'Live'... just, Live!!'

Simply... Iowa.

<3

Allyson, and I took the back roads to Belle Plaine, Friday afternoon.

: )

{about 35 miles from Fairfax/Cedar Rapids}

It was a Perfect Iowa Summer Day, said Allyson.

; )

True!!

Our first stop... was at The Oakhill Cemetery, in Belle Plaine.

We were on a mission to find Helen Snow-Miner's grave.

Oak Hill... is a fairly large Cemetery, fairly old... too.

There's some Beautiful Statuary there.

<3

It took us a while... to find 'Helen'...

but...

We Did!!

: )

{Helen, and Alfred}

<3 <3

Above is the Lovely Painting, Pal.. Bill gifted me with several years ago.

Helen painted it in 1921.

<3

Was telling Allyson, Helen's 'Art'... brought us together... to meet there.

I'll bet Helen never imagined that two women would come to visit her grave, 

pay their respect... to her, 

78 years after she passed away, because... of her 'Gift'....

'Art'.

; )

I've got Allyson 'Hooked' on visiting Cemeteries.

Allyson said... she never really paid much attention to them, before we began traveling together, many, many years ago.

She so enjoys visiting them.

: )

Allyson loves how Peaceful... they are.

; )

Me... too.

<3

Ever since I can remember... I've always been interested in Cemeteries.

When I see them, especially the Cemeteries with 'Standing' Monuments,

it's always been so clear in my mind, each 'Stone'... 

'Monument'

represents a 'Life'.

: )

Sometimes... a 'Family'.

'Soldiers'.

<3

Every 'Stone'... has a 'Story' beneath them.

Some Stones... actually have short 'Stories'... about the person 

engraved in the Stone.

<3

Allyson, and I visited a Beautiful Cemetery in Des Moines, a few years ago.

At many of the 'Stones'... they had a QR code, you could scan, and hear all about the person you were visiting.

THAT...

was

 So Cool!!

Told Allyson, Friday... that I sure wished Every Grave, had one of those.

<3

After our Peaceful... visit with Helen, and strolling through the Beautiful...

 Oak Hill Cemetery, 

we headed to 

The Lincoln Cafe.

; )

All you can eat Walleye.

; )

; )

The Lincoln Cafe... has changed very little, since I was a child.

<3

The Lincoln Cafe has been open since 1928.

Located on Old... Highway 30, {The Lincoln Highway} in Belle Plaine, Iowa.

Dad, and I... used to stop at 'Truck Stops'... to 'Grab a Bite... to Eat', when he was on different Farm sights, 'Junkin', cutting up Farm Machinery.

At Noon, we'd head to the nearest Small Town, and have Lunch at a local Cafe, or Truck Stop.

Always Enjoyed those Lunches with Dad. 

; )

Dad... never met a Stranger, so... listening to Dad, and whoever... might happen to also be having Lunch, was So Much Fun!!

; )

Even the Food, seems the same.

<3

Nothing 'Fancy', just... Simple... Soulful... Comforting.

; )

Like It!!

The Walleye was AWESOME!!

; )

Allyson, and I were going to try a piece of  Homemade Pie, but...

NO ROOM!!

; )

All you can eat Walleye, Coleslaw... Choice of Potato,

 Salad, or Soup...

 and a

 Scoop of Ice Cream, for Dessert, 

for around 14.00.

; )

That's 'Rural Iowa'.

<3

Took the same... back roads... Home.

There's a little Cemetery, at the road where I turn to go to Son, Justin's...

that's always intrigued me, every time I visit the Kids.

Allyson, and I... checked it out.

; )

So... Pretty.

<3

So... Peaceful.

<3

<3 <3 <3 

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{I was thinking last night, about all of those we visited, Friday.

Wondering... wondering, what Their Stories were.

Wondering, if they could give us... advice, on 'Life'... what would it be?

Thinking about... Helen, and the little... I've read about her, I... believe she'd say...

 " 'Live It'... while you can. Just... Live!!"

; )

<3

Wish I could've known her.

Grateful... to have one of her Lovely Paintings.

<3

Thanks... So Much, to Pal, Bill.}

: )

<3