The Ides of March.

March 15th is Dad's Birthday.

Remember Mom teasing him, because he was born on

 'The Ides of March'.

: )

She'd say... in her Spookiest Voice, 

"Yes... Beware of The Ides of March!!"

<3

; )

Dad.. would hang his head, then... nod, and agree...

that

Mom probably should've heeded that 'Warning'!!

Hahahahaha!!

: ) : ) : )

Those Two... 

<3 <3

; )

Grateful... every day, I was Blessed to have Them, for my Folks.

<3

They couldn't live together...

for very long,

but, 

they couldn't live apart, 

for very long...

either.

Those Two.

<3

Quite... a 'Love Story'.

: )

Mom... was 'Full Blooded Czech', Dad... claimed he was 

'Shanty Irish, and Slop Bucket Dutch'.

: )

<3

Both were a hundred percent accurate.

Mom, was 100% Czech.

Dad... was Most Certainly 'Irish', and... a little Dutch.

; )

{Dad... also, had a little 'French' in his history...

 that, sadly, he'd never acknowledge, or speak about.

In my opinion...

after learning so much, over the years...

concerning Dad's 'French' connection, his long time ago...

decision 

was,

'rightfully so'.}

Love The Month of March.

<3

It's Crazy.

Old Man 'Winter', is Fighting 'New Life'..

 'Spring'.

{in Iowa}

He sends...

Big Winds...

Blizzards, Rain... Tropical Weather, then...

Freezing, again... and again.

then,

'Spring', eventually wins the battle, around the first of April.

; )

'Spring' sends 

'Warmth', and Old Man 'Winter', well...

he's had his run, and... is done.

; )

The month of March... to me, in Iowa...

represents 

'Life'.

a constant....

 Roller Coaster... 

ride.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

 

The Book... Is Coming!!

There's been So Much to digest over the last few days.

I've written several posts, then, saved them as drafts, instead of posting them.

There's So Much.

; )

Good... and, the not so good,

 at best.

: )

'Life'.

Stay Tuned...

eventually,

The Book... 

is coming.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Iowa... is Anything but 'simple'.

Nephew, Billy... called last night.

Billy, and his Family... live in D.C.

 As we were talking...

I was watching the weather warnings on tv.

Huge Storm's had been rolling through our area.

Fairfax, was spared... but South, and East of us... got hit pretty hard.

Huge... Hail.

: (

{It's snowing as I write... 34 degrees.

The last several days have been like late Spring, in Iowa.

Insane.

70 degrees.}

Billy grew up in Cedar Rapids, he remembers how Crazy... Iowa can be.

{There's Nothing 'Simple'... about 'Iowa'.}

Billy, said... the 'Wall Clouds'... he'd see on rare occasions used to make him nervous.

; )

They make me a little 'nervous' too.

One, in particular... really made me nervous.

; )

Was telling Billy, about the day... I picked up a Big... Old... Store Cupboard, from Pals...

Monica, and Dean...

near Vinton, Iowa.

{about 30 minutes Northwest of Fairfax.}

Hadn't seen Monica, and Dean...

 Forever.

so...

after Dean and I got the Cupboard loaded, on The Ford...

we began to 'Catch Up'.... 'Visit'.

; )

It was a HOT, Hot...

 Muggy..... 

'Sultry'

day.

As we visited... 

things began getting very 'still'.

That's... never good.

No 'bad' weather was predicted....

but, 

if Ya live in Iowa, for a long time, You Know...

You can 'Feel'...

Trouble Brewing.

It's very unsettling.

We All...

 'Felt' 

'Trouble'.

All of a sudden, we All Decided it was Time for me to get Down The Road.

; )

The top image is what I was heading into... the closer The Ford and I...

got to Home.

'Son of a B!tch!!!'....

was

 All

 that was running through my mind.

The Ford Grew WINGS!!!

<3

Hammer Down!!!

Holy Smokes!!!

{The Fastest 'Ride'... That Old Cupboard will Ever Know.}

Knew... we Had to Beat That Rain!!

The Wonderful Old Cupboard was all in Original Varnish.

{'Sh!t!!! If it had been old paint, wouldn't have been so worried.

Knew... what 'Big Rain' would do to that surface.}

{SH!T!!!!}

: ( : ( : (

It's a Good Thing... I used to Run 'Poles', and 'Barrels' with The Horses.

