Refrigerator Organizing Vlog | Step by Step | Clean and Restock | Relaxi...

TINY LITTLE HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT for a sick person

FINALLY THE COUNTER TOP OVEN is sparkling clean inside and out.  As best as I can get it for now.  I could spend a couple more hours scouring the deep crevices with cleaner and a toothbrush to massage the ick out of the dark places, but don't think I will today.  She's pretty clean.  Looks great for an old appliance.

My energy level is very low.  I work a bit then sit a bit.  Work a bit then sit.  SO I need all the help I can get.  Short cuts appreciated.

A funny happened while I was cleaning the wire racks.  Sprayed them with oven cleaner and waited a day to hand wash them, but there was still baked on grease on them so I sprayed the racks again with oven cleaner and sat them on a patio table to keep them out of the house.  

Knowing I would wash them the next day, I left them outside.  A strong storm came with heavy rain washing the oven cleaner off of the wire bake racks.  They were powered washed in a way. They sparkled.  Grins.  I was spared the elbow grease this go round.

THIS WEEK, I'll see about tackling the large Kitchen oven.  

All the appliances need to sparkle as well.

HAPPY CLEANING,
~d👩

MAY I REMEMBER,  this is the day the Lord hath made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it.  Heal me Lord and I will be healed.  Save me Lord and I will be saved for you are my PRAISE!  

Tis Sunday and company is on their way to our place.  We have comfortable chairs to sit on while we visit in the Living room.  We can fix iced tea to drink or have coffee and/or bottled water.

Think we'll have lunch at a restaurant instead of fixing something in our defunct Kitchen that is being boxed up for our move.

Off to the shower I go.  Need to wash my hair and air dry.  Will posh up my face some with make-up. 

We took a short walk this morning in the cool of the day.  It's what I hope to do each morning until surgery where recovery time will be required.  Then I will hopefully continue the walking after I can manage it.  Health Nut Time.  I pray we can continue to become healthier people as we age. 

Yesterday, Hubby worked on our yard all day with beautiful results.  The yard looks like it needs to.  Lovely.  He worked so hard on this.  It shows.  We have some day lilies that will be popped out of the ground and relocated to the COTTAGE later this week.

In my mind's eye I can see where we need to go with the COTTAGE yard.  A new adventure.

I managed to haul some antique wooden valances and a few other things to the COTTAGE then do a load of laundry.  Back to the main house for supper and moving an antique Plantation Writing Desk to the main floor.  Is going down stairs easier than going up?  We still have to take care carrying heavy pieces of furniture.  This took some doing as we were both very tired from the day's events.  We managed and the desk is sitting in the Living room.  We have another desk that needs brought downstairs as well.  Some recliners, mattresses and box springs and a Tall Boy.

I'll continue carrying heavy boxes down the stairs and stacking them in the Dining room.  My goal this week is to have all the boxes stacked and ready to locate to a storage unit.  Pray I make it.  Then the journey begins of transporting these boxes to the storage unit.

One big sigh will take place when this is completed.

I'll practice sighing,
~d 

SPRING CLEANING HAS LAPSED INTO SUMMER

HAVE YOU HEARD THE SAYING strike while the iron is hot?  The iron was hot Sunday when cooler temperatures made their way to my front door on the Kansas Prairie.  It is awesome to have mild temps where I can stand working outside.  My energy level rose and away we cleaned inside the COTTAGE SHED.

TEMPS WERE MILDER ON SUNDAY.  Decided to change my plans for the day and go clean out the storage side of the COTTAGE garage.  Tubs of CHRISTMAS decor were loaded into our small car and taken to the COTTAGE.  Each time we go, a load of decorations goes as well.  Making our trips count. 

We dove into clearing out the storage shed.  A huge mess.  Things that have not been dealt with for over 5 and a half years were still in place.  After the house fire, this storage shed was used to store boxes and things until we would be ready to deal with all.  In October it will be 6 years since the house fire.  

