Thursday, June 30, 2022
Kickin' The Crutches....and 'Time'.
Got a bit of news...yesterday.
The Wheels...it appears, are starting to Turn.
Finally.
Finally.
This IDOT/Fairfax...Mess, has been like a Festering Boil.
So...Incredibly Painful, for Years....and Years.
Can't get away from it.
The only time I could...was with help...from 'The Crutches'...
anything...that would hold a Flame.
; )
If you've read my blog...over the years, you know...'Trust'...is Everything, to me.
It's the Foundation...of solid relationships, and well being.
There's been Nothing Solid, while dealing with IDOT, and Fairfax.
Only...Constant Shifting Sand.
Not just for me....but for Everyone...around me.
: (
The 'Crutches'...have kept me numb.
That's been a very good thing, for some Folks.
Not...for my liver, and those who love...and care about me.
The Wheels of Justice, turn so incredibly slow.
They've finally, Finally...broken loose.
Time for me, to...as well.
; )
Keeping Busy, working....was, and is... my Salvation.
Sadly...working here, and being slapped in the face, day after day....
has not been good.
The constant flooding, with no response, or very little, at best....from IDOT, and Fairfax...has been crippling.
The worst...have been the lies.
Especially...from those, I thought...mistakenly, we could trust, and should be able to trust.
While visiting with Budwardo...yesterday morning, he said...how good I look, I've lost some weight, and seem healthier.
Hahahahahaha!!!
I Burst Out Laughing!!!
Told Bud...."Looks are Deceiving."
Very.
Stress...Constant...Stress, From THIS....is Eating Me Alive.
Daughter, Liz....is terrified, this Battle with IDOT, and Fairfax...is going to kill me.
I, know...others, have the same concern.
If it wasn't for our Lawyer... I most likely....would be dead.
That's frightening.
but...
it's the truth.
{I see why, so few go after The Machine, called IDOT. }
They've definitely...stolen my passion, for what I used to love so, along with our Trees, Driveway... Drainage... and Land.
I've felt like a Racehorse...with the Reins Held Back Tight.
They're beginning to loosen, Finally.
I need to be in Top Shape, for This...Final Stretch of The Race.
It may be a long one.
I can't get into the details...but, it appears, we may be heading to Trial.
This...what's been Done...to Us, Wrongfully....Intentionally...
should Never...Ever....Be Done, to Anyone, Ever...Again.
Ever.
Am I gonna quit enjoying cool refreshing beverages....forever.
Heck No!
; )
Just no more...Self Medicating. No More...Numbing The Pain.
I'll enjoy sippin' wine...like I used to, with Friends, over good times....again, someday.
Not at Home...alone, anymore.
It appears...
The Race Is On.
; )
Would deeply appreciate your Prayers, for us...on this Final Stretch.
May be reaching out...to some of You, for a hand.
<3
Love to Ya.
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{Such a shame. Peggy, the Sweetheart, whose Mom, we're doing the Upcoming Living Estate Sale, for.... said....just last night, "There's some liquor at Mom's...we don't want it. Help yourself!!"
Dang!!
Ahhhhh....
Don't want to be Tempted, having it Here.
No Way!!
oh...my. }
Time.
{Wrote the above post earlier...today. I was thinking...about what's one of the most heartbreaking 'Losses', concerning this wrongful mess.
'Time'.
This all started really coming down, when I was working on Bob's Sale, on Linden Drive.
in March/April 2017. It actually Started before that, many months...but, Really got interesting, and Messy... during Bob's Sale.
I remember making calls to District 6, and speaking with someone...the Only one...there, I truly thought I could trust.
oh my...
The recent Public Records, brought me Straight to Reality, how Foolish I was to have believed a single word he said, back then.
He had me chasing my tail.
So did Fairfax, over that same period of time.
Never a straight answer.
Each...blaming the other.
I remember taking notes, at that sale...as I worked, and spoke with the 'kind'...man, from District 6, often.
He was so 'Helpful'.
hahahahahaha.
That...was the beginning.
I remember him Roaring with Laughter, when I told him, what The Mayor, and Council said to me, about a 'Trail'..next to 151....during an Open City Council Meeting.
