Need A VaCaTiOn

~NOT THE LAND OF OZ~

Howdy from the Land of Oz and then some.

How ya doing?

THE WEEK FLEW right on by.  Glad it's the week-end.  Resting and sipping on my coffee.  Delicious.   We managed to take another load of boxes to the thrift shop.  Continued loading more boxes during the week that are waiting for us to drive them to the city to turn loose of them.

ADMITTING I am very human, I got a bit overwhelmed this past week that we are still boxing up STUFF.  So much further along...still...so much to do.  I NEED A VACATION for sure.  VaCaTiOn.  This would be a pleasant time of the year to put our feet up and take it easy.  

With the leaves changing colors, it would be a beautiful thing to see.  SOMEDAY, I would love to see some of the eastern states with the trees changing.  I've only seen pictures which are gorgeous.  BUCKET LIST ITEM.  

Also, I'd love to see Washington DC in the Spring when trees are in bloom.  Williamsburg is another destination on my list.  Preferably in cooler temps when not hot.  Corpus Christi beach to sit and listen to the waves.  Galveston to see Christmas Carolers.  

Sounds like a plan.

MY GARDENER has been hard at work popping up Irises from our RETIREMENT COTTAGE property across the county line to relocating/planting them into the ground at our PRAIRIE HOME.  PRAIRIE HOME is what I'm calling our newest place to live.  Like the sound of that.  Next SPRING the Irises will be slow to produce blooms because they have been relocated.  It takes about two years to get a nice crop of blossoms.  I will still enjoy what we have.  It will be a surprise what comes up.  There might be some rearranging.  

Any who....if I feed my Husband steak and potatoes, he will be a happier Gardener.  He's a keeper.  My dear Husband.  

When the Living room is tidy and free of boxes, 
it will be an accomplishment of the practical kind.  Overstuffed chair will go upstairs.  Some items on the tall bookshelves will be rearranged.  More boxes moved out.  Stack of old magazines gone through.  Paperwork gone through.  Floors dusted.  Deciding on sheers for the windows, ordering fabric for a couple of Parlour chairs, shopping for a large area rug.  Can it all be done?  Yes.  What a nice thing to do.  

This past week, some more of our flatware came to our door.  It didn't knock, but I did as I picked the box up off the porch and went inside with it.  I would unwrap the individual utensils, hand wash and dry 60 pieces now all placed in the Kitchen drawer.    

I believe we have replaced our silverware/flatware now and can move onto the next assignment.

So when a meal is KITCHEN PREPPED to TABLE SET, we will be using HAMPTON FORGE Signature Slope Flatware to feast with.

Moving slow today.  That's okay.  Will do laundry later.  One of these days soon, I am going to sew a quilt, and a dress.  Make a Pot Roast and Peanut Butter cookies.  Sugar cookies and peppermint candies.  Take a walk to the Library and read.  Stop by the Thrift Shop and browse.  Get the HARVEST DECORATIONS to display before the snow blows.  

I can finally say that I have narrowed down my dish and crystal collections.  Next will be my Doll Collection and pictures.  Already weeded out clothing and shoes.  Deep breathe.  Hallelujah, I am downsizing in a real way.

So glad you stopped by for a visit.  Bless you.  Tell me all about it.
Making HOME a priority,
d

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR

Starting the day out at a very slow pace, I was enamored by the cooler weather.  Just two days ago I was roasting in the Kansas HEAT with sweat dripping from my brow to rolling the car windows down with no air conditioning in the car so I could feel that cooler breeze on my face.

The Time/Temp sign at the bank pronounced that it was 59 degrees.  59.  That was so much better I smiled.  I loaded up laundry to be washed after I had exercise class.  I managed to get through the class.  Was ready for it to be over.  I drove my car about town and then went to the dollar store.

Returned to the COTTAGE to wash towels, go through paperwork and finally wash my hair.  Rolling my hair in curlers to let it air dry was the way to go today.  Funny, I didn't care if anyone saw me with curlers in my hair.

