RAINY DAY RAMBLINGS and I'm all wet.

MONDAY'S FORECAST.  🌦RAINY MORNING.  I woke late this morning due to not falling asleep at a decent hour last night.  My body knew it needed rest so 8 hours of sleep came after I fell asleep making it a late morning waking for the day.  Binged watch the television series YOUNG SHELDON.  I hadn't watched it when it was originally broadcasted.  I think I need a break from SHELDON as I have overdosed on it.  I'll take a break and do something else returning later.

💊Morning meds taken, 👚load of laundry in, 🥫grocery list typed up, day figured and now I will refold some sheets that I need to know what sizes they are so I can label them.  I need to go pay the phone bill in person which allows me an opportunity to get away from the house for a bit. Hubby just told me he needs to come along to get some supplies from MENARDS.  Not sure he will like the slow pace I am going to move at as I am looking forward to some goof off time as I shop.  Better give him a heads up.

I go to one community to pay the phone bill, then drive on over to a larger community to pick up a few groceries, return a toilet paper holder to 🎯TARGET, go by the ⚘KSU GARDENS to view the Irises if I can get down their drive.  There is construction going on as they build a rather large reflecting pool.  Last time I tried to see their Irises they had moved them over by a fence downsizing their inventory making room for this reflecting pool.  Looking forward to their 2025 gardens. 

Train just rumbled by in the background.  I am getting more use to the noise they make.  This took 6 months to happen instead of years.  I had forgotten how close the tracks are to my sweet COTTAGE, but it is further away then when we lived in the rock house.  Seems that I am more in tuned to their whistles the older I get.  

The front door just was opened to let some fresh air indoors.  Our SPRING is here and I must enjoy every second as I know SUMMER isn't far behind and it will be a scorcher.  The DOG DAYS OF SUMMER will be here.  As for now, I love seeing the green coloring return in nature with flowers galore. 

Gosh, this thing called RETIREMENT is suppose to be a way to do things of interest because one has more time on their hands.  I'm finding out that time passes quicker and there is less energy available to do such things.  Concentrating more on it then being a work horse of days gone by. Managing the money is of the utmost importance as well.  Here it is the month of MAY and I am still trying to tweak the BUDGET to where we are not making money runs to cover the expenses.

We spent some funds on buying bushes and a small fridge to store only veggies and fruits.  Had medical bills from the cataract surgeries.  Second half of COTTAGE TAXES.  Car tags coming due as well as insurance.  Four Grandsons graduations with traveling expenses and a brother's retirement gift.  Maybe with June's spending I can pull the reigns in and not be spending as much.  Not sure.  Gotta see.

It really is like playing a game trying to not spend money.  One sure thing is if you don't spend, you save or should be able to.  I had better listen to my own advice.  When Health insurance between two people hits the banks, it is a chunk of money that we do not get to spend on fun things.  Ours is about $650.oo a month and the thyroid meds we take are not included because they are considered NATURAL instead of synthetic meaning another $150 or so comes out of the pocket.  $800.oo is pocket change for some and no big deal.  To us old peeps here in the FLINT HILLS in the COTTAGE, it's a chunk of change that is spent.

Being thrifty really is an art form.  Thoughts taking place on ways to be more thrifty.  Amen.  I frequently buy thrift like clock work.  I could sell items via eBay or by some other means.  Still thinning out our stuff.  

UPDATE ON THE WAY THE DAY WENT.
📨Headed to Post Office to mail a card and pick up mail.  TEA TIME magazine was waiting for me.  
☎Took a drive to the community where I pay the phone bill instead of mailing it.  
💵Pulled some cash from one bank to deposit into a different bank that our checking account is with.  
💰Purchased some $2 bills.  
🥔Off to the bigger community to eat LUNCH.  I overdid the calories by eating a veggie potato loaded with CHEESE.  I got my veggies, but how do I justify all those calories?  I can't.

💧Went to DOLLAR TREE to purchase some ETERNAL and ICELANDIC water.
☂Bought two $1.25 umbrellas.
🥤Off to TARGET to return the toilet paper holder that we changed our minds on.  Will be going with one that attaches onto the end of the vanity.  Starbucks iced green tea.  Purchased some laundry detergent and Clorox Bleach.
🔨Needed to go to Home Depot for tile supplies.
🚗Quick stop at DILLONS for gasoline and some 🥒cucumbers.
☂On the road again to go HOME and it poured rain.
Didn't make it to the KSU Gardens.  Too wet.
🍛Unloaded the car and warmed some left-over goulash for SUPPER.
🍨Also had ice cream for dessert.  oops.  This didn't rest well with me.  I loaded up the car and went to the track so I could walk a MILE.  
🏃I managed to get a mile in before it was pitch black outside.  SO PROUD of myself for pushing myself after a busy day.  

I felt pretty good walking a mile.  I was breathing heavier than I'd like to be, but figure when keeping this up I will breathe easier with time. 

👟By the end of SUMMER, I hope to be walking 3 miles each time I go.  This may be too ambitious for an old lady, but I can hope.  By then I will have broken in my walking/running shoes.

👶I will be babysitting my youngest grandson this week.  We will play and read, dance and sing.  Daughter has a doctor's appointment so I'm not sure how long she will be gone.  After I get HOME and rest, I'll do some laundry and housework.  If it's not raining, I will see about getting my walk in for the day.  Another MILE. ☂

🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀Will watch some BASKETBALL tonight.  NBA Playoffs.  Dallas and OKC.  When we were at our OKLAHOMA Son's house last week, we watched Dallas play against the THUNDER.  It was fun so when Hubby said we could watch them play again, it was a WINNER.  