{when they Finally admitted, there was a Trail..in The Plans.}
{when they Finally admitted, there was a Trail..in The Plans.}
They Said....
"This Is All On IDOT.
We Never Asked for a Trail.
We were Forced by IDOT."
That....was a Lie.
{we know that...now.
They actually Asked IDOT for it, back in 2012.}
The 'kind'...District 6 man, said...after he was done Roaring....
"The IDOT Isn't In The 'Trail Building Business"...we build Roads."
That...was Also...a lie.
Take a look at Us, and The Bridge...that adjoins our property.
How IDOT...nicely Built a Trail, on The Bridge, Elevated The Bridge, to Accommodate Fairfax's Trail...and Graded for a Trail...next to the Highway, for Fairfax's Trail...as well.
Leaving us...in an Ugly...Wrongful...Flooding...Mess.
Time.
Hours...Days...Weeks...Months....
YEARS.
One run around...after another, from them all.
They're Still At It.
hahahahahaha.
Wasn't until October of 2018, that I Finally...Broke Down, and called Josey Wales, our Lawyer.
I waited Far..too Long.
He had everything straightened out, in short order...or...so we thought.
IDOT, and Fairfax...had other wrongful....ideas.
{again...those Public Records, paint quite a Timeline, and Portrait. }
Time.
I was skippin' down Memory Lane, yesterday.
Remembering what Life....was like Before....
THIS.
ALL OF THIS.
It wasn't easy...I'd just lost Mom, John...and Peg.
Sadly...through 'this' going on it's 6th. year... 'Mess', from the very beginning, there's been many more losses.
Many Blessings, too.
Sadly....'Time'....has been lost, taken from Those Blessings, also...because of the Lies.
Time...none of us will ever have, again.
I was thinking about Dave, Mitchell's Dad, who sadly passed away...suddenly... Monday.
He was a year younger than me.
I hate regrets. I can feel them, sinking in...concerning 'Time'.
We were given No Choice...but to fight.
The flooding, the lies...the breaching of our recorded agreement.
How MANY Have THEY Done This To???
How Many MORE...would They Continue to Do This To...if we didn't stand up???
I have to wonder, always will....how lives would be different, had Fairfax's hired engineer Not sent his Request to IDOT, in 2012...asking them to include a Trail for Fairfax, next to one of the Most Dangerous Stretches of Highway 151, {according The University of Northern Iowa's Traffic Safety Study, for IDOT}
in Linn County, Iowa.
'The Urban Area of Fairfax'???
I'll always...always....wonder.
We'll never know.
That
'Time'...
All of It...
Is Gone.
Forever.
So is the
'Time'...
I just spent writing this.
Just think...had This Mess...never happened, I might be writing about a Very Cool, 'Gnarly'...
Old....Old...
something.
P.S.
One more thing...to wonder about...
What would've happened, if when Fairfax's hired engineer asked IDOT to be included in this Highway Project, and have the IDOT make accommodations for Fairfax's Trail... on, and under the Bridge...and IDOT District 6, would've said.... "Sorry, we have follow the law. We don't have the authority to condemn anyone's land, for a Trail. "
They all discussed that Law, in those Public Records. Sadly...I didn't see anything about them 'upholding' it...tho.
{this not sippin' flammable liquids, after 5...sure makes my thoughts...clearer. ; )
Who Knew??}
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Oh... dear.
Fast Paced Day.
; )
Had to make a Mad Dash...this morning, to go over some documents.
Then...headed to The Upcoming Marion, Iowa...Living Estate Sale.
{July 21-24.}
There's an AMAZING Deco Piano....there.
LOVE IT!!
: )
oh...my.
Don't know What...made me think of Jerry Lee Lewis Tunes...today.
Certainly wouldn't want to see The Beautiful...Deco...Piano, go up in Flames!!!
Hahahahaha!!!
It's a Beauty!!
Wow.
WOW!!
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Bugged Out.
Worked yesterday morning...
then, Bugged Out.
Met with Patti, and Steph...for lunch, then Jodi...for supper.
Sometimes...ya just need to Bug Out.
