Gentle... on my mind.

 

The Back-roads.

Pal... Allyson picked me up yesterday morning.

We spent a lot of miles...

 on 

Iowa Back-roads.

Covered Linn, Delaware, Buchanan, Tama, and Benton Counties.

{Some of The Very Best Counties... in The State, in my opinion.}

Enjoyed a wonderful breakfast, at Edith Lucielle's... then, hit some Amish Country Stores.

On the way 'Home'... asked Allyson to jump off the major Hi-way, and hit some of the 

'Back-roads'.

Iowa 'County' Roads, and Gravel.

Visit some of my old... 'Stomping Grounds'.

<3

I know those old... Iowa Back-roads, like the back of my hand.

Believe... I could almost... drive them blindfolded.

; )

Allyson and I... visited about many, many... things, on our 'Travels'.

{was in rare form... when she picked me up, after I'd been watching the 'news' from about 4 a.m. 

I'd predicted what 'unfolded' night before last, a week ago. Was hoping, to be mistaken.}

Had some personal 'news'... to share with Allyson, as well.

'That'... 'news', kinda... set Allyson on her heels.

{I'll be filling everyone in, concerning 'That' 'news', in days to come.

To say it's been a little 'stressful'... lately, would be quite an understatement.}

It was Good, visiting old memories.

'Landmarks'.

; )

Seeing the areas, I so often ramble about... probably painted a clearer picture, for Allyson.

She... agreed, how Incredibly Beautiful those areas are.

Still.

: )

Allyson said... she's thinking we need to take another 'Big Trip', next year.

; )

She, thought... perhaps a cruise.

I, said... "That would require a passport.

 I'm not ready to leave 'The Country', just.... yet."

; )

Told her... They probably wouldn't let me back In...

 'these days'.

Passport, or no.

; )

Hahahahahaha!

{Not to be picky... but, ah... a 'cruise' has never intrigued me.

Prefer 'fewer people', and flyin' by the seat of my pants.

Guessin' ya can't 'fly' too far off of a cruise ship, unless... you're a mighty good swimmer.}

; )

then...

Allyson suggested... perhaps, another trip back to Savannah.

: )

'Savannah'....

Now... 

That...

 sounded very

 Appealing.

Very.

; )

Anywhere 'South'. 

<3

Anywhere...

 where there's

 Moss... 

hanging from

 The Trees,

 would be

 Perfect.

'Heaven'.

Allyson Loves 'The South', nearly... as much as I do.

; )

Big Changes... are coming, here... to The Rabbit Hole, and Beyond.

Stay Tuned.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

 

Escape.

 Everybody sings the blues... sometimes.

Life... can be a bit overwhelming, at times.

Guess... all we can do, is get back up, dust ourselves off...

and, take on another day.

: )

I've been numbing my brain... with something I never have.

: )

Been watching people build dugout cabins in the woods.

Somehow... it's fascinating to see.

Must be a 'Rabbit Hole' thing.

an...

'Escape'

thing.

Everyone, in my opinion...

needs a 'Rabbit Hole', to escape to,

now and then.

'Tequila' isn't always...

 the best option.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Holy Cow!!!

'Holy Cow!!'

: )

<3

Above... is an an Old, Old... Cow Weathervane Directional.

: )

Found her Years ago.

<3

Was So Impressed by how Shot to 'Hell, and Back'...

 she was, yet...

somehow...

she

remained in

' One Piece'.

<3

She was mounted on a Beautiful Arrow.

So wanted to keep her, she kinda represented a few 

I've known, and Loved... throughout my life.

<3

but...

Business... is Business.

Took her to a 'Gold Rush' Show, Rochester, MN.

Before long a Man came through our Booth, and Snagged...

 'The Holy Cow'.

<3

As he held her in his hands, I said...

"Oh My!! : ) KNEW there'd be Someone like me, who'd Appreciate 'The Holy Cow'.

<3

Isn't She Incredible?!?! <3"

The Man looked at me, like I'd Lost My Mind!!!

: )

He said...

"I... don't want 'The Cow'... I need the Arrow for a 'Good' Cow, I have at Home. 

This one's junk... I'm just going to throw it away."

my heart... sank.

{almost... refused to sell 'The Holy Cow', to him.}

: (.....

 just stood there, sick... at heart.

: (......

Tried... and, Tried.... to help the Man... 'see' the 'Good' in 'The Holy Cow'.

; )

<3

It wasn't 'happenin'.

: (

Business... is business.

: (

sold....

 'The Holy Cow', to the Man.

: (

It bothered me over the entire show.

It bothered me... for Months.

: (

Kept thinking...

'The only thing that stood between The Holy Cow's demise, and the Man, was me.

: (

and,

I... caved'.

: (.....

Several months later, while setting up, again... at Gold Rush,

 a

 Man....

came walking up to me, holding a paper sack.

Knew I'd seen him before, but... couldn't quite place him.

