Thursday, May 22, 2025
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
The Boxer.
Yesterday... was quite a day, working at Sister, Jo Ann's.
{Pal, Bill... and I,
are conducting Brother in Law, Bill's... Estate Sale.
Bill passed away, February 17, 2025.
Jo Ann passed away 4 years ago this June 8.}
I'll post more, about 'yesterday', tomorrow.
While working, ran across the above image.
Uncle Ted...
Bessie....
{the 'grandmother', I never knew...
who, left her Boys...
Richard, 2, Marion, {Dad} 4...
and, Ted...7,
to be raised by their Paternal Grandparents, about 1917, near the tiny... Southern Iowa Town,
{80 acre Farm}
of, Derby.}
and...
Dad.
To be fair... never met my paternal grandfather, either.
Dad, never spoke of either of them, to me.
He Spoke... Much, about his Grandmother, Flora Belle.
<3
Dad's... dad, left 'The Boys', when 'Bessie' left.
From the little I know, each of my Paternal grandparents went on, and lived quite prosperous
lives, with little, to no... contact with their Boys.
It...was a bit shocking to see the above image.
Looking at Dad... on the right, know where I get my long arms from.
: )
Family... 'Cousins', on Dad's side...
always called Dad, "Bud".
<3
but...
Dad, had another nickname, when he was young, I was told.
; )
'Tuffy'.
: )
Dad... was a Fighter.
a...
Boxer.
I'm guessin' a pretty good one, around Southern Iowa...
: )
especially...
With That...
REACH!!!
Hahahahahaha!!!
Holy Smokes!!
: )
Always knew... Dad went to Denver, back... in the early
1930's.
Rode the rails... to get there.
Lived like a Hobo.
Boxed...
in Denver.
Dad... learned pretty quickly, Denver, and Derby...
were
Miles Apart.
; )
literally...
and,
figuratively.
Never knew, he'd met with his Mom... and Uncle Ted, there.
Told, Niece, Julie... yesterday, we MUST get my Cousin...
Shirley 'Conner' 'H', Uncle Ted's... Daughter,
to come... visit.
Look at the images, that have no writing on their backs.
Shirley... is around 90, or so... but, She's Sharp as A Tack!!!
; )
{we can't discuss politics... : ) but, We Must... Talk 'Family'. <3}
Shirley... Loved Her Uncle 'Bud'!!
<3
Who... didn't.
; )
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Hope.
Had to Laugh...
when the above, 'Memory'... popped up, this morning.
: )
{That... Jodi, posts some Fun... and, True... Stuff!! ; ) }
Heading to work at Sister, Jo Ann's Estate, today.
Got a few things, buttoned up, at Home, this morning, so I can stay at her Home, a little later.
Meeting with Niece, Julie, and her Family... there, late afternoon.
<3
Seems so strange... not to be working on The Memorial Day Weekend Sale.
: (
just... don't have it in me, this year.
First time... ever, in decades.
: (
May try and be Open... sometime over this Holiday Weekend.
Not makin' any promises.
Remember, years ago... when I first addressed Fairfax, Iowa... City Hall, at a meeting, when....
things just weren't making any sense, concerning the IDOT's condemnation... of our land.
I...asked the council, and clerk, to do their 'homework'.
Something... wasn't right.
{2017}
I'd spent so much time... digging, and getting Nowhere, with them, or... IDOT.
: (
I was beating my head against the wall... constantly chasing my tail.
Both, Fairfax, and IDOT, would point fingers, at the other, but...
Neither, would come to the table, 'together'.
I, remember... begging the council, mayor... and clerk. to look into this Mess.
said...
"I can't do my job, and yours... too."
: (
Guess that's what they were counting on.
: (
Lawyer Meardon, climbed on board, later...
and...
made things right.
: )
or...
so we thought.
: (
{It seems 'recorded agreements' between us, and IDOT, would be better used as Toilet Paper.}
: (
There's so very much, I haven't written about, yet.
The 'tactics', from Fairfax.
: (
The many documents, that... totally contradict the entities that have been involved, in this Mess....
over the many, many... years, in my opinion.
Others will be 'deciding', when they have the opportunity to read through them.
: (
This has been a grueling challenge, over the last several years.
On...so many levels.
Many... attacks.
I'm not a lawyer.
Have Often felt incredibly helpless, while dealing with city hall, and IDOT.
Not... a good feeling.
: (
Grateful... for Charles Meardon, for continuing to ride this Insane...
Crazy Train, that...
ought not be.
