Pressing On May 08 2016

WEEK-END PLANS CAN BE CHANGED

PLANNING ON ATTENDING A HIGH SCHOOL TRACK MEET, eat some supper and put my feet up. The week-end is upon me.  The weather is suppose to be pleasant so I will sit outside and get some Vitamin D for free.  

With this cold, I will have a slow start to the wk-end on purpose.  When I gather up my energy, then I will go pop some ground soil for the Day Lilies and Lily of the Valley plants that I have to plant.  This will take me several hours.  I'm sure.  Perhaps I can clear my head and just work on planting the flowers and be contented even with much to do about our FIXER UPPER.  

I'll need to rest before pulling dried grass out of the long Iris Flowerbed.  I'll wear a hat and stay dehydrated as best I can.  Having this finished will be a small victory.  

I have thoughts about what to do with the backyard as time passes.  Our FIXER UPPER is a reality.  Some times it's over whelming.  At moments like this I have to get busy working on what needs done.  

Our main house lawn did not come back after the WINTER we had.  Hubby worked so hard on it last year and to have it look the way it does is discouraging.  Have to get it to looking better for sure.  Between the two locations, I think we are spread too thin.  April is ending and we are no where near ready to put the main house on the market to sell.  MAY will be another busy month.  Lord, I beseech you.  

Having a head cold doesn't help.  

Doing what I can,

~d  

WEE BIT OF A COLD

DIDN'T SEE THIS ONE COMING as my cough increased with a sore throat.  The sore throat went away, but the cough has hung on.  Took a in-home co vid test which turned out negative.  Still the cough, stuffed up nose, chest pain and more has me wishing there were no such thing as the common cold.   Wee bit or not, it's no fun.  Tickle in my throat.  Whizzing and more.  Clearing my throat and making funny noise for entertainment.  Lord, have mercy.  I now sound like a baritone. 

Will have to ride this one out and the sooner I get over it, the BETTER.  7 days or so?  I started coughing over a week ago and should have started taking more Vitamin C then.  I know better.  This may take a month to get over.  That's a bummer.

What to do when having a head cold or upper respiratory infection?  May need to go to the doctor for advice and care.  Drink more fluids, take extra vitamin C, daytime and night time cough suppressant, cough drops.  Chicken noodle soup!!!  What else?  Vicks Vapor Rub.

Mayo Clinic says this:  

Cold remedies that work

If you catch a cold, you can expect to be sick for one to two weeks. That doesn't mean you have to be miserable. These remedies might help you feel better:

• Stay hydrated. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. Avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which can make dehydration worse.
• Rest. Your body needs rest to heal.

• Soothe a sore throat. A saltwater gargle — 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in an 8-ounce glass of warm water — can temporarily relieve a sore or scratchy throat. Children younger than 6 years are unlikely to be able to gargle properly.

  You can also try ice chips, sore throat sprays, lozenges or hard candy. Use caution when giving lozenges or hard candy to children because they can choke on them. Don't give lozenges or hard candy to children younger than 6 years.

• Combat stuffiness. Over-the-counter saline nasal drops and sprays can help relieve stuffiness and congestion.

  In infants, experts recommend putting several saline drops into one nostril, then gently suctioning that nostril with a bulb syringe. To do this, squeeze the bulb, gently place the syringe tip in the nostril about 1/4 to 1/2 inch (about 6 to 12 millimeters), and slowly release the bulb. Saline nasal sprays may be used in older children.

• Relieve pain. For children 6 months or younger, give only acetaminophen. For children older than 6 months, give either acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Ask your child's doctor for the correct dose for your child's age and weight.

  Adults can take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or aspirin.

  Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 3, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. This is because aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, in such children.

• Sip warm liquids. A cold remedy used in many cultures, taking in warm liquids, such as chicken soup, tea or warm apple juice, might be soothing and might ease congestion by increasing mucus flow.
• Try honey. Honey may help coughs in adults and children who are older than age 1. Try it in hot tea.
• Add moisture to the air. A cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier can add moisture to your home, which might help loosen congestion. Change the water daily, and clean the unit according to the manufacturer's instructions.