Get in the car...
and drive,
and...drive,
and
drive.
Visit with Friends...swap miseries...and hopefully, a few laughs, as well.
; )
Back to work.
Love to Ya.
Prayers for All.
Barb C.
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
A Day.
Yesterday...was a long day.
In so many...many ways.
Got a ton of yard work done...
Got The Ford...unloaded, then loaded it with piles of brush.
Helper, Brandon...helped me in the afternoon.
Kept working...long after he left.
So much to get done.
When the battery on the DeWalt...weed whip...got tired, I walked to The Shop, to ask Son, Justin about the hand tools.
Noticed an SUV sitting very wrong, by the Shop.
It had to be moved.
Went to tell Justin that.
He was gone.
That was early...in the day.
Brandon, was there.
He said, Justin left in a hurry.
One of Justin's Very Best... Best... Friends, Mitchell had called him, Mitchell had just found his Dad...deceased.
Oh my God.
I'd just Thanked Mitchell...for being Here...for Justin.
What a Wonderful 'Friend'...Mitchell has been.
Justin's going through some very...rough times.
Mitchell, and his Dad...are the Kindest People.
Heartbreaking.
Heartbreaking.
I'm so glad Justin could be 'There'...for Mitchell.
Justin's been exactly...where Mitchell is.
All of our Kids, Have.
Was just visiting with John's Oldest Children, Saturday....
about John.
That last day.
We all...melted.
Woke up at 5, this morning...thinking about my Dad, his...last day.
Then, started thinking about John...the Kids.
: (..........
I get so Angry, sometimes. {sure was...last night.}
Mitchell's Dad..they think...had a massive heart attack, or...blood clot.
He was only 58.
My heart is broken for Mitchell...and his Family.
I had to figure out who owned that SUV, and why they left it there, where it shouldn't be.
As I looked at the SUV, I thought... 'Is that the same vehicle, that was in the accident, on our corner?'
Brought up my pictures...from the scene....
It was.
: (
Turned out, it belongs to our Neighbors, Don, and Sally.
: (.......
I spoke with Don, yesterday. Sally was driving, alone... a young Girl...{whom was also alone}pulled out in front of Sally, on East Cemetery Road, Sally was heading south...on 151, Sally T-Boned the Girl's car.
Don said... "There's no visibility on that corner. The bridge is too high."
{where have we heard that...before?}
"The speed limit...is too high." he said.
{where have we heard that....before?}
Everyone...is going to be o.k., I think....but, so damned sad.
: (.......
{Don said...the tow truck driver, didn't do the best job, leaving the SUV. I assured him, we'd get it moved.}
It's the same corner...my Friend, Emmett....T-Boned one of Justin's Customers, last year.
I'm sure there's been many accidents there, since 'The Highway Improvement'.
I don't hear about them all.
Certainly not safer, by a long shot...than it was.
This is Such a Dangerous Mess...Here....
Now.
: (.......
Sometimes...I get so angry, and want the people who make such wrong 'choices'...to once...'feel'....how their 'choices'...Hurt others.
Crush Them.
Just Once.
: (
That's Wrong....for me to think that way, I know.
There was a time, I'd Never 'wish'...heartache....
Heartbreak...
On Anyone, no matter what.
It agonizing.
I'm ashamed of myself...for feeling this way.
It bother's me.
but...
I can't help it.
: (.......
Love to Ya.
Prayers, for All.
I'm gonna Pray, for myself, too.
A Lot.
Love to Ya.
Barb C.
Monday, June 27, 2022
Country Sunshine
Spent a few hours...Sunday, with Kids...and Grandchildren.
; )
It was such a Pretty...beginning of a Sunday.
Took long walks...picked Mulberries...: )
Watched the Kids swim.
; )
I brought Pizza...for lunch, the Mulberries were Perfect for Dessert.
; )
Stopped at Home, to let Peanut outside, and saw the horrible accident, another...at our corner.
: (
Let Peanut....outside, on her cable.
Can't let her run loose, next to 151.
She's blind...so, letting her run loose, anywhere...isn't an option.
Just got her a new cable.
