SUDDENLY...

LAST NIGHT WE WATCHED A MOVIE THAT MADE ME CRINGE. Winning Best Film, Best Male Actor and Best Director in 2016, The REVELANT was our pick for the day.  There is a scene where a bear attacks the actor Leonardo DiCaprio's character Hugh Glass which is beyond realistic.  Extremely believable.  Extremely.  More action than I could handle.  

Truthfully, I watch entirely too many movies.  I could probably be a movie CRITIC.  In a way everybody is as we all have an opinion about what we watch.  

My time can be used more wisely.  Can I switch gears and do something else with my TIME? Yes. Absolutely.  Visual stimulation has had a hold on me for years.  Being human, I am caught up between telling myself that so much TV is acceptable verses the opposite.  I should be doing something else of greater importance.

Today is Friday!  The week flew.  Back to working on the storage unit that is now OUR ATTIC. Getting ready to take a load to storage.  Praise the Lord and a huge hug to my Husband for making the space become our attic.  He made progress.  He disassembled a muscle rack and hauled it to storage, sat it up and started loading it with tubs.  Took some pics to show me. Looked great.  

Our plan is to continue clearing out things out of storage that do not belong in an attic. Relocating decorations there is on the menu.

Still, I am unsettled that this is taking so long and there is much to do to get the finished results. The garage is in a terrible mess, the storage unit is still in the works and the interior of our COTTAGE looks like hoarders dwell here.  gulp.

My strength is gone.  I need restored.  Refreshed.  Here's to a suddenly.  Make the order appear. I shall see how far we get today and over the week-end.

I have been in this mess longer than I can bare.  Being realistic about downsizing and making order isn't going well.  Help.  

God bless you.

~d   

WISH GRANTED

MIDDLE OF THE WEEK COLONOSCOPY!  So glad it's over.  Prepping for this was a long drawn out thing.  I did the low residue diet for a week on top of taking Miralax each day then drank only clear liquids for two days, took Magnesium Citrate the day before the procedure pushing the Ducolax and Gatorade with Miralax.  By the time I arrived at the surgical center, I was beyond ready for this procedure to be over.

The night before was awfully short.  4 AM wake up time so I had time to get ready for the big event and travel into Manhattan.  Procedure started at 7:20 AM and I was in recovery by 7:35. Polyp taken out.  Groggy and munching on a granola bar.  Health report will be in a week.  If everything goes well, I'll see you in another 5 years. 

The night before, I made plans to eat real food at a local restaurant for Breakfast then go HOME and take a NAP.  Wish granted. 

I rested for the day and watched THE LEISURE SEEKER with Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland.  It was very realistic, funny and sad at the same time.  She has terminal cancer and he has Dementia.  Together they are on their last vacation together.  The ending wasn't what I would have had it be, but then I didn't write the script.

The Leisure Seeker follows an elderly couple, John and Ella, as they take one last road trip from Massachusetts to Key West in their aging RV. Along the way, they rekindle their bond, share memories, and face personal struggles—his with memory loss, hers with illness—while encountering moments of humor and revelation. Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland’s performances are praised, but critics note the film’s predictability and uneven tone, making it appealing mainly for its leads’ chemistry. 

How quickly this week has gone.  

~d

ROSCOE P. BUMPERCROP AND A MOVIE THAT MADE ME CRY

IT'S THURSDAY, RIGHT?  Right.  It was when I was typing this.  I have to check the calendar once in a while to verify the actual day.  Thursday.  The sanitation workers with the trash truck rumbled by our place this morning to stop and pick up the green dumpster of trash. It was overflowing as last week the container was not dumped.  Lapse of memory. For only two people living in the same house, each week we have a lot of trash to get rid of.  It seems like a lot to me.  

When I throw trash into the indoor waste can, I try to condense the space it takes in each bag.  I believe I will have to work at this some more to get the container to hold more than it does.  I use plastic trash bags and even though I try to limit fragrances, these waste bags have such a nice smell to them that I can't complain much about how terrible this is for our health.  This is one exception I will make.

Today, is a slow paced day as my hip is causing issues with getting around.  I need to make the bed up with fresh sheets and I may have to have my assistant long arm the fitted sheet so it goes over the corners.  Not sure I can maneuver this.  I will be trying out the new thrift bedspread to see how it looks on our little bed in the pink room.  The spread has some pink in it.

