Robots

Sipping some cold coffee on this fine SPRING DAY as the laundry is doing its thang on the other side of the house in the washing machine and dryer.  These are my ROBOTS.  

One day soon, a Dish Washer will join our ESTATE and we will officially have a Dish Washer once again.  It's been TEN years since I owned a Dish Washer!!!  10.  That's a decade.  Where did the time go?  Being this GREEN has to be note worthy.

I have missed having a dishwasher, but have managed between Husband and self to be the dishwashers that don't run on electricity, batteries or solar energy.  When the day does finally come that a mechanical dishwasher is in place...I will be so happy to have this ROBOT to praise.

My week-end didn't go as planned.  Alright with this because the Easter Ham is now resting in the fridge, dinner rolls are waiting, pies are in the freezer, eggs await boiling, instant sweet potatoes and instant mashed potatoes are on hold.  Corn, Green Beans and Baby Carrots are reserved.  Dining room is a DINING ROOM once again with a sweet Bunny Table Runner on the table.  We have a working stove, nice clean every day dishes are in the cabinets, glasses are washed, utensils polished.  EASTER is on the way and it will be my Daughter's 35th birthday.

Quickly I came up with the Easter Menu and went shopping for the goods.  Hubbs was right along with me and our day went well as we had a coffee date.  He is recovering from the auto wreck.  Replaced our lil Aveo.  Said our good-byes.  Last November we purchased an old Cadillac for a second auto so I could putz around our little town.  Since Aveo was destroyed, Husband is now using the CADDY to travel back and forth to work.  He says it's a pleasure to drive her as our economy auto was so tiny.  Almost like a TIN CAN with wheels.  

I never want a tiny car again.  Ever.  I see Smart Cars and Fiats and I cringe.  We have replaced our tiny Aveo with an older auto and I LOVE HER.  A Lincoln.  I'm praying both our vintage autos will last ten more years or longer.  We'll do our best to take care of them. 

The dryer just sounded her chime.  Be right back.  Have to get the clothes out of the drier before they wrinkle.

Some of my husband's work clothes were still slightly damp...which is fine.  They find themselves on a hanger and are allowed to air dry in the Utility room.  Think it's easier on the clothing fibers as well making the shirts have a longer life span.  TaDahh.

Finally SPRING IS HERE.  Storms always follow, but when the weather is nice...it's a pleasure.  Supposedly our weather this calendar week will be in the 60s and 70s.  This will be our Spring as we know it.  The last few years we have had HOT Junes.  The Heater will be turned down this week and we will save on the utilities.  

Electricity is suppose to go up again.  I'm not sure how I can cut back on electricity, but will sure work at it.  No TV.  No lights on until absolutely needed. 

Waiting for the outside temps to rise a tad before I go to sweep and wash the front porch off.  Hopefully by Friday, the porch will be freshened up for Easter, the beds will have fresh sheets on them and the rest of the house livable.  The Spare Room which is called the Junk Room still needs attention.  I will simply close the door when company comes and call it good.

The beautiful Master Bed Mattress Pad Cover I purchased over a week ago was returned for another one this past week-end.  I followed the laundry instructions to the T and she fell apart.  Washed on delicate.  Dried on delicate.  She went to pieces and I was dumb founded.  Huh.  Our machines are large capacity.  Think it for the BEST to air dry the next one.  These lovely mattress pad covers that are made out of fabric are getting harder to find.  So many of them are now made out of a papery fiber that I dislike.  DISLIKE.  Still looking for a Guest room mattress and box springs that are not made out of paper.  Know what I mean?

Like clock work this time of year, I begin to study up on how to boil eggs and make the best Deviled Eggs I can.  Later in the week, I'll boil some to decorate and some to eat.

BOILED EGGS...select eggs and place in metal pan.
Older eggs seem to peel easier. 

Cover the eggs with water.

Bring water to a rolling boil.

Turn heat off. 

Take pan off stove and cover with lid.

Allow eggs to sit in hot water 12 minutes. 

Transfer eggs into ice cold water.

Allow eggs to cool.

When ready, peel egg shells off 
and to your delight you will have beautiful boiled eggs that have no green ring around the yolk.

