Monday, July 31, 2023
Keep Rowin'!!
Spent this morning on the phone... with 'Experts'.
; )
This never ending 'Journey'... has taught me so much, that I never would've learned 'before'.
{or... had the 'need' to 'know', without it. ; ) }
Grateful for the Knowledgeable Professionals out there.
<3
Grateful... for Lisa, our Forever... Insurance Agent.
That Girl!!
<3
She's a Sharp One!!
: )
{Told her, after I Thanked Her... for her Help... Once Again...
that, I... sure wouldn't want to be an 'Insurance Agent' These Days.}
: (
{Nightmare}
: (
I've often wondered, over the last several years... how Insurance Companies will be able to survive.
: (
When you wonder why rate's are going up... simply, turn on the News.
To me, it's always seemed like selling 'Insurance'... and covering losses...
is a lot like Gambling.
The 'Odds' have turned Sharply.
: (
All any of us can do... is....
Keep Rowin'!!
: ) : ) : )
The below image was taken several years ago.
<3
It popped up, today.
<3
<3
Miss. Scarlett, and that Amazing... little sharpening stone, I bought from Pal, Lyle... the 'last' time we visited.
<3
Sound... advice.
; )
Stumbled across the above, a few days ago.
I, tend to beat myself up a Lot... these days...
for Trusting those, I... shouldn't have.
: (
That's my Dad... in me, I guess.
<3
Damn It!! I could Always See It, when Dad was being taken advantage of.
I'd Get So Angry... with The Losers, that... Dad... somehow, always found some 'good' in.
You have No Idea... how I tried to tell him, show him... how incredibly Dirty, they were.
Dad, was so easy goin'...
<3
He... could never see it.
: (
I... 'See' it.
Saw it...
and, feel incredibly Foolish, for not Standing Taller, long ago.
Angry... too.
very.
Those Cracks... on the Ceiling... and Walls, have opened my eyes.
Heartbreaking.
Getting back to work... on a Living Estate Sale, tomorrow.
Stay Tuned.
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Sunday, July 30, 2023
Face to Face.
Discovered a very, sad... and ugly thing, yesterday morning, as I was rushing to The Rabbit Hole, to meet with Folks.
I looked up, as I was heading up the stairs, and noticed what I thought... was a spider web.
Grabbed the broom... to quickly knock it down...
but, to my horror, it wasn't a spider's web.
It was a Crack.
A Huge... Long, Crack... in the ceiling.
: ( : ( : (
It's on the East side, {Highway 151 side}
Then... spotted another, on the East side, of the addition, on the north end.
My Heart... Sank.
: (
Since the Highway 151/Fairfax Bike Trail Project, this house Shakes.
Especially... when Semis roll by.
{I know which loads are 'Heavy'... don't need a scale}
Guess... House's are much like people.
You get beaten long enough... eventually... you're probably gonna Crack.
Sent an e-mail to our Lawyer... sounds like I'm going to have to hire an engineer.
: (
Never Ending...
Pal, Steph... called me shortly after the 'Folks' left.
We hadn't visited for a long time.
I was sitting beside the Fish Trough, at The Rabbit Hole.
Steph asked me what's been goin' on...
I... uh, Melted.
: ( : ( : (
Sobbing.
: (
{I... 'Cracked'... a little, too. : ( }
<3
Steph walked over... after she was done at work.
{Steph's Store, {Frond Design Studios'} is about a quarter of a mile away from The Rabbit Hole.}
We sat under John's Old Oak... and visited.
Took Steph through the House... and showed her the cracks.
: (
{ I was going to write about it yesterday afternoon, but... knew better.
I...was too Crushed, too raw, to write about it.}
<3
Miss. Peanut.
Steph... knows better than most anyone, what This... Room... means to me.
; )
It's been the One Place, I could find Shelter, and lock the world outside.
The 'Wrongful' IDOT/Fairfax... messes, hadn't touched it.
now...
it appears, it has.
