I'll have to warn ya....
I've never been a 'Chevy', person...
certainly not, a 'Mopar'...person.
; )
pretty much, an old...ford, Gal.
<3
May God Bless...The Pontiac's of our Lives.
May God Bless....all of us, these troubled days.
Sunday, January 31, 2021
Snowy Sunday... in Iowa.
Justin...couldn't get out, this morning...
I fed Scout, and had a Lovely...Visit, with him.
<3
With the exception...of the wrongful trail, and bridge...
It was Beautiful....this morning.
John shared the above....with me, on FB, 7 years ago.
<3
He Knew....How Much I LOVED that Movie.
Fast Cars...and BIG Trucks.
oh my.
<3
Went to see it, at the Theater, in Cedar Rapids, the first night it came out.
By myself.
I was 14, driving an old '69 Ford Torino.
It was about...this time of year.
While inside the Theater, it began to Snow, Big...Snow, like today.
All the More Fun!!!
Hahahaha!!
That, Torino...could 'Git 'er Done', too.
<3
Spun a Donut...on Third Ave., then...saw a Cop!!!
Oh NO!!!
I, was Praying, he hadn't seen me!!!
Hahahaha!!!
He hadn't.
Me, and The Torino, Behaved...the Rest...of the way, Home.
oh my.
; )
<3
We still have our Trans Am.
<3
It's a little older, than the 'Bandit's'...it's a '75.
Ours is Red, John...was driving it, when we first started hangin' out...together. .
Then, it eventually, became my... 'Driver'.
<3
It has a 400, with a Rock Crusher 4 Speed.
It, truly could 'Get It On'. : )
It's been sitting inside, for many, many... years, now.
It's 'Family'.
<3
Maybe, Justin...will restore the Old...Gal, some day.
<3
16th. Birthday Present, to me...
<3
Took a Ford CL9000, like the one, above...out for a test drive, the day...I got my license.
<3
13 Speed.
<3
A Big Farmer, from back in the day...
told me go Check 'em Out.
; )
He'd offered me a Job, Hauling.
The Salesman...who rode with me, didn't know how to Drive Semi.
; )
Hahahaha...
I, don't think...he'd ever ridden in a Semi, before...either.
: )
He kept looking down, at the curb, through the passenger's window...
and saying...."Aren't we a little 'Close'...on this side?????"
"Sure seems like we're awfully...'Close'. "
Hahahaha...
oh my, told...him..."Nope, we're just fine...look straight ahead, don't look down. ; ) "
I didn't take that Job, was too busy, working with Dad.
He needed me more...than anyone.
<3
The next year, I was hired to help, part time... a Neighbor's Friend, 'Drive'.
oh my.
That was in an International, with a 6 Speed.
Never liked that 6 Speed.
I was always so Grateful...to that Man, tho.
He taught me so much, and was so patient, like Dad, always was.
<3
I, remember....trying to back the Trailer, in between other Trucks, and being so nervous.
{3 a.m., after a 7 Day...Run.
It was 90 degrees, outside, but...in the Cab, it was about 60.
Didn't matter, I was Sweatin' Bullets!!! }
I, popped the clutch...Killed the International, several times.
Kept begging him...to back it in for me.
Finally, he said, "If it takes all night, you're gonna back 'er in."
: )
Then...he went on, and said...
"Don't be Killin' the Old Gal...anymore.
You'll pop the driveshaft, then...we will be here, for a while."
Good Grief!!! That's All...I needed to hear!!!
: ( : ( : (
Pressure!!!!
Pressure!!!!
Got 'er Straightened Up....and Backed in...
like I was Threadin' a Needle!!!
Hahahaha...
oh my.
: )
Snowy Days...always bring back Memories.
The Blessings, are so clear...against a Fresh...White Blanket.
<3
Even thinking about the Movie, 'Smokey and The Bandit', how...'corny'...it kind of seems, all of these years, later...yet, it isn't.
The message, is still, in many ways... a powerful one.
'Git 'er Done'.
Just...because, Folks around you, tell you, 'It Can't Be Done', certainly doesn't mean...
it can't.
; )
I will tell ya this, if ya don't 'try',
It Won't....Be Done.
