RACOON In DISGUISE

 ~d

WE MADE A DENT even with our handicaps

MAKING A DENT IN THE SHUFFLING DRAMA.  PRAISE GOD from whom all blessings flow.  My goal for the day was to move the majority of full boxes from the front Bedroom relocate them to the Living room and Dining room then move the two brown recliners into the NEW TV room, hook up the chairs and the tele to watch a movie.  Rest and call it a day.  Didn't all go as planned.

Hubs chipped in and helped with the heavy lifting.  The recliners have to be taken apart in two pieces and assembled back together.  We got this done.  WE ACCOMPLISHED THE MOVE, but when the TV was turned on the screen showed some funky color patterns and we blinked our eyes with disappointment.  OUR curved, large screen TV is on the fritz.  Shucks.  This morning when I tried the TV out just in case it revived itself, the screen blacked out.  Kaputzky. 

We've had her close to 9 years and it looks like we'll be looking for a new TV. 📺

ON TUESDAY, we could not walk through the room due to all the boxes and clutter.  Having room for these chairs was the highlight of the day.  Something that seems so simple isn't when the body doesn't work like a healthy 20 year old.  BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT, we could walk through the room and sit.  PTL.  I opened the windows for some fresh air.  What an accomplishment for little ole me.

For now we have a place to sit and relax.  Later the room will get painted with an earth tone color.  A different ceiling installed with crown molding.  We'll decide on the flooring and hang different curtains.  Floor to ceiling book cases built.  Whalah.  Think on it.

LAST WEEK the battery went dead in the car 🚗 and now our television has wigged out on us.  Planning on hiccups like this in LIFE makes the blow have less of a punch when it happens.  Knowing that things happen helps ease the disappointment? 

BACK TO THE FRONT BEDROOM THAT IS NOW A TV ROOM.  I still have much to unload and put away.  I decided that I will allow myself to pace myself and not care that I am so far behind so long as I continue to stay in motion about this all.  LIFE HAPPENS.

We know that this is like another MOVE making sense out of the boxes and their contents as we work doing this task.  We're actually finishing up our previous move that we had to put on hold due to a seriously injured foot Hubby had that took a year to heal, a fall injuring my tailbone that still gives me trouble, my cataract surgeries that didn't go so great, Husband's non-Hodgkins lymphoma, his eye surgeries, our thyroid fatigue, etc.  This is far too much to deal with when working at getting settled from a BIG, SLOPPY, MESSY, DIRTY move, but we have stayed in motion.  Hubby finished the Bathroom this year amongst all these handicaps and illnesses.  I have worked at settling in what I could.  We're a team with handicaps.  

NOW, Hubby is building a NEW front porch and I'm shuffling Bedrooms dealing with contents in boxes.  Tis heavy for me.  What a LIFE on the prairie we have.  I know it's best to stay in motion and continue to be a cheering team to one another.  These messes have been very hard to deal with and my mental health got a kick in the teeth.  I have had some fits along the way where I'm better off being alone when the fit is taking place than to be around people.  It has been extremely difficult for me.  A growing time that hurts.

I have been challenged to say the least.  It isn't right to forget all the hardships we have had which have slowed us down when it comes to being settled in the fixer-upper COTTAGE.  I have to remind myself that we are VERY HUMAN and can only do what we can do and that means we cannot snap a finger having finished results before us.  It doesn't work that way in this world I live in so when I see others getting results faster than us, I have to remind myself that we are not those people getting their projects done faster than greased lightning.  It is what it is and I must continue on thanking GOD for HIS love and support.

TODAY, I managed to drag a miniature book case from the Dining room through a maze into the pink Bedroom.  This case will hold my Christian literature and Bibles for easy access grouped altogether instead of some here and there.  It looks good with the Bedroom furniture like it's part of the suite.  Bravo.  

I moved the Geranium plant in a cart over beside Grandma's Hutch.  Where it was sitting was too close to the heater vent and it has suffered getting too hot.  The leaves are turning yellow and curling up.  I think it will be HAPPIER beside the HUTCH.  I hope she lives through the rest of AUTUMN and throughout this WINTER.  I think it may have frosted last night so the rest of my outdoor plants probably got it and will die before I get them indoors.  pause.

