Saturday, December 31, 2022
Merry Christmas From The Family.
Word's can not describe...
this...
'Christmas/New Year's Eve', Day.
truly.
; )
I don't have images, because... I, uh...was incredibly BUSY.
: )
If anything could go wrong, it most certainly did.
: )
About an hour in... to our Christmas/New Year's Eve Day... Celebration, in my head, decided...
"This will be our Last...
Christmas/New Year's Eve Day... Celebration, Ever."
Done.
: )
then...
The Grandkid's... stepped in.
: )
'Tricks'... and 'Wonder'...
took The Helm... of This Ship.
oh...my.
: ) : ) : )
Between the 'microwave', 'crock pot'...and my AMAZING... Old Cookstove, we pulled it off.
<3
Our Family...
has been wrongfully dragged through Hell, this year, and sadly...far longer.
So Many Have.
Those who have, will... Totally, understand.
; )
<3
<3
Love...
The Christmas Present Liz gave me.
: )
<3
SpongeBob... is My Pal.
<3
The Kid's, all outgrew him, I...never have.
<3
We need More 'SpongeBob's', in this old world, in my opinion.
: )
Miss. Peanut, was a Wreck, with all of the commotion...today.
: (
She's not used to so many Visitors.
<3
Finally... Peanut settled down.
: )
then...
Peanut scouted out every Toy, the Grandkid's left unattended,
and....
annihilated them, one by one,
instantaneously.
oh...dear.
{Peanut, is pretty Quick, for a Blind...Pitbull. <3 <3 <3}
Merry Christmas...
From The Family.
<3
Miss. Peanut, is Exhausted, this New Year's Eve/Christmas.
: )
She's seen enough.
; )
Me Too.
<3
Feliz Navidad.
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
: )
Friday, December 30, 2022
Family.
It was a Crazy...Day, but...sure ended Great!!
<3
: )
When Billy comes back to Iowa, he always looks up his old...Auntie, Barbie.
; )
{Yeah...few get by with calling me 'Barbie'. ; ) Billy, is One of Them. <3 }
<3
We had such a Lovely...Visit.
<3
Billy Treated Me, to Supper.
<3
We talked about his Mom, my Sister, Jo Ann.
<3
but... mostly talked about Billy's Grandpa.
My Dad.
<3
We...Both Loved Him So!!
<3
Dad... was a 'Big Fish', in so many ways.
: )
Quite a 'Character'.
; )
oh....my.
<3
I've said it before... and I'll say it again.
Billy, is a Lawyer, in DC.
<3
I'm So Proud of Him!!!
<3
Dad, Would Be, Too!!
Told Billy that, again...this evening.
Can't Say It...Enough!!
<3
: )
What a Lovely End, to such an Insane Day.
: )
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{Told Billy, every time we meet, I post the Jo Dee Messina Tune, above.
"I'm Alright".
<3
It's Perfect!
; )
<3 <3 <3 }
I believe that's what me, and Billy respected about my Dad, and his Grandfather.
He... was Always, 'Alright', no matter where he was at.
<3
Big...Fish.
<3
; )
The Year of The Rabbit.
Daughter, Liz... texted me a bit ago, said...
"2023 is the Year of The Rabbit."
My sign is The Rabbit, on the Chinese Zodiac.
Water Rabbit, to be specific...this year, the same as the year I was born.
; )
<3
This Day... started out Insane.
oh my.
The sink...didn't drain, over night.
Called Eric, and gave him the Good News.
oh my.
: (
Texted Pal, Bill... to see if he had a drain snake we could borrow.
He did... Helper, Eric... picked it up at Bill's on his way out this morning.
I'm not gonna get into all of the details... but, the conversation between me, Eric...and Bill, had us All...Rolling on The Floor!!
Sometimes, ya simply have to LAUGH!!!!!!!
Oh my Lord...
Did We Ever!!
: )
We're All...So Danged Shell Shocked, and under so much Pressure, these days...
it's...sometimes, the smallest of things, that hit's your Funny Bone, and....
Ya LOSE IT!!!
LOSE...IT!!!
Hahahahahahaha!!!
Man.
; )
{Felt Good To LAUGH!!: ) }
I wasn't laughing...last night.
I can't blame IDOT for the sink clogging.
but...
getting to the basement pipe, oh yes....I Can Blame Them For.
