HEY FRIDAY

YESTERDAY was really busy, but a really nice day to live.  I will need to rest some today to make up for the energy I used.  Maybe do a load of laundry, scrub the powder room toilet and clean out the fridge.  It only takes a small effort to make the inside of the fridge become mayhem.  humph.  Not taking it so personal will help keep balance in life.    

If I clear it out, take a good look at what I have in there, it might allow me to get it back to being organized.  There is no way my fridge looks like the super organized ones I have seen on youtube tutorials about getting ORGANIZED.  Perhaps it's too ambitious to take on the fridge today. Maybe this week-end I can mustard up the energy to create a organized fridge once again where all the organic veggies can live together until they are eaten.  

I'll be making a list of things to purchase for the week to come.  Then fill the fridge ready for food prepping.  

Today, A WALK will happen.  A slow leisurely walk.  This evening.

Right now, I am having a slow morning.  Getting ready to mash a clove of garlic and swig it down with cold water.  Wait a minute, then  drink a hot water.  Will it be a good thing?  Yes.  I'm up for some change.  I have been taking apple cider vinegar capsules, but have ran out.  So I will use 1 Tablespoon liquid apple cider vinegar with a glass of water with meals.

That will be water with the garlic, water with the apple cider vinegar, water with medicine, water with vitamins, water with Metamucil, and water with meals.  Water...pure and delicious hydration.  grins.  I will be visiting the powder room a great deal more than before.  

Still on the look out for a housecoat and cod liver oil.  I'd prefer to not take anything with cellulose in it as this is saw dust.  I need to make a list of vitamins, minerals and other supplements that I'd like to add to my in take.  Shopping the internet might be my best bet. 

With so much being ordered over the internet these days, it reminds me of stepping back in time where things were ordered from the Sears and Roebuck Catalog then delivered via train or stage coach.  

Brick and mortar shops seem to be saying more often and much of the time, we don't have that in the store, but we can order it and it will be here in a couple of days.  This helps with their inventory each year.    

Thursday was a good one and I was contented with what got accomplished.  Dropped off a load of towels to dry over at the COTTAGE.  As we were leaving town, I noticed that the local Antique Shoppe had some china in the window displaying ALFRED MEAKIN Royal Ironstone China coffee cups with the TEA LEAF pattern.  Five coffee cups were purchased!  A quick sale for them.  Cha-ching.  

Internet source of dishes

Not too often do I come across a piece of this Royal Ironstone China with the lustre coppery design on it.  Years ago when I'd visit the Antique Emporium I'd see a piece and eyeball it.  I wasn't overly impressed by these ancient dinnerware pieces, but it seemed like I was forever eyeballing them.  The admiration began to soak in and my thoughts about owning some changed a tad.  First, I bought a platter.  Had it for a few years and then last year I bought a covered casserole/vegetable dish and positioned it amongst some other old pieces I have collected over the years.  

BUT YESTERDAY 5 little coffee cups caught my eye.  I tend to gravitate toward older dishes. There are a couple of styles that I just ought to purchase in sets and get it over with, but the finding a piece here and a piece there is like being on a scavenger hunt.  The fun is in the hunt. They are now sitting in my corner hutch along with two other pieces.  The hunt continues.  

How do I label this Tea Leaf Pattern?  ROYAL IRONSTONE CHINA ALFRED MEAKIN ENGLAND TEA LEAF.    

I'll have to research this and get better informed about my new old collection.

BACK TO YESTERDAY.  I had my iced green tea before going to a physical therapy session that lasted 45 minutes.  Afterwards I wanted to treat my husband to a 3 minute massage at the MALL where you feed the massaging chair a dollar before it rubs and karate chops your back and squeezes your calves.  He really liked it so he fed it another dollar to get an additional 3 minutes. 6 minutes altogether.  Not bad for a massage.  $5 would get 15 minutes.  Next time?

We left the MALL and went to the KSU GARDENS to see what Irises were bloomed only to find out that new rules are on signs at the Gardens for those touring during business hours where you must text and leave a photo of one's car tag.  I don't text and have no way to send a photo to them.  So we left and would return after 5 PM when they are open without texting.

Off to Sonic during HAPPY HOUR with drinks half off for an afternoon beverage to help quench our thirst since it was a little warm outside.  To the grocery store.  I road a motorized cart to help with my back while checking out their vitamins and organic products.

