SHUFFLING ALONG

Antique Victorian Dresser with Mirror

SUCCESS!  Hunny and I did it.  Two large pieces of furniture have been shuffled into new locations in our small COTTAGE.  There was huffing and puffing a plenty, but overall we managed pretty well for two peeps in their 70s.  I look at this as exercise for the day.  There was weight lifting for sure.   

The High Boy is sitting in the Tv room polished.  After three years in storage, this piece is finally in our HOME.  It took us three trips to the storage unit to get all the pieces of the furniture. That's 3 hours of traveling altogether and about 15 minutes to load up the pieces and 30 minutes to unload plus a whole lot of effort to shuffle the pieces into place.  Each trip was in the heat of Summer.  

Hubs said he'll fill the drawers with his art supplies on Tuesday and I can fill the antique Victorian Dresser drawers full of our family pics as well.  What a thrill it is to be as far along as we are.  For an old woman struggling to get settled in this tiny COTTAGE, we've made progress.

Our High Boy that's been in storage for three years is HOME.

I feel like we really made a dent in our downsizing and organizing. Even with so much more to do, my attitude is better.  Feeling happier as an individual about being here in this location.  I have been overwhelmed at times when thinking about what all needs to be done to bring us up to speed on the property.

Storage is at a premium.  We have made serious progress which puts a smile on my face.  So pleased this got done.  Sooooo pleased.

After the Victorian Dresser with a Mirror was slid into place, the old lamp was placed on the marble top becoming a mood lamp with a flicker bulb.  Love it.  It looks so nice to me.  I stepped back in time for a moment and I know my blood pressure lowered. 

I'll polish up the piece later.  Better to wait until I am more energized.

~d

BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY! Amen.

HOW'S OUR DAY GOING TO GO???  NOT TO MENTION THE WEEK.  Wanting a good one with some rest as well as productivity to take place.  Looked over our calendar to refresh my mind about appointments and activities.  The week looks good.  Not over committed. A slower paced week with results anywho.   

Visited with HUBBY to synchronize our week and remembered that we need to get some new tires for our lil cruiser.  Her tires are balding.  Having tires in this condition can get dangerous if the roads are wet and braking takes place.  You might hydroplane in the car.  I don't care to go flying losing control while going across the Flint Hills.  

Better to be safe than sorry.

🩹🤕 TV.  What is it about entertainment these days?  Perhaps I am resisting doing other productive things rather than watching a television series.  There's that 'F' word holding hands with more foul language.  It has gotten easier for me to turn the channel when the 'F'  b o m b goes off.  Sad state of affairs when the script has this word used over and over.  Kate Hudson is the executive producer of a series about a basketball team, THE WAVES.  Right off the bat, there's the foul language.  What a waste of a good story line.  When I let the filth into my HOME through the TV then it's my fault that I did not filter out the junk.

I have say-so over what I 👀 watch.  Boredom, laziness and/or exhaustion contributes to watching way too much TV.  I've got my  number.

HEALTH WISE.  Walking to resume in the morning.  More steamed veggies in a day and salad greens included in the menus.  Water intake.  Some special teas to drink plus vitamin/minerals supplements.  Spending time praying.  I'll weigh myself in the mornings and exercise with light weights.  Sounds like a program.

CHORES.  
THE FRIDGE. 1)The fridge's interior shelves were cleaned.  Items organized and accounted for.  

2) Next the door's smaller shelves will be cleaned and the door items tended to.
3) The freezer needs tweaked so I know what I have on hand.

FOOD.  🦃 The big, beautiful frozen turkey that I have in the utility room freezer needs to be thawed and baked. THEN we'd have an abundance of turkey for a week or so until we got sick of it.  How can anybody get sick of baked turkey? "Not I," said the frugal homemaker.  God bless us one and all. 🦃

FURNITURE.  The 4 wooden dining room chairs will be dry and ready to sit on this week after their overdosing treatment with the furniture polish session.  

I'd like to strip the table.  I'll need to put this on a TO-DO-LIST.  First the front bedroom needs cleared out.  I'm doing this on my own for the time being so it is VERY, VERY SLOW.

WEEK-END WRAP.  We made a split decision to make a quick trip to MANHATTAN for a sledge hammer which Husband needed for building special braces for the front porch to support the roof while rebuilding the porch.  Off we went like a bolt of lightning.  Sometimes I get around rather quickly and today I did.  Just like that I was in the car.  

I drove while admiring the beautiful countryside.  Iced Tea, Lunch, Menards, Target and Hy-Vee. Back HOME we went.  Unloaded our spoils and I went for my chair to put my feet up and eat a bowl of Special-K cereal for a light supper.  Popcorn to follow.  Watched a movie and called it a night.

Here comes MONDAY.

Better safe than sorry,

~d

 

THE BRUSSELS SPROUTS HAD GONE BAD and SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE ABOUT

STILL OILING THE WOODEN DINING ROOM CHAIRS.  The work isn't going as fast as I predicted, but that's alright.  I'm about 2/3rds of the way done on the third chair.