Very SLOWLY messes in the house are disappearing.  NEATNESS will prevail.  I am holding firm to the idea that we will get to the place where the COTTAGE fits us and we fit it.  Please and thank you.

🛏Thoughts of sewing some simple quilts comes to mind and some summer clothing, but I can't sew until the house is under control.  Hubby is working at remodeling the Bathroom so we have a very messy house as boxes are still sitting about.  Tile will go up on the walls behind the tub.  The window that's on this wall will get some new glass, new trim will be hung.  Ceiling will probably be faux tin.  A Linen Closet will be built.  Can't wait.  

~d ☂ 

Old MacDonald Had A Farm | Nursery Rhymes | Super Simple Songs

BABYSAT our youngest Grandson.  Oh the joys of listening to nursery rhymes with a grandson.  At two he played so nicely.  Great fun to watch him and play as well.  We brought with us a farm coloring book, crayons, an old Fisher Price Circus Train inside a vinyl tub, a couple of pocket cars, two action figures, V-Tech Alphabet Town toy, a small wooden picnic table toy and some tiny dishes.  He favored the cars and the V-Tech Alphabet Town toy.  This one plays songs with his favorite being Old MacDonald had a Farm...eieioooooo.  He loved it.  Absolutely loved it.

I think he pushed the O button 50 times to listen to the song as I sang to him the lyrics.  This is a time to enjoy nursery rhyme songs from the past and watch a grandchild enjoy them as well.  He loves music and cars.  A super combination.  

 

After babysitting, we went to LUNCH at McALISTERS in Manhattan, Kansas.  Berry and Pecan Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette for my lunch.  Water.

Fatigue came on so we sat at the City Park to take a short nap in the car before going to the Barber Shop for Hubby's haircut. He dropped me off at HOBBY LOBBY so I could look while he got a haircut.  66% off Easter decor so I took advantage of it.

Bought a 3' standing white bunny made out of wood for our porch, a white rabbit for the bathroom vanity, 2 green grass covered bunnies for future use.  Thrilled about the discount.

He is now my SPRING RABBIT that will grace the vanity countertop until deemed necessary to change out for something else.

THESE LITTLE GRASS COVERED BUNNIES WERE PURCHASED AT A VERY LOW PRICE.  I had been eye balling them for a few months and now they iz HOME.  I don't feel uncomfortable about what price I paid.  66% off is more in lines with what they should have been priced at in the first place.

MORE SPRING DECOR.  

Off we went to a coffee shop for a refreshing beverage.  A Miss Beatrice is what I had which is a Blackberry Tea and Honey Latte.  It was quite good, but this was truly a SPLURGE at $7.2o.  My eyes bugged out when I asked my Husband what it cost.  Too expensive, but I wanted to go to a COFFEE SHOP where we actually sat indoors sipping something HOT on this chilly day.  A bit too cold outside for my liking especially when the wind blows.   We sat comfortably indoors chatting inside a cute local coffee shop taking in the surrounding atmosphere as two older Americans sipping their beverage.  

Off to WALMART.  I picked out some clothing for SPRING.  I didn't try anything on, but will at HOME.  A denim jump suit, a pair of capri jeans, bright pink blouse.  Clearance racks were full of discounted items which help to stretch the dollars spent.  As I switch out clothing items in my small closet and add to my wardrobe, I'd like to add some brighter colors to it.  The capri jeans I have now are beginning to show signs of wear.  When holes appear on the thighs, I guess I will just be styling with the holes in jeans look.  I'd prefer not to have holes as that's just not me yet.  I can't stay up with the times as they are always changing and I don't.

We'd been looking for a wagon to use for TRACK MEETS.  Hubby found one at a good price to haul 2 sitting chairs, ice chest and blankets to the TRACK MEETS.  Better to use a wagon than carry all this stuff.

Epsom salts.  I'm going to soak my feet in Epsom salts and water to see if this helps with swollen feet.  Walmart's epsom salt only came in one size.  A 8 pound bag.  The epsom salts ought to last awhile being in a 8 pound bag.  The wonders of going a more natural route when dealing with health issues.  

More of this to follow in life's journey.    

I couldn't read the labels on things so it was awkward shopping, but I still had a great time.  It felt good to get out and do some looking.  

~d  

ACTIVE DAY and energy to take it on

ANOTHER VERY ACTIVE DAY and I didn't feel the need to take a nap which is amazing.  Either I'm running on adrenaline or actually feeling much better.  Answered prayers and a word of thanks to you who have prayed for me.  I thank you so much.  THANK you.

On Tuesday morning another medical appointment to attend.  One week check-up for cataract surgery number two.  I seem to be healing nicely.  The eye drops sting to high heaven and I visited with the doctor about this.  Right eye is given one drop a day this week and the left eye is given three a day.  I added lubricating eye drops.

After the eye drop goes into the eye, I am to keep the eye closed for at least a minute or two.  No blinking.  Wait 10 minutes before applying second type of eye drop.  Wait 10 minutes and add preservative free lubricant eye drops.  Lots of drops.  I will rejoice when drops are finished.  REJOICE!      

