Monday, February 28, 2022
Red Flags.
Tears.
: (
I'd planned on writing a long post...about the 'Strides'..I, knew...somehow...I was gonna make, today.
Before I got started...received the above message.
What's killing me, isn't what IDOT, and Fairfax...have done to me.
It's what they've Done...to So Many...Others.
I...could never FIGHT...THIS HARD, This...LONG...
for...myself.
The IDOT...Has Wrongfully...Hurt, So Many, to Wrongfully make Accommodations...
for Fairfax's Suicide Trail.
They've Wrongfully...HURT,
Our Children, Grandchildren...Dear Friends, along...with Everyone, who found something...Soulful, down the rabbit hole.
: ( : ( : (
THAT...
Make's an Old Taurus...
ANGRY.
'Red Flags'.
'RED FLAGS'.
I, Did...make Strides...today, Down The Rabbit Hole.
<3
Determined...to make a 'Place', through All of This Wrongful...Mess, for Those...
who need, just...a little comfort, like...The Rabbit Hole...offered, 'Before'.
The Door...
to
The Rabbit Hole.
<3
Most...don't know this, but...Folks used to come to The Rabbit Hole, and Sit, even when it wasn't Open.
All Hours.
Before.
The Doors to The Rabbit Hole... were never locked.
ever
Before.
There was 'something'...Very Soulful, 'Spiritual'...there.
<3
That...All...Went Away, when IDOT, and Fairfax...decided to conduct their dirty deeds.
RED FLAGS
oh my
At a Time...when we All, Need...a 'Place'...to simply...
Rest...
Reflect...
Smile...for a Moment,
just...
a Moment.
Hide...Away.
<3
Yeah...
They Should Be Ashamed.
Bless their hearts.
oh my.
I'll have a few images, tomorrow.
This...has been quite a day.
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Sunday, February 27, 2022
Shenanigans.
I...tried to behave.
but...
there were Too Many Other Options.
; )
Oh Dear.
Pal, Bill called, as I was workin' away....today,
said
he had some 'things'...he thought I should 'see'.
; )
Bill knows...I Need to Stay Focused, 'HERE'...better than Anyone.
He Was Just 'Here'!!!
oh my.
Two...Old...10 Foot 'Oak' Tables,
an Old...'Steel'... Park Bench,
a Vintage 'Concrete' Madonna...and....
THE MAD HATTER, above...
{ <3 }
later,
well...
You Guessed It.
I...didn't
'Stay'.
; )
Shenanigans.
; )
What I...didn't mention...about 'The Day'...with The Grandkids, I blew my back out, just before we left.
I could barely walk.
{ oh...my. )
I couldn't let them know, and ruin 'Their Day'.
<3
We have So Few, together.
Grandma...gave Them...a Little more 'Freedom', than usual, yesterday.
; )
{I had No Choice!!}
Didn't let them...know 'That'...either.
; )
<3
Yep...March 31, is gettin' Closer...and Closer.
{where in The Hell...am I gonna Put One More Thing???}
Those Tables...are Frickin' Heavy!
They were Built for The County Forestry Department, back in The Day.
Probably...by Prisoners.
Holy Smokes.
'Real'...
and
'Heavy'.
Thank God, and The Boys...for getting The Ford on his Feet.
They are a LOAD!!
I could hear John...as Bill and I loaded them...tonight.
{That was Quite an Endeavor. A Laugh a Minute. }
; )
"Thought we agreed, No More Heavy Stuff."
: ) : ) : )
then...
I could hear...my reply
; )
"Is 'that' what we agreed on?"
hmmmm???
; )
<3
Hahahahaha!
Shenanigans!!!
oh my.
I'm gonna be Feelin' This Shit...
'Shenanigans'...
in The Mornin'.
; )
oh...dear.
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{For The Love...Of 'Old'. <3 }
Big Day...with Little Folks.
Took the Day...
spent it with the Little Folks.
Grandchildren.
<3 <3
Two...of them.
Little Justin, and Miss. Scarlett.
I don't spend much time with any of The Grandchildren.
Life is Consumed...with the wrongfulness, and work...
has been, for years.
I always set aside some Time...to do Something...Special, with Them.
Have Them...Choose, what They'd Like to Do.
Yesterday...was The Day.
<3
It Was All...Theirs.
<3
Picked them up...early....and headed to Des Moines.
Little Justin, is an Avid Hunter, and Fisherman.
Miss. Scarlett, is an Avid Reader, and Computer Wiz.
So...
They Chose...to spend Their Day...
at
The Massive 'Bass Pro Shops', in Altoona, Iowa...had lunch, there...
then...
headed to a Big...Barnes and Noble Book Store, in Des Moines.
