WE MADE A DENT even with our handicaps

MAKING A DENT IN THE SHUFFLING DRAMA.  PRAISE GOD from whom all blessings flow.  My goal for the day was to move the majority of full boxes from the front Bedroom relocate them to the Living room and Dining room then move the two brown recliners into the NEW TV room, hook up the chairs and the tele to watch a movie.  Rest and call it a day.  Didn't all go as planned.

Hubs chipped in and helped with the heavy lifting.  The recliners have to be taken apart in two pieces and assembled back together.  We got this done.  WE ACCOMPLISHED THE MOVE, but when the TV was turned on the screen showed some funky color patterns and we blinked our eyes with disappointment.  OUR curved, large screen TV is on the fritz.  Shucks.  This morning when I tried the TV out just in case it revived itself, the screen blacked out.  Kaputzky. 

We've had her close to 9 years and it looks like we'll be looking for a new TV. 📺

ON TUESDAY, we could not walk through the room due to all the boxes and clutter.  Having room for these chairs was the highlight of the day.  Something that seems so simple isn't when the body doesn't work like a healthy 20 year old.  BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT, we could walk through the room and sit.  PTL.  I opened the windows for some fresh air.  What an accomplishment for little ole me.

For now we have a place to sit and relax.  Later the room will get painted with an earth tone color.  A different ceiling installed with crown molding.  We'll decide on the flooring and hang different curtains.  Floor to ceiling book cases built.  Whalah.  Think on it.

LAST WEEK the battery went dead in the car 🚗 and now our television has wigged out on us.  Planning on hiccups like this in LIFE makes the blow have less of a punch when it happens.  Knowing that things happen helps ease the disappointment? 

BACK TO THE FRONT BEDROOM THAT IS NOW A TV ROOM.  I still have much to unload and put away.  I decided that I will allow myself to pace myself and not care that I am so far behind so long as I continue to stay in motion about this all.  LIFE HAPPENS.

We know that this is like another MOVE making sense out of the boxes and their contents as we work doing this task.  We're actually finishing up our previous move that we had to put on hold due to a seriously injured foot Hubby had that took a year to heal, a fall injuring my tailbone that still gives me trouble, my cataract surgeries that didn't go so great, Husband's non-Hodgkins lymphoma, his eye surgeries, our thyroid fatigue, etc.  This is far too much to deal with when working at getting settled from a BIG, SLOPPY, MESSY, DIRTY move, but we have stayed in motion.  Hubby finished the Bathroom this year amongst all these handicaps and illnesses.  I have worked at settling in what I could.  We're a team with handicaps.  

NOW, Hubby is building a NEW front porch and I'm shuffling Bedrooms dealing with contents in boxes.  Tis heavy for me.  What a LIFE on the prairie we have.  I know it's best to stay in motion and continue to be a cheering team to one another.  These messes have been very hard to deal with and my mental health got a kick in the teeth.  I have had some fits along the way where I'm better off being alone when the fit is taking place than to be around people.  It has been extremely difficult for me.  A growing time that hurts.

I have been challenged to say the least.  It isn't right to forget all the hardships we have had which have slowed us down when it comes to being settled in the fixer-upper COTTAGE.  I have to remind myself that we are VERY HUMAN and can only do what we can do and that means we cannot snap a finger having finished results before us.  It doesn't work that way in this world I live in so when I see others getting results faster than us, I have to remind myself that we are not those people getting their projects done faster than greased lightning.  It is what it is and I must continue on thanking GOD for HIS love and support.

TODAY, I managed to drag a miniature book case from the Dining room through a maze into the pink Bedroom.  This case will hold my Christian literature and Bibles for easy access grouped altogether instead of some here and there.  It looks good with the Bedroom furniture like it's part of the suite.  Bravo.  

I moved the Geranium plant in a cart over beside Grandma's Hutch.  Where it was sitting was too close to the heater vent and it has suffered getting too hot.  The leaves are turning yellow and curling up.  I think it will be HAPPIER beside the HUTCH.  I hope she lives through the rest of AUTUMN and throughout this WINTER.  I think it may have frosted last night so the rest of my outdoor plants probably got it and will die before I get them indoors.  pause.

I've been studying up on what to box up on the 3 individual book cases in the front Bedroom. Right now these three cases are holding quilts, books, CDs and tapes, pictures.  In order to have a more uniformed look, I've got to temporarily box up the majority of the stuff so I can place framed pictures of family members, a keepsake doll collection and the folded quilts that I worked so hard on last week on the cases until the built in book cases are created.  It'll take me a bit of time, but hey.

