Moving

Irises along the fence.
Because they need room to grow properly some will be moved into the backyard.

We'll stay put, 
but have to move the Irises.

After the Irises bloom and fade, 

we'll move some into the back yard during the month of July.

They'll have more room to properly grow 
and decorate the yard for next year's Spring.

We've enjoyed eight years of the Irises

where they've been.  We continue to add more.

I've wanted a backyard full of pretty Irises 
so we will relocate some into a newly 
worked up flowerbed.

The Irises around the trees will stay.

The alley flowerbed will stay.

Not sure what will go along the fence.

Giving it some thought.

Blessings to you,

d

In The Purple

Heirloom Irises that have a sweet fragrance

and stay in bloom for a month or so.

PALLIDA DALMATICA

Other types of irises are nice to look at, 

but may not have the fragrant smell as the Heirloom ones.

Admiring the beauty of Spring 

in the form of tall bearded irises.

Lovely to behold,

d

The Courage To Downsize

Day 4 of working in the garage….day four.  I took a nap  in the late afternoon.  Couldn't go anymore.  We're not finished.  Made huge headway, but have a very long ways to go.  Phasing it as we go.  How can PRAIRIE PEOPLE have so much STUFF???

TINS.  I came across a box that I know my dear 'ole Dad personally wrapped individual tins in it back in December of 1991 as we prepared for a move.  I had a tin collections at the time.  As I sat to go through the box to discover what was inside a very dusty covered box, I sighed as I unwrapped a tin in very good shape.  The old newspaper holds the details as to what was going on in the Houston area at the time we were getting ready to relocate back to the great state of KANSAS.

I sat the box aside and said out loud, "I'm not ready to unwrap this."   Dad would have been in his 60s when he helped up pack our belongings.  He's now 88 and in very frail condition.  I hopefully will go through this box in the near future, but for now I cannot disturb this box of treasures that my dear Dad tended to.  I haven't missed the tins.  Inside waits a box of tins that can just wait.

Sentimental.  Emotions can run high as each box reveals items that represent a different time in my life.  I'm moving very slow as I go through the boxes deciding where to go with the items. Real slow.  We sit and breathe deeply as we are older than ever doing this thing called getting settled.

Long story short, this isn't the only move we have had to deal with after we moved into our old rock house eight years ago.  Storage units included.  I have developed the courage to downsize.

My amazing Husband.  He has far more energy than I do.  Thankful.  He has shuffled and re-stacked and shuffled and re-stacked boxes amongst other things over and over and over and over. Time to call it done.  Here we go.  

Patriotic Banners that were misplaced 6 or 7 years ago were found.  I was in prayer a few days ago and asked God to help us find these.  It has bothered me so much to have nice things that are still boxed up and I have little idea where to begin looking for them.  Well today was the day…Husband found them way up high behind other stuff in a blue tub.  In very good shape and ready to be hung for the 4th of July.  Red, white and blue.  This patriotic discovery made me smile with satisfaction and happiness. ahhhhhh.  

HATS are being taken from cardboard boxes and will be repackaged in something more suitable.  This particular one was worn while watching Mr. Selfridge on PBS.  Era appropriate. 

So many books.  If only I had a library.  Wishful thinking.  Book shelves needed.  I LOVE ME' BOOKS.  Having them out of sight did not have them out of mind.  Grievous.     

Christmas decorations...I could open a store.  Will thin this out in another phase over the Summer and early Autumn, but for now the seasonal items are being grouped together.  All on nice muscle shelves in red and green storage boxes.  Angels, Santas, ornaments, garland, trees, Nativity Scenes, lights, snowmen.  

Dishes, dishes, dishes.  These will find their way to the basement after shelves are placed there.  Material, old clothing, records, pottery, dolls, stuffed animals, tools, glassware, boxes, boxes, boxes.  Childrens' keepsakes…this one made my heart sing.  Overjoyed.  Papers, papers, papers.  Cooking and baking items.  Seasonal items.  Etc.

A blue trunk which holds greeting cards that I have saved through the years was dusted off and brought into the house.  Inside the trunk were individual boxes for various holidays and events.  One loose card was read.  From one Grandma to us about the death of my other Grandma.  Caused me to pause and remember well.

Another marked box for my daughter held her childhood cards.

Now to find my Tea pots.  

It's a mystery where they are.

A mystery.

As we decide what to do with it all, I think we need to have a garage sale and take more "STUFF" to the thrift stores.  Okay.  Will do.  Say good bye to the clutter.  Junk to the trash.  It was hauled away.  Thank you.

This is something else.

I think I'm worn out,

d 

ps
All the free Kansas dirt you want is available.  Just let me know and I can mail you some.   

Jibber Jabbering With Mister Wilson, Mary Poppins and Mr. Pentecost

Hello BELOVED!
Hope you are having a sweet day.