<3
They Both...were in 7th. Heaven... <3
I enjoyed listening to them visit, between themselves.
They are Such...Good Folk.
<3
They are the Oldest, Children...in their Families, and Do So Much, for their younger Siblings.
The Kid's are all Home-Schooled, so...getting them Out...and About, with Loads of Freedom, well...
this old...free spirited Granny, feels, is important.
; )
Told them...as were were driving...they could choose whatever music, they'd like to listen to...through Jethro's Speakers.{They Both...Love Music. }
They chose to keep the radio off...and Visit.
We all...had such Wonderful Conversations.
<3
They are So mature.
I, believe...Little Folks are...Far more Mature, than some realize.
They Soak Up...Everything, like Sponges.
Miss. Scarlett...is sporting Dreadlocks, Little Justin, sports Camo.
<3
They are so different, yet...so much... alike.
<3
Kind, considerate, helpful...and, respectful.
<3
They each have their own opinions, about things, I respect them...for that.
Proud of Them.
<3
We like to find a 'Different'...sort of a Restaurant, for Supper, on our 'Day'.
Some place, none of us have Been.
Seafood?
Italian..?
Cajun?
BBQ?
?
Well...we settled with Famous Dave's.
I've been there many times, but....the others, we didn't know...left us all...
undecided.
I, was pretty sure...they'd Both...like Famous Dave's.
; )
Justin...took about half of his Supper, Home.
Scarlett...finished All..of hers.
They BOTH...Finished Off...Their Brownie Desserts.
Every Bite!!!
<3
{The Awesome Server, brought me a spoon, to help them with their desserts.
Hahahahaha!!!
Yeah, No.
Granny wasn't gettin' her hand Close...to Either of Their...Desserts.
Nice of her to think of me, tho!
Hahahahaha!!!
: ) }
{As I was thinking about Famous Dave's...and all of the Wonderful places, I've been...over the Road... thought about John.
John would rarely go out...but, if I was working anywhere close...to a Famous Dave's...as, I told The Kids... John, would have a Huge Supper coming from There, when I got home.
John...Loved...'The Tips'. <3
I remember...serving John...His Plateful, of Awesome Food, from the last stop...I'd been, to have supper, on my way home...from where ever...I'd roam.
Only 'splurged'...at The Best Places, after a 'Many Hundred Mile'...and 'Over a Dozen Hours'...Day.
{There were, quite a few. }
Sometimes...I'd cold pack food...from Illinois, sometimes...from Northern Iowa.
He'd Wait Up... for The Prime Rib, from The Packing House...in Galesburg,
or...from Jumer's Castle Lodge, in Davenport.
<3
I've even brought John back Amazing Meals...from..as far as Nashville,
Memphis...or St. Louis, on a 'Day Trip'.
John...really disliked going anywhere.
I, Got It.
He...liked staying down His...'Rabbit Hole'.
<3
That was O.K.
; )
I, don't think I ever ate a meal...anywhere....near, or far...that was 'Special'...
that John, didn't 'Enjoy'...a little later, too.
Ever.
Was just thinking...even when I'd do a show...I'd take a Favorite Meal, Home...for John...always had a Fridge...at the Hotels.
It all 'kept'...; )
Didn't matter to me, if we enjoyed it at the same table, when it was served.
Never mattered to John, either.
{John LOVED...the Prime Rib....and Garlic Mashed Potatoes, from Michael's...in Rochester. }
<3
Pal, Dale...said..one day, long ago...as a bunch of us were going out to Supper,
"I couldn't have a relationship...like yours, and John's. I like having my Better Half, with me...when we go out. Couldn't imagine her staying home, while I went out."
: )
Well... I could've insisted...John, come along, he probably...would've...but,
like I told Dale, so long ago...
John...would've been Miserable.
: (
{I always asked, John... if he'd like to join us.
Once...in a Blue Moon...He'd Surprise Us!! <3 : ) }
but....why,
Why...would I ever 'insist'...that of him?
after all...
John, never 'insisted'....I, stay Home, because he'd rather not 'go'.
; )
I'd always...dress up a To Go...Box, for John... with All...of The Fixin's.
{or...pick him up, something...he'd requested, on my way Home. }
but...
think...Famous Dave's, was one...of his Favorites.
<3
It might sound strange...but, I enjoyed watching John...Enjoy that Food.
<3
It could be 1 in the morning, I'd warm his Food up...Plate it Up...take it to him, in his recliner....
and watch him eat.
Love Every Bite!!
I'd tell him of All the Adventures, of whatever The Miles...unfolded, from that Road Trip...or Show.
Yeah...John thought we were All...Crazy.
; )
He was a Wise...Man. }
: )
<3
I, was right.
