Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Wine on Ice. The Party's Over.


The Party... with Fairfax's Mayor... Hired Engineer... 
and Josey Wales, 
is over.

This one, anyway.
Thanks so much to Neighbor, Jay... and Pal, Steph... for joining us.
: )
Was So Grateful...  Josey Wales could attend this meeting.
Oh...dear.

This Mess... Never Ending Mess....
 gets me riled.
 Lord, Lord.
: (

Charles... {Josey Wales} has a very interesting 'way'... of getting to the point, and cuttin' through the insanity.
; )
Grateful he's on my side.
Incredibly.
{He's got Quite a Memory. WOW!!}

Mayor Beer, is doing her Best.
Grateful... for her, too.
: )
She's got her Hands Full.
: (
She walked into a Hot Mess... with Fairfax, City Hall.
: (
I PRAY She get's re-elected this November!!
She's Fair.
: )
{Probably got a little short with her, too. : (
 I'm a little Raw, when it comes to Trails... Bridges, IDOT, and...Fairfax.}

Sparred with the hired engineer, under John's Old Oak... maybe, a little more than I should've... but, some things, need to be said, and addressed.
Put out on The Table.
There's been Too Much, that 'shouldn't'... in Fairfax... over the years.
Too Much.

Back to Work... tomorrow.
Back... to
 The
Old Souls.
<3
The
Rabbit Hole.
<3

There will be many more of these...
'Parties'... I'm sure, before we can call it a night.

Never should've had to be this way.
: (

So Grateful... for The Real Bridges, over troubled water.


Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Beetlejuice - Day-o (Banana Boat Song)

{For The Record} Oh... my.


Loved that Old... Book.
; )

Reminded me of the movie, 'Beetlejuice'.
: )

Tweaked my back, yesterday.
: (
Walking like I have a Steel Rod up my Spine... today.
Couldn't load furniture, today.
Re-scheduled consignments... for Thursday mornin'.
; )
Hopefully... I'll have my back, back... by then.
: )

Meeting with Fairfax's Mayor, and Hired... Engineer, tomorrow afternoon, concerning the condemnation of more of our land, to replace the 25 foot bridge by Scout's Pasture....
 that's Served Fairfax... Well...  for over a hundred years, it's Carried Semis... Farm Tractors, Wagons... a few hundred vehicles a day... at best...
 that, now... Fairfax's Hired Engineer, believes should be designed, by his firm... the same size as the Highway 151 Bridge, that carries 13,000, to 15,000... a day.
140 feet, or so... long, and... MUCH Wider, and Much Taller... to accommodate a Bike Trail... Above, and Below.
hmmmmm.
???
{'Josey Wales'... will be present, as well.} 
: )
Grateful.

Spent a lot of time... today, going over documents, and videos.
Takin' notes.
: )
Spent some time... visiting with IDOT.
{Iowa Department of Transportation}
The Des Moines... 'Version'.
{Not... District 6.}
: )
So... Enjoy speaking with IDOT Folks... who don't 'know' me. 
<3 
They are Gems. Straight Shooters.
<3
Reminded... the IDOT Rep, today...
It wasn't the tiny, little 100, plus... year old bridge over DD #1 by Scout's pasture that collapsed with the Flood of 2014. It was the Highway 151 Bridge, built and designed by IDOT.

All I've ever asked from IDOT, and Fairfax... is The Truth.
Seems, so simple.

oh...
my.
: )

Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

{It was Great seeing Wanda, and Terry... this morning.
 <3
They... are Very Special Folks. }
<3

{For the record, we didn't request this 'meeting' with Fairfax.
The Mayor, and Fairfax's Hired Engineer... did.}
; )


Monday, August 28, 2023

Indianapolis, 1968: Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King and a historic cal...

Indeed.

Indeed.
<3

Rascal Flatts - Stand

Hint of Fall. Changing Seasons.


Felt the first... tiny hint of Fall, this morning... when I let Miss. Peanut outside.
Welcoming... and, a little not.


Not quite ready to let Summer go.

