Ella Fitzgerald - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? (Lyric Video)

Happy New Year's Eve... to All!!

I've written several posts, over the last few days... but, saved them as drafts.

: )

They're kinda funny.

: )

Seems... I've been bitten by the Flu Bug.

If ya think my post's are crazy... well, while running a fever, oh.... my.

: )

Good Readin'!!

Hahahahaha!!!

; )

Sleep, and whatever ancient alka-seltzer cold/flu/plopfiz... I can dig outta the cupboard, makes me happy.

; )

Happy New Year's Eve...

To All!!

<3

<3 <3 <3

Indeed.

; )

I've always preferred Soft... TP, over boxed 'tissue', when sick.

<3

This... New Year's Eve,

here's a little reminder,

 as... 

Always...

; )

{Servers... Too!! <3 <3 <3 }

; )

Happy New Year's Eve.. to All.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Vince Gill - Go Rest High On That Mountain (Official Music Video)

Fairfarren Mr. President.

So Proud... of Our President, Jimmy Carter.

Thank You...

Sir.

<3

One day at a time.

been 

Years.

 Gonna quit, doin' that.

my...

2025 New Year's Resolution.

; )

I know, deep down, I'm 'doing'...

my

 'Best'.

 that's all... I can do.

That's All, Any of Us... Can Do.

; )

While visiting with Dear... Friend, 'Rock'... Gail, the other day...

told Gail, "The Barb.... from 'before'.... 

We all 'knew',

would be Absolutely LIVID, with the 'Barb'... now."

Oh Dear... Dear... Lord.

but...

 that 'before' Barb....

hadn't yet walked 

'this'

 Path.

: )

It... would be pretty easy, for her...

to 

'Judge', back then...

when her feet hadn't Hit The Coals, quite... yet.

 beatin' myself up... at the end of yesterday,

 {when I started this post...}

 a little bit, for not gettin' 'More'... done, yesterday...

and More... Done, many... many,

'Days'...

 prior, to This one.

Each and every one of us...

who, had the Gift of waking... this morning,

are on an Ever Changing...

 'Journey'.

: )

Got The Old Harvest Table.... that only me, Harold.... and Ed, could love...

cleared off, yesterday.

It was mounded with All Sort's of Crap.

: (

Iowa Attorney General... IDOT, and... Fairfax... CRAP.

Papers.... papers, papers... and, More Documents.

I contributed to the Mounds, as well.

Folded clothes, towels... and... a basket of things, from the last Estate Sale.

Since the Mess, with IDOT, and Fairfax... our Family doesn't 'Celebrate' Holidays, here...

anymore,

so...

I... don't get in a rush, like I used to... 

making sure Everything, is 'done'... for The Holidays.

but...

Was Determined to Get The Harvest Table Back!!

<3

Wound several of The Clocks... in The Dining Room.

<3

lit candles....

and, melted, into

 Peaceful...

Soulfulness.

<3

Those Old, Old... Clock's, all have their own Voice.

<3

Listening to them... sounds much, like rain...

on an old, tin roof.

<3

         

The Old... 1870's Clock, above...

is one of my Favorites.

<3

: ) : ) : )

Found it... while visiting Pal's.... Vi, and Bob... in Manchester, Iowa...

a Million Year's Ago, it seems, now.

: )

{Another 'Lifetime'.... ago.}

Bob, and Vi... had a Great little Antique Shop, back in the day.

<3

They'd hit the weekend auction's in their area, 'Hard'...

 I'd Burn The Little Purple Ford Ranger's Rubber, getting to Their Shop... an hour away...

Bright, and Early... Monday Mornings.

: )

<3

One day, while shoppin' at my Pal's, noticed in their trash can, was an old clock.

: (

I pulled The Clock, from the trash, asked Bob, and Vi... why would they throw the old clock away.

: (

They both said...

"It came in with a load, it's a mess, 'junk'. If you want it, take it."

Didn't feel right, taking The Clock, for free. It... had 'Value', to me.

<3

Bob, and Vi... Insisted.

<3

: )

The poor little Clock's door glass was long gone.

Many... of it's wooden case piece's... were, also... gone.

A Mouse, had built quite a Home, inside The Clock's Brass Movement.

: )

the little Clock's Pendulum...

was, also... long, gone.

: )

still...

That Little Clock, needed to be Saved.

<3

Took it to Marv Kacer, 'Clock Repair Service', in Cedar Rapids.

{He's Amazing. : ) simi retired, now.: ) }

Marv... was used to me... back then, bringing him, 'Basket Cases'.

Hahahahahahaha!!!

