RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS

RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS.  Am I a fan of Cryptic talk?  I use it a great deal.  Must be a fan.  

Blue skies are gone for now.  Today it's chilly and rainy outside with gusts of wind.  Inside the house, it sounds like WINTER ARRIVED even though it's AUTUMN for a couple of months yet. We're winding down as the leaves litter the yards.  A few more days of this wind and the gorgeous AUTUMN foliage will have disappeared from the trees.  Saddens me a tad as I have embraced the FALL and fell in love with the beauty.  🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂

Pray there's no snow this week.  Not ready for MOTHER NATURE to cover everything with a blanket of white fluff.  Eventually, the WINTER MIND SET will come and I will have to adjust.

What's on the agenda for the day?  Tidying the Kitchen for sure.  This task is taking hours to make it a reality that we have a tidy Kitchen with everything in its place and a place for everything.  Nice and slow we go.  Also need to make a run to the Bank for a deposit.  Making sure the cash is in the account to cover our expenses for bills and life expenses.  Over the week-end, we spent more than usual stocking up the pantry.  If we spent a little extra each month on keeping household items stocked up then it wouldn't hit us so hard in November.  Or so I think. 

I have a sense of satisfaction when we have a well stocked fridge and pantry.  When the kids were little, after a grocery run I always felt a peace that we had supplies and I could feed my family. Comforting to me.  

What should one have in their pantries anyways?  

As for the KITCHEN.  Finding places for all that's sitting on the floor is harder than I want.  I did purchase more Mason Jars.  Getting ready to wash and rinse them.  Not a difficult task.  This afternoon and evening, I'll fill them with what's in reach like beef sticks, flour, sugar, dates, etc.     

I'm tired from being on the road so much.  On the road again... as the song goes, but I really am ready to stay HOME.  

I'd like to decorate the two matching plant containers that will be used for HARVEST DECOR by the porch steps and again for CHRISTMAS with a change of flowers.  After I get started, it shouldn't take very long to cut pool noodles to fill the containers with and add a pumpkin on top with faux leaves.  Zip zip...be done.  I wish the Kitchen clean-up were as fast.

I talked to my Sister late last night.  An hour and a half later, it was time to shut down.  My brother-in-law is deathly ill.  I can pray and speak gentle words to her during this time and yet she is the one that will have to take over their estate.  She's the one that will have to lean on the Lord for direction and strength.  I truly believe that as an adult one should have their affairs in order all the time as we do not know when we will die or what condition we will be in.  Also keep a Health journal through the years where in a matter of seconds you can revisit past medical appointments, diagnoses, know what meds were prescribe with what reactions were to drugs and procedures.  Monitor all the bills, keep some cash on hand and maintain a stocked Pantry.  Live within your means or under.  Keep a tidy house and have inventory of possessions. 

Brother-in-law is taking chemo and is extremely weak.  He doesn't eat food or drink fluids. Sleeps continuously.  I do not see him recovering.  Miracles do still happen, but sometimes one dies.  A slow death in order to say your good-byes.  If by chance he gets better and recovers, he will still have been altered by the strong chemo which more than likely will cause him issues in functioning. 

In the beginning of when the chemotherapy started, the doctor said that he could have my brother-in-law in remission by December.  Now the doc is saying BIL has until December to live. He is dying.  The chemo does not always work and in many cases it makes the patient sicker than sick.  I think it has made BIL sicker than sick.  He has another round of chemo this Friday if he is strong enough for it.  If he isn't, they may be told we've done all that we can.  He probably would be moved into HOSPICE. 

God's peace to him.  Have you made your peace with God? 

I'm getting ready to take off again in the car on this rainy Monday.  I'll make the best of it. 
~d

SELF-PRESCRIBED ASSIGNMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING

LITTLE BY LITTLE,  we'll get to where we are going.  I desire a organized and tidy HOME in good repair where I know where things are when needed.  De-cluttering takes TIME when it is a 2 person crew doing the work.  We are elderly and have health challenges.  I am SLOW as molasses and about as sticky.  

I confess that this is not what I want to be doing in my old age.  I'm dragging my feet and rebelling.  Pretty sure that's what you'd call it.  Being responsible means I have to do this in order to move forward and be able to do other things in old age.  I am requesting that after we get done with all of this decluttering and organizing that I get a MONTH of doing NOTHING but sitting and doing NOTHING.  No demands or obligations.  71 is old enough to know better.

If it should go this way...I do not want my children to have to deal with a bunch of stuff they do not want.  I do not want them to have to cleanup junk of any kind after me.  This is the mission I am presently on and this should get me fired up keeping me on track.

After my oldest brother passed away, I was not asked if I would help get rid of his earthly belongings that were stored in the basement of the facility he was living in.  The facility had emptied his apartment due to co vid.  Not sure why they did this to him.  He would pass away 5 years ago on Halloween.  It took days before his body was released to the Funeral Home.  The week of his funeral, Mom, my brother-in-law, sister, hubby and myself were on clean-up duty.  I was expected to do this task, which I did.  He did not have very much which made our job easier.  

I am anxious to get our personal stuff in order.  The driving force is knowing it should be done, my age and a brother-in-law deathly ill whose household is a mess.  If by chance he passes, his wife will be at a loss as to what to do.  She'll be grieving and upset with what she was left to do after a death of a husband.  Sharing with her that her household should have been in order before now, will bring no one any comfort.  No one. 

SUNDAY.  Devotions were done at HOME instead of attending a brick and mortar church today. I may be doing this more due to a weak and weary body having issues with strength.  Tis debilitating.

I do plan to leisurely walk to the Convenience Store which is a half of a mile from my HOME.  I think it's a decent distance to walk while I do my best to building up my body with walking. Amen.

I am weary.  Physically and mentally.  The walking and getting fresh air should help me in some way.

Last week, I made it to my medical appointment where I visited with my Physician about the results of the DUAL ISOTOPE STRESS/REST TEST.  Results were favorable.  Put a smile on my face.  It came to mind that when I twist and reach that my rib cage seems to lock up and have a pleurisy pain.  Mentioned this to the doc.  Going to try a new med for asthma.  Expensive. Sticker SHOCK!  I am leaning heavily on natural remedies more and more.  HEAVILY.

Health issues are in abundance.  IMHO...I believe additives, GMO foods, eating highly processed foods are a huge contributor to these health issues.  Some of the problems stem from eating HYBRIDIZED WHEAT, using seed oils, eating GMO substances, and consuming way too much HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, sugar and food additives with chemicals.  

Lab created flavorings called NATURAL FLAVORINGS are made from chemicals.  The NATURAL part of the word seems innocent enough, doesn't it?  Biblical Nutritionalist Annette Reeder calls us LAB RATS.  She encourages eating foods made by God and not manipulated by people.

All the chaos in the world designed to berate the underdog makes me somewhat bewildered. STUNNED.  Regrouping with my LORD.  