I wish I had picked up two soft green throw pillows that were at the thrift store to use on the front porch.  Too late, I left them behind and I doubt that they will be there if I went back.  Too cute and too good of a price for someone to not take them.  Pillows are in abundance, so I will let this go. 

Hubby let me know he needs to return some garage door henges so we decided to go to Topeka, have lunch, stop by God's Storehouse for thrift, Starbucks, return the henges at Home Depot, and head HOME.  Purchase a phone card and pick up the mail from the Post Office.

I picked up the two green throw pillows I was looking at earlier in the week and bought them. Happy they were still there.  I don't have to let them go.  

There he was waiting for me, Roscoe P. Bumpercrop stuffed Bunny came home with me for Easter decor.  

 My hip was hurting by now.  Time for ibuprofen and icing my hip.  Rest my bod.  I did.  

I've been meaning to plant some plant cuttings I wintered on the kitchen window ledge in glass jars filled with water.  All rooted out.  I've been saving Harney and Sons Tea tins for something. Looks like these will work nicely for baby plants.  I filled three of them with plants and one cutting I started over with.  She'll get planted in a tin after it roots out.  

Finished making the bed in the pink room with fresh sheets that I think have shrunk a little.  I may have to purchase some deep pocket ones that fit better.  The thrift bedspread I bought the other day is covering the mattress and I like it.  It perks the room up.  

I ended the day by watching the movie, THE BUCKET LIST.  Though I've seen it before, I'd watch it again.  A lot of life's lessons are portrayed in this film.  Rating it an A plus.

Overall, I had a very good day.  

Tomorrow is here.  On the agenda will be a Shampoo with a new shampoo, paperwork, some laundry, and some quiet time. 

All the best to you,
~d 

 

 

UP EARLY TODAY.  Fasting for labs.  Sometimes I am not hungry until late in the morning, but for some odd reason, this morning I am hungry.  Have to tell myself to be quiet as I am FASTING!  LABS this morning.  I'll drink lots of water as to hydrate myself so when the techie draws blood it won't hurt as much.  Hopefully.

Afterwards, we'll make a date out of the trip to TOPEKA.  Tis Senior discount day at GOD'S STOREHOUSE.  We'll probably get a green tea and munch LUNCH.  I need to go to SAM's as well.  Need to visit MENARDs to check on special garage doors for our property.  Hubby will be replacing our's this month or next.  I think we'll keep the day simple and return to tidy on our HOME.

There's laundry to fold, dishes to wash, and boxes to put away.  The front steps of the porch need washed as birds have used them as a toilet.  The little darlings are aggressive this season.  Each morning I can hear them chirping very loudly.  Some geese just flew over the house.  Not sure where they are headed to.

Over the week-end, as we were driving through Bartlesville, Oklahoma a deer darted across the road as we were slowing down for a traffic light.  She wasn't hit by any cars, but it sure was a close call as she ran between automobiles.  This is something I don't see everyday.  Kind of scary, as I would not think that deers would be running across a city street causing issues for cars and peeps.

BACK TO OUR SMALL TOWN AMERICA.  Walking.

I walked a mile yesterday in the beautiful SPRING-LIKE weather at the track.  The temps hit in the 70s on Monday.  It was welcomed by many.  I walked then went HOME to cool off and clean up to go on a VALENTINE'S DATE with my SWEETHEART.  We went to see a movie, dine-in as we watched, do a little shopping afterwards and return HOME.

Enjoyed the movie very much as it was a GOOD MOVIE worth seeing and I was with my Hunny.  SOLO MIO.  
 

We had decided that we'd eat a hamburger at the movies for an early supper.  No clean-up.  I didn't eat all of my French Fries, but did snack on POP CORN and Raisinets.  I figured the raisins would be healthier than no raisins.  What say you?

Left the movie theatre with a smile on my face as it was a decent movie and as we walked to our car, the weather was so pleasant I couldn't help but smile.

Went to TARGET to purchase some more STORAGE TUBS.  Gonna get this downsizing thing under control.  Praise the LORD.

Tuesday...was a day to get labs, eat a healthy breakfast at FIRST WATCH and go to GOD'S STOREHOUSE where I purchased 3 Spring tops for me, 3 items for my youngest grandson, a KING size blanket, and a couple of cookbooks.

