Friday, October 31, 2025
Happy Halloween... to All.
The Gnarly... Old... Martin House, at times, looks like a
'Haunted'
House.
; )
Often... sit back, gaze at it,
wondering...
if,
it were an Old... Farmhouse, what Stories...
It...
would hold.
<3
I've been in many... many... Old Houses, that some would be nervous about entering.
They all... tell a 'Story'.
: )
Many, stories.
Thought to myself, often, while walking through them...
if...
only
' Walls could talk.'
<3
It's very sad... to walk through an abandoned Home.
Seems when 'Life' ...
Human 'Energy'
leaves an Old... House,
the
House... falls apart very quickly.
: (
It's like 'Life'... was slowly being drained out of them.
Like a candle... being snuffed by the lack of oxygen.
: (
This is Halloween, should be sharing some Ghost Stories.
: )
I... could share a few.
A Few... that, might make the hair on the back of your neck...
Stand Tall.
; )
None... concerning Old... abandoned Homes.
<3
They... all died of Loneliness.
: (
Forgottenness
{'Haunting', indeed}
Over the years... I've been called on, to look at property.
Folk's asking me to purchase their items.
Years ago... a Man called me, told me he had a Building Full... of his Grandparent's inventory...
His Grandparent's had a Store, in a small Iowa Town, that had been handed down for generations.
I, of course, was anxious to see the Store, and it's Old Contents.
: )
Met with the Man, as we were walking up to the door, I.... paused.
Bad...
Feeling.
: (
The Man... opened The Old Store's Door for me.
I...
stopped.
Froze.
The Hair on The Back of my Neck... and on my arms,
stood Tall.
It wasn't the Nice... Man, that stopped me.
Thanked the Man, for the opportunity, then, told him...
I wasn't interested.
; )
Turned, and walked away.
I'm kind of 'sensitive' to certain things.
; )
I Listen.. to my senses.
Some, might think I'm crazy... but, I won't purchase ANYTHING from a Booth, at an Antique Shop, or Show...
that has a certain...
'board'
in it.
ever.
When we run across that certain 'board' at an Estate Sale, I demand it be GONE.
Trashed.
There's Ghosts, and...
: )
Happy Halloween.
Cheers!!
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Pigs Can.... Swim.
: )
Did you know Pig's could swim???
: ) : ) : )
I'm an Iowa Farm Girl... and, had No Idea.
: )
<3
Learned that many years ago when Allyson and I went to New Orleans.
We were on a Swamp Tour.
The Man who guided us had marshmallows for us to throw to the
Wild Piggies.
They'd swim out to the boat to get them.
<3 <3 <3
Love It!!
<3
Yesterday was such an ugly day...
made some unintentional mistakes...
that 'impacted'...
disappointed.
: (
Felt like leading off with the below image, this morning.
I... know, everyone makes 'mistakes'.
I own them, when I make them.
Doesn't make them easier to deal with.
I do my best... to Not make them, because...
there's Nothing worse in my eyes, than disappointing someone,
letting people down... especially, when my mistakes make more Work, for others.
: (
but...
felt I'd rather... 'better' start this day off,
with something Happy, rather than...
start it off, the way 'yesterday' ended.
Yesterday's Gone.
It's a New Day.
The Sun... is Shining.
{in Iowa}
: )
Those who read this, if they didn't know it...
before,
learned today,
Pigs 'Can'... Swim.
; )
That's a Win, to start off
'This Day'.
; )
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Wrote a post last night, then... deleted it.
The Tune that came to mind... was Elton John,
'Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word'.
The post just... didn't sit right.
Thought about it, and thought... about it.
It's been my experience, throughout life,
'Sorry'...
isn't the hardest word, by a long shot.
'Sorry'... is a healing word, a necessary word, when given
genuinely, with authenticity.
<3
'Disappointment', in my opinion, is number One.
I'd Much rather have someone Mad as Hell at me, than...
'disappointed'.
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
It's Been a Day.
Think...
I'll sit this this one, out.
; )
Love to Ya....
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Posted the latest Fairfax Council meeting, above.
Please watch it.
; )
Fairfax, Iowa... City Hall, at Its Finest.
; )
{For the record... the meeting I posted 'above' is from the
10/14/25...
Fairfax, Iowa... City Council Meeting,
not,
'10/14/26'
as
Fairfax's Clerk posted on YouTube.}
God Only Knows, how much I care, about our little town.
