SUNFLOWERS ALONG THE WAY. The Kansas STATE flower since 1903 are the sunflowers which grow well in all of the Kansas counties. Kansas GOLD. This time of year, the sunflowers are brilliantly decorating the sides of the roads and fields with their splendor. Raising their heads following the sun as it goes from east to west. As we drove to Des Moines, I couldn't help but notice their presence along the way. Beautiful displays of Kansas Gold.
The edge of the roads were covered with tall, yellow and green sunflowers. Gorgeous display of nature. Seeing their blossoms makes me appreciate their charm as their cheeriness is a reminder to me of better days.
We brought our GRAND DOG with us for our road trip. She loved the attention she got. Loved it.
I wanted to go visit with my 93 year old mom that lives there. We tend to see her three times a year. I miss her being in Marion, Kansas. She's been living in Des Moines for almost two years come October. She wanted to live closer to one of her children and relocated. I wish she had stayed in Marion, but I didn't get my wish.
When we want to see her, it's now a 5 to 6 hour drive for us as before it was only an hour and a half. I miss her and I miss Marion. When I get HOMESICK for Marion, I will drive over and entertain happy memories as I tour the town. Since co vid, the family reunions and yearly gatherings died. This is a part of my life that is difficult to let go of.
We had picked up a wheel chair of Mom's that was left behind at her previous living community in Marion and took it to her in Iowa. She had asked for it.
Only walked a mile once when in Des Moines over our four day stay. I walked the hall way at my Mom's apartment building walking back and forth down the corridor 4 times making a mile there. Looking at the inside of the hallway isn't the same as walking outside admiring nature, but I knew I needed the exercise. Just sitting around puts the pounds on this old body. Saw my sister and went shopping with her and Mom. My visit went so fast. Back HOME again. Back to working on our COTTAGE.
🌻🌻🌻 MORE ABOUT SUNFLOWERS. Our neighbor down the block grew a few straight rows of sunflowers to the side of their driveway. Each time I walked the block this past Summer I could see how much the flowers had grown upwards shooting heavenly. Well over six feet tall. As September arrives, their brilliance is starting to fade. They're withering away.
Sunflower seeds are easy to munch on. As a kid, I'd eat by the handfuls the prepackaged salted seeds. If I had access to the seeds still in the sunflower head, I'd probably eat them after baking them in the oven.
If you are fortunate enough to watch birds rest on the sunflower blossom's head nibbling at the seeds still in the flower, you'll see them being nourished by Mother Nature.
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
Looked at the calendar. Two weeks until the start of AUTUMN. 9 Vegetables to plant in September comes to mind. What shall we eat that's in season?
All of these veggies are eaten in our HOME. Only a little Kale, but the rest are whole heartedly welcomed.
These veggies actually look good to me as I am striving to eat more veggies and plant based foods.
THRIFT. While in Des Moines I went thrifting at St. Vincent de Paul's Thrift Shop. A really nice thrift store if I do say so myself. Right away when I entered their front door I saw an owl that I placed in my shopping cart.
A pillow that says THANKFUL on it. A shinny pinecone. I wondered over to the dish racks that display their treasures and there it was, a beautiful antique serving dish with lid. Oh my my. You're going HOME with me. Dresden Warranted China Tureen with lid in the rococo revival style. I knew it was old, just not how old. MY PRIZE POSSESSION.
"Dresden" was a popular motif, but several different companies used "Dresden" as a style or location.
- Dresden, Ohio: American companies, like Dresden Pottery Works, used the name and produced semi-porcelain dinnerware from the late 19th century to the early 20th century (circa 1875-1927).
- Dresden, Germany: European manufacturers, including those in Germany, also created items in the Dresden style, which was known for its luxury designs and fine porcelain.
LAMONI, IOWA. Lamoni is a small community of about 2,000
AMISH FRIENDS LIFE HACKS.
It seems that Summer is winding down with Autumn two weeks away. We've had a relatively gentle Summer where the temperatures have not been in the hundreds, but rather in the 80's and low 90's. This has been a gentle Summer for Kansas where brutal temps are usually the norm causing heat strokes and exhaustion for many when the temps are in the high 90's and 100's. I believe I can take more gentle Summers like this one.
Our pumpkins are getting ready to be picked. I wanted to decorate the front porch with them, but with the porch being rebuilt I will have to do something else with these pumpkins. Tis time to decorate with oranges, browns, deep greens and yellows. I may place a bench in the front yard to use for FALL/AUTUMN decorations so I have satisfaction that I decorated for AUTUMN. I can place it under the branches of the redbud tree we have.
Some of our mornings are already getting chilly. I was concerned that the early morning temps would dip into freezing where my porch geraniums would be injured. I have one rather large geranium that I hope to bring inside during the freezing weather. Perhaps it will live for years in the galvanized container and I won't have to purchases baby geraniums for the front porch next year. I'll just wheel the cart that it's in out to the porch in the Spring and wheel it back inside at the end of Fall.
As the week continues, I am needing to walk when I can, eat right, continue cleaning the COTTAGE and resting. Tis Tuesday already and I am geared up for the month of September.
September. My efforts need to go toward a full blown HEALTH PROGRAM. Seriously. I cannot ignore the size I am.
I need to walk twice a day. Truly walk the distance.
THE HAVE TO's: I have to exercise.
I have to eat a certain way.
I have to use portion control.
I have to rest.
I have to declutter.
I have to PRAY.
I have to cheer myself on.
I have to drink water.
I have to sleep at least 6 hours a night.
I have to be positive that I can do this and do it well.
~d
