MAY THE NEW YEAR BE BETTER

A great Southern TRADITION.  Black-eyed Peas.  Full of nutrition and flavor.  I don't know why I don't eat it more often during a year as it is a LEGUME.  You know what they say about legumes?  They are great for you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

EATING BLACK-EYED PEAS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY IS NOTED TO BRING GOOD LUCK. Taking it with a grain of salt, I will be eating black-eyed peas on new year's EVE and new year's DAY.   

The black-eyed pea or black-eyed bean is a legume grown around the world for its medium-sized, edible bean. It is a subspecies of the cowpea, an Old World plant domesticated in Africa, and is sometimes simply called a cowpea.

The black eye pea is cultivated throughout the world.^[1] Most of the black-eyed pea cultivation occurred in the Southern United States as early as the 17th century in Virginia.^[2] The crop would also eventually prove popular in Texas. Throughout the South, the black-eyed pea is still a widely used ingredient in soul food and cuisines of the Southern United States. The planting of crops of black-eyed peas was promoted by George Washington Carver because, as a legume, it adds nitrogen to the soil and has high nutritional value. Black-eyed peas contain calcium (41 mg), folate (356 μg), protein (13.22 g), fiber (11.1 g) and vitamin A (26 IU), among other nutrients, with less than 840 kilojoules (200 kilocalories) of food energy in a 171-gram (6 oz) serving.^[3] 

IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE WE ATE BLACK-EYED PEAS with my Mom when we last stayed with her last New Year's Eve.

Boggles my mind how this year has been.  Good riddance comes to mind.  In other words, many will not regret the passing of 2020.  I remember last year being full of vigor that it was the big 2 zero 2 zero. Full of hope and anticipation what the year would bring.  An opportunity for a fresh start.

Slowly being introduced to the coronavirus and hearing for the first time the term SOCIAL DISTANCING.  I did not have a clue what that meant.  My oldest son told me about it while we were visiting in OKLAHOMA.  This was when covid was first getting fired up and I thought it best to go visit family before it blew up.  It would blow up big time and quickly.  We headed HOME, but first we stopped off at a grocery store to purchase toilet paper.

We social distanced while in the store, but no one wore mask at the time.  Traveling HOME we went through small towns that appeared to be similar to a ghost towns.  When we arrived HOME, we started our lock down and began a new phase.  

From here on out, we'd wear masks and gloves.  Wipe everything down before entering the house and wash hands umpteen times a day.  Started cleaning the toilets more.  Stayed HOME secure and safe.  The days turned into weeks and then months.

The opinions were and are at war with one another.  No mask verses mask.  No social distancing vs. social distancing.  Listen to the experts vs. listen to no one.  Science vs. gut feelings.  Losing your rights by staying home verses staying alive to where you have rights because you are still alive. Black lives matter to All lives matter.  Don't vote by mail to avoid the lines by voting by mail. Vote so you can voice your opinion to where does it say in the Bible to vote at all?

If nothing else, people have differences of opinions.

May this New Years be so much better.  Lord willing, we will have a new year.

Happy New Year!!!

X♡X

d    

  

HAVING SOME THOUGHTS

AS THIS YEAR ENDS AND ANOTHER ONE BEGINS, I'm easing into 2021. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine a virus like what we have had invade our world in 2020.  I know that death is a fact of LIFE and we do not know when it will knock on our door. With that in mind, I have given much thought about what I will leave behind before it is my time to depart.

I have thrived to be organized and after our fire, I continue spinning my wheels.  Even today four years later I am dealing with details and things that still need dealt with.  I seem to have flopped at getting back on my feet.  A part of me wants to liquidate much and get on with LIVING a simpler LIFE.  I continue working on this.  

Getting where I need to be or near where I think I should be is out there beyond the rainbow. Here I am today and thinking about tomorrow.  Still with current events and LIFE in general, I have a new found courage to forge ahead and get 'er done.  This gives me courage to turn loose of more things.  It is empowering.  Quickly sort through old papers.  Keep, copy, pitch.  Keep, copy, pitch.  Keep, copy, pitch.  In over my head and slow.  

I'll spend my week taking down CHRISTMAS decorations except the tree and front door decorations.  Later in the month.  Slowly starting the new year as New Year's Eve is Thursday. We will have a quiet evening.  Red hots and peanuts, cheese and crackers, maybe a sip of wine. It'll be January before I know it.  JANUARY 2021.