Those 'Little People'...TRULY Enjoyed, Famous Dave's.
: )
{Runs in The Family. }
They both said...They'd Sure Go Back There...Anytime!!
<3
: )
Liz, worked last night, so...for old time...sake, fixed Son in Law, Adam... a 'To Go' Box...
in John's Memory.
Somehow...it just didn't seem Fittin'... leaving Famous Dave's...without toting one.
: )
It was a Lovely...Day.
The Grandkids...I, think...had a pretty Good...Time.
; )
It was late...when we all got to our Homes.
Praise God...for watching out, over Us.
On our way Home...on Highway 30, near Tama, Iowa...narrowly missed TWO HUGE DOE, that the Grandkids saw...but, Thankfully, I Didn't.
Justin said..."Grandma!! We Nearly Had Two Big Doe...in Front of Us!! I think their Nose's could've touched my Door's Mirror!!
They Stopped, on The White Line, at my Door!!!"
All Scarlett could muster...was "OH MY GOD!!!"
{I was watching The Train of Semis...meeting us. Oh My!!}
When Justin says... "Big Doe"...He Knows...what He's Talkin' About!
He, and his Dad...Hunt! Hunt...Big!
oh my.
Two Big Doe...would've Taken Jethro Out, in a Moment.
Us...
With Him.
Wow.
Grateful...we All...have another Day.
Wow.
Been working down my 'Rabbit Hole'...today.
Better get back, To It.
March 31, will be here...nearly as Quick, as a Couple of Doe, in Tama County.
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Friday, February 25, 2022
Real...things.
Worked Down The Rabbit Hole...today.
Again...
made many Strides.
<3
Didn't take many images, tho.
Pal, Bill...stopped by.
He needed a little help with a Chandelier.
: )
I, happen to know a 'little'...about Chandeliers.
; )
{Thanks to Chicago Ray......and La Julia Rhea!!
'Learning' More...Every Day!! ; ) }
Oh My!!
Hahahahaha!!
<3
; )
Bill...Loves The Rabbit Hole, even...in the shape...it's in.
; )
me...too.
<3
Got a little Snow...last night.
Beautiful.
It was Wonderful...finding this Old...Old...Button, today, down The Rabbit Hole.
Probably...from the late 1800's.
I, remember the day...I found it.
Long...Ago.
<3
Remember examining it, in my hand.
It's about the size of a quarter.
Back...before, we lived in a Land of Plenty, before...we were a 'Throw Away Society'...
even...'buttons' were a 'luxury', to many.
Someone...wanted to dress Up...a Coat, or Dress...but couldn't spend the money, on something so frivolous...as new buttons.
so...
covered an Old...Button, with a handmade Cover.
Such...Beautiful,
{now...over a Century, later... 'worn'}
Needlework.
That's...Soulful.
<3
That's...Real.
That's...
Priceless.
<3
While re-setting an old, old...cupboard, today...
found this late 1800's Glass 'Motto' Tray.
<3
Truer words...were never spoken... written,
or, pressed...in glass.
<3
Indeed.
<3
<3
Ran across this image, from several years ago...while posting images...tonight.
Our dining room.
'Before'.
<3
Made me smile.
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{Me, and Jethro...are Hittin' The Highway, in the Morning.
Grabbin', Two...of Our Most Favorite 'Shotgun Riders'.
<3
Little 'J', and...Miss. Scarlett. ; ) <3 }
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Snippets, of The Rabbit Hole...today.
Bounced...all over The Rabbit Hole, today.
It's 'Insane'...there.
: )
<3
{not Near...as Insane, as the 'real' world.}
There are Stacks, and Stacks.
Under one 'stack'...found an 'Artifact'...from a long ago...display.
Perfectly Preserved.
<3
Made me smile.
: )
{Those...wonderful...old, old....gnarly scissors are Quite Large}
Rusty...
insane.
: )
I'm drawn to old...scissors.
They remind me of Mom.
<3
Mom, was a Seamstress.
She could Sew...like none other.
<3
Mom, made all of our clothes...Wedding Gowns, for Many....too.
Mom reupholstered furniture.
She, was Beyond...Talented.
<3
Mom worked at Killian's Department Store, in Cedar Rapids, in their Drapery Workroom.
She made Custom Drapes, for some very Elite...homes.
I...never inherited that gene.
; )
{but...By God...I Can, Load a Truck!!! : ) }
The Best....'sewing' I can do...is with a needle and thread.
I'll have No Part...of a Sewing Machine!
; )
{or...a Dishwasher. Never have...Never, will.
Some of my best 'Thinkin' Times'...were, and are... when Everyone left me alone at the kitchen sink.}
: )
Every time I look at Good, Old...Wiss Scissors, and Pinking Shears...I think of Mom.
