Need Some Rest

Turning loose of THINGS has mixed emotions attached to it.  As the nice lady and her neighbor loaded up my old freezer to take to a different location, I stared as if it were no big deal to watch their trailer disappear behind the lilac bush.  Like saying good-bye to an 'ole friend, my freezer disappeared for good.  I'll not be storin' me tupperware in ye no mo no how.  She was so happy to have come by our place to take a piece of us with her.  Sigh.  It's time to grow up and admit this appliance is not a person.  I can be happy for this LADY as she has a great freezer to add to her estate.

I want to thin down and downsize so this must be what I have to do to be as I inch my way toward retirement and a different phase.  I shake a bit as I cannot see the end from the beginning.

Last night as we carried the last of what was going to our garage for a Saturday sale, the night became a rash of activity to get the display floor looking inviting to those we did not know who'd be coming in the morning.  It's a wait and see where this all goes kind of event.

It poured that wet stuff called rain making the walk between the house and the detached garage a soggy trip.  Slip sliding away.  

We stayed in the garage sweating as we arranged the items we wanted others to carry away so in the morning we wouldn't have to deal with later in the week.  I marked the last of the treasures around 2:30 am.  Sleep wouldn't come as my muscles ached.  I was having trouble switching gears to relax into a deep slumber.  I decided I'd go ahead and get back up out of my comfortable bed and fix early morning coffee.

Washed some dishes and made a few signs writing on flimsy poster board.  Poster board aint what it use to be.  Shucks...why is that at the dollar store?  Even the sizes have shrunk.  I managed at four in the morning to remember my address where I hang my hat and call HOME for letting others see the direction in which to go.  The signs.  Black fat marker and white poster board make alright posters to draw attention.

The rain poured throughout the night and we wondered if it would rain all day.  Here in Kansas you never know if the skies will be powder blue or misty grey.  Never.  It can take you by surprise and then some.

In a few hours strangers would hopefully be showing up at our garage for a miniature SHOPPE.  Not sure how it would all go...we were ready by 8.  Sale started at 9.  Chilly morn so hot coffee was in order.  

In short order people began to stop and shop.  Mr. Selfridge was no where to be found to tell us there are x number of days until Christmas and the customer is always right.  

We finished for the day at 4 and I needed a nap as Lil Miss watched Minions with her Grandpa.  I could no longer stay awake.  Think that sleep will be sweet tonight as I stretch out under the quilt as the fan blows over me and I hear the buzz of quiet over power me.

Which reminds me that I need to wash the sheets and comforter this coming week.  All the rooms in our HOME need a human touch to tidy them.  As we were going through the rooms gathering things to let go of, it was like a move was taking place.  What a season we are messily in.  If only I could work faster or had a crew to help.....I wondered if my Family room will ever look like it should or stay in a constant frenzy.  It's a mess around here.  Every dear room.  Shut my eyes and pretend it's not so.

I am in disbelief at this.  It's not a bad dream that I will awake from.  If it's going to become orderly once again I'll cross my fingers and be proactive in this endeavor.  Muscles and sweat.  Work awhile.  Sit awhile.  More boxes are needed for loading things to carry away.  

This week I will try like heck to make quick work out of this.

The trees are lush green as SPRING sprung with leaks of moisture.  We went from smoky air due to the control burns in the Flint Hills that make me ill to SPRING rains that wash the environment with hope that there will be better conditions to admire the flowers in bloom.

I hope to be better at keeping a clean HOME if I should live another year.  I can see my HOME in my mind as I close my eyes to sleep how I'd like it to actual be with HOPE that this will become a reality.  Every night I say my prayers and then start daydreaming of walking through the rooms envisioning all that I'd like to accomplish.  It puts me to sleep.  

A pleasant thing to think about when the world is so chaotic.

Some have thoughts of where to vacation, who they want for President, how to make ends meet, share a good work or how to create the next delicious food dish to feed a starving family on a shoe string.  Winning the lottery or how to get a raise in a career that doesn't seem to notice that it's bedtime.  Lifting concerns to our heavenly Father about every thing imaginable. 

I draw a conclusion that we all need rest and I'm ready.

God bless,
d 

And The Thunder Rolls

Hello.   

As I type this post thunder boomed as if a bomb were dropped outside of town.   The whole house shook.  Kaboom.  Today has been an active storm day with the tornado sirens sounded at least three times this evening as I gathered items that are being kicked out of our ESTATE.

Lightning flashes while I count the seconds before the thunder rumbles in the distance.  I've heard that the number of seconds you count before the thunder rattles tells you how many miles away the lightning was.  Pretty accurate.  Folklore.