I've been studying up on what to box up on the 3 individual book cases in the front Bedroom. Right now these three cases are holding quilts, books, CDs and tapes, pictures.  In order to have a more uniformed look, I've got to temporarily box up the majority of the stuff so I can place framed pictures of family members, a keepsake doll collection and the folded quilts that I worked so hard on last week on the cases until the built in book cases are created.  It'll take me a bit of time, but hey.

I've got to tape up some cardboard boxes for the overflow then stack the boxes until they can be moved to the garage.  

Just finished a large salad for LUNCH.  Think we'll just have POPCORN this evening for SUPPER.  My energy has to go into dealing with these messes around here.

We were thinking about what to do with all our pumpkins in the yard.  Hubby suggested that we give some to in-town family members and I suggested a couple of neighbors to receive some. There's a business downtown that shares produce with the public and I thought that the OLD FOLKS HOME might like some.  I wished we had done this last week. 🎃 

Back to tweaking the shelves, the boxes, 🛏 📚🖼 and contents.  Lord, please give me strength to carry on.  I'm excited for the day when I just have HOMEMAKING maintenance to do on the COTTAGE instead of all this heave-hoing.  Let there be peace.  

I had a chance to tidy up the inside of the fridge.  🫙The mason jars I have been storing cherry tomatoes, grapes, lemons, blueberries in has worked like a charm.  These things stayed crisp for a more extended time.  The cucumbers and celery went soggy.  I had these in spring water.  I would think if I try this again for the cucs that it might work better if they are stored in the jar without water and the same with the celery.  When opening the lids there is a suction that seals the produce for the better.  Like it.  

I will take inventory of the foods and supplies we need and make a trip to the bigger towns to shop for our needs.  Maybe on Saturday, I can go do this and see if the Halloween candy is 50% off.  Boo. 

Starting November 1st, I will begin AUTUMN cleaning getting ready for THANKSGIVING and CHRISTMAS.  The Kitchen's cabinet fronts need serious washing and polishing.  I've got some switching out that I need to do.  I will have to crawl on the floor to scrub the vinyl floor.  She needs a good cleaning.  Deep cleaning here and there.  I will continue the decluttering with a grin.  I know I have fallen short on cleaning this house.  Back to it.

Late at night and throughout the day, I find myself praying for LOVED ONES.  Prayers for my Children's personal needs. Prayers for their spouses.  Prayers for my Grandchildren.  Prayers for the 👶🍼Great Grand baby being formed in her Mother's womb.  Come March a baby is on the way.  Prayers for my Husband and our health.  Prayers for projects.  Prayers for becoming a minimalist.  A healthier attitude.  Relationships.  Finances.  Our country.  Concerns for all. 

~d

PUMPKINS FOR THE JOURNEY

WE HAD GOTTEN UP EARLY TO TRAVEL TO OKLAHOMA.  Packed the car full.  Since I was the designated driver, I put my key in the ignition to turn the engine on of our 2007 PT Cruiser.  CRICKETS. 🦗   WHAT?!?

The car did not start.  Tried again and a third time.  Hubby thought it was a dead battery. Figured this battery was about 7 years old. Pretty good life for a car battery.   

We'll get a new battery.  This little car has served us well.  She's our small pick-up when she isn't really a pick-up at all.  The PT in the Chrysler PT Cruiser stands for Personal Transport.  True to her name.  

She needs her seat covers replaced, a new dash board as this one has cracked and new floor mats. Sprucing her up a tad.  Recently she got new tires and we had a mechanic work on her since she had the habit of overheating.  So glad we have her and pray we can keep her for a long time.

Before changing cars to drive to Oklahoma, I suggested that the other car be started first to make sure it was in running condition before loading it with our luggage. 🧳🧳🧳  We had planned on taking the PT Cruiser since it uses less fuel and has air conditioning because  our old Cadillac has one tire that has a tendency to go flat.  The Cadillac without an air conditioner started and we loaded our luggage.  The weather was on the cooler side so we did not need a conditioner this time. 