The EASTER Dinner Menu will be as follows:

Baked Ham with Apricot Brown Sugar Glaze

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Pecans

Mashed Potatoes with Ham Gravy

Baked Baby Carrots

Corn

Italian Green Beans

Fresh Green Salad

Deviled Eggs

Hawaiian Dinner Rolls with Butter

Baby Pickles

Caramel Pecan Silk Pie

Chocolate Sampler Cheesecakes

Iced Tea

Coffee with Creamer

Water

By Wednesday, I hope to have the baking, serving and dinner dishes selected and ready to go.  Napkins, Condiments, Center piece.

After this very long WINTER, I am in need of the Lord to resurrect in me more energy.  4 years after having my cancerous thyroid removed, I got discouraged.  Without a thyroid, I no longer get all the hormones a healthy thyroid produces and I got discouraged.  The Winter months played a part in the blahs, but still people need all the thyroid hormones and when you aren't getting them, there's an alteration to one's energy level.  Thankful to be alive.  Still challenged.

Even if I had a healthy thyroid, aging has challenges.  

Through-out LIFE there are challenges.  

Surprise!

Wish I had a ROBOT to clean my porch today.

I would call her ROSIE.

d

Tis Thursday

Blessings to you.

Taking a deep breath while admiring blue skies
 outside my family room window.  

Hardly a breeze.  

Temps still cold, 

but the flowers that have popped 

through the ground are a marvel.  

Taking another deep breath and thinking about the chores I have ignored.

Looking forward to this week-end where I can concentrate clearing out the spare room that houses so much stuff that needs discarded.  

Yesterday, I learned another one 
of my blogging buddies died.
Saddened.

It isn't so hard for me to thrown stuff away 
or get rid of it anymore.
Life is short.
We are so in need of a Saviour.

Tis Thursday,

d 

Home On The Range

Home On The Range 

is found outside of the small Kansas community 

of Maple Hill on Warren Road.

Front Parlour

Dining Room

Family Room

Family Room

Family Room

Stairs

Kitchen

Kitchen

Bathroom

Bathroom

Bath

Bedroom

Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Attic

Basement

We toured this house before it went on the auction block a few years ago.  After she was purchased, a complete remodel was done and is in truly wonderful condition. 

HOME On The Range is available,
d 

Spring Has Sprung

~Oh HAPPY SpRiNg~

This week ushers in SPRING.
I am beyond glad.
Our past WINTER was a longer than usual one for me and I had to deliberately think on the things of GOD that brought hope.

A friend of our's passed away, then Husband was in auto wreck that destroyed our car and another friend passed away.  With the rainy weather, it was like nature weeping. 

Thanking God that my Husband is mending and still on planet Earth for awhile longer.  Thankful.   

Dreams of Spring.

Soon our HOME windows will open and the heat will be turned off.  
Hopefully we will be in the position to use no major utility for a few months to even out our utility expenses.  That will be refreshing to the BUDGET.
 
After some mild rain and winds the past three days,
the morning sky is a beautiful shade of blue with no wind in the air.

Yesterday, Lil Miss and I went on a GOOF OFF DAY to get out of the house and celebrate SPRING coming.
ATE a delicious cupcake and went to the THRIFT STORE.
Purchased a much needed new mattress cover.  They do not give those away.  
Used a 20 percent off coupon.  If she works, she'll get washed, dried and placed on our master bed.  Should be comfortable.

Hubby and I crunched numbers late last night to see if a second-hand auto was in the forecast.  
Believe we will be getting a good second hand auto to replace our lil economy car that was destroyed close to three weeks ago.  I NEVER want another small petite auto ever again  EVER.     

Going to TOWN with Lil Miss to have LUNCH with DAUGHTER.  Later, Hubby will be taking me to pick-up a second hand auto.  THRILLED.   A wonderful way to begin SPRING.

Our week-end looks like a busy one.
LORD WILLING, we will be able to make progress where progress is needed.

SWEET SPRING TO YOU,
d

Jibber Jabbering

With a trip to the lumber yard, we began our task to replace the backyard fence.  The white wood fence we have now on the property is quickly looking unloved.  Estimating that the fence is about 9 years old, it has been a challenge to keep it looking good.  It has not aged well at all.  

A few years back, Husband rebuilt the very back of the backyard section because it looked horrible.