God Only Knows, how sad I am.
Many reasons.
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
'Adventures'
'Adventures'
; )
Yeah...
It's All About the Journey.
: )
Pal, Dale... Pal, Mark...
Dear Michael, and...
Ed.
; )
Ed and Michael, used to come Visit 'Iowa', a few times a year, back in 'The Day'.
All Hell... seemed to Always Break Out,
when
'The Boy's Were Back'.
: )
They have an AMAZING Store, in Brenham, Texas.
'Leftovers Antiques'
Top
Notch.
; )
Beyond!!
<3
It was a Whirlwind... when 'The Boys' hit Iowa.
CRAZY!!
I'd jump in The Truck with them... we'd Hit some of my Very Favorite Antiquing
'Honey Holes'...
so they could Fill their Massive Trailer, and...
a couple of 26 foot Penske Trucks, many times.
Oh Boy!!
; )
Insanity.
{Good... Insanity}
<3
The Miles... we covered, in a few
Short...
'Long'
days.
; )
oh my.
We Busted Our Tails every day...
then...
in the
Evenings...
Ed, and Michael would Treat, me...
and, often... Pals... for Supper.
<3
Captured the above image... one night,
just...
after Supper, at Texas Roadhouse, in Cedar Rapids.
: )
Dale... Mark, Michael, Edwardo.... and me, had just enjoyed a
Wonderful Meal.
As we were visiting, heard a scuffle behind me.
All of a Sudden...
Plate's of Food were Flying!!
: )
{looked at The Boys,
said...
"I.... believe it's time for us to leave."}
; )
a
Fight...
was
Comin' On.
: )
Could Feel It.
Sure Enough...
as we were Scootin' towards the door,
All Hell Was Breakin' Loose, not far from our table!!!
Fist's Were Flyin'!!!
; )
kinda figured...
'The Law'...
wasn't too far behind.
; )
I...
was correct.
; )
The 'Law'... was making 'Their' Way inside Texas Roadhouse,
as...
we,
were
Exiting.
: )
Noticed the Law Enforcement Vehicle,
just outside
Texas Roadhouse's door...
; )
couldn't resist asking ...
The Boys,
All of Them,
to
Pose.
: )
That's a Memory.
: ) : ) : )
'Adventure'.
; )
{One... of Many....
when
'The Boys' were Back in Town.}
: )
So Grateful...
'Blogger' saved those memories.
{yeah... still havin' Fun, going through them all in my 'spare' time.}
: )
Priceless.
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
{Ed's motto is...
'Work Hard... Play Harder'.
: )
Ed, and I... most definitely have that in common.
; )
Lord, Lord.... We All Worked Hard.
Runnin' Fast, and Furious for Miles, and Miles... and Miles.
Loading Trucks.... sometimes in The Bitter, Bitter Cold!!
; )
Lord... Lord,
we
Played Hard,
too....
; )
when
Those Boy's were Back!!
: )
Make No Mistake.... neither of us would walk away from a
Fight,
if...
The Fight was 'Ours'.
: )
but,
None of us... were interested in
Divin' Into a 'Fight', we knew
Nothing About.
; )
'Those'
kind of
'Fights'
are better left alone.}
; )
Hahahahahahaha!!!
; )
Monday, October 27, 2025
another Warm... Autumn Day.
Fall...
oh my.
<3
It's been so incredibly warm... this Fall.
It wasn't until last Friday morning, after taking a bath, did I think to turn on the furnace.
I... was shivering, in my robe...
while going through paperwork, teeth chattering on the phone.
Checked the thermostat, it was 59 degrees in the house.
YIKES!!!
No wonder I was shivering!!
Cranked That Baby UP!!
: )
Toasty... now.
; )
Walked to the shop, today.
Needed to pay Justin 'J', for helping me so much... last week.
<3
The Justin's {and The Pup's}
were working on
'The Hearse'.
: )
Asked 'The Boys', what they had in mind...
?
a
'New' Business... Venture,
perhaps.
??
: )
Hahahahahaha!!!
It's Very Cool.
Would make a Great
'Fishin' Ride'.
Throw a mattress in, back up to the Riverbank,
around
Midnight...
cast a few lines out,
then...
'Rest in Peace'
until...
The Catfish Bite!!
: )
They assured me,
'No'.
: )
I asked Justin,
'about... how much does a new Cadillac Hearse sell for today?'
