A Simply Iowa... Sleigh Ride... : )

It's Snowin'...Like Crazy... here....

I had to meet a friend... at another friend's.... this afternoon...

I opted to drive... Miss. Sally....

30 years ago... before...I was spoiled... with 4WD....

and Front Wheel Drive....

all I drove... were...Old Mustangs...

oh...dear...

They... don't get around... too well... in the Snow...

but...

The Good Thing...

They are...Light... and easy...to Push... out... of a Snow Bank... : )

The Other... Good Thing...

These Little Ponies...

LOVE to Play... in the Snow... : )

If... you can find... like I...did... this

 Beautiful...

Snowy... Afternoon...

a Private...{friend's }

 Parking Lot...

yet to be cleared....

: )

Oh My...

This Little Gal...

Can Spin.....Donuts...

like The Tea Cup Ride...

at The State Fair!!!!!!!!

Woooooo Hoooooo!!!!

Who says... Convertibles... are for Summer...

Sally 'Snorts'... at That...

: )

A Simply Iowa...

Sleigh Ride...

: )

What Fun...

Haven't done this... for Years!

seems... the Hatter...

and the Old Mustang...

haven't lost... their... touch...

: )

Hope You... had a Beautiful... Day...

as Well...

: )

Love..to ya...

Barb C.
{I drove Old Trucks...rear wheel drive... as well... : )
back in the day...
Make no mistake... they can Spin a Mean... Powdered Donut... too...
{even the 61 Ford Ton Flatbed... with Duals... on the rear....
could spin...a Respectful... 'O'... and... '8'.... }
: )
but...
I gotta tell ya....
Nothin'... Spins a Donut... Tighter...
with more...
precision...
than...
a
Mustang....
: ) }

 

 



No Grit... No Pearl.... : )

Had...such a Lovely... Day.....
Friday......

Mama... got Sprung....

from the hospital...

got her...back...and situated... : )

They were playing Piano... when we walked in....

and the Piano Man... played 'Wild Irish Rose'... for Mama's return... : )

She sang it...word for word... : )

I also... visited... with a Friend... and saw his...Amazing Collections....

Some.. I will be selling, for him... at upcoming shows....: )

I... can't write about it...today...

but...

I Gotta Tell Ya....

when I share... this 'Journey'...with ya...

you are gonna... Flip....

At the end of the day... I was visiting...a Friend's...shop....

I heard... one of the Girls...that work there....

SCREAM!!!!

as she was flying past me....

{She'd seen a mouse... : ) }

She was prancing... and dancing....
 demanding... that Someone...

Set A TRAP!!!!

IMMEDIATELY....

One of the Girls... did....

{There is only...one... little girl... there... that can... set a mouse trap...
{they didn't bother...asking...me... : ) }

As I was getting ready to leave....

I saw the set... trap.....all baited up... waiting....
for an unsuspecting.... little creature....

and...

 accidentally...

sprung it...
: )
It Flew... through the air... with the force... from the spring....
I..... walked... on....
: )
oooops...
: )

Then... as I was headed for the door......

I heard a Blood Curdling Scream!!!!

and Two...of The Girls... were Screaming.... Running in Circles....

on their Tip Toes....

One... was Yelling....
 "We've Been Hit!!! " "We've Been HIT!!!!!"....

 "The Trap.... Is Sprung!!!!

It Must Be a HUGE MOUSE!!!!

The Trap Moved 3 Feet!!!!!"....

"ARRRRRRRGGGGG!!!!! WE'VE BEEN HIT...."!!!!!!!!!!

{The other Gal... was just Screaming... on her Tip Toes....

Hands...In The Air!!! Running In Circles!!!!
{reminded me...of Snoopy... {Peanuts}...when he dances...his little... Jig.... : ) }

I whispered ... to the Girl... who had set the trap...

{who...was Stunned... by all the Commotion....}

"Yes... it was a Huge... Mouse.... {put my hand... up to my forehead}... About This... Tall...: ) "....

I looked at her... and said...

 "And...Don't You Reset That Trap Tonight!!!!!".... : )

: ) : ) : )

and... Rolled out the door... Laughing....All The Way...Home...!!!!

