Indeed. Because... It Is.

It's Always, Always...

'been'.

; )

Thanks...to John, and Lawyer Meardon, for Saving It...

Three Times, against 'giants'.

; )

{'The Book'... is coming.}

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

Red...

Seems... my 'Computer Table'... is gettin' a....

bit, 

'cluttered'.

; )

Realized 'that', when I sat down to write... this afternoon.

; )

oh dear.

Stumbled across a new 'Apothic' Wine, recently.

; )

Usually... I choose 'Red'... 

but,

the new one, sounded...

 Interesting.

; )

'Crush'

'A Soft Blend'

???

; )

{Have a feeling... 

that,

Ain't Gonna Cut It!!!

Hahahahahaha!!!

; )

I'll let Ya know.}

; )

The Lilies are Poking Their Heads through The Jungle...

around

 Home.

<3

<3

<3

So Much... Yard Work, to get Done!!

; )

My back... is, 80% better.

Tomorrow, and the rest of this week is gonna be MAD!!!

; )

Lord... Lord!!

; )

This Entire Summer... is gonna be

'Round The Bend!!

: )

<3

oh my.

: )

One.... Day at a Time.

; )

: ) : ) : )

'White Rabbit Books & Curiosities' posted the above, several years ago.

; )

Love It.

<3

So....

True!!!

{on so many levels}

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

'Live'... just, Live!!'

Simply... Iowa.

<3

Allyson, and I took the back roads to Belle Plaine, Friday afternoon.

: )

{about 35 miles from Fairfax/Cedar Rapids}

It was a Perfect Iowa Summer Day, said Allyson.

; )

True!!

Our first stop... was at The Oakhill Cemetery, in Belle Plaine.

We were on a mission to find Helen Snow-Miner's grave.

Oak Hill... is a fairly large Cemetery, fairly old... too.

There's some Beautiful Statuary there.

<3

It took us a while... to find 'Helen'...

but...

We Did!!

: )

{Helen, and Alfred}

<3 <3

Above is the Lovely Painting, Pal.. Bill gifted me with several years ago.

Helen painted it in 1921.

<3

Was telling Allyson, Helen's 'Art'... brought us together... to meet there.

I'll bet Helen never imagined that two women would come to visit her grave, 

pay their respect... to her, 

78 years after she passed away, because... of her 'Gift'....

'Art'.

; )

I've got Allyson 'Hooked' on visiting Cemeteries.

Allyson said... she never really paid much attention to them, before we began traveling together, many, many years ago.

She so enjoys visiting them.

: )

Allyson loves how Peaceful... they are.

; )

Me... too.

<3

Ever since I can remember... I've always been interested in Cemeteries.

When I see them, especially the Cemeteries with 'Standing' Monuments,

it's always been so clear in my mind, each 'Stone'... 

'Monument'

represents a 'Life'.

: )

Sometimes... a 'Family'.

'Soldiers'.

<3

Every 'Stone'... has a 'Story' beneath them.

Some Stones... actually have short 'Stories'... about the person 

engraved in the Stone.

<3

Allyson, and I visited a Beautiful Cemetery in Des Moines, a few years ago.

At many of the 'Stones'... they had a QR code, you could scan, and hear all about the person you were visiting.

THAT...

was

 So Cool!!

Told Allyson, Friday... that I sure wished Every Grave, had one of those.

<3

After our Peaceful... visit with Helen, and strolling through the Beautiful...

 Oak Hill Cemetery, 

we headed to 

The Lincoln Cafe.

; )

All you can eat Walleye.

; )

; )

The Lincoln Cafe... has changed very little, since I was a child.

<3

The Lincoln Cafe has been open since 1928.

Located on Old... Highway 30, {The Lincoln Highway} in Belle Plaine, Iowa.

Dad, and I... used to stop at 'Truck Stops'... to 'Grab a Bite... to Eat', when he was on different Farm sights, 'Junkin', cutting up Farm Machinery.

At Noon, we'd head to the nearest Small Town, and have Lunch at a local Cafe, or Truck Stop.

Always Enjoyed those Lunches with Dad. 