{So Grateful...to So Many, throughout my Life, who've Never Backed Down, from a so called...
'Impossible' situation.
; )
Made 'er Happen.
<3
Sometimes, the Method's...weren't Pretty, but...
they didn't have to be...
as long as, at the End..of The Day, The Job was Completed.
'No Matter, What...It Takes'
; )}
Love...to Ya,
Barb C.
Prayers, for All.
John...about the time I first met him.
; )
<3
He...was a Handsome Man, Always, in Every Way.
<3
We had one thing...in common, {quite a few things, actually. }
but...
The One Thing, that we shared, without a doubt, is...
"When there's a Job...to be Done, Don't stand in the way...of Gettin' 'er Done."
Had to Laugh...when I saw the below quote.
Reminds me...of So Many....throughout my life.
May God Bless...Them All.
<3 <3 <3
As much as I rant, about the IDOT, please...Know, it's about The Engineers, mostly at District 6.
NEVER...about The Workers.
Our IDOT, Plow Truck Drivers, and Road Worker's...are TOP NOTCH.
<3
I, always knew...when coming Home, from Nashville, on Horrible Roads, in Snow, and on Ice...
If,...
We Could Just Make It....to The Iowa Line, We were In Our Mother's Arms.
<3 <3 <3
Always.
; )
John posted the below...on my FB Page.
He, knew it....too.
<3 <3 <3
Thank YOU!!!
<3 <3 <3
May God Bless You.
Friday, January 29, 2021
It Is...What It Is...Baby.
Had to dig...deep, in the Old Wardrobe... for a pair of jeans...this morning.
; )
'Boot Cut'...Jeans.
None left... to be found.
Everything...is dirty.
Tho...we got the new/used washer...hooked up, with the ground frozen, I'm nervous about doing laundry, here.
{Broken Tile...IDOT/Fairfax Trail...Flooding Mess. }
The ONLY footwear, I can put on, and be able to walk...after my last 'Flip',
are my Old...Cowboy Boots.
The pair, I prefer, are Vintage...but, like new.
However...can't wear them, with straight leg jeans, or a Dress.
The Shaft's are not tall enough.
{they have 14 in Shafts}
So...dug out the Old...Extremely Worn... Tony Lama's, Pal...Jan, gave me years ago.
<3
They have 17 in. Shafts.
Gave them a quick shine, filled in the holes with wax polish, so the snow...wouldn't soak my feet, too much.
Found a Crazy...pair of Flowered Jeans, I bought years ago, while shopping with Daughter, Liz.
She bought a pair, too...she liked them so much!
Caught a glimpse of my attire, while walking through the house.
: )
Hahahahaha!!!!
Flannel Shirt, Black...Tee, Flowered Jeans, and...
of Course, Tall...Turquois Tony Lama Buckaroo Boots!!!
Hahahaha!!!!
I, looked at Peanut's reflection...behind me, who can't 'see', and...even She, looked Puzzled!!!
Hahahahahaha!!!
<3 <3 <3
Hey...
It Is...What It Is!!!
; )
<3
Have to run to CR, today....oh my,
then...take a load of Laundry, to Liz's....before another Storm hits.
; )
Oh my...
Livin' The Dream....Baby.
Livin' The Dream.
; )
<3
Love to Ya....
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{forgot to include....
'Wrongful'
oh my.
; ( }
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Just...a 'Simple Paragraph'.
Cleaning...shuffling...and, reorganizing, today.
Helper, Brandon...and I, moved a 7 Drawer Chest, upstairs...into Justin's...
old, bedroom, on Monday.
Tight...Fit.
Tight...
Fit.
oh my.
It's such a wonderful...early, early....1800's Empire Piece.
Bought it...a year and a half ago, in Iowa City, Iowa.
Maybe...two and half years, now.
Time...Slips Away, Fast.
Had nowhere to go with it, at the time I bought it...but...knew...it was a piece, I had to try to find a place for.
So...it sat, in the Big Room, in front of the Beautiful...Herman MO., Wardrobe....I bought while traveling with Pal, Wanda...several years back.
We visited Peg, on that trip. <3
It was so...Hot.