<3

{Richard Arnold, in Iowa City, too. Loved Richard!! <3 Genius Clock Man.}

Marv... got the little 30 hour Clock....

Running.

; )

Replaced the glass, and pendulum bob.

I Love It, case piece's missin' and all.

: )

I'd like to finish this story, but...

{It's a Good One. : ) }

oh my.

Seems, I picked up a Bug, at Justin's... on Christmas.

: (

Not Nearly... The Bug, Justin, and his Neighbor's have... but, an ugly one.

: (

Couldn't find my way too far out of bed, today.

My Head, is Poundin'... Nose Runnin, Coughin' Non Stop.

; )

Was supposed to meet with a Client, concerning an Estate Sale, today.

: (

Spoke with The Client... <3 She Totally... Understood, I wouldn't want to expose her Family.

: )

Thank's to Bill... he met with 'The Estate'.

<3

Stay Tuned...

Estate Sale!!

February, 6 thru 9!! 2025

; )

Found some old, old.... Cold, and Flu tabs, in the cupboard last night.

Praise God!!

The Twilight Zone opening credits HD

Some Stories... simply... can't be written in a day.

Wrote a bunch, concerning the above, earlier.

<3

Thank Goodness, for 'blogger draft'.

; )

So Many Stories!!!

GADS!!

<3

GADS!!

oh my.

: (

: )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

stay tuned.

gads.

Barb C.

North to Alaska • Theme Song • Johnny Horton

The Anamosa Antique & Vintage Market.

Been on the phone, a large part of this day.

Reaching out to 

The Wonderful... Anamosa Antique & Vintage Market...

Vendors.

<3

There will Not be a January '25 Anamosa Show.

Not sad... about that.

{Nor is Anyone Else... I've visited with, today. <3

but...

They All, are Willing to Ride This 'Crazy Train', still. <3}

; )

Love Cecilia, and Jon's... Amazing Event, would be 30 Years, in 2025.

<3

but...

The Facility, just won't 'work'... any longer, for 'This Event'.

We've been working on moving The Event, for months.

: )

may...

 have a 'Spot'.

; )

If... we do,

 The Anamosa Antique & Vintage Market... 

will Never, be in January, again.

; )

Stay Tuned!!

<3

So many... many year's of driving on Ice, in Blizzards.

Loading, Unloading, then...

loading back up, again,

too often, in 20-40 'below' windchill.

: )

{January in Iowa... can be Brutal.}

If we're gonna move The Anamosa Show's

'location',

we're gonna change 'The Date', as well.

; )

Love to Ya...

and, Grateful for The Anamosa Show, 

Jon, and Cecilia Hatcher Created.

<3 <3 <3 

Grateful... to The Vendors... 

Customers...

'Friends', over So Many Years.

<3

Mark, and I... are Workin' on This.

: )

<3

Stay Tuned!!!

Barb C.

James Gandolfini - Life is Short (High Quality)

Family.

{'People'}

; )

Gal's... Too.

; )

<3

Indeed.

: )

???

Love the above, quote.

It's so true.

: )

So often... feel like a 'Slacker', these days, 'years'... really.

I, Miss... that Gal.

: )

Was tellin' Dear, Dear... Friend, Gail...

almost, exactly that, yesterday... when she gave me a call.

<3

We've known each other, for three decades.

 <3

Antique

 'Family'

 : )

I'll say it again...

 'This 'Business' is like 'The Mafia'.

Once you're In...

 There Ain't No Gettin' Out!!!'

Hahahahahaha!!!

'Family'.

'Tight'.

oh my.

<3

We're All... a little crazy,

 some...

a little more 'Round the Bend', than others, but...

We're 'Family'.

<3

We...

all come from very different lifestyles, but... the antiques,

 'Old Souls'...

Pull Us Together. 

we...

 'Understand',

 and...

Respect,

 one, another.

: )

{I can see Gail's Eye's... Rollin', as she reads the last sentence.

Hahahahahaha!!!

; )

Stop Rollin' Those Eyes.... Missy!!}

<3

I can say that, because... I know, It's True.

<3

Brother, Sonny... shared a story with me, concerning his Children,

 just before he died in a car accident, a few years back.

Sonny said, when he sent his 5 Children off to school, at the beginning of the school year, when they were little,

he'd tell them all...

"If One of You comes Home with a Black Eye, I Expect You All... to have a Black Eye."

<3 <3 <3

; )

that's...

'Family'

<3

At the end of The Day, that's how our Antique Family... Is.

Always has been.

We could beat each other up... at an Auction, all day, then... 

meet for Supper, that night.

; )

<3

just...

don't let an 'Outsider' pick on our 'Family'.