Hubby and I are now Mr. and Mrs. WILSON because Dennis the Menance lives across the street from us.  Hubby gets a tad bit irritated (CRANKY) when the boys across the street play hardball with our cars parked on the street to where their hardballs can hit our autos.  I told him we have to get on with life.  It doesn't do a great deal of good to be so irritated at young boys playing in their own yard.  We just have to move our cars to a safer out of reach place. 

I am an older woman now and for sure matronly.  I will rejoice because I never thought I'd live to be THIS AGE.  Almost 60.  Lordy, lordy that's old.  Not a spring chic anymore and I will be COMFORTABLE  in my skin.  Know what I mean?  60 is NOT the new 40.  I protest.  We should walk in truth and wisdom in which we know the difference.  Have some respect for the elderly will ya.

I've done a lot of living to be this old.  Amen.  A lot.  I don't want to go through life trying to compete with 19 year olds.  The modern woman I am not and I will rejoice.   

Putting on my work clothes so I can get really dirty in the garage to continue the task of going through stacked boxes to see what's inside of them.  

Should be like CHRISTMAS.  Finding surprises in boxes as we get better organized and down size.  Walking down Memory Lane has been a high light.  SOmetimes rather emotional.

Grey skies have returned.  The weather is cool at 63 degrees and well suited for working in a garage.

I learned that even the rough 'n tough vinyl storage boxes break down in texture and can get gummy feeling on the outside.  I have a ton of these and it time to thin them out.    

Physically and mentally, I HAVE TO DOWNSIZE to fit into our present location.  A thinning out is necessary along the way.  My time has come.  sigh.  sniff.  sigh some more and be realistic.  A person can hold onto much stuff when knowing how to pack and stack.  Still…I need to continue thinning out and being real….I don't need so much stuff to hang onto.

THIS IS NOW MY HOBBY.  More to life than hanging onto stuff.  Forgiving myself.  Amen.

As the week comes to an end with Memorial Day on this coming Monday, school let out with full time child care beginning for the Summer Break.  I will have to pace myself and write out a wish list of places to visit with Lil Miss as we celebrate school being out.  Granny Nanny placed her special hat on once again.  I call it my MARY POPPINS persona as a granny nanny.  I am determined. 

I started my walking on a tread mill program and want to work my way back up to walking 30 minutes a day Monday through Friday.  This will hold hands with eating more salads and vegetables.  

Memorial Day will be celebrated on Monday….haven't heard much about Pentecost Sunday before Memorial Day.  Shouldn't Pentecost be as well celebrated as Christmas and Easter?  I think so.  What would we do if we didn't have the Holy Ghost living inside of us?  It would be a very sad world indeed.

TRUE STORY: I KNOW GOD HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR….years ago when we lived in Jenks, Oklahoma, I was praying…Dear God, Please send a man of God to my door. Please send a man of God to my door. Time passed. We were visiting churches at that time to help us decide which church we might have as our HOME CHURCH. Many churches send the welcome wagon to your door after you've visited their church for the first time. We had visited a little Church in the area and a man from their church showed up at my door to welcome us with a loaf of bread. His name was Mr. PENTECOST. Mr. PENTECOST paid a visit to our home. grins. In all seriousness…Pentecost Sunday is May 24th. This is one visitor all homes need a visit from. God's true spirit makes all the difference.

Well better run, Hubby just got up from his power nap and away we shall go to the garage. 

Glad you stopped by,
d   

Dancing In Her Footsteps

DANCE lessons plus costumes

equals Dance Recital.

A joy to watch.

Grandma enjoyed the entire evening.

Ice Cream followed and I had no complaints,

Granny d Nanny

The Home - Dr. John R Rice

Spring Flowers On The Prairie

The first signs of our PRAIRIE SPRING showed up

when greenery popped through the brown soil in late WINTER.

Early SPRING blossoms manifested

Tulips, Daffodils, Grape Hyacinths 

and more.

A teaser of what was to come.

The beds needed weeded.  

Nature's trick on being imperfect

and needing extra attention.

The Lilac Bushes begin to produce buds 

that matured and grew into fragrant blooms.  

Soon following pursuit were the long stems 

that support Iris blooms.

Red Bud Trees wakened with pink buds 

that opened into blossoms galore

along with other flowering trees of white flowery blossoms.

Such elegant beauty.

The Star Of Bethlehem flower quietly appeared

low on the ground just before the Irises sprung forth.

Our Irises are showing off their glory

one bloom at a time.

While fragrant Peonies pleasantly puff open.

Applaud the climbing Roses small in stature,

but mighty with nature's parfum.

Deep breathing required.

With the cool fresh air and the birds singing, 

I am so fond of this time of year called SPRING.

Splashes of color here and there.

My favorites are the Lilac Bushes, Roses and I r i s e s.

Childhood favorites have followed me into my adulthood.

As I age into a Matronly LADY,

I say with confidence...I  l o v e  Irises.

They have added such joy to my SPRING 

after a long Winter filled with mental exercises 

deliberately about the good things in LIFE.

BLESSINGS to you!

Thank you for stopping by,

d

Beautiful SPRING.