A VERY GOOD TIME TO THINK, ADMIRE THE SURROUNDINGS AND PRAY

HERE I SIT with a fan blowing on my ole sweaty bod, cooling off from my morning walk.  Jumping in a pool looks very inviting right about now.

After I get cooled off, I want to get in the car and clock how far I went since it was a new route for me.

Hubby woke me this morning to tell me it is probably the coolest temp it will be for this Summer day with a cool breeze blowing.  He was outside mowing our lawn.  I got up, put my hair in a pony tail and got dressed.  Out the door I went and decided to take a new route.  A very good time to think, admire the surroundings and pray.

It was wonderful conditions for a morning hike.  About 77 degrees out with a gentle breeze.  I timed myself and was HOME close to 30 minutes later.  Sweat was dripping in my eyes.  Need to carry a hankie in my pocket on these walks or were a bandana.  

When I walk the neighborhoods, I always see things that I haven't noticed before.  I truly need to walk more in the cool of the day.  After I have completed my walks, it lifts my spirits that I actually have done it.  Now to get lighter in my weight.  This would certainly help make my walks easier carrying less weight.  Let it be.

This walking thing is my newest HOBBY.  I have to look at it this way so I don't feel burdened down.  I weighed myself this morning and not much has changed.  Which can be looked at as a positive that I didn't gain.  I think of the character ROCKY sometimes when I walk.  grins.

The head cold I've been fighting off is still hanging around.  More Vitamin C, please.  I'm feeling slightly better, but still have the sniffles, a slight cough and watery eyes.  Shucks.

If I can cut this off at the pass perhaps I will be able to stop the train wreck of a cold.  A simple cold can cause such misery.

It's been a couple of years since I watched THE GILDED AGE.  Last night was episode one of season 3.  I think the costumes are getting a little more elaborate for the women.  How's the story line going?  Will I stay interested in this drama?  Hard to say.  At least there is no swearing. 

I started watching THE BETTER SISTER and should have turned it off right away when the verbiage included the  F  b o m b.  I suppose the actors get paid more to swear foul language, show skin and grunt.  

If I can break the habit of watching television during the daylight hours, which I did along time ago, then I can break the habit of watching programs with foul language.  

As for TV I'll be watching OFF GRID WITH DOUG AND STACY tonite on youtube to see what Doug says if anything about the  b o m b i n g  of Iran.  Concerned about WW3.  sigh.

TODAY's PLANS.  Walk, blog, research on the internet, laundry, write out our bills, work in the front bedroom, track the milage of the new walking route, water the plants, work on paperwork, take a nap, fix a huge salad for Lunch, shuffle some things about the house, oil down the dining room chairs and table.  Scrambled eggs with spinach for Breakfast.  Some fruit later.  Water of course.

HAPPY ABOUT IT.  I got the dining room table cleared off.  PTL.  It was a long time in the coming.  Now to conquer the pile of paper accumulating.  Just do it and be happy. 

Looked after our youngest grandson on Sunday.  He is such a live wire and a talker.  Love him.  Took him to the swimming pool and let him play in the Baby Pool for an hour.  Temps hit 93.  I sat in the sun with a hat on and a towel laying over my exposed legs which were burning.  It was HOT and I was ready to be back indoors once we got HOME.  We walked there and back.  Not bad for an old lady. 

                                           ~d

PRAISE THE LORD, IT'S MONDAY!

~A WALKING MESS~

WENT TO SLEEP LATE LAST NIGHT, but woke around 7:30 in the morning which surprised me.  Started the day with a morning walk to DOLLAR GENERAL, looked about buying a bottled water and greeting card.  Walked HOME all heated up and needing to cool off.  2 miles under my belt.  Feel great about this.

As I walked the mile to the store, I felt strong and did well walking about the store about 20 minutes looking at everything.  By the time I was nearly HOME, I was having to cheer myself on as I was slowing down wanting to SIT.  I didn't.  I sipped the water along the way I bought at the store.