Back to the Gardens.  We didn't stay very long, but long enough to snap a few pics of some blooms.  Each week during the season I'd like to return to see the different blooms. 

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

VANITY

Then drove HOME into the sunset.  Unloaded our spoils and had popcorn while watching a movie.  The popcorn wasn't enough so left over chili was warmed up and have mercy it was so good.  Made from grass fed beef and 3 types of organic beans, tomato sauce and spices, organic ketch-up, organic peppers and onions.  It hit the spot.

RESTED WELL.

Today is going well.  Easy task was to organize one kitchen drawer.  Tea towels are folded a certain way then lined up just so so in the drawer.  Marie Kondo would be pleased.  

Went through the mail, put some dishes away, washed some blue jeans, folded some towels, made mental plans on how to decorate RETIREMENT COTTAGE.

I weighed myself and I am two pounds lighter.  This helps me to stay on the path I am presently on to drop some weight.  My journey will take months, but with feeling better I will stay the course.  It isn't about crash or fad diets, but about lifestyle changes that are doable.  When I do get a craving for a certain food, I can have a taste and stay away from a huge portion amount...quoting a new mantra, I AM NOT DEPRIVED.  I AM BLESSED.

Lunch will be a huge spring green salad, onion and tuna.  Shake some pepper on it and use olive oil, balsamic vinegar, white vinegar, Italian spices, and water mixed together for salad dressing. 

Supper will be Friday night HOMEMADE pizza.  I'll eat the pizza toppings with a fork and scoop side salad onto the emptied crust nibbling salad with the crust.  I can handle it this way. The second piece I will eat the topping and forget the crust.  When recording what I eat, I'm cutting back on the carbs.  

My Fitness Pal is a friend these days as I can see where the carbs are coming from and helps me keep a mental tally of counting calories striving to hit the 1200 calorie mark each day. 

PLANS for the week-end.  Paperwork gone through that is in a laundry basket.  I will eventually be done with the pile of to-dos that are beside my chair.  

Lavender wreaths made.

Paperwork gone through.

Back to the dining room to get ready to paint.  Taking some time to get there.

Beautiful day outside.  French doors are open.  Fresh air coming in.

Dear Lord, thank you for days like today,  

🏡d

THURSDAY IRISES

TODAY THE IRISES HAVE STARTED TO BLOOM!!!  I am a Iris LOVER and each year I look forward to when they bloom.  Taking an interest in IRISES helped me make it through a rough time in my LIFE and a new passion developed.  I liked Irises from my childhood and kept admiring them through the years, but it was when my husband planted Irises along our wood fence at the rock house that my passion took flight.  

Presently their green leaves started getting LUSH last week and buds began to show up. Today...a few have bloomed.  My cup of excitement has ran over.  This seems to have happened rather quickly as the buds along the sidewalk came forth almost like overnight.  I am amazed at this.  I caught myself saying out loud, "Look at that.  All those buds!  Wow."

WHEN THESE BLOOM, it will be a beautiful sight to see and the fragrance will be pleasant.  These are heirloom Irises with a bubble gum scent.  Most Irises I have been around do not have a pleasant fragrance, but these are the exception. 

A few have bloomed elsewhere in the yard. 

LIKE A WATER COLOR PRINT.

Yesterday, the temps were in the 70s and the sky was very cloudy.  I think this encouraged the flowers to bloom over night.  This white with yellow was one of the first to bloom.

This week I may have to go to the KSU Gardens in Manhattan, Kansas to see what they have in bloom.  Each week during the blooming season they have a huge variety of Irises each one so different from the others.  It's MAGICAL.  I am blessed to get to see them.  SO blessed.  Season 2021 has begun.

ONCE AGAIN, I slept very well through out the night.  When I sleep well it is very much appreciated because several years ago I came to an understanding what NOT sleeping soundly through the night was like for a solid 7 years.  7 years.  Not a number of completion or maturity. It was draining to not be able to sleep soundly.  Exhaustive.

I started sleeping better then trauma happened with the house fire in 2016.  Eventually we relocated to a different house. It would be late in 2020 that I finally can admit, I am resting the best I have in years.  PTL.  Thank you dear God.

TODAY, I have an active day planned ahead.  I hope it goes well.  May your day go well.  

