George Strait - You Know Me Better Than That

Dreams...and Schemes.

I gotta Fly, this morning...

but, wanted to post the below images before I took on The Day.

: )

I'll NEVER... forget that Day...

 A Dozen, or More... Years Ago.

Hahahahaha!!

Pal, Mark... had been at an Auction, where he bought several pieces of Concrete.

Mark thought they were right up my alley.

He was Correct.

: )

Filled the Little Ford Ranger, {before we had The Flatbed Ford}

I 'had' to call John, ask him to bring Another Truck.

Had to get All of my purchases OUT, that afternoon.

{Eeeeeek!! : ) }

John, brought another Truck.

<3

He was Not Happy... having to 'Get Involved'.

: )

John said... "I thought we were gonna stop buying this Heavy Shit."

Hahahahahaha!!

{He Knew Me... Better Than That!! <3}

Mark, and John are standing with The Fountain... that Patti, and Dale.. have now.

<3

John helped me deliver it, too. oh my...

: )

I'll never forget... John, Dale.. and me, Struggling with that Heavy Bottom Bowl!!

Patti was so worried about us all.

: )

We Got 'er!!

: )

It's Perfect, at Patti, and Dale's...

Perfect.

<3

: )

<3 <3 

I'm Sure... John told Mark to STOP Calling Me, when He Finds This Heavy...

'Shit'.

Hahahahahahahaha!!!

: )

So... True.

Love to Ya...

Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

Friend Patti's Beauty. Near Marengo, Iowa.

Lovely Visit... with Dear Friend... Patti.

Yesterday afternoon...

Finally....

made my way to visit...  Friend, Patti, at her Home.

<3

{Owner of 'Fern Hill' South Amana, Iowa.}

We've been TRYING to get together... sit down, take in The Beauty... together, forever.

: )

Her Fountain has been on the frits, wish I could've gotten there sooner.

It's Torture... watching a 'Silent' Fountain.

: (

It's Singin' Now!!

: )

We sat outside, on her Beautiful Deck.... enjoyed the Fountain... Birds, Critters...

'Nature'.

<3

Her late Husband, Dale... built the deck... he built, most Everything... there.

Amazing.

<3

I captured a short video, a 'Snippet', of Patti... and Dale's little slice of Heaven.

<3

It's posted above.

Patti, and I... sat on the deck, Hummingbirds... Buzzin' by our heads, as we counted our Blessings, and... the difficult times, too.

Then... Patti took me to one of her New... Favorite, 'Restaurants',

'Lizzie's Dining Car & Caboose Bar', in nearby Marengo, Iowa.

: )

It was So Cool!!

We had a Lovely... Time!!

: )

then, as we were leaving Marengo... spotted a little Ice Cream Shop, that had just opened.

; )

THAT... was My Treat.

<3

: )

Me, and Patti... go Way Back.

20, 25 years.

We've been through a lot... over the last couple of decades...

Together.

: )

When I look around, at Patti, and Dale's... I see so many Memories.

<3

Dale, and Patti... got all of the Amazing Windows, from me.

{Few... would see the potential in Those 'Amazing' Windows... ; ) an 'Artist' Would, and Did. }

Dale... Painstakingly put them all together, and built an Incredible Greenhouse, for Patti... with them.

They are Iron Framed, Heavy... but, will withstand a Whole Bunch.

Rescued them, after the Cedar Rapids '08 Flood. They were Too Beautiful... to scrap. <3}

Dale, marveled at John's work, when we were building. 

<3

He... was inspired by John's work.

John... learned as he went along, with my crazy ideas.

: )

John would Always... 'Figure It Out'.

<3

{I Knew... if I could Dream It, John... Could Build It. 

Took me a while to convince John, of that. ; ) He called himself a 'wood butcher'}

 yeah... Not So Much. <3 John, was a Magic Man. }

That's Exactly... what Dale did.

: )

'Figure it Out'

Git'er Done.

: )

Our Men... didn't set out as 'Home Builders', or... 'Landscapers'.

Both... Dale, and John... were Hard Working Men. 

Worked So Hard, to take care of their Families.

<3

: )

Patti, and Me... Knew Better.

<3

They were Both 'Artists'.

