Lookin' For Mister Good Sofa

Having to do some HOMEWORK on what to look for in a good sturdy sofa that will last for more than a month or so.  Ha.  Well...I'd like to get a very sturdy, but beautiful sofa that's functional as well as nice to look at and will hold up for at least a dozen years.

How long can one go with one sofa in the HOME that one doesn't get bored with or want a change?  Depending on your personality?

Shouldn't we look for structural strength?  Wanting good BONES to hold up.

We have been taking a look at what is out there in furniture stores to actually sit on and see first hand what a nice sofa looks like and how it is constructed.  I have to take my time looking as I get a bit tired.  AND when shopping for a piece of furniture that you will not be buying everyday, you had better make sure that you like what you're getting.  This special piece of furniture will need to be a good fit for your HOME.

Do you often change how you feel about a room or can furniture be in the family for long lengths of time?  From personal experience, I know that I need furniture that last a lifetime due to usage and finances.

Living space, dining, kitchen, sleeping, office.  All in a tiny space.

We have had our Ethan Allen sofa and wing chairs over 16 years.  I was hoping to get at least 20 years out of them or maybe longer.  Using them for everyday life I knew that they would start breaking down compared to how they had been strictly used as PARLOUR FURNITURE that was rarely used except for special times.  When we switched rooms around, I had plans to relocate the FORMAL furniture upstairs and use our FAMILY FURNITURE that was in our original family room that would be moved to the front of the house where the formal parlor was.

I was working at making a more casual HOME.  After we combined the two rooms, the formal parlor and the family room, in which we started using the family room furniture in the parlor, I had a change of heart and wanted my green parlor furniture used instead of the overstuffed brown corduroy.  I sold the two love seats.  Miss them, but thought it would be for the best to turn loose of them.  So that's what we did.

I LOVED IT.  Loved it.  We had our two large wing chairs facing the entertainment center that the tv sat on with the sofa on the side sitting there for additional seating incase company came.  We enjoyed this arrangement for a couple of months.  ENJOYED watching PBS Poldark in our comfy chairs.

Then we did what I couldn't hardly believe.  WE MOVED INTO A TINY COTTAGE which I call Retirement Cottage.  I'll explain later why we did this before my dear sweet husband retired as I get use to having moved.  

It's been a experience.

I know that HOME is where you hang your hat.  I need to buy a bigger hat to wear as I go shopping for a sofa for our new living room that is very, very small.

Still shopping for a good sofa, divan, coach, davenport, settee.  What do you call it?


According to Jeremy Miller, Davenport was the name of a series of sofas made by the Massachusetts furniture manufacturer A. H. Davenport and Company, now defunct. Due to the popularity of the furniture at the time, the name davenport became a genericized trademark.

WHAT DO YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN SHOPPING FOR FURNITURE?  Expense, quality, name brand, American made, sturdiness, construction, appeal, design, color, texture, fabric, size?

I may be looking for Mister Good Sofa for awhile,
d

King James Bible
PSALM 6:6I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

JOB 7:13
When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;

Perhaps It Will Snow

PERHAPS IT WILL SNOW and we will see first hand the world we live in slow way down almost to a halt and be so quiet you can hear yourself THINK.  Perhaps.  Perhaps not.  As we inch along toward CHRISTMAS, I have hopes of cheering up some.

We have no CHRISTMAS TREE up in our tiny RETIREMENT COTTAGE nor are there lights on the outside of this place we lay our heads down at night to have sweet dreams in.  Just a few holiday items sit out to see as you look around the room.

I placed a few CHRISTMAS cards in the mail yesterday.  No CHRISTMAS letter this year.  Think I'll just write one after CHRISTMAS, print it out for my personal collection and forget about it.  I know that this year it is very different than so many others put together.  Not sure I like it this way.  Not sure.

Hubby and I purchased lots of blue lights half off last CHRISTMAS season to decorate the big rock house for CHRISTMAS this year.  Daughter and her new husband used them to flash out their home this year since we had a huge change in plans.

CHRISTMAS gifts were finalized yesterday and it's a relief to me as it always is to have ALL the Grandchildren and Children's gifts ready to go.  I won't be giving siblings gifts this year.  Parents yes, but after CHRISTMAS.  

Ready for an afternoon nap.  Need to get rested before I forge ahead on laundry.  My age is in my bones and my muscles let me know about it when I'm tired.  