After studying about projects that our beloved government has done on our own civilians, I am a bit skeptical about what they call good.  The horrors used on civilians as guinea pigs causes me very uncomfortable feelings.  My own government.  sigh.  pause.  I can only trust the LORD. People are human with the fallen nature of mankind in their DNA.  So much more could be said about this.  Later.

Next. Needing to go to MENARDS again to get yet ANOTHER storage box to store my cup and saucer collection.  Getting this box allows for the collection to go to a shelf  FOR NOW.  This PHASE we are doing by going through STORAGE and boxes allows me to get like kind items grouped together THEN I can proceed with this BIG ADVENTURE called GETTING REAL.   

Hubby told me he found two more boxes of BOOPIE GLASS.  More wrapping to do.  I can do this.    

I have already bubble wrapped 22 tea glasses and 37 cordial.  When the new ones have been brought HOME, I'll bubble wrap them and place them in the vinyl storage boxes.  All will go to our overflow glassware in the cellar.  

My SLOW PACED morning is needed.   

I have a couple of old fashioned checks to write out and drop in the mail.  After HUBS gets to a stopping place in the heat of the day at the storage unit, then I will drive over to drop the bills off and journey on over to Manhattan's Menards to get more storage tubs.  Mission accomplished.

A HEALTHY personal assignment for me that I self-prescribed is to get out of the house for at least an hour a day each day.  It gives me a boost of energy seeing something other than the four walls of my tiny COTTAGE.  Amen.  Because when I stay HOME all day long, I see everything in the house that needs done and it mentally exhaust me.  It becomes a Mental health issue.

PLANS THIS WEEK?  Continuing on creating the ATTIC at storage unit, going through cardboard boxes and doing something with whatever is found, going to the laundry-mat to wash children's clothing.  COME WHAT MAY.

I don't want to take on anything else as my plate is loaded.
~d on the prairie

COMING ALONG ON DECLUTTERING AND WALKING TOWARD THE LIGHT

WAKING EARLY AND REFRESHED was a warm greeting to the beginning of the day.  I managed to get a half mile walk in and I felt awful when I finished.  I sat at the convenience store sipping an ice cold water to cool off and rest a bit.  Not sure why this walk hit me so hard.  I deliberately walked at a slow pace not trying to beat a time.  

Last year, I walked 6 minute laps at the Football field.  Hubby timed me recently and I was doing good to make the lap in 8 minutes.  It'll take a bit of time to get back to 6 minute laps if ever. Perhaps by CHRISTMAS, I will be back to my old self.  If not, if I'm moving then I shall be thankful.

Today for Breakfast was a small bowl of oatmeal sprinkled with blueberries, sliced almonds, cinnamon, cocoa, maple syrup and milk.  I have sipped on water today.  Having a 4 o'clock cup of BLACK SILK COFFEE for afternoon pick me up and today I need it.

I walked a half of a mile then worked on things at the storage unit called OUR ATTIC.  Thumbing through a cardboard box with my name on it were old photos of my Dad and Mom.  Some childhood photos of Dad were in the box.  He had so few pictures of himself.  They need to be put in a photo album or framed.  I was going down Memory Lane with tears and getting choked up. Dad will have turned 100 years old this November.  100.  pause.  He's been in heaven almost 10 years.

Hubby shuffled boxes out of the unit so he was able to open up the left side of the unit for more muscles racks to go in.  The center of the unit will be open so we can get around easily.  Heaven knows we have a plan.  

A bag of baby clothes went into the car.  They will be laundered later.  Another box we found some sweaters and jackets that I am not sure how they made their way into a cardboard BOX. Just the way this messy move went.  Surprise! 

With my brother-in-law deathly ill and family members no longer with us,  I know this earthly LIFE is short and should be taken seriously.  What is my earthly mission?  I have no need anymore to hang onto so much of these earthly items.  I have been foolish in so many ways.  I can work faster and longer at getting things whipped into place around here.  

🍵🫖My small Tea Cup and Saucer Collection is bubble wrapped ready to be placed on a shelf in the cellar along with overflow glassware and small appliances.  I have about as many sets that will be turned loose of to the ones I'm keeping.  Saying good-bye to some then I'll be working on something else.  

Gathering and grouping ALL the CHRISTMAS decor including garland and twinkle lights to store in the ATTIC.  A tub here and a tub there.  All the extra glassware overflow will go to the cellar.  Hubby doesn't know it yet, but what we are doing with the ATTIC will speed up decorating the COTTAGE when the time comes.  Having decorations grouped, in colored coded storage tubs, etc. will make for an easier task of getting the house decorated for a special HOLIDAY.  Praying it is soon.  

Small appliances and overflow on glassware.  When we need a small appliance, we'll go to the cellar to get the item that will be kept in a box for cleanliness.  THIS getting organized is so slow, I hurt.  Gotta keep it interesting and fun.  

When we are finally done with this task of relocating and shuffling, repacking our stuff, it will be awesome and I will rejoice that it is done.  It's like being employed and never getting a day off and retirement will never take place.  What a drag so I must change my attitude for the better.  I don't want to have nothing, but a little less of it would be more practical and functional. Realistically, it would be well suited for someone such as myself that is 71 and doesn't need to pretend I'm any younger.  

This evening after the weather cools down some, we will be unloading some area rugs that are rolled up in the back of our cruiser.  I need to unroll them to look at their overall appearance. They've been rolled up for three years.  3 years.  Imagine that?  Two of them match.  Not sure if we'll use them in this house or not.  May want something else instead of these.   

I will be ever so contented when our home is in order.  I never dreamt that we'd have so much to deal with when it comes to the items we have.  Time to turn loose.  Where's the light at the end of the tunnel?  Somewhere in the future.  Can't be sure of when it will be seen, but when we do, I'll let ya know.

I've got to get a shampoo in.  I will visit with my primary doc about the Dual Isotope Stress/Rest tests.  Appointment made.  Will keep.  Better write out my questions now so I am not rushed. Between eyes, teeth and the rest of the body, our social life is tied down to medical appointments.  

Blessings,

~d

WALKING and TIME TO THINK BIG THOUGHTS

I GOT A SHORT WALK IN!  Easing back into a walking program after a 7 month sabbatical due to my hip giving me a fit and a half.  I stayed busy with doctors.  There was a Primary Physician visit, x-rays, MRI, a visit to an Orthopedic Surgeon, a series of visits to a Chiropractor.  The Chiropractor did the trick!  One leg was longer than the other.  5 visits later, I was walking so much better.  The hip pain was nearly gone.  Praise the LORD.    

Just about as soon as I was walking again, my left foot and right shin did a number on me and I sat it out.  No serious walking.  The months passed and I was in disbelief that the months passed so quickly and I had not been walking.  I started over a week ago easing into a walking program. Only a half of a mile at a time.  

The other day, I slipped my $4 sweatpants from Walmart on that I caught on clearance and a long sleeved sweatsuit type blouse with a pumpkin design on it.  🎃Making a HOLIDAY STATEMENT as I walked in the fresh air.  I walked a 1/2 mile around noon and then again on a different course in the late afternoon.  