; )

Dad... never met a Stranger, so... listening to Dad, and whoever... might happen to also be having Lunch, was So Much Fun!!

; )

Even the Food, seems the same.

<3

Nothing 'Fancy', just... Simple... Soulful... Comforting.

; )

Like It!!

The Walleye was AWESOME!!

; )

Allyson, and I were going to try a piece of  Homemade Pie, but...

NO ROOM!!

; )

All you can eat Walleye, Coleslaw... Choice of Potato,

 Salad, or Soup...

 and a

 Scoop of Ice Cream, for Dessert, 

for around 14.00.

; )

That's 'Rural Iowa'.

<3

Took the same... back roads... Home.

There's a little Cemetery, at the road where I turn to go to Son, Justin's...

that's always intrigued me, every time I visit the Kids.

Allyson, and I... checked it out.

; )

So... Pretty.

<3

So... Peaceful.

<3

<3 <3 <3 

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{I was thinking last night, about all of those we visited, Friday.

Wondering... wondering, what Their Stories were.

Wondering, if they could give us... advice, on 'Life'... what would it be?

Thinking about... Helen, and the little... I've read about her, I... believe she'd say...

 " 'Live It'... while you can. Just... Live!!"

; )

<3

Wish I could've known her.

Grateful... to have one of her Lovely Paintings.

<3

Thanks... So Much, to Pal, Bill.}

: )

<3

Never once, in my life... glanced at a Cemetery, and thought of 

'death'.

Not once.

When I see a Cemetery...

I think of 'Life'... 

; )

'Lives'

<3

'The Journeys'

; )

Can't get past... this one. {updated}

: (

Love to Ya...

Prayers...

for 

All.

Barb C.

 <3

{updated 6/13}

I'll be writing about mine... and Allyson's 'Travels'... yesterday, later, today.

Yesterday... was a Glorious afternoon, and evening.

: )

When I got Home... last night, began doin' a little research for 'The Book'.

; )

oh... my.

Pulled the above video, from the 'vault'.

; )

I'm not gonna spoil... too much.

That meeting, was several years into the 'battle'.

Lawyer Meardon... had requested 'Public Records'... from Fairfax.

They weren't coming. It was taking forever.

We kept waiting... and waiting... for Fairfax's 'records'.

The Iowa Department of Transportation... turned theirs over, quickly.

Couldn't imagine what the hold up... at Fairfax, could possibly be.

Then, noticed... the city clerk, had put on the agenda...

she wanted the council's permission to 'destroy old records'.

hmmmmm.

???

They... approved it.

hmmmmm.

???

{Thank goodness... IDOT keeps good records.}

Not gonna say... too much, here... just yet, but...

when Councilwoman Wainwright stated, in so many words...

{it's in the above video}

"They {IDOT} wanted to put trails on Both Sides of The Bridge... we didn't go for That...

That would be Crazy!!"

; )

oh my.

Lawyer Meardon has the correspondence between the city's hired engineer, and IDOT. 

{Public Records}

In actuality...

according to those...

 'Public Records'...

It was FAIRFAX who ASKED The Iowa Department of Transportation to have Trails put on BOTH Sides of The Bridge.

'The Iowa Department of Transportation'... QUESTIONED 'that', and didn't think it was necessary.

NOT...

the Other way around, like Wainwright, stated.

Hmmmm.

Also found it interesting... the city's hired engineer had apparent amnesia, concerning the trail accommodations 'Under' the bridge, that adjoins our land.

Hmmmmm.

Lawyer Meardon... has a File Cabinet in his Office, with one word on it.

'Conner'.

Gratefully... 

Meardon...

doesn't believe in destroying...

'Old Records'.

Paper... 

or 

Otherwise.

; )

If ya think... I was a little angry, at this meeting, you'd be gettin'... 'warm'.

; )

After several Years... of being told...

by

'City Hall'...

"There is No Trail... 'We Didn't Ask for a 'Trail'... 'This is All IDOT', 'we were Forced by IDOT to put in that Trail'....

; )

oh... dear.

ya know...

I never knew, 'understood' the meaning of 

'Gaslighting'....

until 

'This'...

nearly 10 year long...