Went to SAMs and MENARDs.  I got swept away by a massage chair at MENARDs.  It was like a free massage for 30 minutes.  I left wanting one of these chairs.  No kidding.  Not sure where I would keep a chair this size.  It would be awesome to own one.

 

 

AT HOME.  I did get a bit frustrated when TRYING to fold a fitted bed sheet in our living room.  There's not much standing space to even fold a sheet while standing up.  I'm working at getting neater at this thing called being a HOMEMAKER.  

I rewatched some videos on how to fold fitted sheets.  They are as varied as they can be.  I believe I found a method that will work just fine for me in the year 2026.

With Wednesday being near, I will walk a mile, do some laundry, fold more sheets and place them in special sheet containers, continue to tidy the house.  Eat a large salad.  Lord willing.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  I shall not be in need.

Mid-week,
~d

TOYS AND A MOVIE

THINNING OUT THE TOYS.  I had been putting it off until this evening.  I went through the toys rather fast and made quick work of it.  As for the dinosaur items I have for lil Dude, I found a better tub for these.  This tub is completely for dino things.  A pillow with dinosaurs on it and a blanket will stay in the tub.  A backpack full of plastic dinosaurs that roar, a pull apart jumbo egg holding more dinosaurs, a large book about dinosaurs.  

Between toy trucks, cars, faux food, dishes and dinosaurs, he has plenty of toys to play with when he comes to visit.  He's at the age that he likes playing with play-dough, coloring and having books read to him.

Yesterday, he stopped by to say hi and he saw a jar full of sea shells.  He wanted to take one home with him, but I told him these were Grandma's and he can look at them.  This gave me an idea that when he comes to visit next I'll let him take the shells out of the jar and look at them closer.  I forgot that last Summer his folks took him to the beach.  

I also have a jar with rocks that have words engraved in them which I will let him look at next time.  He might like this as we can read the words on them and begin to identify some letters.  At 4, I think he is old enough to start recognizing letters.  

I continue to tidy on the house and think of when the house will be like it should be.  Oh HAPPY day, I shall be waiting for that day which hopefully will come sooner than later.  

This evening, I watched a good 2024 movie, THE PENGUIN LESSONS.  I liked it.  Based on a true story.

~d

 

PEKING POT ROAST FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE

POT ROAST!  End of the year MEAL for New Year's Eve.  I'll need to travel to Manhattan, KS this afternoon to get a pot roast (chuck) to fix for New Year's EVE.  I'll marinade it tonight in the fridge with vinegar, garlic and onion then before cooking it on New Year's Eve I'll pour off the vinegar adding 2 cups strong coffee plus 2 cups water.  Heloise's PEKING POT ROAST. 

Before leaving, I'll check my refrigerated fruits and vegetables to make sure I'm stocked up for the new year to come.  Day one on January 1st I will need plenty of the correct foods to eat for the Daniel Diet.  I will eat legumes, seeds, nuts, fruits and vegetables.

A much earlier post shares about Heloise's PEKING POT ROAST.  Remember Heloise? https://homehavenministry.blogspot.com/2013/09/hello-heloise.html

SINCE I'll be on the Daniel Diet for at least 21 days, I believe a POT ROAST MEAL will be a good send off for me before I fast from meat, dairy, and grains.  I'll be staying away from restaurants and fast food restaurants.  I will need to detox from these and that means staying away from them as best I can.

The month of January has a granddaughter's birthday meal and a granddaughter's Baby Shower. How will I survive?  I can take a small salad for one, but how will I escape cake?  This will be a true test avoiding cake.  Hope they have a veggie tray.  Perhaps I'll take a baggy of raw veggies to snack on so I am eating when the other guest are.

I'm trying to avoid getting into this trap.

I'll be able to have SMOOTHIES made with ALMOND MILK instead of cow's milk and yogurt on this Daniel Diet.  

Substituting will be a part of this diet.

All these foods are doable while on the Daniel Diet.

🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴

I want to take time out during this new year to watch videos about preparing meals I have no knowledge about that are leaning toward no carbs, no dairy, no sugars or grains.  Annette Reeder comes to mind.  