; )

When I pulled in the drive, at Home...

don't think The Ford actually came to a Stop, before I Bailed Out... Ran, at a Dead Run to The Henhouse... Grabbed a Tarp, then Ran... back to the Naked Cupboard!!

Just... as I was throwing the tarp over the Cupboard...

The Sky Let Go!!

Buckets, and Buckets... and Buckets...

 of Rain!!

Holy Smokes!!!

I... looked like a drowned rat, but...

The Old Cupboard

was

Spared.

<3 <3 <3 

'For The Love... of 'Old'.

<3 <3 <3 

oh...

my.

Much to get Done... today.

Hopefully... will have the phone all fixed up by tonight.

Working at The Cedar Rapids Estate, too.

; )

The Fun Never Ends!!

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Love It.

 

Redneck... crazy.

'Anger Management'.

Woke up this morning...

thinkin'...

'I... may need some 'anger management'.

; )

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

Who Knew?!?!

; )

oh... dear.

; )

Yesterday... was a pretty good darned day.

: )

Visited with Lifesaver Pal... Gail.

<3

She's been Such a Blessing in my life, over the last 30, plus... years.

 Love, and Admire her... So.
<3

Can Always... count on Gail to be honest, and straightforward.

I... may not always take her advice, but...

I know, she'll never sugar-coat her thoughts, or valuable opinions, to appease me.

Not... Gail's Style.

<3

That's Priceless.

; )

She's...

'Priceless'.

<3

On the way to the Estate house, yesterday... thought I'd better grab some lunch.

Couldn't decide where to stop.

Went Waaaaaaay out of the way, before I finally landed at the Hy-Vee Grocery store, near the Estate house.

Remembered former Fairfax, Iowa... mayor, 'Bernie' telling me about the Great Chinese food, at that particular Hy-Vee.

{Bernie, calls often, these days... for some reason.} 

???

While walking into Hy-Vee, the Cart Dude... complimented me, about Old... Jethro.

: )

{It was Such a Beautiful, Sunny... Day!!}

The Cart Dude... wanted to know All of Jethro's particulars.

: )

Told him, Jethro's... 'Story'.

Told The Dude, Jethro's gettin' a little rough around the edges, these days...

 kinda like the driver.

: )

Walked into Hy-Vee, went to the Chinese area, and...

who do ya think was standing there.

???

Hahahahahaha!!!!

BERNIE!!

Hahahahaha!!!

{Ya... can't make this Sh!t... Up!!!}

We chatted for a minute, thanked him for the recommendation.

; )

Sat down... and ate lunch.

Visited with the Lady... who was bussing tables.

: )

She told me all about her Children, and her Sister.

: )

Lovely... Lady.

I opened up my fortune cookie, as we were visiting.

It took me back, to another fortune cookie, I opened long, long... ago.

; )

A Dear Friend, and I... had just left The Twin Cities, after doing a Long, and Grueling... 

Show.

We stopped to grab some lunch at a Chinese restaurant, after loading out.

I opened my fortune cookie, read it...

looked at my Pal, and said...

"I'll trade ya."

She said...

"but... I haven't even opened mine. Sure you want to trade?"

'yes... I do.'

: )

She opened hers, read it... and said...

"No... you Really don't want to trade me."

I... assured my Pal,

'yes....

I'm certain, I... do.'

; )

Turned out, we both had the same 'fortune'.

They read, something... like this.

"Impending Doom lies ahead."

We both... just sat there, and stared at each other, and... our 'fortunes'.

We... mustered up the 'legs'... to walk to The FUSO, then... sat inside it, quietly...

for what seemed like a long, long... time.

My Pal, called her Husband, told him about it, he advised us to stay in Minneapolis.

{yes... he was Freaked Out... Too!! Hahahahaha!!}

We were brave, thought 'what the hell'...'bring it on'.

{We'd already been to hell, and back, doing that show. ; )}

We made it Home, safe... and mostly... 'sound'.

; )

Yesterday's 'fortune'... was pretty much, spot on.

"Life to you is a dashing and bold adventure."

; )

I... reckon, so.

; )

Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!

Infrickindeed.

; )

Went on to work...

'dashing... and boldly'.

Hahahahahaha!!!

Couldn't get much done, without Bill.

