SUGAR-FIX

KNOWING THAT WE'D BE CELEBRATING MY GRANDSON'S 4th BIRTHDAY, I allowed myself some sweets.  SWEETS were Chocolate ice-cream and chocolate cake!  Man o' man was it ever good.  

Didn't go over board on the sweets, but sure enjoyed it to the fullest.  I had my SUGAR-FIX and now I will return to my salads.  I'd rather eat cake.🎂

He turned 4.  I asked him his age and he politely said, three.  It'll be a day or two before it soaks in that he is four now.  He had a ball celebrating.  I think there were 23 peeps altogether.  We ate supper, then birthday cake with ice-cream and opened his presents.  He was so excited.  He would say, "I'll keep this one".

He'll have hours of entertainment with his gifts.  Wonderful to see his expressions in person.

               
                         Happy Birthday, Bug.

WONDERFUL TO BE WITH FAMILY.

🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂

WONDERFUL TO BE WITH FRIENDS.

On Thursday, I met up with my singer friends and we laughed as we were trying to have pictures taken.  As we scrunched up so we all fit in the pic, one of the women's glass of water was knocked over allowing the water and ice cubes to flood across the table, rolling onto our laps and onto the floor.

We've been at this restaurant before where a birthday balloon escaped upwards getting tangled into the ceiling fan's blades and mechanics of the motor causing issues.  The ribbon on the balloon got so tangled that the fan was turned off and the manager had to take a ladder to reach the disaster freeing the balloon.  We were banned from bringing helium balloons into the restaurant again.

There may be some trouble banning us from drinking water with our meals.

When a new glass of water was given to the one who spilled the water, the cup had a lid on it.  grins.

Tis ThE weeK-END.

Back to decluttering our COTTAGE.  I have got to get lots done on this. Here we are again at the week-end.  How quickly the week goes.  THE MESS just seems to go on and on which drains energy.  This stuff breeds and that's not good.

Each day has a different challenge to it and sometimes this is heavenly. Sometimes not so much, but rather stuck in the clouds unable to float. Free falling.  

OH HAPPY DAY WHEN THIS shuffling and decluttering IS FINALLY DONE.  May this be a productive day for me.  Pretty sure I cannot get everything done today, but will see how far I get.  

1.  Dolls gathered on the sofa and boxed.
2.  Dishes unloaded from Grandma's Hutch and boxed.
3.  China Cabinet dishes relocated.
4.  Antique covered Casserole dishes displayed inside Mom's China Cabinet.

Can I get 'er done?

~d

SOUNDS OF SUMMER

THOUGH IT ISN'T SUMMER YET...it feels like it is and once you walk into the COTTAGE where the new floor fan is humming and two ceiling fans twirling, it sounds like days of old for me.  No central air running, just fans.  The plaster walls in the COTTAGE help keep the cool inside at the moment.    

Thursday, I went to LUNCH with my buds and ate a chicken wrap with chips.  Water with lemon. It's been half a year since we got together.  Time flies.

Wonderful conversation with friends.  It doesn't matter how long between our visits, we pick up where we left off.  Very special friendships.  Our voices made sounds of the seasons of our lives. Each one of us has gone through a thing or two.

I've had cataract surgeries with a Hubby that has a hurt foot and laser surgeries for PVDs.  One had knee replacement, has lost weight and talks of having dementia.  Another's Husband has had hip replacement and open heart surgery.  One more has been having physical therapy for injured feet from a dog accident.  Each of us has been through something substantial.  

Gal Pals!  Thankful I have a few.

AFTERWARDS, I went HOME and took a NAP.  That's 3 this week.  I found out my TSH numbers are too high meaning I'm very hypothyroid which means I have a very SLOW metabolism.  I should be a 2, but am a 7.8.  

I should know by now that being overly tired, gaining weight, having the sweats, too much hair loss, sleep disturbances and irritated are a tell-tale sign of Thyroid issues.  Now to change the dose of thyroid meds and get checked in 6 weeks.  

I wonder if being very hypothyroidism contributes to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, edema?  YES.  Mystery solved.  Does someone that does not have a thyroid need iodine as well? Yes, I think so.  

My thyroid journey has been frustrating.  My numbers have not stabilized in the 14 years I have been at this.  Fickle.  Knowing this I believe I should check the numbers quite often and forget about only checking them once a year as the thyroid doc does.  SO I will do so.