• Try over-the-counter (OTC) cold and cough medications.For adults and children age 5 and older, OTC decongestants, antihistamines and pain relievers might offer some symptom relief. However, they won't prevent a cold or shorten its duration, and most have some side effects.

  Experts agree that these shouldn't be given to younger children. Overuse and misuse of these medications can cause serious damage. Talk with your child's doctor before giving any medications.

  Take medications only as directed. Some cold remedies contain multiple ingredients, such as a decongestant plus a pain reliever, so read the labels of cold medications you take to make sure you're not taking too much of any medication.

Cold remedies that don't work

The list of ineffective cold remedies is long. Some of the more common ones that don't work include:

• Antibiotics. These attack bacteria, but they're no help against cold viruses. Avoid asking your doctor for antibiotics for a cold or using old antibiotics you have on hand. You won't get well any faster, and inappropriate use of antibiotics contributes to the serious and growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
• Over-the-counter cold and cough medications in young children. OTC cold and cough medications may cause serious and even life-threatening side effects in children. Talk with your child's doctor before giving any medications.

Cold remedies with conflicting evidence

In spite of ongoing studies, the scientific jury is still out on some popular cold remedies, such as vitamin C and echinacea. Here's an update on some common alternative remedies:

• Vitamin C. It appears that taking vitamin C won't usually help the average person prevent colds.

  However, some studies have found that taking vitamin C before cold symptoms start may shorten the length of time you have symptoms. Vitamin C may benefit people at high risk of colds due to frequent exposure — for example, children who attend group child care during the winter.

• Echinacea. Study results on whether echinacea prevents or shortens colds are mixed. Some studies show no benefit. Others show some reduction in the severity and duration of cold symptoms when taken in the early stages of a cold. Different types of echinacea used in different studies may have contributed to the mixed results.

  Echinacea seems to be most effective if you take it when you notice cold symptoms and continue it for seven to 10 days. It appears to be safe for healthy adults, but it can interact with many drugs. Check with your doctor before taking echinacea or any other supplement.

• Zinc. Several studies have suggested that zinc supplements may reduce the length of a cold. But research has turned up mixed results about zinc and colds.

  Some studies show that zinc lozenges or syrup reduce the length of a cold by about one day, especially when taken within 24 to 48 hours of the first signs and symptoms of a cold.

  Zinc also has potentially harmful side effects. Talk to your doctor before considering the use of zinc to prevent or reduce the length of colds.

Take care of yourself

Although usually minor, colds can make you feel miserable. It's tempting to try the latest remedy, but the best thing you can do is take care of yourself. Rest, drink fluids and keep the air around you moist. Remember to wash your hands frequently.

 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/cold-remedies/art-20046403

Can't let this get me down.  I'll try drinking lemon water, take extra C, some honey in tea, rest, eat chicken noodle soup.

Maybe it was the cold medicine I took before bed, but I remembered my dream this morning.  I was driving my present day tiny car with my Mom and Sister with me.  We went to the old High School where my Sister and I both attended and parked the car in the shade.  Got out and went inside the old building.  For some reason my Mom and Sister decided to walk back to my Mom's house.  I stayed and visited with someone, but when it was time to leave, I couldn't remember where I parked my car.  I was stumped.  My Dad showed up and began talking to me about what I needed to do to find my car.  I found the lone car in the shade and got inside to go home.  duh.  Not sure what this meant.  I was my present age, driving my present car visiting the old High School I attended on a nice Spring day.  Perhaps I am remembering the Spring time in my HOME TOWN as an old woman.  Both my parents were in gone shape and age wasn't a concern.  I found my car where I didn't usually park as a teenager.  Anxiety?  Not sure, but it was a neat dream none the less.  