I sometimes wonder if any place in the United States doesn't have natural disasters.  I think not.  Here we have tornadoes, horrible thunder storms, high winds, hail, earthquakes, flash floods, draughts, heavy smoke, what else comes to mind....blizzards, ice storms, snow, bitter cold winters...mercy.  

The heavy rain tonight beat the iris blossoms down that were beautifully showing off their majestic colors.  Sigh.   There are more that will bloom, but time will tell if the blooms open when the weather isn't so violent.  SO many tornadoes tonight.  Hail and wind. 

This is a busy week for me.  BUSY.

My energy level was high today as I plowed through the HOUSE multi-tasking.  Seldom do I have days with this much energy.  I'm thankful I had a very productive day.  Hope more are like this.  Emptying an upstairs closet of things made me sweat.  

Through out the day I worked up a sweat, took time to sit down to cool off, return to working and stretched nearly standing on my head.  It's moments like this that my phone rings.  If I'm standing on my head why on earth do I need to go to a gym to exercise?

STANDING ON MY HEAD while cleaning is so much more affordable and I can do this just about anytime I want.  ha.  On the serious side, yes, I was practically standing on my head getting things out of the closet.  As I carried large vinyl storage boxes, I decided I need to downsize these as well.  Smaller boxes are easier for this old lady to carry from one room to another.   I use to think that the long thin vinyl boxes were great for under the bed storage.  They are, but not for carrying.

I don't really want to store these under the bed boxes under the beds.  This house collects dust under the beds so quickly before I get to clean them.  There are dust bunny farms under my beds.  Even though the bunnies are so quiet and don't eat much I don't want to expand this enterprise.  

As I group my dolls that are not in the curio cabinet, I've had to rethink if I should keep these jewels or not.  Thinning them out has been a rather personal activity.  Not very good at thinning out my dolls.  Because.  It's personal.  Still a little girl in this antique body of mine that LOVES dolls.

I have two large curio cabinets in the Parlour.  One holds figurines and glassware.  The other holds dolls.  There's not room to put all the dolls in there.  If I take the taller dolls out and replace a glass shelf I might be able to squeeze in more tiny dolls.   Something to think about. 

This past week-end Husband and I worked on the garage again making room for a SPRING SALE. I'm like a little kid excited that Santa is coming in the morning.  I want these sales to be over and done with so we can move onto the next thing we must do.    My patience is being tested.  Dodging obstacles through the house is great exercise, but tiring.  Soon.  All gone.  A memory of being overwhelmed by this.

Tonight we held our breath as it hailed pea size hail.  Others in the area got tennis ball size.  Said some prayers.  Having our autos out of the garage during hail storms isn't what we want, but our sales items are taking up the inside of the garage.  Like a little store.

The sooner we turn loose of these things, the sooner we can park our cars back in there.  We're working at doing the right thing by downsizing and to think our cars might get hail damaged doesn't rest well.  

As I continue to thin out and de-clutter, it is a work.  A job getting this done.  I have to remind myself that I had cancer, my husband had cancer, babies were born, a son got divorced, a daughter got divorced, LIFE happened and we were not able to keep up with all that was necessary in order to have a house/garage be HOUSE BEAUTIFUL.  CLUTTER HAPPENS.  Ummmmm maybe I should print a bumper sticker with this saying on it.

CLUTTER HAPPENS.

Soon and very soon the extra evereverythang will be gone.  It will be refreshing to say the least.  I think I'm the type of person that likes everything in it's place and a place for everything.  It's not like that around here.  YET.  I'm praying for guidance as to what to keep and what to get rid of.

Because we had tornadoes in our area, I opened the cellar door in case we must seek shelter, turned on a light, placed the flashlights by the door with slip on clogs ready to be put on if we needed to go downstairs.  I could see more boxes at the bottom of the stairs waiting for us to carry them out of the house forever.

I do believe I will be alright getting these boxes out of the cellar and being done with them.  Before SUMMER comes.  Sure will try.  The upstairs is coming together as I group things and get better acquainted with what I forgot I had.  Forgot altogether that I even had these things.  Oops...can I forgive myself?  I need to.  FORGIVENESS.  I will ask with a contrite heart.

Not bragging...I have thinned out books, books, and more books, movies, movies, and more movies, musical tapes, clothing. Clothing, clothing, clothing and more clothing, make-up, nail polish, knick-knacks, dolls, dishes, papers, papers, papers, papers and more...this is a season for de-cluttering and being less burdened by STUFF.  It's starting to be easier to turn loose of so much.  LORD KNOWS I have the stuff.  