Need tables set.

Came Home... and, foolishly... looked at FB.

: (

FB is fine... but, the 'Memories' that pop up daily, often, ain't so much.

Some, are wonderful... but, the last eight, to ten years...

well, Fairfax, and IDOT have consumed massive parts of the 'Memories'.

that's... 

where the 'anger' steps in.

: (

There's much going on, that... I'm not quite ready to share with the world, just yet.

Know...

I'm really trying to rope that anger in.

; )

Not that I'm angry, or have regrets... 

concerning my decisions.

The anger stems... from where it all began.

Had to laugh... a little, when a 'Memory' popped up from 3/9/24.

"I do not burn bridges...

I just loosen the bolts 

a 

little

bit

each 

day."

; )

Pal, Gail... sent me a WONDERFUL Package, it arrived yesterday.

A MUCH... Needed One.

{Bless Her Heart!! <3}

Inside, was a Darling Tea Towel.

<3

On it, reads...

"I Can Go From Southern Belle

To

Redneck Crazy...

Faster Than You Can Say

"Bless Your Heart"

: )

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Gail Knows Me WELL!!!

{It's a 'Taurus' Trait. ; ) }

God... Knows How Much I Love That Girl!!!

<3

I'll keep workin' on the anger management.

{Two condemnations with IDOT would drive most anyone 'round the bend.

Trying to survive in Fairfax, Iowa... is, another 'adventure.

bless...

all of their hearts.}

Better get Crackin'. 

Nursin' a bit of a hangover.

Yee Haw.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Gail, with her Dad, and Pal... Michael.

<3

 

Yeah.... no. At the end of the day.

 

Bless.. all of their hearts.

John... warned me.

 I shared his warnings, with a few.

John... warned me,

"You'll know when engineer's are lying to you...

; )

It's when their lip's are movin."

That's a Fact.

{in my opinion}

I'd so love to play poker...

with

a few 'Hired'...

engineers.

: )

Bless their hearts.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

but... first, Coffee.

Beautiful... Morning, in Iowa.

Possibly Record High Temps, today!!

The Sun is Shining...

Oh Boy!!

Feel like I've already traveled a million miles, without leaving the house, this morning.

: )

Phone calls... appointments, work... and more work, this week.

Making 'Lists'... of things that must get done.

Oh Boy!!

; )

Seems... there's always many, many... 'Fires' to be put out, on Monday mornings.

; )

Sippin' from my Monday Morning Coffee Mug, 

it reads...

"but first...

Coffee"

Indeed.

Starting on The Cedar Rapids, Iowa... Estate Sale, today.

That Sale... guessing, will be set for mid April.

Stay Tuned!!

; )

Many Changes... coming, this Spring.

Yeah... 

Boy.

; )

Here we Go...

Full Throttle,

Wide...

Open.

; )

Love to Ya... 

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{but... first, 

Coffee.}

<3

 

Estate Sale... Coming in April!!

Starting on an Estate Sale, in the morning.

This Sale... will be in Cedar Rapids.

We haven't set the dates, yet.

This Estate Sale... is the one we had planned on conducting, in January.

The Estate Holder's have been working on renovations of the Home...

their contractors fell behind, it's been a long process.

This is a Complete Household, with a Full Double Garage.

The Home, will be for sale as well.

 Guessing the Sale will be held mid April.

We'll know more, concerning the dates, in a day or two... as we begin sorting.

: )

Stay Tuned!!

; )

Barb C.

{It's going to be a Crazy... Busy 'Spring'. Much... is coming down the pipeline.

Many Changes.}

; )

Priceless.

 

Stay Tuned.

<3

Sometimes...

 struggle with the 'forgive quickly'...

part.

; )

{It's a 'Taurus'... thing, I do believe.}

; )

I'll be writing a longer post tomorrow.

Today, thought of the tune,

'Wolf Creek Pass'.

; )

Dad, was a Trucker... as was Brother, Sonny.

<3

{The Stories... <3 <3 <3 }

The Stories... Dad shared, over the few years we 'shared' together, were, looking back,

 The Best Education...

'Preparedness for Life'.

; )

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

{Sure wish, CDOT, and IDOT... engineers, would, and would've... asked Truckers, and Highway Patrol about 

'Safety'

concerning

State, and Federal Highways...}

Sure wish... Fairfax, Iowa... 'City Hall', would've given a thought, concerning 'bike trails', 'Safety'...

and building wrongful...

bloated 

Bridges...