Meanwhile at the COTTAGE:  I managed to shuffle furniture and boxes about at the COTTAGE.  Had to sit and take breaks a lot as I was tired from this wee bit of a cold doesn't help matters.  We took three drawers from the Victorian Desk over in the car to sit on the floor where the desk piece will finally go once it makes it over to the COTTAGE.  Making plans for some of the larger pieces of furniture to relocate to the COTTAGE.  Managed to get a dinette table and two chairs centered into the middle of the room.  Placed an old rough round table in the corner of the Dining room to place a lamp on it.  Boxed some dolls.  Went through some books.  Shuffled some dishes.  Rearranged two Kitchen cabinets.  Dodged boxes and dodged some more boxes.  Did some laundry.  Washed some curtains.  Daydreamed about flowerbeds. Hung some different curtain panels in the Dining room and the Pink Bedroom which look far better than what was hanging there.  Hubby helped move some furniture out of the COTTAGE into the shed for his art studio and nailed some bead board on the Bathroom wall.  

The COTTAGE is small and it's not easy to maneuver about as it's cramped with still so many boxes taking up floor space.  Making headway, but it is so very slow.  One box at a time.  I have started an AUCTION pile since we may have one.

I felt like we had a very productive day even with this wee bit of a COLD.  

I have some spare decorative curtain rods upstairs in the jUnK room that I will take over to the COTTAGE to hang.  They're nicer than what is over there.  Perhaps they will get hung this week-end as I plan to work and prepare the flowerbed behind the Garage with Day Lilies and Lily of the Valley plants.  The long Iris flowerbeds needs the old grass pulled up to clean the beds up.  

I'll continue going through old books and thinning them out, boxing up the dolls and relocating to a different room.  I think the curio cabinets they are in will be auctioned off.  We are seriously thinking about having a small auction as we have pieces of furniture that we don't really have room for. 

Ahh-choo, cough, cough, sniffle, sniffle, blow my nose and repeat.  Remember to drink plenty of liquids, take cold medicines, suck on cough drops and rest.  This wee bit of a cold is the pits. sigh.  Each day, it has to get better.  

Please,

~d        

BLINK OF AN EYE

THE WEEK IS QUICKLY GETTING PAST ME.  Zoom.  She's gone.  Spending time each day to plan what needs to get accomplished.  I have to MASTER the DAY PLANNING knowing it can all change in a blink of an eye. 

Hubby's medical appointment went very well yesterday.  Thankful.  Afterwards we went to WAL-MART and MENARDS.  I thought my was Husband ill when he said, "I want to go to WAL-MART."  He greatly dislikes WAL-MART.  I was game to go as I like looking and go occasionally. He wanted to look at car covers for our small, non-operative OPEL GT that sits in a garage.

I look at most everything in the store as they are restocking and remodeling the store into having a better lay-out and floor plan.  I remember when the store was built and opened for business.  It seemed so huge that I would get lost. It doesn't seem so daunting these days.

I picked up a dying Gerbera Daisy for $3 believing I can help it thrive when placed in a larger container.  Colorful, pretty flowers were drooping, but that's alright.  I planted it into a larger container and placed it on our COTTAGE porch after we stopped by for the evening.  I needed to place my geraniums outside on the porch and water the plants.

SUPPER was early at a steakhouse as we decided to celebrate my Husband's good report from the doctor.  I had a large vegetable salad with grilled chicken.  Sipped water with lemon and over indulged with bread and butter.  I'm was not endorsing avoiding bread with this meal.  My throat hurt and the rough bread felt good on my throat.  I'll do better cutting back tomorrow.

We'll be working at the COTTAGE.  I'll need to move some boxes in the Dining room and rearrange a Kitchen cabinet today as some laundry is done.  Shall see how this goes as Hubby is installing bead board in the Bathroom.  I had a bad sore throat yesterday and wondered if I should be checked for strep throat if it continues to hurt like it is.  This morning I woke with the throat not as sore.  I'll wait another day.  It may be all better.  The Prescribed Burning on the Prairie continues and I think it's making me sick.  SPRING COLDS are not my cup of tea.  Not feeling the best cannot stop me from getting some chores completed.

PLANTS.  THURSDAY will come and go in a blink of an eye.  I hope to get some Day Lilies and Lily of the Valley plants put in the ground around the COTTAGE'S Garage out back.  