Walked through the House... with a dust rag, started wiping things down...a bit.
Knocked down a few cobwebs. Very... few.
Mostly... just reminisced.
With a New Season... on the horizon, been doing some Soul Searchin'. 
Plan Makin'. 

This Fall... is going to be a Busy, Busy... one.

Meetings, appointments... concerning Fairfax, and IDOT.
{never ending}

Fall Harvest Sale, Here... at The Rabbit Hole, will be 
September 28, 29 30... & October 1.
{Picking up several consignments... for that, this week.}

We're workin' on an Estate Sale, that will be October 5, 6, 7...& 8.
It will be in Cedar Rapids.

Looking at an Estate Sale, that... if we take it... will be held in late November.
It's about 70 miles from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Junk Jubilee Jingles, at The Fairgrounds in Des Moines, November 10, 11... & 12.

Then... The Holidays, kick in.

Set the date for The Anamosa Antique & Vintage Market, in Anamosa, Iowa.
January 21st. 2024, at The Lawrence Community Center.


 Been Chewin' on many things... lately.
Feelin' like it's time... for a Change.
; )
Guess... Life... is kinda like Iowa.
Sweltering 104, one day...
then, 
40 below zero, in a matter of a few months.
: )
Constant... 
Change.


Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

{Finished the above post, a little after noon, today. 
I've been kinda struggling. oh my.
Then... Pal, Darleen, sent the below.
<3 
It was Exactly what I Needed Today!!
She's an Angel.}
<3 

Thanks Darleen!!
God Bless... YOU!!
<3 


Sunday, August 27, 2023

PATSY CLINE - COME ON IN

'Come As You Are'


Helper, Brandon... and me, worked a lot longer yesterday, on trimming, than we'd anticipated.
We got into a Battle with a Massive Grapevine, by the side door of the House.
 I'd weed whipped, DEEPLY.
Skinned the side brick walk, deeply.
It was so incredibly overgrown.
Couldn't hardly see the brick.
{We don't use chemicals of any kind, so... it gets a bit Shaggy, around here.
 But... The Critter's Love It!}
Brandon mowed, and helped pick up brush.
: )

That Grapevine... was a Mess.
Brandon forgot his chainsaw... so, I asked him to run to the shop... and grab Justin's Sawzall.
We worked on the Grapevine... for a long time.
The Vine... at it's base was over three inches in diameter, in Masses.
Huge.
Brandon thought the electric Sawzall might work better, so... he grabbed it.
Plugged it in, into the outlet, by the side door.
When he plugged it in... Sparks Flew!!
Oh...dear, the cord had a bad spot.
That....was That.
{So... I thought. }

We got the Grapevine cut down to size... but, it's still there.
We got a lot accomplished, but... burned up a lot of the day.
It was around 3:00... when we quit.

No time to get to the store... to grocery shop... before going to Allyson's.
but... enough time to stop...and pick up produce... and snacks, to take.
I was FILTHY.
Sweaty...
It was So... Dusty!!



Had to get cleaned up... 
was going to check on something, quick... online, I'd been pondering about... as I worked outside, before I bugged out.

When I turned on my laptop... it told me we had no internet.
???
Had it in the morning.
???
So... I did all sorts of troubleshooting.
Nothing.
: (
Finally... called South Slope, our Carrier.
Got a Very... Patient Rep!!
; )
We walked through everything... I'd already done, then.......
he asked me to go to the basement, where their box is located.
: ( : ( : (

I don't like going to the basement, since it flooded, because of IDOT, and... still is sitting unfinished, in a HUGE MESS.
: (
The Rep... wanted me to check for power, at the fuse box, and where their box is located.
It's So Dark... and Cobwebby. 
Can't get to the bulb in that room, because boxes are stacked... right where ServPro left them... 3 years ago, when it flooded.
: (



The Rep kept asking me to simply flip breakers.
I...kept telling him, it wasn't that easy.
This is on the 'old' side of the House.
It's not just breakers... it's Fuses.
I Know Nothing About Fuses.
Don't like Messing with Electricity... Computers... or, being in the basement.
: (