: (
Have to hire an engineer.
: (
{and... Never Look Up, in this room, again.}
Friend, Jodi...was telling me today... about her horrific ordeal with IDOT, not long ago.
: (
She had so much damage to her Home... from the recent Highway 30 Construction.
When she pointed the issues out, to IDOT...
well... they basically laughed at her.
: (
Told Jodi, I... sadly, learned... a lot, back in the 1990's, with our First...
IDOT
Condemnation,
here.
: ( : ( : (
you have to take
'Before' Pictures.
Many... Many... Many...
'Before' images.
otherwise...
They'll laugh at you... and walk away.
: (
Again...
Rule #1.
{when going against Iowa Department of Transportation...}
Don't talk to them.
{I, initially tried to, both times. What a MISTAKE.
'I' was...
the
'IDIOT'.}
Rule #2.
Get a Lawyer.
The Best... You can Find.
; )
{You're gonna Need One.
The IDOT... has unlimited resources...
Lawyers, and Engineers at their disposal, 'We' are paying for.}
Rule #3.
Capture 'Before' 'During' and 'After' Images.
Videos.
Record Everything.
Everything.
Every Conversation...
Every Meeting...
Every Step.
how incredibly...
sad.
: (
What I find... so laughable...
{SAD!!!}
had...
IDOT simply....
Not Intentionally Breached... our Recorded Settlement Agreement, that our
Amazing Lawyer negotiated, and finalized... with IDOT...
I, wouldn't be in a pool of tears, far too often.
: (
The heartbreaking damages... keep mounting, day after day....after day.
: ( : ( : (
It's time I start knocking on doors.
{If our Amazing... Lawyer approves.
That's actually Rule #1. Listen To Your Lawyer.}
This is an Election year.
It's Time... some of the Folk's who are 'Handling', 'Distributing'...
IDOT's Funds, 'See'... how 'Our' Money is being Spent.
I want to Visit with Them...
Face to Face.
Eye to Eye.
Documents in Hand.
Not... through an 'e-mail'.
So Grateful... for Steph.
: )
<3
Yesterday... was a very, very... very...
Bad Day.
: (
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
{Sadly... it appears to me, 'Law' and 'Recorded Agreements' Mean Nothing to
The Iowa Department of Transportation.}
uh... oh.
Saturday, July 29, 2023
I Will.
Sat under John's Old... Oak, this morning...
Sipped on 'Robert's' Coffee.
: )
It was Such a Beautiful... Early... Morning.
<3
: )
A Huge Storm, Blew through... last night.
{I, slept through most of it.
Not MUCH...can 'Move' me, after dealing So Long...
with IDOT, and Fairfax, Iowa, City Hall.
; )
bless their hearts}
<3
Me, and Miss. Peanut... sure enjoyed the Temperature Change, this... early morning.
<3
Had some Dear... Folks, visit... The Rabbit Hole, this morning.
<3
{With this 'Heat'... I'm only open by 'appointment'. ; ) }
Took a Long Stroll... Early, Early... this morning, around the property.
: )
Captured... many 'interesting' images.
: (
Captured... a couple, that... Rattled my Cage.
: (...............
{Uh... Oh. : ( }
Love to Ya...
Prayers... for All.
Barb C.
Friday, July 28, 2023
'Mad Hatter'... 'Ditch Witch'. Hmmmm. ?
Was up Bright...and Early, this Beautiful July Morning!!
{Knew... I'd Better Be! It's gonna get Warm... today.}
Sat under John's Old Oak... sippin' my Mornin' Brew, with
Miss. Peanut.
<3
I was wearing a light top, and jeans... when we stepped out the door, to my surprise...
it was kind of 'chilly'... had to throw on a flannel.
{Not for long. : ) By 8 a.m. it was warming up.}
It's so quiet here... just after Dawn.
