KEEPING MY MIND ACTIVE ON A WINTERY DAY

QUITE OFTEN I write post late at night after a full day of activities leaving me 'not the sharpest tack in the box' as they say.  Over tired from hours of being on the go.  My grammar and spelling are not always spot on.  Oops.  Sometimes I catch the mistakes and sometimes I don't.  

A previous post I reread was full of mistakes.  I laughed, corrected the errors that I saw and went on knowing that the ones that had read the post beforehand probably saw all the mistakes. Perhaps I should say I'm a hick, because in many ways I am one.  Does it disqualify me from knowing anything?  nah.  I know plenty, but don't know everything and continue learning each day.  Many times I cannot recall all the details and have to refresh my mind like learning it for the first time.   

I can't go outside today to walk in this weather so I'll do other things instead.  I've walked January 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.  Take a break and return when I can.

YESTERDAY THROUGH THE SCREEN WINDOW

TODAY

This morning it continues to snow as I sit comfortably in my blue wing chair in the corner of our tiny COTTAGE'S Living room in small-town America.  This is my FAVORITE place to be right now in 2024.  I can rest, work on paperwork then get up to do a chore returning to my chair in the corner of the Living room that has a lace curtain panel covering the window beside me that looks out to the neighborhood.  Looking outside, I see fresh snow everywhere.  From sunup to sundown, my favorite place is just for me.  My special corner of the world.  

On Friday before shopping, SUPPER was at IHOP where I ate a piece of toast topped with avocado slices and roasted cherry tomatoes.  Sipped on municipal water.  I'm not sure what type of bread was used for the toast, but that didn't matter at the time.  I did think about it though. Probably had wood pulp in it.  I suppose I will do more thinking of that when we dine out because I am not doing IHOP's grocery shopping.  Pick and choose items from the menu most desired.  

While we were sitting in the booth, HUBBY and I were talking about people we have known in our past.  He looked them up on his phone to find out that three of his co-workers had obituaries on-line.  It was sobering to read them.  Once again, make the most out of each day and forgive as best you can.  We truly are just passing through on our way to eternity.  We are not promised TOMORROW while on planet Earth.  I cried as we sat there in a booth.  It hits HOME with me that we should not take things or people for granted.  sigh and pause.  One of my High School buds passed away a few days ago and her service will be streamed on the 19th.  I'd like to watch it since I cannot travel to her hometown.  SO many of my school mates have died.

I am encouraged to quickly get rid of unnecessary things about the house.  Starting another donation PILE by the front door.    

On our outing we went to HOBBY LOBBY.  Art supplies 40% off at HOBBY LOBBY for HUBBY and of course I purchased more battery operated faux candles for HOME.  They had candles with different dimensions and I think I need to go back to buy some of the narrower ones that will fit in the lamps I have on the porch.  The ones I bought are too large.  Back I shall go when traveling conditions are safer.  

I can stand from inside clicking the ON button turning the flickering candles on this WINTER.  A nice touch having candles aglow warming my soul. These faux candles help lift my spirits through the WINTER when it is so terribly cold.  I no longer have a fireplace mantel to decorate so I choose to add decorating touches throughout the house here and there.  Pretty wreaths on the doors makes me HAPPY.    

I was able to get a few more storage boxes at MENARDS.  I needed one to hold all the wood pieces to a train set with tracks and small wooden accessories.  Also a storage box for decorative pillows for safe keeping between uses.  I returned to buy three decorative hooks to hang aprons on inside of the pantry.  I hope to install the hooks today so the aprons will properly hang on the door.  The aprons will be freshened up by laundering them.  THANKFUL for running water, laundry detergent, a washer and dryer at my fingertips.  My tiny Utility room comes in so handy. Thankful to have one on the main floor.

ICED GREEN TEA rode along with me as I drove the distance HOME in the dark.  We arrived safely to our community and like I do so often I drag Main Street in the car before going HOME for the night.  Unloading our spoils and putting them away, I was ready to rewatch the movie, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON.  

Reading about OKLAHOMA HISTORY, it is interesting about the Osage County murders.  Very interesting.  The actors of the film made the characters come to life in this movie along with costuming, movie sets and interior shots.  It was a glimpse of the 1920s in Oklahoma.  The story line is intriguing which kept my attention.

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osage_Indian_murders

PLANS FOR THE DAY:  Staying indoors working on laundry, paperwork, shuffling things about. I'll be washing my Mom's dishes and have figured where they will go once the moving boxes are gone through that sit in front of my Grandma's Sideboard.  They'll go in the bottom cabinet. With it being snowy and slick outside I will stay indoors to work.  I need to polish the glass panes on the corner cabinet then I will fill the piece with crystal.  In between task, I have to sit to catch my breath.

Sit and sip Hot Earl Grey Tea with Cayenne Pepper.  Thinking about the next round of work to do.  It is the way I function these days.  When I get to a better place with the COTTAGE in better order, I will allow myself to sew, draw, and walk.  Keeping it simple.  The researching I do on the computer is an ongoing adventure.  Keeps my mind very active.  It's been difficult to give up computer time after participating using it for so many years.  

A train whistle is sounding off in the background as I type.  About 25 trains a day roll through this small community.  I'll have to turn a deaf ear to them the longer I live here.  I had to learn to not let the whistles bother me so much when we lived in the rock house from December 2006 to October 2016 and then in the COTTAGE before relocating to the 1883 house that we recently sold.  It took me 7 years to get use to the trains before.  Now that we are back in this small community, when the whistle blows, I am saying a word of THANKS to my Heavenly Father for salvation through Jesus Christ and a word of thanks that we are OUT OF DEBT and alive to tell about it.  

A WORD OF THANKS keeps my mind active.  

I completed my THANK YOU NOTES for CHRISTMAS GIFTS.  Next to write my Mom a very long letter with pictures.  I need to go see her as I haven't seen her in some time.  I miss her.  

This week-end we'll be celebrating LIL MISS's 17th birthday.  She has grown up so quickly as my Grandchildren all have.  I don't see the other Grands very often as they live in other states.  We don't always make it, but we try to see them on their birthdays each year. 

Getting around to see them keeps my mind ACTIVE!  Thinking about them keeps my mind active.  Working at getting settled here is keeping my mind and BODY active.

One day soon, I am going to allow myself time to just sit without thinking about doing chores. Just sit.

💚d