Amazing... Gifted... Artists.

We knew... they could

 Master Anything... They Put Their Minds To.

and...

They

Did.

: )

<3

I've known a Lot... of People, over my life...

It's pretty easy for me to pick out an 'Artist', in a crowd.

; )

The funny thing, about a True 'Artist'... They... will be the Last One, to understand... They are one.

: (

They can't 'See'... Their Beautiful Potential.

Their... Amazing 'Gifts'.

: (

It's Up to Us... who can Dream It... but, not make our hands, minds... master, 

to...

Praise Those, who Can Do Both.

<3

We Need These Amazing....

 too often, dismissed...

 'Artists'

 in 

This World.

<3

Because...

'They'

Carry Us.

<3

Big Sun...

in the rearview door mirror, leaving Patti's.

Big Smoke, too.

So Sad.

Love to Ya...

Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

Gordon Lightfoot " If You Could Read My Mind" - Lyrics

Smoke on The Water.

Smoke...

Everywhere.

Wow.

Had to make a Mad Dash... yesterday morning, to pick up a tiered concrete fountain...

before meeting with a Client's Daughter, concerning an Estate Sale.

When I walked outside, thought... it was just Summer Haze... in the air.

Turns out... it was Smoke, from the Fires in Canada.

Wow.

Can't Imagine what it must be like in Canada.

: (

Terrible!

So Sad!!

: (

Pal, Bill... met me at the Client's Husband's Shop.

We visited with her Daughter, Katie.

Went through the building, and equipment.

I'll have more details, hopefully... by Saturday.

When we parted, invited Katie to have lunch with me, at one of my Favorite Places.

Edith Lucielle's, on Mt. Vernon Road, in Cedar Rapids.

We had such a nice visit.

Her Dad... sadly, passed away, last November, quite suddenly.

They were a very close Family.

<3

Enjoyed hearing all about her Dad, and the wonderful times they shared.

Her Dad... was a Cool Cat. 

: )

Looking at his Shop... seeing what he collected, and enjoyed working with, along with Katie's memories, helped us get to know him... in his absence.

I would've liked to have known him.

I'd bet... we have many people in common, in the same circle.

Listening to Katie, and visiting with her Mom, the other day... oh my.

Way too many parallels.

It was late afternoon, when I got Home.

Was supposed to meet with Pal, Patti... but, I was too weary.

Drained.

We're meeting this afternoon, instead.

: )

A Friend, called late, last night...

we visited for a long time.

Her life... is turned Upside Down, these days.

'Silly Silo'

: (

but... looking at her situation, over the years, I Truly believe, this upheaval, 

in her life... seems Crazy, now...

but, things will start to straighten out.

: )

Sometimes... it takes a Long Time, to get to the 'Beginning'.

'New Beginning'.

Sometimes... I think... people stay in unhappy situations, for a long time... because it's easier to keep in the routine.

I can't see that as being healthy, for anyone concerned.

I watched someone I Loved Dearly, go through a similar situation.

She walked away from it... but, then... went back.

She told me that she felt she'd made a 'Promise'... and was bound to keep it.

She paid a heavy price, staying.

: (

My heart is still... so very sad, for her...

when I think about it.

I would never give anyone advise, about 'staying' or 'leaving'... a situation.

I just wish everyone ...

'Happiness'.

'Contentment'.

'Love'.

Folk's need to figure out what that means to them, on their own, in their own time.

I will... say this,

Life... is So Incredibly Short, to not experience some level of the above.

Love to Ya...

Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

It Is... What It Is.

{Wrote this post, this morning.

Didn't post it.

Had to leave Quickly, at a Dead Run, before I could finish it.

It was a Long Day, as... I'd expected, this morning.

'Longer'... than I thought, it would most likely be.

I'll write about 'This Day', tomorrow. 

Decided to post, what I'd written this morning, anyway.

'As Found'.

Nearly... deleted it all, tonight... but, decided, it is... what it is.}

Indeed.

<3

New Day.

It's Gotta Be.

Gotta Be.

oh...my.

Visited with a Dear Friend, yesterday afternoon... 

who is struggling.

We talked about her issues... my, issues... tried to sort through them, little by little.

