The Shop....oh my...

I Snapped images for my Canadian Friends...as Promised....You see... I can't stand back...to get a panoramic view.... Vignettes..is the best I can do... The shop...is only 24 x 32..... but...it seems to go on and on...hence...'Rabbit Hole'....it's something you have to experience.... I know the Gals...keep wanting me to send pictures... but... I can't capture...through a camera lens... what I see... I'm not a good photographer....

The Shop...is a mess.... and I made it Much worse...yesterday...much worse...

I have deliveries to make...this morn...then...I'm jumping in Sally....and heading North...to see what's left of the Beautiful Fall Colors, of North East Iowa...and the Mighty Miss.... John is staying with Jethro...when he's on his tires...we'll take a ride.... {I couldn't drag him out of here... for anything!}

Hope you all have a Lovely... Day...

Barb C.

Jethro...oh...my...

Oh dear....
John had been acting suspicious....the last few weeks.... disappearing... without a trace...spending a lot of time on the computer....one day... last week...was gone the entire day....{not at all like him....when we are trying to pull the Sale together...} He left a note...saying he was with a friend... and would be back by noon.... but... when 4, rolled around...and no John...I was concerned...I kept asking Mark, if he knew where John might be.... "No"...he said... "No idea"...{ I'd hate to play poker with Mark....oh my....}{ John stays close to home....and won't have any part of a cell phone...}
John has let go of things...he has had for years... The '58 Buick Special...even went... I thought...he was just tired of them...and wanted to put those things, in hands of Folks, who would better enjoy them...
Then...he came rollin' in....with Jethro.....oh my...
an '08 Mustang...
John drove all the way to Kansas City, and back...last week...to bring him home....
Wow....{he left at 3 in the Morn....}
John and I have many 'likes' in common... Fast Cars... and Mustangs... are two...  when they are rolled into one...All The Better!
Jethro...{John named This Mustang.... after LeRoy Jethro Gibbs, NCIS...one of John's Most Favorite Shows....{Mark Harmon...reminds John of his Dear Friend, Mark Prabel, he lost a few years ago, to Cancer....also, an Awesome Race Car Driver...and Builder... he misses Mark, so...and speaks of him often...}
Jethro...is a True Muscle Car... oh my...Sweet Sally...is a Loper...Sweet Little Automatic... wouldn't Scratch a Tire... if Her Life depended on it....She's a Lady...
 Jethro...on the Other Hand... Shoots Flames Out His Tail Pipes! He's Fitted with a Tight Pattern 5 speed....and High Performance Speed Tires....{John says...they are 200. a tire... and remember that when I am Dumping the Clutch...with The Pedal to the Floor! oh...dear....Watchin' the Smoke Roll!!!! }Wowza!
 Jethro has been in a Nasty Fight....The front wheel knocked completely off...the Aluminum Rim...even had a big hole in it... back glass... gone... Radiators...Grill...Front Fender...all Gone... He even had a few parts stolen, from his engine, while waiting to be auctioned off.... I'll have images of him...as he gets put back together... Son, Justin is doing some of the Body Work...and all of the Paint Work...{John can't be near it... it makes him sick, for days...just the whiff of  Chemicals will take him down....} Justin is Learning...on Jethro... a Good Trade to have... He is doing a Wonderful Job!
I haven't seen John this excited over a car....in...well...since the 70 Fastback Mustang, he rescued.... back in the early 80's.... It...was also Fast....he sold it to a young man....and warned his Dad....that car could hurt him....{before they bought it...}it was in a Ball...in a week... The Boy....Wrecked it...and thankfully...wasn't hurt....the Mustang was Totalled.... It was a Beauty...It was Black...with Gold, painted 'Boss' Stripes... I spent hours...hand waxing it.... what a Beauty....
John said, Jethro is mine....I don't think so.... He's All John... I'd like to drive him...sometime... but, John is Sure Proud of this... and he let a lot of his things go...to get it... and.... he's working his tail off.... to put him back together... I Think....this is kind of like Sally....is for me... a "Bucket List"...thing...
I sat in Jethro...today...and put Skynyrd on....Sweet Home Alabama...it just seems Fitting...for a Mustang...
I'll have more images...as he gets put back on his tires... oh dear....
Barb C.
{I gotta tell ya... My Heart Jumped in my Throat...seeing Jethro... On This Trailer....BEAUTIFUL!!! Some folks see a Wrecked Car... Not Me! I See A Most Beautiful Mustang! Wowza!}

{here is John...working on a ding, in the rear quarter...it's really cool watching him...take these dents out...he knows exactly where to tap, around the dent, to work it out....amazing...}

There is Life....

