Friday, December 31, 2021

The Tenors - Auld Lang Syne (Official Video)

New Year's Eve 'Christmas'...has been Insane. Love It!!! Hahahahaha!!!

Haven't decided...which, is more disturbing.
Setting your alarm, for 5 a.m., at 1 a.m.
or....
Waking up, at 7:30 a.m., 
understanding...
you've Overslept.
Uh...Oh.
; )
oh...my.
; )

Had the Turkey...in, by 8.
: )

This Day...has Been Absolutely Insane, on Every Level...it Possibly Could!
Love It!!!
<3
Hahahahaha!!!

Hope nobody bet, I wouldn't be sippin' Champagne, about...now.
; )

Got all of the dishes done, everything...cleaned up.
{Struggled with that, for a bit, thought they could wait, until tomorrow.}
Yeah....not so much.
Who want's to wake up...
New Year's Day...to a Mess.
; )

The House...was completely destroyed.
Perrrrrrfect.
<3
: )
Love It!!!!
<3

I'll be posting All About It, tomorrow.
; )
Tonight...me, and Miss. Peanut, are going to melt...
into 2022.







Miss. Willow, did a Handstand, on John's Old...Chair.
Hahahahaha...
<3 <3 <3 

It was a Circus, here.
<3
We could've made All Kind's...of Money, selling Tickets, to 
This Show!!!

A Very....Priceless...
'Circus'.

<3 

Happy New Year....to All.
<3

Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.


Thursday, December 30, 2021

Ella Fitzgerald Sings "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"

Halfway...there.

Spent this day...

Cleaning.

Not having any Holidays, here...for soooo long, 
well...
seems I've let a Bunch, Go.
; (

Knocked down the Biggest Chunks. 
Certainly Not Spotless.
Not...even Close.

The Poor...Old Stove, was a Mess.
Took it apart, and gave it a Bath.
Cleaned all of the spices.
There are Many.
Many...hit the trash. They didn't pass the 'sniff' test.
 A little too old.
Cleaned the Fridge.
Washed all of the serving dishes, that have set...for a year and a half.
Silverware...too.

Now...just got Jethro Scooped Off.
; )
He was covered Deep, in Snow, with a glaze of ice on top of it.
He's warmin' up.

It's time to Shop.
Grocery Shop.
Gift...Shop.

Gonna be a Long....Night.
; )

 Longer...Day, tomorrow.

oh...my.

Not sure I'm diggin' this New Year's Eve 'Christmas'....
thing.

I'll be ready for a New Year's Eve Toddy, this time tomorrow, I'll bet.
; )




Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.



 

Gotta Get Crackin'!!


Oh my.

Trying to find my feet...this morning.
Trying to figure out...how I can squeeze three days of work, into one.
The Kids...are coming tomorrow, instead of New Year's Day...
to celebrate 'Christmas'.
There's a storm coming, and sure don't want them out...in it, on Saturday.

 Been buried in Public Records, for so long...
oh my Lord.
I'm so far behind on EVERYTHING!!
STRESS!
STRESS!!!

oh dear.

I'm preparing a Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy...Stuffing, Sweet Potatoes, Oyster Stew...and...more.
Told the Kids, to bring whatever they'd like...beside.
Won't be baking any Pies, we normally don't have room for dessert, anyway.

Have to get gifts together...and wrapped.
Get the House...in order, all of which...should've been done, long before now.

I can pull two days of work together...
in one, but three...
hahahahaha...
That'll be a Stretch....Baby.
oh my.
; ) 

My...heart, just isn't in it...this year.
That...makes me sad.
Can't seem to find that 'Fire'.
: (
not...even a spark.

oh well.
It'll Be, What...It'll Be.


Better get Crackin'!

Love to Ya.
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

{Gonna have to throw some Bob Seger...on, today.
He...can get Fire...goin'. 
I hope.
; ) }





 

The Fire Down Below

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer (Audio)

In Black...and White.


Spent this day...
lickin' my wounds.
and...
continuing to comb through the rest of the Public Records.
The above, are... what I feel are 'important'.
There's three times this many, I've gone through...
that don't have anything to do with our wrongfulness.