She said... "We have to learn to accept things we cannot change."

Why... is it...when I'm told that... do I get so Angry???

Gads!!!

: (

She said... "Barb, why is it... I faithfully hand things over to the Lord, then...

take them back?"

I had no answer... because, I do The Very Same Thing!!!

Gads!!!

Meeting with many Folks, today.

It's going to be a busy one.

Hopefully... I can be of some help... to them.

I do appreciate the anonymous commenter for coming forward.

: )

I read the comments, but don't usually respond to them, on Blogger.

If I have a phone number, I will sometimes call, or text a response.

If... they're anonymous, I can't.

Today... I'm gonna try to figure out how... to 'deal'... with 'frustrations'.

; )

A Different Way, to 'Deal'. 

For the last, many... many... years, I feel like 'Alice', when she's falling down the rabbit hole.

Life... for the most part... has been like a vortex, a 'Silly Silo'... amusement park...ride.

My Dear... Friend, from yesterday... is on a very similar 'Ride'.

So Many... Are, it seems.

: (

The Truth Is...

There's Beauty All Around Us!!

Good People!!

Great People...

<3

So Many Blessings!!

So Much... to be Grateful...for.

I may look for another job.

Something... I can do at night. 

Find Something... to keep my mind busy, and... be helpful, to others.

Not give the 'frustrations'... so much of my time, and energy.

There are many, many... things in life, we can't change.

The weather... illnesses, death, the hearts of others.... are a few.

I accept those things, it's painful... to accept those things, but... I accept them.

I...struggle, with the man made, deliberate, intentional... 'doings', that I believe can be changed, and should be.

I believe... in time, many things... can be changed. However, if we all 'accept' them, they won't be changed.

Patience towards 'man made' 'doings'... has never been my long-suit. 

We all, at some time, have 'Trauma'... in our lives.

Some deal with it... much better, than others.

I Admire... Those People... who walk through Trauma, so Gracefully.

: )

<3

I've got to figure this out, how to manage these 'frustrations'... or they'll take me down completely.

Maybe... I'll start doin' Yoga.

: )

I've been told, it's a Good Thing.

: )

Love to Ya...

Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

 

Linda Ronstadt - Silver Threads And Golden Needles

Pretty... Pretty.

Just unloaded the Pretty...

Pretty...

Garden Table, this late afternoon.

: )

Worked up a sweat doin' it.

; )

It's Kinda Sultry... this Evening.

Whew!!

: )

It's a little over 7 feet long, and...

Gratefully...

Cast Aluminum. 

: )

{That was the First Thing... I asked Blake, about the table.

"Is it Cast Iron, or... Cast Aluminum?"

: )

It is Heavy... but, if it were Iron...

: ) 

We'd need a Crane!!}

; )

{Not a 'Deal-Breaker', if we needed a Crane, by any means. : )

 I, uh... tend to buy things, am attracted to 'Things'...

 by The Pound. 

The Heavier... The Better. ; ) }

I've never seen another... like it.

Asked Blake where it came from, what It's... Story... was.

He didn't know.

Said... it's been standing beside The Barn... for as long as he could remember.

{Blake's Family... has owned their Farm, near Rowley, Iowa... for 160 years. WOW!!}

I'd guess the Pretty Table, dates from the later 1900's.

: )

LOVE It's Surface.

<3

It has Lichen growing on it.

: )

Love...Love...Love...

Anything, that has Lichen... Growing on It!!

: )

{Love It Better... When It's 'Pretty', Too!!}

<3

It's All... about The Details.

; )

{and... 'The Journey'. ; ) }

While Dancing with the Pretty Table, 

Carefully... carefully.... 

maneuvering it... off of The Ford...

oh...dear.

{'Cast'... Anything, will break like Glass if not handled correctly.}

well... being a 'Scrap Man's Daughter'...

; )

was calculating how much the Pretty Table would be worth...

over The Scales, for Scrap.

???

{Plenty!!}

{No Worries... the Pretty Table, if I have any say about it, won't See...

'The Scales'.}

<3

It's Heavy.

but...

It's....

'Pretty, Pretty'.

<3

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

{This Pretty Table, has a Celtic Feel, to it. It's design, to me... Feels 'Irish'.