I had to snap images of the Old Fountain...in the Green House.... It always 'Grounds' me... I have let it 'Live'...It's Mossy...and Overgrown...with Morning Glorys... Creeping Charlie...and Clover.... It's Full of Wonder....

Just the other day...I spotted a Snail! and...Baby Snails... ! {the blurry image, is of one of the Snails....I haven't seen this type of snail...since I was 5 years old...living along the Cedar River, in the Tiny Town, of Cedar Bluff, Iowa...I loved watching them, their sweet little antennas, going every which way....} I often wonder, why...we don't see so many of the the little Creatures, we used to... is it Chemicals...? I remember...Salamanders...and Mud Puppies... Walking Sticks... all sorts of Gnarly Creatures... I don't see them...much...anymore...

We don't use any weed killers... or sprays, of any kind...{and the yard looks shaggy...} but....The Birds...and Bugs... and even...Snails... seem to find it Homey...and that's all good with me...

{Went out to a Wonderful Supper...with Two of my Favorite Artist Friends...last night! We drove Sally... with the top down.... and 'Sweet Home Alabama' Blaring! We had a Lovely, New Orleans Style Supper...at Augusta's, in Oxford, Iowa.... and thoroughly enjoyed each others company.... They Surprised with me this darling little box, they had seen me admire, at an auction, a while back... but I had to leave, before it sold.... What a Kind thing to do... I Love It!!! I Love Them...Too...)

Hope You All Have a Most Beautiful Day....Filled With...Wonder...

Barb C.

Lovely Fall Day....

It was a Lovely Fall Day...Filled with Lovely People...
I'll be Open, Sunday... Noon 'til 4... and hopefully... have the Shop better situated....
I'm having supper with friends...and...am so looking forward to them...
I listened to the song...'Alive and Well'....by Kenny Chesney... throughout the day....
It Is Amazing...
I am Alive and Well....for today...that's good enough for me...

Barb C.
{this is an image from a tin, of a Tall Pie Safe... that's in my Bedroom...  Pennsylvania Hex Design... for 'Good Luck'...}

Fall Colors....

In our front yard....

As I shuttled stuff, back and forth....yesterday afternoon....I stopped for a moment...and looked up....

What a Beautiful Gift....

I think...sometimes....I get running so hard...to 'Get 'er Done'...

I forget...to stop...and look up...

I grabbed the Camera, and captured this image....Thinking, of the line, in 'I Hope You Dance'...about, giving the Heavens above, more than just a passing glance....

Then.....I bailed in the truck...Back to Work... and this song had just begun, to play... 

I just sat there...the truck...running... sitting in the drive... and soaked in every word....

This song...Is For Everyone I Know.....and...those I don't....

and...was meant..for my ears...too...

I Hope You Never Lose Your Sense of Wonder...

Get Your Fill to Eat...But Always Keep That Hunger....

May You Never Take One Single Breath for Granted...

God Forbid, Love Ever Leave You Empty Handed....

I Hope You Still Feel Small...When You Stand Beside the Ocean....

Whenever One Door Closes...I Hope One More Opens....

Promise me.... You'll Give Faith a Fighting Chance....

And...When You Get the Choice...to Sit it Out...or Dance....I Hope You Dance....

I Hope You Never fear Those Mountains in the Distance....

Never Settle... for the Path of Least Resistance....

Living Might Mean Taking Chances....But...Their Worth Taking....

Loving...Might be a Mistake...

But....It's Worth Making....

Don't Let Some Hell Bent Heart....

Leave You Bitter...

When You Come Close....to Selling Out...

Reconsider....

Give the Heavens Above....

More...

Than Just...a Passing Glance....

And When You Get The Choice...

To Set It Out....

or...Dance....

I Hope You Dance....

I Hope...You Dance.... I...Truly Do....

Love... to Each...and Everyone...of You....

Barb C.

Hearts and Horns....

A Strange combination...
I bought this...from  Jan...at the end of the sale...she had it in her truck....and I couldn't stand it! {it has TWO HEARTS on it!} She brought some Cool Stuff! Made a lot of Folks Very Happy! Paula did too... I Love the Violin..., I used to play Violin...when I was a child... Poorly....I might ad...but...seems I am always drawn to them... the inlay, on this is beautiful....{Thanks...to everyone...who brought stuff... cool old stuff!}
Spent the day, with Peg, yesterday...getting things shoved around....Bless her Heart...I truly don't know what I would do without Peg.... She is an Amazing...Grounding Force... I Love Her Dearly... I told her...I am sure...God sent her to me... She has been my rock...my Angel...
I still have soooo much to get done, outdoors... the tents come down today.... The shop is packed full...Peg and I Man Handled the Huge Wardrobe, into the front of the shop....and it's parked there....it's staying there... for a while... I'll get it all reset....There are  Messes...everywhere....
The back greenhouse...is full, as well... oh my...
I hope to take a  day off... in the next couple of weeks... Maybe...John and I could take a drive, to Northeast Iowa... It's so Beautiful there.... this time of year....
Hope Everyone...Has a Most Amazing Day...

