The Holidays... Moments Away!

 

The Holidays.... are coming Fast....

Mark Your Calenders!

Holiday Open House...

Down The Rabbit Hole...

December First and Second!

{The Hatter... has some Fun Ideas...Under His Hat!}

{oh...dear....: ) }

 



 

A Trip...Down Memory Lane...

The Horse...
I will have to admit... I wasn't happy...when John bought this Old...Carousel Horse....
But...the more I look at it... it reminds me... of my Beloved...White Cloud...
Dad bought her for me...when I was 10....
She was my Best Friend... {along with Dolcey...my Great Dane...} through my teenage years...
A White Horse... with...Beautiful Glass Eyes...
{she was Albino...She had Blue Eyes...but they are called  'Glass Eyes' in horses...
This Horse...has the same...look...as hers..were}
She had the Kindest..face...
and...was soooo Smart...we did all sorts of Tricks!
We Sailed...over many fences... she and I...
and...travelled...a Million Miles...together...
Sadly...she was struck by lightning...when I was 16... a June day... I'll never forget...
She was One...in a Million...
so...everytime...I look at this...I'll think...of her...

At The Fall Harvest Sale... a man...brought this little Pig...up to me... { I had bought it at Gold Rush...to keep... but...he'd been put out...by mistake...} The man said..."I'll give ya a buck...for this..." {I had paid...5.00... } I told him...I'd sell it...for what I paid... he was insulted... }
So...I get to Love Him!
{He looks...Happy..here... : ) }
{for the record... it's best...to ask...what someone will take...or...what would they like to have...than say..."I'll Give Ya"...
 Dad taught me that...when I was a Little Girl... you...can always...counter... and say..."would you consider ???"
Trust me...on this... : ) }

The Wine Rack...has found a spot...on the Dry Sink Cupboard... : )

Angels... Angels...

See The Kitty... This is 'Mama'... she's...Old... {see the broken, hand vase...?} One..of Many things... that have met their demise.... Thanks...to the Kitties... what can I say.... I'll get the Super Glue....

I have found...a handful of 'The Marion' fruit jars...over the years...
 I keep them...in memory..of Dad.. His name...was Marion...

I picked this wine up...on a whim...and...I gotta tell ya... It's Wonderful! Got it at Aldi's... It's White...and Sweet! My New Fave! {Beeren-Auslese Rheinhessen} Love...the Label....

 Bought 20 pounds of Red and White Potatoes...and 10 pounds of Sweet Potatoes...yesterday... There will be Plenty...for Thanksgiving...and Plenty...to send Home...with the Kids...{ I do...make  a 'Mean'...Mashed Potato... : ) and...a 'Meaner'...Sweet Potato!!!!!!

Wish...I could be...more like..Flora Belle...

 

Flora Belle....

 

I received...the most Lovely 'Comment'...this morning... from my friend...Cindy N.

After reading it...I just sat here...and wept...

It was Cindy...simply asking...to come in the house...someday...

The first person...that came to mind...was my Great Grandmother...

Flora Belle Shuck... from Derby, Iowa...

She was my Dad's Grandmother...

Who...passed away...the year I was born...

She raised him...from when he was 4 years old...along with his slightly younger...and older brothers... Richard and Ted...... 

Not an Easy Task... in 1917...on a Small Farm... in Southern Iowa... at her advanced age...

He Idolized her...

and...she...him...

All of the wonderful...stories...Dad shared with me...about her...

She...was such a kind...and Loving...Woman...

She opened her doors... to Anyone...who needed a place to stay....a  meal.... or...simply an 'ear'...to listen...

She worked tirelessly...and...one of my Dad's...deepest regrets... in life...was when the Depression hit... Dad...was only 17....yet he did Everything he could...to save the Family Farm..where he was born..and raised... and couldn't do that for her....

{She had borrowed 3000. against the Farm...to pay bills... and lost the entire Farm...when she couldn't pay it back... That is why...I don't Borrow Money...}

It also...divided him, forever...from his estranged Father... who had the money to help....and didn't...

When Dad spoke of his Grandmother...... he melted...

That brings me back...to my tears...this  morning...

