It's All... About The Journey.

Got to thinkin' the other day...

{that's always... a little, Dangerous. : )}

Since The Iowa Department of Transportation, and Fairfax... don't want to admit there's a 'Bike Trail'... where it Ain't Supposed to be, per... Our Signed Recorded Agreement, and...

they've made Every Feeble Attempt, in the Book, to Try to 

'Re-Brand' it, 

makes me think, perhaps... it should just be called a...

 'Jethro Trail'.

; )

Hmmmmmm.

???

{Confident... Lawyer Meardon could Make That Happen...

 ; ) 

He's Damned Good... at 'Impossible'.}

; )

Gotta Love Those Old Fords...

Especially

'Mustangs'.

<3 <3 <3 

; )

I've always said...

'There should only be One 'Car' on the Road...

'Mustang'.

; )

Everything Else... should be a Ford Truck!!'

<3

Hahahahahahaha!!!

; )

; )

Seems, me... and Clyde Barrow,

{Bonnie and Clyde}

have 

Two Things 

in

Common.

; )

'Ford has

Every 'Other' car...

'Skinned'.

and...

I, too... wrote a letter to The Ford Motor Company, several years ago.

: )

also....

 Praising The Ford Motor Company...

<3 <3 <3

but, 

had a Big Beef with Ford, concerning their 6.0 Diesel Engine.

Dear Friend's had Just bought a New F-350.

BIG MONEY.

The Motor Blew, early on... Ford wouldn't stand behind it.

: ( : ( : (

Ford... in my opinion, should've recalled them.

The 6.0's had some Major Issues.

: (

Ford... didn't recall the 6.0.

My Friends switched to GMC, after that.

Many... did.

Big...

Mistake, on Ford's part, in my opinion.

: (

Don't know What... made me think of 

That...

yesterday.

??

; )

{Do... Love.... the Bonnie and Clyde Video, with The Steve Miller Band.}

; )

; )

<3 <3 <3 

{Just Doin' My Part!! }

<3

Went to Iowa City, yesterday... to meet with Lawyer Meardon.

Parked in front of the Old... Library.

The Meeting went very... well.

; )

As I was walking up to Jethro... to head Home, noticed some Young Men, having a Good Time, 

on the 

Old... Library's Beautiful Entrance.

; )

Said...

"Howdy Boys!! How Y'all Doin' This Fine Evenin'!!!???"

: )

{It was BEAUTFUL!!}

They All said...

"GREAT!!!"

Then, a few shouted...

"How Are You... Doin'!!!???"

: ) : ) : )

Waved my arms, at Old... Jethro,

and said...

"GREAT!!!"

<3 <3 <3 

: ) : ) : )

They Went Wild!!!

Hahahahahahaha!!!

Wanted me to Take 'em for a Ride!!!

: ) : ) : )

Hahahahahaha!!

<3

{That... Made My Day.}

; )

After my 'conversation' with Son, Justin... earlier, yesterday...

about how my 'Ford Fleet'... is 

'So Old'.

and...

I need something

'Newer'.

: (

My 'Ford Fleet'... is 'Family'.

<3

and...

Many... Appreciate Them, almost, as Much as I do!!

<3

Those Young Men, and Jethro, are probably pretty close in age.

; )

Told 'The Boys', that I was sorry, no 'Rides' in Old Jethro, tonight.

It had been a rather... Long, Long... Day.

Perhaps, another time.

; )

Asked them if I could capture an image of them, they said...

"Sure!!"

then, one... Young Man, asked... if I'd share those images with him.

{Quin}

'Of Course!!'.

; )

{notice... I misspelled 'Too'.

; )

 Yeah... I'd already had a Toddy, before noticing Quin's text, at Home.

I... don't text, and drive.}

; )

Priceless.

<3

A Day... Filled With Angels.

<3

Yesterday... was a Great Day, All Around.

: )

Many, Many...

Blessings.

<3

Discovered the above post, yesterday... while Lawyer Meardon was Workin' Away...

 on

 Major Things.

: )

{Bless His Heart!! <3}

It's so true.

'The Boys', and, many other's...would tell Ya one thing.

: )

Fairfax, Iowa 'City Hall' and The Iowa Department of Transportation...

'they'...

most likely, have a very.... different

'opinion'.

; )

bless their hearts.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Yes... indeed.

