Conner... Naughty.

Nashville...

Heart of Country, 2012.

<3

Pal, Steph...

 {Stephanie Brandenburg Studios/Fern Hill, South Amana, Iowa.}

Partnered up with Simply Iowa... that year.

; )

Pure Insanity... that year...

as Always, at 'Heart'.

; )

That was the first time Steph joined me at 'Heart'.

: )

I'll never forget it.

We busted our Fanny's getting the Trucks loaded, in Bitter Cold.

We were running way late... way behind schedule.

: (

Seemed like, if anything could go wrong, it did.

; )

{Thinking back... : ) Much Worse Could've 'happened', because... It Had, 

on so many, many... other... 'Heart' adventures.

'Adventures'... Period.}

: )

We arrived at The Opryland Hotel, late... late... late, to check in.

May have been wee hours of the following morning.

By 2012, I could kinda find my way through the Amazon, 'Opryland Hotel'.

; )

There's close to 3,000 rooms, at The Opryland Hotel, and... Ya don't see One, while walking through The Delta, The Magnolia... The Cascades... all under a Huge Conservatory.

The Entire Hotel/Convention Center, spans a little more than 3 Million square feet.

: )

It's a little overwhelming, at first... to Iowa Girls.

: )

After we checked in, late, late...

 by The Grace of God... I found our way to our room.

: )

While opening the door, for Steph... she said...

"Where's the Gym? I have to work out in the morning."

: )

I... just stood there, at the door, smiling... 

said...

"How the hell would I know... Look at me. : )

and...

trust me, after setting a Booth at Heart, you're not gonna need a Gym, for a workout."

: )

Steph... assured me, she Would need the Gym.

; ) 

Steph found it, the next morning.

; )

Then... we headed to The Convention Center.

About a mile, or so... walk, through The Beautiful Conservatory.

<3

Then... we had to get our directions... 'Load In' numbers, walk... a few more miles, outside, back and forth... to our Trucks, hand carried smalls, and Booth Props.

: )

It was evening, before we could get our Trucks inside to completely unload, that first day.

We got back to our room, about 10 p.m.

Hadn't eaten since breakfast. Everything in the Hotel closed at 8, or 9.

Way Too Far, from anything.

That night, when I opened the door for Steph...

she stumbled into The Room.

Threw herself... on her bed, and said...

"I feel like a bag of bones."

I'll never forget that statement.

She Nailed It!!

; )

Love the above image.

2017

'Before'.

That Vintage Sofa was The Bomb!!

<3 <3 <3 

; )

Sure miss that Old Farm House, across the road, and... Really Miss all of the Ditches, that held water, and kept us from flooding.

: (

Watched a BUNCH of Funny Videos, today.

: )

'Practical Jokes'

: )

Conner's... being Irish, can be...a little serious, a bit dry, a little mischievous...

or...

A Lot Serious, and... a Lot Mischievous.

{never... 'dry'. ; )}

Dad, sadly... lost several of his fingers from his left hand...

 while working on a Dredge Line, at a Sand Plant...

by the Cedar River, in the late 1960's.

Dad was working on the Dredge Line, trying to untwist its cables, when... his Boss, and Friend, engaged the cables, that twisted several of Dad's fingers off.

Dad... Never complained, about anything.

: )

<3

Wasn't long... before he was right back to work.

<3

Here's The Conner 'Naughty'.

<3

I always rode, then worked with Dad, Everywhere... 'Junkin', and Scrappin',

 from the time I was 2, until... about 17.

: )

Dad, would always have a few... Hired Men, helping cut scrap, at the bigger jobs.

<3

Many, were struggling, trying to get by, like us.

: )

At Noon, while Junkin'... Dad would always provide a meal for his Helpers.

We'd usually go to Hy Vee, get a bucket of Chicken, and sides... for us all to share.

We'd all sit together outside, usually... on the job site... for lunch.

It didn't take long, for the Helper's to break down and ask Dad... how he lost his fingers, seems they'd always, over the years... ask him, over lunches.

: )

Dad... would tell the story, then... he'd go on, and tell the Guys,

 "The Dr.'s let me keep one finger... Ya wanna see it?? I carry it with me in the Truck."

They all thought Dad was pulling their legs, over the years.

Tho... you could see, they never wanted to 'see', and... mostly doubted Dad actually had his finger in the Truck... 

yet...

they'd all nod with a... "Yeah."

so...

Dad would say...

"Barbie, go get the Skoal can... from the glovebox."

: )

Away I'd trot... and retrieve the 'Skoal'... can.

I'd hand it to Dad...

 He held the can, in the palm of his right hand, then...

ask The Helper's... with much 'concern'... in his eyes, 

if they 'Really'.... wanted to 'see' it.

???

I'd watch their faces.

 Their eyes.

By then, seeing that old Skoal can, had them... pretty nervous.

They each... would nod, some... I actually saw bead's of sweat forming on their foreheads...

as Dad... slowly twisted the lid off of the old... Skoal can.

Inside the can... cradled in old... reddish brown...

 'tinged' cotton wadding, was indeed,

Dad's

 Finger.

I watched The Blood Drain, from many of Dad's Helper's Faces, over the years... as their eyes Locked... on Dad's... Finger, laying so lifeless... and still... 

inside that old...

Skoal can.

but...

what was even better, was when Dad made his finger

Wiggle!!

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Dad had taken an old Skoal can, cut a hole in the bottom, 

for his right hand middle finger... to poke up through, with cotton wadding, he'd soaked in a little iodine...

: ) : ) : )

Looking back, I truly don't know how I kept a straight face watching Dad be So Naughty!!!

I Knew What was Coming!!

: ) : ) : )

but... couldn't Let On.

I'd have to look as Serious, and Stoic... as Dad!!!

; )

Some of those Guys... oh my, when Dad wiggled his finger, in that old Can...

Nearly Hit The Ground...

Face First!!!

Hahahahahaha!!!

: ) : ) : ).........

Wonder... whatever happened to that old Skoal can??

: )

Started the above post, yesterday.

1/8

: )

Got sidetracked.

My heart is sure Heavy.... for California, and All...

who are suffering, and struggling today.

Prayers... so Many... Prayers.

Watching those funny videos, that were kinda Naughty Practical Jokes, oh my.

Needed That Escape.

Glad... for the distraction, because... they made me think of Dad's Sense of Humor!!

Watching Dad... In Action, was Quite a Show.

: )

<3

Grateful.

; )

Love to Ya...

Barb C.