LIFE ON THE PRAIRIE is different for me this Christmas.  

If I don't get it said later, I'll say it now.....MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!
d  

Gosh I Remember

GOSH......I remember when I was a kid and heard that the Kansas weather changes faster than you can shake a stick at it.  Just wait a minute or so and the weather will change.  Freezing one minute...burning up the next.  Kind of like menopause.  Ha.  Some of you know what I am talking about.

LIFE seems a lot like the KANSAS weather.  BIG SURPRISES along the way of LIFE.  Sometimes these are not so nice to experience and then wham you get hit with something else.

Right this minute I need a HOLIDAY.  I know... I know CHRISTMAS is coming, but I mean a holiday where I can get refreshed and refueled.  Ready to take the day on.  This CHRISTMAS it will a simpler one as I detoured on the decorating, baking, festivities, gift shopping, etc.

MAY YOU ALL HAVE A PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS.

I will be thinking about the birth of JESUS and LIFE EVERLASTING.  Everlasting.

The mysteries of LIFE still exist.  Just keeping it real...I will pray for blessings.

It's SNOWY on this Sunday afternoon and I LIKE IT!  I am at HOME and resting.  My Holiday will be right here at HOME.

THIS year coming will be occupied with taking inventory of all of our possessions to where I hopefully can say, "Well done."  I would like to have a better grasp on what we have.  Including the garage.  

GOSH....I have hopes of being better organized, sew a little, draw a little and write that book I have notes on waiting for real direction as a matronly woman wanting to see a book in print.  

Dear Hubby hung two Kitchen cabinets to the right of the kitchen sink in RETIREMENT COTTAGE.  I will now have a place to place drinking glasses and coffee cups.  A beautiful black and white framed KITCHEN saying was given to me and Dear Husband hung it with a white shelf we had to the left of the sink.  I placed a black and white COW figurine on it along with coffee cups that have Grandchildren images on them.  

I unwrapped some SHANNON CRYSTAL that was purchased the other day from a wonderful THRIFT SHOP.  I looked on the internet and found these same glasses at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  So if I want to add to the set I can check them out.  The Dublin pattern seems to be pretty popular.  I LIKE IT! and affordable. 

We watched a movie on regular television,  BIG GAME.  It was a thriller.  Few curse words, no nudity, but much violence.  Then we watched  THE CROWN where it shows the KILLER SMOG of December 7, 1952.  I had never heard of it.  This was also the day my Grandfather died.  While my Grandmother lost her Husband and my Dad lost his father....on the other side of the world about 4000 people would die from SMOG.  Smoke plus fog = SMOG.  I learned about smog and how that word was formed.  Truly I did not know where that word came from.

Let's rejoice that we can continue to learn stuff about stuff.  
Well...you can teach an old dog a few new tricks and it's not even Halloween.

Dear God, This is a reality about LIFE that we do not know all the mysteries concerning LIFE and what your timing will be.  May we lean on you for help, embracing trusting you and know that you turn what wasn't so great a thing that happened to us into good 

to those that love you and are called according to your purpose.  

As CHRISTMAS approaches...may we call on your name for comfort and good will.  

Love you.  

In Jesus Name I pray, 

amen.

Can I get an AMEN?
d

Romans 8:28King James Version (KJV)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Dear One, 
All the best and GOD richly BLESS you this CHRISTMAS 
and in the coming NEW YEAR.
Many years ago a little child would be born that came into the world to bless people with ABUNDANT LIFE and NOT condemnation.  
He was and is and is to come.  
The Messiah.  
The Lamb of God.
JESUS is HIS name.  KING JESUS.
LORD JESUS.

King James Bible 

ISAIAH 9:6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, 
Counselor, 
The mighty God, 
The everlasting Father, 
The Prince of Peace. 

Have yourself a Merry 'lil Christmas.
Love,
d

M

E

R

         CHRISTMAS

              Y                

HAPPY 

B

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T

H

D

A

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JESUS

I Will Nevah B Skinny Again....

WHO AM I KIDDING.....what's ridiculous is that I am comfortable in this body more than I should admit.  Constantly wanting to be 19 again?  That's a no brainer.  I will never be 19 again and as for me body...I am able to say with matronly pride, 
I iz alright with this person I am, but not when I see pictures of myself or an image in the mirror.  It's not pretty to fool mother nature.