: (
just think...
had IDOT Kept...
our
Signed, Recorded... Agreement, and... Only have Condemned what they actually 'Needed'... for a Highway/Bridge Project, with No Trail Accommodations, well...
'Life'... I believe...
would be so much Different, for Many, today.
Yep.
Elevations... would be Different, by far.
Encroachment... would've been Different, by far.
Flooding Issues, would've been Different, by far.
The City's Hired Engineering firm, Hall and Hall, designed Size, and Elevation...
of The {also, adjoining our land} West Cemetery Road Bridge...
would, be Different, by far.
{to me... It All Ties... Together. Took me until recently, to finally 'see' that. : (}
The Cost... to Fairfax, Iowa, and... The US, would be
considerably Different, by far.
The Need... for the realignment for West Cemetery Road, would... be
Different, by far.
Neighbors' Loss of Land, would also... be Different, by far.
Safety... next to Highway 151, would also... be Different, by far.
: (
All... in my humble opinion.
again,
we'll have to see what the Experts come up with, before, and during the Trial, next year.
This seemingly.... never ending battle, has been mind consuming.
Fairfax, in my opinion... and, according to the documents, have been quite a Mess, to deal with.
: (
Nobody... should be treated this way... by Any Government Entity.
We, as citizens... should be able to trust our elected officials.
: (
At nearly every turn, Fairfax, and IDOT has forced me, to call on Lawyer Meardon.
Without him...
remember,
we would've lost Every Tree, on the east side of our land.
IDOT's ROW would've been 12 feet from our Home.
: (
Without Lawyer Meardon...
Fairfax may have gotten their way....
with Hall and Hall's.... West Cemetery Road Bridge Project.
Taking our Barn, and much more Land...
or, as Hall and Hall Engineering, also... designed,
take 'The Rabbit Hole'.
{my 'life'}
One of Engineer Wicks' Design's for the city... to consider... was to go Straight Through
'The Rabbit Hole'.
: (
I have 'that',
Fairfax's...
Hired Engineer's
Hall, and Hall's...
'design',
burned...
into my brain.
: (
sadly...
can't get past Hall, and Hall's.
Fairfax's 'Hired Engineer's'
'Threats'...
to me, and mine.
: (
I... believe it was Lawyer Meardon, that made 'Fairfax', 'rethink'...
taking any more of us.
Fairfax...
Moved...
their West Cemetery Road Bridge/Bike Trail...
'Away'
from us,
and, on to Land Owners, to the North.
: (
Sad... for Them.
: (
They Should've... had a 'Lawyer Meardon'.
Tried to advise them... to Hire a 'Lawyer'.
in my opinion...
when a city, state... or a government...
'official' comes knockin' at 'Your Door',
asking for your... Land,
: )
be kind,
smile..
: )
Thank 'em.
; )
then,
close the door,
and call a Lawyer.
A Damned Good One.
The Very 'Best'.
because...
You're Gonna Need The Best.
It's the Elevations, from that Hall and Hall Engineering 'West Cemetery Road Bridge/Bike Trail' Project, that worry me Sick.
For all of us.
: (
It's been nearly impossible to get public records, from Fairfax.
: (
Nearly impossible, to get copies of Elevation studies by Hall and Hall Engineering.
: (
Those studies were paid for by the City of Fairfax.
They... I believe, should be Public Record.
I... don't believe, I should have to pay Hall and Hall Engineers,
Thousands to get those records, that.. Fairfax... has already paid Hall and Hall for.
: (
A Dear Pal... said something, the other day... that made sense to me.
Every time... Fairfax, and Hall and Hall, force me... to call on Lawyer Meardon,
with 'things' like they have, in the past....
THEY...
should receive a
Bill,
from
Lawyer Meardon.
In my opinion... it's pretty obvious, now...
exactly....
what Fairfax is trying to do.
: (
{won't even get into the 104,000 fine from Fairfax, for 6 chickens and an Old... Tom Turkey, when I kept questioning a 'Bike Trail' requested by Fairfax, that they all repeatedly DENIED, They Ever Wanted, until...of course,
they couldn't.
Public Records... don't lie.}
Fairfax City Hall, forcing me to sign agreement to NEVER have a Horse, on our property again, before they'd lift the fines.
So... if anyone wonder's why... when Scout passed away, we didn't bring in another Horse, like has always been here, for over 50 years, Thank Fairfax, Iowa... City Hall. It's All On Them.}
Time, and The Public Records...
Costly... as they are,
will tell.
Again, Grateful... to Lawyer Meardon.
my... worry, and why... I keep fighting, when so many... wish I'd quit,
is...
what would've 'happened' here, without
Lawyer Meardon???