I have saved greeting cards for years.  I believe that after I get caught up with so much of this de-cluttering that I will go through them and only keep the ones from Moms and Dads, brothers and sisters, children, grands, Aunts and Uncles.  I will have to find someone who collects old greeting cards for crafts.  Perhaps they will be able to create something worth while out of them.  Shall see.    

I have two cloth covered clothing racks with zippers that have been holding coats, old clothing, jackets, bedding.  I think I can clear out one of these for now and do away with the rack.  This is another challenge that I need to take on.  To clean up what I call the SPARE ROOM I have to clear out the room of most everything in there.  The spare room became a junque room.  I'm not sure how fast I can do this.

This room was like a large closet.  There were two metal racks in the center of the room plus these cloth covered racks.  Last year I emptied the racks and removed them from the room.  Check off the list.  I've made progress, but the room is still so full of this and that that I have a long ways to go.  GULP.

THOUGHTS are thunked.

I lit the little artificial candle that sits on top of a small pile of old books that are sitting on top of our pencil desk.  I added a pair of my son's childhood glasses that he wore many moons ago.  As I go through the kids' memorabilia I came across this pair of glasses.  They have now been taken out of hiding and placed in a place of honor as part of the decor.  

The thunder has died down.  Hope it doesn't erupt again during the night hours.  So many tornadoes do so much damage during the night.  AWFUL.  I just hear some gentle rain outside the walls for now.  We need the rain.  Not floods or tornadoes.

I hope this isn't the quiet before the storm.

With all the natural disasters taking place, have you ever wondered if God wants us to focus more on HIM and not put so much importance on things/STUFF?  I do.  I like my stuff, but I don't want to worship it.  I can appreciate it, but not adore it.  I believe that it is well with my soul to downsize and have fun while doing this overwhelming task for an old lady.  If I should live to be a 100 I sure don't want to be going through hundreds of boxes wondering where this all came from.  I don't want to be going through closets and drawers, emptying boxes and boxes.  I don't want to be doing what I am presently doing in 5 years.

I hope I can continue to get better organized and downsized.

My Mom loves clothes.  Her little apartment has two bedroom closets and a hall closet.  She told me that they are crammed full.  She'd like my sister and I to downsize for her.  I'm not sure we can.  I told her to start by putting all the FALL and WINTER items in one closet and all the SPRING and SUMMER items in another.  That's where she can start.  The hall closet should strictly be for coats and jackets.  Fold the sweaters.

She often buys very good quality clothing for a dime at the local THRIFT SHOP.  She grew up in the Depression Era and I know that she had very little clothing as a child.  Somehow this cramming her closets comforts her.  I understand wanting to be comforted.  Having too much stuff isn't going to cure hoarding.  It isn't going to fill a void that only God can fill.  I know.  I have to admit, I am a collector and I collect way too much.

I am believing that the Lord has helped deliver me from this for I have prayed about downsizing and asked for forgiveness for buying so much that I really didn't need.  I can live a very comfortable LIFE without this clutter.

Can I have a witness?
Thank you.
God does answer prayer when it is in HIS will for you.

Blessings and here we continue,
d





 

Church Pew With Function

Husband moved the freezer over toward the front of the garage.  For being 20 years old, she still runs and isn't badly bunged up.  She wasn't plugged in so I opened the door surprised that the inside of her smelled as fresh as it did.  She was almost completely clean and needing little cleaning.

We'll be selling her at our Estate Sale and if she doesn't vanish, she'll be held over for the City-Wide Garage Sale.

As I was polishing her, I thought I don't really want to turn loose of her as I waited along time to get her in the first place.  We seldom had her full of frozen goods and she hadn't been on duty for years.  When you use your freezer to store tupperware it's time to lighten the load.

So we shall.

Our original 9 foot solid oak Hillsboro, Kansas Mennonite Church pew with full length RED cushion was wiped down and oiled in preparation to sell.  There's a plaque on the back of her that says this pew is reserved for parents with young children.  I will miss her as she has kept us company for over 20 years.  If she doesn't sell I begged my husband to cut her down and make her into a smaller version to have in our Estate.  She'd be more manageable being smaller.

Some pieces are meant to be.

I went through my stash of pictures and picture frames deciding what to get rid of.  Boxes.  It isn't with ease that one can walk through the house as much is stacked in boxes to thin out our estate.  We look more like hermits than civilized beings.  It's a wild world around here.

We have to work hard and furious so we're ready.  Gathering items from various places in the house for a sale will require muscle and sweat.  Many items are upstairs and will need to be brought down stairs and carried to the garage.  I said yes that we'd sell a upright chest.  I emptied her.  The lady under garment items have found there way to Grandma's Lingerie Chest.  I like this and am happy I had a chest of drawers to place my clothing in.

My poor 'ole Dining room has been filled with many boxes and racks while we have lived here.  She's not always a Dining room.  The shock of it all.

