Happy St. Patrick's Day...to All!!!

I found the Irish Rosary... on one of my Gathering trips, a few weeks ago....

and, knew Exactly...where it was going. <3

Son, Justin...was born on St. Patrick's Day. : ) <3

It, was such...a Beautiful....March....day, in 1985.

<3

So, warm...and...sunny. : )

Our Family...isn't Catholic, nor...do we belong, to any...'Organized Religion'...

We, are Faithful.

<3

We, believe in God, and Jesus.

<3 

We, all...have a Lot...of Faith.

<3

I, have several Rosaries....

I, gave one...to Justin, several years ago.

He, keeps it, hanging on his Tool Chest, in the shop.

: )

I, gave him...this one, today...and thought, he might...keep it, in his Ford. <3

{I have a Beautiful...Rosary, in Pink....that hangs from The Old 'Gipsy's' rear view mirror.

I, pray...for those I meet, along my Journey....as well...as, myself, those who ride with...

and...

The Old...Ford. <3 : ) }

I, always get...a little, melancholy... on St. Patrick's Day.

It reminds me...of my Dad.

He...was 'So'...'Irish'. : )

His eyes... 

Beautiful...Blue eyes...

would Sparkle, when he shared his Wonderful Stories.

<3

I, could listen to him tell them....over, and over. : )

He, was...such a Kind, and Gentle....Man, yet.... : )

He...was so.... Mischievous. ; )

as, Any...Great...Irishman, Is. : ) 

oh...my. : )

Justin, inherited...some of Those...Irish, Genes. : )

As I walked through the house, with...my coffee...this morning,

I...stood on the landing, of the Big Room, John...so Beautifully....created,

and...began to sing...

'Danny Boy'.

<3

The Walls Shook.

I, even...hit the high notes...perfectly...

despite, the lump...in my throat.

: ( : ( : ( 

We, almost...named Justin, 'Daniel'.

: )

I'm so Proud, of our Irish Roots.

: ) 

and...

Our, Son. 

<3 <3 <3 

Hope, You All... had a Wonderful...

St. Patrick's Day.

: )

Love, to ya...

Barb C.

{I, posted...above, my Favorite...version, of 'Danny Boy'.

Jim Reeves.  <3

Nobody... sings it, Better. : ) 

Jim Reeves, died...in a plane crash, a...little over a year, after I was born.

He's...my Favorite Male Vocalist...of All Time. <3 }

Justin, was a few months old....in this picture.
<3
'Irish Eyes'.
<3 

Justin and Katie.
Soulmates.
<3 <3 <3 

John, Little Justin....and, Justin.
Where They All...Love to Be.

Justin...and, Dad. <3
John, always said... "If your Dad...was around, he and Justin...would have every Old Tractor, and Truck...sittin' here.
They would've been working on that Old Junk....endlessly." Hahahahaha!!!
Indeed. <3 <3 <3
Justin, was Two years old...when Dad went 'Home'.
I, sure Wish.... they could've Known...each other...better. <3 

ALICE IN WONDERLAND 2: Through the Looking Glass Trailer (2016)

Highway 151 Fairfax.

So....Sorry, I've been Gone...so long.

Life, has been...

Horribly, insane.

There's been, nearly...too much, for me to deal with.

Nearly.

: )

Seems, I'm gettin' Hit...from every side.

I, Truly...Miss, writing on my Blog. 

It's my 'Therapy'...you know.

: )

{Trust Me...I Need All of The Therapy...I can Get!!! : ) }

I've been Fighting, day and night...over the Walking Trail, The City of Fairfax, wants.

{along this Crazy...Highway. 

People, are going to die...needlessly.

 I'll Fight, against this, until...I can't fight, anymore. 

I, know...if I don't Give It Everything....I've got, when...something happens, and...it will, I wouldn't ever...be able to Sleep, at night....again. }

I'm pulling a Big Sale, together...for next week, down the rabbit hole.

It's so...Crazy...there.

 So Much...to get done, in so little...time.

I, just...received a call from a Friend, who is helping...another Friend....

who, Needs to Have a Tag Sale, before the first...of April.

{House is Sold.}

My Friend, is such...a 'Gift'.

 Always...helping 'Others'. 

{She's a 'Mother Hen'...tho, she'd Never...Admit it. <3 }

We Have to make That...Happen. : )

<3

So, been on the phone, with Pal, Bill...

We're gonna have to Pull a Tag Sale, together...

for next week.

Thankfully, between, the Angel...

'Mother Hen'...

who is Always...looking out, for Others, <3 

and... Pal, Bill...

I, think...we can Pull it ALL Off!!!

{Sure wish...Our Peg, was here. {The Mad March Hare <3 }

 She'd make 'Short Order'...of The Rabbit Hole.