: )
The Bird's... are Singing so Happily.
<3
Gave Everything a Big Drink...
It's supposed to get up to around a 100, today.
Peg's Turtle, always makes me smile.
: )
Peg...would get so Blue... in the Winter.
She'd say... "I'm like a 'Turtle'!!! I NEED SUN on My Shell!!"
<3 <3 <3
I bought the Tennis Shoe wearing Turtle, for Peg... Long Ago, from Neighbor, Randy.
: )
After Peg Passed... away, her Husband, Michael... gave The Turtle... back to me.
<3
<3
Grabbed the loppers, and started trimming, while it was still cool.
: )
The Wild Grape... had Completely Swallowed Up... The Little Blue Horse!!
Oh Dear!!
: )
Yes...
Miss. Peanut Loves It... when I sit outside with her.
<3
I, Love It... Too.
: )
Used to sit outside...nearly every morning, 'before'.
There's something... so Wonderful about the Break of Day.
'New Beginnings'.
<3
Captured many images, and videos... yesterday mornin'.
One... was So Funny!!
Hahahahahahaha!!
: )
A Young Man... stopped his Truck, and asked me if he could 'Pose' for a 'Picture'.
Told him... "Sure!!"
; )
When he pulled away from the corner of West Cemetery Road, and 151, I noticed he was pulling a trailer, that said "Ditch Witch"... on it.
Hahahahahahaha!!!
Perfect!!!
I've always considered myself, as kind of a 'Mad Hatter'... but,
these last few years, after livin' in a 'Ditch', maybe...
I'm more of a 'Ditch Witch'!!!
Hahahahahaha!!
So Fittin'!!!
{I'll try to post that video, above. It's a short one, it may not 'Go'.}
Yeah...
; )
Looking at this Ongoing... Never Ending... Wrongful, Memory, well...
somehow, I don't believe... anyone has to be an engineer, or...
have a Crystal Ball...
to see what's going to 'Happen'... here.
oh my.
: (
Hahahahahaha!!!
Yes... Indeed.
; )
{Where The Hell... is my 'Handbasket'??}
: )
Signed the Contract for a Living Estate Sale, yesterday.
It's got Some Great Things on It!!
Stay Tuned!!!
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{Helper, Brandon...stopped by yesterday morning.
He was here, to help Justin!!!
DANG IT!!
: (
So Much for 'Resting' All Week!!
{That Kid doesn't Listen.... any Better than our Other 'Children'!!}
GADS!!!
So Grateful... he's doing better.
Brandon's face was all skinned up, and bruised.
: (
'Heat Stroke'... is Nothing to Take Lightly!!
Dang!!!}
Stay Cool... Out There.
<3
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Pretty Mornin'.
or...
'Pictures'.
Some say... 'they' say a Thousand Words.
'Simply'.
That Google Earth...
: )
It's The Best.
; )
<3
{Spy... in The Sky : ) and... on The Ground. : ) }
'Askew'???
sorry, I sure cant 'see' it.
Not For a Long... Long, Shot.
{in my opinion. ; ) }
Took a Stroll... this morning.
{Drainage... next to our Barn?? hmmmmmm. }
What a Lovely, Lovely... Morning.
: )
Stay Cool... Everyone!!
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Above.
Memory from Today.
3 years.
Basement is Still Gutted.
😞
Thanks...
IDOT
{Iowa Department of Transportation}
District 6, and Fairfax, Iowa...
'City Hall'.
All for a Suicide Trial.
Wow.
Just....
Wow.
Bless... your hearts.
still...
Waiting.
IDOT.
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Early... July Morn, Down The Rabbit Hole.
Gonna get 'warm', again... today.
Took a Stroll... to The Rabbit Hole, early, before it gets Cookin'.
; )
Early Mornings... are So BEAUTIFUL!!
<3
Gave Everything... a Big, Healthy... Drink of Water.
