Saturday, February 27, 2021
Walkin' The Line.
Son, Justin...had just repaired this car...
the Customer, picked it up, yesterday morning.
While trying to get on to the Butchered Highway 151, at our corner...
he was hit, head on.
There is No Visibility getting on to 151, from either corner of our Land.
IDOT District 6, knows this.
So does Fairfax, City Hall.
Yet...
they watch us...take our lives in our hands...every day.
The Driver of this car...was injured....but, he's alive.
Received a call last night, from an Old...Friend, I've known him...since I was 12.
He lives in Cedar Rapids.
He... was the Other...Driver.
He...was heading to Amana.
His Truck...is totaled.
After hitting the above car, he hit the concrete center wall/barrier, head on.
He climbed out of his truck, to see the damages...then, said he got right back inside...because the Semi's were Flying so Close to his wrecked Truck...he was afraid for his life.
He told me...he doesn't think he'll ever be able to drive on this stretch...again.
: ( : ( : (
My Friend...is Home...but, hurting.
I...just want to scream.
: (
This is going to get much worse....when the construction is done.
When this Highway went from State Highway 149, to Federal Highway...151, a few decades ago....
this Highway...became one of the most dangerous in Linn County, Iowa.
{according to IDOT Traffic Safety Studies}
That's why...when Fairfax, and IDOT District 6, decided a Trail...next to it, would be a Good Thing, I've been so Frightened.
Most Folks...who read my blog, know...I've suffered many Losses, of Loved Ones.
The pain...from those losses, is often...nearly, unbearable.
To watch...this Insanity, that Will...so Unnecessarily, and Wrongfully...
hurt, Take Lives...
well...
yes, It's nearly pushed me over the edge.
: (
I remember...a couple of decades ago...when I brought 'The Old... Saint'...Home.
<3
He's Beautiful...from Italy.
John...helped me Place him...under the Big Pine, near our Home.
Our 'Pet Cemetery'...Tree.
We faced The Saint...towards our Home.
Told John... "We Need All The Help We Can Get!!" : )
then...
I stood back, and decided...we needed to turn him...to face the Highway.
The Highway, and her Travelers...Need Him, more than we.
<3
We knew That...over 20 years ago.
Common Sense.
in the above image...you can see the Old...Saint, Praying....under the Big Pine.
<3
The Old...Saint, has...endured, and...seen much carnage.
The above image...was before...the wrongful 'Taking'.... for Fairfax's Suicide Trail.
It's heartbreaking...to look at.
Above...the Old....Pine, a few days ago...
It watches over...the Massive Traffic.
The Saint...He....Prays.
So Do I.
I, Hope...You, will...Too.
<3
May God Bless Us...
Everyone.
Love...to You.
Barb C.
The IDOT District 6, took that Pine Tree...{wrongfully for Fairfax's Trail, that isn't supposed to be.}, but...Thanks to our Lawyer, It still Stands.
I'm going to keep fighting this wrongfulness...as long as I have a breath.
I, couldn't live with myself...if I didn't, when People...die...here.
It's been 5 years...fighting.
I'm getting weary.
Fighting giants...is exhausting.
crippling...at times.
but....
make no mistake, I'm not letting go.
I'm Grateful...for our Lawyer, who has never waivered.
I'm Grateful...to God...for giving me the strength...to carry on.
Keep...Walkin' The Line.
Other's need to Step Up.
Speak Up.
I'm Grateful...to God, my Friend, and Justin's Customer...Survived.
Blessings.
Blessings.
but...you see...
This
should've never happened.
If things aren't Made Right....
this is going to get worse, and worse.
The IDOT District 6, and Fairfax City Hall....
can never...ever...say, they weren't 'aware'...and warned.
Ever.
: ( : ( : (
Thursday, February 25, 2021
There's ONLY...One 'Tune'...
That Fit's The IDOT District 6, and...Fairfax, Iowa, City Hall.
Bless Their Heart's.
<3
I'll post it above.
<3 <3 <3
; )
It's all about the Eyes.
Found a picture...a few weeks ago, in the console...of the Mustang...
of myself, from 20, plus...maybe...years ago.
Relaxed....happy...eyes.
<3
Maybe...even, a little 'sleepy'.
: )
Doesn't matter what the rest of me looked like, then...or now.
I, can always tell a lot about Folks, through their Eyes.
