Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

The Ride -- David Allan Coe

What a Ride.

It's been Crazy, on most every level, the last couple of days.
Way...too tired, on...most 'every level'...
to write, 
'put into words', 
what's all...transpired.
Tonight.

Some Good.
Some Great...
some...
not, so great.
Some...
that brought me to my knees, with Love...
'Soulfulness'.
oh my.
<3 <3 <3 

Seems, every moment, of every hour...reveals...a lot of 'Emotion'.
It seems, moment...to moment, 'The Pendulum'...
Swings...
Wildly.
Far....far, in Extreme,
 both ways.
 
Kinda...like ridin' a Roller Coaster.
; )
oh my.


I'll have to gather...my thoughts, over the next couple days, before I even attempt, to put them...into
'words'.

What...a Ride.
What a Ride.
<3
From One...Extreme.
To
The Other.

When, I do 'write'...it'll take me a few days...to share what's happened, over the last couple.

So Many...Stories.
oh my.
<3
It was three years ago, tonight...
I took a Tumble, down these stairs.
crushed...a lot, of my body.
Sweetie, our Beloved...'Pit Bull', saved my life.
<3<3 <3 
{Fairfax, City Hall, 'Walking Trail'....Bullshit. Documents...Wrongfulness. oh..dear.
Bless...Your Heart's.
Ya'll somehow...knew better, but...sadly, didn't Give a Shit.
I, know...Exactly...how IDOT District 6, was Pulled in, and...by Whom.
so...sad.
Shame On You. }

Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.

Barb C. 







 

Sunday, March 28, 2021

The Hollies ~ Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress) 1972 Extended Meow Mix

yeah.... Boy.


It's a Sunny Sunday...in Iowa.
; ) 

Workin' down the rabbit hole...then, meeting with The Tax Dude.
yeah....Boy.
It'll be pretty simple...this year.
 wow.
What a Year.
oh my.


Property Taxes need to be paid...next week.
I, don't know how it happened, but...after the Wrongful Butchering, our Property Taxes went UP!!!
Hahahahaha!!!!
I, predicted 'That'.
; ) 
{After All...That's where the Dough...comes from...to Pay, for Fairfax's, and IDOT District 6's...Lack...of Common Sense, and Wrongful...'Suicide Trails'. oh my. ; ) }

The Taxes... are Insane, in Fairfax, in Linn County, Iowa.
oh my.
oh...my.
: (

I feel like Scarlett O Hara, from 'Gone With The Wind'...every 6 months, when it's time to Pay...Property Taxes.
oh my.
A Worrisome Thing, Paying The Taxes on 'Tara'.
Always.

oh...dear.

But...They Get Paid.
Whatever It Takes.
; )

When I was walking with an Independent Contractor/Engineering... Dude, the other day...we looked at the 'Carnage'....'Draining Situation', in front of our Home, and Shop...
or Lack...of It...
{he, under his breath...with bewilderment...
 described...'This'...
as a 
'Shit Show'
 Hahahahahaha!!! }
we spotted a Dollar Bill...laying amidst the 
Muddy...
 Carnage.
Hey...maybe...Folk's are Tossin' Donations...our way.
Hahahahaha!!!!

Livin' The Dream...

yeah...
Boy.
; )

{The Dollar, was High...and Dry....next to the New...'Improved'...Wrongful...Culvert.
; )
 Remember...'water doesn't run Uphill'...to The Fancy New Culvert, under our Drive.
; )
Think...I've brought that 'Fact'....Up, to the District 6, Engineer's...a Time...or, Possibly...Two. : )  
Bless Their Heart's. 
<3}



oh...my. 

Found the below...post...the other day, on FB.
I Burst out Laughing!
Do...a Lot...of 'That' kinda 'Laughing'...these...days.
; )



Hahahahahahaha!!!!
yeah...
Boy.

; )

Love..to Ya.
Hope...wherever You may 'be'...
The Sun...is Also Shining. 
<3
Prayers, for All.

Barb C. 

 

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Wooden Heart (2015 Remaster)

Wooden Heart.

Pal, Dale...picked me up, yesterday....and we headed North.
Had to look at an old...Store Cupboard, along with a bunch...of other things.

Dale, and I go way back.
He's been a Dear Friend, for decades.
Like Pal...Mark, he's like Family.
<3
We used to travel a lot...together, saved John...many times, from 'Having'...to go with!!!
hahahahaha!!!
Dale, thought the world...of John.
The feeling was mutual.
; )

It'd been a long time, since we took a Road Trip...
It was good, to catch up...and, solve the World's...Problems.
; )



I...just couldn't pull the trigger, on the Big Cupboard.
I explained...to the Owner, that's not...like me.
I, can spot an old Cupboard, or...just the Crown...of one, buried...in a Barn, and know...I'll take it.
Not....this time.
: (
She's holding it...for me, a couple days, while I process.
: )

They had so Much...Stuff, in a Massive Warehouse.
It was fun, seeing it all.

