The Calvary. {wrote this 9/5. posted it 9/6. } ; )

<3

God Bless... The Calvary.

; )

From Dr. Fitzgerald, Pal, Dale... and 

Pal, Steph... with her Amazing Daughter, Paige.

<3

Steph called last night on her way Home... from the Twin Cities.

She's helping Paige move back 'Home'.

<3

Steph asked what was goin' on, I filled her in.

; )

Those Girls... Saved Me!!

Brought Food, but more importantly, Paige sat down with my Android, set the alarm to go off every 30 minutes.

I was very concerned about putting drops in my eye, every 30 minutes... 24 hours a day, religiously, for three days.

I can set the alarm on my phone, no problem.

Setting it to go off every 30 minutes, well... 

that took some Doin'.

; )

Even, for Paige.

May God Bless Her!!

<3 <3 <3

The Girls... brought me a Cooler, too!!

Filled with Ice Packs!!

; )

So I could keep those 'Need to be Refrigerated' drops, by my side.

: )

<3

Game Changer!!

; )

<3 <3 <3

Dr. Fitzgerald... called this morning.

She wanted to meet with me this morning.

Take a look at that eye.

: )

Sadly, The 'U' hasn't sent my records to her... as I Requested, Over, and Over...

to them,

yesterday.

: (

Told them, I didn't plan on coming back... to 'see' 'them', just want their 'findings', test results, sent directly to

Dr. Fitzgerald.

I'm more than angry, those extensive 'U' test results haven't been shared with her.

{in this day... and 'Time', seems a click of a Key... can send most anything.}

Dr. Fitzgerald... seems to think my eye is improving, this morning.

: )

{I can't 'see' out of it, yet. Just colors, and light. Kinda like looking through a window covered in Vaseline.}

Dr. Fitzgerald wants me to call her tomorrow, with an update, on her personal cell,

then, meet again, on Monday.

{yes... Labor Day}

'The Calvary'.

<3

I might be stumbling around... with my words, and posts...

for the next several days.

; )

Sleep... 

 It's for The Dead... they say.

; )

I, actually... enjoy sleep, 'now' and 'then'.

; )

Again...

So Incredibly Grateful, for 'The Calvary'.

<3 <3 <3 

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Still... Dancin'.

; )

<3

: )

It's All... about 'The Journey'.

Here's The Story.

: )

So.... 'J' and I worked pretty hard, on Wednesday.

I... uh, even perspired... much more than an Old Taurus wishes to.

{it was 93, with a heat index of around 104.}

Sweat got in my eyes...

{Hate That!! {probably a little dirt, too... from all of The Mountain's we were movin'!!}

When I came in, Wednesday Eve, gave Niece, Kari... a call.

She sent me somethin' Funny.

; )

Had... to catch up with her.

{It's been Too Long.}

<3

It was late, when I finally hit the hay.

About 3:30 Thursday Morn,  woke up with my left eye giving me fits.

Got up... took the contact out, and went back to bed.

When I woke up, ready to take on The Sale Day... my left eye, wasn't 'ready'.

So...

skipped my contact, and hurried out the door, to The Rabbit Hole, where some Sweet Folk's were waiting.

: )

Things went from bad... to worse, concerning my eye.

Felt like I had crushed glass... in it.

It was watering... like a Fountain.

: (

Couldn't leave... Folk's were coming, and the Sale was advertised.

I finally, broke down... called Dr. Fitzgerald.

She's an AMAZING Optometrist.

<3

In my opinion... from her taking Care of Us All, she's better than any Ophthalmologist, my Mom was treated by.

; )

Got an appointment for 2:45, yesterday afternoon.

Reached out to Pal, Dale... to see if he could 'Babysit' The Rabbit Hole, while I ran to that appointment.

Dale, didn't answer...

but, in a few minutes, who comes walkin' up.

; )

Dale.

: )

Dale said he'd be Happy... to hang out, while I was away.

YAY!!

{Bless His Heart!!}

That... was about noon-ish.

