The Best Time of the Day to Take Vitamins

I'VE OFTEN WONDERED WHAT TIME OF DAY IS THE BEST TIME TO TAKE SUPPLEMENTS and came across this video on YOU TUBE.  Thought it was somewhat helpful.

Here's to BETTER HEALTH!

~d

HAD TO SIT

HAD TO SIT IN MY COMFY CHAIR as my upper back began to complain with an ache.  I did real good all day with my old body until I got HOME from running errands and started packing my WINTER SWEATERS into boxes.  The way my brain works these days, I get sidetracked so easy it's humorous.

I went upstairs to box up the contents of the file cabinet.  Didn't make it.  Instead, I made a sharp turn right, went down the hall to a bedroom and started taking sweaters out of the chest of drawers to pack in boxes.  It was in the middle of this that my back started to scream.  Okay, I'll go sit for a bit and return later.

Earlier in the day, my plans for the day changed after my Husband telephoned the Doctor's Office to see if he could be seen for an appointment to visit with our doc about his C-PAP breathing machine.

He needs a different style mask and has to get a prescription to get a new one.  When the nurse told him he could come in at 3:30, I had to change my plans like that.  So as to stay on track with packing for the move, I emptied some file cabinet drawers then got ready to go to TOWN.

We loaded the car up with donation stuff from the carriage house to drop off at GOODWILL before heading out.  Had a large load to haul.  Filled up the back end of our lil Cruiser and away we went. 

Donated decorative oversized sofa pillows, quite a few children's CDs, decorating books, Civil War Books, misc. glassware, Teddy Bears, Teddy Bears, Teddy Bears, Christmas Ornaments (what a surprise), 3 Christmas Towel Sets, pretty lamp shade and clothing.   G o o d  g r i e f.   What else have I collected that I no longer need or want?  AND the list goes on and on.  

I might seem like a HOARDER to some and on certain days I am leaning toward thinking I could pass as a first cousin to one.  Not a healthy thing to be.  Shedding all this stuff has to be done.  I have to believe it's alright to have less STUFF and more ORDER.  Easier on the eye and calms the nerves.  ORDER.

After we drove to the GOODWILL drop off, we visited Starbucks for a trenta unsweetened Iced Green Tea.  My favorite.  Filled the car with fuel and went to the doctor's appointment.  I stayed in the car cleaning the console and the side pockets of the doors as Hubby attended his appointment.  

As I sat in the car waiting, I put some make-up on and re-did my hair. Hubby actually noticed that my face had changed colors as I applied Almond Hustle by Maybelline on my lips and did an old Sophia Loren trick of using lipstick for the creamy blush.  I also applied a small amount on my eyelids for shadow.  Fully coordinated today.

The lipstick has a creamy consistency and lasted a while.  Liked it.  Pinks and mauves are usually my first choice, but today it was more on the orange side of things.     

Off to an early supper at McAlisters to have a Pecan Strawberry Chicken Salad (380 calories).  NOT BAD.  It was the best one I have ever had.  I should have stopped there, but I have been craving Carrot Cake.  I splurged with a slice of Carrot Cake (1170) which I shared with Hubby.  1170 plus 380 = 1550 is way too many calories for one meal for me.  Thinking about how easy it has been to cave in when dining out.  It was the quiet time of day to eat so we could talk turkey about what we are doing.

Visited the grocery store next to get some turkey bacon and turkey sausage plus a few more things like Cracked Pepper Crackers.  I saw some Special K Cereal which I haven't had in a few years so I picked up one of these small boxes.  We actually had a HUMAN CHECKER this time. Their self-check lanes were busy, but we grabbed a HUMAN. Is the world going to pass me on by?  Probably, as I am more contented living a slower paced life most of the time.

More and more places of business have self-check and the humans have disappeared.  Hy-Vee is one of those places.  After they remodeled last year, they installed the self-check stations.  The first time I experienced this at this grocery store, it turned me off.  No one to bag my purchases.  I'm use to placing the items on the conveyor belt and bagging at Aldi, but not at Hy-Vee.  Placing the items on a conveyor belt before was doable as the clerk checked me out and saw to it that the items were bagged.  GONE are the days where the groceries are taken to your vehicle and placed inside by an employee.  Slowly customer service has vanished. 

Our local DOLLAR GENERALS have been closed for remodeling and when the big day came for them to open, there they were, self-check stations.  The refrigerator units had increased and for a small town that has no grocery store this is a great feature.  

Last time I went to DOLLAR GENERAL in the small town where my Mom lives, we waited about 5 minutes at the check-out before a human came to assist us.  Hollering for assistance when there isn't any, takes a chunk out of the customer's patience especially when elderly.  SO now with self-check, the waiting is less for now.  It seems like we have entered into a futuristic realm where humans are overlooked.  Less interaction and communication between people.    