<3
It's Insanely... Beautiful... there.
at least, it is... to me.
: )
The Wild Grapevine, Bittersweet... Sweet Annie, Queen Anne's Lace...
Morning Glories, Hosta... yes, They've Placed a Beautiful...
Gnarly, Unruly...
'Cloak'
around The Rabbit Hole.
: )
couldn't bear to be There, without it.
From Highway 151, just a 'step' away, now...
this is what you'd see, of The Rabbit Hole.
: )
{Probably not good for 'Business'. but, Good for my Soul.
Not looking forward to the first Frost, when it takes The Cloak... away.}
The Sweet Annie, grows Volunteer, all Over.
<3
I harvest it, in the late Fall.
It's Scent is Intoxicating.
<3
I dry it, and use it throughout our Home... and Rabbit Hole.
<3
You'd Never Know...
just on the other side of the Queen Anne's Lace... and Wall, of Wild Grape, there's a
'Suicide' Trail, next to an Insane Highway.
; )
{The Noise... is Beyond, ugly... but, somehow... I can shut that off, if I can't 'See' it. }
Sat under John's Old Oak, this mornin'... sippin' some Really Great Coffee, that came from Robert's Estate.
; )
Had to Smile.
; )
Noticed... something, I hadn't... before.
; )
Took many, many... images.
I'll probably capture a few videos, in the very near future.
You... won't see them, for awhile.
'Josey Wales'... will.
: )
I'll share them, with You... when I can.
: )
; )
Oh..... my.
; )
Sometimes... ya just... uh, Have... ta Laugh.
: )
Oh... dear.
Last night's 'Supper'...
under John's Old... Oak.
; )
I've been eating 'Junk'... for the last several weeks, while working on the Estate Sale, in Marion.
: (
No time, or too... tired, to shop for Real Food.
Mother Hubbard's Cupboard's were bare.
So was the fridge.
{No Worries... Miss. Peanut, and Baby Cat... had Plenty of Grub!! ; ) }
Finally, went grocery shoppin', and brought Home, some of The Good Stuff.
; )
Yesterday afternoon... cut up a Watermelon... and Pineapple,
threw in a few Cherries, Strawberries... and Tiny Cucumbers, with 'em.
: )
Shrimp, Spinach...Red Onion... Mushrooms, Peppers, Tomatoes...
a little Seasoned Cheese...
Grilled up, a little Sourdough Bread, with a 'sprinkle' of Garlic.
: )
{A LOT of Garlic... and Dill. ; ) }
: )
then...
Seasoned The Hell... out of It All.
; )
'Real Food'
<3
Yeah...
Boy.
; )
Hope Everyone Stays Cool... Today.
; )
I'm spending the rest of this day... cleaning House.
Plenty to DO!!
: )
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{It's funny... how some people think it costs a lot of money, to eat 'The Real Deal'.
'Junk'... is far more costly.
We pay dearly... for 'convenience', on so many levels.
Price a 5 Pound bag of potatoes compared to an 8 ounce bag of potato chips.
; )
Nearly... the same price.
Price... Cut up Veggies, and Fruit, compared to Whole.
We Need 'Home Skills'... back, in School.
Better yet, We Need Home Skills... at 'Home'.}
; )
{my 'Rant'... for this Hot... July, Day... in Iowa.}
<3
; )
So Grateful... Mom, grew up during the Great Depression.
She... Knew How To Cook!!
and, how to Shop.}
<3
Posted Mom's Favorite Tune, above...
thinking about her, so much... this morning.
<3
It appears...
while I was taking Care, of my Mom... and Family,
Fairfax, and Iowa Department of Transportation...
{IDOT}
were making 'Plans' of Their Own.
Those 'Public Records'... don't lie.
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
'Late July'... in Iowa, is Best Taken before Noon, or After Dusk.
Found my way to The Rabbit Hole, early... this morning.
Gave the Flowers a Drink... and, filled up The Fish's Trough, with Cool...
