7 DAY MENU FROM THE 1950s

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NOT SURE IF I CAN DO THIS ONE OR NOT.  Found it on a video and it is suppose to be a diet plan from the 1950s.  I like the simplicity of this old 7 day menu.  ESPECIALLY the Sunday one.  This would be an easy to prepare menu of juices.  If nothing else, it can be a guide to help me figure out some simple meals.  Egg, toast with butter, fruit, tea or coffee without sugar.

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I think a really easy diet plan would be a couple of eggs 🥚🥚(protein), rye toast 🍞(starch) with grass fed butter (healthy fat), a piece of fruit (fruit), V8 🍅🍅🥒🥒🥒(vegetables), small glass of milk 🥛(dairy), plus water 🚰 or hot tea ☕ for BREAKFAST.  

LUNCH would be a huge vegetable salad 🥗 with some fruit 🍏🍎 in it and protein such as turkey 🦃🐔, chicken or shredded cheese, sprinkled with a few croutons and small amount of salad dressing with water to drink.  

SUPPER being a large bowl of organic soup 🍜 with some crackers 🍘, and water🚰 to drink.  

Take a morning walk 🏃(exercise) and sit in the sun 🌞 for 15 minutes to get some vitamin D.  Sip WATER throughout the day.  Take some supplements.  Pray and rest 🛋.  SIMPLE PLAN for a successful day of healthy eating.

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🛋 I am still recovering from the dreaded CO V ID cough.  I am doing better, but still have a tickle in my throat.  Cough syrup helps.  Praying for a better day.  No fever, but a heck of a cough.

💤😴🛌 I did not sleep well last night and found myself awake at 4 in the morning.  I finally went to sleep and hubby allowed me to sleep until 10:30.  6 and a half hours of sleep.  I woke knowing that I needed to go to TOPEKA to have some blood drawn.  I had fasted.  😷 Wore a mask and stayed away from peeps as best I could.  

👐👐Washed my hands often.

When I returned HOME, my TSH numbers were already in the health portal.  They were good coming in at 1.294.  Praise the Lord.  I will get my TSH checked again in 6 weeks or so.  Praying I stabilize.  I think when I take the cough syrup my Blood pressure raises.  Keeping track.  ✍Journaling.

The temps were HOT.  Nearing 100 degrees🌡.  I stayed cool in the car and didn't mind traveling to Topeka.  Our trip was pleasant with no troubles or problems  The car ran well.

💃 On one corner by SAMS, I saw a lady belly dancer seating up to preform.  She had the back of her auto open with a huge sound system.  What a boom box she had.  We didn't get to see her dance, but thought it was interesting that she was setting up to preform in this heat.  You never know what you're going to see in Kansas on the side of the road.  

Returning HOME, we were tired and I needed to put my feet up to relax.  No swelling in the feet.  A miracle and I am so thankful to be doing better!  Now for this monstrous cough to dissipate.  Please and thank you.  

This week, I will play old videos of JACK LA LANNE's television exercise programs in the HOME.  This is a goal for me to reach.  Mid-week will be a nice place to start.  I might go walking and get some sunshine while I'm at it.  I won't be around people other than my hubby.  Fresh air and sunshine will be a plus.  Amen.  

I placed an old kerosene lamp on the center of the dining room table. I'll need to get some oil later this week so I can light the lamp and leave the ceiling light turned off.  Not only will it set a peaceful mood, it'll light the room.  

A load of laundry 👚👚👚👚needs to go in the washing machine and I need to sanitize the bathroom fixtures 🚽.  Bills and birthday cards🎂 need to be written out and placed in the mail. 📫  

Walk, get some sunshine, exercise with Jack, laundry, bills, and eating simple meals.  Pick out a few pieces of clothing to donate to charity.  Pull some weeds and water porch plants.  Clean some miniature tomatoes from the patio garden so a tomato dish can be prepared.  

The BATHROOM is coming along.  Wall tile is hung and grouted.  Getting cleaned.  Lovely.  We decided to order a different faux tin ceiling tile than what we already had.  The one we received earlier is just too busy for the Bathroom.  Decided to use it in the Victorian Bedroom which has a higher ceiling to it.  It will enhance the Bedroom better than the Bathroom.  A simpler tile in the Bathroom is a better pick then what we had.

Even with it being faux tin, the price adds up.  I didn't want to spend a $1000.oo on the ceiling.  Under $200.oo is more like it.  Watching those dollars and being as frugal as can be.  With the porcelain claw foot tub, the nickel plating of the metal feet, the tub faucet and hardware, plumbing, new glass for the window, sub flooring and backer board, tile for the floor and walls, beaded board, wood trim with rosettes and belly band, light fixture, vanity with marble top, sink fixture, mirror, lights, new tall toilet, paint, wood for a linen closet, etc.  the remodel of the Bathroom is adding up for just the one room.  It will be a delight when it is finished.  Pictures to follow.

I need to concentrate on my meal planning and be ever so thankful for the blessing of receiving food.  Making our COTTAGE 🏡 our HOME is a daily challenge.  May I have a smile on my face and a song in my heart.💝

Praise the LORD for simple pleasures,

~d

BEST Mascara Tips | Make Your Lashes Look Amazing!