After the 2016 fire, I was worn out and couldn't tackle anymore of going through damaged goods.  So we hit pause and did other things like buy a house, go through what the cleaning service rescued, moved into a different house, went shopping, waited for furniture to come back to us that was rescued.  Grieve the deaths of my dad and mother-in-law.  Struggle with devastating fatigue.  Get settled into life.  Settled with the insurance company.  Sell the shell of the rock house to a contractor that wanted the structure to fix up.  Retire.  Learning to live on less money AGAIN.  Grieve the death of a brother-in-law.  Politics.  Isolate at HOME while co vid is raging.  Social distance in a bizarre course of events not knowing what was happening in the world.  Learn to breathe wearing a mask when out in public.  Wash my hands more than ever. Disinfect.  Have additional health issues.  Husband diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma. Diagnosed as a diabetic.  Rioting.  Learn a whole new way of eating.  Grieve my favorite cousin's death.  Grieve my oldest brother's death.  See family when we could.  Celebrate a new grandson's birth.  Celebrate grandchildren's accomplishments and birthdays.  Life has been something else since the 2016 fire.  Thinning out and decluttering takes on a whole new meaning.  To God be the glory great things He hath done.      

Sunday, we mustard the gumption to go through much.  There I found a bundle of labeled yellow envelopes holding my children's baby teeth and hair trimmings.  I hadn't thought of these keepsakes for a very long time.  Also family pics of various events like my oldest son's wedding from 23 years ago.  There they be... safe and sound.  Family movies, pictures, cards, letters, etc. were in laundry baskets.  Smoked dishes.  Furniture hidden under boxes of what ever is inside. 

Books and family movies.  Videos and old aprons.  Baskets and knick knacks.  Old suitcases and ice chest.    More to deal with.  I was proud of us for tackling this long awaited event.  I think we will continue tackling this shed as the temps will be in the 70s.   

I came across a packet of snapshots of the kitchen we remodeled in Manhattan in our fixer upper back in 1999.  Gosh, it was so pretty.  I was inspired to believe once again that my COTTAGE Kitchen will be really cute when we get to fixing her up.  I'm glad I took pictures and really glad that they were not destroyed in the fire.  

Many of the CDs found were smoked stained and I will have to get new covers to freshen up the old. The yellow envelopes filled with personal papers are smoke damaged.  I'll spend hours labeling and replacing the damaged ones.  More in the forecast, but I still have them.  I felt a surge of thankfulness rush through my old body as I saw that much was still there for us to call our own.

I have hopes that we will make headway this MONDAY and be nearly done clearing out the shed by the end of the day.  That will be quite an accomplishment.  The muscle racks can be moved into the shed and filled with my precious Christmas decorations.  More downsizing I'm sure. Order is near.  

Back to cleaning the main house before company comes.  I vacuumed the Dining room rug and will dust mop the wood floor later in the day.  Took the celery green coverlet off the table that I was using as a tablecloth.  Found a red tablecloth to spruce up the room for the 4th of July.  Now to locate some miniature flags to celebrate our fine country.  I'd like to plant some in the front porch flower urns as well.  We won't be hanging the banners as our time needs to go into cleaning the house and clearing out the shed.  Having to get picky about how time is spent.

I know that as of late, I have been able to pitch things quicker than ever before saying good-bye. This is a blessing.  I have been quicker than ever before donating car load after car load of things. Where on earth is all this stuff coming from?  Hidden in the basement, in closets, in drawers, in boxes, in sheds, in garages, in this and that.  A new way of doing things has been birthed.  I cannot take anything with me when I die.  As I live, I must live well and not be afraid of living a simple and peaceful life.

The quality of my life is not determined by how many possessions I own, but by the way I choose to live and who I choose to worship.  

Amen.
~d

   

AUTUMN MAKES A GREAT TIME FOR DEEP CLEANING

VIDEOS ABOUT ORGANIZING.  Sunday, I overdosed on binge watching YouTube videos about organizing.  I got carried away and liked it.  Newest crush is ORGANIZING. Organizing.  This is more productive for me then watching regular television programs.  Seldom do I turn the tv on during the day.    

I don't miss the programs anymore.  I should have a spotless HOME, but I do not.  Perhaps if I get on the BAND WAGON I will be able to say once again, I do.  

Last evening, I decided to do some more shuffling of the Kitchen cabinets.  My Mixer has been hiding in a pull out drawer for 3 and half years.  This drawer was originally designed for the Kitchen Waste Can.  So, I placed the Mixer on the countertop until I can figure where to place it elsewhere. 

There's no denying The KITCHEN is a mess.  All righty then.  Moving right along.  It's not the end of the world.  Just looks it.  Late in September, I cleared off the counter tops, rearranged where things went.  Still merging along on this.  A foldable table was placed in the center of the room to hold the items.  I still haven't cleared off this table.  Boggles the mind how much there is to deal with.  