Cindy asked..if sometime...she could visit The House...

oh my...

It made me realize... how much... I am...not Like...Flora Belle...

My Home...should be Open...to Everyone... {used to be...}

But..frankly... I am so ashamed...that I can't keep it clean...

I don't want my Friends...to see it like this...

They deserve better...and so does the house...

I find...I work...so hard...attempting to keep the Boat Afloat...

that I have no time...to Swab the Deck...nor...the energy...

She thinks...it looks like a 'Museum'...from the images...

Far...so Very far...from it...

I think...she'll be disappointed....

I have gathered...things..I Love...because...of their Soulfulness... and the Faces I see... when I touch them...

Most...have chips...cracks... stains...Some...sort of damage...

{kind of like...myself...} but...they have found a Home...with me...

only...because...I Love them...and respect...their 'Journey'...

Not...because...of their monetary value...

I let go...of The...Best...{in other's opinion} to keep the Boat...upright...

Certainly..not...'Museum Quality'....

John and I...built the addition...ourselves...  I covered a million miles... gathering...and dismanteling old houses...for the old architecture...it took a couple of years... with a Tiny...Tiny Budget... {Thanks to Friends... who helped me locate as well...and Friends and Neighbors...who helped get the Bones up...and John..who worked by himself...with limited tools...and even more...limited funds...and Thanks...to The Carpenter Angels...that kept us Alive...}

I wish...I could be three people...

or...as Peg says... We could all win the Lottery...

so I could stay Home...and keep things..better...stay on top of everything...

and...be content....

But...that shouldn't matter...

I'm sure...Flora Belle's Home...wasn't neat as a pin...

Being a Farm Woman...raising 3 Little Boys...

Yet...she always... made Folks feel...welcomed....

I used to be that way...

We have had many Folks land here..over the years...and stay...with us...Teenagers...and Adults...

But...seems...since I opened the shop... and my life has been...Consumed... everything...has been off line...

The doors...are always...open...to Folks..in need... but.. I hate the thought...of 'visitors'... when the house is in shambles... and...most of the time...it is...

kind of like...me...

So....It broke my heart...when Cindy asked to see the house...

She should have been invited in... Long Ago...

and...for that...I am....

Truly...Sorry...

I don't know...how I can change it...tho...

If I'm not working...away...the Ship...is Sinking....

if...I'm not Home.... the house falls into a Hole...

It's...Frustrating...soooo Frustrating...

oh well...

I guess...

It Is...What It Is...

Love to Ya...

and Thanks Cindy...

We'll get together... soon...

Just...when ya visit....

Make it in the Evening...I'll keep the Lights...low...and leave the White Gloves...home... : )

Barb C.

{Cindy...when you are here during the Sales... my house is at it's worst... I have just come off the road...from the shows...thrown myself... into 'Sale' mode.... and The House...is the Very Last Thing.. on my list... I know...Mary S. would like to stay here...during Sale Time... but... there is No Way.... I can hardly Breathe... then...

 The Holidays... that's when I have a moment...to work in The House... I Hope...Hope...Hope... to invite a few friends...over... between Thanksgiving...and Christmas....  : ) YOU...being one of them... : ) }

 

I had a Million Miles...to cover...yesterday... then I watched Miss. Scarlett.... She was fascinated by the Old Cuckoo Clock.... and loved... watching the Little Bird...peek out... as I gently took the hands...'round and 'round...so she could see him.... She sat up...in the late 1800's High Chair... that came from an Old Millersburg Farmhouse... {It had lived there..it's entire life...}... { Dad's next...'Home Town'...} The Old Clock...is hanging...on the side..of the Cupboard..that came out of the  1850's Farmhouse... Dad...lived in... back in the 40's...} I realized...this... just...as I am writing...
Guess there's...a lot...of 'Dad'...here...and..a Little..of Flora Belle.. too....

Wish...I could keep this... just like this... but...within a day...the house...is covered in dust.... and Critter..hair...Wafts...of hair... I do...Love the Dogs...{The Cats...make me Crazy!!!! but...they Love John...and he, them... {I like them...too...but... they Push me...to my Limits! I never know...day to day...what I may find....they have done... They are Naughty!!!} I would never trade 'Clean'...for a Crittersless home....so.. guess...it is...what it is....And...friends that want to come by...better give me a little notice... so I can...pick up...

