Prayers... to Japan...

I have watched the footage, today.... with deepest sadness...
My Prayers go out to all those, who are touched by this catastrophic encounter.... and... that would be all of us...
I'm spending the afternoon, with daughter, Liz... in a very short time, we will have another little soul, in our lives...
I have much work, to be done... but... none, as important as my Children...
So...in my next 30 seconds.... 30 minutes... 30 hours... 30 days... or.... what ever I may be blessed with... times like this, make me mindful...to choose how I spend them.... very carefully...
My Love to Each and Every One....
Barb C.

Shop Images....

1940's hooked pillow.... I love these.... this one is perfect, lounging on the old green sofa.... I worked in the shop, the early evening... It's fun, seeing things take shape...I'm just getting things a bit organized... I'll have better images, as things pull together... Peg will be up, to help out...and have a nice selection of her Amazing Gourds! Can't wait!

I'm putting all the late 1880's and early 1900's silver plate, together.... in the front area... with the '50's sofa, and chair.... It will be nice, to have a place to visit.... The sofa is a perfect display, for linens, and throws.... I am using Reindeer Moss, I found at Sisters' Garden, on the old Silver.... tho... it appears bright, here.... {flash} it's pretty cool, and chartreuse, in person.... perfect for early Spring...

Trays...and trays... I picked up a HUGE one, {not unpacked, from Nashville}that will be great, in the 'stack'!

"Riverview"....I love early, monogrammed pieces...

{Steph and I took our 5 a.m. walk, this morning.... seems we both were up every 2 hours, looking at the clock....through the night... my alarm never went off, at 4:30.... thankfully, John was up, a little before 5, and I hit the road running.... It was cold, and windy... but... we're ready to go again, in the morn!}

Have a Wonderful Day...

Barb C.

A Message from Lizzie.... 1888....

I was looking through some of the things, I have in the old Dairy Cupboard, in the house.... and ran across this old Autograph Album....It spoke to me, today.... I pulled it out....from the little display, it was tucked...and...carefully turned through the brittle pages.... reading the sweet sentiments....  I had never noticed, the message, from Lizzie.... the Album's owner {first, owner} to it's current owner {me} It took me back.... {you can click on the image, to read...}another reason...I do, what I do...

I made a pact with pal, Steph... to start walkin'... in the mornings.... Seems life has been a bit on the Crazy Side, with me... and...it's time to Hand It All Over.... take a Deep Breath... and Get Focused...
Set a few Limits.. and find a little Structure....Learn... to be Kind... to Myself... and Others...
in that order.......
Life....is Good...all of it....{even the ruff patches...especially...the ruff patches...it's there, where you grow, the most...}
Love, to ya....
Barb C.

Ahhh....Therapy...

Ahhhh...'SWEET SALLY'.....

I told Mark, {our Amazing Mechanic}...to Please get her all "Happy"....She is my Sweetest Therapist...much easier on my Liver...than all of the 'Red...Red Wine!' She is in need of a new battery... and... new skins... {the 'skins' {tires} will have to wait, I'll keep the air hose, handy...}

Oh My...I took her, for a spin, today...I gotta tell ya....my blood pressure dropped... and...all was right with the world.... I have 'Southern Rock'... Rattling the Little Mustang's Windows.... and Whew... ain't no Pill... can do...what this Little Ford can... Oh...My...

SWEET HOME ALABAMA!

I told Mark... to be sure and call the 'old girl', by her name...."Sweet Sally".... a God Send... to this,

 old Girl....

Love to ya...

Barb C.

{what is it... about these Amazing Little Mustangs.... from the 64 1/2's.... to this Darling 2001....{we Must.... leave the mid 70's...and all of the 80's, out of my thoughts...} that have me....Wrapped Around their Darling Little Hooves?.....Oh My.... {the New ones... drop me to my knees...as well...} I'm surprised... I didn't name Liz, 'Shelby'... Oh my...they totally..'send me'.......}

Irish Eyes are Smilin'!

Well.... it's that time of year, again! St. Patrick's  Day....around the corner!

