DOWNSIZING IS A LABOR OF LOVE!

HUBBY WENT OVER TO COTTAGE TO MEET UP WITH A CONTRACTOR TO DISCUSS what can be done to alleviate a slight slant in the front part of the COTTAGE.  I stayed home in my housecoat.  g r i n s.  I didn't get dressed until I did some chores then had a shower and dressed in clean garments for the rest of the day.   

Turns out that leveling the front part of the COTTAGE is doable and so it shall happen in the near future as we were told our tiny COTTAGE has good bones.  Praise the LORD.  Good bones here we come.

While I was still in my housecoat, my morning was spent cleaning the stack of smoked stained vintage glass cake plates I rescued.  Just about have all of them sparkling clean!!!  Watkins All Purpose Cleaner did the trick.  I can grin ear to ear because they look beautiful.  Like new.

Here they have been stained since October 2016!!!  Hidden away in a box in a shed.  Out of sight out of mind until this past week-end when they were discovered in a oversized box still SMOKE stained.  

Pleased that they cleaned up!!!  Since they are glass I have no fears of harmful chemical residue existing after I thoroughly cleaned each dish with Watkins then washed and rinsed with Mrs. Meyer's dish detergent.  They are squeaky clean.  

I'll finish up today and put these sweet plates away ready to be used or given away.

Continuing to clean the house today.  I will clean the Kitchen and if I have time, the Bedrooms.  I think I had better make the time as my week is quickly getting away from me.  I have some paperwork that needs done.  The cleaning will continue until Friday when I hope to be ready for company.

I cleaned the vintage cake plates, went through the mail, thumbed through a couple of new magazines, watched some youtube videos.  I am interested in knowing if Orthodox Jews are healthier then their counterparts.  Still out on this, but what I did learn about the Kitchen of a orthodox jewish homemaker surprised me about the not mixing the meats with milk to the point of having two sinks, one for meats and the other for milk.

I enjoy watching the organizing videos and how others manage to stretch their finances, food preparations, decorating, etc.  So many of these videos have opened my mind to a more economical way of living.  I consider the reading and watching homemaking videos as my HOMEWORK.  I am a work in progress even at 66.  

After HUBBY got HOME from the COTTAGE, I was ready for the rest of the day.  We went to MJs for an Almond Milk Steamer.  Impressed that my Husband skipped coffee and went straight for a steamer.  He drinks way too much coffee so for him to get a steamer spoke volumes.  

SAMS was next on the list.  I picked up some groceries for this 4th of July.  I will write out a menu list today and continue shopping off and on for the next few days planning for the HOLIDAY.  My fridge is tiny and doesn't hold as much as I would like, so I must take into consideration what needs freezer space as well as refrigerated.

Off to GOD's STOREHOUSE to make yet another donation drop.  I am amazed at what we are coming up with to donate.  Boxes and sacks after boxes and sacks full of THINGS.  Another large box in the basement had odds 'n ins that I encouraged myself to get rid of.  The huge box was carried to the car by my dear hubby.  This clean-up and purging is coming right along and yet it is an ongoing journey.  DOWNSIZING is a labor of LOVE.  LABOR OF LOVE!

We continue to turn loose.  Soon, very soon, we will have far less than we did.  This is taking lots of time and effort to whip our estate into order.  It hasn't been without much thought.  It isn't without emotions and feelings.  Having to change for the better is part of maturing.  It's a part of healing and becoming better off before we started all of this downsizing stuff.  

I have had time to talk myself into downsizing and what we actually need.  I have had time to think about why we are doing this.  I have had time to decide just what is really needed to survive and thrive.  God has helped me through this journey.  

When a person hangs onto so tightly to things attached to the past or onto things that are from loved ones, that's one thing, but keeping all of this needs to be put into perspective.  Lightening the load is so much needed as a person in my 60s.  We are not promised tomorrow.  Why hang onto to so much?  I cannot anymore.  

I have chosen to relax and not be so attached to every  l i t t l e  item.  I know that I don't have to keep  e  v  e  r  y  receipt I   e  v  e  r  received.  

I will keep some very important ones.....just not thousands and hundreds.  I don't need to and what's more, I DON'T WANT TO ANYMORE.  I am free to relax and go ahhhhhhhhh. Thank you, LORD for delivering me from this burdensome load.  I am free indeed.  

This is a labor of LOVE turning loose of so much when I conditioned myself to HANG ON FOR DEAR LIFE.  Downsizing is an act of love and not so much of one of sacrifice when it is a healing process for a healthier person, for a better day and future.  Amen.  It can be done.  I will continue to heal.  Downsizing is answered prayer.  