SELDOM DO I WEAR MASCARA ANYMORE.  Tis a rare event to catch me with it on.  Use to be that I ALWAYS WORE IT even if I were staying HOME I made my face up.  Gone are those days.  hum.  The next time I go to TOWN shopping, I'll pick up a fresh tube of mascara and wear some for fun.

I'm not a painted LADY, but sometimes I like wearing lipstick and rouge.  Mascara as well.

The video gives some make-up tips I found helpful for a maturing face.  Here's to knowing a little bit more about mascara tips.  ~d

WEEK-END RAMBLINGS

 

Sweet to have loved ones near.  Daughter ran to the store for some supplies for us yesterday and LIL MISS dropped off a German Chocolate Cake.  Delicious.  My appetite is coming back. 

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It's been years since I fixed a German Chocolate Cake from scratch.  Years.  One of my Husband's all time favorites.  I sure enjoyed the cake to the fullest.

Drinking lots of fluids always.  I don't know if having my feet elevated so much has anything to do with the swelling in my feet, and ankles, but it has disappeared and my feet are back to normal size.  My blood pressure has lowered and I stopped taking my water pill a week ago.  

I was wondering if the HCTZ pill was contributing to the water retention in the first place as it would be causing a electrolyte deficit.  hum.  I will keep an eye on it anyhow.  With diuretics it's common that electrolytes wash out of your system.  The electrolyte imbalance can cause high blood pressure and water retention.  Vicious circle.  If a magnesium and potassium deficit is checked for in the first place before sticking someone on a water pill because of water retention, addressing the deficit before a water pill is taken might balance out what needs balanced and not have a problem.  No water pill needed.  

When the kidney is unhappy because the water isn't getting into cells, retention takes place.  Magnesium helps the water to get into the cells making the kidney happier.  Water retention shouldn't last.  

I'm drinking water to stay hydrated and decided to take a little Celtic salt that contains 82 minerals in it.  Small amount of salt.  Taking potassium and magnesium.  A deficit of magnesium causes water retention and a deficit of potassium causes high blood pressure.  There is truth that having nutritional deficits creates health issues.  

One prescribed pill can cause chaos and havoc in the body when all the body really needs is magnesium and potassium.    

Sunday truly was a day of rest for me.  I had a long, uninterrupted afternoon nap.  How I needed it.  More of the same this week.  Determined to get well.

MONDAY HAS ARRIVED.  I am moving slow with being alright about it.  Laundry each day this week.  I'll continue to spot clean as I go.  Eat nutritionally dense foods and drink Spring water. Take my supplements and REST.  Destress and rest.  Declutter and rest.

I visited with my Husband and said to start pulling out of the closet clothing he no longer wants.  I'll do the same.  Donation box by the front door.

My Hunny did water the bushes in the front flowerbed and the porch plants.  He's been picking our patio tomatoes.  I've got to make something from these beauties so they don't go to waste.

We watched a 3 hour cowboy movie.  It helped to take our minds off of being sick.  🤠🤠🤠🐎🤠🐴🤠🤠🤠 

I can't wait until I am over this cough and have regained energy.  Amen.  I continue to daydream and imagine what should be done with the interior of the COTTAGE.

Rambling on,

~d

RECOVERING

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GREETINGS EARTHLINGS!  Feeling better.  Weak, less coughing, and tired, but returning to the land of the LIVING.  Today, I plan to shampoo my hair at the kitchen sink. Think I'll put curlers in it to air dry.  I must be feeling lots better.  

When I looked at myself in the mirror this morning, I had to laugh at my hair.  BED HEAD with waves of wilderness swirling about my head.  I looked like I hadn't combed my hair in a year. Wild and wooly.

This was a rough go being ill.  Had no trouble staying hydrated.  Today, I added lemon juice to my bottle of H2o.  I believe I need to do this. I had no difficulties breathing even with a stuffy nose and horrific cough.  No fever.  Appetite pretty good.  Feet up and reclining some.  So many naps.

With my feet elevated, the swelling finally departed.  My feet look like they should which is nice for having had swollen feet for months.   I will willingly go walking next week if I'm not so weak. I am so in hopes of being better in a few days.  I started seeing signs of something going on about a week ago with a mild headache and tummy rumbles.  Friday, the sniffles started escalating to a roaring cough.  Saturday was worse with mild temp and horrendous cough. Sunday, tested positive on HOME  CO V ID  TEST.  Rough day.  Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were all rough days.  Wednesday was better.  Thursday, felt like I back slide.  Strange.  Still weak and tired.  Lots of resting.  Still coughing more than I wanna be.

Getting my hair shampooed will lift my spirits.  A bath will help as well.  Full belly, lots of fluids and rest. Don't forget the vitamins.

I will be concentrating on DUSTING the COTTAGE.  Spot cleaning and disinfecting everything. OPEN some windows.

This morning, I did some dishes, folded some laundry, placed another load in wash machine, glass cleaned the bathroom mirror, dusted the wood frame around it, went through the mail and read the newspaper.  Now I'm resting and thinking about walking around the block before it storms and the temps get into the 90s.  Watching some videos and praying.  I missed the KSU GARDENS IRIS SALE yesterday.  The Fair is going on.  Missing it.  Staying away from peeps. Praying for a better day each day.  Not being around groups of people or sitting nearby.  Fresh air and being outdoors would be a plus with sunshine on my face.🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌤🌥🌤🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HATH MADE.  I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.

~d

   

 

Victorian Christmas I 5 Vintage Crafts (and hot cocoa recipe!)