WORD OF THE YEAR WILL BE  SIMPLIFY!  

The coming year, I'd like to exercise more, eat gluten free bread, continue to downsize, read through the Bible during 2021.  Organize like mad.  Keeping it simple.  Really, really simple. Courage to downsize my closet.  Clear out Nic-nac stuff.  Shuffle and shift.  May I not hold on to too much.  Simplify and smile.

Like I said, what will be left behind when I pass from this world?  What will be?  What do I need while I'm alive and what will I need to part with while I'm still alive?  I have been so blessed.  I am blessed.  I chose Jesus many years ago and have been striving to live LIFE as I should.  Still there is always room for improvement.  I cannot be perfect, but am being perfected.  What we are allowed to see may take a life time to see.  I am not striving to be perfect in this imperfect world. I am striving to be.  You do not have to be the best at what you do, but you do have to be.  Be.  

I'm not giving up, but I am changing.  Once more, this is the day the LORD hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

X♡X Simply wonderful, 

d

    

I CAN HEAR THE RAIN FALL

WHAT A DELIGHTFUL SLEEP I HAD actually waking feeling refreshed.  The room was dark in which I opened the curtains before taking my morning meds.  Putting some dishes away and finishing a load of laundry preparing another one to go.  It is helpful to my peace of mind to get a few chores accomplished before getting dressed for the day.

I CAN HEAR THE RAIN FALLING.  Grey skies and chilling temps make staying inside a heart warming event.  Snow may blow into town later this week.  I'd love to see a fresh blanket of snow covering the world just about now.  

Wrapping some small PIPKA children figurines in bubble wrap to place in special boxes I bought yesterday made me feel more at ease with the season disappearing.  Continuing to put away the Christmas decor a little at a time is something with a aching back.

THOUGHTS ABOUT YESTERDAY SHOPPING SPREE.  I stayed in the car listening to Christmas music while cleaning my billfold waiting while Hubby had his medical appointment. Less exposure to humans.  Pleasant day with blue skies. Afterwards, we went to pay a Gas bill, lunch and ate in the parking lot of Joann's.  Wobbled into the store to shop.  I was very happy with the purchases I made.      

I stumbled across a sale yesterday after Hubby's medical appointment.  Walking was difficult as I shopped a 70% off sale at Joann's.  The savings were great finding some large jingle bells, discounted ribbon and storage boxes.  

The ribbon I got was such a bargain I smiled.  Black and red check for my more natural tree next year along with black and white check for the Kitchen.

Mind boggling that a paper storage box originally was priced at $49.99. Who would pay such a price?  $14.95 was more like it, but still high to me for paper and cardboard.  A splurge.  I bought two knowing that my small figurines will fit nicely. 

 

PIPKA FIGURINES

I had plans to go to WALMART to purchase a new frame for a picture my parents gave us in 1986 when my Dad was taking photography class where he developed colored pictures he took himself.  Our picture needed a new frame as it was damaged during our 2016 house fire.  It just wouldn't clean up, so a new frame was in order.  I bought two for the price of one at JOANN.  Good price.

That took care of that task. 

An after thought was TARGET.  Hunny needed some special tea.  The night set in and I went by Manhattan's Festival of Lights one last time this season to see the light show.  We stayed in the car with the radio on that has the lights timed with music.  Being less crowded than before Christmas it was easier to watch the show.  We still stayed in our car.

Onward to HOME relaxing to a movie which wasn't relaxing as it was the 2006 thriller 

DEJA VU.  

Hope to have another productive day.

X♡X Blessings,

d 

A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE NEW YEAR X♡X

AS THE CALENDAR YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE, I am thinking about the past year and what I would like to work on this coming year.  If allowed.  What a year it has been.  

PAUSE.  SIGH.  TAKE A VERY DEEP BREATH and breathe.

These two ladies seem to have overcome the obvious and make the best of things when it comes to knowing what is important in life with a friend or sister.  I smile looking at this illustration.  Peace on earth.  Goodwill toward men.  Giggle some where ever you are. Make LIFE happen with some humor.  You might as well enjoy this life!  

As the coming week approaches, I will begin to put HOLIDAY DECORATIONS away. The front doors' will stay put until sometime in January.  The fireplace mantle will be taken down NEW YEAR's DAY after reading the CHRISTMAS CARDS and praying for the ones who mailed us one.

