DINING ON THE PRAIRIE

 DINING ON THE PRAIRIE sings a new song
FOOD MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND!

How's your world spinning???

We're choosing to eat more nutritionally dense foods 
instead of highly processed ones.

Here are some meals we recently had.

Breakfast

Oatmeal with cocoa and small amount of Maple Syrup stirred in then topped with organic blueberries, dried cranberries, 

almond slices and a few seeds.

Avocado Toast

Avocado made into Guacamole then topped onto
Killer Dave's Good Seed Toast

To make quick Guacamole

mash avocado adding organic salsa, salt and splash of lime juice. 

Mix well and spread on top of toast. 

Yogurt

Yogurt topped with Trail Mix of sliced almonds, pecans, walnuts,
blueberries, dried cranberries, seeds
and small amount of maple syrup.

Dinner Salad

Organic Spring Greens, Cherry Tomatoes, Green Olives and Balsamic Dressing. 

Chicken Tenders, Potatoes
and Sauteed Green Beans

Meatless Meal
Sauteed Red Peppers, Onions and Potatoes

Vegetable Medley

Broccoli, Cauliflower, Baby Carrots and Potatoes

Dining On The Prairie is one of my favorite
HOT SPOTS to eat at. 
I still like going to Restaurants to eat,
but eating at HOME takes first place.

HOME is where the FOOD is,
~d

HOW DID I SPEND THE DAY?

SORE BEYOND WORDS.  I had an awesome Saturday as we went to see the CROSS COUNTRY STATE MEET in which my Granddaughter was running.  Beautiful Autumn day as it wasn't windy, the skies were blue and the temps were tolerable with no rain.  She came in second in her district.  What a sweet VICTORY to have at such a young age.  

SHE HAS RAN THE RACE!  After walking to various locations on the 3.2 mile course to cheer my GRAND on and then sitting on the bleachers for the awards ceremony...the day after came with consequences to my old body.  I could not walk well the day after.  I can't explain the discomfort my feet have.  I spent the day with my feet up and resting.  Very little assertion.  I had to take it really easy as I could hardly move.  Pain patches went across the tops of my feet.  The discomfort is almost like a sprain-slash-bruise sensation.  Something funky going on with the muscles.

We run races in our lives don't we?  The race I'm running now is a marathon...not a sprint.  I'm thinning out old papers, checks, photographs, cards, letters, etc. and making preparations to relocate to a small cottage.  The latest box of cards I came across were from my 1974 Bridal Showers and some WEDDING cards.  48 years ago was the big event.  

Card was made by a good friend of ours, Maxine.  Still makes me smile.

I was given two Bridal Showers before I was married.  The cards mean nothing to another soul on this earth.  It was comforting to me to look at each card again, read them, think about the person who gave me the card and give THANKS that I was blessed by them by knowing them, with their kind words and a gift.  I was surprised that there were so many and I had forgotten about the cards.  Here they were in good condition inside a box.  

They took time out of their lives to share with me.  Most are gone now.  I'm sleeving the cards and will place in a binder.  I don't have the heart to throw the cards away just yet if ever.  Later they will be, but for now I am hanging onto them for awhile longer.  Anyone else out there this sentimental?    

TOMORROW will hopefully be a better day for my bod.  Being that it is HALLOWEEN, I hope to watch a local parade where my youngest grandson will be dressed up as what I'm not sure yet, take a few pics and return HOME to hand out treats to the ones who come to my front door.  The weather should be pleasant which helps.

HALLOWEEN IS HERE and so is the one year anniversary of my oldest brother's death.  After we had heard he had passed away at a Kansas City Hospital, my Husband and I drove to the Hospital to see him.  He had been life flighted there the day before and I do have the regret that after we received this phone call that we didn't go straight away to see him.  Perhaps I could have seen him alive for a few minutes for the last time instead of entering into the hospital room seeing his lifeless body lying there alone. 

He is at peace now in the presence of a loving God.  I wonder what he is doing.  This evening, I listened to the CASTING CROWN'S song that was played at his graveside service and placed his photograph that I had taken in bygone days on the fireplace mantel.  A year and a half has past since I heard his voice and heard him laugh.  You know, I can hear him in my head.  He loved the Beatles, the Beach Boys, music in general, played the bass guitar, sang, painted and drew a great deal.  He loved the military.  He collected knives, record albums and G.I. Joe dolls of all things.  He could grow the most beautiful full beard around and every time I saw him, his hair style had changed.  It was long, it was short, it was smooth, it was messy.  He might have a beard, he might not, he might have a mustache, he might not, he might be cleaned shaven, he might not.  He usually was a very clean individual in appearance eating sugar-free candy and drinking COKE.  Hated green beans.  Married twice and divorced twice.  Two stepsons.  Diabetic, was developing Parkinson's Disease and Dementia.  He had struggles that others did not understand.  A believer in the most high God, Jesus is his personal savior and he was filled with the Holy Ghost.  He saw angels.    