Downsizing.  Thanking God that we will recoup some of the money it took to purchase all these wonderful items we have collected over the years.  We have to turn loose in stages.  In order to get this HOME in order, we have to do this.

Our Kitchen is almost completed.  Then we'll lay a new tile floor in the Powder room.  We'll paint our Bedroom a nice Cotton Blossom white, move onto creating a larger bathroom out of one of the small bedrooms and reclaim the seasonal closet that is presently the bathroom.

I am beyond ready to have these projects finished.  It has been really difficult to wait.

We will forge ahead, enjoy LIFE.  I will continue to empty vinyl boxes that are in our cellar over the Summer months.  Tidy all the upstair rooms and eventually thin out the dishes I have collected for years.

It helps me to blog about these task as it helps me to process the details.

Gaining momentum,
d

E.T. Phone HOME

Some more clothing went on the clothing rack.  This week-end I'd like to go through my husband's closet and see what can go away.  

Ongoing.  Came across some porcelain dolls in storage tubs and have to decide which ones to keep.  My doll collection is shrinking. Dealing with it like a pro.  Surprises me.  Also my dishes are disappearing.  Well hello.  Stacked boxes in the garage are vanishing.  Praise the Lord.  Thank you. 

Wrapping childhood memorabilia for my children for their 40th birthdays.  The wrapped gifts go back into the vinyl storage tubs where the items have been for so many years already.  

I have moaned with emotion as I take each item and remember to a day gone by.  This saying good-bye is difficult.  We have begun our inching toward retirement  Making decisions as to what to keep and what to turn loose of.  

Doing this in phases.  Turning back the clock I cannot.  

A ceramic bank of E.T. that I made for my son when he was a little boy in the 80s was wrapped in a 1994 newspaper.  Another move took place.  Still in great shape as I know E.T. phoned HOME.  Over 20 years since I saw this creature.  He was still as ugly as ever.  So ugly he is cute.  

An old baseball that was signed by the Ball players was gift wrapped with the hint PLAY BALL written on the package.  I think my son will guess this one.  I'm hoping to have these gifts all wrapped by the end of next week.  Then I'll start in on my daughter's stash of memorabilia that morphs into gifts that will return to their rightful owner.

A little here and a little there.

The day flew.  Blue skies and all.  SPRING is in the air as the Irises are blooming.

Looking at last year's pictures of irises admiring how pretty they were.  Splashes of brilliant color about our yard, along the sidewalk fence and at the base of a couple trees.  Also the front yard flowerbed has some majestic blooms.  Back behind the alley are surprises.  These came in a KSU grab bag a few years ago.  Hubby planted them and we waited to see what colors they would be.  Almost like CHRISTMAS.  Loved this.  These are the type of surprises I like.  

They need thinned out and hope to get to that this SUMMER after they have faded.  Before that happens we will write with marker on their leaves what color the irises are and type.

Up the street some neighbors have golden yellow blossoms which I think I would like to own some for myself.  They are like sunshine brightening my day.  When there is room for the plant to spread out they display so nicely.  Next time we transplant them, I hope they will be given enough room to spread out and be even more beautiful.

Beautiful...I fell in love with Irises while living here the last 9 years.

There's so much about this place that I sure do like.  I have fond memories here.  My small town america experience has had some challenges in which I have had to adjust to a different way of doing things.  

As we inch our way toward retirement, we continue to downsize, get better organized and de-clutter.  Some things are very sentimental and I think this is alright, but don't need so much to be attached to.  

I have my doll collection, books, magazines, teddy bears, pretty dishes, childhood keepsake, and pictures that I like to surround myself with.  It is on my mind to downsize.  This is necessary and desired.  

I made a list today of things I know we can get rid of right away.  This drama continues.  It takes some effort to deal with these items.  We will phase these things out as we turn loose of them.  Round two will take place after we have dealt with these items.  This is a job, but I don't want to make a career out of this.  Perhaps by the time my dear Husband retires we will be completely de-cluttered.

There is no shortage of stuff to purchase for this seems to make the world go round.  I think I will be content to turn loose of so much stuff.  It is a great estate that has to be streamlined.

I wish I were already finished.  This is a work.  

Husband found out that his Father has lung cancer.  Still waiting for results on collarbone biopsy.  Praying for him.  Life on Earth can be very short.  I want my days here on Earth to be more relaxed ones with time to read God's word and pray.  Listen to beautiful music.  Sew.  Decorate. Get my household chores done quickly so our HOME is tidy and refreshing to be in.