I have 20/20 vision in both eyes, but focusing up close and personal is challenging.  I have to wear reading glasses.  I pray to adjust.  I have worn glasses since I was a third grader.  Not having to wear glasses all the time is a miracle.  I might start wearing some eye make-up later?    

After finishing the appointment, car was fueled and tires aired up.
Drove to restaurant for LUNCH.  Quiet meal in a nice environment.  
We have to find Hubby some better shoes to wear as his daily faithfuls have broken down so we went to BROWN's SHOE FIT and purchased some BROOKS with velcro straps.  Expensive, but he needs better shoes.  He was instructed by a surgeon who believes this will help make his foot feel better.  
Stopped at a gift store purchasing a decorative tea towel for my Mom.
Star Bucks beverages.
Went to Doctor's office so Hubby could make another appointment about his feet.
Drove over to Dollar Tree for Birthday cards and ETERNAL WATER.
Target.
Walgreens.
Tractor Supply Company.  Looking for a utility wagon.
Drove to HOME TOWN to pick up mail.
HOME.
Salad Supper.
Hubby and I had a heart to heart talk about just about everything under the sun.  Politics, religion, friends, marriage, children, grandchildren, health, traveling, weather.
Blogging time.
Soon Bedtime.
Wednesday looks to be another busy day.  Babysitting and Hubby is getting a haircut.  I need to make a run to the store for a few items.

My turn for getting my hair shampooed at the Beauty Shoppe comes later in the week.  Having a stylist shampoo it will be helpful and relaxing.  We don't have a shower so I wash my hair at the kitchen sink.  During the recovery period for cataract surgery, I was not to lean over, so I have gone without shampooing my head for a while.  I believe I will be relieved to have it shampooed. I won't have to go so long in between shampoos next week as I can now lean over the kitchen sink.  

I have got to get some laundry done.  Have to.  A few bills need written out and some correspondences made.

How quickly the week is passing.  I'd like to sit still and listen to the wind blow and forget about it.  I do believe I need some down time.

While out and about running chores, I find some comfort in seeing the surrounding trees, bushes and flowers taking on greenery and color.  The Prairie is coming to LIFE.  Tis lovely. Truly.  I have been giving it a great deal of thought about the front flowerbeds.  White Rose bushes come to mind.

God Bless,
~d

I CHOSE TO BE HAPPY ON A TUESDAY

OFF AND RUNNING.  Tuesday.  Had a change of heart about going to TOPEKA today.  💖💖💖💖💖💖  Thought about it and decided to stay HOME instead.  A change of plans.  

Too TIRED to travel.  I will redirect my energy into paperwork, laundry and switching out the PANTRY with the floor to ceiling cabinet items. At the end of the day, I sincerely hope to have these two spaces rearranged as needed.  I will get a great deal of satisfaction that this is  
D O N E.  Hallelujah and a half.

Think I will photograph the small appliances we have and print off the images on paper then place in sheet protectors for a HOME LIFE BINDER.  A very GOOD thing to make happen on this beautiful day.  The KITCHEN window will be opened to let fresh air in and I think I'll turn a radio on so I can listen to music while working.  Maybe I'll sing along and be  H A P P Y.

ON THE HOME FRONT.  Hubby has been working on the replacing the OLD HOT WATER HEATER.  He has done wonders.  Today he hopefully will have it completed and the NEW HOT WATER HEATER will be in use.  

Tomorrow, I would like to take the window air conditioner unit out of the Dining room window. In the SPRING, I already know that the Central Air will need some work done to it.  I prefer Central Air over window units.  I know I won't be loading the China Cabinet with my BLUE WILLOW DISHES.  Hubby is on the hunt for them.  In the mean time I will tink and putter about with this and that.  

I plan to take another late afternoon walk to the POST OFFICE today to collect mail and get my exercise.  Keeping it simple as I need simplicity right now in my LIFE.  I am working at lowering my blood pressure and this requires that I simplify my LIFE even more.  

Working at making a dent in getting the house in order.  Having the right attitude is needed.  Not getting worked up about the house being messy when the process of getting there means there's going to be lots of messes.  It's not the end of the world, but it does effect us.

What lessons should I be learning?  Have less to deal with and what I do have make sure it has a place to call home.  A place for everything and everything in its place rings louder than ever. Make sure to snag orderly ideas and apply them if possible and it works with your lifestyle. Keeping things as tidy as I have seen would require a great deal of maintenance which I don't care to be in bondage to.

I have changed how I fold towels and linens.  The results are likable and doable.  So I'm doing these different.  2020 was the beginning of this as I watched Marie Kondo videos which lead to watching other peeps' videos on how they keep house.  All was very helpful.  I know full well that I will not do everything the way they do and I have no desire to become a slave to being so tidy that if one hair gets out of place, a plague comes down on you.

Cleanliness without a headache.  Easy to do techniques and not rived up about it.  Quick and simple moves for a more beautiful and clean HOME.

Then the inside of KITCHEN cabinets and underwear drawers took place.  Closets weren't far behind with special hangers to hold 5 articles instead of one.

And so on and so on.  This is the year to downsize inside the house to where it appears uncluttered and orderly.  It will take some effort to make this become a reality.  I am finding out that I have a tendency to go in circles looking for the right fit.  This is just a part of what happens when working at placing things in a different HOME ENVIRONMENT.  Not everything fits and then there's the need to get something different to add to the place to make it work the most efficient way possible.  It seems to be like a living organism that keeps morphing into a different shape.