CHRISTMAS IN JULY.  I do think about CHRISTMAS in the SUMMER.  Decorating comes to mind.  Where will I place the Nativity Scene?  Where will I put a tree in this tiny COTTAGE?  This one requires burning some brain cells.  I'll probably hang garland about the house more than anything.

With the help of the internet while I recover from co v id, this video is shared.  July is nearing an end already.  I celebrated my 69th birthday on the 14th then 5 days later  co v id hits.  So CHRISTMAS in July, especially a Victorian one made recovery time go a little easier.  Wish I felt better.  8 days into this.   

Merry CHRISTMAS and Happy Holidays ahead of time. 

~d

Everyone will love cabbage after this recipe! Why I Didn't Know This CAB...

GETTING BETTER

🤧IT'S BEEN A ROUGH RIDE with co v id.  The coughing has let up, but when I have a coughing fit, it's so awful.  I hurt.  Still resting a great deal.  Finding some strength to sit up.  

HAD THE STRENGTH TODAY to research where to order flowers in Sapulpua, Oklahoma for a delivery as my kids will be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary on July 24th.  They're not having a reception.  I would have had to cancel out if they were as here I am sick with this cruddy co v id.  

I think I'm perking up some.  Thankful to God.  After each coughing fit, I speak scripture out loud and take a sip of liquid.  Pop a lozenges in my mouth and try to stay steady with the cough syrup every 4 hours.  Lots of tissue is used.  Blow my nose and sigh.

Hubby tested positive today.  We are a pair.  He took good care of me the last few days and now it's my turn to assist him as I can.  I am feeling better, but not a 100%.  Praying for a speedy recovery for the both of us.  Like having a   h o r r i f i c   COLD.

The coughing is terrible.  Calming it with cough syrup, water, lozenges, and rest.  LOTS OF REST.  Taking Vitamin C, D3 with K2 and zinc with Selenium.  Drinking pineapple juice throughout the day.  Heavens, this co v id is awful.

Lots of things to be pleased about though and I've got to count my blessings.  Oklahoma Son and Daughter.I.L will be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, Brother and S.I.L celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and a Nephew got married last Friday.  Love is in the air. 

Lots of things to be pleased about though and I've got to count my blessings.  Oklahoma Son and Daughter.I.L will be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, Brother and S.I.L celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and a Nephew got married last Friday.  Love is in the air. 

Thankful I am living in small-town America where we talk to our neighbors and wave at passers byers.  We have a roof over our heads and food in the pantry.  Running water, electricity and natural gas.  Lights that come on with a flip of a switch.  Telephone, television, radio music when wanted.  I am blessed to have as much as I do.  

I finally managed to load the bottom of Grandma's Hutch full of my Blue Garland china.  It took a while, but managed.  I'm not sure anyone would want this china if I tried to give it away or sell it.  I don't use them and I know my girls wouldn't want them.  hum.  I guess I'll just hang onto them for now.  Each passing day, they get older.  At this time, they are already about 47 years old.  Shortly they will be antiques.

    

NOW, I collect TEA LEAF STONEWARE (1880ish) and it's like being a part of a scavenger HUNT.  Hit and miss finding pieces when going to antique shoppes and thrift corners.  The internet is my link to getting more if wanted, but this isn't as fun as coming across a piece here and there when traveling.  I get to see other merchandise in the shops when physically going to a brick and mortar environment.

I have got to continue getting my household in order.  When I do get ill, it doesn't rest well with me to be so out of order.  Each day, I will work on this as it is truly needed.  Over the last year or so, I thinned out so much paperwork that I thought I would be doing back flips having it taken care of.  In disbelief that I got as much done as I did, I'm stuck sitting and still working on getting the estate in order.  I believe I have to keep my nose at it.  It's going to require a huge commitment to get it all done.  With being ill, I can only pray and think about how to make it go away.

I need to waddle outside and water the porch plants.  They need a good drink.  The laundry isn't getting done and that's alright.  It can wait as I rest.  Hubby is asleep on the sofa.  I already had a restful nap this morning.  

In the news concerning politics...it's a banger.  Have you heard that the politicians are selected, NOT elected?  Politics is a touchy subject matter that seems to get people upset very quickly.  One seems to be labeled today either black or white. There's no grey area.  Maybe that should be red or blue.  Sad that if you mention one name, you may lose friends over it.  Last election, I did lose friends, which saddened me but I guess they really weren't my friends in the first place if we can't have a difference of opinion without dissolving the relationship when we didn't agree 1000% on politics. That wasn't my doings.  A canyon grew on their part.  

Okay, moving right along and I must stay in motion.  This week I hope to continue getting better and do a few light chores as best I can. The energy level is extremely low.  Very low.  

Now, I must go take my vitamins and think about what to fix for supper.  Probably Chicken noodle soup with crackers.

God bless you and may you be well,

~d  

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP TIME WITH CRACKERS

LIKE HAVING A VERY BAD COLD, co v id caught up with me.  GOTCHA.  The coughing has racked my entire body.  Slight headache came and went.  Sore throat the same.  Deep asthmatic cough is tickling my throat and out comes a blast of a cough. Dripping and stuffed up nose at the same time.  Slight fever came on, but didn't last.  Mild stomach cramps and disturbance in the gut.  

