Come In!! Come In!!

; )

Peg's Sterling Thumbprint...

John's Ashes... inside the tiny Heart.

and, 

the

 Quote...

 with

 Peg's initial... 'P' on the lovely chain around my neck, Peg's Daughter, Sarah...

gave me, shortly after Peg went 'Home'.

I captured the above image, under John's Old Oak...

after Peg's funeral.

Peg... Fought a Long Battle...

 against... 

what she always referred to, 

as...

'The Dirty little bastard'.

cancer

{I'll never capitalize that sickening, putrid... 'word'}

for several years.

As Peg Fought... I'd remind her... of the Rodney Atkins tune.

: )

'If You're Going Through Hell...'

<3

It, reminded me of an Irish Blessing, or... a few, that I hold dear.

; )

<3

This day...

the day after...

'Gold Rush'.

; )

Usually... 

the day after a 'show'...

I'd be hunkered down, lickin' my wounds... 

trying to recoup...

my body and mind, 

in 

Complete

Uninterrupted

Solitude.

In other words,

'Don't'.

because...

I won't.

; )

<3

Don't Call.

Don't Text.

Don't come knockin' at the door.

; )

I won't... answer...

the day after, a 'Show'.

<3

Sadly, I've fallen so incredibly far behind, on most Everything,

this year...

{Fairfax, Iowa... and The Iowa Department of Transportation}

Had... to try to get caught up... on Whole Bunch, today.

{'Racing Estate Sale' Coming Soon!! Sept. 11, thru 14!! GADS!!}

Grateful...

Grandson, Justin... was here to Make It Happen.

We made a Big Dent, Trimming, today.

<3

It was Hotter Than a 2 Dollar Pistol, oh my.

Gads!!

; )

but,

 we trimmed LOADS of Brush.

I asked Justin... to hang the Old Oak's 'Nose', again.

<3

Justin Sr., and Liz... gave John's Old Oak... a 'Face', decades ago, on Father's Day.

<3

John hammered tiny nails into his Beloved Oak, for the Face.

The tiny nail... that held the Nose, was weak.

: (

It's blown off... so many times over the decades.

: (

I couldn't bear to replace that little nail, John drove in.

Today... I asked our Grandson, to.

: )

Justin tried to save John's nail...

<3

It was 'Done'.

: (

I directed June Bug, to grab a Screw... and his Dad's Driver.

: )

<3

That Nose... will Never 'Blow Away' again!!!

; )

<3

Had to capture an image of Justin 'J'... replacing The Old Oak's Nose.

<3

Saturday... late in the day,  at Gold Rush...

noticed a young man, just outside the door to our booth.

With the construction... we weren't supposed to have the door open, at the Simply Iowa Booth....

but, it was so hot...

I, didn't care... what anyone had to say.

We... The Graham Building... Needed The Cross Ventilation.

; )

It was a Lifesaver.

: )

The Young Man, 'Stephen'... and I, enjoyed a Long conversation...

He, just outside the Simply Iowa... door, and me... just inside.

: )

Stephen... was quite amazing.

: )

Incredibly Well Spoken.

He offered me several items.

Told Stephen, I wouldn't take any 'gifts' from him, but... asked him to show me, what he had for 'sale'.

Stephen showed me several items, that... I had no use for, 

told Stephen, so...

then...

Stephen pulled from his pockets, the below.

: )

BINGO!!!

Priceless!!

<3

I asked Stephen, if it would be ok, to take his picture.

Stephen... agreed, but asked me to wait... until he could shave.

: )

Told Stephen, he looked Perfect, and... that 'Rugged' look, is 'In' today!!

: )

He wouldn't hear of it.

; )

Stephen quickly shaved, with the razor he carries in his backpack.

<3

Stephen made me think of a Shel Silverstein poem,

possibly, the best poem I've ever read.

'Invitation'

'If you are a dreamer, come in.

If you are a dreamer, a wisher a liar,

A hope-er... a pray-er... a magic bean buyer...

If  you're a pretender, come sit by my fire...

For, we have some flax-golden tales to spin.

Come In!...

Come In!'

<3

Talk about a 'Boxer'.

; )

<3

I'll always Cherish... that little Heart, and... our Gold Rush 'Visit'.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Wasn't until early... Sunday morning, looking at the image of Stephen, did I 'see' all of 

the

'Winks'.

oh my.

; )