Yesterday, I walked a half of a mile then Hubby picked me up in the car.  We went to the storage unit to work for a short time then he suggested that we travel in the heat of the day to Manhattan to get some more tubs for CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS and my cup and saucer collection. Agreed and away we went, ate a salad and did some shopping for tubs.  Some more foot traffic took place.

Home we went and like clock work, 💤 a nap happened.  Refreshed for the rest of the day.  I sat on the porch while taking the new Christmas 🎄 ornaments out of their plastic store boxes and dumped the red ornaments into the new storage tub I bought from HOME DEPOT.  This is a very sturdy storage tub with a see-through body and hefty red lid.  I bought an orange one as well for AUTUMN 🍂 decor when the time comes to put the decor away.  The see-thru bodies are a bonus to me as I like being able to see the contents inside without taking the lid off.  Less energy and effort goes into this system, huh.

The new tubs are in the back of PETE, our cruiser ready to go to the storage unit.  I'll walk part of the way to the storage unit on the edge of town to get my steps in and then hubby will pick me up for the rest of the way.  I will pat myself on my back for having walked.  If I have any energy left after working in the ATTIC, then perhaps I will walk HOME.

I am doing better about turning loose of STUFF in the COTTAGE.  Life goes on and so must I.  I don't want to be held back by stuff.  I am, but I don't want to be.  Getting our household in order is a priority right now.  So badly needed and taking a very long time with aging bodies to complete this simple task.  I think my blood pressure would go down if I had this load off my mind.  Okay.  I'll do it.  I can and will declutter, down-size and free myself up.

Keep on keeping on.  Take care of ourselves as best as we know.  Eat better, exercise better, rest better, be better.  

I've been up since 6 and studied on the internet.  I heard the neighbor's cat on our porch swatting our Sparky, the cement dog.  Grins.  The dog is not going to fight back or play with Toby the cat, but does wobble on the porch boards when swatted.  This would make a cute cartoon scene. 🐈😼

Had breakfast and I am getting ready to go through my cup and saucer collection sorting through which ones to keep and which to turn loose of.  Have faith that these will venture out of here and land a new HOME somewhere else.  Lord, I know you will assist us in downsizing in a great way.   

I'll go walk after I work a little on the collection.  I need to wash my bluejeans, go through the bills and visit with my Mom sometime today.  I hope to catch up with my SISTER and find out how things are progressing with her Husband's health.  He is doing chemo and things are not going well.  

We have got to hurry and get in order.  I pray, we get this done quickly and efficiently.

~d

WORKING AT HOME TO BE BETTER OFF

TIS A RAINY DAY OUTSIDE, but in my thought life I'm having a sunshiny day.  How does this happen?  

I work awhile, I sit awhile, I work awhile, I sit awhile...repeat.  I'm seeing progress on fitting into this COTTAGE by serious downsizing and decluttering.  This has been a very slow project for us due to health issues so when I see progress, I celebrate.  Let out a joyful noise.  

Hubs is turning the storage unit into our ATTIC for HOLIDAY DECOR.  I do what I can along side of him.  Together we share ideas and get after it.  He's more muscle than me.  There's a great deal to handle in the ATTIC as there are still so many things that needs emptied from the unit.  A little at a time each piece will be dealt with.

Inside the COTTAGE, I am grouping together boxes of items of like kind.  There's a pile of books by the wing chair, boxes of glassware are in front of the corner cabinet in the Dining room that will go to the cellar, a stack of empty storage tubs are by the front door ready to be filled for safe keeping, empty cardboard boxes in a pile, etc.  I'm going to move the dining room table up against Grandma's Sideboard so the area in front of it is used for stacking boxes of this and that of the things that will go to the cellar or turned loss of.

It's a waste of time to take too long to dwell on this matter.  Make it happen quickly if possible. 

I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I DO NOT NEED SO MUCH STUFF JUST TAKING UP SPACE 

AND IS SOMETHING FOR DUST TO COLLECT ON.  Giving to others that need these things is a far better way to live while I am ALIVE.  Nothing can be taken with us to a heavenly realm.

~HEALTH~

Soon, I will receive a Vitamin B12 injection.  Sometime in the near future we will go to Quest Diagnostics to have our Vitamin D levels checked.  Maybe B12 and A1C as well.

The more I research the more I am aware of how Vitamin D deficiencies are present in ill people.  It is a hormone that seems to be ignored by allopathy docs.

Instead of checking for vitamin, mineral and electrolyte deficiencies, one is put on a medication where you still don't fix the root cause of illness.  When you can be healthier by getting your levels at optimal levels, it is ignored unless you get wise to the deficiencies 

and insist doing something about it.

Then there's the thyroid circus.  I've learned that you need zinc, selenium and iron to be in an optimal range or high blood pressure can be a problem.  There' magnesium and potassium issues that add to health problems of high blood pressure.

So at the time, I am engrossed in thyroid, vitamin, mineral and electrolyte issues.  Working at raising Vitamin D and B12 levels.

Be as healthy as you can be.
GOD Bless,

~d

PAMPERING GONE WILD

I CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT WEEK'S COOLER WEATHER.  It can't come soon enough.  We're old and have to baby ourselves when spending time outside.  Pampering gone wild.

Slow down actions and exposure to the HEAT.  Slow it way down.  

Hubby's going the mow our yard and has already made a plan to mow the yard in sections so he isn't in the heat for long.  I'm concerned for his health.  Avoiding a HEAT STROKE.  Our lawn boy is now back in school and can't mow.  Our sweet daughter has mowed a few times for us, but she has her hands full with other matters.  Hubby becomes the physical caretaker.  

I think we ought to get a robot lawn mower to mow.  grins.  I saw one of these in action the other day and thought that's the ticket.

When he gets done and cools off, we'll go to the storage unit to empty the storage tubs that are in the PT Cruiser.  We have to do things in stages.  Tis too HOT to do each project all at once. Staging in phases is one way of doing the stuff that needs done as the sole proprietors of this estate.  While he's outside, I will be organizing the Kitchen cabinet to the left of the stove.  It needs serious attention as it is crammed full of this and that.

Oh to have a certified organizer do this task is tempting.  I could pamper myself really easily. hummm.  Just watch videos about getting organized or read some manuals, right?  Unhuh.  It's not the end of the world...tis a simple thing to want and need to function effortlessly.

I'm trying to make room for a place to store, meds, vitamins and minerals.  It's not going well. Presently the supplements are in a medium size box and elsewhere in the pantry.  I emptied the Kitchen cabinet and stopped, standing there scratching my head how am I going to make it all fit into this tiny space?  Baking ingredients and cooking items are there.  No room for supplements at all.  We have a shelf above the stove that I may take the neat things on there and place things like salt and pepper shakers, cinnamon sugar mix, baking soda and powder, chocolate powder on the shelf.  The larger mason jars of baking and cooking ingredients will stay in the cabinet?  

