...
Thanks...so Much...to them Both. : )

Levon....
After we visited... for a while.... {I kept calling him... 'Yevon'...I thought that's what he said.... his name was... through my Cell Phone! }
He said.... "Ma'am... you can call me anything you want to... but... my name is... 'Levon'.... : ) "
I about fell over...laughing!!!!
oh my. : )

Jan said... she really... enjoyed helping with this sale.... it was 'closure'... for her....
She had gathered all of these Amazing Things... over the years... and said... it was wonderful.... 'touching'...them...once, again... and seeing Everyone... so Happy.... as they purchased them....
I...know... it was kinda tuff... for her... too...
She did...an Amazing...Job... on Every...Level. 

oh my...
Linda... : ) She... helped too.... and is always... such a Gift to be around....
You put Linda... and her Sis...Rosie... together....
{yeah... she was there too... brought the Wine...Cheese...and Crackers... : ) }
T R O U B L E....
Love 'em... : )

oh my....

This Guy....
really... made me... Smile.

Everyone... was Great... about waiting to check out....
oh my....
There were lines... 30 feet deep...at times... and there was nothing any of us could do.... but... keep writing.
Thank You... Everyone... for being...so...Patient!!! <3

This Family... was Darling... The Husband...is a Tattoo Artist... {Award Winning...} He traded one of the Clerks... a Tattoo... for a Pair of Columns... she bought...
They Both... were Beyond...Excited!!!
{that was a 'first'... at one of my sales... : ) Cool! }

This Sale.... was Something...Else...

on Every Level...

I can't Thank... All... who had a Hand in it... Enough...

It was Grueling... yet... seemed to go together... Very...Well....

I...wish.... some of the Folks... I worked with, for the first time... knew me, from... 'before'....

'Business'... totally took over my mind... and I was focused... very... focused.

{As most everyone knows... I Love...to have a Good Time. }

I...wasn't there... for a good time... I was there... to get a Job...Done. 

and that... I did...

When I saw... so many of my Friends... waiting in line... the first day....

It was difficult....

It would have been... so easy... to stumble......

I...could feel the Love... and Sorrow... they felt... for me...

with every... embrace.

God Bless You All... for Coming...and Supporting... me... and, this sale. 

{and... for 'Keeping'...me... I Hope you All Know...

I Know... What a Beautiful...Gifts...

 I have been Blessed with... having You... as my Friends.... }

There are more images... coming.... but I've had a difficult time, moving them to folders, I can share on Blogger... I'll get 'em... but... it may be a while...

 Life has been a bit... overwhelming... 

these last many days... : ) 

I want to Thank... Everyone...

From Heart of America... and Their Wonderful...Staff... for allowing me to do this sale... for them...

and Helping... no matter...what we needed...

Jan... for... Everything...Everything....

{Larry...for putting up...with us taking over his...'Home'... : ) }

Mark... for helping... on so many levels... : ) : ) : )

Lynn, for Helping Lug... and Haul... and help...Price, then... take care of Folks...

Lea...for Help... Displaying...and cleaning.... oh my...

Daughter...Liz... who Helped... non stop.... either, at the Sale... or at Home....

Dale F. who helped, sell.... and keep the sale rolling....

Colleen F. who helped Promote this Sale... Bless Her Heart....

{So Many... put the Word out... Thank... You! }

The Collector's Journal...{Vinton, Iowa } {Kim and Rita...}

 for doing such a Beautiful...Story, on this sale....

Cindy and Tom.... for Helping with my Books... and writing receipts... oh my... Thank You! 

and...Linda Goldsberry... for Helping with the sale....

and taking so Many... Beautiful... Images... {above... }

Along... with All.... Who Attended....

Angels...
{I dedicate... the above tune... to Everyone... who had a 'Hand'... in this... Mountain.
We all... took it on...
Full Throttle... Wide...Open...
The Only Way... any of us... 'Know'... }

Thank You All...

Love You...All...

: )

Barb C.

{Stay Tuned... I have another Tag Sale... coming in August.... It's not like this... one.... but... it's got some... Wonderful.... Old...Old... Treasures... on it. <3 }

Shoot..... : )

I had just posted a Long... Post.....

about the insanity... of the last 24 hours....

then...

hit a 'wrong'... button...

and...

deleted it. 

oh my.

Know...

we are all... just fine...

: )

{I.... have learned what having one's arms.... being tied behind one's back... really means....

{my arms... are worthless.... for the moment....}

I feel Blessed.... in many ways....

Please...

'keep' me... and all... who suffer... in your Prayers....

You... They....

are what Carry Us...

Thank You...

Love...You...

Barb C.
{check out Barbara Conner on FB for images.... and... updates.... I lost my camera.... and my cord for my phone.... to share images with Blogger.... I'll fix it...as soon as I can.... <3 }