{The West Cemetery Road Bridge}

 to 'accommodate' them.

{my humble opinion}

{time... will tell.}

{it always... does.}

<3

Sippin' Whiskey, a little early.

oh...

my.

; )

Stay Tuned.

Oh my.

 

One day... at a time.

The Windshield verses the Rearview mirror.

I... struggle, with that.

Always have.

; )

I'm an old Taurus... 'The Bull', who would much rather be grazing, eating 'Clover Tops', than... fighting a 'Bull Fight'.

 When a 'Red Flag'... is flashed in my face, well...

tend to sharpen my horns.

The Book... is coming.

There's so many moving parts, in this IDOT/Fairfax, Iowa...

'Mess'.

few... 

sadly, in my opinion, could follow it.

: (

It's gonna 'Take a Book', to explain.

'This Mess', in my humble opinion...

should 

Never, Ever...

Ever... Ever...

'Happen', to anyone, ever again.

Ever.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

One Day... at a Time.

<3

Barb C.

Indeed.

 

So much.

It sickens me, to think...

For the record...

I know who you are, and... who you think you are.

Bless your hearts.

; )

At the end, of 'this' day... well, those who have wrongfully......ridden this 'Crazy Train', sadly...

I wish you all.. 'to Rot in Hell'.

: (

Make no mistake... I Will... be calling each,  and every 'Loser'... 'Liar', to The Front Lines.

It might take me a minute, and miles...

but, 

 guarantee, 

'Hell', eventually....

is 

coming to 

'Breakfast'.

Love to Ya...

Prayers, for All.

Barb C.

{so much for keeping things 'light'. ; ) oh my. 

visiting with neighbors, kinda stirs me up.

We all agree, 'Fairfax'... ain't 'Home, sweet home', anymore.

Hasn't been, for many, many... years.}

One Day... at a time.

; )

It's been a long... day,

but a good one.

; )

Grateful.

One Day... at a time.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Indeed.

 

'Light'

Keep tryin'... to 

keep things 'light' here, on the blog.

Best... I can, anyway.

There's so much happening in the world, today...

minute by minute...

Do my best... to stay away from it, here.

 Struggled about writing this... post,

yesterday, and... all day, today.

Somehow... believe I should put it out there.

Believe... many, many... have been directly, and indirectly touched, by this subject.

If you're like me...  can't read, or think about another ounce of sadness, here's your sign, to skip this post.

Yesterday morning, Grandson, Justin... popped in, to visit.

He, often does.

<3

We... share the same Love... of Old Diesel Fords, Horses... and Funny Redneck Videos.

: )

We were having Fun conversations... for quite a while, then...

his phone started pinging.

Justin, ignored the 'pings' at first, then... he looked a little concerned.

He said...

"Hang on Grandma, I've got to see what this is about."

Justin, walked upstairs, to the dining room, I... started working on the lap top.

Justin returned, after a few minutes, sat down... on the Settee, across from me.

Justin had a look on his face, look... in his eyes, I'd... never seen him have, before.

 asked...

 Justin, if everything was ok.

He... looked at me, and said... "You know... my Friend, '....' "

Yes....

: )

{They've been Pal's for a long time.}

"That was his Son... on the phone. He said, he wanted to let me know first.

When his Dad... got to work, this morning, he started his job, 

then pulled out a gun, and killed himself."

Not what I'd expected to hear from my 16 year old Grandson, or see in his eyes.

My mind... scrambled, to find 'words'.

All... I could muster, was...

"I'm so... so... sorry."

: (

We just sat here, in silence, for what seemed like a long, long... time, 

tho...

probably wasn't.

: (

Tried to gently... gently, explain to Justin, that... we never truly know, what's going on in someone else's mind.

and...

sadly, it seems, too often, Men have a very difficult time talking about their feelings.

Many have been raised to be 'strong', never complain, or talk about 'hurt', because some...

see that as a sign of weakness.

Often, they, themselves... see things that way.

: (

So... not true.

<3

but...

convincing them, of that... 

: (

Shared some of my Pals, stories... with Justin, yesterday.

I've lost six Friends, over the decades to suicide.

Five... were Men.