; )

<3

 

The Love... of 'Old'.

Grandson... Justin 'J', and Grand Gizmo...

helped me pick up 'trash' from Highway 151, and the dollar general, across the street, yesterday.

<3 <3 

Love Those Boys!!

: )

There was an interesting Bird... who landed above us... as we worked.

???

<3

<3 <3 <3 

Hahahahahahaha!!!

; )

Indeed.

Yeah... Boy!!

; )

Visited with Son, Justin... this morning, he... feels I should buy a 'Newer' truck.

'Newer' car....

he said...

"Mom... everything you own, is 'Old'."

; )

The 'Truth' is, 'Everything' we've 'owned' has always 'been'...

'Old'

; )

and..

'Paid For'...

'Always'

; )

That... 'conversation' didn't last long,

 it won't...

ever.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

The Romance of Old.... 'Love Story'.

Above is Sweet Virginia.

; )

For some reason, I thought she was from Georgia.

?

Nooooo.

'Alabama'.

; )

Virginia... Is as Sweet as a Georgia Peach!!

That's probably 'why'.

; )

Had a Lovely Visit with her.

<3

Above are a few of the Beautiful... things she sent with.

<3

The best way I can describe Virginia's

 'Look'... 

'Style'...

is

'Romantic'.

<3

She and I...

'Understand' each other...

very well.

; )

The Ford's Cab... was so Full, when leaving Virginia's...

well, she was wondering if I'd have room to drive!!

Hahahahahaha!!!

{oh yes... this ain't my first Rodeo}

Hahahahahahaha!!!

; )

Virginia Knows All About It!!

She used to do High End Shows, in The South.

{We're Both... Gypsies!!}

; )

We swapped a few 'War Stories'... 

seems, we've both covered our share of

'Miles'.

; )

oh... my.

; )

Grandson, Justin... got his 'Ford' Home.

; )

Felt kinda bad... last week, when he was telling me about it.

He was So... Excited, and... I was a little negative.

: (

Son, Justin, was going to look at The Ford, last Monday...

with 'J'...

but the Owner, couldn't meet with The Boys, until late evening.

Son, Justin... doesn't 'do' late evenings. He's up at 3:30, every work morning.

So...

Justin 'J'... went with one of his Pal's... to look at it again, and hear it run

He bought it.

; )

I asked Justin... how it runs.

Justin said... he couldn't get it started, but the Owner...

 Swore it Runs Great,

 'Crossed his Heart'...and 'Hoped to Die'... if it didn't.

; )

{uh oh. ; )}

that's... when I got a little 

'negative'.

: (

"Justin... Ya Got Hear 'em Run."

: )

"Oh Boy...  sure Hope... it'll Run."

: )

{and. a little more.}

: (

Then... got to thinkin' about it...

: (

Should've been more supportive.

Justin... was So Excited about The Truck.

{I Know That Feeling.}

<3

; )

There's Nothing Worse, when You're So Excited about something, and a 'Negative Nelly', Shoots Your Balloon Down!!

: (

The next day... after my negative thoughts, and warnings....

had another 'chat' with 'J'.

: )

"Ya know what... I was thinkin', 'if'... that Ford doesn't want to run, look at All of The Parts you can sell.

: )

For what you paid for that Truck... well, you'll make money on it, by just selling the front end.

Hopefully... you can get 'er goin', but... if not, it's Still a Winner!!"

; )

{also told Justin, If Anyone... could get the Ford goin'... He Can! : ) }

<3

Told Justin... about an Old Ford I dragged Home, one day.

: )

His Grandpa, John... was Not Happy!!

: )

I've forgotten what it 'needed', now.

{That was 'Before Children'}

Think it had driveshaft issues.

I paid 250. for it.

It was an F-250, 4WD, like Justin's... just a few decades apart.

John... was so unhappy, he put it on the 'Way... Back Burner'.

; )

One day... one of John's Pal's called me.

He was in Dire Need of the Ford's front axel, and a few other parts, for one he was building.

He offered me 1250. for The Old Ford.

; )

'SOLD'!!!

{I put that money... towards a Better... Ford. : ) }

See... 'things' work out, eventually.

; )

Justin 'J'... sent me videos of his Ford...

RUNNING!!!

He Got 'er Goin'!!!

: ) : ) : )

<3 <3 <3 

YIPPEE!!