<3

Stay Tuned... my Friends.

<3

Hahahahaha!

The next 10 days...

are gonna get...

Mighty...

Interesting.

: )

Love...to ya.

Barb C.

Davina and the Vagabonds "Black Cloud" Live at KDHX 2/24/12

Black Cloud....

Oh...dear.

I covered a million, miles...today.

Many, were traveled...in my mind.

: )

So Much.

So...Many.

Miss. Scarlett, {Granddaughter} was coming to spend the night, Daughter, Liz...was dropping her off...on her way to work.

I'd just pulled in, at home... and, had gotten the groceries...put away, when the phone rang.

It was Liz.

She, and Scarlett...were sitting beside the road, on Highway 30.

The RAV, had broken down.

I bailed...in the Old 'Gipsy'...

and made those Chrome Stacks... Belch. : )

Roll Coal.

: )

Highway 30, is a Mess...around 5 o'clock...on a Friday.

I, didn't like the Thought...

of...

My Girls

sitting...along...side, of It.

: (

We made Quick Time.

I, was soooo Thankful...as I made a U Turn, on 30,

 to see a Deputy Sheriff...with The Girls. <3 <3 <3 

They bailed in The Old...'Gipsy'...and, they... were Safe.

<3

As we headed to Liz's job... she said...

"Mom, there's been so much, going on, lately...I, feel like there's a Black Cloud, hanging over me. "

: )

{I, know...all about those.}

: ) : ) : ) 

We, are so much...alike.

It scares me.

I, told her... we're gonna have to Burn Some Sage. : )

Hahahaha!

We, both...agreed, Our Problems, compared to So Many...Other's...

really...aren't.

<3

Yet, one...has to wonder. : ) : ) : ) 

I, guess...

if, you 'Live'...

Truly...

'Live'...

there's gonna be some Mighty...Black...Clouds.

However,

There's Gonna Be...a WHOLE BUNCH...

of

Rainbows, too. : )

We, both Agreed...

We Are Blessed.

<3 <3 <3 

I, posted a few images, of Our Daughter, Elizabeth...below.

She, has been such a Rock, in my life.

I, Hope...I've been one, for her...too. <3

Love, to ya...

Barb C.

Miss. Scarlett, and Liz.

Kristi, {My Surrogate Daughter <3, and Liz's Forever...Best Friend}
Liz, me...and..Dearest...Friend, Steph. <3 }

Liz...Luggin'. <3

Me and My Girls.
<3 <3 <3 

Me, and Liz. <3 <3 <3 

<3 <3 <3 

<3 <3 <3 

Adam, Liz's...Soulmate, and...Liz. <3 {and...the RAV <3 } 

The Hatter.
Liz, made me... this Hat.
I'm...The Hatter.
in Reality...
Liz...
Is,
'The Hatter'. <3

Pennies from Heaven.

My Heart....Swelled, as I saw how Dale's Friends, came to help....

yesterday.

'Antique Family' <3 <3 <3 

From left to right....

Roger Mapes, Dan Olmsted, Dale, Colleen Alpers, and Thom Rawson.

Roger, and his wife, Linda...live in Illinois, and helped Dale, after the accident, and brought him home, to Iowa... from the Hospital, in Peoria.

The Horrible accident, was one week ago.

Dale, was en route to Arther, Il., for an Antique Show.

While travelling on Highway 74, not far, past Peoria...  Dale heard, and felt a rumble, coming from the trailer.

He was looking in the side mirror, trying to figure out where the problem was....

he looked up, and saw a Dump Truck, stopped, or rolling slow, in his lane. He, thought...maybe...10 feet ahead of him.

He was traveling over 50 mph, and didn't have time, to hit the brakes.

Thankfully, both...Dale, and the Dump Truck Driver, are o.k. 

Truly...a God 'thing'. 

Dale's, Old... Ford Van, broke down in Nashville, a few weeks ago, at another Show... and was beyond repair, so... he bought this, Ford F350...there.

It, saved his life.

Had he been in his Van, we don't think he would have survived this. 

Dale, is very....very...bruised, and sore...but, he walked away.

Miracle.

Many Folks, at The Show, Dale was heading to, contributed to a collection, they took up for Dale.

Many, have helped him, here..in Iowa, as well. 

I, called Green's, in Marion, Iowa... they rent Penske Trucks, they are Great Folks, 

{John and Seth...go way back.... <3 }

 and, I asked them get a 26 Foot Truck, ready for us.

I, thought it was just going to be Colleen, and I... but, then... we had Great Folks, step up....

and Help.

<3 <3 <3 

They all rode together....and met Dale, and I.... near Peoria.

It only took us about 45 minutes to load, and less...when we got to Dales, to unload.