A heavenly scent is permeating into the yard from the Lilac bush that's in full bloom with lavender colored blossoms.   This bush will get trimmed after the blooms fade in a week or so. I'm not sure I will collect the petals for Lilac Jelly.  Not sure if I'll do this.  Ever had Lilac Jelly?  I haven't, but think it sounds delicious.

In the area beside the house, there is one Peony plant that has buds on her.  I will have to move some Siberian Irises that sit beside her and plant a couple of more Peony Plants in September.  The tall, slender Irises will be relocated in July to an area to make a Siberian Iris flowerbed.  Keeping an idea on what time of year is best to relocate and prune plants is a new thing for me as I never did this before as I was not interested in it, but NOW I am older and it does matter to me.  

IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER, I will be redoing the two flowerbeds out front of the COTTAGE.  Irises do well when planted in July.  I'll have to make the beds larger and move the brick border.  Doing this in July will hopefully be a time I can do this project after the main house is sold.  

SCHEDULE for plants:  Lilac bush pruned after buds fade.  Thinking this will be early June.
In July, I'll redo the two flowerbeds in front of the COTTAGE planting more Heirloom Irises in circles.  The Siberian Irises will be relocated to the side of the house forming a new flowerbed just for them.  I might try relocating a clump of Irises that are in the front bed now to the base of one of the tall trees out front.
In September, I'll purchase two peony plants and plant them in the side yard.  Maybe plant some mums as well for Fall.

I need to work as quickly as I can to make this HAPPEN as time gets away from me even faster.  Blink, she's gone.

HOME LIFE is for me,

~d🏡

  

GATE KEEPER

THE IRISES ARE BEGINNING TO BLOOM.  Makes for a happy moment in time to see this.  I look forward to the blooms each SPRING.  Splashes of color adds beauty to the scenery.  This simple pleasure adds volumes to the world.  There is so much ugliness promoted and focused on in the media that I have to chose to not watch or read about it.  Spending more time looking at flowers, plants and landscaping is a healthy must.

Through television programming, the world willingly comes into our homes with the messages that others want to invade our peace with.  Chaos.  There's an agenda promoted by those that own the media facilities to dethrone a Holy God and His healthy ways.  They want to rule the world by polluting the minds of people so they live like animals.  

The latest I have noticed are the words spoken in the television series where just about every other word is vulgar beginning with a F and G D.  As if this somehow expresses a more in-depth meaning to what they say.  Will I have to detox myself from all of this as well as what I eat? Probably with a capital P.  

As for the internet, there are images that give messages that are difficult to ignore while surfing on the computer.  There they are.  Go away.  I must be a gate keeper to what goes in the eye gate. A protector against inappropriate images polluting my mind.  I am a full time HOMEMAKER that has to also be a gate keeper.  That STUFF mustn't enter the property, but if I turn the tele on and it is in the programming then I failed to keep it out.  It is handled differently when using the computer.  Eliminating watching movies and spending time on the computer can be done. Silencing radio and television waves can be done.  Completely repenting and going a different way is doable.    

Today, Hubby has a medical appointment that he is dreading.  Each time there's one of these, he gets uptight and dreads going.  We need to know how he is is doing concerning Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.  It was like getting hit in the gut to be told he had this.  

At that time, I was completely convicted that we had to do something.  Changing what and how we ate was necessary plus prayer.  We knew we had to do things differently.  Downsizing and leaning toward a less stressful LIFE.  We decided to move to the COTTAGE, but getting there is really challenging as we have to downsize, remodel and clean up our act.  The downsizing is taking lots of time to do.  This is a type of stress that we probably don't need, but stress is there anyways.  Life has stress, doesn't it?  Having to trust the Lord to alleviate the stress.

Working in the CARRIAGE HOUSE this morning, then cleaning up to go to his medical appointment.  Afterwards, not sure what mental state we will be in so I can't say what we'll be doing as of yet.  Maybe planting Day Lilies and Lily of the Valley plants.  I need to get the Geraniums out of the house and placed on the porch again as freezing weather has past for now.