*******************************************************    

When we finished shopping, we headed to ARBY's for iced tea.  I suggested that we go ahead and eat their 2 for $6 Arby's Classic Roast Beef Sandwiches and eat on the way HOME.  I ate slowly and sipped iced tea.  We went to the COTTAGE and placed the hot dogs in the freezer as I knew our main house freezer wouldn't have room.  I will go over and get them on Sunday after I have made room in the fridge for Monday's cook-out foods.  Planning a head.  Have to.

4th of JULY MENU:  Hamburgers and Hot Dogs with chips, potato salad and baked beans. Maybe a fresh green vegetable salad and homemade brownies.  I was hoping we could make some HOME-MADE ICE-CREAM, but store-bought might have to do with our energy levels being the way they are.  

For the rest of the time, I believe I will fix a BISON Pot Roast with potatoes, carrots and onion.  I have never tried Bison for a Pot Roast.  Always beef.  Hope it taste alright.  We will eat at a Mexican Restaurant for one meal, have Pizza and Salad at HOME for another meal, Salmon patties with Mac 'n cheese, Sandwiches and Soup, Chili Nachos.  Perhaps this will do nicely.  

After the HOLIDAY and company leaves, I will get serious about looking over the food pantry and make preparations for our AUTUMN/WINTER food supplies.   

Patriotic red, white and blue grace the table...I probably should have pressed these miniature flags before displaying them.  I know it would look better if they had been.

DECORATING:  I stopped by HOBBY LOBBY in hopes they had miniature flags so I could decorate.  40% off greeted me.  Paper Products as well.  Nice surprise.  I planted some flags in the front porch flower urns and made a table centerpiece.  This was quick and easy which is what I needed.  QUICK AND EASY I patriotically salute you.

Making another donation drop today.  Another one!  Have to go get some chandelier candle holders from the light store as we purchased a $15 hanging light fixture yesterday to replace the wrong kind we have at the top of our stairs.  Pics later.  I know we will like the different one just fine.  Meds need picked up and coffee creamer bought.  We're on the way to town so we rounded up more STUFF to donate.  Low and behold we found more to give away.  A large doll, some toy figurines, some children's toys, dishes, bunny stuff, Christmas decor.  And the beat goes on.  Labor of LOVE. 

We have so many freedoms in our country.  Thanking GOD for this.  We have freedom to assemble and freedom to worship.  Freedom to openly discuss matters of all kinds.  Freedom to PRAISE and freedom to complain.  I am so thankful that we still have these freedoms as this is what our country is famous for.  Let freedom ring.

BLESSINGS

~d  

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LIKE BEING GIVEN A NEW CHANCE

We ventured back to the COTTAGE SHED and worked away.  This hit me harder than Sunday's clean up as there were more of our children's childhood things that need cleaned up and sanitized.  Mice apparently got into some of the boxes and had a hay day with the newspaper wrapped items.  We wore gloves which made me feel a little better, but still the items will need seriously cleaned.

We filled a multitude of large boxes with throw away stuff, old unnecessary papers from when we lived in other communities from years gone by.  Medical papers, school expenses for high schoolers, craft ideas, spiritual research, books, junk galore, notebooks, pictures.  

Made a donation pile and a keep pile. The papers that we have kept will be taken into the house and later I will sort through and group like papers together, then shred what isn't needed and file what is.  More time needed on this.  

I will be beyond happy to have order once again.

Pressed glass Cake Plates like this one.

I came across a box of old cake plates that are seriously smoked stained.  Our Watkins All Purpose Cleaner did come in the mail so I will try some of this awesome cleaner on these vintage cake plates and see if the stain comes off.  If it does, then I will wash everything and save for a rainy day.  

Before the house fire, I had my cake plate collection lying on our Dining room table.  The fire happened and they were seriously smoked and Service Master refused to clean them.  I was disappointed, but wanted to try to clean them myself.  My opportunity didn't go away.  Five and a half years later, they are getting an opportunity to become good as new.  I had at first intended to give my great nieces one and my granddaughters.  I may still do this if they sparkle like new.  I hate to throw them away, but will if they don't clean up.  

We made headway in the shed.  I figure about one more very long day of working in there and all the boxes will have been gone through.  We're thinking about bead boarding the old walls in this structure, scrubbing and painting the floor then placing the muscle racks into place filling them with Christmas storage boxes.

First comes the Fourth of July.  The rest of the week I will be cleaning on the main house preparing for company.  

Yesterday, Hubby placed by the curb an old white book case that was in the shed before we bought the property and an old baby bed that came from the shed.  A lady came by and asked about the bookcase and when he told her it was free, she wanted it and took it home.  One less thing to mess with.  The baby bed was gone today when we returned to work in the shed.  That's good.   

PRAISE THE LORD, I am quicker at throwing things away.  PRAISE THE LORD.  I am actually throwing things away.  PRAISE THE LORD.  I throw things away.  PRAISE THE LORD.  I am actually donating things.  PRAISE THE LORD.  I am actually throwing things away.  PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!