Pal, Mark Nutt, and one of Dale's Neighbors... met us there.

It was Great!!!

It was cold....and a lot...of Miles, but... Everybody...stepped up.

<3

We all know, Dale...would have for any of us. Dale...has. : )

Colleen, sorted totes, and repacked everything, that wasn't broken... 

Thankfully, Colleen thought to bring a bunch of new totes.

Every tote, itself...that was inside the trailer, was destroyed.

Dale's tote's are ready to go... Thanks, to her! <3

He lost, the equivalent of half of one tote, in 'smalls'.

Unfortunately...

two, of his best pieces, were broken.

I, say... SO WHAT!!!!! Hahahaha!

: )

He, hated to see them lost, after surviving for nearly 200 years.

I, call them survivors, just the way they are. <3 

 Told him, he should have them repaired, and keep them Always.

A Reminder, of The Blessings...in His Life!

Dale and I...talked about a lot of things, on our...nearly 500 mile trip.

Friends, Faith...Blessings... Gratitude...Forgiveness...and, the Wonder...of Miracles.

We had the Penske...for two days. 

Thanks...to all of the Help...

we had it back, last night...by 6:30.

I couldn't believe it. 

<3 <3 <3 

The images below...show a lot of broken things.

There, were a LOT....of Survivors, too.

Dale, was sure...nothing...could have survived.

MUCH DID!!!

He had an old Cupboard, I'd sold him...years ago, on the load. He'd just pulled it from his house.

It was Big....and...Heavy!!!

{of course. : ) }

It Made It!!!

Even, the Early Corner Cupboard, that was in the very front, can be repaired.

It has paned glass doors, very...old.

I, didn't have much hope, for that.

Five of the old pieces of glass....survived, too. 

Amazing!

The thing is, none...of this, matters. 

We Love...the Old...., but....the Real Treasures....

were the Drivers, that walked away.

: )

When we were trying to move...an Old Step Back Cupboard, at the front...that, truly, is beyond repair....

Roger pointed at something..., sitting on it.

It was a Penny.

<3

I, put it in my pocket, and gave it to Dale... when I climbed in the Truck.

'Angels'....are near.

<3

When I climbed into bed, last night....

I pulled the covers back, and...

there was a Penny, next to my pillow.

<3

It was quite a Day, Filled with Blessings.

<3 

Dale asked me to write a letter, to Ford Motor Company, for him. 

He wants to Thank Them... for Building such Great Trucks!

My... Pleasure. 

<3

Dale knows, it was more...than a Ford, that saved him.

There were some Angels....sent., too. 

Love to ya...

Barb C.

Colleen. <3 <3 <3 

Dan and Thom.

Out of a dozen totes....of smalls, this...is all, that was broken.
The Burl Bowl.....was a 2200.00 bowl.
Dale's trailer wasn't insured, nor...are the contents.
His homeowners, might pick up, a little of it.
Made us all think, about checking our policies. 

This, could have all...went, a very....different, direction.
Dale, was Very...Blessed.
: )

Tracy Lawrence - Find Out Who Your Friends Are (Official Music Video)

Big Story...coming tomorrow.

Don't Miss It!!! 

<3 <3 <3 

Please....Please...Read, and Help.

I am posting images, of my Facebook posts, from today.

I've spent so many hours, working on all of this, I can't type.....anymore.

Please...click on the images, to enlarge them.

Please....Help.... Call, The City of Fairfax, Iowa.

Tell Them....a Sidewalk/Trail...along Highway 151, is so....Wrong.

If they can give you, One...Good...Reason, that's better than Safety.....

let me know.

Don't let them tell ya...it's too late.

They haven't 'Let'...the Work, out...yet.

THIS CAN BE STOPPED!!!

Pal, Bill Levis, just shared a link, for a Fundraiser, for a Man, who was Critically Injured, last week, just...up the road, On...151.

These accidents, happen so Often, along this highway...I, can't keep up, with them all.

Heart Breaking.

: (

Our Pal...Dale. : ) <3

This, is the picture, of Dale's accident.
Well...the vehicles lined up, on I-74, in Illinois, because...of the accident.
I found this, at 3:30...in the morning, when I was trying to figure out, where and when...Dale was hurt, and which Hospitals to start calling. 

This was an accident, just up the road, from the rabbit hole, on 151., last week.
There are so many...anymore.
I, don't know...if this is the same one, as below....or not. : (
Pal, Bill Levis, just sent me this link, to this Accident, moments, ago.
I included the Go Fund Me... information, for this Young Man.
Pray, for Sure...like, I KNOW...you All can, and Do.
Help Aaron Sturtz, through Go Fund Me...if, you can. <3
Click...on the Images.
<3
Love, to ya...
Barb C.