Got The Old...Harvest Table, 
{only me, Harold...and Ed, could love...}
back.
: )

I gotta tell ya, yesterday, after reading those documents, concerning the District 6, Man...
I'd foolishly trusted, 
and...
seeing the dates, he'd written them, felt like I'd been sucker punched.

He'd been in on this...mess, the whole time.
Before I had a Lawyer.
Don't know why...I trusted him, so.
Should've known better.
Clearly, I didn't.

That...makes me sad, and... feel so foolish.
Been kickin' myself, all day.

These records...spell everything out, that I was confident...they would.
Makes me sad, somehow...for whatever...reason,
guess there was a part of me, that didn't want to believe any of this.
It all...makes me sick...inside.

All...I've ever asked, from IDOT District 6, and Fairfax, was 
The Truth.
and...
for them...to
Keep Their Word.
That's all.

It was too much, to ask...I....plainly see.
In Black, and White.

'Disappointing', seems to be the Word, that describes all of this, best.
All the way around.

Spent years, chasin' my tail...thanks, to District 6, and Fairfax.
They must've laughed, watching me.

Bless their hearts.

There are Records, that are absent, from Fairfax.
I want them.

At the end, of this day.
I expected...Better, of those I 'Trusted,'
my mistake.

Monday, December 27, 2021

Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson - Because Of You (Official Music Video)

Do... now.


The above...popped up, this morning...
on FB Memories.
<3
Perfect Timing.
<3 <3 <3 

I've spent this day...going through More...
 Public Records, 
concerning The Wrongfulness.
{IDOT District 6, and Fairfax, Iowa....City Hall.}

oh...my.


These are just a Snippet.

I've combed through Every Single Page, with a Lice Comb.

Ran across a Bundle, a little while ago...
that dropped me, to my knees.
: (

There was One...person, at District 6, I...truly...felt was honest.
Wouldn't even share his name, with Josey Wales, our Lawyer, for fear...he'd get fired, for helping me.

Turns out...after reading these Public Records...
the One, I thought...was Honest, with IDOT, was...actually...Trained Very Well, by IDOT.

What an Idiot...I was, for Trusting Anyone, from The IDOT.
Should've learned that...the last time we went through Condemnation, and dealing with District 6.
: (

Trust...is Everything, to me.

Seems, I can't even Trust myself, after reading what I've read, today.
: (

Sent Josey Wales...a few pictures, of the documents I've been reading.
Thanked him, for having my back.
He knew.
I, just...wouldn't believe it.

Do...
now.

 

Standing outside the fire - Garth Brooks - live 1994

Sunday, December 26, 2021

Yeah...I have a Real....Problem with Liars... Cheaters, and Manipulators. IDOT District 6, and Fairfax, Iowa, City Hall.





Yeah...
'Red Flags'.
 
Public Records.












 

Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On

Christmas...Past.

 Spent Christmas Day...being pretty lazy.

Sent some emails, and texts...to Friends, and Family.
Some...hadn't visited with, forever.
That was Great!!!

Visited with my Sister, Merry Jo, last night...for an hour and a half, on the phone.
: )
Said...after we'd visited for a while...
"Out of Seven...of us, we're the only two left."
Merry Jo, had been thinking the same thing.

Merry Jo, is 9 years older than me...but, I reminded her, 
"It's not the 'Years'...
It's... the 'Miles'."
: )

We both know...I've got her Beat, when it comes to the 'Miles'.
Oh....Dear!!
: )
{with no regrets.<3 }

Filled Merry... in, on a few...situations, I've had to deal with, lately.
Merry told me, that she was proud...of me.
<3
and...
how brave, she thinks I am.

Hahahahaha!
{obviously...Merry has confused 'bravery', with 'stubbornness'.}
; )
Reminded Merry...I was born under the Taurus Sign.
Docile, until...provoked.
That...'right and wrong'...Thing, is a Big Old...
Red Flag, to an old....Bull.
; )

Merry thinks, I'm pretty tuff.
The Truth Is, I wouldn't be standing, without the Most Wonderful Folks, 
beside me.


