Escape.

Pal, Allyson... picked me up at 9 a.m. this morning.

; )

We grabbed some Coffee, then... hit the road.

; )

Did a little Shoppin' near Kalona, Iowa...

then headed to Washington, Iowa.

; )

Such a Beautiful Town.

; )

; )

We were BOTH Blown Away, by this Amazing Restaurant!!!

; )

Over The Top... in Every Way Imaginable!!

; )

{In 'Washington, Iowa' ; )}

Beautiful...

Town.

<3

We had Fun... at Boxcar Treasures. ; ) 

Wait 'til ya see The Amazing... Quilt, I brought Home.

; )

Hahahahaha!!!

It's 'One of a Kind'!!

; )

Allyson spotted the Cool... Old 'Kremery' ... when we first arrived, in Washington.

; )

Knew, we wouldn't be leaving 'Town', without a 'Stop'.

; )

: )

Indeed.

; )

{Delicious Ice Cream... }

Our last stop... 

{before 'Trader Joe's', in Coralville, Iowa.

Allyson LOVES 'Trader Joe's. : )}

 was

'Sisters' Garden & Bloom'.

<3

{10 miles South of Iowa City, on Highway '1'.}

; )

Today... was a 

Day...

Filled with 'Treats'.

'Escape'.

; )

Grateful.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

May God Continue to Bless...

the 

'Fly Over'

States.

; )

<3

'Winks'

Yesterday... was a Beautiful Day, in the beginning.

'J', and I were gonna pick up a 'Load'... yesterday morning, but rescheduled for Monday.

So...

we put the New 'Brush Cutter' through its paces.

; )

It's Amazing.

; )

Cut's through over an inch in diameter trees without skippin' a beat.

; )

That's... 

What I'm Talkin' About!!

; )

After 'J' left for the day...

for the very first time, this year... 

found a seat under John's Old... Oak.

: )

Admired the fine work... The Tree Dude's did... carefully trimming him up.

; )

{He had a 'Widow Maker'... or two.}

; )

Such a Beautiful Tree.

<3

Never knew if he was a White Oak, or... a Pin Oak.

According to Google, he's a Pin Oak.

: )

According to the above Group, he's about 140 years old.

: )

<3

I've had the pleasure of sharing, about... 43 of those years, here... with him.

<3

If That Old... Oak could Talk.

; )

While 'J' and I were doing yard work... found the 'Moon' I thought was lost.

The Tree Dudes, had to take down a Bittersweet Vine, where I had the Old... Old, Moon and Star.

The Bittersweet had Completely taken them over.

After The Tree Dude's were done, all I could find... was the Star.

Figured the Moon, the Star was hanging from... must've been broken into Dust.

As I was walking by the Bittersweet, yesterday...

something caught my eye.

<3

It was The Moon.

; )

Had to fashion a new wire, to hang The Star... back on The Moon.

; )

'Together'...

Again.

; )

It was Very... Peaceful, sitting next to The Old... Oak.

{'J' tackling the poison ivy. It doesn't bother 'J'. 

Praise God!!

; )

'It' bothers Grandma, Big Time!!}

Yeesh!!!

: (

Yes... 'The Day'... was peaceful, until...

my phone started ringing.

'Fairfax'.

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

Folk's were bringing me up to speed, and asking for support, concerning two Big Messes, Fairfax is in the midst of.

: (

Had we not been through So Much, with many of the former council, former mayor...

and, 

The Iowa Department of Transportation, well...

I'd find All of 'This' difficult to believe.

Trust... me, I 'Believe', sadly... now.

: (

{Now... we have 'cameras' at City Hall, {such as they are} thanks to our New Mayor, Beer.

HUGE.

The former mayor, old council... and one, who is still on the council, fought recording Public Meetings, tooth and nail.

Can't imagine... why?????????}

{bless their hearts}

Very sad... about the above 'meeting'.

Not surprised.

{more on this 'meeting'... soon.}

: (

The above... is very worrisome, as well.

: (

Listened to the above... while sitting under The Old... Oak.

: (

Couldn't find a version of that video to share, here.

It broke my heart.

: (

It's been my experience... while dealing with local Government, 

Engineers...

and certain

State... officials, 

well...

they say one thing, yet... do something very different...

to get their 

'Way'.

The Man... who was speaking on behalf of the People, trying to stop a Huge Power Plant, just North of Fairfax, 

oh my.

: (.........

He, and other's have been saying.... 'We were never Informed, until Everything was nearly set in stone."

They feel Completely Blindsided.

Boy... does That... sound Familiar.

: (

That's how 'Big'... Works.

'Money'...

Works.

{ Lawyer Meardon... 'Asked'.... A LOT of Questions.

; )

So...did I.

When I get 'The Book' done, you'll be able to 'see' how our 'questions' were 'answered', through Many... Many... 'Public Records'.