I miss him.  Life continues and so must I.  I am not young anymore and I have difficulties walking.  I have financial challenges and health issues.  I continue enjoying my children and their children making me a mother and grandmother.  I am blessed.  I am blessed to be a married woman with a loving husband and a HOME to call our own.  As I thin out my belongings, I am looking through different lenses in life.  It is like I have gone back in time with the belongings.  What was once highly sought after isn't so much anymore.  The things from our early days as newlyweds has a great deal of importance to me.  God you have truly blessed me and I thank you. 

To God be the glory, grant things HE hath done.  

As I rested today, I watched many videos.  One was by a minister's wife who shared about being what she called being SWATted when the dispatcher received a phone call to where a swat team was sent to their residence.  A prank someone did to stir up trouble.  It happened twice in a week where someone pulled a prank on the police department pretending to be the minister calling saying he had killed his wife.  Horrible prank.  A Police helicopter circled above their house as her children played in the backyard.  Police cars with officers aiming rifles at their house were out front waiting for the misses to come outside with her hands up in the air.  Can you imagine someone pretending to be you causing a swat team to come to your house?  Very upsetting and uncalled for.  People can be so cruel at times it hurts.

More decorating videos.  Religious programs.  Church services.  Health videos.  

I think this week, I will take some time to think deep thoughts, continue donating items from my home, work at cleaning the COTTAGE, thinking about the next step to take place as we downsize.  

If I could blink and have it done, I would.  
~d     

Top Diseases That Are REALLY Nutrient Deficiencies

A good housekeeping tip to do in the fall / Healthy and delicious season...

Christmas Garland Tutorial | How to Decorate a Natural Christmas Garland...

I'VE GOT MY EYE ON YOU...

GREY SKIES THIS MORNING with a chance of rain this evening.  Sounding like the WEATHERMAN. The early hours of the day have stayed above freezing this week so some house plants still remain outside.  Not sure where I will house my Coleus when the temps dip lower.  I'd like to winter these since I lost my Geraniums to last week's cold snap.  I repotted these Coleus from indoors and left them outside.

Perhaps I'll take them to the COTTAGE and leave them in the Kitchen or the Utility room.  Better do that before I lose them as well to Mother Nature moving toward WINTER.  This AUTUMN has been a beautiful one with so many brilliant colors.  Looking out the window, the skies have a great deal of pink to them.  

I think it would be magnificent to be able to wake in the early mornings and gaze out across a field to see skies like this without interference of buildings and telephone wires.  It's peaceful in the mornings.  

Yesterday was a busy one as I woke early doing some household chores then going to Manhattan to Menards to get some trim for the COTTAGE SHED.  Hubby is working away and making progress on finishing out the shed.  I didn't make it to the DOLLAR STORE as after we bought the trim and placed it in our car, it was sticking out the window which frequently acts as a pick-up for us so off to the COTTAGE we went.  Traveling across the Prairie, I drove to the COTTAGE and he unloaded the trim into the shed.

He'd work at hanging it up as I worked inside the COTTAGE.  Turning on the TV broke the silence in the room.  I went through a box of costume jewelry that I had not worn in 6 years since the fire.  The jewelry had been stored in the shed after the house fire.  As I went through it this brought back some memories of when I wore these particular necklaces and earrings.  Some I have owned 40 years.  Didn't lose them in the fire.  Instead they need cleaned.

It took longer than I thought it would so I listened to the television as I went through the jewelry. Since we moved the TV from one room to its present location, we get 4 different channels then we did in the bedroom without cable or antennae.  I think I like the channels we got before moving the TV set, but for now I actually have TV.  I don't get to watch THE CLOSER now. Instead ABC comes in as does a sit-com channel, COURT shows and house hunting in the country.

In the evening at the main house, we watched a movie called THE DUKE which is based off a true story.  A Goya Masterpiece of the Duke of Wellington is stolen.  There is one sex scene that should have been left out of the movie and it wouldn't have hurt the story at all.  In fact, it would have enhanced it.   