I've got to tape up some cardboard boxes for the overflow then stack the boxes until they can be moved to the garage.  

Just finished a large salad for LUNCH.  Think we'll just have POPCORN this evening for SUPPER.  My energy has to go into dealing with these messes around here.

We were thinking about what to do with all our pumpkins in the yard.  Hubby suggested that we give some to in-town family members and I suggested a couple of neighbors to receive some. There's a business downtown that shares produce with the public and I thought that the OLD FOLKS HOME might like some.  I wished we had done this last week. 🎃 

Back to tweaking the shelves, the boxes, 🛏 📚🖼 and contents.  Lord, please give me strength to carry on.  I'm excited for the day when I just have HOMEMAKING maintenance to do on the COTTAGE instead of all this heave-hoing.  Let there be peace.  

I had a chance to tidy up the inside of the fridge.  🫙The mason jars I have been storing cherry tomatoes, grapes, lemons, blueberries in has worked like a charm.  These things stayed crisp for a more extended time.  The cucumbers and celery went soggy.  I had these in spring water.  I would think if I try this again for the cucs that it might work better if they are stored in the jar without water and the same with the celery.  When opening the lids there is a suction that seals the produce for the better.  Like it.  

I will take inventory of the foods and supplies we need and make a trip to the bigger towns to shop for our needs.  Maybe on Saturday, I can go do this and see if the Halloween candy is 50% off.  Boo. 

Starting November 1st, I will begin AUTUMN cleaning getting ready for THANKSGIVING and CHRISTMAS.  The Kitchen's cabinet fronts need serious washing and polishing.  I've got some switching out that I need to do.  I will have to crawl on the floor to scrub the vinyl floor.  She needs a good cleaning.  Deep cleaning here and there.  I will continue the decluttering with a grin.  I know I have fallen short on cleaning this house.  Back to it.

Late at night and throughout the day, I find myself praying for LOVED ONES.  Prayers for my Children's personal needs. Prayers for their spouses.  Prayers for my Grandchildren.  Prayers for the 👶🍼Great Grand baby being formed in her Mother's womb.  Come March a baby is on the way.  Prayers for my Husband and our health.  Prayers for projects.  Prayers for becoming a minimalist.  A healthier attitude.  Relationships.  Finances.  Our country.  Concerns for all. 

~d

HOARDERSVILLE REVEALED

GOT MY MUCH NEEDED CROSS TRAINING EXERCISE FROM FOLDING THE HEAVY QUILTS.  The lifting and carrying, carrying some more, twisting, leaning, bending, stretching, reaching and walking with the textile in my arms gave my entire body a different kind of strength training.  This became a full body workout which was badly needed.  I was hitting two birds with one stone sort of speak.  Exercising and getting the accomplishment achieved of having the bedding displayed on the bookcase.

This is more like it.  There's potential here.

Placing the quilts on the shelves was very satisfying.  The bedding stash is a beautiful sight to see for me.  Again it's like hitting two birds with one stone having a task finished for the time being and getting some exercise like I received are a big win for me.  

LOVE having the colorful quilts and bedding.  So very thankful and grateful.  In my mind, I can see the rest of the room organized into a functioning TV room once again where all the clutter has vanished.  POOF.  I'm thinking by November 1st the large screen TV will be up and running with the recliners across the room from it ready to watch a good movie and relax for the evening. 

Settling into a tiny COTTAGE has been laborious as a very uncomfortable challenge.  Being real. Still dealing with boxes full of STUFF that's got to go someplace.  What a nightmare to have. There are far worse things to go through, but this isn't easy for me at 70.  Cheerleader needed just about now.  Go SIS BOOM BAH.  Louder please, I am not motivated at the moment.  A kick in the pants might be a better gesture for now.

THIS IS A PROJECT AND A HALF.  It can be taken care of, but not quickly.  I will be transparent.  Maybe I shouldn't be, but hey it is what it is.  Does this make me a realist?  I don't generally live like a hoarder, but that would be hard pressed to prove right now.  This is a snap shot of what the room presently looks like.  I hate it.  Take the emotion out of it and get this place in ORDER.

OH MY GOSH...this is why I was standing on my head to fold up a work table that needed dug out of the space and taken out of the cramped room.  SLOWLY the room is getting whittled into shape.  SLOWLY!

HEAVE HO and away I go to make PROGRESS that is badly needed.