When I went to let her back in the house.... a few minutes, after I let her out...
She was gone.
The snap on the end of the cable was broken.
I...started to call for her...frantically.
Raced...trying to get sight of her.
I did.
Right next to 151, behind the Ford, on Fairfax's soon to be paved Trail.
LORD!!
Praise God...when she heard me call to her, she came toward's my voice.
another few seconds...she'd have been dead.
I've seen it happen, before.
Our entire Family has..over the years.
151 is a Killer.
It's Just...That Simple.
Then...headed to meet with Josey Wales, our Lawyer.
{Ya Know...Ya have an Awesome Lawyer...when he works on Sundays.
; )
His Dad...Bulldog Bill, was our Lawyer...back in the 90's.
Our first Battle, with IDOT.
John, and I met with him...many Sundays.
; ) }
So Grateful...Josey Wales....is riding this Crazy Train...with us.
oh my Lord.
It takes a Very Sharp, Brave...Lawyer, with Grit...
to Stand Toe to Toe...
with The Machine...
called IDOT.
He's The Best.
Wow.
We Thank God for Him.
Then...met with Bud, and Renate.
{Renate's Antique Gallery, Amana, Iowa.}
Bud told me about some Beautiful...Cast Iron Urns, that he thought I'd like, a Friend of his had.
He know's how much I adore...old...Garden.
So...thought I'd appreciate them.
; )
Nice...heavy...Load, of Cast Iron Urns.
Bud, and I loaded them... then, we all went out for supper.
<3
{I...Love...Bud, and Renate. Good...Folks. <3 }
When me and The Ford pulled in, last night....
I've never felt so damned tired...'exhausted'...in my life.
Wasn't sure...I had the strength to make it to John's old...Lazy Boy.
oh my.
So much...coming from every direction.
Seeing, yet... another... 'accident', here....and, nearly losing Peanut... got me stumblin'.
wow.
Still feel a little...weak, this morning.
: (
Heading outside to trim...and do yard work.
It's going to be fairly cool, today.
Then...tomorrow...going to pour myself into the Marion, Iowa, Estate Sale.
{July 21-24}
After today...the Lawn...will have free reign...until after that Sale.
Everything get's out of hand...while working on these Sales.
{Great Lawyers, aren't the only Folks...who work 7 days a week. ; ) }
Gotta Get To It.
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{It was GREAT...spending time in The Country, yesterday.
<3
So Grateful...I didn't have to bury...yet, another four legged 'Family Member'...that 151 claimed.
So...Grateful.}
Sunday, June 26, 2022
Another.
Another...bad accident at the corner of 151, and West Cemetery Road, in Fairfax...today.
At the corner of our property.
Don't know what the cause of This...sad event was.
Speaking, for myself...this Highway design, is so...very, very...poor.
The visibility is terrible.
The bridge is too high.
Too High.
All because....of THIS.
Fairfax's Trail, under, and over...
that...was promised Not To Be...per our Recorded Agreement with IDOT.
If...they'd Only...Kept Their Word, Agreement, we wouldn't be Flooding.
Who knows...how many 'accidents'...may have been prevented, without Trail Accommodations.
So....Incredibly...
Sad.
Saturday, June 25, 2022
Done...Day
This is what I woke up to...this morning.
Flooding.
Again.
14th. Flood since IDOT made wrongful Trail Accommodations, for Fairfax.
The Last Thing...I needed this morning.
: (
It took the wind out of my sails.
Always...does.
Made it to The Rabbit Hole, by 9.
but...
what a mess.
That...kinda did me in, before I got the day started.
but...
Then...look Who Showed Up...Bearing a WONDERFUL GIFT...
First Thing.
<3
Farmer Friends, Lynn, and Lea!
<3
: )
Oh My!!
Love That Old Truck!!
{Lynn, and Lea...Too!! <3 }
Looks like The '49 Ford!!
<3 <3 <3
We'd never seen one like it.
So Cool!!
<3
It rained, just as we were opening...but, the DAY...turned out GREAT!!!
Wanda, and Terry Popped in.
<3
A Sweet Gal, from Des Moines...along with Great Regular Customers!!