Do I need a KEEP area or a THROW AWAY area verses GIVE AWAY???    

This will take some effort to make all better.  I think about where items should go and shuffle some.  If I don't like it then I move things some more.  Still moving things.  I will that I will make headway.  I have to.  We cannot live like hermits burrowing into a cave.  

First the waste can relocated to the pull out drawer for a waste can.  I like it so far.  

Next under the sink.  Under the sink will be tidier for sure.  I'll wash the inside of the cabinet before lining it with shelf liner paper.  I got a great deal on this shelf liner from Dollar Tree. Pretty black and white floral print.  

After I finish the task, I will reorganize the pantry shelves that are behind the door leading to the basement.

 

The Pantry shelves are actually a book case with shelves.  

*I believe I will place on the top shelf of the book case, paper towels.  

*Next shelf down, the baking condiments such as salt, pepper, vanilla, flavorings, shortening, oils.  

*Two shelves for canned goods and nuts.  

*Close to the bottom shelf should be flours, sugars, beans, rice and noodles.  

*Bottom shelf will house spring water in bottles.  This will only take a couple of hours to complete, but with my bad back I will have to double the work time.

*There's the top of this book case that I might place paper plates, napkins and plastic ware.  Perhaps these ought to be in a basket.  

Relocating my baking and cooking staples will free up a cabinet to hold medicines, minerals, vitamins.  Maybe large mason jars full of spices and antique dishes.  

This first full week of October will be dedicated to revamping my KITCHEN.  I don't understand how this becomes such a big project.  Sounds easy enough, but isn't.  

AUTUMN does make for a great time to deep clean.  I pray that I do not FALL behind on my goals.

I may have to order on-line some Mrs. Meyer's Vinegar GEL Cleaner.  I hadn't heard of this before yesterday.  You make a paste with the gel and baking soda to clean splash tile.  I'll have to keep my eyes open for this.  I'd like to try it.

  

The two places that I know of that sells her products don't carry these.  The pleasant young woman that I visited with on the phone said due to what is going on, they are having difficulty getting products.

I know that Clorax Disinfectant Wipes are none to be found.  Has been this way for months.  I am having to use other products instead of my favorite Coconut Scented Wiping Clothes. 

A few years back I came across Nikki on the internet.  I was so impressed by her talent with organizing and decorating.  She's fantastic.  As luck would have it, I could not for the life of me remember her name.  I lost her in all of my clutter.

This week-end she reappeared.  I'm hooked.  

https://athomewithnikki.com     

HOME LIFE is for me,

d

AUTUMN BEGINS WITH DEEP CLEANING FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Prepping for the HOLIDAYS begins during early FALL as I prepare for a change of seasons by DEEP CLEANING the house.  I'll start by dusting.  Vacuuming.  Move onto cleaning out the fridge reorganizing making it sparkle.  Under the kitchen sink needs a facelift. One could get lost in this mess.  The cabinet fronts need help.

October/November/December.  

I started thinking about how to decorate for CHRISTMAS?  Where the tree will go and what theme to develop.  The Nativity Scene will go down the center of the Dining room table this year. A first for this as I generally have the scene on a buffet or coffee table.

But first comes Halloween and Thanksgiving.  HARVEST DECORATIONS will be few.  May decorate the front door.  Hmmm.  Thinking about it.    

Fixing HALLOWEEN GOODIE BAGS for my Grandchildren and children to give them early in the month of OCTOBER.  Not sure how we will handle THANKSGIVING this year. CHRISTMAS...not sure about family gathering at this time.  Have some figuring out to do since we are  s o c i a l   d i s t a n c i n g.  

A new word for 2020.  The first time I heard this phrase was in March.  I had no idea what it meant.  No idea at all.  Soon the meaning would be revealed to keep 6 feet away from others, wear a mask and wash hands often.  Stay HOME.  A toilet paper shortage.  Disinfectant wipes were nowhere to be found.  

Think we should have a supply of toilet paper, paper towels, disinfectant wipes, cough medicine, gloves, mask, bottled water, antibiotic cream, canned foods, food staples, change.   

Officially, I know how to wash my hands and wear a mask.  Confession says I wash my hands better than ever before as an older woman than I did as a young one.  I can take some pride in this as well as cleaning the toilet bowl more than usual.  Tadaah.  

TODAY, I began some deep cleaning by dusting with special dust cloths.  This ole house and KANSAS produce dust and plenty of it.  Makes my head swoon how quick it gets dusty. SigHhhhh.  Just part of life and don't need to get all hung up on this.  JUST CLEAN and go on. STAY CALM and DUST!