What seems like a simple thing when moving into a house, isn't around here.  It's more complicated dealing with possessions and having to think deeply what to keep and what to give away.  Making this house a HOME is one of the most challenging moves I have EVER gone through due to my age, health issues, downsizing and trying to FIT INTO the COTTAGE. Turning loose of much has taken much thought and physical movement.  MENTAL GYMNASTICS.  

AUTUMN PROJECT.  I have stayed HOME so I can continue working on the front bedroom while Hubby has gone to Manhattan to purchase porch paint, primer and sealer.  He plans to do some painting today.  I have to sit a bit as my lower back screams at me in discomfort.

   

PORCH UPDATE.  The last few days he has been laying porch boards.  This project has been very hard with tearing out the porch and rebuilding.  Like most projects when you get started there are surprises you were not expecting.  He discovered that the porch rock foundation had collapsed behind the heavy concrete steps.  Rebuilding the foundation took time and muscle plus the concrete steps had to be jack hammered down with the chunks of concrete dumped in the street so it could be scooped up and hauled away to a place that would take the concrete trash. 

After the porch boards are primed, sealed and painted, he'll take a break to catch his breath and rest his 70 year old body.  NEXT WEEK, the porch columns will go up and the spindles put into place.  More painting.  Then steps will be built and painted.  Maybe by the end of November the porch will be functioning as a PORCH.  That will be something to celebrate!  

I need to snip produce and bring some plants indoors right away.  I'd better go do this before I forget.

PART TWO.
Finished folding 17 quilts and bed coverings just so so then managed to get these onto the bookcase shelves.  Pleased with how this turned out.  NOW to move onto shuffling the bed in the pink room.  More major shuffling of furniture and boxes.  SO much stuff lying around that will have to be moved out of the way.  

Once I get this done, the front bedroom will be dealt with and this means lots of work.  A full day's work.

Geraniums in the galvanized cart were brought indoors.  I shuffled some more things to make room for the cart in the dining room.  Made it happen.  Pleased to see this plant indoors, but I think the cold we had the night before damaged the plant as some of the leaves turned yellowish.  

I cut some lavender stems from the container garden and placed them in a small old fashioned white pitcher in the Bathroom. Mission accomplished. SO Pleased.  

SO VERY pleased that the bookcase is in the front bedroom and filled with quilts!  Hopefully TODAY the pink bedroom will be a real bedroom again.  Pleased.  

Much to do before the week-end.

~d  

  

PLENTY FOR A SATURDAY and CURBING MY APPETITE FOR STUFF

BALANCING life's chores with aging takes some skill to pace oneself.  I am concerned about keeping up at our age.  

What are the things in LIFE to work toward or needed?  Necessities change as one ages.  Desires may as well.  I'd very much like to have this COTTAGE spruced up and comfortable for our old age.  The biggest challenge right now is having way too much stuff about us, in the garage and storage units.  WAY TOO MUCH DISORDER.  Downsizing is a priority as rebuilding the porch is as well.  What a HUGE project for us.

Hunny has done so much so far tearing down the old 125 year old porch that was collapsing.  We have purchased and transported HOME the replacement parts.  Porch posts and spindles.  Wood slates.  The tear out led to finding the rock foundation underneath collapsing needing rebuilt which wasn't known before the tear out.  It was looking like an excavating location.  

Our son-in-law helped with jack hammering the concrete steps a few days ago.  The huge chunks of concrete need hauled off now.  Our Son has been helping to rebuild the foundation with his Pop.  Hard work for my men.  

LAST NIGHT, we had a Friday night GAMBINO's Mobster Pizza and a Taco Pizza for supper before an evening movie.  It's been a HOT minute since we had PIZZA.  Enjoyed our Son being with us as company.  Hubby fell asleep during the flick being exhausted after working most of the day rebuilding the porch foundation of limestone.  They are doing an excellent job on this task.  Excellent.

PIZZA TIME.

PLANS FOR THE DAY.  This won't be in order.  Walk, laundry, buzz to the grocery store for a Sunday pot roast, pay the phone bill, work on front bedroom, wash the little car and possibly vac it out.  Plenty for a Saturday. 

SEEMS TO BE CONSTANT SHUFFLING TO MAKE OUR COTTAGE WORK FOR US.  I shouldn't complain, but I do and it is overwhelming at times.  I have to have a workable solution with this dilemma on my hands.  Getting a bulky bookcase shuffled to the front room from the Kitchen doesn't seem like it should be a dilemma, but it is getting where the piece can be moved.  