Dried and folded the towels as a load of children's clothing washed in the machine twice.  I was hoping the mildew smell would come out of these little girl's dresses as they meant something to me knowing that my daughter wore these articles many moons ago.  

The majority of the dresses were personally sewn by my Mother.in.law.  She is now in heaven.  No more mildew smell after washing the dresses a couple of times.  Relieved.   So sweet.

Also cleaned murky looking crystal drops from a chandelier.  These pieces of crystal came off of a chandy that was hanging in our Rock House Guest room.  The heat from the house fire warped the metal part of this chandy, so I had the crystal removed and I placed it in a zip lock baggy that held these pieces for 11 months.  

About a week ago, I placed the plastic bag full of crystals into a bowl placed in the kitchen sink.  I filled the baggy full of WATKINS ALL PURPOSE CLEANER and let it all soak.  Today when I reached into the baggy the crystal was so much cleaner I couldn't believe it.  After using a kitchen scrubby the left over residue was gone.  I rinsed then dried the crystal pieces and placed them on a paper plate so they'd finish air drying.

BEAUTIFUL to see.  Hopefully these will hang on our CHRISTMAS TREE.  There will be some handwork to make hooks for these pieces.  Will do.

Voting this Product of The Year!
d

Hoarder Has Been

Not our place, but think you can get the picture.

WE LOADED BOTH AUTOS WITH ITEMS THAT WE WERE WILLING TO TURN LOOSE OF. A quick trip to Topeka to drop off our donations at one of my favorite THRIFT SHOPPES around.  Before hand we thought the place stayed opened until 8 pm.  They usually do EXCEPT on Saturdays in which they close at 5 pm.

Just an example of hoarding.

We pulled up to the Donation Drop spot at 2 minutes till 5.  Cutting it close.  We were able to drop our 'STUFF'  off and say good-bye to boxes and boxes of goodies.  It's a good thing to part with these things.  I don't want to be in BONDAGE to things I no longer need or want.

If I eBay or try other avenues selling or giving away, I will still be tied down to these items.  I am trying like HECK to be free from these things.  I could look at it as if God has allowed me a way to make some pocket change which would be a help, but then again I can look at turning loose as a way to bless others that might have a need for such stuff priced economically as I de-clutter and downsize.

It has been a laborious work to downsize, going through boxes 'n boxes 'n boxes to even see what is in the box.  I want set free.

Truly, I want to be doing other things that will satisfy the creative part of my soul and/or be the Woman of God I should be.  I choose to be the WOMAN of GOD that I am suppose to be.  Being the middle person when dealing with this stuff is in need of RETIRING from hoarding stuff.  

MAKING HOME A PRIORITY is my priority.  Amen.

In my mind I can see my HOME being better organized and clean.  The way to accomplish that is to actually work on making this become a reality.  So be it.

After hours of working at gathering things that need to go away, my body aches.  It's difficult to walk.  I ache so badly I could cry.  Taking this day at a slow pace.  The task of collapsing cardboard boxes is ahead of me.  Along with clearing out more things in the Living room that I gathered to go away.  Placing more things in the car to go away.  

You may ask how did it come to this?  Why so much JUNK?  Oh, how dare anyone call it what it is.  Junque.  Treasures, goodies, stuff, clutter, etc.  

I collected things for years as a form of entertainment when I couldn't get what I really wanted due to lack of money I substituted by buying less expensive stuff to fill a VOID.  Also with the idea that one day I would sell this stuff at our magnificent Estate Sale when we were old and grey to make 'm o n a y' to help us out in our old age.  Not to ignore pride...greed.  Not being willing to deny flesh comes to mind.  Wanting to be a thrifty diva is another excuse as to why there is so much stuffed in storage boxes that take up so much room that it becomes a headache to account for.  I cannot possibly use all these things in a lifetime.  

One thing has lead to another and the storage boxes consumed our storage space.  The hard task of letting go began.  I now have entered a phase of LIFE where I am needing less clutter and less responsibility of owning so much stuff.  So I am getting rid of it and working as fast as I can to be rid of it.  I could have rented a dumpster and ditched it faster than I am, but then I think my conscious would be telling me that I threw away GOOD STUFF that others could be using.  A catch 22 thing.