I...am...Soooo Naughty....

Over the years... I have made 'pets'.. out of the mice... that come in...just for the Winter.... they find their way...out...the first breath of Spring...}

I saw the above...quote... last night, on fb...

"No Grit...

No Pearl."

What a Wonderful...

Quote...

it seemed...fitting.... for my Friday Morning... Conversation...

and a Great...Daily...Reminder...

Have a Beautiful Day...

Love to ya...

Barb C.

Speaking... of... Mice...
I was...DEVASTATED... two weeks ago....
Peg...made me... a MOST Beautiful Gourd... for Christmas....
She put a Bird's Nest...inside... with the tiniest... real.... little eggs....
a Butterfly wing... a Teeny... Tiny... Acorn....
and her... Favorite...Beetle....
{she repeated to me... Over.. and Over...
"THIS Is My FAVORITE Beetle! and I'm giving it...to You!!!"....}
I was so... proud of her work.... I kept it down the rabbit hole... the days I was Open..
so I could... show...Everyone... the Beautiful...GIFT.... she had created....
Sunday... before last.... after I got the shop...open....
I sat down.... at my little desk... where the Gourd... was Proudly Sitting.... for All to Admire...
I thought...
I'd take a moment... and really examine... her work....
{her artwork...is so fine...and detailed... it's like looking through a kaleidoscope.....}
I noticed... one of the tiny keys... she had hooked on the top... had slid...down....
I thought it was strange... but... I put it back....in it's proper place...
then... I glanced inside....
and saw...
THE BEETLE WAS GONE!!!!!
The First Thing...That Came to My Mind...
I've Been ROBBED!!!!!
{and I wasn't thinking about a critter....as Insane...as It Sounds... I Thought...for a split...second....
SOMEONE... STOLE PEG'S BEETLE!!!!!
{Her... FAVORITE.... BEETLE!!! }
It Had Been Stolen!!!!
then...looking closer... The Little Eggs... were.... nothing but.... Shell... Fragments...!!!!!
The Tiny... butterfly wing.... was chewed up.... and the little acorn.... was... gone... as well....
I wanted to Throw...Up!!!
I called Peg... and was... Heartbroken.....
Heart... Broken....
She said...
"I told you... not to leave that in the shop......"
No You Didn't!!! We have left many others... here.... and THIS never happened...
I said....
{Mike told me... she said that.... too.... I never heard it.... but I was so....tired... the day they were here.... and was pretty much out of it.... }
I was just.... sick....
Peg said...
"I Think This...is FUNNY!!!!!... It couldn't have a better story....
{she...was LAUGHING!!!! }
 Now... I want You... In Your Writing...to make a little sign... that reads....
'All God's Creatures Have to Eat...' "
She said.... "How Many Times... have I wanted to KILL.... the Mouse... that destroyed.... an old quilt.... in your shop.... or... some wonderful...old paper.... item.....
and the first thing... you say.... when I'm ranting and raving...is....
"oh...well....They have to eat....too....: ) All God's little creatures.... have to eat....  "
{It Breaks... my Heart...too.... when these things...happen... but... what's done...is done... and... it is... what it is...}
My own words.... she was Flaunting....and using against me....
I painfully.... put those words... in writing....
 did... as she asked... then brought.... Every Gourd... to the House....
When she and Michael came to visit... before Christmas... I showed them....
the Carnage.... and little sign....I immediately... made....per, Peg's request....
 then... Peg placed a little white... China Mouse.... {like the one... she took a picture of... down the rabbit hole...so many years ago... that tamed....one Winter....and ate biscotti.... from a turned... broken...tea cup....: )  every time... I called him...... }
Make...no mistake... I won't...ever think...the Home Invasion was 'funny'...
I'm...still sick...about it...
Peg... is getting a Lot... of Miles... out of it....
oh my.....
Yeah... she.... is... Definitely... getting some miles... out of it...
: )
 

 

 

 



Positive....Thinking....

I gotta tell ya....

: )

I've had a little time.... this year...to process...Life...

The Journey...

and reflect....