Nightmare.
When the basement flooded two years ago...because our drain tile was destroyed by IDOT,
ServPro... Gutted our ruined basement.
Toted up Everything, and piled it all in front of the outside wall, where the drain pipe for the kitchen sink, is.
We had to Move Everything, to get to that pipe.
The basement can't be repaired, until this Flooding Issue is Fixed.
It could Happen, again... at any time.
oh yeah...
I wasn't looking forward to That Job, this morning, if the drain was still clogged.
Which... it was.
: (
Then, my Nephew, Billy...from DC, called.
Wanted to get together with his Old...Auntie, today.
oh dear.
Explained to Billy, about trying to get ready for Christmas...tomorrow, with the Kids, and...the Plumbing 'situation'...but, would So Love To Meet with Him, this Evening.
<3
There's no way...I wouldn't find Time, for Billy, before he has to go back.
: )
then...
I hit the bath.
Lord...knows I NEEDED a Bath!
Figured I'd have time, to get that done, before Eric arrived.
I was wrong.
Eric was here...before I knew it.
The GREAT News...
Eric Got Everything Moved and Fixed...before I got my hair dry!!!
Praise GOD!!!
YIPPEE!!!!
: )
I apologized to Eric...for not helping him.
{I'm not much help, when it comes to plumbing, but...sometimes just an extra pair of hands makes things go a little easier. }
What a God-Send... having that mess repaired.
: )
That sink hasn't worked right for two years.
Since the basement flooded.
Now... on to Everything Else.
; )
Looking Forward to 2023.
<3
Happy New Year's Eve...
Eve.
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Thursday, December 29, 2022
Mountain Movin'.
Dear Farmer Friends, popped in today.
<3
It was So Wonderful seeing them.
<3
We moved some Mountains.
<3
We all looked to the North... by The Rabbit Hole, as we were Mountain...Movin', where there Used to be a Ditch, next to Highway 151, before...IDOT Breached our Recorded Agreement, and encroached...deeply, upon us, by taking our drainage away...
for Fairfax's Bike Trail...
smiled....
shook our heads.
oh my.
: (
No...
IDOT District 6 Engineers,
Water...
simply...
does Not, run uphill.
: (
IDOT District 6 Boys, ask Any Farmer, They could tell ya that. : )
{I've always Trusted a Farmer's Knowledge, far more...than any 'engineer', with a 'degree'.
Farmer's have 'Common Sense', 'That'...can't be 'Book Learned'.}
So...could A Farmer's Wife, A Farmer's Grandson....
and...even, an Old...Antique Dealer.
Who...knew?
: (
Everyone understands that, it seems... but IDOT District 6 Engineers, apparently.
I, tried... over, and over...to tell them.
Face to Face... and, in writing.
Deaf Ears.
Blind Eyes.
: (
Just wait... and see what 'happens'...when we get 'The Big Stuff', Boys.
: (
IDOT District 6... has put us in a Basin.
A Basin, that isn't draining any better than the kitchen sink, at this moment.
: (
Helper, Eric... and I have been working on it for hours.
Livin' The Dream.
; )
{Eric just made another Mad Dash... to The Hardware Store. ; ) }
It was a Warm...Lovely... Snow Melting Day, filled with Many Blessings.
: )
We'll get that kitchen sink draining yet.
; )
Quicker....than IDOT District 6, can Fix...this wrongful mess They've left us in, I'm confident.
Won't take me, and Helper, Eric... 'Years'.
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{For the record...
'Drainage' is a BIG DEAL.}
; )
Trust me.
Ask Any Farmer on The Planet. ; ) They'll Tell Ya. ; )
Remembering.
Only have a moment...to post a blog, today.
Busy...Busy.
; )
These two 'memories'...popped up on FB today...the above is from 9 years ago.
: )
The top one, is very fitting for today...but, I posted it back then... thinking about Mom.
<3
She was in the hospital...during that time.
I remember thinking back then... how Mom was a little girl, at one time....and seeing how fragile she was, in her 90's...it was almost, like she was a little girl, again.
I was very protective of my Mother.
<3
Mom...was so grateful for everything I did for her, no...matter how small.
<3
I, knew...how much she depended on me, but, it was my pleasure looking after her.
It truly...was.
<3
There was a time, or two... Mom...pushed me nearly, over the edge, but...then, I remembered, Mom wasn't the same person I knew growing up.