Before the Bathroom linen cabinet was created, a wooden book case was being used to hold bathroom toiletries.  That bookcase is now resting in the Kitchen holding this and that because the beautiful linen cabinet is finished.  Praise God.  This book case will temporarily be moved to the front bedroom to hold my stash of quilts before actual floor to ceiling bookshelves are built. The dilemma is in where to go with the this and that which are on the bookcase in the Kitchen and then walking the case to the front bedroom.  Where it will sit has to be cleared out so it can go there.  This will be tricky as the room is small and full of STUFF that's longing for a place to rest besides where it is presently.  REBOOT.

If I clear out the Kitchen cabinet above the stove I could use this space for the this and that.  I could temporarily box up the crystal that is in this space.  hum. Another shuffle.  Boo Hish. 

CONTINUED DOWNSIZING.  I turned loose of a quilt and a treadmill this past week.  Two more things turned loose of.  This doesn't sound like much, but every little thing moved out helps to downsize.  The treadmill hasn't been used by me in about a year.  The quilt went to a young person that needed some bedding.  

I believe to downsize, I will box up more of my dolls and wait to display them after the front bedroom bookshelves are built.  I can turn loose of more dolls.  

If  I can just work at these projects, I will be better organized.  PART OF THE PROBLEM is that we were not settled before BIG PROJECTS had to be worked on.  LIKE A BATHROOM and FRONT PORCH.  We weren't planning on rebuilding the front porch until next year, but the columns were sinking into the wood slates as the porch began collapsing right before our eyes. Not desired, but a reality needing taken care of.  It seems like the porch columns were fine and in a blink of an eye they began making a descend.  sigh.

Doing what I can on a small scale becomes a big thing especially when elderly.  Rethinking how to do this all.  The actual physical movement/motion has to take place along with the mental thinking.  If I just think about it and get nothing moved then it is pointless.  The actual physical activity HAS TO TAKE PLACE.  End of story.

HOUSE KEEPING/HOME MAKING has to take place while the working environment isn't picture perfect.  Working amongst the messes is the way it is.  Sometimes I get very overwhelmed with it all.

I believe I will down scale what we have on hand, making sure what we have is of a better quality. Nicer towels and bedsheets.  Nice dishes and china.  Good pots 'n pans and bakeware plus mixing bowls, etc.  Sturdy furniture and good appliances.  The Nic-nac stuff will be at a minimum. Same with books, pictures, dolls, collections.  None of it can go with me when I leave this earth.  I'd rather have my things in order than the mess I have at present.  This rest of this year and into 2026, the downsizing will continue as I prepare for an auction or big garage sale in the Spring/Summer.  Where are those boxes?  My HOBBY for now is this clean-up.

Don't be hasty, but don't be slow either to get things in order.  How much time and effort went into gathering STUFF for our estate just to turn loose of it because we don't have the room or need?  Being wise at how to turn loose takes effort.  Curbing my appetite for STUFF is an actual THING.  I think I need to have an Etsy shop or something productive where the extras are sold.  

My little bean that I think with gets overwhelmed at times.  All this shuffling about at my age is getting to me.  Lord, HELP.  I can do what needs done.  It's unproductive to stall out.

Where do I begin my activities for the day?  Laundry is in.  I can fold a load of towels and put them away.  Bills to write out and get paid.  A trip to the grocery store over in a different community.  Work some in the front room.  A fresh day.  Plenty for Saturday.

Dear Lord, I pray that today will be blessed as I have a full load of things to do.  May it be done with happiness and joy.  

ABOUT 57 degrees outside with clear skies makes for a nice day to go for a walk.  I truly need to get my walk in.  

Blessings,

~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

LAUNDRY IN, BLOGGING ON and TIDYING HAPPENING

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT I WOKE TO THE SOUND OF THUNDER AND RAIN. Slipping back into dreamland was easy for me for some reason.  Usually when I wake during the night I stay awake for hours.  Not this time.  I woke early this morning to do a few chores and think about the plans for the day. 

Tis gray skies this morning with coveted cooler temps.  The highs for today will be in the 60s as it is about 56 degrees right now at 9 in the morning.  What a blessing to have in early OCTOBER. Sweater weather with Hot Chocolate time on the Prairie.

What a beautiful AUTUMN it is so far.  We went to 3 medical appointments yesterday and I marveled at the colors in the  trees with the changing landscape.  Our second SPRING as some say with the colorful splashes of nature.  It was a gorgeous drive.  Gorgeous.  It rained on the way, let up as we puttered about then rained again as we went HOME.  

Laundry is in, blogging on and tidying happening.  Today, Hubby has a medical appointment in the afternoon.  I've got to decide if I go to exercise class but leave early so I can tag along with him or just go walking this morning and skip the STAY STRONG STAY HEALTHY CLASS today. What a decision to have to make.  What a nice decision to have.   