It's a very long story about why we have been estranged from my Husband's Father.  Slowly the relationship is warming.  Sometimes LIFE isn't a piece of cake as some would say.  Family dynamics seems to constantly change.  Not always for the better.  This was a difficult pill to swallow.

With having had cancer myself, I slowed way down and fell way behind on keeping a tidy HOME.  The yard needs work.  Papers need burned.  Rooms need de-cluttered.  Playing catch up is a lot harder than I want to admit.  Gotta keep on keeping on.  

When we downsize even more, de-clutter, have more order....I will rejoice even more than I am to have a HOME in which to rest, sleep, think, dream, groom, wash laundry, prepare meals and eat.  

Instead of phoning HOME, I actually went to the Town my Parents live in to see them.  Attended my Mom's 84th Birthday Party.  She has much energy.  Dad's so frail.  He can hardly walk, talk and know what he is doing.  My Dad has faded.  Mom grieves.  

I was able to ask her what she will do if Dad gets worse.  She replied she didn't know.  We eventually got around to talking about funerals.  She told me their funerals are paid for and I asked her if this was by the government.  She was a tad bit snarky and told me no.  We've paid for them.  She always calls my Dad Daddy.  Daddy picked his coffin out.  They have their grave plot and tombstone.  This I knew about, but not the funerals.  I told her I'd come over again and take pictures so I know which ones they bought.  I will ask for a receipt from the funeral home as to avoid any hiccups when the time shall come.  

Mom is 84 and Dad 89.  Seriously this is a matter that should be in order.  With my Father-in-law having cancer, with us having had cancer, with too much out of order....we have to get our estate in order quickly.  There's a drive in us to get this accomplished.

I know that it is best to have one's Estate in order as you go.  I believe we truly did 20 years ago after going through so many old papers and notebooks full of order.  When the boxes are gone through, pitched, regrouped, we will breathe easier.  

We worked really hard in the garage all day making preparations for an Estate Sale.  What doesn't go will be sold at the City Wide Garage Sale the next week-end....if there's much left over, then we will decide what to do next.  

As we called it a night entering into our HOME, I plunked some artificial bright RED tulips in the front porch urns.  From the street I have curb appeal with FAKE FLOWERS until real geraniums are planted in them.  Bright yellow daffodils went into a metal watering can that sits on our porch.  I found a large box of artificial flowers in the garage as we uncovered a magnitude of I FORGOT WHAT WAS IN THAT BOX.  

Ever had one of those days?  

Blessings,
d

Gosh Golly Gum

My head is spinning to say the least.  

This month has been a game changer.

APRIL FOOLs DAY...
Cleaned out garage of 9 years of boxes that needed attention.
They've been on hold for so long.
Items taken into house to where house is a c.o.m.p.l.e.t.e.
m.e.s.s.
Difficult to walk through the dining room and the family room.  
It'll take some time to organize.  Like another move.
As we sat in our work jeans and sweat in a horribly messy house...Daughter was on a picnic and got engaged!
The engaged couple came by to show us the ring and make this announcement.
Flint Hills on fire.
Smoke so prevalent that it was coming into our home burning our eyes and causing asthmatic coughing.
Daughter's 36th Birthday.
We were told that there would be no long engagement...Wedding next week.
SAY WHAT? Next week.
Shopped for clothing for her wedding.
Shopped for wedding gift.
Shopped for clothing for wedding.
Shopped for clothing for wedding.
Whirl Wind preparations made for Honeymoon Cottage.
Whirl Wind preparations made for Wedding.
5 o'clock Wedding on a windy day other wise beautiful.
So HAPPY for the couple.
Pray marital blessings for them.
DID THIS REALLY HAPPEN?
Almost like they eloped...it happened so quickly.
She got her ...and then suddenly.
SUDDENLY.
Ate Chinese for supper and can hardly believe my Daughter is married.
Hubby downloaded Wedding pictures.
Babysat Lil Miss.
Went to bed late and got up early at 5:30AM to pack for quick trip to Saint Louis for Grandparents Day at Grandson's school.
Drove the distance arriving early for Grandparents Day at School.
Went to Church, Book Fair, ate delicious ice cream and tour of Grandson's classroom.
Met up with Son, had supper and fell asleep on his sofa.
Watched Grandson's after school activity.
Week-end in St. Louis.
Said our good-byes.  Hugs.
Toured the Campbell House Museum.
Started HOME.
Drove HOME in the rain.
Darkness.
HOME.
Finished up the TAXES.
Started going through more boxes.
What a month.
I'm tired.
Can you blame me?
d

TWO DRESSES

Welp....I stand to be corrected.  I took it sitting down though.  You can teach an old dog new tricks if the dog be me.