The Dining room tree is down.  The Nativity Scene's piece by piece will be wrapped and placed in storage box this week.  The entry way will disappear this week.  

The large tree will stay up until January 6th Epiphany along with the stair rail.  The front doors will be the last to go as it was the first to go up. 

Santas will go into hiding probably today.  Snowmen will stay out until Valentine's Day decorations go out if any.

With that said...it will happen as it happens.  I still have not started making CHRISTMAS SWEETS.  ha.  I have the ingredients sitting on the kitchen countertop just waiting.  Today will be a good day to get this started.  Fudge first.  Chocolate covered pretzels and peppermint patties.  I may skip the chocolate covered raisins.  I was going to try dipping large marshmallows in chocolate.  Made a special effort to find sucker sticks.  Shall see.

Hubby has a Eyes, Ears and Nose Specialist Doctor's appointment this week to check out an enlarged lymph node.  I will hit two birds with one stone as we will be near a Joann Store and can purchase cardboard storage boxes for little Pipka figurines that I have.  We knew about two enlarged lymph nodes, but a third one was talked about last September.  We didn't know about it.  The endocrinologist aide did not seem concerned about it, but we are.  The wait and see what it does has already taken place and I sometimes think our present day endo doesn't want us as patients anymore because if we get sicker than his shinning record gets a smudge mark on it.

HUBBY's cancer surgery was back in 2013.  That's 7 years of wait and see.  Now a third lymph enlarges.  Sometimes you've just got to do what you know is right even if the medical personnel aren't taking a serious enough approach to it.  Amen.

I have been reading up on weight loss from the past reading that in 1910 the average age of death was 49 years of age for a woman.  When I stop to think I am 65, I'm old.  I am blessed even though it is more difficult for walking.  I question what have I done in my life during those years? It's sobering.  I have too many messes hanging over my head.  I pray that I am allowed in 2021 to get so much cleaned up and in order that I have some peace of mind that this is in order.  

If this were my last year to live, there would messes that need cleaned up.  What really do I need to leave behind?  This gives me courage to clean out my closet.  To part with much.  To downsize and be in order.  Amen.  I can do this thing.  It will become my 2021 HOBBY.

AND HOW ABOUT YOU?  WHAT WILL YOU DO DIFFERENTLY OR WORK ON?  Slow down and smell the roses or speed up to rearrange the world?  Maybe a little of both.

X♡X BLESSINGS,

d

SUNDAY PRAYERS

EXTRA SPECIAL TIME IN PRAYER for a Sunday.  Taking some time to think about the things of GOD.  

God bless you today and each day,

d

SHOPPING HURTS MY FEET

THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS SALES were a bust for me.  I was on a mission to hopefully buy at a discounted rate garland for next year's Christmas to decorate the outside of the screened in porch.  Large jingle bells. Beautiful day to be out, but I had no success at finding garland or large jingle bells.  It's as if the stores sent it all back to CHINA.  

Drove to Topeka through St. Marys.   A beautiful sunshiny day almost like Spring.  

First stop was Walmart Super Center.   They were so busy, you'd thought it was CHRISTMAS. Finding a parking spot was challenging.  No garland, but I bought a make-up bag set that I know I will enjoy using.  Chocolate covered cherries.  Popcorn in tins.  Nail polish and hair bands.

Next was Hobby Lobby.  No garland.  Left empty handed.

Joanns.  Bought a pretty candle that was 70% off.  Looked at ribbon.  No garland. 

Sams.  This was the biggest let down as they hardly had any Christmas out.  Left empty handed.

Target.  No garland.  Picked up a bottle of water and two see through storage Christmas boxes for my PIPKA Santas that need a special box for them.

3 Starbucks.  Buzzed by 3 different times and if there were 20 cars in line each time, I'd be off. People are shopping for sure and I missed out on my green tea.    

Tired, I decided to drive onto to Manhattan.

Attic.  Thrift shop.  Left empty handed.

Walmart.  No garland.

Hobby Lobby.

Goodwill.  Picked up a wooden grouping of snowmen.  A Christmas ornament.  

Dollar General.  No garland, but purchased some sympathy cards and potato chips.  

Drove to Wamego's Hardware store.  Whaalaah.  They had garland, but it was way too expensive.  Can't justify.

Icing my feet as I type.  I will take the evening off or tomorrow I will not be able to walk. Shopping is hard work for me as my feet hurt and wearing a mask made me so HOT as the temps were warmer today.  Almost like a Spring day.  So pleasant. 