; )
'Window's to The Soul'
<3
I, was waiting for the Farrier, this Noon, to give Scout...his 'Pedicure', sitting, in Sally...when I re-found the old...picture.
: )
I, snapped a 'selfie'...to compare...the 'years', 'miles'.
: )
Oh...my Lord....when I looked, at the difference, over these...20 years.
It worried me.
These 'older' Eyes...
worry me.
I've noticed them...over the last few years...seeming 'different'.
but,
until tonight...had nothing to compare them, to.
'Peaceful'...
is how I remember...and see...those younger eyes.
<3
Today's picture, like...over the last few year's pictures...
I...see anger.
'Warrior'.
Make's me sad.
The IDOT District 6, and Fairfax....City Hall's, 'Wrongdoings',
have changed me.
That....
make's me sad.
Very.
and...
angry.
My Family...and Friend's have also...had to 'See'...
'These Eyes' through all of This Wrongfulness.
.
Wrongfully.
Just...sayin'.
Love...to You.
Prayer's for All.
Barb C.
{not sure...there was a Tune ever written to lead...this one.}
dare I post...
'Why...Baby, Why...'
yet...again.
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Once again... "Tell me Why...Baby, Why???"
It's 35 mph, in this construction zone.
Hahahahahahahaha!!!!
45, when it's completed.
Hahahahahahaha!!!!
They're Runnin' 60....through here, now.
It's gonna be a Free For All...when they open up This Mess.
oh my.
Hahahahahaha!!!!
Man, Oh...Man.
: )
{If Ya'll Think...a Deputy, can slow 'em down....
well...think again.
It'll be like Ropin' a Steer, in a Stampede.
: )
Mark My Word's.
; ) }
Skipped out the door, this mornin'...
barefooted.
; )
I wanted to get images of the poor....poor...mangled Orange Cones.
Thought about throwin' my boot's on...
but...
Screw It!!!
hahahahaha...
I'm so Numb, from This...
All of This...
a little snow doesn't have a chance.
hahahahaha!!!
Oh My!!!
; )
Folk's Can't Stay...on The Highway...
They Simply...Can Not!!!
; )
Big Surprise.
{Never could, never...will. ; ) }
Every Cone...in front of our Home....is Dead.
From our Bridge....
to our Drive...
Is Dead.
Mangled, and Dead.
; )
I, mean....Frickin'...Dead!!!
I haven't parked in our front Drive...for Months.
How'd you like pullin' in...with a Mack Truck...barreling Up Your Tailpipes.
?
The Gypsy Ford, is parked there, protecting the rabbit hole.
I figure...she'll give 'em something to think about...
Slow 'em ...down a bit,
before they hit it's wall.
oh my.
That Suicide Trail...they are drivin' on now...Will become a Turning Lane.
May God Bless Anyone...who may be walkin' on it, or riding a Bike...
when people turning...have to make the choice, of being Rear Ended...or Hitting Someone.
oh boy.
{ I remember...visiting with Newman, and Staebler...from IDOT District 6, about the center Turning Lane...becoming a Passing Lane,
{The Trail...had been taken out of the Plan's, with our Lawsuit, except...it really wasn't they Breached Our Recorded Agreement.}
I, think...it was Staebler, who said... "Well, that's not legal...to use it for a 'Passing Lane'."
I...just stood there, looking at him, and said....
"You're Absolutely Right, I forgot. and...Everyone, Always...Obeys 'The Law'. ; ) "
I, swear...sometimes...ya truly...have to smile.
: )
Dang...
Sure Wish The IDOT District 6, or Fairfax...City Hall, would've conducted Any Kind of a Safety Study, concerning This...Mess, when it was on Paper, after I Begged them to, Years ago.
On a Brighter Note...
I do like waving at all of the Truck's, when they go Flyin' By!!
: )
They Always...
Wave Back.
<3
; ) ; ) ; )
Always.
<3
Bless Their Heart's!!
<3
The Boy's got the downspout's cleared, for now....anyway.
<3
For now...no water is coming in the House.
So...
maybe, I'll head to the rabbit hole, and check out the damages, in a bit.
; )
Gonna need a little more coffee, before I do that.
; )
Love to Ya.
Prayers...for All.
Barb C.
{Still Diggin' on George Jones... 'Why Baby, Why?'...this morning.
; )
It...just, seems Fittin'.