Late July...2012, I think...
: )
I'm used to vehicles...with no air, Wanda...ahhhh : ) Not so Much!!!
Hahahahaha!!!!
We Filled the FUSO...on That Two Day...Missouri Run!!!
Oh My!!!!
Had to strap the Wardrobe, on the back of the FUSO's Door, to get it Home.
: )
oh my.
The Kind...Man, who helped me load, and strap...it, thought...I was Insane.
; )
Yeah...he wasn't the first, or...last.
<3
I, was Grateful...for his Help.
<3
{He wasn't happy, when I told him...we'd have to 'Center' the Old Gal...a little better.
; )
Explained...
Deputies...like to 'See'...'Tail Lights', and 'Brake Lights'. ; )
'Turn Signal's'...may be...optional, depending on The Officer.}
: )
Like the rabbit hole, when ya move one piece in the house... ya have to move a Hundred.
so...it's been a Challenge.
: )
The Good News, it's required me to go through....loads of things.
Drawers...filled with...paperwork, old...old...receipts, pictures...documents, from decades back.
'Memories'...
oh my.
While...sorting, ran across...some documents, from 1994.
Began...reading them.
oh my.
They made me find a seat.
Took my breath...away.
I, realized...after reading...One...simple paragraph, within those documents, what...a Mistake,
I'd made all of those years ago.
How...wrong, I'd been.
A...mistake, that...carried over, until...recent times.
oh my.
Sat down...and...wept.
: (
I'm going to try...to figure out, how...to explain my 'mistake'...away, to someone...who, So...Deserves...to hear it.
Don't know...if, I was just too...immature, 27 years ago...to understand, what that simple...paragraph meant, when I read it back...then.
maybe.
: (
It sure...struck...a Nerve, the moment I read it, today.
Like...I said, had to find a seat.
oh...my.
I, know...what was said, would never...ever....'fly', with me, today.
Ever.
Or...the One, I owe an apology to.
To many, maybe...it would seem like nothing.
Maybe, the One...I'll be sharing this with, will see it, as 'nothing'.
It is.
To...me, it...means a lot.
Says, a lot....about my judgement.
John's favorite character from NCIS, Leroy 'Jethro' Gibbs, had Many Rules.
#6...was,
"Never Apologize... It's a Sign of Weakness."
That's one...I, feel he's sadly mistaken about.
<3
When I've made a mistake, I'll do my best, to make it right.
I intend...to do just that.
Soon.
Somehow...it always boils down...to The 'Old Souls'.
Found the documents...'really', while I was 'reacquainting'...myself, with a wonderful...old, mid 1800's Server.
{'Shenanigans'... ; )
as Liz...would call them. : ) {Peg, Too!!! : )}
Getting 'Sidetracked',
'Lost'...
'Drawn In'...
by The 'Old...Souls'.
<3 }
Had...I not, been so mesmerized...by it's charm...most likely....wouldn't have spent the time...or, noticed anything within, for another...27 years.
Maybe...never.
oh my.
This...apology, 'explanation'...to say the least, certainly can't wait another 27 years.
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Snow...Day.
Put Christmas, away...Sunday, and Monday.
Started cleaning....today,
getting reacquainted...with Old...Friends.
Friends, I hadn't touched...for a long, long...time.
; )
With every piece, memories...flooded my soul.
<3
Put the Christmas Gift...John had Beautifully...created, for me...
in an Old...Toy Truck, with a bunch...of the hand cut, metal shavings, from the floor, of John's Shop.
He was going to sweep them up, and...pitch them.
: (
They...are Pieces of Art, as much...as the Finished Pieces.
<3 <3 <3
So many...of the pieces, that've found their way...into our Home...
are Gifts, from...some of the Most....Wonderful People.
<3 <3 <3
Treasures.
{askin' for a Friend. ; ) : ) : ) }
oh...my.
<3 <3 <3
I remember...saying nearly these exact words, to John...after a horrible, first time {and last.}
visit, with an oncologist, about a month, before John...left us.
He...was an ass.
When 'Hope'...is all you have left, it takes a real...son of a bitch, to try to steal that from you.