On Sunday, I took a at-home co v id test which said I was POSITIVE.  Didn't sleep well last night as I was coughing about every three minutes.  I timed it.  

Right now, I'm taking cough meds, drinking fluids and sleeping a great deal.  Going to have some chicken noodle soup for sure.  I've munched on soda crackers throughout the day.

SOUP FROM THE CAN WILL HAVE TO DO.

I'm sure that the old fashion remedy of chicken noodle soup is the answer for this co vid I'm having.  I'm miserable, but hoping to feel much better tomorrow.  AHHH CHOOOO.  cough cough.

So I won't be having company this week after all.  Disappointed, but can't help it.  Talked to my Mom as she visited her Home Town today after being gone for close to 9 months.  She was blessed to see her old girlfriends as they had a breakfast for her and played board games.  I asked her if she was Home Sick and she was.  Five of the Ladies that used to live at the complex, have since moved to the old folks home so she visited them as well.

Life goes on and I must do the same.  Amen.  It's times like this that I do appreciate better health and look forward to returning to a healthier time.

Stay healthy, if you can, dear ones,
~d

Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe | Easy and Delicious!

"I DO" - rory feek (Rory & Rebecca's Wedding Song)

TERRY AND KAREN

MY BROTHER-IN-LAW is married to a real life KAREN, but she's one of the nice ones that can sing so beautifully.  We met up with them last Friday night in Manhattan and ate at the EL PATRON RESTAURANT.

We haven't seen them in 4 years so we had a great deal of catching up to do.  Pleasant time and enjoyed.

I had no idea this would be as large a dish as it was, but thought I wanted a HAWAIIAN FAJITA.  Though it was served with only two pineapple slices, I thought there'd be lots more.  Mostly steak slices, chicken, a few shrimp, peppers and onions.

These guys are two and a half years different in age.  I never thought they resembled one another, but still they are brothers.  69 and 71.

Blessings,

~d

STRUM TO A DIFFERENT BEAT AND RHYTHM

11,239 STEPS.  GOT MY WALKING IN ON THURSDAY.  Walked close to 5 and a half miles inside the Kansas City NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART.  Lil Miss had her fit bit on that counts steps and it said 11,239 steps were taken.  Granted our grown up steps are with a longer stride compared to her's, but it's close enough.  5 and a half miles in one day was challenging to me, but we did it with some restful moments throughout the day.  

We came upon the Art Research Library where a puzzle was being put together in the back of the room.  We worked on it for two hours allowing a quiet environment to rest during our visit.  I'm not a puzzle player, but I did get a thrill when I found a piece that fell into place especially with this particular puzzle.  I grew a new appreciation for Russian abstract artist, Wassily Kandinsky's work, Dominant Curve.

If we had another hour, I believe we would have completed the puzzle.  I should have snapped a pic of it before we started which would have shown that we accomplished a great deal.  1000 pieces.

I left the Research Library feeling like we did well as the art image appeared on the board.  I do not feel the same about this piece of artwork as I did when I first started putting together the puzzle.  I no longer believe that anyone could have painted like Mr. Kandinsky did.

I didn't appreciate this style of art at all and had trouble liking it.  It neither fed my intellectual level nor did it warm my feelings about aesthetically beautiful compositions.  There were no understandings about subject matter to me with this style.  Arranging pigment on a canvas in the fashion that abstract art does left little to my liking.  After working on this puzzle for two hours, I came to a better understanding as an elderly person that LOVES ART.  A painting does not have to resemble an actual still life, landscape, or person.  The function of it is for a different purpose altogether.  I believe my thoughts about abstract art have changed for the better in this chaotic world we live in.  

The vibes from abstract art now strum to a different beat and rhythm for me.  I had some kind of break through while putting puzzle pieces together on Thursday.  I believe God granted me a new outlook on art as I left for the day.  I left like a child with a different aspect on LIFE's enjoyment about art.  Returning to my roots of getting my hands and fingers all covered in tempura paint while finger painting like I did as a 5 year old wearing an oversized man's shirt backwards with the buttons running down my back, came back.  ART doesn't have to resemble anything realistic at all.  Some people actually embrace the freedom.  AM I able to?     

I saw so much beautiful ART that it was uplifting to see even the styles I'm not a fan of. Inspiring. I quickly snapped pictures as I walked through the museum that are not quality images.  More for recall.  

ROZZELLE COURT RESTAURANT inside the Museum.

We had a wonderful day for our outing. WONDERFUL. Pleasant.  Especially LUNCH in the ROZZELLE COURT RESTAURANT.  The atmosphere was beyond words how lovely it was. The gourmet food was affordable to the working class.  I drank complimentary lemon water with my meal of SPICED BRINED PORK LOIN, Minted Green Peas and Four Cheese Potato Gratin for under $20.oo.  No dessert.  

The presentation was lovely and the flavor was exceptionally good especially the Four Cheese Potato Gratin. Outstanding.  I've cut back on eating pork, but made an exception for this special outing.  The meal was served on nice white china with the use of actual silverware.  I drank water out of a glass.  No cloth napkins, but that's okay.  The well groomed servers were all dressed in black clothing ready to carry the meals to our table when they were ready.  We placed our order, sat and the servers carried the meals.  So nicely done.  Whalaah.  A delicious meal to enjoy with family in the presence of a magnificent Court Yard with a water fountain.