We loaded the donation boxes into the car (hurray!), put the to-keep boxes back into the shed then drove to the nearest GOODWILL to make a huge donation drop. Hurray!  I wish my heart would sing some as we are one day closer to having more order.  I think the idea of knowing there is so much more to do that I am having difficulties in smiling at all.  I keep saying we are closer to being done than before.

It isn't easy for me to say it, but I do believe that I am a small town hoarder on a small scale compare to what I have seen on the internet of THE HOARDERS.  I do collect more than I am comfortable with and things have gotten out of hand.  This DOWNSIZING PHASE of LIFE is much needed and I believe we have a great start to it.  Throwing away years of miscellaneous papers felt pretty good when I think about it.  I have no idea why I hung onto so many old calendars.  No idea any more.     

HOW TO DOWNSIZE?  Changing the way I have been living is a work out.  Lord have mercy.

I have to admit, I don't have as many paper as I did a year ago!  I have been working at thinning out the papers for a while now.  I have been really bad about collecting old pictures and frames. Have mercy.  I have had a very bad habit of collecting dishes, dolls, magazines, purses, glassware to name a few.  Way too many Christmas decorations, books and Knick Knacks.  Way too much.

I am not a minimalist, but think I could be if I tried really, really, really hard to be.  I admire uncluttered spaces that are over the top organized, clean and orderly.  I'm striving at turning loose and being more care-free.  

Basket that I kept my hair curlers in from my childhood.  I loved the basket, but she's smoked damaged.  When I came across this basket I held it in my hands and said that these curlers were the ones I used as a teenager.  I am a 66 year old woman now.  Way past time to get rid of these. Away she went.  Bye.  How did I feel about that?  Alright.  No pain.  

Put this boat in gear and let's get out of this deep water.  A storm is approaching.  Time to be back on shore.  Dry ground and seek shelter.  

It doesn't do any good to kick myself that I kept so much.  I did.  I was playing it safe keeping all the receipts, warranties, medical records, etc.  I still will keep work related papers, income tax, sentimental.  I just won't have nearly the amount of paper I once had.  I am alright with turning loose.

I am feeling like a cleaner person, if you can imagine like a ton of weight coming off my shoulders.  Like a new birth.  

I am feeling better about getting the shed cleared out and moving on.  Life awaits me.

~d

SPRING CLEANING HAS LAPSED INTO SUMMER

HAVE YOU HEARD THE SAYING strike while the iron is hot?  The iron was hot Sunday when cooler temperatures made their way to my front door on the Kansas Prairie.  It is awesome to have mild temps where I can stand working outside.  My energy level rose and away we cleaned inside the COTTAGE SHED.

TEMPS WERE MILDER ON SUNDAY.  Decided to change my plans for the day and go clean out the storage side of the COTTAGE garage.  Tubs of CHRISTMAS decor were loaded into our small car and taken to the COTTAGE.  Each time we go, a load of decorations goes as well.  Making our trips count. 

We dove into clearing out the storage shed.  A huge mess.  Things that have not been dealt with for over 5 and a half years were still in place.  After the house fire, this storage shed was used to store boxes and things until we would be ready to deal with all.  In October it will be 6 years since the house fire.  

After the 2016 fire, I was worn out and couldn't tackle anymore of going through damaged goods.  So we hit pause and did other things like buy a house, go through what the cleaning service rescued, moved into a different house, went shopping, waited for furniture to come back to us that was rescued.  Grieve the deaths of my dad and mother-in-law.  Struggle with devastating fatigue.  Get settled into life.  Settled with the insurance company.  Sell the shell of the rock house to a contractor that wanted the structure to fix up.  Retire.  Learning to live on less money AGAIN.  Grieve the death of a brother-in-law.  Politics.  Isolate at HOME while co vid is raging.  Social distance in a bizarre course of events not knowing what was happening in the world.  Learn to breathe wearing a mask when out in public.  Wash my hands more than ever. Disinfect.  Have additional health issues.  Husband diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma. Diagnosed as a diabetic.  Rioting.  Learn a whole new way of eating.  Grieve my favorite cousin's death.  Grieve my oldest brother's death.  See family when we could.  Celebrate a new grandson's birth.  Celebrate grandchildren's accomplishments and birthdays.  Life has been something else since the 2016 fire.  Thinning out and decluttering takes on a whole new meaning.  To God be the glory great things He hath done.      

Sunday, we mustard the gumption to go through much.  There I found a bundle of labeled yellow envelopes holding my children's baby teeth and hair trimmings.  I hadn't thought of these keepsakes for a very long time.  Also family pics of various events like my oldest son's wedding from 23 years ago.  There they be... safe and sound.  Family movies, pictures, cards, letters, etc. were in laundry baskets.  Smoked dishes.  Furniture hidden under boxes of what ever is inside. 

