Thursday, November 30, 2023

Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas Is You (Make My Wish Come True E...

Christmas Spirit.


Picked up a little bottle of AE Eggnog, yesterday.
: )
In my opinion... It's the Best.
; )

That little tiny bottle, has 240 calories 'per serving'.
That little tiny bottle, contains 3 Servings!!!
: )
above is about 1 1/2 servings.
; )

oh...my.
: )

Been searching for 'Christmas', this year...
Eggnog, with...a little Spiced Rum, usually does the Trick.
: )
Normally... I wait to sip on that 'Toddy', until After...
 The Tree is Up.
: )

Helper, Brandon... called this morning, wanted to know if I was Ready... to
put up 'The Tree'.
: )
Brandon, for Some... Insane Reason... actually enjoys helping me put 
'Christmas'...
Up.
: )

Brandon's Mom... doesn't put a Tree up, for Christmas... anymore.
{Too much mess, and fuss... he guesses.}
Brandon... really misses it.
; )

Putting 'Christmas'... Up, here... is messy, and... fussy.
and...
Whole Lotta Work!!
: )
but...
if...
 You're Filled With Christmas Spirit, 
it's not messy, or... fussy.
; )
It's...
MAGICAL!!
<3 <3 <3 

We rarely had a Christmas Tree...  when I was little.

A Christmas Tree... was Priority ONE, when I moved away from Home.

First Christmas Tree... was a tiny... 4 foot Tree, from Target.
{Worked there... when I was 16.}
Target used to sell fully decorated 'Display' Christmas Trees.
I  Admired a 'Special'... Little Tree, every time I worked.
<3
So Hoped... 
It would Still be there...
 when Target started marking 'Holiday'...down, close to Christmas.
<3
Had it's 'cost'... figured down to The Penny...
 with my 10% employee discount.
; )


Don't have that Little Tree, anymore.
It, somehow... got left behind, when I moved here.
: (
but...
have a few...
 of the
 Precious little Horse Ornaments, 
that I Admired So.
 Prayed... 
every day...
 would wait for me,
 in 1979, 
and
 Did.
<3 <3 <3 

Maybe... 
me, and Brandon...
 should pull 'The Tree' out, 
Light It...
and, 
Adorn 
'The Tree'...
with those few.... 
little...
 remaining
 Ornaments, 
from
Christmas...
1979, and Nothing... 
else.
; )

I'm Feelin' It!!
: )
<3 <3 <3 

Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Christmas... 'Done'.

A Friend... stopped by, this afternoon, picked up the
 Lovely pair of Big Garden Urns, I... brought Home, last night.
She'll make 'em Sing...
for
Christmas.
; )
They were painted an old...
Deep...
Red.
They...were Very...
'Yummy'.
<3
{Could've kept 'em... in a Heartbeat. ; ) }

Then... my Friend, and her Daughter... invited me to join them for a late Lunch...
; )
thought about it...
but, decided I'd better sit this one out.
Thanked 'em... and Appreciated the Invite.
<3

Walked inside the house... 
It's so strange not having 'Christmas' Up.

so...
grabbed an old Ornament, from the Cupboard, scrounged up a mess of Vintage Chenille Feather Tree Garland, that was piled... in the Old... Cupboard,
to nest it in... 
inside the box... 
of one of the toy Dump Trucks.
; )


There.

Christmas... 
is 
'Done'.
; )

Oh...
dear.

Guess... I'm havin' 
One of 
'Those'...
Days.
: )

Oh...my.
; )

It's a Beautiful Day...
Outside.
<3
The Sun Is Shinning!!!
We've lost most of the Snow, that came to visit a couple of days ago.

An Incredibly... Beautiful Day.
<3

Haven't listened to much of any...
Christmas Music... yet.
maybe...
That's....
 the problem.
: )

Researched the 1839 Coverlet, a bit... this morning.
It's Weaver... John Royer, was from PA., and... he shares his Family Tree... with 
Rosalynn Carter.
WOW!!!
<3
I've been watching The First Lady's Services, over the last couple of days.
What an Amazing Woman.
<3
So Incredibly Good, and... Kind.
<3 <3 <3 

Today... is Brother, Larry's Birthday.
{Larry James Norenberg}
<3
Larry passed away, suddenly, unexpectedly...
in 2015.

I...Think of Larry, often.
We didn't always 'Understand' one another, but...
when the chip's were down, we both knew...
'who' to call.
; )
We had each other's back.
No Matter.
; )
No Questions.
'Family'.
<3

Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.

Barb C.
 


