Tea Time

I never tire of beautiful china.

Never.

May each passing day 

be better than the one before.

Wishful thinking,

d

FLUFFY WORDS

I know what I was thinking.  Better jot it down before it leaves me.  Know what I mean?

Hearing or reading an encouraging word can lift one's spirit and help with the doldrums of LIFE.  I just have a couple of problems with those that "PREACH" only fluffy words and aren't realistic about changing awkward lifestyles that condemn and create burdens that don't just vanish because you want them to.  

Multitudes teach, preach, write books, have web sites, hire out for conferences, head churches, have videos which do not share that if you want BLESSINGs in your life, you must turn from your wicked ways and embrace the clean life that God prefers.  TaDaaa.

How many times have you heard that the power of life and death is in the tongue?  They revert to only speaking positive sentences and skip deleting the awful from their day to day activities.  There may not be any mention that they should walk uprightly before the LORD…just ignore that and believe that God is on their side. 

Excuse me.  God loves you, yes He does, but He doesn't approve of all the things people do that are wicked and wrong.  He doesn't BLESS evil and wrong treatment toward others including business practices.  He can BLESS the wrongdoer after they acknowledge they are doing wrong, ask for forgiveness, mean it with having a contrite heart.  

People sometimes love to have their ears tickled and have no intentions of correcting sinful activity from their life.  No intentions at all.    

EXAMPLE:  There was a young man full of promise and talent. Very intelligent and witty.  He had the ability to make others laugh and feel great about themselves.  Weaknesses took him over and he was alright with this.  He'd rather smoke expensive cigars, down a quart of smoothe whiskey, charge his tailored clothing never intending to pay the bill, stay out all night skipping the next day's work schedule, drive drunk and weep about not having any money.  Boo Hoo.  He stayed the course.  Time passed.  He's about to go to prison for cheating the government.  

Content in his wrong doing, his momma speaks fluffy words to him about leaving the past behind and move forward.  There's no mention about learn a lesson by doing things better.  There's absolutely nothing said to him about turning from such evil, repent and walk a different direction away from death.  CHANGE.  Yes, he can be forgiven for doing wrong, but first he has got to admit he was in the wrong, repent and change.  Saying to leave the past behind you without changing will only make history repeat itself.  

FLUFFY words spoken by so many about there's a break through coming….but no mention that God doesn't like the sin you continue participating in because you like this lifestyle and don't want to change.  WON'T CHANGE.  You're about to have a break through.  Prosperity is coming.  Good things about to happen! With No mention in here that God likes it when we work.  When we're honest and don't cheat others.  No mention that you ought to keep your nose clean.  No mention that you should update your checkbook, pay your bills and honor your word.  No mention that you should live within your means.  No mention.   

Plenty about keeping a positive outlook and speak only positive things.  Plenty of this.  No mention that you need to repent and get right with the LORD…just speak positive words and these things will make their way to your door.  

Is it because people like getting things for nothing?  Is it because people like to stay in the dark believing that it's alright to stay in the dark?  

Jesus can be our ROCK and help us through difficult times and help us when we need help.  He can deliver us.  I know that God can give us FAVOR but I also know that He BLESSES us when we seek HIM, desire doing good then doing it.  When we practice His ways, He. Will. Bless. Us.

Any thoughts?
d
  

Better is the Poor Man with Integrity

PROVERBS 19: 1 through 31Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.2Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries his footsteps errs.3The foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart rages against the LORD.…

MollyAnn's Beauty Tips: The $1 Facelift

DECORATING ON THE PRAIRIE: Frills

Hello.  
Thanx for stopping by.
Smiles.  Hope your week-end was pleasant.  

I couldn't help but notice there's some trees along the interstate with 
Autumn Yellow colored leaves.
Yellow ALREADY.  

Last week the neighbor's yellow leaves made me blink twice…was I  seeing correctly?  Sign of an early Fall in JULY.

Last week's cooler temps were so welcomed and appreciated, Hubby cleaned on the Garage.  Temps this week were HOT at 104.  Short snap of super HOT temps?  I'd be alright with that as the morning temps were in the 50's last week.  Sweater weather!