Sixty-year-old self-educated working class Kempton Bunton appears in Court Number 1 at the Old Bailey, pleading not guilty to charges of stealing Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington and its frame from the National Gallery in London. Six months earlier, in spring 1961, he sends a script to the BBC from his native Newcastle upon Tyne. Soon afterwards he is jailed at Durham for thirteen days for watching TV without a licence. Although he can afford one, he refuses to do so as part of his campaign against pensioners having to pay for it, part of his wider strong beliefs about supporting the common man.

Based off a true story, I learned that in England people have to have a license to watch live television programs or record live programs.  I had no idea England did this.  umm.

PLANS TODAY are to return to Manhattan to purchase some organic avocados and berries.  I'll visit the DOLLAR STORE for greeting cards and cleaning products.  I want to get some DAWN Dish Detergent so I can mix the DAWN with some white vinegar for a cleaning agent in the toilet.  It's a HACK that I want to try out.  Hope it works at getting the ring out of my two toilets in this house.  The water here is quite hard and rings have appeared.  Scrubbing hasn't worked.

I scrubbed the tank of our KERIG.  My hand could feel some scales on the inside of the tank.  I managed to get this out of there.  Clean water to make coffee and hot tea!  Who'd have THUNK IT?  Scales in the tank.  Not I, but then I iz a hick. 

 

After watching so many Korean cleaning videos, I have a new respect for these gals that clean the way they do.  Even the American Homemakers that clean, clean, clean seem to have a knack for cleaning the way I have never had the desire to do.  I have enjoyed a clean living environment...true, but I cannot clean the way these gals do for their videos.  Like I have said before, when the camera is running that's one thing.  Behind the scenes is another.  Who actually lives like this?  I suppose there are so many people I couldn't count them all.

Which reminds me, my cars need baths.  I'd like to take them to this one place that does detail cleaning.  I'll check into this.  There is always something to clean around here.  

Hubs is off to work on hanging more trim in the shed.  I'm so proud of him how hard he works.  We are wanting to have the COTTAGE property up and going by SPRING 2023.  I have packing to do today.  I bought 6 more small boxes from MENARDS to help me out.  First thing to box up will be photographs...snapshots that reside in the closet.  Packing up things a little each day then the boxes will rest until they are moved to our RETIREMENT COTTAGE.  

HOLIDAY DECOR items are already boxed in vinyl storage tubs, but need carried from the basement to the Carriage House.  That means stairs to climb one at a time carrying tubs to the carriage house.  I might use that little wagon I have to help with this chore.  

Out of the Main House's basement and Carriage House taking them from this property to the COTTAGE across the river.  When the COTTAGE SHED is completed, they will migrate to the shed over there which means loading them into the car taking them over to the COTTAGE to unload and carry into the shed to stack.  MOVERS deserve every penny they make as it is harder to gyrate all of this when the body is older.  This task will be our aerobic exercise and weight training for days.

THIS SLOW PROCESS AGREES with our old lives as we can handle this speed of morphing into retired folk downsizing and relocating into a tiny COTTAGE to call our HOME.  It'll be a fine day when I get to this place.

Before  I go to all this trouble, I seriously need to look everything over in the tubs AGAIN and possibly downsize my stash.  Donate.

SO......today, I'll go to Manhattan to purchase some things, tweak around in the upstairs JUNK ROOM, AND do a Castor Oil Treatment for 90 minutes across my abdomen to help lower my cholesterol and shrink fibroid tumors.  Go through some photos to pack up.  I'll need to shampoo my hair and curl it.  Tidy on the Dining room.  

I suppose this will be my day as I will probably need a NAP in the afternoon to help me get through the rest of the day.  TIS THURSDAY.  I need to drink an abundance of WATER to flush the sugar out of my system as I ate Krispy Kreme DONUTS and ate Gambino's Spaghetti with meat balls with garlic toast last night.  OVERLOAD ON CARBS AND SUGARS.  

Horrible me.  I ate like there was no tomorrow especially the DONUTS.  They were so good I cannot describe the sweetness with raspberry filling.

This is the worst I have done in two years.  I hit the wall and fell off the wagon.  

Now to climb back on and continue the ride of counting calories and avoiding sweets, breads, potatoes, rice and pasta.  

I have no one to blame but myself.  This was a BIG CHEAT DAY and I wasn't going to do this until after my November blood work.  Why did I overeat?  OUR 6th anniversary of the house fire took place and I was overly emotional.  Looking for some comfort FOOD and boy did I ever find it in the donuts and the bread.  Poor excuse.  Dust myself off and continue onward.  Pass the water bottle and drink away. 