In the middle of January the Public Library is going to sponsor a 2 hour seminar about canning. I might go to this.  

I'll be checking into a grocery stores Nutritionalist and see what they have to say about nutrition. I'd really like to go to some health food stores presentations which are free.  I believe I need a refresher course of some type to improve my skills.

🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴🪴

On MONDAY, I had a YAG procedure on my right eye to hopefully fix the complications I have from the 2024 Cataract surgeries.  I've prayed this procedure improves my vision.  I was nervous, but think I got through it alright.  Afterwards I wore sunglasses and went to lunch with my driver, Hubby.  He wanted Chinese, so he got it.  Then we went to GOD'S STOREHOUSE.  Pick up a GAP vest jacket for Junior and two pairs of sweatpants.  Bargains.  A miniature doll was bought and a pair of earrings for oui.  TODAY, I've laundered the clothing for Junior and all washed up super.

On our way HOME, we stopped off at FLORENCE ADAMS in St. Marys for their CHRISTMAS sale.  Two beautiful CHRISTMAS greenery sprigs with pinecones, some red & white mailing string and a SPODE Christmas ornament for 50% off were my spoils for the day.  

HOMEWARD BOUND.  

Got HOME and rested.  Watched a very good movie, the 2023 drama THE LONG GAME with Dennis Quaid.  Super good movie with a good storyline based on a true story.  Well worth watching.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Game_(film)

Slept through the night and woke extremely tired.  I think the eye procedure wore me out.  I've got to get around and get on with this day.  Smile and seize the day.  Here's to LIFE.

To GOD be the glory, great things HE hath done,

~d 

 

SADNESS WITH DEPRESSION, GERONIMO and GENERAL CROOK'S MANSION

ON MY WAY TO THE DOCTOR'S.  For the last few days I have been extremely sad which is turning into a low grade depression.  I have had infection in my body before where this happens.  Is that a weird symptom or what?  WHAT.

There's a spot in my lower abdomen that has become extremely tender to the touch and is aching.  Having headaches, nausea, chills and now sadness.  I looked this up about depression from gut issues and yes, it can happen.  I need an antibiotic.  Think I have infection with diverticulitis.   

While I'm in Manhattan, I will run some errands.  Not sure I'll walk today when I get back to my stumping grounds.  Shall see how it goes. Still working on the COTTAGE decluttering.  Perhaps if a antibiotic helps I will gain my strength and get things done quicker.  That would be such a HUGE blessing for sure.

I watched OFF GRID WITH DOUG AND STACY last night.  They have built a new house/cabin and will be moving into it soon.  Lucky them. He wanted more ground and it sounds like they got it. Anyways.  I pick up tidbits of knowledge from these two homesteaders.  Stacy is really good about sharing info on herbs.  Doug has been more into current events as of late.  He's onto something.  

MOVIE TIME:

MOVIE TIME was an 1993 Western/ War film about Geronimo: An American Legion starring Wes Studi as Geronimo, Jason Patric, Matt Damon, Gene Hackman as General Crook, Robert Duvall.  Damon was very young in this movie.  The costuming was authentic and the cinematography beautiful.

 

As for General Crook, we toured his Omaha mansion years ago.  I had an early appetite for historical houses back in the day that hasn't been satisfied. 

He was treated quite well for serving the United States Government.

Not all did so well.  

I wouldn't mind touring it again to refresh my memory about the state of the art mansion in Omaha.

TRUE blessings to you as you live LIFE,

~d

PORCH FOUNDATION, MARY JANE'S and CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES

A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A SUNDAY.  

With the wind slightly blowing, it's about 62 degrees outside.  Off on a walk I shall go. Afterwards, I'll cool off and cleanup.  I won't have to fix LUNCH today as my Husband and Son will get a steak and I'll stay HOME for some quiet time.  Our Son has been helping us by rebuilding the Cottage's stone foundation under the front porch.

Hubby told him that when this was finished they'd get a steak.  No complaints.  The rest of the rebuild of the porch might start this week.  That would be amazing.  They have worked incredibly hard on this project.  Hubby was under the front part of the house yesterday crawling around working on foundational stuff.  This in itself is hard work for a 70 year old guy.

Having our Son HOME to help with this project is a GOD SEND.  SO very THANKFUL.