It was a good thing we got started early as we were not anticipating issues, but had some.  The car was fueled and now we could go south for the week-end.  As we left town, it started raining with gusts of wind.  The smaller car would have been hard pressed to ride comfortably with the weather conditions so we were alright to be in the larger car where we didn't bounce about so much against the KANSAS and OKLAHOMA wind.

We had forgotten the pumpkins from our small garden.  Just before leaving city limits, I remembered that we were going to take some so we turned around and went back HOME for the orange pumpkins.  

Our family appreciated these when we handed them out.  Over 90 pumpkins have come from two plants in our garden.  Next week, we'll clean up the pumpkin patch and return the yard to a lawn.  Tomorrow I need to carry the pumpkins that we have in our front yard to the back yard as tricker treaters will be out and might decide to smash our stash.  

Next year, I hope we can grow some pale green pumpkins and white ones to decorate our finished front porch!  Decorate for HARVEST and breathe in the season are on the agenda since I couldn't do this this year.  

Hubby is out changing the car battery.  I am gearing up to do some laundry and work in the front bedroom.  Get after it, girl.

This week is flying right on by.  Halloween is tomorrow.  Can't hardly believe it.  There will be NO candy to hand out this year as the front porch is being rebuilt and there are no stairs yet leading to the front door for the goblins to knock on asking for treats.  I'll watch the goblins on Main Street this year and be contented.  Oh how I love the miniature chocolate bars. 🍫 

What will I get done today?

~d

 

A SMALL ROOM AT THAT and wearing big girl panties in the middle of the week

RAINY MORNING.  The streets are silvery in color with a wet, glitzy shine to them from the fallen rain.  Peeking out the window shows a very wet outlook to things.  Leaves are twirling to the ground making a AUTUMN atmosphere.  The cold and wet comes even if I'm not ready for it.  Tis here.

The grey overcast skies are comforting to me as I have been on the go and am ready for a slower pace so I can work indoors on the front bedroom.  RAIN comes to the midwest this time of year. 

When we walked across our lawn late last night, the grass was saturated with moisture.  It had been raining since before we returned to the Kansas prairie arriving HOME after dark.  We had driven HOME from being in Oklahoma with it raining while driving the highway and on the interstate that we traveled on.  

As I sat in my chair reading, I could hear the splashing of water coming from under the cars' tires while driving on the street.  The street out front of the house doesn't have much traffic on it, so the splashing sound is a pleasant noise on a chilly day while being inside.  I have no desire to be outside today so I'll shift gears and work at clearing out the front bedroom.   

We were gone over the week-end so the room sat untouched.  I could think about where to go with the contents of the room while away from the physical place.  My brain grew tired thinking about all the contents needing dealt with.  I couldn't seem to turn my bean off so it could rest.  I OVER ATE.  hummm.  I allowed emotions to give me permission to sin.  Not good.

BACK ON THE HOME FRONT.  The overwhelming chore is being addressed by me staring back at the mess and thinking about where the heck all this STUFF is gonna go.  I work a little...I sit a lot.  REPEAT.  REPEAT.  REPEAT.

Eventually, I know this ROOM will be like it needs to be, but if I get ahead of myself I get OVERWHELMED.  Tis wonderful to be my own BOSS, but I need to crack the whip to get things done.  Putting things in perspective by saying it's just one room (a small room at that) and not the end of the world helps me get through this chaos before me.  My patience has ran thin, but then I need to slow down and accept that I am working on it and eventually I will see the light of day with this project.  I have to take this all one step at a time.  When I start entertaining HOW MUCH MORE needs done to complete the room, I get OVERWHELMED. Not depressed, just overcome with emotion.  

Off and on all day yesterday, I worked in the messy front bedroom.  Hubby chimed in later in the day.  To look at what was done, you cannot tell that anything was done.  Just that messy.  This is when I get flustered.  

Today, I will pull my big girl panties on and move more boxes.

My plan is to make a path so I can move a radio table and pie table across the room for a temporary place while I shuffle more boxes about the room making way for the recliners to come into place and be positioned in front of the double windows.  When I get this far then more boxes will be shuffled to the Living room.  Then little by little the boxes will be gone through where the contents can be dealt with.  The TV room will be functioning while the Living room and Dining room are in a mess.  Little by little these rooms will become functioning again.  