Books and family movies.  Videos and old aprons.  Baskets and knick knacks.  Old suitcases and ice chest.    More to deal with.  I was proud of us for tackling this long awaited event.  I think we will continue tackling this shed as the temps will be in the 70s.   

I came across a packet of snapshots of the kitchen we remodeled in Manhattan in our fixer upper back in 1999.  Gosh, it was so pretty.  I was inspired to believe once again that my COTTAGE Kitchen will be really cute when we get to fixing her up.  I'm glad I took pictures and really glad that they were not destroyed in the fire.  

Many of the CDs found were smoked stained and I will have to get new covers to freshen up the old. The yellow envelopes filled with personal papers are smoke damaged.  I'll spend hours labeling and replacing the damaged ones.  More in the forecast, but I still have them.  I felt a surge of thankfulness rush through my old body as I saw that much was still there for us to call our own.

I have hopes that we will make headway this MONDAY and be nearly done clearing out the shed by the end of the day.  That will be quite an accomplishment.  The muscle racks can be moved into the shed and filled with my precious Christmas decorations.  More downsizing I'm sure. Order is near.  

Back to cleaning the main house before company comes.  I vacuumed the Dining room rug and will dust mop the wood floor later in the day.  Took the celery green coverlet off the table that I was using as a tablecloth.  Found a red tablecloth to spruce up the room for the 4th of July.  Now to locate some miniature flags to celebrate our fine country.  I'd like to plant some in the front porch flower urns as well.  We won't be hanging the banners as our time needs to go into cleaning the house and clearing out the shed.  Having to get picky about how time is spent.

I know that as of late, I have been able to pitch things quicker than ever before saying good-bye. This is a blessing.  I have been quicker than ever before donating car load after car load of things. Where on earth is all this stuff coming from?  Hidden in the basement, in closets, in drawers, in boxes, in sheds, in garages, in this and that.  A new way of doing things has been birthed.  I cannot take anything with me when I die.  As I live, I must live well and not be afraid of living a simple and peaceful life.

The quality of my life is not determined by how many possessions I own, but by the way I choose to live and who I choose to worship.  

Amen.
~d

   

PAPA WHAT IF - rory+indy

PLEASE MOW THE LAWN AT MY CHRISTIAN HOME

PRODUCTIVE FRIDAY AROUND HERE.  Somehow the Dining room table had become a catch all.  I worked throughout the day tidying here and there then when I'd walk past the table, I would deal with items on it and then go off to do something else.

Today I will finish this task and go ahhhhh, back to normal.  

I have a couple of packages I need to wrap the contents in the box and get mailed.  Knowing the way my day will go I'll just get the boxes filled, taped shut and addressed.  They'll make it to the post office on Monday.  A few personal letters need typed up and included in the boxes.  

Yesterday, I worked on five loads of laundry.  Another one needs to be done to say I am caught up once again.  Hurray.  That's a great feeling.

We took some things over to the COTTAGE on our way to pick up our GRAND who said she'd mow the lawn.  

Hubby got a Eastlake Parlor table out of the Carriage house and loaded it into the lil car of ours.  Took it to the COTTAGE and placed it in front of the bay window.  It looks nice there.

I was reading about Eastlake furniture which was made for COTTAGES.  I thought how appropriate to place this table in the COTTAGE.  I'll Scott's Liquid Gold it and she'll be good as new.  I imagine a vase of flowers on her after we get the remodeling completed and the Parlor will need some flowers in the room to brighten her up.  I have a lovely crystal vase large enough to hold a flower arrangement in the Parlor.  Ideas are coming to me about how to decorate a small room in a large way.

This isn't a picture of the exact table, but close enough to give an idea of what I'm talking about.

Took Grand out for supper first then we drove to the main house and she mowed.  It was awfully hot.  The grass had grown quite a bit due to all the rain we've had.  She did a super nice job mowing.  It took her two hours to complete then we took her home. 

 

A storage box full of Christmas garland went to the COTTAGE.  Slowly we are making progress one tub at a time.

In a few weeks, all the Christmas decorations will be over at the COTTAGE and out of the basement, carriage house and bedroom.  Except for the artificial trees we still have.  I have to downsize quite a bit.  Can I do it?  I have gotten rid of some, but have a ways to go.  

In my thoughts I can imagine how the outside of the COTTAGE is going to be decorated.  The inside is coming along.  She's charming.  

While at the COTTAGE we turned on the tele to watch an old episode of a police show.  At ten, I drove HOME and we watched an old movie.  Mr. Deeds with Adam Sandler.  It was a bit too violent for me.  Not funny.  

Enough movies for a few days.  

PLANS THIS WEEK-END:
*Donation Drop.  I will continue gathering things to donate to thrift and make a donation run this week.
*Clean the HOUSE in preparation for company.
*Work up a menu for when company is here.
*Grocery shop.
*Write out bills.
*Prepare for the 4th of July.
*Shall see what else needs done.

