one moment... at a time.

: )

Was invited by Friend, Jodi... to a benefit for 'Kyles Miles'... the other day.

It took place yesterday.

I've been keeping pretty close to Home, lately...

but felt... this 'Cause' was important.

<3

There was a Huge Turnout.

: )

<3

Kyle... took his life, 12 years ago... at only 15.

: ( : ( : (

Kid's... are dealing with So Much.

: (

'Progress'... in my opinion, hasn't been 'good' for Kids, young and old.

: (

Pal, Jodi... is So Involved with Helping People.

<3

She just went through brain surgery a couple of months ago.

Had a meningioma tumor removed...

Mom, also... suffered from a meningioma.

Mom's was inoperable.

Jodi... reminds me of Mom, in many ways.

; )

'Piss Cutters'.

; )

: )

Jodi has been dealt some pretty Tuff Cards, over the last few years.

Her Husband, John.... had a debilitating stroke, a couple of years ago.

Jodi... brought John 'Home'... she takes Care of John, at 'Home'.

<3

Jodi's had some Good Friends, and Family... step up, to help...

but, 

it's mostly...

'Jodi'.

; )

<3

{and... their Farm was nearly destroyed by the 2020 derecho.}

The key... in my mind, to the above...

"You 'wake up'... Every Morning."

; )

Many... don't have that opportunity.

<3

<3

So Many... Many... are Struggling, 'these days'.

I'm kind of struggling to 'write' 'these days'.

There's a tune... that kinda fits.

Imagine that.

; )

'Music'...

Poetry set to Tune.

<3

'Beautiful Things'.

: )

Yes... 'The World', in my experience....

is so 

Incredibly 'Hard'....

on 

The Most 'Beautiful' Things.

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

Here's The Good News...

We Woke Up This Morning.

; )

There's a Battle to be Won.

; )

God doesn't pick weak Soldiers to Fight His Battles.

Doesn't seem fair, I know...

Trust me... on this one.

: )

We'll keep taking it one day at a time.

; )

One inch... one 'moment'... at a time.

: )

<3 

<3

Yesterday.

Began writing a post... about 'Yesterday'... today.

Saved it as a draft.

There's simply... too much.

; )

: )

<3

Wild Hogs Saloon

Walford, Iowa.

; )

: )

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{the above image is not Miss. Peanut's Paw.

; )

She had much daintier feet.

<3

Had to be... Spook's. 

He's a BIG Boy.

<3

Made me Smile... when I saw it, last night... by the back door.}

; )

<3

<3

Pretty... Late August Day.

'

Just got Home... a few minutes ago.

It's been a pretty day, sadly.... they are getting noticeably 

shorter.

Have no idea... how Summer has slipped by so quickly.

Met with several Folks... throughout the day, and evening.

I'll write about all of that... tomorrow.

; )

Ready to decompress.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

Stay Tuned.

I hate wearing glasses.

Dodged wearing them... for years.

; )

Gratefully... when I was nearly BLIND, 

 {not really, but have astigmatism...

that at, 16... would allow me to see Three Moons, instead of One.

; )

'Contact Lenses'... became a 'reality'!!}

; )

The bad thing... about 'contacts', 'tears' will Tear The Hell Out of Them.

'Tears'... melt contact lenses.

: (

{my experience... over the years}

Been wearing the above...

Sons a Bitches... for a few weeks.

: (

It's been a long... day, workin' at Home.

; )

I'll be posting a little more, tomorrow.

; )

Been workin' on the house... and, putting things back 'together', after The Boys helped put 'Christmas' away.

It's a slow, slow... process.

One day...

at a time.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

We're All... Mad, 'Here'. ; )

This day... has been a 'Mad'... day, to say the least.

If... I could've stayed away from people, well...

let's just say...

today, shouldn't have been a 'Peopley' day.

I was either cold as ice...

or an absolute puddle.

There wasn't much in between.

This was one of 'those'... days, if I could've...

would've stayed locked inside.

but...

wanted to get Peanut's ashes Home, as soon as they were available, which...

was this afternoon.

I'd hoped they'd be ready this morning.

Wanted to get that 'drive' behind me... as early as possible.

When I learned... that wasn't going to happen, I... just sat here, thinking.

{that's rarely...a good thing. ; ) }

The Boys helped strip 'Christmas' from the house... yesterday.

Was gonna leave it up.... but, decided.... over the weekend it was time to 

put it all away.

'J'... did make me laugh, while we were taking everything down.

He said...

"So... are we gonna be putting this All Back Up, in November???"

: )

Reassured him... "No."

; )

A Dear... Neighbor called, about then, he asked what I was up to.

Told him what The Boy's and I were doing.

He said...

"Well... You're going to do Something... for Christmas, aren't You???

A... small tree, 'something'???"

: )

I assured him, that I'd do 'something'.

: )

Had another crazy dream last night.... about a Neighbor.