MAKING huge progress on the paperwork.  HUGE.  

PAT Myself on the BACK.  Next week I will focus on the TV room that at the present is well how do I say this...a mess.  I seem to avoid this space at all cost.  Gotta tackle it and be done with it.

A BLESSING comes to fruition when this space is organized.  I can work a while, sit a while.  Work a while, sit a while.  Rest my back that causes issues.  Eventually it will be finished.  

This past week we gathered a few items to part with.  Pause.  It took several days to gather and group items to turn loose of, but did it.  I have had to learn to relax about parting with things.  It has been a life lesson.  

This afternoon, I will rest up from releasing stuff.  Loading a Loveseat sofa in the back of our car took some effort getting it out of the cottage through the front door, down some steps and into the back of our lil car.  It hung out the backend of the car some, so Hubby tied it in place with rope.  I assisted my Husband.  I was the designated driver.  Drove the car from the Cottage, across the river and Home.  Slow, safe and sound.  An overstuffed chair as well.  A box of old vinyls.  Antique Trunk.  An older Ethan Allen swivel chair.  All gone.  

Now to turn my energy toward the spare room making it a TV room.        

Next week will be different.  A new direction.  Medical appointments, tidying for the new TV room, purchasing items for HALLOWEEN PLATES, exercising, dusting, embracing AUTUMN.  Non-exciting, but healthy activity.

Typing this out helps me put my thoughts down.  Helps with planning, etc.

HOME life is for me!  

~d~

Let There Be Hope

Do you suppose she's drinking Coca-Cola?

A Lady of leisure at the Soda Fountain.

Puppy at the knee and flowers in hand.

Every Homemaker deserves a break and this woman apparently knew that 
or at least the Artist who did this illustration knew.  
Perhaps the Artist knew that you can be beautiful.  

Let there be HOPE.

When was the last time you donned a hat like this one?

Never.

Missed out.

Shucks.

I'll find a lovely hat similar to that one.

Let there be HOPE.

We're not even close to the month of June, but wish it were so.

If I can just hold on another week it will be MAY and I will wonder where the month of APRIL went.  

Getting impatient.  

Sigh.

Let there be HOPE.

Today the interstate roads are iced packed with snow and Spring went back into hiding.  I am beginning to get stir-crazy.  Cabin Fever is trying to claim me.  The sniffles are coming on with a tickle in my throat.  Let there be HOPE.  

Taking Vitamin C.

Waiting for the fine fresh mornings where the window is open letting Spring air into the house.  When the birds will be chirping in the cool of the day.

Instead, it's cold outside and snow is falling as I drink Maxwell House Coffee and blog.  Should I day dream about something else?

Let there be HOPE.

Lil Miss is coughing and running a slight fever.  Stayed home from school.  She has had a Winter with 4 colds this year.  That's not good.  More Vitamin C needed.  I found some Emergen-C for children.  

Let there be HOPE.  
I pray that this perks up her immune system.

Some of this may be allergies.

I've been tidying up on the Family room.  
Sure needs it.  Vacuumed under the sofa cushions.  
How can this be so grungy?

Even when my 3 children were at home my family room furniture was never as groady as this.  

Don't get it.  

All better now and will finish sometime today with vacuuming the two chairs and carpet.

Let there be HOPE.

The house needs a lot of tender loving care.

Dusting needed so badly.

It's beginning to gross me out.

May that become a motivator to clean our HOME.

A BLESSING is about to take place.

Let there be HOPE.

A clean house is a healthier place to live and that should be enough to get me to tidy up and deep clean.

DUST

I could blame this part of Kansas...and in reality it is dustier than any place I have lived.  I have fallen short in the housekeeping department.  I am not keeping up with the demands of having a clean house to call HOME.

In prayer about this.

Let there be HOPE.

Is there a dust fairy or is that just a figment of my imagination?

There is a Jack Frost, but does he have a cousin named 'Aphar' Dust?

There will be NO dust in Heaven.

Can I hear a hallelujah?

I missed out on the excitement over the week-end.  Number One, the High School had their PROM.  
Number Two, Picketers were in Town.  
Only saw pictures.  

Missed the young adults/children dressing up in their finery.  The weather was pleasant enough, but didn't pry myself away from the house long enough to take a peek at Small Town America dressing up for a special social occasion.  Will try next year if I can.