It's time consuming to load the car with this stuff not to mention wears old bodies out carrying heavy boxes to the cars and drive to the places of business that want your donations to raise money for their causes such as pay their own bills.  nuff said.  The stuff is migrating to the cars and going away.  There is a sense of satisfaction personally seeing the employees take the stuff away.  Bye-bye.

The first part of AUTUMN is a nice time to downsize.  Thin out.  PURGE.  Turning loose is like cleaning out the garage of the soul.  This is a phase that I have to participate in.   P u r r r r ging.   It is odd to spend years building up ones estate to turn around spending years getting rid of it to simplify.  With all the moving I have done through my marriage, I think I went overboard collecting things SOoooooo I would have to stay put instead of moving every few years.  Rebellion or ignorance.  

That desire to be at HOME never went away.

I became a hoarder?  On a smaller scale.  Think so.  You cannot take any of it with you when you pass away.  We can enjoy having things while we are alive, but it's considerate to help others out when needing things.  Sooooooooo...I will let go.      

Today when it cools off some to where I am not sweating by being in the screened-in porch, I will go box up more and Husband will carry it to my car so I can drop it off at a local ministry that helps with the community.  I hate to keep going on and on about it, but to be a collector (which my children say I'm a hoarder to put it lightly) gets to be a subject to chat about.

So I'm chatting 'bout it and getting off my chest that I have parted ways with lots of stuff.  I want to be doing others things with my time and talent than be under the spell of these items.  Entangled.  

To GOD be the glory...great things He hath done.  I am being set free and delivered.  Praise the LORD!  When others hear me say this, they may think this is petty.  Oh, come on now.  It's not such a big deal or is it?  It is.  I don't have to be shy about admitting that I am a healthier person because I ADMITTED that I turned loose of things.  What is it that the Lord says in Luke 12:15
King James Version (KJV)....

15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Can I admit that I have been greedy?  Yes.

Can I admit that I was not contented with what I had?  Yes.

Can I admit that I need God's help with turning loose of THINGS?  Yes.

Can I admit that I am human in need of a savior?  Yes.

Can I admit that I need to simplify my LIFE?  Yes.

Can I admit that I am wanting to be a KEEPER of the HOME and be a more loving HOMEMAKER?  Yes.

Can I admit that I need to use my time more wisely then I have been also when dealing with money?  Yes.

Can I admit that being a hoarder was and is a selfish way to be?  Yes.

Can I admit that I don't want to be tied down by STUFF?  Yes.

Can I admit that I want to change and have changed?  Yes.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE.  Yes.

Making HOME a priority is a priority I desire,
d

Too Much Heat

Tried to not get overheated as I worked in the screened in porch, but I did anyhow.  When I'd start to heat up and sweat to beat the band, I'd go inside the house and sit in front of the fan, wipe the sweat from my brow and do my best to cool off.  Sip a beverage and go back to it.  After doing this all day off and on into the late hours of the night, I was tired.  Went to bed late and got up early.

Sipping on cold sugar-free Lemonade today.

After today, I will be relieved that I can stay inside where the air is blowing.  With no thyroid I do not cool down like a normal person and over heat too easily.  It's not pretty.  THANKFUL to be alive, but have issues.  

My dear Husband has been helping thin through our belongings and make decisions what to keep and what to get rid of.  About to load these lovelies into the car and take to a local ministry and also go to Topeka to drop off some things.

THEN the chore takes place of breaking down more boxes to clear them out of the dining room and Living room.  Hopefully Sunday, it will be a cleaner place to call HOME.  

When I think about downsizing...I'm willing to downsize.  It's been a journey.  I was visiting with a woman just about this subject and she said it was hard for her to do.  As I narrow down my collections, I am going to focus on BLUE WILLOW DISHES, crystal, a few dolls and...will need to give this more thought as to what to narrow this down to.  Grins.
  