Deliberately I will continue to pump up the veggies and eat more rabbit food and encourage myself to drink filtered water.  I will deliberately walk more and stretch more.  The exercise pill will be a tough one for me to swallow and I don't exercise very well no matter what activity I am doing these days as I get winded so easily.

I did not hesitate to throw myself into fitness as a younger woman.  Even had leotards that I faithfully wore as I did my floor exercises.  I had a light blue one, brown, red and navy blue!  Body suit and leotards.  Feel the burn with Jane Fonda.  These days I might watch old film of Jack LaLanne.    

I was busy with aerobics, walking, riding a stationary bike, danced, yoga, watched what I ate, dieted till I was blue in the face, the list went on as I kept house where you could have ate off of the floor and tended to three extremely busy children, a husband and a puppy dog.  

As nature took her course strongly affected by radiation in the snow, I developed a sick thyroid over time and would be over taken with thyroid cancer that required my thyroid be removed making me have HYPOTHYROIDISM.  Engaged with a very slow metabolism I know I must not eat so many carbs.....but have to acquire a taste for it.  Seriously, I must take dominion over starches and be victorious consuming less food.  This requires acquiring a taste for eating less.  This will be a life-time challenge. 

I will allow myself to eat a dessert or two now and then without being guilty that I am 61 years of age and have a robust figure that gets attention when I enter a room.  Not because I am so sexy...grins, but because I am super-sized.  My personality is bigger than life.

Never as a young woman did I think I would be so out spoken about LIVING LARGE and being alright with it.  Dreams and wishful thinking admires a 'more is less' attitude.  I wouldn't mind if I shrunk dress sizes, but I seldom wear dresses these days.  Now that could all change.

I may surprise myself and wear dresses all the time even as I sleep.  Not trying to be sarcastic, just being real.

I have something new that has been birthed in me and I believe it is for the better that I be more feminine.  Believe you me....I am ever so happy to be a woman that is a HOMEmaker and doing her best to be who the GOOD LORD would want me to be.

Heaven's sakes alive.  Will you join me?
I salute you,
d

Bill

Praise the Lord - Imperials

Still In My House Coat

Walp....I am still in my house coat this late hour of the day, but it's my plaid one that warms me up way too much to be cozy.  Flat HOT in here covered like a burka.  I do have a hair appointment with the kitchen sink at 4 this afternoon.  I need a wash really bad and I cannot put it off much longer because I am needing to pretty up before Husband gets HOME from work.

I did manage to get that little CHRISTMAS tree out of the box that was staring at me yesterday.  I must say, she was a HUGE disappointment when I assembled her together.  Two parts to put together with a plastic stand.  The legs of the stand went together pretty well, but the essence of a beautiful tree never happened.  AND you know what the world says about CHRISTMAS trees.... CHRISTMAS TREES LIVES MATTER.

Pulling the two tree pieces apart, I stuck the top portion into a urn that was on our tiny porch.  Hopefully by this week-end an extension cord will connect with this CHARLIE BROWN looking tree and she'll sparkle in the dark hours.

I am slowly regaining more strength and am looking forward to traveling to the city to go shopping so there's some FOOD in the new fridge.  Later I will show some pics of my new appliances as I had to say good-bye to the ones that were in the rock house.

With moving into RETIREMENT COTTAGE, I want so badly to be the best that I can be under the circumstances.  I surfed the internet researching Victorian Life in 2016.  I don't have the heart or desire to completely get away from what I have grown accustomed to as a modern woman, but there is room for improvement as a middle aged over weight housewife.

I ate a healthy apple for my afternoon snack.  Lunch was two cheese sticks and a graham cracker with WATER.  I will overdose on a salad tonight so I get my greens in this body of mine that I must take care of because I must take care of her.  GREENS.  Breakfast was coffee with cream and air.  I enjoy writing down the things I hope to accomplish during the day.  Since I matured a whole lot over the years...I don't get nearly as discouraged when I don't get all the things done that I had hoped to.  It's alright to not get as much done as I had wished I would.  Maturing in a healthier way.  Matronly HAPPINESS is alright.

I will be buying vegetables soon along with cottage cheese and yogurt.  Tis Thursday and I am pleased that it is Thursday.