I am buying these two...1930's Butcherblock Tables, from their Grandfather's Bakery.
They have to decide on prices.
I'll slip up...next week, and get them.
Maybe...the Cupboard, too.
I, don't know.

Their Family...had Candy Shops, and Bakeries...
Very Cool....Stuff.



We stopped at Plaza Antique Mall, in Dyersville, Iowa....on the way, North.
Found some Neat Stuff, there...as always.
It was GREAT....Seeing Kathy.
<3 
I've known her...for Decades.
Love her....So.
<3
As I was getting ready to pay...looked over at a Showcase, near the door, that Always...get's me in Trouble.
; )

On the top shelf...I saw a Jewelry Casket, Heart Shaped.
{Trouble...Trouble. ; ) }
Then...looked down, in the case, and saw a tiny....wooden Heart.
{more....Trouble. ; ) }

Had the Girl's pull them out, so I could 'Look' at them.
; ) 
When my hand's touched them...
it was all over.
<3




The tiny wooden Heart, was actually a Snuff Box.
<3
Smaller than a Silver Dollar.
Precious.
<3


I, knew...it was incredibly...early, when I touched it.
I, have a 'Sickness'...for Early....Empire Furniture, {1825, to the 1850's...or, so. }
This little Darling, had the Same....'Feel'. <3
'Soulfulness'
<3

The tiny lid, was a bit stuck...so, asked Kathy to open it.
I, didn't want to damage it.
She, carefully....did.
then...said, "oh...there's a note, inside."

It reads, 
"Mahogany Snuff Box, made by Fred J. Slawlor about 1835."
{could be 'Slawtor', they may not have crossed the 't'. }

Wow.
I, knew...it was from that period, but...it was Priceless...to see the tiny, old...old...handwritten note.
<3 <3 <3
{it's a 'Keeper', if ya hadn't guessed. : ) <3 at least...for a little while. <3 } 

Found several pieces of Romantic Staffordshire, that also dates from the 1850's or...so.
A Darling, Unusual...Sprinkling Can...a Sweet, tiny....Iron Anvil, a Gnarly...Cast Iron Windmill Pump, and...a Vintage, Mink Collar.
<3
Great....Prices.
<3

{Dale said... "I can't Believe...you're buying Fur, knowing how much you love animals.
Told him, I'd never buy a new one, but...there's no fixing, the past. A little Critter sacrificed his, or her Life...long ago, I wear the Vintage Fur, often...and am Grateful, they keep me warm. 
I wear them...around my neck, and don't have to wear a heavy coat, because they keep me so warm.
<3 <3 <3 }
Kathy...found the above box, to pack the little Treasure's...in.
She thought...it was kinda 'Fitting'. <3 

I bought Dale's Supper, for doing the driving....
We went to The Lighthouse, in Cedar Rapids.
Love That Place.
Hadn't been there, for a Long...Time.
Dale, said it had been decades, since he'd been.
It was a Treat.
; )
I had the Lobster Bisque, and Cheated...on my Vegetarian Lifestyle...
with a Very Rare...Very...Wonderful...Prime Rib.
<3



yeah...Boy.
; )
After eating the Rich...Lobster Bisque, I...ate about 4 bite's of the Prime Rib.
: )
brought the rest home, and Peanut...was a Happy Girl!!!


The Bar, is Amazing...at The Lighthouse.
Live...Jazz, last night.
oh my.
<3

It was a Good...Day.

Appreciated Dale, for helping out.
; ) 

Met with a Septic Dude, yesterday morning. 
Because of the wrongful IDOT District 6, Carnage, for Fairfax's Suicide Trail.... our system was damaged.
{House flooded 4 times, so far.}
The IDOT is going to pay to replace it all...but, it's heartbreaking.
The ONLY...part of us, that hasn't been destroyed, by the wrongfulness...soon, will be.
They're going to have to butcher, and butcher...all around our Home, and inside, to put a new system in.

I, wanted to vomit...while talking, and walking...with him.
 So...
it was a Blessing, to find The Road.

Love...to Ya.
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.






 

Friday, March 26, 2021

The Road.

 Spent the Day...
on The Road.

Just...got Home.
My mind...travelled many, many...more Miles, than 'the miles'.