THIS WEEK, we will be finishing up the INCOME TAXES....my husband and I have two very distinct ways of doing things.  He's the kind of CHRISTMAS SHOPPER that waits until CHRISTMAS EVE to go get gifts for others.  I'm the type that shops through-out the year looking for bargains to fit the budget.

Not saying I'm better at this sort of thing, but it is my thang.  Perhaps that's why I do the CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.  grins.  I am my Husband's Social Secretary.  I represent him.

Waiting til the midnight hour to drop the IRS income tax papers in the mailbox drives me nervous.  I explain to my Husband this, but it keeps happening.  This is like living on the edge and I HATE THIS.  

Over the week-end I went shopping for a new SPRING DRESS in just my size.  I found a pretty one at Dillards, tried it on and sighed.  My thinning down the wardrobe at HOME has not thinned down my body.....imagine that.  I looked at myself in the mirror and went into SHOCK.  

Dear Mrs. Scruggs who had a very petite figure and I worked with while in HIGH SCHOOL told me she always looked into the mirror to check her figure out.  NOT FOR VANITY.  She's one CHRISTIAN LADY that I have admired through the years.  She was always colored coordinated even carrying an umbrella that matched her color theme.  The inside of her auto was spic and span clean and her lovely small house was HOME BEAUTIFUL TIDY.  

She shared with me about her childhood of having two dresses.  One for school and one for church.  There she stood standing and working in the Women's Department of JCPenney the head associate.  Every hair in place as she always looked so well put together because she was well put together.  The LORD JESUS helped her have balance, beauty and grace.

AS I AM 60, Husband and I are kicking it around as to what we should do in all areas of our lives.  I continue to thin out our clothing occasionally replacing items with new ones.  This is where the new SPRING DRESS came into being.  I will wear it to Spring and Summer Weddings, Graduations and Church.  I can no longer get into my other dresses.  It's  upsetting to me as my body continues to morph into the OLDER WOMAN with no thyroid. 

Tonight we will purchase a new white shirt for Husband.  He tried on a pair of slacks that we both forgot he had.  Fit him nicely.  Belt, shoes and socks are present.  His white shirts he has now need dyed to a darker color for next FALL and WINTER.  The under arm stains will be disguised when dyed and he'll have two new looking shirts to wear for a while longer.

I'll be in the closet later today going through my shoes to see if I need a new pair or not.  I have most of my shoes in plastic shoe boxes that are neatly stacked in the closet.  

My children's KEEPSAKES that I will be keeping have seriously been thinned down and are in sweater boxes in the closet.  One box per child.  Each child is getting 40 of their childhood memorabilia items when they turn 40.  Last June my oldest Son received his 40.  It was such fun to see his reaction as he opened each gift wrapped item.  I had written a clue on the package as to what was inside the box.  He did well guessing what it was.  

Last year when we were going through the garage to clean and organize, we took into the house large tubs that held our children's childhood things that they have left behind at HOME and we have hauled around with us through the years, because I was sentimental that way.  It has helped me to pull a few items that I will keep for a few more years that only means something to me as a MOMMA and PARENT.

The vinyl tubs are hidden behind the sofa as I leisurely pull an item out to box up to gift wrap.  The wrapped presents go back into the oversized tub waiting to be given back to our children.  

With going through so many boxes that were in the garage, I came across so many things that make me weepy as I go down memory lane.  I have to do this so I can progress to being an old woman that is fitter in her walk of LIFE.  My emotional muscles are not rock solid.  All this emotional exercise has me wailing while I am going through the CHANGE OF LIFE right a long with turning loose of so much.  HORMONES are howling as I wail.  Then there's the episodes of sweating that prevail.  

THAT OLD WOMAN I saw in the Department Store mirror LOOKING BACK AT ME will continue LIFESTYLE CHANGES.  Walking on the tread mill will start up again, I hope.  Eating more veggies and drinking protein drinks.  Praying.  Quiet times while sippin' coffee and just thinking. 

We had a huge pile of trash that was hauled away.  Two car loads of stuff were taken to THRIFT SHOP.  The next round is to continue thinning out and letting go of more things.  We're thinking about having an auction.  Shall see about this.  An Auction.  I have attended auctions, but never had one.  Another step in being better organized and living a more carefree LIFE that would benefit our souls.

Are you where you want to be?
Are you taking small baby steps in your walk of life or jumping up and down in frustration?
I'm sitting down to be corrected.
Thinking through many options and think it best to pray, think and pause.

Would you be content to just have two dresses?
 I can't say that I would, but having two dresses that fit would be better than a closet full that don't.
Amen.

Sweet Blessings to you,
d 

Night Time Ritual

A tall glass of cold milk and graham crackers top off night time pills.  This ritual is part of our night time agenda.  It has become a HABIT that's a ritual around 9 o'clock.  Did I ever think we'd be such old fogies?  No, but we are.  