Fight.

: (

{according to 'Public Records'... Fairfax had been cookin' up this Suicide Bike Trail 'Plan'... since 2012.

Hmmmmm....

yet, none... at 'city hall'... knew a Thing about it.}

: )

bless their hearts.

; )

To think... back in 'the day'... I actually... 'trusted' some of these people. 

: (

My... mistake.

A Really Great Lawyer... once said, "Don't ask a witness on the stand...

 a question, unless... 

you already 'know' the answer to it."

'Public Records'...

don't

lie.

Neither do videos.

The 'Book'... is comin'.

Barb C.

A Little More 'Country'...

Pal... Allyson is pickin' me up.. this afternoon.

On our travels, a while back... through my Old... Stomping Grounds, in Benton County, Iowa...

was telling her about a Painting, Pal... Bill gifted me with, long ago.

I looked up the Artist,

 Helen Snow-Miner.

{1872 - 1948}

She was an Amazing Woman.

Lived near Keystone, Iowa... on a Farm.

{my 'Happy Place'... when I was little. <3}

She was quite famous for painting Animals, especially Horses.

I read an article about her, that said... Helen tamed Farm Animals, encouraged them to come inside the house... always carried sugar in her pockets for them.

: )

{My... Kinda Gal!! <3}

Many Horse's were brought to her Farm... to have their portraits painted.

Many... from far away, 'Race Horses'.

; )

Helen... was encouraged early on, to move East, and get formal schooling.

She declined... said, she preferred to stay on The Farm, as she was content being a Wife, and Mother... to her two Children, and... stay with her Beloved Animals.

<3

; )

Found that Helen lived near Luzerne, Iowa... when she passed away.

Not far from Keystone, Iowa... in Benton County.

Very close... to where Son, Justin lives.

Helen was laid to rest... at the Oak Hill Cemetery, Belle Plaine, Iowa.

{Just 4 miles from Justin's Home.}

Allyson, and I drove past that Lovely... Cemetery, the day we were Skippin' through Benton County.

I pointed it out to her... told her about the Painting, and Helen.

: )

Allyson called, last week... wondered if I'd like to go back, and see if we could find Helen's Grave, then...

go for Supper, at The Wonderful... Old, 'Lincoln Cafe'... in Belle Plaine.

; )

{I was telling Allyson about The Lincoln Cafe, and how it hasn't changed since I was little, when Dad and I would sometimes stop...

for a 

'Bite to eat'... as Dad would say.}

; )

Every Friday... they have 'All You Can Eat Walleye'.

; )

It's Amazing!!

; )

So are their Homemade Pies!!

; )

{That... Perked Allyson's Ears Up!!

'Homemade Pie!!'

Yippee!!}

; )

Hahahahahahaha!!!

Hoping my back can take a walk through The Beautiful Cemetery.

Eeeeek.

: (

It's 'better'... today, and... along with Coffee, taking some Aleve.

Hopefully... 

it'll hold up.

Dang.

; )

Looked at a possible 'Living Estate Sale', on Tuesday.

Got Such a Kick... out of The Gal!!

She was an Actress, and a Music Instructer.

Very... Very... 

Animated... and Flamboyant!!

Full of Life, and Energy!!

<3

FUN!!

; )

As we were parting ways, she asked me where I'm 'From'.

Told her... I've lived my life within a 50 mile radius of Cedar Rapids.

She paused... said, "Hmmm... That's surprising. 

You've never lived in 'The South'?"

Nope.

but...

Do, Love The South!!

; )

{Bill was Grinning!! He said... "But she has a LOT of 'South' in her!!!"

Hahahahahaha!!!

We'd just taken a quiz, the other day... about 'Southern Slang'.

Hahahahahahaha!!!

Bill was Shocked at how I Knew... Every Single Meaning!!

; )

Especially... the 'Bless Your Heart'... 'meaning'.

; )

{There's Two... 'Meanings' for That One. ; ) }

The Gal said... "You've never lived in 'Southern Iowa'... even??"

Nope!!

But... my Dad, was born, and raised... there.

; )

{I'm Tellin' Ya... once Ya get South of 80, in Iowa...