My nicknack cabinet hasn't been filled yet as the things are in boxes.  That will be dealt with in October.  I have to think about where the pieces of furniture will go in the room.  It is a mental work-out.  The room is small where the cabinet is.  

GOAL this month is to have the Dining room actually look like a Dining room.  Hurray...getting closer.  You know when it's been months that a room in one's HOME isn't a practical room, it seems like something to celebrate when it comes together.

Piecing back our HOME has taken months.  Close to a year now.  It really has been a concentrated effort to think about what we actually need, want and have.  

When I look at the Guest room, it is de-cluttered to the max.  LOVE IT!!!  It is a clean room with functional things like a vanity, dresser, bed, cedar chest.  Would like to keep it that way.  A chair will be moved in there soon.  What more do you need besides bedding, lamp and clock?  Maybe a area rug on the oak floor.  I have one of those at the COTTAGE that I can bring over this week to tie the room together.  Then we will hang a few pictures on the walls.  Dainty curtains went up.  All together now...awwwwww.

COMFORT.  Clean.

THANKFUL it's the week-end!  May you have a pleasant one.
Thanks for stopping by.
God bless you.

Making Home a Priority (sometimes takes muscle and a calm attitude).

Working on the attitude,
d

Productive Day

TODAY was really productive for me.  Praise the Lord.  I think my iron supplements are kicking in.  Finally feel like I have a little energy.  

Still gathering things to get rid of and lighten the load.  My morning was dedicated to this task.  I had to skip LUNCH in order to make the exercise class I had, so I ate cheese and crackers at the COTTAGE for my meal afterwards.

https://fromthelandofkansas.com/member/alma-creamery

Laundry went into the machine as I went through Christmas boxes.  It looks like I'll downsize on Christmas decorations after this CHRISTMAS when we can see first hand what we are decorating with.  I came across so many red ornaments that we will have a red Christmas tree to enjoy the Season.  This could be interesting as I think we will need to get a taller tree.
  

Will have to come up with a very creative way to squeeze into smaller storage boxes all the lovelies after Christmas.  As my Husband and I get older the big storage boxes are too cumbersome to handle.  We're not as strong as we once were.

Placing a load of laundry into the dryer and placing another load into the wash machine went slick.  Next I gathered what was left to haul to our house across the county line.  Cleared off a metal rack on wheels and rolled it to the front door so when my Husband gets here he can load it into the trunk of his car.


Tonight, I will continue to gather things in our new place to get rid of.  This week-end is my goal to achieve just that. 


ON SUNDAY...a day of rest and I will rest.  Looking forward to this.  Then next week I hope to forge ahead and LIVE LIFE.  We are ending the month of September.  Can't believe it.  AUTUMN starts just about now!  Out will come some pumpkins to decorate the house and add cheer.

Pumpkin pie with whipped cream, pumpkin lattes, 

pumpkin scented candles, pumpkin spice everything.

Making HOME a priority takes the right kind of attitude and drive.  This is my desire.  I have much to do to get HOME in order. 

It was good to accomplish so much today.  Thankful it took place.  Hallelujah.  

Glad you stopped by.
God bless you all,
d 

A Broken Record

SOUNDING LIKE A BROKEN RECORD.  I cannot begin to tell you just how tired I am today.  I iz tired.  The amount of energy that goes into dealing with what to do with our "STUFF" and health issues has drained me.  On a terrific note...our mattress and box springs from LEBEDA MATTRESS arrived this morning.

http://lebeda.com

The Guest room now has a real mattress for the antique bedroom suite that belonged to my Husband's Grandparents.  We were so proud the first time we bought a mattress/boxsprings before the fire.  We had the matt/box for about a year...then the fire got it.

Almost a year since our house fire and we replaced it.  It's a HALLELUJAH MOMENT!  That took 11 months to get to.  PTL the bedroom suite and mattress are in the bedroom making up an actual bedroom. 

I'll have to go get some new sheets this week so I can make the bed up.
Perhaps I need to go take a NAP.  
This broken record sounds pretty good!

Blessings to you and THANKs for stopping by.  You don't have to tippy toe out when you leave.  I'll be asleep.