The new decorative picture purchased at the THRIFT Shoppe is hanging above the piano.  My antique mirror fell and broke awhile back.  I almost cried.  ALMOST.  Finding this find to replace the mirror made a nice addition to the PARLOUR.  Hubby took care of the details and she is on the wall.

GUEST ROOM update.

She needs painted a soft ivory white.  

Soon…very soon.

Next we bought pull down shades for the Guest room.  
Hunny installed them.  The ones that had been here when we bought the house over 7 years ago were still hanging and not very well at that. 

Washed the Priscilla curtains and put them up this week-end.  

I love 'em.  

Thrilled to have frills.   

Hung some more pictures in the small Guest room.  The room has beaded board walls and pictures hang nicely on this type of wall inside our OLD STONE HOUSE.

I hated to start a paint job with the KITCHEN being torn up.  One big mess at a time.  Then I will gear up and prime and paint the Guest room.  Oh HAPPY day on the Prairie.   


I chopped off my hair really, really, really, really, really short….it looks like a PRIMITIVE HAIRCUT


….in other words homemade drama that comes from trauma when someone gets ahold of a pair of scissors anxiously cutting off the mop top.  Presto change-o…hair gone.  

Had to have Daughter touch it up in the back.  A cool haircut for Summer.  I figure in six weeks, it will be at a length that looks better.  grins.  I was tempted to dye it BLUE, YELLOW, RED, GREEN or PURPLE.  My Husband would have a fit.  A FIT.  I don't think I need this right now.  Do you?  

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES are more like it.  Daughter baked me some to cheer me up.  Chocolate seems to help.  Look at that cute yellow dish.

I have high hopes to have the house tidied before my Sister comes for a SUMMER VISIT.  I am making a grocery list and a list of places that we might go see.  Better get my M & M's.  Umm…aren't these colors like what I considered dying my hair?  Oh dear….yes they are.  Just hand me a tambourine and I'll stay out of your hair.  I have NEVER been overly adventuresome with my hair.  NEVER.  Is it time?


Hung some Family pics in the stair well.  Finally getting to it.  Will hang more as I come across them as we go through our treasures.  

Still gathering Garage Sale stuff.  Just about cracked and took all the stuff to Goodwill.  Had to talk myself out of doing this.  Think that I can find a whole lot more to turn loose of.  Centralizing the items seems to be a problem in our small cottage.  Where to go with the stuff before the sale.  The Dining room is still in an uproar due to holding the Kitchen overflow as we wait.


As we go through our old movies, we watched the 1992 PATRIOT GAMES starring Harrison Ford and Anne Archer.  I don't remember it very well.  Like watching a new movie.  Action Packed and a  t h r i l l e r.  Once again Harrison Ford is the hero and he does a SUPER HERO JOB.  Too much of a thriller for me.  Makes me nervous don 'cha know.  Awful gory.  FOR ADULTS ONLY.  

Little children should watch BARBIE VIDEOS.  I like the decorating in these.  So much PINK.  ha.  ALSO Strawberry Shortcake films.

The precious thing about going through our old videos is that we came across a 1998 video that we took of our dear friends Pat and Neil Elwell in their Victorian HOME when we were visiting about SPIRITUAL MATTERS.  It is priceless to me to be able to see them and hear their voices with laughter as we chatted.  I so miss them.  I did cry on this one.  Pat was such an encourager and a "Have you considered?" type of person.  When I entered into their HOME, time vanished.  Hours would pass and it was as if the clock stopped.  I think God so BLESSED me when Pat and I became good friends.  She asked me once what I liked best about her house.  I said to her as I was leaving, "That you are in it."  She just smiled.        

ONTO CLEANING.
Cleaning out my HOT PADs and TEA TOWELs from one of the drawers and replaced them with the BLUE WILLOW ones I got for my JULY Birthday.  I washed the old ones I had and put them in the garage sale STASH.
 
Packed up 79 pieces of my white milk glass dishes that were in the Family room Corner Cabinet.

Put BLUE WILLOW dishes in there and ran out of room for the cups and saucers. 

Ouch.  

So Daughter and I emptied the Blue Willow and switched the dishes out of the Dining room China Cabinet putting them into the Family room Corner Hutch and refilled the Dining room China Cabinet with BLUE WILLOW.  Happy campers at last.  