This is a BIG HEADACHE.  I haven't cried with frustration YET, but it's coming.  I sense the tears bubbling up in my spirit.  I have to remind myself that this is not the end of the world.  It's a small room.  SMALL.  Reality tells me that there are loads of content to go through and decide to keep or pitch.  

This all can be dealt with SLOWLY.  Thinking it's a quick fix means trashing everything and forgetting about it.  I can't do that as important papers, pictures, dolls and books are things I need to keep.

This dirty move has been a nightmare.  May the nightmare turn into a sweet dream...if possible! I have to deal with each item so I can become a state of the art MINIMALIST.  Everything in its place and a place for everything, but have a lot less of everything.  Streamline and simplify.

I am very blessed to have this problem of shuffling belongings as many have nothing to shuffle after a fire, tornado, bomb, earthquake, divorce, misplacement, etc. with the destruction of the home environment.  Where to begin?  The heartache of it all can be a tough thing to deal with.  I must be encouraged and carry on.  Be reminded that sometimes getting back on our feet takes time.  A process in motion.

With you GOD I can get along, figure this thing out and be victorious.  A change of attitude is sorely needed.  Where's the big girl panties?

Blessings,

~d

A YOUNG MAN AND HIS CAR

OVER THE WEEK-END, we celebrated our Grandson's 16th Birthday!  Our journey there was driving through much RAIN, but we arrived safe and sound to celebrate his big day.  

I was remembering the day he was born.  A gorgeous day where the downtown businesses had their front doors propped open to let the fresh air indoors.  He was having issues breathing after his birth.  I decided to go for a drive to get away from the Hospital for a bit which led me to a church to pray.

I went inside the church where two men were working on the sanctuary and asked for prayer for the baby who was having difficulty breathing.  They were gracious and prayed with me for the newborn child.  I drove back to the Hospital where I asked how the baby was doing AND my son told me that he was breathing much better.  Answered prayer.

Never underestimate prayer.  

The baby that was having difficulty breathing is now 16, standing tall in front of the car he bought at 15.  AWESOME.

  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

We so love you,
~d

HOARDERSVILLE REVEALED

GOT MY MUCH NEEDED CROSS TRAINING EXERCISE FROM FOLDING THE HEAVY QUILTS.  The lifting and carrying, carrying some more, twisting, leaning, bending, stretching, reaching and walking with the textile in my arms gave my entire body a different kind of strength training.  This became a full body workout which was badly needed.  I was hitting two birds with one stone sort of speak.  Exercising and getting the accomplishment achieved of having the bedding displayed on the bookcase.

This is more like it.  There's potential here.

Placing the quilts on the shelves was very satisfying.  The bedding stash is a beautiful sight to see for me.  Again it's like hitting two birds with one stone having a task finished for the time being and getting some exercise like I received are a big win for me.  

LOVE having the colorful quilts and bedding.  So very thankful and grateful.  In my mind, I can see the rest of the room organized into a functioning TV room once again where all the clutter has vanished.  POOF.  I'm thinking by November 1st the large screen TV will be up and running with the recliners across the room from it ready to watch a good movie and relax for the evening. 

Settling into a tiny COTTAGE has been laborious as a very uncomfortable challenge.  Being real. Still dealing with boxes full of STUFF that's got to go someplace.  What a nightmare to have. There are far worse things to go through, but this isn't easy for me at 70.  Cheerleader needed just about now.  Go SIS BOOM BAH.  Louder please, I am not motivated at the moment.  A kick in the pants might be a better gesture for now.

THIS IS A PROJECT AND A HALF.  It can be taken care of, but not quickly.  I will be transparent.  Maybe I shouldn't be, but hey it is what it is.  Does this make me a realist?  I don't generally live like a hoarder, but that would be hard pressed to prove right now.  This is a snap shot of what the room presently looks like.  I hate it.  Take the emotion out of it and get this place in ORDER.

OH MY GOSH...this is why I was standing on my head to fold up a work table that needed dug out of the space and taken out of the cramped room.  SLOWLY the room is getting whittled into shape.  SLOWLY!