; )
<3
<3
That tune came out...the year our Home was built.
<3 <3 <3 }
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Imagine....If, you will.
Imagine....if, you will...
Those Orange Cones...were people.
That, what these vehicle's are traveling on...is...Fairfax's Suicide Trail, the IDOT Breached our Recorded Agreement, to Build...for Them.
When this project is completed....Southbound Traffic, will be right next to people,
where the pick up is, in the below...image.
{click on the images, to enlarge. }
That Close.
This...is looking out our Picture Window...in our Dining Room, this afternoon.
The above image......was the Ditch 'Before'.
Those Massive Columns, were around 20 feet long.
That DITCH...Is GONE.
Along with All of Our Drain Tiles. {And Many Trees}
The former Highway... 151, and Bridge, was just to the right of this image.
The Big Evergreen, to the right of the Columns...is our Pet Cemetery Tree.
It was Taken, wrongfully, {along with several others} according to their Own Engineer, in Writing, but...they graciously...left It standing.
It Belongs...to Them, Now....
again...
Wrongfully.
Below...see it Now, and....No Ditch.
Correction.
'We'...Are...'The Ditch'.
Our House...is to the left, in the below image.
This above picture was taken a few weeks ago.
Those poor...poor, Cone's, were 'alive'..then.
They've been 'dead'...for some time...now.
Twilight Zone...my Friends.
If it wasn't for my Lawyer, they would've taken our land, up to 12 feet from our Home, and Every Single Tree Would Be Gone.
All....for a Suicide Trail, that wasn't supposed to be.
As sure as I am...and, have been right, repeatedly....concerning All...of This....
One day, those won't be 'Cones'.
Many days.
I've told them all...It's reckless endangerment, plain...and simple.
I'd Give ANYTHING....To Be Wrong...on Every Bit Of This.
YOU All...Refused to conduct an Independent 'Safety Study', concerning a Trail...next to one of the Most Dangerous Stretches of 151, in Linn County...
Even...If I Paid For It.
Publicly...Refused.
{ Fairfax City Council Meeting
I wasn't the Only one, there. }
The Mayor, went on to say....he wouldn't consider even 'Looking At It.'
Bless Their Heart's.
oh...my.
Fairfax, and IDOT District 6, This....
Every Bit of It....
is On You.
I've tried for nearly 5 years to educate all of you.
I've Prayed...you'd find some snippet of 'Common Sense'.
Never happened.
Deaf Ears.
Twilight Zone.
Why...Baby, Why???
Here we go...
again.
Oh...my.
; )
30 gallons, and counting.
Thanks, IDOT District 6, for trading our Drainage...
for
Your Wrongful... Accommodations, for Fairfax's Suicide Trail.
; )
Our New Gutter's....are little use, when they can't drain.
; )
Your Temporary...Fix, ain't workin' too hot.
; )
The Boy's are trying to fix it, somehow...
The rabbit hole...is next.
There won't be any help...for that, when the snow melts.
No Ditches...
Too High Elevation...
Remember...Boys, told ya a long...long...time ago,
Water...doesn't run Uphill...
Boys.
It...simply...does not.
: (
Our House, and rabbit hole have NEVER Flooded, until....Ya'll...
made your Wonderful... Wrongful..... 'Improvements'...for Fairfax's Trail.
; )
Bless Your Heart's.
; )
oh...dear.
All...I can say, is...
"Why....Baby, Why...."
; )
: ( : ( : ( ........
Helper, Brandon....just said, Ever so Seriously...
"Now....I understand why ya drink at night."
{Sometime's...ya have to laugh.
: ) : ) : )
I'm sick...of crying.
I..am getting pretty...
angry.
; )}
So much...for workin' down the rabbit hole, today.
I...have to 'babysit'...the Flood.
I'll be needin' Hip Waders.... down the rabbit hole. }
Thank God....I was Home.
Had that Vintage Rug been Ruined....
I, don't even want to THINK....about how many 'moments'...it would've taken me, and Old...Jethro, to get to the IDOT DISTRICT 6 Office.
The above image, is of my Shop...last June, with the IDOT Improvements...
and...only a couple inches of rain.
This has NEVER Happened, before...even with 7 Inches of Rain...in 2014.
Do ya understand....why...I'm just....a little concerned about
Drainage???
; )
Oh My.
; )
Boys...Boys,
That...old water...simply, doesn't like to Run Uphill.