Company is coming for a visit and I have much to do, but my hip caused awful PAIN today and I don't know why.  I had to sit for hours and pray.  My HUSBAND took good care of me.  Took some Ibuprofen and started to feel better.  Went from not being able to lift my left knee without intense pain to being able to walk again, but my hip is stiff.  I so hope it is better on Monday.  Please.  Hobbling is doable, but not desirable.

I tell ya…there's always something to do besides DUST.  I have the Kansas Dust.  Would you like some?  I'll mail you some ASAP.  Will even gift wrap it.

May the Good Lord Bless and Keep you,
d 

Cheerios At Bedtime

So often I buy CHEERIO IMITATION CEREAL to stretch my grocery dollars.  I've had pretty good luck on getting cereal that taste good and I still call it cheerios even if they have a different name.

Tonight I ate the real McCoy.  CHEERIOS in a bowl of real milk.  I did the same last night and slept like a baby.  Many people are told not to eat before going to bed.  I have read that protein before bed WILL help you sleep better.  I agree.  So I had myself a small bowl of Cheerios with milk.  

AGAIN,
d

  

History

Cheerios was introduced on May 1, 1941 as CheeriOats.  The name was changed to Cheerios in 1945 due to a trade name dispute withQuaker Oats. Cinnamon Nut Cheerios was the first departure from original Cheerios in mid-1976. Second was Honey Nut Cheerios, introduced in 1979.

Manufacturing

All Cheerios shipped to the eastern coast of the United States and eastern Canada are manufactured at the General Mills plant in Buffalo, New York.  In 2009, a dispute developed, regarding the FDA considering Cheerios an "unapproved new drug" because of its marketing and health claims.

In January 2014, General Mills announced that it will halt the use of genetically modified ingredients in original Cheerios.

DramaMINE

Staycation Day Nine

Well….where did you go?  Staycation is officially over today and we return to normal as normal as we can. 

The weather was unseasonably cooler than a Kansas July is known to be, but it was heavenly as Hubby cleaned away.  Windows open in the house and no air conditioner necessary.  Very nice indeed.

Hubby had success in the garage.  He now has a man cave type work area with a ways to go knowing that we have many more hours to put into this project of getting organized and downsized.  I'm dazed at what we have left to do.  So to be practical, we will need to give ourselves some more time to complete going through boxes and just stuff.  He worked and worked to get his shop put together.  He succeeded.  It looks like a real workshop.  Now to get rid of all the other stuff that doesn't need to be in the garage.  It is a huge undertaking for us...but it's got to be done.

I want to downsize and be more organized.  This will be my HOBBY the next twelve months.  This time next year, we should be in better shape.  

Our sewer line backed up.  A plumber was on sight today and within an hour, he had our line open.  I stayed HOME and rested.  Too tired to do very much.  Laundry will get caught up this week.  Continued cleaning and gathering garage sale STUFF.  Wrapping dishes.  Getting ready for visitors.  

This date in history, men stepped on the moon in 1969.  I was 14 years old.  My family was on a Colorado Vacation listening to the car's radio as the giant leap for mankind took place and was broadcasted to the earth.

I just heard on television that this is National Ice-Cream Day. Wished I had known this earlier.  Ice-cream for sure.  Please mark your calendars for Wednesday being SONIC's $1 Hot Dogs ALL DAY on July 23rd.   Made a date with Hubby for meeting him there and having a real HOT DOG.  This will be ENTERTAINMENT and stretch the money at the same time. 

Praying for a wonderful week.
God Bless,
d    

Staycation Day Eight

Day Eight of Staycation was slow paced.  

Very THANKFUL.

Time to notice the Lilies.  

On the corner of our flowerbed 

are a few Lilies that are in bloom.

Their fragrance is worth taking note of.

Staycation is into the week-end.

Stayed put,

d

LUKE 12: 27

Consider the lilies, how they grow: 

they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, 

even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Staycation Day Seven

~Staycation~

Seven days already have passed and I cannot believe it.  This Staycation officially ends this Sunday then back to regular Summer hours.  I think my Husband has enjoyed staying home and working in the Garage.  He has made huge progress.  

Sunday, we'll visit about what got done and where to go from here.

Tinking about our HOME makes me HAPPY.

Glad I still have the week-end.