Water.
<3
Another... Toasty Day.
'Victoria Regina
60 Years
1897'
Victoria's Crown... flips back, to expose her Ink Well.
She's Silverplate... I, found her interesting.
: )
The grooves in her tray... are to hold Fountain Pens.
Another 'World'.
: )
The above... is a 'Snow Bird'.
Cast Iron.
Would've mounted on a roof, over a doorway, to keep ice, and snow... diverting it...
from falling on heads
This one... probably dates from the late 1800's, early 1900's.
It would make a Cool Shelf, or... Hook, inside... these days.
; )
Worn... Velvet.
: )
<3
LOVE... Victorian, Worn Velvet Boxes!
{Worn... Velvet... Anything. ; ) <3 }
Was Done... for this day, by Noon.
The early morning... was Lovely, by... 11, workin'... outside, I'd had enough.
; )
I don't run the 'Air' in the house, or vehicles... because I don't want to get acclimated to 'Air'.
The Rabbit Hole, doesn't have 'Air'.
Used to, but... not since the Greenhouse's arrived.
The House... stays pretty cool.
Cool enough... for me.
The new side, John built, stays very nice.
It's floor is set 4 feet under ground, so... it naturally stays cooler.
It has 16 foot ceilings, and is HEAVILY Insulated.
but...
Not for John. He couldn't take the heat.
We always ran the air... when he was here.
John had a heat stroke, 25 year's ago... or, so.
Once that happens, it's difficult to tolerate the heat again.
That brings me to Helper, Brandon.
Brandon helped me yesterday morning.
Little Justin, and Brandon... helped move brush... until about 2.
When Brandon left, we were all 'done', for the day.
It was gettin' Toasty.
Told Brandon, to go home... cool off, and put his feet up.
; )
He...didn't.
: (
Brandon... unloaded brush, went on, helped his Friend... move some Huge Logs... then, hung out laundry, for his Mom... until around 6, last night.
While Brandon was hanging the laundry, he went down.
Made it to his kitchen... where he went down, again... face first.
Gratefully, his Family was there... called an ambulance...
Brandon had a heat stroke.
: ( : ( : (
Brandon is Home... but, oh Lord...
I kinda scolded him, with his 'news'... this morning.
Told him to 'Stay Inside. Watch Movies... Push the Fluids... {Water!!} and Don't You Dare, do Anything, the rest of the week... for Anyone!!'
{Brandon... is a Worker Bee. He Hates... sittin' around.
By God... He'd Better, this week.}
Told Brandon... about John, and how after he went down, the same way... he couldn't tolerate 'Heat', after.
The Boys, don't understand how drinking 'water', is So Important.
They think 'Pop'... is the same thing.
It's not.
Water... Water... Water.
and...
not pushing so Hard... when it's HOT.
: )
Rest... now and then.
Find... Shade, now, and then.
Quit... for the Day, when you've had Enough.
Know...
when It's
'Enough'.
<3
I was going to have The Rabbit Hole Open... this week.
Nope.
: )
I can be Open... from 7 a.m. 'til Noon... for anyone who wants to slide by, but...
After 'Noon', nope.
Not this week.
; )
I feel for those who are on 'RAGBRAI',
riding their Bikes... across the entire State...of Iowa, this week.
oh... my.
Doesn't sound like much 'Fun'... to me.
; )
I have Friends who go every year.
: )
They get up early, pedal fast... while it's cool, then... camp, and Party... throughout the Heat of each Day.
; )
that...
might... be 'doable'.
: )
Maybe.
; )
{Nope...
I'm Still...
'Out'.
: ) : ) : )
I... can think of Several Things, I'd Love to Do...
Late July, in Iowa.
; )
Pedaling across the State, on a Bike, ain't one of 'em.
; )
Never Has Been!! }
: )
{Wish Them All.... The Very Best... Tho!! <3 }
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
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