Things kept getting worse, and worse.

: (

Decided to go to see The Doc, a little early.

Figured I'd wait in the office, hopefully they could squeeze me in.

: )

Dale asked me, if I was ok to drive....

an hour before that, I would've said yes.

The problem was....

don't know if it was the heat, or... the pain,

I was so nauseous.

I can Drive... through Most Anything, and have, but...

being 

that nauseous, with 'One' Eye....

well...

; )

Hahahahahaha!!

That would've been Quite an Experience, with Old...

'Jethro.

: )

We Both... Bugged Out of The Rabbit Hole!!!

{My Sincere Apologies to Those we Deserted, for an hour, or so.}

<3

Gratefully, Dr. Fitzgerald got me in... right away.

<3

When she looked at my eye, she 'Thanked' me... for not waiting any longer.

<3

The Doc said... I'd pretty much performed LASIK Surgery on my eye, when I removed the contact.

She said... a Surgeon couldn't have made the cut across my cornea any straighter.

{me, and my right thumbnail... may have missed our 'Calling'. : ) }

Hahahahahaha!!!!

The Doc set me up with High Powered Drops, and Ointments, and demanded I come see her this morning.

: )

That, I did.

Pal, Dale... Again... 'Babysat'.

; )

I felt good enough to drive, figured I'd be right back.

Oooops.

The Doc, said... "Part of your eye is healing... the other part, looks mighty 'Angry'."

She called The University of Iowa Hospital, made arrangements for me to be seen there, in their Ophthalmology Department.

Right Away.

{Bless Her Heart <3}

{you have no idea how much I hate to navigate The 'U'. 

Grateful... it's here, sure don't like being any part of it.}

Called Dale, asked him to Pull the 'Open' sign.

: (

Dale asked me, if I needed him to drive.

: )

Assured Dale, he'd Done Far Enough, for me.

: )

I'd be Fine!!

; )

With the meds, The Doc had prescribed, yesterday...

I... wasn't feeling quite so sick, and... instead of glass in my eye, it felt more like gravel.

; )

That... I can deal with.

; )

Below.... is the 'Casey's' bag... I've carried with, since yesterday Morn.

: )

Needed something Big Enough... to Carry Everything I Needed in a Hurry!!

: )

The Doc... got a kick out of it.

: )

{She... appreciates my 'humor'. : ) }

They didn't Blink and Eye, {no pun intended} at The 'U'.

The, 'U'... I Do Believe... has Seen Most EVERYTHING!!

; )

Oh my.

: )

The Doc's at The 'U'... were very nice.

: )

{very concerned...}

They mixed a couple of High Powered Potion's for me.

{drops}

; )

They directed me to put one drop in my eye, every 30 minutes...

24 hours a day until I 'see' them, next Tuesday.

: )

That'll be a trick.

: )

{they have to be refrigerated... as well.

 ; )

can't just keep them 'beside' me.}

Sound's like a 'Dance Marathon'...to me.

; )

Hahahahahahaha!!!!

Told 'em... I'll do my best.

: )

For the record, when I say... 

'I'd rather 'Stick Needles in my Eyes'... than deal with Fairfax, Iowa, City Hall, 

and 

The Iowa Department of Transportation,

you can Trust me... on that, after today.

Take'er to The Bank.

; )

I've done both, now, in Spades.

: )

The last couple of days have been a Walk in The Park... compared to

'dealing'

with 

them all, over the years.

: )

{That's why I Sing Lawyer Meardon's Praise's... so Loud.}

; )

{The Book... is coming.}

: )

; )

It's All...

about

'The Journey'.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

What a Ride!!

; )

More to this 'Story'... comin'.

; )

Hahahahahahaha!!

oh...

my.

<3

'Clean Out' SALE is Cancelled. 😞

♥️♥️♥️

Thanks to All Who Stopped By... Yesterday!!

Sadly, due to a health emergency, this sale is Cancelled. 

😞

Sorry for Any Inconveniences. 

