Monday, July 20, 2026

Beautiful... Sunday in July.



Sunday Morn... was Beautiful.
: )

The First time in days, and days... it was 
'Cool'
in the morn.
; )

Sat under John's Old Oak... from 7 ish.. to nearly...
10 ish.
; )

There was a gentle breeze, that kept the bugs away, oh yeah.
; )

Was surprised by what I thought was fog... early, then... realized it must be the smoke from Canada.
: (
Prayers... for Canada.
<3
Can't imagine how bad it must be... for our Canadian Friends, and Friends... from Up North.
: (
<3 


Miss. Peanut was enjoying the Morning, as well.
; )
She lounged... most of the time, but...
when she heard Dogs barking in Fairfax... 
{It's very quiet, here... early Sunday mornings. 
You can Hear The Town... with no Highway 151 traffic.}

Holy Smokes...
When Peanut heard those dogs...
: ) : ) : )
She was At Full Attention!!!
of course...
 I had to add a little Fuel... to
The Fire!!
: )
{Seeing Peanut... get excited, was such a Gift. ; )}

Kept asking her...
"Where's Those Dawgs??!!
Watch'em... Girl!!! Watch'em!!!"
; )
That... Miss. Peanut Did.
; )
<3
Priceless.

Wasn't sure... how I was going to celebrate John's Birthday, this year.
Decided to take a ride to Palo, Pleasant Creek Park... where I'd captured the image of John driving Sally around The Lake.
; )
John... Loved to Fish there.
; )
{me... not so much. I referred to it as 'Lake Empty'!! 
Hahahahahaha!!!
; )
John had Much Better 'Luck' fishing there, than me.}
; )
<3


When Jethro, and I... took the turn onto Highway 94, to get to Palo...
there were
'Road Closed' 
signs.
: (

Two thoughts... ran through my mind, while sitting at that 
'Stop' sign.

1. 'Let's see... how 'closed' the road... truly is.
; )

2. Let's jump back onto Highway 100, and Find... 
The River, 'The Cedar'....where John and I Loved to Fish, way back... in 'The Day'
; )

Jethro, and I... opted for the second.
; )

Headed to The Old River Road, next to the Cedar River...
 where we liked to hang out... 
sometimes, fish...
back in 'The Day'.
; )


We'd often go there on John's Birthday.
He... wasn't into 'Birthdays', or... Parties.
; )
John... was a 'Simple Man'.
<3




Pulled Jethro down the boat ramp...
let him get a little taste of that old...
river water.
; )

Above was on John's Birthday, back in 2012, or so.
He wanted to go to The River, that Evening.
Who did we run into???
: )
Justin... and 'J'.
; )
By Chance!!
<3
The Boy's were fishin'!!

I climbed in the back of Justin's Ford... and watched them all Enjoy a Beautiful...
 Evening.
<3



We liked to park, next to the roller dam, on The Old River Road.
Just... sit there... and watch the River... Roll.
; )

Seemed fitting, to visit on John's Birthday.
If he were 'Here'... I'm guessin', we'd be spending 'His' Day...
Exactly...
like this.
<3

I'd always fix John... whatever 'Birthday Supper' he wanted.
; )
Sometimes... we'd go 'Out'.
It was All... John's  Choice.
'His Day'.
; )

Jethro, and I... decided to go to Edith Lucielle's for a late lunch.
Sadly... John never got to see his Old Stomping Ground, and... mine, turn into a
 Wonderful... Fun, Restaurant.
When we were young, it was 'Squaw Creek Tap'.
It was in the neighborhood where he grew up.
John... was Never... a 'drinker', or... a 'Bar' Dude, but...
he knew most Everyone who was, in the area.
; )
John... really liked the Lady who used to own it, back then.
He, always said... how much he admired her.
: )
Hard Working... Woman.
{If Ya own a Bar... or a Restaurant, it's... Hard Work.}

When Jethro and I pulled in, at Edith Lucielle's...
a bunch of Biker's were also, coming in.
: )


John and I... are, were... about as 'Merle Haggard'... as anyone can be.
'Bikes'... were never our 'gig'.
; )
Somehow...
knew, Jethro and I... were in The Right Crowd.
; )


I ordered a 'Black Russian'... for John.
; )
John... rarely drank a drop, but... when he did, he liked a Black Russian, or... a VO and Coke.


John... LOVED a Good Tenderloin.
He... didn't like the ones that were flattened out, to the size of a dinner plate.
He liked a Tenderloin that was Thick... and Juicy.
John would've LOVED Edith Lucielle's.
; )

As I was leaving... The Biker's were leaving too.
; )
I asked them... if I could capture an image of them, with Jethro.
; )
They were All Over It!!
; )


: )


Asked them... to give John a 'Wave'...
; )
{John... had a Very Special 'Wave'.}
; )
<3

When The Biker's started up their Bikes, one... had a Tune playing Loud, and Proud.
'Simple Man'.
; )


A Black Russian is made with Vodka and Kahlua.
Picked up a small bottle of Kahlua, and a pack of Luckies...
Sunday afternoon.
Sadly, couldn't find Lucky Strike 'Straights', like John smoked.
{non-filter}
so...
picked up a pack of 100's.
; )
John... RARELY ran out of Stogies, but... when he did, he'd ask for one of mine.
He'd break off the filter... before he'd smoke it.
Always.
; )

Me, on the other hand, have had to smoke a few of John's Luckies.
; )
Never learned how to keep the tobacco off of my lips, like he did.
He.. was The Master at Smokin' Luckies!!
; )

In John's Honor... I've broken off every filter of those 'Luckies'.
; )

Think... maybe, I'm gettin' the hang of it.
; )


When we got Home...
fixed a few... too many of those 
'Black Russians'.
; )
{They Grow... on Ya!! : ) }
While going through 'Memories'... had to laugh, when this one popped up, again.
; )

Made me think of when John was going through that Horrible radiation therapy.
: ( : ( : (

The kind Ladies... who were there, every day... to check John in, 
one day... came walking up to us with a Lovely... Men's Coat.
; )
{John... wore what he wanted. He... Liked his old worn Flannel Coat, that was pretty ragged.
John... was known to duct tape his Favorite Boots, rather than have to break another pair in.
That's How John Rolled.
'His Way'
<3 <3 <3 
and...
John never gave a 'Sh!t' about what anyone thought.
; )
<3 <3 <3
{that's called...'Freedom'.}
; )

John, and I... looked at the kind offering, from the Ladies.
: )
I accepted the coat, Gratefully... on John's behalf.
; )
{donated it, later.}
: )
<3


Indeed.
<3

Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.

Barb C.


<3


<3



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