A huge disappointment that it curled like nothing I had seen before in a wood fence.  The section he has replaced is still looking good, but other parts of the yard aren't.  So we began our task of replacing the rest of the fence with CEDAR not white wood.  What was used was just the worst.

He'll begin this SPRING creating a different wide gate by the garage. Through out the year, I will set aside cash for a new fence altogether.  Figure by next SPRING, the funds should be there and the new fence will be made of CEDAR.  A deep breath and away we go.

Still figuring out the details for replacing our paid for auto that was destroyed March 2nd by a young woman that more than likely was TEXTING on her new phone she had.  TOTALED.  My Husband is mending from this auto accident.  Yes, we are thankful he is still alive and not paralyzed or disabled.  Very thankful.
   

One of our friends passed away this past week from complications from open heart surgery and my heart is heavy.  He was only 44.  A Husband and Daddy.  A very nice guy.  A very nice man.  The first time I saw him was at our County Fair.  He was holding a little blonde headed girl that has grown up to be one of Lil Miss's BEST FRIENDS.  He and his Wife are some of my Daughter's BEST FRIENDS. Daughter is heart broken and hasn't experienced the death of a friend before.  With lots of tears, we cry.  


His funeral will be this week and I am so sad.  He's in HEAVEN with no pain.  This isn't what I'm sad about.  I'm saddened that his Wife is without her Husband and his Daughter is without a Daddy.  So sad. 

Life passes quickly.  So fast.  Life is short with eternity being longer. This present life isn't all there is.  Praying.  Praying.  Praying.  So many have placed their trust in money, works, false gods and false religions.  Through CHRIST alone we have salvation.  For the asking.  Call on HIS name.    

Winter has been a very long one.  It will do me some good to get out of the house and go to the discount store for a few minutes. I will deliberately drive slower than usual so I can look out at the landscape that is starting to green up with SPRING.

The trees and bushes on this property are starting to show off buds.  PRAISE GOD.  It's SPRING!!!  Have to rake the left over leaves out of the flowerbeds and elsewhere on the property.  Have to.  Have plans to do so this fine SPRING-BREAK WEEK.  PORCH must get a bath and the porch furniture as well.  ALL this freshening up will lift my spirits.

HOPE your life is beautiful!

Here it is SPRING BREAK and I'm ready,
d

Better Days Ahead

SPRING is not too far off and I will WELCOME it with open arms.  Looking out the window, buds are starting to appear on the side lawn trees.  This is a encouraging sight to see as I have dreaded this extremely cold season that we call WINTER.  

HIBERNATION is the best word I can think of that comes to mind as I have stayed indoors so much this cold season.  Hibernation, but not asleep.  My nest has been neglected as I have been unable to do much.  Not a bad attitude, but dreadful side effects of having thyroid cancer.  I do my best to stay positive…still I'm being real about reality.  This is the way it is these days.

Such a long winter.  Concentrating on what is uplifting and good about life helps with the winter blahs.  A deliberate action in the mind field.  Waiting for Spring to erupt while biding my time added interest to the indoors.  

This past week-end, we laughed as we watched the movie, ALEXANDER and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day having no idea that our Monday was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day of our own.

Daughter woke up vomiting due to a horrible migraine.  She went back to bed.  Around noon I was ready to lie down and take a nap.  A power nap.  The phone rang and Hubby was involved in an auto wreck that totaled our paid off automobile.  He's alive...bent, but alive.  My favorite pair of earrings lost a crystal out of them and then another.  Time for a new pair of favorite earrings.    

A trip to Manhattan to pick Husband up and take him to the Doctor to be looked over.  Meds from the Pharmacy took longer to get so we went to look at our damaged car.  I took some pics and soon we'd return HOME.

A young lady ran her vehicle into the back of our little car with such force that the driver's seat which my husband was sitting in was broken and the ash tray forced out of the console.  The backside of the car is demolished.  No skid marks on the road, because she didn't hit the breaks.  

He is very sore today, but very much alive and not paralyzed or lying in a hospital bed.  

Our daughter said she is very glad her Dad is alive and it was Pearl that died.  Pearl is our name for our little auto that no longer has a home with us.  God will have to show us what to do about a second car.

So with all of that said…better days ahead.
d