Yikes! Stop the clock!

Yikes! Why do I always do this? Take on a few other displays, pricing and adding a stairwell to boot? Gotta love what ya do, right? I DO LOVE WHAT I DO! I just think I always need to do more than I really can accomplish. Who doesn't? So, Barntiques will still be in the 'gotta dig for yourself' mode. When I had my flower shop, the front area really was tidy and well kept. Back room was a different story. Flowers, boxes with tissue and newspaper, stems everywhere and then add the water. That was another Yikes! And most of my life has been spent trying to chase the clock. Yes, Barntiques will open Friday at 10 am and the treasures will be amuck. The hay mow has been filled with old high chairs, barn doors, garden items like trellis and planted flower pots, and Americana baskets and trinkets. Mantiques is great fun. Rust, dust and manly. With a few old skelton keys, padlocks, keys and a few miniature locks too. And of course the main room will hopefully have a path. Glassware, vintage kitchen ware, bakelite eating utensils, crocks and I am not really sure what else I may uncover! I do want to remind visitors to bring a packet of flower seeds. We will be planting a flower bed at the Barntiques sign. I think it will be fun to watch the garden and friendships grow. Hope to see you this Friday and Saturday from 10-5.

Clock is ticking

The clock is ticking and we are hustling! Went garage saling yesterday, nothing great to be found except a big old rusty wheelbarrow. I picked up some petunias and a few little plants, pink of course. Lots to do, but am I having some fun! The banister and handrailers will be coming tomorrow. It really is starting to look like I was hoping for. Just wanted to put in a couple words to REMIND you that we are gonna be havin'some fun next Friday and Saturday. I am hoping that everyone will remember to bring a packet of flower seeds. We are going to put them all together and plant them. I can't wait to watch the seeds grow and turn into beautiful blooms. It will represent all of the friends of Barntiques that visit. You will have to keep coming back to watch the garden and our friendships grow. Gotta get to the barn. Have a blessed Mothers day.

SpRiNg HaS SpRuNg!

Spring is still SpRiNgiNg at Barntiques! The barn has made a couple of changes. We have taken great consideration and have decided that we will be having sales on the following scheduled dates,(hopefully, I won't forget to include the schedule!) It is so exciting to have a week here and there for gathering and making and displaying and you know, mental health breaks. I am sure that our families would question the "mental health breaks!" They know we are CrAzY for junk and fun. That is why we have said that we have "junky fun and funky junk!" We have also found the staircase that is perfect and feels like it was built in 1938 with the structure. Now the real work begins. Another addition is the upcoming birth of baby kittens. It appears that Junky and Barny are more than friends! What's a barn without cats running around or just draped across a big old overstuffed chair? We have gained another junkin friend at the barn too. Gale and her wonderful hubby, Willie have been VERY instrumental in motivating and donating (hopefully, donating) physical labor to get ready for the opening of the "man-tiques" section of the barn. I will be trying to find out about local sales coming up. I know that this is very helpful in mapping out the junk huntin day(s). Our next sale is May 15th and 16th. Flier to come soon! Other area happenings are JB knacker, www.jbknacker.com, located in Gilbert, Iowa. Vintage Fest will be held May 15/16. More info on that is at www.vintagefest.com. Old Crow Farm, www.oldcrowfarmantiques.com, is located in Winterset, Iowa. All of these events will be great and you won't want to miss any of us! We have a great little area of fun people and good junk! So, here's the dates so far...May 15-16th, June 12-13th (also city wide garage sales) and July 17-18th. Keep checking back for updates on all this fun.

Recent Observations

Recent observations. #1. City wide clean up that goes directly to the dumpster faster than anyone is allowed to pick it up, SUCKS! #2. Meteorologists get paid whether they predict rain, snow, heat, cold, windy and hot even when they are WRONG! #3. In the last four days, we have had it all except snow. #4. Iowans look forward to spring. #5. The farmers started planting their crops this week. #6. Junkers are junkers are junkers! #7. Spring brings the hope of warmer weather and outside gatherings! #8. Temperatures on Friday hit the mid 80's. #9 The high yesterday was the lowest of the lows all week. #10. The old wives tail of If it rains on Easter Sunday it will rain for the next six Sundays. #11. Old wives are damned smart, because it is off to that start! #12. I cried at many of the memories shared yesterday out in the barn. #13. (Which is one of my LUCKY numbers,) I found out that the email that I sent (well, thought I sent) didn't reach anyone. #14. I need to become literate with this machine of many uses! #15.I have great friends that helped me get ready for and run the sale. #16. I also have great friends here in junkland, like JBKnacker is Gilbert, Iowa and Old Crow Farm in rural Winterset, Iowa. #17. Our youngest (in utero) grandbaby is strong and sleeps on its little tummy and will make an arrival in early October. #18. I have hours of work this week opening up the 2nd door of the barn to what I like to call "mantiques". #19. We are getting a bit used to the whole "empty nest" syndrome. #20. If you want a job, with a paycheck no matter what your performance, go to meteorologist school!

Come see us at the Barn!