A long, warm shower this evening will be just what the doctor ordered.

~d

  

I DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT OR A PERFECTIONIST TO GET THINGS DONE WELL

THE DAY WAS SPENT IN A BUSY WAY for us.  Found some get up and go to work on flowerbeds and general clean-up.  Lil Miss came over to help with the yard work.  Always good to see her.  She's raking up the last of the FALL leaves on the lawn.  I know we should have raked the leaves up last AUTUMN when they fell to the ground and through the WINTER months.  

Here in Kansas there is that HOPE that the strong winds will blow the leaves elsewhere than staying on the premises.  So many of the leaves liked it here, so they stayed put.  She's almost finished with the raking and bagging.  It is a large yard and we needed some extra help.  She's doing a very good job and we appreciate her help.  

ADMIRING IRISES AND DECIDING WHERE THEY SHOULD GO has been my part in our IRIS GARDEN journey.  Through the years, I was the one that just ohhed and ahhed about their beauty and looked forward to seeing them bloom each SPRING.  A yearly visit to the KSU GARDENS takes place to view the blooms and I'm finding it hard to believe that it has been a year already since our last visit.  We didn't make it to the July Sales in 2022 and here it is the end of April where July isn't far off.  We felt like we had a really nice selection of Irises and stayed away from the sale.

I wasn't the one planting our Irises or relocating them until yesterday on April 24th.  Hubby and I were discussing the empty flowerbeds and we decided to use some of the Irises we already had in the yard to fill in some empty flowerbeds so there would be no expense in buying bedding plants.  We had what we needed.  THRIFT.

My dear Husband dug up some day lilies and Lily of the Valley flowers so they can be relocated to the COTTAGE.  I did not want to leave these behind when moving.  He was finally digging them up and placing them in some plastics tubs I came up with.  I can't wait to get these over to their new HOME.

As we talked about the empty flowerbeds, we decided to move some Irises.  I rolled up my sleeves and started thinning out some.  With the proper tool, popping them out of the ground is made easy compared to using a shovel.

Quickly we filled in 4 flowerbeds.  It was amazing to see the beds fill up as if they had these flowers there for years.  Looks so very nice to see flowers where bare ground was.  

Our Irises are beginning to bud out and display their blooms.  This pleases me so much.  This time of year, is one I truly enjoy.  IRISES have become one of my FAVORITE FLOWERS!  Long story short...they helped save my MARRIAGE.  Not only are these flowers beautiful, they are hardy as well.  Makes for a great recipe for success in the garden.

My day was busy doing yard work with Hubby when I don't usually do the yard work, but this go round, I was helping.  

Afterwards, I returned to the CARRIAGE HOUSE to do some shuffling.  I didn't make a dent in this as there is so much to do amongst the messes.  Made my head spin.  Just one look at the inside of the place makes me shut down.  

Rising above the shut down, I put myself in gear and got busy.  I did manage to shuffle one of the fold up tables to going in a different direction making room for more tables to be sit up.  This will help when sorting through old boxes, grouping like items together for better organization, etc.

Because of the disarray in the Carriage house, it is difficult to move about.  It takes some doing to inch around.  Slows down the progress.  Just one of those things.

Over the next few weeks, the Carriage House will be dealt with one mess at a time. 

This time of LIFE has been one of the busiest I have ever had in my entire LIFE.  I'm going in so many different directions that our days are full of things to do as we DOWNSIZE, REMODEL and prepare to sell our main house moving into a small COTTAGE across the river.  

It can be done a little each day.  After I work on our bills, I am beyond ready to lighten the load. The reality of having too many bills hits me between the eyes and I have to work really hard to get these bills paid.  It puts some gusto under my belt to get downsized and moved.  I have a vision of being in the COTTAGE already.  Making it happen is requiring muscle and actually doing it.  