Saturday is here.  Another week flew by so quickly it hurts.

AS FOR DIETING...I bought more veggies/fruits making plans to eat salads/soups this week along with a mid-week BONE BROTH day.  The benefits of BONE BROTH are wonderful for losing weight with still getting plenty of protein.  Shall do this.

How shall my Christian HOME be?  Full of order and tidy as a pen.  I am not in maintenance mode yet with all the decluttering going on while going through drawers, closets, shelves, cabinets, etc.

I envision my Christian HOME to be a pleasant place with everything in it's place and a place for everything free of clutter.

My Christian HOME is full of prayer, fellowship, food and rest.

My Christian HOME is in the making so I must do my best to be pleasant to be around while there are messes everywhere.  Some days I am not a good example of being pleasant.  Lord help me.  Amen.

  May you have a blessed week-end,

~d

CAME SO CLOSE

LAST NIGHT WE CAME SO CLOSE TO BUYING A PUPPY.  I love puppies and kittens.  Now isn't the right time to adopt a puppy as great amounts of time and attention should go into taking care of one.  Now is not the right time for us due to working on our COTTAGE and the main house to sell.

I'm shopping for a nice Train Case/Overnight Case for us.  Deliberately went to the Mall to see what DILLARDS and JC PENNEY had.  I saw the line that a St. Louis Dillards has a few months ago.  This TOPEKA DILLARDS didn't have the color I liked.  Expensive as well.

We left and walked past the Pet Shop.  Every once in a while I like holding puppies.  Tonight was the night.  We walked in and right away I spied a sweet buff colored Cocker Spaniel.  Oh have mercy...she was cute.  Tapping on the glass, she would bounce toward my hand.  So when the salesclerk asked if I'd like to hold this lil darling, of course I said yes.

We were taken to a sitting/holding booth, sanitized our hands and out came this sweet lil 11 week old cocker with huge dark brown eyes.  She was feisty and ready to chew our hands.  I bet we sat with her for two hours.  Hubby and I chatting back and forth should we get her?  The asking price was extremely high. We'd have lost our minds if we had bought her for what this place was asking.

The pet company has been in business 39 years so we knew they are a reputable business.  Still, I was not prepared for their asking price that was three times as much as I thought it would be. We have bought an automobile before that cost less.

We were brave and walked away.  I know I want a puppy, I just can't adopt one right now as we have our hands full with remodeling our COTTAGE, downsizing our main HOME and touching up the house for a future sell.  No puppy today or for awhile.  We bought a cocker way back when for $400... that was quite a bit then, but now this pup was about 9 times that.  Outrageous.  

I think the idea of having a puppy is an escape mechanism to avoid the hard work we are doing right now.  The priority of getting our household in order is strongly necessary over potty training a puppy right now.  

Gosh she was a cutie.  I have to be practical.  Amen and amen.

We didn't go to Penneys to look for train cases.  Ran out of time.  Needed to go to ALDI, NATURAL GROCERS and WALMART yet before all closed.  Quickly we whizzed through ALDI, drove over to NG and quickly picked up a few things then drove to the nicest Wal-mart ever.

I was impressed at how fast we can shop when we want to. 

As I drove HOME in the dark, it started raining.  Got HOME around 10:30 and still had to unload and put the goods away.  Sat down at 11:30.  Late night.  

We only put the refrigerated items away before going to sleep.  This morning I finished putting the other goods away.  I did wash up some more large mason jars for vegetables and fruits to be stored in the fridge.  I sure like how these jars holding food looks in my orderly refrigerator. New trend and I like this one.     

We came HOME with mostly organic foods:
strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples, pears, grapes, nectarines,
romaine lettuce, red onion, celery, radishes, beets, cabbage, broccoli, squash, zucchini, rainbow carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, red peppers, English cucumbers, tomatoes,
soy-free eggs, grass-fed beef. 

Our meals are made up of lots of veggies these days and I am so proud of us for following through with changing our diet.  We have done it.  Fitting all of this into the fridge takes some creative thinking.  It all fit...trying to have order as well.  A real challenge for me as I am a natural slob. 

It doesn't come by naturally for me to be neat and tidy.  I am a bonafide slob tried and true through the ages.  Applying myself to be neat and orderly requires a great deal of effort on my part.  Oh the pain.  grins.  Sweat away. 

Gasoline prices are on the rise and so are groceries.  When I look at the gas prices...I start to go into sticker shock.  Lord have mercy and bless me with wisdom on how to make ends meet.  Lord bless me with favor so the bargains come my way.  Lord, bless me with creative thoughts and know how to create and stretch the funds even further.  

I can expect the prices to continue to climb so I must plan on this as I continue to age.  We will continue eating more vegetables and fruits over dining on processed foods...Lord willing.  