I found CHRISTMAS Gift cards to fill with cash for my Grandchildren.  This season they will get cash from their Grandfather and me.  I usually get gifts, but this season it will be different as I have had my hands so full with moving into RETIREMENT COTTAGE, my Father's stroke, funeral planning and finally a funeral.  I am beside myself as how difficult it was being at the hospital with Dad, Mom and family.

I cannot go into details at the moment if I ever do, but once again I grew up a little more as my eyes were opened to see unpleasant things about this fallen world we live in.  Character flaws came to surface and I truly did not handle it very well.  I can say no more right now.

Better run, the kitchen is calling my name for my hair appointment to wash my hair as i lean over the sink. 

You're so sweet to have stopped by on this cold day.  Hot chocolate would have been in order.
Maybe next time.

Not sure what we'll have for supper,
d

Out Of Toilet Paper

The phone rang and the ID caller number was unfamiliar to me.  I picked it up anyhow.  Good thing I did because it was my visiting son from Saint Louis on the other end telling me that we were out of toilet paper as he was sitting on the throne.  grins.  Said I was sorry and went from there.

During the time of my Father's dying in which I was traveling back and forth between here and there where he lie in a hospital bed, I forgot to restock our toilet paper.  We ran out as there were no more rolls hidden under the bathroom sink vanity.  Oops.  Some things just cannot be overlooked.

You know how important toilet paper is and catalog pages for wiping are not in vogue these days that I know of.  It would only take a few minutes to remedy this issue as our little town finally got a DOLLAR GENERAL a few blocks away from where we call HOME.

All was well that ends well with a posh roll of toilet paper to use.
d

All I Want For Christmas Is Some Energy

Tuesday is here and with it comes a winter chill.  Our heater is on in this tiny cottage we are in.  The cottage is small, but toasty.  So many of the houses I have lived in have been cold houses that never warmed up until after SPRING.  I have wanted a warm house in the winter for years.  Praise GOD...we have heat.

Son went back to Saint Louis early this morning riding a train.  I was able to tell him my good-bye the night before because he was to get up at 3:30 in the morning, pack, get ready, then be driven to Topeka to catch the train.

Dear Hubby took him to Topeka, I slept like a baby.  After waking up, it's potty break time.  I take my morning meds and as I'm waiting for 30 minutes to pass before drinking coffee, I figure my day by jotting down notes to remind me of what I need to get done plus what I hope to get done.

As I waited, I looked through a huge notebook with notes about my Dad's family.  Genealogy notes.  It took three cups of coffee to get through this.  Dad loved studying about his roots, but stopped taking notes back in 2003.  He told me once that he thought I'd be the one to carry on with studying.

I took a picture DAD had drawn as a child, an old popcorn pan he used and a wooden duck he made years before with me to the Visitation where there was a table to show items about him, pictures, etc.  The old popcorn pan is one he used to fix old fashioned popcorn every Sunday evening just before we watched television as a family.  Mom told us that her Mother had given the pan to them so it was probably over a hundred years old.  I had no idea it was that old.  

Sunday night television was 'Bonanza' which was a hit with us as well as the Sunday night Movies.

We'd have Pepsi and popcorn.  I looked forward to Pepsi once a week.  This was a treat.  These days soda is way too easy to get our hands on to drink as it is easy to purchase.  I believe I need to go back to the day when I only drank iced down soda once a week from a tall glass.  Popcorn still is a favorite.

I worked on paying bills, folding some bedding, talking to the LORD and eating afternoon spaghetti dumped from a can.  Spaghetti from a can...isn't that disgusting?  I have a new range and don't know how to use it yet.  Don't know where the new pans are. Still reading the literature.  I know with some will power I will be using the new stove in no time.

Took a short nap today as I was getting the afternoon tireds.   Woke just as my Husband got HOME from work.  He told me my car is dead again.  We are having a time with Lilly.  That's what I call her, Lilly short for our old Lincoln.  He has installed two new batteries already and changed out the alternator.  

I asked him what does the booklet say might be wrong with it.....take to shop.  What does the internet say about it?  A cousin thought it might be a trunk light causing problems.  So, I suppose we will have to check that puppy out.

When trying to wake myself up, I had to process thoughts about the dynamics of my Family now.  I'm not sure how my Mom will take my Father's death in the long run.  I'm not sure how this will affect my sister and brothers.  I am concerned.