Ever thought of yourself as a lion tamer?  Where are the lions?  I have to perform as a lion tamer when it comes to the messes.  I must conquer the messes.  Keep the creatures at bay.  

Why on earth does getting orderly seem to be so time consuming?  It does take effort and TIME.  It's just part of the program.  Staying busy and in motion is king.  

While I'm working away,
I choose to be HAPPY about this huge lifestyle change.  

~d    

WINTER BLISS

WE'VE BEEN LIVING IN THE COTTAGE FOR ALMOST THREE MONTHS.  It is hard for me to believe this.  Time flies and yet we have so much more to do to unpack boxes and be settled.  I know it will more than likely be SPRING before the house is cleared of BOXES.  

Very slowly we are getting the COTTAGE in order.  Hubby hung three hooks on the inside of the PANTRY door so I could hang aprons up.  This evening, I bought another hook for the bathroom door for robes and wet towels.  

He is waiting on installing the hot water heater until next week when the temps are suppose to be in the 50s.  He'll have to turn the gas off and we don't want to be caught with no gas incase the temps take a dive.  WAITING FOR THE HEAT WAVE to visit us!  

WEDNESDAY, we had a full day out and about that was FUN.  Gone all afternoon...getting HOME around 9:30pm.  We headed out in the morning with fog and when we drove HOME it was foggy.  Very THICK that visibility was extremely POOR.  WINTER is here.  

BULLET POINTS:
POST OFFICE STOP.
DROVE TO SAINT MARYS FOR LUNCH.
SHOPPED AT SUGAR CREEK.
MJs ALMOND MILK STEAMER.
FAMILY DOLLAR SHOP.
DROVE TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITY.
PHARMACY STOP TO PICK UP MEDS.
VISIT WITH INSURANCE COMPANY ABOUT SWITCHING AUTO INSURANCE.
STORAGE UNIT STOP.
DROVE TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITY.
STAR BUCKS.
DRIVE TO MENARDS TO SHOP.
HOBBY LOBBY.
SUPPER.
ALDI.
DROVE HOME.
FUEL CAR.
UNLOAD GROCERIES.
FILL FRIDGE.
REST.
LIGHTS OUT.

I really should have clocked the miles to see how many miles we covered in a day.  I enjoyed every minute of the drive.  It was awesome to get out and see some sights.  Made the WINTER a little less confining.

TODAY...Laundry to do.
Boxes to go through.
Correspondences to write.
General cleaning.
Waiting to hear back from doc about bad reaction to new blood pressure meds.  My feet puffed up like sausages.  BP has remained higher than it should be.
Waiting for a order from Dr. Colbert to arrive to my front porch.
PLACING some skinny faux candles into porch lamps.  They should fit then I can share some candle light for WINTER BLISS.
Start filling out VALENTINES for loved ones so I'm not in a rush.

MY ATTITUDE ABOUT THIS WINTER HASN'T BEEN AS PLEASANT AS I WISH.  Big baby here whining and pouting.  Wish it were SPRING.  March 19th.  54 days!!!  Praise the LORD.  

~d

 

HELPMEET WITH AN ATTITUDE IN WINTER

THE WEEK-END DISAPPEARED and we were glad to make progress.  The weather is certainly WINTER.  Bitter cold out, but warm in our tiny COTTAGE.  More snow this week? Not sure, but the skies are gray.

As I look out the side window of the COTTAGE, I muttered, I'm glad to be here.  Even with all the mess scattered about the house, I am glad to be here.  We are not wintering with taking care of a large house across the river that we had on the market.  We sold it during the month of December before it turned off bitter cold.  It is a relief to have been set free from the obligation attached to it.  Though I miss the 1883 house, I needed to turn loose of it.

With no MORTGAGE hanging over our heads, we can save money.  Thank you, GOD.  The utilities in Smallville are less.  Praise the LORD.  Taxes are less.  Praise the Lord.  Auto and house insurance are less.  Praise the Lord.  Groceries are not, but then I love going to TOPEKA and MANHATTAN to shop for necessary purchases and for entertainment.  We will subsidize the groceries in the Spring by having some patio containers bearing fruit for us.  

I'd like to grow miniature cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, peppers, onions, multi-colored carrots, possibly some potatoes and herbs.  

We will eventually have the COTTAGE in order and beautified.  I have to wear my big girl panties and when I cannot stand the messes anymore, take a walk around the block or a drive about town or go to TOPEKA and MANHATTAN.  Just getting away for a bit helps me out.

Back on the home front.  UNPACKING is full of surprises.  I unwrapped my WILCOX INTERNATIONAL SILVER COMPANY ASHLEY service set with tray.  I forgot how nice this set is.  Placed her on Grandma's Hutch this afternoon.  LOVELY.     

Those chairs I've been talking about made their way to the front bedroom for safe keeping.  It took a bit, but we managed.  Hubby worked so hard to make this solution happen.  

I can run the vacuum now in the living room.  The things that I need to do, swirl about in my head as I think about all of it.  I need to unpacked the china, arrange pieces in the china cabinet and hutch, empty lots of moving boxes, do some laundry, tidy the rooms still unsettled from this move, switch the pantry contents with the other items in the large cabinet by the pantry, etc. Being indoors during this bitter cold winter makes a good excuse to stay busy making way for the HAPPY HOMEMAKER!  