Priorities right now are everyday living and downsizing.  Working at getting healthier and remodeling our COTTAGE.  My quiet time with the LORD continues.  

At 66, I have to busy myself with our ESTATE.  Praise the LORD, 

we have one.

~d

 

FIREFLIES AND WHEEL BARROWS

OUR LATE AFTERNOON TRIP TO MANHATTAN meant we'd be getting HOME closer to dark than not.  That's alright as I always drive around town for a few minutes before going HOME after being away shopping in other communities.  The fireflies were busy fluttering about making my journey lit with enjoyment seeing them once again as Summer calls them into existence.  New memories are made for me as I admire their green glow in the park atmosphere.  If I could run to catch them I would like to.

Many memories come back to me as I was in awe and wonder as a child seeing their gentle presence in Marion when visiting family.  I grew up in southwest Kansas where fireflies are nonexistent so seeing these small creatures was a treat to a child from another part of the state where telephone poles are considered to be trees.  Fireflies and wonderfully calm nights are a precious memory to me playing the cousin from elsewhere.  We'd spend hours running to catch the fireflies, place them in jars and watch their twinkling light magically blink off and on.  Look Ma, no batteries.

Before the Summer is gone, I'm going to try to catch some fireflies and reflect about days gone by.  I am not too old to do this yet.  With company coming, I will have to catch some and watch them in my personal space.

I HAVE A WEEK TO GET THE HOUSE CLEANED and ready for company.  A week.  Thank you, Lord for this week.

Fireflies and lemonade...hot Summer nights.  Lawn chairs and iced tea.  Company coming and have fellowship chatting.  Homemade ice-cream and chocolate topping with cherries.  No hurry to be anywhere, but right where I am.  Fireworks will be lighting up the skies of Kansas in small town America in a week.  Our beautiful country and her freedoms being celebrated right where I live.  Lord, Please give me strength to carry on as I am not as strong as I once was.  

Yesterday, we deliberately loaded the car again with donations to take to THRIFT as we were going to Manhattan to shop for a new red wheel barrow at MENARDS.  There wasn't much traffic as I drove to GOODWILL to make a donation.  It makes quick work dropping off our donations at this location.  This chapter in our retirement book will read for awhile as we have so much more to get rid of as I think about the basement here, the carriage house, the other garage at the COTTAGE.  

One load at a time is scaled back to going through everything and getting rid of so much all at once.  I know physically I can not make this happen so the one load at a time is the best option for now. Amen and amen.  

Went to Wendy's for a salad for our supper.  Hubby talked me into it.  I gladly accepted.  We sat in our parked car at the MENARDS parking lot to eat our Apple Pecan Chicken Salad.  The weather was nice enough to have the windows rolled down and eat our salads before going inside to shop.

We are now the proud owners of a new wheel barrow as our old one wore completely out.  Our evening was productive.    

Picked up some bottled water, a birthday card and wipes.  They had some patriotic t-shirts for $4.99.  Picked up a couple to help put us in the mood for the Fourth of July that's fast approaching.  Needed some locking gas caps for our cars as there is a concern of thieves stealing gasoline from our tanks.  We were HOME bound afterwards.  

Took a detour on a back road on Military Trail.  A pleasant drive which has little traffic so I can lolly gawk as I go taking in Nature's tree lined winding roads back to the community I live in. Going HOME seems relaxing as I am in no hurry.  Josh Turner CD is playing as I go.  Singing along with him makes the trip HOME pleasant.

Having our HOME in order is a priority.  I received word today that my sister-in-law has co vid and so does my baby brother.  She seems to be on the mend as her symptoms are different than my brothers.  Both are HOME recovery.  Praying for their health.

In these uncertain times, I am more than ever determined to thin out the clutter and have a lighter weight lifestyle.  To God be the Glory...great things He hath done.  Amen.

Blow out the candles.

Today is my Grandma's 129th Birthday.  You've been gone awhile.  Hallelujah she lived and was a brave and kind Christian woman that prayed in a cave for her loved ones.  She lived through many challenges coming through because she knew the Lord.  Anna Elizabeth.  I'm named after both of my Grandmas named Anna.  Adding a De in front of that seems appropriate.  Deanna I am.

Grandma, I wonder what you'd think of LIFE these days?  You were a very productive, constructive and creative wife and mother to 11 children.  A wonderful cook and gardener that never learned to drive a car.  You sewed, cooked, canned and cleaned.  Had beautiful wild flowers and snapdragons.  Hair down to there and wore small print dresses never jeans or slacks.  No make-up and no jewelry.  Plump and pleased to have food.  Maker of much.  Worked the farm fields as a child, had a third grade education, married your step father's younger brother at 16, worked extremely hard for what you had and left your abusive husband while carrying babies from Canada back to Kansas for a better life away from the beatings and the poverty he created.  