The story of my life when it comes to making things work.  Each place we have lived has been so different from one another.  What worked for one location may not worked for another.  Seldom does.

Taking ownership of the Kitchen is needed to make this small HOME work for us.  Something that sounds so easy to some, but isn't for me.  It's difficult to make this happen.  Doable, but difficult as I want strict order like Martha Stewart or Marie Condo TIDY, if you know what I mean.  My HOME is well lived in and not a museum.  Perhaps if I visited a KITCHEN MUSEUM it would benefit my efforts.  I can research on the computer to get ideas how to create a sweet KITCHEN from little of nothing.

Why am I making this so difficult?  sigh.  I need it done, so make it happen.  Right?  Shuffle and morph along, sweetheart.

~PAUSE~ 
I thought about it and stared at the shelf above the stove as I was thinking about it.  The if's went wild.  Clearing the shelf above the stove, I measured to see if the tall MASON JARS filled with cinnamon sticks, powdered milk, oatmeal, etc. pertaining to baking that I own, would fit in that space.  Whalaah, they did.  The inside of the cabinet has space now for meds.  The tall jars fit snugly on the shelf.  Looks good to me.  Orderly and easy to get to!  Wow.  I am making HOMEMAKER PROGRESS in a tiny COTTAGE KITCHEN.  I'll go with the flow.  

Now to find places for all the little items that were crammed in the cabinet.  

The elderly HOMEMAKER has gone wild.  

Gone wild, I tell ya.

~d

  

A RECIPE FOR DIVORCE

WELCOME THURSDAY!  Started the day early and felt awful.  Taking LIFE easy as I rest.  So tired.  Pretty sure the traveling caught up with me.  I was too tired to climb back into the car yesterday to travel to Manhattan for a Vitamin B12 injection, but I managed to do so.  Cranky as all get out.  Too tired to be around anyone.  Once I got to Manhattan and got the shot, I relaxed and enjoyed my tea and shopping at HOBBY LOBBY then the grocery store to get more veggies for our week to eat.

Already HL has their CHRISTMAS items for sell at 40% and 50% off.  I purchased ornaments for the Grands under 21 years of age.  I figure that after 21 they don't need ornaments from Granny. Plus the next generation has started so they are receiving FIRST CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS from us.  Then it will be up to their Grandparents to provide these for them if they desire to continue a TRADITION I loved doing each year.  My PARENTS treated my children with ornaments each CHRISTMAS as I did.  

I had hoped to get some more oversized red CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS for the porch, but even at 50% off they were pricey.  A few onion looking ornaments were purchased.  I think I have enough for the porch now.  I can see the porch decorated!  In September the porch needs another serious coat of paint THEN it will be ready in October/November to start hanging lights if we go that route.  

THIS THURSDAY, I stayed HOME over the noon hour with HUBBY out at the storage unit packing up tools from his tool chest that he is moving into our garage, I thought I'd rest up.  It didn't happen.  I am just exhausted from traveling on Tuesday and Wednesday.  After almost three years in storage, the baby tools are coming HOME so we can get our hands on them easier. 

He came in the house sopping wet from working in the heat getting to the tools.  He's napping right now and I'm playing on the computer.  He said he loaded the second cabinet and base of the chest in PETE, our PT CRUISER.  It is wonderful to make it this far.  He'll unload the parts into the garage after his nap.  This is progress for real.

The area in the storage unit where the tool chest was has a hole to fill.  Probably tomorrow, he will take apart the muscle rack that will fill the hole.  To assemble it will take time, some muscle and sweat.  

The CHRISTMAS BOXES I have in our Living room will be transferred to the unit.  This is the start of organizing the DECOR.  I have been thinking about what will go on the porch for CHRISTMAS DECOR.  Newer, oversized ornaments are in storage boxes stacked by the front door ready to go to their new location I re-boxed them a few days ago making progress on how to store them.  Looking good.

The things that will decorate the front porch will be grouped together in the storage unit. Making sense of all this mess will elevate some stress that doesn't need to be in my LIFE.  Lessening STRESS has got to help with high blood pressure. 

I'll have to move in slow-mo getting the other boxes out of the cellar 'cause I'll have to carry them as I climb the steps.  Great exercise.  I know I want to group all the Nativity Scenes together on a metal rack that will be waiting for them in the storage unit.  We have to clean out the entire storage unit first before the tubs can be stored on them.  Perhaps by the end of next week, we will be there.  Getting into September now.  That's a good thing.  Yes, it is.

👰👰👰👰👰👰👰👰

OUR 52nd Wedding Anniversary is fast approaching.  August 31st.  Trying to decide what to do to celebrate.  A good HOME COOKED meal.  Quiet time.  Watching a movie.  Looking at our wedding pictures.  It has been a life time ago we said I do and did.

52 years.  It's been a ride.  I'm ready to forge ahead.  When you are standing at the wedding alter exchanging vows and promises, it would be helpful to have in the wedding vows that you both need to forgive the heartache created while married AND it should also say that forgiveness does not give you the right to be TOXIC and continue being toxic.  Reconciliation cannot take place if both Husband and Wife do not change wrong behavior that's destroying the marriage to better behavior.  It is more than that.  

Simply saying, I'll try harder and then not correcting the wrong, will not create a HAPPY HOME. It is a recipe for divorce.  As the partner being injured by lip service when real change needs to take place or you're going along to get along no matter what, may cause additional emotional issues that injure you even further and destroy your self worth.  A walk down memory lane is not the answer.  Healing may take years to get at.  Years.

Working together for the betterment of the union should be a reality.  Give and take.  Take and give.  Because you are the Wife and the Husband the head, does not mean he gets his way all the time or visa versa with emotional and physical needs ignored.  You are not a door mat.  You are not his Mother either and he's not your Dad.  Neither ONE is a puppet or punching bag. Hopefully, the two of you are a couple partnered as one in a loving relationship of compassion and consideration. ONE.  Being respectful toward each other.  

Hubby is to love, protect, and provide for the Wife.  Wife is to respect her Husband and be a help meet.  Tis easier to do if we do not have hard feelings about being mistreated and abused.  Work together encouraging each other and be evenly yoked where you can flourish.  Amen.

God bless and be real.  
If you do not know what to do when living within a toxic marriage, 

PRAY and ask for wisdom.  You may need professional counseling and support.

If for some reason divorce has to take place,
know that God loves you and will be there for you in your time of need.

Sometimes marriages fall apart and end in divorce.  
Sometimes not, but are horribly difficult to stay in.  

My heart goes out to you,

~d

TOO OLD TO BE TIMID

One of the godliest things I can do right now as a Christian is to turn chaos into order.  
Making our COTTAGE into a HOME is my number one priority.

IN AND OUT OF THE HOUSE.  Where'd the week go?  Doctors' Appointments and tires.  