It was so pleasant to be out doors loving the scenery.  When I walk the neighborhoods I am able to see things that I don't when I'm driving the car.  Walking is healthy and also nourishes my soul.  Seeing the flowers is a huge bonus.

After seeing myself in pics, I shutter at how large I am.  Taking this seriously about HAVING to MOVE MORE and eat healthy.  I have a goal that by my 70th birthday, I will have loss 10 pounds.  Please.  20 pounds would be even better.  I'll get a nice notebook to record my walks in so I can begin to keep accurate records of my walking history plus caloric intake.  I will be on this journey for a long time, Lord willing.  70 seems like a great time to focus on my health as I downsize my body and build up strength.  I will be looking into lifting some weights.  I'd like to find a studio to do so where I have to deliberately go two times a week as scheduled to start with.

After my walk this morning I cooled off, visited with hubby, wrote out some correspondences, called my sister and am now blogging.  My dear sister took a tumble and truly banged herself up. Completely broke a front tooth, chest contusion, facial bruises and knee injury.  Her knee that was replaced swoll up.  In a bad way.  This getting older is challenging.  She tripped on an uneven sidewalk, crashed and burned on the ground.

My Mother-in-law took a fall years ago which caused her to break her back when her head hit a glass door.  Taking falls seriously.

Hubby arranged for our lawn to be sprayed for weeds.  I pray it doesn't kill the flowers.  Can't walk on the grass for 24 hours.  He told me he wants a nice looking lawn.  I believe him as he will take pride in this work.  

I believe I will work on those wreaths that I have been talking about.  Gotta get this done.

Having a morning walk was wonderful and I pray that I can continue doing so with partnering up with an evening walk as well.  

Monday is a day to begin a fresh start.  This week is full of activities.  Probably won't do HOUSE WORK this week.  Need to concentrate on walking and High School Graduations.  Preparing the clothing we will be wearing.  Gosh, the grands grew fast.  Praise the LORD, we are here to witness such happy accomplishments.

May you have a sweet life.

Bless you,

~d

SMALL TOWN WOMAN LIVING IN A SMALL COTTAGE

DETERMINED TO GET MY WALK IN BEFORE THE RAINS RETURNED.  It was chilly at 56 degrees with a slight breeze as I walked around the track 3 times.  I'm tired.  More so than I'm comfortable with. Pushed myself, but backed out of walking a forth time around the cushioned track.

I can talk out loud when I am walking by myself.  Praying comes easy and I'm not really alone when I pray.  God is with me.  Always.  He will never leave me or forsake me.   Awesome.

Some young preschool children showed up with an adult to play about the track.  They are so energetic.  It's an inspiration.  I think their teacher was taking advantage of the cooler weather so the children could get some fresh air.

After I finished my little walk, I needed to cool off so we went for a drive about our small community looking at Irises that are in bloom.  Before we left to go to the track, we strolled in our backyard admiring the newly bloomed Irises trying to recall what each one is named.  I tend to not be able to remember their names.  Gotta keep at it.

I cooled off and now will wash up for LUNCH.  SALAD of course.  I'll put come cottage cheese in it and some raspberry vinaigrette.  It should taste wonderful.  RIB EYE STEAK for supper. ummmm.  Lots of Spring Water to drink.  I missed my morning tea so I'll fix a hot chocolate tea after lunch.  I can feel the tireds coming on.  I want to close my eyes and snooze.  Can't be doing that just yet.

I woke around 3 this morning and couldn't fall back asleep so I did some laundry and prayed. Eventually I nodded off and slept.  A thunder storm was off in the distance in which I prayed that it would dissipate.  It did.  

May I have a productive day continuing with laundry, shuffling items out of the Living room, folding sheets, moving small appliances from the Kitchen to the Utility room and cleaning the corner in the Utility room where the sewing machine will go.  What else?  Relocating baking items to the floor to ceiling cabinet in the Kitchen.  That's enough. 

