A...'Tid Bit'...of the Gatherings....from the Weekend! So...Much...More...To Come!!!

This is an 8 foot wide...Store display....These are all drawers...with pulls...on the back... Very...Wonderful!

Old...Old...Pumpkin Painted...Dry Sink...with...over 20 inch one board sides....and well... and...a Huge...Old...Dry...Pine...Square Nailed Single Door...Wardrobe.... oh...my...: ) {straight off The farm!}

It was 100 degrees...when we loaded...this...Early...to Mid...1800's Cupboard....on the back of the Fuso...But...it wasn't the heat....that got me...This Old Darling...Totally melted...my Heart!!! {One...of my Very Favorite...Finds!} and...there is a reason...this Old Sweet Heart...Smiled at Everyone...going Home... The Fuso....Was PACKED FULL!!!!!}

These...are AWESOME...in more...than one way...It was all I...and a Very Kind Man...could do...to hoist these...{There are Three of them}....4 feet high...on the Fuso!!! They are Vintage...Concrete...and HUGE!!!! {4 times...the size...of what ya see...around... I would like to think...they only weigh...a couple hundred pounds...each...but...when the Boys...unloaded them...this morn...thought...maybe...closer to 300...or...more...{glad I didn't know that...when I was lifting them....oh...my!}
They...are Stunning! I can't wait to see them...at Christmas...with a Big Tree in Each One...or....Simply Filled with Greenery!!! WOWZA!!! {unless.... someone else...has more...'Back'....than...'Brain'...Like Me!} What a Frickin' Statement!!!!!! On Top...of an Old Store Counter...oh my! The Gears are SPINNING!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't...let an image fool ya...this Old Darling...is......4...plus...feet tall...and...Big!...{taller than my Old one...in the Green House!!!}I also bought him on the trip...I want to have him.... between...2 of the Swans....at Christmas...I envisioned....on that Same....Store Counter...{that...I don't have...yet...: ) } Oh My!!!!!!

I have so Much...to share with ya... But...I have been making deliveries...today... and....I am...BEAT!...
But...I'm running back out the door...another Late...Late....HOT... Night!...and...A Lot...of Miles...{how do I...get talked into these things....oh my...another...Long...Story...some Folks...I Simply...can NEVER...Say 'No' To!!! : ) }
{and...They Frickin' Know It!!!!}
Tomorrow...I am helping a Friend...at a Tag Sale...
So...Soon....I will tell the Tales...of the Trip!
Holy Smokes!
It Was a WILD RIDE!!!!
So...Many Stories!!!!
So Much Cool Old Stuff!!!!
So...Frickin'...Hot!!!!
oh my...
Love...to ya...
Barb C.

HOME!!!!

Just Pulled In!!!!

Had an AMAZING....

Adventure...{oh...my...}

16 hour Days....ahhh...Hot...Days!

Gathered...some Awesome Treasures!

{AWESOME!!!!}

{Even...have a Most...Massive... Over the Top Cupboard...Strapped to the Back End...

Of...a Very...Full... Fusie!!! Rode there...the last...8 hours...of The Journey! {There are...Several...others...packed...FULL....inside!!!! Wooo Hooo!!!! Along...with the most Wonderful Concrete Statuary!!!! Oh My !!!!}

We have Loaded...Racked and Stacked...over 3 Days...3 States....and 100 degree temps!

{and...no air...in 'ol Fusie!} 

What a Frickin'...Wild Ride...!

{we won't talk...about the quick trip...to Memphis...: )...I do...Love...BBQ!!! : ) }

Tell ya all about it...sometime...tomorrow!

{We are UNLOADING....at Dawn....}

Love...to ya!

Barb C.

{It was Great seeing everyone...throughout the Journey!!! Even snuck in an Overnighter...with My Peg.... In the Hills Of Missouri! Whew! What a Whirlwind Tour!!!!}

Bags are Packed...Fussie....Is Fueled Up...We're Gone!!!

    I'm Running Away!

Bags are Packed...

Gonna have the Fussie...Floored!!!

and...I'm Loaded for Bear!!!