; )
Monday, February 22, 2021
Soakin' in Soulfulness.
The Snow....is plenty deep, around the rabbit hole.
It's a worrisome thing.
I see Flooding.
Major...Flooding.
We've been put in a 'basin', thanks...to the IDOT District 6 Engineers, because they breached our Agreement, solely...to make wrongful... 'Accommodations' for Fairfax's Suicide Trail.
They've raised the elevation...so high, solely for Fairfax's Trail under DD #1, {AKA Cross Creek}
Water can't drain....from South, to North.
{ya see, like I told them...all...Long ago... "Water doesn't Run 'Uphill', Boys. ; ) It...simply, does not." }
It....simply, can not.
This is so poorly designed,
{as I told the IDOT District 6 Engineers, long before they broke ground.}
Have to shake my head....everytime, I look at it.
People drive on the dirt, not pavement...
The turn is too short.
Like...I tried to tell them.
oh my.
The Suicide Trail...
is what you see, that people are now driving on.
No ditches...to hold water.
We...Are 'The Ditch'....Now.
oh my.
Spent the Day...
down the rabbit hole.
<3
It was a Gift....'inside'.
Like...I knew it would be.
<3
My Body...hurts, a little... this evening.
: )
It's a 'Good'...hurt.
<3
Touching....Soulfulness...
feeds my spirit.
<3
Hooked up a new...Music Box.
<3
The Rabbit Hole.....
Sings, again.
<3
The Wall's were Shakin'...as I worked.
<3
; )
'Feist'...was the Music of Choice, today.
<3
Peg...Loved Her.
<3
but...These Days.
Today...
I'll have to choose 'Stand', by Rascal Flatts.
; )
I'll have a few more images...of what I'm workin' on...
tomorrow.
Today...spent a lot of time...
Sizing Up...
the
Situation.
; )
Soakin' In....
The Soulfulness.
<3 <3 <3
Love to Ya.
Prayers...for All.
Barb C.
Time...to 'Do'.
Sat down and wrote a long...sad, self beating... post....
this morning, then...
deleted it.
{Not that I don't deserve to have my butt kicked. I do. }
it's just...
who want's to read that crap.
It's time....I head to the rabbit hole.
Was going to start on it, last week...but, got sidetracked.
It's funny, how the chaos...there, somehow...put's life into perspective.
I've been away, far too long.
We both need each other.
Desperately.
<3
It's time...
Time...
to make a Move.
Stand.
See how much 'butt'...an old...Mad Hatter's got left.
; )
<3 <3 <3
Love...to Ya.
Prayers...for All.
Barb C.
I've decided....finally, the 'time'...for 'trying'....is over.
Now...
It's
'Time'...
to
'Do'.
This...is what I want to see....again.
<3 <3 <3
Sunday, February 21, 2021
7 Minutes.
Happy
'101'...
Mama.
<3 <3 <3
I've been thinking about Mom, so much...today.
Her '101'...Birthday, in Heaven.
I miss her, but...don't miss...watching her endure....such a difficult time, with her health, the last three decades of her life.
Mom had a meningioma brain tumor, she was diagnosed with it, when she began having grand mal seizers, about the time she turned 60.
Many times, I'd go to the ground...with her, during those horrific seizers, and put my hand under her head, to keep her head from pounding on the ground...during those horrible, violent... convulsions.
Dad, would lose his mind...when he watched her have them.
They scared him...to death.
He...was so afraid, of losing her.
The Doctors thought..she'd probably had the tumor, since she was in her 20's.
It was very slow growing, operable...but, risky.
Removing it, wouldn't have stopped the seizers, so...we all agreed to leave it be.
In her 80's...she lost her sight.
Then...soon, after...she wasn't able to walk, and was wheelchair bound.
I took care of Mom...most of my adult life.
She was in a nursing home...the last many years of her life, but....I always looked out for her.
Used to so enjoy...visiting with her.
Loved...doing her hair...and make up.
<3
Mom...was a 'Lady'...through, and through.
Something...I didn't inherit.
; )
Pal, Donna...said, this morning, that Mom would be proud of me.
I, don't know about that.
My language...has gotten pretty nasty, over the last few years....
she wouldn't have liked that, at all.
but...
Mom knew, I'd fight to Hell...and Back, for her.
Whatever she needed, she knew....she could consider it Done.