They are looking healthier... if a chair can look healthy!  Okay.  First I spray the chair with a cleaner then polish it and wait a couple of hours before pouring Old English on the seat where I take a cloth to smear the oil all about on the entire chair.  It actually goes pretty fast once I start.

The wooden chair soaks the oil up so a second coat goes on later in the day.  The chair is allowed to dry over night before placing it on the floor and starting with the next chair.  I had thought I'd be done Saturday, but it looks like it will be more like Monday before all 4 chairs are finished. Not a bad thing just slower than intended.

I am pleased with their finished look.  OH SO NICE.

We purchased the chairs about a year ago at PAXICO where I have no idea where they came from, but the wood was parched.  SHAME ON ME for not giving them a drink of oil sooner, but that's the way it's been around here.  I am incredibly slow at getting things done.  I get them done, but it takes so much longer than it should.  poo.

Okay...it has lifted my spirits that I am almost finished with this little task.  The chairs will look so much better come Monday.  Me thinks.

The deep cleaning continues.

Hubby is working on the cabinet door fronts and is making progress.  It'll be next week before the painting is finished on them.  They'll be installed and hardware placed on them.  Something to celebrate about when the Bathroom is finished.  He has had to seal each door front and back twice then prime the doors before painting them a light grey to match the bathroom vanity.  The painting will begin this week Lord willing.

When the Bathroom is done, then the porch will have to be worked on or it'll collapse.  When the porch is done, then that's praise worthy and I will really CELEBRATE!  I wish it were already done.  Along awaited thought.    

🧊Finally got around to giving the fridge some attention.  Something was stinking inside and each time the door was opened the smell invaded the room.  The Brussels sprouts had gone bad.  The interior of the fridge was thoroughly cleaned.  Gorgeous.  She's sparkling now and newly arranged.  Something about having a really clean and organized fridge turns my crank. Opening the door now shows off a clean, organized interior with no odor.  Whoop whoop.  She should stay clean for a while.  So be it.      

I have been battling fatigue so badly the last two weeks it makes me wonder if I have a virus or something.  I know I am extremely deficient with some vitamins, but it seems like it's been more difficult to operate.  It's awful to be so fatigued.  AWFUL.  Debilitating.  Praying for better health. Amen.

OUTSIDE TEMPS have been hellish.  Cooler morning temps are on their way the week to come. This will be welcomed.  Staying out of the HEAT as I am not able to handle the hot temps.  In the morning I'll need to give my outside plants a good drink to keep them alive.  The large geraniums are blooming like never than before.  They're lovely.

Plans for the week?  Nothing exciting, but things need to get done.  
Hoping to get back to walking at least a mile in the mornings each day.  
A load of laundry each day.  
Spend some time each day in the front BEDROOM figuring out what to do with the contents.  
Research current events, medical issues and pray.  
Thoughts swirling in my head.  
Same 'ole same 'ole.  
4 o'clock AFTERNOON TEA each day. 🫖 cheer-ree-o pinky up. 
Goal accomplished.  

~d 

GOING SLEEVELESS EXERCISES, FOOD PROGRAM and TAKING INTEREST IN FURNITURE

I'D LIKE TO GO SLEEVELESS!
~d

THIS MORNING I WOKE BEFORE THE ALARM WENT OFF.  Thinking about heading to the football field and getting two miles in early.  Shall I do this?  Think so. After I walk, I get a surge of satisfaction that I actually did it.  I know there have been a number of times that after I headed out the front door to walk the neighborhood, I'd hear myself say, "Well, you're doing it!  You're actually out walking!!!"

A beautiful day for a walk and to begin the arm exercises with light hand weights.  I know I am well able to do these four arm exercises without too much trouble.  I sorely need some improvement in my arm's toning.  I never dreamt that I'd be so out of shape in my life, but here I am at 70 shaking my head that I allowed my body to disintegrate so badly.  It's a sad story. Cheer up and move on, Child.

There goes the alarm.  I have already groomed myself for the day and taken the dining room chair down off the table replacing it with another chair.  Yesterday, I cleaned one chair then OLD ENGLISH oiled it until the wood was soaked with oil.  The chair dried through the night and looks beautiful.  Almost like new.  Each day I'll do the same to the next chair.  I've only got 4 chairs so I should be done by Saturday.

As I cleaned the chair on top of the table, there is no denying that the table it's sitting on needs stripped and refinished.  The sealer that HUBBY painted the table with years ago is in such bad repair.  This old table has been around.  We purchased it from my Mom so many years ago that I cannot remember when we got it.  The table is originally from the late 1880s or early 1900s.  An old, round oak table with a large base to it that my brother David played under using the bottom of the table as a space ship.  He'd stuck paper controls to the bottom of the table when he was a little boy and would sit under the table playing that he was a pilot.  Creative.