What would people, like me... do,
without a
'Lawyer Meardon'.
???
That...
my Friends, is what keeps me fighting, holding on.
This 'Mess'... should NEVER Happen to Anyone, ever...
Again.
: (
Above is a comment concerning an Iowa Supreme Court decision.
Oh my.
Great Read... by Randy Evans.
'Supreme Court spikes an excuse for hiding public comment.'
{May 20, 2025}
{Thanks to 'Simply Iowa' FB Friend, Laura, who shared it with me.}
: )
Gives me hope.
Hope...
for Transparency.
: )
Hope... for The Rule of Law, too.
<3
Without Them...
'We'
have
Nothing.
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
{From 'Bullitt' car chases, to ugly... 'Once Upon a Time in The West'... movie clips.
Throw in, a little, or... a lot,
of...
'Gone With the Wind'...
; )
'Life'....
down the rabbit hole,
livin' in 'Fairfax'.
'Home Sweet Home'.}
: )
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Monday, May 19, 2025
Priceless. oh... my.
Oh my...
what a day, already.
; )
Done.
; )
{Started this post yesterday...the 19th.}
We weren't supposed to get rain, according to a Dear Farmer Friend,
until...
late week.
Oooops.
: )
Had to Hurry, and Scurry... moving
The Beautiful....
Old, Old...
Corner Cupboard, that Pal, Dale... and, I left... sitting between the Trailer, and Fuso.
Pal, Bill... was on board to help me get it set... inside The Rabbit Hole, later in the week.
Called Bill... yesterday...
asked him if he could slip out, and help me move the
Old Corner Cupboard, before the rain was to hit... yesterday afternoon.
That... he did.
: )
Oh my.
: )
Pal, Bill... is Hilarious.... at Times!!
: ) : ) : )
Oh Dear Lord!!
<3
Bill's So 'Animated'... when he gets Goin' about Things!!
: )
Hahahahahahahaha!!!
When we stepped around the Trailer, to see the Beautiful Old....
Corner Cupboard,
Bill...
turned to me, with his
Eyes Big as Saucers!!
: ) : ) : )
Jaw... Completely Dropped!!!
: ) : ) : )
I said...
"Isn't It FABULOUS????!!!!"
; )
<3 <3 <3
GADS!!!!
<3
all...
Bill, could 'Muster'...
was,
"IT'S HUGE!!
It's a
HOUSE!!"
: ) : ) : )
"You Could LIVE... Inside That Cupboard!!!
{Hahahahahahaha!!!!}
Replied... to Pal, Bill...
"It's not 'That' Big. : )
We've moved Much, Much...
Larger Cupboards, in, and out... of
The Rabbit Hole."
; )
then,
Bill... conceded,
"Yes... It's FABULOUS!!"
; )
Indeed.
: )
How could I have left it... behind, at Gold Rush.
?
Bill...
Totally Agreed.
: )
It was Crazy Windy, yesterday... when Bill arrived.
Told Bill, I didn't have a spot for it, yet... in the shop, as... thought I had a little Time, before the rain.
It would've been ugly... wheeling the Cupboard in that insane Wind, yesterday.
Thought we should just... slide The Old Beauty, inside the Fuso, if... we could.
{The Fuso, is... pretty empty, if... we could get it's sad back door open, far enough.}
We carefully raised the Fuso's decrepit door, just enough... to slide both pieces of The Corner Cupboard, safely...
inside.
<3
I've gotta get through Sister, and Brother in Law, Jo Ann, and Bill's...
Estate Sale, {June 5, thru 8}
before I can work on The Rabbit Hole.
No...
Memorial Day Weekend Sale, here... this year.
: (
First time, in decades.
: (
'Not'
: (
There's been too much 'loss' here, to deal with the
'Spring Sale'.
: (
After... working in the WIND, yesterday, said to Bill, how Grateful I am, we don't have tents up...
for
The Memorial Day Weekend Sale.
Bill, agreed.
We've lost most every 'Sale' tent, due to weather...
'Wind',
the last few years.
: (
Lost 5, last Fall, and Spring.
: (
After Bill left, walked through The Rabbit Hole.
<3
Captured... almost, the Exact Images, yesterday...
as I did, several years ago.
<3
Many... years ago, was invited to look at Props, from Plays, in our area, to possibly purchase.
: )
The above...
is
a
HUGE
Wall Sconce, that was
Created,
long ago...
for a 'Theatre Cedar Rapids'
Play...
'The Phantom of The Opera'.
