HAPPY 'BOUT DAT ON THE LAST MONDAY OF THE MONTH

AS I SIT INSIDE MY COTTAGE WITH THE WINDOW OPEN, I can easily hear the birds chirping a melody.  Tis music to my ears.  So peaceful.  I feel like it ought to be a Sunday morning, but tis Monday, the last Monday of the month.  Memorial Day is upon us as we can gratefully remember those who died serving our country.  

somber pause

OVER THE WEEK-END.  We had such a nice day going to Marion over the week-end to clean around the tombstones and wipe the stones down to decorate them.  

I crave more days like the one we had.  It was a great day considering what we were up to. Traveled to Marion, ate and had hot tea in a beautiful Victorian house, went to the cemetery to clean tombstones and decorate some graves.  Drove about the cemetery viewing the burial sights of family members.  Toured the town and remembered.  Drove to a different community to view my favorite cousins burial sight.  Ate a delicious hamburger at a small Mexican Restaurant in Hillsboro.  Shopped at Walmart before returning HOME.  

We cannot take any of our earthly possessions with us when we pass on into eternity so I am again reminded to live the best LIFE I can right now.  Simplify.  The decluttering our property seems more important than ever.

SUNDAY came and I received a phone call from my Mom telling me that my 67 year old sister-in-law had a stroke.  Stunned.  She's not heavy in any way.  Rather petite.  I phoned my brother and visited with him and then telephoned him again in the evening to get the details.  She's HOME now.  She'll have to do speech therapy.  Other than this, I'm not sure what lies ahead of her recovery.  She was still employed and working as a nursing instructor.  That may be on hold for now.  The path she is on now has changed directions.  pause.

In a split second all can change.  Praying for them.  My family is getting older and there is no time for grudges or having hard feelings.  It may take a life time to get to where I am a better and quicker at changing feelings about having no hard feelings about this 'n that.  Processing emotions. 

HUBBY IS PLANTING HOSTAS ALONG THE SHADY SIDE OF OUR SWEET LITTLE COTTAGE this afternoon.  In the last few days, he removed left over lumber from the porch rebuild and worked over the soil preparing it for the plants.

He successfully completed the soil prep and today he plans to get the Hostas in the ground. Happy 'bout dat.  Another sweet victory.

I'll be going to the track to walk that one lap after a OATMEAL BREAKFAST.  A medium sized bowl of oatmeal with sliced almonds, blueberries, cinnamon, cocoa, maple syrup, almond milk. Yummers.

If you're going to have a berry, blueberries it will be.  I'm actually getting excited about going to the track for my short walk.  I'm back at baby steps and working toward a mile.  My hip episode did a number on me.  LIFE does this, huh?

After the walk, I'll cool off and return HOME to take a peek inside the garage to see what has got to go to empty the place so boxes of our precious cargo can rest neatly there for the time being. Hubby suggested that the muscle racks we have be placed along the wall of the garage for the things we want to keep.  Getting to the place where we know what we're doing with the stuff is a VICTORY.

It has been a slow time in coming.  What a difficult move this was and still has been.  DIFFICULT.  

Plans for the week are in the making.  Today is our time for MEMORIAL DAY.  Will do.  Our special remembrance meal is planned for this afternoon.  

MEAL AND DESSERT ALLOWED.  All meat Hot Dogs on buns, potato chips, baked beans, potato salad.  Lemonade.  Dessert later in the day of chocolate cake and vanilla ice-cream.  

TO-DO LIST for the week.  
Memorial Day.  
Hostas planted.
Garage inventory investigated.
Clearing out the garage.
Decluttering/Downsizing.
Walking.
Exercising.
Eating greens throughout the week.
Paying for the cars tags at the Court House.
Working on the BUDGET on Wednesday.
Praying.

God bless you and your family,

~d