Monday, I went to my Primary Care Physician about discomfort in jaw and lower case molars since I had my Dentist check finding nothing wrong as to why my lower teeth should be aching off and on the last 6 weeks.  Same with my PCP.  X-rays were taken to check the sinuses.  AOK.  

An EKG was done and I will be doing a treadmill stress test when arrangements are made.  Still waiting to hear from the Hospital.  Slow is as slow does.  Still I don't fully understand why my teeth have been aching.  Perhaps I have been clinching my teeth while asleep and it's causing issues?  Man o' man...tis a mystery STILL.  

With me being winded when walking, Doc finally listened about this. EKG ORDERED and STRESS TEST ORDERED.   

AS an older woman, I started to get agitated that I tell medical personnel about aches and pains and it gets overlooked.  Truly, I am too OLD to be timid or shy with the medical personnel. SPEAK STRAIGHT FORWARD.  Hear me now...believe me later.  

October Thyroid appointment will be coming and I will ask questions as I started getting winded after my thyroid was removed in 2010.  Ummmm 16 years ago.  Hello somebody.  When I ask questions, I don't always get addressed.  This time, I will be firm and take to continued asking until satisfied with answer.  Amen.  

TUESDAY.  A medical appointment for Hubby concerning his MRI and knee issues.  A few things will be tried before going knee replacement route.  

WEDNESDAY.  What did we do?  Oh yes.  New tires for the car.  While Hubby stayed at the TIRE SHOP, I read magazines at the Public Library and bought a $3 book about cupcakes.  I was throughly relaxed sipping a TRENTA unsweetened iced green tea while looking through FREE magazines at the Public Library.  I can't remember the last time I did this.  They have an oversized Reading Room for patrons.  I found a comfortable blue, leather chair to sit in with a small table beside it to sit my tea on while I thumbed through 6 Women's World magazines gathering ideas on how to be more domestic.  MY HOMEWORK for the day.  I left the Library relaxed and ready for Supper at a Mexican Restaurant in the neighborhood.

Chips and salsa first before eating two very small, walking tacos.  Water to drink.  Next door to the Restaurant is a coffee shop where I had a French Soda.  Hubby and I sat for a spell.  

One of these days very soon, I want to be on a slowpoke date with him and deliberately sip French Soda and stare at the ceiling where models of airplanes dangle.  An actual DATE where we sit and chat.  

Drove across the Kansas Prairie toward HOME to pick up some items for daughter.  She called and asked if we'd stop by so she could fix her Dad a coffee and I could play with my grandson. We went for a little while.  

Went HOME to relax and call it a day.  The large, round CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS that will be used for the front porch next CHRISTMAS have been stored in the SHE SHED.  They are being put into a large storage tub that will be taken to the ATTIC.  I worked on emptying them from small plastic boxes they were sold in and dump the ornaments into a large storage tub each time I passed through the Living room to go to the laboratory and back to the TV room.  This technique works for me.  I dump the ornaments into a larger storage tub as I go.  NOW, the large ornaments that were still in their plastic boxes that they were sold in, are emptied and the ornaments settled in a larger storage tub.  It feels awesome to see progress.  I have a few more ornament boxes to empty into larger storage tubs.  Perhaps tomorrow they will find themselves in the NEW ATTIC which is what the storage unit will be called as we get ORGANIZED.  Wordy. Long winded.

Long story short...it has to take place.  QUICKLY.  I am on the verge of screaming which would be a PRIMAL response to stay sane.   I do need to scream once in awhile.  It helps.  

Watched some tele and of course I fell asleep during the show.  WOKE UP for a spell.  It happened again.  Lights out.

Morning will come soon enough and I'll be right back at what ever it is I need to do such as launder some dirty towels and cleanup the Living room where the storage boxes are.  Another load of CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS will be tended to so they can go to storage and are out of the house.  I am aiming for a decluttered house before THANKSGIVING.  Why can't I get there???

AFTER the Holidays, we will begin remodeling the TV room.  Everything will have to be removed from the room and the filthy carpet pulled up to examine what shape the hardwood floor is in. For NOW, I am organizing CHRISTMAS DECOR.  The storage unit is on the agenda of being cleaned-up.  Tis very slow getting around to it.  

One of the godliest things I can do right now as a Christian is to turn chaos into order.  Making our COTTAGE into a HOME is my number one priority.

I can't believe that Friday is tomorrow.  

~d

GOOD-BYE ETHAN ALLEN SOFA, HELLO AFRICAN VIOLETS and LET's GET THIS COLONOSCOPY OVER WITH

PRAISE THE LORD!  The storage unit is empty.  EMPTY!  I stood inside the unit for a very short time after emptying her to admire a EMPTY STORAGE UNIT #42.  Temps outside were HOT and worse inside the unit so I didn't stay long admiring something that took us 3 years to make happen.  Now a memory.  Praise the LORD. 

3 years ago we loaded the unit with our better furniture that would not fit into the COTTAGE that we were not ready to get rid of.  The unit is ready for somebody else to rent out and we can keep our money to use for something else. $$$$$$$$$$$

Since it is MOVE IN WEEK for college kids at KSU, it was impossible to rent a moving van over the week-end.  We tried on Saturday and got nowhere.  Everything was reserved.  Out of luck. 

We tried RESTORE and their driver had a broken knee cap so no driver/truck was available to pick up our donation.  We needed a van to take the sofa to GOODWILL.  That's all we had left to get rid of.  One sofa.  We'd have to wait until Monday morning to get a van.  The Hardware store where the moving vans/trucks are to rent were so busy it was a ZOO.  We had a break-through and managed to load the sofa in the back of the truck with ease.  Next, the sofa went to GOODWILL.  Took the truck to get fueled.  Took truck back to store.  It took a long time to get it checked back in.

When it was finished...it was finished.  Tadaah.  

We have been into our 9th week of working on cleaning out this place.  9th.  NOTE TO SELF: Let that soak in.  This has been our late Spring/Summer project.  Mission accomplished. Congrats to us.  A job well done.  I'm stunned that we made it.  STUNNED.  

OH SO HAPPY THIS IS BEHIND US!!!!!

Afterwards, we went to MENARDS to get some African Violet Potting Soil.  They did not have any.  Disappointed, I had to decide what the next step is to get my hands on some.  We went to a beautiful Nursery elsewhere and bought some.  This week, I will hopefully be repotting my African Violets in new soil and give them a squirt of liquid plant food.  If I can keep the Violets alive, I believe I will be quite glad that I have not killed these lovely plants.

So true.

HERE I SIT.  Prepping for the colonoscopy I'll have later in the week.  My system is really slow to clean out, so I have been prepping since last Thursday.  I went on a low residue diet and have been taking Miralax each day for nearly a week.  It's not working like I thought it would. Shucks.  Two days of liquid diet instead of one.  humpf.

Today, I have not eaten.  Sipped Green Tea and water.  Tonight will be vegetable broth for supper.  Yummers.  I have to tell myself that I am disciplined and can do this NOT EATING THING.