I need to stay nicely dressed with hair done and make-up on.  Sweet perfume in the air.  Having a sweeter disposition should be noticeable as a helpmeet to my husband, I mustn't be bossy or out of sorts.  I don't always succeed, but I am trying.

With my day planned out, I can take a tea break sipping on my hot tea with cayenne pepper. Afterwards, I will sip on some lemon water.  Breakfast is a fast.  Not sure what we will have for lunch, but supper needs to be a large oversized vegetable salad with boiled eggs, chick peas and small black beans for protein.  

Lord, PLEASE bless my day and time.  

May I have some quiet time today to rest in you getting refreshed.  

~d   

CRACK A WHIP AND GET 'ER DONE and TOPEKA THRIFTING

SLEPT IN.  Was exhausted.  Tired all day.  

After I got up and going, I managed to move one of the old oak Morris Chairs into the Living room.  These are heavy pieces of furniture.  This took some doing for me to pick it up and carry it to the Living room through the maze of boxes scattered about so when I managed to get it moved, I felt a sense of accomplishment.    

We have two of these old chairs.  The other one is a little bigger than this one.  A female chair and a male chair.  Hopefully we will haul these chairs to the storage unit today and have them out of the COTTAGE for now.   

With being so cramped in here, it makes the settling in more laborious than I ever imagined. Having a small fit concerning the items in this cottage.  

It is a slow process getting settled in, but I feel like I got something done by moving the Morris chair before heading out the door for the day. 

We got around to go thrifting in TOPEKA.  LUNCH, thrifting, some groceries and back HOME. Quick trip if you can call it that.  Disappointed that I did not get a Iced Green Tea from STARBUCKS.  Three attempts were made to get one, but the shoppes were closed.  Seems like they are in some kind of dispute about Unions.  

That's not good.  Any who, I will miss them.

At God's Storehouse I purchased a bright red out doors quilted vest for $5.20.  Looks BRAND NEW and so very soft.  On bitter cold days like today, it came in very handy.  My winter coat is too heavy to wear while shopping indoors.  I was wearing a sweatshirt so the vest slipped right on and I was comfortable.

I picked up a large white bowl made from ITALY.  Not sure what I will do with it, but in time I will figure this out.  

A couple of cook books.

Quaint illustrations in the book.  
Should be entertaining to thumb through this one.

A Longaberger BAG/PURSE/TOTE.

I may fill this bag with plasticware, napkins, salt/pepper, paper plates and cups then place the bag inside one of my Longaberger Picnic Baskets.  CUTE.

Quick trip to Natural Grocers for sugar-free ketch-up, eggs, extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil. When checking out, the clerk gave us a free shopping bag and a can of tuna.    

Off to SAMS for coffee pods, coffee creamer, grass fed ground beef and cottage cheese.  Not a whole lot to buy, but thought we'd best get this done before another round of SNOW blows in.

The TOPEKA roads were still snow packed making the ride rough.

SHORT SHOPPING TRIP.  Back HOME to get the mail.  Magazine in the box.  COUNTRY SAMPLER FARMHOUSE STYLE.  Will be fun to look through it tonight.

Tis the middle of the week and I am not where I thought I would be with the BLUE WILLOW CHINA placed back into the china cabinet.  Boxes are full of the pieces.  Good thing about this is I know where they are now grouped together.

I should be emptying the boxes by Thursday.  Crack a whip and get this done. 

THE MESSES AROUND HERE ARE GETTING TO ME.  Take a deep breath and count to ten. Everyday we get SOMETHING DONE, but the overall process is eating my lunch.

It doesn't help that it is bitter cold outside.

I believe that saying FAILURE TO PLAN IS A PLAN TO FAIL.  

Think things through.  Pray and go from there.

~d

BLACK-EYED PEAS AND CORN BREAD ON NEW YEAR's EVE

DAY TWO OF 2024.  Tis a Tuesday.  Know what that means?  A trip to TOP CITY.  An Almond Milk Steamer on the way to the city.  A few supplies need purchased.  Out of cottage chz, coffee cups and organic veggies, etc.  Heard that HAWTHORNE BERRY are good for dealing with blood pressure issues.  If your pressure is too low, the Hawthorne Berry raises it.  If the pressure is too high, it lowers it.  Sounds like something I will try so I'll need to go to Natural Grocers to get some.

  

AS PLANNED:  MJ's, LUNCH, Natural Grocers and Sams today.

Tis cold out, but the sun is shining.  Hearing birds chirping encourages me to recall that SPRING is coming.  Flowers will begin to pop through the ground as GREEN returns.  The cold weather months give me an opportunity to work in the house getting settled, make plans about landscaping, get better organized and have thoughts of how to get there.

It will be nice to get out of the house today.  I enjoy taking drives across the Flint Hills.  

Our New Year's Eve was a busy one as we made a trip to Manhattan to purchase some wood for the back of an antique corner cabinet.  Since owning this piece, it has not had a back.  WE went to Home Depot because they will professionally cut wood to fit the dimensions you want, but it means the bead board will have to be painted because all they had were white boards.  With the outside of the piece being a darker tone, I wanted the inside of the cabinet to be on the darker side.

Also went to MENARDS to purchase a few more storage tubs that are of a size and style needed. While we were there, I picked up some sweets for the evening as it was New Year's EVE.  We had a quiet evening eating a meal of Black-Eyed Peas and corn bread.  Black eyed peas symbolize having GOOD LUCK for the coming year and the corn bread GOLD.  Some eat them on NEW YEAR's DAY.  