Tis Thursday and I have plenty to do,

~d 

How to organize a tidy kitchen / Kitchen storage tips / Why I organize m...

THIS CAN BE WATCHED ON YOU TUBE

Click and watch.

LIKE TAKING A HANDS ON HOME EC 101 CLASS for whoever wants a few suggestions for free on tidying a small kitchen.

Quotes from video..."If you want to do your job well, you can increase efficiency by keeping your space neatly organized."

"A well-organized kitchen makes cooking and cleaning a little easier."   

Continuing education doesn't always come from being enrolled in a High School or College class does it?

~d

SIX YEARS AFTER THE FIRE

TIME IS PASSING BY SO QUICKLY.  This beautiful AUTUMN DAY has faded into night.  The sun sets sooner everyday.  I am not ready for the early darkness that has made our Summer turn to Autumn.  The colored leaves on the trees that are blowing away should explain that AUTUMN is here.  Instead of stiffening up and protesting, I should surrender and embrace the moment.  This season has a beauty also.  Tis a beautiful FALL.  All the oranges and brown hues warm my thoughts up.  

I put together a small box to mail to my St. Louis Grandson and my Mom for Halloween.  Hubby was sweet and ran them to the Post Office so they would go out in the mail today.  Not sure how long it will take to reach them these days as one never knows.  It may be tomorrow...it may be Friday.  The littles have their treats from me.  I need to make one up for my Missouri Granddaughter and get it in the mail.  Perhaps I will get this done tomorrow.  

Today, was my correspondence day.  I busied myself with letter writing and writing out bills.  Put together care packages.  Did some dishes.  Studied about organizing.  Blogged.  Rearranged a kitchen cabinet.  Washed dishes.  Skipped the laundry on a Monday.  Cleared out the walnut chest in the dining room and rearranged it taking mental inventory for future relocating.  Watched some vlogs.  I have peace now about changing my decorating style as I grow old.  

I think I have it figured out which pieces of furniture will be used in the COTTAGE and which pieces will be let go of or stored in the shed.  As silly as it may sound to some, my furniture was hard to come by and I am attached to it especially since this is the 6th anniversary of our house fire where we lost furniture and so many other pieces were damaged.  I just about forgot that it was the anniversary of the house fire until I received a message from my sister asking if it were the anniversary.  In a way that is comforting to have forgot about the anniversary.

SIX years ago we slept in the COTTAGE as we were remodeling our master bedroom in the old stone house.  The bedroom was completely torn up so we decided to sleep in the vacant COTTAGE.  It was the morning of October 25, 2016 and I was sitting on the leather sofa in my old pink housecoat praying out loud when I heard foot steps on the porch. 

I could see that it was my daughter and I thought oh isn't that sweet...she has come over to eat lunch with me.  I opened the door and she told me very quickly something like this, "Give me your house keys.  Your house is on fire.  Get dressed!"  Somebody had contacted her at work that knew she was our daughter.  I don't remember exactly what she said, but this is close enough.  

I said, "My house is on fire?"   I gave her my keys and off she went.  She said she called Dad.  

I walked to the bathroom to get dressed and began to shake.  Never in my wildest thoughts did I think I'd have a house fire.  Since the house was only a block away, I walked down the alley to the house.  I imagined that the house would be all a blaze, but when I saw it there was only chocolate brown smoke bellowing from under the edge of the roof.  I walked over to where my daughter was standing.

Across the street from our house on the sidewalk I stood in disbelief that the house was on fire.  The front door was pried open with a fire hose stretched across the yard and into the front door.  On the second floor, a window was open and firemen were working away to save whatever.  Inside the house was blackness that was so dark one could not see their hand before them.

I stood their saying I don't think I can watch this.  My dear daughter stood there beside me comforting me as I was in shock.  We had lived in this house close to ten years.  I loved our old historical stone house filled with memories.  We had made our home there and I wasn't ready to leave it.

After the fire was put out, the fire chef told my husband that in all his years he had not seen a fire like ours in a house.  Everything was discolored with dark stains as if someone had painted the rooms and furnishings with chocolate paint.  Later we thought the smoke stain came from the old varnish that the original woodwork had been painted with.  1885 is old varnish.

My husband and son-in-law went in to the front parlor and opened some windows.  The stench was so strong it burned their eyes to be inside the house for a short amount of time.