I'll fill you in this evening. 

😘

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C. 

Git'er Gone!!!!!!

Don't Know What... came over me, as 'J' and I were Moving Mountains, this Morn.

Have So Much, that's come in... over the last few years, from Old Sheds, and Barns.

With The Contractor's Coming....

GADS!!!

well...

decided to post an Old Pie Safe, on FB Marketplace... Cheap!!

It 'Needed' a New Home!!

Posted it on my Simply Iowa Page, as well.

: )

A Sweet 'Simply Iowa' Friend, spoke for it...

Right Away.

YAY!!!

<3

That's when I decided...

Get Some Treasures Listed... and Git'em Gone.

; )

I'm pricing things from a dollar, to fifty....

on this Sale.

It's Gotta Go.

Need The Space.

The Gnarliness... 'Soulfulness'...

Need hands that'll be able to Play with 'em.

Love... on 'em.

<3

'Create' with Them.

<3

; )

Have 'Fun'... with It All.

<3 <3 <3 

Much, Much... More, to Come.

; )

There are Buildings FULL.

; )

A little... at a time.

: )

I'm just gonna let Folks Dig, make Piles...

and Load It Up!!

; )

<3

Oh...

AI.

; )

Below is what AI posted about 'The Rabbit Hole' on my 'Simply Iowa' FB Page, today.

I... didn't ask it to.

; )

It's very Plain... it wasn't me, who wrote the below.

: )

 The Old... 

'Rabbit Hole'...

and, me...

 are 

a 

little more...

'Country'

 than

 'that'.

; )

Hahahahahahaha!!!

: )

Nice Job... tho.

; )

So, it seems, at the Drop of a Mad Hatter's Hat, I'll be enjoying the 

Sunny... Warm... 'Toasty' September Days, this afternoon, all day tomorrow, and Friday.

: )

What The Heck.

; )

It's TIME To Clean!! Git 'er GONE!!

; )

Haven't put The 'Clean Out'... on Marketplace, yet.

Just out to my

Simply Iowa... Friends.

<3

I'll do that tomorrow.

'J' will help me move More... Out, tomorrow.

: )

Trust me...

There's Plenty.

: )

If it goes well, I'll be doin' these Crazy... 'Git 'er Gone', Sales...

throughout The Fall.

Even if it doesn't.

; )

Stay Tuned!!

: )

Lord... Lord.

Hahahahahaha!!

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

{so much for not liking to 'perspire'.}

Yeah...

Boy.

; )

'The Journey'. ; )

Welcome...

September.

<3

Captured the above 'web'... in 2019.

<3

Tried to capture another, yesterday... but, couldn't quite.

The Spider... wasn't happy with me when I had to carefully relocate her.

: (

Told 'J'... I know how she's feeling, after dealing with The Iowa Department of Transportation, all of these years.

Moved her... to a Better, Safer... Prettier Location.

: )

{that's more than IDOT would've done, for sure.}

bless their hearts

'J' brought me a couple dozen of his Beautiful Hen's Eggs.

So Lovely!!

Got the full story on 'J''s trip with Salah, to Des Moines, on Monday.

He was sharing the 'Journey' with me while I was doing dishes, yesterday morn.

As he was telling me how the trip unfolded....

all I could say, was...

'Oh no. Oh... no. Oh...... No!!!"

: (

I swear, if Salah didn't have bad luck, he wouldn't have any luck at all, these days.

: (

Justin told me... as they were passing a semi, on Highway 30, Salah's Toyota Truck's rear end blew.

Oh.... no.

: (

then...

 they had to walk 3 miles, in the heat... to a station.

Oh....

No!!

: (

then,

 Salah's Wife... blew up at him, on the phone.

Oh....

No!!!

: (

One of Salah's Friends, came and rescued them...

 took them on to Des Moines, so Salah could get his semi's paperwork done,

Salah didn't have everything he needed for the IDOT, so...

it was a wasted trip.

Oh....

