Tuesday, September 30, 2025
The Frog... and The Boiling Pot.
Love...
the above, very... 'Vintage' image.
<3
Pal, Alice... from Alice's Wonderland, Mt. Vernon, Iowa...
kindly,
gifted it to me many, many... Moons ago.
<3
Have often used it... for The Fall Harvest Sale, advertisements.
<3
This is the first year...
there won't be a
Fall Harvest Sale.
Makes me sad.
Makes... many, sad.
Have no idea... how I could've pulled it off, this year.
Fairfax has pretty much thrown a fly in the ointment, with their West Cemetery Road, and bridge projects.
Closing West Cemetery Road, puts all of the traffic on Stallman.
{We live, and work... on a triangular piece of land.
West Cemetery Road, to the North.
Stallman Drive, to the West...
and...
Highway 151 to the East.}
The next two years... it appears, are going to be miserable, with the construction.
Already was, this morning.
The City had Stallman completely blocked off, in every direction, this early morning.
No access.
Son, Justin... and Grandson, 'J'... had to snake their way through the ditch... and roadblocks, this morning to get to work.
Exchanged several emails... with Fairfax's new...
{former...
'Inspector'}
City Administrator, Mr. Phillip, yesterday, and today.
Between losing our Mailbox, yesterday... with no warning, or plan... given,
{I believe... messing with someone's mailbox, is a Federal Offense. : ) }
and...
being blocked out of our access, this... early...
morning,
well.
Justin, isn't happy.
Nor... am I.
Pal, Steph... it seems, said it best.
'Death... by a Thousand Cuts'.
again...
Incredibly Grateful, to Lawyer Meardon.
Without him, we would've lost our Barn, and... much more land, to the North, with the West Cemetery Road projects.
Feel sorry for our Neighbors, to the North, and West.
: (
I... advised several of them to find a Lawyer.
Unless you've been through 'Condemnation', until... it 'happens' to 'you',
ya can't understand, until... it's too late.
: (
{trust me, I've been guilty of that, too. Too 'busy', at one time... to pay attention.}
: (
It's like the Frog, in the Boiling Pot.
At first... the water is fine.
Tepid.
The frog... is very comfortable.
The heat goes up... gradually.
no... worries.
; )
then...
the Heat Really Goes Up.
by then, it's too late.
: (
The Frog... is Cooked.
Truth...
Indeed.
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Monday, September 29, 2025
just... a little bit.
This Day... has been Crazy.
; )
Been Hoppin'... Most of the Day!!
Between Estimates for the IDOT Mess, having many, many...
Folks...
'pop in',
helping Son, Justin...
a bit,
doing computer stuff...
returning texts, and
emails...
oh my.
; )
Amongst Everything...
today,
one thing,
really caught me off guard, but... gives me the opportunity to share an
Old Story,
again...
concerning
the old... old,
'Confessions
5:00 - 7:00
Daily'
Plaque,
and...
now, add to it.
; )
oh...dear.
Time goes by so fast... I believe... it was about 20 years ago,
remember coming up to the house... after being down The Rabbit Hole, completely drained,
day... after day.
Remember telling John, when I'd stumble in... didn't know how much more I could take.
It seems, when Folks would stop by, back then... we'd get to visiting, before long... I heard some of their 'Life' stories.
So many Folks... are going through So Much, listening to their heartaches, and... losses, that were so not apparent on the surface.
: (
My heart would weep for some of them.
: (
About that time... during a Sale, here... Pal, Maurina brought the 'Confessions' plaque.
Had to Have It.
; )
It was kind of an inside joke.
Not... Funny, but... was the way I felt.
If... we could limit the 'Confessions'... to just two hours a day, I could handle that.
: )
{I'd never limit 'Time'... with Anyone, 'listening' ever. <3 Felt honored Folk's felt comfortable enough with me, to 'share', but... sometimes, it was overwhelming. Very sad.}
I nailed the little Plaque to the Rabbit Hole's entry door, and... smile... when I happened to glance at it.
: )
One day... shortly after I placed the little Plaque on the door, a group of women stopped by.