I was in disbelief that this had happened.  Disbelief.

Meeting with Insurance agents was eye opening.  Knowing what I know now, if there are things left behind on the premise that you do not want someone else to get their hands on, it is best to remove the items before the clean-up crew comes to take it to their warehouse such as jewelry and important papers.  As the clean-up crew came a day or two after the fire, we sat out in our front yard saying yah or nah to what they carried out to the dumpster.  If it was something they were going to pitch, we were allowed to see it and if we wanted to keep it we pulled it aside.  Load after load of things went past us and were pitched into the dumpster.   We were blessed to have pleasant Autumn weather to where we could sit outside in the front yard without jackets.  The weather was on our side.  

The Insurance Inspector told us he believed the fire had started in the kitchen in an outlet that was in the stone wall.  He didn't believe the microwave started the fire but couldn't tell for sure because all that was left of the microwave was one piece of copper wiring.    

Going through the motions of getting back on our feet has been life changing.  I have been moving in slow motion for some time now.  As we cleared out the storage side of the Cottage Garage this past Summer where we had stuffed boxes full of important papers that we did not want the clean-up crew to get their hands on after the fire, it was strange that so much time had passed and we were just now getting around to going through the clutter.    

I believe that I am feeling so much better about recovering from this horrible ordeal.  I can tell myself to shake it off and don't hold back on LIVING.  Things can be replaced.  People cannot.  Memories linger in the mind.  

On this 6th Anniversary of the fire, I am so thankful no one was injured or killed.  So thankful.  It is time to live in this present day.  Learn from the past and plan for the future. 

~d          

Colton Dixon - Miracles [Official Lyric Video]

MORNING SUNLIGHT STREAMED INTO THE ROOM AND I DRANK HOT TEA

I'M LISTENING TO THE KANSAS WIND freely blow into the living room with cooler temps attached to it.  So refreshing.  The French doors are open where the fresh air blows inside.  Leaves are rustling as the wind blows through the trees causing their falling to the ground.  AUTUMN is truly here and I cannot deny it.  The calendar tells me so as the sweaters come out of hiding.  Hot Chocolate Time approaches.  Nothing quite like HOT COCOA.

 

Tis quiet otherwise.  I slept very well last night and woke early. Typical routine in the mornings is to take my blood pressure and temperature to record, go to the bathroom, wash my hands, get a bottle of Spring water to drink with my morning meds.

I sit down in my old recliner and think about what day it is and what I need to get done.  Jotting down a TO DO LIST.  Then I work at accomplishing what needs done.  Somewhere in here, I groom myself, get dressed and eat a modest breakfast. 

AUTUMN is officially here for a few months before the cold winds of WINTER arrive.  WINTER's naked trees and cold temps make the earthly view altogether different.  For now, I am content to listen to the Kansas wind on this very pleasant AUTUMN day.    

I ran out of MATCHA TEA and had been looking for it in the local stores last week.  No luck finding any, but I knew Topeka's Health Food Store would have some.  So after attending the REGIONAL CROSS COUNTRY MEET in which my Granddaughter placed first in the High School Varsity Girl's race, I went to TOPEKA to get some.  A thrill to watch.  I did my share of walking across the rough terrain.  At HOME, I used a white teapot with a strainer to fix the tea feeling like a professional tea maker and sipper.     

MATCHA GREEN TEA helps with lowering blood pressure, protects the liver and kidneys, boost brain function, promotes heart health, lowers bad cholesterol, and helps with losing WEIGHT!!!  So I am drinking it in the mornings.  

I will sip on HOT WATER and cold water throughout the day to help combat hunger.  Need a low cal day after yesterday's calorie count.  I had a stuffed sweet potato from Cracker Barrel and it was LOADED with calories.  I managed to stay away from meat though.  BUT... I also had a dinner salad, cooked carrots and broccoli with it.  It didn't stop there...unfortunately I pigged out on 2 soft biscuits with a small amount of butter and delicious jelly.  Ummm...this isn't a everyday occurrence.  

I walked at the Cross Country Meet so this helped with LIFESTYLE changes.  SADLY, I ate enough calories in one meal to fuel my entire calorie count for a day.  I skipped the evening snack of popcorn if that helps the situation any.  SUPPLEMENTS with lots of spring water was a healthy alternative.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR with THE MOTHER capsules stored in amber colored glass jar was purchased at NATURAL GROCERS.  I had been taking ACV without the mother and I might as well have not been taking any.  Gotta have the MOTHER in it to be a benefit. ACV (with the mother) aides in weight loss, lowering cholesterol, lowering A1c, lowers high blood pressure.  All the ailments I have at the present.  Miracle ingredient!        