Drive down Main Street and went to the Flower Gardens at KSU.  It will be about a month before the Irises bloom?  I know the year that my Mom turned 80, 11 years ago, the Irises bloomed second week of April.  Doesn't seem possible that this time of year is fast approaching.  The Tulips are showing their leaves as well.  We drove our old neighborhood in which we left back in 2005.  Blows my mind that it's been this long since we lived there.

I do not miss it, but still decorate the house in my mind thinking if we had stayed, I would have done thus and so.  grins.  The habitual decorator in me seems to do this a lot for inexpensive entertainment. Can you believe it?

Drove about the campus of KSU then drove HOME to unload groceries as by this time I was fading.  Tired.  Before I sat down for the evening, this is when I went upstairs to empty some drawers in the file cabinet just to get distracted with sweaters.

If you can say that getting older is funny then things like this don't have to disturb you.  Senior moments take place.  Sometimes it's frustrating when thoughts vapor lock vanishing into the corridors of my mind, lost.  Wish there was a mental flashlight to shine and locate that thought ushering it back to the front of the line and placing it in the lost and found.

Oh well,  
~d

    

WHERE ARE WE??? I THINK I'M IN A DIFFICULT PLACE

I AM BEAT and talking to myself to get around to work over at the COTTAGE.  I have to stay flexible as things happen getting in the way of the original plans.

Some days I am a better fit for this than others...well, because I am human, I sometimes fail.  I get cranky and am not a very good team player.  I pray that I can be more relaxed about the unknown.  

More Christmas tubs have been placed in the cars from the carriage house to take to the COTTAGE shed to store.  We took some time off from getting all the Christmas tubs moved.  We had to take a break.  This week more will be on a exodus from this lovely old house to our fixer-upper COTTAGE.

On the back burner of my mind, I KNOW that the CARRIAGE HOUSE (garage) needs completely cleared out AND this will happen AFTER the COTTAGE is leveled and the BATHROOM is up and going.  I have to flutter about from one area to another. THIS MOVE is like none other I have participated in before and I have participated in so many.  22?  I think something like that.

I've done a lot of FLUTTERING through the years, but this move I am about fluttered out.  

Is it because I'm in an older body that packing everything seems daunting at times? Yes, it does cause additional challenges.  We can pretend that 67 is the new 27, but deep down inside, my body knows it's 67.  27 was eons ago. THINKING 67 is the new 27 is idiotic.  Suck it up buttercup...you iz old.  Facing the facts matters. Thinking that age is just a NUMBER is rather stupid especially if you are a certain OLDER number being told that this older number is a much younger one.  Flattery is deceptive.  Don't believe it.  Accept the reality of the day that you really don't have all the time in the world to do everything.  You are aging with each passing moment.

Doesn't the Bible say something about knowing the number of your days?    

Psalm 90:12 King James Version

12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Would I be better off turning loose of so much?  Me thinks so.  I will downsize my sentimental things and get better organized and be more streamlined in everything.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

AT PRESENT there's so much to pack.  Physical objects seem heavier because of muscle loss and strength.  I wear out faster and it takes longer to bounce back to where I can continue working.  It isn't mind over matter.  The matter is harder to deal with.  Having a good attitude should help lift my spirits, but I have to be realistic and this is the reality of what I am doing as I age.  Not giving up.  Just have to pace myself differently and be realistic using LOGIC and reason.

I pushed our heavy Ethan Allen Wing Chairs to the other side of the room along with the ottoman so I can have space in the Living room to place file cabinet drawers to rest until we haul them over to the COTTAGE.  

I need to carry a few KITCHEN items to the car so I can unload them in the COTTAGE.  Put away some Christmas tubs in the shed.  I'll be washing some laundry this afternoon and placing Kitchen items in the drawers THEN I can begin to place my Husband's tools into the Living room to get them out of the front Bedroom and tidy some in the Utility room to make room for the antique File Cabinet that I hope we can get relocated by the end of the week.

I have to rest quite a bit as I go through things, get rid of stuff, pack what to keep, move over, unload and place inside the COTTAGE.  I wonder if one day I will remember all that we had to do to get to the point we will be?  I believe this is as good a time as any to memorize scripture as I move about doing the nitty gritty details of this particular MOVE.  

Jeremiah 17:14 King James Bible. Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

John 3:16. For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have ever lasting LIFE!

Romans 10:13. King James Bible. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Because of GOD, I can face tomorrow.  