You took a stand and made a difference.  Husband came to his senses coming after you making promises to stop drinking and together you lived as Husband and Wife in the middle of Kansas making a HOME on a small property where you could raise the children and make a LIFE worth something.  A strong faith in God you had and now you are in HEAVEN.  Happy Birthday, Grandma.  You are a GRAND woman.  I love you.  

I laundered the two pillows you made me when I was a child.  The smoke stain and fire smell are no more, but the fibers broke down.  Now I will have to figure out how to repair them as I desire to hang onto them a tad bit longer.

~d

  

DINING ON THE PRAIRIE

ALL TIME FAVORITE

Large Salad, GARLIC TOAST, and Steak

Dining On The Prairie

allows time to eat at HOME in the comfort of our HAVEN.

We can eat as slow or fast as we want since we are empty nesters 

and retired.

Praise the LORD.

We are going heavy on organic foods these days

because we want to and believe that food is like our medicine.  

At wanting to be healthier, we made big changes in our food choices.   

Organic.

Non-GMOs.

Less grains.

Soy-free eggs.

Organic Irish Butter.

Less Dairy products.

Grass fed beef and bison.

Unsweetened Greek Yogurt.

Unsweetened Almond Milk.

Eating more vegetables and fruits.

Wild Caught Salmon not farm raised.

Healthy FATS such as Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 

Avocado Oil, and Avocados.  A few nuts and seeds.

Avoiding HIGH-FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP.

Avoiding eating highly processed foods.

Avoiding Food additives and chemicals.

Green Teas like Matcha Green Tea.

More water like Spring water.

No coffee or cream for me.

No soda pop.

Supplements.

Blessings to you each and every day.

God Bless you and your HOME,

~d

Grilled Carrots, Broccoli and Baked Potato

Tortilla Pocket Filled With Bison Meat, Spring Greens and Cheese

Baked Salmon with Lemon Slices, Asparagus and Mashed Potatoes

Pepper Jack Cheese with Graham Crackers

Grilled Rainbow Carrots and Beets

Large Dinner Salad

Soy-Free Eggs, Melba Toast, Shredded Carrots, Spring Greens, Spinach, Red Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes, Craisins, Italian Salad Dressing

 

Peace Be Still...
Dining On the Prairie is nutritious, 
doable, and affordable.

FIRST DAY OF SUMMER 2022

TUESDAY.  Heat index was like 107 degrees.  Our first day of SUMMER was a HOT ONE for sure.

When I rolled the car window down at SONIC for iced tea, it felt like a furnace blast invading the inside of my car.  Thankful we had no car trouble and managed to stay cool all day while shopping in TOPEKA.  

As I started to type this evening, the lights flickered and for a split second I thought we were going to lose our house power.  We would be most miserable if the air conditioning goes off on a day like today.

Last night we watched a 1992 movie, THUNDERHEART with Val Kilmer, Sam Shepherd and Graham Greene.  Liked it.  Thought the plot was really good.  Would watch it again.

My morning started out by washing yesterdays dirty dishes.  It feels good to have caught up.  Not often do dirty dishes sit out overnight, but we're getting older and sometimes the energy just isn't there after a long hard day of work like we had.  The dishes went undone.  

I went upstairs to get some clean clothes for the day and got sidetracked by hanging my vintage tablecloth collection.  All 15 tablecloths were hanging so nicely on individual hangers taking up more space in a closet than I will be able to have when we move to our sweet lil COTTAGE.  

Since we were going to TOPEKA I stopped off at BED BATH and BEYOND to get a couple of multi-layered hangers where each hanger holds 5 items.  This evening the tablecloths are hanging in a closet taking up less space horizontally.  I know I am thinning out everything we have.  I hate to get rid of these vintage tablecloths because I use them and also hope to make some blouses or a dress out of some of the vintage tablecloths.  I saw pictures in a magazine awhile back and thought I'd like to try this after we get settled in the COTTAGE.

Will hang onto the tablecloths.  The embroidery pieces make sweet clothing as well. 

Off to Topeka for the day.  Lunch at SugarCreek in St. Marys eating a Rachel sandwich on rye bread.  It was very tasty, but when eating one of these sandwiches I don't get the lettuce or spinach like when the sandwich is made into a salad.  I probably will ask for my Rachel Sandwich to be made into a salad next time and ask for the bread to be to the side this way I'd be getting the rye bread which I luv.

Picked up some Black Licorice, Sarsaparilla and Sarsaparilla Tea, Amish Blue Popcorn, Rye Chips.

We didn't leave town until we got our MJs Almond Milk Steamers with macadamia nut flavoring.  My Steamer lasted all afternoon.  Sipped it slowly.

Onto Topeka to God's Storehouse to donate some things.  Weekly donation is history.  Looked around some.  A $4 1961 Betty Crocker CookBook, and a couple of 75 cent quilted China Storage containers were picked up.  Didn't spend very much today.  Had a Peanut Butter Cookie though! Protein you know. 

