Friend's Candle Shed

I work on Saturdays at my daughter's store to give her the day off to be with her new friend and his children, as many of you know, my daughter lost her husband a little over a year ago to brain cancer, a tragedy to be sure, but as we know in this life nothing is permanent. We must move on from our sorrow to hopefulness, that life with that spouse is to be no more, only fond memories locked away in our special places, honoring a soul released to paradise. After 6 years under the shadow of cancer, Piper is finding love again and I wish her well, she deserves happiness after tragedy.

So I am here tearing up the store, giving it a new look and bringing in new stuff. I LUV this lil' red wash stand. Missing it's door, a curtain of osnaburg (feed sack)makes this little treasure the perfect piece to hold a microwave or any other kitchen stuff. You have no idea how hard it is to take these pieces to the shop, when they all look so cute in my house. I love little tables, cause they all serve so many needs in home...work stations, towel bars, desks, junk holders, end tables...on and on the list goes.

So if you're near, check out The Candle Shed..many treasures to be had, plus a myriad of candles and soaps.

Shadow Shot Sunday #16

Your Bonnet Miss


Shy lashes hidden
'neath gossamer tendrils,
the love in a heart faded
to memory...

hung out of sight.
From our curious eye,
laced frills and velveteen
adorn what must have been
a vision,
a woman in costume
decor on a white gloved arm
prized possession
society's muse.
A woman was just that,
a woman...
Mother
caregiver
no longer the maiden
no longer the love
only the wife

the shadow
the faded flower,
times truest test
to inner beauty,
still possessing that will
to be what was...
a woman
a soul
equal.

The time again to check out the shadows on Hey, Harriet . Join in on the fun, look for them shadows, they are everywhere.

New Stuff...

Barb has such a splendid flair for drawing you in to her web of decorating dreams. Everyone that is involved in the web-weaving brings their own special mark to the realm of Sister's Garden. I recall 15 years ago, there was this booth in an antique mall that had the greatest stuff and it was displayed so creatively. I bought lots of stuff from the gal back then. Then I heard that she opened her own shop...OH MY GAWD!!! Where is she? I'll never forget the first time my sweet friend Cathie C. This Girls Art and I went to Barb's newly opened shop...we were just floored. Everything we saw at the shop was right out of Victoria magazine, Country Living, Country Home, Romantic Homes...it was all there. What a treasure and 15+ years, it is still going strong...now that is a testament to great skill and passion...Sister'Garden...a must see...

So here we are with a wonderful pale, mint green, Victorian dresser and mirror, the perfect palette of mint chips and dings, a decorator's dream. Then we have a STUNNING walnut chest with mirror. If you are Victorian at heart, this is a splendid piece of rare beauty. Then on to a wonderful black built-in filled to capacity with mercury glass baubles, a maroon velvet chair glowing in the brilliant autumn sun and last, but not least the vision at the top of the stairs at Bloom, a study in pink...glowing in crystal and glass, you must see this display close up to see the product in all it's finery.

Again Barb and the girls have mixed a study in texture for your pleasure, now remember, these items usually don't last long as the intrepid buyers that frequent the shop know...if you like it, you better be first in the doors or you will be long drooling over pictures of past beauties...see ya at the event...

You might call us junkers in Iowa odd...

But we are just the 'good ol' gals' havin' fun tryin' to make a living, doin' what we love...we think...talk about hard labor! This is Deb, Barb's right arm, playing with a toy about to be altered into something fabulous for the Fall Open House...'and why are we doing this,' she says? And of course this is Barb wheelin' in another fab treasure...OK, so we are addicted...but so are you or you wouldn't be reading this crazy blog...right! Ok, so the person in front of the mirror with the camera is guess who...That's really a light bulb over my head with another great idea forming...But here in Ioway, we got some hardworkin' farm-gals trying to give you the best of the best, in the best surrounding possible...Iowa...the lost continent. Most of you never heard of us right, isn't that where they grow potatoes and isn't it all flat there??? Bet you didn't know (or cared) that Captain Kirk was born in Riverside, Iowa and they celebrate that event every year...only in Iowa...it ain't just corn...well maybe it is, I probably can't tell anymore. All I can say is ..."let's have some fun!!!"

Don't forget...Sept. 19 & 20...Fall Open House

To Have All...

Things that shed love
things that shed fear
things that bring comfort
things that bring fortune
All things that encompass who and what...