Gotta be up...in a few...short Hours...

So...Hope You All...Have a Great Saturday...

I'll give ya a Report...Tomorrow Night!

Love...to Ya!

Barb C.

Simply Iowa...Rain Gauge... : )

This Little Darling...from the Mod 1800's....is Quite a Multitasker!

She's Happy {as we All Are...Holding The Rain}...or...a Gin and Tonic!

Bring On The Rain!!!

My Guardian Angel...and I have been Praying....that Soon...Her Wings....would be...Wet!!!



This is Something...to Crow About!

Heck....If You Want it to Rain...in Iowa.... Leave Upholstered Furniture...on The Truck!!! Who Knew? : )

Oh my...

John had thrown...a light piece of plastic over it...last night...which...I pulled off.... thinking..."It's not going to rain...and...that plastic will be in the road...in the morn..."...

Oooops!

If I would have known...all it would take...is for me...to leave The Old Sofa...and Chair... outside...to Bring on the Rain...I would have done it...WEEKS AGO!!!!

Thankfully...John had to let Nicky outside...around 3:30...this morn...and heard Thunder....

and covered it...back up...

It got...a little damp... but...it will be fine...

Oh My....

I'm heading down the Rabbit Hole...to work...Then...

I'll start packing...for the Big Buying Trip!!!

Have a Great Day!

LOVE THE RAIN!!!!

no matter!

No Worries!!!

Barb C.

Take it...Easy...

Whew...It was a Hot...Day...today...

I have Loaded...Unloaded...Reloaded...and Unloaded...Trucks...all day...

This Little Flat Bed Ford...

said...Enough!

The Big Truck...is nearly ready...for the Big Buying Trip...this weekend...

{John has been working on that...He Loves it...when I'm Gone... so is always willing...to expedite...Making It Happen!}

 Picked up the Vintage Sofa, and matching Chair....late this afternoon...

It belonged to a Woman...that is nearly 100.

She has taken very good care of it...and...I will see to it...that it finds a Perfect Home...or...enjoy it Down the Rabbit Hole....myself....

It was great seeing Lynn and Lea... today... they had fun looking at all of the Civil War Papers.... they are....very interesting....

I filtered Treasures...into the shop...and...have kind of a mess going on...but...I'll get it together...tomorrow...

There are some...Very...Gnarly Things....Coming In....

Things... gathered...from The Farm...yesterday...

My Gears...are Turnin'!

 thinkin'...it's going to be...Fun! {and...Off The Wall!}

I am Hunting things...for a Wedding Reception...I'm doing in October....for a Sweet Couple...

It will be like...No Other...: )

Over the Top...

I'm calling... "Farm...Elegance"... {oh my... it's gonna...be...Awesome!}

{I'm keeping the look...between the Bride...and myself...'til after the Wedding...but... gotta tell ya...it's gonna be...FUN!}

It will be in the Evening...with Cocktails...and Hors d'oeuvres ....oh my...: )

I have also...agreed to have a Presentation...here...at my Home...in December...for a Group...of Ladies...

A dear friend...has asked me...to do this...for her Group...and...there are a few Folks...I simply...can't say 'no' to... She has always been one of them...Love her....

So...Between...Gold Rush...The Fall Harvest Sale...The Wedding...The Holiday Open House....and...The Presentation... I'm Gonna be...a Busy...Busy...Girl!

I will have to admit...I Love...a Party...and putting one together...

If all goes well...Maybe...I'll do something....for New Years Eve...or...New Years Day...

Hmmmm....

I'll see..if I'm Still Alive...

For Now...

I'm Looking Forward to The Weekend!!!

{almost...as much as John...: ) }

I have a Good Friend...Riding Shotgun....who knows...how to have a 'Good....Time'... : )
{I  smell...T R O U B L E....oh dear...}

Love...to ya...

Barb C.

Where...do I begin...

I had no idea...as I rushed out the door....All Excited...about the Treasures...that were Waiting for Me this morning!!!!!....

what...was about...to unfold...

Just after posting..."Alice"....falling down the Rabbit Hole....

