and... why do I sip Tequila. ?

The 1997 Iowa Department of Transportation's, 

Condemnation...

of our 

'Land'.

Lawyer, Charles Meardon... attempted to share his Dad's 'File' of the 1997 Iowa Department of Transportation's 'Condemnation' of our land, with me, two month's ago.

I... wouldn't 'accept' that file, from Charles, until yesterday.

: (

Couldn't bear... to see the images, I'd captured, or.... attempted to, back... then.

'Round Two'

with 

The Iowa Department of Transportation, for us.

: (

Heartbreaking, and wrong, on every level.

{my opinion}

Here we go again. Thanks to Fairfax, and The Iowa Department of Transportation.

'Bike Trails'.

?

Looking at 'before and after' images, 

oh my.

People... may often wonder why I sip Tequila.

; )

Please... don't judge me, until You've Stood Toe to Toe, with...

The Iowa Department of Transportation, and... their 'underbellies', called...

Fairfax, Iowa...

City Hall.

; )

{my opinion}

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{meeting with IDOT's lawyers, and Lawyer Meardon, in the morning.}

Always... an Adventure, at Heart of Country.

<3

Always get a little... sideways, this time of year.

Many... reasons, I suppose.

We did Heart of Country... in Nashville, from 2001, 'til the last 'Heart', in 2014.

It was the Most Difficult Show, we ever did, but...

 for so many reasons, it was 

The Most Rewarding.

<3 <3 <3

There's still 'Tailgate' shows going on.

No more...

'Heart'.

: (

Many Friend's are heading to Nashville, now.

: )

I... could've signed up with a 'Tailgate' Show, when Heart was no more...

They are Amazing Events, as well.

but...

Nothing Like 'Heart of Country'.

There will never be another 'Heart'.

It.... was Truly, 

The 'Grand-daddy'.

: )

Pegadoo... along with Many Friends, joined together, at Heart, that year.

Over the years... Many Pal's would join us in Nashville, over Valentine's Week.

The Opryland Hotel.

; )

Lord... Lord, did we have Fun!!

; )

It was Beyond... Grueling Work.

Long Hours.

Stressful...

oh my.

; )

but, we... 'Played' as hard as we worked, at the end of each day.

; )

Above... is our last 'Heart' Booth, in 2014.

<3

Captured the above image... one morning after rolling back in, at Home...

from 'Heart'.

; )

I could write a book, with only 'Heart' stories.

; )

Always thought of the Bob Seger tune, 'Turn the Page', when I got Home from 'Heart'.

; )

Heart of Country was held at The Opryland Hotel, in Nashville.

{If you've never been to The Opryland Hotel, google it. 

It's a BIG Deal.

'Big' is an Understatement. 

In my opinion, the years we did 'Heart', were 'The Glory Days'.}

The first time we attended... we got lost trying to find our room.

; )

Not good, when you've been loading Trucks, for Days...

in the Bitter Iowa Cold,

 and...

 after driving 12 hours, to get there.

There's nearly 3,000 rooms, at The Opryland.

All under one roof. 

It's like Another World.

A

Glorious 'World'.

<3

Beyond... Beautiful.

<3

Promoter, Libby Kramer... Knew What She Was Doing, holding 

'Heart' there.

{Libby... was an Amazing Woman. Miss Her. 

I... admired her, so.}

<3

I'll never forget calling, then... 'Show Partner', and Friend... Julie, asking her if she'd consider going as far as Nashville, and 'do' Heart of Country.

: )

I was scrambling... trying to find an 'Event' for this time of year.

 Called Libby Kramer, 'Heart of Country', thought I was calling one of it's 'tailgate' shows.

 They were all listed in a Country Home magazine, I'd been reading.

Libby, and I talked... for nearly an hour, before she informed me I wasn't talking to a 'tailgate' promoter, I was speaking to

 'Elizabeth Kramer'...

 'Heart of Country'.

I Laughed, said... "I'm so sorry, seems I've wasted your time!!!

; )

 I've heard Much... about your Amazing Show, it's Incredible, I've heard. 

but...

 we're from Iowa, and... don't have any 40,000. cupboards."

; )

Libby replied, "Barb, we don't need another 40,000. cupboard, we need to be diverse.

If you'd like to join us at Heart of Country, let me know."

<3

When I asked Julie, about considering 'Heart', she was flabbergasted.

Hahahahaha!!

Julie, was SURE I was 'Mistaken'.

 Julie, and her Mom... had attended 'Heart' as a Treat, a few times over the years.

Julie...was sure, 'Iowa' wouldn't 'Fit', or... be considered for 'Heart of Country'.

{'Juried' event.}

well...

I assured Julie, we have a Booth, at 'Heart'... if she wanted to make the trek.

; )

We made the trek.

; )

Pulled in at The Opryland Hotel, in a 1981 Ford F350, loaded like The Beverly Hillbillies,

with the

16 foot Trailer, in tow, also... Loaded, 'beyond'.

; )

An Opryland Hotel Valet... walked up to The Ford, asked me if I'd like him to park my Truck.

: )

{There were Limos, and Cabs... sharing the Beautiful... Opryland Hotel's Main Lobby Entrance, with The Ford, and Trailer.}

Hahahahaha!!!!

I Laughed, and... said, 

"Thank You... Sir!!!.... but, no.

: )

 This Old Boy's... clutch... is kinda 'temperamental'...

; )

believe we'll 'check in', and... I'll get him 'parked'."

{I believe... the Kind Valet, was Very Grateful. <3}

; )

Hahahahahahahaha!!!

