DECEMBER 1st!

December arrives.  Have mercy, if it flies on by as fast as November did, I will be by side myself.  Having to work faster at what needs done.        

HAVING TROUBLE BELIEVING IT'S DECEMBER...November was extremely busy.  Much sorrow and grief along with great joy and happiness.  

THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER 2021.  The process leading up to the burial of my older brother was difficult and grievous.  Each day was a horrible challenge that was painful to go through.  After his burial was completed, I still am in shock of what took place.  

This month is in the history books.  In the archives, but not without injury.  Brother's funeral was November 14th.  

With great joy and happiness, a new Grandchild was born on Friday, November 12th  before the funeral on what would have been my Dad's 95th earthly birthday.  A little boy blessed our daughter, son.n.law, family and us.  Grandma and Grandpa once again.  JOYOUS!

Puts a smile on my face.  I've only held him a few times.  Praying for more time with this lil one to where I can ooh and awe at his beauty.  A very good baby.  A sweet baby.  Wonderful.  

Granddaughter came to stay with us a night on her way to Kansas City.  I dropped my camera on the Kitchen's hard wood floor and this did it in this time.  It must of had nine lives using them all up because this particular drop caused it to die.  Kaput.

After we took GRAND out for a steak for her 20th Birthday we went to Starbuck's for a Coffee and a Hot Chocolate for me.  THEN we went to Best Buy to buy a new camera and visit TARGET.  I haven't gotten the hang of this new camera yet, but have hopes this old dog will learn some new tricks.  Not in the BUDGET so MeRrY ChRiStMaS to me!!!  

CAN ANYBODY SAY TARGET?

Target!

THE NEXT DAY, WE DROVE TO KENTUCKY.  

Made a mini vacay out of the trip.

LIL MISS ran in the Cross Country Nationals in Kentucky.  Hubby and I were able to travel the distance and see her participate and place!  RUN LIKE THE WIND is shouted in excited tones.  Who's kidding...we yelled and we cheered very loudly.  Very proud of her.  Excited to be there and witness this event.  

It's been years since I was in Kentucky.   Y e a r s.   The area we saw was so pretty it makes me want to return.  NOTE TO SELF:  Purchase Green Tea with Pomegranate.  First time to drink this popular tea in Kentucky.  Liked it.  Will purchase some when I return to the Land of OZ.  

I am very proud of my GRANDS...all of them.  It is a delight to see each one growing up.  

OFF TO WILLIAMSTOWN, KENTUCKY

We toured the William Arnold Log Cabin and also went to see the ARK ENCOUNTER in Williamstown, KY.  Exceptional encounter.  We stayed in Lexington and toured the Mary Todd Lincoln Childhood Home as well.

NOTE TO SELF:  Add cinnamon to Enchilada Sauce. Before we toured THE ARK, we dined at a local Mexican Restaurant where the Enchilada Sauce had cinnamon in it.  Hubby raved about it.  I will also attempt to make some Ranch Style chip dip with sweetener in it.  I could have drank this stuff.  Taking these ideas HOME with me.

I ate a salad AND more chips than I should have.

THE ARK ENCOUNTER deluxe.

Cold, wet and windy outside.  Warm and dry on the inside.

Noah knew what he was doing.

BEFORE WE HEADED HOME, we stopped off in Lexington to tour Mary Todd Lincoln's Childhood House.

Beautiful GARDENS in the backyard.  

Always gives me ideas.

@38 years ago, I toured Mary Todd Lincoln's childhood HOME in Lexington when my children were quite young.  I couldn't remember much about it, but this go round I'm older and more interested in historical homes so I snapped lots of pictures admiring the house's decor.  Up my alley.  Touring old houses/museums is something I like doing.  So I do it as much as possible.

 RETURNING TO KANSAS,

 LIFE STAYED BUSY FOR US.

A few days before THANKSGIVING, a Grandson had surgery.  I wasn't expecting my family from Oklahoma to join us for THANKSGIVING, but they did.  He did very well and his Mom said he did better this time then he did the time before.  Praying for health.  

It was wonderful to have all family members in our HOME for a THANKSGIVING FEAST.  My Missouri Son and Grandson arrived on Wednesday.  They'd stay for 4 nights.  A treat was my Son actually taking us out for Supper to eat...Mexican food of course.

Then on Friday, my Daughter and her family arrived to eat with us for our big THANKSGIVING MEAL.    

Our lives are blessed by having a house full of loved ones for THANKSGIVING.  My cup runneth over.  A blessed time for sure. 

The CHRISTMAS TREE is up twinkling 
with flashing lights.  

Ornaments will appear a little at a time over the next few days.  A down-home CHRISTMAS TREE with ornaments from the past.  No fancy themed tree this year.  I guess the having no theme IS the theme.  It will be a colorful tree displaying years of memories all over it. 

On the last day of NOVEMBER, I made a trip to TOPEKA to go to the THRIFT SHOP, eat a salad, shop at Nature's Groceries for this week's veggies, look for a new vacuum and battery for the car at Menards, then drove through POTWIN PLACE twice to see the Christmas lights in this neighborhood.  Potwin Place has celebrated Christmas for 60 years.  I think I have driven the neighborhood at Christmas for about 10 of these.  Always CHARMING to see.  Fairytale like.   

PRAISE THE LORD!  Not all of NOVEMBER was sorrowful.  Much joy.  I welcome it.  The more JOY the better.   

TODAY I CLEANED OUT THE FRIDGE, did some laundry, worked on Christmas gifts, wrote out correspondences, organized the fridge, hung some Christmas ornaments, snipped price tags off some thought clothing I bought, went through the mail, stayed in my housecoat all day, washed dishes, what else...blogged.

THE FRIDGE had to be cleaned out before putting the new fruits and vegetables in it.  Being gone so much before THANKSGIVING didn't allow me the time to clean out the fridge before all the activities took place.  I was pitching grunge today.  Out you go.  Moldy, wrinkled and icky yuck.

Washed the pull drawers, lined with paper towels and placed the healthy organic foods in these drawers.  I filled my fridge with asparagus, apples, oranges, grapefruit, pomegranate, radishes, Bibb lettuce, Romaine lettuce, orange carrots, colored carrots, broccoli, broccoli, broccoli, green peppers, yellow peppers, yellow squash, celery, beets, purple potatoes, sweet potatoes.  Need berries and some spinach.  

Shuffled the tiny Pantry I have.  Filled a shelf with organic juices such as Apple, Blueberry, Carrot, Tart Cherry, Cranberry, Grape, Pink Grapefruit, Pomegranate, Tomato and Veggie Juices.  Set for awhile.

Another shelf in my tiny Pantry was filled with organic soups in cartons.  Butternut Squash Soup, Cashew Carrot Ginger Soup, Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato, Vegetable Broth, Chicken Bone Broth.  

This is a far cry from how I ate a year ago.  There is HOPE.  It's called change.  I have changed quite a bit over the last year.

HUBBY turned on the OZONE MACHINE in the Cottage.  We had a nice discussion about what we need to do to get ready to work full force on our Cottage.  At times, I do get a bit overwhelmed and this just slows me down.  

I'm taking it one day at a time with breaks,

~d