No!!!

: (

'J'... said as they were headed to D.M., Salah was giving 'J'... all sort's of crap about his Ford 6.0, and how 'J' needs a Toyota, like his.

'J'... said, he didn't 'rib' Salah... when the Toyota's rear end blew, but...

he did tell Salah, he sure wished they would've been driving his Ford, to D.M., as they were walking.

{ : ) }

All Salah cold muster, said... 'J'... was,

"Screw You... Justin."

Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!

Sometimes... Ya Just Gotta Laugh!!!

Lord!! Lord!!

Justin said...

"Grandma... I believe That's 'Karma'. "

Oh Dear!!!

Made me think of All of the times, I've been the one walking.

Thought of Pal, Bill... and So Many Others, who... at times, 

felt like if it weren't for 'bad luck', there wouldn't be Any.

: (

: )

oh my.

One Day... at a Time.

; )

<3

Picked up this Lovely late 1800's Transferware Coffee Server, in Amana, on Saturday, while Running with Allyson.

: )

Love... Love.... Love,

early

Romantic Transferware.

<3

Dreamy.

'J' and I are getting back to work this morning.

It's gonna get Toasty, again.

It'll be a short day, outside.

Better get Crackin'.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

: )

<3

That... 'Discipline' Thing.

Grandson, Justin... and I started workin' on 'The Rabbit Hole', early...

this Morn.

: )

Knew it was gonna get 'Toasty', today.

'Early'... is Good, on Toasty Days.

; )

Especially... when workin' inside a Greenhouse.

; )

Oh... my.

: )

Didn't bother putting my 'Face' on, this morning.

Knew... I'd be melting it off, by Noon.

It crossed my mind, when walking out the door, with 'J', 

'this will be the day when someone shows up, while I'm working...

without my 'War Paint' on.'

Sure enough...

Salah, Dear Friend, of 'The Justin's'... came walking up.

Holy Smokes!!

Hahahahaha!!

Told Salah... "Today... is Not a 'People' Day!!"

: )

Asked him to 'Look Away!!! Save Yourself!!"

: )

Salah... laughed, and Assured me, {tried to} How Beautiful I Am.

: )

Hahahahahaha!!!

 Thought about assuring 'Salah', he needed to have his Eyes Checked!!!

but, I didn't.

: )

Salah... is from Africa. He's such a Kind, and Hard Working Man.

He's an over the road Truck Driver.

'The Justin's'... have done work for him, over the years.

Sadly, many months ago... when he was in North Carolina, after filling his Semi with fuel, Salah was hit in the parking lot... by a hit, and run driver.

Salah... was in the hospital, in North Carolina... in a coma, for over a month.

He's been trying to find his feet, since his return, to Iowa.

He's not right.

I... Pray, he will be, in time.

N.C. hasn't caught the driver of the car that hit him.

Salah... has a Wife, and three children.

It's been, beyond Tuff, for Salah.

Grandson, Justin... has been helping Salah, when he can... 

Driving him to appointments, and helping Salah... with 

things, he can't do... anymore.

: )

That's what Salah... stopped by for, this morning.

: )

He was hoping, Grandson, Justin... could drive him to Des Moines, to get some paperwork done on his Semi.

'J' told Salah... he was sorry, but his Granny... has him 'Tied Up'.

: )

Hahahahahaha!!!

Not so much.

<3

oh...  I Need 'J', right now... with The Contactors coming, but...

Salah, needed him much, much... more.

'J' Loves spending Time... with Salah.

: )

Salah... tells 'J' all about Africa, and 'Life' there.

: )

I Love hearing 'J's stories of Africa, he's learned... while spending time with Salah.

<3

Priceless.

and, I Knew...

we wouldn't be at The Rabbit Hole, past noon, anyway.

Too Toasty.

; )

Told Those Boys...

to

Hit The Road!!

<3

I... kept 'playin'... at The Rabbit Hole, until... 

I began to perspire.