HEAVE HO and away I go to make PROGRESS that is badly needed.

What seems like a simple thing when moving into a house, isn't around here.  It's more complicated dealing with possessions and having to think deeply what to keep and what to give away.  Making this house a HOME is one of the most challenging moves I have EVER gone through due to my age, health issues, downsizing and trying to FIT INTO the COTTAGE. Turning loose of much has taken much thought and physical movement.  MENTAL GYMNASTICS.  

AUTUMN PROJECT.  I have stayed HOME so I can continue working on the front bedroom while Hubby has gone to Manhattan to purchase porch paint, primer and sealer.  He plans to do some painting today.  I have to sit a bit as my lower back screams at me in discomfort.

   

PORCH UPDATE.  The last few days he has been laying porch boards.  This project has been very hard with tearing out the porch and rebuilding.  Like most projects when you get started there are surprises you were not expecting.  He discovered that the porch rock foundation had collapsed behind the heavy concrete steps.  Rebuilding the foundation took time and muscle plus the concrete steps had to be jack hammered down with the chunks of concrete dumped in the street so it could be scooped up and hauled away to a place that would take the concrete trash. 

After the porch boards are primed, sealed and painted, he'll take a break to catch his breath and rest his 70 year old body.  NEXT WEEK, the porch columns will go up and the spindles put into place.  More painting.  Then steps will be built and painted.  Maybe by the end of November the porch will be functioning as a PORCH.  That will be something to celebrate!  

I need to snip produce and bring some plants indoors right away.  I'd better go do this before I forget.

PART TWO.
Finished folding 17 quilts and bed coverings just so so then managed to get these onto the bookcase shelves.  Pleased with how this turned out.  NOW to move onto shuffling the bed in the pink room.  More major shuffling of furniture and boxes.  SO much stuff lying around that will have to be moved out of the way.  

Once I get this done, the front bedroom will be dealt with and this means lots of work.  A full day's work.

Geraniums in the galvanized cart were brought indoors.  I shuffled some more things to make room for the cart in the dining room.  Made it happen.  Pleased to see this plant indoors, but I think the cold we had the night before damaged the plant as some of the leaves turned yellowish.  

I cut some lavender stems from the container garden and placed them in a small old fashioned white pitcher in the Bathroom. Mission accomplished. SO Pleased.  

SO VERY pleased that the bookcase is in the front bedroom and filled with quilts!  Hopefully TODAY the pink bedroom will be a real bedroom again.  Pleased.  

Much to do before the week-end.

~d  

  

Praise the Lord

QUILTS FOLDED FOR NEW LOCATION IN COTTAGE, MORE SHUFFLING and LIFE GOES ON

HALLELUJAH, THE BOOKCASE IS IN THE CORNER OF THE FRONT BEDROOM!  Have mercy, that took some doing. Thar' she sits all tall and proud.  I'll wipe her down really well and begin to fill the shelves with my folded quilts.  A nice place for displaying and storing the textiles.   

Looking at this piece of furniture that we have used throughout the years, I reminded myself that we have used this piece for nearly 40 years for actual BOOKS and records in various houses, for toys, nic-nacs, used it for a food pantry in the Marion rental and the two story 1883 house as well as in the garage of the 1885 rock house.  Very useful piece to have as we were practically vagabonds that didn't stay put in one place for very long.    

As we moved her into the Bedroom, the bottom edge of the piece broke off.  Saved the piece of wood as it'll be glued back later. 

Soon, I'll be folding the quilts to a certain size so they'll fit beautifully on the shelves.  Can't wait. Measured the shelves and I will fold the quilts to 34" by 11" so they fit nicely.  That will be my project for the day after LUNCH and my walk.  I plan to walk 5 laps around the track this afternoon. 

Folding the bedding will require using the entire Parlour where I can stand and work.  Should work.  The sooner the better.   

Pics after I get this task finished.  Hopefully, I won't be disappointed how the outcome is. Making progress in moving forward in getting settled into our fixer-upper COTTAGE.  