I was outside, painting a sign.
They climbed out of a Very... 'Luxury' Car, and were dressed To The Nines.
; )
Told them to go on inside, have fun... and if they had questions, they knew where to find me.
: )
They all went in, each... came out with a little Treasure.
: )
The last lady in the group... had something in her hand, I couldn't quite see.
She attempted to shove two dollars in my hand, and said...
"Here... this is for my purchase."
?
I... wouldn't take her two dollars, until I could see what she was holding.
"It's just this. I want it for my Sister."
It was the little Plaque, that I'd nailed to the door.
I... said, "Sorry, that was nailed to the door. It's not for sale."
She said... "Yes it is. I want it... for my Sister."
I said...
"No, Ma'am... it isn't."
as I retrieved it from her grip.
I walked straight to The Rabbit Hole, grabbed my Old Screw Gun, and Screwed it to the door.
Obviously... nails weren't good enough.
Turned out...
today,
Screw's aren't either.
Hahahahahahahahaha!!!
; )
A Very Sweet Couple, called me... as I was working on the computer... this afternoon.
Wanted to know if they could shop.
I'm Open by appointment, 'These Days'... but, told them if they could give me a little time, I'd come down.
; )
They were having Much Fun... diggin'.
They decided to wait.
: )
They had a pile of things ready for me to look at, when I got there.
: )
At the bottom of an old... wooden crate, was what I thought was just a piece of metal.
Almost... dismissed it, but... then picked it up, and turned it over.
Oh My Lord!!!
It was 'The Plaque'!!!
GADS!!!
Holy Smokes!!
I looked at the Guy, and said...
"This was Screwed To The Door!!"
The screw... on the backside, was sheared off!!
{He had to Work... at That One!!}
; )
Told them both 'The Story'.
; )
Told the Girlfriend, think I'm gonna have to hook an Electric Fencer to It!!!
She Laughed!!
Ya know... this Guy, didn't make me angry at all.
: )
He was having So Much Fun, I... Know... he meant no harm.
He... was just So Excited!!
Hahahahahaha!!!
Now.... the other time, well...
that, still kinda sticks in my craw.
; )
just...
a little bit.
: )
'Intent'
is a big deal...
in my
eyes.
May have to price a Weed Burner... Electric Fencer, tomorrow,
when I Screw The Plaque back into The Rabbit Hole's Door.
: )
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Apparently... with The West Cemetery Road Bridge Project, The City of Fairfax is removing all of the mailboxes, on Stallman Drive.
Imagine my Surprise... when finding our mailbox thrown in our yard... this afternoon.
: (
Gratefully, I happened to catch one of the workers.
He informed me, I'd have to pick mail up at a temporary location.
{two years}
He, went on...and said... he thought I'd been notified.
Yeah...
No.
: (
The New City Administrator... Chris Philipp, just emailed me about being Sure....
I followed the signage for the detour... onto Stallman Drive.
He... didn't mention our Mailbox.
: (
Fairfax, City Hall....
as we all know...
is
Full of Surprises.
'Home, Sweet.... Home'.
; )
Bless their hearts.
John... hand built, and welded that mailbox stand.
'Trash'
to
Fairfax, Iowa... City Hall.
kinda like a
'Dead Horse'
to
this town.
City Hall
Sunday, September 28, 2025
A Day... in The Country.
Went to visit Justin... and his Family, yesterday.
<3
Justin purchased around three acres, of ground... with a Neat, Old...
Building on it, that looks like an Old... Livestock Auction House, a couple of years ago...
near
Chelsea, Iowa.
The Kids, and their Friends, have worked incredibly hard cleaning it up, and out.
It's Beautiful...
<3
Friends, and Neighbors... enjoy little Events there, bi-weekly, 'Weekends', during the warm months.
: )
I'd never been there.
: (
It was Quite a Treat!!
<3
Love It!!
Busy, Busy!!
: )
So many Kids, and Families... having Fun... Diggin'!!
: )
Below...
is my
'Brunch Plate'
this morning...
at my 'Happy Place', in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Edith Lucielle's.