Time for Corned Beef... and Cabbage! {Sprouts will do!} I made great use, of some of the Ironstone, I bought, at Duwa's Auction, Saturday....during supper, last night...

I Love Ironstone...It's Beautiful... Yet... Tuff!

I picked up a dozen little oval servers, at Barntiques, Saturday.... they will be great, for the Garden Party!

I have to get Busy!

Have a Most Amazing Day....

Barb C.

The Mourning Dove....

As I sat down, to write this morning... I heard, a most mournful sound, through the kitchen window... it was so perfectly repetitive...I wasn't sure, what it was... I quietly walked out the door...to see a pair of Mourning Doves, fly from our roof, to the Maple Tree....They are quite large... and so Beautiful....One...is still cooing, as I continue to write....
Life is Amazing... and...this is my Blessing..for the day....
Go Receive the Blessings, that Await You....

This mid 1800's Currier and Ives print, hangs in my bedroom...in memory of a Beautiful Dove, I once loved...and cared for....

This print, was a gift, sometime back... from Nancy, at Rug Cottage...

Blessings... 

Barb C.

Another Day...Alive...

John and I attended a Funeral, yesterday morning, for a Old Friend of his....I didn't know Leo, very well... but what I did know of him, he was a kind, and loving soul...a Family Man... a Good... Man...
I dropped John off at home...after...then had to make a quick run to Bill Ackerman's Antique Show, at the Fairgrounds, in Iowa City...{still going on today} It was Packed...with people, and Lot's of Great Antiques....I truly enjoyed seeing everyone....
Then...I stopped at Barntiques and Rug Cottage.... found some sweet ironstone pieces... Hooked up with Wanda, and Terry, {Gatherings} at Sisters' Garden... Ran into Marion, and Connie.... and so many friends there... had a great visit with Barb H., and Sweet Elaine....{all the shops looked Wonderful} I forgot my camera...so you'll have to go check them out, yourself!
I was going to hit the shops, in Kalona....but needed to get to the Duwa's Auction, before they closed... I had left a few bids...and thought since I was so close, I had better see if  any of my left bids, were successful.... one was... so...I'm glad I went down....
Had a Lovely visit with Dwight and Junell{Auctioneer, and Clerk...}....until late .... good folk....
I'm glad to be alive...and to have had this day, with friends...glad our paths, crossed... all of them...
Leo will be missed by many.... but...I know, within my heart... we will all be together, again....
life here...is such a blink...
Hope You Have a Most Happy Memory Day....

Bought this Vintage Cameo, from Sandy, at Bill's Show...She thought it was a Mourning piece...or, a 'transitional' Mourning Piece....It can be worn as a Broach...or, Necklace... I wore it, all day... and received many compliments... it's lovely...

Darling Tiny Italian Shelf Lamp! Oh My... I have never seen such an itty bitty lamp...with shade! The shade is ruff... but... I'll throw lace fragments all over it, so who cares!

I must have been in a 'purple' mood, yesterday... Love the little velvet jewelry box... and the Sun Colored Amethyst Pieces! {once clear glass, but over the years, with Sun exposer, has turned them purple...they will keep getting darker...} The creamer is very old...pressed glass, with a hand made handle.... later 1800's.... but the glass dome, is actually for a watch keeper.... While repairing, a Watch Maker, would place the watch, under the dome, for protection, from dust, or anything disturbing to the piece... very cool...

Love all of the buttons... the napkin ring is embellished with Strawberries... Fun Stuff! It was a good day......

Barb C.

A God Thing....This is Why...I do....what I do...

{Gerry...Melissa... and Nancy...first timer's, 'Down the Rabbit Hole"...cords hanging... piles...Everywhere...single file.... oh my... Brave Little Souls!}