  

I'll continue to collect quilts for extra bedding when I am out and about shopping thrift then when I discover one that's affordable, I'll purchase it.  The more the merrier! 👵 

  

We've pulled up some of the carpet in the COTTAGE to see what shape the wood floors are in. The house was built in 1900 so the yellow pine wood floors have to be over 126 years old. There's no way of knowing the age of the trees that the wood came from in the first place.  So at least 126 years or older.  Imagine really old YELLOW PINE.  Cleaning and polishing the floors will take place hoping the wood is in good shape throughout the house.  Perhaps there will not be much repair to do on the floor that lies underneath this old worn out carpet that's in terrible shape covered with stains that I cannot get out.  

With a tiny house full of furniture, the thought of relocating the furniture in each room so new carpet can be laid has been overwhelming.  If we do one room at a time of working on the wood floor I believe that Hubby and I will be able to freshen up the COTTAGE ourselves.  If we scoot the furniture over to one side of the room then work on that particular open floor area then scoot the furniture over to the other side repeating what we just did, then maybe we will be successful in making the floors vibrant again.

I can expect the entire house to be in disarray as we work on it.  Keeping a relaxed attitude about the messes has been like pulling teeth.  The kids poke fun at us saying we will never be orderly. Right now it looks like we are hoarders as EVERYTHING is out of order, stacked and out of place.  Crammed boxes galore.  My goal is to have a somewhat orderly interior by CHRISTMAS. The painting, crown molding, floors refinished, etc. will take place in 2026.  FACT. 

AS I WORK ABOUT THE HOUSE, each day I need to seriously do 2 loads of laundry to get to the bottom of the baskets.  Also take a little time to polish the Kitchen appliances and clean out the inside of the oven.  

MORE SHUFFLING.  I will continue to shuffle the KITCHEN CABINETS as now I must find a new HOME for our TEA STASH which was on the bookcase that got relocated to the front Bedroom.  The cabinet above the stove holds crystal for now and this will be relocated to the cabinet to the right of the Kitchen sink meaning I have to get rid of everyday mismatched cups. The Tea Stash will go above the stove for now.  This is a big mess.  Turning it into an orderly KITCHEN is work.  MULTI-TASKING TAKES SKILL and PATIENCE doesn't it?  Yep, it do.  

Planning goes along ways. 

~d 

 

 

Easy Egg Salad with Jacques Pépin

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Summer Appetizer: Mini Pepper Treats

THANKSGIVING IS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND

SUNSHINE WAS STREAMING INTO THE ROOM THROUGH THE WINDOWS THIS MORNING.  I love waking to a brightly lit room in the mornings with natural lighting as if the day is ready to greet me.  Feeling more energized this morning from our 'ON THE ROAD AGAIN' week-end.  Being more energetic is a BLESSING to me.  I so badly need the days where I am energized to move forward getting lots done because there is a lot to do each day.  I seldom feel extremely energized these days so when a good day comes along it boost my mental and emotional health to a better place.  Take when I can before it vanishes.

After getting around this morning, I finished clearing off the bookcase shelves, put a load of laundry in, checked the mail and am sipping HOT LEMON WATER WITH CAYENNE PEPPER as I blog.  It has been awhile since I sipped lemon water with cayenne pepper in it.  Seems I go in cycles concerning my health drinks.

Today being the 21st of the month, I think this is a good time to be more selective on what I eat and drink.  In 3 months to the day my labs will be done to check my A1c.  Not sure if the cholesterol will be checked as well.  I will deliberately work at whittling down a few pounds more and lowering my A1c numbers.  In a few days, I will go back to QUEST DIAGNOSTICS to personally have these labs checked to see where I am right now so I can compare if I improved when the data is out in January 21st.

Walking is on the agenda today as the temps will be in the 60s.  Our AUTUMN is definitely here. I best soak this in before the cold WINTER WINDS blow.  On the back burner is CHRISTMAS DECORATING, Hot Chocolate and CHRISTMAS MUSIC honoring the LORD's Birthday.  