AS FOR THE ART I SAW, it was all beautifully displayed in the gorgeous museum that's very well taken care of.  Able to see actual works of art that famous artist did through the years that I studied about in ART HISTORY class as a Freshman in College at the local Junior Community College back in 1973/74 were seen.  Over 50 years ago, I studied as an ART MAJOR.  At that time ART was a passion to me that was like a fire within.  As the years have passed, this passion cooled as it needed to be.  My passion turned to being a wife, mom and homemaker.  Life doesn't stop as one grows older, but in my case, it warmed to a much higher calling and reason.  We are eternal beings that are superior to ART as we are fearfully and wonderfully made in the likeness of God.

Seeing what others did with the talent that God gave them, is inspirational.  We are to create. God being the creator, we too should create.  DO something with the talent HE has given us.  At any rate, I enjoyed my day at the museum with my husband and Lil Miss.

Seeing the artwork was educational as well as informative to me.  Up lifting.  It was inspirational to see.  I grew a new appreciation for the distinct differences between photorealism from pop art to realistic portrait paintings and landscapes to contemporary styles, etc.  

My children are grown and on their own these days with children of their own.  I believe I can embrace ART in a different way then I did 50 years ago.  I'm not trying to impress the instructors so I can get an A for Art Class to make a high grade point average for the year.  I don't think I have to try to impress anyone.  I can strum to a different beat and rhythm these days or even as I heard so many years ago.  We constantly change and I know I have.  Time to listen to the strum. Dear Lord, Thank you for the day and the break through.  

I drove about 2 hours HOME in the dark.  Dropped Lil Miss off close to eleven o'clock at night. When we got HOME, I was ready for sleep. What a full day.  I loved it.  

~d

SMALL TOUCHES

THE LITTLE WHITE SHELF THAT I HAVE KEPT WITH ME IN A BOX FOR YEARS, finally made her way to hang on the wall in the LIVING ROOM.  I simply sat a small, white pitcher filled with faux Lavender on it. 

💕Love it.  💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕

Going SIMPLE to declutter my space in this tiny COTTAGE.  Making our HOME a HOME with small touches.   This downsizing at an older age has been a bit tricky for me, but I'm making headway at it.

GOD BLESS and HAPPY DECORATING,

~d

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS AND BLUE GARLAND DISHES IN GRANDMA'S HUTCH

LIKE EATING A HUGE SALAD AND DRINKING WATER FOR A LIVING

AFTER A TWO HOUR NAP, I feel as if I had none.  This is a sign of exhaustion.  Over the last fews days, I got so worked up about my yearly physical that it affected me with exhaustion plus when I actually went for THE appointment, the temps outside were 106 degrees. 106 in the shade.  The combination of the two did a number on me flowing over to the next day. I'm zonked.

Blood pressure is higher than it should be and my feet are swollen.  Edema.  Doc is placing me on some different BP meds.  We talked about my blood work.  With water retention, I had gained 6.6 pounds from being there 4 days earlier.  Makes me very uncomfortable.  Retaining fluid. What's causing it?      

I don't always understand me when I go to a medical appointment and forget what I want to talk to the doctor about even with notes in hand.  The Zombie in me comes to the surface.  After I leave and go to my car, the oh no I didn't ask about thus and so.  It's as if I go into some kind of dumb mode and stop functioning.  Not sure why that happens as I have been with my Primary Care Physician 25 years!  This makes my head spin.   

My Thyroid meds will be tweaked again and checked in two months along with a new diuretic pill and BP Rx.

As for the edema, I have got to try soaking my feet in Epsom salts for twenty minutes and see if this helps in any way.  Also making sure that I am not magnesium deficient or lacking Vitamin B6.  

~BED HEAD AND I DON'T CARE~

Daughter came over with homemade cherry scones that she had made.  Lil 2 year old grandson hand picked the cherries himself from their tree.  She gave me a homemade card he had made and one that Lil Miss made.  Lovely.  I received a belated phone call from my St. Louis son.  Good to hear his voice.  Also received an awesome book from Oklahoma son and daughter-in-law!  So nice to be thought of by my sweet children. Truly.  

I have a week to get much done before my Mom comes to visit.  I should get loads done, but shall see.  The laundry is going right now.  I managed to empty 6 cardboard moving boxes full of my Blue Garland China.  

Today I need to empty the bottom of Grandma Helmer's sideboard and make room for this China.  Right now there are some Madrid Pattern Depression Glass pieces that I collect as I go.  I think they might fit in the Buffet cabinet.  Hope Hope.

I so remember how I coveted Grandma's Sideboard.  My Mom and Dad had inherited an old Victrola from Grandma and Dad's brother had the sideboard.  They swopped pieces where Dad received the sideboard and it went into a storage building he had.  This old oak piece sat in this building for umpteen years.  Every time I saw it, I drooled.  I offered to buy it.  Nope.  No deal.  I tried and tried, but to no avail it remained in a storage building that my folks owned getting covered with Kansas dust.

Finally upon a move we were making where I no longer desired the Dining room set that had been in storage for three years.  The Dining table with six chairs and a china cabinet that we had paid close to a thousand dollars for back in the 1980's was offered as a swop for Grandma's sideboard.  I think I had been trying to get my hands on Grandma's piece for about 8 years.  My Mom finally said yes, she'd swop.  She knows a great deal when she sees it.  I was so happy to get it.  I have since had the piece for 29 years.  Unbelievable.  Seems impossible that so many years have passed.

