Back to 'Iowa'.

It's been a long...long... several days.

Did the Midwest Show.... Sunday....{set up, Saturday...}

along with an Auction... Friday....

loading...unloading... loading... unloading.... fixing and cleaning....

then... reloading.... 

then...unloading... setting up... then...reloading..and unloading, again.

I took the day off yesterday.

It was such a Beautiful Day....

yet... I didn't leave the house.

oh my.

I have to get to town, today.... and get some groceries....

and pick up some things that are waiting....

I have decided to go back... to mainly posting on simply iowa.

I can't do 2 fb pages...pinterest...and two blogs. 

well.

So...

I'll post here, now and then....

{when I need to... : ) }

and post on my simply iowa page, daily.....

Things, are just too busy now.  : )

I have so much work to be done..... before Winter. 

: )

Love to you.... my Friends.... : )

I'll be popping in... now and then... <3

Barb C.

oh my... too tired to post. : ) Check out Simply Iowa... you'll understand. : )

Rascal Flatts - What hurts the most + Lyrics

What... hurts... the most.

Mel, Peg's.... Amazing Daughter... Promised to call me... today.

She hadn't....

so...

tonight...

I called her.

{I..Know...What...Mel... is going through.

Been there... with my Sister, Chery...

Mom....

and...

my Beloved....

John. }

Time... Drags... On...

yet...

it Flies....

when Loved Ones...

are hurting.....

oh my...

oh my.

As I spoke... with Melissa...

{who... quit her Job... put her things in storage...in Florida... and... moved in... 

with Peg and Michael... to help them... through this...}

I...Praised her.

Told her... if she wasn't there....

I...Would Be.

I'd let...Everything... Everything... Everything....

go....

to be with Our Peg... now.

I am Confident.... Peg... will make... it... through this...

It's so... Comforting, to know... Mel is there.

{I Thank God... for Her.... <3 }

I Know... she is handling... and directing... things, that Michael... can't... now.

Peg... is weak.... very...very...weak.

{Please... Keep Those Wings...Pounding! : ) }

As I sit here... tonight, I think of my 'Journey'... with Peg.

: )

When I first met her... I didn't know... I had...'met'...her.

about...20 years ago....

Daughter, Liz and I... stopped at a Sale....

I saw a cute little birdhouse....it was a little...over my budget....

so....

asked the owner... if she would consider a little less.

: )

OH... MY....

The Dagger Stare....I got... uh....

left me... STUNNED!

: )

oh dear......

: )

: )

I bought the little birdhouse...  Liz and I... went on our way.

Awhile... after that...

I... had the Most....Wonderful... customer....{Friend...} 

Jerri... that Loved... the Shop....

pop in....

She...didn't drive...and always brought her 'driving' friends with, to take in... the 'shop'... : )

<3

One day... she came in with a woman... who seemed so...'Familiar'... to me.

?

I...couldn't put my finger on... how... I knew her, yet... I knew, we had met.....

somewhere... sometime.

Then...It...Struck...Me.

: )

I asked the woman... if she'd had... a Plant Sale.... on Johnson Ave. : )

Yes!

oh my... : )

It was...our Little March Hare... that had her Ears...Twitching... and Buckie's...Showing....

months... prior...

: )

{we have Laughed over that... So Many...Times...}

: )

We.. became The Best... of Friends.

Jerri... was her Mother in Law... : )

Peg and I...were inseparable...after that.

She was living with Jerri....after... she and Michael... sold there Iowa Home...

 and, as she and Michael... were building their Dream Home...

in Missouri...

Michael... worked all over the Country....

When he wasn't.... working... he and Peg, were in Missouri... 'Building'.

Peg and I...spent... so much time...together...then.

Then...

The Missouri Home....

was Completed...

Peg, was working here... and... retired... to her new... Home.

I... was...Lost.

oh my....

I....missed... my Friend.

We...went our separate ways....

One day... years later... Liz and I were at a Goodwill... Clothes Shopping...

and...I ran into a cart....

Peg... was on the other end.

: )

I...was... a bit... stand offish... I suppose...

Cordial....

 when I saw her... 

as we chatted....

I knew... I couldn't get too close....

I...had been so hurt... and Lost... when she was no longer...

'here'...

{heartbroken....}

I....missed her... so.

The funny thing was.... Peg... was missing me... too.

: )

She.... and I... became so...Close... after that...

: )

Peg... missed...Iowa....

{all of Us...}

She started coming back.... and visiting...Often.

She Busted her Butt.... helping me... down the rabbit hole....

and... we spent... The Best...of Times... {and the Worst...}

Together...

: )

Laughing... until we cried...

: )

sometimes....

just... crying....

: )

Peg...Loved John...

John...

Loved...

Peg.