In their 'own' words.

{perhaps... even Better, than a 'camera'. }

I... believe those 'Public Records' will also show... very Plainly, how our local Government... State Officials, and... 'Big Business'...

'Work Together'.

; )

{My... humble opinion.}

; )

You, The Reader... can decide.

I'll be attending the above Meetings.

Support... our little town, and The Good People, who are Trying So Hard to make Fairfax, a 'Better' Place to Live.

; )

Makes my stomach roll, every time I think about 'These Messes'.

: (

Makes me sip a Lot... of Tequila, too.

; )

Not funny... but, it's kept me out of jail.

{thus far}

; )

I'm just so sad, seeing, and hearing... these people struggle, the way I did... and do.

: (

It's...

absolutely...

unacceptable.

After 'J' left... yesterday, I went to Casey's to grab a couple pack's of Stogies.

Son, Justin... pulled in at Casey's right behind me.

: )

He, and The Kid's were headin' Home... for The Weekend.

<3

When I climbed back in Jethro, also... 

'Headin' Home'...

looked down, as I was shifting into reverse, 

noticed a 

'Feather'

resting under the Emergency brake lever, in the center column.

I... was taken back... for a moment.

{that 'Feather' wasn't there, when I parked.}

; )

Thought about it, for a second, figured Granddaughters... Meadow, and Willow... must've put it there, when I was inside Casey's with their Dad.

They Love Feathers!!

<3

; )

Called Justin, asked him... if The Girl's had left me a 'Gift'.

; )

Justin, replied.... "No, The Girl's couldn't come, this weekend."

Our 'Family'... 'Believe' in things 'unseen'.

; )

'Winks'...

<3

This Feather... is Gray.

I'm guessing, from a Mourning Dove.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

; )

<3

Please. ; )

Love To Ya.

Prayers...

for 

All...

who have ridden this... wrongful 'Crazy Train', under the 'guise' of 

'Eminent Domain'.

; )

{in.. my opinion}

; )

Stay Tuned!!

; )

{Great place for a 'bike trail'... 'Fairfax, and The Iowa Department of Transportation'.}

'Idiots'...

in my...

very, very... humble 

opinion.

; (

Who am 'I'... to Question 'Them'???

: )

Stay tuned.

<3

 

Oh my.

Can't begin... to start writing about 'this' day...

It started off, as such a Good one.

; )

Stay Tuned.

; )

It is...

what it is.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{ but wait... there's... More. ; ) }

Roads... and Rain.

We got some 

'Rain'...

this morning.

oh... my.

; )

Many.. had major Issues, around Eastern Iowa.

{Yep... water in the House... yet, again.

Thanks... Fairfax, and IDOT.}

Decided I'd better get The Ford unloaded, 'Back  O U T' or not.

Need The Ford... empty, in the morn... for another Big Load.

Grandson, Justin... was Huge Help!!

; )

<3

We traveled a couple hundred miles, today.

; )

With all of The Rain... oh my, 'Iowa'... is Stunning!!

<3

River's are Full...

Everything Looks Lush, and Green!!

; )

We took Back Roads, every Inch of our Travels.

; )

Oxford, Iowa... is a Sweet little Town.

<3

I used to attend a Horse Sale, there... every Month, when I was a Teen.

: )

Merle Cochran... ran The Oxford Sale Barn... back then.

<3

He was Such a Kind Man!!

Merle's Brother... Freddy, was a Pistol!!

; )

Amazing Horsemen!!

<3

Admired them Both, So!!

; )

'J' and I visited with some Mighty Fine Folks, today.

; )

We enjoyed... The Back Roads.

; )

After droppin' 'J' at his Home...

I stopped and visited with Pal, Mark...

in Norway, Iowa.

; )

I owed him 10.00, from about a month ago.

Wanted to get my 'Bill' Settled.

; )

The 'Back Roads'... from Justin's, takes us right through Norway!!

; )

Mark... is a HUGE 'Pool' 'Nutt'. 

; )

{Mark's last name.. is 'Nutt'.}

; )

The ONLY Thing...

Mark Loves More Than Antiques...

is...

'POOL'!!!

; )

Mark has One of his Building's set up as a 'Pool Hall'.

; )

It's Sooooo Cool!!

: )

Mark has Two... Pool Tables, set up... there.

; )

Friends, and Neighbors... 'Gather' at Mark's...

every week, 

to 

'Play'.

; )

Stay Tuned...

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

; )

<3

<3

T-R-O-U-B-L-E .... ; )

; )

Plans changed... today.

My back... isn't 'there'... enough, just yet...

to unload 'Furniture'.

Probably... could've managed, but... one 'slip'.... could set me back another week, or... better.

Not worth the risk.

Can't afford that.

Justin 'J'... was fine with that.

: )

I've needed to get a new head... for the DeWalt Weed Whip, for a year.

LOVE IT!!!