We, as a Family... may not always agree with each other, but...

We, as a Family, have each other's Back.

<3

Grateful... for The 'Old Souls', that Brought Us All Together.

<3

<3 <3 <3 

Indeed.

Oh my.

: )

Fairfax, Iowa, and IDOT....

'Iowa Department of Transportation'...

Public Records

2021.

Lawyer Meardon, has requested another Huge Batch, from them.

{Praise God... for Him. They don't respond to me.}

I'll be asking for a spot on Fairfax's Council Meeting's Agenda, 

soon,

concerning Lawyer Meardon's recent, Public Record's Request.

Stay Tuned.

<3

A FB Friend, posted the below, yesterday.

Life.

It's All...

About

The Journey.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{I think of Dear Friend, Ed.... when I think about the... quote, 

"It's all about 'The Journey'."

<3

Ed, 

{Antique 'Family'}

 was the first person, who shared that sentiment with me, long ago.

Didn't quite understand it, back then...

but, sure do, now.}

<3 <3 <3

Had to Post The Sopranos Video.

: )

OMG

: )

Priceless!!

We Never Missed an Episode.

<3

Thank You...

James Gandolfini.

 {Tony}

; )

<3

Paul Simon - Loves Me Like A Rock

Christmas '24... History.

Spent the afternoon, at Son, Justin's.

Didn't get together with any of the other Kids...

 There's been so 'much'... lately, that's been 'draining', 

did, what I could.

: )

They Understand.

<3

The Grinch... stopped by, for a bit.

; )

Surprised he was allowed to get so far away from Fairfax, Iowa...

City Hall.

: )

Miss. Meadow, and Miss. Willow, look at The Grinch, much like... their Grandma does,

 at some City Hall Folks, at Council Meetings, I...see.

; )

"hmmmmmm???"

It was a Peaceful Christmas Day.

<3

The Girl's were Goin' Crazy... having Fun, Climbing Trees, and Swinging on a HUGE Swing, that Swings over a Ravine!!

HOLY Smokes!!

Fearless!!

<3

<3 <3 <3 

Spook.

; )

He's Got Me All Figured Out... 

already.

: )

{I'm 'The Spoiler' : ) Treats... Treats... Treats!! <3}

He's a Smart One, just like his Beautiful... Half Brother, Bear, was.

<3 <3 <3 

Magnum... Gizzy, and now... Spook, have a Very Good Life.

As... All Critter's Should.

<3

Son, Justin... was very sick, yesterday.

: (

Called him, just before I left Home, yesterday.... he said he was ill, but heard one of his Friend's in the background, joking, so... figured it wasn't too serious.

Gads.

: (

Turns out... All of The Adult's have been sick, in their area.

Influenza B, for some.

oh dear.

: (

I was already inside, had 'Inhaled'... hahahaha, before I learned 'The News'.

: (

Felt so bad... for Justin. He's SICK!!

: (

Christy, is just getting over it.

: (

Her Dad, Frank... and other neighbor's have been really sick.

: (

Just found out, a few days back, Pal, Mark... has also been struggling with, what sounds like... this Same C R A P.

: (

Mark said... he was coughing so hard, he broke a rib.

GADS!!!

: (

I was very careful...

kept cleaning shared 'anything'

but...

The Air... Is The Air.

; )

guess...

time will tell.

: )

Bad Bugs!!!

Bad...

Bugs!!

Dang!!

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Merry Christmas.

<3

Christmas Jazz Instrumental & Fireplace Sounds🎄Jazz Music in Cozy Christ...

Merry Christmas... Eve.

Enjoyed a Wonderful Christmas Eve Supper...

with

Friend, Allyson, her Sis, Bethany, Brother, Joe... Mom, Kathy, 

Pals...

 Scott, Rhonda, and Dale.

<3

What a Feast!!

: )

Grocery shopped, and Christmas Shopped, a bit... before heading to Allyson's this late...

Christmas Eve afternoon.

Insanity.

; )

Got Home, around 9:30...

whipped up a couple of quart's of Fresh...

Cranberry Relish, and... a Huge Scotch Bowl of 

Stock, for tomorrow's Stuffing, and Gravy... to take to Son, Justin's.

Have a few gifts to wrap, in the morning, while The Stuffing is cookin'.

; )

Feels good to sit down by The Tree...

put my feet up... listen to Lovely... Christmas Jazz, sip on a Christmas Eve...

Toddy, and...

reflect.

<3

Merry Christmas... Eve,

to

All...

and, to All,

A Good Night.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{Miss. Peanut is doing Fine!! <3 <3 <3

Allyson fixed Peanut a Huge Plate of Food, to take 'Home', tonight.

