Retirement Cottage

NOT OUR HOME...but I like this drawing.

Proverbs 16:3

Commit thy works unto the LORD, 

and thy thoughts shall be established.

Using a light weight laptop while I'm typing in the comfort of my own HOME.  What fun this is.  Yesterday I had to go to the Laundry Mat over at the next town because our 'small town america' does not have one.  I'm patiently waiting for my new wash machine and dryer to be delivered to our retirement cottage.  RETIREMENT COTTAGE.  

I'm getting use to the sound of that.  Everyday it soaks in a little deeper.  We have been trying to decide what we are going to do about LIFE, LIBERTY and the PURSUIT of HAPPINESS.  Where'd we live and how we'd live.  I started downsizing about 5 years ago.  Made huge headway.  Now I have to get better organized and get a better grasp on what we have.  

On this beautiful Sunday afternoon I am sitting beside the lace covered window in the Living room listening to the wind blow in broad daylight as I wait for the deliverymen to bring MOMMA a washer & dryer and dishwasher.  Sometime today, they will set up the new machines.  This week I may be able to return to washing at leisure in my own HOME.  

When your machines quit on you and you have to go to the Laundry Mat...it's a whole different world.  I found a very nice/ clean Laundry Mat in the next town over, but their machines were too small to handle the BULKY bedding I wanted to wash before placing on our bed.

Retirement cottage is tiny.  She's what is called a FOLK VICTORIAN COTTAGE built in 1900.  I believe with us living here that God is doing a new thing in us and for us.    

The decision to relocate into retirement cottage was made about a month ago.  Hopefully Hubby will still work a few more years as we squeeze into this little place.  We will forge ahead and see where it takes us as we turn loose of the ROCK HOUSE.  

Off to the Laundry Mat we went.  New bedding was purchased last week and I went with GREY tones.  This is a big change for me.  GREY.  WHITE.  GREY.  

When I unloaded the bedding I was going to wash, I noticed the machines were not large enough to handle the bedding.....so my dear Husband and I loaded her all back up into the car and away we drove to Manhattan to a Laundry Mat I used years ago.

They had new machines that hold 4 loads at a time for $5.oo a wash.  This is expensive to me since I have had my own machines at HOME.  Still the 4 loader looked like a great idea to wash the new mattress pad cover I had recently purchased.  It worked great until I needed to dry this beauty.  2 hours later, the pad was still wet.  TODAY she is being aired out with a fan blowing on her.

I hope she is completely dried by tonight so I can make up the bed. 

Comical to watch me trying to pull the huge water logged mattress pad cover out of the washing machine, place it into a basket on wheels, roll the basket over to the dryer leaving a trail behind me, then place pad into the upright clothes dryer noticing excessive water in the rim of the pad.  A balloon of sorts.  Instead of going easy into the dryer...I had a battle taming her.  She fought me the entire time like a wild animal getting away from the hunter.  

This object had a mind of her own inflated to do damage toward this HOMEMAKER.  

Practically needing a college degree to outwit this thing.  An ACT of CONGRESS might be the way to go.  She was now extra heavy and weighted down full of water.  The water did not all ring out of the pad during the spin cycle.  

Hubby took this mammoth pad by force.  Outside into the chilly night to squeeze the water supply out he went.  Still she was water logged bogged down.  2 hours later using a dryer she was still damp and I wondered just how long it would take to dry this gorgeous new mattress pad.  

I should have started two days ago and hung this beauty on the clothesline.  Being over tired, the time it was taking to dry one item was irritating me.

We finished up and drove home late into the night.  This evening was challenging as I was extremely tired being on the verge of exhaustion.  Hard to keep my eyes open at times.  Ready to sleep.  Knowing the bed will need made up before lying down for the night seemed like a daunting task as tired as I was.  Ever been there where you're so tired it hurts?

This season in life is challenging.  Very.  I keep saying, "I will be victorious because Jesus is my LORD.  He will help me succeed."  

PROVERBS 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, 

and he shall direct thy paths.

1 PETER 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; 

for he careth for you.    

                                        Psalm 37:5Commit thy way unto the Lord; 

                                                                 trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Husband just came in to tell me that the wrong colored pedestals were delivered along with our new machines sooooo the deliverymen will return tomorrow with the correct ones.  Take a break and be kind.