I'd like to strip the oak colored table and stain it a darker shade like the other pieces we have. We have a china cabinet, a side board, a victorian desk and a corner cabinet in the dining room that are this darker color.  I'd like to stain the table to match.  I can see this project finished in my head.  Maybe by 2026, she'll be finished. That's a generous amount of time.  The sealer that is on it now is partially peeled away.  The old gal looks rather shabby and this is one piece of furniture that I don't want to look shabby anymore.  So, this means I have to do something about it.  

Just like my body, I have to do something about it.  Off I go to the track to walk in the cool of the day.  I need to walk 2 miles this time and enjoy the scenery as I walk in circles.  The countryside at the field is breathtakingly beautiful to look at as I walk.  The countryside is so beautiful with the greenery and gentle rolling hills in the background.

Off I go checking the temperatures at 66 degrees with humidity at 96% with the wind 1 mph. Fantastic walking weather for an old lady like me.  Now to get out the door and do this thing.

UPDATE:  I walked my 8 laps around the track cheering myself on for the last 3 laps.  I was HOT and sweaty.

I talk to myself as I go.  It helps.  By the time I got to my car, I was slightly wobbly and I was so ready to sit and drink some spring water.  It took every bit of 50 minutes to walk the course in constant motion.  This is a miracle and a half that I am doing this without passing out or stopping.  

I turned the air conditioning on to blow cool air onto my hot face.  It felt super.  Ahhhhh and off I drove the car making my way HOME.  Hubby greeted me at the door with a tall glass of ice water.  Sweet of him.  

Today looks like a day at HOME.  Throughout the day, the dining room chair will be cleaned and oiled.  By bedtime it should be ready to dry and take on a healthy glow.  Some laundry should be done.  A nap will be in order for recovery.  A couple of plants need repotted.  What else? Studying and reading.  It's all good.  A vegetable salad with chickpeas and black beans for SUPPER for sure.  No BREAKFAST today, but rather an early LUNCH of 4 scrambled eggs (280 calories) made with a 1/3 cup cottage cheese (107), 1/2 an avocado (130) on the side, and 4 turkey sausage links (145).  Water and Hibiscus Tea throughout the day along with supplements. That's a whopping 662 calories before noon.  If I aim for 1000 calories in my day today, I am doing well. Want to add some fruit and veggies for the rest of my calories.  NO SWEETS.  Amen. 

TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE,

~d

THURSDAY's FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

BEING FLEXIBLE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME, if you're playing a game called LIFE.  I'm living at LIFE, but have to stay flexible or I won't make it.  Being rigid with schedules sometimes is required, but if you don't stay flexible with the flow, you may break.

This morning, I worked on scheduling medical appointments which are adding up.  I'm a bit hesitant to make other plans as these medical appointments are a priority right now as I have uterine cancer.  It doesn't seem like a reality to me at the moment.  I'm going through the motions for sure.  I hear everything that is said to me and yet, it's surreal.

Is that God's grace or am I in some kind of denial that I am knocking at death's door?  

One lady phoned me to let me know that I have to be in KANSAS CITY in person to visit with a nurse, pharmacist and anesthesiologist before surgery.  Meaning another trip before surgery.  I received another phone call about scheduling to visit about my family GENES.  That's scheduled.  Another phone call about mammograms.  Scheduled.  I could hardly understand the lady on the other end and could hear other's voices in the background scheduling appointments. I wondered if she were in a different country working for a scheduling company.  Perhaps the doctor out sources this job.  Another medical appointment about Bone Density.  Scheduled.

I will be as ready as I can be for surgery.  Prayers sent.  My household will not be in order before that moment.  Between remodeling and packing, the house is in a uproar.  My nerves have been a tad bit frayed.  Only so much I can do.  

Just about ready for fixing a large salad for lunch then Hubby and I will move the two grey recliners outdoors.  We have been using these recliners for five years.  They will go to the curb marked FREE!  Perhaps someone will haul them away for us.  They will be replaced with two electric recliners we had stored upstairs in the junque room.  They will work well for me to sleep in after my surgery later this month.  They're like brand new and only been used a few times.

Even though the gray recliners are falling apart on us, I'll miss them.  I liked the color they are and they were very comfortable.  They squeak, click, pop, shift, don't hold the feet up when reclining and the leatherette covering, that was suppose to be all leather, is peeling.  Under 5 years old.  

Never again will I buy furniture from FRANKLIN FURNITURE. Never.  We were sold a bill of goods and when we turned in the warranty for the peeling, we were told the peeling leatherette is from NORMAL wear and tear which isn't covered.  We were not abusive to the recliners and they fell apart.  End of story.

ON THE MOVE.  The packing and stacking continues.  

