Thursday, February 29, 2024
A little... 'Change'.
Pal, Bill... gave me the above late 1800's Tin Mold.
: )
Horse Hoof Shaped.
<3
Found it.. along with several Heart Shaped ones, he'd given me, as well...
while cleaning out my 'Big Purse'... today.
: )
Been in there a while.
: )
That Purse... was HEAVY!!
thought...
it was about Time, I cleaned it out... today.
: )
Bill handed it to me, a month, or so... back, at an 'Event'.
he said...
"Dear Lord!!! What Do You Have In This Thing?!?!
: )
"EVERYTHING!!!"
: )
I have Everything from Super Glue... to Lip Gloss inside that Purse.
Pray... I Never confuse the Two...
in the dark.
: )
There's a big padlock, with keys... Jersey Work Gloves... Paperwork...
Pens, Markers... Vintage Traveling Rosary... an Old Pocket Watch...
Patchouli...
and...
Much, Much... More.
; )
after counting, had...
about...
38.00 in Change!!!
Hahahahahaha!!!
{Only counted the Quarters... and Dimes. : )
Sorted them in the Sweet Tins, Bill gave me.
: )
God... Only Knows... how Many Nickles and Pennies!!! : ) }
Have a Bad Habit... of just Throwing change... in my 'Big Purse', when I'm on The Run!!
: )
oh... dear.
: )
Told Bill, when he struggled... as he handed 'The Big Purse'... to me,
"It's a 'Lethal Weapon'... Bill.
With 'This'... 'Big Daddy'... who needs a 'gun'?"
: ) : ) : )
{That 'Big Purse'... Could Easily 'Double' as 'Body Armor'. : )
If the Mountain's of Change... Upside Heads... doesn't Take 'em down,
the
Patchouli, Stench...
Will.
: ) : ) : )
Hahahahahaha!!!
{Thanks, to Pal, Gail... for The 'Lifetime' Supply!! <3}
<3
Bad News... from The Rabbit Hole, today.
We had a little hail, yesterday.
: (
{unheard of... in February, in Iowa... until now.}
The Greenhouse has withstood many hail storms, but... not this time.
: (
I'll be climbin' ladders, and doing my best to fix it.
Getting someone out here... to work on an Old Greenhouse, is futile.
There's so much 'Work'... with so few 'Workers', these days...
well...
It's Every Human For Themselves... 'these days'.
; )
Git 'er Done!!!
; )
I'll never complain... when Folk's are Too Busy with Work.
: )
I, do worry... when our Rivers and Streams... are growing Grass... on Sandbars, that in my lifetime never existed.
: (
It's pretty unsettling... when 'Iowa' has 'Nashville' weather, in February.
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Indeed.
; )
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Simply....Iowa. oh my.
Simply....
Iowa.
; )
70 degrees one day, 8 degrees... the next.
; )
Gonna be working inside today.
It's a Bit Chilly!!
; )
Supposed to be back in the 70's in a few days.
oh my.
One thing we can Always count on, concerning
'Iowa',
There's
Nothing...
'Simple'
about
Her!!
: ) : ) : )
{God Bless The Farmers}
Pal, Jodi... posted the above, yesterday.
Seemed rather Fittin'.
; )
The Fountain was still pushing water this morning, unplugged it.
It'll be melted in the next day or two.
Today is Normal... 'February' weather, for Eastern Iowa.
Can't complain... we've had some Incredibly Warm {Record Setting} Weather, most of February.
Didn't make many 'Strides'... yesterday.
Not as many as I'd hoped.
We'll see what Today brings.
; )
One Day... at a Time.
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
{Needed to play a little Dwight Yoakam...
this
Chilly Iowa Mornin'!!
; )
His Music... Always Gets me On My Feet!!}
: )
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Early... Mornin'.
Friend, Donita...
{Whispering Pines Ornamental Concrete, Monticello, Iowa}
gave me the above... Tuxedo Rabbit, many years ago...
Donita hand painted the perfect quote, on his serving tray.
<3
Never, ever... in my life has that quote seemed more appropriate.
oh...my.
; )
Was awake...at 3:30 a.m., again...this morning.
Had to sleep near my phone, so I could hear the alarm.
Needed to be up by 5:30, Justin's Home School Teacher was going to visit us, at 8 a.m.
Got everything in order... called Justin, at 7:30... seems, they rescheduled the visit...
for Thursday, instead.
: )
Oh...well.
at least got a lot done, this morning, and can get the rest of the day...
goin', a little earlier.
Daughter...Liz, made the Hatter's Hat... above.