: )

They made each other Laugh...

and Teased each other... Non Stop. : )

Peg...

is like a Sister... to me...

Peg... is...

My Sister.

{I have told Many Hospitals... that... the last few years...

I was Not...Lying...

Peg... 

would agree.... and Vouch... for me... <3 }

Peg... has been here for me, through..the Most...Difficult Times.... of my life.

Peg's face...may have been... the last one... John saw....

{and Mark's...}

oh my...

Peg...was riding Shotgun....

as we Flew...in Jethro...

to the Hospital...

the day...

John... went 'Home'...

She stayed... by my side....

throughout........

oh my.....

She was with us....

all of the Family...

during... that... unthinkable....unimaginable...

day.

Yes...

Peg...

Is...

My...

Sister.

: )

Tonight...

I sit.

and...Pray.

: )

I have so many... Mountains....

Obligations...

yet...

I told Mel....

tonight...

if you need me...

I Am There.

No Matter.

Just...Call...

I...

Am...

There.

She told me... if Peg could be here..to Help me...

She would be here...

I said....

"She Is"....

Peg... like...John...

is...Everywhere....

They... are already... 'here'.

at Every Turn...

I see their Beautiful...

Faces.

As I... am also... with Them.

Always...

Always...

Every Moment...

my Heart... is With...

Them.

Love... to you... my Friends.

Keep Those Wings...Pounding!!!

{My Angels... : ) }

Barb C.

{below... I have posted a few...  snippets... of what Peg.... and I... have shared...Together...

and...

with our... Beloved... Friends. }

Peg gave this to me... a couple of years ago....
; )
Beautiful....
and
Perfect.
Just like...
our...
Peg.
<3

Gospel This little light of mine

oh my... what a 'Ride'... : )

oh my....

These last few days... have been...Insane. : )

On...Every...Single...Level...
: )

as I posted on fb... yesterday...
that....

I... Hate being... Woken Up.... at 4 a.m.

I... Hate it...even more...

when I'm being Shakin'... out of the Sack...

by someone... Pounding... on My Bedroom...Window....

at 4 a.m.

but....

What...I Really...Really...Hate....

is when...it's a Deputy Sheriff... doin' the Poundin'.

oh my.

When I heard him yell....

"Linn County Sheriff!!!"...

I Yelled Back...

Yeahhhhh!!!!

My feet hit the Floor... at a Dead...Run!

{I always sleep... in clothes... I could wear outside.... always have... 

I have had to RUN.... out of bed... too may times... in my life... 

Victoria's Secret... stuff... simply... wouldn't work.... : )}

I was raised... with Livestock... then... Children...

: )

sometimes... you have to Run.... when you Least... expect it...

Like... yesterday morning...

I Ran... out the Breezeway door.... as the Kind... Deputy... was walking from my window... towards me....

Still standing... at my bedroom window....

Loose....

was Scoutaroo...

{Scout... our 1500 pound... 'Baby'...of a Horse. }

Holy... Monkeys....

The Kind... Deputy... stood there... explaining why... he was at my door...

{trust me... he didn't have to... : ) I was Waaaaaay Ahead of Him.... : )}

My worry was... Scout was still loose.

and... when a Fat and Sassy... Horse... Knows... he's loose...

He's Mighty Hard... to catch.

I noticed, the other day... Scout had lost his halter... so... when Katie and I...were at the Farm Store... I picked up...another....

that happened to be in the trunk of the car... just on the other side of the house.

{Praise...God. }

I asked the Deputy... if he'd keep an eye on Scout... and I'd run... and grab it....

{My Mind...was Racing... "I Have to get grain... I Hope... and Pray... he doesn't Run".... }

I had no shoes on... no coat......no contacts.... I couldn't see...10 feet...in front of my face..... }it was Pitch...Black... outside...

By the time I got back...through the Breezeway... to the door... where the Deputy... was waiting....{seconds...}

as I opened... it...
 {Flung It Open!!! Dead Run! }

There was Scout... standing next... to the Deputy.... at... the Step.

?
[seems.... even Scout... respects... The Law. : ) }

I walked up to Scout... put his new halter... and 18 foot lead... {I...had, also... just bought...}

on him...

and the Deputy... was on his...way....

{I Thanked him... Over and Over....: ) }

Then... it was me... and Scout.

Something... had run him through the fence.

It was... Broken... Beyond... Broken...

{and not where the Apple Tree is... This... was a Mess.... I don't know if it was a dog... or something else...
 but...
That Boy... was Cookin'... when he went through the fence. }

Thankfully... Scout...was uninjured... 

I can't tie him up.... He can rub off his halter... and untie... any knot... I make...

If... he can't untie a rope...

he chews through it...

{in...minutes...}

So...

Scout and I... found a spot to wait...at the door... on the step....
for The Sun... to come up... and Justin... to arrive...