HOT OFF THE PRESSES! THIS JUST IN! SOURCES HAVE REPORTED THAT BARNTIQUES, THE PLACE WELL KNOWN FOR "FUNKY JUNK AND JUNKY FUN", WILL OPEN THE DOORS ON SATURDAY, APRIL 25TH AT 10:00 AM! ACCORDING TO OUR CRACK TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS, YOU CAN ONCE AGAIN COUNT ON UNIQUES, ANTIQUES, MANTIQUES(is this really a word?), SHABBY CHIC, ROMANTIQUES AND MUCH MORE! AN INTERVIEW, WITH PHOTOS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE ON WEDNESDAY EVENING. BARNTIQUES IS LOCATED ON THE SUNNY, NORTHWEST CORNER OF PICTURESQUE NEVADA, IOWA. ADDRESS IS 2000 5TH STREET. THE BARN-GIRLS CAN BE CONTACTED AT JUNKINATBARNTIQUES@YAHOO.COM. DON'T MISS OUT ON ALL OF THE FUN!
All fun and silliness aside, we are located 8 miles east of Ames. If coming in on highway 30, take the main entrance (yes, marked by the glorious wastewater treatment plant!). This will take you across the railroad tracks, through the booming mainstreet business area. Continue through town through the 4way stoplight, past John Deere, another set of rairoad tracks to the end of the street. This will be "T" avenue. Go left,(west)one block. This street ends at our driveway. Hopefully you will be able to find it by following the traffic. Pull on in and we are located in the big white barn. It is going to be a warm, sunny, bright day and we have been waiting for this since November! Grab a friend or six and let's see ya at the barn!

No Reason for This

I am sitting on the computer trying to make sense of our weather. I know, I live in Iowa and it is ONLY April. The crocus and daffodil are blooming. The tulips and iris are poking out of the ground. Robins have been able to feast on worms. Families have started to venture out on walks with the dogs and kids. It really is great to see the change of season. UNTIL TODAY! Blizzard warnings have been posted, roads treacherous, churches across the state have been cancelled and I just walked through a 3 foot drift to get to the barn to feed Barnie and Junkie. There is just no reason for this!
My basement is a shamble as I have been starting and delaying several projects. I have a bunch of ideas and enough supplies to decorate half of Iowa. The sewing machine has been staring at me for weeks. And...as you guessed it, there's no reason for this!
Did I mention that I have a touch of procrastination? Ok! More than a touch!
My husband gave me a really cool camera. And all of the works to put it on my blog. I have attempted that but my ADHD kicks in and I jump to something (or nothing) else. Once again, there is no reason for this.
I will make a promise to all of my faithful followers (and I mean every 8 of you)that I will be posting more often and begging someone to show (I am a visual kind of girl)me how to post photos.
My sidekick, Sheri is back from her spring break (sounds like she is in college-huh?). And we really have to get moving so we can open up the barn with all kinds of fun new projects! She has such a great eye for fabric. I know that she has been making aprons out of vintage material. To die for! I have seen some of her sewing skills up close and personal! I am the owner of two great bags that she has made. Hopefully we will have some of those in the barn. She also has something in her head that has to do with vintage handkerchiefs.
And, why haven't we accomplished what we were going to do all winter? Yep, there is just no reason for this.
Check back in a few days, the snow will hopefully be gone and the warmer temps will help us all get into the season of change!

Rain, rain go away!

Rain, rain go away! Oh wait a minute, it is March and the temps have been hovering 60. What was I thinking? It could be snow! But, that is in the forecast towards the end of the week. Go figure. We are going to our grandson's house in northwest Iowa. Yes, I realize that this region is the first to get snow and the last to have snow! As a grandparent, little blizzard won't stop us. And...I can still detect burn piles through the snow. As I have stated before, burn piles should be outlawed until inspected by a junker!
We have a new addition to the barn. Two precious, furry, purring kittens. They are about 4 months old. Been raised in the garage with about 30 other strays. Barney and Junky have taken to us very well, of course we are the ones that have food! I always crack my husband up when I say, "but, honey, they are free!" And unfortunately I also have to hear him say "there's no such thing as FREE!" (speaking only of animals of course!) And, naturally, Barney is a typical male and wants to stay in the elite club of males always being right! Yep, second day, a little matter appears in his left eye. No problem, wipe it out right? Third day, little more GREEN yuck and eye is swollen. GREAT! Next day, still some green stuff and the eye is completely closed. Did I mention that I had to crawl, climb and do the worm dance to reach him? I made the treacherous venture of the mounds of my JUNK to get to him and he just layed there. Now I know that he is sick if he is not running away. Bad sign. It is now Friday at 5:45 pm. Vet closes at 5:30. My daughter is standing next to me and we are ready to start our ugly cry. Pulled out my Feline First Aid Kit, consisting of what the hell am I going to do list of questions and answers. Did I mention that Mary Ann was standing next to me, expecting a great potus to appear or to hug the booboo away? The heat was on and I was sweating profusely! Warm paper towel packs and LOTS of attention and I think we may be on the right track. He is peppier and has his purr machine up and running. Hopefully I can delay the opportunity of hearing "there's no such thing as free", unless it is junk! I will go check them in just a few minutes. I am hoping that the next chapter will be how they are playing with the customers and helping them load lots of goodies into their trucks!
Back to the rain situation. It has forced the inside tasks to be tackled. I got a bunch of lovely pint milk jars, some of them with the Borden logo printed on both sides. And more Ball jars. In my world there is never enough Ball jars. I use them for everything. I have also randomly gathered quite a few enamel bowls and pans. Red and black trim. Some more garden surprises too! I think I will leave you with those items to ponder and will go out and dig a bit in the garage.
I have been told that it has been difficult to leave messages. I think I have figured it all out. HOPEFULLY! I love hearing from everyone, so sorry this has been an inconvienance.