Happy Independence Day... to All!!

Wishing All...

a

Happy, Peaceful...

Independence Day!!

<3

We've had so much Rain... and Storms, throughout the area.

Don't even want to 'look'... too far.

We're under a Flash Flood watch... until tonight.

It... reminds me so... of 2014.

: (

Sat on the old... limestone bench, by the entry door, this 

4th of July Morn.

Sippin' Strong Black Coffee...

Listening to the Birds.

<3

Water came into the Entry, last night... but, gratefully... didn't make it inside the House.

That's a Blessing.

Huge.

Miss. Peanut... didn't want to take a stroll, this morning...

so, we just took in the much Cooler weather, with the door open.

; )

John... and one of his Flags.

: )

John... collected very little, but...

He Loved His Vintage Flags!!

<3

John was Quite...

Patriotic.

<3

Seemed very fitting... the above image popped up this morning.

; )

Dale Beeks, and his Beautiful Wife...

Leanne.

<3 <3

We were set up at The Mt. Vernon Antique Show.

; )

Fun Times!!

I remember Dale riding his 'Bike'... straight off of the Highway... up the drive, and between the House, and Trees, during one of our Sales... here.

Hahahahahahaha!!!

: )

Hilarious!!!

Woke Everybody Up!!

; )

Loved It!!!

I have Zero... Plans, for this 

'Independence Day'.

; )

Like It.

Think I'll just hang out... with Miss. Peanut.

<3

Might Fire Up... The Grill.

??

Might... not.

; )

Bought a Watermelon the other day, maybe... I'll carve it up.

; )

Maybe...

I won't.

; )

'Independence'

at

It's...

Very

Finest.

; )

Hahahahahaha!!!

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

It's going to be 2037 before Independence Day lands on a 'Saturday'....

again.

; )

I, actually Remember that Great 'Chicago' tune, from when it First came out...

in 1973.

; )

<3

Remember Well...

The 1976 Bicentennial.

; )

Oh My Gosh!!

Seems 'We' Celebrated 1776-1976 

The Entire Year...

in 

1976!!

It was a BIG DEAL!!

; )

HUGE!!

; )

For some reason... to me, this 'milestone', isn't nearly as 

'Brilliant'.

Grateful... for Our Country.

<3

'Freedom'!!

<3

Bittersweet

Fun Times with Friends!!

Above is a video... that Daughter, Liz captured during a Sale we had here, opening on 

July 3, 2015.

: )

{sadly... it seems, FB won't let me share it unless you're on FB.

: (

I actually got it to play... when I clicked to 'bypass' sharing with 'Friends'.

Clicked on the 'x' on the top right corner of FB's 'asking'.

then..

Ya have ta.. 'unmute' the video.

; )

A Social Media... expert, I ain't. : ) ??}

; )

{not certain... I 'want' to be. ; )}

{comes up on my Old Android... pretty Good. ?}

Pal, Jan... had brought a Wonderful Load... for a Sale.

{Jan... is Amazing. : ) }

<3

The FB video, that Liz captured...

 pops up... every year, around this time... on FB.

; )

It's bittersweet watching it, now.

<3

Several Dear Friends, on the video... and in the background, have passed away.

Seeing Dale Beeks, Play His Fiddle... for the Opening of The Sale, is Priceless!!

<3

{Dale... used to be in a Band {The Mississippi String Band}

 that played often in Waubeek, Iowa.

: )

Dale... so wanted me to come, watch them. Said... I would, but... never made it.

: (

When Dale would find a 'Treasure' that belonged to me... during a Sale...

 I'd say...

"No Money... I'll take it out in Shot's of Yukon Jack, when I visit You at Waubeek."

; )

Damn It... Dale!! Ya Left Us... Before I Could Collect!!

: (

Knowin' Dale... he'll be waiting for me, at The Pearly Gates, with a 

'Jug' in one Hand, and his Fiddle... in the other.

; )

<3

Seeing Jack Winter, and... hearing Dear Friend, Kate Hawkins' voice... 

is...

Truly Priceless.

: )

<3

That was Such a Fun Sale!!

: )

So Many 'Friends'.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{Miss. Peanut... is perkin' along. 

<3

She's not eating much... but, we're takin' it 

'One Day... at a Time'.}

; )

<3

'The Mississippi String Band'.

; )

Pal, Dale Beeks... is 'The Fiddler'.

{not in the above... video. 

Dale's The Man... in The Middle!!}

; )

Great Man!!

