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

Can...Do.

Life is such a race...

Sometimes... we get so tired....

and weary....

but...the Blessing is...

God sends Angels... to help us...

Push... Through.

: )

Today...
 I slept in...
 it felt so good.

: )

There is so much... coming down the pipeline...

and... yet... I am reminded....

not... to think...too far ahead.

only...

one day.... one moment... at a time.

Then... I Know... I can make it.

: )

Through God's.... Promise....

I know... I can make it.....

'Today'.

: )

and...

for 'Tomorrow'...

well...

I'll have strength... for that day too...

One...step... at a time.: )

I may not break...record speed....

but...

I'll endure.

It's time... to take... this Journey... on...

with a Smile.

: ) : ) : )

Whatever will be...

will...

be.

: )

I'll keep doing the Best... I can....

and... that's all...I can do.

: )

and...
 be Thankful...

every step... of the way...

for The Blessings.

God's Gifts.

: )

Love.. to ya...

Barb C.



these little Daisies... have survived... a strong.... Frost....
yet....
they 'Smile'....
: )
right at our door step....
: )
Survivors...
: )
They are 'volunteers'....
Chose their... 'own place'... in the Sun. : )
'Gifts'...
'Blessings'...
'Winks'...
<3
oh my...
: )

Soulfulness.

I picked up... an... Amazing Load... of the Most... Soulful... Statuary... this afternoon.

: )

Some... will find it's way... down the rabbit hole....

some...

will...make it's debut... 

at The Midwest Show. : )

The old statuary... is either... New... Old Stock...

{never was painted... and was left in a Field.... for 20 years...or longer..}

 or was created... from old molds....

and... sadly... there will be no more.

As mine and John's... Dear Friend... 

{the Creator... of this Beautiful... Art...} 

loaded the Ford... 

{I...am no help... these days... my right arm... is still... pretty much... useless... }

I...examined... the detail.. of his creations....

oh my...

Mary's Face... is... so... Soulful....

{both of them... one... is slightly smaller, than the other...

but... each... have such... a... 'Gentleness'... about them... : )}

I... absolutely... Love... this... load. : )

I'm trying to pull the Midwest Booth.... together... in my mind.

Everything... is so... Insane.... with me...these days....

{While I bought Fish Pellets... today...for our Beloved...Fish...in the Old Stock Tank.... I began screwing the lid off...of the Pellet Jar... at the check out... to pay with Pellets! 

{seriously... : ) }

 {just wish.... Daughter in law... Katie.... hadn't witnessed it... oh my. : ) }

yet....

somehow...

after thinking...and pondering... it... in the wee...hours...this morn...

I...think... I have it all.... put together.

: )

It's going to be... Good.

Very...

Good.

{Thank God... You... Still Believe in me... : ) {and Pray... for me... : ) }

 {along with... our 'Old...Soulful' Friends... who have carried us... and... understand.

God Bless 'em! 

: ) 

I'm not sure... how long... my Family will... : ) 

They... I am Sure... 

Think...

we are all... Insane. : )

Especially... 

me. : )

{but..then... I have never... denied that. : )  }

Love to ya...

Barb C. 

Waylon Jennings - I`ve Always Been Crazy

Well.... : ) Next Weekend... is Going to Rock!!!

oh my...

decided... today....

I'm doing Both...

The Midwest Show...

and...

an...

 Open House....

'Nesting Time'...

{always have an Open House...... over the weekend... of the Midwest and Collector's Eye Shows...they are moments.... from the door... of the rabbit hole....}

What...is a bit... : ) unusual... this year...

I'm doing them Both... in Unison... : )

hmmmm....

interesting. : )

{and... attending Justin 'J's... 5th Birthday Party!!! 

{on set up day... at Hawkeye Downs! }

: )

See All... of the details... on   www.simplyiowa.blogspot.com
 

oh my... 

: )

I... Have to do this....

I'm Flippin' the rabbit hole... this week...

Just....Just....Just.... Gathered...some... Awesomeness....

and... ya know... I'm All About... that... 

: )

What a Ride.... 

Crazy... Insane... Ride.

: )

Love... to ya...

Barb C.

I...Love...Love...Love...
This Old... Sow's... Face.
She... is so... content... : )
She... is Dreaming... of  Fields... of Clover.....
and... Happy Times. : )
I can't walk past her... without...smiling.
What a Gift... she is.
: )

THE WINNER by BOBBY BARE

hurt...hurt...hurt.. oh.......my.

oh...my...

I...don't remember 'hurting'... this bad...

 ever...

in my entire..

life.

My body 'hurts'...

in every...

 single...

joint....

My toes...

'hurt'...

Every Joint...

 in my Toes....

'Hurt'.

We have been loading... and packing up... from The Sale...

all... frickin' day....

oh my.