Our Friends from Deep Southern Iowa...
<3
Budwardo...from Renate's...in Amana.
<3
It was steady...all day.
<3
Not much left...from The Minnesota Farm Estate Load.
So Grateful...to Everyone, who Popped In.
<3
The Rabbit Hole...is a disaster, but...Folk's didn't seem to mind Diggin'.
; )
I was whipped.
Told them how this day...started out, I...just couldn't recover my 'wind'.
; (
They...all were so Kind, and understood...why, I was sitting.
Bless Their Heart's.
<3
The Best Folk's...seem to find Their Way....to The Rabbit Hole.
'Blessings'.
<3
Bugged out...at 5, so I could attend Grandson, Kaycen's... 10th Birthday Party.
<3
That's a Milestone.
<3
John would be so Proud, of his Kids...and Grandchildren.
<3
Just got home...a bit ago.
Done...
Day.
Headin' to have a chat with our Lawyer, 'Josey Wales'...
tomorrow.
{sent him images of The 14th Flood, bright and early...this morning.
I...believe, he's getting nearly as Sick...of This, all of This...
as I am.
oh....
dear. }
This Day...started off...damned ugly.
but...
there were so Many...Many...Blessings, after.
; )
<3
Grateful.
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{I Gotta Stay Home...a Day, sometime...
and Clean.
; )
oh my.
The DUST...on those Stairs.
Hahahahaha...
Man.
; ) }
{Watching Fairfax's Fireworks, from the kitchen window...as I write, tonight.
They Are The Very Best.
<3
Fairfax State Savings Bank...The Amazing Fairfax Fire Department...along with Many who donate......make Sure..To AMAZE!!!
<3
Many Folks say, Fairfax Outshines Cedar Rapids, with Fireworks.
That's a Fact.
Always has, since I was a Kid.
Dad would bring me here...when I was little, to Watch...
"Oooooooh....
and.....
Ahhhhhhh".
; )
<3
Beautiful.
'That's' The Fairfax, I'll always remember.
The One, I once knew....and Loved.
<3
City Hall...is far, far...removed from The 'Real'... Fairfax.
Has been, for a long...time. }
Friday, June 24, 2022
The Rabbit Hole Will be Open June 25!! 9-5!! Wear Your Grubbies and Bring a Truck!!
Just a Few...images, of The Minnesota Farm Estate Items.
Of course...The Rabbit Hole, is PACKED!!!
Hahahaha.
; )
This is just what was on The Ford, from Allyson, and Bethany's Family Farm.
Had to put some of it the Greenhouse, after I took these images.
Talkin' Rain...tomorrow.
See Simply Iowa, on FB, for many more images.
; )
Note...I haven't priced a thing.
I'll work on that in the morning.
Just ask, if things aren't priced.
I'll price on The Spot..
; )
Things are BARN, 'Farm' Fresh.
Much needs Cleaning.
No Time.
; )
I'll price things Fair.
Want to be Fair...to You, and...Allyson's Family.
<3
I...truly appreciate Your Patience.
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{Updated June 25. House was flooding this morning, at 6:30 a.m., for the 14th. time, since IDOT made their wrongful accommodations for Fairfax's Trail.
Just what I needed this morning.
: (
No worries, I'll be down The Rabbit Hole, by 9...come Hell...or High Water.
{You'll find Fairfax, offer's Both.}
Gonna Really need your patience today.
<3}
Thursday, June 23, 2022
OPEN Saturday, June 25. 9-5!! {Update!! Opening at 9...instead of 10!! June 25.}
Can't post too many images, on Blogger...with my Android.
; (
Captured MANY...at Allyson's Family Farm.
; )
{Follow 'Simply Iowa'...on FB. Many...images, there. : ) }
Here's The Deal...
I brought home a Load...that will Be For Sale, Saturday, June 25, from 10-5.
Straight Off The Farm...
Straight Off The Ford.
{Many more Load's...coming. We have to Thin Down...this 150 Year's of Accumulation..for a Sale, on Site.}
SO MUCH.
oh my.
: ) : ) : )
I'd posted on FB, I'd be here...on June 26, as well.