I'm washing mattress pad covers that haven't been used for two years.  The pile is dwindling. Since we are not using our Queen size mattress, in storage I think I will fold this one up and stash it.  We have the smaller custom size mattress in the SHE SHED and the double size in the pink room.  Both will need their mattress pad covers and when the beds are made up I'll place the pads on them.  They make a difference on the softness of the mattress plus add some protection for longer wear.

An exciting LIFE on the prairie!  grins.  

Making progress on the pink room decluttering.  Like I've said before becoming a minimalist is more appealing to me as an older woman.  I haven't changed my mind about keeping so much junk.  It's got to go and I want to be comfortable in this decision.  No longer a museum or warehouse motif.  

The days get away from me and my goal is to have the pink room completely set up by the end of the month.  We bought the rest of the lumber and supplies yesterday in TOPEKA to patch the place where a door was that led into the bathroom from the bedroom.  Since it's rainy out today, Hubby will be working on the patching of the door this evening.  In a few days, the wall will look as if it never had a door there in the first place.  The bed will be set up made up with sheets, other pieces of furniture will be placed in their spots and the room will officially be our bedroom. Painting the ceiling, walls and having the wood trim sanded and painted will come later after more of the house is settled into.  Different curtains as well.  

The front bedroom will become our small TV room/Family room.  I hope to have it cluttered free by November 1st.  

I wish I were more excited about the work going on.  I sometimes close my eyes and pray that this remodeling goes quickly and my attitude changes for the best.  I need to breathe deeper and not fear.  

As for medical appointments, we had three yesterday.  3.  One in the morning for an eye exam and our Thyroid Cancer Follow-ups in the afternoon.  All went very well.  Hubby has had a miracle take place with his eyes.  A MIRACLE.  Praise the LORD.  He had the start of scar tissue in both eyes last year.  This year with the Doctor's amazement, the scarring is gone!  GONE.  He was stunned.  Nearly speechless.  We are so happy.  Pause and take it all in.  A miracle.  

In the afternoon, we both were weighed at the Endocrinologist office and blood pressure taken.  I managed to visit with the APRN about the weight loss resistance I have.  I'd have liked to have some additional hormone tests done, but that won't be happening here.  I'll talk to my primary doc about this and if I get nowhere with him, I'll foot the bill and have Quest Diagnostics run the hormone test.  If there's a will there's a way plus some expense.

It seems like all the info I read about concerning EVERY HEALTH ISSUE is the same.  Lose weight if you need to.  How is this done when there's a HORMONE imbalance?  One can diet and exercise and the weight will not come off if a hormone imbalance is present in the body.  HELLO. Fixing the problem seems to mean that excessive exercise HAS TO TAKE PLACE.

Nutritiously balanced meals of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein are what is suggested.  Eat smaller meals so this means portion control.  Stay hydrated, exercise, get your sleep and handling stress are high on the priorities.  No smoking.  No alcohol.  No sugary drinks.  No sweets. No highly processed foods.  Say goodbye to the Oreos, cakes, cookies, white rice, white bread, white pasta.  Got it. 

The Thyroid APRN suggested that I take Ozempic as he has and has lost 8 pounds in 3 weeks.  I took MOUNJARO for 7 weeks a year ago which caused horrific abdominal pain which left me with a pain in my gut when I use the bathroom even to this day.  I'd prefer not to take these drugs.  

I spent the week-end gathering up the literature I have printed off the last 6 months so I would be better informed about THYROID ISSUES.  I spent the brunt of Sunday afternoon and evening reading the articles and jotting down my questions.  By 10 o'clock I was finished with a printed off list of my questions.  On Monday morning one more article was read with the real questions I wanted to discuss with the APRN.  WEIGHT LOSS RESISTANCE.  This is what I truly wanted to know how to deal with and this is what I discussed with him.  The many hours of researching thyroid issues and it comes down to this.

I've learned that Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D deficiencies are very common when you do not have a thyroid.  SO I know that I must stay on top of this all the time.  Having METABOLIC SYNDROME is a present problem which is discouraging to say the least.

High Blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, fatigue are symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome.  I want out of this club with better health. 

I'd prefer to not take meds as they can add additional health issues that can lead one to taking more meds which add additional health issues.  A vicious cycle.  OLD AGE is often used as an excuse for all these issues that have developed.  Another birthday.  Why can't another birthday be a celebration instead of gloom and doom?  pause.

