WAKING IN THE MORNING TO GREY SKIES, it rained a teeny tiny bit. Grey skies and cooler temps in the morning. Once again the Church bells chimed announcing that the neighborhood Church service would be starting soon. Today, the one ringing the bells only chimed three times. That's short.
The skies are overcast and pleasant to see from my chair. A drive later today to get out of the house. After high temps this past week, a cooler climate is heavenly. On those days when entering into the out of doors, it's as if a tropical heat wave has taken over the atmosphere. It's enough to take one's breath away. Stifling.
Today is different for the time being. Heat will return tomorrow.
The afternoon is upon me. Needing to run over to the COTTAGE to use the clothes dryer. While I'm there, I'll work some in the Master Bedroom. I hope I finish cleaning this room. I so hope so.
OLD LIVES MATTER...all lives matter, but I thought this image was cute. With so much turmoil in the world, it's easy to forget all lives matter. We matter. You matter.
Preparing for the coming week.
1) Hair appointment with myself to trim my thick hair.
2) Planning on getting more baby clothes laundered. Unbelievable how much there is. I have gone through three huge boxes, sorting Spring/Summer from Autumn/Winter clothing and now the washing begins. Have washed three loads of denim articles. They are darling to look at. So tiny.
3) More paper to go through. ugh.
4) Clean on the COTTAGE. Celebrate.
5) Celebrate my 47th Wedding Anniversary! Celebrate.
6) Hubby finished digging the new flowerbeds at the COTTAGE! I have to put an exclamation point behind that one. I'm so happy he completed the dig. Now to add additional soil and peat to fill in the beds then rototill it all up making conditions good for planting Irises. We'll start popping Irises later this week in September. When they are in the ground, I will take a deep breath and sigh. Pause and clap. So thankful this will be completed. I think we have around 600 Irises to relocate. Reading old calendars is when I read that we had planted our Irises here at the main house 4 years ago in September. Seems like yesterday we did that. Then onto working on the COTTAGE Bathroom. She's being gutted and some plumbing needs done.
7) Hope to go visit my Sister and Mom. Sis is staying with Mom and I hope we can get a bite to eat and shop the Thrift Store.
September will be here before I know it. I will deliberately take some time to gaze out at the trees and slow down admiring God's nature. The trees will begin to change. Fall will be in the air. Making plans now figuring where the Geraniums and Coleus will Winter. OCTOBER will not be far behind when early frost can do these lovely plants in.
The last three weeks have been overly busy with going back and forth between the main house and the COTTAGE. I can be alright with this knowing that I am working on making the COTTAGE livable to retire in her. We were living in her before we purchased this house 4 years ago and knew at the time that we were not ready to down size to her just yet. SHE IS EXTREMELY TINY. As we have gotten a little older, the both of us recovering from Thyroid Cancer, suffering Gall Bladder surgery, Hubby finding out he has non-hodgkins lymphoma and both of us being diabetic, we have decided that the COTTAGE will be our next pit stop in LIFE. A decent place to call HOME after she is refreshed and made suitable for humans.
In the mean time, I am clearing out ALL THE CLUTTER. ALL and I mean ALL THE CLUTTER in both locations. Everything from Nic-nacs to clothing, dishes to dolls, books to magazines, old receipts to bill statements, cook books to pots 'n pans, etc. I have to do this in stages and phases though. I wish it were behind me, but then I'd miss the dance. grins.
When I tackle the basement is a mystery. Christmas items down there. Just what do I need to keep for the Holidays? The Carriage House as well. If I don't slow my thinking down, I get overwhelmed. O v e r w h e l m e d. Paralyzed to move forward. So I must go at a pace that works for me. Quickly, but not quick enough when the mind starts to gear up. Slow down... and think, breathe and pray.
I have boxes starting to fill up with things to let go of. Staying focused is necessary.
On a different note, I've been watching You Tube vids on Living in Tiny Houses, Living off the Grid, Getting Organized, What to have in the pantry, Prepper Princess, Makeovers, etc. A very helpful tool to have plus it's entertaining. I have made peace about not watching religious programs, countless church services and talk radio. It is truly possible to get hooked on something. I was a junkie. I can say that now. There was a time, I would have cast the devil out of you even if you didn't have any demons.
I have my peace with God and I have time doing my own Bible Studies. There was a time that I was what I would call a Religious Junkie. My ear was glued to the radio. My eyes were glued to religious television programs. Conference hopping every chance I got. Religious organizations were a plenty. Bible study here. Bible study there. Money was spent foolishly on a ton of books and tapes by false teachers and prophets. There's a pattern here about me being a JUNKIE of some sort. A balance is better. I am better.
For now, my HOBBY is decluttering, downsizing, remodeling a COTTAGE and making plans for a good future. Lord willing, we will see this come to fruition. Lord willing.
Off I go to unload the washing machine and put another load in. Lunch and time out for a drive across the landscape.
BREAKFAST: Organic Fruit Smoothie (milk, yogurt, blueberries, strawberries and banana)
LUNCH: 2 cups of organic Moroccan Sweet Potato Soup (260 calories) with organic crackers (140 calories)
SUPPER: Turkey patties, organic salad and vegetables.
Weighed myself and I'm holding my own. By the end of this day, I will have had fruits, yogurt and milk (dairy), sweet potato (vegetable) with chick pea (legume), protein and vegetables. Using My Fitness Pal has been a blessing to use as I type out what I have ate and it calculates the calories. I print off my day and have a paper copy to look at. More paper I know, but for now I need the help.
I believe I need to get busy being productive. I have no staff or cleaning crew to assist me and Hubby. It's just you and me, kid.
Sunday is here and so are we.
~d 👵