Always.
Always.
<3 <3 <3
Ya didn't want to get between, me...and Mom.
I was very protective...of her.
<3 <3 <3
Didn't matter who it was, Family....Dr.'s...Nurses...oh dear.
Still sleep with my phone...
Mom, could call me, day...or night, and I'd be there...in 7 minutes.
7 Minutes.
I remember...being at a show...in Minnesota, when Mom wasn't feeling well.
Told everyone there, I might have to leave...{everything}, should Mom get worse.
That didn't happen, but...there was nothing...I wouldn't have done for her.
She used to worry about me working too hard.
Many times, asked me to come and get her...so she could help me, load the Trucks.
: )
<3
Told her, to be careful...what she was offering!
I, might surprise her...one day, and pick her up...and put her to Work!!!
: )
She, sure would've helped...me, if she could have.
<3 <3 <3
Mom..was just a wisp over 5 feet tall.
: )
I, looked like an Amazon Queen, next to her.
but...
She Was Dynamite!!!
: )
Smart...as a Whip...Beautiful....Talented, Kind...Loving...Funny...
and...
Dynamite, when she got mad.
; )
which...thankfully, wasn't very often.
<3
She, and all of my Sister's, were that way.
Tiny...but, Dynamite!!!
hahahahaha...
They could put me on The Run, with the Tone of their Voices.
oh dear.
<3
Mom, and Dad...had a complicated life...together.
They couldn't live together....for long stretches, but...never could live apart...for long, either.
<3 <3 <3
They divorced, when I was 5, but...never remarried, or...even dated anyone else.
Dad...thought Mom...Hung The Moon!
<3
I...remember...riding with Dad...many times, over the years...and him humming
the song, 'Roses are Red My Love", and knowing...he was thinking of Mom.
He, Loved...Her So.
<3 <3 <3
She...Loved Him...Too!!!
<3 <3 <3
They're together...now, I know.
<3
Bought some Roses, the other day....
I, can't walk past Roses, and not...think of Mom.
I stayed with Mom...at the hospital...the last days of her life.
John, had just gotten out of intensive care, from his brain surgery...
he was moved to the 5th floor, then...Mom, was brought in.
Those...were some of the darkest days, for us all.
I only left Mom, to go sit with John...or, to take care of the Critters, no more...than walked in the door, at home... March 20th...
when my phone rang, it was a Nurse, telling me Mom..had passed away.
Some say...they think she waited for me to leave.
Those last days...were wonderful.
We talked, and talked...
Sang Songs!!!
Laughed.
: )
John would send messages to Mom, through me, Funny Ones, that would get her Laughing so Hard...she cried.
<3 <3 <3
I'm nursing another hangover.
Dang.
Mom, wouldn't like that...either.
She'd be worried about this mess.
All of it.
Love to Ya...
Prayers...for All.
Barb C.
Saturday, February 20, 2021
Colors... of Soulfulness.
Helper...Brandon, helped me bring in one of the 'Show' Rugs, yesterday.
A room size rug....
that..
has Welcomed...Thousands, over the years...
Into...The 'Simply Iowa' Booths, and...Estate Sales... over decades.
: )
<3
Decided...yesterday...
'It' should find a Place...in our 'Home'.
<3
The Color's are Perfect.
Who Knew.
<3
: )
I've had many...many...Amazing Vintage Rugs, over the years.
Many.....I, so Wished....I'd have kept.
but...
None of Them...would've been as Perfect....as This One.
Even...with the wear, and...Mouse Chew. : )
{Guess 'Who'...Knew...That. ; ) }
Struggled with putting down a Rug....with Peanut.
<3
She's...still...a 'Pup'.
<3
It...was time.
This 'Room'...Needed It.
<3
Vintage Textiles...
Fabric, Floor Coverings...
have a Soulfulness.
'Grounding'.
<3
They...offer a Warmth...nothing 'new', could ever provide.
There's Something....
about Vintage Textiles.
The 'Human' Connection.
Priceless.
<3 <3 <3
Love to Ya.
Prayer's for All.
Barb C.
{Posted below, is one of my Favorite Clips, from one of my Favorite Movies.
<3
We're in Troubled...Times.
I, don't care which side...of 'The Isle'...ya stand on.
The Truth Is...
We're ALL on a Journey.
Let's Do The Best We Can...for our Fellow Travelers }
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