Had Folk's calling me, all day Saturday, while they were looking at things at The Rabbit Hole.

I was at Virginia's... so, wound up selling things over the phone.

Same way... Sunday.

I've Gotta Get That Rabbit Hole...

Back on It's Feet, and Open 'Regular Hours'.

People... seem to Love It, 'as found'... but, they've never seen it, like it used to be,

'Before'...

IDOT, and Fairfax.

It's difficult seeing it 

'After'.

Very.

but...

I'll figure it out.

; )

Josey Wales... called Saturday, as well.

That Man... Cracks Me Up!!

; )

Meeting with him, sometime this week.

He was reading about 'Fairfax'... in the news.

; )

What a Mess.

He'll get a kick out of the 

'Other Side'... of 'The Story'.

; )

Hopefully... It'll All Come Out, in the weeks and months... 

ahead.

; )

My 'Clock' Pal... called, yesterday...

said he'd thought it over, and I should just keep that 

Mantle Clock, I got goin'.

: )

After all, I fixed it... he said, so I should just keep it.

; )

Told him, it was not a Big Deal, and since he liked it so... it should Stay with Him!!

He Insisted, I keep it.

About an hour later, he called me back.

; )

"You know Barb, I DO want that Clock back.

It'll remind me of You, and that YOU fixed it!!"

Oh My!!!

Hahahahahahahaha!!!

; )

We're All Crazy About This 'Love of Old'.

: )

Was busy... doing bookwork, yesterday....

Didn't bother getting dressed.

Dear Friend, Judy...

{'Stash' Sumner, Iowa}

sent a link for something that was for sale...

'on-line'.

She said... "Thought of you, when I saw this. It's Cool!!"

Yes... Indeed.

<3

Eeeeeek!!

It's...

a

Traveling Kneeler!!

Old,

Velvet... Fringe... Church Related!!!

Eeeeeeek!!!

<3

{I've Never 'Seen' One!!}

and...

it all fits in the above... original...

carrying case.

; )

{It came from a closed Church, in Wellman, Iowa... guessing it's about a hundred years old.

Very Cool...

It'll be Great for a Back Drop, display... jewelry, or... Whatever!! Fun!!

Thanks... Judy!!}

<3

Reached out to the Owner, got it bought, but it Had to be picked up within an hour.

: (

It was 45 minutes away...

I wasn't dressed...

had to get Fuel...

had to get 'cash'...

EEEEEEK!!!!

; )

By Golly... we Made It!!

{Got Lost... and Still... Made It!!}

{Old Jethro... is a 

Fiery Steed!!}

: )

<3

I...  was in 'Rare Form'.

; )

No Make Up... Hair, was like a Rat's Nest....

in a Clip!!

Hahahahaha!!!

Ya Do...

What Ya Gotta 'Do'...

for 

The Love of 'Old'.

; )

That's the weekend, in a nutshell.

; )

Helper, Brandon... is coming to mow today.

He's been Chompin' at The Bit.

; )

Better get Crackin'...

Long Week... ahead.

Oh Boy!!

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{Thanks So Much... to 'Anthony', the Owner of 'The Traveling Kneeler'.

: )

He... 'Flagged' me, and Jethro 'In'.

We were So Lost!!!

; )

but...

by

God, 

We Made It!!}

: )

<3

Sunny Saturday Morn!!

The Sun was Lighting Up The Shower, this 

Beautiful...

Brisk,

Saturday Morn!!

; )

After The Storms Blew Through, yesterday...

it's Cooled Way...

Down.

; )

Gonna take a walk, check for damages, this morning.

Lost a few big branches, with the prior Storm, on Tuesday.

Many... sadly, lost much more.

Prayers for Them.

<3

It's been a volatile week.

oh...

dear.

Visited with my Clock Pal, last night.

; )

He's Thrilled I got his Mantle Clock...

perkin'.

; )

He was Sooooo Frustrated with it.

; )

Gonna drop it off with him, sometime today...

or tomorrow.

: )

Meeting with The Georgia Lady, Virginia, at Noon.

It'll be nice seeing her again.

She's Sweet as a Georgia Peach!!

<3

{Love... Southern Folks!!}

<3

Minnesota Pal, Rhonda... posted the above on FB.

<3

Love her Posts.

<3

Sure gonna miss seeing Rhonda, and Douglas.