I met up with a small group of my friends in Manhattan to have Lunch.  We gather together about once of year and decided that we need to meet again in August.  What shall we call our selves?  We met years ago in Christian Women's Club, but the club dissolved.  A small band of us still gather.  

Susie calls this MANNA from Heaven.

I have to agree.

There's Susie, Sarah, Dottie, Nancy, Gloria and me, d.

When I moved to Manhattan in 1999, I was sorely missing my Tulsa friends.  I wasn't very happy to be relocating.  Thankful Husband had employment, but not thrilled about leaving behind my friends and my dreams that I had on the back burner.

As time would pass, I made new friends.

Each has a special place in my heart.

Heart friends.

Now so many of these fine Ladies have passed away.

I am forging head on into a new chapter of LIFE.

Gosh…it never stops.

We were talking about our friends that have died.  Susie mention that she didn't bring Joan's obituary with her and I asked her, our Joan?  She said yes.  Our Joan.  She was 72.

JOAN

    

Our mutual friend suddenly got ill, was in Hospice and died due to leukemia.  Stunned and saddened.  I didn't know until today that two months ago our friend Joan quickly passed.  

All blessed to have her as a friend.  Life is short…eternity longer.  

In a heart beat, life can change.

Joan had told me that she and her husband met in bed.

Huh?

This was her JOKE.

She and her Husband were babies at the same time, 
rested in the same crib and their Parents were good friends.  
She and her Husband grew up together and then married.  
They were in their seventies and sailed the ocean blue.  
She loved her Family, loved to SEW and delighted in being a HOMEMAKER and MOM.  She loved GOD.  A devout Christian.  I am a better person for knowing her and will miss her.

Another friend has gone on to glory.

Joan.

She had shared with me how she became a Christian.  

I will cherish our friendship and her story as I live out my life.

Our Little Group discussed the new shops that have opened, the location of the new Radina's eatery was mentioned that they thought it was on BLUE ONION….friend meant to say BLUE EARTH PLAZA.  SO when we were chatting about what should our group be called, I suggested THE BLUE ONION GROUP.  
Another friend said we could all wear blue.  

Think we have something going on here.

The Blue Onion Group was born today.

Day Seven of STAYCATION is just about over.

I hope to wrap some dishes to put away for now.

My gears are turning.

Truly, I think I am alright with downsizing 

and turning loose of more that clutters.

Blessings to you and I pray that you are well,

d

Staycation Day Six The Jack LaLanne Show - Episode 1

~JACK LA LANNE REVIVAL~

On Day Six of our STAYCATION 

Daughter gave words of encouragement and excitement about LIFE 
as she is lit about JACK LA LANNE.  

Remember him?  

She got her Jack LaLanne order in the mail yesterday and is pumped up about his easy to do exercises right in your own HOME.  NO Gym Fees, NO Gym equipment necessary, NO special high dollar shoes or special clothing required.  NO NO NO and yes, yes, yes to simple but effective exercise.  She showed us his program on YOU TUBE and it brought a lot of memories back to mind.

He is very enthusiastic and encouraging.  NOT hours on end of heart pounding exercise or pounding your body to pieces to FEEL THE BURN.  I think JANE FONDA was wrong.  She'd have body parts replaced in her OLD AGE.  Yes, the beautiful JANE had joint replacements.

DAUGHTER has a desk job and that can be hard on your body if you don't move about.

She demonstrated hand exercises for me and Hubby and ya know…it's true…they work well.  Circulation is present and I know I feel better.  YOU WILL TOO.

JACK was known to say the most important vitamins to take are Vitamin G and Vitamin F.  G is for GOD and F is for FAITH.

Daughter shared some of the hand movements with her co-worker and I think the two of them will be moving about at their stations in the near future.

I decided….YES, I will begin a morning routine when school starts up mid AUGUST.  So I must get my hands on some DVDs of JACK's.  For now YOU TUBE has some of his television programs.  

http://www.jacklalanne.com

As HOMEMAKERs, my Mom and my Mother-In-Law both watched him on 1960s television in black and white.  As a YOUNG GIRL I watched as well.  

I think the 1960's ways are calling MY NAME.  With the fast pace lifestyles of young women and Mommas, not to mention men….I believe that a revival of being more like the *Donna Reed SHOW character* that dressed lovely, stayed HOME and liked being a WIFE, HOMEMAKER and MOMMA active in her HOME and community could be helpful.  I know…i know…i know…that this was just a television program.  