Wanted to post the above, yesterday.... couldn't find it.
Here It Is.
: )
So... 
True.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Standing Outside the Fire

That's a Fact.

1916
Cedar Rapids, 'Eastern Star'
Pin. 
Love early 'Lodge' pieces. 
Never seen an Iowa Pin. 

<3


<3


<3

Was on The Road, today...
dropping off Cards, for The Anamosa Antique & Vintage Market.
: )

It's ALWAYS 'Trouble'... when I Visit The Most Amazing...
'Antique' Shops, in Iowa.
{GADS!!}
<3
Found some Amazing... Treasures.

 Wont 'picture' most.
: )
They... may, be sold.

My Favorite 'Find'...
today...
was The '1839' 
Woven Coverlet.
<3

'Soulfulness'...
oh...my.
It's the Earliest... Coverlet, I've ever put my hands on.
It's...
Perfect.

How...does 'That' Happen?????

One Hundred... and Eighty Four Years.
; )
oh...
my.
<3
How... has It Survived????
It's Absolutely INCREDIBLE!!!
Gads!!!
<3

When I got Home... started going through messages, FB, stuff...
again, the 
'Memories' popped up.
Seems there were MANY, from 'this' day... over the years.
Below, are a few.
Oh my.

Was reminded... just, yesterday... from a Very Dear Soul, that I'm a bit 'crazy'.
: )
{Wanted to respond... 'It Takes One... to Know... One'. : ) }
all...
I could muster, in reply... was...

"but... Remember,  All of The Best People... Are."
; )

That's a Fact.
; )





<3



; )





Indeed.



That's a Fact.



: (



<3




Fact.



Every Day... of The Week.
; )



Indeed.




INDEED.
INDEED.
<3
INDEED!!!
; )



; )

When I found the Old... 'Calamity Jane' Pin... many years ago, saved it.
; )
Auctioneer's Hate It... 
when people have to search for their Bidding Number.
{I've   ALWAYS... had my  'Bidding Number'... Handy... or, Pinned on me... since I was a Kid, at Auctions.}
 : )
The 'Calamity Jane' Pin... has traveled with me, for many years, to Auctions.
<3
; )

So Many Great Memories, from 'This' Day...
; )

Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.

Barb C.




Monday, November 27, 2023

Michael Bublé - Feeling Good [Official 4K Remastered Music Video]

New Day...

Wound the Old... {1860's} Ogee Clock, with the Winter Scene in it's door glass, this morning.
It took right off.
Haven't wound it.. in a very long time.
Pal,Chicago Ray... brought it to me many years ago.





I've always loved the Ogee Clocks.
They are weight driven.
They remind me of a quote in 'Streams in The Desert'...
"It's the weights in the Old Grandfather Clock... that make it go."
: )
Meaning...we should be Grateful... for the 'weights' in our lives.
They, in the scheme of things, are very necessary.

These...Old, Old... Clocks, I have found over the years... can be so incredibly mistreated, forgotten in attics, that are oven hot...and freezer cold, for decades...
yet...
I've never met a complete Ogee... that didn't take right off, with a winding.
<3
{maybe...a little oil, and setting the beat.}
So Incredibly Resilient.
<3

Done cryin' in my soup... for today, anyway.
: )
I've got shit...to do.
; )


Saw the above... on FB a few days ago.
: )
It's So True.

Looking back, I'd bet... we could All reflect on the Special People, who... have been a Beacon,
in a Storm, throughout this life.

They...
 Far... 
Outshine the 'hollow'... people we meet on our 'Journey'.
They Outnumber... 'em too.
; )
<3

sometimes...
it's difficult to remember, that.

Every day... that we are Blessed to open our eyes...
is an opportunity, to 
Start... New.
Give it another...
Spin.
; )

Love to Ya...
Prayers for ALL.

Barb C.



Sunday, November 26, 2023

Eric Church - Like a Wrecking Ball (Audio)

A little... Snow.


Walked up... on the balcony this morning, and captured a few images of the
 Fresh...
Snow.
<3



John's...Old Oak has a gentle frosting on It's Magnificent Branches.
<3
think... we probably got about 4 inches of Snow.
: )


The Urn...has a Muffin Top, of Snow.
<3
Looks like a Giant Cupcake.
; )

Pal, Allyson called this morning.
She was wondering how Thanksgiving went... here.
She just got back from Japan.
Filled her in on All of the Details, about it, and Everything else.
oh...my.
; )
: (



Told Allyson, how I'm struggling with 'Christmas'... this year.
She... Gets It.
: )
Allyson Knows... The 'Stories'... in their Entirety.
This IDOT... Mess, has her... perplexed, and... sad.
{me too}

Asked Allyson to Tell Me... her 'Story'... of 'Japan'!!
<3
It was So Funny...
one of the First things she said...was,
 "They don't use a lot of 'Sugar' in Japan."

