My.... Beloveds.

I began pulling Ironstone.... from the house today....

for Gold Rush.

oh my...

That was a Tuff.... Job.

: ) 

John and Liz.... had packed a 'Cupboard Full'.... away....
Four... Very... Full... Totes...

when I sold the Pie Safe Cupboard.... it all was residing in.
{That.... was also...a Heartbreaker. Lord... I hated to see that one go. <3
but... Bills have to be paid.... and.... it went to a Most Loving Home. <3 }

I don't know where I was... when they unloaded it.

Probably... on the road... somewhere.

I haven't went through... any of it... until today.

It was Heartbreaking.... seeing how carefully John had packed the Old... Dishes.

oh my.

: ) 

Knowing... his hands... were the last...to touch them.... 

was difficult.

oh my. 

I sorted... cleaned.... priced...and packed.....

what I could.

but... 

Much... 

I left alone. 

The Tea Pot.... below....

was going to go.

Then... I began looking at it.

It's spout has been repaired.... {It's such an Unusual Spout... : ) }

It has an old... crack.... on the bottom.

but... It's design... is so Beautiful.....
I bought it years ago.... from my Friend... John W. <3

I thought... 'No one... will 'love' this... like I do.

Whatever I price it at.... they'll try and beat me down..... I'm not going to subject myself.... or...this Old Soul... 

to that. '

: )

It Stays. 

I felt the same way... about the little Pitcher... below. 

John placed it in the tote... with the Coin Silver Spoons... inside it....

Just... as I had them... in the Old Pie Safe. 

: ) 

yes...

It stays. 

: ) 

I did... load a Tote... I will be filling two more.... from the house...

for Gold Rush.

I have a Loyal.. Following... there.

Friends.

There is No one... in the World... I'd rather Share... my Beloveds with.

<3

Love, to ya...

Barb C.

This one.... stays Home.

I am taking a stack of Early Ironstone Plates.... and Soup Bowls.
Relish dishes.... Little Servers.... Bone Dishes....
a Beautiful... Tureen.... and more.

Couldn't part... with this little Pitcher... either. 

I... struggled with this one.
: )
I priced it... and it's packed.....
This is an early Ironstone Bread Plate.
It has 'Served' on our Thanksgiving and Christmas Tables.... over the years.
They are soooooo hard to find.
 I've always Loved it.

Things... have been so Insane... around here.
I'm just now.... unpacking things.... I bought...over a month ago.
{and forgot I'd gathered at all! }
I simply... Couldn't get it all... Done!
This Mountain of Vintage Prisms.... were tucked in an Old... Metal.....
Picnic Basket....
oh my.
The Good News... Is....
It's Like Christmas!!!!
oh dear.

After I took the above image....
I found Another... Pile!
oh dear.

This little Hair  'Wreath' of sorts.... was something I'd picked up...earlier this Summer.
It was in a pile... waiting to be put out. : )
I couldn't decide how old it was.... tho... 'Hair Jewelry' and Wreaths...were very popular in the last half of the 1800's.
It appeared the paper inside, with the Strawberries may be newer.
After sitting down with it... and really...looking it over....yesterday....
 I think it must be from the 1880's.
{even with  the 'paper'... or... maybe... it's an early Hankie....that is... in reality 'cloth'.
I can't be sure... without touching it....yet...
I didn't want to disturb the back... It has never been apart.}
 I did... pick off some the loose backing paper...
That... was very informative.
The 'maker' of the Shadow Box... used many Labels from The Sparks Furniture Store in Buffalo Center, Iowa.
Buffalo Center, Iowa is in the North Center of the State... near the Minnesota border.
I couldn't find this business... but... the style... of the label dates it... in my opinion, to the last quarter of the 19th Century.

The box is covered... under the brown paper.... in those labels.
This business sold Sewing Machines... Glass... Furniture... Edison Phonographs... and more.

Written on the back.... it reads....
"My Mother's Hair when she was a young Girl
Grace Meyer Swiet
{below that it says.... "give to Annie" }
Sadly... there is also a .50 cent price.... It must have been sold... long ago.... at a Rummage Sale....
or Church Sale.
I found it interesting that it says that this was her Mother's Hair... when she was a Young Girl.
So many people.... think that 'Hair Art'.... was gathered from people who had died.
I always knew that wasn't true.
{Tho.... people did save locks of hair.... {I still do. } when Loved Ones... Pass.
They kept the clippings in Lockets.... }
In the Victorian days.... there were pieces made.... for Dresser Sets... {Comb, Brush... Mirror... etc.}
 to 'keep' hair.... called
'Hair Receivers'....
Woman and Girls... made Jewelry... Watch Fobs.... all sorts of things.... including much more Elaborate Flowers.....
from their own hair... or... hair saved from their Family....
then  placed their Creations... in a Shadow Box.
This one... is very small....
I.... find it... 'charming'... <3
It's been an interesting 'Journey'... with this Old Shadow Box...
It's not often.... we are given so many 'clues'.
This could go further....
Having a Name... on the back.... and... the labels... really... helped...
I would bet.... in no time.... I could trace the Family.
Unfortunately....
at this time...
that's all the time... I have.
These Old Souls... always find their way....
so shall this one.
{I have to mention.... how... Beautiful... Grace's hair was. It's such an unusual color.
Almost...
a
 Strawberry Blond.
: )
Maybe...
: )
maybe...
that's 'why'
The Strawberry lining. <3 }

Pressing Flowers - The Civil Wars (Lyrics)

Preparing for Gold Rush! Olmsted County Fairgrounds Rochester, MN. August 16th thru 18th!