Blessings,

🏡d

  

MY SHIP'S COMING FROM CHINA and it's loaded with GARLIC

 

WHICH GARLIC HAS BEEN BLEACHED and comes from China?

Because it's bleached with chlorine it will not sprout while in on it's way to America.

The garlic on the right is from America.  America does not take off the roots.  A sure tell tell sign that the garlic isn't from China.

Chinese farmers use harmful chemicals that are banned in America to grow their crop.  They also use sewer water which is high in lead and heavy metals.

Garlic from China has a bitter and metallic taste.

Garlic from America is better for you and your loved ones. 

Here's to HEALTH!

d

Continue:

If you remember the Delany Sisters, Sadie and Bessie, they'd mash a clove of garlic per person and take it every morning with boiled water.  A glass of cold water with the garlic then drink hot water after taking it.  Also took cod liver oil.  

Sadie lived to be 109 and Bessie 104.

They drank boiled water, took vitamins, a clove of garlic each day and lived as Christian as they could.  They managed to stay in their own HOMES cooking, cleaning and doing their own finances.  Both college educated and never marrying.

  

The combined effects on reducing cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as the antioxidant properties, may reduce the risk of common brain diseases like Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Summary Garlic contains antioxidants that protect against cell damage and aging.

Throughout history in the Middle East, East Asia, and Nepal, garlic has been used to treat bronchitis, hypertension (high blood pressure), TB (tuberculosis), liver disorders, dysentery, flatulence, colic, intestinal worms, rheumatism, diabetes, and fevers.

Scientists now know that most of its health benefits are caused by sulfur compounds formed when a garlic clove is chopped, crushed or chewed.

Perhaps the most famous of those is known as allicin. However, allicin is an unstable compound that is only briefly present in fresh garlic after it’s been cut or crushed.  Other compounds that may play a role in garlic’s health benefits include diallyl disulfide and s-allyl cysteine.  The sulfur compounds from garlic enter the body from the digestive tract and travel all over the body, where it exerts its potent biological effects.

I will be taking a clove of garlic starting this week.  I've yet to get some cod liver oil, but will start taking this after I get some.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Here's to better HEALTH and well being,

d

TERRIFIC TUESDAY and I have a plan

NO OBLIGATIONS TODAY so I can stay HOME and fiddle.  The French doors are wide open allowing fresh air to come inside.  Birds are singing.  Skies are grey.  As I type, the little washing machine in the Kitchen is whirring away.  Towels are being washed by my robot.  Sipped on a smoothie made of spinach, kale, broccoli, yogurt, honey, and milk.  Next time no broccoli.  It made the drink too gritty.  Nutritious, but gritty.  

For lunch I believe I will fix myself a large salad made of spring greens, a little cottage cheese and sprinkled with nuts.  Maybe some chickpeas and black beans.  I'll take apple cider vinegar capsules and finish it off with Vitamin D, Omega-3 fatty oils, cinnamon and regular multi-vitamin. Yummers.  Remembering that this is good for me and helping me become healthier and slimmer. Emphasize healthier and slimmer.

Earlier I cleaned off three wreaths that were covered with faux flowers.  I'm planning on recycling the wreaths and reusing two of them for faux lavender wreaths that will hang on the front doors.  The other one...maybe lemons on it with a black and white checked bow for the Kitchen.  I also took the morning to go through photos my Mom gave me.  A huge bag with my name on it.  

The pics of my kids when they were growing up have been gone through and sorted, placing them in large yellow envelopes to give to my kids for their own safe keeping.  I want my adult children to have some of their own.

During the pandemic staying HOME more than normal, I have been going through old photos that came in individual envelopes with negatives and putting them in cardboard photo boxes. Round one.  Second round will be to sort them again and write on the backs of the pics grouping them.  I'm not sure I can find photo albums like I had years ago.  I already tried to find some in box stores. Will check the internet one of these days.  Maybe I will group the pictures and have books made out of them.  That will take some doing, but each child could have books with images of them at special occasions in their lives.

The snap shot pictures Mom gave me had me in tears.  So many great gatherings of family. Pictures of when Mom and Dad were young and dating.  Pics of when my children were babies. Birthdays, Christmases, Easters, Graduations, Celebrations, etc.  I wasn't alive when my Grandpa H. passed away, but there was a picture of his funeral with lots of flowers beside the casket. Pictures of Great Aunts together.  So many.