Like a spring rain that gently falls outside,  I welcome this nightly ritual.  It would be wonderful to have a rainfall after the windy and smoky week we have had here in my corner of the world.  Small Town America was seriously damaged by fire burning down a barn, a nunnery, and smoke damaged so many homes and businesses.  

On Monday and Tuesday the inside of our HOME was smelling of smoke and burning our eyes, causing asthmatic coughing.  Tuesday was Daughter's 36th Birthday as we sat and could hear a multitude of sirens blaring in the air as she blew her birthday candles out.

As we drove the town, streets were blocked off by police cars and firetrucks as fires were fought.  The fires died down and rain would fall during the night.  We woke to clearer air.  I believe now that breathing all the smoke caused a migraine and migraines are not my friend.  Not sure what is burning when the flint hills are on fire and the smoke is everywhere.  

The Firefighters were so very busy battling the flames.  Small Town America changed this past week as many watched the fires rage and devour the structures.  

The next day I stopped by a local Thrift Shoppe and purchased such a pretty candy dish with lid.  Only $2.00.  A small white vase caught my eye as I thought the 50 cent price was an attractive feature.  Home she shall go with me.  I sat for a few minutes and thumbed through a Children's Book written to rhyme.  Slightly penciled marked by a child, I read the sweet poem about Jonah and the Whale.  Only 40 cents.

I was in the kind of mood to drive through the City Park and rest.  The fountain peacefully sprayed in the pond as I talked to God about past hurts in my life.  I do have a few and they sometimes come back to haunt me.  

A young momma with her camera was snapping pictures of a little girl wearing a cloth hat and carrying a teddy bear.  She surely captured some beautiful pictures of the young child that began to cry as she was reaching out to the woman wanting a hug.  Others were walking the road at a fast pace as I cried sitting in my auto still wearing the seatbelt.  I wasn't going anywhere as the sun began to go down bringing on darkness that I would have to travel home in.  

Today, I took some migraine meds which helped me calm down.  Thoughts clear and I begin to feel like my old self.

Question....how many of you multi-task while watching a movie?  Lights are on at HOME so you can see the laptop computer screen as you type a post for the blog or research an actor's bio.  What year was this movie made and who is so and so on the television screen?  Just pin that and see what was popular in the era.  Surf all the blogs and away we go.

Today I went through old receipts and tossed away what needed to be.  Husband and I continue to go through our things getting better organized.  One day I hope we can look back and say well done.  Please LORD.

Evening television watching has been CALL THE MIDWIFE and Second Season Episode Two GRANTCHESTER.  I lost interest in American television as PBS has series with old fashioned charm and mystery without all the graphic gore.

OOPS...I forgot my white bunny stuffed toy is in the washing machine.  Need to get this out so she can air dry.  One of the many things I found out in the garage as we made a grand sweep of cleaning years worth of STUFF that had to go away starting last week-end and ending on Tuesday.  The trash pile by the street was a heap that the trash personnel hauled away on their Thursday Work Day.  Glad to see it go away, but as I was talking to the Lady at the Trash Company, I was beginning to think she wanted me to sell a kidney as she asked so many questions about the pile we wanted taken away.

The newspaper tells us that we are to telephone the trash company if we have extra trash for them to haul.  Pleasantly answering the questions and I didn't sell a kidney.  


All in a busy day,
d
   

Birthday Girl

~HAPPY 36th BIRTHDAY~

It was a beautiful Saturday morning when you came into this world.

The day before Easter you arrived with no bonnet on...
in fact you didn't have a stitch of anything on.

grins.

Naked as a jaybird as some would say.

You were a beautiful baby 

and have grown into a lovely young woman.

God blessed me with you and it was and is a privilege to be your Mom.

Praying for you and wishing you all the best,

MARMIE

Weight Watchers Has To Go

After taking my thyroid meds in the morning hour, I have to wait at least 30 minutes before drinking me coffee or eating.  When first taking the meds, no one told me to wait 30 minutes to an hour before drinking coffee or eating after taking thyroid meds.  

I stumbled across this.  Disturbing that I had to find out the hard way, but I did find out!  My THYROID JOURNEY has been that way.  My Husband and I have both switched from SYNTHROID to ARMOUR.  Both of us have noticed that we do not sweat like we use to.  SYNTHROID made us both heat up, stay HOT and s w e a t.  This is a miracle to not sweat like we were.  
A miracle.  

Side effects of Synthroid IS excessive sweating.  We both suffered from this and when visiting with our Endo and his Nurse were told it must be something else causing excessive sweating.  Right on the drugs writeup it says it can cause excessive sweating.  Also read that excessive sweating is an allergic reaction to the DRUG.