Thank God...

for Brandon... and Katie...

holy smokes.

We Had to get the tents Down...

T O D A Y

{Tents and...Contents....

Put Away...}

Big Winds... are coming tomorrow....

{tents...and wind... are like...oil... and water. }

Mark came... and started loading his... stuff....tonight....

between rain... and 'work' {he has a 'real'...job. }.... for him....

it's been tuff.

Thank God... for his Daughter, Kelsey... and her Beau... Seth...

oh my...

neither one of us... could have gotten through this sale...

without

HELP!!!!

oh my....

While shopping garage sales...throughout the years....

{I attend very few.. }

 I  see folks...

 Losing Their Minds....

over...

bringing out... one... one thousandth of what we do....

: )

oh my....

: )

no brag...

just fact.

{seriously..... who would brag ... about.... this... fact? }

: )

I...doubt... anyone... truly... knows...

 {except... the Insane..People... who 'Know'... this... Insanity...}

what... making a living... at this... job... entails.

{don't ever...think... it's about the 'money'....: )

I'd...Laugh You... Off...The Table!!! {and...Under it... and...Over...it! : ) }

If...we didn't.... Love... Respect.... and have...  an...Undying Passion....

for...

'Old...Soulfulness'...

we could never...ever... endure... what we do.

E V E R. 

: )

guess...

That Makes...Us...

'The Winners'!!!!

: )

Love to ya...

Barb C.
{you Must... listen to the above tune....
Mark...and I...joke... about being the 'Winners'...
all the time...
{I introduced him...to the above tune... years ago... : )
I remembered it... from when I was little... and... somehow... it...seemed 'fitting... : ) }
He... in his... 'choices'...
and.....me...
in...
'mine'...
: )
oh my....
guess... we...are all...
 'The Winners'...
in...some shape.... or form.
whether we want to admit it...
or not.
: ) : ) : ) }



Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass

yeah... I'm all about that... Bass. : )

You'll have to go to 'simply iowa'... and listen to the tune... I posted... to understand... this title. 

: )

It... was a Crazy... Insane day....

We had Katie's... Monster Pink and White... Power Stroke Ford... 

Loaded...

The Flatbed Ford... Loaded...

and...

The FUSO...

Loaded...

It... was moving day... 

for Liz...and Miss. Scarlett.

oh my....

this... was a tuff... day... on so many levels.

a... heart breaker...

I...Love Nick.... he is Family.

and always will be.

Even the Critters... have been divided...

heart.... breaking....

and...

Miss. Scarlett....

oh my...

I...have been in her place.

I... remember.... 

even...when I was just three.

oh...my....
times.... just... like these.
When I hold her... in my arms... and... look into her eyes....
I... wish... so, she didn't have to walk... this... walk.
It's a hard... hard... road... to travel.
{I...can't... even let my heart go there... now.
Can't... even... think about it... I've let them all know...
I'll Be Here ...
 for them...no matter when... or where. }

When we got things... loaded... from Amana...

Things... Liz had purchased... for moving back...to the Little House....

we stopped for lunch... here...at Home. 

{mine and John's... Home. }

Liz and Miss. Scarlett were listening to songs... on youtube....

as the Chili...warmed....

when the song I posted... on simply iowa... came on....

I about fell over....

oh my...

There, is so little.... these days... that can bring a smile... to my face....

but... this tune... not only... made me Smile... as I was Scarfing Down Chili....

{they played it over and over... : ) }

I...was Dancin'... as...I was Scarfin'!

: )

{Daughter in law...Katie... thought I had...Lost My Mind! }

well... that was a long...long... time ago... : )

This song... reminded me... of my youth. : )

Hey... I was Not... a 'Pretty Girl'... 

I...was a 'Husky'...'Stout'... Girl...

{as Dad...would describe me... : ) }

{and... felt Blessed...for Being So! I had...Mountains to Move!

 No Little Girl... could have moved... them. }

yet...

I turned down many more dates... in school...{and elsewhere...} than I accepted.

I was Far more... interested in the Horses... and... Freedom... 

than 'boys'... : )

I...never felt... that I was not attractive....

but...

never... worried...about being...

'pretty'...

Some... in school... did...

and.... I felt so sorry for them...

They... Were All...

Beautiful...

{I thought... so much...'Prettier' than me... yet... they worried so... about their...size...} 

{bigger...and smaller...both... boys... and girls.  }

This song... tho... I don't like the profanity... {because...it's geared... for young... people..}

sends... a Wonderful... Message.

{in this... day... }

I...was Thrilled... to hear it... and ROAR... at the Video! : )

I...hope you'll take a moment... or three... to listen and watch...

and...remember... there are so many....

that try... to be... something...

no one... can ever be.

or...

should be.

We...are all... Beautiful...

in our own... very... special... way.

Just The Way... The Lord...

Created Us!