Told the oncologist as much, that day.
I, put him...on his heels, with 'words'...the same way, he'd put us, on ours.
I, don't think...John, could ever get over, what that man...said, to him...that day, no matter, how hard...I tried to convince him, otherwise.
Hope...is Everything.
Hope Thieves...
Be Damned.
Gonna get everything...put in it's place...tomorrow.
: )
It was a 'Snow Day', today.
<3
I've always...loved them.
Somehow, they give permission, to goof off, and...be a little lazy.
; )
tho...
I've gotten more done, today, than...in the last few weeks.
: )
May God Bless...the Broken, Mended...and, Soulful.
<3 <3 <3
Love...to Ya,
Barb C.
Prayers, for All.
Grateful...for Son, Justin....this morning.
{Every...Morning. <3 }
Travel, wasn't advised, this morning...didn't think Justin, could make it to work, or do chores.
He lives out in the Country, 25 miles...away, now.
He has his Dad's...Work Ethic.
<3
All of our Kid's...do.
'Git'er Done'.
<3 <3 <3
So...Proud, of Them...All.
<3 <3 <3
I have to post the Tune....that Always makes me think, of Son...Justin.
: )
Trace Adkins...
'Rough and Ready'.
<3 <3 <3
He's even Married to a 'Girl Named Kate'!!!
<3 <3 <3
She's got The Same...'Git 'er Done'...Work Ethic, Too!!!
They Work Hard, and...Play Hard.
All of Our Kids...Do.
{Grandkids...Too! <3 }
<3 <3 <3
Blessed Beyond...Measure.
<3
Saturday, January 23, 2021
All of It.
Visited Pal, Steph...from 'Frond Design Studios', yesterday afternoon.
: )
It's always such a Treat...to hang out, with Steph.
She's an Artist, and creates Fabric, from her Original Paintings.
<3 <3 <3
Sell's it World Wide.
<3 <3 <3
Her Mom, Patti, from Fern Hill, in South Amana, Iowa...and I, have been Friends...for Decades.
Steph, and Patti, are 'Family'...to me.
<3
Stayed much longer, than I'd planned.
: )
but... we had Much...to talk about.
Steph, and I...have covered Many...Miles, together...over decades.
Some Damned...Difficult, Hard...MILES!!!
: )
Some Damned...Good Ones, Too!!!
<3
We went to Supper, last Evening...and continued our Conversations.
oh my.
; )
Steph, has Always....had my Back.
: )
I've....Always, had hers, as well.
Always.
I remember the first time she went with, to Heart of Country, in Nashville.
I was driving the Heavily...Packed FUSO, she...followed in a Truck, also....
Heavily...Loaded.
{Go Big...or...Go Home!!! Hahahaha!!! }
After we checked in at The Opryland Hotel...{after driving 12 hours, on Snow, and Ice...} started to settle in, Steph asked me where the 'Gym'...was, she liked to 'Work Out'...every morning.
{I'd done 'Heart', at The Opryland...for many years, prior.}
I, turned around...looked at her, and said...
"Seriously??? Look at me...????
How in the Hell...would 'I'...Know!!!
hahahahaha...
Told her, "You won't need to worry about 'Working Out'....in a Gym, while 'doing'...Heart.
; )
Trust me."
Steph, insisted, and found her way to the Gym, the following morning.
Then, we walked about 2 miles, to the Convention Center...then...Unloaded The Massive Trucks, then...
worked 12 hours, Building a House, {Booth...'beginnings'. It took us Three 12-14 Hours Days, to set The 'Heart' Booths.}
Then...walked two miles back...to our room, where Steph....
stumbled to her bed...
collapsed...face first, on it, and said...
"I Feel...Like...A...Bag....Of...Bones."
Hahahahahaha!!!!
I burst out laughing!!!!
: )
That, was the 'Only'...day, Steph...made use of the 'Resort Fees'. : )
The word, 'Grueling'...doesn't begin to touch The Simply Iowa Booth, in Nashville.
Oh my.
<3
We Pushed It...as Far Over The Top...as we Could.
and...Then, a Little Further.
; )
oh my.
<3
We believe...