Nondescript, like the one with Jim.

{I've never had a 'dream'... about the Neighbor, either...}

Ever.

As I was sitting here, this morning... 'thinking'...

thought I should just pick up the phone, and call him.

I'm guessing what made me dream of the 'Neighbor'... is the way Jim passed away, which was the same way... Brother, Larry... and Dear, Peg's 'Michael' passed.

They each passed away alone, in their Homes.

The Neighbor... and I have had many, many... conversations, over the last several years.

We've sparred... big time over 'Fairfax'.

; )

Lord... Lord.

We've locked horns... over the years, concerning 

'Bike Trails'.....

and

much, much... more that 'happens' at 'City Hall'...

 AKA 'Harper Valley PTA'.

I dig in pretty deep, but... to his credit, I believe...

 he's... been, pretty truthful.

He used to call about once a week.

Haven't heard from him... in a while.

We had a pretty heated chat, a while back, figured he'd had enough of 'The Facts'....

concerning

'Fairfax'.

; )

While taking Miss. Peanut back and forth to the Vet, our path went past the Neighbor's house.

I noticed... over the days, the Neighbor's truck hadn't been moved.

{Even mentioned that to Peanut, a time or two.}

???

so...

gave him a call, this morning.

Gratefully... 'he' answered.

: )

Sadly... he's in a Nursing Home.

His health has been poor over the last few years, but... he's always been determined to get back on his feet.

Turns out... he was bitten by his cat, a while back.

The bite got infected, and the infection spread throughout his body.

It's been an ugly mess for the Neighbor.

Hated to hear that, but was glad... to 'hear' it from him.

: )

We may argue... and spar, but... he's a Critter Lover... not mean spirited.

: )

He was so happy I called.

Said it meant a lot... to him.

; )

I sure wish him The Best.

He needs to get back Home, on his Feet.

Told him,

I... just wouldn't feel right Pickin' on him, the way I so enjoy...

 while he's convalescing in a 

'Nursing Home'.

; )

That's...

 just...

'Bad Form'.

: )

So... there was a bright spot, in this day.

Gotta be Grateful.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Indeed.

; )

'Busy'... is a good thing.

The weekend was a pool of goo.

The house isn't right... without Peanut.

Sometimes... I feel like she's right beside me.

<3

Peanut... was never far from me.

I've been very selective about receiving calls, over the weekend.

Not because I don't appreciate kind thoughts, but....

I'm having big trouble keeping from melting down.

One of the calls I screened, on Saturday... was an unknown number.

I listened to the message, didn't recocognize the 'voice'.

I called the Man back, turned out it was my Nephew, Jimmy.

{Sister, Chery's Son.}

Apparently I didn't have his number in my phone, or it had been changed.

Jimmy... didn't sound like 'Jimmy'.

Didn't expect to hear, what I heard.

Sadly... Jimmy found his Dad... my Brother in Law, Jim, deceased, at Jim's home Friday.

Jimmy is the Only Child, of Jim, and Chery.

They were a very close Family.

<3

I was closest to Chery... out of all of my siblings.

Spent a lot of time... with Jim, and Chery... until Chery passed away, in 2003.

Jim... was a kind Man. Easy going.

: )

He loved to sing... and was very, very... good.

Jim had a Beautiful Voice.

I remember... as a child, when we'd visit.... the 'visit' always ended with Jim pulling out his guitar, and singing for us.

: )

Sometimes... I'd join him, as did Mom.

<3

Mom always requested Jim play the tune...

 'Yellow Bird'

<3

At Mom's Celebration of Life, I asked Jim... to please bring his guitar, and 'Play'... for Mom.

<3

It was Beautiful.

<3

Jim Schafer's Celebration of Life....

will be at a later date.

Jim... will be Deeply Missed.

Picking up Miss. Peanut's ashes, tomorrow.

Been working on the house... trying to keep busy.

The Boys, and I... will be working on, and around The Rabbit Hole, this week.

Much to get done, before repairs can begin.

Contractor's are coming in, early September.

'Busy'...

is a good thing.

Indeed.

Love to Ya...Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

{The strange thing... Friday, early... morning, had my alarm set, to get up 'early', 

to take Miss. Peanut to the Vet.

I... didn't sleep well, throughout the night.

but...

had a dream, with Jim, Mom... and Dad in it.

: )

I've never had a dream with Jim in it.

Rarely dream of Mom, more often dream of Dad.

The dream... was nondescript. Nothing 'big'... just, us all visiting.

; )

but...

it struck me funny, that morning, that Jim was in my dream.

When Jimmy called, guess it all fit.}

Fairfarren... Jim.

<3

Be careful... for what ya wish for.

Perhaps...

we should be careful for what we wish for.

; )

It's been a Long....

 weekend.

; )

'Long'

'Journey'.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

; )

{the book... is coming.}

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.