: )
She...was, much...like a little girl, at times... and I had to remember...the things she was saying to me in her 90's...wasn't what she would've said... a decade, or two...prior.
<3
There are some things coming down the pipeline... in the near future, for myself, when reading the above... this morning, made me think...'Perfect Timing'.
I believe we all...at times... forget to protect that Little Person, we once were, and still are, in some respects.
It's important.
: )
The Above... Cracked Me Up!!!
Oh My Gosh!!
: )
I remember sending that Phone, to my Pal, Ed.
I don't give Gifts to my Friend's... every year.
Only... if I happen to Find, The Perfect Gift, will I give it.
: )
That Phone... was Too Perfect!!
: )
I Knew... Ed, and Michael, would Roar!!
{and... They Did...Too!! ; ) }
I've met some Wonderful People, throughout my life, through our Mutual...
'Love, of 'Old'.
Blessings.
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{The top post was just 9 years ago. Thought it was 11. That was just months before we lost both, Mom...and John. Life can truly change in the blink of an eye. }
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Simple.
Time is running out... on 2022, very quickly.
What a Year.
The Kid's are coming here... New Year's Eve, to celebrate Christmas.
I...don't have a Thing ready.
Heading to the stores...today, to pick up who knows what.
: )
Making a list... because I know...I'll get to the stores, they'll be crazy...I'll get back Home, and realize...I'd forgotten what I had initially went there for.
oh my.
; )
Have more cards to put out...for The Anamosa Antique, and Vintage Market... that will be in late January.
When I set the booth, there... I always set for Spring.
: )
That, too... will be here, before we know it.
<3
I have no idea... what to prepare for New Year's Eve.
For some reason...this year, just can't seem to wrap my head around it.
The Kids, all...have everything, so... couldn't begin to get them something, they don't already have, want...or, desire.
That's a Blessing....not a complaint.
Liz called, yesterday... told me to just keep it 'simple'.
That's a tall order, when it comes to 'Christmas'.
maybe... I'll give it a try...this time.
Finger food, snacks... ham, I don't know.
Oyster Stew...has always been a Tradition...in our Family.
Mom...made The Best.
<3
Friend's are picking up a Huge... Beautiful Piece, tomorrow.
Grandson, Justin... scooped the snow away from it, this morning.
<3
Hopefully... with the warmer weather...it won't be frozen down, by tomorrow mid day.
I do need to clean house...a bit, and... try to make a list.
Keep coming up blank.
{cat litter...
furnace filters...
well... those are Two things.
; ) }
Just thought of the below quote.
: )
Indeed.
<3
{Needed to have That one, cross my mind, about Now. ; ) }
Justin's Pal, Eric...is coming tomorrow, to fix the kitchen sink's drain.
It'll be nice having that working again.
Better get to it.
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Yes I Can. Yes...We Can.
Seriously.
This...is Ridiculous.
Winter.....
in Iowa.
; )
I haven't stepped outside, since The Blizzard, last week.
It was Absolutely...Beautiful...today.
<3
; )
Didn't enjoy knocking all of the snow...off of Jethro, but...
enjoyed...
Spinnin' a Donut, or...two, in the still... unplowed areas.
; )
God Created The Ford Mustang with Unplowed {Private}Roads...in mind.
: )
Fun.
Fun.
: )
Fun.
; )
On Christmas Day... was Missing someone.
: )
He always calls me, on Christmas...and, every Birthday.
Has for over 40 years.
Pal, Skip.
: )
We met each other through our Dads.
They...were Junk Men, Scrappers.
Skip, worked with his Dad, I...worked with mine.
It was Always...a Competition...
between, Skip...
and, myself.
Always.
Who had the Fastest Old Truck.
Who...could Load a Truck...Heavier, and Get It Across The Scales...
Quicker.
; )
It went On, and On.... And On.
Skip Made Me INSANE!!!
: )
I'd ignore Skip....
until, I couldn't.
Then...it was, "ok."
Head Down... Horns Sharpened.
I'm Comin' After Ya!!!
and, I did.
Big Time.
: )
Let's GO!!!
; )
I'd Kick Skip's Truck's, Loads...all over the place.
but, Skip...was The Winner.
: )
He didn't care about 'Winning'. He enjoyed watching me, Kick His Butt!!!