Such complex human emotion
stirs such beauteous passion,
to be written
to be lived
to be given...
is it only human
is it all about ours...

In Nature, it is about all
in Nature it is about growth
it is about a gift that lives on
to all...
all will share in beauty
all will share in harvest
all will dwell in
the all...

The ancients new of the all
where did we lose all
was it greed
was it the winds, the waters, the Nature
was it the new man
incapable of seeing
the all
is it because of 'the Jones'
that we have lost sight of our brothers
to have it all...

What is your all
can you give more
to have all
will you see more to have all
will you feel more to have all
is natural to have all
is to be born again
for all...

Florida calls...

As wintry thoughts creep ever so close, memories of the last winter still make my skin crawl. Snowfall after snowfall, paralyzing a community. Ten foot piles of snow everywhere, ice packed curbs, downed power lines, tree limbs fallen, power outages, wildlife starvation, cattle stranded, people stranded, cold, cold, cold everyday...will it ever end. As I struggle to feed myself and maintain, as no business is coming in, it is even more of a struggle for the wildlife. Frozen surfaces cover food source for all forest creatures. My bird feeders are packed with desperate mouths, all vying for the bits of nourishment in feeders and on frozen ground...you wonder why my thoughts of Florida invade my future planning.

My Mother lives in Lake Placid, a beautiful little piece of inland Florida, till the Snowbirds come in the fall, but that could also be my salvation this winter, packing up the dog and my grooming supplies, a trip and temporary work is not far from my mind. And believe it, when I am out painting furniture in 80 degree weather in the middle of January and the temps in Iowa are below zero for weeks on end...the thoughts do cross my mind.

But such thoughts always come to mind this time of year as the warm weather drifts ever so slowly from our grasp. We know what lies ahead and for me it could be a simple matter of finances. These ain't the good ol' days anymore, with recession lapping at our heels, money is tight everywhere. But in the meantime I will squeeze all the goody I can out of the beautiful Indian Summer to come and pray to the Universe for steady biz.

Iowa Heritage

On my trips back and forth from Sister's Garden, you might catch me driving erratic along the highway and back roads, whipping off the road at a moments notice, for that perfect depiction of Iowa living. I can't help but admire the beauty of the old barns that have been gently maintained through the harsh Northern seasons, careful not to take away the original charm of the buildings.

I'm not totally certain, but I think the quilt on the front of the barns, depict the hundred year status of the farm...I will have to check into that next trip, but how beautiful they are with the summer sun pulling their bright fabric into view.

So many barns are being razed due to impossible insurance rates charged to maintain their structure. So unfair, what it takes these days to preserve our history. I think only in the United States do we have to over-analyze everything to death, to line the pockets of the wealthy corporations at the expense of the hard working Americans. We don't deserve this abuse, but again, corporuption rules...how sad in such a beautiful land.

I have an Award!!!

Thank you so much Nancy from Shab N Chic and as per request, I am to pick 7 other blogs that I love...but due to the fact that I love you all, it is impossible for me to choose...I would have to go way over my limit of 7. But everyone please go check out Nancy's blog, she is a gem and has great stuff on her web site too. Thanks again Nancy...and back at cha!

Just received this same award from 'theotherTheresa' at Time-worn Interiors...thanks girl...you know I love your blog too! Check it out...

HOLIDAY...YIPPEE...

Have a wonderful Labor Day everyone...enjoy your well deserved day off from labor...try and stay out of the kitchen ladies!

What's in a Portrait...

Having a portrait of loved ones past, brings memory of the dear departed flooding back into mind, especially when left in the homeland so far across the seas. Small delicate portraits carried off to war, bring some sweet moment of hope to men in battle, hopes of a safe return to the arms of the love. When a child leaves the nest, a Mother or Grandmother rekindles fond memory of those sweet, chubby, cheeked kisses. Portraits of whimsy of a time in history when dreams were fancied and events were immortalized. Such wonderful portraits grace my walls, it doesn't bother me to have portraits of other people's relatives in my home. To me, it's all about the art and the thought. Someone had a vision in these portraits, be it family or the art of the day, it gives me a warm feeling of humanity. Relatives long lost, castaways of an uncaring family, rejecting the past and the history...as old stuff. To me, art, beauty and grace...you may gladly rest here on my walls of vintage gardens.