<3
Makes me smile... every time I look at it.
: )
Working in the yard, yesterday... in the Sun, was Lovely...
but, walking over this, all of 'this'...
puts me in a 'mood'.
not... a pleasant one.
It's such a mess.
All... of it.
At the 'Public Hearing'... on the 13th, I gotta tell ya, felt like a Powder Keg, inside.
Was almost afraid to watch the video, from that meeting.
My mind was racing, throughout the 'Hearing'.
I, was beyond... angry.
Far... beyond.
I've seen too much, know... too much, concerning all of 'This'.
Have no confidence left... in our City Officials.
No confidence...left, with IDOT.
Certainly... no Trust.
The new Mayor... is good, as is... our newest Councilman.
I...hope.
: )
The sad part is... I've been fooled so many times, by those I believed could be trusted, it's pretty difficult to believe any of them... anymore.
or... to trust my own judgement, concerning them.
Very... sad.
While watching the video, from the Hearing, I was taken back.
Very.
Donita... said it best, long ago...
"Beyond my Poised Appearance I'm Completely Out of Control"
You'd never know... by watching that video...
what was going on inside my head, and gut.
Makes me wonder... what kind of a 'filter'... it takes, inside, to keep that Powder Keg...
from blowing outward.
Gonna head back to The Rabbit Hole, today... make as many Strides, as I can.
Can only take 'this'... All... of 'This', in small doses.
even...
then,
by the end of the day...
I'm on a slow burn.
Difficult to create... when you're on a slow burn.
oh my.
There are heartbreaking things, situations... in life... that 'happen'.
They... are difficult to process, indeed...
but...
It's those planned, calculated, and deliberate 'actions'...
I struggle with, so.
Better get Crackin'.
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
{Stickin' with Gentle Jazz... again, today... I do believe.
Love... Love...
Norah Jones.}
; )
Monday, February 26, 2024
No Regrets.
Spent this Beautiful February Day...
Running Errands, and Pickin' Up... Trash, in the yard...
Living next to a Federal Highway.... and a Dollar General, now...
well...
Ya Can't Believe... what One will 'Find'... Blowin' Around.
: )
oh...dear.
Didn't capture any images of The Rabbit Hole, today.
Noticed our Neighbor... also, working on their yard...
we visited for a Long Time.
: )
Fairfax... Iowa, bewilders us all, it seems.
Wished I could've 'Played'... today, but, that wasn't to be.
It's kinda Fun... looking back.
Did... work in The Rabbit Hole, for a bit.
<3
The Fountain... in the Greenhouse needed some adjustments.
'Waterflow'... is very temperamental.
It's 'Fluid'... and, has a Mind of It's Own.
; )
Switched from Cajun Music... to Jazz, while working today.
{While workin' with a Fountain... that is Unruly, and Fluid,
'Calm'...
is a
Very Necessary 'Environment'.}
; )
{least it is... for me. Gads. ; )}
<3
Bought Admiral... when he was 4 'Months'... old.
: )
I, was 12.
<3
We Grew Up... Together.
<3
Remember telling Folks, over the years...
"I've known Admiral longer than I've known John...
: )
and...
Someday's... 'Like' Admiral a Bunch More!"
Hahahahahahaha!!!
: )
{John... would Laugh, at that. : ) }
Justin 'J'...and me... ran some errands, this BEAUTIFUL February Day.
As we were leaving our last Stop....
'That' Spring Day... so Long ago... came Rushing Back.
<3
Told Justin... all about it.
oh my.
; )
HOW.... I Hated sitting in a Classroom, on 'Days'... like 'This'.
What a WASTE!!!
: )
{Make No Mistake... 'School' is Very Important, as Justin 'J'... hears from us, often, but... on Days Like THIS...
EEEEEEEK!!!
Grandma has had struggles too. ; )}
Told Justin...
I'd walked to school that Beautiful Spring morning,
when my hand hit the handle of the school's side door, turned around... and made a Run for It!!
: )
There was No Way...
I could sit behind a Desk.... on Such a Beautiful Spring Day!!
No Way!!
: )
Bailed in Dad's old Truck... and, went to visit The Horses.
'Admiral'
<3
Was 'Busted'...
when The Gazette's Photographer's picture came out in the next Sunday's paper.
oh...well.
; )
It...was Soooooo Worth It.
<3
No Regrets.
; )
{No... remorse... excuses... or, apologies... either. ; ) }
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Priceless.
Guess... all any of us can do...
Is Keep On Drivin'.
: )
The above image, was in a scrapbook... I purchased, decades ago... from a Friend, who cleaned out properties.
