Almost.

That's a fact.

Received a text... from Dear Fellow 'Gold Rush' Vendor, and Friend, Doug, a bit ago.

: )

'Gold Rush'... in Rochester, MN. is happening now.

Doug... said how much he misses us. : )

We miss Doug, and Everyone... at Gold Rush.

Above... is Doug's Booth.

; )

{Doug... does Amazing Original Stained Glass Work!!}

; )

I... can see where our Booth was, as well.

We were always under the 'Visitor' Banner.

; )

That 2014 'Gold Rush'... was a Tuff one.

These 'Events'... are grueling, when everything in the world is goin' kinda right.

When 'Things'... are goin' kinda wrong, like life in 2014... and most every year since...

: )

for

 'Simply Iowa', 

well...

my fuse got a little shorter, and shorter, every show.

As did... my creative level.

'Life'.

 Damned Distraction.

I was extremely Blessed over the years... by Dear Friends, Family... and 'Customers'... also, Friends, who helped carry me through.

<3

Those who 'Truly'... 'know' me, know... I wear my heart on my sleeve.

That's a dangerous thing.

Probably... not good for 'business'.

; )

Had I been scheduled for 'Gold Rush'... this time, I wouldn't have been there, with Miss. Peanut being so ill.

Peanut... was one of the reason's I dropped 'Away' Events.

{There were Many Factors}

Peanut, in her own... Loving Way, made me see...

"Home... is Where The Heart Is"

; )

<3

{Trust me... I wouldn't drive back and forth from Des. Moines, every day... while doing Junk Jubilee, for just...

'Anyone'.}

: )

Peanut Carried me Through The Horrible Messes of Fairfax, and The Iowa Department of Transportation.

BIG LOAD}

: (

I... rescued Miss. Peanut... once.

; )

She 'Rescued' me... a Thousand Times.

<3

All of The 'Critters'... in my life, have.

<3 <3 <3 

I get kinda Sassy... about 'humans', sometimes.

Please Know... I Know... some Wonderful 'Humans'... 

that could almost, 

almost...

be 

nearly...

as 

Pure of Heart...

as

a

'Critter'.

; )

<3

'almost'.

Beyond... Grateful, for Them.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

<3 <3 <3 

Peanut was beaten blind... as a Pup.

You'd never know that... by the way she always looked in our eyes.

'My Eyes'

<3 <3 <3 

; )

<3

Fairfarren... My Friend.

<3 

<3

<3

<3  

<3

Fairfarren...

Peanut.

Received 'the call' at 9:30 this morning, from Christine.

Peanut had a large mass of cancer in her stomach.

Christine was suspicious, but... Peanut's symptoms... and numerous tests, didn't match... so much.

All hope... was lost, this morning.

I'd like to think... we all did our very best for Peanut.

<3

She's gonna be Deeply, Deeply...

Missed.

Thanks to All... who've kept Miss. Peanut in your Kind Thoughts...

and

Prayers.

Barb C.

<3

Critter's don't have 'wood' hearts, in my opinion.

; )

Sadly... many 'humans' do.

: (

bless their hearts.

{Grateful... for Christine.}

<3

{Mona Lisa}

; )

Rainy Day.

<3

Miss. Peanut is undergoing exploratory surgery this morning.

After visiting with Christine, on Wednesday...

she felt... if Peanut were her Beloved... Best Friend, that's what she'd do.

I've struggled with this, but ultimately... we're out of options.

If all goes well, Peanut will be coming Home... to heal, this afternoon.

: )

I... Pray for That.

The weather seems fitting, over the last several days.

Especially... this morning, as we prepare ourselves.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

let it ride. {began this post last night. It's kind of graphic, so... Ya might want to skip this one.}

It's... certainly not easy.

It's... not 'impossible'... either.

; )

Still fighting the good fight, for Miss. Peanut.

<3

It's been a very consuming, and frustrating battle.

Peanut refuses to eat... and, drinks very little.

: (

Christine... gave her IV fluids, again... today.

We're continuing with antibiotic injections, because... that's our last option.

Took a urine sample in to Christine, this afternoon.

Just like every other 'test'....

no answers for her anorexia.

: (..............

It's heartbreaking.

: (

beyond.

Beyond.

: (......................

Seems 'Fairfax'... is up to their old tricks, again.

: (

{Not... The 'Good'... 'Fairfax' Elected Folks, and Great New... City Clerk. <3}

Been wading through some of 'that'... over the last week, or so.

: (

Council Meeting... tonight.

Something tells me, I... should let it ride.

Let them all... 

'ride'...

for now.

{maybe... forever. ; ) seems to me, ultimately... most of them... deserve each other.

Eventually... everything comes out in the wash.}

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{began writing this... much earlier.

Believe... Peanut gave me a 'sign'... a few minutes ago.

'things'

have

changed.

We'll see, what Christine thinks about it, tomorrow.

; )

I... have my own thoughts.