I LOVE GRANDMA's HUTCH.  This is what I call it instead of a sideboard.  Love her.  She was refinished when we had the 2016 house fire and when she came back better than new I was enthralled how pretty this old piece was.  Grandma Helmer had it for many years.  This was piece my Grandpa had dug out of the trash dump.  The metal hardware was missing so Grandpa put glass pulls on it instead.  Grandma didn't have very many pieces of furniture as they were dirt poor.  I remember loving this piece as young child when we'd go to visit Grandma in Marion.  I loved it.  The ANTIQUE BUG bit me back then.  I haven't been the same.  It's for the best.

When we dug this piece out of the storage building to take with us to Oklahoma giving Mom our Dining room set, I was the proud owner of my GRANDMA's piece.  I think she would have approved.  This piece now sits in my Dining room.  I received my Mom's china cabinet that has the same dark stain on it as Grandma's piece.  I have an old oak table that has a golden hue to it that I will be stripping it down and staining it to a dark hue like the other two pieces have.  I'd call it Ebony.  Dark oak stain color.  The four antique chairs that we bought from the Paxico Antique store will remain the color they are for now.  I'm so glad to have them.  My Dining room furniture is a hodge lodge collection of LOVELIES.

I need to get over to Grandma's Hutch and empty it making room for the china.  Getting it off the table will be another goal accomplished. 

LIFE ON THE PRAIRIE.  LIFE GOES ON as best as I believe it can.  When I drive the countryside, my heart aches a bit as I think the scenery is so pretty.  I imagine what it would be like to have a place snuggled in a valley somewhere where all I could see is rolling hills with the color green spread across the horizon.  Something to dream about.

No walking my mile on Monday as we were out of town for medical appointments and some shopping in the heat.  Evening came and it was ungodly HOT.  SO I stayed inside.  Tuesday morning we were having a downpour, so no walking either.  Wednesday, I plan to get up early as the temps will be in the high 60s.  I can walk in this kind of weather.  

I pray that the Lord will help me get some walking in that has a positive affect with me.  PTL and away I go.

~d

A GOOD KIND OF SHOCK

THE RESULTS OF MY LAB WORK were in my health portal late in the evening the day the labs were done.  I was impressed how quickly the results appeared in the portal.  I realized that my Vitamin D was not checked.  I'd like to have this checked as I seem to run on the lower side of things so when I have my physical, I'll ask about getting this checked.

To my amazement, I was grinning ear to ear on the results of the lab work.  In fact, I was SHOCKED that they were so good.  I won't be so upset about seeing the doc for physical except for my blood pressure being higher than I'm comfortable with and I have edema in my feet.  This morning it hit me that I had a full bladder when the BP was taken.  I should have caught this when I was at the appointment, but zoned out on it.

I think I need to write all the things you are to do when getting Blood Pressure checked at office and carrying this info with me when going to the docs.  #1 is DON'T HAVE A FULL BLADDER while BP is getting checked.  If I can remember, I should go straight to the bathroom to eliminate the urine before entering the exam room.  If I know a urine sample will be taken for a physical, then I could go ahead and empty my bladder doing the little urinating in the cup thingy BEFORE going to the exam room for getting weighed and taking BP.  Problem solved.  

Reading the results of the lab work...I could have done back flips with the LIPID results.  ALL within range.  PTL.  ALL within range.  It's been YEARS since the cholesterol was within range. It'll be interesting to hear what the doc says about this.  grins.
  
My A1c was showing good control of diabetes 2 without the use of insulin.  6.7  I'd like to get this down though.  Into the 5 range.  Will it happen?

TSH was way low.  Too suppressed.  0.17.  Four weeks ago it was way too high being 7.8.  Roller coaster ride.  I've got some questions I NEED TO ASK.  Getting prepared for yearly Endo appointment in October.

ALL the rest of the blood work was within range except the blood glucose in blood was too high and TSH too low.

Not thrilled about OBESITY and Blood Pressure. 

The main thing was I was relieved about the cholesterol and A1c results.

I have paperwork and laundry to deal with.  Seems to be the same 'ole thing over and over.  What do I do to make LIFE more relaxed and enjoyable as I strive to simplify?  Read. Eat.  Walk.  Shop.  I am failing at having my act together.  Perhaps I just need an attitude adjustment and accept the way things are and not try to be such a perfectionist with chores and cleaning.  I know through the years I tried really hard to be an over achiever as a HOMEMAKER as so many women held down jobs in "the real world" making money and working to please a boss.  I wanted to stay HOME.  Encouragement came from inside as there was no outside source cheering me on to stay HOME as homemaker, wife and mom.  No one at church or friends even the ones that stayed at HOME full time themselves.  No family members.  I just kept going.  

BEING A HOMEMAKER AND FULL TIME MOM was not the norm in a career minded world.  

At the end of my LIFE...will it have really mattered?  Wanting to please the LORD is what has purpose and is what matters.

NOT BEING SUCH A PEOPLE PLEASER should feel better than the frustration of always feeling like I'm running behind and I never am good enough.  The world should just go on by as I am who I am and it isn't about being a cookie cutter woman that's worldly.  