Making HOME a priority,
d 

Beautiful Morning At Prairie Home

Just checked the temperature outside as I sit with the french doors open to the screened in porch.  Air drifting into the house at 60 degrees on this beautiful SUNDAY MORNING.  Oh so pleasant.  Awesome morning.  I heard CHURCH BELLS chiming for the first time since we moved into this house.

SURPRISED ME.  One of the sounds at RETIREMENT COTTAGE across the county line was the chiming CHURCH BELLS every Sunday morning.  Also in the small TOWN where I lived there were bells that rang on the hour from across TOWN from a different church.  I miss this pleasant dong.  That I miss.  

So the Church Bells here will make up for that.  Wonderful surprise to have on this pleasant Sunday morning.  

Calling people by announcing that it's time for CHURCH.  An old fashioned sound that rings true to an earlier time and makes me remember that people still go to CHURCH not just watching church services on the web.  I am glad I was HOME this morning to hear this blessed sound.



Earlier today I walked across the lawn barefooted to peek at the area beside the Carriage House cleaned out.  My Gardener had cleared a huge pile of brush and dried grass out of this space.  It looks so much better I could jump with joy.  We've been here almost four months.  Been too busy to tend to this area until this week-end.  My HONEY, the Gardener, got to it and took care of it.  I can't praise him enough for making this area look like somebody cares that trash isn't in the alley beside the CARRIAGE HOUSE where we park our autos.

ANOTHER PLEASANT SURPRISE was seeing Morning Glory with small blue blossoms in the new flowerbed where other Irises had been planted a few months ago.  Since the Morning Glory is self seeding, we think that when the soil was worked over to prepare for Irises being relocated that it stirred up the dormant seeds and now in LATE SUMMER they have grown and bloomed.  They are sweet blossoms smiling happily in the soil.


I fell in love with IRISES and Day Lilies at the rock house where we lived for 10 years.  It's now time to fall in love with MORNING GLORYS at our new PRAIRIE HOME.  


Husband is planting Heritage Irises he popped from the COTTAGE last week.  They will be close by the back door and hopefully when they bloom in the SPRING we will smell their grape scented fragrance while we sit in the screened in porch drinking coffee.  These particular Irises do have a lovely scent to them.  Not at all stinky as so many do.  LOVELY grape jelly scent.   

SOMEtimes flags or Irises won't bloom well after being relocated.  With this understanding, our Irises may not bloom well in 2018.  So we shall wait and see.  The actual plant should at least grow tall green blades.  If the blossoms pop open then we will be pleased to see their beautiful colors and frilly petals.

This week with the Lord's help, I will work on preparing for a much needed garage sale.  Much to do to make this happen.  Gotta go to the COTTAGE and load some tables into the car then drive home to unload them to set up for sale. If I can get the area ready today then tomorrow I can start pricing things to have a TAG SALE.  

The weeks have been flying by since being so busy unpacking and getting settled at our PRAIRIE HOME.  It's bit scary how fast the weeks have been flying by.  Amazed at this.  THANKSGIVING is my goal for being settled in our new house.  Pray it all goes well.

A shower awaits me so I can wash my hair and roll it in curlers.  Then I will continue to work on garage sale items.  I have had beauticians wash my hair and style it using a flat iron to straighten it.  With the hair products they use I love the way it feels like silk.

I have to try to flat iron my hair MYSELF.  A bit skittish about doing this.  Big chicken.  Don't want to burn my hair.  
A BIG CHICKEN THIS PLEASANT MORNING.  Still the day is beautiful and cool with grey skies.  A wonderful time to take photographs with filtered lighting.

Making HOME a priority,
d  

What I Do In My Free Time

~LOVELY PORCH~

When I'm under the weather, my free time is spent trying to rest and get stronger.  It's hard work for me when ill.  Truly, I don't want to admit that I am sick.  I rest and sit or lie down on the bed.  Do very little if any.  Taking iron supplements to build up my blood count.  Anemic and not liking it.

On an up note...the heart palps have decreased.  I am content about that.  