MORE PAPERS TO GO THROUGH.  I thought I was finished.  NOPE.  As I went through some old papers from the 2016 house fire, I decided that I could go ahead and pitch these receipts and pictures of what we lost in the fire.  It boggles my mind at how disorganized I stayed after the fire.  Thinking back, we had our hands full working at getting reestablished and setting up the household.  My health continued to fail with a diseased gall bladder and a very bad back.  After I received a flu shot, my lower back began having excessive pain that was debilitating.  I couldn't stand more than 10 minutes before I had to sit.  Knee pain kicked in.  2020 hit with co vid and that's pretty much a given about what became a mystery concerning the virus and changing everything about daily living that I pretty much knew.  In April 2021, I was informed that I was NOW a diabetic with high cholesterol.  My back pain was still a problem, but I had started to lose weight.  Physical therapy took place for my back in which I had to wear a facial mask.  That was a hoot.  Horrible breathing issues with this.

My back discomfort got better after therapy and I started working in the COTTAGE cleaning it out because it was full of everything.  We were using it like a warehouse.  As of date, I have shredded over 40 years worth of papers, receipts, statements, etc.  Thousands of pieces of paper that had to be looked at and handled.  My favorite cousin passed away.  My dear brother passed away.

We'd suffer with co vid last summer.  Tearing into the COTTAGE's Garage and shed, we have been in over our heads with remodeling.  Takes time and muscle.  Not to mention the continued downsizing and packing up for our move.  Bringing large pieces of furniture downstairs that have been upstairs in this main house has been a workout and the rooms are being dismantled.  Now the cancer diagnosis and treatment to follow. 

During this entire time I have struggled with fatigue and my TSH numbers have not stabilized.  Investigating about what is in the medicines I take, who manufactures them, where do they get their API (active pharmaceutical ingredients) and their inactive ingredients.  Next thyroid appointment I will be gentle, but firm about telling the APRN that I want some investigation as to why my TSH numbers have not stabilized.  What's my gut doing?  More research to do so I am prepared with a general knowledge as to what to do next.  You all know that Synthroid, their main medicine they prescribe, was not FDA approved for over 46 years while they still used it.  46 years.  46.  I continue to have hypothyroid symptoms.  help.   

This morning I came across another pile of papers that have been looked at and pitched. The upstairs junk room has more to be dealt with.  Downsizing the papers is a headache, but it's got to be tended to.  I had order, but lost it with the house fire and getting back to where I was is taking place.  I'm not sure how long this will take, but I know I must do it.  

Lunch is out of the way.  Now to take care of the recliners and replace them with our brown sueded ones that are electric which will come in very handy to sleep in after the surgery.  I have a place to recover now.  Getting in and out of the chair should be easier this way.  Not having to manually get up and out of the recliner with a abdominal incision will help when the time comes. Praise the LORD.

We bought these recliners maybe 4 years ago.  My thinking was, we may need these as old people.  They were brand new when I discovered them at the TOPEKA's HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE.  They were just brought in that morning.  I jumped on the bargain.  Now we will use them for such a time as this.

Not sure what will get accomplished today
as I have to be flexible.

~d

     

We paid our mortgage 3X flipping furniture part time // side hustle 2021...

FOUND THIS VERY INFORMATIVE and tempting to give it a go reworking my childhood French Provincial dresser.  Going from ivory to black.  Ramping up the adrenaline to get the piece of furniture redone.  Will have to place it on my to-do list.  Will wait until the weather cools some.  

Really neat You Tube video with great redos. 

Some say reset, I say...I like these resets.

Blessings to you,

d 

REMOVING A SPLINTER...AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER

WONDERING HOW TODAY WILL GO...shall see.  This week all the bedroom furniture is getting shuffled in hopes of making the bedrooms more functional and coordinated in style.  The shuffling is going very, very slow, but it's going.  This story has a happy ending...AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.   

When the rooms are arranged like I want and like, I am a happier me.  It satisfies something deep inside me to have the furniture just so so.  Whalaah.  Tis comfortable.  Contented am I.   

TODAY, I am in hopes of shuffling the Victorian bed room furniture.  Practicing in my head arrangements being rehearsed.  It's doable.  I slid the cedar chest in the Vintage room and I love it.  Such a nice piece of furniture.  It slid easily down the hallway into the other bedroom after moving storage boxes out of the way that I'll deal with later.  

LATER, the cedar chest will be emptied out after the bedrooms are shuffled.  Probably next week?  I'll be returning my wedding memorabilia to the chest.  Like visiting with an old friend that's finally come to visit.  The cedar chest and wedding dress belong together.  They are well acquainted with one another.  After the 2016 house fire, the cedar chest went to refinishers and the wedding dress went to be professionally cleaned.  When the dress returned, she was in a special box.  She has stayed boxed for over 4 years.  The cedar chest returned looking better than ever.  Once again there will be 'they lived happily ever after.'  

Emotionally and mentally, I'd like to have my wedding memorabilia together again.  When a person has relocated as much as I have where all the belongings get mixed up, it's an 'act of love' getting everything in its place and a place for everything.  The HAPPY ENDING is when all the things are where I know they are and neatly stored.  This time around, our relocation has been an ongoing venture.  This Spring, I am in HOPES that the bedroom furniture is where it will stay for awhile.  Restful and peacefully in place.  