They have a Buffet, only... on the last Sunday of the month.
It's Insane!!!
Smoked Prime Rib... and, Most Everything Else one could Imagine!!
It's my Monthly Splurge, when I have the chance to attend.
: )
Pal, Cheryl... didn't make it.
{Kinda had my doubts, hearing her voice... this morning. ; ) }
Was a good thing, Cheryl didn't make it.
About two bites in, my phone went off.
I was done... eating, at that point.
It was one of John's 'Closest'.
<3
{Justin asked him to call me.}
After John... passed away, haven't remained in contact with John's Friends, and Family.
: (
It's simply too difficult.
Justin has remained very close with them all.
<3
They look out for Justin, have sure helped him in John's absence.
So... Incredibly Grateful.
<3
He doesn't know much about the Hell... we're going through, with IDOT, and Fairfax.
Only the little, Justin... knows.
but...
He Knew John, this Property, 'before'.
Told him... I could sure use some advise.
He was sitting at an airport, on the East Coast, waiting on a plane, to return to Iowa...
Asked him, if he'd give me a call when he returns, so I can bring him up to speed, or... better yet, have Lawyer Meardon... bring him up to speed.
"Of course. That's what I promised John, I'd do. Still have the message on my phone, from John... when he was in the hospital, asking me to always look out for you all."
Well.
That...
was it.
: (
Melted into a Pool of Goo.
The Kind... Server, boxed up my 'plate'.
Miss. Peanut will eat Well.
<3
John... practically raised this Kid. 'Man'.
They were 'The Closest'.
<3
Honest... Hard Working.
Respected...
Kind.
and...
very
knowledgeable,
on many, many...
levels.
John, Dad, Lawyer Meardon... and This Man, seems,
were All Cut from the Very Same Cloth.
; )
{Don Young, too. : ) Fairfax State Savings Bank}
One of my biggest flaws...
{I have so few... Ya know.
; )
Hahahahahahahaha!!}
just... hate asking for help.
: (
stubborn.
: (
How LONG did it take me to reach out to Lawyer Meardon??
: (
Big Mistake.
: (
Learn... from Mine.
Might save Ya... from a Tumble down a Flight of Stairs...
'Chasin' Documents'!!
{was actually doing laundry, but.... packing Documents, for the Texas, trip... at the same time.
IDOT... oh my.}
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Now and Then.
Beautiful Sunday Morning..
in
Iowa!!
Grateful... for Coffee!!.
; )
Long Day... yesterday.
oh my.
Not movin' too fast this morning.
Meeting with Pal, Cheryl... for Brunch, hopefully.
She's not movin' too fast, either, this Pretty Sunday Morn!!
; )
I... need to take a drive, so told Cheryl... if she can make it, fine...
if not,
we'll hook up another time.
<3
I... just need a 'moment'.
Most of us do, now and then.
: )
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Friday, September 26, 2025
Saint Michael...
Another Crazy Day... in Paradise.
; )
Been working on getting estimates to somehow repair...
the damages from
the IDOT's... mess, 'shambles'... with the 2020 Highway 151 'project'.
{Fairfax's 'Bike Trail'.}
{Heading to Trial... soon.}
I'm not confident on making repairs to our Home, until...
The Problem's are Solved.
They won't be solved... in my opinion...
until
our
Signed, Recorded Agreement... with The Iowa Department of Transportation...
is
Honored.
Yep... the Highway 151 Bridge that adjoins our property, will have to be rebuilt, the way it should've been...
'built',
per our
Recorded Agreement.
{As The Iowa Department of Transportation would expect us to,
had 'We' breached our Agreement, and built on their Right of Way... wrongfully.}
Lawyer Meardon informed me several years ago...
The Iowa Department of Transportation
enjoys
'Immunity'
to
Fraud.
That... made me scratch my head.
{Many others, are scratching their heads, as well.... concerning IDOT's
Fraud
'Immunity'.}
Why... would a Government entity feel the need to be immune,
to
'Fraud'...
?
unless...
they planned on
committing it???