I've worked on FIRE RECOVERY paperwork and receipts when I can.  I still haven't viewed all the pictures we've taken to help document what was ruined.  It's somewhat trying to look at the pics.  Memories come to mind and I have to process it all over again.  I will get through this.  It's taking an effort to deal with it.  

One day soon, the paperwork will be completed.  A relief.  THE SOONER THE BETTER.  

BUT WHEN I'M ILL, if I can,    
I research articles about health.  I pray.  Sometimes, I research other things like...please don't laugh...okay, it's alright to laugh.  LAUGHTER IS GOOD MEDICINE.
Is Michelle Obama A MAN?
CULTS.
False TEACHERS/PREACHERS.
FAKE FOOD.
Interior Decorating.
Health Issues.
Political junk.
Weather excitement.
The Illuminati.
Freemasonry.
Recipes.
Blogs.
History.
Make-up.
Current Events.
Misc.
EASY ON THE WEB.


LIKE A THREE RING CIRCUS there is much going on even when I'm not feeling the best.  Staying on top of it all is like a juggling act.  WHEN I CAN putts around the house, I am gathering things to purge and get rid of.

Tidying our HOME is continual.  A little here.  A little there.  I spend time thinking about what the next thing is that I can manage to get done.  When I have a little energy, I attempt to do it.    

Still the Dining room is cluttered with items and boxes  f u l l  of items.  By the end of September I hope to have a tidied Dining room.  I think I have it figured out where to store the things going away before they actually disappear.  That helps knowing.  

We did get a double mattress and box springs ordered to replace the one we lost in the fire.  It is suppose to arrive next week.  This will be such a blessing to have a Guest bed again.  The Guest room should be made up by next week-end!  That makes me really, really, really, really, really happy.  The wood furniture is waiting.  Curtains are hanging on decorative rods.  My over stuffed seafood green chair will make its way up the stairs this week-end.  The room will be ready to receive Guest soon.  PTL.  

My Thanksgiving dishes were inventoried, price stickers peeled off, washed, rinsed and dried then bubble wrapped and placed in storage tubs that has been taken down stairs and placed on a rack.   Big whoop whoop on this one.

I am officially a Dish Nuttish (slang for addict).  

Praying I gain my strength.  This is just not happening very fast.  In reality, LIFE isn't like a sitcom where everything is resolved in 30 minutes or a movie where the entire story isn't told.

If you're not sick before watching television all day, you will become sick after doing such.  I watched a television program I wasn't aware existed and made the decision to not watch it again.  The people being interviewed on this particular program were ready to put their fist in each other's faces.  The people are not married and young to where they should not be having sex.  

The push is to encourage people to be sexually active outside of marriage.  The media encourages 'DO WHAT THOU WILT' which is a whole different topic of discussion that is out there.  

In my opinion it is the general consensus of those that own the media to be promote being sexually active with whoever and what ever floats yo boat.  It's working at degrading the lifestyles of many.  Babies out of wedlock.  No commitment inside or outside of marriage.  No marriage.  No morals.  No rules.  

We're not animals.  We are not.

With all that said...I know I need to de-TOX from much.  Spending time in the quiet makes more sense to me all the while.  De-cluttering makes more sense to me.  Making HOME a priority makes more sense to me.  Praying makes more sense to me.

My FREE TIME right now isn't without issues.  One day, I will take a vacation and just sit and twiddle my thumbs taking in the fresh air and blue skies.  It will be heavenly.

Blessings and thanks for stopping by.

Making HOME a priority,
d 

Stay Strong Stay Healthy

Taking an exercise class for older people made me tired.  I hope I can keep up.  I'm the youngest one in the class of 11.  I have to find my tennis shoes among the boxes at HOME.  I know the shoes are hiding from me as I don't know where they are.  Before I buy another pair, I need to look high and low and in between.

https://www.k-state.edu/staystrong/

Today was a new day.  I felt stronger and more rested.  After I exercised, I stretched my legs in the car and took a leisurely drive about TOWN.  This time of year makes me want to spend more time outdoors.  AUTUMN  colors splash across the tree tops making the announcement it's FALL.