Turns out, when the Sawzall sparked, it knocked out the outlet, only... for the Box, for our Carrier.
: (
It took me, and the Kind, Patient... South Slope Rep... a Long, Hot... Very Complicated Time, to get the internet back on.
{Temporarily}

By... then, I was done.
: (

Sat down... 
Called Allyson, and said...
"I'm so sorry if you've already got the food done, but... Girl, I'm Done, for this day. I'd be very bad, and smelly... company. Plus... my mind, is pretty much Fried, for today."
: (
I could hear the disappointment in Allyson's voice.
: (

Then...  Allyson said,

"Just... Come As You Are!!! Don't Bring Anything!! Just Bring Yourself!!"
<3 <3 <3 

: )

Dusted off my boots, stopped at Casey's...
grabbed a bottle of Wine, and 'Sugar'... for Allyson, and her Sweet Sis, Bethany!!
<3
: )
{Not what I'd had in mind. }




 I was soooo Whipped, on so many levels.
Dang It!!


Allyson's Home.
: )
Allyson, Bethany... and their Sweet Mom, share Allyson's Home.
Along with Many Happy Kitties!!
<3

What a WONDERFUL... Evening!!
Bethany created an AWESOME Frozen Blended Wine Drink for us!!
: )


Took one of my Favorite Christmas Ornaments, to Allyson.
<3
She Does 'Christmas' 'Big'... Too!
<3

 It's Always Great... to Visit Allyson's!!
The Table... above, John made into a Harvest Table.
It was originally an 1800's Pool Table.
When I bought it, it had no top.
John created the Top... from old lumber, and cut the stretcher's out, on the ends, and sides... to accommodate chairs.
It's Amazing.
<3


Visited all of the Wonderful... Old... Cupboard's, Allyson found down The Rabbit Hole, over the decades.
<3


Allyson, said...
"There's a Lot of 'Barb'... here."
 <3
The Cupboards... John's Tin Creations.
Oh...My.
It's Always Such a Gift, seeing Them, and The Girls.
<3
{ Asked Allyson what was in All of Those Sacks????
"Fall Decorations."
Hahahahaha!!!
: )
Love It!!}
<3


Allyson prepared an Amazing Meal, for Us.
<3


Salmon... Salad.
<3

The Green Bean's were to Die For!!
Everything Was!!
; )


Fresh...
Bourbon Pecan Pie.
Lord!! Lord!!!
: )
Allyson Loves to Cook and Bake!!
; ) : ) : )

We sat out on the deck... after Supper.
 Visited... Solved All of The World's Problems.
; )


Got a Kick out of all of the Kitties that Flocked around Bethany... when she fed them.
<3 <3 <3 



So glad... I didn't stay Home last night.
{Woulda melted into a Pool of Goo. Was nearly, already there before I left.}
What a Blessing, to have Such Dear Friends, that Love Ya...
even when you're...
Dirty, Tired... Smelly, and Mentally 'Fried'.
<3
: )

Grateful.
<3

Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Saturday, August 26, 2023

Kenny Chesney - Anything But Mine (Official Video)

Beautiful Saturday Mornin' in Iowa!!


Was up at 3 a.m. to let Miss. Peanut outside....
Oh My Gosh!!
The First Time in Days...
It was Much Cooler Outside, than it was in the House.
<3 <3 <3 
Just stood in the doorway, and fanned the Cool Air Inside!!!
: )

Climbed into a Cool... bath, this morning, and Soaked The World Away!!
 Was going to head to the grocery store... first thing...
we're Out of Everything.
: )
but...
Helper, Brandon, just called... he'd like to mow today, instead of Monday.
So Much Trimming to get done, so...
We'll trim until Noon, then... he can Mow, I'll head on to the store.
{Asked Brandon to bring his chainsaw. It's gotten Completely Out of Hand... around here.
Been Gone Too Long!! }

Pal, Allyson... invited me to her Home... for Supper, tonight.
; )
She picked up some sweet potatoes for me, on her recent trip to Georgia.
: )
I'll take a bottle of wine, and... some Sweet Corn.
{Sadly, Sweet Corn Season, will be coming to an end, shortly. Where... has 'Summer' Gone???}
Maybe... I'll take a few Tomatoes... Cucumbers... Cheese, and make a Tray, to snack on.
: )

{Better take something 'Sweet'...too. : ) After all, Allyson is our 'Sugar Girl'!! ; ) }




Colored my hair, when I was at Gold Rush.
Nothin' else to do... in the evenings, there... anymore.
Sure Miss Michael's.
Miss, so Much...and So... Many, there.