When I was growing up there was such a push to be an individual.  I look at the young women today that wear long hair extensions down past their waist with a variety of fluorescent hair colors with body tattoos up one side and down the other wearing paint brushes for eye lashes sporting boob jobs revealed by low-cut tight fitting tops, decorated fingernails that challenge Imperial Chinese royalty, plumped up lips and meticulously painted on eyebrows.  Healthy morals have disappeared with behaving like animals when we are a little lower than the angels is quite common.  

What's it all for?  To be accepted and LOVED?  To attract attention?  Be an individual?  Scare people away?  Experimenting with what feels right?  Trying to fit in?  Rebel against the counter culture?  Because they think they're suppose to?  humm.  No matter what one looks like,

We like sheep have gone astray. 
~d 

The MOST Overlooked Cause of Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

AMISH IN THE AREA

A FEW DAYS AGO, I WAS ASKED WHAT I WANTED TO DO FOR MY 69th BIRTHDAY.  I didn't have an answer.  Let me sleep on it and I'll get back to you.

SUNDAY, I heard the local Church bells ring in the morning to notify the community that they were getting ready for Church Services.  They don't ring the bells for very long.  The church is around the corner from us where we live.  There's just something peaceful about the sound when I hear it on a Sunday morning.  It was my birthday treat and they didn't even know it.

My dear Husband made spaghetti for my birthday eve and on birthday morning made us biscuits and homemade gravy.  I loved it.  I gave some thought about what to do for the day.  I wanted to walk a mile at the local track field before it heated up with the SUMMER TIME HOTS in the high 90s.

Hubby drove me to the track around 10:15am and I walked my mile.  It took me 29 minutes.  I didn't overheat like I thought I would.  A nice change for an older woman.  

While walking the track, I pray.  The view is spectacular.  Off in the distance are rolling green hills and many trees with a haze in the air.  It's times like this that I wish I lived in the country. This will be my country scenery to look at when I walk.  

Near by, I noticed a young Amish momma carrying a baby across the Community Center Parking Lot.  I thought, they must be having a WORSHIP SERVICE in the center.  All the cars parked out front were mini vans.  There were 9 of them.  Not sure how long the center has been used for their gatherings, but thought this was special.  I think the Amish Community will begin to grow in this area.

In a day with sloppy dressers, me included, the well groomed dress code of long dresses for the women with their hair neatly combed back inside a white head cap is hard to not notice.  I have a soft spot in my heart when I see Amish women out shopping in Topeka.  We're not in Topeka. My head turns quickly when I see Amish in this area.    

These modern day Amish in this area drive very nice cars.  No horse and buggies for them.  I suppose they have cell phones as well.  The new furniture store in the country along side the highway use electricity and have running water with flushing toilets also.  Keeping up with the times in a way.  

Depending where you live, you may not think this is such a big thing having the Amish worshipping at the Community Center.  Back east, I thought the Amish worshipped at one another's farms every other week.  Here, I'm not sure of how often they worship together.  Shall check out the Community Center next week-end to see if they return.  

No birthday cake for me today.  Instead I'll have a chocolate covered peanut butter cookie and sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to myself.  I'm one day closer to turning 70.  I hope I live to see it happen.  70!  I have a plan to walk 1000 miles before I hit the 70 mark.  Well, maybe that's too ambitious.  365 miles might be better as there are only 365 days in a year and that's what I have before me.  More like 3 years to get to the 1000 miles.  If I can perk up when walking I could possibly increase to 3 miles a day like I did when I walked the neighborhood of Spring, Texas.  I was much younger than like a green 34 years old.  Heavens, I haven't been that age in 34 years. Yesterday, when I was 68, I could have divided 68 by 2 and came up with 34.  I have been aging all along.  It boggles my mind that I am this old and Texas was so long ago.

After Texas, we moved to Marion, Ks in 1992.  I keep up with Marion by reading the Marion, Kansas newspaper to see that the elementary school secretary I knew had died.  She was 81 so when I worked there she was in her 50s.  I mustn't think that time stands still.  I have to make a LIFE right where I stand.  I purchased a t-shirt last week that has a saying on it, BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED.

I HAVE BEFORE AND I WILL DO IT AGAIN,

~d

  

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!

TIS MY 69th Birthday.  Wowzer.  How did this happen?  This is a golden opportunity to start anew anything I do and think.  Not sure how I will celebrate.  

May just have a very quiet day at HOME.  

I THINK I WILL,

~d

TIME ALONE

SLOWER DAY AS I NEEDED TIME AT HOME ALONE.  Twas nice to have some alone time as busy and on the go as we have been.  Hubby had some errands to run so I stayed HOME in my housecoat.  Boy, it felt good.  I blogged, did laundry, washed some dishes, tweaked some things in the house, wrote out a bunch of bills, took a short nap, got dressed, ate some potato salad, read some mail, sat, watched a movie, ate a light lunch, studied up on blood work I just had done, and my favorite thing today was to spritz the fern plant that hangs from a chain hanging on a porch hook.

A day or so ago, hubby put a chain on the hook and moved the plant from a table to the hook.  It looks so nice there.  I think it will do better hanging from the porch hook than sitting on the table.

My porch plants are lovely to look at.  I sure like them.  Our poor 'ole porch is falling apart.  It'll be later in the year or possibly next Spring before it gets rebuilt.  I have to think about other things while waiting for the rebuild.  Prettying up the run down porch helps my mood.  Lord, Thank you for this HOME even with all her problems.  It's ours.