I had to go shopping yesterday to get a POT ROAST for Monday and a few other goodies.  I stopped off at the THRIFT STORE in Wamego looking for discounted bluejeans and walked out with a $5 pair of black MARY JANE shoes for myself.  When purchased new the Mary Jane's go for between $69 to $130.  These are really cute, look brand new and very comfortable that I will wear on dressier days.  No jeans for me.  I purchased a canvas shopping bag, the shoes and a 2.5 pound hand weight.  Enjoying THRIFT SHOPPES.  

Filled the car with fuel.   Dropped the mail off.  Ran the car through the car wash.  Stopped off at the Hardware store to look for leather work gloves.  Drove over to Manhattan's Menards for gloves.  Stopped by Walmarts for a Pot Roast, Arizona Tea, an onion, potatoes, bluejeans. Buzzed into the Dollar General.  Drove HOME.  Unloaded the spoils and rested before fixing Chicken Salad Sandwiches for Supper.  Had chips and salsa.  Figured the salsa was a good vegetable to have.  

The Chicken Salad turned out super good.  Proud of myself.  I started off with a bowl to add salt, pepper and about 1/4th cup of sugar in.  Added 2 cans of drained chicken to the spices which I blended well the ingredients together making sure the chicken was well shredded.  About 1/2 a cup of mayo was added and mixed in well.  Then a handful of sliced red seedless grapes and slivered almonds were added.  Spread some of the mixture on sour dough bread and called it good.  Yummers.  No complaints for a sandwich.  I didn't have any celery to add.  I usually add slices of celery and water cress for crunch, but hey I didn't miss it. 🥪

  

Watched late night MISSION IMPOSSIBLE and went to bed.  Way busier than I like.  Lots of background music and so many gunshots.  Action packed.

PLANS FOR THE WEEK.  A broken record repeats.  I'll work on the front bedroom and exercise. Tadahhh.  May all go well.  I've been at it again doing mental gymnastics thinking about how to go about making sense on the shuffling in the front bedroom.  I pray to be successful and hope I never have to do this much shuffling again.  Evah.

AS FOR SPIRITUAL SUNDAY.

FOOD.  Getting ready to prepare the Pot Roast to soak in coffee overnight.  I won't be adding garlic cloves.  An old Heloise TRICK for making pot roast taste better.  The overnight soak adds extra flavor to cheaper cuts of meat.  After looking at the prices of meat at the store, I am convinced that prices have sky rocketed.  Kind of scary.  I think I had better shop around to see if I can get a side of beef from a local farmer that grass feeds their cattle.  There will be a waiting list so I best get on it.

Overall a very good day for me.  

~d

 

HOPES AND DREAMS OF IMPROVING OUR FIXER UPPER IN SMALL TOWN AMERICA

WASHED THE MASON JARS WITH HOT SUDSY WATER AND RINSED, RINSED, RINSED THEM.   Filled them with veggies and fruit.  Rearranged my fridge finding a neat place for the jars all on the same shelf.  Looks great to me.  Functional and ready to use.

I forgot to get blueberries and more strawberries.  Back to the grocery store in a few days to fill my order.  

The Coleus I had rooting out in jars of water over the Summer and partial Fall have been discarded.  They served their purpose.  Cleaned the window ledge.  Sure needed it.  

With the temps outside starting to dip into the 40s, it won't be long before it hits the 30s.  With the house all torn up, I can't place my geraniums in the large galvanized container that's in a cart in the dining room like I had planned.  Better figure this one out before the temps dip.  Scratching my head.  I'd hate for the large geraniums to die due to frost and one day soon that will be here.

Outside the temps are much cooler than they have been.  Tis wonderful.  No rain today.  

Hubby is patching the wall in the pink bedroom.  Maybe this evening we will sit the bed up so our company has a bed to sleep on!  The sheets are getting laundered right now.  This shuffling is slow, but constant.  Oh happy day when it is all done.  HAPPY HAPPY.

After Hubby gets the wall patched he will return to rebuilding the stone foundation that lies under the front porch.  We were just talking about this project and having a new front porch.  We have four porch columns purchased and now the spindles.  The porch wood as well.  We're in hopes of having the porch completed by THANKS GIVING.  While he works away on this, my job is to assist him anyway he needs and to go through the boxes in the front bedroom.  I pray I make huge progress on this.  Pray. 