Thank you Dear One for stopping by.

This is a wonderful day for me.

Sweet,

d

Little Big Town

Dining Room Study

When I did a search on English Dining, 

this beautiful image appeared and I went aweeeeeeee.

The formality is just up my alley.

So it's worth staring at and studying.

I tried like crazy to go less formal when looking at Dining room furniture.  Sometimes I like the shabby chic and sometimes I crave formality because I grew up in a very modest house with metal kitchen chairs in the Kitchen and dined for years in front of a water air conditioner blowing on my back.  

Formal dining was unheard of in my childhood home.  

We didn't eat like monkeys, but exercised some table manners.

STILL we were very very casual.

I have dreamed and desired something else more formal.  

God has been good to me and allowed Dining rooms in many of the places we have lived. 

This Dining room is LOVELY! 

May you have a blessed day and week-end,

d

Indian Summer For AUTUMN

It's a beautiful AUTUMN day on the Kansas Prairie with moving winds blowing through grey skies with whispy clouds.  75 degrees and breezy.  In the distance a train whistle sounds off as she crosses the intersections.  Rumbling sounds are heard being carried through the cooler temperatures.  Colorful leaves on mature trees are swaying to the music of the invisible Kansas winds.  

Someone is raking leaves in their yard.  As they rake I hear faint scratching sounds elsewhere.  A lawnmower also.  The temperatures are wonderful to be in.  My Living room window needs to be opened to let fresh air indoors.

Is this one of my favorite past times letting the AUTUMN wind blow through the window as I reap the benefits of AUTUMN right inside my HOME?  Yes.  I enjoy doing this during SPRING as well.  Some think I am nuts to run the car heater as I ride around in my auto with the driver's window rolled down.  My feet stay toasty as my arm rides on top of the door and my face get fresh air.  It's a simple thing to do.  I do it.   

Is it lazy to let the wind do the raking?  With the wind blowing it's as if nature takes a huge invisible hand swooping the leaves on down the road.  SWEEPING.  No bags needed.  Like letting nature wash my dirty auto.  grins.  Let it rain fresh drops of moisture that clean the dirt and make my white car look all new again.

My Bistro Set needed a good washing and I was tempted to sit it in the front yard so the rain could do the muscle work for me.  IT'S LIKE HAVING A MAID ON HAND TO HELP ME OUT.    

Tonight I'm going looking for a new vacuum sweeper.  My old one went KAPUTT.  Many do like the BLACK FRIDAY SALES right on THANKSGIVING DAY.  This year many stores are cashing in on PRE-Black Friday Sales all week long and all month long until the end of NOVEMBER.  I just happen to be taking advantage of this and need all the help I can get in saving money on hard to get appliances.

I'll be putting on my shopping shoes and venture out checking on VACUUMS.  The floors around here need help and I am ready to push the issue...mean vacuum.  

I spent much of today shuffling a room to make better use of space, inventorying new everyday dishes, sorting laundry and talking on the phone to my Sister, Mom and even my dear Dad.  Dad said my name and we chatted.  A MIRACLE.  Dad carried on a short conversation with me about lunch, nap and singing a song.  You see Dad has been so quiet over the years and the miracle in all of this dementia issues is that the present time he is talking more than ever.

There's a great deal of jabbering in which none makes sense and THEN there's once in a blue moon stage when he talks making complete sense.  It's a miracle.  Something to cherish.  I cherished hearing him tell me that He Loved Me.  Not often did I hear these words from my Daddy.  Gotta get it when you can.

In a week we will celebrate THANKSGIVING Dinner on THANKSGIVING DAY.  I told my cousin that I would bring our coffee urn and coffee to help with our Family Dinner.  I overheard her tell my Mom that she was going to make dressing so I will do my best to make those good 'ole deviled eggs.  I know where a deviled egg dish is so I'm a head of the game.  When meeting with the cousins there's lots to eat and lots to say.

Won't Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream be a wonderful dessert to partake?  LOOKING FORWARD to this.  