The Mountain and Star Quilt.... It's All about the Details...

The Boys and I made a long overdue...delivery..of an Old Cupboard...to a Very...Sweet Girl.... today...

She has a Darling Store...in Amana, Iowa...

{'Amazing Grace' {next to The Bakery!}

Sandy..is...Amazing...

Love Her!

She has a Wonderful Eye...for...'Old...Things'....

After the Old Cupboard was situated...and the Boys...headed Home...

I did a little Shoppin'!

I spied this...{dare I say it...?}

'Amazing'...Vintage Quilt!

Sandy said it came from Edina, Minnesota.....

Holy Smokes...

She pointed out...the old repairs....

but...all...my eyes could see...was The Incredible...QUILTING!!!!

When she helped me hold it out...I also noticed it's unusual size....

It's nearly 8 feet long...and 5 and a half feet wide....

{I have No Business... buying another quilt....}

I gotta tell ya...

It was Love...at first sight!

 Sandy's prices...are always so reasonable....

{To have a Quilt...done...today...with this kind of work... well...my Bank Account... would never be rich enough... ever... The Hours...and Hours...that went into this.... oh my...}

I HAD to Have It!!!!!

It was All...about The Details...

This Old Darling...has the Most Intricate Stitching....I have Ever Seen!

{And... LOVE the Old Repair!!!}

{I do...have one other Trapunto Quilt...that...has finer stitching...and quilting....

but...these Old Darlings are So Few...and Far Between...

with...condition issues...left by the wayside...

These...are a Work of Art!....}

I Love the Back...as Much as the front...

Wowza!

There is 'Something'...about holding...Old...old... Things... in my hands...

I can't put it into words...

When there is this much Love...Thought and Talent...put into a piece...

Age... Years.... Magnifies...the Intensity....of the 'Feel'...

It's almost...like they have a voice...of their own....

A Whisper...

Gentle...yet...so very... Powerful....

I scanned through my Favorite Quilt Book...

{'The Romance of the Patchwork Quilt in America' Published in 1935} this afternoon...

 the closest pattern...I could find... would be a Mountain and Star...variation....

I need to do more research....

It was Much Fun...shopping at Amazing Grace... I haven't been out and about...at all...

This...put a little Wind...in My Sails!

{Thanks...Sandy... : ) }

Hope you all had a Little Wind...in Your Sails... today...

Love to Ya!

Barb C.

{When in the area...and hunting Textiles...and Antiques...in general.... be sure..and check out Sandy's Shop 'Amazing Grace'...... and...'Fern Hill'... in South Amana.... Holy Smokes! A Quilters Dream!!! {They carry Incredible Vintage...and New...Locally, Hand Made Quilts...as well...}

 All of the Amana Colony Shops...are Great...!

and...Ever Changing! 

A Fun...Locally Owned...and Operated... Area!!!}

 

 

 

This Quilt...is So...Lovely... I just sat...and stared at it... after I spread it over the front...of the Old Dairy Cupboard.... {the yellow you see..are shadows... it's... White...and Blue....} oh my...
but... I wouldn't care...about a stain...or many...
a hole...or many...
a repair...or many...
The Quilting... is... out of this...World....
The 'Hand Work'... oh my...

There are Plumes.... quilted throughout.... oh my....

oh...my...

Seriously.... I so... Wish...you could All...see this...in person.... I am Amazed...at this Quilting...
yep....my knees...are weak... Old Lace... Old Quilts...Old Cupboards... Old Clocks....
yep....they...Drop Me!

Red Wine...and Kolaches....

Went to visit...Dear...Sweet Friends... last Evening....

I have pretty much shut myself in...these last couple of weeks...

and...kept busy...here...at Home....

I started thinking..of Old Friends...I hadn't seen...in sometime... my Friends...Stanley and Klarika...have crossed my mind...so often...this year...yet...I kept thinking...