Perhaps...
someone can explain the 'purpose' for The Iowa Department of Transportation's
'Immunity'...
to
Fraud.
?
If 'we' were all immune to 'Fraud', oh my....
what a Country we'd be living in.
Think about it.
I have.
Makes me sick.
: (
Yep... I can have the repairs done, then... watch them be destroyed, again, and again.
{We've flooded 19 times, since IDOT's 2020 project, where we've never taken on water... before.}
We're in a Bowl, thanks to IDOT's accommodations for Fairfax's 'Bike Trail'.
Wouldn't have been...
had
The Iowa Department of Transportation,
simply...
kept their Recorded...
'word'.
Our
Signed, Recorded... Agreement.
The 151 Highway Bridge, needs to shrink.
Lowered, and Narrowed... considerably.
then...
we'd have drainage.
Our ditches... back.
'Stormwater Retention'
Not on the South side, by The Rabbit Hole.
: (
That's a Whole Other Mess... IDOT created, with this 'project'.
: (
{Stallman Drive}
I Hope... nobody asks me why I sip Tequila, at night.
; )
If they do, well... I'll invite them to take a Walk... with me.
; )
It doesn't take an Engineer's eye, to 'See'... this mess.
With Everything that's happening in the world, today...
feel sad, about complaining about IDOT, and Fairfax.
: (
So Many... are Struggling Far More, than me.
: ( : ( : (
Know...
I Pray, for 'All'.
Every Morning, and Night.
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Simply... Iowa.
Dad... is astride the Pony.
Uncle Ted, is holding her.
<3
They were born, and raised in Derby, Iowa.
<3
<3
Grateful...
for where, and Who...
I come from.
Was 'raised' by.
One of 'those'... days.
Some mornings... it seems, we'd be better off staying in bed, and skippin' the day entirely.
Give'er another...
Whirl,
tomorrow.
This day, tho... it's still very young,
I'm thinkin'...
is,
uh...
'One of 'Those' days'.
; )
The thing is...
There is No 'Tomorrow'.
Today... this moment, is all we're promised.
No Time...
to rest... wait, or waste.
It's Harvest
Time...
in
Iowa.
The Farmer's, and Trucker's are working Around The Clock.
Full Throttle, Wide Open...
to
help
Feed The World.
<3
Like Martin Luther King Jr.
said...
"If you can't Fly... then run.
If you can't Run...
then... walk.
If you can't Walk...
then...
crawl,
but...
whatever you do,
you have to keep
Moving Forward."
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
There's a 'First Time'... for Everything.
; )
indeed...
<3
Sure Miss That Man.
; )
Truth.
indeed
Not a Snowball's.
; )
Seems...
There's a First Time, for Everything.
: )
Drove a Friend... and Customer, back to her Home... this morning, when she dropped off her Truck, for 'The Justins' to work on.
{She Loves Grandson, Justin. <3 She kept Singing His Praises...
the entire ride.
He's Hard Working, after... his Homeschool Studies, is Very Polite... and, a little shy.
; )
A Good Young Man.}
<3
For some reason... felt the need, to go out to breakfast, after dropping Jan off.
Haven't went out for breakfast, in Years.
Years.
Before John, and I... were officially a 'Couple', several 'Lifetimes' ago,
he'd sometimes call, ask... if I'd like to meet him for coffee, before... I headed to school, and he... headed to work.
We'd sip coffee at Perkins, and shoot the breeze, before we each...
took on
'The Day'.
; )
Landed at Perkins, this... very early morning.
; )
The Server... met me at the door, and directed me to a table.
As I sat down...
The Server...
Blindsided me... with a question.
{I expected her to ask if I'd like coffee.}
she asked...
"What size Boots do you wear... I'm guessing a 10."
{whaaaaat??}
I... uh... smiled, and said...
"These are Men's Boots. 8 1/2.
A half size smaller, than my last pair. Have a bad ankle, so... have to wear 'Boots' these days."
: )
She replied....
"So, basically... a size 10, in Women's. I Knew It!!"
; )
{whaaaaat??}
"How can you wear Boots, with a bad ankle? How do you get them on??"