If I have an opportunity for another CHRISTMAS, I will buy greenery garland next November and call it good.  Over the WINTER I will group together all my CHRISTMAS decorations so I know where it all is and what I have.  This will be a WINTER GOAL for me that will help ease my mind so I can relax once again about order.  I hope to use a more natural theme next year with pinecones, acorns, walnuts in the shell, cinnamon sticks, dried oranges and apples, maybe a pineapple.  Might have some paper fans filled with nuts and candies along with jingle bells and angels.  Ribbon of course maybe burlap.  Lots of greenery throughout the house.  Battery operated candles and greenery.  Thinking about swags on the front doors.     

We had a very quiet Christmas this year.  Took birthday cake over to Daughter's.  Saw her whole family on the porch.  Waves would have to do.  A nice Christmas, but very quiet at HOME. Visited with both Sons via computer. Visited with one son's family.  This covid thing is real.  We will social distance, wash hands, wear mask.  I have to say that while shopping, I kept my distance and wore a mask.  Not around coughers.    

This past week, my sister-in-law's younger brother passed away from COVID.  He was 56 leaving behind a wife and two children.  This week-end I found out that my son-in-law has an Aunt that died from COVID.  She was in her 70s.  Lord have mercy. 

May you stay safe and well,

d

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

HaPPy Birthday, Lord Jesus.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!

From my HOME to yours where ever you are.

d

FARMER JONES TURNS 66

'FARMER JONES'

HaPPy Birthday, Honey.

THIS MAN wears many hats and is a renaissance man.  I didn't know the full extent of how talented he is when we married.  I knew he could draw and paint being quite good.  I'd learn as we went.  First he was artistic and played 2 songs on the piano.  Two.  I was impressed.

No singing, but plenty of hugs and kisses.

I had no idea all he could do with carpentry, welding, dog whispering, athletics, hunting, organizing, calligraphy, drive and ambition.  Gardening, mechanical drawing, mechanics, author, chef, and does impersonations.  AND oh so smart with a memory like an elephant's.  Not afraid to work and get his hands dirty.  He was hard to keep up with.  

My HUBBY turns 66 years old today on Christmas Eve.

He isn't really a farmer nor is his name Jones, but he was born on Christmas Eve and his mom's name is Mary.

I'm sure she felt extra special giving birth so close to Christmas.  She told me that her father came to the Hospital when my Husband was born.  This was the only Grandson he did this for that she gave birth to.  Her son was her little sunshine.  

I've known my HUSBAND since he was 18.

We started dating shortly before he turned 19.  I gave him a loaf of French bread, a chunk of white cheese and a bottle of wine for his 19th.  He hated cheese, but I did not know this at the time.  He ate it anyways because he was a starving college student.  If my memory serves me right he lived off of it for three days.

Today he will eat cheese, even buy it.  I'm so glad because it's one of my favorite foods and we eat it often.

WISHING you a blessed birthday and LIFE!

God bless you real good.  I dearly love you.

HUGS,

dd

 

CHRISTMAS CHEER

The CHRISTMAS CHEER you spread may have to be at HOME.  Better to be in good spirits then bummed out.  Smile.  Give some thoughts about what ever is pleasant, whatever is good.

Philipians 4:8

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

   

I need to go to the grocery store and pick up some items for THURSDAY, FRIDAY and SATURDAY meals and celebration.  List is printed out and waiting beside my car keys and billfold.  I wanted to get a few chores completed before heading out the door.  It looks like this afternoon will be the perfect time to skoot along.

The wind blew in last night with sound effects.  It didn't prevent me from sleeping.  Slept well. Woke early.  Skies are grey and it looks like it could snow.  It won't, but it looks like a Kansas sky that the heavens will open up and let us have it.  

I ate a weight reduction breakfast this morning from the 1951 WEIGHT REDUCTION THROUGH DIET.  Skipped the milk, because I'm out.  Drank water and a PERO instead of coffee without cream,  1/2 a grapefruit, toast with butter, and 2 scrambled eggs.  I seldom eat grapefruit and it's been a while.  Twas good.  

Working on eye balling the portion sizes.  1400 calories a day PLAN and I pray this helps me 'ole body respond to reducing.  Pray and practice.  