~IMAGINARY MENU~

Turkey with cranberry sauce

Mashed Potatoes and gravy

Sweet Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

Corn

Dinner roll with butter

Iced Tea AND Coffee

Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream

Once again I bought a ham and got a free turkey!  If I had more room, I'd do it again and have two turkeys in the freezer waiting for cooking day.  Perhaps closer to Christmas this awesome sale will take place.  Christmas lights are starting to appear on peoples houses and stores have their multiple decorations twinkling already.  Our small town has placed it's Christmas decorations up.

NO NAP today.  Need a root beer!  Better get after it.  The afternoon lighting is fading which cast long shadows across the ground and I need to get back to taking inventory of our new bone china.  After  unwrapping each piece, I'll wash all the dishes.  They are Beautiful!  Light weight and easy to handle.

We have been on a treasure hunt to purchase these new white everyday dishes by CHURCHILL.  Professional Fine Bone China Art De Cusine by Churchill.  TUESDAY MORNING is where we're purchasing them at a discounted price.  Doing the HAPPY DANCE.

http://www.churchillchina.com/about/brand/super-vitrified

It's in tomorrow's forecast to do laundry.  Sorting the piles in just a minute.  I had better get caught up on the laundry so we have something to wear.  

This Indian Summer is a blessing,
d

  

At A Loss

Today I sit in my comfy green swivel chair by the laced covered window in my old pink housecoat sipping hot coffee with cream.  Undone hair and teeth needing brushed.  Needing rest, I decided to type a post.  It's been awhile.  There have been days that I used to type a couple of post and called it satisfying.  Still enjoy bloggin'.

The sound of men's footsteps can be heard outside Retirement Cottage as the City is having the sidewalk redone.  Quick footsteps in work boots.  Having a new respect for men that work over a sidewalk and do BUSINESS as usual.  Their voices are unfamiliar sounds in a lower range frequency to an old women typing on this computer which is on her last leg.

Our Indian Summer has been a huge BLESSING to us as we go through an ordeal that I will share at a much later date.  It is horrendous.  My last post made me stop in my tracks as I reread it about the Lord showing us things that we know not of and it would be a blessing.

The kindness of strangers during this time has been eye opening.  Still many good people out there.

My brain is on overload as I do what I do.  The last few days I have been feeling stress bombard my being.  Noticed in my soul and old body.  I wake early in the mornings with tired eyes thinking about what I need to accomplish in the day.  My day timer is a simple spiral notebook that isn't fancy in anyway.  I like it that way.

Casual handwriting scribbles my list down leaving nothing to the imagination.  Ink on paper.  Nothing fancy.  Basic simplicity.

The month of October has become the month of November which will not be forgotten.
Breaking a tooth and having it worked over with a build up and crown. Cha-ching there goes another dental bill that will have to be paid.  GULP.  I pray they will work with us on paying payments.  It seems like I get one bill paid off and three more arise.

October 2016 will not be one I easily forget.  Too much happened to say the least.

Mother.in.law on her death bed.  Rushed trip to Texas and she improved to fail again.  Doctor said to Father.in.law that it was just a matter of time.  I thought....it's all just a matter of time, isn't it?
Broken collar bone, pneumonia, heart attack.  Father.in.law was wanting so badly to celebrate their 65th Wedding Anniversary as he was recovering from lung cancer.  They did make it.  M.I.L is now in a Nursing Home and he in a rented house.  In the same town which means he can see her and not have to drive so far as he had been.

One of my sweet Grandsons turned 7 and we were able to go to the party.  Wonderful time it was.

Halloween weather was pleasant as we sat on the porch waiting to hand out candy.  We only had about 15 Trick-or-Treaters.  I regret that I didn't have LIFE SIZE Candy bars to pass out to the lil ones.  I wish I had done this instead of smaller versions of melts in your mouth bite size chocolate bars.  Drat.  The young children may have participated in walking the downtown sidewalks where the stores hand candy out to the costumed children.

Next year perhaps I will remember that they do this and watch first hand the event.  If I can remember that this is a yearly event, I will do my best to go downtown for the treat.