: )

If I didn't have The Most Amazing... Soulful... Harvest Table, in the House... 

I'd bring 'Pretty... Pretty' inside, and use it for our Dining Table.

; )

LOVE IT!!

{It's like... 'Cast'... Irish Linen. Insanely Beautiful. }

Jason Aldean - Rearview Town (Music Video)

Away...

Didn't know where 'The Road' was going to lead... today.

but, before I left Home...

grabbed my old Bridle.

: )

{maybe... I, uh.... kinda.... knew. : ) }

I've had the 'Bit'... of that Bridle, since I was a teen.

The headstall's have changed... over the years, but... not the 'Bit'.

<3

 I don't like climbing on a Horse... any Horse, without it.

<3

: )

Me, and The Ford... went to visit Son, Justin... and his Family.

<3

<3 

Miss. Willow... rode her little bike, to the back pasture, at Son, Justin's,

 where me, Jun-Bug... and Romeo, were playin'.

: )

Loved.. seeing the mud, on her little foot.

<3

Children, in my opinion... should Always... 

have a little

'Mud'... on their feet.

: ) 

Always.
<3

Romeo, is a bit of a Pistol... but, oh my...

He Loves These Children.

<3

They let Romeo... do what he wants...

Romeo, just walks... when they ride him.

<3

Priceless.

<3

<3

<3

Before I left, Justin's... me... and Miss. Meadow...visited.

Told her how much I love the 'scent' of a Horse.

; )

Meadow, said... "I know what you mean, Grandma. : ) I like the 'smell' of Cows, too."

: )

Told Meadow, I...too... love the scent of Cattle.

; )

then...

asked Meadow.. which 'scent' she, preferred.

: )

Horses or Cows.

???

; )

Meadow's reply...

"oh, Grandma... like you, I like the Horse's 'smell'... best."

: )

<3

After leaving The Kids, and Romeo... this afternoon, went to pick up an Amazing... Garden Table.

: )

The young Man, who had it.... also Loves 'Fords'.

; )

{Who Knew?? : ) }

He liked 'The Ford', was impressed by it.

; )

I...was Impressed... by All of His Ford Trucks!!

: )

We visited for a Long... Time!!

; )

Told 'Blake', that he, and our Son, Justin... and Son in Law, Adam... could be Best Pals!!!

; )

Blake's Family Farm, is very 'Rural'.

; )

Rural..

Rowley, Iowa.

; )

GPS got me to Blake's Farm... but, knew... there was a shorter way, 'Home'.

I asked Blake for directions... when we parted.

He said... 
"See that grove of trees...

 just past them... there's a blacktop road, take a right... it'll take you into Walker."

; )

{My... Kind of 'Directions'. ; ) }

and...

my... 'old' Stomping Grounds, when I was little.

'Horse Sales'.

; )

Walker, Iowa... Sale Barn.

<3

I... 'grew up', there.

Fond Memories.

Very.

: )

Great Day...

Away....

 from

 'Fairfax', and 'IDOT'.

Bless their hearts.

Love to Ya...

Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

Alison Krauss - Stars

Riddles.

Met with some very nice Folks... yesterday morning.

: )

It was pretty toasty. 

Decided to close early. 

but... sat in the shade, by the fountain... and listened to the Sparrows.

The Milkweed, is beginning to bloom.

: )

The Flowers Peg planted... so many years ago, now...

are Blooming.

<3

Should've been weeding, I guess...

 but... oh well.

; )

The volunteer Wild Cherry Tree, was Full of the little Sparrows, that live in the old Martin Houses.

<3

They were chirping so loud... they nearly drowned out the 151 traffic noise.

Those little Sparrows, make me smile.

They're very friendly.

<3

It cooled off a little, and rained... a little, as I was 'Bird Watching'. 

I... sat in the rain, it was so welcomed.

Read my post from last night, when I got up this morning.

I... had a little too much wine, last night.

Made myself a promise, a while back...

I wouldn't mix wine... with 'Fairfax' anger.

Only sip wine... on Happy Occasions.

; )

I've been failing that 'promise'... miserably.