I thought about that...after I hung up the phone...this Morn....

with a Friend...who called....

Everything....he saw.... laying ahead.... for the World...

and his...future...

was...Doom...and Gloom....

: )

If... You Want to Get Me Fired Up!!!!

start singing...that tune....

: )

What people don't....understand.... if.... you look for the Worst....

Expect...the Worst.....

Talk....about...The Worst...

That's Exactly.... what will come to you....

I....won't...

I Refuse... to bring any of that...near to me...

There is Always... Hope...

When Times get Tuff....

That's When The Tuff... get Going!!!

If... you woke up... this Morning...

You are...Blessed....

and have an opportunity... to make a difference....

If...you slept..in a Warm...Bed... last night...

You...are Blessed....

If... you could...see... the Beauty of The World... when The Sun...came up...

this Morn...

You... are Blessed....

I'm running out the door... have much to get done... today....

I'd Love...to go on...and on.....

Sing The Song... of...How Very Much...

We Are All Blessed....

but... I think... you get the idea...

: )

Love to You...

and...

Count Your....

Blessings....

{It'll take you.... All Day....}

and

Shower Others....

with...

Positivity....

then...

 Pray... for those...

who can't see theirs....

and... Look....Up...

Keep Looking...

Up....

Barb C.

 



Patsy Cline - Always

Blessings....

Polly and I...made our way to the mail box, this afternoon...

we hadn't checked the mail... for several days....

I found... a pile... of Christmas Cards... within....

: )

I wrote... yesterday... I didn't get many..done... this year....

I had planned to do them...while visiting with Mom... but... that didn't work....

This has been a difficult...journey...with Mom... on many levels... this hospital stay....

and none... of the time spent there, could I... find... much Christmas... Spirit...

But... it sure was Wonderful... today... opening...those Beautiful... Cards... and Letters...

Blessings....

The, above... Old Post Card... was tucked inside... a Lovely... Christmas Card....from my Sweet Friend, Pam....

It reads, on the back... '1927 White Orpington Chicks'.... in pencil....

with a note attached... that said...

"Barb... saw this... and thought of you...."

and underlined... 'you'....

: )

Another... had the most Beautiful...Heartfelt... letter...inside...

My Friend... Carole... had written...

she wrote... of her journey... with the rabbit hole... and our Friendship... over the years...

it... was... such a Blessing...to see...

She put...sweet little cut out... stickers... all over the outside...of the envelope....

Soooo..... Carole.... : ) : ) : )

Then... were, so many others... that simply...wished us.. a Happy... Holiday Season... and New Year... along with images... of themselves... and Family....

Blessings....

I... Hope... those who sent these cards... 'Blessings'... will understand... that...though... I didn't get theirs...to them....

how... Very Near... and Dear... each and Every One... of them... is... to my Heart....

Christmas...

 and Throughout...the Year....
Always....

Love to ya...

Barb C.

I... just posted...
Patsy Cline...
'Always'....
for this post...
It... reminds me... of the ones...I Love... who are 'Always'... here... for me....
and... the Promise... to those... I Hold... Dear...
I...too... will be there... for them...
Always...
and... my Dad....
: )
who... is... Always... with me....
Just after...I posted it....
I looked down....
and saw...this... at my feet...
Hearts... found... in unexpected places...are a sign... to me... Dad...is not far...
When...times.. get rough... and the World... is on my back....
it's...then... I see them.....
always....
Like the song...goes...
'Days may not be fair...always...
That's when...I'll be there...always....
Not...for just an hour... not...for just a day...
not... for just a year...
but...
Always....'
{brought... a few tears... to my eyes... this Eve.... : ) }

 



Merry Christmas from the Family....

I just...stood... on the landing...
stunned...
as John...was throwing Christmas Gifts...
to Liz...
from the balcony.....
oh... my...
 

I.. can't put my finger... on this Christmas....

exactly....

It...was... totally... out of sync.... for sure....