There is barely...and I mean...barely... a path, through...'half' of the 'Rabbit Hole'... I was working inside... trying to reassemble... and I heard someone...at the Green House Door...  It was a sweet Girl...{center}...with a broad smile, on her face... asking if I was open.... {I stood at the door... in horror..... as you know...I posted this morning...I would be CLOSED... until...Showtime.... } The Girl {Melissa} pleaded... through the debris, all stacked... in the Green House.... She said, she wouldn't be more than a few minutes... her, plane, for home... was coming in, shortly.... so ... she would love to just look around.... Oh my.... I said...come on in... but be very careful...I don't care about the stuff... I just don't want anyone to get hurt.... not realizing.... her Aunt...and Grandmother...were waiting to come in...as well... oh my... {to say I was humiliated... would be a Huge... understatement...} It was single file... but the Gals, kept saying, not to worry... it was fine...{oh my gosh....} Then...I started visiting with the Grandmother...and...It Was...Fine...{Gerry...{left}...} She said, she was also an Antique Dealer....  she had picked up...a little, 'Remember Me', cup...and asked...how much.... I said... "you take that home with you...for being so brave....and...remember me...".... she said... "I love pretty things... pretty dishes...".... I told her..."me...too"... She asked..."do you know how old I am?".... I said...I never see people, by age... she said..."I'm 79"...oh my....I said...{thinking she was pretty sharp, and agile...for 79....} then her Granddaughter said..."how old...Grandma?.... you have that backwards.... you're 97"... I Nearly Fell Over.... She was Amazing.... Sharp as a Tack... Brave...and... Sure Footed! I think they all had Fun... digging through the Carnage.... and I was Delighted...they braved it! Blessings! They Made My Day!!!!Gerry...Melissa...and Nancy.... little Angels...

I looked at Gerry... {before I knew how old she is...and I so connected, with her...what a Soulful Spirit...} She and I agreed.. on how silly people are..to buy...the 'new'... ah...'stuff'...it is so...'nothing'...no 'soul'... I sooo could have just kept her...right here... in my little rabbit hole.... she was amazing...

 Gerry...so...'got it'... an Angel....  

Amazing... Simply...Amazing....

I invited her back,{ and her family...} for Wine, and conversation... during the Garden Party... {and...a chance to see the Shop...on it's ear.... I so Hope they can Make It!}

What a Blessing...

This is Why...I do what I do...

The Amazing...People....

Love to Ya....

Barb C. 

{if this little shop...could only talk... it always Welcomes me Home... and seems to somehow,  draw folks, with the most Soulful Spirits...inside... no matter, how much I may Protest...it is a Real Blessing...It always leads me on the most Wonderful Journey...down..the Rabbit Hole... }

MISSION.... IMPOSSIBLE.... { no worries...'impossible' isn't in my vocabulary...}

The Shop is Officially....DESTROYED....
With the latest additions... late...last night... it's official...
there isn't the tiniest of spots... that hasn't been torn up...
I have turned it...Completely...Up Side...Down...Side...and...
Side Ways....
{the 1954 sofa...and chair, pretty much...was the last straw...}
Truly...like Falling Down The Rabbit Hole....
I will be CLOSED...'til Further Notice...
{ 'Garden Party' Opening...April 8th... and 9th...}
I have A Grand Vision....oh dear... it's Wild... and...a bit ...Mad...
But... Wonderful...a... Whole Lot...THEATRICAL!
{no peeking}
I'll be posting a few images... as I go... and will still be working...shopping...gathering... stashing...and... delivering... as usual... just won't open the doors..to the little shop....{Rabbit Hole} until..."SHOWTIME!"
Love to Ya!
Barb C.

Gatherings....

{ Funky....handmade.... Weather Vane, and Directional...made way back.... I love the Gnarly Iron stove fragment....attached to the pipe! had to get it for the shop!}

Had a Great Lunch... with Sweet Val....She's helping out, with the Garden Party! Yeah! Peg is getting all jazzed up... and getting her gourds ready for Spring! Val and I hit 3rd Street Resale...and we found some fun treasures!

This is an early pewter piece.... it appears to be dated 1782... Bob said it came from an estate that had lots of great early pewter....Like It!

I bought a pair of these sterling butterfly pins.... very sweet...

This large compote...isn't super old... but it's substantial...and has a lovely form....{I love the pearl inlay!} a Great Server!

It was a fun day.... Dale is on his way...and the grunt work begins.... we got everything loaded...and it was a late night...as predicted...

Have a Wonderful Rest of Your Day!

Barb C.