Hahahahahahaha!!!
I Burst Out Laughing!!!
Allyson.... is The 'Sugar' Queen!!
<3
Allyson Loves Her 'Sweets'!!!
<3
: )
Allyson can Sniff out a Bakery, or Candy Store... Better Than The Best Coon Hound...
can
Sniff out a Coon!!!
: ) : ) : )
I'm Talkin' MILES!!!!
 : )
 Somehow... Allyson KNOWS where to Find The Best Form of 'Sugar'...
 when we travel together.
<3
{I kinda have that 'nose', but... for 'Antiques', 'Old Souls'...
: ) 
I Get It!! }
<3 

Told her... "That 'Trip'... Must've Been HELL... for You!!"
: ) : ) : )
Then, she went on... and said how Incredibly Beautiful Japan... was.
<3
Sounds like Allyson, and her Sis... Bethany, had a Great Time!
; )
They Both... Deserve It.
<3

Oh dear...
Had to run to Casey's... a bit ago, to get my Nicotine Fix.
; )
The Young Girl... who was cashiering, asked me... if I live where Scout did.
: )
"I do."
: )
She said... "I just ran across a video, from two years ago... of my little Girl, feeding Scout apples. She Loved Him So."
<3

oh...dear.

I... 
Melted, into a Pool.
: (............
Everything... Came Spilling Out.
EVERYTHING.
: ( : ( : (

Then she had to ask me... if I could possibly bring another Horse, or... a Donkey... 'Home'.
 Everybody Loved Scout... and being able to Visit... Him.
<3

{My hands were trembling.... couldn't shut the 'water' off. 
Couldn't even put my PIN numbers in the card reader.}
: (.................

GADS!!!!
NO!!!
: ( : ( : (
Fairfax... and IDOT, have Made Certain... THAT can Never Happen 'here', ever... again.
If People... around 'here' only Knew... Half of 'The Story'... Oh my Lord.
: (.............

The Girl... used to live on West Cemetery Road...
asked her if she was familiar with the tiny 25 foot West Cemetery Road bridge, that adjoins Scout's Barn, and Pasture.
She was.
Told her... Fairfax, and their Hired Engineer is going to replace it... following the IDOT's Federal Highway 151 Bridge design.
{IDOT is 'Helping' Fairfax Pay for It.}
140 feet long, three, to four times as wide... and Elevating It... to make 'accommodations' for a Bike Trail.
Taking some of Scout's Pasture... and, most likely... his Barn.
 'Death... by a Thousand Cuts'.

The Girl, and another Cashier.... said, "They're trying to get rid of you... sounds like."

If...
If These Folks, could Only Read... the email, texts... and documents, I have... over the last couple years,
that our Saint... of a Lawyer, has unearthed...
oh my.
: (.............

When I ask for Prayers...
and, tell Ya...
'This is Truly a 'David and Goliath' story.'..
please,
Believe It.


Love to Ya...
Prayers for ALL.

Barb C.

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Jason Aldean - The Only Way I Know (Lyric Video)

Snow.


They say...we're gonna get a little Snow, tonight.
Always love the first Snow.
Everything looks so clean.
<3
Both of these images were taken a long time ago.
Dear Friend... Melody Smith, captured the above.
: )
That was Quite a Day... back in 2012.


This day...has been a Blur.
Usually would've started on putting up Christmas, yesterday...and today.
Not... this year.
Haven't decided if I'm going to put any Christmas up...this year.
There's so Much... Spinning around here, that... has my mind pretty preoccupied.
Maybe... that's all the more reason... I should start pulling Christmas out.