I looked in the pantry and noticed I have boxed soups that I can have after the colonoscopy. This is a JUMP START for me to work toward losing weight.  Another attempt in this BATTLE OF THE BULGE.  I might as well as I have had to change my food program doing a LOW RESIDUE DIET for a week for prepping.  If I stay busy, the day will go fast and I will be alright with not eating.

Time for OFF GRID WITH DOUG AND STACY on YouTube.  They're talking about water quality in their area.  Makes sense.

Have a blessed day.  God bless you.

~d

IS THE DEVIL TRYING TO TAKE YOU OUT?

HEART MURMUR for me.  BOTH OF US HAVE HAD THYROID CANCER. BOTH OF US HAVE TYPE 2 DIABETES.  SPINAL STENOSIS for me. OBESITY FOR ME.  HE HAS non-Hodgkins lymphoma.  GANGRENOUS GALL BLADDER FOR ME. UTERINE CANCER and A HYSTERECTOMY FOR ME. A FOOT INJURY FOR HIM. HIP ISSUES FOR ME. KNEE ISSUES for him. ANKLE DIFFICULTIES FOR ME.  SKIN CANCER FOR HIM.  There's more.    

Do you ever get the idea that the DEVIL is trying to take you out???  I do.

He comes to kill, steal and destroy.  He is the molester of our souls.  God is the one who loves us and shows us a better way to live life.  I choose HIM over the demonic.

I am an imperfect human and so is my HUBBY living in a fallen world, but we are children of GOD so we have HOPE and a FUTURE.  Up until a few years ago, we were pretty healthy and then WHAM, we were not.  If we are children of GOD, why so many health issues?  

ALL THESE HEALTH ISSUES mustn't stop us from being productive and living a joyful LIFE. We pray and heal.  We pray and heal.  We grow in ways that we didn't know existed.  We are to lean on the LORD when we are healthy and when we aren't.  Amen.

We are working hard and heavy to get a storage unit emptied so we have one less bill and are better organized/downsized.  It's a long, hard road, but we are crawling on it to a better way of LIVING even in old age.  Presently, we are eating more wholesome foods for better health. Better informed about what we eat has become a mission in my LIFE turning into a MINISTRY. Being well informed is eye opening that we are being attacked from every angle in our world from food, water, air, clothing fibers, petrochemicals, medicines, pesticides, hormone disrupters, etc.  Just how are we to live? 

I have got to be downsized and living a simpler, healthier LIFE.  ORGANIZED.  Praying as I go.  

AT TIMES, I feel defeated and forlorn.  I mustn't stay in this place.

FRIDAY.  In the middle of the night, a very loud thunder storm hit hard with wild, flashing lightning.  It woke me up long enough to acknowledge we were in the middle of a storm then fell back asleep and stayed asleep until 7.  I was not fearful.  Just sleepy.

My body is a tiny bit sore today as yesterday we were incredibly active for two old peeps taking apart and hauling the bedroom set to RESTORE.  We made two trips from the storage unit to RESTORE.  The headboard went on top of our lil cruiser while the rest of the bed and dresser mirror traveled inside the back of the car.

It did rain while we were traveling down the road to RESTORE.  After this batch was delivered we turned right around and headed to the unit to load the body of the dresser into the car.  For such a tiny car, we have really used her like a truck.  Back to RESTORE.  I felt like I had a weight lifted off my shoulders after we donated the Bedroom Set to them and we were free of it.

On our way HOME, we celebrated with STARBUCKS TEA and went back to the unit to load a small buffet in the back of our car.  All that is left in the storage unit is a ETHAN ALLEN SOFA that I want to keep for now.  Hubby will shuffle the SHE SHED to make room for the sofa.  We have to rent a truck to load the sofa and haul HOME.  I will SWEEP UP the inside of the unit and be done with this one.  May it be today.

We started out with three storage units, a packed full COTTAGE, a crowded garage, stuffed cellar and crammed full SHE SHED after our 2023 exodus from the bigger house in a different community.  I was recovering from a hysterectomy due to cancer.  Hubby was battling non-Hodgkins lymphoma and the both of us have type 2 Diabetes.  Slowly and I do mean slowly we are shuffling our way to being organized and working to make our place a HOME.  

We are down to the wire on freeing ourselves from another storage unit.  The first unit we emptied was in August 2024.  That felt awesome to see an empty unit after we worked on her. AWESOME. We managed to make some sense out of the cellar and inside the 

COTTAGE.  After we sold our lovely house in 2023, I fell on my knee and hip causing tailbone issues then within days Hubby injured his foot dancing on a bean can in the snow in January 2024.  He was working on remodeling our bathroom when this took place.  Next to impossible to do everything.  I had cataract surgeries in March and Hubby continued to hurt for a complete year. Tests were ran, special shoes made, x-rays, MRI, visits to doctors and surgeons.  He chose to not do surgery as the surgeon said he did not know what was wrong with the foot!  The doctor. I came up with tarsal tunnel on my own.  His foot healed.  Praise God.  

Cataract surgeries left me with more visual problems than I had.  sigh.  The adjustments have continued.  2024 turned into 2025.  2025 into 2026.  In 2026 difficulties started with my hip where I couldn't WALK.  X-rays and MRI.  A visit to a surgeon who suggested an injection.  I chose chiropractic adjustments first and healed!  I can walk with little pain.  Nothing like before. I learned I have a rotated hip with one leg shorter than the other.  

I started walking again and then my left ankle flared up.  Working at getting this healed.  

SO as you can tell, we are physically challenged and we have to work with it in order to get things done.  Praise the LORD, we are getting things done.  Slow, but steady.  My attitude has to be adjusted from time to time as I am struggling with how long it takes to get results on and for our estate.

Is the devil trying to take us out?  Yes, but I know someone who is more majestic than the little guy in a red suit with a pitch fork and tail.  I know the devil doesn't dress up for Halloween.  He can be very attractive and sly at the same time.  He is a deceiver for sure.

Here's to a GOD BLESSED DAY and life,

~d 

TOO EARLY FOR AUTUMN

STILL IS SUMMER, but the trees here on the prairie are telling me that AUTUMN is kissing the tips of the branches. Signs of the times are beginning to reveal themselves as the leaves start to change colors.  

Tis SUMMER folks not AUTUMN.  AT night, the tree frogs loudly crock.  They are rather loud, but it is a sound that gets lost in the background and fits into nature's lullaby as we sit inside and watch a movie.  

Can I just sit outside in the dark on the porch swing that we do not have and praise GOD that HE created this magnificent sound?

THURSDAY.  Another opportunity to make things around here a little more comfortable in our HOME.  A beautiful day in the making.  It rained this morning so our lovely daughter will not be coming over to mow the lawn.  She is helping us out by taking on the job.  She has so much going on in her life and now she has offered to mow our lawn.  GOD BLESS HER.  