Some say the tradition of eating black-eyed peas dates back to the Civil War. Northern troops considered the peas to be suitable only for animals, so they were one of the few edible things left behind by raiding soldiers. The black-eyed peas that were “lucky” enough to be left behind would make their way to Southern tables, especially the tables of Southern slaves who celebrated emancipation as ordered by President Abraham Lincoln on New Year’s Day, January 1, 1863. After the war, peas were always eaten on the first day of January.

Today, the tradition of eating black-eyed peas for the New Year has evolved, as many traditions do, into a number of variations – but most hold the theme of luck and prosperity that harkens back to the Civil War days when people felt lucky to have black-eyed peas to eat and help them survive the cold, harsh winter months. Some of these variations include:

• Serving your black-eyed peas with greens (collards, mustard, or turnip), the peas represent coins and the greens represent paper money.
• Cornbread, often served with black-eyed peas and greens, represents gold.
• For the BEST chance of luck every day in the year ahead, one must eat exactly 365 black-eyed peas, no more or less.
• Black-eyed peas eaten with stewed tomatoes represent wealth and health.
• In some areas, actual values are assigned with the black-eyed peas representing pennies or up to a dollar each and the greens representing anywhere from one to a thousand dollars.
• Adding a shiny penny or dime to the pot just before serving is another tradition practiced by some. When served, the person whose bowl contains the penny or dime receives the best luck for the New Year (unless they swallow the coin!!).

If you have trouble remembering those variations, just think of this old Southern saying, “Peas for pennies, green for dollars, and cornbread for gold”.

Since peas were not on my 2024 menu just yet, we ate them on the EVE.  Also chocolate covered raisins, M 'n M's, pop corn, etc. isn't on the menu in 2024.  I pigged out to say it politely allowing myself some sweets for the evening.  Detoxing will come in the morning and it did.  I did well staying on track on the new year's day menu. 

The evening was spent watching a movie I have been waiting to see, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON. 

I'll watch it again.  3 hours and 26 minutes.  For being a lengthy movie, it didn't seem like it as it kept my attention with the time passing quickly.  A very layer story of Oklahoman events.  

Having lived in the Tulsa area, Oklahoma Western interests me.  Before moving there, I had not heard of the TULSA RACE RIOTS.  After I heard about it, the news stunned me as I hadn't lived very far from the area where this horrid event took place.  Reading happened.  Same with the Osage Indian MURDERS.  Time has a way of covering up horrible events with newer generations not knowing about it.  However, the older I get, I understand how the fallen nature of people repeats itself and has not gone away as people are born with it.  

While watching the film, I couldn't help but be sad for Mollie losing her family as they were killed.  I figured out that William Hale was behind this disgrace.  How he pretended to be these people's friend then killing them meant nothing to him as he was after all their money.

He is portrayed as a FREEMASON.  From studying about their practices, the brothers turn a blind eye to wrong doing when one of them commits a crime.  Ever heard of someone getting away with murder?  They did.  William would speak of God and the good book to others promoting Christianity, but behind the scenes he was a MONSTER.  Not unlike many evil and wicked people behave. 

TV Chef and COOK BOOK AUTHOR Ree Drummond's family has ties to the ground that William Hale owned.  DRUMMONDS purchased the land while Hale was in prison.  Because the Indians were viewed by our government as incompetent to handling their money, they were given wealthy, white guardians to oversee their head rights.  The Drummonds were guardians to some of the Osage people which were known to be the wealthiest race of the area.  William Hale, the ring leader of the REIGN OF TERROR and his accomplice nephew, Ernest were both sentenced to prison time, but later paroled.  Ernest was pardoned by Oklahoma Governor, Henry Bellmon.  Osage Indians serious protested the pardons.  Convicted murderers pardoned.  humph.  Convicted murderers. Convicted.  SOUNDS DIRTY TO ME.

Justice wasn't served.  There are connections between the Drummonds and Hale ground.  How did HALE acquire the land?  Read up and find out?

My dear Dad told me years ago, that I should know how people get their wealth.  He knew full well the ugly deeds some do to achieve power to get their way.  

Still working at going through boxes, tidying the Kitchen, doing laundry.  Off to TOP CITY I go.  I ate my organic saltine crackers with mustard as a hunger saver.  Think today I will have a salad for lunch.  Needs some greens.

God bless us one and all that are working at getting healthier.  I desire to be healthier and that means being PROACTIVE in seeing this come to fruition.

BLESSINGS TO YOU,

💚d

THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE.  A peaceful Christmas with family.  Now the few days between CHRISTMAS and the New Year's shall be slow paced. Restful.  I will deliberately take time off resting to sit this week.  Let the world pass me on by.  

How will we celebrate the NEW YEAR's?  Perhaps quietly.  

I know I need to work on laundry and have a day doing paperwork.  I'd like to have the paperwork caught up before the New Year begins.  Same with laundry.  Scheduling this in.

Tuesday morning alarm was set, but I woke beforehand and didn't need the alarm after all. Quiet time happened when I sat in my chair.  With a doctor's appointment in the afternoon, I knew if I got around early in the morning I could go check out some AFTER CHRISTMAS SPECIALS.  