Received a wonderful comment, on Thanksgiving, from a Long Ago... Friend.
He and I are the same age... he used to come out and ride Horses with me, when we were Teens.
He, also... worked with Dad.
: )
He Thought The World... of Dad.
<3
Whenever we visit... he tells me, those 'times'... are some of his Best Childhood Memories.
<3

Dad had a way with Kids.
He never treated 'Kids'... like a 'Kid'.
He showed 'em how to work on old Trucks, and Tractors.
: )
Taught 'em how to run a chainsaw... handle an axe, how to safely handle... and shoot a shotgun... care for it and clean it.
Taught me how to drive... when I was 7. : )
{Pretty sure Dad taught all of his Kids... how to drive  Tractors, and Trucks... about that age.}
Dad made work... Fun.
: )

The Stories... he would tell... as we 'worked'.
<3
Dad had the patience of Job.
<3

Received a call from our Saint... of a Lawyer, Charles Meardon, yesterday afternoon.
That conversation... brought back Many... Unpleasant Memories, from over the last 7, nearly 8 years.
{They're never far... I can't tell ya what I ate for breakfast, but... ask me about the IDOT Meeting at Fairfax, Iowa.. City Hall... back in The Very Beginning... of this Mess.}

That... IDOT District 6, oh my....
had they only been honest, and told the truth...
from the beginning.
bless their hearts.
and...
had The IDOT simply kept our Recorded Agreement, oh my.
{Fairfax... was right in there, with 'em}
So Many Lives Would Be So Different, now, and in the future.
So Many....
 'Damages' on So Many...
Levels.

Sounds like this IDOT
'Fecal Impaction'
is ...
 beginning to move.
; )

Please... Keep us in Your Prayers.
This is Truly....
a 'David and Goliath' story.

Love to Ya...
Prayers for ALL.

Barb C.


Friday, November 24, 2023

Country Club

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Thanksgiving... at 'The Country Club'.


Had to laugh... when Justin 'J'... met me and Sally...at 
'The Gate', on Thanksgiving.
: )
Thought to myself...
'Wow!! This is my First Thanksgiving invite to a 'Gated Community'.'
: ) : ) : )



MY Kinda...
'Gated Community'!!!
<3 <3 <3 
{Yes... Justin 'J'... does SMILE!! Just not when He Sees Grandma Pointing her Phone at Him!!}
; )


The 'Guard Dog'... 
{Sweet Bear!! <3 }
met me at Sally's door, and Escorted me to The 'Club'.
; )
<3


Miss. Willow, and Miss. Meadow... were Happy to see our 'Tradition'...
wasn't forgotten.
: ) : ) : )


<3 <3 <3 


: ) : ) : )
<3


<3 


: ) : ) : )


Sweet Magnum.
: )
{Yes... he knows I'm a sucker... with Treats while cookin'. 
; )
He doesn't get too far from the Kitchen... during Holidays. <3 }


Son, Justin... Smoked a Turkey...then Fried It.
{Oh...My LORD, it was INSANE!!}
: )
Family Friend, Bobby... Smoked a Ham!!!
WOW!!!
So Wonderful!!!
: )
Best I've ever eaten.
: )


Justin's Friend, and Neighbor... 
Christy... brought some Amazing Casseroles, and a Pecan Pie...
{Justin's Favorite!!}
: ) : ) : )
Christy's Dad... {also Justin's Dear Friend}
Joined us, along with Christy's three adult Children, and her Darling Granddaughter... 'Bean'.
<3 <3 <3 
There were 13 of us... and...we didn't make a DENT... in The Food!!
Hahahahahahahaha!!!
They'll be eating Leftovers... for a Month!!
: )
Happily!!!
: )

Justin, and Christy... both kept asking me, if I was Sure... I didn't want to take any Leftover's...
Home.
"No Thanks!!
 I... Mean, 'Hell NO!!'... Thanks."
: ) : ) : )
We were ALL in Food Comas, about 4, yesterday.
; )
That's....
 'Thanksgiving'. 
<3




The reason The Kids live in a 'Gated' Community, is Mr. Romeo.
<3 <3 <3 
He, and All of The Critter's have Free Rein... of 'The Grounds'.
: ) : ) : )
{Again... 'my kinda 'Country Club'. <3 }

Romeo walks right up to the deck... for his Treats.
<3


Son, Justin... pointed out the window, and said...
"Look at that Kid. : ) He goes out, throughout the day...  jumps on that Horse...
No bridle.. no saddle, and they go wherever the wind blows."
<3 <3 <3 
Priceless.


Justin's Neighbor, Terry... and Miss. Meadow.
: )
Meadow... devoured several pieces of 'Pumpkin Pie'.
Meadow... told me she didn't like 'Sweet Potato Pie'...
but, 'Pumpkin' is her Favorite.
: ) : ) : )
So... we decided the pie I brought... was 'Pumpkin' Pie... after all.
; )


Yep...
my kinda 'Country Club'.
<3


My kinda...
'Gated Community'.
<3

Hope Everyone had a Wonderful Thanksgiving.
Hope Everyone... Ate Way Too Much, 
and counted Many, Many...
 Blessings.
<3

Love to Ya...
Prayers for ALL.

Barb C.