One, Woman.

: (

that... sadly, seems to be the average.

: (

Each... were fighting their own, very... different, and difficult 'battles'.

Money... Heartbreak, Cancer... but, mostly, in my opinion...

the lack of

 'Hope'.

: (

'Hope'... is something we must find, and keep...

 within ourselves, in my opinion.

Nobody... can give it to you.

to, some... 

sadly, so... very sadly,

 they can't find it, reach it... in their grasps.

: (

I know... how very much, Grandson, Justin... meant to his Pal.

: )

Those two shared many phone conversations in my presence.

Hahahahaha!!!

; )

That's the only way I knew Justin's 'Pal'.

<3

Justin... brought 'Light', to his Pal's Life.

: )

{Priceless}

That's all... any of us can do, for each other.

<3

That's All.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers...

for

All.

Barb C.

 

2009.

Can't post images, or even screenshots, to the blog, 

until...

 I can get my God Forsaken new Android, 'on board'.

; )

Can't send, or retrieve email.

One... would think, 'these days'... that would be 'big problems'.

In the short term, it's been a little difficult.

Not as 'difficult' as some... would imagine.

; )

It's been a Blessing, in so many ways.

; )

I've actually 'talked' to people.

 'Heard' their voices, and the 'tone' of their 'voices'.

; )

to me,

That's a 'Big Deal'.

'Real'.

'The Real Deal'.

<3

Stumbled through blogger posts, today.

Landed on many, from 2009.

; )

I screenshot, many of those posts... 

<3

can't share them, yet.

If... ya have a moment, or Hours, : ) take a look at those old posts.

<3

Guessing, if you're reading this, and not a 'bot'...

 You're Included, somehow... in those posts.

<3

What a Ride.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

 

Gentle... on my mind.

 

The Back-roads.

Pal... Allyson picked me up yesterday morning.

We spent a lot of miles...

 on 

Iowa Back-roads.

Covered Linn, Delaware, Buchanan, Tama, and Benton Counties.

{Some of The Very Best Counties... in The State, in my opinion.}

Enjoyed a wonderful breakfast, at Edith Lucielle's... then, hit some Amish Country Stores.

On the way 'Home'... asked Allyson to jump off the major Hi-way, and hit some of the 

'Back-roads'.

Iowa 'County' Roads, and Gravel.

Visit some of my old... 'Stomping Grounds'.

<3

I know those old... Iowa Back-roads, like the back of my hand.

Believe... I could almost... drive them blindfolded.

; )

Allyson and I... visited about many, many... things, on our 'Travels'.

{was in rare form... when she picked me up, after I'd been watching the 'news' from about 4 a.m. 

I'd predicted what 'unfolded' night before last, a week ago. Was hoping, to be mistaken.}

Had some personal 'news'... to share with Allyson, as well.

'That'... 'news', kinda... set Allyson on her heels.

{I'll be filling everyone in, concerning 'That' 'news', in days to come.

To say it's been a little 'stressful'... lately, would be quite an understatement.}

It was Good, visiting old memories.

'Landmarks'.

; )

Seeing the areas, I so often ramble about... probably painted a clearer picture, for Allyson.

She... agreed, how Incredibly Beautiful those areas are.

Still.

: )

Allyson said... she's thinking we need to take another 'Big Trip', next year.

; )

She, thought... perhaps a cruise.

I, said... "That would require a passport.

 I'm not ready to leave 'The Country', just.... yet."

; )

Told her... They probably wouldn't let me back In...

 'these days'.

Passport, or no.

; )

Hahahahahaha!

{Not to be picky... but, ah... a 'cruise' has never intrigued me.

Prefer 'fewer people', and flyin' by the seat of my pants.

Guessin' ya can't 'fly' too far off of a cruise ship, unless... you're a mighty good swimmer.}

; )

then...

Allyson suggested... perhaps, another trip back to Savannah.

: )

'Savannah'....

Now... 

That...

 sounded very

 Appealing.

Very.

; )

Anywhere 'South'. 

<3

Anywhere...

 where there's

 Moss... 

hanging from

 The Trees,

 would be

 Perfect.

'Heaven'.

Allyson Loves 'The South', nearly... as much as I do.

; )

Big Changes... are coming, here... to The Rabbit Hole, and Beyond.

Stay Tuned.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.