{excluding Iowa City}

EVERYTHING 

Changes!!

Hahahahahaha!!

She Agreed!!

; )

Dad must've rubbed off on me... a bit.

; )

<3

The further 'South' I go... oh my.

; )

I pick that Southern Drawl... Up, Quick... without knowing it!!

; )

Daughter, Liz... used to get teased in Nashville, because of her 'Yankee' accent.

Hahahahahaha!!

Not Me!!

; )

I Slipped Right In There... 

; )

Never knew... I was 'Bilingual'!!

Hahahahahaha!!

For the record, in my opinion... there's Many, Many... level's of

'Southern Accents'.

; )

Many!!

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

Back... O U T.

Long Morning... in Iowa.

I reached out to my 'Loved Ones'... South of 80, this morning...

when I noticed the track Storm's were taking.

They were coming out of Chariton... Iowa, early.

{Dad's... 'Home' area.}

Farmer Friends... Lynn, and Lea, were Narrowly Missed, by a Horrific Band of Tornado's...

South of Sigourney, Iowa... a few years back.

The 'Storms' that come out of 'The Southwest'... can be quite wicked.

Gratefully... everyone, made it through.

: )

<3

There's water ponding... all around me, it came inside, yet again, this morning... here.

We've had a Lot... of  Rain over the last couple of days.

{Thanks... Iowa Department of Transportation, and Fairfax, Iowa... City Hall.

'Former'...'Fairfax'

'City Hall'.

bless their hearts.

all... 

for a 

Wrongful...

 'Suicide'... Bike Trail' next to Highway 151.}

; )

$$$

; )

Sadly... not much I can do about any of it, 

my back... is O U T.

: (

believe... 

I must've twisted... a little 'wrong', yesterday...

when tarping 

The Ford, in a big hurry.

: (

All it takes... is a 'Twist', for my back to say...

"I Don't Think So... Scooter."

 ; )

Hahahahaha!!!

Was telling Grandson, Justin... that story, earlier.

The 1983 accident, on 151, pretty much... 

set the pace, for what... I can, and can't 'do'.

; )

I can Lift... a Ton.

; )

it's the little, tiny... 

'twists'

that do me in...

Every Single Time!!

; )

Yeah... Boy!!

I don't 'feel' it... until the next day.

Hahahahahaha!!!

Yikes!!

; )

Felt It...

Big Time, 

this morning, when I crawled out of the sack.

; )

oh my.

Justin... asked if I was going to 'Town' this morning.

{He... never asks for Anything. 

<3 

Knew... if he was asking, he... needed a ride.}

<3

{there was a part of me... since Justin... has his License, now...

and, with my back... 

O U T, 

to...

just...

 Throw Justin.. 'The Key' to Jethro.

<3

{The Ford... is Loaded, 'Sally'... needs a battery.}

Then...

thought about who 'I was' .. at 16, when driving 

Old...

Mustangs.

: )

'Grandma'... found her feet.

; )

Justin... was very Patient, while waitin' for

Grandma... to get 'herself'...

'together'.

; )

<3

{'back out'... is an interesting 'journey'.}

oh dear.

Justin... gathered up what he needed, in 'Town' to make 'His Ford'...

BLAST

Music...

!!!!!!!!

; )

<3

That's... Mighty Important Sh!t... when you're 16, or...

63.

; )

Music...

is a 

Big Deal

inside

Your

'Driver'

; )

<3

Big Deal!!

<3

{Lawyer Meardon... taught 'Alice'... much.}

; )

Stay tuned...

these last several days have been very interesting.

: (

'Fairfax'...is quite a mess.

: (

We've known that, for a long time.

: (

Promised Folks... over the last few days...

I'd do what I can, for them.

; )

'Fairfax'... needs help.

<3

In my humble opinion, 'Bullies'...

 can't be allowed to continue to 'run' our Little Town.

: (

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Stay Tuned.

: )

<3

<3

'Life'... Indeed. ; )

<3

<3

; )

{oh dear... stay tuned.}

: )

Fish... was Extra Active, the other day.

: )

Just missed capturing him doing a Major...