I can get through this daunting ordeal of DOWNSIZING and remodeling and getting ready to place our house on the market to sale.

~d

YADA, YADA, YADA

A QUIET MORNING FOR A SUNDAY.  Devotions.  DEVOTIONS FOR SUNDAY was relatively a simple one.  Kept it that way as we are staying HOME from a brick and mortar church building.  I believe the day will come when we attend church again where I wear a dress and my hubby wears a SUIT and tie.  I believe we will find that church which we are to be a part of and have a church family once again.  I'd very much like to be moved to the COTTAGE before looking. 

Over the week-end, my gut is feeling better.  Finally, no cramping.  Long week though being ill.  We continued to stay busy working on the COTTAGE.  We went to HOME DEPOT today to select the bathroom grout that we will be using.  Grout color is ROLLING FOG.  This week, HUBBY will begin to grout the floor tile.  It will be wonderful to see this take shape.  

AS FOR THE TUB, he has to take one of the tub's claw feet off to see what style it is.  We have our eye on some nickel plated ones and we have to see if they are a match or not.  If they are, we'll need to purchase them so we are ready to move forward.  Also need the tub faucet.

We made a GOODWILL DONATION DROP, Starbucks, went to HOME DEPOT, Menards and Aldi.  Drove HOME to unload and reload with things to take to the COTTAGE.  Had supper at the COTTAGE, watched the tele, cleaned the stove, did some laundry, tidied some in the cottage.  Drove HOME and watched a movie.   

On the agenda, I'll continue to work on laundry getting my basket full of sweaters laundered then packed away for the year.  They'll stay in a box until the closet is ready for me to stack them on a shelf.  WON'T that be awesome?  I think so as I watch the COTTAGE move come together very slowly.  

With each passing day, I am imagining where things will go once in the COTTAGE.  Today, we managed to relocate the metal push cart that will hold my large mixer, the toaster, a blender, metal and plastic mixing bowl sets and silver plated trays.  Maybe some cutting boards.  It's sitting in the living room right now until I can make room for it in the Kitchen.  There are some boxes of tiles that have to be moved first.  

The Kitchen is a tad bit difficult to get around in with a boxed Bathroom vanity sitting in there.  ha.  Shortly, the vanity will make her way to the actual Bathroom.  That will be exciting to see come together.  

With the Living room now cleared of excess boxes that held Kitchen odds n' ins and pots 'n pans, I can clear out the front bedroom's stuff and lay it on the Living room floor.  Hubby's tools are in the front bedroom right now.  I want to go ahead and pull up the grungy old carpet and cut it into 4' wide pieces that the trash company will haul away for us.  Underneath the carpet is original wood floors from 1900.  They are reddish in color and I think I can live with them knowing they are original.  I hope as I pull the carpet up that all are still in good shape.  If not, we will have to decide what we want to do about this.  Replace with new, paint the existing boards, cover with a area rug.  Not sure.

In my head, I thought the color of the wood would be honey gold, but I am so far off on this.  It will be a huge surprise to see what is there.  Ta-daah.  WOOD.  We will cover the floors with area rugs for the time being.  I'm not sure if we'll carpet the floors for now.  The important thing is that the floors are in good enough shape to use as we move in.  It's Southern Yellow Pine.  

The front of the COTTAGE is getting leveled a little each day and my dear Husband believes that in about two weeks if everything goes well that the COTTAGE will be leveled.  Playing this by ear.  THEN if it's a go, heavier pieces of furniture can be moved over one room at a time.  

This week, I hope to get the antique file cabinet moved over to the Utility room on the back of the COTTAGE.  It's a large piece that comes apart making it easier to move.  

I believe the Vintage Bedroom Suite should be the first bedroom set to go and be moved in April.   

So that's the file cabinet to the Utility room this week.  Contents will be boxed this week and moved over later.
Vintage Bedroom Suite will be moved sometime in April.  Headboard, footboard, side boards, mattress, box springs, vanity with mirror, vanity chair, chest of drawers, cedar chest, lamp and contents of drawers and closet.  Contents are being boxed.  I can carry the chest of drawer's drawers downstairs one at a time to the Living room and have them waiting.       
Victorian Desk and chair to the Dining room.  Contents are boxed.
Grandma's Sideboard to Dining room.  Contents are boxed and moved to COTTAGE already.
Mom's China Cabinet to Dining room.  Contents are boxed and moved to COTTAGE already.
Red Velour Victorian chair to Dining room.
Antique Walnut Chest to the Living room.  Contents are boxed and already moved to COTTAGE.

If we get this much moved over then we shall see where we are with leveling the front of the COTTAGE.