Still it showed a way that was home centered with momma at home. 

A television show that women libbers would eventually protest and call unrealistic, BUT  if you have a tired body and are discouraged with the ugliness of 2014 where women and men do not know which way is up….perhaps you are tired of the way things are going and could relate to wanting a more restful way to live.

Can you dig it?

grins.

I always want to ask, dig what?

It.

Last evening, Hubby and I went on a drive in the cool of the evening and admired the beauty of the Flint Hills.  NO camera.  I should never leave HOME without it.  Back we plan to go with the camera tonight. There's just something to say about GOD's BEAUTY IN NATURE.

This afternoon is SPA TIME.  Into the tub I will soak and scrub my feet.  After that I will wash and condition my hair.  Dry and style it.  Letting it grow out again to where I will wear it up on the back of my head.  This year is a year of feminizing my thoughts, looks, home, etc.  I like being a woman.  I don't want to be a MAN.  I don't want to think like a MAN.  I don't want to act like a MAN.  I want to be a LADY.  Hello.  I rest my case.

STAYCATION.  

Getting rested.  Feeling refreshed.

Blessings to you,

d

AND NOW HERE'S JACK LALANNE:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20New International Version (NIV)

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Staycation Day Five

~DAY FIVE ALREADY~

Was up earlier today sipping coffee with cream 

in the cool of the morning with my Sweetheart.  Windows open to let the cool air in the room.  Summer Locust are buzzing.  Humming.  

Squirrels are clucking in the huge tree that's in the side yard outside the window.

With our Delilah gone, the squirrels freely invade our yard for the walnuts that they love to grab and hide for a later date.  I suppose the clucking is their love language calling others to feast at Home Haven.

  

I have seen more wildlife here on the corner lot of small town america than any other place I have lived including when we lived in the country.  Everything from birds to snakes not to mention the bugs.

Staying HOME this AM with this day beginning with nature singing a song.  I must be diligent in what I do today so my day doesn't slip away from me.  I finished writing out correspondences, but need to go to TOWN for stamps and place envelopes in the mail.  Pick up the mail, purchase a local newspaper and then to the grocery store I must go. 

Looking more like Aunt Bee all the time.

Perhaps Andy Taylor will be downtown with Opie.

Wish I had a pretty hat on my head.

May you have a pleasant and peaceful day,

d

Staycation Day Four

~DAY FOUR~

We stayed HOME.  

Slept till I woke up.  Was a day of rejoicing.

Hubby promised he'd make a Lemon Meringue Pie 

for my Birthday.

He makes THE BEST.

Our second-hand OVEN WORKS WELL.

Just a day late, but I didn't mind one bit.

Or should I say one bite.

I ate some pie.

My compliments to the Chef.

Twas more than delicious.

Happy Day,

d

Staycation Day Three

~Day Three~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. 

I got my wish.

Started out really slow paced and rested.

NO MAKE-UP.

Wild Hair and NO agenda today.  

Getting brave.

I came into this world without make-up 

and celebrated my 59th Birthday with NO MAKE-UP what soever.

A huge treat to wake up with a stove in the Kitchen 

where she belongs.

Sweet Hubby brought our second-hand MAGIC CHEF stove into the house, cleaned her and made sure she worked.

Tile will go up later, but for now the stove is OUT OF THE GARAGE.

WHOOP WHOOP.
She works.  We'll have Pizza tonight for Supper.

She should be alright while we wait for a white on white stove that we'll get later.

Hubby prided himself by moving 1000 pounds of powdered cement in bags about the Garage.  Making progress out there.  I cannot imagine moving 1000 pounds around.  Who needs a Gym.

For our meal out today, we had planned on eating Chinese only to find the Restaurant closed on Mondays.  Drove over to the Mexican Food Restaurant and she was closed.  Just as well, I had wanted to have more salads in life.  McDonald's has Salads.

Pleasant day.  
Mail call.  Some Birthday cards and a boxed gift from my Alaska friend, Maxine.  Sweet.

This is my Birthday Platter and Tea Towels.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings to you,

d

Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good
…23This is the LORD'S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25O LORD, do save, we beseech You; O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity!…