<3

Peanut, was Grateful. ; ) 

She'll be Snackin' on It... for a Week!! ; ) }

Canon in D (Pachelbel's Canon) - Cello & Piano [BEST WEDDING VERSION]

Never a Dull... Moment.

Worked on 'Books', today... for a bit.

Should've went to the store, but... 

didn't.

Miss. Peanut... has developed a slight cough, over the last couple of days.

It's more of a quiet 'huff', now and then... than a cough.

Caught her with a piece of tinsel in her mouth, yesterday...

: (

She'll eat Anything, she finds on the floor.

: (

Have to be so careful.

That... Freaked me Out!!

: (

Tinsel, and Critters, do 'Not Mix'.

but...

 felt I got it all.

After hearing her 'huff', a little, today...

my gear's were turning.

; (

Called our Beloved Vet, Dr. Meester.

{La Porte City, Vet Clinic}

I'd just missed Dr. Meester, he'd went home for the day.

Left my number, with his Awesome Gal, she said he'd be calling in the morning.

; )

Dr. Meester is a Large, and small.... Critter, Vet.

<3

He's Amazing.

Works SO HARD.

Gads!!!

I've seen Dr. Meester pull in at his Clinic, after dealing with 'Livestock', he, and his Truck...

Both...

covered in mud, and manure....

 looking,

 Totally... Exhausted.

: (

{I remember... having to 'pull calves' in the Spring of the year.

 Tuff, and Stressful job. : (

Can't Begin to Imagine, what a Country Vet, has to Deal with, daily, and... nightly.}

: (

He deals with Cattle, and Hogs... in the afternoon, and works with small Critters, in the early mornings, and some Evenings.

at least... that's what he used to do.

He's so Incredibly Caring.

; )

There's Something... about a Vet, who cares for All Animals, Large... and small.

'Farm Vets'.

They are Rare... 

these days.

<3

The Farm Vets... I've worked with... throughout my entire life, have So Much Common Sense.

They... Understand, Critter's do Best, with their 'Pack', in their Home Environment.

I know... a lot of Folk's aren't willing, or able... to 'Nurse' Critter's at Home.

Clean wounds, flush... and pack... wounds, give antibiotics... injections, and 'more',

but...

from the time I was about 10, or 12...

 having Horses,

 day old... Calves... 

baby Pigs...

 more.

 than that,

 I... always bought,

 'brought'

 'Home'...

the

 'Runts'.

<3

The ones, that... so many gave up on.

The ones, many... Farmer's often thought should be 'knocked in the head', 

because... time, is money, and...

those 'runt's' weren't worth the expense.

so...

 had to learn how to Treat, and Care... for them, as much as I could, on site. 

Grateful... for The Farm Vet's who took the 'time' to Teach me, how to Care for them, at home.

; )

Not BIG Stuff, like 'Only a Vet Can Do', 

but... 

The Basics.

<3

It wasn't an hour, after I left my number with Dr. Meester's Clinic, that he called me, from 

'Home'.

: )

<3

"Dr. Meester!!! Sure Didn't Expect a Call from You... Today!!"

{he sounded exhausted... : ( }

I said...

"do ya know 'who' you're talkin' too???"

oh my.

: )

Dr. Meester, replied....

 "Oh, Yes... tell me, what's goin' on?"

: )

Spelled Everything Out, to Dr. Meester.

Every concern, about Miss. Peanut's 'behavior'.

We have a Plan.

I'm watchin' her.

Feeding her Cooked Squash, and... hoping, if...

Peanut ate any tinsel, it'll find it's way out... soon.

; )

Dr. Meester didn't think the 'huff', was 'related'.

I'm hoping he's right.

; )

Like, Lawyer... Meardon, 

Dr. Meester, most always,

 Is.

: )

Grateful, For Them Both, 

over the last 

Many...

Years.

; )

<3 <3 <3 

Pollyanna.

<3

Dr. Meester, looked after Polly, her entire life.

<3

Dr. Meester, took 'Care' of Polly, after a man...

 walked inside our Home, 

uninvited, during an 'event'... here, 

because,

 'he stated'....

"I saw some cool things... in the window, and wanted to go inside."

oh my.

Pollyanna, said...

"I don't think so...

 Scooter."

<3

; )

Polly, 'escorted' the man, to 'The Door'.

with 

a

'Tap'.

; )

Pollyanna, was half...

 German Shepherd,

 and half...

American Staffordshire Terrier.

<3

'Family', on Both Sides.

; )

Polly was 'Put in Jail'... after protecting our Home.