; )

<3

Summer... in Iowa.

; )

Was going to be Open... at The Rabbit Hole, for a 'soft' Opening, this weekend,

but...

I...

don't think so.

: )

I'll blame it on the Heat... but, the truth is... with my back being O U T, then... Miss. Peanut struggling so, the last, nearly two weeks, oh my.

I'm so far behind.

Been meeting with Contractors... trying to figure out 'Messes'... 

{IDOT, and Fairfax, Iowa... 'Bike Trail'... Messes.}

It Is... What It Is.

; )

The Heat... is a Huge Factor.

The Rabbit Hole doesn't have 'air'...

{It does... but with the Greenhouses, it's futile.}

It feels 'Cool'... inside, at first... with the Tall Ceilings, but... within a few minutes... when it's this Steamy...

even with fans, it's... Hot.

; )

There's Tons... going on in Eastern Iowa... for the Holiday Weekend.

Amana, South Amana, Mt. Vernon... Iowa City, Monticello, Cascade... and More!!

There's No Shortage of GREAT Junkin' in This Area!!

{With 'Air'!!}

; )

Come Visit!!!

Support The Amazing 'Small Business' in our area!!

<3

Miss. Peanut... and I have been taking early morning walks.

<3

She 'asks'... me. 

<3

 As long as she does... I'll Happily Oblige.

; )

Whatever... she wants.

<3

Peanut likes to check out the Sweet Corn, our Dear... Neighbor, Tom... planted.

; )

{If we can keep the Raccoon out of it, we're gonna have a Nice... Crop.}

<3

Tom planted it, so... it won't all be ripe at once.

He staggered the plots.

; )

It's gonna be Mighty Fine Sweet Corn.

; )

Scout's Pasture is INCREDIBLE Soil.

<3

Miss. Peanut Approves.

<3

Helper Brandon... thankfully, mowed this afternoon.

Holy Smokes!!

The Sweet Corn isn't All that's GROWING like Crazy!!!

WOW!!

The First Rows of Corn.... Tom planted,

 are

 Tasseling!!

: )

Pretty.

<3

Spent the coolest 'hour' of this morning doing a little Yard Work, then...

came inside....

 when I began to sweat.

; )

{'perspire'}

: )

Sat down... started workin' on the Old... Clock, a Friend sent Home with me on Sunday.

; )

It was running Way.... Fast.

???

Waaaaaaay!!

{Holy Smokes!!}

Believe... I've got it figured out.

; )

again...

'Time'...

will 

tell.

; )

{Hahahahahahaha!!!}

It... Always Does!!

Summer, in Iowa.

<3 <3 <3 

Yeah.... Boy!!

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

{Old Clock's... are a Sickness. <3}

Simply... Iowa.

Me, and Miss. Peanut... took a stroll, very early... this morning.

; )

She's... not firing on all cylinders... by a long shot, but...

She wanted to Go for a Walk.

<3

: )

so...

we did.

<3

Admired the Sweet Corn, in Scout's Pasture.

; )

<3 <3 <3 

{one day.... at a time.}

; )

<3

<3 <3 <3 

It's a Toasty Day in Iowa.

Visited with a Dear... longtime Friend, for a bit, on Sunday.

; )

He, and his Family... live near us.

My Friend offered to show me a portion of their...

Beloved...

'God's Country'

<3

So... Beautiful.

; )

Such a Treat.

'Simply... Iowa'

; )

<3

<3

One Day... at a Time.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

Time...

Peanut... is, I believe... doing Better!!

; )

Still not eating very much...

but....

last night she began sippin' water.

: )

<3

 The food, has had me concerned... but the water... had me worried.

'Water'... is a Big Deal.

Things can go 'south'... really fast, when Critters turn their noses up to water.

: (

The Vets... called twice, today... checking in.

: )

They... know how worrisome it is when there aren't any answers.

All you can do... is treat symptoms.

Try and rule out everything imaginable.

They've done that.

<3

They've done all they can, at this point... 

<3

They've ruled out a lot, that had me twisted pretty tight.

Good news, but... not answers.

Sometimes... there aren't 'answers'.

Sometimes...

'Time'... 

is the answer.

The top image, is exactly what I wrote about the other day.

<3

Critter's can 'Feel' our emotions.

<3

That's why I've always tried to be so careful... around them, when they are suffering.

It's So Difficult, for me not to 'melt'... when caring for them.