Keeping paper copies of the blood work for my personal records is a must.  Tis best to be ones own health advocate.  I will fill the shoes.

As I type this post, the sounds of summer are out my front door and through the window.  Some type of cricket or circadian is making noise that cannot be ignored.  Summer is on her way.  I will return to walking at the football field in the mornings and drinking Eternal Water, take my vitamin supplements and eat a reduced calorie diet.  Exercising is next.  Keeping a tidy HOME a must.  I am free to enjoy LIFE and do HOBBIES and relax in the LORD.  AMEN.  I am free.

~d 

  

LUNCH WITH THE GIRLS

I'VE KNOWN THESE LADIES for about 15 years as we use to sing together at Nursing Homes, rehearse together and of course always chat together.  Each of us has full lives sharing the details with one another.

LAST MONTH we celebrated the 75th birthday of one of us and had so much fun we celebrated another's 67th birthday today plus exchanged Christmas presents.

I wore my red velour blouse.  It still is in very good shape and one I have kept for Christmas attire.  I wore this exact blouse last year to our December get together.  grins.  I am getting old and so are my clothing.  

ONE OF THE MAIN TOPICS OF CONVERSATION was about health issues and getting forgetful. It makes me wonder what is going on to where we are all getting so forgetful.  Not all of the original singing group was present, but our ages vary from 75, 68, 67, 65, 43 and our mascot 16.  

The stories we can tell would make an interesting book?  Everything from religion to babies is talked about with the conversations flowing freely.  We take turns talking then each of us chimes in.  Like a river, the words flow.  Questions are asked and comments made.  The sharing of our details is where we bond in a common comfort zone.  

LUNCH.  I ate a COBB SALAD for lunch and drank water.  Chips and Guacamole Dip were complementary.  We chatted for 5 hours in the restaurant.  11 to 4.  When I went to the car to leave, my Hubby was waiting inside of it.  I had dropped him off at the mechanics to pick up our car before I went to eat with the girls and when he got to the mechanics he was told more work needed to be completed on the car.  So when I thought he had already driven HOME while I had lunch with the girls, he actually was wondering the streets of the town.

My heart sank a tad as there will be more expenses on our car.  Over $3000.oo worth already. We thought we would get the car fixed and drive it until it craters allowing us time to save money for purchasing a different, newer car.  SO we bit the bullet with having it repaired, but if this continues to cost more money, the cash used should have gone into a newer car?  I hope we have not made a huge mistake spending so much on such an old car in the first place, but the Cadillac has so many nice features.  

Things are expensive these days, it makes me cringe.

LUNCH with the girls was wonderful and I hope we are allowed to have many more times to get together.  Nowadays, we meet about 3 to 4 times a year to play catch up taking up where we left off.  OUR special fellowship and bond is something money cannot buy. 

THIS DECEMBER we gathered and had our CHRISTMAS as friends.  One's son.in.law had back surgery just that morning.  Another's husband is waiting to have hip replacement and a Grandson was married.  One is noticing serious memory loss.  I am going through moving.  If we are so fortunate to meet again, it will be altogether different as our stories change each time like the weather.

CHRISTMAS is coming.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.  We have common ground with one another through HIM.

AS I SAID MERRY CHRISTMAS TO MY FRIENDS,   

I wish you one as well.  

Merry Christmas!

~d  

   

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT'S FRIDAY?

Today I will try to pace myself.  A recovery day is needed.  Typed this Thursday night. I am tired with achy feet and droopy eyes.  Rethinking what I did today and I nodded off into a deep sleep.  Woke back up late.  Time for bed.

Thought about my day.  I woke Thursday morning knowing I had a busy day planned ahead of me.  Sipped on a KALE and BANANA YOGURT SMOOTHIE for breakfast.  Healthy for me leaving pieces of kale stuck to my teeth.  grins.  NOTE TO SELF:  Be sure to glance in the mirror and smile checking for food particles between teeth before going out in public.  Wearing a face mask makes this more forgiving.  

I deliberately went to the THRIFT SHOP early so I could be first in line to shop.  I did it and picked some items out of their front window to buy.  Checked out and headed HOME.  Did some paperwork.  Freshened up and out the door again.  