<3
It's Graced The Rabbit Hole, for a long time.
: )
{not for sale}
In 2010... brought home a TON of Beads, from the New Orleans 'adventure' with, Pal, Allyson.
; )
{don't get too excited. : ) we didn't 'visit' during Mardi Gras. : ) }
Hahahahaha!!!
Knew... Exactly, where those New Orleans 'Beads'... should be 'placed'.
: )
To this Day... those New Orleans 'Beads', embellish...
the
Cool...
'Phantom of The Opera',
'Prop'.
; )
Pal, Gail... gave me a call, yesterday.
: )
Told Gail, I'd been Thinkin' About Her, Too.
: )
Ran across, the above... 'memory'.
yesterday.
<3
: )
'Yes... Gail, somehow, I'm keepin' my head above water.'
<3
When I keep Pounding, about 'Gratefulness',
trust me.
It Takes a Village.
<3
Beyond Grateful...
to those, who understand, and...
continue to ride this...
'Crazy Train'.
<3
Priceless.
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
{Must be something in the 'air', this time of year.
Crazy, Crazy...
dreams,
Every Single Night, for weeks.}
oh dear.
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Yes... indeed.
yeah...
the above, 'memory'.... would've been so perfect for today.
; )
{most... Every Day. 'These'... days. : )}
Pal, Dale... called, said he was running late, to unload this afternoon,
no... worries,
I had much to do, before he arrived.
; )
Watering... Fountains, and... urns.
Trimming back a few Naughty Vines, that seem to be trying to
'Take Over'.
{naughty. : ( }
As I was trimming, heard baby birds Chirping, above my head.
<3
The... old mailbox, {around 8 feet tall}
planted at one of the gates, to...
The Rabbit Hole, had its Door...
Open.
{don't know how that 'happened'. <3}
?
Seems, there's a Family... living there, this Spring.
<3
Wonder... if it's The Robins, that used to nest on Peg's Willow Shelf??
Sadly, Peg's Shelf... where a Robin Family always nested, beside The Rabbit Hole, had...
completely fallen apart, last year.
: (
No... saving it.
: (
Hopefully, They've Found a New Home.
<3
As I waited for Dale...
spent a little time, with Old Friends.
<3
Dale, and I... had his Ford Sprinter, unloaded in an instant.
{Unloading... goes Much Quicker, than... 'Loading'.}
We unloaded The Old... Corner Cupboard, and placed it between the Trailer, and FUSO.
; )
Pal, Bill... will help me maneuver the Old... Soulful, to The Rabbit Hole.
{It's gonna be a 'trick', but... no worries. <3}
Everything...
around us, has changed so, in the last...
13 years.
The Highway.
The... Neighbors.
The Elevations.
the...
worries.
Grateful.
Incredibly...
Grateful,
to....
The Needles in The Haystacks.
<3 <3 <3
Priceless.
Priceless.
: )
Love It.
oh...my.
: )
I only have one tattoo...
'W.C.'
I... put those initials... with a needle, and Indian Ink, on my hip, when I was 15.
: )
in
Honor, of...
'White Cloud'
Beloved Mare.
We traveled a Million Miles, together.
a
'Lifetime'.
<3
When I saw the above, quote...
; )
Yep, Need That.
: )
maybe...
not for a tattoo, but...
on my
headstone.
; )
yes...
indeed.
Great Advise.
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers... for All.
Barb C.
The Fun... never ends.
Sunday...
Sunday.
: )
The Wild Grape... caught my eye this morning, as I was stumbling...
trying to find my way to the
Coffee.
: )
It's on the outside... of the picture window.
The Rosemary... is HUGE, inside.
It Wintered... Well.
Should've had him outside, by now.
It was like the Wild Grape.... was Flirting with The Rosemary!!
Hahahahahaha!!!
Teasing!!
; )
"I'm Outside!! Wanna Play??"
: )
The Grape... was pressed tightly against the glass.
The Rosemary... was Leaning into The Sun!!
Sooooo Cool!!
; )
Busy afternoon.
Pal, Dale... is delivering the load from Gold Rush, around 4.
Always so much 'fun'... unloading... after an event.
gads.
Some of it will go to The Rabbit Hole.
Have NO Idea... where the Big, Beautiful...
Corner Cupboard is going.
Guessing in the shop.
oh my.
May have to get Pal, Bill... or Steph... to help me with it.
Dale... doesn't need to be wrestling with it.
Grateful... he hauled everything.
Better get crackin'....
do some 'figuring'....
before Dale arrives.
: )
Love to Ya...
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
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