The Victorian Bedroom Suite will go into the front Bedroom after I get the go ahead and to move the furniture in.  Then the Living room furniture will be moved.  Pictures, mirrors and lamps will need moved.  Bedding as well.  Then our clothing and personal effects.  

What we have left behind will go into storage until we figure what to do about the pieces.  

I should know what I am doing by now as this isn't a first time for me.  It's just terribly different having to downsize as I go. 

It helps me to continuously remind myself the steps to take to get from point A to point B.  A record of what has been done and what needs done helps with this thought process.  Even if the COTTAGE isn't finished when we move in, it will be a relief being there.  One step closer to this next chapter in LIFE.  Perhaps I can relax about this.

~d

PREPPING FOR PROM

MET UP WITH LIL MISS as she was having a trial run on hair styles at the Salon.  Practicing before the big gig.

Stylist did a beautiful style on her long hair.  Nice to get to see it in person.  Made for a rainy day uplift.

Prom isn't far off,

~d

GENESIS 9: 1-17

MUCH RAIN as of yet.  Yearning for sunshine and blue skies.  Umbrella TIME.  As much as we need moisture, I have to bow my knee to the rain appreciating it.  It certainly matters.

Blessings,

~d

 

9 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.

6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

8 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,

9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.

11 And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

YESTERDAY

WANTED TO MAKE THE DAY A TREAT as I had business to take care of, but made a date out of it as well.  We went to PAXICO to pick up some special sausage we had ordered from the antique store and I looked around while there.  I DO ENJOY LOOKING.

They have a beautiful lamp I'd LOVE to have, but at the moment, the price is too hefty for me to justify.  Maybe later, that's if they still have it sitting around.  Lots of lamps in the world, though.  AND the way I like things...there won't be a problem of finding another that I like.  Cha-ching.

On the way to TOPEKA, we stopped off at St. Marys for lunch and as we were walking the sidewalk Hubby said the Italian Restaurant is open and asked me if I'd like to eat there instead of SUGAR CREEK where we usually do.  Yes, I would so we went there and had a very pleasant time.  Liked it a lot and will return.  

I had a SALAD and no coffee.  If my Husband is well feed, he is a delight to be around, otherwise he can be a bit challenging if you know what I mean.  CRANKY OLD MEN and I don't get along very well because I get cranky also and it's not a pretty sight when Deanna gets cranky.    

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084530340888

HUBBY's LUNCH and coffee.

I did get a Almond milk Steamer later and off to TOPEKA we went.  Health wise I wasn't doing so great as my gut has ached all week.  Did my best to get around.  Tried to make the day go smoothly getting my business done quickly.  Kept it as short as I could.

Went to Dillons in North Topeka and quickly purchased fruits and vegetables instead of going to ALDI this time.  I did notice inflated prices.  I looked at the people shopping and most were my age or older and thought if prices continue to climb AND THEY WILL, how will we make it the older we get?  We're in our 60s and this go round of climbing prices chokes a horse.  

There will be other climbs in the prices as this is the way of the world and this is what has happened through the years as a newly wed until today.  I can expect the climbing prices.  In another 20 years, if I am still around, the prices will be even higher.  Money only goes so far.

A garden may become a MUST.  For now, we have managed to not depend on a garden.  With health issues though and a concern for being healthy, having a GARDEN should be a must.  Too much of what the supermarket sells is awful for maintaining good health.  

Even at Farmer's Markets, do you actually know what was used on the crops?  If pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, etc. were used?  Then are the seeds heirloom or Monsanto GMO'd?  Something I didn't use to be concerned about.  

Today, my gut feels far better than it did.  Not tender to the touch or cramping.  I pray I continue to feel better.  Twas rough.  Health is vitally important.  I hope to get healthier with each passing day.  Our adventure with the COTTAGE will be a part of the journey to getting healthier physically, healthier financially and healthier spiritually.

Having less to tend to allows an opportunity to focus our energies and time toward different avenues of activities.  A slower pace of LIFE is desired.  Me thinks it's doable.  

Home LIFE is for me!

Blessings, 

~d  

WEEKLY WRAP UP

FRIDAY.  Quickly the week flew by as I have stayed busy with LIFE.  Unfortunately my gut has been extremely sore with cramps.  Not sure what this is about.  No fever.  Just terrible cramps.  Shucks.  I pray it goes away soon.  Being in pain isn't good, is it?  I'll have to buy some prune juice to drink.  Yummers, not, but if it helps move the intestinal stuff so be it. 

This week, we went for labs on Tuesday knowing the results by Thursday.  Hubby's numbers were very good.  A little low on his TSH.  Most of my numbers were as well except my TSH is still too low.  It hasn't rose as quickly as I had hoped.  Staying the course with hopes of being at a better place next time the labs are taken.  I was tired and didn't get all the shopping done. Thought I could put off purchasing groceries until later.