All of my 'Gold Rush' Family.

: (

Grateful for FB, at least we can kind of keep in touch.

<3

Better get Crackin'.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

The 'Real Deal'.

<3

The above....

Pretty, little...

nearly, 5 foot tall,

Vintage...

Concrete Goddess, will be heading to 

the

'Simply Iowa' booth, at

'Vintage Market Days'... in Cedar Rapids.

<3

Excited to be a small part of the above, event.

; )

It's been a Crazy Day, here... in Eastern Iowa.

Again, many Storm's are Blowing Through.

After helping Pal, Bill... unload from The Ford, today...

caught a glimpse of 'Spring' beside the House.

<3

Bill, and I... knew, this was gonna be a Long Day.

I saw a Lightening Bolt, at Noon... 

that made the hair on the back of my neck...

Stand Tall.

; )

yeah... boy.

Bad, Ugly... Weather is Blowin' Through Eastern Iowa.

Siren's are Blaring, in many communities.

Prayers.. for All.

<3

sadly...

I, don't get too excited, about 'Storms', anymore.

; )

Perhaps...

Gratefully.

Not much, can make my bones 'shake', anymore.

After dealing with Fairfax, and The Iowa Department of Transportation, well...

; )

Boys...

The Above, works Both Ways.

; )

'She'... said, to him.'

; )

That's 'The Real Deal'.

; )

<3

It's 4:23 p.m.

Siren's are going off, in Fairfax.

; )

Here we go...

again.

; )

Think, I'll keep on listening to

Waylon.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Yep.

Love the Above...

Waylon Tune.

<3

Always Crazy, but... never 'intentionally' hurt, anyone.

In my 'book', 'intention'... is a big deal.

; )

'Intent'

is...

even a Much...

Bigger Deal.

a

Very...

Big

Deal.

Just... sayin'.

; (

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

 

Spring... 2026

Simply Iowa... will be at Vintage Market Days, for the first time, in May.

It... will be the Only 'Away' from 'The Rabbit Hole', event,

this year.

Excited to be a small part of it, and will bring what reflects 

'The Rabbit Hole' best.

<3

It's an Incredible... Event.

Believe it's a Great Advertising 'tool', as it's held only 5 minutes from Home.

My intentions... are to pull The Rabbit Hole,

 out

 of

 The Iowa Department of Transportation's... and Fairfax's 'Ashes', they've left us with.

It'll take us.... much time, to do so.

That's The Direction... I must head, and solely focus on.

It's been 8 years... of Fighting.

6... years, of brutal... Fighting.

{not concluded, just...yet.

 may... have to open up a few more wounds.

may have to...

Totally...

Switch directions, yet... again.

Yeah...

'dealing' with IDOT, is like standing on

 Shifting Sand.}

{this should... never, ever... ever, 'happen' to Anyone Else.

ever.}

Get Back...

to

 The Basics, and Regular, 'Set Hours'...

There.

<3

{The Rabbit Hole... Needs me, as Much as I... Need It.

'These Days'}

<3

As I've written, on earlier posts...

many, many things will be changing this year for

The Hatter, and...

Rabbit Hole.

Still... can't get into all of the changes, or... the reasons why, 

but, stay tuned.

<3

When I can, will.

<3

Sadly... so very... sadly, 

am dropping 

'Gold Rush', in Rochester, MN.

and...

Junk Jubilee, in Des Moines.

No more 'away' 'Shows' for Simply Iowa.

It's been a Heartbreaking Struggle, making this decision.

The 'Customers'... I've gotten to know, over many, many... years, are Far More than 'Customers'.

They are like Family.

<3

Frankly... my 'Customers' understand me, Far Better... than my 'Family'.

: ) : ) : )

We all... 'Understand' one another, with our Crazy... Love, and Passion...

for

Old.

<3 <3 <3 

Promoter, Micca, her Beautiful... Sis, Shelly... from JJ, oh my.

<3 <3

They, and The Junk Jubilee Family, are The Best.

When Times were Tough... 

They Were Always 'There'... for Simply Iowa.

Always.

<3 <3 <3 

Gold Rush...

oh my.

: )

Began doing Gold Rush... in the 1990's.

; )

81 Ford Ton Truck... 15 foot enclosed trailer...

Daughter, Liz... and her Best Pal, Kristi, were my 'Porters'.