<3
especially...
The Time...Mom caught me cutting 'paper', with her Sewing Scissors.
HOLY SMOKES!!!
{I...didn't Do 'That'...twice. Yikes!!! <3 }
: )
There's a corner...down The Rabbit Hole, that's always Full...of Vintage 'Sewing'.
<3
That's for my Mom.
<3
Truly...enjoyed working there...today.
Have Miles to Go, there...still.
Looking forward to 'them'.
<3
Restrung the burned out lights, in two of the Big...Old Cupboards.
Have to re-set them all, as well.
It was quite a task...just twisting light bulbs, in Chandeliers...today.
Lots of Ladder Climbin'.
oh my.
There are...Many, Many....Chandeliers, and Lamps.
oh my.
; )
There are Many...Many, that need to be brought to The Rabbit Hole.
Many.
oh my.
; )
One Day...at a Time.
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Details.
The Rabbit Hole.
<3
just...a teeny, tiny...
snippet.
Made some good Strides...today.
; )
The Rabbit Hole, has to be Taken In...in small...
doses.
: )
I'd forgotten...that.
<3
It's The Details.
It's...All, about The Details.
<3
Priceless.
A Friend, asked me to take more images of a Wonderful...Old, Old...Cupboard, I'd posted the other day, today.
They...looked like hell.
Then...
I started focusing on It's...Details.
; )
Oh My.
<3
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{Been listening to the above Feist Tune...on repeat, all day.
<3
Peg, loved Sea Lion Woman...on this track.
Too...Busy, for me.
I work best...with the above.
<3 }
The Gift of Laughter.
The Rabbit Hole....
oh my.
Lord...Lord.
<3
Pulling It...Up, out of The Abyss...is quite a task.
especially...
when I see Water comin' in...Front, and Back.
That's Heartbreaking.
and... would've been Avoided, had IDOT simply...kept their word.
Our...Recorded Agreement.
That 'Water'...Really...Steps on my Groove.
: (
Makes me pretty...Angry, too.
oh my.
Praise GOD...we have had so little precipitation, last year...and this.
I can only Imagine...what the Rabbit Hole would look like, with normal snow, and rain.
: ( : ( : (
Been sorting through boxes, and boxes...of things that Peg's Michael...brought.
Both, Peg's...and Michael's Mom, Jerri's...things.
oh my.
Also, so many boxes, from the Estate Sales.
oh my.
That little Rabbit Hole, is gonna be Layered...Beyond, Layers.
Holy Smokes!
There are Folk's...I Know...who would Love to come, and help...
but...
not yet.
: )
I've got to get the 'Bones'...set, first.
Sitting for so many years, has been tuff...on the little Rabbit Hole.
It's difficult to be there.
but...
in some ways, it's also been comforting.
{until...I see The Water. : ( : ( : ( }
Spent much of yesterday going over legal documents.
oh...my.
They're always...enlightening.
Always.
; )
Above, and below...are the Front, Greenhouse's Entry, and floor...Sunday.
It's creeping closer...to the front door.
: (
Back Greenhouse.
We NEED Our Ditches Back.
Yesterday was my Mom's Birthday.
<3
Rose Marie.
February 21, 1920 - March 20, 2014.
She would've been 102.
<3
Miss Her.
Miss...Mom's Amazing... Genuine... Boisterous Laugh!!!
<3
Somehow...even on the Worst Days, sadly...there were many, over her last...several years, of life...
I could get her Laughing.
: ) : ) : )
That...was The Best.
The...Best.
<3 <3 <3
{I remember...at one of Mom's Dr. appointments, I got Mom, and Sister, Chery...Laughing So Hard, and Loud...
the Nurse, poked her head in the room, and told us to "Quiet Down...Please!"
Hahahahaha!
Well...you can Imagine, what happened next.
We ALL BURST OUT LAUGHING!!!
Dang!
It Couldn't Be Helped!!!
<3
It Simply...Could NOT!!
<3
: )
Peg, was that way...too.
Oh my.
; )
We'd be workin' down the rabbit hole, so...damned Exhausted.
Then...Something would be said...or...Done, and We'd Both...be Raising The Roof, with Laughter.
<3 <3 <3
Peg...would laugh So Hard...she'd be CRYING!
Couldn't Speak!!
Hahahahahaha!!!!
{Reminded me of Dad, he'd Laugh...until he Cried...and, nope...he couldn't Say a Word...to save his neck!! Hahahahahaha!!!}
: ) : ) : )
That's...Priceless.
<3
I...miss that.
Too many miles, with too...little... smiles,
around here....for too long.
Headin' to The Rabbit Hole.
More images, hopefully...tonight.
Love to Ya.
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
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