{The above is a 2012, or 16, with 60,000 miles, or so.}
?
NEW....
They Sell for 80,000 to 104,000.
oh my.
: )
Wowza!!
Who Can Afford to Die...
when an
Uber Ride to the Cemetery would most likely cost more than my first vehicle???
{ 64 1/2 Mustang. Two Hundred and Fifty 'dollars'.}
; )
Hahahahaha!!!
{I'm in the wrong.... business. : )}
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
{When I die, nothing fancy.
; )
Want Someone...
who
'Knows'
how
to
'Drive'
; )
to
carry my ashes down an old...
Iowa,
gravel...
back road,
in an
Old Mustang.
: )
Give It Hell...
HELL!!!
; )
then...
Turn
my ashes
Loose...
out
the
window.}
; )
<3
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Insanity.
Hahahahahaha!!!
: )
Some Things Never Change...
it seems.
: )
Today was the Awesome...
Midwest & Collector's Eye
Shows, at
Hawkeye Downs, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
{above is my booth there, 11 years ago.
The Kids helped me set up... oh dear Lord, I was So Tired... during that set up.
; )
Not sure how we pulled it off.}
I... didn't attend The Shows, today.
Hated to miss them,
but...
; )
I'm mentally, 'emotionally' drained.
Totally.
Too much Insanity from every side, shooting arrows.
; )
Needed quiet, and solitude... more than anything, today.
Hope They All had a Wonderful Show!!
It's Such a Gift to our area.
<3
Many Pal's were set up there.
<3
If you've never done a 'Show', let me tell Ya,
They're Insane.
; )
but...
'Good'
Insanity.
; )
Miss...
that
'Good' Insanity.
; )
Miss My People.
<3
'Tribe'.
<3
I've got another...
Crazy Week...
ahead.
Knew... I'd better have my legs under me, to take it on.
Rest.
Rest.
Rest.
There's not much fun in it, but...
know all too well,
Ya can't pour from an empty cup.
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Explainin' to do.
Pollyanna.
<3
I've so enjoyed going through Vintage Blog images.
: )
Treasure Trove.
The above... is an image I captured of
Polly.
<3
Guessing around 2010, 2012.
: )
Pollyanna, was a Princess.
<3
Son, Justin's... Beautiful Pitty, and... John's Beloved... Shepherd, Elliot...
had a secret affair,
that resulted in a litter of Pups.
<3
; )
I took the reins of finding Perfect Homes, for All of the Pups, but one.
Justin's Friend, had pick of the litter.
I was a bit concerned... about Justin's Friend, not because he wasn't a Good Kid.
A Puppy, requires a lot of time, and patience.
<3
Justin's Friend, was so young. Just starting out.
Pup's are a big responsibility.
Told Justin's Friend, "if... it doesn't work out... with the Pup,
please,
bring her back to me."
: )
Arrived home, very late... one night, in January...
after setting the Booth, at The Anamosa Show, to find a pet carrier sitting by the door, to our home.
Inside... was the poor little Pup.
{Polly}
<3
{Grateful... Justin's Friend, brought her back. <3}
She was in pretty bad shape.
: (
I nursed her back to health.
Polly and I... were inseparable.
John... warned me, over and over...
"We don't don't need another Hound."
Told John... I'd find her a 'Home'... but not until she was on her feet.
Told John... nobody would take her on, until she was healthy, and trained.
When Polly was healthy, trained... and on her Paws,
; )
there wasn't any way...
I could let her go.
<3
Hahahahahaha!!!
John... understood.
; )
John told me... years later, he always knew when I was getting close to Home, after a Show.
Polly would sleep in my Lazy Boy, while I was away at Nashville, and Rochester.
{Days... away from Home.}
but...
within an hour of my return, Polly would jump off of my chair, and lay beside the kitchen door,
waiting to
Greet
me.
<3 <3 <3
Don't know what I would've done...
without
Polly, when John passed away.
She.... Carried me.
<3
much...
like Sweetie, had, and Miss. Peanut, does now, and has, through this horrific IDOT/Fairfax, Iowa...
'mess'
<3
I always tell Folk's to please... 'Rescue'.
<3
It's been my experience, throughout my life,
'You'll rescue these Angels... Once. They'll Rescue 'You'... a Million Times.'
<3
It's so Heartbreaking to lose them.
almost,
didn't take Miss. Peanut in, for that reason.
: (
They don't live long enough.
: (............