The First Tune...
I thought of, when I walked in the door, was...
the Garth Brooks, tune...
below.

It was a Lovely...Day, spent with Dear Folks.
Didn't know how Much....I'd Missed Them All..., until....I held them...in my arms.
<3

I'll write all...about The Day, The Friends...and...
Treasures, tomorrow.

None of it, or...them...have anything...to do, with The Tune.
but...
it was a Good...Day.
; )

Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.


Shameless By Garth Brooks

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Merle Haggard: "Sing Me Back Home"

Dolly Parton "Mule Skinner Blues"

Radar the Jumping Mule

Puttin' my 'Blinder's On'.


No...not every day...is a Good Day.
Yesterday...certainly, wasn't.
There were some bright moments, though.
<3
Blessings.
<3




After I kinda found my feet, yesterday morning...
played Tina, 'Proud Mary'...and, to my surprise...
my feet moved a little faster.
<3



A Dear Friend called, on her way home...to Iowa, from visiting her Son, in Georgia.
We had a long...visit.
She's had much loss, over the last year.
I, feel guilty...even sharing my 'problems'...with her, knowing her struggles.
: (
She...said, "Try...to accept the things you can't change."

yeah...
that's the problem.
I, believe...in my heart, these 'problems'...should be changed.
and...
are Possible, to be changed.
I, just don't know quite, how...to change them.

It reminds me of Mules, when they are facing a Tall...Fence.
A Mule...can walk up to a fence,
 {unlike a Horse, that has to make a Run...for it.}
much higher than their back, and, in one leap...
sail over it.
It's amazing...to see.
Their tails and ears...start to twitch...when they are sizing up a jump.
They do a lotta Thinkin'.
: )
Mule's...are smarter than most Horses.
They are amazing Critters.
<3 

The Mule...will stand at the fence, weave back and forth...sizing up the Jump.
Then...
in one movement, jump the Tall Fence.

Guess...I'm trying to figure out, how...to make that leap.
A Little...{maybe...a Lot.} angry, that the fence...is even there.
because...you see, 
It
 Shouldn't Be.

I've never believed...This Fence...
 'wrongfulness'
isn't Jumpable.
It's just trying to figure it out...
Size...it Up, 
makes me a little, or a lot...
'Twitchy'.

oh dear.

I'll try to find a Mule Jumpin' Video...
and post it, above.
<3
{Eat Your Heart's Out....Fancy, English Ridin'....'Hunter Jumper'...Thoroughbred Ridin' Folks.}
: )

I've always loved...Mules.
<3
 Owned two Teams, back, in the day.
{Molly, and Kate, and, Co-Jack...and Jacoby <3 }
Mules...are Amazing Critters.
Much...different than a Horse.
They've outsmarted me, a time, or two,
; )
but...
are Such Loyal...Hard Working...
Companions.
<3

Dad preferred to Farm with Mules.
He said...when he mowed the ditch's, he tried to always use Mules.
While mowing ditch's...once in awhile...you'd hit Bumblebee's nests.
Dad, said... Horse's...would go wild, get stung, and...then go Completely Crazy.
He'd taken a few Insane Rides...trying to hold a Team of Horses back, after being attacked by angry Bees.

But...Mules, he said...
would Freeze, when the Bee's began to swarm.
Stand completely Still, then...very slowly...walk out, and away, from the Angry Bees.
That's...Smart.
<3

Mule's...aren't stubborn, really....
I, learned when I was a Kid, they're just smarter than me, at times.
: )
If they don't want to go...somewhere, there's Usually... a Very Good Reason.
They...
 Knew Better.
; )
'Critter's' are The Best 'Teacher's'...on The Planet.
<3 <3 <3 

I'm gonna find my way, to The Rabbit Hole, in a bit.
Put my 'Blinder's On'...until I reach the door.

Love..to Ya.
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.



 

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Tammy Wynette Til I Can Make It On My Own

If...

If...

I could've just made it to The Rabbit Hole's Door,
without 'Seeing'....
This...
yesterday.
All...
of This.

But...no.
Had to take pictures, of 'This'...Wrongfulness, for our Lawyer.

If you think...it's Heartbreaking, seeing a Kind...Gentle... Good Man, wearing John's old...Blue Flannel Jacket, what do ya think 'THIS'...Wrongfulness, does to my Soul?????????

Day After Day.
Week, after Week.
Month...after Month.
YEAR, after Year.
Lie..After Lie.

It's Crippling. 
Crippling.