We've been working on all sorts.... of Fun and Unusual.... Bigs and Littles...
for Gold Rush....
: )
This and the next image... are of two my personal Faves.... : )
{so far... there is MUCH... headed North... next week. }
The above.... is something I picked up a couple of weeks ago.
It is the 'bones'... of a baby carriage.
I had Justin clip the handle...
{I'm trying to figure out.... the perfect use...for that... too. : ) }
because....
from the moment I saw this.....
all I could see... was a
'Cinderella Carriage'....
: )
It has wooden spoke wheels...
and such a Gracious... Symmetrical Form....
: )
I cleaned it up... then... sealed it... with a high gloss....finish.
: )
Now... it will make a Perfect Centerpiece... for Anything...
including Food.
{I...can see a Wedding Cake..... perched on the Platter. <3 }
LOVE IT!

Just picked this 1830's to 40's Sofa up....
and...spent a morning carefully 'deconstructing' it's 1980's upholstery.
I took it down to it's original Cotton and Horse hair... : )
{The cotton... still had seeds in it. Early! }
It can be used like this.... for a Photographer.... or, for Folks.... like, myself....
who LOVE..... 'Deconstructed Pieces'....
It could... be easily... reupholstered... as well.
It's sooooooo Beautiful.
It has Hand Carved.... Wild Roses.... and Morning Glories....
: )
Two... of my Most Favorite... Free Spirited... Gnarly... Flowers. : )
We are gathering some Very.... Unusual Pieces.... for this Gold Rush....
some...
'fun'...
some...
Very Early.... and... Very...Wonderful. 

This is Scout....
when I Yelled for Him!!!!
"Apples!!!! Scout!!!!"....
{He could win The Derby..... with an Apple in front of his nose just.... out of reach!!!!!!! }
oh...my.
: )
Love...to ya...
Barb C.

Big Fish - Trailer

The Celebration... of Life.

Liz...Miss. Scarlett and myself....

found our way to Lake Iowa... this evening...

to say Good bye.... to Sonny.

oh my... there was a Crowd : ) 

Sonny was Loved... by Many. <3 

He did Much... for Many....

: )

He always said it... like it was. : )

but... in a way... Folks could 'Digest'... even if... they didn't agree. : ) 

Again... I was taken back... by the Strength... of his Children.

: )

They are Truly... Somethin' Else. : )

It was so Great... to see Family... I haven't seen...in Years.
Decades....

Many... Daughter, Liz... had never met. 

I stood.... and watched Miss. Scarlett playing with her second.... Cousins...

not knowing... they were related.

oh my.

When I think of Sonny... our Dad... and John....

I think of the Movie... 'Big Fish'.

Tim Burton directed it... I didn't know that... until recently.

He also directed 'Alice in Wonderland'... {The Johnny Depp version... that truly... made me... look deeply... into the 'looking glass'. : )

and... down...the rabbit hole.

I Swear... Tim Burton and I... were separated at Birth! : ) }

I watched 'Big Fish'.... many years ago... and wept.... through it.

It reminded me so Much... of my Dad.

{I couldn't watch it twice }

Then... when John... went 'Home'.... I realized... it Fit him... too.

Now... Sonny. 

oh my.

All Three... could have played the Lead... in that movie.

'Big Fish'... is a story... that a Man... tells of his 'Life'.

His Son... always thought he was a Bullshitter.... : )

"Tall Tales... that were Too Big... to be true."  he was ashamed... of the 'Stories'...

The fact was.....

The Stories... were 'Truer'... than most... could imagine. 

When I saw the movie.... it touched me so... because... I Knew... the Stories had merit.

I have seen similar ones.... with Dad... that No One.... would 'Believe'. 

Been right there with him... as they unfolded...
and... met First Hand....

The People...

 Crazy...Wonderful... People.
That...were different... to most...
but..
Had Our Backs.... when the chips... were down. <3

{with John, too.... : ) oh my.... : ) He knew... some Awesome... Folk.  }

and

 Sonny....

: )

well... 

Dad shared some of Sonny's 'Stories' with me.... so... I Knew... he was also...

a 

'Big Fish'.

{and those were just his 'Young Years'... }

My Nephew, John... said to me... just before we left.....

"Well... they broke the Mold... with This One..."...

"There was never one like him..." 

: )

I said..."Yes.... I knew One.... This One's... Dad.... : ) ".

{along with...the One... I shared my life with..... John. <3 } 

I think... what bothered me so Much... about the movie... 'Big Fish'...

is that his Son... didn't 'Believe'...

That... was a Heart Breaker.

Thankfully... The Conner Clan.... 

'Believes'....

They Thrive... on it. 

Nothing is Too Far... Out of Reach....

and....
they understand...
: )

The Best People...

come wrapped... in the Most... Interesting...

Packages. 

: ) 

Love to ya....

Barb Conner. 

{I am posting the 'Trailer'.... from 'Big Fish'...

above.

I wanted to show... the ending... The Funeral....that explains... much.

{You'll have to watch the movie. : ) }

No... there weren't any Giants.... {that I personally saw...today. : ) }

but...

it did... remind me...a bit... of this Beautiful... Gathering....

for....

A Big...
Fish.
<3
and.... sometimes... the line.... between 'fact' and 'fiction'....
 'isn't'
: ) }
{Sonny... threw me over his shoulders.... when I was a little girl....
I was sooooo taken back.
Until that moment.... my Dad... was the Only one... who could.
{or... I...would allow. : ) }
Big Fish...

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. : ) }