Guessin'... Miss. Peanut does too. }

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Actually wrote the above, Tuesday afternoon/Eve.

Peanut... wasn't doing well, at all.

wasn't sure she'd make it through the night.

She did.

<3

Peanut... isn't in pain.

She has zero appetite, and sleeps a lot.

We're going to continue with her antibiotics. I take her daily... for her injections. I... can't give them to her, myself.

Gave her one, on Saturday, myself...

but Sunday, Peanut was 'wise' to me.

Could only get half of her dose finished.

She fought me, to the point I was afraid I'd do her more harm, than good.

{Horses are much easier.}

The Girls at The Clinic, totally understood.

: )

They... also struggled, with two people.

Peanut is surprisingly strong... being so ill.

: (

 I have a sample of vomit, I'll take to Christine, today.

Peanut... throws up, daily.

Bile... 

: (

Last night... was 'different'.

: (

Told The Girls, at this point... I'm going to keep Peanut 'Comfortable'.

As long as she still perks up to her Squeak Toy, and gets excited when I pick up her leash,

we'll keep trying.

: )

<3

Skipped last nights Council Meeting.

Fairfax... is such a Mess.

: (

again...

getting pretty tired of some at 'Fairfax'... peeing on my boots, and telling me it's 'rain'.

Guess... they don't understand there's more than One way to test their 'Precipitation'.

We've been getting a lot of rain, over the last several days.

Again... throughout the night, and morning.

I'm heading out the door, to take a quick walk, and check for flooding issues.

Thanks to Everyone... 

for their 

Concern 

for

Miss. Peanut.

<3 <3 <3 

One day... at a time.

; )

<3

'Faint of Heart'...

Started this... 'Saturday's' post... early Sunday morning.

There's simply.... too much to put into 'words'... in a few,

 short hours.

The Truth Is... I'm still 'chewin' '... on Saturday...  and... so many, many...

'yesterdays'

'before'.

{'Today'... hasn't been 'easy', either.}

{'Today' rarely... 'is'.}

So many, many... 'things' to be Grateful for.

<3

So... many, many... 'things' to be not so much...

'For'.

'The Journey'...

ain't for the

 'Faint of Heart'.

I'll do my best... to write about the 'yesterdays'...

when I can.

guess...

again,

I think...

I need a moment.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{There's gonna be a lot... coming down the pipeline, this week. I'll post something... daily, tho... it may not be much more than a line, or two.}

<3

<3

'these'... days.

It's been pretty quiet around Home.

Picking up meds for Peanut, this morning.

Kind of a last ditch effort.

I'll be giving her injections, over the weekend, see if they help at all.

All we can do... is Hope.

; )

Don't want to leave Peanut... but, need to help Dear... Renate, for a bit, today.

<3

Shouldn't take long. Pal, Bill... and Grandson, Justin... will be helping as well.

: )

Had a go-round with 'City Hall'... yesterday, concerning more wrongfulness I watched unfold, on Thursday.

'These'... aren't the days to ruffle my feathers.

I'm a little 'short fused'... when it comes to 

'human' nonsense, 'these' days.

: (

Guess... I always am, after all of the years, being Jacked around... by these 'people'...

my 'filter'....

concerning 'them'... ain't holdin' up....

very well, concerning 'them'...

 'these' days.

Nope.

Reminds me of the old saying....

"Don't piss on my boots...

and tell me it's raining."

I'm getting pretty good at knowing the difference, 

'these' days.

Don't like to write... when there's no 'good' news to report.

'Life'

It is... what it is.

One Day... at a Time.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Indeed.

The Journey.

<3

The 'Surprise Lilies'... are Incredible this year.

: )

Long ago... Friend, Julie... gave them to me, 'Long, Long'... ago.

: )

There's another Bed... of them, on the other side of the entryway to The Hen House, behind The Rabbit Hole.

Was trying to remember when Julie gave them to me.

???

20 years ago...

?

Perhaps, further back than that... the way 'Time'... slips away.

They are Stunning... this year.

<3

; )

'Some'... 

people.

; )

<3

{IDOT, and Fairfax... 'people', in 2018, to date. ; ) }

{bless their hearts}

; )

Miss. Peanut, this morning... as we were heading to see Christine.

They ran all sorts of tests, again... today, along with a detailed ultrasound.

Did several other procedures.... and, came up empty.

We're all so incredibly frustrated.

: (

Picked Peanut up, late this afternoon, so they'd have a chance to 'observe' her.

We're going to visit in the morning,  over what our next plan of action will be.

<3

Indeed.

Think... we're all on the same page, tonight.

; )

Peanut... is Happy to be Home.

<3

She went Straight to her bed.

: )

She's been through Hell.

: (

On a Happier Note, spoke with a Dear... Old Friend, today.

<3

Haven't 'visited' with her... in several years.

She's an Amazing Antique Dealer.

Long, Long... Time.

: )

We laughed, and... visited about her 'Journey' over Decades... 