Back Flip!!

Glad... I got to see it.

: )

<3

He's a Character. 

; )

a bit...of a 

Ham.

<3

Love the above... scene.

; )

'Life'... 

Indeed.

; )

What a Ride!!!

<3 <3 <3

; )

Been a Stormy Day... in Iowa.

Got Soaked to the Skin, this morning, trying to tarp the load... on The Ford.

; )

We're gonna get hit... again, tonight.

Ya Can't Stop...

Mother Nature.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Fun!!!

What do Iowa... Rural Kids do, after Work... on a Hot, Sultry...

Summer afternoon?

: )

They take their Horse, {Romeo} and Best Friend... 

'Gizzy'

{German Shepherd}

for a Swim... in their Pond!!!

<3

: ) : ) : )

Thanks... so Much, to Justin Sr's Gal, Christy, for capturing these images.

: )

Priceless.

<3 <3 <3 

'Simply... Iowa'

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

Treats!!! ; )

After planting... yesterday, sat with 'Fish'.

<3

Yes... his name is 'Fish'.

: )

Never can remember how long he's lived at The Rabbit Hole.

Thinkin' he's goin' on 18.

<3

Folk's ask me if I bring him inside, in the Winter.

Nope.

Have two stock tank heater's that keep him Cozy... over the Winter.

: )

After a long day, it's very relaxing... to visit with Fish.

: )

Peanut... oh my.

; )

What a Life.

<3

Cooked up 10 pounds of chicken hind quarters for her, yesterday afternoon.

Made bone stock, for her as well.

She's having problems chewing her kibble, so thought a softer, food... might be helpful.

: )

The Vet says it's nothing to worry about, but... I thought it couldn't hurt... to soften her meals up a bit.

Peanut... Loves It!!

; )

Planted a few tomato plants early, early... this morning, before the rain hit.

then...

had a little 

Fun.

; )

Met with a Dude... late morning, who had a 1966 Mustang Grille, with The Pony...and Corral.

: ) : ) : )

Then...

stopped for Brunch...

at 

Edith Lucielle's.

{My Favorite Old Stomping Grounds!!}

; )

Just me... and The Old Boy.

; )

; )

Love It!!

; )

<3

They Make a MEAN...

Bloody Mary!!

; )

Prime Rib Salad.

; )

{I... always have them add a 'few' ONIONS'!!}

: ) : ) : )

Jethro and I stopped at D.Q.

on 

6th. St. S.W.

Cedar Rapids.

; )

I ordered a medium cone.

HOLY SMOKES!!!

I'd Hate to See Their LARGE!!!

WOW!!!

Above...

is

 The Real...

TREAT!!

; )

1966 Ford Mustang Grille... with The Pony, and Corral!!

I NEVER Knew... the piece around The Pony... is referred to as 

a

'Corral'!!

{Thought I Knew Everything... concerning 'Mustangs'!!}

Hahahahahahahaha!!!

It was a Treat meeting The Dude who had it.

oh my.

: )

He Had MANY... Many... Mustangs!!!

WOW!!!

He'd even Met 

Carroll Shelby!!

WOW!!!

WOW!!!

; )

I was Star Struck!!!

Oh My!!

; )

The Dude asked me if I was going to put the grille... in Jethro.

Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

ah...

no.

; )

"I'm gonna hang it in my bedroom."

; )

Pretty certain he thought That was as Funny, as I did...

 when he asked me about putting it in Jethro!!!

Hahahahahahahaha!!!!

; )

We had a Wonderful... Visit!!

It's Great when ya run into someone who's as 

Craaaaaaaaazy about Old Mustangs, as you are!!!

: )

He, his Wife...and Daughter...

 {They named their Daughter... 'Shelby'. ; ) <3 }

are 

All...

 Crazy, like me!!!

Love It!!!

: )

The Cool... Old Grille was 100.00

; )

I... don't buy much, for 'me'...anymore.

figured...

I could spend a hundred, on far less.

; )

Love It!!

<3

FUN!!

; )

The above popped up on FB, yesterday...

; )

made me 

' : ) '

Hahahahahahahaha!!!

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3