Shopping at God's Storehouse were three women and a little baby.  Amish for sure.  I quietly observed them in their pretty, simple dresses and head coverings.  I wonder what HOME LIFE is like for them?

I shouldn't be so shocked to see the AMISH shopping at this thrift shop.  It's such a good one.

Off to a couple of Antique Malls to see what kind of chandeliers they'd have to offer.  Went to Wheaton Antique Mall purchasing a Tea Leaf Platter.  

Alfred Meakin Antique TEA LEAF Rectangular Serving Platter 14" 

Left the Washburn View Antique Mall buying Jackie Kennedy Interviews with book set.  

Listened to some of it on the way HOME.  When this came out in 2011, I wanted to get it, but didn't want to spend the money.  Today, the set was under $11.  The set I bought today was from the Topeka Library.  I was surprised that the Library had turned lose of their copy for someone to be selling it at a Antique Booth.

No chandeliers to take HOME for the COTTAGE.  Still looking.  One that I like on the internet is way more than I care to spend.  I'll have to give this a great deal of thought before I spend as much as this one cost.  Choke a horse.  

The chandy I saw on Monday is not electric, but burns kerosene.  It certainly would add a great deal of abeyance, but not sure I want to go this route.  Electricity is more my speed.

After we went to Sonic for Iced Tea and to Bed Bath and Beyond for the hangers, I was ready to drive HOME.  Walking from our car into the house was a little laborious.  My right foot hurt and I felt extra tired.  In September when I have my yearly Thyroid Check-up I will be asking the good APRN that will be seeing me, what his advice is about dealing with horrible fatigue.  

All these years and I have not asked what would you suggest I do about this horrible fatigue I have and have experienced for 12 years?  That just sounds so stupid that it will have taken me 12 years to ask when I finally ask this.  I am so thankful that I have had 12 years past a cancer diagnoses to live.  My journey has been an adventure for sure, but I still don't have all the answers.  I know that I have put on a gross amount of weight since I was 55 and had my thyroid removed.  

It's pretty common to put weight on after a thyroid is removed.  20 pounds is common.  Thyroid gone...instantly you are hypothyroid.  I put on far more than 20.  More like a hundred pounds.  When I'd tell the professionals that I was putting weight on they'd look at me like I had three heads.  I wasn't told I'd put weight on.  I was told that I would have to take a pill the rest of my life.  I wasn't told so much...another post.  

A SUMMER SALAD for supper.  This is a great way to start off the season.  Spring greens, spinach, shredded carrots, craisins, soy-free eggs, miniature cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, melba toast and Italian Dressing.  Ate it one bite at a time very slowly.  

A Thunderstorm has blown in.  A great deal of rumbling going on.  Lights flickering.  Winds are picking up.  Night has fallen.

Basically I had a terrific day.  

Now to unwind,

~d  

  

SLEEPLESS IN KANSAS

MY MIND WASN'T SHUTTING DOWN at 2pm so I submitted to taking a natural sleep aid.  Knowing my MONDAY was suppose to be a busy one I couldn't stay awake all night being extra tired.  I took SOLGAR TRIPLE ACTION SLEEP supplement.  First one to try and it did help me fall asleep.

I didn't wake early though...Hubby allowed me to sleep in.  The tri-layered tablet worked too good.  I slept.

 

I haven't taken any sleep-aids for several months.  With my head racing I did need some help.  GEARED UP.

I had wanted to go to PAXICO early this morning before the heat of the day to look at the antique chandeliers.  Waking so late will cause me to be out in the heat of the day when the store will be hotter than normal.  I will suffer through so I stay on some sort of schedule concerning the COTTAGE update.  I've got a feeling that finding a pretty antique chandelier is going to take some homework/footwork. Been researching it on the internet.

AFTERWARDS, I have to pay a utility bill in person and Hubby has to get a building permit.  14 tubs of Christmas decorations plus some Santas and Nutcrackers need to be unloaded at the COTTAGE.  

I'm not sure if I'll get a coat of paint on the pantry shelves today.  May just go back HOME and continue there.

This morning, the Linen Closet was filled with folded blankets and quilts.  The grooming supplies will be thinned out later today and donated to thrift tomorrow for my haul this week.  If there are other goodies to go then I will work on that.  There's no time for boredom as there are so many things to do.

GOALS THIS WEEK:

This week my goal is to have the Victorian Bedroom completely ready for next week's company.  

The Dining room table assortment of this and that as well as the Kitchen staging will vanish.  

A menu worked up.  

A coat of paint in the COTTAGE pantry applied.

Laundry done.  

Another load of items to go over to the COTTAGE.

Do a round of the COLOR WHEEL DIET for a week.

Enough for an old woman.

I need the Lord's help with getting everything done.

~d