: (

When I read about... the 'Creek'...and 'Drainage Ditch', this morning...

it made me think of the riddle, in Alice in Wonderland...

"Why is a Raven like a Writing Desk?"

: )

I gotta tell Ya... 'Life'... is quite a 'Riddle'.

at least... it is here, in Fairfax.

{Somehow... I believe it is for Many.}

Received a call from a Lady... who needs help, in a Hurry, yesterday.

Got ahold of Pal, Bill... we're going to see what we can do, to help her liquidate her late Husband's things.

My... heart just broke... for her, while listening to her story.

It... sounded way too familiar.

: (

So many...

parallels.

So many.

: (

She's got to have his things out of the shop where her Husband worked, by mid July.

If... we can help her, it will be a Real FLASH... Sale.

We're meeting with her Daughter, on Tuesday.

I... assured the Lady... we'll either help her, or... give her direction... on how to figure it all out.

 Climbin' in The Ford... and Driving, today.

Don't know where I'm headed, but... 

Away... 

from

 Fairfax.

 

Love to Ya...

Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

Fairfax, Iowa...

May God...Bless their hearts.

This Night...

I'm a little angry.

Still.

; )

There's something, I believe, that differentiates a 'Creek', from a  'drainage ditch'.

???

but...what do I know. 

Answer to the 'anonymous' commenter.

Had someone comment concerning the Cameras, at Fairfax, Iowa City Hall.

I'm posting the video, Below... of the meeting on April 11, 2023, where... the council was 'discussing' them, again.

{Watch the timestamp, at least, from 19:00 through 24:00}

That's been Fairfax's pattern, for years.

Lots of discussion, concerning 'cameras', but no action.

Fairfax should have had them much, much...earlier, but during Covid, they Really should've made cameras Top Priority.

Newly elected councilman, Tom Nurre, brought them up, early last Spring, {2022}

'Crickets'... was all I heard for a long, long... time, after, concerning Cameras.

Like always.

Well... we didn't get a camera... until after Jo Ann Beer became Mayor.

She Made It Priority One.

Jo Ann Believes in Transparency. 

so... council, can say all they want, about whose idea it was, in my opinion, they'd Still... be 'discussing' cameras.

{Had to chuckle... at the Prices City Hall was coming up with, for a 'camera'... 35,000. 40,000.

Hmmmm. }

Yes, I'm grateful Tom Nurre, was on board, but... when you watch the below video, you'll see very plainly, who Wasn't. 

Tom Nurre was asking about them, over a year ago.

{I've been asking... for Years.}

Nothing 'Happened'... until Jo Ann Made It Happen.

Hope that helps the 'anonymous' commenter. 

{Dan Wozniak is a concerned Citizen, who brought his own equipment in, every month. He, gratefully recorded most meetings. 

: )

My phone... can only record for about 20 minutes, so, I only recorded my conversations, with council, and Fairfax's Hired... engineer. }

 

For the record, I have a feeling, it was Daughter, Liz... who Sparked Tom Nurres concerns about a 'camera'.

; )

<3 <3 <3 

Finally.

Finally.

: )

<3

Fairfax, IA - City Council Meeting - April 11th, 2023

We... should All, be careful... about what we 'Wish' for.

There's so much... more.

Sadly. 

I was just thinking, as I worked in the rabbit hole, yesterday...

I don't have Photographer's stop by, anymore... and do photoshoots for Graduates with the '49 Ford, anymore. 

Used to have Many. 

Many. 

💔

Guess I'm not the only one who's having difficulty finding the beauty, here... since IDOT'S Fairfax project. 

{Those 'Wish Lists'... will come back to haunt ya. ; ) }

Bless their hearts.

I'm a little angry.

Most, have No Idea, I Pray...

<3

'You'...

 Never... will have to undergo, this Kind of Wrongfulness.

: (

Grateful...

for an 

Amazing Lawyer.

He Hates Liars... 

as Much as I do.

; )

Oh... Dear. 

Bless Their Hearts. 

; )

{won't talk about 'Rotting In Hell'... while writing this. }

oh... my.

: )

'Bless Their Heart's'.

<3 <3 <3 

So Grateful.. for Jo Ann. 