As I waited for me coffee this fine Sunday morning, I went surfin' on the web.  Not a tough pill to swallow.  grins.  I love it here.  Hello.

Putting my stringy hair up on top my head while wearing my 'jailhouse work clothes', I worked like a *banshee out in the garage yesterday.  

My energy level was pretty good.  I did some serious sitting from time to time before getting after it again and again and again.  Pleasant temps outside as we loaded the trunks of our autos with STUFF to take to thrift shoppe.  STUFF.  STUFF.  STUFF.  It is getting easier to part with these lil treasures that have gathered dust over the years.  EASIER.

Laughing out loud when I came across OLD (more like ancient) checks.  A 1997 check written out to WEIGHT WATCHERS has to go.  I will go through these neatly grouped contracts in the evenings when I can sit and thumb through them.  They're very orderly which reminds me I can be organized....just need to streamline.  Will keep payments for houses, autos, credit cards, medical and anything else that might be sentimental like braces for daughter, leather athletic letter jacket for sons, class rings, etc.  The kids will receive these as a birthday gift later on.  Won't they love that!  Perhaps it will be seen as funny while jogging down memory lane.  Something they can throw away when they want.



I did attend Weight Watchers way back when.  Several times in my LIFE I have joined this organization to help me lose weight in a healthy manner.  The last time I was a member I bailed ship after I sat there in the group and listened to the group leader talk about looking like movie stars....It didn't rest well with me at the time.  I am not a movie star....never have been.  Never will be.  

WEIGHT WATCHERS FOUNDER

Back in the day of using liquid diet product to slim way down.

WEIGHT WATCHERS was a pretty good program. Presently BILLIONAIRE media mogul OPRAH has purchased a huge chunk of ownership into this organization and is one of their main spokespersons for their club. To the tune of 10%.....Winfrey bought her shares at $6.79 apiece for a total investment of $43.2 million, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

That's 43.2 million reasons to participate in weight watchers.

OPRAH. She is who she is and that's that.  Over the years she has gone up and down on her weight.  Many people do.  Still, my old Weight Watchers CHECKS have to go.  I'm losing them forever.  Extra paper weight will not be missed.  See ya'



I came across a big gold storage tub full of glassware.  Two beautiful crystal bowls were revealed and I'm wondering how on earth did these end out in the garage amongst all the boxes? Beautiful crystal decorative bowls.  

I remember now....when our daughter came home with a baby on her hip due to her husband abandoning them because he liked his lifestyle of partying, not paying his bills and not wanting to be married anymore...we made room in the garage for some extras. As we continued to get settled in our home, things never were gone through as they should have been.  Today is the day.  Our garage became our basement.

It's a sin to have so much stuff out in boxes and not know what's in them.  I will get this all cleaned up and organized.  I WILL...i will.

This afternoon we are hoping to have both cars full of treasures and off we shall go to Manhattan to drop our wunderful junque  off...saying good bye to it for evah.  FO' EVAH AND EVAH. 

This is the day the LORD has made....I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!  As I put my jailhouse work clothes back on, I will continue finding out what to keep and what to get rid of.  This is more than 40 items to get rid of in a month. This is a serious rummage drive to downsize.  My new HOBBY is rummaging through the rummage to be a better person and contribute to society a happier person that smiles a lot 'cause she can.

God bless you as you live life,
d 


*P.S.  My sweet Husband looked up the meaning of banshee.  He said he remembered from a movie this term.  He read out loud that a banshee is a female fairy spirit that wails because a death is coming.  I said that with us cleaning out the garage this is a death of a lifestyle.  It is HEALTHY to get set free from housing all this STUFF.  

ban·shee

ˈbanSHē

noun

1. (in Irish legend) a female spirit whose wailing warns of an impending death in a house.

I Think It's Kind Of Ironic

I've been giving it a lot of thought about downsizing to make LIFE simpler 
and material possessions easier to maintain.  

As retirement approaches...hopefully 
making life easier.  Even now.  

As I was thinking about how we started out as a young married couple not having many earthly possessions, I thought of how we collected many things over the years and as we get older I started thinking about serious downsizing.

I think it's ironic how this has transpired, starting out with little, adding to our belongings through the years and then returning to much less.

Circle of LIFE?
 Making preparations.  

So I delicately start talking to my sweet husband about this by saying, 
"I think it's kind of ironic....."

He interrupted me as I spoke by saying, 
"You think you're going to vomit...."

Laughing out loud until I had tears streaming down my face.

I don't want to make fun of my husband's
hearing issues, but he does have some.

Please pray for us,

d