big fish two roads

My Way-Frank Sinatra with Lyrics

Sonny... {Marion Conner Jr. } my Brother.

This image was taken... two years ago...
I went to The Conner Camp.... at Lake Iowa... Near Millersburg, Iowa.
I spent many Summers... at The Lake... with my Oldest Brother's Family.
Used to ride 60 miles.... on Horseback.... to visit...  : )
His wife... Shirley is nearest in blue....
They had been married over 60 years. : )
They had 5 Beautiful Children... 14 Grandchildren.... and 11 Great...Grandchildren.
 They  were as Close... as any Family... could be. : )
Shirley had ALS... and was an Inspiration... to us all.
She couldn't speak... on this date... but... she used an erasable board.... and was on her I Pad.... all the time.
She went 'Home'...just a little over a year ago.
I visited with Sonny... around Christmas.
We talked...for an Hour... or better. : )
{Us Conner's tend to be a Bit...Long Winded.... when you get us goin'.... }
Seems... we had much to talk about... and in common... on this last visit.
We'd both... Lost... our Soul Mates.
and 'Understood' each other... maybe... like never before.
He also said something.... about his Children.... when I said I admired... how Close they all are....still.
He said... "When they all started School..... I told 'em...
 If One....comes home with a Black Eye....
They better All Have One!
 No matter what the'Beef' was... 'Right or Wrong'...they need to take care of each other!"....
We Laughed!
He and Shirley Married when they were Young Teenagers....
Sonny was so much...like our Dad....
{It bothered me...sometimes...to see him....
and... 'hear'... him....
they looked and sounded..so Much alike. }
He was, also.... a
Hard Worker... and could do anything... he set his mind to.
He worked all of his life... and enjoyed his Life.... to The Fullest.
Family... Hunting... Fishing....
oh my.
Sonny died in a car accident, yesterday..... while coming home, to Millersburg....
from Camping with his Son...John.
My Heart... Breaks... for the Family.
Please... 'Keep' them... in your Prayers.
Love... to ya...
Barb C.
{They are having a Gathering at Lake Iowa, on Thursday.....
so...
the rabbit hole... will be closed. }

As I visited with Cathi.... Sonny's oldest Daughter... this morning.....
I told her... I was still.... in 'Shock'.
My Dad... and Hers... were such... 'Survivors'....
They both 'Pushed the Envelope'.... more than anyone... I have ever known....
but...
they always.... came out on top....
Always...
except... once.
That 'Once'.....
was....
 28 years ago.... for my Dad....
and...
Yesterday...
 for Hers.
I had to play....
'My Way'...
in Memory... of Sonny.
: )
He Lived....
He and Shirley... were Snorkeling not long ago...
They went to Alaska....
They Hunted... and Fished... together...
oh my.
Sonny was an Over the Road Trucker....'Owner Operator'
 {My Dream... tho.. he discouraged me... when I was young. : )
Said..."It was No Way...to make a 'Living'...  : )
{I Think... our Dad... sent him to 'talk' to me... : ) }
I said... "Well.... looks like this Old Freightliner's been pretty Good to You... and Your Family... : ) ".... }
He worked on his Trucks.... did all of his own repairs....
He... like Dad... {and John... <3 }
could do.... Anything.
Anything....
but...
They Always... Did It...
Their...Way. <3 <3 <3 }

How do I live without you w Lyrics Trisha Yearwood

Open Today... from Noon 'til at least 5. : )

It's been a Bit... Insane... these days....

but... 

I'll be working down the rabbit hole.... from Noon 'til 5 ish....

Today. 

It's a disaster.... so... you'll have to dig.

: )

Love, to ya...

Barb C.

{I hope to be open tomorrow... from 12 'til 4. : ) }

Kenny Chesney - Wild Child

Wild Children... May God... Bless 'em.

My Pal, Brandon... sent a message last night...asking if I was heading to What Cheer....today.

I'd thought about it... but... there is so much, coming down... I didn't know if I was going to go.

Then... I thought... why not. : )

Miss. Scarlett...Liz... Brenton.... {one of Liz's 'Angels'... }bailed in The Old Gypsy...
with Brandon... and myself...
 this Morning.

{Climbed...Up...and In... : ) }

We all... Bounced Down the Road..... to What Cheer. : )

It was so Great... seeing Everyone.

Always...is. : )

I Love What Cheer.... 