Wednesday, I had LUNCH with two of my friends and we talked the day away.  Subject matters were flying around the room.  I finally had to say good-bye before I got caught on the highway after dark.  I've known these ladies for about 15 years.  That's a while.

Thursday, the weather was chilly and overcast.  Where are the SPRING-LIKE temps?  Hiding in the clouds somewhere far away.  It will be overly HOT come SUMMER so soak in the cooler weather.  I am noticing flowers popping up which made me think that the COTTAGE Flowerbeds could use some attention.  I sketched up a plan to keep in mind as I also drew curtain ideas for the Living room. The sketches are rough, but I get the idea.

I worked at the COTTAGE making progress.  A couple loads of laundry were done.  More tomorrow like dirty towels and more bedding before I launder the sweaters.  Dodging boxes on the floor makes for a challenging walk through the house.  It's exercise in a way twisting and turning.  Can my attitude improve and have fun with this?  I pray it does.  I'm working as fast as I can going through boxes.    

Worked in the Kitchen.  Two of the upper kitchen cabinets were swapped.  I placed bakeware like bread pans, bundt cake pans and pie plates on the upper left cabinet and baking staples on the right.  It just looked right this time.  I started placing the stainless steel pot 'n pans in the lower cabinets.  I have a ways to go.  I'll rework this tomorrow.  The warming drawer in the bottom of the oven will hold pizza pans and cookie sheets.  

I finished carrying my Mom's dishes and placing them in the built-in cabinet by the pantry. These Dessert Rose dishes are on the top shelf so I had to use a step ladder to reach.  This wore me out.  I'd sit a while.  Work a while.  These dishes would make a EASTER table look really pretty.  I have pink cloth napkins to keep in mind.  Somewhere I have a lovely pink tablecloth I could possible use.  Not sure if I'll fix a big EASTER MEAL with all the packing going on.  I know I won't be finished come EASTER.  I'll have to be alright with this and focus on the LORD's resurrection instead which is really far more important than a big meal amongst the mess.  

My everyday white dishes and crystal glasses are sitting nicely on the other shelves.  I like it. Everything will have to be washed after the hot water is hooked up.  For now, I just wanted to get the dishes out of the boxes.  I have no idea how many pieces I have.  I will need to count and take a casual inventory.

Made room for vitamins and medicines in the upper cabinet beside the sink.  Coming along.    

I found a place in the pantry for Longaberger baskets to go and day dreamed about where the large mixer is going to go since it's a major appliance.  I might place the mixer and toaster on the top shelf of a metal cart with mixing bowls going on the middle shelf and my collection of silver plated metal trays on the bottom. This means I have to make an effort to get the metal cart over to the COTTAGE along with my mixer and toaster in a few days.

If I can muster up the energy, I'll scoot my old fashion sewing machine over closer to the back wall so there is room for our old wooden file cabinet to set to the left of the window.  I have to empty the file cabinet this week-end so the file cabinet can be taken apart and relocated.  Pencil this in.  That will be the metal cart and the file cabinet.

As I was taking a break, I could hear my husband down in the cellar working at jacking up the COTTAGE front.  The storm door swung open as the front door did and the windows sighed a little.  I pray this works and the house will be slightly leveled as it needs it.  He was talking about the front porch needed rebuilt.  I hope it will hold up until we are completely moved in and the main house is sold.  

I have so much to do that I can't be sick AGAIN.  It gets discouraging to be ill so often.  

SO what will today bring?  Not sure, but I pray it will be a very good and peaceful day.  
~d 

 

SPRING TIME THAT SEEMS LIKE WINTER

 

MARCH 21st.  Second day of SPRING 2023.  A rainy and cloudy day.  Chilly and windy.  Needed a coat to stay warm.  Not like SPRING at all.  More like a wet FALL day turning into WINTER.  Instead this Spring day was like WINTER all over again.

Some flowers are starting to pop through the ground. A nice sight to see.  It's like someone flipped a switch for the IRISES.  They are starting to SPRING forth with lush green leaves standing to attention.

YARD WORK is needed at both locations.  I've been so busy with packing, sorting through things and unpacking that I will not be able to do all that needs done.  Maybe it's for the best.  Being so busy has put a fire under my feet to get things done.  At times it's overwhelming thinking about all that still needs to take place.

What really matters to me is coming to light as I am packing everything by myself as Hubby works diligently on the COTTAGE bathroom.  Handling each item seems to allow an opportunity to see what we have.  