As the Man... handed me the sack, he said...

"Here's a 'Present' for you."

???

Peeked inside the paper sack....

: )

about

Died!!

<3 <3 <3 

: ) : ) : )

It Was 'The Holy... Cow'!!

Oh My Lord!!!

: )

Priceless!!!

<3

Priceless!!!

: )

Asked the Man... how much I owed him.

<3

He, said... "Nothing. I know how Much... it means to you."

{oh... my Lord. <3}

: )..................

Was Beyond... Grateful, the Man... saved her, and... saved her, for me.

<3

: )

The Holy Cow... is one of my most 'Precious Gifts'.

I... think of The Kind Man, who Saved Her... for me, every single time my eyes rest upon her.

: )

<3

For The Love... 

of

'Old'.

<3

Pal, Bill... and I, met at the upcoming 'Estate Sale' today.

We did a 'walk through'.

Met with the 'Estate' holder.

: )

There's so much... that needs to be 'Finished' with the construction, yet.

; )

Assured The Estate, we'll be there for them, when it's completed, but... diving into it now, would be a mess.

One Day at a Time.

; )

Whipped up a kettle of Vegetable Barley Soup, when I returned Home.

It's Fragrance is Wafting Through The House, as I write.

: )

When I woke up this morning, it Finally... felt like Spring.

Sun... in The Early Morning.

Finally.

<3

Longer Days.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

'Shenanigans'... Indeed.

; )

Was going to write about something totally different, today.

but...

Last Night, had quite a Dream.

; )

Couldn't shake it... all day.

<3

: )

The Dream...

was

 Incredibly Vivid.

It was about Dad.

{Marion Conner Sr.}

; )

In the 'Dream'... 

Dad wanted to take me, and his Great Grandson for a ride in his plane.

{The Great 'Grandson', in my 'Dream'... was nameless, about 6 years old... he, was my Nephew, Billy's Son.

<3

Billy, has two College age Daughters. No Boys.}

??

Dad... taught himself how to 'Fly', back in the late 1940's when he bought/traded.... for a little two seater Plane. 

an

 'Aeronca Champ'.

<3

Never had the opportunity to fly with Dad. I was born in 1963. Dad... sadly, lost his Pilot's License when he flew The Champ between a Bridge, and The Iowa River, in Iowa City, in the 1950's.

; )

Dad... was givin' his 'Boss' a 'Ride'...

 his horrible 

'Boss'

 would

 Never Forget.

; )

That... Dad, did. : ) }

Hahahahaha!!!

<3

Back to 'The Dream'.

; )

oh my.

We all climbed into Dad's Plane... tried to get situated. It was tight.

; )

Finally... we did.

The Boy, and I... watched Dad do his Stuff.

<3

We started down the runway, 

of a tiny little Airport.

Felt the Plane... Lift Off!!

<3

Exciting!!

{Dad, and I... had flown together, in small planes when I was young.

He... just couldn't be the 'Pilot'.}

The 'Boy' and I... Truly were enjoying the Lift Off.

: )

then...

Dad lowered the plane, back onto the little runway.

??

I could see other planes, or what I thought were planes ahead of us... on the tiny runway.

No...

It wasn't a 'Runway'.... Dad... was landing on.

; )

Hahahahaha!!!

It... was an 'On-Ramp' onto I-380, that runs through Cedar Rapids.

: )

As we were Toolin' down I-380, well... 'The Champ' was rolling through a Messy Slushy Snow Covered 380.

Could barely see tracks from other vehicles, in the Deep Slush.

; )

Yeah...

Boy!!

: )

{uh... oh.}

I... asked Dad if it was 'legal' to 'drive' The Champ... on the highway.

He, said...

" Nope."

: )

Dad's 'Great Grandson'... was on my lap.

: )

Neither of us were a bit concerned.

<3

: )

I looked at 'The Boy', asked...

"You know... your Great Grandfather is 'Irish', right? 

; )

Just like your Grandma,...me,

your Dad... and You."

; )

<3

The Boy, smiled... and said...

"Yep."

: )

Reminded 'The Boy'... 'Life... to us 'Irish', isn't much without 'Adventure'.'

: )

then...

I asked The Boy, what another word for 

'Adventure'

is, to us...

'Conner's'.

The Boy Grinned, and said...

"Shenanigans"

: ) : ) : )

INDEED!!

<3 <3 <3 

I've abbreviated 'The Dream'... a bit.

; )

Lord, Lord...

<3

It Was Great!!

<3

{Red Lights... Green Lights... First Avenue... in Cedar Rapids.

'Brakes'

????

: )

Possibly having to remove The Champ's Wings to Get Through a Building!!!}

; )

yeah...

boy.

; )

<3

Loved hearing Dad's 'Voice', again.

: )

It was Incredibly Real.

<3

<3

; )

'Shenanigans'

; )

<3

 Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Way... Too Much.