With their son coming HOME from the Hospital after being hit by a car, he will be recouping at their HOME.  They picked up the mattress and box springs from our storage unit to use for him. Tis theirs now.  We were glad that they can use the mattress/springs.  It's out of the unit now.  

Hubby has plans to work in the garage this afternoon with the outside temps cooler.  We've visited about making trips to RESTORE today to donate the bedroom suite.  It will take approximately 3 trips in our lil Cruiser to deliver the suite.  A day of driving and getting rid of STUFF occupying our storage unit is a blessing.  I usually am the designated driver.  Tadaah.  I know at RESTORE that someone will get some good use out of the furniture at a discounted price.  When we have delivered the set, I can say goodbye to it and be alright.  MOVING ON.  An ice tea will be in order TODAY!

We just might make the end of the month deadline on being finished with the storage unit which surprises me.  Shall see.  That would be awesome.  

🩺 TIME FOR MY COLONOSCOPY.  Every five years I am to have one due to having polyps.  I know I have them.  With all this excitement going on, I am doing a weekly prep for a colonoscopy.  Isn't that a hoot?  My body runs slow at emptying waste products so I cannot just prep for one day.  sigh.  Okay, I'm going to look at this as having a heads up on spa dieting and getting back to clean eating.  I can do  t h i s.

I will be taking Miralax for a week.  A WEEK.  The foods allowed are called LOW RESIDUE for EATING.  The things I will be eating this week are pretty much what I try to avoid as it is full of white food like white bread, potatoes, white rice, pasta, etc.  okay okay.

💉My monthly B12 injection was yesterday.  Quicker than imagined.  In and out of the doctor's office like that.  I THINK I am feeling more energetic.  Now to get my Vitamin D levels up I will be like a teenager again!  

🚗🚗🚗 Afterwards we went to the car wash to vacuum the little cruiser.  She was rather dirty. Looking at her now feels so much better as she actually looks like we care about her.  She was vacuumed then the interior dash and door panels were wiped down.  

We shopped at Target and then Walmart to pick up the things needed for the colonoscopy prep and some new floor mats for our PT Cruiser.  The ones she had were worn completely out.  It had been a day where we had not eaten LUNCH so it was store-bought fried chicken, potato salad and beans for SUPPER. 🐔 Kind of like a late 4th of July meal.

We headed HOME on the back roads and stopped by the storage unit to pick up the drawing table.  She fit in the back of PETE really well.  Another thing out of storage.  Another thing OUT. PTL.  A month ago when I looked inside the unit my brain went numb due to the STUFF we would need to deal with.  So much STUFF.  Tis so much better to be where we presently are. Down to a few items.  Maybe I will relax after this unit is empty.  We have been trying to fit into a tiny COTTAGE and it's not a fit.  When it is, I know I will feel better.  My blood pressure will for sure go down.  When I am not at peace, I suffer.  

🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 The prairie scenery is so pretty this time of year even with the heat.  The trees are so green and beautiful.  The skies are powder blue with wispy white clouds with a gentle breeze. Kansas pleasant.  The landscape on the prairie is so gorgeous.  When AUTUMN does finally get here, I will be traveling to Wichita's COW TOWN to spend a slow day.  I'll pack a picnic lunch and sit a spell.  I LOVE HISTORIC COW TOWN.  Love it.  I think I could live there.  ha.

EARLY SIGNS OF AUTUMN ARE SHOWING IN THE TOPS OF THE TREES as the leaves are starting to turn early.  This can't be.  Some reds, yellows and lime greens are popping up.  Tis SUMMER not AUTUMN.  Hubby says he thinks the chem-trails are the cause.  Conspiracy says so.  The way my government functions, they are allowing chem-trails.  Condensation from aircraft doesn't exactly coordinate with what we know.  

CHANGING OF SEASONS.  It is too early for FALL even if HOBBY LOBBY and SAMS are putting pumpkins and witches out to sell.  Just like that, it's CHRISTMAS. 🎄 As I walked about the stores seeing the merch they are selling, I shake my head and think it's only July.  It's still July, right?  Not for long as time marches on.

I believe I need to make the best of it out of a bad situation.  I have always tried to make the best out of where ever we have lived.  This go round it has been the worst move evah.  Very drawn out and we are the oldest we have ever been.  Age and challenging health does not make it easy.  That saying that old age isn't for sissies is true to the core.   

Now to get ready for the day.  Laundry is in and dishes have been washed and put away.  I took a few pictures to send to my sister so she can see how it looks around here while we are downsizing and organizing.  grins.  📸 Tis a mess.  A really BIG MESS.  I know if I can stay focused, I can get through this interim period of going from settled to unsettled back to being settled.  I get the Living room looking like a living room just to destroy the order as we clean out a storage unit bringing things HOME.  It gets orderly again and then it's not.  Such a stage of life to be in.  

Love,
~d

PIZZA TO THE RESCUE

JUST FINISHED MY LAST SLICE OF ALDI'S PIZZA FOR SUPPER.  I went shopping at Aldi's this afternoon and picked up a pizza.  It's been years since I purchased a pizza from them.  Years.  I figured a Friday night Pizza was in order.  Actually it wasn't too bad. The crust was super thin and baked up rather nice.  

There was plenty for my Husband and I.  It was really nice not having to prepare it or clean-up afterwards.  I have been on the GO and I needed a break.

Yesterday was the BIG DAY at the Doctor's for our yearly physicals.  Passed, but there were some red marks on the lab work which I knew there would be.  Back to taking supplements and etc.  I was dreading the appointment.  Absolutely dreading it.  Got through it just fine, but hey, between hair cuts, physical therapy sessions, shopping, working on clearing out the storage unit, etc. I have been on the go way too much.  

Afterwards, we managed to make a trip to the nearest DUMP to get rid of a broken desk.  It cost us $10 to dump it.  Journeyed back to the storage unit and loaded the dinette set.  I was so excited.  We talked about having the set stripped and refinished.  Still talking about it.  Hubby touched base with the refinisher that did our 2016 fire damaged furniture for a quote.

I cannot in good conscience have this dinette set worked over after hearing what the refinisher is asking to do the work.  We will need to get some other quotes.  Too rich for my blood.  For now, we will live with a very marked up table and two chairs, but they will be in the Kitchen instead of STORAGE!  That's better all the way around. 

PERHAPS ONE DAY OUR KITCHEN WILL RESEMBLE THIS SWEET ONE!

Two days ago, the Dinette Set was in storage.  Tonight, she is sitting in our Kitchen.  Whahooooo. You should have seen us carrying the table through the maze that is presently our Living room and Dining room full of storage boxes.  We carried her part of the way on our heads.  NO JOKE. I suppose we'll feel it tomorrow.  I wish we'd been filmed.  Go to the left, go to the right, right, left, right, straight back, right, left, straight back.  I was walking backwards while carrying the table above our heads so my Husband was my eyes for which way to go.  Touch down and we were in the Kitchen.  Sat the two chairs on top of the table until we can put some more time into getting the Kitchen cleared out so the table and chairs will be used like real, civilized humans.