Hahahahaha!!!
{Figured that out...years later. : ) }
Skip...was always like a Brother, to me.
<3
{I understand... Men, don't like to hear that. They really...should think about that.
: )
When...you are backed into a corner, Who...would you rather have at your side.
A 'Wife'?
A 'Girlfriend'?
or...
a
Devoted 'Sister'.
???
; )
<3
My experience with 'Devoted Sisters'....
hahahahaha.
They, aren't anyone...to be Messed With.
<3
When I didn't hear...from Skip, on Christmas...I called him.
: )
He answered his phone...
"Hello, Baby... Merry Christmas."
: )
{I was afraid...Skip wouldn't answer. He's been struggling, this last year.}
I was Overjoyed...to Hear His Voice!!
: )
Skip...said, he's down to 135 pounds.
{Skip...is 6 feet Tall.}
What was my...reply.
" I outweigh You, these days. You know what that means. I can Kick Your Ass, easily.. Left, and Right Arm... Arm Wrestling.
and...
most likely...
Drink Ya... Under The Table."
; )
then...
I burst into tears.
Told Skip.... He'd Better Start Taking Better Care, of Himself.
<3
asked Skip...
{Huge... Mopar/Chevy.... Man}
if...
He'd Lower Himself...into an Old Ford, and...take a Ride, with me, should I swing by...
and...
Travel these wrongful highways... and, just... 'remember'.
: )
Skip... agreed to.
{That's a Big Deal. : ) }
I SO Wanted to Be There..... with Liz, Adam...and Skip, that day.
Sadly...I was sitting in John's Lazy Boy... after a Big Surgery.
That...little tumble, down the basement stairs...had me laid up, for a while.
I'll Never Forget That Birthday.
even...if I couldn't attend.
Priceless.
<3 <3 <3
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Monday, December 26, 2022
No Good Deed... goes unpunished.
: )
Oh...my.
Learned that lesson, today... in Spades.
: )
I'm not gonna get into the details.
That, I've learned...throughout my life...is,
Futile.
: )
The Truth Is... well, exactly...That.
<3
{Can't argue...with The Truth. ; ) Some will try, but...they won't win that argument. }
While visiting with a Friend, today...who was Floored, by how he's been treated...as well, these days...
all I could say, to him...
"People who do 'these' kinda things, make us Appreciate All of The Good People, All...The More."
<3
: )
That's a Fact.
Blessings.
All of 'em.
: )
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
<3
Barb C.
{Some days... Most, Days... I'd rather Drive a Truck. ; ) }
Sunday, December 25, 2022
Merry Christmas.
Christmas... has Arrived.
<3
Spent Christmas Eve... reflecting.
My Sister, Chery... was so on my heart.
<3
I thought of So Many, while sitting by The Tree.
<3
It Truly...Is, a 'Memory Tree'.
Pal, Gail...said... when she popped in, a while back...
"Why don't you leave it up...all year?"
: )
Told her... I couldn't do that.
It...wouldn't be 'Special'... then.
It would be like the old...Clocks.
After a while...you get so used to hearing them...you don't notice them...ticking, or chiming.
That's... kinda sad.
<3
As I wound the Big...old, old... E.N. Welch Regulator Clock...yesterday, thought of Chery.
She was with me, when I bought it.
<3
At that time...Chery knew more about Old Clocks, than I did.
<3
Chery...is the 'One', {along...with Dad} who taught me the 'Love of Old'.
Yes... They are Responsible...for my Addiction to Old.
<3 <3 <3
: )
Out of all of my Siblings, Chery...and I were the closest.
I...loved them all, but... once I grew up, Chery and I were Best Friends.
<3
We talked several times a day, every day.
Chery, and Peg...were so much alike.
They...would've been Best Pals.
<3
{I'm Certain...They Are...now, in Heaven. <3 }
Chery was 21 years older than me, but... our roles reversed over time.
I...was more the Big Sister, as the years passed.
<3
As I was thinking about Chery...last night, two words...came to mind.
'Move On'.
{Chery...like Peg... was Tiny, but...Mighty. <3 They both had a 'way'... of getting me Movin'...
when I needed a Kick in The Seat, a 'Cattle Prod'.}
<3
Chery...always thought, I could do anything...when I set my mind to it.