"I'll call them...tomorrow"...

well... days...turned into weeks... then...weeks...into Months...and..before I knew it...I hadn't seen them...for over a year....

I called them... a while back...and said... "We are...Getting Together!!! and...

 We are Going to Make It Happen!"

Last night...we did....

It was Lovely! Klarika, is from Slovakia..and has been here...only 6 and a half years... she has been studying all Summer...for her Citizenship...! I am So Proud of her!!! She gets it...in a week! I can't wait to go see her...at The Ceremony!

I Love this Couple...so...

They Work...So Hard!

Stanley is an Amazing Artist....he works two jobs.. then... works on his Beautiful Portraits...a few hours, in the Evenings...

He's from Poland... originally....Incredibly Talented!!!

Klarika...was also working... nonstop.. but is down to one job...so she could concentrate on her Studies...

An Amazing... Woman...

{When I start 'Boo Hooing'...about how hard I work... I think of this Couple... oh my.... }

{AND...their Home...Is Spotless!!! SERIOUSLY!!!!!!}

Klarika made the Wonderful Kolaches...from her Country.. {My Mother's Country...as well..}For us to enjoy....with a little Red Wine.....

They...were Indredible!!!!!! So different from our American Czech version...

She gets Polish flour...when they visit Family, in Chicago... {our flour has too much gluten...she thinks...} and the Dough...is filled...with a cheese filling, with sugar and raisins, before the fruit is added...in the top...{She makes the cheese filling...from sour milk curds at home}...

 These Kolaches...are OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!

We had such a Lovely...visit...

They are such Beautiful People...

Inside...and Out...

What a Gift...they are...

Love to ya..

Barb C.

{Klarika sent home a Beautiful Tray..of them...so I could share...with my Mama...

She will be...in Heaven!}



Playin'...around with the 'Girly Toys'....

Spent the afternoon...Down The Rabbit Hole...

Setting the Old Cupboard....

oh my...

Spent hours... and didn't move...more than 2 feet... : )

I do...Love Playing with those...Old...Sparkling...Dishes...

Throw in...a Mess of Victorian Beads... Buttons....Some...Beautiful...Vintage Handmade Lace...

 a few...Well Worn...Velvet Boxes....

and...

I'm in Heaven!

I sorted...and cleaned....as I went along...

and...still have a Pile...to get through...

but...it was Good Therapy...

it truly was...

Hope...you had a Good Day...as well...

Love to ya...

Barb C.

Oooooh....Love..Love...Love...Vintage Glass! {Much of this dates from the 1870's and '80's....}
 I Love...how it feels...in my hands...
Some of it...has a chip...here and there... but...it still...SPARKLES...and Shines....
oh yes...
Love...It! 

As I was setting...this Old Cupboard.... with...Pretty Glass... Vintage Jewelry...and Worn Velvet... I glanced up...to the Primitive...area...just through the doorway....
I can't understand...how a person...can have such a Passion... for Old...Victorian...and French...{kind of... Girly...: ) } and Love...Love... Love.... Grungy...Old Painted...Mouse Chewed... Straight...outta The Barn...Treasures...as Much...
Guess...it's all about...
The Love...of...Old... : )

One can Never have...too many... Angels... : )

My knees get weak...when I handle...this Wonderful...Old...Old... Old... Lace...
LOVE... IT!!!!!!



Everything...is either...Too Big....or...too...small....

 

Today...Down The Rabbit Hole...

was Filled...with...

'Littles'...

Oh my.... I was digging...and scrounging...setting a Cupboard...for The Holiday Open House...

{Peg...Hates it...when I do this...

 I have to...carefully...look at every item...and...reminisce...oh dear...}

It takes me...Forever...

I Play...and Play...with my Toys!

The Toys...I played with...today...were..all...teeny...tiny....

Wonderful...Tiny...Treasures...

{Yes...yes...yes.... I LOVE...Big Stuff... but...oh my...I do...Love...'Littles'... I truly...do... }

Holiday Open House...

December 1st and 2nd....

11 - 5...