If...anyone is 'Brave'...it would be Them.
{for Standing Next...to me.}

Those....were the Folks, I reached out to...yesterday.
Many, are with The Lord, now.
but...
sure wanted to let Those, who...are still Here, and...
have never been afraid to Stand, next to me...
understand...
how Grateful, I am, for Them.
<3 <3 <3 

Merry Jo, has lived a Beautiful...Life.
She, and her Wonderful Husband...Wayne, have been Such Blessings, to So Many.
<3 <3 <3 
Including Us.
John...thought the World, of Wayne.
He's an Angel.
<3
Merry...too.
<3

The Wind...is Howling, again...tonight.
It's so unsettling.

I can Feel...
The New Year...
Chompin' at The Bit.
; )

Let's Get It On.
; )


Love to Ya.
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

My favorite picture, of me....and Merry Jo.
<3
Merry Jo, held my hands.
<3 <3 <3 


Our Family, didn't have many pictures.
We...have Memories.
<3






Saturday, December 25, 2021

Ray Stevens - "Santa Claus Is Watching You" (Music Video)

The 'Naughty List'. Oh...my.

Me, and Old...Jethro, were Runnin' Fast, and Hard...
Christmas Eve!!!
Hahahaha...!!

Needed to pick up last minute things...
before visiting The Kids, and Allyson.
Christmas Eve...Day, Is Not The Time...to visit Walmart, or Hy Vee Grocery.
Nope.
; )

Definitely...
NOT.
; )

Google told me, Walmart had Yukon Jack, Blended Canadian Whiskey.
Google...lied.
oh my.

{Wanted to give a bottle of my All Time Favorite Whiskey, to Pal...Allyson.
; )
No...not to drink.
Allyson's Liver...is Pristine.
; )
{unlike...one of her Pal's...we all know. : ) }

Allyson Loves to Bake, and uses Rum, and Whiskey, to bake, and cook with.
Her 'Rum Balls'..are INSANE!!
<3

Finally...found Yukon Jack, at a small Liquor Store, 'The Cooler', on Johnson Ave., in C.R. 
The Man...working there...was Cool.
; )
He asked me, when I bought a Bottle of Yukon, for Allyson, and...one...for myself, : ) if I was buying it for a 'Man'.
???
Ah....noooo.
He said...
"There's a Guy, depending on what kind of a week he's having, buys...either One, or...
Two... Bottles of Yukon Jack, Religiously."

Hahahahahahahaha!!!!

The Clerk...went on, and said... "This Stuff...will Kick Your Butt!!!"
Hahahahaha!!!
Indeed.
; )


I...will have to say, as insane 'Shopping' was....Everyone Was Awesome!!!
: ) : ) : ) 
Long Lines...but, it was Great... Visiting with Folks, in line...and hearing their Plans, for Christmas.
<3
Watching their eyes...Dance, when they spoke of their Memories, and...Family, they Couldn't Wait...to See!!!
Priceless!!!!
<3



Got to Andrea, and Jeff's,
{John's oldest Daughter, and Family}
The Grandson's...
 Kaycen, Keeden...and Kyler, were Wound For Sound!
<3 <3 <3 
Priceless!!!
They remind me of little Honey Bees!!!
<3
It's difficult to get pictures of them!!!
They Move SO Fast!!
Fast!!
<3

They couldn't Wait...for their Uncle John, Aunt Maryjane...and Cousin, Lillie, to arrive!
Oh my!!

They had cloth Snowballs, they were Waiting To Attack Them With!!!
Hahahahaha!!!
<3

Lillie, just turned 16.
Wow.
<3
16...goin' on 30!!
She's Quite a Special...Gal.
<3
She gave me a little Mustang, toy...that looks like her Grandpa John's...
'Jethro'.
<3
Priceless.
<3 
I give them all...Cash.
; )
They All...Have Everything.
That's a Blessing.
<3



John's first wife...Billie, gave me a Gift, I'll Wear Proudly!!!
LOVE IT!!!
; )
 : ) : ) : )


When I read it...
looked at her, and Andrea, and said...
"That's a Fact!!!"
; )

I suppose, I get on The Naughty List, a little more often than I should.
{always...have. <3 }
Wouldn't Change a Thing...
and, Have NO Regrets.
None.
; )
<3


Then...headed to Allyson's.
; )
Brought food, and prepared a Platter, there.
along with...
Wine, and...Yukon Jack.
; )
Had Allyson take a Taste, of Yukon, as I was preparing a Platter.
Hahahahahahaha!!!
THAT...
 was Priceless!!!
Hahahahaha!!!!
; )
Took her 5 Minutes...to Catch Her Breath, and...get her Voice Back!!!
Hahahahaha!!!
{see...
Perfect Example...of Why, I'm sometimes....on 'The Naughty List'!!
Hahahahahahaha!!!}
; )


Bethany, Allyson's Beautiful Sister.
<3
She's So Much Fun!!
Love Her!!