Heard that all attending looked well put together on the Saturday Night OUT Event..........on Sunday morning the protesters were out.

Protesting and picketing isn't anything new to our country.....but in Small Town America?

Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka made their presence known as they picketed 
3 of the local Churches on Sunday morning.

I missed them as they walked the sidewalks not far from our house.

How could that happen?  Daughter stood outside and sang 'AMAZING GRACE'

I know they heard her.

Let there be HOPE.

God is LOVE, but

in Biblical truth and honesty, 

there are some things that God does HATE.

Proverbs 6:16-19

These six things does the Lord hate:

Yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

A proud look,

a lying tongue,

And hands that shed innocent blood,

A heart that devises wicked imaginations,

feet that are swift running to evil,

A false witness that speaks lies,

and he that sows discourse among brethren.

Psalm 97:10

Ye that love the Lord, hate evil:

he preserveth the souls of his saints;

he delivereth them out of the hands of the wicked.

With Christ there is HOPE and abundant life 

right now where you sit.

Ever lasting LIFE.

One of the things I have noticed about the WBC is there is no mention of God giving you the opportunity to become a Child of God through Christ.  They don't share how to do that.

So I will.

It's through accepting God's perfect plan of redemption for mankind for yourself through Jesus becoming one's Saviour.  

By accepting that he is the true son of God.  

Through his shed blood.  

His death, burial and resurrection.

Claiming him for yourself.

This is what is called dying to self.

This is when you are adopted into the family of God.

You become a child of God through this adoption.

Through Christ you can have newness of life.

Forever changed.

Spiritual.

Born a new.  

Born Again.

Thought I could catch up with WBC at the old Baptist Church.  We no longer have a Baptist Church here.  The name changed.  WBC did not picket there.  I missed the action.  Went home.  Hubby caught them at the Methodist, Lutheran and Church of Christ.  They avoided the Catholic and an independent church.

Out of town in a flash.

The WBC picket churches because they believe that the churches are not WBC.  I suppose that this is not their sole purpose for picketing.  It does turn some heads.  In my humble opinion, WBC believes that if you are not a member of their church, you're doing it ALL wrong and going to HELL.  

I believe that we can be a Child of God adopted into the family of God and be Heaven bound when Jesus is one's personal saviour and we are sealed for the day of redemption. We can be filled with God's Holy Spirit.  Blessings will come when we walk uprightly before the LORD.

Our present United States of America Military has helped allow us to have celebrated freedoms in so many ways.  Thankful.  Without a strong military presence to protect us in the world of hostile governments, our country would be weak for sinners and saints.  

Still, the WBC picket military funerals of those military forces that support this government of ours.  In my opinion The Westboro Baptist protests our Military Funerals because the dead were a part of the military of a government that supports many ungodly practices. WBC protest where they believe that the churches are not teaching God's truth about the sin of homosexuality.   

Let there be HOPE.
As AMERICANS we live in an amazing country where you can picket, protest, gather together in homes and public places.  Speak your mind, print a book or remain silent.  We can elect officials into office and vote.  Go from state to state without checking in at a booth and present papers.  Ride in a car, walk, peddle a bike, skateboard or run.  Schedule a vacation and go unannounced.  Drive the highways and byways without fear.  Spend our petty cash on junk and eat just about anything on the menu.  Worship and sing songs in just about any church you want or stay home and read your Bible without blinking.  Dress in old and new clothing alike that's store-bought, mail-ordered, borrowed or homemade.  We can own personal property, do without, have more than enough and run businesses of our own. Own real estate, rent or do both.    NOW THAT'S FREEDOM.

I'd like to keep it that way.

Let there be HOPE.

Oh, the beauty of the earth.......people planted these tulips in the ground, but GOD made the tulip bulb.  Aint this beautiful and orderly!

Speaking of BEAUTIFUL....the Kitchen is taking shape.

NOW that's a pretty sight.

Please cheer with me.

Life goes on.

Let there be HOPE.

Glad you stopped by.

God bless.

d

Cleaning

~Autumn Cleaning Continues~


As I've cleaned the Parlour Windows, 
A sense of accomplishment comes as I open the windows and clean them inside and out.


Preparing for the Holidays.
Harvest
Thanksgiving
Christmas
New Years


A festive time of year!
Are you ready to make cookies, wrap gifts and play some Holiday Music?


Saying my prayers for a long Autumn 
with clear skies. 
God bless.
~Deanna~