Hubby went to pay a bill in person in another small town that did some landscaping work for us. I had mailed them a check back in March which they never received.  We checked our checking account and the check I sent has never been cashed.  Only thing I can think of is it made the rounds elsewhere and got lost in the mail.  Once I mailed a dental payment which cycled about in other states and took longer than a month for the dentist to finally receive it.   

I truly need a beauty spa treatment to do my hair up in curlers to air dry after shampooing.  I am so slow it hurts.  

TODAY, I have a plan.  It's a good one.  This Tuesday is terrific.  God's peace and harmony.  After I get my hair styled, I will forge ahead going through papers that need sorted and grouped.  Have mercy.  I just haven't been able to keep up.  Grace and mercy please.  I want so badly to have this done.  Wipe my brow and smile.  

AND AWAY I GO.

Blessings to you,

🏠d

MARVELOUS MONDAY I HAVE A PLAN

HAD A VERY GOOD START TODAY ON THIS MONDAY.  Our auto insurance will be $400.oo less a year since we turned loose of one of our old jalopies.  It seems odd looking out at the drive and not seeing WALLY.  Just as well that he's gone.

I weighed myself and I'm a whopping pound lighter!  That goes to say...weigh myself each Monday morning is the way to begin the week. 

Another book I ordered came in.  Judy Lindberg McFarland's book, AGING WITHOUT GROWING OLD.  This made my heart sing as I know this book is a very good one full of information.  If I do find the one book I have lost somewhere in the house, it will be alright to have more than one.  Nutrition Express, the nutrition company that Judy started had exchanged hands as she is in her 80s.  They no longer sell her book.  So if you can find one through another company it would be a good investment to have in your HOME Library on the book shelf.  

👍Latest Anti-Aging Therapies for Men and Women

👍Conquering Menopause Without Drugs

👍Men's Unique Challenges: Testosterone & Prostate

👍Nutrients To Boost Memory & Brain Power

👍Relief for Arthritis & Joint Pain

👍Nutrition Guide for Vibrant Health

👍Preventing Heart Disease & High Blood Pressure

and much more.

I first became aware of Judy back in 2000.  I was amazed at her knowledge and know how.  Still am.  

This glorious day, it started out 73 degrees and was suppose to get up to almost 90 degrees this afternoon.  With it being windy, the temps were tolerable.  I put on a short sleeve top and blue jeans to go to PHYSICAL THERAPY over in Manhattan.  The therapist asked some questions then told me what we'd be doing today.  He worked on my spine while I laid on my side.

Then I did 4 minutes of rotating my knees from side to side while lying on my back.  About half way through this, my groin area felt it.  Took a short walk.  A belt was placed under my bent knees while I was on my back for traction.  This actually felt good.  Left with a smile on my face. Mission accomplished for the day.

Off to get some iced unsweetened green tea and travel to where RETIREMENT COTTAGE is to drop off some laundry to dry and a box of glassware.  The prairie is greening up as cattle graze in the fields.  Beautiful blue skies and green grass is a pretty sight to see.  It's mental therapy for me.  

Hubby and I sat in the COTTAGE and talked about what we'd like to do to the inside of the cottage.  Then we walked around the back yard and did some planning for a rhubarb patch and where the hedge row of lilac bushes will eventually go.  The one lilac bush in the backyard is full of lavender colored blooms and we could smell the sweet fragrance as we got out of the car. Heavenly scent.  After the blooms die off THEN we'll prune the bush.  If you prune the lilac bush any other time during the year, it causes the lilac not to bloom the next Spring.  

Another drive.  Off we went to Westmoreland to turn in a car tag.  We drove around the tiny town of Westmoreland and sang along with some Blue Grass Christian music.  Driving across the Prairie listening to peppy music lifts my spirits.    

I sipped on green tea the entire time and have not ate today so far.  We will have an early supper. I'll eat only vegetables and hope to do this for 3 days to see if some weight comes off my hypothyroid body.  Then I'll return to eating vegetables, fruit, some meat, and milk.  I don't want to get discouraged about being a big woman.  Taking care of oneself at any size matters.  

I am proud of myself for not having coffee with creamer for almost 9 months.  The time of a pregnancy.  This makes me blink and think, I can't believe how time has passed with not having coffee.  Staying strong on food choices.  I have been tracking my foods on MY FITNESS PAL for 45 days.  I actually like doing this as I have a diary of what I have ate, can count the carbs and calories.