{Taurus's despise... 'sweat'. ; ) }

Captured a few images, before I bugged out.

<3

Bittersweet.

Helper, Brandon... asked me if I wanted to pitch the above, Gnarly... Lampshade,

yesterday... as we were Moving Mountains.

"Noooooooooooo!!"

; )

Wait 'til Ya See It...

'Done'.

: )

Indeed.

Ran across the above, this morning.

{Women, Too!}

; )

So True.

had to chuckle, a little, as I thought about it.

; )

'Honor'... and... 'Sacrifice', are pretty easy, for me.

that...

'Discipline'

thing,

oh dear...

; )

It Trips me Up...

Every... Single... Time.

: )

after all...

I am...

Marion Conner's Daughter.

: )

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

<3

One Day... at a Time.

<3 <3 <3 

We're Movin' Mountains... 

around The Rabbit Hole, today.

: )

Gizmo was a Great Helper!!

<3

Grandson, Justin... and Helper Brandon, were God Sends!!

<3

Chandeliers...

Big Ones, had to be moved, for The Contractors.

; )

In The Old... Volunteer, Wild Cherry Tree, They Went.

<3

<3

{more coming}

; )

Movin' 'The Fountain'... was difficult, on so many levels, today.

<3

<3

When I read the Georgia O'Keefe quote, this morning...

it hit 

'Home'.

; )

The Truth... is, I'm pretty certain, 

the old...

'myself', is long... gone.

Reminds me of 'The Alice in Wonderland' quote...

below.

Indeed.

Life is a Journey.

Constantly changing.

I've met, some Incredible People, on my 'Journey'.

<3

Throughout my life, I've met some of The Very Best, in the darkest of times.

Some, I already knew, but didn't really 'Know' how Good they were, until the struggles were so incredibly real.

<3

I've never been good at 'change'.

; )

Don't like it.

I... say that, but...

when I was 19, moving from my first Home, to another...

 remember saying,

"When I move, this time... it'll be my LAST!!"

"All of this Packing... Lugging, and Hauling... is CRAZY!!"

: (

so....

years later, what do I 'do'.... for a living??

Pack, Tote... Lug, and Haul.

MOUNTAINS.

; )

Over, and over... and over, and over, again.

Hahahahahaha.

I've probably 'Moved' more times in the last 30 years, than a Hundred People have 'Moved' in their lifetimes.

; )

I'm Certainly Not The Person I was, at 19.

; )

I'm not the person I was 'before' The Iowa Department of Transportation, and The City of Fairfax...

betrayed me, and my 'trust'.

'Trust'...

is

Everything, to an Old Taurus, like me.

Over the last 10 years, dealing with them...

I've learned a lot.

{continue to}

Yes, they've contributed to 'Change' in my life, over the years.

I'll never be the same person I was, 'before' them.

They've been a Huge part of my 'Journey'.

They make me sick, yet... grateful...

at the same time.

{the book... is coming.}

Maybe, that's why... O'Keefe's quote, got me to thinkin' so hard...

this morning, before 'The Boys' arrived this afternoon.

: )

Where... do I go, from 'here'.

???

; )

One Day...

at a time.

perhaps....

I'll ask 'Alice'...

maybe she knows.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

{So Grateful... for 'The Boys'... today.

<3

We'll get that Old... Rabbit Hole, Pulled Together.

; )

One Day... at a Time.}

<3

: )

Crazy... Days. Good Ones.

It's been a Crazy... Couple of Days.

; )

oh... my.

; )

Friday.

Josey Wales... {May God Bless That Man} 

Corridor MPO, Fairfax, 'Email'... 

Grandson, Justin's 2 hour Haircut...

{'J' wouldn't let me get an image of his New... Do. He looked Great!! I... believe, he was very Happy with his New Look!! 

Handsome Lad.}

: )

Work... Late Lunch with 'J' at the New 'Vos Que Quereis' restaurant, in Fairfax, 

{very good... Venezuelan food!}

Met with Pal, Allyson, at CSPS Hall, in New Bo, in Cedar Rapids for an Amazing Concert, at 7...