{I...felt the Same way, about Chery. <3}
She...knows, I'm sure... I need to be setting my mind straight.
: )
Lean...In to The Collar, Take the Bit...in my teeth, and...
Move On.
Guess...this time of year... we all start reflecting, and... make plans, for the New Year.
Chery's been gone...for 19 years.
She went to be with The Lord... December 22, 2003.
Doesn't seem possible.
Maybe...it doesn't seem possible, because... I so often feel her close to me.
<3
Chery...was such a Blessing in my life.
Still...is.
<3
Wishing Everyone, a Very...Merry Christmas, today.
and...
The Happiest New Year.
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Saturday, December 24, 2022
Christmas Eve.
Decided...to stay Home, with Miss. Peanut, this...
Christmas Eve.
<3
Called Allyson, and Johnny... around Noon, today... Thanked Them...for their Invites, but...
The Ford is Buried...in Snow, I...kinda feel like a Slug, and...it's still Dang Cold Outside!!
Hahahahaha!!
: )
Allyson told me the roads getting to her Home...are Not Good, she got stuck...yesterday, in her 4WD.
Thankfully... a Kind Neighbor...pulled her out.
oh...dear.
<3
Told her...if I wasn't feeling so sluggish, I'd Be There...with Bell's On!!
: )
She knows, I would.
So...does Johnny.
: )
Instead...of going out, pulled the little forlorn.... White, Feather Tree out.
It's fallin' apart...{Feathers Everywhere!!! : ) }
but, It deserves to Shine, no matter.
<3
Pulled out some of the old Bottle Brush Trees, and the old Cardboard Village, and set them up...
under the 'Sparse', Feather Tree.
<3
<3
Christmas.
<3 <3 <3
Justin, Liz...and Their Families...will be celebrating 'Christmas', here... on New Year's Eve.
: )
We started doing that...a couple of years ago.
: )
I So...Understand.
Pulling Children away from their Gifts, on Christmas Day, and dragging them out...into the cold, would be a Nightmare.
; )
'Christmas' to me... will always be December 25th.
: )
<3 <3 <3
It's difficult to explain...
but, I gotta tell ya,
There's Something...So Very Magical about It.
<3 <3 <3
Wishing Everyone, a Very...Merry... Magical Christmas Eve!!!
<3 <3 <3
Love...to Each, and Everyone!!
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Friday, December 23, 2022
Christmas Eve.... Eve.
It's been another Cold, Cold... Blizzardy Day.
Me, and Miss. Peanut... stayed inside, bundled up...
watched old movies, and listened to the Wind...Howl.
So Grateful...to be warm, and nestled in.
: )
Thought of Scout, this morning.
This kind of weather...made me crazy, thinking about him...in this kind of 'Cold'.
All...Critters, that are outside.
Scout's stall...was knee high in clean straw, always... but...still...worried about him.
I worked on the kitchen sink's drain...again, this morning.
I...can't get one of the nut's off...without stripping it.
Got the sink drained...but, am leaving it's repair to Son, Justin's Friend, Eric.
He has the proper tools.
The pipe is clogged by the P-trap.
I'm sure he can swing by, sometime...next week.
Until then, I'll go back to the 'Old School'.
; )
Using one of the Big, Old...Ironstone Bowls, for the dishwater...
and, one of the Big...Old, Cast Iron Scotch Bowls, to rinse.
; )
Instant Dry Sink.
; )
{Sweet Memories <3}
There's more than one way to skin a cat.
; )
Allyson invited me to share Christmas Eve Dinner, with her, and her Family.
<3
John's Oldest Son, Johnny, called yesterday...and invited me to share Christmas Eve, with his Family...as well.
<3
Told them both... it depends on the weather.
Johnny said, "Really?? Wasn't that long ago...you'd be Out, and Spinning Donuts, in 'This' Weather."
: )
Yes, indeed, I told...Johnny.
; )
I'd be Spinning Donuts Now.... in a Big Empty Lot, if it wasn't 30 below windchill.
and...
I, LOVE...to Spin Donuts, but....not on The Highway.
; )
It appears there's Plenty of Folks 'Spinning Donuts', on them....today.
: )
I...don't want Any Part...of That.
; )
If I spend Christmas Eve, and Christmas... here, with Miss. Peanut, and...
The Tree,
well...
it'll
Be
Magical.
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