I did fall asleep in the chair inside the quiet COTTAGE as the washing machine was running.  THANKFUL for this robot.  I rested until my Husband arrived to pop the Irises out of the flowerbed.  They will be transplanted this week-end for next year's SPRING.    

We took a drive, went to the convenience store for drinks and then stopped by the rock house where we used to live.

We walked through the house as it is being reworked by others.  I'm not sure how I felt about not living there anymore.  We didn't stay long before going to the GRILL for Supper.  
LIFE MOVES ON.  Sometimes I have issues with that.

Blessings,
d

Thrifty Snag

 ~THRIFTY BUY~

Made my day.

Putting a smile on my face as I picked this silver-plated tray up to look over.  A decent price.  JOY.  I walked out of the THRIFT store pleased that I would be taking this piece HOME.  She sits on an old walnut chest in my new LIVING ROOM.  The pretty 24% LEAD CRYSTAL DECANTER sits well.  THRIFT PURCHASE also.

Decorating On The Prairie makes my LIFE more interesting.  It's a mystery what I will find when out shopping.  Pleasant thoughts you 'all.

Making HOME A PRIORITY,
d

Under The Weather

Under the weather as some would say.  Not due to the Hurricanes, but to God only knows why I am under the weather.  
I sat for three days resting over the Labor Day Week-end as my Husband journeyed to Oklahoma to visit with his ill Father.  He is far sicker than I.  PRAYING.

I had made plans to go with HUBBY, but on the Friday before we were to leave, I suffered in a way that I haven't in a very long time.  I thought it best if I stayed HOME while he went ahead and went.  I managed, but am not up to spiff just yet.

Am in hopes that I will gain my strength back and get to being better.  I operate at a snail's pace, but I'm moving.

MIDWEEK is almost here.  Last week passed by so fast my head spun.  

I mustard up the energy to go over to the COTTAGE and wash some towels.

THERE'S NO PLACE TO LAY DOWN except the floor.

I wanted to lay down so badly I could taste it.

SIGH.

Instead, I went through some Christmas boxes 

and got HOMESICK for the past.

Sometimes being under the weather does that to me.

TOMORROW I WILL REST.

I would like to place a HARVEST CENTER PIECE

on the Dining room table and surprise my HUSBAND.

SURPRISE!!!

MUMS and pumpkins seem to be showing up.

BLESSINGS TO YOU,

d

Hurricane Gilbert

Hurricane Gilbert 1988

As I sit here typing on the computer, I should be in bed asleep.  I'm groggy and need to turn in for the night.  Busy day today.  A restful Sunday planned.  Our weather here in Kansas is pleasant.  

Florida is bracing for a hurricane.  I can only imagine.  

1988, the year we were preparing for Hurricane Gilbert, I could feel tension in the air.  This was the year that I grew to understand the importance of having real, functioning shutters on a house.

When we went to the Lumber Yard to get particle board to nail up over the windows, there was none to be found.  It would have been so much better if the house we lived in would have had pre-existing shutters to close over the glass windows.

We survived that 1988 Hurricane.  Just frayed nerves.

Waiting to see the impact this 2017 Hurricane will have and another one behind it.  Insurance policies will go up due to the multiple claims. 

LORD knows I need many pleasant days to get refreshed,
d

Happy 40th

She was surprised.  It was my job to get her out of the house for a couple of hours so my Son and Husband could decorate for a surprise birthday party for SHELL.  Hubby and I usually leave on Sunday afternoons to return to our HOME so when I got Shell out of the house she asked when we would be heading back to Kansas? 

This was the right reason to return at 2 for a surprise party.  Time to mention that I should be getting back to her house around 2 as to get on the road to Kansas.

For a couple of hours we stayed away.

Ate LUNCH at Panera Bread.  Grabbed a Starbucks coffee at TARGET and looked a little.  Then it was time to return to her house for a big SURPRISE!

The guys had pulled it off and the place looked great with guest hiding to surprise Shell.

~FAMILY~

Glad we were there to celebrate this milestone.

Very nice day,

d