AS FOR A MONDAY...I was amazed at how much we got done.  PTL.  It felt so good to have the strength and energy to accomplish SOMETHING like we did.  Perhaps my iron supplement is kicking in since I take an iron pill with orange juice which helps with the absorption of iron. Avoid taking iron with milk (calcium) and coffee/tea (caffeine).  Drink these at a different time as they affect the absorption as well.  Gosh, I had no idea how complex this all is.  

MAYBE IT ISN'T PERFECTION YOU SHOULD BE STRIVING FOR, but participation.  It is one thing to do things with excellence, but when it gets in the road of participating in the first place, it becomes a stronghold that doesn't need to have such power over you.

How many times have I put off doing things because I knew I wouldn't be excelling at doing them?  Countless.  If the number one thing is being the best, then it can become an overwhelming task.  Practice makes perfect?  Doubting thoughts enter in and the attempt to even do something gets in the way of productivity.  Nothing happens.  If I can overlook the fact that I don't have to be the best or perfect, just participate, then I get a jump start on it and become productive.  I can strive for doing things well and not worry about being the best.  I don't have to be the best.

That saying I came up with of, "YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE BEST...JUST BE."  helped to set me free so I could participate.  Striving for excellence can be a goal, but I don't want to be in bondage to perfectionism where it steals my joy.  The satisfaction of participating can comfort me.  I want to get some things done and as long as I put an effort in doing these things, the way of excellence can be birthed.  The way of excellence and perfectionism are two different realms.

Because I chose to live differently, I remember hearing, "What, you think you're better than me?"  The Bible mentions a more excellent way to live.  The better than me part can be eliminated or put into a different perspective.  It doesn't have to paint one into a corner rendering one helpless with no way of escape.  While embracing God's TRUTH, one can live a more excellent way.

                  NOW TO GET AFTER IT ALL for another day.  

HOME LIFE IS FOR ME,

~d 🏡

LIKE JET LAG GRANDPARENTS

WE MANAGED TO DO A FEW CHORES BEFORE HITTING THE ROAD TO SAINT LOUIS.  After hearing it would freeze during the week-end, I knew I needed to put our porch plants back inside while we were gone to protect them.  

Packed light for the trip to visit our son and grandson.  I was glad that we traveled a day ahead before the Grandparents Day event at our Grandson's school in hopes of being better rested before the event.  Traveling anymore effects me with something like jet lag.  In the past years we'd travel to SAINT LOUIS on the same day as Grandparents' Day so that when we arrived I had travel fatigue and couldn't enjoy to the fullest the day like I would have liked to.  I'd get through it, but was exhausted before it started.  With seeing our Grandson only twice a year, it is important to make the time together be the best it can be within such a short time frame.

TRAVELING does a number on me.  I didn't plan it this way.  JET LAG is real.  Not sure what it is called when traveling by car wears one out taking some time to bounce back.  

HARD, HARD RAIN poured while traveling which made me super tense.  I managed to get through this with a sigh and a prayer.  We stopped at Truxton, Missouri allowing the storm to calm down some.  It did and off we went.  I was relieved to be in the SAINT LOUIS area even with the SAINT LOUIE TRAFFIC.

Meeting up with family at a Mexican Restaurant for supper, we then went to Starbucks for more time to chat.  Went to my Son's apartment for the evening.  Last time we were there, the elevator was not working and climbing the flights of stairs with luggage was something else.  The elevator was working! this time as he lives in one of the upper apartments with walking the flights of stairs being really difficult on our old bodies carrying all our luggage.  Hubby's knee was hurting as he twisted it earlier and if we had to climb the stairs I believe we would have been crawling by the time we reached his floor.

Grandparents' Day had arrived and we were thankful to be with our Grandson.  The service was pleasant and afterwards we had refreshments, visited the BOOK FAIR, saw his classroom, checked out his desk and locker.  We were able to take him with us afterwards so we went to see a 3D movie.  It's been years since I saw a 3D movie so this was great fun watching THE SUPER MARIO BRO. MOVIE.

I'm not sure the movie would have enough interest at my old age being just a regular movie, BUT with the special 3D effects, it was great fun seeing the graphics.  SO much fun.  I thought it was intriguing being 3D.  Munching popcorn, junior mints, and sipping water made the movie all the better.  grins.

