ON THE ROAD AGAIN AND A BATHROOM REMODEL

I DROVE HOME ALONE ALL BY MYSELF, but I wasn't lonely as I prayed practically all the way HOME for 5 hours.  Had an incredible drive through IOWA, MISSOURI and finally back to KANSAS.  Went last week to spend some time with my 92 year old Mom and Sister in IOWA.

Went to a doctor's appointment with Mom and we girls did a ton of shopping and talking.  I am officially dog tired.  

HUBBY stayed HOME to work on our bathroom and it is coming together beautifully.  I decided that I could handle the trip by myself with GOD helping me.  He didn't disappoint me.

The scenery was gorgeous.  Hints of AUTUMN are present as AUTUMN began on Sunday.  It rained some as I drove HOME.  Lots of semi-trailer trucks on the interstates and highways.  When I pulled up to my COTTAGE yard, I was relieved that I was HOME again.  I had a neat time with family, but am pleased to be HOME with my HUBBY.

I phoned my Mom when I arrived HOME so she'd know I arrived safely.  She was excited to tell me that a different apartment had opened up across the hall from where she lives that faces the South to where the patio would be getting full sun.  The apartment she's in faces North and the patio has a huge tree by it that cast branches onto the patio where she can't use it.  Just yesterday while we were parking the car to get out to go inside of the building where she lives, she said she wished that she had gotten one of the apartments right there.  She got her WISH.

This evening, the Iowa family is working on moving her stuff across the hall into the new apartment.  Heavens, this all happened so fast it makes my head spin.  She had just told us that she wished that her apartment was on the other side of the building.  Well, tonight it is.  She started moving her clothes this afternoon.  Wham.

I can't turn around and return to IOWA right now to help her move.  I had no way of knowing that she'd get a different apartment so quickly.  If I did I would be no good as my energy is GONE.  A 5 hour drive may not be anything to some, but to me, I do not travel the best.  Low energy doesn't multiply more energy for me.  It drains it.  So much for being 69.

As I drove alone, I felt empowered as I have seldom traveled alone without my Husband by my side and here I was navigating strange territory.  It's important to be somewhat independent as an older gal, huh?  I had time to think out loud and run through my mind steps of what to do next with shuffling furniture in the COTTAGE to make the place more manageable for us.  

HUBBY remained HOME so he could work on the bathroom.  It's looking nice to me.  Soon the clawfoot tub will be installed and we can bathe in comfort.  We purchased the tub so long ago, I can't remember when we got it exactly, but the feet were nickeled about a year ago waiting for their place on the tub.  It's a small tub and we bought it for the rock house with a tight fitting bathroom.  Hung unto it and are now using it for this small COTTAGE bathroom which isn't overly large.  

The 124 year old closet door is mahogany!

Rain Glass for privacy.

Still some work to do on it, but it's looking very nice right now.  We had started gutting the bathroom over three years ago when we weren't living in the COTTAGE yet...it's been a long drawn out remodel for us.  LONG DRAWN OUT.  Hello somebody.

I can't help but get somewhat excited that it is just about completed.  Visions of the next step in fitting into our retirement COTTAGE dance about in me head.  I want to go with lots of white and soft grays.

BEFORE PICS OF THE MESS WE STARTED WITH.

The remodeling of the old Bathroom reminds me of when CHRIST takes us where we are and begins to clean us up after we receive HIM as savior and become filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.

HE loves us so much that HE wants us to be who we should be in HIM.  HE loves us into a new creature in HIM.

Be it ever so humble...there's no place like HOME,

~d

JUST GOT BACK

JUST GOT BACK FROM A DAY WITH MOM AND SIS at EMPORIA then attended a Cross Country Race where Lil Miss participated.  We were so proud and excited to cheer her on as she ran three miles.  She placed and we smiled really big.  Their race course for Cross Country was across some beautiful land.  So beautiful.

Here we are cheering her on.

After she started running we the adults split up along the course to cheer her on as she ran the race.  I saw her start the race then walked to the one mile marker to cheer then walked over to another part of the course in two different places then high tailed it to the finish line so I could cheer some more.  She did well and we were so proud of her.  Even if she weren't running we'd be proud of her.  

Hubby and I drove on to TOPEKA to do some banking business before the HOLIDAY.  Skipped going to God's Storehouse, but stopped off at LONG JOHN SILVER's for fish.  I was hoping to get baked fish, but this location doesn't do that anymore.  I drove over to a shady spot and we ate our fish 'n chips.  I didn't eat any French fries, but ate two hush puppies instead.  Sipped some tea.  With COVID starting to pick back up I think we will stop eating out.  It's been fun to do so, but  think we need to stop it.  

Off to NATURAL GROCERS and ALDI.  Needed to milk a cow.

On the way HOME, we stopped off at PAXICO and walked through the antique store there.  I sure enjoy seeing the old things and my imagination goes on a spending spree in my head.  There are a few things that I admired, but didn't buy.  It is ENTERTAINMENT to think about where I would go with this piece and that.  Some wouldn't fit in my present HOME and when we downsize, they for sure won't fit.

The light fixtures...well that's another story as they would work in my HOME and the COTTAGE. One standing organ lamp was so pretty.  I could see it as a lamp in my COTTAGE.  Gosh it was pretty.  Also pricey.  I don't have a picture of it.  I didn't know that this type of standing lamp was called a Organ Lamp.  Learning new things all the time.

Here's a pic of one we saw at Clover Cliff Ranch Bed and Breakfast.  

There's just something about the old things in the Mill Creek Antiques that give me a warm fuzzy.  I so liked these old things for so many reasons.  

A very nice day, returning HOME to unload a few groceries.  Resting now and going to drink a EMERGEN-C powdered drink.  My chest has been hurting just a little bit and my throat has the start of aching.  I'm not sure what to think about it.

  

I called my Mom and was told that the Nursing HOME my older brother is in had tested my brother for COVID.  He is negative, but will be checked again next week.  My Mom and Sister had visited him on Tuesday, so they were checked as well today.  They checked out negative.  So I will keep a close eye on Hubby and me as I was around my Mom and Sister yesterday.  Hubby and I stayed at a Bed and Breakfast last Monday and Tuesday.  We were out and about.  We had eaten a nice meal at GRANDVIEW HOTEL in Cotton Wood Falls.  

I think we really do need to take a break from eating out, especially after this Covid scare with family.

YESTERDAY, I spent the day with my Mom and Sister in Emporia, Kansas. Had a nice time. Mom had a medical appointment.  Afterwards we visited a Antique Shop, ate lunch sitting for 2 and a half hours visiting, stopping by the Candy Store, went to Dollar Tree, Braums to wet our whistles and finally Walmart.  Said our good-byes.  The drive to Emporia and HOME was beautiful as I crossed through the Flint Hills.  The road is hilly and curvy with lots of green to see makes driving 75 impossible.  65 isn't possible either.  55, no faster.

The week-end is here.  Praise the Lord.  I will continue washing laundry and gathering household items to say good-bye to.  Going through the house takes time and thought.  I can do this and am.  

Shall we tidy up by gathering items?  Round one of downsizing is gathering items.  Round two is turning loose of these items.  Three is dusting and vacuuming.  Four, remodeling Cottage. Round five...moving.  It'll take months to accomplish this.  Months.  I am getting ideas for decorating. Just about have this figured out.  

This pass week, did I use my time wisely?  Was I a kind person?  Was I encouraging and have a good listening ear?  

Did I spend money wisely? 

 Thinking...well, did I?

~d