With pride

Voting is an emotional experience for me -- just is.

I once held a paper ballot to my heart before putting it in the ballot machine --

and looked up to see one of the volunteers behind the table share a knowing smile.

I don't vote out of fear or anger -- I vote based upon hope, faith & knowledge.

I am not cynical about government -- I have seen the important role it can play in helping people.

So, I called my son to remind him to come on over to our Otter Creek Town Hall to vote.

It is what we do --- with pride.

We each have a story...

Sometimes when I walk about my house, I almost hear these quiet voices- 

each telling me their story.

The jar of marbles from games played behind Maywood School...

me with my pixie haircut & steelie in hand.

The sparkly "Dream" sign we hung on the mirror from

Dave's parent's home when we first began work on the farm...

reminding us that we could.

The original screen door from this 1857 farm --

now living in honorable retirement in our dining room. 

The Weebok shoes that Ian wore when he took to walking at 9 months in

our home in Sun Prairie.  A little guy with places to go.

The Hall Autumn Wheat custard above -- a set my mom earned one at a time

when the Jewel Tea man came to sit at her kitchen table in Monona.

And the little pumpkin in the photograph -- from my childhood. 

 A little lantern we would set on the picture window each autumn.

My mom helped me & my sisters to cherish what we had

and to celebrate each season, each special event.

So, I celebrate her too, each day, when I walk through

my home...a place she only knew about in our dreams... 

When we talked about what our farm might look like with a curtain

in the barn windows and daisy necklaces on every cow.

Even though I sang her a last good bye on Halloween some years ago,

her stories still quietly call me. 

She liked this time of year -- and loved everything about Halloween.

Happy Halloween...

Pure Joy!

the wind blows too hard

there are too many piles on the desk

day light leaves too early

it feels too cold too soon

too much to do

and so with my back burdened with too little, too much, too many

I enter the barn...

they run to my feet

all they want is some milk, some food, some kindness

Pure Joy

With wild abandon they play

Pure Joy

I laugh & cry and feel too lucky

 

Sweet Autumn

This year autumn in my home is orange, green, white & black...

It is little bowls filled with old dominoes & buttons.

It is vintage millinery on a cake pedestal. 

It is old Halloween Invitations (thanks Sarah).

It is newer folk artsy finds.

It is little pumpkins and little boxes.

It is Halloween "tricks" in the urn -- look at their grins.

It is Halloween treats for my Ian -- even if he is 22!

(A basket of orange & green & black & white for my boy.)

Sweet Autumn...

A bowl of bunnies...

This past weekend, Dave & I celebrated our 29th Anniversary

with a trip northward to our property in Winter. 

On our way, we had to follow the signs -- "Thrift Sale" beckoned!

At one stop, there were boxes at the road edge, unpriced.  

I picked the white rabbit above out of a box - held it up for a price -- "free".

I knew the rabbit was German made.

The sale was outside - and then continued into the house. 

A grandmother's estate...lots of dishes, grandson still unpacking.

We looked around, asking permission to move from room to room.

And there, on the top of a VERY full waste basket was the brown rabbit above.

Definitely a German candy container

(head comes off, candy would have gone inside).

Was the brown rabbit for the taking too? "Sure, just trash."

So -- they arrived home, marking our anniversary -- a mere 29 years

compared to their age of likely 100+ years. 

Yes -- these sweet rabbits were special -- and I happen to collect them. 

I admit to paying well over "free" for the others in my collection. 

And here they were, one in a free box, one in the trash.

Waiting, waiting - just for me.

"Value" --it is in the eye of the beholder.

Bunnies in a bowl -- priceless to me.

What is your favorite free find??

Switching gears!

If you follow my blog, or visit now & again...

you may notice a sort of "consistent discontent" in my ways.

I do like things organized, but I am not contrary to change.

I have been known to just switch it all about...

and love, love, love to rearrange, redisplay, and redo!

So, today brings a bit more of a "holiday to come" template....

and definitely a feeling of switching gears. 

I always feel in my antique business that I need to stay one season ahead. 

So -- I am now wrapping up "autumn" in the barn (to some extent)

and beginning to re-design with a sense of cranberry red, crisp white & shades of blue & green. 

Of course, I will also pay homage to Thanksgiving.

So -- on to the next Barn Sale:  "Does on the Go"!

Saturday (only) - November 20

9:00-5:00

See you there?

Oh my...

Meet the newest babies: 

Cinnamon, Chestnut & Marmalade

4 weeks old

Oh my...I am just not sure what to say. 

Aren't they just adorable?

**I still would love your comments on the Barn Sale (see post below)**

Feet up, time to reflect...

Picture me, sitting in that blue rocker from the "house that time forgot",

feet up & reflecting on such a perfect first annual Autumn Barn Sale.

 

Picture me, counting my blessings - one by one:

• The most amazing fall weather!
• Such wonderful, kindred spirits in all you folks that attended!
• Great friends in Jani, Sarah & Nan -- helping, helping, helping! 
• And, of course my family -- Dave on Saturday, Ian & Kara on Sunday!

 Thank you to everyone for making this such a wonderful memory!

Please see next Barn Sale dates to the right.

If you were there, please share your reflections or your favorite find....

Ready!

Ready!

Barn Sale 2010

October 9 & 10

9:00-5:00

(No Early Sales)

Meadowview Farm

Antiques & Vintage Finds

S13181 County Road R

Augusta, Wisconsin

Don't miss 20% Off Sunday!!

Gathering acorns...

I feel like this little squirrel, hopping thru the leaves and gathering.

Busy - Busy - Busy!

Singing to herself, "October 9th is coming -- hurry, get ready, gather, gather, gather."

Barn Sale -- Soon!

Click on tab to right for details...

Autumn Harvest

If you could harvest "sweet" - this is what it would look like.

Shadow & Whisper in the hayloft.

And Pumpkin too!

If you had to describe Autumn in three words
 -- what would they be?



Two Weeks! Barn Sale 2010

"They will love it, they will love it not. 
They will love it, they will love it not. 
They will love it."

I awoke this morning to NO RAIN!

First thought:  "two weeks from today - the Barn Sale!

Second thought:  "Yea!"

Click on "Barn Sales" under Chapters to the right for the details.

Will you be there?

Tick Tock

Tick Tock

17 days left for readying!

17 days left to scurry & hurry & make it all pretty!

17 days left...

Tick Tock

Barn Sale 2010

Click on tab to the right under "Chapters" for all the details.



Chippewa, like the river...

This morning we awoke to this magnificent sunrise -- pink over the barn. 
It was glorious.

This morning we awoke to one less kitty waiting at the barn door. 
It was heartbreaking.

Chippewa - like the river.

Independent. 

Coming home.

Always running home.

Your barn waits - home.

This morning under pink...it was you.

Chippewa - like the river.

I make no apologies for falling madly, deeply,
head over heals in love with my animals. 

When no one else cares, they do.

When no one else will listen, they will.

As we buried our little Chippewa this morning,
Ralphie watched from his goat bridge.

He will miss him too.

Chippewa - like the river...

Just a peak - Barn Sale 2010

Just a peak....just a peak....

Still getting ready for the Barn Sale.

Just a peak at one little area of one BIG hay loft.

Just a peak.

Glad the lights were low....just a peak.

Just a peak...new kitty babies - a gift last weekend.

Marmalade, Chestnut, Cinnamon, Tinsel, Clover?

Still deciding upon names.

Barn Sale --- October 9 & 10  (9-5)

For more Barn Sale information -- click on the tab to the right under "Chapters..."