The main thing was that we were with our Grandson that we only see about two times a year.  

HOME GOODS was visited and I was having visions of being in a larger TUESDAY MORNING store that has closed in my neighborhood.  Vanilla, Everything Bagel Seasoning, and a plastic egg container were bought.  Off to the apartment.

If we lived in a city apartment where we had to drive miles on end to go grocery shopping then carry groceries from the car to apartment, I think it would make living in the city all the more challenging and tiring for old peeps like me.  I am not a city person.  Give me rolling hills and cows any day of the week.  MOOOOve over.  

Just driving into a city for activities then when done, return to small town life, is more my speed.  Not speaking for everyone.  Some love the city life and that's alright...just not for me.

For supper that evening, we went out for pizza at BLACK THORN in which I was the driver in the SAINT LOUIS traffic at night in the dark without radar.  It was more than I needed.  People drive so fast, it's crazy.  I wonder if things progress with the recklessness of drivers what it will be like driving as a 77 year old in 10 years?  If I should be allowed to live that long driving?  Not sure I will be able to venture into the city limits at that time.  People are like animals at times and it doesn't agree with me.  By the way, the PIZZA was some of the best I have ever had.  Their sauce is awesomely good.  

We had a nice supper then returned to our Son's apartment and I was more than ready to sit. Driving the distance from Kansas to STL at night in traffic, is exhausting to me.  I drive the speed limit with most flying by me.  

THANK YOU LORD that we were not in any wrecks and we made it to each of our destinations in tact.  Safely.

Saturday, we SPENT THE DAY in apartment watching old television programs while son went to health clinic with bronchitis.  THIS IS WHEN I WAS VERY TIRED LIKE I HAD JET LAG.  Would feel better the next day, but by Sat. evening I was toast.  Being Anemic with my TSH numbers too suppressed, traveling, stress, etc. caught up with me.  Like that I was down for the count. 

We'd have chili nachos for supper and watch a movie.  Ocean's 12.  Went well and was enjoyable. The week-end came to a close and off we were in the car again stopping at three Antique shops on the way back HOME.  We started out at 9:30 in the morning and arrived HOME around 10 at night.  Traffic outside of St. Louis and outside of Kansas City was thick.  I was so ready to be HOME I could have cried.  

When we were outside of TOPEKA, controlled burning or prescribed burning was taking place and the smoke was thick once again.  This will be the final week before the burning stops for the year.  I can say, " G O O D! "  as it makes breathing difficult.  It beautifies the prairie preventing certain plants from taking over the landscape.  Still, it's SMOKE that makes the eyes burn and difficult to breathe.

On the way HOME, we stopped off at ROCK GARDEN ANTIQUE BARN in Fulton, THE VERANDA ANTIQUE STORE in Columbia, and THE BRASS ARMADILLO in Grain Valley.  This was a SUPER TREAT for me as I LOOOOOVE to look.  Small vacay for someone who doesn't take vacations.  

Purchases were a bar of soap at the Garden, a Alfred Meakin Ironstone two handled sugar bowl or tea caddy with Tea Leaf motif at the Veranda AND at the Armadillo we bought a Coffee/Tea Service with tray and miniature kitchenware.  Left smiling because we had fun, got off the road for a while and got some bargains to boot.

Now back at HOME, I will rest a lot then proceed with downsizing and getting on with this moving thing.  Going to work in the Carriage House today shuffling things to make room to store boxes upon boxes.  GOTTA GET AFTER IT.  

Weather is suppose to be in the 60s!  Should be a great day for working outside.  I have to make progress on this as it is the final full week of APRIL.  April comes to a halt as MAY arrives.  Hubby will be going to get bead board for our COTTAGE BATHROOM and hopefully installing it this week with some painting.  THEN PTL the toilet goes in!!!  I can get extremely EXCITED about the porcelain Princess going in this week.  It will make my heart sing to have THIS NEW TOILET in place able to flush and use.  Praise the LORD!  