I have a vision of my HOME being neat and clean once again.  This WINTER should be the perfect time to make it happen.  Being indoors during the cold months has it's advantages for a HOME MAKER.  Yet SPRING is in 29 days!!!  The count down is on.      

IN A NUT SHELL:  Furniture shuffled.  Storage boxes gone through. Single pictures relocated.  Cedar chest emptied and filled with wedding memorabilia.  Cedar chest items will need relocated.  Closet bedding taken out, refolded and relocated.  Chair placed in closet.  More storage boxes gone through.  Musical shuffle.  It sounds so quick and easy when put this way, but when push comes to shove, it's a very slow and a time consuming process for an old woman doing it by herself.  I have to do a little here and a little there when my back is the way it is.  Frequent and long sitting breaks in which I manage to work on paperwork.       

YESTERDAY, I TOOK A PLEASANT DRIVE in the afternoon with the sun shining to the Post Office, Bank, Hardware Store and Grocery store.  The temps were about 21 degrees when the temps the day before were -21.  21 is much better.  The negative is difficult to take.

TOMORROW, I hope to be well rested.  

Hubby got that nasty splinter out of the bottom of my foot.  Feels so much better.  Strange how a tiny splinter can cause so much havoc.  I didn't know about another way to remove a splinter.  Tweezers and fine sterilized needle.  

TIPS ON GETTING A SPLINTER OUT:   

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/550097/simple-and-painless-ways-to-remove-a-splinter

In the evening, I slathered Healing Jelly over both of my feet and put cotton socks on them to sleep in and wear throughout the night.  This past year my feet have become so dry it's scary.  Working at moisturizing my skin.  If I do this in the evening then place cotton socks on my feet, perhaps they will not be so dried out.  Just have to be faithful in doing so.  

The human body is constantly changing.  C o n s t a n t l y.  I've noticed that after I take a shower and work at getting the old skin off my feet that within the hour the skin is extremely dried out.  I have to moisture them.    

I remembered when I was 29 years old taking a train trip to New York from Omaha, Nebraska where I slept in my seat, that an elderly couple sat across the aisle.  I didn't understand why the woman placed plastic bags on her feet at night.  Now I think I get it.  Keeping the moisture in takes some doing at times.  I wonder if this elderly couple lived happily ever after?  

Blessings.

HOME LIFE is for me.

🏠 d  

FURNITURE SHUFFLING and ROLLING BLACKOUTS and ROLLING BLACKOUTS and FURNITURE SHUFFLING

I OUGHT TO HAVE A NIC NAME for being one that shuffles furniture each year or wants furniture shuffled.  The Shuffling Addict or something like that.  CABIN FEVER Plus.  It is just a part of living on the PRAIRIE where I have to shuffle in order to make everything fit in the house.  

Tadaah.  It happens every year just about this time of year.  Perhaps it's CABIN FEVER made productive.  All three bedrooms will have shuffling done this week, LORD WILLING.  The sooner I can get it done, the better.  Allotting enough time helps with the mental and physical pace of things.  February shuffle.  When I get this accomplished THEN I will tink in the new TV room. Hopefully by Spring.

YESTERDAY WAS PROOF THAT IT IS WINTER IN KANSAS.  Our electrical power went off at 12:56 PM returning at 1:30.  Immediately the Living room was chillier than normal.  Kitchen and Dining room not so bad.  

I had no warning that this ROLLING BLACKOUT would take place until it was happening.  I was out of the loop on this one.

I read that the power company was doing rolling black outs.  SO they did.  We might have some power outages during the night as well, but we didn't.  Thankful for that.  It isn't very often that we have an outage during the Winter.  Record setting temps during the night.  We stayed comfortable sleeping through the night. 

 

Daughter telephoned me this morning to tell me that we will probably have another rolling blackout today as the University is having one.  Daughter said they had one yesterday at their home and one this morning.  SO brrrr to that.  Closed our curtains in the Living room to retain some heat.  Expecting another rolling blackout sometime today.  Heads up. 

We are so dependent on electricity.  This I know.  I think I will prep my kerosene lamps so they are ready to be used at all times.  I have some spares, if I can just locate them.  I'd like to give each one of my children one for their estates.  

I remember the day as a young married lady that I wished I had a kerosene lamp. When we lived in Hugoton, Kansas there was an elderly gentleman that had a collection and he made the newspaper showing a small collection of his very interesting lamps.  I know he must be long gone, but the lamps remain behind for others to use while on planet earth.  I can say, that my simple wish came true about having a lamp and then some.     

IN DOOR NEWS.  THIS WEEK WILL BE DEDICATED TO SHUFFLING FURNITURE. Last evening, I finally got around to shuffling some furniture upstairs.  We have two Henredon side chairs that I really don't want to get rid of.  I have to find a different location for them in order to keep them.  They are in such good shape, I hate to part with them. 

They sat in the Vintage Bedroom.  I want to take the cedar chest that is sitting in the Victorian room and shuffle it to the Vintage room where the chairs were.  The chest is from the 1920s era and I think it would be better to have it with other vintage furniture than victorian style.  This is where the shuffle comes in and figuring out where to go with the Henredon side chairs. 