I know this about me...I can go for a long time under stress and then I can't go anymore.  I am there.  That's why I needed the PIZZA. 

I know the PIZZA is loaded full of NO GOOD STUFF that I should be avoiding, but I decided I'd make it up tomorrow.  I bought Pink Lady Apples, peaches, miniature bell peppers, almond milk, eggs, bottled water.  Eating fruit isn't one of my favorite things to do.  I have to remind myself to eat it.  Doing better on the veggies.  Pacing myself on meats.  Going easier on the breads. Pushing more water.  Occasionally have highly process foods.  Watch out for the seed oils.  No soy, no GMO if I can help it.

BUT FOR TONITE...I will overlook the chemicals in the pizza.

  🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕

🍕PIZZA PLEASE,

~d🍕 

PRANCING ON THE PRAIRIE

DIDN'T SLEEP THE BEST.  Some tenderness with a tooth kept me restless.  If it's not one thing it's bunches more.  Figure I'd best make an appointment to have my teeth cleaned. When I telephoned the Dentist Office, I felt like I just about had to sell a kidney to make a cleaning appointment for Hubby and me.

Shaking my head.  Hubby hasn't been to the Dentist since 2020 and he is being considered a NEW PATIENT with them.  We've been going to this business since 2000.  New Patient.  I don't think so.  I can see going in for x-rays, but for them to call him a NEW PATIENT is being dishonest.  

I had dental work done in April 2025, so I am in their data system.  I am wondering if we need to find a new Dentist or go with it.  Wonder some more.  I will be brushing my teeth with baking soda in preparing for a cleaning.

While I talked to them, I did my part for foot care.  I soaked my feet in tubs of water as I talked to the Dental Receptionist.  No epsom salts, just water.  I thought I could do this for about 20 minutes while I made dental appointments and ended up soaking them nearly for an hour as I was talking to the receptionist about appointments for teeth cleaning.  She got on her computer to check our accounts and that's where we stayed for awhile as she did thus and so making arrangements for x-rays, visits with the doctor on one appointment and a additional teeth cleaning appointments in September.  When I got off the phone, a good 15 minutes had passed on top of already soaking my feet beforehand.

My feet feel absolutely awesome.  Now I can go prancing on the prairie.  

Monday was the hottest day recorded in Northeast Kansas so far this year!  Terribly HOT.  We stayed cool inside the house.  Praise GOD for air conditioning.  Praise GOD.  

I am so satisfied that we got those two large pieces of furniture in place.  So pleased.  I oiled down the Victorian Dresser.  Now I can begin to fill it with family pics.  Hubs is working on putting his art supplies in the High Boy.  Together we are busy. 

As we figured our day and week, he mentioned we need to work on emptying the out-of-town storage unit as we want to be out of it by the end of July.  We have 10 days.  We're in our 7th week of working off and on at cleaning the unit.  I had so hoped we'd not be working on this in the heat of the SUMMER, but it didn't work out that way.  Forging ahead when we can get to it.  

Our day looks like we will be in the neighborhood of the storage unit so we will stop by and pick up a couple of chairs to load in the cruiser to bring back to the COTTAGE.  Tomorrow, Hubby will phone RESTORE and make arrangements with them to come and pick up the bedroom suite.  I can turn loose of it without heartache.  sigh.

That will leave a sofa and mattress with box springs, the dinette set with two chairs, a drawing table and a small buffet to get out of the unit before we can say it is empty.  

When this unit is completely empty and swept clean, I will do a little jig and prance some more on the Prairie as my goal will have been hit.  Praise GOD.  

~d👵

HAPPY THOUGHTS AND PRAISE

TAKING PIECE OUT OF STORAGE AND BRINGING IT HOME

THE WEEK-END COMETH.  Praise the LORD.  I slept in this morning.  It's been a while.  Stayed up for a couple of hours and took a NAP.  Woke refreshed!  Planning my day.

I'v got some serious shuffling to do as we are going to make room for our HIGH BOY piece of furniture in the TV room which means the Antique Victorian Walnut Dresser with Mirror: Renaissance Revival  will have to go into the little Living room/Parlor so we have room for the High Boy.  I'm excited about this as the Victorian piece is rather pretty and I think it will look proper in the Living room where an antique chest is.  What to do with the chest?  Not sure at the moment.  grins.  Here we go a shuffling, a shuffling we shall go.  

The chest is filled with pictures so the Victorian piece will inherit the pictures.  The High Boy will house art supplies beside my Husband's recliner.  This shuffle-roo will take time and muscle.

We brought the High Boy's drawers that were in storage, home yesterday on our way HOME from the medical appointments.  It took us about 15 minutes to load the back end of the car with the drawers then we left the drawers in the car overnight.  We'll bring them inside when the indoor shuffling is complete.  This week-end, we'll have time to move the rest of the piece in two trips.  The High Boy comes apart making it easier to transport in the Cruiser.  

We bought the High Boy over 8 years ago from a Thrift Store where her legs and feet were in rough shape.  Hubby worked her over and we had a lovely piece.  She went into storage over 3 years ago when we started moving large pieces out of the house that we were going to sell.  I've missed the piece and now we have figured out where she can go in the COTTAGE.  Praise the Lord.

When it is set up...we can concentrate on bringing HOME the next pieces of furniture which will be our Dinette Set and placing her in the Kitchen.  This will have a great sense of satisfaction that we are further along on our adventure of settling into our small COTTAGE.  PRAISE GOD.

Hubby showed me a picture of our porch from one year ago.  I was mortified at how awful it looked.  The front steps made of concrete were severely cracked and crumbling.  The actual porch floor was collapsing.  If I do say so myself, today our porch that was rebuilt looks a million times better than it did.  

Later this Summer, the porch will receive another coat of thick paint.  The next step in the porch remodel is to scrape the ceiling paint off and repaint it with a haunt Blue color and install a beautiful hanging lamp.  The front of the house will get painted a fresh coat of paint and the doors will be painted.  

I was in the picture holding 2 balloons in the shape of a 7 and 0 for 70.  I was getting ready to release the balloons into the air as I had celebrated with the balloons for a couple of weeks.  They were deflating.  We watched as the balloons floated upwards into the heavens after I released them.  They stayed a float for a very long time.  

I hated the way I looked in this picture.  I was overweight and seriously fatigued.  It showed.  It's not wrong to want to be HEALTHY.  I do desire health.  Getting there will be another area in my LIFE that needs worked on.  Am I lazy or do I not feel well?  Both. 🤼 

I'm still obese and fatigued.  This is the year I will see if I can reduce my weight by 100 pounds in a healthy way.  Journaling with pictures.  Exercises and balanced diet.  Vitamin B12 shots and supplements.  Spring water and rest.  Prayer and decluttering.  Organizing and downsizing. Happy thoughts and praise.  

HAPPY THOUGHTS and PRAISE on the way,

~d🌹