I much prefer a flushing toilet to an OUT HOUSE any day,
~d

  

DID I GET ANY VITAMIN D WHILE IN THE SUN?

IT WAS RATHER WARM on Tuesday while we were at a track meet.  I brought along some sunscreen and I wore a wide brim hat that was difficult to wear in the wind even with a strap under the chin.  Made it through the meet just fine, but still caught myself not walking the best.  Earlier I smeared on some sunscreen.  It works well for preventing sunburn, but when wearing it, I don't think you get the vitamin D.  So what ever D I got was soaked in before applying the lotion.

How long do you need to be in sun to get vitamin D?  In spring and summer, 25 percent of the body (the hands, face, neck and arms) is exposed to the sun, and in these seasons, about 8 to 10 minutes of sun exposure at noon produces the recommended amount of vitamin D. 

Ultraviolet B (UVB) sunlight rays go into exposed skin and create vitamin D. The problem, however, is that sunscreen and many clothing items block the absorption of UVB sunlight into the skin, hence blocking natural vitamin D production. 

Can you get enough vitamin D from sun in face?

According to the national Institutes of Health, between five and 30 minutes of sun exposure to your unprotected face, arms, legs or back between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. two to three times every week is enough for your body to produce all of the D3 it needs. Sunscreen can block vitamin D production.

ENJOYED THE TRACK MEET.

Lil Miss participated and took three first places.  So very proud of her.  I told her that she is a child of God and He has given her talent.  You've prayed and now you'll participate.  She told me, "I love you, Grandma."

It is thrilling to see her run.  

I get a thrill when I see all my Grandchildren and when they participate in an event or sport, it is up lifting.  Just seeing them makes me so proud.  Love bubbles up in my heart.  

The morning of the meet was busy as we moved some large pieces of furniture at the Cottage before driving to the town where the event took place.  I like getting a few things done before heading to a sports event.  Makes me relax some knowing some things got done for the day.

On the way HOME, I thought I would be able to do a few more chores, but by the time we actually got HOME I was too tired.  Slept like a baby.

MORE TRACK MEETS TO COME.

~d 

IRON SHARPENS IRON

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

IT SURELY DOES.  Iron swords and medicines are two different things though.  Ideas can be a type of sword.  Mind sets can be a sword.  Being better informed can be a type of sword. Putting on the whole armor of GOD is a sword against evil.  SO with this in place, I will allow iron pills to go to battle for me in combating ANEMIA.  My Ferritin levels were significantly LOW.  Have to raise the levels to about a 81 instead of a 11.

The normal value ranges for blood ferritin are:

• Male: 12 to 300 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL)
• Female: 12 to 150 ng/mL

The lower the ferritin level, even within the "normal" range, the more likely it is that the person does not have enough iron.

The number ranges above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific results.

My Endocrinologist's APRN did run a Ferritin test when I ASKED for one so I would know if my storage of iron was within range or I was anemic.  Too much of my hair has been coming out.  I've been searching for an answer so I can stop unnecessary hair loss.  Being hypothyroid contributes to hair loss as does when having too little iron.  Sure enough, my Ferritin was way too low. He mentions my Ferritin is very low, but won't tell me to take iron.

It is way too low so I know I have to build my blood up to be at a healthier place.  Instead of the APRN telling me I needed iron supplements, he said I should see my regular physician. 

When dealing with the need of taking iron supplements due to being ANEMIC, I read that iron should be taken together with vitamin C or orange juice to get better absorption and NOT with caffeine.  Never heard this one before.  So I shall do this.  Two months of iron supplements should raise my levels to where they should be just in time for my yearly physical where blood work will be done and I will know where I stand concerning iron levels.  

Now, I find out do not take iron with calcium like milk.  Interferes with absorption.  Didn't know this.  Best to take iron on empty stomach.

https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/taking-iron-supplements-food-decrease-absorption-7202.html

Iron sharpens iron.  Bouncing information off of others in the same boat may be helpful and allow a lead to a way of getting HEALED as close to being HEALED as possible.  

~d