The Victorian room will be shuffled after the cedar chest moves to a different room.  I'll switch the vanity dresser with the red victorian sofa and the sofa will go where the vanity dresser was. The wash stand by the window will go where the cedar chest once was.  HEAVENS.  Will it be worth the mess?  I think so.  If I get this far then the storage boxes will have to be dealt with.        

So, I gave it more thought about our Master bedroom shuffle.  This week all three bedrooms will have had shuffling done in them.  As an older person, the shuffling becomes more challenging to my old body.  Ever so careful to move large pieces of furniture even with furniture pads under the furniture.    

The antique chair that is in our bedroom will be relocated to the Living room beside the fireplace. Hubby carried the chair down the stairs.  I spotted him.  My part in this was easy.

Two of the larger pieces, a dresser and highboy, shall be switched with one of the Henredon chairs sitting beside the Highboy.  I started shuffling by myself and Hubby came to the rescue. As I was moving these pieces I was barefooted with dust sheets under my feet so I could dust the floor under where the furniture sat.  That's when I snagged some wood and got a splinter in my foot.

Put the breaks on shuffling the rest of the furniture in the other two bedrooms for awhile.  Ouch. Hubby tried to pull the splinter out, but had no luck.  I had to sit out for the rest of the evening with antibiotic cream and bandaid on bottom of my foot.  Will try again to remove the splinter today with better lighting.

More to do.  Please and thank you.

Since I was sitting this one out, we watched more of the Danish Series with English subtitles.  SEASIDE HOTEL.  I realized that in this series no one is happily married. Series starts at 1928 and onward.  Some brief nudity and sexual suggestions which might offend younger viewers.  Just saying.   

At Andersen’s Seaside Hotel by the North Sea dunes, meet the chambermaid Fie, the merchant's daughter Amanda, and the local fisherman Morten, whose fates are intertwined, as they seek to emancipate themselves from the plans other people have made on their behalf. From Walter Presents, in Danish with English subtitles.

The story line is about wealthy people staying at the same Hotel every Summer for holiday.  Each year they all stay in the same suites that they had the year before.  All clientele have become friends  being catered to with fine foods, alcoholic beverages and always Mrs. Andersen's coffee. Swimming in the ocean is common, playing a game of croquet or a card game of Bridge, lying on the beach, taking long walks along the beach and sand dunes a must. 

I would love lounging on the beach beside the ocean watching the waves and listening to the sounds of nature.  A whole summer away from the daily grind of life elsewhere.  Meals prepared and served on fine china, no dishes to wash.  Bed sheets changed.  Rooms cleaned.  Alone time on the beach.  I can only imagine.

Being that Winter finally arrived, makes my heart yearn for SPRING.  She can come now. Winter has worn her welcome out.  By March, I will be longing for flowers, seeing trees bud out. Blossoms popping out through the ground.  Birds chirping.  Hello Spring!  Easter is in April this year.  That will be pleasant.

WE HAD MONDAY NIGHT MEATLOAF with mashed potatoes and broccoli.  Iced tea to drink.  I did well on eating the vegetable portion and didn't eat all my mashed potatoes, but I overate on the meatloaf topped with organic ketch-up.  Delicious and it's been a long time since we have had meatloaf.  A new recipe.  This recipe was made with more onions being this is the magic ingredient when making an extra good meatloaf in this part of the country.  Grass fed beef was used.

TODAY, I'll see about shuffling some more upstairs.  I have quite a few storage boxes to move out of the way so the cedar chest can be pushed down the hallway into the other bedroom where the Henredon chairs were.  I'll have to clean out my closet where extra bedding is so the other Henredon chair will have a sitting place for the time being. 

I don't suppose I'll get this all done today. The hallway linen closet will have to be cleaned out so the extra bedding will return to its rightful place...this place.  Snowball effect.  Then I will have to figure out where to go with all the stuff that is presently in the linen closet.  Ha.  Not laughing out loud.

If I can get the cedar chest moved, I will be pleased.  Here's to seeing what gets done today.  God, I pray for success.  Thank you.

SO far so good about having power.  It is still on.

I need to go to town to pay a utility bill and get out of the house for 15 minutes.  Then being back HOME will be even more welcoming.

STAYING WARM is a priority.  

HOME LIFE is for me,

🏠 d   

PARTY at

https://familycorner.blogspot.com/2021/02/happy-homemaker-monday-02152021.html

SUNDAY Blessings To You

THIS SUNDAY the skies are blue and it looks like a warmer day outside then what it really is.  The heater is running to warm the house.  This system makes quite a bit of noise when it's running.  We are into our third WINTER here heating our PRAIRIE HOUSE in small town America.  I'm more use to the sound than in the beginning.  Another adjustment to make in the department of frequent noises.  In the rock house, it was the trains.  Thunder storms had an echoing sound that was different to what was in a clapboard house.  The thunder sounds here sound like it did in my childhood home.  When car doors close, it is easily heard.  People walking by can be heard talking.  It was a different environment in the rock house across the river.  I miss the quiet of the steam heated radiators that we had.  And the house was not as dusty as this one even though we have had the duct work cleaned last October.    