Over the week-end I tuned in to a youtube program about what's in food we eat.  I am stunned with the info I gathered.  Stunned.  Shaking off the unbelief and forging ahead to a healthier woman.  I had bought some sugar-free Metamucil and now I wish I had just purchased the regular kind without aspartame.  I will wait until payday to buy more Metamucil without artificial sweeteners.

Metamucil is going to help with lowering high cholesterol, lowering blood sugar and help me lose some weight.  All three things I am dealing with at the present.  I'm taking Omega-3 fatty acids which are suppose to help with my issues.  Stay away from Omega-6's.

I'm gathering information about inflammation in the body.  When we have inflammation, the brain sends cholesterol out to help deal with the inflammation.  If the inflammation is gone, less cholesterol in the blood stream and body.  A win win situation.  So eating foods that cause inflammation encourages the brain to send out cholesterol and now you have high cholesterol to deal with.

Back in the day, housewives across America were convinced that margarine was better for you, so out went the BUTTER and hello margarine.  To this day, my Mom eats margarine instead of butter.  My Mother-in-law did the same thing.  Now a days what does margarine do for you?  Bad ingredients that help keep you sick.  What's in margarine?  

Margarine is a butter substitute typically made by combining water and vegetable oils, such as soybean, corn, palm, canola, or olive oils. Ingredients like salt, colorings, and natural or artificial flavorings are sometimes added as well.  Why is margarine so bad for you?  In general, the more solid the margarine, the more trans fat it contains. So stick margarines usually have more trans fat than tub margarines do. Trans fat, like saturated fat, increases blood cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease.

TRANS FATS are bad for you.  Corn is more than likely a GMO crop and high in sugar.  No no on the palm and now canola is bad.  Remember how the American Heart Association promoted canola oil being better for heart health?  Now canola oil is a beast.  

I HAVE A PLAN:  I will continue to take my thyroid meds on a empty stomach after rising in the mornings, exercise then after 30 minutes sip lemon water.  Wait 30 more minutes then take a clove of garlic and cod liver oil.  Eat a big breakfast and then clean up for the day.  Do my paperwork, laundry, rest some while reading and figuring my day.  Time for lunch.  Afterwards do a few chores and rest.  AFTERNOON TIME OFF.  Supper time.  Dishes.  Rest and watch a movie.  Bedtime and deep sleep.

Metamucil, apple cider vinegar, lecithin, Vitamin D3, vitamin pill, omega 3 pill, cinnamon pill. Extra virgin olive oil.  Concentrated effort to eat organic and non-GMO foods, drink green tea. Kale, spinach, yogurt and blueberry smoothies.   

SUPPER was all vegetables tonight.  Two thirds of the dinner plate held organic green peppers and onions prepared with cold pressed 100% extra virgin olive oil.  The other third of the plate held starchy vegetables.  Boiled potatoes topped with salsa.  Sipping green tea. Followed up with two apple cider vinegar tablets.  

 Filled my belly and I'm thankful to have this much to eat.  

I am not deprived.  Thank you Lord.

On the HOME front, I came across a nest of 3 old glass mixing bowls at the THRIFT SHOP.  Like stepping back in time.  I like the shape of these particular mixing bowls so they came HOME with me.  Only $3.50 for the set.  Very reasonable.

  We went to my favorite THRIFT SHOP in Topeka over the week-end where I purchased a THRIFT DRESS for inspiration.

It is the size of dress I am praying to wear when I hit my goal.

I thought it was a very pretty dress and I think I will be pleased as punch to be able to wear it in a year.

I will leave the dress out so I can see it when busy about the house.  Years ago, I remember reading that you should hang a swimming suit out to where you can see it to inspire you to stay focused losing weight.  Reducing isn't always an easy thing to do, but if I can look at the dress, I believe I will engage in wanting to achieve my goal.

No swimming suit for me just yet, but I think I can get away with a nice dress.

So this MONDAY, the wind blew and the temperatures are like SUMMER, auto insurance has lowered, I lost a pound, a book came in the mail, hung a dress for inspiration, I went to physical therapy, drove across the prairie and saw beautiful landscaping, day dreamed about RETIREMENT COTTAGE, looked at some old photographs, talked to a son on the phone, ate well and have time to rest. 

Thanks for stopping by.

I had a marvelous Monday,

🏡d

 

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