{Don't ask... about Bernie, our Prior Mayor, or... certain Fairfax, Iowa... 'City Council' members. }

In my opinion.... who...Should Have Stepped DOWN.}

Bless her heart.

{Ya wonder Why... It Drops me, to 'Attend'... these 'meetings', in my opinion... 

'Shit Show', 'Council Meetings'.

Well... These People... Hold Our Lives... in the balance.

They...

Shouldn't.

in, my opinion.

Watch the Videos... 

You...

Decide.}

; )

Deleted the dirty words. 

Doesn't mean I'm not thinking them. 

Pushing 7 years of this crap. 

Garbage.

Wrongfulness. 

When I was at the meeting with Fairfax's hired engineer, oh my. 

😉

I should post the videos of the many Prior meetings, before Fairfax had their camera. 

Refresh some memories. 

Marty Robbins - Dont Worry

Merle Haggard - My Favorite Memory

Merle Haggard doing impersonations (Marty, Hank Snow, Buck, Cash)

Merle Haggard & Marty Robbins Devil Woman Live

City of Fairfax, Iowa City Council Meeting 06 13 2023

but... What do I... know?

Worked in a tiny corner... of the rabbit hole, today.

Gutted it, swept... got the screw-gun hummin'.... 

then...

filled it up, again.

: )

It was pretty toasty, today.

Don't have 'air' in the rabbit hole.

Used to, before the Greenhouses went up.

It, surprisingly... stays fairly cool, without it, most of the day. 

I'll get to the rabbit hole, early... tomorrow, while it's still kinda cool, get the Shop-Vac, hummin'.

Worked in the yard... this morning, before it got Cookin'.

Little, by little... I'm holdin' The Gnarliness... kinda back, oh my.

Crazy...Crazy... Wild, 'Insanity'.

; )

Didn't put the 'Open' sign out, today.

So Much... to get done.

Always is, I suppose.

; )

Tried not to think about 'City Hall'... today.

Not easy.

Watching that last meeting, {June, 13, 2023} seeing someone else... being treated so wrongly, in my opinion, oh my.

Sounds like he has a Lawyer.

; )

He's gonna Need One.

'City Hall's' 'Word'... doesn't mean much, it seems, even to some of The Longest Living... in Fairfax, Citizens.

Prominent... Citizens.

The council can break a promise with a 'thought', it appears.

Especially... when they are looking out for a family member, or... an employer, or...

'both', in this circumstance... it appears.

It'll be interesting, how this 'Battle' plays out.

Another... Battle, for Fairfax.

: (

None of This... is on Fairfax's New Mayor, Jo Ann Beer.

Everything... that's coming down the pipeline... rests squarely, it appears, on the video...

on

 The Council.

People should watch it... for themselves....

from about 20:10 to 43:18.

There's a lot... to hear, in those 23 minutes.

oh my.

Maybe... someone else would have a different opinion.

{many things a council member said, during the meeting....

 well... I believe, he's mistaken. 

; )

I... believe, it will be pretty easy to prove. 

I'm... guessing it will be, disproved... knowing who they are picking on now. }

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{Had I attended this meeting, I believe... I would've asked, how Much... IDOT took, along the front of their properties... on 151, that Used to be Drainage???

a 

'Ditch'.

Hmmmmm?

The Man they're picking on now, has been here, in Fairfax... longer than Everyone, that's complaining.

So have Other's... they are Now... complaining about.

Hmmmmm??? 

It was Good To Hear... Councilman Daly... have such an Understanding about his employer's/father in law's.... Flooding Drive, on 151 with the water, snow... and ice melt. 

Seems... we have That... in common.

; )

39:40 to 43:13  timestamp... from the June 13, 2023, Fairfax, Iowa... City Council Meeting, are quite interesting... 'moments'... in my opinion...

but, 

what do I know? }

I'm gonna post that meeting video, above... again.

; )

{Thanks... So Much, to Madam Mayor, Jo Ann Beer... for Pushing Cameras Through, So Quickly after she was elected.

Transparency...

is

Everything.}

<3

I'm listening to Marty Robbins, and Merle, tonight.

They make me Smile.

<3

It's been a Long Day.

; )

It's been... Many, Many... Long Days.

<3