Barb C.

Fall Harvest Sale....History....

I would like to Thank...Everyone who attended the Sale...Some...driving Great Distances... It was Great Seeing You...Each of You....
Thanks to Everyone who busted their Fannies....putting this all together...and Enduring Long....and Grueling Days....{especially Holding down the Fort...when Kansas Blew Through on Thursday!!} Thanks to the Folks who Shared Their Cool Stuff... with Others... so they can enjoy them for a while!
It was Lovely seeing all of the Children....That Visited....They Light Up My Life...
Thanks....Again...
Love, to You...

Barb C.

Fall Harvest Sale! 8 a.m 'til 4! Last Day! Hope to See Ya!

It's been a Lovely Weekend...and still...We are looking forward to seeing you....Today!
Lot's of Great Stuff...Waiting to find it's way to a Lovely New Home!

It was Great Seeing Everyone....Yesterday! Thanks to Laura... for the Lovey Punched Work Motto...It was wonderful seeing her, and her Sweet family! Sarah, Matt....Susan...and her Sweet Husband...{Happy Birthday, Susan!} Colleen, Audrey, Daryl, Kathy, Tommie, and her Darling Mom.......Pat and John...all good...

Sounds like it's been Wonderful at What Cheer...Amana...and Anamosa!!! Great Weather...is Such a Blessing!

We're going to go out...and do it again...today....we'll start packing up...around 3 or 4....It's getting Dark, so much earlier now.... a sure sign, Fall is here...

Hope Everyone....has a Most Wonderful Day....

Wherever You May Be!

Love to Ya!

Barb C.

Fall Harvest Sale Today! 8 a.m. til Dusk!

I'm Gathering Treasures...from the House...today.... and in the Morn! Friends are bringing more Goodies....as well! I'm selling off a Huge amount of Quilts...on the Worn side...but Very Old...for 15.00 each...
 We'll be hauling the Iron Fence up Front.... 50 feet plus, an Amazing Gate....All for 850., Wow!  The Cupola....is Sale Priced...Today...at 150.
Loads of Stuff to dig through!
Hope to See Ya!
Barb C.

Fall Harvest Sale....Day Two!

It was a Lovely Day....Filled with Lovely People.... Paula brought our Lunch...Thank You.... Sweet Connie and Janet...found their way...to the Rabbit Hole... {Love Them!} as did So Many Wonderful Folk....Some...I haven't seen...for so long.... The Kids all made an Appearance.... Brother in Law, Jim...stopped by...with some of my late Sister, Chery's things... {that was a bit hard to take...today...Chery was here, helping me during my very first sales... there isn't a sale, that happens here...that I don't feel a part of her, with me.... I do miss her so....I was a bit off my pins....after that....}
Nancy...{Rug Cottage} and her Darling Daughter, Jessica, were here, late this Evening....Jessica...is a Wonderful Vocalist....and sang 'Over the Rainbow', for us...at the Shop...tonight...what a Lovely Treat...
I do feel so blessed....To have such Amazing Folks....surrounding....my Spirit....
My Family...and Friends...are Truly...The Wind Beneath My Wings....
I could go on and on...listing them...one by one...but...I think they all know...who they are....My Love...and Thanks...to each....
I'm exhausted...the Sale is Going Great...More stuff coming in...Look forward to seeing You...
Love to Ya...

My Gift.... Gayle N., brought this 1830's Lusterware Tea Pot, out to the sale....it made it...under the Old Oak...on an Open Table...while the Winds Howled...Yesterday.... I was running past...and caught a Glimpse.....I stopped dead in my tracks....and picked it up.... The handle has an Amazing Wire Repair...  I Melted....
Michael, from Leftovers....educated me, on these Repaired Art Forms....
This is my Treasure from Fall Harvest Sale...2011...
 Love It.... Love...this Old Gnarly....Most Wonderful Stuff...and all the Folks...Who Love it..as Dearly...as me....



Amazing Stained Glass....just came in...This Afternoon! Wowza!



Cool Stuff!

Lovely...old Cupola....Waiting for You!

Ahhh....the Wind...Beneath my Wings..... So Many....I am...and have been blessed with....During my Life's Journey... from day...to day... moment to moment...you all...are truly....

The Wind Beneath My Wings....

Thank God...for All of You....

Thanks to Everyone...who has Shopped...Visited... Helped...Love to Ya...

Two Days Left...!

Barb C.