We've had so many medical appointments in the last couple of months that it takes so much of our time where the house projects aren't getting worked on as much as they need.  Just a fact of life.

I cleaned the marble sink vanity in the bathroom this morning and cleaned the toilet so our company will have the use of a clean bathroom.  I still have the tub to clean.  Taking a break and catching my breath.  

Ate some leftover chili for lunch.  No Breakfast today.  Just HOT Hibiscus Tea.  Loving it.  Supper...probably baked chicken, brown rice, salad and water melon for dessert.

When looking at other people's homes and lawns I should never under estimate how hard they have had to work to get the finished look they have.  Perhaps this isn't even their finished look they want as they are morphing along.  Anyways, I admire what I'm seeing. 

HOME is where I need to be.  I have hopes and dreams of improving our place in small town America.  Now to get back at cleaning the bathroom and doing another load of laundry.  I will need to purchase a plastic tub to soak my mattress pad covers in and sheets in.  To get the yellow out of these articles, I believe I will start with soaking them over night and then using the washing machine cycle like normal.  May it work like a charm.

MOVIE TIME.  Should have had some popcorn.  Watched the 2025 movie THE LOST BUS based off a true story.  I asked if it were directed by Steven Spielberg as he always has extremely active movies to his credit.  It wasn't, but if I were to guess, I'd say he did direct it.  It was too much for me and my 'ole tired body.  Not for me.  THE THRILLER WENT ON FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR TOO LONG.  

MAKE OVERS.  For now, I really enjoy seeing the results.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

 I wouldn't mind a MAKE OVER.  

For now, the HOUSE is getting one.

~d

LACK OF RESPECT and FINALLY IT'S FRIDAY

Isn't it rather comforting to get more comfortable in your own skin as you age?  A big yes right there. Being stuck in your ways may mean something else to the one that looks like they are stuck in their ways compared to the ones who are thinking that they are stuck.  Wisdom that is contained in an older body sometimes is not appreciated by a younger generation.  The loss for respect for elders is prevalent.

FINALLY FRIDAY?  There was a time that FRIDAY couldn't happen fast enough.  As an older person, I am in a different category altogether.  The days slip by faster than I want.

This week, I didn't feel desperate about waiting for FRIDAY to arrive because this week has flown right on by and I am in disbelief another week has vanished.  POOF.  Gone forever.  How'd that happened?  I dunno.  Don't know.  Blink...she's gone.

True, I am moving rather slow these days, but this week flew right on by.  Unbelievably fast.  

I move so much slower than when I was young and it doesn't take as much effort to wear out where I need a break.  This Friday, I had a surprise visitor.  My 3 year old grandson popped in while his daddy helped hubby jack hammer the front porch steps.  I didn't mind babysitting as this was my way of helping rebuild the porch.

Hubby needed help with this huge project and I couldn't run a jackhammer nor could he. Extremely HARD WORK tearing down the front porch.  Makes me hurt to see him work so hard to make this take place.

Lil Dud played dinosaurs with me, I read to him, watched some cartoons, played more dinosaurs, fed him lunch.  Overall he was here for about 6 hours.  The HE MEN got the front steps dismantled.  

This porch project is more than I ever imagined.  Hubby thinks so as well.  He'll be beat tomorrow.  I pray I am not as I have to make huge progress on that front bedroom.  Right now I am folding the excess bedding figuring out where to go with it when the bedroom returns to being a TV room. 

Our little COTTAGE lacks storage.  I may have to refold the quilts to fit in the book shelve's cubby holes to display them.  The overhead shelves in the closet are spoken for.  I no longer have a wardrobe to store them in as this piece of furniture burned to a crisp in the 2016 house fire. 

This storage issue is something that has to morph along as we go.  I miss the closets I had in our big house.  Who wouldn't.  Going from 6 closets to what we have now is a challenge.  Can I turn loose of much to fit in here?  For the time being I have to or find new ways to store items and it's not going so well.  sigh.  The items I do have need to be of good quality and let the lesser value items go.

A few days ago, we had 4 medical appointments in one day.  As we sat by the hospital elevator to rest, we sat holding hands.  A woman with her elderly parents asked us if we were newly weds because we were holding hands.  grins.  51 years for us.  If you're aiming for 100 years together, then we are still in the newly wed range. sorta.  kind of.  grins.