Tonight, I will continue to rest, work on papers and tink about our little cottage.  We are crammed in here like sardines at the moment.

I do have some CHRISTMAS cards to fill out.  They may not go out until the new year.  That little boxed CHRISTMAS tree over by the television set is staring at me as I type.  It needs some attention.  I really am craving CHRISTMAS music...like I'm Dreaming Of A White CHRISTMAS.  This was one song I sang to my dying Dad.  

I'm not much of a singer, but I am dreaming of a white CHRISTMAS...just like the ones I use to know.  Where the tree tops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow....

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
"May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

Blessings and may you have a sweet day,
d

Light Of The World

ELLA AT DAD's FEET

Deliberately I will enjoy the beautiful CHRISTMAS lights on other people's houses more than ever since we are not decorating the outside of our HOME this year.  AND I'm alright with that.  Maybe next year.  

Our interior decorations this year AREN'T.  There's a little pre-lit tree in a box lying on the Living room floor waiting to be taken out and displayed.  Hum.  Will I do it?  Yes.  Later this week.  Sigh.

We bought 4 of these miniature trees last season and had plans to place them on our L shaped porch at the rock house.  Much has happened and the porch thing didn't happen.  The interior CHRISTMAS tree didn't happen and I have CHRISTMAS gifts to get yet.  This CHRISTMAS season may be one of the simplest I have ever had.

My Dad suffered a serious stroke the day after Thanksgiving and passed away December 5th.  We have been occupied with making trips between here and there.  Spending time grieving, making preparations for a funeral, funeral, more grieving, etc.  

It's fine that there is no tree, no lights, no decorations and no baking so far.  It will have to be alright.  The Christmas music and movies will have to suffice.  Perhaps I can focus on CHRIST all the more this year as my Dad has gone to heaven.  He has gone on before us and now knows first hand what death is like.  

Churches will have their special programs as schools have theirs.  Families will gather and friends will throw parties.  Candles will be lit and special foods prepared.  Gifts will be exchanged and memories shared.  CHEERS made.  Trees will sparkle and music will ring out.  Many will anticipate Santa's arrival with candy canes and gifts.  Many will pay no attention to Santa and will go directly to the birth story of Christ and the HOPE He brings.  Some will never hear the good news about Christ and what that means.  A baby was born in a manger.      

I want to share the GOOD NEWS about Jesus being the true reason for the season.  He came into the world to save it...not condemn it.  He is the good news.  He's the lamb of God.  The Messiah.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son (Jesus), that whosoever believes in him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life: John 3:16.  Jesus gives LIFE and LIFE more abundantly.  Accept him and receive.   

Precious Jesus...you truly are precious.
You give meaning to life and death.

This month I will celebrate CHRISTMAS with so many others that LOVE you.
d 

My Daddy

It has been an exhausting week in more than one way.  We as a Family laid my Daddy down.  His funeral was yesterday.  He suffered a horrible stroke on November 25th after we celebrated his 90th birthday on the 12th and said our good-byes on Thanksgiving Day, the 24th.

The last words Dad said to me after I told him I was leaving to go home were, "I'm sorry."  I kissed him farewell.  The next day, I was phoned and informed that he had a serious stroke, was unresponsive and was in the emergency room.  We returned to Marion, KS. to see him lying in a hospital bed.  I learned that when there is a stroke, the part of the brain that is attacked affects the opposite side of the body so Dad's right side of his brain was attacked and his left side of the body affected.

He was unable to speak.  He was quiet, but his eyes spoke volumes.  His right eye was discolored some and that coloring would return.  I was not prepared for what would lie ahead of us as a family and it will take much prayer for me to forgive other family members for how this was all handled and for what was said to me during this difficult time of grieving my Dad's last days on earth.

I am at RETIREMENT COTTAGE today, resting.  A son lies on an air mattress sleeping in our tiny living room.  I fixed some coffee earlier and my dear Husband decided to fix a hardy breakfast.  I am to rest today.  Our Cottage's interior lies in a mess as I have been traveling back and forth to where my Dad was and when I was HOME, I had no energy to work on rearranging and making room for things that need a place.  It means very little to me right this second as I have other things to deal with and have gone through.

d

Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel by The Franz Family // Canon 5D Mark II