I had unknowingly... predicted...myself...doing...just...that...

I received a call last night...from a Nice Girl... that had some things...for sale...

They had taken a Barn down...on an old Farm....and had unearthed...some Civil War era...items...

Old Letters...Newspapers... Uniforms...just...loads of old...Treasures...that she wanted put into hands...that would appreciate them...

{a Sweet Friend..had referred her, to me...a 'Thank You'...is in Order...: ) }

I didn't get directions...until...I was enroute...this Morn...I wasn't familiar...with the roads in that area...

much...

It's near a Small Town...South of here...20 miles...or so...

But....as I turned the Ford...down the Gravel Road... to the Old Farm...

It was then... I fell down...the Rabbit Hole...

This was a Farm...My Father...had Farmed...when he first moved to this area...from Southern Iowa... My Dad...Lived...in the House...I was driving up to...

I had...no idea...that was to be...my destination...

I had never been this close to it...you can see it from the hi way...and...when Dad and I would be down that way...he had mentioned it to me...a time...or two...

He raised Angus Cows...there...{ I remember..him saying...how beautiful...those Cows were...standing in that field...and how he so... enjoyed...watching them graze...}

Other than that...he didn't talk much...about it...it was part of his life...before he met my Mother...

I gotta tell ya...it was mighty hard...getting out of the Ford...

I sat there...for a moment....or more...until...I heard the Old Screen Door...Open...

and knew...the Girl...I was meeting...was on her way to see me...

She directed me...into the Old Summer Kitchen...

{probably...the Original House...from the mid 1800's}

My head was whirling...wondering...how many times...Dad...had walked through those doors...

The Original..Old Massive Stone Hearth...with it's hand forged Cranes...still in tact...

I was...stunned...to say the least...

As we walked through the Grove...and Pasture...to the Barns....

all I could see...was Dad...as a young man... carrying Grain...and calling the Cows up...

The nice Woman...directed me... to piles of things...they had pulled from the Barn..

that they had recently taken down...

Old...Old...Things...

Civil War...era...things... that had been there... since the mid 1800's....

but...more...importantly... they...had been there... when my Dad...was there....

I don't know...how these things...happen...Out of all the People...all the Places...

How...I...wound up...at that door...this morning...

It makes my head...spin....

It's a Strange Chain...of events... that got me...to that door....but I am Thankful...

in...a still...unsettling...way...

I bought...as much as I could... Old Buggy Seats... and wooden Fragments... Boxes...

but... my mind...wasn't right... the entire time...

It kept...wondering... it was a Strange...feeling...

and...to be honest.... I'm still...not 'together'...

As I run my hands...over these...Old...Old... 'Memories'...

from the Piercing Words...of the Documentaries...written...so eloquently... in The Newspapers...

of the battles...of The Civil War...As They Were Unfolding...! To... Children's Clothing...Old...Tall Stockings...from the turn of the Century...Letters...dating back...to the mid 1800's....

then...to put...My Dad... in the Mix...

Yes...I am...a bit...shall I say...'Twisted'... this Evening...

I Truly...Have...Fallen Down...the Rabbit Hole... today...

Love... to ya...

Barb C.

{I have been very...weepy...this evening... Dad...worked so hard...his entire life... and...the rest of the story... He lost all of those Cows...he Loved so... {my Aunt...told me the story...Dad...never said...anything...except...how much...he Loved those Cows...}Those...were tuff times... but...he Never complained...not ever...he just kept working...Climbing...and Falling...but...he never gave up...When they gave me...his things...at the Hospital...after he passed away...he had...only a few dollars...and some change...a couple...old bolts...and a piece...of rusty wire...in his pockets...And...his Daughter's....Love...I think...he would say...He was Rich! {I know...I was...: )  }

I bought...the old Cupboard... filled...with Mice Nests...and...the weird...tin...Oil...or Water Can...Wondering...if Dad...ever used them....

I bought loads..of Old Uniforms... and Clothing...that had belonged to the original owners...dating from the mid, to late 1800's...