Nearly... Impossible to 'fool'... them.

They... are The Ultimate Empaths.

<3 <3 <3 

All Heart.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C. 

<3

A 'Win'.

With Miss. Peanut being so incredibly ill... 

I haven't gotten much sleep.

Sadly... that's all Peanut wants to do.

{Grateful... she's not been in horrible pain.}

The meds... the Vet sent home, have to be given every 8, and 12 hours, staggard. 

Peanut... won't eat or drink... so have to poke them down her throat.

One...med has to be dissolved in water, then put in a syringe, then... I squirt it down her throat.

The last couple of nights, when I could sleep, a bit... kept waking up, to see if Peanut was still breathing

To say... I've been a Pool of Goo, over the last week, or so... would be an understatement.

Been down 'This' road... too many... many times throughout my life.

I gotta tell ya, it doesn't get easier.

I've tried Everything I can think of, to get Peanut to eat...a little, or...

take a sip of water.

No Dice.

The thing is, ya can't let the 'Critters' know... 'feel'... how sad you are.

'Worried'.

They... 'Feel' that, and worry... about us.

<3

: (

They... don't understand... what's 'happening'.

and why...

they are being put through such Hell, when they already...  feel so sick.

: (........................

It's heartbreaking... to say the very least.

: (......................

{began the above post... yesterday.

Couldn't get through it.

It was a long day, and night.

many of them } 

Yesterday... early morning, my phone rang.

I... was up, had been, for a long time, but...

 was

 Nowhere... near ready to face 'People'.

On the other end, was an Amishman, 

from 

Dutch Brother's Construction, Delhi, Iowa.

I'd gotten a very good bid from Marvin, quite sometime, back...

for The Rabbit Hole's roof.

Marvin said... it would be July, before they could fit The Rabbit Hole in.

No Worries.

; )

I was stunned, yesterday morning... a Saturday... when I was informed they were standing outside the door... 

Ready To Go!!

; )

Grateful... but, oh... so incredibly weary.

Told the Nice... Young Amishman, Marvin had sent...

that... 'I'm in rare form, this morning.

Been nursing a very sick Pup'.

; )

He said... "Yes... that's.... the difficult side of Animals.

We... tend to outlive them. They.... don't live long enough.".

<3

{Eeeeek.... Pool of Goo. : (........................}

{IDOT, and Fairfax's damned wrongful suicide...

'Bike Trail' next to Highway 151... is good for something.}

{bless their hearts}

: )

: )

I... ran to CR, to grab some grass fed hamburger... for Peanut, while 

The Dutch Brother's worked.

{Grabbed some sliced chicken breast, as well. Peanut won't touch boiled chicken, canned food... prescribed food... or Anything, that's 'safe' for her to eat with her issues}

Those two... Young Men, had The Rabbit Hole's Roof... Done, in little over two hours.

: )

<3

Beautiful...

Job.

Grateful.

The Bad News...

Peanut... wouldn't touch the cooked hamburger, either.

: (

The Good News.

Peanut ate some of the sliced chicken, and... salmon...

I had here.

; )

Today... she's still eating small amounts of the sliced chicken breast, and...

drinking a little water.

; )

for 

'Today'...

I'll call 'that',

 a

 'Win'.

; )

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

Tomorrow is... another day.

Back to the Vet... today.

Many more tests, and x-rays.

<3

'Hope'

<3

<3 <3 <3

; )

The Vet... said, getting Miss. Peanut's results, could take hours...

If I'd like to leave her, with them... until the results came in, they'd be Happy... to Care for her.

<3

I... appreciated their Kind offer, but...  Miss. Peanut came from a shelter, as a Pup... after being beaten blind, and nearly starved to death.

there was no way...

I'd leave her.

; )

<3

No Way.

More... tomorrow.

; )

Me, and... Miss. Peanut, are pretty weary... tonight.

We didn't get much rest last night.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

perhaps.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

Long... day.

Long day.

Miss. Peanut, and me... stayed close to Home.

Long... day.

<3

The Meeting I opted out of, last night...

was HUGE!!!

; )

So Grateful to All Who Attended on 'Our' Behalf.

!!!

<3

We're living in Ugly times, these days... in my, humble opinion.

We're gonna have to Stand Up.

; )

: )

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

One Day... at a Time.

Spent a good portion of this day... at the Vet Clinic.

Haven't wanted to write much about it... 