Work in a MJs almond milk steamer.  Over to Manhattan to HOBBY LOBBY and TARGET. Lunch at Panera Bread and off to medical appointment.

Doc will switch blood pressure meds to see if the persistent coughing stops.  I wasn't prepared to talk about going off Lisinopril/HCTZ switching to LOSARTAN, but when he mentioned changing to a different med, I told him I had planned on visiting with him about the HCTZ at my yearly physical.  I had read about HCTZ causing skin cancer and I have a pre-cancerous place by my eye that is being watched.

He said he hadn't heard about this medicine causing skin cancer then asked if I had read it from a reputable sight?  I hadn't gone to the appointment prepared to talk about the details so I wasn't much help there.  I will print off info and mail it to him about Hydrochlorothiazide being linked to skin cancer.  My frustrations come from knowing this medicine is linked to skin cancer and I'm taking it.  My mom has had skin cancer.  He said he has used this medicine for a long time without issue.  My thoughts are it won't be you getting skin cancer when I get it.  It will be me dealing with it.

We'll see how the new meds do and go from there.  I'd like to get off of these particular meds as they are known to raise blood sugar levels as well.  After getting the info pamphlet that comes with medicines, it does mention that HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE can cause skin cancer.  The new medicine of LOSARTAN with HZTC will still cause skin cancer and raise blood sugar.  What else could I take?  

I will read the entire print out I get with new meds and decide the next step.

After the appointment, we went to Marshalls to get some more faux snowballs.  Home Depot I purchased next year's Christmas Ornaments for my Grandchildren.  Happy about this.  BUT MY SPLURGE FOR THE DAY WAS THE WHITE POLAR BEAR THAT I BOUGHT FROM HOB LOB.  I eyeballed these last year and took the plunge with 66% off prices.  The 66% looks impressive, but I really know that with  c o v i d  inflation the 66% off is more like 35% off from a few years ago.

Then to the grocery store to purchase some rhubarb which is next to impossible to find this time of year unless frozen or canned.  I was so tired that I wanted to go home, but we'd go to another grocery store, the Pharmacy, a Dollar General and the POST OFFICE before going HOME. Unloaded, rested, took a nap and ate supper.  I tried to work in the Kitchen only to get frustrated that this new arrangement AINT WORKING.

Will rest tonight and continue on with REARRANGING THE PANTRY in the morning.  I've got to get some results soon so I don't come unraveled.  

STAYING HOME IS A MUST.  Gotta.

~d 

WANTING TO STAY HOME AND THAT'S ALL FOLKS

SOMETIMES I JUST WANT TO STAY AT HOME and let the world pass me by. This was one of those days, but my Hunny needed assistance with picking up the car from the mechanics.  We had a short drive over to the community we use to live in.  The car was waiting for us to pick it up.

A HEFTY BILL was attached to the work they did.  Over $4200.oo.  I am numb about the bill. The highest repair bill ever.  I don't want to think about it.  It was paid and Hubby drove the car off the lot.  

He wanted to go to our old neighbors to give them some steaks as a THANK YOU for all they had done to help us while we lived across the street from them.  After I dropped him off at the mechanics I drove to the Hardware Store to purchase some glass top stove cleaner.

I didn't want to go to the old neighborhood as I do not want to see the house we lived in for at least a year.  Just one of those things.  Hubby and I met up at the Library and I left the little car there as I joined Hubby in the bigger car.  We needed to run some errands and of course I got some green tea.  Back to get the other car and drive HOME for the evening.

HEAVY TRAFFIC as we drove the highway.  The traffic has doubled since we moved to the area in 1999, but then again that's been over 24 years ago and I can hardly believe it's been so many years.  

We arrived HOME safe and sound.  

Starting the day by finishing wrapping my Mom's Christmas present to mail, I realized that I needed to fix White Chocolate Covered Pretzel Sticks to mail to my St. Louis son.  The pretzels actually turned out well. I also needed to bag peanut brittle and pecan turtles as well plus write out his Christmas card.  Hubby was so good to run these packages to the Post Office for me as I needed to get dressed for the day so we could get the car.  It was a relief to get the packages in the mail.

CHRISTMAS IS FAST APPROACHING and I need to get all the gifts in the mail so they will arrive in time for CHRISTMAS.  Can I do it?  Sure going to try.  

It was nice to get out of the house.  We finished our errands and returned HOME to eat left over Cheesy Broccoli Soup and watch a Christmas movie.  THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS was our pick and we enjoyed it. 

 

We did a double feature.  

I loved playing with Barbie and Midge when I was a child and I still have my dolls.  Sister got a Skipper doll and I a Scooter.  I guess I was too tired to fully appreciate the Barbie movie.  Some of the scenes were funny to me, but towards the end of the movie, I was glad it was over.  

Looking forward to tomorrow as I will work on the CHRISTMAS CARDS and the KITCHEN.  As I see progress, it lightens the burden I have about unpacking before the month of December comes to an end.

My Mom's dishes will be repacked and placed in storage for now.  I have some work to do on what I store in the cabinets.  I asked my Husband how hard would it be to move the cabinet to the right of the sink?  He'll take a look at it.  

The cabinet is too close to the edge of the window to where I cannot hang rods for a curtain above the sink.  I hope he can move the cabinets slightly over so a curtain rod will fit.

Praying for a neater KITCHEN by the end of the week.  When I think about it, I pray for those that come to mind.  SO many are hurting for one reason or another.  