I bought Piles...{three garbage bags FULL!} of old Letters...and post cards... some...the Mice...have used to fluff their homes...and...have little or no value....{except...to Mice...of course... : ) } but...I took it all....and will sort it all out here....and salvage...what I can...and...put them into Appreciative...Hands...

The Daughter....of the original owner... was an artist...back in the early 1900's... I would guess... she painted this...of The Summer Kitchen....{we found several of her pieces...I am keeping...}

There are so many paper items...from the Colonel... who was one of the first owners... I bought his chest....thought it all should stay together...

This is another painting..of The Parlor...in the Old House... {I didn't go inside...the Main House...not sure...if I could have...today...}

This is an Old Scrap Book...done in 1891... put together...by the little girl...who did the Paintings... a few years later....

There are over 50...of these Old...Newspapers... dating...from 1853...through...the Civil War...and somehow...they are...in...Very Good Condition... They are from Iowa City...and...a couple...from Chicago... I have had little time to read...about the War... what I have read...is heart breaking...

This is a wonderful....old Plow...in Amazing Condition...from 1874...
I have never seen one...like it....it's missing a wheel...but...other than that...it's really very good...still has all the original stenciling...paint...and pin striping...on the original wood....

Diggin' Through a Barn...Today... I'm...Excited!

On the Road...Today!

Gonna Go Dig!

I'm....EXCITED!!!

I will be Closed...This Weekend!

{Saturday and Sunday}

Headed...Out of State...on a Two Day...Buying Trip!

I'm taking the Fussie!

Serious...Business!

With the BIG Truck!

It's gonna...be a BLAST!!!

Images...from Today...when I return..!

Love...to Ya!

Barb C.



The Surpise...Storm!

The...Surprise Storm!!!! What a Blessing!

Look at Those Beautiful Beads...of  RAIN!!!

These...Mad Bunnies... Couldn't figure out...what was going on...as the Rain {Beautiful Rain} was coming down...I don't know what had them more confused... The Rain... or watching me...Dancing in it!!! oh...my... : )

Spent the Day... Down the Rabbit Hole...

Ahhhh...The Queen Ann's Lace... Always...always...makes me Smile... I Nurture it...{tho...it grows like Crazy...in the ditches...} I am so... Thankful...it has Chosen The Rabbit Hole...to Visit... I always...make it feel at Home...and Welcome It! Some...say it's a 'weed'... but...I guess... I am kind of an Old Weed...myself...so...will always...
Welcome it...with Open Arms!!!

The Old Fountain...and I had a Go 'round...this afternoon... I tore it all apart... and replaced the hose... ran to town...to get another...got the wrong...size...so had to splice it....got....Completely Drenched!!!  Got the water in my eyes.... {I am only wearing one contact...as it is...the Poison Ivy....got into my left eye....and...I can't put a lens in...} So...had to go flush my eyes....out...and now...am walking around...BLIND!!! Had some girls...shopping...while I was working on the Fountain.... They must have thought...I was Crazy! {I get very...determined...with this kind of 'project'....} I gotter Done! oh my...
I looked like the Oldest... wet 't' shirt contestant.... in the world.... YUK!!!! But...I'm the Winner!!!! That Fountain...is Running...Perfect!!!

Carolyn A. Picked these...during the Memorial Day Weekend Sale.... and...the Lily of the Valley...below... I have such a Hard time...pitching Flowers...that are gathered...during a Happy Time....

There is Vintage Lace...Strewn...all over...the Shop... LOVE IT!!!!

Ahhhh...The 'Hat' Ladies... they make me...Smile...

This is a 50's Grant Wood Print... This...Is...So... Iowa!!! Love Grant Wood!

Dried...Egg Gourds.... oh dear... Like 'em!

I have a 'Thing'....about Old Horse Harness...Embellishments...yes....I do....

This little Iowa Hanging Cupboard.... may...find it's way to the House... if no one...takes him...to their Home....soon....

Love this...Little Cow...Jumping Over the Moon...Lamp.... don't care...if She...ever leaves...

Simply....Elegant... This is one of my very Favorite...Tea Pots... or...Chocolate...pots...It's all Tarnished...and...Wonderful....