Been going through Old Books, today.

The above, is Long Gone.

; )

The cover... made me smile, when I stumbled upon it.

: )

Still does.

Started on 'The Book'... I'll finally... be writing, yesterday.

It's going to take some time... and editing, but... just putting everything down in words, is...

 kind of therapeutic.

Liberating.

<3

It became very evident... while writing, yesterday....

'Not sure I can write 'One' Book'.

Hahahahaha!!!

; )

There's going to have to be a 'Book' from 'Before'... 

'IDOT, and Fairfax'...

  and, one...

dedicated to 2016, and after.

That... '2016', and 'after' is a 'Novel' all it's own.

oh my.

As I was writing yesterday... thought, perhaps... 2016, 'til today...

would take up a Chapter, or two.

Hahahahahaha!!!!

; )

Nope...

It'll have to be a 'Book'...

a

'Novel'...

 All Its Own.

There's way too much.

: (

Way... 'Too' Much.

{oh dear... That's Sayin' A Lot, in my humble opinion.}

Stay Tuned.

<3

I'm Workin' on It!!

; )

{Wish I would've paid more attention in the Typing Class, at Roosevelt Junior High.}

; )

{Who... Knew??? }

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

More... Coffee.

Thought sure we must be under a Full Moon, lately.

'Sleep'... for me... and several I've visited with, lately, has been nearly non existent these last many nights.

Spent yesterday on the phone with Folk's who were trying to pick my brain, for advice on different matters.

; )

Told them they were welcome to try... but, 'these days'... 

"There ain't Much to 'pick' from."

: )

Gratefully, they all thought I was helpful.

; )

Another busy week ahead. 

We're going to start on an Estate Sale, that we'd wanted to conduct in January.

The Estate has been doing remodeling on the Home, the contractor's fell way behind.

That... happens.

Hopefully... we can have it pulled together for a March Sale.

I'll know more, after a walk through, tomorrow, or Tuesday.

Won't get into politics, we all see enough of that... minute by minute...

but,

something has struck me... listening to the 

'Words'.

Lawyers take every word seriously.

The 'law'... is very specific when it comes to words, and how they are written.

Saw/heard... a couple parallels concerning the Mess we're going through with IDOT, and Fairfax.

'Authority'.

'Government Overreach'.

The Rule of Law... is a Big Deal.

It's what our Country was founded on.

Without The Rule of Law...

we have nothing.

Need More Coffee.

Lots More.

{and... a little Dwight Yoakam. He usually...

 gets me goin'.}

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

 

Happy Birthday... Mom.

Happy Birthday

to

Rose Marie Dvorak.

<3

February 21, 1920...

'til

March 20, 2014.

<3

oh my.

 

The Love... of Old.

Was thinking about Pal, Mary Sellon, today.

{Dark Horse Antiques, Janesville, Iowa.}

: )

Sure Do Miss Her!!

<3

That Gal... was Quite a Woman!!

; )

Top Notch Horse Woman, and Antique Dealer.

Mary, and her Husband, Tom... were Huge into Civil War Reenactments.

Mary, and Tom... 'knew' Vintage Tack, like no others I've ever known.

Mary was equally knowledgeable on Antiques.

Incredible People.

: )

Fun People... Too!!!

; )

Mary... liked to Have Fun!!

Lord... Lord!!!

; )

You didn't have to 'see' Mary, if she was within earshot!!!

She had a Laugh... Like No Other!!!

: )

Miss... Mary's Laugh!!

<3

Mary, and Tom... came to visit The Rabbit Hole, one day... it happened to be Halloween.

After I closed the shop... we went to a local Pub to share a Beer, or two...and a little Grub.

: ) : ) : )

Mary struck up a 'Friendship' at the bar... with the 'Tooth Fairy', and... his 'Sidekick'.

; )

Hahahahahahahaha!!!!

Priceless!!!

: )

Mary passed away, a few years ago.

Mary, like Peg... fought The Fight.

: (

Mary...  is Deeply Missed.

<3

Sadly, in the last month... we've lost Three Wonderful Antique People.

Jack, Randy... and Susan.

: (

 Feel so Blessed by this 'Love of Old'.

<3

Had I taken a different direction in life, never would've had the opportunity to have known some of 

The Best People, on The Planet.

Each, and every one of them... come from different backgrounds.

but...

We All Shared the mutual...

 'Love of Old'.

; )

We 'Understood', understand...

 one another, when sometimes 'Family' couldn't, can't.

; )

We're a Bunch of 'Gypsies'.

; )

{in my opinion}

Proud of It.

: )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{ Wore my... 'Hatter's Hat', and 'Attire', to Mary's Funeral.

Mary... would've expected no less.

; )

<3

Above... is Mary, sporting her own 'Hatter's Hat'...

 Daughter Liz... 'Created'.

; )

 That Hat... was 'Made' for Mary.}

<3

<3