Free Spirited... Gypsies..... are abound. <3 

I...really don't need a thing... but gathered a nice load. : ) 

The Best... 'Thing'... I Gathered... were Smiles.... from such Wonderful.... People.
Free Spirited....
 'Wild.... Children'.....

: ) : ) : ) 

Love to ya...

Barb C.

{ Many Trucks were still pulling in...

 The What Cheer Flea Market runs through Sunday.... : ) }
{Google It.... You'll get all of the info. : )
You'll have a Good Time.... there. : ) }

{ Love... Love... Love... the Song...... I posted above.

oh my... 

I dedicate it to...

 All... of The Beautiful...

 'Wild Children'...

 I have been so Very Blessed.... to Know.....
 have Known...
 and...

been Loved... by.... throughout my life.  }

my little 'treasures'... of the day.
What is it... about these... Old... Gnarly... Toy Trucks?
oh my....
: )
They.... 'Melt' my heart. : )

yes....
There is.... No Place.... like... Home.
the rabbit hole
{I always..... seem to wander.... trying to 'find'... inspiration.
yet...
when I get 'Home'... I find... there truly... is No Place... like Home. : ) } 

Gnarly... Old Bikes....
Vintage... Wheels.....
and... a
Stairway....to Heaven.
: )

Handmade.... Planters....
 {The Ladies... who made these... and planted them up...were soooooo..... Precious.}

Daughter, Liz....
She put this shed up for me.... the other day... all by herself. : )
She is.... her Father's Daughter. <3
I looked at her... yesterday... and Thanked her. : )
Thanked her... for Never Leaving my Side.
When I look through the phone.... and the numbers.... that have called....
Hers... is there... 10 to 1. <3
: )
oh my.... What a Gift.... She has been... in my life. <3 <3 <3 

Peg gave me these paintings... a while back.
She did them... in 1977.
oh my.
oh.....my.
: )
I'd say... the Girl... has Talent. : )
I have been so...very Blessed... to Love...
and have been Loved... by the  Most...... Amazing...Artists.
John.... had such a Gift..... too.  : )
They, are Free Spirits....
'Wild.... Children'....
I, can't begin... to put into words... how they Inspire me.
{and... the Best Ones... are so Humble. oh my. } 

Liz, Miss Scarlett and me....went to visit The Farmer's Wife... the other day.
I have been wanting to get there...for years.
It's Darling. : )
I found this bottle of Wine... that is made near Anamosa, Iowa.
It was Very Good.
: )
{I...Love the Label. : ) }

As the Girls... were leaving.... I walked them out....
we were Showered... by This Amazing.... Rainbow. : ) 

I caught a little flack.... over the height.... of the Old Gypsy... today.
But...
not too much. : )
These Folks....... 'Get It'...
What a Gift.... that... is. : )
{I told my 'Riders'... on the way Home....
 "I think.... The Old Gypsy.... is Happy.... in her new Home. : )
She... just.... seems to 'fit'.... " ... <3
Guess... there is something.... about being Too Big... or...Too Small...
down...
the rabbit hole. : )
However...
Those who dwell there... never seem to notice. : )  } 

Almost Home

Summer... down the rabbit hole.

I spent the HOT weekend.... working down the rabbit hole....
oh my...
it's quite a sight.
The last two sales.... took me in other direction....{Tents...Gazebo... Yard... and... several road trips... to gather things, that had to be gathered... THEN. }
 Thankfully Peg...and Liz.... {Katie, too...} did their best... to pull the rabbit hole up....  oh my.
{I nearly... locked the doors... but, I thought people would rather 'dig'.... than be locked out. }
yes....
It's quite a sight.
Indeed.
: )
but... little by little.... I'm gittin' 'er done. : )
The Currier and Ives picture, above.... always reminds me of this time of year.
'Little Daisy'... : )
I Love these Old... {late 1800's {1860's and 70's..} pieces.....for two reasons.....
One... They are all hand colored.
They came out... black and white.... then women, children.... and Folks... who couldn't work on their feet.... {older Folks...or...ones who had physical problems....}
would each have a color.... these would be passed along.....
One person might only paint blue.... another... red.
They are reproduced.... so.... you have to look closely at them....
If you see the paint.... outside the lines.... : ) then you know.... it was hand done. : )
<3
The 2nd.
My Friend, Eudora.... collected these too.
I remember visiting with her... about these. : )
There are MANY... Currier and Ives Paintings and Prints.
Eudora... collected 'The Littles'.... : )
Like... the one above.
They were all Children....
Very... Wonderful. : )
I...sure... Miss... her. <3
I'm working outside... today.
I took the day off... yesterday... didn't do a thing. : )
I...think...working in the heat all weekend... kinda sucked me dry.
oh my... I was wiped out... yesterday.
It's gonna be 'slow and easy'...today.
I'll do what I can do... then... sit under the Old Oak....
for a bit.
It's gonna be another Hot and Steamy one.
Love to ya...
Barb C.