Prepping for next week's medical appointment where I will have questions for my thyroid connection.  I had started gathering info about thyroid drama 4 months ago and here it is the Friday before I go in to chat with the APRN.  I do believe I cannot BELIEVE this happened. Wake up, my dear.  In order to stay on top of things, I have to pace myself.

Too easily things these days get away from me.  Peace and be of good cheer.  You're alright to have some surprises.

Tis rather HOT still.  The early morning temps quickly raise to uncomfortable heat.  I cannot walk out of doors when it is 80 degrees as my bodily thermostat is broken and I sweat rather easily as my

 body temps rise.  

I've been exercising with a group of ladies twice a week.  During the warm ups, I quickly warm up to the sweating stage before the others.  This is a headache and a half.  Sweat running into my eyes isn't my cup of tea.  

I was wobbling last time as I walked to my car when class was over.  We wore ankle weights and used hand weights.  After we warm up, we're doing squats into a chair.  20 squats is way too much for me not having worked at squats.  My thighs were wobbly.  I'm not sure I can keep up.

The hand weights didn't bother me and I have plans to continue doing this at HOME.  I can do this and need to.

Plans for today?  Yep.  I always have them.  Laundry, paying some bills, walking and continue cleaning on the front bedroom.  I WILL EAT A HUGE SALAD TODAY!  I WILL EAT A HUGE SALAD TODAY!!  I WILL EAT A HUGE SALAD TODAY!!!

Last night on my computer, I watched ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: The Good Stars.  I loved it. Martin Sheen's portrayal of Matthew has found a tender place in my heart as Anne's inquisitive approach to life follows when seeing Marillo's heart warm.   The movie is Family Friendly and well worth watching.  This time era with the costumes and interiors are soothing to me.  The out of doors cinematography is gorgeous calling my name.  I will watch the third installment of this series in a few days.  Wished there had been more episodes of this wonderful story line.  Like the Waltons.

Best get after my day.  I need to jot out some bills to drop in the mail.  

Blessings to you,

~d

SHUFFLING FURNITURE IN OUR SMALL FIXER-UPPER COTTAGE WITH ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

SUNDAY WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE.  ahhhh. My heart is singing. THANKFUL we got so much done.

Hubby made the trip to the HARDWARE STORE for the supplies he needed.  I stayed HOME for some quiet time that I sorely needed.  I didn't get my hair shampooed so I'll try again.

I got dressed and groomed, placed some laundry in and blogged.  Time out.  After LUNCH we slide the bulky Queen size mattress and boxed springs into the pink bedroom, but first boxes in the front Bedroom had to be removed out of the way.  Living room furniture and Dining room items in the way had to be shuffled to make a safer path for its new destination.  That in itself felt like a great accomplishment.  

When the two pieces were propped up in the pink room, I was thankful we got this far. The long awaited task was DONE.  Made my heart sing a grand melody.  Satisfaction flooded my soul. This had been on my mind for months and finally happened.  Not bad for two old people with ailments.

We carefully carried the headboard, footboard and side boards into the room placing them right beside the mattress and box.  A good feeling.  Look at that.  We made progress into turning the small TV room into a much needed Bedroom AGAIN.  It's been a year since we disassembled the Victorian Bed room and made a TV room.  Lived with it this way for a year and decided that the other Bedroom is better use of space for our TV room/Family room, but this time the Bedroom will be filled with 1930s furniture that belonged to my Hubby's Grandparents.  

Next the chest of drawers would be moved out of this room and into the small pink Bedroom. We took the 4 large drawers out of the piece and wheeled it into the pink room then placed the drawers back into the body of the piece.  Another accomplishment.  I cleaned the vacuum out so it would suck up old dirt in the corner of the room where this piece had sat.  Ready for its replacement, the Victorian dresser.

A path has been cleared out of the front Bedroom that is crammed full of this and that.  Wished I had snapped a pic so you could see the disaster that looks like hoarders live here.  Help somebody.  I can see the wall on the other side of the room where the chest of drawers was.

