oh.....dear.

Oh Dear!!!

I haven't been able to get on my little lap top.....because,

when I clicked to watch a Friend's Video... about a little Squirrel, who knocks on a door, to get inside....

a POP Up.... froze my screen.

It said, my computer was being held Hostage!!!

Oh Dear!!! 

I Immediately Shut my computer down....and shut off all internet connections.

Oh Dear!!!!

I, was just sick. 

: (

I'd been thinking...that I MUST, get our pictures all backed up.

now, I was afraid....it was too late. : ( : ( : ( 

With advise, from our Neighbor, who is a Computer Whiz, and a Wonderful...Fellow, at Target....

who, was also...a Whiz Kid, {he thought, the computer, was probably o.k., since I didn't open any files, from the warning....and didn't click...on anything. }

Liz came over....and helped me load ALL of our images...to USB's.

All 35,000 of them!!!! 

I had NO Idea...I had that many pictures.

HOLY SMOKES!!!!

It, appears...the Young Man, at Target....was correct.

I, didn't get hacked.

: )

but....I wasn't about...to get on the internet, until All of the Images...were backed up.

oh....dear!!!

: )

While Liz, and Scarlett... were here, as the Computer was transferring files....

they started decorating The Tree.

: )

I...still....haven't gotten it done.

Too many irons, in the fire.

My heart...simply...hasn't  been there.

: (

I, did...however....have Much Fun.... playing with an Old....Crane, Pal...Mark...gave me.

: )

He said... he'd seen it, on his travels, and thought I might like it. : )

Indeed!

He apologized, because...he hadn't cleaned it up.

: )

It had dirt...packed...around it's wheels....and...inside,

remnants....from it's....

Long...Long....Journey. : )

Better!!!

: )

I knocked off...the loose dirt, carried it inside....

and put it Front, and Center, on the Old Harvest Table...

{Only me, and Harold...could Love. : ) {and, Ed. }

That Old....Crane, as I told Mark...brought back some Wonderful Memories!

I used to haul Scrap Iron, and Car Bodies....to Katz Salvage, in Marion, Iowa....

from the time I was 14.

Henry Katz...would Yell at The Boys, in the Yard...as I'd pull the Truck off of the Scale.

{Where they weighed the Trucks. }

"Get This Truck Unloaded.....for Marion's Daughter!!!!"

: )

He didn't have to have them, after all......I loaded it. : )

The Boys, in the Yard..were Always....So....Kind. : )

They could make those Old Cranes...and Magnets...do Amazing...Things!

Watching them....was like watching a Ballet! 

They could Unload...my Truck...in moments.

They'd Swing those Old Cranes...around, and....never...touch....the Truck.

{Or, me...or...the Many, who were Busy...Busy...Working, around them!!! }

They'd pick Every Single...'Scrap' out...of the Bed, come within a 'Whisper'....of the Truck, but...

Never....Touch it.

AMAZING!!!!

{I, always...felt...a little...uneasy, when they used the Big Magnet, tho. : ) 

It lifted the Truck up...a little. Yikes! }

: ) : ) : ) 

So....I filled the little Old Truck...on the Table....with Vintage Ornaments, and Beaded Garland....

then, situated the Old....Crane, dirt....and all... 

{just, like...the Old Cranes...at the Junk Yard. <3 }

and....put It...to Work. <3 <3 <3 

: ) 

Great... Memories!!!

Those.... were The Days!

: )

Henry Katz...called me, 'The Barefoot Princess'.... Hahahahaha!

I, Never...wore shoes... much...after the Frost left the ground...in the Spring!!!

Hahahaha....

oh dear. : )

I'm hoping...to get The Tree... done, tomorrow. 

Nothin' like...'Cuttin' It Close'!

oh...dear.

: )

Love, to ya...

Barb C.

{I played "If we make it through December"....above.

It reminds me so Much....of so Many...Christmas's.

I remember, my Dad....working...so Hard.

December....was always....always....so ruff. 

John, too. He worked...So Hard. and....

Christmas, was always....such a worry, for us.

But, somehow...we always...made it. : ) 

Dad, would many...times, go out...on Christmas, to feed livestock, and never come home.

He felt...bad, I...think...he couldn't do more...for the Kids.

: (

The thing...is, Just having Him, and John...was such a Gift, Every Day...of The Year.

Including.... Christmas. <3 <3 <3 

It's gonna be lean, around here....this year.

I've already...told the Kids. : )

I worked too many estate sales....this year. They pulled me off the road. 

I have to find...The Road, next year. : ) }

p.s.....

I, was just thinking, about how Very... Blessed, I was....

having Two, of the Most...Amazing...Men, in my life.

<3

I, honestly....don't remember....many, of the 'Christmas Gifts', they gave me....over my lifetime.

Here's.. the 'Gift' I DO...recall, that they Each...Gave me.... every single Moment...that we shared...together. 

: )

Such a 'Priceless'...

Gift. 

<3 <3 <3