MORE DOWNSIZING will take place as my decorating style changes for the better.  In some ways, I think it would be welcomed to just buy new things needed to make a home.  Go shopping and bring HOME the things purchased a little at a time.  Instead this go round, the way I transport belongings to the COTTAGE is a little at a time.  Main thing is to not get overwhelmed how much there is to take care of.

Hubby has completely plumbed the entire COTTAGE.  He flopped like a fish to get around under the COTTAGE.  Lots of squirming.  Flip flop.  He has laid tile in the bathroom closet and on the bathroom floor.  He started on leveling the front part of the COTTAGE by putting a large support beam under the COTTAGE.  Amazing.  After he gets the COTTAGE leveled then some larger pieces of furniture will be moved in.  A day closer to moving in and turning loose of the big house.

I believe we had a long, busy day.  

This morning, I woke at 5 am.  Spent time on the computer researching thyroid health and then got ready for the day.

Trip to Topeka for blood work.  Did walk in lab again.  Drank an entire bottle of spring water before test so I'd be well hydrated.  Fasted and took no medicine before blood work.  Pills came afterwards.
Bathroom break at SAMS.  Looked around.
Fueled auto.
Starbucks Unsweetened Iced Green Tea.
Lunch at El Torito.  Didn't eat it all.  Twas full. 
Grocery shopped at their grocery store to purchase gorgeous avocados, onions, peppers, cookies, tea.
Off to God's Storehouse for Senior Discount Day where I purchased a large porcelain doll for my collection.  Ate a peanut butter cookie.
Went back to SAMS.  FORGOT the Chinette Paper Plates.  Need these as we ran out.  These help with easy clean-up for meal.  Our dishes are basically all over at the COTTAGE.
Drove to COTTAGE in the rain and wind.
Took new doll inside to sit with doll collection.
Took a short NAP in the chair.  Woke with a sore neck.  Felt so tired.
Tweaked the doll collection some.
Sorted through cardboard boxes to group pots 'n pans on the living room floor.
Admired the white dishes and crystal glasses sitting in the Kitchen cabinet.

Still dodging boxes while walking through the COTTAGE.

Makes the job of working inside the COTTAGE a bit more difficult.
Lost my balance after I bumped the side of a box that didn't move.  Tis a health hazard.

Hubby loaded some empty boxes into the car so we can reuse them as we move.
Drove HOME.

Went through the mail.
No laundry done today.

Have plans of eating Lunch tomorrow with a few friends.
Afterwards, I'll do some laundry, move some more dishes, fill some drawers with what nots, sort through pots 'n pans.  

Makes my head spin thinking where all the pans will be placed in the Kitchen.  Not enough cabinet space in the small Kitchen.  

I'll have to box some of the larger pans and store them in the cellar until the Utility room cabinet is built.  This large cabinet will hold pots 'n pans, bakeware, etc. that do not fit in the Kitchen.

I feel like we are making progress.  Praise the LORD.  My head is swimming with ideas and plans.  Soon I'll know the results of my TSH and see if it is raising.  I went from being way too high to being way too low.  Middle of the road hasn't happened yet.  I don't know if it ever will.

In the meantime,
I have to continue researching
and grasping for answers.  

~d

WELCOME SPRING!!!

PRAISE THE LORD!!!  Tis SPRING!!!

MAKES ME SO HAPPY.  It's like a breath of fresh air.  Like airing out a stale room by opening the windows letting fresh air indoors and going ahhh.  A deep sigh of relief.  At LAST.  

I was wondering if she would get here.  Calendar says it's SPRING.  Today the temperatures are suppose to be in the 50s.  I can handle this.  50 SOMETHING!!!  Hurray for the 50s.

BEAUTIFUL SPRING LIKE WEATHER makes me smile and say THANK YOU to GOD for this season.  Like being BORN A NEW.  

FOOD CHALLENGE THIS SPRING:  Had one piece of Killer Dave's White Bread made into dry toast (110) for Breakfast with hot tea (0) and a V8 (60 calories).  About 170 calories for Breakfast. Low cal Breakfast.  Not sure what Lunch will be yet, but I have hopes of watching them thar CALORIES starting this FINE SPRING DAY.  By Yearly PHYSICAL Appointment in June, I have high hopes of having some weight fall off my frame.  Can I do this?  I will try AGAIN.  Drinking water and no sugary drinks.  Watching carb intake.  Might check out a small restaurant today and see what they are serving for LUNCH.  Salad greens and vegetables for SUPPER.   I will need to go grocery shopping this week so there are vegetables and fruit in the fridge.