<3

{thinking back... it mighta been kinda Fun, watching The Kind... Valet, trying to park... The Old Ford.

Getting him outta second gear, mighta Fun... watching, Too!!!

; )

but...

that, would've been kinda... naughty.}

; )

There's much more... to this 'Heart of Country' Year One... 'story'.

<3

: )

Always, Always... Wonderful 'Adventures' at Heart of Country, at The Opryland Hotel, in Nashville.

; )

Priceless.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{For the record, at the 'First Heart' Show we attended, my Favorite Cupboard, at Heart of Country, that year...

 Sold... 

on

 'Preview Night'

 for

 68,000.

 Sixty Eight Thousand Dollars.

; )

oh... my.

Somehow... maybe it occurred to me, a little... back then,

'It's not what you know...

It's more about,

'Who'...

ya know.'

but...

what do I...

know? }

<3

Words to Create by.

I've Always been a Huge Fan, of Patsy Cline.

<3

Patsy... sadly, died in a plane crash the year I was born.

Her Music, 'Art'...  has lived on, and on.

<3

Discovered Patsy's above quote... a dozen years ago, or so.

Like Patsy's 'Art', her above... may be one of my Favorite Quotes.

; )

'If Ya can't do it with 'feeling'...

don't.'

In my opinion, those are words to live by.

Certainly... words to 'create' by, or.. don't.

; )

Big Week... 

ahead.

oh my.

; )

Life... in my humble opinion, is all about 

'The Journey', 

and the

'The Details'...

 within.

; )

From the tiniest... to the Grandest, and Gnarliest.

; )

Ultimately, if those 'details'... don't have 'feeling', well...

again,

in my opinion, 

they'll always be seen, heard...

'felt'...

'come off'...

 a little

'flat'.

Patsy... was a Wise Woman.

'True Artist'.

To my knowledge,

Patsy...

 never

 'sang'

 'off-key'.

<3

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Sunday... mornin'.

Wrote a long post... last night, concerning... Polly, above.

<3

{ I rescued Polly, once...

She Rescued me, a Million Times.}

and...

how Grateful I am, for The Amazing People and Critters, who I've been So Blessed to have crossed paths with, on this 'Journey' called 'Life'.

<3

Between the 'Memories', and Tequila, wound up deleting it all.

It got way too deep.

<3

; )

Hope... to re-write it, soon.

What a Ride.

What a Ride.

: )

Crazy... Busy Week, ahead.

Seems many are wound pretty tight, these days.

We're livin' in The Twilight Zone, and Ridin' The Crazy Train back and forth, to it.

oh...dear.

; )

All we can do, is Hold On Tight, and be Grateful...

 we're

 Still in The Game.

; )

Be Grateful... for Those who are Riding With.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

 

Changes... gads.

Indeed.

; )

I've been in a Tizzy... today.

: /

YouTube, as of yesterday... took the 'blogger' button away, that I use to share music.

: (

I'm Not... a computer whiz, by Any Means.

{Ask Pal, Bill. : ) He Laughs when I struggle to 'copy and paste'. 

Hahahahaha!!!

; )

Hey...

I Live in 'The Old World'. Not much interests me, in this... 

'New' one.}

: )

I was Determined... to figure out the Music Issue.

Music, is a Big Deal, to me.

<3

Poetry... set to Tune.

<3

I... believe, I may have figured it out.

; )

The Music, I hope... will now be inside the posts.

We shall see.

: )

Ran across the below images, today.

Found the above late 1800's oil painting at a Wonderful...

Mt. Vernon, Iowa... Estate Sale, around 20... years ago.

<3

It hangs in the kitchen.

: )

Love that old Painting.

Beloved Best Friend, at Rest.

<3

After 'beloved' Polly... passed away, 

took in Sweetie, above.

<3

10 years ago... or so.

One day... when I was walking by her, it Struck me.

The Painting, and Sweetie... were So Close.

<3

Sadly... Sweetie passed away, 6 years ago, or so.

We... didn't have enough time together.

but, the time we shared, Sweetie was Spoiled Beyond.

Deservingly So.

<3

I'm gonna post this, we'll see if music will play, when the above is 'clicked'.

??

Love to Ya... 

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Truth.

; )

Just... sayin'.

I... could've spoken out at last night's Fairfax's  'special' council meeting.

I chose to remain silent.

; )

Bless their hearts.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Walking To New Orleans (Remastered)

Time will Tell.

<3

Love the above image.

This day has slipped away from me.

At least the day's are getting a little longer.

: )

Spring... will be here before we know it.

Many busy days ahead.

Another 'special'... city council meeting, this evening.

Oh Boy!!

Fairfax is a very sad... place.

Feel so incredibly sorry for our Mayor, and three of the Council members.

Can't imagine putting up with death threats, and being called filthy names while shoveling their sidewalk, by... a city official, no less.

: (

A Sheriff's report was filed... 

Unbelievable.

They've, in my opinion... been beyond bullied, just like our former City Administrator, was,

 I was told.

{He resigned after 5 months, was given a 25,000. severance package, and was forced to sign a confidentiality clause.

The good news, for him... I've heard, he's in California, as a city admin. I'm certain a much better work environment.}

Fairfax, Iowa... City Hall... is very toxic, in my opinion.

: (

Many have told me... when people get this ugly, there's something much deeper going on.

Time will tell.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Al Pacino's Iconic Final Speech (Full Scene) | Scent of a Woman

my Dad's 'rules'

Indeed

; )

Dad... was a wise Man, in my opinion.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.