After grooming today, I will get dressed and carry a basket full of wet towels to the car to drive over to RETIREMENT COTTAGE to dry as I walk on the treadmill for 10 minutes.  Rest and cool off then look through some storage boxes.  Drop off CHRISTMAS at my Daughter's if she's home. Make a drive across the Flint Hills to the grocery store for the supplies.  Be leisurely today.  

Once I get home, I will clean up and put the supplies away.  Make and bake a birthday cake for HUBBY.  Prepare supper, clear the table and break up peppermint candy canes for the sprinkles that will add some zing to white chocolate covered pretzels and peppermint patties.  Fudge tomorrow and chocolate covered raisins.  

My candy will not be ready to mail to the kids until after Christmas and before New Years.  The timing will be fine.  I hope I actually get this accomplished.

Today's plans are ready.  Off I go.

d    

FIRST DAY OF WINTER!

COMPLETELY FORGET THAT YESTERDAY WAS THE FIRST DAY OF WINTER.  What ever shall I do?  COMPLETELY ZONED OUT ABOUT IT until Hubby mentioned it after we looked at the GREAT CONJUNCTION of two planets being very close to one another.  Saturn and Jupiter.  Some call it the CHRISTMAS STAR.  

These two planets being so close to one another won't happen again for umpteen years.  The last time these two planets were so close was about 800 years ago. 

FIRST DAY OF WINTER and no snow here.  Next week it's in the forecast, but then forecast change since they are just a prediction.  I will marvel at the sight of snow falling covering everything in sight.  Will melt my heart just the same.  

We drove over to RETIREMENT COTTAGE eating onion rings from THE GRILL to get our telescope out of storage.  Found a nice place outside of town to set the scope up where the trees didn't block the view.  The scope didn't work well so we eyeballed the magnificent sight in the sky.  I snapped a photo and called it good.

Took a spin around town and looked at the lights.

Made for a pleasant evening.

Ate a hamburger while listening to Christmas music 

while touring the community.

Not bad for the first day of WINTER.

All is calm.  All is bright.

Round yon virgin, Mother and Child.

Holy infant so tender and mild.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Back HOME we went.  Along the countryside is a farmhouse that has a light show for others.  You park in a pasture and tune in the radio station playing music that is synchronized with the lights.  For these parts of the world this is appreciated.  Maybe 10 years they have treated the area with a light show.  Sorry no pics, just memories.

Once we got inside our warm HOME, we watched a movie about Charles Dickens writing THE CHRISTMAS CAROL.  The costuming and interior of the rooms are excellent, but the title is misleading as he didn't invent Christmas and most people know that. 

The thought came to me that perhaps Dickens either did drugs or was mentally ill and hallucinated.  I knew very little about him so google helped me out a bit.  There are many letters of his to shed light on his health issues that he freely wrote about.  He was considered to have obsessive compulsive disorder. He is thought to have suffered from epilepsy as a child and possibly throughout life.  He suffered with constant colds.  His depression worsened with age, and he eventually separated from his wife, Catherine Hogarth, mother of his ten children.

Shame on him for having an affair causing a break up of his marriage.  Jewelry with a note to an actress were mistakingly sent to his home where his wife opened the package with a note to his mistress.  10 children later the marriage ended.  Not sure what became of his wife and children. Dickens would carry on with this actress until his death.  He'd have strokes which ended his life at 58.  Incredibly young, but the actress was way younger than him.  I'm sure she performed her greatest acting achievements while in his presence.  No honors were given. Bravo.      

The man responsible for CHRISTMAS mends broken hearts, brings marriages together and blesses children, not Charlie.  

  

A decent start to WINTER 2020.  It is said that this WINTER will be very dark as the pandemic continues and covid is not a hoax.  I believe the American public would have been better prepared to fight this demon if the man in charge of our country would have informed the country that this was extremely contagious and air born in January instead of down playing it by calling it a hoax.  Now the President is saying this pandemic was created so he would not be reelected.  A  w o r l d w i d e  pandemic created just for him?  He has been called a narcissist.  Can you believe how self-centered he is?  Self centered and conceited that a worldwide pandemic was created specifically so he would not be reelected in November.  I believe him to be off his nut as some say.  OFF HIS NUT.  Insanity from having too many venereal diseases?  I cannot stomach this man.  Once he bragged to Howard Stern how busy he was with European models.  God help us. 