The Family... from Southern Iowa, didn't care about what was left in the 'home'... simply wanted it hauled away, and gone.
'Trash'
The above... image, is my Favorite... from the Family Scrapbook, 'that' 'Family'
PAID... a Man,
to
'Haul Away'.
I find that...
Heartbreaking.
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{ Spending time... down The Rabbit Hole, has touched my heart... today. }
oh... dear.
; )
oh my.
The Rabbit Hole, is a Direct Hit, when we get Rain.
: (
yeah...
; )
I kinda struggle with going 'there', anymore.
Doesn't take an engineer, in my opinion...
to understand...
'Water... simply does Not Run Up Hill.'
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
{For the record... The Rabbit Hole, nor...has our Home... ever had water inside it, because of Outside Flooding.
{Crushed Tiles... by IDOT, back in the 1990's... Yes.}
I've Never seen water over Stallman Drive, until this last IDOT Project.
but... I've only lived here, since 1982, or 1983.
: )
What could I... possibly 'know'?}
: )
Bless their hearts.
<3
Sure would LOVE to be thinking about ANYTHING...
but,
'This'
today.
; )
Had no Idea... what The Cajun Tune, I posted earlier... 'meant'... when I posted it.
Loved Working to It.
<3
Seems, It has Much Meaning.
<3
Goal... for today.
Fun...
; )
Oh my Gosh!!
Great Cajun Food...
Great Conversation!!
About Died Laughing...!!
That Scott... Cracks Me Up!!!
Throw in Bethany...and Leslie oh my.
: )
The Kitties wanted to Join Us!
<3
Allyson, and Bethany... Watch Over Many Critters.
<3
All Very Spoiled.... as They Should Be!!!
: )
Scott was giving Bethany The Business.... for wearing Blue Lipstick.
hmmmm....
: )
I was on Her Side!!!
: )
Liked It!!
To Say The Least... Poor Scott, was
Outnumbered!!!
Hahahahaha!!!
<3
Wonderful Evening.
<3
I do believe... we could solve All of The World's Problems, if...
We'd All... sit down around an Amazing Harvest Table, every now, and then.
; )
We may not all agree with each other, but...
'listening' to Other's Thoughts.... never hurts.
: )
<3
Helped clear the dishes... before I left.
Was So Incredibly Tired, by the end of the evening...
{haven't been sleeping well, lately.}
Picked up my Fairfax State Savings Bank Money Bag...
{aka 'purse' : ) }
Gave Everyone a Big Hug, and Kiss... Good-Bye, and Thanked Allyson for The Invite, and Awesome Cajun Cookin'!!!
; )
didn't realize it...
until Sally, and me... pulled in at Home, I'd left my phone...
on the Amazing Harvest Table.
{John.... Built.}
There was No Way... I was drivin' back to Allyson's, last night.
Could Barely Keep my Eyes Open... driving Home.
: (
I gotta tell ya, I slept Better last night, than I have in a long time.
That cell phone... of mine, I'm thinkin'... needs to be Shut Down, every day...
at Quittin' Time.
; )
Drove to Allyson's this morning, to retrieve the 'Phone'.
Allyson was at Church... Bethany answered the door... : )
Allyson had my phone with her... she was going to drop it off, after Church..
<3
{All of my contacts... are on my damned cell phone. : ( I can remember... Everyone's Phone Numbers, form 'before' cell phones, but... not after. Including Allyson's. }
It wasn't all bad. : )
Had a Great Visit with Bethany, this morning.
Had another Great Visit, with Pal, Allyson.... when she returned Home from Church.
; )
{Everything happens for a reason.}
Found my way to The Rabbit Hole, when I got Home.
: )
Cranked Up... Old Cajun Music,
through bluetooth, on that 'cell phone', and the little bose speaker, to work by.
; )
LOUD!!!
: )
<3
Lord, Lord....
: )
The above, looked like a Horrible Green... Mossy... Mote.
The water was so low.
: (
We've had so little precipitation... for so incredibly long.
: (
'Severe Drought'.
: (
The Fish... are doing o.k., but...
the pump was close to being completely plugged up.
: (
Got it all cleaned out... flushed out... and the trough filled up.
<3
The Rabbit Hole, is a disaster.
: (
That...
makes me angry.
: (
Wrongful...
'Distractions'...
make me incredibly angry.
: (
Too Much... and, Too Many... 'Suffer' because of 'em.
: (
Grabbed the broom, and rake...
started pitchin'... and cleanin'!!
; )
Got 'The Fountain'... cleaned out, and running, again.