Drove over to small town America to pay a utility bill.  Waited for my Husband to finish mailing some important papers at the Post Office.  He took so long that I drove around the block seeing that a Bank had tulips on a bench to raise funds for a local community ministry.  I donated $5 and picked out a bag full of tulip bulbs.  Not knowing what color they are, when they bloom it will be a surprise.  Now to figure where to go with them in the yard.  We are making plans toward Retirement Cottage landscaping.

The yard is small so it will be pleasant to have some flowers running along the backyard fence that isn't there yet.  After I got back in the car, I could see my Hubby down the street standing outside waiting for me.  It took awhile to fill out the paperwork in order to mail the papers.  Off we needed to go as the clock was ticking.     

Traveling across the scenic byways through the beautiful green Flint Hills to Manhattan,  we went straight to Starbucks for my iced green tea and a slice of banana nut bread for lunch. Knowing the bread was high in calories and carbs I skipped having a Bistro Box.  I have lowered my carb intake while doing LIFE.  This was a splurge for sure.  I will have to make up the vegetables at supper time.

I'm keeping track of what I eat on MY FITNESS PAL.  I have to do better with the carbs.  Now I do know that bread is high in carbs so it's no surprise.

Just in time for Physical Therapy and a bathroom stop.  Laying on my back with knees bent I did my stomach exercises, then leg and hip moves also the bridge which is difficult for me.  Added to my therapy was the weight machine for arm punches then over to the traction table.  Session over.  It was raining as I walked to the car where my Husband sat waiting for me.

Needed some food items for the week and wanted to check out their vitamins at Dillons Grocery Store.  They had Dr. Mercola's Liposomal Vitamin C in brown glass bottles.  Dr. Mercola has made it to Kansas.  I was surprised to see some of his vitamins there.  Put a bottle in the shopping cart.  It was there that I saw one of my dear friends looking at vitamins.  SUSIE.  It's been a couple of years since I have seen her.  We chatted.  Played catch up.  She has a 50 year old daughter getting married next week and three great grand babies on the way.  

We talked about health issues right there in the vitamin aisle.  Both of us have challenges.  

One of our friends had remarried after her husband died.  I was so happy to hear this.  We are getting up there in age.  Susie will turn 75 in August.  Gloria is 85 but you wouldn't know it.  Her husband is on dialysis.  Another friend has moved to Wichita.  We all belonged to Christian Women's Club.  Many have died and gone to glory.  

Susie said she is going to host a get together this summer and I am invited.  I can't wait.  Time gets away so quickly.

Off to Menards for grass seed.  Aldi for hormone free milk.  I call it milking the cow.  Ready to drive the Flint Hills again back to small town America to drop some things off to my Daughter and check on the cottage.

Dollar General had a kettle ball weight and a dog lease so I can do this specific walk to strengthen my back while wearing the kettle bell.  This should be interesting.

Between physical therapy, driving the car so much, I was tired.  

The tireds hit hard so we ate at the Mexican Restaurant in town.  I had shredded chicken and vegetable soup.  The soup has carrots  broccoli, cauliflower, avocado and rice.  After hearing what I did about rice having arsenic in it, I wondered if this rice had arsenic in it.  The chicken broth was really good.  As I couldn't eat it all, I had to get a to-go container.  

We drove HOME and I flopped into my recliner as my body was sore and I was really tired.  Snoozed.  Continued to clean off a bottom shelf on the pantry that I will add tomato products on.  Chickpeas, olives, black beans and kidney beans will fill a shelf.  Trying to get some of our salad items all grouped together for easy access.  I organized the fridge and it is taking shape.  Now to get the pantry organized. 

Today, I will launder some special clothing.  Vacuum the area rugs, write down which irises in the yard need tagged then mark the tags and place by the irises.  I ran out of dish detergent and will need to get some along with some free range eggs.

Will have a protein drink for breakfast, turkey burgers with veggies for lunch and supper...skipping the pizza.  Maybe chicken and more veggies.  I should snack on apple.  Hope I can get the carbs down.

Heading toward the week-end.  What ever will I do?  My head swirls with things I'd like to get accomplished.

The fridge is acting up this morning.  A different fridge may be in the works this week-end.  Ahh shucks.  

Peace and Joy to you.

Blessings,

👵d