I... always want it to be... like... a Norman Rockwell... Portrait....

this year... if it wasn't for Liz...and Katie....

helping get the food out...{Katie... did all of the Cheese and Meat Trays...Liz.. helped with... the Hot Stuff... : ) } they both brought... desserts... and appetizers...

then...helped so much.... with clean up...

and John... finishing wrapping... gifts... while I was cookin'...

and Justin, and Liz... picking up... milk... ice and soda....

oh my...

it simply... wouldn't have gotten done....

It was quite a day....

I don't ever...remember... gifts... being thrown over the balcony...

en route to the Tree...

{any other Christmas... I would have been mortified...

any other Christmas...

they would have already...been under the Tree....}

{If...you didn't get a Christmas Card...I'm...So... Sorry...

I was going to do them...while visiting Mom... but... the time there... was rather... ugly...

I got 5... done....they are still... on the dash...of the Ford... }

I got a call... from the Hospital...this afternoon...

 The Nurse said she was having a 'Difficult' time... with Mom....

She's been... a little... { : ) } 'Ornery' today...

wondered if I had any suggestions...on how to get her...to cooperate...

: )

I said... as I was mashing potatoes...

"Up until recently... I could talk her off of the Cliff...

 and reason... with her... to...see things.. our way...

The last... time I tried... {the other Morning...} She pushed me... over... the edge...{a Long....Fall...}"

{Mama...can be a Pistol....: ) }

{I called back... they got what they needed...and she.. was in Good Spirits....: ) }

Seems... everything... was out of kilter... today....

Nick... realized... he was wearing Scarlett's Purple Ski Hat... all day... with the little pink hearts...

{he thought he had his gray one on...

None of us... noticed... until he pointed it out... : ) }

Just as we finished our meal...

Justin's phone rang...

a Friend... was stuck in the ditch... a few miles from here....

He and one of his friends...had already tried to pull the car out...

the cable snapped.... and swung back.... and broke the back glass... in the car....

{He is Very Lucky... it could have taken his head off... or...anyone's standing near it....

Dad... taught me that... when I was young...

When you winch... or pull... with a cable... or chain... get back....

if it should break... it could kill you... }

Justin was on his way... to help him...

I said... I'm going with ya!

{I LOVE... Pulling Cars...out of Ditches!!! }

{Love... 4WD in The Snow!!! }

It didn't take Justin... but a minute... to get the car out.....

I'm glad... no one... had been hurt...

Then... when we got back... John had the Old Victrola that Stanley and Klarika gave us...for Christmas... playing... Silent  Night....

Little 'J'... couldn't get enough of it...

and kept asking Grandpa... to "Wind It Up Again!"....

Peg's Daughter, Mel... called... said... she was walking on the Beach... in Florida...

It was 80... there...

: )

I said...

"It was nice talkin' to ya...Mel... Merry Christmas...  see ya!"... : )

She said... she topped my gift... to Peg... this year...

She called Peg... and told her... how Beautiful... the Florida weather was....

From Peg's... Front...Porch....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She drove straight through... from Florida... to Surprise her...

oh my...

Peg and Michael.... were... Crazy... Thrilled... to see Mel!!!!

What a Gift!!!

Peg and Mel... came up...to Iowa...today... A Surprise Visit...to Family... in this... Snow....

Mel said... if they'd have known... how the roads would be... they wouldn't have come, up... from MO.

I said... "Get Your Big Florida Girl Panties On!!! We have 4WD... if ya slip in the ditch... we'll come get ya... <3 "

{She grew up...in Iowa...Driving in Snow... is like Riding a Bike... : ) you get 'your legs'...pretty quick...: ) }

Nick... made my day.... tho...

He was... kind of quiet... all day...

as they were getting ready... to leave... he told John...and I...

"Thank You... for having...'Christmas'...

 Christmas... like... it should be....

You....put so much effort...into it... and... I want you to know... how much... I appreciate...that..."

That... was... The Best... Gift... we could have...gotten....

oh my...

This... will be a Christmas... to...remember...

I Hope... you... had a Wonderful... Christmas....too...

Love..to Ya...

and...God Bless....

Barb C.

 

{The Robert Earl Keene song....

"Merry Christmas from the Family...."

keeps...wafting through...my brain....