If there's no panic, then the stock market is better off.  Who is better off?  I believe that our President let the American people down by not speaking truthful about the coronavirus in the first place.  AND if I worked for the President he would fire me for saying so, because he does this to others that he thinks have a poor opinion of him or do not agree with his madness or have you not noticed his pattern?

My brother has a brother-in-law lying in intensive care fighting for his life from what our President calls a hoax.  The attending physician informed his family that he has not seen a patient live that has had to take so much oxygen to survive.  He is deathly ill.  I cannot blame the ones that have suffered from this demon to have a lowly opinion of the President.  

If a school building full of students is on fire and the one in charge of the school knows that there is a internal fire but does not call the fire department for help and remains quiet not giving a heads up to the teachers so they can safely get the students out of the burning building what would you say about the character of the one in charge?  That the head person is irresponsible? Uncaring?  That they are reckless and callus?  Demonic?  Sadistic?  Cruel?  Awful?  How would you classify this person's actions or lack of actions?  Then have the person tell others that the school fire happened just so they would no longer remain in charge?

A very sad situation.  Lord help us.  Not all fare well.  So very much to pray about.  So very much.    

Winter has started and cold weather has settled in.  Christmas will be celebrated on Friday. Praise the LORD, we still celebrate his birth.  The LORD has come, let earth receive her KING. Praise GOD, baby  Jesus was born and walked the earth so we might know the very nature of GOD.  Reading the King James Bible is full of life.  Holy is HE.    

I have much to do this week to be ready for a lovely day.

d

 

ONE DAY AT A TIME

Christmas this week.  Happy Birthday LORD JESUS.  He can give a new beginning to all. Health to your bones, and new meaning to life.  Open one's eyes to what really matters and new understanding to the things of God.  Hallelujah.  Hallelujah.  Peace.  Rest.  Direction and counsel.  

OKAY.  Here I sit and type.  FIGURING MY DAY AND WEEK.  A beautiful day to get out and get a few errands ran and walk.  Sun shinny day today with light blue skies and no wind. Wind will blow in tomorrow.  From what I understand, some parts of the country are suppose to receive snow this week.  I wish it were true here in my corner of the world.  I'd love to look out and see fluffy snowflakes floating to the ground.  Perhaps in the new year this wish will be fulfilled.  Perhaps.

This is the week of Christmas.  Planning a large meal for just my HONEY and myself.  Turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, green bean casserole with cranberry salad. Relish tray of pickles, olives, a peach and sliced candied beet.  Iced Tea and coffee.  Water. Candles and music.  Read the scriptures about Christ's birth.  

I'll go to the store tomorrow for what I need.  Turkey is in the freezer which will be pulled out later today to thaw in the fridge.  I like using baking bags for turkey.  Best check to see if I have some. 

Hubby will turn 66 on Thursday so I want to make a cake!  66.  Let that soak in.  66.  I'll take some time to think about this.  I've known him since he was 18.  We began dating just as he turned 19.  Christmas movie and New Years together.  Meeting his family.  Awe, the memories. We went bowling and saw a movie.  We sure liked each other and couldn't get enough of one another.  Time well spent.  By Valentine's Day it was I love you.  I was living in a dorm by this time where I drank cream soda and ate Heath bars.  Fish sticks, soup and Pepsi.  Not exactly nutritious.  Drinking water was not pushed.  Exercising wasn't so much either.  We wore blue jeans and flannel tops.  Rode bikes and took walks.  Held hands.  Studied together and waited for SPRING to come.  Flowers and talks.  Hugs and took walks.  Twas a time to get excited just being together.  We have known each other for 47 years.  Deep breath.  47.  Heavens that's a lifetime. When his voice is as familiar to me as air.  

Make shopping list.

GROCERY LIST:

cake mix

✔️eggs and oil

✔️German chocolate frosting

✔️turkey

baking bag

dressing

turkey gravy mix

potatoes

green beans

onion rings

mushroom soup

celery soup

celery

✔️olives

✔️pickles

✔️peaches

cranberry jello

✔️apple

✔️nuts 

✔️coffee

✔️creamer

✔️tea

✔️water

This week I'll make Christmas candy and a birthday cake.  We will celebrate my dear Husband's 66th birthday and Christmas.  I hope to hit a few after Christmas sales to purchase more green garland for outdoors decorations, battery operated candles and giant jingle bells.  Maybe a few more large plastic ornaments for hanging in the trees.  