Hope to See Ya... : )

{These images...are gifts...for Dear...Friends... but...I gotta tell ya... I ran across..some...Very...Fun....'Littles'....today....I Truly...Did! : ) }

Open Today... 11 - 4

I'll be Open Today...

11 - 4

Hope to See Ya... : )

Pressing...Flowers.....

 

I made my way...out of the House...today...

Went to the store...and picked up...a few things...

I bought a Turkey...for Thanksgiving...

It got my mind....thinking about...the meal....

When I got home...I pulled my Favorite...

Old...Cook Book...out....

It's 'The Buckeye'....

from 1880...

Most anything...anyone...could ever need...is written...in that

 Old Cook Book....

As I flipped through the pages... I found the Pressed Flowers....

I don't remember ever seeing them...before...

I look at this book... always...over the Holidays....

Have had it...Forever...

Somehow.... I missed them...

They...made me smile....

Love...to ya...

Barb C.

{I Love...finding 'Pressed Flowers'...in Old Books... I find them...often.... and...they...always... make me...Smile...}

 

Wonder... what the Girl...was thinking...when she gathered...these Flowers...so....Long Ago....
Wonder...who...she was with....
maybe...a Little One...
or...her Beau...perhaps....
Maybe...she just...escaped....for a moment...
alone...
and found...some..'Peace'...gathering...
I never knew...how Lucky I was...
I had a Four Leaf Clover... right here... under my nose.....
{wonder...in her...wildest...dreams... she could...Imagine...
 I would be writing about them...on a computer...
for...The World....to see...
oh my....}

I enjoy...finding Old....recipes...in this book...and create them...over The Holiday Season....
I cook...with a Stove...from...1908... so...when it says...a 'Quick Oven'... I know what it means...
{my Old Stove....doesn't have a pilot...or...a thermometer...but...it's pretty easy...to use....I have gotten....used to it...and wouldn't have...a new one....}
This Old Cook Book... is easy to read...and...I never measure...anything...anyway...
It's a 'pinch of this'... or... a 'dash'...of that.... pretty much...everything...I do...is by taste...
I don't own a mixer....{well...I have Mom's old one...but...I don't get it out...}
Nor...do I have a use...for measuring cups....or measuring spoons....
{a tea cup...and my old table and tea spoons...work just fine....I rarely use them...
I put dry ingredients...in the palm of my hand... and...can eyeball it...close....enough...}
When it says..."Butter... the size of an Egg"...I get it... : )
{I love it, here... where it calls for "a Wine Glass...of Brandy"...Lord knows..I have Plenty of Wine Glasses! Some...are Much...Larger...than others.... oh my... : )}
I was...hunting...for a Good...Pumpkin Pie Recipe....
Think....
"A Kentucky Girl's Pumpkin Pie"....
Is...Exactly...what I'll be fixin'....
Sounds...good...
Very...Good....
: )

{John just walked by... {I always sit in the Kitchen... at the Dough Board.... when I write ...}

 He Is Not...Fond...of this song....{ I won't tell ya...what he said...

: ( }

oh well...

I think...it's Perfect....

It's 'The Civil Wars'...they...are...Amazing....}

{as you can hear... I took his music critique...to heart.... : ) }

oh...my....

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE.... Postponed...

 

The Holiday Open House...

Scheduled for November 10th and 11th

Is Postponed...

until

December 1st and 2nd....

 

This Mid 1800's Amana Wardrobe...came walking in the door...of The Rabbit Hole..yesterday...as The March Hare and I were playing....
It was a Welcomed sight....
Love the Old Red Paint...with the White Panels... it seemed...to say...."It's Beginning to Look A Lot...like Christmas"...
Then...when Lynn and Lea popped in...and helped me bring the Cast Iron Urns in....
I imagined them...Full...of Evergreen...
but...that will be...another day...

After visiting with Pegadoo.... Lynn and Lea.... I decided.... to move the dates...of

The Holiday Open House...

back...to my

 Old...Weekend....

The First Weekend...in December....

Seems...we lose Thanksgiving....by having a Christmas... Celebration... in November...

I'll be Open...this weekend....

but...will take my time...pulling the Shop together...for...Christmas...

It simply...feels...better....

Love to ya...

Barb C.