: (

I... negotiated...

her

 'Jail'

'confinement'.

<3

Polly spent her 'Wrongful Time', in the Loving Arm's, of Dr. Meester, and His Clinic.

: )

'Family'

Pollyanna, Loved Her Family.

<3 <3 <3 

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

JIM REEVES - An Old Christmas Card (1963)

Happy Holidays!!

Oh My.

: )

While messin' around with Christmas, today...

trying to set one last... little display, moved the round Pedestal Drum Table,

 one of its drawers slid out... 

{never use them}

Found a Whole Stack of Wonderful...

Christmas Cards, from Dear, Dear... Friends, and Family...

from Long Ago.

<3

: )

So many... are gone, now.

Just seeing their handwriting... and, signatures, was Such a Gift.

<3

There must've been at least 30 of 'em, in that little drawer.

: )

Was surprised... at How Many of John's Pal's... {Men} sent us cards.

: )

<3

I used to send out... Bunch's of Christmas Cards, every year.

<3

So Loved sending them... and Gettin' 'em.

; )

Still receive several, from Dear Friends, and Always... get a Sweet Card, from John's Sis, Dixie.

: )

Gratefully.

<3 <3 <3 

 I quit sending them out... a decade ago.

 Need to get back... To It.

<3

Used to set an afternoon aside, after Thanksgiving, after... 'The Tree'... was Up, 

: )

every year, to write Christmas Cards.

<3

No...

 wasn't one of 'Those' who sent a 'Chain Letter'...

 about our 'Year', and... All of The Family's 

Great Feats.

; )

I actually...

 set...

 One of

 'Those'... 

'Family Christmas... Chain Letters'

On Fire, one year.

; )

Burned it to A Crisp, over our Old...

Stove's Flames... 

; )

then,

 threw the Ashes, in an Old, Old...

Cast Iron Scotch Bowl, on The Stove.

; )

{John... was Speechless.}

: )

Hahahahahaha!!!!

: )

He Watched Me Do It!!

: )

I'd Had Enough.

: )

Everyone 'concerned'... had been Warned. 

For Years.

; )

{ John, and I... used to receive, year, after year, 

one.. of 'Those',

letters...

I'd Requested...

Kindly...

: )

 many times, 

: )

that person..

 quit sending us those letters, take us Off...

of their Christmas list.

: )

finally...

Kindly...

Advised that person, when the letter's didn't stop,

 to please send them on, to Those...

who 'care'.

<3

; )

 That person...

Wouldn't Quit. That Person, made certain... the

 'Christmas Chain letter', 

always... 

landed in our mailbox.

oh my.

: )

 'Fire'.

 'Old... Stove'.

Done.

Done.

Done.

<3

; )

{Bless their hearts. <3 }

Used to think it was Important, to let Those... who Mean So Very Much to Us, 

know...

We're Thinkin' About Them during The Holiday Season, and Appreciate Them.

<3

Sent One... Christmas Card...

 out, this year.

; )

So...

 To my Dear Friends, Loved Ones, who won't receive a 

Christmas Card in the mail...

this year, 

please Know, I Love Ya...

and, 

hopefully, 

This Time, next year...

You'll be receiving a Christmas Card, in the Mail.

<3

Merry Christmas.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers, for All.

Happy Holidays!!!

<3

Barb C.

The Carpenters - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Brighter Days Ahead!!

Happy Winter Solstice!!

<3

Every Day... after This, will be Filled with a little more

Sun!!!

; )

<3

unless...

ya happen to live in Fairfax, Iowa.

and...

are dealing with Fairfax, Iowa...

City Hall, and The Iowa Department of Transportation.

: (...........

bless their hearts.

Found the above... concerning The Fairfax, Iowa...

 West Cemetery Road Bridge/Bike Trail... that adjoins our land,

and... The Federal Highway 151 Bridge, as well,

in the mailbox, today.

: (

oh my.

: (

Took me back, to 2018... when The Linn County Sheriff  'Served' me with Condemnation papers, on behalf of The IDOT.

Their 'Purpose'... for 'Condemnation'...  of our land, was 'interesting' to me, back then.

Still is.

: (

Grateful... Beyond, to Lawyer Meardon.

: )

Thought I was giving Him... new facts, today.

 but...

He... Filled... 'me' in.

: )

I don't refer to Lawyer Meardon...

as 

'Josey Wales'...

'just because'.

; )

Lawyer Meardon, in my opinion...

is a 

'Guerrilla Fighter'

What a Ride.

'Crazy Train'.

: (

"Hallelujah... Everybody say "Cheese!!!"

: )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.