We moved in May of 2017.  We are still going through boxes of paper and stuff.  A very slow process for us.  It is easy for me to forget that this needs to be dealt with until I see it staring me in the face.  

Yesterday, we moved a piece of furniture.  The HIGHBOY has been moved to our BEDROOM which means the old PENCIL DESK that's there will be moved to the SPARE ROOM today. DOING THE SHUFFLE.  Shuffle.

The WINTER is a great time to do deep cleaning and shuffle furniture.  I was embarrassed to see so much dust that had gathered in the bedroom.  I have fallen down on the job around here due to illness and lack of energy.

Our HIGHBOY will resemble the furniture style that we have.  It's not the same coloring, but that will have to do.

I feel a NAP coming on after LUNCH.  I suspect this is happening due to being ill.  WAKE UP!  Off to the laundromat I go, again.  I have to get caught up.  I just don't have peace of mind when I am running so far behind.  Just me.

Welp...disappointment comes in all sizes, doesn't it?  Watched the movie TROOP ZERO.  Liked it until the talent show scene where they ruined the movie by showing children urinating on stage.  Sorry they did this.  Thumbs down.  The line where the Troop Momma says, "I worry about you, Christmas."  doesn't describe the disappointment I had after the stage scene.  This could have easily been a FAMILY FRIENDLY MOVIE until....not a good choice. 

To my understanding the trial will begin this week concerning removing President Trump out of office.  Officially he is impeached.  To my ignorance, I thought once a President was impeached that meant he was removed from office until President Clinton was impeached, but was not removed from office.

I suspect President Trump will remain in office even after this trial.  I suspect he will be re-elected as our President.  If you want to get in a quick argument with someone on facebook just bring up your support for the President or suggest removing him from office.  In all my days, the push to limit people to two classes has never been so noticeable.  You're either for trump or against him as a democrat or a republican.  There is no HAPPY MEDIUM.  In reality, people are classified in more then two classes, but in the media world there are only two.  You're a democrat or a republican.  Zip.  Zang.  Zoey.  That's it.  Not possible to be anything but......name calling begins and the insults are slung.  So much energy goes into branding a person to a political party.  I'm coming from a mindset that there is more to life than this.

When a politician slings slop toward their opponent, some of the public roars about how awful this is giving license to name call the political party and sling slop.  Huh?  Not alright for the running candidate to do this, but alright for others that say it's wrong to do it then do the same.  No.  This isn't right all the way around. 

When Jesus walked the earth there was a similar philosophy where some people believed that Jesus was going to rescue them from the Roman Empire.  Not even close.  HE had other things in the works.

In my little corner of the world in Kansas, I just felt a gentle earthquake tremor.  That was different.  Jeepers, Mr. Wilson.  4.4 over by Hutchinson.  We're about 152 miles away from Hutch!  That's quite a quake.  

Now time to do some laundry.

Blessings to you,

d

Ouch!

Am satisfied that the two large pieces of wood furniture made a swap over the week-end.  Clearing off the tops of the pieces, I slowly emptied the insides full of dishes, bowls, platters, and other treasured items that I bring out into the light when needed.

This call of duty was not without injury as I was wounded by a heavy rectangular glass dish that landed on my right foot.  The pang of the drop targeted the area just below my large toe on my right foot.  Seeing the dish fall out from under the cut glass bowls I was handling I expected a crash with glass shattering on the hard wood floor beneath.  Didn't happen as my foot stopped the fall but the bowl injured me.  Ouch and double ouch.  That hurt, Charlie.

Skin was left with a red scratch and a raised bruise with my toe taking the brunt of the fall.  Making momentum as the bowl fell  gravity carried weight making a painful contact when the bowl bounced off my foot onto the floor below.  

Iced my foot as soon as possible while elevating it in the recliner.  PAIN is present and I shake my head as I have been recovering from a bum knee since January.  It is now the month of MAY and I have been waiting to move these two pieces of heirloom furniture.  Doesn't seem right to have injured my foot/toe just as I am gaining strength with my knee.

Knowing I will push forward at a very slow speed today.  I know that I do not get to do just whatever I want when I want.  Back to sitting and healing.  Writing and thinking.  Praying and reading.  Perhaps some letters are in the future since I am sitting again with time on my hands and pain in my foot.  An aching toe reminds me that I am human.

Giving much thought as to how to clean and tidy my KITCHEN.  The actual work now will be postponed.  Walking is painful.  Standing is painful.

Bringing great satisfaction as I refilled the furniture with my belongings, I have to pat myself on the back and make more plans to achieve simple task about the estate as I sit.  The actual physical work will take place slowly as I inch along getting there.  How nice it is to type on a laptop computer with easy access to delete mistakes on the printed screen.  Old white out was a miracle product, but this computer is above and beyond awesome.