Just...Sayin'.
: ( : ( : ( 





To 'See'...
Everything, John...Loved, Worked His Life...Away, For....
Be Wrongfully, Butchered,
 'Raped'....
for Fairfax's Suicide Trail...

well....
'Crippling', is a HUGE...
Understatement.

Friend's...were going to come by...today.
I'm calling them, and tell them to stay away.
I'm...not fit, for 'company'...today.

Daughter, Liz....sent me the above Tammy Wynette Video, this morning.
She...just discovered it.
I, had that album...when I was young.
Listened to it...every night.
Who knew...how prophetic, it would be.




 

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Feist - My Moon My Man

Tryin' to Squeeze 20 pound's of Sugar...into a 5 pound bag.

I'll write a story...in the morning.

Tonight...
I'm too exhausted.
; )
<3






'Virgil's Cupboard', is a Story...
on it's own.
Priceless.
<3 <3 <3 

{Feist, is 'Playin'...down The Rabbit Hole, these days.
She's who...I'm Workin' With. : ) }


By the way...
IDOT DISTRICT 6, and...Fairfax, Iowa....'City Hall',
can ya see...with a 'trace'...of Rain, 
Where...
 The Water Is Draining???
; )


Tell Me Boys...
How is Water...gonna Run UPHILL???

Should...The Rabbit Hole Flood,
like I've Warned IDOT District 6, and...
Fairfax, Iowa...City Hall, over, and...over.
{hell, They 'Wished' for a 'Suicide Trail'...
oh my.
IDOT District 6, 'Made'... Fairfax's 'Wishes'
 Come True.
oh my.
Shame...on Them.}

All of Them.




Yeah, remember...IDOT District 6...
Boy's, 
like I've Begged You To Understand,
for
 YEARS.

'Water...
Simply...
Does Not...
Run Uphill.'

Bless Your Heart's.
<3
Shame...
on...
You.
and...
'Your Fairfax, Iowa...City Hall, Pal's', 
Ya'll Rode In... 
On.
: (

Shame On You. 

I'll post about 'Business', tomorrow.

Tonight...
well, there's way too much 'Wrongfulness', and...
'worry'.

My Dad...
taught me, year's ago...
'Shit Run's Downhill.'
So sorry, The Engineer's at IDOT District 6, and...The Sorry, Folk's...
slippin' by..
{Losers}
who have.... 
'No Place', at Fairfax, Iowa...City Hall.

Too Many...were TOO Lazy.
how Sad Is That???

Bless Their Heart's.


















 

Tina Turner - Proud Mary

Rollin'... Rollin'... Rollin'....


Takin' This Day...On.
; )
Startin' out....a little easy, then...wadin' in.
; )


Headed to The Rabbit Hole...
Hot Bath...First, then...
I'm Divin' In!
Hahahahaha....
yeah...
Boy!!!



The Angel...above, lost a Wing, with the Hurricane, last year.
Now...He's Perfect, for The Rabbit Hole.
<3 <3 <3 


I'll get some images, today...of 'Progress'.
; )

Hope to be Open...the first part of April.
No Big Sale.
This...Highway {151} can't handle...the kind of Traffic, a Big Sale...would bring, in it's Present Condition.


So...
just a soft...Opening.
I've visited with Dear Friend's concerning this.
It's the Right...Thing, to do.




Love...to Ya.
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

{There's NO Better Way...to Get Rollin' than with Tina!!!
Do...Do...Do...Do...Do!!!
: )
Amazing...Woman!!!
<3 }



 

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Priceless.


 

Jason Aldean - Amarillo Sky (Official Video)

Tim Mcgraw-My Old Friend

Alan Jackson - Remember When (Official Music Video)

Birthday's....and, memories.

The Birthday...Party.
<3
Scarlett's Party, was so Lovely.
<3
The Kid's Old...Wonderful...Home, was Filled with Laughter.
<3
Many Friend's...and Family...attended, it was so Good...to See Everyone.
<3 <3 <3 



{Yes...Vivian, is still convinced I am an Alien. : ) }
Hahahahaha!!!!
<3





The Kid's had a Pinada....hanging from the Old...Pine, they had Great Fun...with that.
<3 <3 <3 



{yes...Still...an 'Alien'.: ) }

It was a Fun...and Good Day.
<3

Almost.

While the Kid's were working on the Pinada...
I was sitting on an old...bench, beside the House, taking pictures.
The other 'Adults', were standing behind me, watching...them, too.
: )

I...heard Adam, say... "That was Liz's Dad's."
I thought Adam was talking about The Ford Car Hauler...but, that didn't really...make sense.
so...
I turned around, and asked Adam, what he was referring to.