Stores have their Christmas decor out along with Halloween. THANKSGIVING is no where to be found.  These last three months of the calendar year are clumped together not to mention the start of a NEW YEAR JANUARY 1st.  Though I cannot find THANKSGIVING anywhere, I have an ongoing MENU working up in my head flowing freely with gorgeous table settings for company.  I'm pretty sure we will not have the COTTAGE up and going for THANKSGIVING so I had better figure something else out for the BIG MEAL and company.  I might be fooled and be surprised that it all comes together within a month.  It is great inspiration for encouragement to get the house ready.  I need encouragement, don't you?

  

Five interesting facts about turkeys are that they can blush by changing the color of their heads to express emotions, they have excellent 360-degree vision, they can fly at high speeds for short distances, a group of turkeys is called a rafter, and female turkeys don't gobble but purr.

🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃

I will go ahead and bake one of the turkeys we have in the freezer this month and freeze the baked meat for turkey sandwiches that has nothing to do with THANKSGIVING other than I am THANKFUL we have one in the freezer and we are not without.  

THANKSGIVING WILL BE FOUND in my heart and mind. Giving thanks each and every day.  

No Halloween decorating with little HARVEST DECOR.  The pumpkins we grew this year will be just about it for HARVEST TIME.  I want to clear out the front porch urns of the Coleus and replace with stacked pumpkins.  This is get us through the rest of October and November.  Come December 1st, the Christmas decor should some out.  If the front porch is finished then I can decorate it along with the front doors.  Lord, let it happen.

I have a tendency to like to decorate for the HOLIDAYS.  This has become seriously scaled back as the COTTAGE is a tiny one.  I thought about the CHRISTMAS TREE the other day.  I probably will sit a miniature one out again this year on the little table that is in front of the Parlour windows with sparkling lights on it and maybe some garnet colored ribbons.  Basically extra SIMPLE.  

I have large pinecones that I need to hot glue hooks on so I can dangle them from the dining room chandy that will have greenery on it.  Keeping it SIMPLE this year.  I can hang garland around the windows throughout the COTTAGE, the door frames and across the cased opening between the Living room and Dining room.  I learned a new TERM today.  Cased opening.  I did not know it was called this.  Had to look it up.

Where to go with the NATIVITY SCENE I know not.  Perhaps I should focus on activities outside the HOME such as HOLIDAY parades, Church festivities, CHRISTMAS movies, food, making cookies to give away, and especially meditating upon JESUS, our savior, my personal savior.  Taking in NATURE to decorate inside the house will be thought upon.  The front porch might just be finished where I can hang garland, twinkling lights and garland colored bows with a couple of CHRISTMAS WREATHS on the front doors.  Just simple SIMPLE.  

Perhaps the main focus of CHRISTMAS decorating with this tiny COTTAGE will be the front porch?  Perhaps.  When the weather turns off chilly, I start thinking about decorating.  This is the best part to me about the cold months.  

I have THANKSGIVING dishes that will probably stay in storage until next year.  What a heck of a way to LIVE.  In transition where I cannot fully use my dishes is not an easy attitude to nurse. 

WELP, I got hyped up after getting dressed for the day.  While HUBBY had gone to town, I shuffled the Living room furniture about so the bookcase would have an easy path to the front Bedroom where it'll sit holding my quilts.  I walked and slid the bookcase out of the Kitchen through the Dining room and into the Living room where it will sit until it can be moved into the Bedroom.  Some carpet strips have to be pulled up first in the corner of the room then the bookcase will be shuffled into that corner that has required some effort to clear out, but I did it! Praise the LORD!!!

I'd like to get this done before LUNCH which will be salad for me and tamales for HUBBY. There's a load of towels in the clothes dryer that I will fold and bluejeans to dry THEN I will see about getting that bookcase into the corner.  Hallelujah and a half.  Baby steps are taking place.

Hubby just pulled up the carpet tacks and here I sit.  Best go get the laundry folded and put away.  I've got things to do!  Never a dull moment.

PRAYER REQUEST.  PRAYERS APPRECIATED for one of my grown sons who is in search of employment.  He sold his house which was answered prayer.  Thank you for being a prayer warrior for this situation that a mother to grown children understands.  

Thanksgiving may be no where to be found yet, but I am THANKFUL for you visiting my little corner of the internet world.  