Avocados
Strawberries
Blueberries
Blackberries
Raspberries
Oranges
Grapes
Bananas
Carrots

Lettuce
Onion
Sweet Potatoes
Potatoes
Asparagus
Green Beans
Green Peas
Celery
Peppers
Spaghetti Squash
Tomatoes
Cauliflower
Broccoli

THAT WILL BE A HAUL. 

EXERCISE:  I'll call it light weight exercise that you do at HOME which I saw on YOU TUBE is what I HOPE to get in the act of doing.  I have FAILED BIG TIME about actual exercise programs.  I'm staying busy with this moving stuff and when we get completely moved over to the COTTAGE and finished all the main house projects THEN I will give it a whirl.  Walking and easy exercise is where I will BEGIN AGAIN.  Another round of trying.  Deliberate EXERCISE at HOME.  Fitness Queen in the making.  grins.

Back to SPRING.  Temps this morning are at 46 degrees at 10 am.  SO much better than 26 degrees.  It's been so cold lately.  Not a fan.  Still look for the good in the day.

This morning, I have a utility bill I need to pay, pick up some mail at the Post Office, haul some things to the COTTAGE, rearrange some dolls, relocate glassware to a different cabinet, do some laundry, group the pots and pans and go from there.  If I don't take some time outside today soaking in the sunlight, I'll have no one to blame but myself.  

I made my morning telephone calls and took time to think about today's activities.

What shall I do today?  

Blue skies and sunshine.  

At last.  

~d     

BACK AND FORTH WE GO

BACK AND FORTH WE HAVE BEEN GOING between our main house and over to the COTTAGE to work.  

Hubby laid the gray tile in the closet and the bathroom.  Looks great! The tile has to sit for at least three days without activity on it.  I like the tile and will really really like it when the bathroom is completed.  He'll be grouting it in a few days.  I will be ever so THANKFUL when this is completed.  In the mean time Hubby has been figuring out how to level the front part of the COTTAGE.  Praying for success.  

Hubby has purchased what is needed to level the COTTAGE and will forge ahead on this.  Having a leveled front to the COTTAGE will be the way it should be then we can begin to move larger pieces of furniture into the COTTAGE.  That will be awesome.  

One piece at a time.  Sigh a big one.  Breathe deeply and smile.  

When we moved the two large curio cabinets into the COTTAGE, it was a huge relief to have these big pieces of furniture into the COTTAGE without damage and breakage.  Hubby and I moved them ourselves very slowly.  They are holding my doll collection for the time being.  First we moved the curio cabinets from the Carriage House to the COTTAGE in a moving van, traveled the distance, got them up on the porch then through the front door and let them sit in the Living room for a couple of months.  Later we moved them to different rooms and I cleaned them.  I'd pack up my doll collection to move it to the COTTAGE, unpack the dolls and fill the curio cabinets with them.  The dolls will be rearranged later.  For now, I just wanted to get the dolls moved and taken out of boxes.

Lil Miss came over for the week-end to help with this and that.  She cleaned the stairs, wiped down the stair spindles, ran errands, handed me my porcelain teapots that were up on a Kitchen shelf, wiped the teapot shelf clean, dusted above a door trim, wiped the wall, washed a large Kitchen window, polished a metal light that hangs down in the Kitchen, washed the fronts of the kitchen cabinets with a tooth brush especially around the filthy pull knobs where wear and tear was, wiped down the chair rail in the dining room, was my gofer, loaded large boxes to the car and unloaded boxes into the COTTAGE, unpacked all my white everyday dishes into the large kitchen cabinet, has done some serious yard work AND whatever other chore we mentioned.  She has been a huge HELP to me.  

While Lil Miss was unpacking the white dishes, she said several times, "Grandma, you have a lot of dishes!"  I know.  Especially when packing and unpacking the goods.  I do have a lot of dishes and with that there must be order.  The more order the better especially when going from one size Kitchen to a much smaller one.  Tadaah...we are downsizing.

I polished the metal Coffee server and smaller server that goes with the metal teapot, then packed them.

I think I'll display my metal teapot sets in the corner cabinet when the cabinet gets a new back on it.  It feels good to finally know where things will fit in our COTTAGE.  Downsizing has burned some brain cells thinking about where to go with THINGS.  This adventure we're on has been a mind field.  This may be why so much of my hair is falling out.  Stress, vitamin deficiency and thyroid issues can do that.  Kind of scary how much of my hair is coming out.     

I packed my porcelain teapot collection which I think will probably go on a shelf above the Kitchen window which will be made later.  I did unpack pretty crystal beverage stemware in the COTTAGE Kitchen cabinets but will relocate them tomorrow to a different cabinet as I don't like how they look where they are.  More shuffling.  