{He was standing with his Dad, and Our Son...Justin.}

Adam said... "Wasn't this Jacket, Liz's Dad's?"
Adam's Dad...was wearing it.

{It was chilly, and windy. Adam's Dad, just pulled a Jacket off of the peg hook, by the door.
{Liz...had asked for her Dad's Jacket, many years ago.
She, wears it...often.}

I...looked at the Jacket, then...said... "It could be."
There was no 'could'...about it.
I turned back towards the Kids...playing.
but...
couldn't breathe.

Adam's Dad...has about the same build, as John.
Seeing that 'Jacket', standing...there, well...
it took my breath...away.
Went from '100' mile's an hour...to '0'...in the blink...of an eye.

I...was grateful....everyone was behind me.
Especially, Justin.
If our eyes would've met....
it would've been all over.
{I said...nothing, and was hoping, Liz...hadn't noticed. 
She was so busy...with the Party.}

Adam's Dad...had no idea.
Who...would?
Just another coat, on a peg.

Later, after everyone...left, Liz and I...walked out to Jethro, to get some things I had for them...in his trunk.
She said..."Mom, when I saw Adam's Dad....standing there, in Dad's Coat, white hair...glasses, for a moment...I thought it was Dad."

She...said... "Somehow, it was like having Dad here...for an instant."

I'm glad...she felt that way.
<3



John...
in his Old...Blue Flannel Jacket, that Liz...has...now.
{John's 'Red' Flannel Jacket, that he wore the Heck out of....is hanging on the Hall Seat, next to the door, here...right where he last hung it.
 It's Going Nowhere. <3 <3 <3 }

John was undergoing radiation...but INSISTED...to climb on to his John Deere, and Mow, for the First Time, Spring, 2014.
<3 
I remember...being so nervous.
I, stood out there...watching him, go around...and around.
: )
I was So Proud...of him...
but... so nervous.
He was so weak, from that 'Poison'. : ( : ( : ( 

I feel guilty, sometimes...for not letting the Kid's...have more, of John's Things.
: (
I, just can't let them go.
Someday...They'll Have It All.
<3
For now, I...'Need'. 
Selfish...I suppose. Can't help it.
I...need Every Bit...of John, near me...
especially...
while fighting this...
 'wrongfulness'.

Seems fitting, the below...2014 'Memory', John...sent to me, on FB, popped up, today.
<3

It's kinda funny, when I look at this 'Memory'.
Yesterday...
 got back, my...Old...Black Leather Jacket, John...had given me for Christmas...
 39 years ago, from Daughter, Liz.
I'd loaned it to her...a couple of years back, when she, and Adam...first got their Indian Motorcycle.
She has her 'Own'...now. ; )

Mine... kinda look's like the one, in the 'Memory'...above.
<3
{John, and I...were never 'Biker's', we Preferred Fast Cars. ; ) <3 }

I wore that Jacket... to death...for years.

{over my 'Waitress uniform dress', every day...to work. ; ) }
Was wearing it, the day I was nearly killed...in a car accident, on...151, in '84.

We've been through...a lot, on our 'Journey', together.
<3
: ) 

It's Like an Old...Friend.
Glad to have It Home.
; )

<3 <3 <3 

Love to Ya.
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.





Me...and The 'Black Leather Jacket', sitting in our Kitchen, about 37 year's ago.

I remember...John taking this picture.
I, was so mad...at him.
; )
{if ya don't 'know' me...That's...my, "I'm Gonna Get Even With You"...look. ; ) }

We had 'not liking our Picture taken'...in common.
; )
oh my.

Took this image....a few minute's ago...
; )
In my 'Sunday Best'. hahahahaha.

Well, The Black Leather Jacket...hasn't aged as much...as the 'wearer', I see.
That's o.k.
; )

I think...I'm gonna wear it, for awhile.
Need All The Help...I can get.
; )

It's a pretty Tuff Old....Jacket. 
It's been through Hell...and, back.

{I...know now, what John...was trying to tell me, back then.
I, Refused To See It.
If I had to do it All Over, again...
I'd Refuse to See It, Now.
: (
John, knew....that. 
<3
: ) 

'Ya Fight...for What's Right, until...ya can't.'
Until...there's Nothing Left.
Give It Everything...You've Got.
because...
'Everything' is worth nothing, if ya sell out, to 'Wrongfulness'.
That's just...how It Is.

That's Just How It Is.


No worries, 'Big Daddy'...
Mama's in 'Warrior Mode'.
<3
: )
{'Alien'...Mode. : ) <3 }
hahahahaha!!!!