{My Friend, Rob... shared...THAT... gift with me... a few years ago...

oh my... I Roll...every time...I watch it... {and... I...watch it... Often... this time of year }

This...Christmas... wasn't like... theirs... not...quite...that much... 'chaos'...but... it...was...not... our 'Normal'...Christmas...

When...I saw Katie... eating from a paper plate...

at Christmas... Dinner...

and... she was 'good'...with it...

and... I... was 'good'... with it...

yeah....

things... are...simply... out... of...

sync...

but...

The Good... News...

is...

It's All... Good...

: )

Love to ya...

{The Little Ones... were watching t.v. this afternoon... before Supper... then after everyone... went home...tonight... as John... made his way... to his Recliner....he discovered... his Beloved...remote... is missing... : )

We have searched this house... High... and Low...

{with Flashlights... under Cupboards...

flipped all the recliners... and Pet Beds...even looked under The Tree...}

 It's going to be an interesting time... until...it's found...

: )

 Just before...that... the sewer...backed up...

Well.. it...is a bit... chaotic.... here... I guess... : )

Hallelujah... Everybody say Cheese...

: )

Merry... Christmas!!!!}

 

The Family...
: )

 

 

 

The Black spot... on the back glass... is a Hole... a Big...Hole...
Our Friend...was still...pretty shook up...when we arrived....
It could have taken...someone's head... off...
they were lucky....
 

 

Out of The Ditch!

 

 

 

 

'J'... had a Good... Time... : )
He's such... a Good... Boy... : )

 

Miss. Scarlett... liked the Bow... as Much...as The Gift... : )

I'm Dreaming Tonight... of a Place I Love... even more than I usually do.... and all that I know... it's a long road back...but... I Promise...You... I'll be Home... for Christmas...

 

 

I...Wish You... All... a Merry Christmas....

and.... The Happiest...

New...Year....

I...Truly.... Do..... : )

I...fixed a little Kettle...of Oyster Stew...

this Christmas Eve...

and took it to...the hospital....

Mom...and I... enjoyed it...so very much...

seasoned... with... Lots of Memories...

{John...had a Big Bowl Full... before the Ford... and I...slipped away... : ) } 

To...see her face... as she... sipped... from her mug...

was... my...Gift....

 my... Christmas... Gift....

: )

Christmas...to me... isn't about... money... or...presents....

it's...about... Family...Loved Ones...

 The Love... of Christ....

and how... He Blesses us...

I.... am Blessed...

just as... You... are too...

: )

Merry Christmas...

and...

Love...

To

You...

: )

Barb C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Claus... visited.... the Hatter.... a little early....

Peg...and Michael...

slid down the rabbit hole... this Morn....

on their way Home.....

from... the Mayo....

: ) : ) : )

Such...a... Gift....

a... Beautiful....

Gift....

Many... Happy Tears... were shed...

by all...

Love... to ya...

and...Thank You....

for the Continued Prayers....

God... Bless... You...

and...All... Who... Suffer... and Struggle...

today....

Barb C.

{There is a long.... story... concerning.... Mom's Journey...

the last several days.......

She... is stable....

but... so much... has transpired... between us...

This 'Journey'.... has brought me to my knees... it...truly... has...

I'm...drained... empty... and filled... with sorrow....

for so... many reasons....

Peg and Michael's visit....today... was a Stream... in my Desert....

I...Thank God... and... His...Angels... for this...Gift.... }

a white Christmas... for the rabbit hole....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ghosts... of Christmas...Past....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmases... past...

 Just got home....

and...had so many things... I had planned to...get done...

as soon as I walked in the door...

but... they'll have to wait... 'til... tomorrow...

I...am... beat....

body...mind... and soul....

I just... left Mom....

We spent several... hours... visiting...

oh my...

I...still... can't... write about...any of it......

but... it was a Gift...

this Eve...

looking back....

as I posted these images....

even... just...

for...a moment...

I...do... so...

 Love....

Christmas...

: )

Love to ya....

Barb C.

{I...am leaving... K.D. Lang... 'Hallelujah'

as my... my... my....

song...

: )

oh...my...

yes...}