My Daddy ended up in the Hospital with double pneumonia.  He began talking out of his head as he was given a stronger dose of morphine.  He has taken morphine for years due to a broken back and pain.  I read up on DELIRIUM IN THE ELDERLY AND HE SOUNDS LIKE A CANDIDATE.  It is next to impossible to explain to my mother as she is hard of hearing and doesn't seem to comprehend things as easily as she once did.  God bless her as she has placed her Husband of 68 years in a Nursing Home and daily listens to him talk out of his head making noises that no one can explain.

DELIRIUM IN THE ELDERLY CAN COME ON WHEN THERE IS INFECTION OR INJURY IN THE BODY.  As I read about it, it's common to get delirium with a urinary tract infection, pnuemonia, head injury and more.  Dad has dementia plus he had a urinary tract infection AND pneumonia as well as head injury and congestive heart failure.  This can explain him making unusual sounds, making no sense and being in pain.  DELIRIUM....hello.  You know I may be an overweight OLD white housewife, but I can read and think using logic.  Hello.

https://www.caring.com/articles/what-causes-delirium 

Mother can no longer lift Dad to help him get up and down out of the chair, off the bed, out of the car not to mention bathroom breaks and showers.  He was transferred to the Nursing Home which means Mom visits him through out the day.  They celebrated their 68th Wedding Anniversary and then last Sunday we celebrated his 90th birthday.  He made it.  I was wondering if he would.  He did.  We rejoiced.

LATER I will share about what we have gone through concerning retirement.  It's a doozy.  Life changing.

The Elections fell in here somewhere.
One of my sons turned 39.

I'll be going back to medical complex to have an MRI done as we have found out that I have lesions in the liver.  I knew I had huge fibroid tumors in the uterus.  CT Scan indicated this news to me as I have also known from exams and other tests.  As I mature and the fibroids begin to shrink, they have calcified. All that I have endured with these fibroids and I will try to shrink them even more with castor oil packs, heat and rest.  Shall see if this helps.  Receiving my insurance statement for the CT Scan made my eyes bug out.  I was overjoyed when the insurance company paid the brunt of my bill.  When I received a bill from Via Christi my eyes bugged out at what I was charged.  Close to $4200.oo.  My eyes bugged out i tell ya.  So when the insurance informed me that they had paid almost the entire amount I REJOICED.  REJOICED!!!!!

You see if you do not QUICKLY pay off the balance at a super quick pace....the industry does not hesitate to use a bill collector agency.  They are not so nice to deal with.  Just sayin'.

Then there's my 65 year old brother who is diabetic with mental issues.  He has slipped a cob.  EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE HE HAS TO HAVE HIS MEDS TWEAKED.  Well it's that time again.  When he begins non-stop talk about subjects that never happened...it's difficult to be around.  Non-stop talk about events that never happened.  Such as when mom was in the hospital having another baby the four of us sat on the curb and they came and got us and put us to hard labor.  In reality my Mom had 4 children.  Not sure which number of baby he was talking about and not sure who he thought put us to hard work.    

Don't forget auto issues.  Yes, the auto issues of replacing a battery on one occasion, on another occasion replacing an alternator while in Kansas City and brakes on the other car.  Yesterday when I went to drive the Lilly (Lincoln) she was deader than a door knob.  The key clickers couldn't awaken her as she sits by the curb.  We drove Husband's car instead.  My dear Husband said he'd charge the battery in the morning before he left for work.  I told him, no.  I had plenty to do inside the house and would wait until he got home from work.  May see about putting this off until the week-end where he would have a bigger window of time to work within instead of the evening as the sun goes down.

We need to go and order a new fridge and stove this evening over in Topeka.  Will drive his auto, Lord willing.

WELL I have really enjoyed jibber jabbering today.  It has been a relaxing activity.  RELAXING.  Needed that today as I am over tired.  Sorry, wish I wasn't, but it has caught up with me.

On a brighter note....I will be getting new appliances that should last at least ten years.  At 61 if we be blessed to live until we are 71, then we should save up money for a household account in replacing appliances as we age.   I am praying that my Husband be able to retire soon which means many changes to embrace.  One day at a time.

Yogurt for LUNCH.  Need to remember to take me pills.  Sometimes it's a challenge to recall it's pill taking time. Know what I mean, Vern?  My Hubby will understand this question.

God Bless and Love to all.
Cottage Blessings,
d