After our treadmill is placed in the newly remodeled COTTAGE SHED, I will work my way up to walking to the tune of three miles a day.  I believe I can do this and feel better, look better, be better.  It has got to take the weight off of my old body.  I can listen to music, pray, plan in my head, watch tv while walking on the treadmill.  At the rate we're going it will be the middle of NOVEMBER when the shed is ready for the treadmill and I can start walking.  This week, Hubby will continue to cut paneling and hang it.  If all goes well by the end of the week the paneling will be completed.  A wall will be painted and the floor will be painted.  After it dries, the treadmill will make her way to the new exercise room!  Start walking, Honey.  

Over the week-end he painted the floor in the screened-in porch.  In a day, he cleared the porch, scrubbed it three times, put up paint tape and painted two coats of grey paint.  It looks wonderful.  After a three day wait, the porch will be ready for use again.

QUIET TIME THIS MORNING.  Praying necessary.  

Looking around in my HOME I saw the morning sunlight streaming into the room.

THE DAY BEGAN IN A GOOD WAY.  Now to fulfill my obligations as the Matron of the Home, Queen of this estate and the Misses of the Mister.  Plans have been made to write out checks for monthly bills, pay a few bills in person, haul all paper in boxes upstairs to the TV room, do some laundry, box up a Halloween treats for my St. Louis Grandson and dear Mom.  Better shampoo my hair and curl it.   

Somewhere in here, I will need to take a breather and soak in the day slowing down my pace.  Perhaps I should read a while and pray some. 

Blessings to you,

~d

Joining the fun:

https://familycorner.blogspot.com/2022/10/happy-homemaker-monday-10242022.html

WEATHER:  RAINY TODAY.  50 DEGREES.  COOLER TEMPS WELCOMED AFTER WEATHER BEING TOO HOT.

AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW:  FALLING LEAVES ADORN THE VIEW.  PLEASANT AUTUMN DAY LOOKS BACK AT ME.

RIGHT NOW I AM:  TYPING MY BLOG AND THINKING ABOUT TODAY'S ACTIVITIES.

THINKING AND PONDERING:  YES, I AM.

HOW AM I FEELING:  ACTUALLY PRETTY WELL.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE:  AVOCADO TOAST.  

LUNCH:  PROBABLY A SALAD.

SUPPER:  PROBABLY SOUP.

WHAT I'M WEARING:  HOUSECOAT, BUT HAVE PLANS OF WEARING LOOSE TOP WITH BLUE JEANS.  BAREFOOTED AND ALL.

ON MY READING PILE:  SOME MAGAZINES I HAVEN'T LOOKED THROUGH YET LIKE TEA TIME, BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS AND VICTORIA.  NO BOOKS RIGHT NOW.

ON TV THIS WEEK:  PBS MISS SCARLET AND THE DUKE.

ON THE MENU:  WHATEVER IS IN THE FRIDGE.  VEGETABLES AND FRUIT, YOGURT, MAYBE A BISON ROAST.

LOOKING AROUND THE HOUSE:  NEED TO WORK UPSTAIRS IN THE NEW TV ROOM.

TO DO LIST:  WORK OVER AT THE COTTAGE PAINTING KITCHEN CABINET, CLEARING OUT FRONT BEDROOM, GO THROUGH STASH OF SILVER PLATE  TRAYS, CARRY CHRISTMAS TUBS FROM THE BASEMENT TO THE CARRIAGE HOUSE MAKING READY FOR THEIR TRIP TO COTTAGE ACROSS THE RIVER.

FROM THE CAMERA: 

DEVOTIONALS: BIBLE READINGS.

CROSS COUNTRY KEEPS US RUNNING

~CROSS COUNTRY TIME~

DAUGHTER AND HER GUYS CAME TO WATCH LIL MISS RUN IN THE CROSS COUNTRY MEET.

Mister C is standing on his own and walks at 10 months old.

I think he liked being in the out of doors.

 IT WAS CHILLY...still we watched the CROSS COUNTRY runners go the distance.  Lil Miss did well and made her personal record at the League Meet coming in FIRST PLACE.  What a great win to see. 

Lil Miss in motion

We're all on a race.  Going the distance requires much out of us.  Don't give us.  Keep pacing yourself.

Running the DISTANCE,

~d