We had to detach the Victorian mirror from the body of the Victorian dresser that sat in the pink room.  This piece is extremely heavy.  The mirror came off then the marble slab top was removed and carried to the front bedroom.  The large heavy drawers were removed and carried to the front bedroom.  We wheeled the body of the dresser into the room and assembled the piece back together placing it in the new corner location.  Everything went well.  No breakage or injury. PTL.

After we got this far we took the evening off.  Feeling good about what we got done today on swapping the rooms.  We talked about the next step toward this task.  I'll clean off the vanity that is still in the front room then shuffle it into the pink room.  I figure that after I get the Victorian Dresser polished that I can sit folded bedding on top of it.  

Making some sense out of this.  The room has piles of bedding waiting for a new place to rest.  I have had no place to store it, but will need to create one soon.  For now the spot on top of the dresser will be a temporary spot.

The cedar chest will be shuffled where the vanity is sitting right now.  I will move it to the other side of the room so the cedar chest will sit in its new place to hold the large television set.  A temporary stand for the TV.  Later a corner closet will be torn out making the wall longer so the old buffet we have been using as a TV stand can resume its position.  This project will come much later.  sigh.

Right now the tv is resting on the sofa covered with a bedspread.  Perhaps by next week-end it will be hooked up again in the new TV room.  While we have no tele at the moment, I am using my laptop computer to watch late night movies like ANNE OF GREEN GABLES starring Ella Ballentine as Anne, Martin Sheen as Matthew and Sara Botsford as Marilla.  I've seen the movie before, but it is as good as ever.  I enjoyed it so much that I will watch the other two in the series. This version is well done and family friendly.

When the large TV is up and going again I will watch the movie again where the cinematography will be much appreciated.  While I watched the show, it made me want to walk in wide open spaces where the wind sways the flowers and whispers in my ear that I am accepted just as I am with no competition with another human being.  Just me and nature where I can pray freely out loud to God about life without any interruptions.  I long for this.

TODAY, I have plans of babysitting a grandson, do some laundry, pack up the things off the top of the vanity before it is moved, walk a mile and read.  May it be a blessed day.  Amen.

God, please watch over us and grant us peace.

~d

 

FITNESS, THE CLEARING, and DECORATING IDEAS

WE MADE IT TO THE FITNESS CENTER THIS AFTERNOON.  This was our goal.  Success for us.  Each week, we'll aim for going there.  The house is a priority over any fitness center so finding a healthy balance has to take place.  

After lacing up my athletic shoes, I bellowed that I need slip-on walking tennies.  I will be on the look out for some later in the week.  Maybe next week would be better.  I also need to make a special trip to the Optometrist to look at eyewear.  New glasses are needed.   

We made a day of it.  Post Office stop.  Medicine pick up.  Drive to Manhattan.  Lunch. ALDI/Grocery Store stop.  Fitness Center, walk and shower.  Drive HOME to put groceries away and rest.  Supper.  Clean-up.  Check on the news.  TV movie.  Lights out?  

~THE CLEARING~

The Clearing (2004 film)

This crime thriller film stars Robert Redford, Helen Mirren, and Willem Dafoe. 

• Plot: When a wealthy executive, Wayne Hayes (Redford), is kidnapped by a disgruntled former employee, Arnold Mack (Dafoe), his wife Eileen (Mirren) must deal with the FBI while trying to secure his release. The film is loosely based on the real-life kidnapping of a Dutch businessman. It follows two timelines simultaneously, showing Eileen's ordeal over a week while revealing that Wayne was murdered on the day he was abducted. 

IT WAS A THRILLER!!!  Thriller.

🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥

Tomorrow, I am going to an elderly person's exercise class.  I've done this before about 7 years ago and I was the youngest old person in the class.  This will be interesting this go round as I am 70.  Looking forward to this for 8 weeks, two times a week.  yippee.

HOME FRONT.  Progress on the HOME FRONT.  The front of the COTTAGE has a blue tarp hanging over it as my hubby tears out the porch.  Crossing my fingers that this will progress rather quickly.  I have the inside of the house in a shambles as I am slowly swapping the bedroom furniture.  Tis a mess.  Making very slow progress. 

DECORATING IDEA.  So pretty.  One of these wreaths would be lovely in my Dining room.  I'll keep this in mind. 

  AUTUMN DECOR.  The lights and foliage add a lot of charm.

BEAUTY IDEA.

ARE YOU HAPPY?

~d