; )
{whaaaaat??}
{hahahahahaha!!!}
; )
Explained to The Server, that's why... I went half a size larger, shortly after the compressed nerve issues, in my left leg, but... gratefully... now, can wear much more fitting Boots.
; )
If I were a Man, I... might understand it, when someone asks my 'Boot Size'!!!
Hahahahahahaha!!!!
; )
I gotta tell ya,
'this'
was a
'First'.
; )
The Server... was Amazing.
: )
{I'm a pretty good judge, concerning 'Servers'. I was one, for Years.
My second Favorite Job.
<3
Love... Taking 'Care' of People.
'Serving'
If this ankle was better, I'd be 'Serving', or Bartending, at night.}
<3
Happy Birthday... to Sister, Merry Jo.
<3
Out of 7 of us Kids, it's just me, and Merry Jo... left.
: (
Merry Jo, is 9 years older than me... but, it's not
'The Years',
it's
'The Miles'...
that count.
; )
believe...
Merry Jo would agree, I've got a Lot more 'Miles' on me, than she has.
{Merry has never lived in Fairfax, Iowa... or had to 'deal' with The Iowa Department of Transportation.}
oh my.
: )
That old... 'Mister', was Quite a Horse.
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Just... Sayin'.
Above... is what Lawyer Meardon
agreed to, on my behalf.
The Iowa Department of Transportation... agreed, and signed off.
Sadly, it seems,
the recorded agreements between land owners, and The Iowa Department of Transportation's
'words'...
in my opinion,
would be better used as toilet paper.
If you think I'm angry,
you're right.
What a Ride.
Long day.
One... wouldn't think so, at... 2:45 in the afternoon.
but
it's been a Long Day, in 'my' world.
Met with Men... today, this morning...
that I needed to gather estimates, again...
from, for the flooding issues with 'Home', since the
Iowa Department of Transportation's...
Condemnation for Fairfax's Bike Trail... project.
It's a sad, sad... mess.
Seems we're all kinda scratching our heads.
: (
Have to get a Plumber in, in addition, he's scheduled for next week.
The Plumber asked me what time works best for me... next Thursday.
Replied, I was at his mercy. We need him in as soon as possible.
: )
He said...
"How about 7, or 7 :30 a.m.?"
; )
told him...
I'd make That Work!!
I'd just have to limit my Wednesday Evening
Tequila...
IDOT/Fairfax...
'Therapy Session'.
He LAUGHED!!!
; )
{oh... to have a 'Real' Life.
: )
I... kinda remember 'Those'... days,
'Before', when I would've thought...
'that', was 'funny'... too. : )}
Hahahahahaha!!!
oh dear.
Indeed.
The above image popped up on FB Memories, today.
<3
The Rabbit Hole,
once upon a time.
'Before'.
A Very, Very... Wise Man, told me Long, Long...
ago...
"It's All... about 'The Journey', Barb."
<3
I reckon... so.
; )
What a Ride.
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
The Men... who were writing estimates, for two separate... Major Issues, today...
were amazed at how much I understood about the specifics of these Issues.
{Their Professional 'Language'}
I've studied this Mess, for 8 years.
There should be some kind of a 'Degree' given, with that amount of Time... invested.
; )
On the Engineering side, my 'Tutors'... oh my.
hahahahahaha.
They weren't honest with me, so...
had to Dig All That Much Harder, and Deeper,
to find the
Truth.
Yes... I've learned a lot, about elevations... drawings... alignments... benches...
tiles, leach lines, perc tests... mold... encroachment... stormwater retention, ponding...
'authority'...
and, so very... very, much more...
but mostly...
have learned, two things.
Number 1.
When The Iowa Department of Transportation Highway Division, and/or...
a City's Hired... Engineer, comes knocking at your door....
with a Big Smile... on their face,
Smile, and nod... at their 'spiel'.
; )
Thank them for their 'concerns'.
{bless their hearts}
: )
Close the door.
then...
Call The Best Lawyer You Can Find.
: )
Number 2.
Water doesn't run uphill.
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