<3

They were 7, and 8.

<3

: )

We'd leave Fairfax, at 3, or 4 in the morning... to get to Rochester, by 8, when we were allowed to unload, at that time.

'Back in 'The Day'.

: )

{The Girls, would have their pillows all around them in the Ford's cab... slept, most of the way.

Remember my neighbor's at Gold Rush saying... 'I have have Grandchildren that age... I've never seen Them Work... That Hard, or Behave... That Well!!"

<3

'Iowa' Girls... are Workers.

<3

'Little Women'.

; )

{We had a Lot of Fun... Too. : ) }

Kaye, and Richard... 

{Promoters}

are two of The Finest Promoters I've ever known.

They Don't Stop...

They Don't Quit.

; )

They've had Many Obstacles Thrown in Their Paths, over the decades, but...

By God, They Always Roll Through Them.

<3

Kaye, has been a Huge inspiration, over the decades.

<3

Unless... you've been a promoter, trust me... you could never understand the Pressure.

Don't know how any of them do it, and...

 Do It...

 So Incredibly Well.

; )

 Procrastinated... 

Agonized...

making the 'calls', last month.

: (

 I'll explain, more... when I can.

<3

Yes... 

The Book, is coming.

; )

I'm going to Miss, So Miss... my Neighbors, Friends.... 'Family', at both

Junk Jubilee, and Gold Rush.

this...

is the right road, for... 

'Simply Iowa'.

<3

Indeed.

Been playin' with a Clock, my Pal... sent with me, the other day.

: )

He was so frustrated with it. He couldn't keep it running, yet... he Loved it so.

He, said... "Take It!! I'm Done!!"

; )

well...

believe...

I've got it goin'.

; )

If it keeps... Marchin' Along, through the night,

 believe...

it'll be ok.

; )

I'll give him a call, tomorrow... see if he'd like 'The Beauty'...

back.

; )

Love to Ya..

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Partial... Ron White 'Plane Crash' video.

Look it up...

in it's entirety.

trust me...

it's worth it.

; )

<3

 

'Storms'...

<3

<3

<3

: )

Pal, and Neighbor, Kathy... posted the above last evening.

; )

I was on the phone, with a Business call, when the hail hit Fairfax.

; )

The Gal... I was talking with, said...

"I can 'Hear' that hail... maybe you should find 'Shelter'...

 the basement.???!!!"

; )

Told her...

'Bring It On'!!

; )

{didn't hear sirens, yet... 

frankly... if I had, I'd still say...

'Bring It On.'.}

; )

Reminded me of the Ron White 'skit', concerning the near...

 'Plane Crash'.

; )

Hahahahahaha!!!

{Hit Somethin' Hard... I don't want to Limp Away from 'This Wreck'!!"

; )

Hahahaha!!!

oh.... dear.

; )

{I'll try to post that clip, above this post. ; )}

Was Greeted this morning, by a Beautiful Woman, wearing a Long... Black.. Lacey Dress, 

with

 an

 Old... Flannel Shirt, over it.

; )

<3

The Beautiful Woman... 

was holding a 

Starbucks Chocolate Latte' with an Extra Shot,

 in one hand...

and...

a

Beautiful Check, in the other.

; )

'Storms'...

will come, and go...

but,

 guarantee...

'Mother Nature'

ain't got

Nothin'

on 

'Iowa' 

Girls.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{Checked Old Jethro, for hail... damage, this morning. 

He... was gratefully, spared, as were the Greenhouses.

<3

'Blessed'}

<3

Battling 'Flooding' concerns, since The Iowa Department of Transportation wrongfully butchered us, for Fairfax's Bike Trail.

Big Rain, coming in... again, tonight.

: (

When... I say, so sadly... I hope they 'Rot in Hell' for what 'They've' wrongfully 'done', here.

Believe it.

; )

'bless their hearts.'

Looking forward to visiting The State Legislature.... in Des Moines, 

concerning this 

Wrongful Mess, that shouldn't 

'happen'

so...

incredibly...

'Wrongfully'

ever, ever...

again,

to

Anyone.

: (

'Fraud'...

isn't

Acceptable.

Period.

Grateful... 

So Incredibly... Grateful,

Lawyer Meardon

 keeps

METICULOUS

Documents.

: )

<3

Praise God!!

; )

<3