"It's only impossible, if you believe it is."
Trouble...
Trouble.
: )
Steph, has helped me out....many times, when I was in a Bind.
I've done the same...for her, anytime, she was in a Bind.
That's how We Roll.
<3
From left to right,
Kristi, Liz, me...and Steph.
oh my.
Kristi, is Liz's Best Friend, She's like my...Daughter.
She, and Liz...have been my 'Porters'...since they were about, 8, and 9.
<3
I, remember those Girls...climbing in the Old White, Ton... Ford, Loaded Beyond ..Pulling a 16 Foot Trailer...Loaded 'Beyond'...
to Shows from Minnesota to Nashville.
<3 <3 <3
We'd take off for MN., at 3 a.m., the Girls...snuggled with their pillows, next to me...in the Cab.
Oh my.
We'd arrive at The Show, around 7:30 a.m., and start Work.
Those were The Days!!!
Those Girls, were complimented...over, and over...by Folks at The Shows, that saw their Work Ethic.
<3
We always ate at The Very Best Restaurants, and stayed at Hotels, where they could swim...and have
Loads of Fun!!!
They Earned....Every Bit of 'Fun'.
<3
Little Women, who grew into Amazing Women.
<3 <3 <3
Oh...My.
So Proud of Them...Both.
<3
The School, gave them excused absences while attending the Shows.
The School knew, those Little Women, learned Much, on those Journey's...they could never learn in a Class Room.
That....was a Fact.
; )
We all had Amazing Times...in Nashville, when the Girl's were Teens.
oh my!!!
Downtown Nashville, after Long Days, working...was Crazy Fun....for Us All!
oh my...
Steph reminded me, last night, of some of those Crazy....Nights!!!
Ye Haw!!!
{What Happens...in Nashville, Stays...in Nashville. ; ) }
Hahahahaha!!!!
When the Girl's...got a little older, Folk's at 'Heart', were so impressed by how hard, fast... and careful...they were, helping me unload, Everyone...wanted to Hire Them!!!
<3
I, lost my 'Porter's'.
: )
Told them to go on...
Make That Dough!!!
: )
Hired others, to help me...so the Girl's...could Crank...
and Make Far More, than Mama could ever pay them.
<3 <3 <3
They Made Ton's...
They...'Earned'...Ton's.
<3
This was at The Lighthouse Supper Club, in Cedar Rapids.
I promised Steph, while working the 'Heart' Booth, one year...
If...we Survived That Show, I'd buy her Supper, there...when we got Home.
: )
By God...We Made'er!!!
{We...both kinda doubted we would. : ) }
We Both...Love Jazz.
The Lighthouse, had Live...Jazz, on the Weekends.
Good Times!
We had some Amazing Times, in Nashville, at BB Kings. oh my.
: )
Steph, and me...
a few years ago....at her Mom's, Patti's Home.
They were having a Big Gathering, of Friends, that Evening.
<3
Lord, it was Hot...That Day!!!
I'd worked Loading...Hauling...Delivering, and Unloading, all day...in the heat.
The makeup, I'd started the day with...had been sweat away...Many Hours, and...Many Miles, before.
Steph, had been doing the Same, in her 'World', too.
: )
Hahahaha....
The Gin and Tonic's...were Welcomed, that Evening.
Don't remember...Ever tasting better ones, before or since.
Whew!!
: )
Steph, is very concerned....about what's happening here, by the IDOT, for Fairfax's Trail....and Stallman Drive.
That, all...pretty much, dominated our Conversations, last night.
Patti, is too.
They both, have been so supportive.
This last year, has been Hell, for them...too.
I'm so Grateful...we have each other.
Many, are watching....and wondering, as this all unfolds.
Steph, and Patti...have 'Theories' about what's happening here.
Many...do.
I, do...too.
Steph, asked me...last night, what I 'wished' would happen,
{Steph, thought I was being More...than Fair, when I told her.}
then...
she asked me how much of what I 'wished' for, I expected...to see happen.
I, thought about it, for about half a second...
"All of It."
All...of It.
Love to You.
Prayers...for All.
Barb C.
Friday, January 22, 2021
Troubling...ways.