Once again what we eat matters far more than what the mainstream elitist preaches.  Hush hush about GMOs hurting people. Hush hush about the elitist wanting depopulation on this planet. Hush hush about chemicals being sprayed into the air from planes.  Hush hush about so much. Praise the LORD, an uproar is taking place amongst the masses with sharing a healthier way to live that has been hush hush.  

I will bless the LORD at all times.  

Bless HIS holy name.

~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

CAN I PULL A RABBIT OUT OF A HAT?

October here you come.  A great way to start something new or continue on?  It doesn't seem possible that the month is gone and a new one begins on Wednesday.  I did not meet all my goals for September.  With two days left perhaps I can pull a rabbit out of my hat.  Perhaps. 

Lord willing, this week I'll make great headway on the two bedrooms being cleared out and rearranged for functionality.

The front bedroom has served as a storage unit as we moved into our fixer-upper COTTAGE almost two years ago come Halloween.  I am in disbelief that we haven't already finished the front bedroom making it into an actual Bedroom.  I HAD CONVENIENTLY FORGOTTEN how exhausted we were after moving our belongings out of our big house that we sold.  

We had done all the packing of smaller items in boxes moving them to the COTTAGE beforehand and relocated the brunt of the furniture by ourselves except for hauling large pieces of furniture that we could not haul in the cruiser.  Help from our son-in-law, daughter and two grands took place with moving the large pieces of furniture that we couldn't.

We were exhausted.  Hubby had done loads of home projects on the property getting the house ready to sell.  I did what I could recovering from a hysterectomy.     

I forgot that I was recovering from a Hysterectomy before our move and about as soon as we sold the house Hubby seriously injured his foot requiring x-rays, MRIs, trips to doctors and surgeons. He is in a weakened state by non-Hodgkins lymphoma and also started having heart issues.  I fell injuring my tailbone that has issues to this day, AND I had two cataract surgeries that required recovery time with the results of the surgeries not going as planned.  THEN relational discourse happened with some family members which was and has been very emotional and straining. Bad case of the flu then a month later co vid.  The Bathroom was worked on and off during this time being remodeled and then finished as well.  All these issues slowed us down for sure, but we have kept going.  Asking God for continued strength.

How can I forget all the physical challenges and emotional junk we've had going on?  duh. PAUSE.  Feeling better?  Somewhat.  

I have to recall all of this to give me a break on how long it has taken to get to where we are today JUST NOW shuffling the rooms and getting better organized with our STUFF.  Downsizing continues.  I do not have to get in the dumps putting ourselves down that we have not dealt with it all FASTER.  Have mercy.  KEEP GOING.

We've had the reality of shuffling about in the tiny house so much stuff that it has taken a toll on having the front Bedroom up and going.  Also what energies Hubby did have were used on finishing out the Bathroom, attending our medical appointments and healing.

That's how this happened.  The journey has been hectic.

TODAY, I will work at moving the Queen size Mattress and Box Springs from the front Bedroom into the PINK Bedroom.  These are extremely heavy pieces.  It'll take the both of us to get this accomplished.  Sliding them through the maze called a Living room and Dining room will take some skill, if I do say so myself.  Turning sharp angles with bulky items will be tricky.  The small rooms are challenging when moving big items about and still be able to remain standing.  I'm in hopes that by this evening, these two pieces will be in the Pink room.  Hoping.

Smaller items that need dealt with are still present in the front room.  When I open the Bedroom door and look inside the room it makes my head spin to see so much out of order.  Being a minimalist comes to mind and becomes more attractive to me.  THIS I believe is healthier than what I morphed into.  So I will discard 50% of it.  When I get the garage cleaned out when the weather is cooler, then I can begin to put boxes of things to sell out there.  I can neatly stack boxes full of cast offs and when SPRING 2026 comes, I'll have a huge garage sale making some pocket change.  What doesn't sell can be donated to thrift and I'll be over the hump of indecisiveness.  That's a PLAN.

BAD NEWS.  Yesterday, my Husband shared some sad news with me that our favorite College Art Instructor's son, Matt was murdered when a nephew shot him.  He had gone to help his mother-in-law remove this nephew from her home as he was abusing Matt's mother-in-law.  The nephew shot Matt, Matt's wife and the grandmother.  Matt died on the spot and the other two survived.  Matt was 55 years old, married with two grown children.  My heart sank.  How horrible.  Sometimes when horrible things happen one cannot process it quickly and it takes a bit for it to soak in.  This was one of those times.  