<3
The Rabbit Hole... never seems 'Alive'....
without
Its Fountain Flowing.
: )
At the end of this day...
It's Flowin'...
: )
<3
That was
'Thee'...
'Goal'...
for today.
: )
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Saturday, February 24, 2024
Saturday Night... and The Moon is Out!! {oh... dear}
Actually... captured the above image last night.
: )
The Moon was Big and Beautiful... peeking through the window.
: )
It will be tonight... as well.
; )
Pal, Allyson called last week, wondering if I had plans, for this Saturday evening.
She invited me to a Dinner Party... at her Home with a group of Friends.
: )
She's preparing 'Jambalaya'.
: ) : ) : )
Allyson and I... have more in common, than 'Antiques'.
: )
We both... LOVE The South!!!
<3
I'll Never forget our Trip...
to New Orleans, many years ago.
: )
Been workin' around the house... today.
Should've been down The Rabbit Hole, but...
can't quite get there.
Got quite a bit done, here.
; )
Looking forward to visiting with Allyson, and her Pals, this evening.
They are So Much Fun!!!
: )
Love Bethany, Allyson's Sis!!!
<3
She's a RIOT!!
; )
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Friday, February 23, 2024
Gunsmoke.
Lord Have Mercy!!!
: )
The last 24 hours have been INSANE!!!
Hahahahaha!!!
GADS!!!
: )
Many, Many... Blessings, too.
<3
Dear Lord...
Dancin' on the Glistening Edge of a Razor Blade, isn't very comfortable.
: )
Been up since 3 a.m.
oh my.
; )
Fell sound asleep, in John's old recliner...
while eating lunch... late morning...
and watching Gunsmoke.
{Love that Show!!}
: )
of course...
that's when my Beloved Lisa, from our Insurance company... returned my call, from this morning.
: )
and...
when The Government Dude, checked back in... with me, concerning yesterday's visit.
{Didn't expect 'That' Call. : ) }
Thought we were going to wait to 'Visit'... until after 'All'... of the 'Data'...
was available, to us both.
Months out.
; )
That Government Dude... is a Firecracker!!!
Like Him!!
; )
Groggy... me, did my best, with Both.
Hahahahaha!!!
GADS!!!!
: )
Was supposed to meet with Pal, Mark... this early afternoon.
Rescheduled.
Gads!!!
These last few days, have been a bit 'round The Bend.
To say the least.
Am Impressed with Everyone... who touched base today.
: )
Grateful.
; )
Probably should've reached out to Them... All, Much... Sooner.
: )
Why... do I wait so long?
: (
again...
Sure Wish, I'd had Lawyer Meardon on Board, from Day One,
concerning this IDOT/Fairfax... Mess.
: (
My mistake.
{Told the Government Dude, that... again... as well.
Told him.. I'm being Very 'Proactive'... 'these' days.}
; )
<3 <3 <3
Winks... Winks... Winks.
<3
The Greenhouse has a leak...
it's 'leak'...
greeted me with a 'Wink'... this day, in 2018.
; )
<3
Priceless.
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Laughter... is The Best Medicine.
Was flippin' through Memories, this morning.
Friend, Toni, sent the above to me... last year, while Steph,
{Frond Design Studios}
and I were in Daytona, for a Quilting Event.
Toni bought the 'Bird Girl' from the Rabbit Hole, several years ago... then, when she... and her Daughter, Sheree... {and Joe} moved to Florida, from Iowa....
they hauled the Bird Girl... with.
<3
She's Perfect There!!
She probably enjoys Florida, a little more than Iowa.
; )
Toni, and Sheree... came to visit us, at Daytona, at the Event.
<3
It was Great Seeing Them!!
<3
What a Ride... to Daytona, and back... last year.
: )
Trade Shows... are always a 'Ride'.... it seems!!
: )
Steph, and I... often talk about the Many... 'Adventures'.
: )
Was on the phone yesterday, with Government Folks who were returning my calls, from the day before.
Grateful... to them for getting back, so quickly.
; )
Those Folks... are So Incredibly Knowledgeable... concerning their Jobs.
WOW!!
They can draw Straight lines from Point 'A' to Point 'B'... just as they are written in the books.
the problem is...
They... are Engineers, and Specialists... in their Fields.
me...
I'm a 'Mad Hatter'.
: )
{we have a bit of a 'communication gap'.
They were So Patient with me... God Bless 'em!! }
I... don't always 'color' inside the 'lines'.
: )
nor... do I always see the 'picture', from a book's perspective.