: )

{and... He... is The Master...at Creating! }

Love... to ya...

Barb C.
{hey... it came up... on Muchnuss... Yippee... ! }
{who knew? }

if this isn't 'Muchnuss'.... I don't know... what is.

It's rained.... and rained... the last two days...

The tents are still up... can't do a thing with 'em... until it dries out...

Can't even sort and load... until it quits.

So... took a long hot bath... this morn.... and made a big pot of chili.

Paid some bills... made some phone calls... 

{more business... to tend to... that's been put on the back burner... without a moment to spare...from work... until this morning...}

Visited with Peg.... she is so weary.... just got done with her last transfusion... Her Daughter, Mel... is staying with her....what a Gift... she is...to Michael and Peg.

I had so wanted to go... to her... this week... but.... since we pulled the 'Encore' Sale... it's put me a week behind...

Now... I have to help Liz and Miss. Scarlett move... {back to the Little House... 

{that's a long...story...  my heart aches... for the Kids...and Miss. Scarlett... nothing I can do..or say... but, Love them All. }

then... I have to gather the remnants from The Amana Sale....

Then... maybe... I can sneak away...for a day... to see My Peg!

I'll be having an Open House... down the rabbit hole... the last weekend of the month... 

during Mid West and Collector's Eye Shows....

so... the rabbit hole... needs a Flip.

As... I was sitting here... processing.... what needs to be done....

watching the rain come down.... on this cold... dreary day...

a knock...  was at the door....

I ran outside... {cold...wet....ground... soaked... socks.... oh my... }

A young Man... was standing at another door.

I yelled to him... he came walking up.... 

He must have just gotten off work....

He was wearing a General Mills jacket....and cap...

I smiled... and asked him... what I could do for him....

He said... "I... just walked through your little shop.... : ) do you care if I look around... at the stuff out here?"... 

I said... "No... Help yourself! Normally... it would all be put away, by now... but with all of this rain... it's gonna be a day or two... : ) "... 

Before he turned to walk away.... he reached in his pocket... and pulled out a Twenty Dollar Bill....

and was handing it to me....

I'm sure I looked confused.... {because I was....}

He said...

"Oh... as I was looking through your shop... I saw this, laying on a book. : ) 

Ya know... a Dollar... is Hard to come by... these days..." : ) 

I... without thinking said...

"Don't I Know It!".... : )

then...realized what he was doing.... as he handed me the bill.....

then...

I...

Melted. : )

I Thanked him..over and over....

what a Kind... Honest...Soul.

<3

He had 'Muchnuss'...

{yes... I know it's spelled wrong... 

but... it is... what it is... the 'correct' spelling was taken...

 so... I settled with this... 

Three years ago...

It...seemed...almost... fitting.... 

in a way...

just...a little... 'tilted'...

Kind of like the Gnarly old... Chandelier....

hanging from the tin...roof... of the rabbit hole... : )

it seems....a little 'Stronger'...

a...little...

 'Muchier'... : ) }

I have said... for Years....

 Only Angels... come through the door... of the rabbit hole.

I...swear to you... this is true. 

I...feel so Very Blessed... to have had... such... Amazing People... come... and 'Shine'... a light... on so many... dark days. 

: )

Love to ya....

Barb C.

division....

I received a note...from a dear soul... today....

and decided... it might be a good thing... to keep the simply iowa blog....

'simple'...

all... 'rabbit hole'....

I created this site...'muchnuss' a long time ago...

maybe... for this very reason.
I was shocked... when I brought it up...after three years... to find the below... post...
oh my...
How Much... can change... in three short years.

I post... a lot of personal things... on simply iowa... and...I'm sure... it must be confusing...to folks who simply want... the Old...Souls. : )

and... to see what events are coming down the rabbit hole.

'simply iowa'... has been a combination... of my journey.... there is... no separation, in my life... of work... and life.

maybe... it's time... I change that.

at least...

in writing.

I...myself... have found it very difficult... to keep them apart.... and have to keep things...simple... during events.

as I direct people to that page... from my local ads... to view images.  

This venue... may... make it easier... for all of us. : )

So...

Simply Iowa...

will be 100%

Rabbit Hole...

: )

Muchnuss...

will be 100%

'The Hatter'.

{which... is also... 'simply iowa'... there is... no separation... here.}

I write.... for therapy... always have.

It's my release... and a way... of sorting things out... in this... crazy... mad... mind.... that is always... twisting and turning....wondering... and praying.

stumbling... and...falling.

then...

hopefully... somehow.... finding my feet... once again.

I, think... it would be difficult... for some... to read.

{I...often forget... anyone...reads this...

 and... am surprised... when they quote something... I have written...

 but... have never shared, with anyone.

oh my. : ) }

Love...

to ya...

Barb C.

{a.k.a. The Hatter... }