It was cold... I didn't have a coat... or shoes....

but... the Line... was long... so... I left Scout.... and took the end of the line... into the Kitchen... 

where I could just... reach my shoes.

In the Breezeway... I had an Old Wool Blanket... I had wrapped myself in...during The Sale....

and grabbed that.

When I opened the door....

Scout... was standing... with his two front feet... on the top step...

I...am sure... if I would have opened the door.... he would have come... right in.

oh my.

He is the second... smartest Horse... I have Ever... Known.
I sat... on the step... Scout... standing above me....
I...was so tired.... : ) I leaned against the house.... and thought...
'If... I could just sleep...for a moment...
if... he pulls the lead... I'll wake up....: ) '...
about that time... Scout... would rest his head... 'Muzzle'... on my head...
 or... over and over... he'd try and pull the clips... from my hair....
Not A Moments... Peace!!!!
: )
Justin arrived at 6:30....
and repaired the fence....
Then... Liz came out... with Miss. Scarlett....
I had agreed to watch her....
the day before....
Scarlett...and I... watched Barney.... in my bed....
Lord... I was Tired...
Then...
did some Wheelin' and Dealin'... on the concrete... statuary...I had bought...for the Midwest Show...and The Rabbit Hole....
but... a Sale...is a Sale...
and...a Trade...is a Trade....
Got some Great Treasures.... in this trade...
and... a little money... to boot...
{I'll take all of that... I can... these days. : ) }
made deliveries... and pick ups....
didn't get home.. until late... last night.
oh my....
The stall... Scout has access to... in the Barn... doesn't have a door....
so... I can't keep him secure.... when situations like the above... 'happen'...
There is one...next to it.. that does...
but... John used it for storage....
I asked the Boys...to clean that one out... today... so... I won't have to sit outside... anymore...
I was busy... working on things... for this Weekend....
The Phone Rang... as I was cleaning...
It was Justin.... on Brandon's Phone!
?
Brandon... was taking a load... from the Barn.... {scrap... from Cleaning}
{Brandon... Knows... Nothing... about...Horses... especially... Smart...Horses...}
He thought...he could open the gate...
and pull out...
Without Being Followed!!!!
Hahahahahahahahahahaha....
oh...dear.
Holy Smokes!!!
Here We Go Again!!!!
Scout was Out....
and...Terrorizing The Neighborhood!!!!
Running Through Yards!!!
{Beautiful...Yards.... }
We were all running around... trying to keep him from Going through...More!!!
Scout had us... Jumping Through Hoops!!!
All of Us... and...The Neighbors!!!
oh my....
I'd just... coax him... to me... with a little Sweet Feed...
Then... as I'd try and put my hand over his head... he'd Bolt!!!
yes....
Scoutaroo....
had a very... Fun... Time... with us.
Finally....
Finally...
after being Dragged.... when I got the lead... around his neck...
and Yelling Whoooooa!!!!!
He put the Brakes on.
and... we all... walked back.... to the pasture.
oh my....
: )
Then... we all... went back... to work.
I told Brandon...
Don't... Ever....
Ever...
Open the Gate... without someone... Holding Scout...
With a Lead Rope....
on His Halter...
: )
{Brandon... kept saying... "He seems to like me... we are Buddies.... I never thought.... he'd do something like this........."
Seriously...
: )
This... is The Second... Smartest...Horse... I have Ever...Known.
{and...I have Known... Hundreds. }
Don't... Ever...Underestimate... This...Old Boy. : )
I have been... Juggling... many things...
these days...
Still... dealing with Medicare.
I wrote another letter, to The White House... on Sunday...
Got a call... yesterday... from an Angel...
from... Medicare.
She called me back... today....
Long...Conversations....
I... feel... Hope....
: )
I told her... as we hung up....
If...things don't turn out.... the way we hope...
I ... want to Thank Her... for what she...has given me.
'Strength'... to go on...
{tho... I told her... No Matter What... I Will Fight... this.... if I have to sit... on the Door Steps... of Every Congressman...in this Land.... : ) {Me... and...Scout! }
She...Was...Amazing....
and had a 'Can Do'... Attitude!
My Kinda Gal!!!
God Bless Her!!!
Katie... and Liz...will be helping me... this week....
Pulling Everything together....
oh my...
I had so... wanted to go visit Peg.... this week... and would.... but... she is very ill....
too... ill... tonight... to come to the phone.
She has caught a bug.... that has taken her down....
she is so weak...
after this last round of chemo.....
I visited with her Daughter... Mel....today.
: )
Please... Beat Those... Beautiful... Wings...
for our Peg....
I...Know... she can make it through this...
I Know... she can....
Just...
Keep...Beating... Those... Wings.
: )
Love...Love...Love...
to You.
Barb C.

Martina McBride - Blessed