NATURAL VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM and a 1883 ENTRYWAY

MID AFTERNOON ICE-CREAM.  Gosh, it was good.  Didn't have very much, but that's fine.  I needed a sweet boost.  Blue Bell Ice Cream is a winner.  It was a Southern thing when we lived in Texas.  They did not have it up North UNTIL recently.  I remember being disappointed that Kansas and Oklahoma did not have it.  I missed it so when I saw it in the store, my heart went thump.  Blue Bell Ice Cream...the best ice cream in the country, so the ads say.  I think they are onto something.    

Trying to avoid a late afternoon nap because when I take them so late in the day, it affects my night time ritual and I have more trouble falling asleep. Wide awake at 2 in the morning.  The shame of it all.  I entertained myself with some BLUE BELL. 

TODAY, was another busy one for a couple of old peeps like us.  Hubby asked me if I'd like to ride along to Manhattan as he needed some supplies for the house projects.  Oooh, I love getting out on a beautiful day with blue skies, a breeze and temps in the low 80s.  Off we went first to the Hardware store.

Earlier he loaded the car with storage boxes that we'd take to the storage unit on the way to Manhattan.  It went quick without incident which is a blessing.  Onto Manhattan and he was hungry.  We tried THE CHEF walking in at the right time to get a booth to sit in.  He had a big meal of chicken fried steak, his favorite and I had a chicken salad sandwich. 

I guess my head wasn't skewed on straight and I know better about chicken salad made with mayo.  Next time, I'll go with the turkey burger.  I did drink some grapefruit juice with a mild kick to it.  It's been a long time since I had grapefruit juice and it was delicious.  Along with the sandwich came cottage cheese. Going for the protein.

We went to HOME DEPOT buying some more supplies.  Then Target for Starbuck's unsweetened iced green tea.  I went looking for CoQ10.  No dice.  The type they have has soy in it.  NO TO SOY.  I'll check the internet for the cleanest CoQ10 I can get.  I have got to take supplements as I had gone off of them during this hysterectomy thing.  9 weeks has passed and I am run down. Too busy to be in such sad shape.  

We went to Dillons because I wanted to get two LARGE, beautiful Burgundy mums for the COTTAGE porch.  Most of their outdoor plants are lovely.  Makes me want to have a Garden room.  

The large mums they had left were in sad shape so we downsized and got 4 smaller mums.  I wasn't going to do it at first because I wanted the large ones, but changed my mind.  These smaller ones will fit nicely on the steps.  Checked out and away we went across the Prairie to go to the COTTAGE.

Hubby worked on fixing the storm door latch and I put a load of laundry in, watered the house plants and porch plants.  Went through a large laundry basket full of things like vintage pillow cases which I had folded placing in a plastic shoe box.  Walking through the COTTAGE to the Bathroom is an obstacle course.  I need to spend time over there making some sense out of the chaos.  

I made my way to the Bathroom and placed the shoe box up on the shelves to hold them for now.  

The colorful mums are sitting on the concrete steps to the COTTAGE.  When the time comes, I will plant them by the cellar doors hoping for SPRING greenery.  HOPE HOPE.   

One load of laundry done.  Hubby was ready to leave as he wants to work on the main house's Kitchen porch floor.  There's a crack he wants to fix.  I ran out of energy and took some time resting.  Paperwork is getting taken care of and I'm packing items into boxes for the journey.  I am slower than molasses.  My back gets to me so I HAVE TO REST.  Staying focused is a recurring thought.  Being that this is the middle of the week makes me want to stay steady with what needs done.  

When I go to pay bills, I am reminded that we will be faithful paying our debts and are working hard to eliminate them altogether.  If I don't look up, I get overwhelmed with all the obligations that comes with debt.  It is my HOPE to one day soon owe no one anything.  49 years of marriage to get to this place.  Lord willing.  Hubby and I are on the same page...at last.  It was a rocky road getting to this place.  Through the years, we had a strong difference of opinions.  

ROMANS 13: 7 thru 10

7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

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

I got around to cutting back the Coleus plant to have starters.  I trim the Coleus back placing the cuttings into containers of water.  In a few weeks they will root out.  As the roots get bigger, I will then plant them in pots of soil.  I want to mix and match the clippings as I think this is really beautiful together.

The $11 I spent on the large container will turn into a multitude of plants.  Making the money go further.

TAKING A LOOK AROUND.

Evening with the door opening into the screened-in porch.
Tis dark out there.

Let there be light and there was.

 Replacing dead light bulbs in the Living room's $5 chandy.

~The 1883 ENTRYWAY~

10.5 feet tall ceilings and wood work.  Arched front doors and marble tile.

I'll be getting another one of these old fashioned door bells after we get moved to the COTTAGE.  It has a pleasant tone to it.

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

BACK TO IT.  Floor to ceiling book shelves are almost completely empty.  Long time in the coming.  I have to keep going.  I'd like this is be over and done with.  I looked over my notes for the last couple of years and we have been steadily busy.  I have learned that paperwork should be very orderly.  No need to be a hoarder with anything.  I can see how it gets easier to ignore order when aging and not in good health. 

Being organized and tidy will be the direction I want to go.  Once we get to the COTTAGE, I will be going through lots of boxes and will downsize even more.  Willingly downsizing.  THEN the remodeling continues.  Gathering ideas for our tiny COTTAGE.

I watch a multitude of videos about how to lose weight.  One short reel I watched shows a very heavy set woman walking in place.  Over a year's time she slims down quite a bit.  I admire her so much. So I will give it a whirl AFTER we move into the COTTAGE.  The walks will be every day. EVERY DAY.  I pray, more weight comes off my bones.  

When it is said and done....what will that be like?
~d