We will have to rehang the old mirror in the entryway above the buffet that sits there now instead of the old oak sideboard that belonged to my Grandma Helmer.  The buffet that we bought way back when we lived in Liberal, Kansas was carried HOME from a neighborhood garage sale for $10 is in its place.  LOVE both pieces of furniture and am thankful that we still have them as they were in our 2016 house fire.  Seriously smoked and stained damaged, the restorers did magic to our heirloom pieces.  I am glad we still have them to use and enjoy.

Will have to make an appointment with my HUBBY as I cannot do this task of hanging the mirror by myself as it is quite a heavy and ornate one.  I do not want to drop this piece as I know I would regret the damage.  

Having plans this Summer to paint the Dining room after patching cracks.  The ceiling with crown molding comes first then the walls and finally the wainscoting. 

Switching the pieces was a perfect time to clean the floor underneath making SPRING CLEANING complete.  With a heavy heart and hanging head, I was ashamed how filthy the floor and carpet were.  It didn't seem like it had been so long as to the last time I dusted the floor and vacuumed the area rug.  

The entryway ceramic tile was just as dirty.  This week will be the perfect time to dust all the floors and vacuum the rugs except I'll be hobbling about.  If I can muster up the energy I'll do it.  First full week of the month of May with deep cleaning is a good sign of SPRING CLEANING.  One day at a time though.  Being flexible doesn't come easy for me....I believe that I am an old dog learning new tricks.

Plans to deep clean my KITCHEN cabinets inside and out.  Will allow the entire month to accomplish this after giving much thought as to what will take place.  No graduations, anniversaries, birthdays or weddings this month.  Freed up to work on house and lawn.  We have a crew coming over to clean the carriage house loft this month cleaning it from bat poo that has been left behind to deal with.  Unhealthy to do ourselves.  Need professional help.

This will be an expensive procedure.  Afterwards when they are finished my HUSBAND will have to close off the eaves where the bats were making entrance into the carriage house year after year.  We've been here not quite two years come the end of May.  

This loft will be a great place for a studio.  It will be safer and healthier after the crew sanitizes it.  We will piece it together with thrift material to make a new ceiling, cover the walls and lay a new floor.  

The list of things to do is growing and I am working at not getting overwhelmed by the expense and energy needed to accomplish all.  

Now to find new places for the other vintage dishes that have no place to hide at the moment.  Giving that some more thought.  I need to make a quick dash to town to buy a new storage tub for EASTER BUNNIES misc.  Get put away.  Purchase gift bag for mother's day gift, some cards and misc. items to make creature comfort a reality.   

The sky is greying up as it did yesterday evening when a rain storm blew in to water the newly planted flowers.  Nice timing.  Our Irises are blooming a few at a time.  Will allow them to bloom this Spring where they are and then come July we will move some to a new flower bed prepared beside the fence.  

Moving to this different house made for quick decisions to be made that have to be sorted out after some time has passed.  There's an advantage to seeing what blooms where in our garden which allows us to change direction if need be.  A chance to change having different results.  Nothing seems to be written in concrete when it comes to a garden.  Mud maybe, but not cement.  

Adding, taking away, relocating are all part of the dream to have a country garden in our small plot of earth. 

All in a days work.......

d

Ethan Came To LIVE With Us

Our Living room furniture arrived!  Ethan Allen.  Couldn't be happier.  BIG SMILE ACROSS MY FACE.  Huge.
  
So pleased with the new furniture.  Went with a lighter, muted shade of blue and velour fabric.  The walls will eventually get painted a different color, but for now we will live with the patriotic red walls.  

First, we will get settled.  Boxes will disappear.  Items will be where they are suppose to be and we will call our home, HOME.  This truly has been a different kind of move, but I am ever so glad that ETHAN has come to live with us.  

We are growing quite fond of him,

d  

Pics To Follow

Smiling to where my cheeks hurt.  Can't wipe that grin off my face.  The Living room is cleared out and rearranged as best we can do for the moment.  Now we wait for NEW living room furniture to appear from Kansas City.  Much thought has gone into where to place the sofas and chairs.

WHEN it arrives, we'll have to rearrange the room to make it like we want it.  Pieces of furniture to shuffle elsewhere.  We moved the Sideboard that was in the entryway  elsewhere so the furniture deliverers would be able to bring the pieces through the front door into the Living room.

After we see first hand the actual furniture then we will select paint that's a coordinating color with the fabrics.  

The last time I picked furniture from Ethan Allen was 17 years ago.  They gave us a computer generated drawing so we could better imagine the fabric on the sofa and chairs.  This go round no drawings.  All in our heads.

I am so hoping we like the results really really really well.  If we don't, I guess we will have to grow to like it.  gulp.

Pics to follow.
Stay tuned.
d

UPDATE:  Furniture arrived in the early morning hours on this rainy, grey Saturday.  Love it!  L O V E it.  Am so pleased with it I could twitch with excitement.  Smiling.
Pics to follow.
life on the prairie is having a very gooooood day.