Helper, Brandon....is going to help me take down 'Christmas', Sunday.
Usually, I'd have it put away, by now.
There's not much 'usual'...about these last many months, years....
with the exception...
they aren't 'Usual'...at all.
My Lawyer...called yesterday morning, as I was heading to the rabbit hole.
He's setting up a meeting, here, in the near future... with some Folks, to take a look at these
'Worrisome'...things.
Began going through hundreds...of 'before and after'...Fairfax's/IDOT Trail...images.
oh my...
Troubling...
Below...are a handful.
Then...was on the phone, with many Folks, who...also, have seen this all...unfold, with me.
oh my.
Visited with Daughter, Liz...she, and I had a deep, heart to heart.
For the first time....she told me that she knows, God...has a Plan.
and...to keep moving forward.
<3 <3 <3
I, know...how difficult that was for her.
This whole Fairfax/IDOT battle, has been crushing for her, to watch her 'Mom'...go through.
She'd give Anything...for this to 'Go Away', in any way.
because...she'd seen how many wounds, they've wrongfully inflicted.
but...
her Faith...like mine, is carrying us.
<3 <3 <3
{stopped to think about...'this', after I posted this...this morning.
Everything...
our Kid's, Family....and Friend's...have had to go through, with me through these 'wrongful'...'worrisome'... issues.
I'm not sure...I could've handled all of 'This'...if it would've been my Mom, and Dad...
confronting this.
All of This.
oh...my.
I'm so sorry, that so many...have suffered so deeply, because of this 'wrongfulness'.
They...are Truly...the 'Strong Ones'.
<3 <3 <3 }
This was June...2020, at the rabbit hole.
With less than 2.5 inches of rain.
Never...in 40 years, has the water went over Stallman Drive.
{Not even, in 2014, when we had 7 inches of rain...in a few hours.}
Not until...the 'Trail'....and, 'Road Improvements'.
This....happened Three times, last year, with 2.5 inches, or less.
They were also pumping water, to the North, {Rabbit Hole} several different times,
when, like...I tried, and tried...and...Tried, to tell them, it would.
because, well....
'Water...doesn't run Uphill.'
It...simply, does...not.
oh my.
This was after...we moved the '49 Ford next to The Rabbit Hole, because of their construction.
It's a good thing.
The 'New'...poorly, designed Stallman Drive, is where the Ditch, used to be.
So...guess where the water is going to go...
Now.
; )
: (
oh my.
oh my.
Before the construction.
Before we moved the '49.
See the light pole.
That...was a ditch.
It always held water, after Big Rain.
That's gone...for the poorly designed Stallman Drive.
I walked with Newman, from District 6, shared all of these concern's with him, with drainage...and the safety issues, long before the IDOT broke ground.
Put it in writing...as well.
Deaf ears.
: (
Because of the High Elevation...for Fairfax's {Wrongful} Trail....
The Rabbit Hole, 'Is'...The Ditch, now.
oh my.
The culvert they put in, works as good as the last one, The IDOT put in 25 years ago.
Ya see, it's Higher, to the North, at our Driveway, to the house.... than the South Point, by the Rabbit Hole, {Stallman Drive}
again...
Tho...I'm not an Engineer, it's been my experience, throughout life...
water, simply.....won't run uphill.
This is on the East side of the Rabbit Hole, you can see the corner of the Shop...on the right.
This...was after a small rain.
The water isn't even close to reaching the Culvert, under our drive.
It'll be inside the rabbit hole, long...before it reaches the 'Too High'...culvert's mouth.
I'll have an Album...for the 'Folks'...to look at.
a...very, sad...album.
This morning... thought of the Melody Gardot, Tune....
'Worrisome Heart'...
just before I said my Morning Prayers, 'visit', really.. with our Lord.
'Thee Man'.
; )
<3 <3 <3
I know...
He Loves me...the way that I am, with...all of my Troubling ways.
<3 <3 <3
All of Us.
<3 <3 <3
Needless...to say, didn't get a thing done, at The Rabbit Hole.
This, 'Trouble'... must come First.
Top...Priority.
Just, as it's had to be...for nearly 5 years, now.
Love to You...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
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