I had every intention to go walking today, but my feet and body told me to take a day off due to being so sore.  I'll listen to my body and try again tomorrow.  My feet are retaining fluid and are so swollen.  I decided I would massage them to see if the fluid would disappear.  I've noticed since I had a hysterectomy about a year ago that my feet have been retaining fluid.  I'll need to say something to my doc about this.  Who wants swollen feet?  Not I.

Yesterday, I wondered through the plant section of MENARDS.  It was so peaceful to stroll through the area.  When I go through, I visualize in my head how a lovely yard would look with so many different plants and flowers.  Their prices are still so high.  If they lower the prices, I might purchase a few houseplants.

I'm ready to stay HOME for a few days and putz about tending to the details of making our COTTAGE a better fit.  A THRIFT pile is starting again.  Hubby will return to grouting the Bathroom tile on the wall.  The grout makes a difference in how I like it.  It's coming together. Our ceiling tile came in the mail.  It's a little busier than I thought, but believe it will be just fine after it is installed.  

I shuffled some cardboard packing boxes of dishes and plan on placing the Blue Garland dishes in the bottom of Grandma's hutch.  That will remove 6 cardboard boxes out of the Dining room. Looking forward to them disappearing.  I'll take each piece out of the boxes and unwrap the paper that has enveloped them for over 8 months.  I can't remember when I wrapped them at the big house.  It'll be an accomplishment to have them back in the bottom of Grandma's hutch which is actually a sideboard.  Counting the number of pieces I have will refresh my mind.  

Laundry will be worked on some more.  Paperwork.  I need to shuffled some large storage boxes that are high up in our closet.  I want to place my neatly folded quilts on a top shelf as soon as possible.  They have been in the pink bedroom on the Victorian sofa.  I wish I had the space to have them displayed in a nice piece of furniture, but that's not the case for now.  This move will continue to be a morphing procedure as we go.  Keeping it interesting like playing a game.

As for movies, I have seen a few good ones lately. 

 

WE BOUGHT A ZOO with Matt Damon.  2011.

THE HUNTER with Willem Dafoe.  2011.

THE LONG GAME with Dennis Quaid.  2023.  

Well, the week-end arrived.  
Blink and start again.

God bless,

~d

WALKING and BEING HEALTHIER PLEASE.

ALL FIVE MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS WERE HONORED THIS WEEK.  I was glad that they were over.  Once again I TOOK A NAP once I got HOME from my Medicare EXAM and labs plus shopping day out.  Before we left Manhattan, I walked the CLARENBERG TRAIL that outlines the city park.  

1 mile.  

I walked in a dress!!!  No skimpy jogging shorts or YOGA pants with a barely covering me up top.  With my hair pulled back in a pony tail I managed to walk at a decent speed.  Temps were in the low 80s and I managed to make the mile.  Twice I wanted to sit on a bench to rest and cool off as I walked the distance, but chose not to.  I listened to Linda Ronstadt sing BLUE BAYOU on my phone as I walked, then to a Jane Pauley interview with Linda.  Made for a fun walk.

I walked it in about 30 minutes which is just about right for my old OBESE body that carries too much weight.  Through LIFE's journey, I believe I will continue to eat LARGE SALADS and drink water, take a view supplements and REST when I can at HOME.

I weighed in at the doctors weighing more than I had hoped I weigh.  My blood pressure was higher than I like and something was said to keep a journal for a few days and bring the readings in with me next week for my regular, yearly exam where I will be told my A1c is too high, my cholesterol is too high and I am OBESE.  Not sure where my TSH will be as it has been too high meaning I am very hypothyroid making it next to impossible to lose weight.  No surprises, but I'd prefer to not hear what I am going to hear.

I will mention to my doc that the way my numbers flex so much that I need to keep a closer eye on my TSH.  I will share that I drink spring water with my meds that are taken first thing in the morning about the same time each day on an empty stomach.  Nothing is eaten or drank at least 30 minutes to an hour after taking the Armour Thyroid.  Not a coffee drinker anymore.  No grapefruit.  No cow's milk.  No supplements for at least 4 hours after taking thyroid meds.  AND I CONTINUE to have TSH numbers that flex.  I believe I should have more testing done and also see if my gut health is good so I am converting the T4 to T3 the best way it can be converted and absorbing the meds well IN MY GUT.  I seem to be doing all the right things, but still have issues. My Endocrinologist is fine with the way things are going.  Next appointment with him is in OCTOBER.  I shall see what my Primary Physician says at my physical next week.

As for weight reduction, I decided that I would beef up my walking and embrace MORE VEGGIES AND KEEP A BETTER EYE ON MY TSH NUMBERS SO I AM AT OPTIMAL NUMBERS not just in the suggested range that the labs use saying I am normal. Come to find out that the range that is used is based off of sick people's readings.  So if you are so-called normal using their ranges, you are going off of SICK patient's readings.  That doesn't make any sense if you want to be well.  

ORGANIC Vegetables are my friend!  
Amen and amen.

Here's to being healthier,

~d

FOOTBALL IN JUNE

ONE OF OUR GRANDS PLAYED IN THE GAME IN EMPORIA and we were one of many watching from the grandstands.  They won and it was interesting to see how many kids were involved in the activity from the coaches, players, cheer leaders and marching band.

Granny Nanny was busy being a GRANNY.  

~d