No
Can
Do.
Just found out..this late afternoon...I have a Meeting with Josey Wales, Sunday, the 26th.
; )
He...
Calls The Shots.
Period.
{Allyson...know's better than most, 'Josey Wales'... has Top Priority.}
So...We'll Sell What We Can...Saturday...Down The Rabbit Hole...
and Keep Movin' On!!
; )
Worked on The Marion, Iowa...Estate Sale, today.
It's So Beautiful.
So Clean.
So...Good!
{So...MUCH!! : ) }
July 21-24!!
; )
Images...Soon!!
<3
Stay Tuned!!
; )
<3
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Honey.... I'm Home!!
Just pulled in, from a Long...Hot...Run!
oh my.
Left at a Dead Run...this morning at 7:15.
Picked up Allyson, we Flew to Her Family's Farm, in Minnesota.
Her Sis, Bethany...followed, in Allyson's RAV.
; )
Both Vehicles were PACKED FULL!!!
; )
The Farm...has been in their Family...for over a 150 years.
They Never Threw Anything Away!!
; )
We brought Everything from Old...Signs, to an Old Banjo, Home...tonight!!!
; )
Old Stoneware...Crocks, and Jugs...Farm Junk...Ironstone...Sleigh Bells...Advertising Watt, an Iron Bank... an Old...Forge, Cool Wooden Boxes, and Crates...Old Wagons, Very Cool...'Oil Cans'...RR. Can, Funnels, Tall Parts Bin. So Much...piled on The Ford, tonight.
There's SO MUCH...at Allyson, and Bethany's Family Farm...Yet to Go Through!!!
{oh...dear. ; ) }
An Old Safe...Old Bikes, 1930's Boat Motor, an Old Tractor...Old Tools...Fishing Stuff...Lumber...Ton's of Furniture!!
Ton's of EVERYTHING!!!
Oh My!
Every Building...IS PACKED FULL!!!
; )
150 Years...
'Packed Full'!!!
; )
We dug through Many, Many...Buildings on The Farm, today.
The House...Too!!
Oh... My... LORD!!
; )
We'll be Making..Many, Many...Trips.
oh my.
; )
Hahahahahaha!!!
So Tired...tonight.
{a 'Good' Tired. : ) }
I'm Black...as Coal.
Dirt Love's to Stick to Sweat!!!
; )
As Allyson, and I were making our way through Very...Tall...Thick...Weeds, trying to get in the sheds, my first Thought...while Kickin' 'em down...
'Snakes'.
uh oh.
I didn't mention my thoughts, to Allyson, and Bethany.
{Not a good 'seed' to Plant...while tryin' to get work done. }
; )
{My Aunt, and Uncle's Farm...and House...always had Snakes hangin' around. ; ) oh my. }
I Found...one, at the end of the day.
His Skin.
Huge...Skin.
YIKES!!!
I knew it.
; )
Grateful...He Wasn't Still 'In It.'
Hahahahaha!!!
He...would've been the size of a Pop Can...in Circumference.
BIG....
SNAKE.
{I'm kinda used to Dealin'...with Snakes.
; )
Fairfax, IDOT, and all. ; )
Bless their hearts. <3 }
Snake's...don't scare me,
but...
I Don't...
Like
'Surprises'...
; )
hahahaha.
Glad I was wearin' my Boots!!!
; )
Love to Ya...
Prayers, for All.
Barb C.
{So Enjoyed spending time with Allyson, and Bethany...today. <3
Priceless.
<3
Allyson, and I...hit The DQ, on our way Home.
We Needed Sugar.
; )
Was thinking about 'Snake' stories...on the way Home.
{That Huge Skin...kinda rattled me. ; ) }
Mom, told me one of the best.
While she was tending baby chicks, as a child, on the Farm...she spotted a Huge Bullsnake.
{He was there..to eat the baby chicks.}
Mom, had a pitchfork in her hands, she was cleaning pens.
Mom...stabbed the Snake... killed it, but...before it died...it curled all the way to the Top...of the pitchfork's handle...Mom was holding.
That's a Big...Snake.
Mom...was amazing. }
<3
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