It's not the same.... anymore.
Grateful... for the Good 'Times'... we had there, over the years.
Great Memories.
<3

I was lookin' like a Red Headed Skunk.
: )
{That Gray!! Oh My!!}
The color... turned out a little more RED...than I'd anticipated.
Hahahahahaha!!!
Was hoping, some of it would tone down, with the shampoo... this morning.
Yeah...
Not So Much.
: )

The Good News...
That Gray...Is GONE!!
WHEW!!!
Hahahahahahaha!!!
: )
Yeah... Boy!!
: )
{for a bit. 
It'll be Back. : ( }

It Is... What It... Is!!!
; )

Better Get Crackin'!!
Brandon will be here any minute.

Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Friday, August 25, 2023

You've Got A Friend In Me - Randy Newman (Toy Story Edition)

Updated... Charlie's Barn Sale!! 1809 150th. Street West Point, Iowa!! 8/25 thru 9/4!! 8 a.m. 'til 6 p.m. Daily!!


Pal, Charlie... is Having His Labor Day Barn Sale!!!
: )

Pal, Charlie... 
: )
The above image was taken a few years ago.
Absolutely Adore... Charlie!!

He Always finds the Gnarliest Things!!
{I've Hauled some LOADS out of Charlie's Barn Sale, over The Years!!}
I never miss his Sale!!
: )
Haven't made it there, this year, so Charlie sent images of his Barn Sale, yesterday.
: )
I can't answer any questions, about availability... Folk's will simply have to make the Trip, like I always did... before hand held devices were even a thought.
; )
Yes... I've known Charlie, a Long... Long... Time.
: )

There are MANY Sales on the way to Charlie's... from the North, heading South, on 218!!
Many in Small Towns, and in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
FUN!! FUN!!
: )

Charlie's Sale... is Always a GAS!!
; )
Two Barns are FULL INSIDE, as Well!!


Charlie has Treasures...
EVERYWHERE!!!
Be Prepared to Dig!!
: )

Wear Your Grubbies... and Bring a TRUCK!!!
; ) : ) : ) 


Thursday, August 24, 2023

Little Texas Kick a Little

At the end of the day... Every Day.


Sometimes, we have to Stand Back. 
Straighten our 'Tiaras'...
: )
smile,
 and continue to Fight like Hell.
; )


<3
Priceless.
: )


<3

It's All... about 
'The Journey'.
; )
Some things never change.

Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

Love In The Hot Afternoon

New Orleans... Weather, in Iowa. Sweet Memories.




<3


With the Heat... here, in Iowa... these last few days, brought back Fond Memories of Allyson, and my...
Trip...
to New Orleans, June, 2010.
Wow.
Seems like Yesterday.
<3
{Had to screenshot old blog images this morning.... they... are a little foggy. ; )
 Seems kinda fittin'.}

The Cool... Vintage 'Sculpture'... from Bourbon Street, has resided in my bedroom, since.
Captured the image above, this morning.
: )
I've added a few 'Memories'... to it, over the years.
: )


<3


Above... is one of my Favorite Memories... from our Trip.
{There were... MANY!! : ) }

We were walkin' down Bourbon Street, on a Very... Hot Day.
{Like Iowa... in July, August...and early September. <3 }
I'd purchased a Very Cool... Old Lamp, and Shade... at a Very...Cool Shop.
We stopped to pick it up, after lunch.
I was barefooted, shoes... in one hand, Cool Refreshing Beverage... in the other, : )
 and... wore the Gnarly, Fringed... Lampshade, on my head...
as Allyson, carried the Lamp, on our stroll back to 
The Mansion, in The French Quarter, we were staying.
: )

We were walkin'... kinda slow.
; )
A Man... came up behind us, at a fast pace....
when he got around us, he... stopped, turned around...
 and said...
"Baby Girl... I was gonna tell ya how much I 'Like Your HAT'!!!....
until...
I saw Her...
 carrying The Lamp!!!"

Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
: ) : ) : )

LOVED New Orleans!!!
<3 <3 <3 
So Grateful... Allyson invited me, along.
<3
We've Sure had some Great Times!!!
<3
: )



Friends... sent me the above!!
<3 <3 <3 
We're Crazy in Iowa... Too!!
: )
<3


Bourbon Street.
<3


So OLD!!!
So GOOD!!
<3
You can FEEL... The HISTORY!!
<3


We stayed at The Nottoway Plantation, on our way to New Orleans.
<3
Had Full Run, of The Entire Mansion... on our Stay.!!
It was INSANE!!
<3
Beautiful!!
We sipped Mint Juleps, at Nottoway's Tavern, inside The Mansion.
<3

These Hot... Iowa Days, brought back some Wonderful Memories, today.
; )


Cajun Martini...
at K-Paul's.
; )
oh...dear.
: )

I'll NEVER Forget that Cajun Martini, or...
The Oyster Po-Boy, at K-Paul's.
: )
{Neither will Allyson!! ; ) 
Hahahahahahaha!!!
'FIRE!!' : )}

Hope Y'all Stay Cool, Wherever You Are!!
: )

Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

{Love New Orleans... and It's Wonderful People. }
<3 <3 <3 

{Posted my Favorite 'New Orleans', 'Bourbon Street'... Tune, above. Loved it when it first came out, in the mid 1970's. Didn't know the meaning of it, but... 'Bourbon Street' sounded like a Cool Place, through Gene Watson. 
Thought about that Tune, as we walked through The French Quarter, and down Bourbon Street.
There's a mysterious, soulful... Energy, in The French Quarter. 
It's seen So Many People, over So Many Years.
Incredibly Diverse, Accepting.... and, Welcoming.
Remembered, as we walked... {with Much Older... eyes.} looking up, at the rooms, in the Historic Buildings, on Bourbon Street... and wondering... where The Songwriters came up with that Tune.

Songwriters, Vince Matthews, and Kent Westbury...
 wrote quite a Story.
Poetry... Set to Tune.

Remember... sharing all of the Stories, from that Trip, with John.
<3
I, So... wanted John to see New Orleans, and The Gulf.
He would've Loved It, too.
 : )
We ran out of time. }




Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Miranda Lambert - Heart Like Mine

Stayin' Put.


This week was going to be Insane...
but, when I saw the weather forecast...
decided, this wasn't the week to be hauling loads, lugging big furniture...
 driving hundreds of miles... 
oh my.
: )
Too... Hot.
If I hadn't worked in the heat so much... over the weekend, and... if things were time sensitive... would've made it All happen, no matter.
{work... early, early... mornings... only.}
; )

Touched base with my many 'Appointments', yesterday.
They All Totally... Understood.
<3
: )

When the heat gets up over 100, well... my body, and The Old... Ford Family, prefer to stay put.
: )
Just... as we do, when it's 20 below zero, in Iowa... in January.
; )

If we don't HAVE to Go...
we stay put.
; )

The sweet 'Heart' necklace... 
came from Gold Rush.
<3
Best 1.00 I ever spent.
<3
: )
It's not anything 'precious', just... costume.
: )
It's Precious... to me.
; )

Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.

Barb C. 
{Next Week... is going to be Insane. oh...my. ; ) }

1983 Barb.
: )
 I miss that Girl, sometimes. 
: )
oh... dear.
<3
Black Leather Jacket...
and, Bib... Overalls.
: )
Guess, some things, never change.
: )
<3

'Simply... Iowa'