Hubby has gone to the Hardware Store for some supplies for the porch rebuild.  A little quiet time to myself.  I think I had better get around for the day.  I really ought to go for a walk.  I think this should be a slow paced day.  Tomorrow I am going to babysit my youngest grandson.  This will be a blessing as he told me he had an acorn to give me.  Can't wait.  

Now where is that hat with a rabbit in it?

Blessings,

~d

EXERCISING, BLINKING AT CHRISTMAS DECOR and DAILY PLANS

OKAY.  Spontaneous trip to MENARDS after exercise class.  I actually wasn't completely worn out today.  That's good.

I thought I'd go to the track to walk after exercising, but HUNY wasn't working on the porch when I drove by the house to let him know my plans.  So I honked the car's horn to get his attention as I figured he'd be in the living room resting to tell him I was going walking at the track.  I didn't have my phone so this was the next best thing.

Sticking his head out the front door, I asked him what he was doing?  He was taking a break. SOOO I changed my mind about walking and asked him if he wanted to go to MENARDS for more cement as he had said earlier he needed more.  He hopped in the car and away we went.  I had no shame going to town in my sweat pants and Tee-shirt.  If I had added some pearls I might have looked a bit out of place.  grins.

FIRST, we had LUNCH in Manhattan because we had not eaten yet.  CHICK-fil-A salad for me.  I suppose I thought it was so good because of the MSG that they use.  oops.  I fell for it.  We ate in the MENARDS Parking lot.  Weather was super nice.  Shopping to follow.  I enjoyed looking at their beautiful Mums.  CONCRETE picked up.

CHRISTMAS DECOR are on display at MENARDS.  Alrighty then.  I blinked and it is CHRISTMAS again.  My eyes bugged out.  Halloween and Fall Harvest items are out, but this seems like a good time for this.

Pleasant trip HOME and I'm resting.  Tonight I will wipe the walls down in the pink bedroom and walk the buffet across the room so the area in front of the hole in the wall has a clear path to it.  Think this week-end that we will go back to MENARDS and get the sheetrock to fill in the hole.  Rejoicing that I will be closer to having swapped the pink room out!  

Even with the house in a up roar, I need to be enjoying the remodeling and I have not been in my HAPPY PLACE for a while.    Enjoy the journey.  I'm trying.  I get down sometimes that this is where I am at being 70 years old.  I wish it were already finished.  Praying for revival in my soul. Let the good times roll.

HAPPY FRIDAY as the month disappears.  September meant our daughter-in-law celebrated her 48th birthday.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHELL!!!  

We traveled to see my Mom in Des Moines, porch rebuilding started, and furniture shuffling taking place.  Holiday decorating will not happen as the porch is torn up, but I can aim for CHRISTMAS decorating come December 1st.  Hopefully I will get to decorate the porch then and I need to be gathering ideas for what to do.

BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOURS.  Let LIFE be a happy journey where peace and grace are found.  Amen.

~d

GROOMING GROANINGS and REMODELING CONTINUES

WITH AUTUMN HERE, TIS BEST TO START TAKING VITAMIN C, ZINC WITH SELENIUM AND VITAMIN D3 WITH VITAMIN K2 AGAIN to help build up the immune system.  September in Kansas is a wake up call for letting you know that COLD weather is just around the corner with dips in the temp.

The RAG WEED is high making allergy sufferers miserable.  I've been pretty lucky so far as I have only had a little watering of my eyes with little side effects.  BUT THIS MORNING some coughing and clearing of the throat started out my day.  

DAY PLANS are in the works.  Exercise class this afternoon and if it's not raining afterwards, I might try really hard to get a walk in later.  Shall see.  I may be too tired to follow up with a walk.  Just saying.  Before I attend class, I have GOT TO shave my old legs.  I've got a crop growing on them.  Grins.  I am getting way too relaxed about shaving my limbs these days.  The armpits got it yesterday.  Mercy, they needed it.  I'm not real comfortable having so much hair growing under my armpits.  How some do not shave may be part of their culture.  I'm still embracing shaved armpits and legs.  As I get older, I may no longer care.  Same with make-up.  I seldom wear it anymore.  Occasionally.  

WORKING ON THE PINK ROOM.  The loose ends are here.  I'm still slow at it.  I ran the vacuum last night on the majority of the carpet.  There are still some boxes in the road.  By Sunday evening, the room will have the hole in the wall where the door was leading into the bathroom patched.  Will see how it goes.  I can't move pieces of furniture into the pink room until the wall is patched so I am at a pause and it's starting to bug me.  Keep busy anyways. 

Being that it's Thursday, the week-end isn't far off. Time gets away from me so easily.  Shazam.