Allyson, got a Work Out...
Opening Wine Bottles!
Christmas Cheer!!
<3


Trouble.
oh my.
; )
Allyson, with very little 'voice'...said...
"Only The Strong Survive."
after she took a sip.

???
I asked...her, "What."
She said.. "That's what it says...on The Bottle."
"What???" 
{Couldn't Imagine, 'What' she was talking about!!}
Then, I read the Bottle.
Burst Out Laughing!!!
{I've been drinking Yukon Jack, since...long before I Shoulda...
and Never Once...took the Time, to Read The Bottle!!!
Hahahahahaha!!!}

{see...
yet...
Another...
 reason, I sometimes...find myself, on That 'Naughty List'!!!}
; )


Allyson Prepared a Wonderful Meal, for us all.
She's an Amazing Cook, and Baker.
Amazing!!


Our mutual...Pal, Dale...joined us.
; )
I introduced Dale, and Allyson...many, many...years ago.
They became Dear Friends.
We can't have too many...of Those.
; )

Dale is sitting at The Incredible Antique Round Oak Table, John...covered in Old Tin.
John...was Everywhere, at Allyson's.
<3 <3 <3 

John, also...covered the Beautiful..Victorian Settee, in Old...Tin.
He, was Truly...an Artist.
<3


I found the above, years ago.
It's an Old...Old...Pool Table.
Has The Most Amazing Paint.
It didn't have it's slate, it was just the Wood parts of a Pool Table, when I found it.
Asked John to make a Beautiful Top...for it, and cut the sides, and ends...out, so we could slide chairs under it.
It's...The MOST Amazing Harvest Table, now.
WOW!!

What a Wonderful Gift it was, visiting...John's Amazing....Art.
<3 <3 <3 


Then...
Allyson had a Project for Us...after Supper.
; )
We took turns decorating a little Gingerbread House.
: )





Wonderful...Evening, spent...with Wonderful...
Folks!!
<3


Returned Home, around 9.
Plenty of Time...to enjoy Christmas Eve, with The Tree, and...
Miss. Peanut.
{and...sip on a little Wine, that Allyson sent Home, with Yours Truly.
; ) }



While taking Christmas...In, by The Tree, thought about a Million Things, and...
Folks.
<3

Blessings.
Wondered...how many 'former wives', would Gift...the 'next wife', with such a Perfect Gift, that...will Always...
Bring a GRIN, to her face.
: )
Priceless!!!

Hahahahahaha!!!

It Truly...Is....
 All About The Journey!!
: )

This Christmas, and..the last several years, too...
have been filled, with 
'Change'.
I'm not a fan...
of
'Change'.

but...

I'm Kinda...Diggin' This!!!
{who...knew ??? }
Hahahahaha!!!!

It was Great...meeting Allyson's Mom, and Brother...and visiting with Rhonda, another...Dear, Dear...Friend, of Allyson's.
Priceless.
<3

Picked up...Oysters, yesterday...
am Sure looking Forward to Oyster Stew, this Christmas Evening.
: ) : ) : )
OH BOY!!
<3

{Mom's Favorite!! <3 }

Love to Ya.
Prayers...for All.

Merry Christmas.

Barb C.

Nat King Cole - "The Christmas Song" (1961)

Merry Christmas...to All.


Merry Christmas to All.
<3
Love...to You.
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

 

Friday, December 24, 2021

The Carpenters - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Dashing...


Headin' out... at a Mad Dash,
to visit The Oldest Children, and Their Children.
<3
Grandkids.
<3 <3 <3 

Then...heading to Pal, Allyson's, to share Christmas Eve Dinner, with her... her Friends, and Family.
<3

Even sent a couple of Christmas Cards out, that I know won't get to Folks, by tomorrow, but...when I ran across them, while filling cards, for The Children, today...seemed Perfect, for Others.

Hope to get Home...fairly early, to enjoy The Tree, with Miss. Peanut.
<3

Wishing Everyone...
a
Peaceful,
Magical...
Christmas Eve.

Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

 

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Elvis : 'Merry Christmas Baby' with lots of rare footage from the fifties

Christmas Eve.... Eve.

Christmas Eve...

Eve.


Got into a bit of a squabble, with Daughter, Liz...today.
Sure, didn't mean to.
: (

We'll be 'celebrating' Christmas, on New Year's Eve Day, or...New Year's Day....
this year.
She asked me 'which'.
and...
what time.
I, simply said...
Doesn't matter to me.
It's just another day.

Told her...to get with Justin, and Katie.
Whatever day, or time...that works for all of them, is fine.
; )

'Christmas'...is 'Christmas'...on December 25th.
in This Home.
Any other day...is, simply...another...day.

Liz said..."Well...seems you're in a bad mood, we'll talk later."
Nothin' to talk about.
It's all good.
; )

I...Get It.

I, also...Get...Tradition.
It was deeply rooted inside me, since I can remember.

I'll celebrate Christmas, here...at Home, like I always have.
Sometimes, over my life...I've celebrated Christmas alone, with just my Beloved Critters.
<3
They were Magical.
<3
Every December 25th., is Magical.
Always.

<3

I don't expect our Children...to be with me, on Christmas.
They should make Their Own...
'Traditions'.
<3
and...
they...
shouldn't expect me...to delay Christmas, for them....either.
'Christmas'...isn't a choice, or flexible, in my book. 

Change it, to another day.
That's not going to happen.
Never has.
Never will.

I'll be Happy, to prepare a meal, exchange gifts, on another day.
Any day...they all choose,
but...
It won't be 'Christmas'...unless, it's December 25th.

{I'm sure...Santa will be leaving me a lump of coal...in my stocking, hopefully...
along...with a
 Sugar Cookie.
; )
I, believe...even Santa...understands, what I mean.
; ) 
He, and his Reindeer...certainly...wouldn't want to be in a 'Holding Pattern', to suit everyone's schedule.
They'd Be In The Air...Year Round!!!
Hahahahaha!!!}

It's All Good.
It Truly...Is.
<3

I've never Once...felt 'alone' on Christmas.
Even...when no humans were to be found.
<3
Celebrating the birth of Our Savior, is Magical.
<3

FB Memories, popped up this morning.
Oh My.
<3

A year ago...yesterday, picked up my Crazy Orange Purse, from Sgt. Ireland, at The Linn County Sheriff's Department.
<3
May God Bless Him, and Every 'Warrior', on The Planet.
oh my.
Priceless.

He, and His Fellow 'Warriors', couldn't have Given Our Family...a Better Thanksgiving, and Christmas, last year.

I won't write about it, but They Know.
May...God Bless...Them.
<3




PRICELESS!!!
<3
{Sgt. Ireland...met me, and Pal, Bill...outside The Sheriff's Department, with our stolen property.
I was driving Sally.
He said... "Another Mustang, {he Knew...'Jethro'. : ) } 
Is that all you drive?"
; )



Told The Sgt., "Nope. Everything else...is a 'Truck'.
; )
told him...
 "There's only One 'Car'...on the Planet...
that's worthy of driving... in my world, 
a 'Mustang'. 
Everything Else, is a 'Truck'. ; )"
<3
{sometimes...those 'Ponies'... are a 'Truck', too. ; )}

{John...was Cruising by...Sally's Load, in Jethro, in this image.
I'm Sure...Rollin' His Eyes.
; )
<3
Yeah...
John Understood, an Old...Gypsy.
<3 
; )
Absolutely...
Priceless. }

I, know...some, maybe...many, think I'm 'Crazy'....for believing in what, who...and, how I do.
How...So Many...I, Love, and Have Loved...So Dearly, believe, and believed.
That's O.K.
; )

Like The Hatter, said...
in Alice in Wonderland.
"All the Best People...are."
{Crazy}
That's a Fact.
; )


Merry Christmas Eve...
Eve...
Baby!!!
{yeah...still listening to Elvis. ; ) <3 }

Love to Ya.
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

{we won't Speak...of the Mountains, of Public Records, tonight.}
Fairfax Iowa City Hall, and IDOT District 6, well...
bless your hearts. 
: )
Merry Christmas.