Chasing

 this 

Crazy...

 'Love of Old'.

: )

It's a Sickness!!!

Hahahahahahaha!!

; )

<3

The Hundreds of Thousands of Miles...

The Sleeping in her Van, while doing Shows across the Country.

; )

Yes... we compared a few...

 'Battle Scars'.

; )

Hahahahahahaha!!!

; )

When we went to say 'Good-bye'...

we both said...

in 

Unison,

"Love You... Girl!!"

<3 <3 <3 

Hoping... we can get together, soon.

It's been far, far... too long.

; )

oh... my.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

'Solid'.

I've spent more time with Dr. Christine, at River Basin...

these last several weeks with Miss. Peanut, than I have in the last 25, plus... Years

with The Horses!!

; )

Admiral... Babe, Bucky... and Scout.

<3

In January... Peanut weighed 77 pounds.

I... weighed her today, 55.6 pounds.

: (

Had to buy Peanut a new collar.

She's always worn... Polly's Collar.

<3

It won't fit anymore.

They gave Peanut an injection of fluids, today..

that's the 'hump' above her shoulders.

Peanut... is going back, in the morning, early... for more tests.

I... could've left Peanut, there, tonight...

 but, no I couldn't.

<3

Peanut... is blind, has been, since she was a Pup.

Peanut... is a 'Shelter' rescue.

<3

There's no way... I'd ever leave her alone, in a cage... in a strange environment.

Not happenin'.

One of the very first Vet's I worked with, as a Teen, was Doc Hanna, in Springville, Iowa.

Doc was a Large, and Small Animal Vet.

<3

Remember Doc telling me how much 'Better' Animals heal, in their Home Environment.

: )

He'd send our 'Critters'... Home, shortly after surgeries.

Gave detailed instructions for their Care.

<3

Doc Hanna, taught me so much... about Caring... for Animals.

<3

Hopefully... we'll have some answers tomorrow.

Sold a Darling... Early... {1880's} Amana, Iowa... Table, to a Sweet Gal, from Iowa City, this late afternoon.

; )

'Kyli'... is a Nurse.

{knew it the minute I met her.}

; )

Kyli... LOVED That Old... Walnut Table.

<3

{this... is why I 'do' what I 'do'}

<3

The Love... of Old.

<3

Below... are mostly, memories... that popped up today.

: )

Folk's say... you shouldn't look back.

; )

I... respectfully... disagree.

Being in the moment... is Very Important.

{especially when you're going down a flight of stairs, doing laundry, or... sweeping out the back of a FUSO Box Truck. : ) }

Living for the Future, is... important, as well.

: )

the thing is...

Nobody...  is promised 'tomorrow'.

When I look back, well... I'm grateful.

: )

There's been a whole bunch of 'things' over the years...

that sure could've changed my way of thinking.

When I look back, and 'see'... 

: )

I'm still... pretty 'solid'.

<3

In Spades!!

Hahahahaha!!

: )

; )

<3

<3

It's 'All'... About 'The Journey'.

; )

Fact.

; )

<3

<3 <3 <3 

<3

I've... Never Ever Forgotten Those Who've Stood With Me...

in 'The Rain', when... I knew, very well...

they had Far Better Choices.

Never Will.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for

All.

Barb C.

<3

Spoiler... Alert. : )

; )

Priceless.

<3

Take It... Easy.

Above... is a Sweet, little old Rabbit, that Pal, Dale dropped off last week.

; )

I live... where 'The Rabbit Hole' is. Sometimes, customers get upset when they find things they'd like to purchase, here... that aren't 'for sale'.

I... don't sell 'Gifts'.

Ever.

<3

People don't know... it's difficult to differentiate, the 'line' between The Rabbit Hole, and Home.

Impossible, really... 

; )

They... pretty much 'meld' together.

<3

I've been 'Gifted' with some Wonderful Treasures, from Dear Friends, over the years.

Some... will Always, as long as I'm alive... be held.

There are some 'things'... Friends have sent with me, that... will be sold.

: )

They know it, I... know it.

We 'Know'... I'll find 'The Hands' they were truly meant to 'find'.

<3

{It's a 'Rabbit Hole'... thing. ; ) }

{You either 'understand it'... or, Ya don't. ; ) }

The Love of Old... Soulfulness.

<3

Still battling with Miss. Peanut's issues.

: (

She's still hangin' on.

<3

Many have asked... how old... Peanut is.

She's young.

; )

about...

 7

More tests, and fluids, tomorrow.

Thursday... more tests.

<3

; )

Indeed.

Indeed.

Always...

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

(Hy-Vee Grocery Store... had a 'Pie Eating Contest', 11 years ago on this day.

; )

There were a dozen, or so... contestants. 

A few... were mighty big dudes.

; )

I never had a doubt who 'The Winner'... would be.

; )

Daughter, Liz, may never eat Apple Pie, again...

but, 

By God...

Liz Showed'em The Way Home!!}

; )

<3

<3