ON THE HOME FRONT.  Hubby has been rebuilding a foundational stone wall under the porch. Part of the wall had collapsed under the front porch.  The stones were still there so it was a matter of rebuilding it.  He's doing a beautiful job on this.  

This complete rebuilding of the old 125 year old porch will take some effort, muscle, materials, cash and time.  That's just the way it goes.  He was sharing with me that the front cement stairs need replaced.  So we'll be figuring this one out.  The cement steps are massively heavy.  Not sure what technique will be used to remove it.  They are crumbling and need to go.

HEALTH.  The results came in for my Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 levels.  Both are in range, but not optimal.  Next week, I'll be having more labs for my yearly thyroid appointment so I'll know what my TSH number is.  Needing to get the questions wrote up that I'll be asking the APRN who sees me.  This will probably be the last time I meet with him as I am 15 years into this thyroid journey.  Yearly sonograms may be the way I go.  The TSH levels are something I can do on my own.  If the meds need tweaked, I can do so by calling my primary physician.  Shall see.  I know how to read the TSH levels.

I'd best get around taking care of my legs.  The clock is ticking and I will be heading out the door in a little bit to go to class.  There are 16 sessions all together of STAY STRONG STAY HEALTHY and I am on session number 3.

MEALS.  BRUNCH started out with cooked oatmeal topped with blueberries, strawberries, slivered almonds, chocolate, cinnamon and almond milk.  It was the best.  NO LUNCH.  SUPPER will be a huge salad.  Looking forward to this.  Increasing veggies is always on the back burner.  I think that reminding myself to do so is a good sign of having changed my eating habits.  I have a built in warning in me to be mindful of what I am eating.  That's a good thing.  

~d 

LABS, SHUFFLING ROOMS AND FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN

DROOPING EYELIDS.  Feeling the traveling that I did today.  No afternoon NAP.  Was up early to make a 10:10 morning LAB APPOINTMENT in Manhattan.  Waiting for the results for Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 results.  🩸Trying to stay on top of these numbers.  

🌅THIS MORNING, I woke to sunshine that filled the Living room.  We slept in our recliners that were moved to the Living room over the week-end.  Mission accomplished.  As the two bedrooms get shuffled and swapped, we're in a tizzy to make ends meet.  Topsy Turvy.  What a mess.  Don't look now, but we look like HOARDERS.  Peace be still.   

📺 The pink Bedroom that has been the TV room for a year, is nearly emptied now.  I have a bunch of paperwork to pack up and get out of the room before I vacuum the carpet and dust the walls.  Then the buffet that's been holding our TV will be moved across the room to where Hubby can cover up the hole in the wall where a door use to be before the Bathroom was remodeled.  This connecting door was closed off so the Bathroom vanity could sit where it is now.

🪚After the hole in the wall is patched, then the 1930's bed will be sit up and the buffet moved out to its new location in the other bedroom.  A lot of shuffling left to do.  sigh.  It's a work in progress and when it is completed I will celebrate.

OVER THE WEEK-END, 💇 Hubby had a haircut then returned HOME to discuss with me if we should go ahead and get porch posts that were an awesome price at MENARDS.  Yes, let's do this thing.  We needed 4 of them.  With no shipping, we'd save a bundle.  We loaded them up and I drove our cruiser HOME to unload.  The Cruiser is like a mini truck to us.  The things we have hauled in it are numerous. 

🍁🍂🍃 FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN is here.  Beautiful day.  About 73 degrees and sunshine.  Reminds me of days gone by.  We went to the QUEST LABS for my bloodwork and afterwards ate at THE HAPPY HIPPY where I dined on a healthy bowl of ACAI with the fixings.  AFTERWARDS we drove some neighborhoods looking at houses.  I enjoy sight seeing.  Went to Walmart to see if they have any of MY TEXAS HOUSE GREENERY out yet.  No luck or someone already cleaned them out?

🛒 To the grocery store for this and that.  Decided to drive these groceries HOME before getting the porch wood that is waiting for us.  This meant two trips to Manhattan today, but hey.  Rested a little bit before heading back to Manhattan for the lumber.  Loaded it up and drove the back roads to get HOME.  I'm inside resting before supper and Hubby is unloading the porch wood.   

Tuna Fish Sandwiches tonight.  Fast and quick clean-up for when I am tired.  I like watching on Monday nights Off Grid With Doug and Stacy at 7 PM CST on You Tube.  I get a kick out of listening to these HOMESTEADERS that are keeping up with the times.

Off to a blessed week.  

All the BEST to you and yours,

~d