Blessings to you. 
~d

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RUNNING IN MISSOURI and SEEING THE STL ARCH FROM A DISTANCE

CROSS COUNTRY BOUND.  We seriously wanted to see our grandson, "P" run CROSS COUNTRY before this season is over for the year so we drove to Missouri for the week-end event. 

Praying that we wouldn't get rained out as rain was in the forecast.  While walking the course there was a very loud clap of thunder.  Whispered a prayer and walked on.  That was the only THUNDER we heard while there.  Thank you, GOD.

When the athletes start to line-up, it gets exciting knowing that in a few minutes the race begins.

He did well finishing 8th amongst about 100 High School boys.  Thrilled to see him run at this sport.  Very proud of him and his accomplishments.  There are miles between us to where we cannot visit as often as we'd like.  

Afterwards we went to a coffee house to warm up, the St. Louis Art Museum for the afternoon and then off for PIZZA.  The music was too loud at the Pizza place so we went to another coffee house to end the evening before "P" went HOME.  

The day turned out rainy so we did get wet and chilled.  Driving at night was turned over to my HUBBY as I have some eye challenges.  Between rain, wet roads and STL drivers it was nervy.  

We looked at this TRIP as a MINI VACATION.  Short as it were, we saw a lot of things and ate very well.  We were blessed to have no mishaps and arrived safely HOME.  The area of the Saint Louis Art Museum that has the room exhibitions were being renovated.  Disappointed, but there really wasn't anything I could do about it, but accept what was.  I was fortunate to see these before so I'll look forward to when I go back another time.  What a magnificent museum.

It's truly a lovely AUTUMN with the changing of the trees.  There's no denying it's obviously AUTUMN in the mid-west.  The temps are cooling down some.  Not ready for snow, but I know some parts of the U.S. are already having some.    

WE THOUGHT ABOUT GOING ON TO SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ABE LINCOLN MUSEUM the next day, but as reality would have it we were too tired.  TOO TIRED.  Blessed to go to the Cross Country Meet in the first place.  I wished that I didn't wear out so easy.  Tis discouraging at times.    

On our way HOME, we drove past the Saint Louis Arch.  

Something wonderful to see.

On Sunday, we drove back to Kansas.  Stopped off at one ANTIQUE MALL along the way. Treated myself to a DARLING miniature Tea Set.  Pic later.  THOUGHT ABOUT getting back to working on the small COTTAGE porch and shuffling stuff inside the house.  Gotta make progress.  Amen and amen.

The traffic was heavily congested all the way to Illinois through Missouri and all the way HOME. On SUNDAY, I was so ready to be HOME where I don't have to deal with driving in so much traffic.  I don't do well in congested traffic.  Maybe I do better than I think, but my nerves go raw. 

Arrived safely HOME around 6 in the evening.  A lovely Sunday drive with blue skies and fluffy clouds.  Looking forward to a slow paced week after battling the interstate highway for over 6 hours.  

ABOUT THE HOUSE.  Thrilled that when we returned HOME that the pile of concrete that was left behind from jack hammering the old porch steps had been hauled off by a local service. Relieved.  One less thing to be bothered with when rebuilding the porch.  Can't wait until it is finished.  THOUGHTS of a cute COTTAGE PORCH are there in my head. 

PLANS FOR MONDAY. 

🎃Paying the City Bill.
🎃Picking up Rx.
🎃Trip to Manhattan. 

🎃Hubby plans on working on the COTTAGE PORCH!  Looking great.  This morning means a trip back to the lumberyard to purchase additional supplies.  I'm off to purchase some new cardboard boxes for storing things that I will pack up to get out of the house to let go in the SPRING.  

🎃Removing the contents off the kitchen bookcase so I can move it to the front bedroom today!  If I get this far I will feel as if I accomplished something.
🎃Laundry of course.
🎃Unpacking the week-end luggage.
🎃Walking for health.
🎃Cleaning up the two front porch urns and placing pumpkins on them.  I might try saving some of the coleus clippings off of these and rooting them out for an indoor plant.
🎃Picking some cherry tomatoes and peppers from our small garden.

🎃Quiet TIME.

TIME to pause and think about the week-end 

with LOVED ONES,
~d