It's a 60V Powerhouse!!

; )

Holy Smokes!!!

<3

the downside...

It's Nearly Impossible to string.

: ( : ( : ( 

I...Fight with that Head, to Absolute Insanity!!

GADS!!!

It's not just me, The Boys... Fight with it too.

: (

Beyond... Frustrating!!

So...loaded it in Jethro, 'J' and I... took it to ACME Tools, in C.R.

They...are Great!!!

; )

Was So Excited when they found a 'Brush Cutting' attachment, for it.

YIPPEE!!!

; )

{No More String!!}

then... 

was deflated, when they discovered the model I have... won't break down like the newest model.

: (

Wouldn't work.

: (

There were no other feasible... options.

: (

Opted to purchase the newer model.

Then... we got to visiting.

; )

Seems 'Milwaukee' makes an Incredible Weed Whip, 

and...

they had a Huge Promotion... going on.

; )

I... was still a little hesitant, switching from DeWalt.

{LOVE DeWalt Tools!! <3}

'J' was All Over the 'Milwaukee' Brand.

So... was the Clerk.

so...

bought the Milwaukee, with Everything I needed, and more... 

 Saved over a hundred dollars, over the DeWalt.

They Swear... it's More Powerful, and has Many more Advantages, than the DeWalt.

We're gonna find out.

; )

I... get pretty aggressive with Power Tools.

; )

When You've Got a Job to Do....

Git'er DONE!!

; )

Then... took 'J' to Lunch, at Papa Juan's.

: )

I... used to work there.

<3

Best Marg's on The Planet!!

; )

{They have a Secret Recipe... 

; )

Guess who has it...

and

 Will Never Share!!!}

; )

We had a Fun Lunch, talked 'Ford Trucks'.

<3

Diesels.

; )

6.0, 6.4, 6.7...and 7.3's.

<3

'J''s New... Old, Truck... has a 6.0.

; )

They get picked on, a lot.

He Loves His!!

; )

That's All That Matters!!

; )

<3

then...

we stopped for a Cone, at the 'Old' Tastee Freeze, on 42nd. Street.

{Not called that anymore, was... when I used to ride my Horse, White Cloud... to the window, and order a 

Raspberry Slushie, on Hot... mid 1970's... July, days.}

; )

It's called 'Parlor City Ice Cream' ... now. 

The Sweet little Building, is Still the Same.

<3

The Ice Cream... was Just.... as I remembered.

<3

Good Day.

; )

As we were pulling on to 151, off of Highway 30...

heading

'Home'...

{it's most always a 'trick'... getting on to 151.}

I... Goosed, Old Jethro... a bit, then...

made our way around another car, ahead of us.

'J'... started to Laugh!!!

Hahahahahahaha!!!

; )

He said,

"Yeah... 'THIS'... is Why... I don't need a Mustang."

{He was soooo 'dry', and 'matter of fact'... with his 'statement'.}

<3

Hahahahahahaha!!!!

I... replied, 

" 'This' is 'why', the other day.... when I could barely walk, 

didn't toss 'You'... Jethro's 'key'.... 

and, decided to drive 'You'... to Town, myself."

: )

Hahahahahahahaha!!!

We Both Roared!!!

; )

{I believe... 'We' 'Understand' each other...

Quite Well.}

; )

yes.... I understand, all too well...

 the kind of 'Trouble' a Teen, and an Old... Mustang can find.

; ) ; ) ; )

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

: )

Yeah...

Boy!!

; )

{Old Ford Truck's... aren't far behind. : )}

oh... dear.

; )

Son, Justin... asked our Wonderful Neighbor, Tom... to plant Sweet Corn, in Scout's Pasture.

: )

Tom... is a Farmer.

'Big'.

Pretty much, retired... now.

; )

Oh My Lord...

He's had So Much Fun... planting Sweet Corn, for Us to share.

LOVES The Soil... in Scout's Pasture!!

{It's Virgin Soil, that's had Nothing.. but Well Fed Livestock on it, ever.}

<3

We would've planted across The Creek, too... if Fairfax's hired engineer would've given us... a way in.

{'Access'... I've begged him, and the council... repeatedly... for.}

: (

{That's, yet... another 'Bone'. : ( }

Justin's responsible for keeping the Raccoon, out.

; )

Major Feat...

with

Sweet Corn!!

; )

If ANYONE can keep Raccoon Out, Trust me...

Justin's The Man, to Do It!!

; )

He'll Build an Electric Fortress... Around That Sweet Corn!!

and..

Then... Some.

; )

Hahahahahahaha!!!

<3

Rhonda... never fails.

: )

Love her FB Posts.

<3

Whenever I see an old 'Key'... I think of the 'Streams in The Desert' quote....

that.. goes something, like this.

"Don't be discouraged...

for, it may be the last key on the ring...

that opens the door."

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

; )

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'

; )