Home, around 11:30, Friday Night.

; )

The Concert was GREAT!!

Blues/Southern Rock!!

: )

Brandon Santini, and his Incredible Band, were Awesome!!

LOVE The Harmonica!!

; )

LOVE The Guitar!!

They were All Amazing Artists!!

; )

Holy Smokes!!

: )

Those Southern Boys... Know How To 'Play'.

; )

: )

New Bo was Jumpin'... last night!!

Wow!!

Allyson, and I arrived about an hour before The Band started, at 8, to get Good Seats.

; )

I ordered a glass of Pino, then headed outside to smoke a stogie, about 15 minutes before The Band started.

As I was leaving the CSPS Hall, said 'Howdy' to The Doorman.

: )

He said...

"Are you Entertaining Tonight??!!"

: )

He caught me so off guard...

: )

All I could muster, was a 'Smile', and...

the reply...

"many... often find me 'entertaining'... I believe, at times, 

; )

{The Iowa Department of Transportation, their 'Engineers'... Fairfax, Iowa, 'City Hall'... The Corridor MPO, The Iowa Attorney General's office, 'Family', every now and then.... and several I've pissed off on FB, over the years, to name a 'few'. ; )}

but...

no..

I'm not 'entertaining' anyone... 

Tonight."

; )

Hahahahahahahaha!!!

Lord... Lord.

; )

Was Grateful... Allyson invited me to join her at CSPS last night.

: )

Great... Escape.

We had plans to 'Run'... today, but The Concert was a last minute 

'Plan'.

Great

 'Plan'.

; )

Allyson... has been Such a Gift, 'Blessing'... in my life, over the last 20, plus...

years.

<3

I'd like to say we're like 'Sisters'... but, I feel like I'm her

 Old...

Crazy...

'Auntie'.

: )

and, for some reason...

like Nephew, Billy...

Allyson likes to 'Take me Around'.

<3

I'm not as 'Open Minded' as Allyson, is.

: )

I... tend to dig my heels in.

{crazy... old auntie.}

; )

Gratefully... Allyson, and Billy...

put 

up

with

my

'Insanity',

and...

love me,

anyway.

<3

Today.

Saturday.

I... didn't capture any images on our Travels.

It was raining, and... I didn't feel like it.

; )

{crazy... old auntie. ; ) }

Allyson picked me up... at 9 a.m.

We bought Fuel.

{Allyson, nearly.... filled her RAV up with Diesel.

Uh Oh!!

; )

Allyson 'Caught It' before All Hell Broke Loose!!}

; )

{Wish I would've 'caught it' in Paducah, about 25 years ago, after leaving Nashville.}

; )

{It turned out Fine, but what a ride.}

Allyson, and I... travelled many miles today.

Headed to Amana, Iowa...

then...

Kalona...

then, 

visited Pal, Bill...

at his Store, in Cedar Rapids, then...

back to Allyson's Home, where we fixed a Lovely... 

late afternoon

'Supper'.

; )

Allyson's Sis, Bethany... joined us for a Great Meal, and...

Vigorous Conversation!!

<3

Priceless.

; )

<3

Allyson, holdin' up... Two of the Coolest 1960's, or early... 1970's...

Hanging Lamps, I've Ever Seen!!!

: )

Pal, Bill... had them.

Oh My.

So Cool!!

; )

The first image... is of a few... of the Great Finds, from Amana, and Sisters' Garden, between Iowa City, and Kalona... Iowa.

There's...

More.

: )

{stay tuned}

<3

Check Out...

Brandon Santini.

: )

Attend, if you can...

Local, and Traveling Musicians.

'Artists'.

; )

They'll Impress.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

I... don't 'vent' on my blog, for the most part, like I do... on FB.

{try not to}

My 'blog'... is much like The Rabbit Hole.

<3

{off limits}

I'm venting... here, and now.

: )

uh... oh.

; )

<3