Certain... God has some sort of reason for that.
If, and when... I reach The Pearly Gates,
That...
will be my first question.
; )
God's got some explainin' to do.
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Friday, October 24, 2025
Stay Tuned.
Crazy Day!!
This afternoon, Pal, Bill... stopped by to help me put
The FUSO
to
'Work'.
; )
Grateful to Grandson, Justin... for power washing
The Old... Boy.
<3
Sure in Hopes...
Jo Ann will be re-elected.
She works so incredibly Hard... for our little Town.
<3
Jo Ann, is Honest, and Fair.
She looks out for the Entire Community.
We don't always agree... on things, but...
I Know... she tries.
She does her Best.
: )
I also know...in my opinion, how she's treated, at city hall.
: (
That... needs to change.
Jo Ann, asks questions.
'City Hall'...
doesn't like to be
'questioned'.
: (
Fairfax Needs Her.
There are two others, who are running for Council...
that I PRAY, also get in.
{actually... six are are running. Two, I'll be voting for. }
More on them...
later.
I'm Voting for 'Girls'... down the Line, with this Fairfax, Iowa election.
: )
There's a Bunch More... to this story.
I'll be sharing it with you....
after the election.
Stay Tuned.
; )
Noticed when I was moving The Ford, this afternoon, there's a new addition at The Shop.
?
: )
A Hearse.
?
oh my.
; )
This morning... was insane.
Again, Beyond Grateful for Lawyer Meardon.
He's been working
Tirelessly,
Tirelessly...
on my behalf.
The IDOT has The Attorney General, and Many Lawyers, at their disposal.
All... of whom, 'We' The People... are paying for.
It takes Quite a Lawyer... to Stand Up to them all.
He's Quite a Lawyer.
He's got Grit.
; )
and...
then
some.
'Blessing'
The Rule of Law...
is
a
Big Deal,
and should be Protected, in my humble opinion.
Truly... a David and Goliath story.
This entire Iowa Department of Transportation 'mess', is absolutely heartbreaking,
on so many, many... levels.
Never...
should've
'happened'.
: (
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Those... were 'The Days'.
Grateful to Grandson, Justin...
for helping me get the FUSO...
Spiffed Up, yesterday.
<3
The FUSO's been sitting, a long time... waiting for a new back door.
I've been Crippled, without him.
: (
The door is intact, but... it's unable to roll up and down without a LOT of Help.
: (
People have suggested I just use a garage door.
I'm not comfortable with that.
Believe it needs to be much Heavier Duty, than a simple garage door.
Been searching so long...
it's getting to the point, may have to see if I can find Amish Builders, to create a new door.
Have all of the hardware.
The FUSO is a 1994 model.
He's Solid, and Runs like a Sewing Machine.
<3
He has a 4 Cylinder Diesel Mitsubishi Engine.
Runs like a Top.
<3
Low Miles.
He'll Run Forever.
: )
He was geared for In Town... deliveries/driving...
He won't break any Speed limits on the highway.
; )
That's o.k.
: )
{Wish he was a Stick, instead of an automatic. That... would make a HUGE Difference.}
He can Haul... One Hell of a Load.
: )
That's what I need him for.
<3
He has a Job to do...
over the next couple of weeks, that won't require him to move an inch.
; )
Stay Tuned.
Got a Kick... out of the above...
FB post,
today.
: )
Remember Dad... picking me, and my Friends up, after riding Horses, all day.
We'd all bail in the back of Dad's Old Ford Truck.
We'd sit on the dropped tailgate... drag our Tennies on the highway, to see how much of the rubber soles we could skin off.
: )
Those... were 'The Days'.
; )
Hahahahaha!!!
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Counting Blessings.
Back on my feet.
; )
mostly.
Migraine... is gone.
; )
boy...oh, boy...
forgot how much a migraine takes out of ya.
Draining.
Not hurting today, but... feel like I've been rode hard,
and put up wet.
Gonna take a Big Pot of Coffee to get the gears turnin'.
; )
Was thinking yesterday... how Incredibly Grateful I am, for outgrowing those horrible
migraines.
Could've been dealing with them my entire life, like Dale's Friend,
and so many others have, and are.
: (
Kind of a Wake Up Call....
to count my
Blessings...
for every
Good Day,
and, find the Blessings in the not so good days, too.
It takes them, too... to make me fully appreciate the
'Good' days, I've... all too often, taken for granted.
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
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