If I can swing it, next year I will purchase large yard deers.  A family of deers.  Pappa deer, Momma deer and little Baby deer.  Start a fund and be paying in to it each month so in November, I will purchase a family.  Also, I'd like to purchase gift cards through out the year so come December it isn't such a chunk of change taken out in December.  These would be nice for birthday gifts as well.  $2 bills for the grands.

In the 2021 forecast.  Plans.

1) Deer account

2) Gift cards

3) $2 bills    

Next week before New Year's, I will deliberately stay in slow mo and begin the new year.  Looking over the new calendar.  Praying for those who mailed us Christmas cards on new year's day.  The month of January will be dedicated to putting Christmas decor away, deep cleaning the bathrooms and preparing birthday cards for the year.  Taking inventory of household items.  Looking over the wardrobe to see what needs purchased for the new year.  Housecoats and slippers.   Underwear.  Coats.  Jackets.  Preparing for SPRING!  Valentines cards and candy.  Thoughts about what projects we'll work on during 2021.

One day at a time.  

The door bell just went off.  Hubby says, "There's Santa!"  

Opening the door to a large box on the porch, he picks it up and carries it to the living room where I sit and tells me to close my eyes. I did for a split second and he sees me looking at him.  I don't have my glasses on anyways and cannot see very well.  A blurry sight.

I ask him, "What is it?"  He tells me that I have to wait until Christmas and I say oh come on. IT's a BOSE radio/CD player!  I have waited over 20 years for one since I have wanted one since we lived in Tulsa!  Out of the box it comes and sits beside the tele.  He hooked it up and turned it on. Let there be music!!!  Oh LORD!  Thank you, Honey.  The sound is like being at a actual concert. I'd love to attend some operas, ballets and concerts before I pass on to the last frontier.  

With covid, I will be staying HOME and doing what I do at HOME.  One day at a time.  Let there be MUSIC each day inside this HOME.  

Seasons Blessings and here's to a new year that will be full of beautiful experiences and healthy beginnings.

d      

 

SUNDAY PRAYERS

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK and may we all have a Merry Christmas,

d

Miracle Maker | Western Style Christian Family Movie | Free Movie | Full...

THRIFT, A NIGHT FOR LIGHTS, and CURMUDGEONLY SCROOGE!

Heading down to the wire.  Tis FRIDAY and Christmas is a week away.  Tadaah.  How did that happen?  I'll be working on the CHRISTMAS CARDS today so I can get them in the mail. Cutting it close.  Too close. This happens from time to time.  CHRISTMAS IN JULY.  Next year in July, I hope to take some time to stamp, address the cards and envelopes having them ready to mail in December after typing out a Christmas letter that I will slip into the envelopes, seal,  and mail the second week of December.  That's being efficient and timing out slicker than slick freeing up the month for other HOLIDAY CHEER.  

I don't have too many to prepare for mailing.  I will concentrate on this all day as the laundry swishes in the machine.  Almost caught up with getting all the laundry washed.  Laundry.  You'd think with only two peeps living under our roof that the laundry wouldn't be a problem.  With age and back issues, my schedule is seriously altered and my schedule incredibly erratic. Not consistent.  

The other day, our little portable washing machine that hooks up to the KITCHEN faucet did a no no. The drain hose leaped out of the sink while it was draining water and covered the Kitchen floor with sudsy H2O. 

What a mess.  The pile of clothing I had on the floor was saturated and we had to use the freshly laundered towels to clean up the mess.  I am just about finished with all the laundry that needed washed.  Washing the clothes in this little machine has help keep me HOME and not going to the laundromat during a pandemic.  After the items are washed, I hang the clothing on a plastic hanger then hang on a metal rack for the items to air dry.  Undies and towels are taken to RETIREMENT COTTAGE to get dried.  Towels and undies do not air dry the best as the results aren't nice.  Towels are too rough and undies, well let's just say, we don't need to wear the stiff wrinkles. 

Hoping in 2021 to relocate the machines to our present HOME.  We have hook-ups in the basement, but think the best thing to do for our aging bodies is to have the machines in the KITCHEN.  No stair climbing per load.  I think it will be heavenly to have these appliances present in our HOME once again.  A very nice thing to have around.

For the time being, while I'm over at the COTTAGE I multi-task.  I walk on the treadmill as the laundry is drying.  After walking, I cool off and then other tasks are done.  Up to 10 minutes walking relatively fast.   Doesn't sound like very much, but I assure you, my feet feel it.  By Spring, Lord willing I will be up to 30 minutes.  This should help with weight reduction and toning some muscles.  Hope hope.