Looking at the 2024 calendar, I see that it will be a LEAP YEAR.  I'd like to do something special about this day.

I will plan on staying HOME and working.  The temps are suppose to be in the upper 60s on Wednesday so I have plans of going through boxes in the Garage before the freezing weather returns.  We need to take the air conditioning window unit out of the Dining room window while the weather is nice.

Praying,

~d  

RED DOOR AND SIN

ADVENTURES IN PRAIRIE LIVING doesn't stop because we are old.  Each day is different.  Prayers go up and adventures continue.  After the CHRISTMAS boxes disappeared from the Living room floor, I vacuumed the filthy carpet.  Eventually the carpet will be pulled up and the wood floor underneath exposed.  Then we will decide if we carpet with new carpet or do something different with the hardwood floor that has to be about 123 years old.

At the present, we are working at making some order from this move.  After I empty a box, I let out a hoot.  Whahoo...another box emptied.  Next.

We shopped today and when I returned HOME, I took one of those much wanted NAPS.  When I woke, I felt so refreshed that I emptied a large box that was in the Bathroom full of shampoos. More shampoos.  I have a hoarding problem when it comes to shampoos.  I will have to work on mastering this issue.  Shampoos, purses, lipsticks and nail polishes are on the naughty list as I seem to go overboard on these.  

CHRISTMAS is in about a week, so I must get the gift boxes in the mail on Monday.  Gotta make this happen.  I am stunned that once again I am not running as fast as I wanted.  

With needing to drop the Utility payment off at the City Building across the river, we drove through the old community where we lived.  We're expecting one more bill next month and that should end the relationship we have with where we lived.  The final bill.  

We drove on over to MJs in ST. MARYS for our Almond Milk Steamers and biscuits with gravy. We sat in the car and ate the biscuits then drove to TOPEKA.  We managed to go get that much coveted PEANUT BRITTLE from SAMS in TOPEKA.  They had plenty stacked for all to buy it. The store was buzzing with peeps.  So busy that finding a parking space was a challenged.  We had to park way out with a long walk to the front door. Commenting that it is good for us to walk getting our exercise.  

WHILE INSIDE, I couldn't help myself, I sprayed some RED DOOR PERFUME on me.  I have some of this at HOME, but thought I would simply spritz myself with their sample bottle. This fragrance agrees with me.  I smelled wonderful, if I do say so myself.

Returning the too small house slippers for my Husband, we shopped some in SAMS.  We were going to exchange these for a larger size that would fit, but changed our minds when Hubby found a cardboard box the night before labeled boots, shoes and house slippers in the bathroom. He tried the three pairs of house slippers on and all fit well.  The new slippers I bought a week or so ago were not tried on until we were home and were too small.  As luck would have it, he found his old slippers!  That was a blessing on the pocket book.  He was missing his slippers and I didn't have a clue where they were.  Mystery solved.  Going through so many boxes is like CHRISTMAS.  Surprise...you have this.

WE WENT TO NATURAL GROCERS for a few supplies.  I realize as I type that I didn't look for white vinegar in a glass container at all.  That was one of the things I wanted to get.  grins.  I'll have to try again.  My brain sometimes has senior moments.  I did get Rosewater, Witch Hazel, some vegetables, taco shells, some seasonings and some SIN from the cosmetics section of this nice store.  SIN is the name of a lipstick color that caught my fancy.  It has a shine to it.  A nice addition to my collection that I carry in my handbag.  SO I bought some SIN.  

What a wonderful shopping gig, Red Door and SIN.

SUPPER WAS ORGANIC TACOS.  Hubby fixed them.  We had gone to NATURAL GROCERS for a few things and he wanted to fix tacos for supper which was fine with me.  He selected a organic shell and they are  c r U n c h y  good.  NATURAL GROCERS brand shell.  Sodium free.  These are THE BEST TACO SHELLS I HAVE EVER EATEN.  He has mastered his tacos!  He loves to cook and I let him.  

I have put this off, but after the New Year begins, I will go to the doctors and request that he find out what the cause for a cough I still have.  Last April/May I was told I had staph infection.  Did a round of antibiotics, but the cough has lingered.  It had improved, but I think I have gone long enough not knowing.  Before I had the July hysterectomy, I returned to my doctor and he just listened to my lungs.  No X-rays or other tests.  The cough has lingered.  Is it asthma, long covid, allergies, cancer, staph infection still hanging on?  At the luncheon I attended last Thursday, one of my friends mentioned a sister.in.law of hers has a nodule in her lung that has not gone away and she was told it was long covid.  I hadn't't heard of such a thing before.  My Mom was told she has a nodule in her lung.  SO when I visited with her last time, I told her about my friend's sister.in.law's situation.

I believe I will return and ask more questions with an iron fist.  I am too timid at times when it comes to doctors.  DOn't rock the boat, but sometimes the boat sinks and it's a sink or swim mentality that takes hold.  

I have a special mailing box for my mom's Christmas just about ready to go.  I need to locate another one for my St. Louis son.  With all the boxes lying around, it shouldn't be hard to find one somewhere that will work.  I'll get these ready to go and be the better for it.  Off they will go early Monday morning with the start of another work week.

I did fail to get my Christmas letter and cards done this week-end.  I may be doing a late night to get these finished.  

Let the CHRISTMAS season continue.  
It will be the most wonderful time of the year.

~d