{I... don't like thinking about it... myself.}

As a 'Parent'... you're only as happy as your unhappiest Child, whether they be Two,

 or

 Four legged, in this Family.

The Vet... did tons of tests, blood work, and x-rays.

Everything came back... pretty good.

???

Peanut... is not herself.

It's been a Long Day, for her.

: (

I was going to attend the meeting tonight, concerning Alliant Energy's Proposed Power Plant, that will be a mess for Fairfax, the surrounding Farms, and Communities.

Horrible mess on so many, many... levels.

{With it, should it be approved, would also bring as many as a dozen 'more' Data Centers to our area.

Unimaginable.}

: (

With Peanut... being so under the weather, I... can't leave her.

She's had enough stress today.

We both have.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

Back... to Black... for now.

Had a Sweet Gal 'Do' my Hair...

yesterday.

'Mira'...

<3

Went to Capri Cosmetology School.

; )

Mira asked what I wanted 'Done'.

; )

Colored... layered... trimmed.

; )

Mira asked... 'What color, and how do you want the 'Style'???

I, said...

'Black'.. and, I 'Dig' 'BIG HAIR'.

: )

Showed Mira a few images... of what I like.

She said...

"That's... 'BIG' Hair."

Hahahahahahaha!!!

<3

Mira didn't style it... as 'BIG'... as I like, but she did Great with the Color!!

{If you're not used to Doin' BIG Hair...

it's a little SCARY!!!}

Hahahahahaha!!

{I've had a little... 'experience'. }

; )

17... here.

; )

Yeah...

I've Always had a 'Thing'...

for

'Big Hair'!!!

Hahahahahaha!

When Dad... saw my 'Hair' after I had it 'Frosted'... 

; )

He shook his head.

; )

Said...

"I... don't understand why anyone would do 'That' to their hair. Soon enough, it'll be doin' 'that' on it's own."

Hahahahahaha!!!

That's a Fact!!

; )

Several years ago...

at Capri.

; )

I... Dig 'Red', too.

; )

I... Dig 'Messy'... too.

; )

Me, and Steph.

; )

<3

7th and 8th Grade.

Flannels, and Long Hair!!

Think I was the Only Girl... at Roosevelt Jr. High that wore 'Flannel'.

; )

Me, and John's 'Cuz'... Duffy.

<3

Love That Man.

Duffy... Worshiped John.

<3

Know... if I, or the Kids... Needed Anything, Duffy would 'Be Here', with one call.

<3

'Big Hair'...

while traveling with Pal, Allyson a few years ago.

; )

About 1983.

; )

Black Hair... and 'Perm'.

Hahahahaha!!

John captured the above image.

He Hated It... when I 'permed' my hair.

He called me a 'Bur Head'!!

Hahahahahaha!!!

John captured the above image...

Just to Piss Me Off!!!

; )

<3

Big... Hair!!!

; )

Ridin' in Sally...

Big Red Hair!!

<3

Tonight... after Fairfax's City Council Meeting.

; )

{more on 'that'... later. : ) }

Had my hair pulled up in a Messy Bun, haven't played with my hair...

yet.

Was Busy... All Day.

Lord!!

'J'... and I, Moved Mountains, this morning, and early afternoon.

Sweat my Tail... Off!!

Dang!!

; )

I'll think about messin' with my 'New Doo', when I'm not under The Gun!!

; )

Indeed.

; )

Told Mira... I've had my hair Every Color, and Style under The Sun.

From 'Cornrow' braids, to Mullets.

{ never blond... just, never had the heart... to 'Strip' my poor hair, That Hard!!}

; )

I've had it so short on top, that I could Spike It!!

; )

but... NOT The Back!!

Wouldn't let Mira take more than an inch... off of the length.

; )

That's... my 'Security' Hair!!

<3

Mira... Totally Understood!!

<3

Guess... who Moved The FUSO, today???

; )

Asked 'J' to back it out of the drive, and park it.

He... wanted No Part...of That.

None.

He said...

"I'm not a 'Truck Driver'. No Thanks."

; )

I... asked 'J' how would he Know... he 'Isn't'... 

unless, he tried.

???

: )

After watching 'J'... Flawlessly... Jack The Old FUSO around, 

I'm... thinkin'

 He Is... 

a

'Truck Driver'.

; )

<3

{It's in our Blood.}

<3

I... never had a

Doubt.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

Back to 'Black'...

for 

now.

; )

'Hair'... in my experience, throughout my life... is kinda like a 'Mood Ring', perhaps.

; )