I will unpack pots and pans laying them on the Living room floor to see what all I have and then figure out where they will go once I know what I have.  I know they'll go in the Kitchen, but fitting them all in will take some know how and wonder.  

They need serious cleaning and I will do this after we get settled in the COTTAGE.  The bottoms of the stainless steel pans look neglected and need a thorough buffing to get the brown stuff off the bottoms of them so they will sparkle once again.  

I've been boxing up things throughout the house.  The boxes are stacked throughout.  Watch your step.  The little COTTAGE is worse as there are a number of boxes there as well.  Slowly and I do mean slowly, we are making progress.  

Hubby worked in the Carriage House today as Lil Miss raked leaves and bagged them.  I've been cleaning a butcher block cart and a metal cart.  Deciding where to go with these for the time being.  I have so many bowls, dishes, cooking/baking things...it's mind boggling.  I have been blessed.  I do realize that it doesn't take as many things as I have housed in my Kitchen, in the basement and carriage house to make a HOME functional.  Not bragging, just coming to terms with what I have on hand.  

THINKING ABOUT MORE PLANS THIS WEEK:  Laundry of course.  The Dolls will be dealt with, pots and pans placed in their new location, also glasses and stemware will be dealt with this fresh week.  Finish this up.  

When I get this done, I will gather all the silver plated items I have placing them on the living room floor to rethink what I'm going to do with each piece.  They are presently stored in dilapidated cardboard boxes.  I will need to re-box the majority of the pieces for the time being then place them in the cellar.  Some of the pieces I'd like to paint black, gray or white chalk paint on them to make chalk boards or menu boards.  Maybe have a booth at a Craft Fair?  I have a few overly large trays that I will keep in the Kitchen and Dining room to use for a variety of things.  I sure like these. 

THEN the old oak file cabinet can be moved to the Utility room and placed against the spare wall to hold cookbooks for the time being.  Since the utility room is in the back of the COTTAGE, the weight of the file cabinet will not interfere with weight in the front of the COTTAGE and it won't matter.  Eventually, book shelves will be built to hold the cookbooks, the portable sewing machines and sewing supplies.  For now I will be very pleased to have the large file cabinet there.  I'll take a deep breath when this is done.  Sigh with relief.  The continuation of moving larger pieces of furniture to the COTTAGE will take place.  

When the COTTAGE is leveled, the Victorian Desk will be dismantled and relocated to the Cottage Dining room.  The Bedroom Suites will be moved over from the main house along with the Living room furniture!  I can see it in my head.  One piece at a time carefully moved.  We'll need to rehearse with a cardboard box that is the size of the sofa to see if we can get the sofa into the Living room with ease when the time comes.  If it doesn't fit then what?   

SO we have been going back and forth between our two properties getting done what needs done.  Praying that we are able to get things done quickly and efficiently.   Time is passing by quickly.  SPRING ARRIVES TOMORROW!  This is WELCOMED.  Our WINTER has been a long one.  

The week to come will be a full one.  We'll continue working on the COTTAGE and the main house.  We both have labs to do this week so we will play some and relax some after the medical appointments are finished.  I need to do some weekly shopping and make plans about how to get from point A to point B. 

We have a ways to go on our relocating from this 1883 two story house to the 1900 Folk Victorian COTTAGE, but when I stop to think what we have been doing the last two years, I am amazed that so much has taken place.  AMAZED.    

Back and forth we go staying busy.  Amen and amen.  Say some prayers and be THANKFUL,

~d

 

SALADS

WHAT HAVE I BEEN TRYING TO EAT MORE OF?  SALADS!!!  Yep, that's right. Salads. If I were to say what I am doing different from five years ago, it would be that I am eating more salads, veggies and ORGANIC!  

I'm still too heavy and LORD willing after we get relocated, I will do my best to exercise and continue to eating well/healthier.  

Strawberries, pear, spinach and salad greens

Strawberries, blueberries, croutons, salad dressing, and salad greens

Asian Salad

Salad greens, tuna, strawberries, craisins, 

and dried cherries

Boiled eggs, salad dressing, and mixed salad greens

Boiled eggs, croutons, and salad greens

Croutons, salad dressing and lots of veggies

🥒🥒🥒🍏🍏🍏🍎🍎🍎🍅🍅🍅🍑🍑🍑

Not all of the Salads are complicated to fix.  I use kits sometimes or Mixed Spring Greens already washed and ready to eat.  These are my favorites!

Salad Dressing adds zest and that's what I like.  Trying to eat 4 cups of greens when eating a salad.  Sounds like a lot, but I need the bulk to fill me up.  

Calories are low and that's a plus.

Salad days are most everyday.  
What's funny is I'm alright with this.

~d