I see our picture... with feet on the ground, first hand.
It's those gray areas... that seem to get overlooked, in the 'Books'...
those Gray Areas...
seem to get us into
'Trouble'.
: (
Time will tell.
Told them I'd be back in touch... in the next few months, when we have a little more data.
: )
Have had many 'Crash Courses'... over the last several years... tho.
; )
oh.... dear.
Scary... scary.
; )
Needed to See This...
this morning.
<3
Heading to The Rabbit Hole, today.
Gonna Try... to pick up the pieces, once again.
It's been Such a Struggle going there.
It's difficult to explain.
Told my Pals, the other day...
it's like my feet are stuck in cement.
: (
Needed to see the Above, too.
<3
It's one of my Favorites.
<3
So...Incredibly True.
<3 <3 <3
Yesterday would've been Mom's 104th. Birthday.
<3 <3 <3
Rose Marie { Dvorak} Conner
February 21, 1920 -
March 20, 2014.
Can't believe she's been gone a decade.
Sure Do Miss Her!!
<3
Especially... Miss Mom's Laugh!!!
Hahahahaha!!!
: )
We could be in the middle of some of The Very Worst Situations,
a Mom, and Daughter... could be,
then...
somehow, either... I'd make a Big Joke, about it, or... She Would!!
: ) : ) : )
We'd Get to Laughin' So Hard!!
Oh My!!!
Hahahahahahaha!!!
We'd Both Be Out of AIR.... Breathless... and Crying!!!
Hahahahahahaha!!!!
: ) : ) : )
Sometimes..... in The Worst of Times...
in...
the most difficult, and uncomfortable...
situations...
Ya Gotta Let 'Humor'... Take Over!!
: ) : ) : )
If you're gonna shed tears, in those 'situations'...
They'd Better Be From Laughter,
in my opinion.
; )
Mom's Too.
<3
{Madness!!}
: )
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
{Just recalling some of those awful... 'situations', this morning....
that ultimately turned into Breathless Belly Laughs... had me laughin' again.}
<3 <3 <3
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Some things... are difficult to remember.
Been going over the IDOT, and Fairfax...
Messes.
Been on the phone, with... Folks, I'd sure like some explanations from.
Government Folks.
; )
Oh my Gosh... They were So Amazing!!
<3
Folks from Fairfax,Virginia...
to
Des Moines, Iowa.
<3
We All Agreed...
'Transparency' Is 'Everything'.
; )
Posting Fairfax, Iowa... City Hall's Public Hearing Video, above.
{'City Hall'... posted it, quite late.}
Grateful... Fairfax, Iowa, 'City Hall'...
Finally... has a 'camera' at their meetings.
; )
It's poor, and cheap... but, it's a 'camera'.
Sure wish... the Council would Care about 'Transparency'...
as much as They Do About 'Bike Trails', and other... 'things'.
{take a look at Fairfax's 'budget', and... where they 'spend'.}
{Grateful to our New Mayor, Jo Ann Beer, for Fighting to have a 'camera'}
The Fairfax Public Hearing... concerning a tiny bridge... can be viewed on Fairfax's YouTube channel,
1:05 to 2:13.
I could narrow it down much further....
but, somehow...
I believe, You should See...
The Full Image.
: )
Peg and I used to Laugh... at what our Guardian Angel's must look like.
: ) : ) : )
Our's, we agreed...
would have Singed... Smoldering.... Blackened... Charred Wings,
'Pinfeathers'.... really,
from getting WAY Too Close to The 'FIRE'!!!
Hahahahaha!!!
Sure do Miss That Girl!!!
<3
Captured the above, after Quite a Show!!!
Hahahahaha!!!
{A 'Shit Show'... but a Good One!! ; ) }
The 'Great White Hope', {Ford Ton Truck}
was Standin' Next to Our Peg!!
: )
<3
{We got a little Mud... on The Tires,
THAT... Fourth of July 'Event' : ) Oh....My. : ) }
<3 <3 <3
Peggy Jo, left this world... in 2016.
but...
She's Never 'Left' Those who Knew, and Loved Her.
<3
Peg... Would Never do that.
; )
Peg... always referred to me, as the 'Sister' she never had.
I wear That Badge, as an Honor.
<3
Always Will.
<3
Indeed.
Indeed.
So Many.... will understand this.
<3
I Gotta tell Ya...
; )
from my experience...
Works every.... single...
time.
: )
<3 <3 <3
Best Advise...
EVER!!
: )
{often difficult to remember.}
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
I'm sippin' Tequila tonight. You would be too, I'm guessin'.
😉
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