Just brought in this Huge.... Cloche..
My Friend, Jo.... had it in her Home...for Years.
When I bought it from her... she said... "I've always Loved That... didn't think I'd ever get rid of it....."
{She's moving to Kentucky... }
I said... "I Love it too... ! <3 ".....
she said...
"You should... I got it from YOU!!!"
oh my....
my memory... is... Toast... : )
but, thankfully... not my 'taste'... in Good... Things! : )

Love This....
It has a big chip... in it... : )
but... it should. : )
It's a Child's Plate.... from the late 1800's.

This Painting..... is something I found for someone.... many years ago.
She had it in her home for a long time.
Then... a few years ago... she had a sale... and, to my surprise... was selling it.
I Bought it.
Had to... it fascinates me.
: )
This is a painting...done in the late 1800's using an 1850's Ironstone Platter... for the 'canvas'... : )
The platter... is cracked... and repaired.
Then... it was framed.
: )
oh my....
simply... soulful.
I, nearly brought it in the house... to keep... but... decided to offer it for sale... instead.
It's one of those things... like so many... down the rabbit hole... I really don't care... if it ever sells.
: )
{no wonder... why I struggle... : )  hahahahaha. }

It's such a beautiful... painting..... and... being able to see...the old platter.... through the worn areas.... makes it even better.
: )
I so... Love... Vintage... Ironstone.

This is a Majolica Rabbit. : ) {Match Holder... }
Seems I've had many Rabbits.... of every shape and size.... find their way...down the rabbit hole... of late.
: )
This Bunny.... and the Rooster, in second to the top photo... came from a Dear Friend's Collection.
These date from the late 1800's.... and are so.... whimsical...
I have had a Majolica Pitcher... for years... one, of the first pieces... I was Really Excited about....
I bought it at an Estate Sale... for 5.00 : ) {I was in my 20's.... }
Majolica.... is so Over the Top... and has so much going on..... : )
It makes me...smile. : )

I've also... been gathering late 1800's Children's Tea Sets....
Odd pieces... from here and there.
: )
They seem so Happy... when they are all... Piled together. : )

When Peg was here... in May... she set this display...
{one of several... : ) }
: )
 on 'Maggie's' Sofa.
{The Darling Little Sofa, I gave Liz... many years ago...
 it's a Louis the 15th Style...and sooooo sweet!}
One day Liz came home... to find... Maggie, her Beloved Pup...at the time...
had used it for a 'Chew Toy'.... : (
It had been in John's Shop...for the last few years....
We were always going to do something... with it.... : )
We never did... I couldn't bare... to pitch it... so.... now it resides... down the rabbit hole. : ) }
It was completely buried.... after the last two sales.
When I began picking things up....this last week....
I had seen Peg's recent 'Touches'... : )
{I worked everywhere... but... down the rabbit hole....preparing for the May Sale... Peg worked her Magic.... there. }
She'd taken the Nests... and put them in picture frames....
and... put the little Cow Bank... on the little shelf...
then, like Peg....
she...tastefully.... sprinkled everything..... in vintage lace. <3
: )
I had to preserve it.... : )
I called her... and told her... how... Much.... I Miss her. <3 and.. see her... Everywhere...
down the rabbit hole. : )

Just found these Darling... Teeny Tiny.... early 1900's Watch Part Boxes....
They have tiny little vials... inside them... with... even a few remnants....of Tinier... little watch parts... : )

I had...to work with The Elves.
oh my...
They have been so 'Gone Through'.... they looked like they had been in Miami on Spring Break!!!!
I helped 'em back on their feet again..... : )
oh my...
Those Elves... Do... know How to Party....
{Who Knew?... : ) }

Rascal Flatts - I Won't Let Go (Lyrics)