YESTERDAY,  we headed over to the cottage to leave some towels to dry, I walked, then headed over to TOPEKA to God's Storehouse to look at thrift stuff.  Listened to CHRISTMAS MUSIC. Like being at Church.  Listening to the words of the songs brings back many great memories of Christmas.  The words mean something to me. 

   

While at the thrift store, I paid very little for a pretty white Queen size bedspread.  Occasionally I buy thrift bedding for extra bedding.  This time I was very pleased with the spread.  

50 cents for a beautiful Sur la Table oven mitt made of 100% linen and cotton from India.  A sweet lil singing angel for a dollar. 

A $2 vaseline glass cake plate.  Picked up some gift wrap ribbon for pennies always looking at the glassware and Nic-nacs.  Sometimes, the clothing.  Too hot to take time to thumb through the clothing.  Mask was uncomfortable and I over heated, so I made it a quick shopping trip.  Took care of business and went quickly to the car.  Mask off.  Breathe.  

At dark, we drove through the historical Topeka POTWIN PLACE neighborhood and oohed at the Christmas lights.  Potwin Place has many large victorian houses that are decorated for the Holidays.  It reminds me of a Hallmark movie or Christmas ornament.  For a small town hick, it's magical to see so many houses lit for Christmas.  Various degrees of colorful decorating.  I lost track at how many Christmases we have viewed this neighborhood.  I have never tired.  Think maybe 10?   

This year the theme was about the real reason for the season, The Christmas Story.

Noticing bright LIGHTS at the Topeka Zoo as we drove by.  Didn't know the Zoo did this at Christmas.  Beautiful illumination.  

Liking the magenta colored lights.

With a drive back to the COTTAGE to collect the towels it was time for HOME to unwind.  BUT FIRST, we went through the local park to see more lights.  Almost a daily activity. 

SANTA and the flying reindeer OVER THE POND.

LOTS OF LIGHTS.

Potwin Place Neighborhood for 

THE CHRISTMAS STORY.

ZOO LIGHTS.

Small Town City Park.

Now to work in a leisurely drive about town to see the lights before they all disappear.  

This week-end.

Shoes off, popcorn popped and relaxing in my recliner to watch a decent movie.  Scrooge, where are you?  Charles Dickens knows.

Watched a very old version of Charles Dickens's story, SCROOGE based on A CHRISTMAS CAROL.  Filmed in 1935 and colorized much later.  The quality wasn't the best, but the story was. 

Ebenezer Scrooge (Seymour Hicks) is a curmudgeonly businessman who hates the Christmas season because it interferes with making money. His meek employee, Bob Cratchit (Donald Calthrop), dutifully serves Scrooge despite his mistreatment because Bob needs to provide for his family. On the night of Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by a number of visions, including the Spirit of Christmas Present (Oscar Asche), which shows him things he cannot normally see, changing the miser's attitude forever. 

WORD OF THE DAY: curmudgeonly.

adjective

1. (especially of an old person) bad-tempered and negative.

   "a curmudgeonly old man"

The word curmudgeon is an old one, originating in the 1570s, but where it comes from is unknown. ... According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word may be "an extended sense of grum 'morose, surly,'" which is probably related to the Danish grum, "cruel."

SYNONYMS FOR curmudgeon

grouch, crank, bear, sourpuss, crosspatch.

SCROOGE is A Christmas Story about a change of heart for the better.  Happy ending.  

I believe when a person is truly born again when receiving Jesus as one's personal savior their heart is tenderized toward others and huge changes occur in the heart.  All things old are passed away.  This movie isn't about becoming a child of God through the spiritual rebirth, but about an old man's change of heart after experiencing seeing past, present, and future Christmases through different eyes.  His eyes are opened wide and he desires to live differently as he awakes on Christmas morning with a delightful change of attitude.  He becomes a compassionate person willing to be kind and giving.

Long post.  Much to see.  We had a full day and I enjoyed it so. Laundry, taxes paid, a walk, thrift shopping, light seeing, a long drive, popcorn and a decent movie. Feet up.

  Merry Christmas and a blessed HOLIDAY,

d

I asked my husband to spell Scrooge for me.  

He spelled, "t. w. e. n. t. y."  He didn't have his hearing aids in so guess what he heard?  I'm sorry, but I had to laugh.