The Kitchen continues to MORPH at my hands.  It will until we remodel and then once again it will morph until I am content where each item goes.

Late night TV took place.  I wanted POPCORN so bad I had to talk to myself and say, you are not hungry.  You are contented and this will pass.  It worked.  DOUBLE FEATURE.  No popcorn, but I was disappointed with one of the movies we watched.

The first movie was good and it kept my attention.  THE JUDGE.  Some language, but the plot was good.

Double feature with LONG SHOT.  I think this was one of the worst movies I've ever seen.  There is a push to encourage people to drink alcohol to get drunk, smoke, do illegal drugs, hop into bed with whoever avoiding the real consequences that come from destructive lifestyle like this.  The language was filth.  I need to be quicker and when the  F  BOMB is dropped, turn the movie off. Something that I will deliberately work on.  

More productive television programs are like HOME TOWN where houses are remodeled and updated on a budget.

I need to telephone someone to see if they brought some of their knitted washcloths to their store today.  I visited with her about bringing some to where I could look at them.  These thicker than normal clothes make wonderful wash clothes and dish clothes.  And away I go.

LIVING LARGE IN A SMALL COTTAGE MAKING THE BEST OF IT.

~d

 

STEAK FOR SUPPER AgAiN

FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS CUT WAY BACK ON EATING MEAT, eating steak each day comes with mixed emotions circulating in my mental sphere.  STEAK EACH DAY will be short lived as I am only on this particular food program for four days.  4.  Already on day 3.  I have learned that I can discipline myself to eat a certain way and stay away from highly processed foods including bread, pasta, rice, cereal, pastries, cookies and the likes.  It can be done.

Does the word AGAIN actually mean it's a gain.  I've gained in something.  Doing something more than once is adding gain?

NOT TOO BAD being on day three of this Lana Turner Diet.  Breakfast:  Orange Juice and Coffee.  Coffee isn't my cup of tea as I do not drink Coffee. Substitute with hot tea or nothing at all.  Lunch: Salad.  Supper: Steak.  LOW CALORIE.  That's what I'm aiming for. AND the simplicity of meal planning is a PLUS.  A GAIN for me.

Actually it's been pretty easy eating this way.  After doing Intermittent Fasting a year, I conditioned myself to not eat my first meal until 11 or so.  Some days not until one or two.  So drinking orange juice for breakfast is more than I had been getting early in the morning.  Salads are my new crush for lunch.  Steak...well I can suffer through this AGAIN for the supper meal.  grins.  

SHORT TERM DIET.  Only four days.  I'm going to a luncheon on what would be Day 5 so this works well for what I eat.  I'll eat well with more calories even have dessert on that day.  Then on Day 6, I'll return to lower calorie meals.  Tadaah.  Back on the wagon.

Walking more and encouraging myself that I MUST WALK.  Keep in motion.  Eating low cal plus walking is a recipe for something productive?  I am hopeful.  

May it be successful.  
~d

  

    

MS. LIBERTY, I DID IT.

IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THOSE DAYS where I forgot what day it was.  Is it Sunday, Monday, Tuesday?  Finding myself deciphering what the actual week day is only takes a click on the calendar to tell me it's MONDAY, the 13th.  Is that bad luck or what?  What.

Today, I'm not as sore as I thought I would be.  I walked 90 minutes yesterday with my HUBBY around the City Park.  Pretty sure it was a mile and 1/4 miles by the time we finished.  Wore my mask tied onto my head and when needed I'd pull it up over my nose.

Joggers, walkers, walkers with dogs and children.  The evening had a good feel to it as it was not too HOT and was shady.  We started at 7:30 ending at 9 PM.  A breeze saved our spirits. 

An internal furnace boiled up inside me as I walked.  Occasionally I'd sit to cool off.  The park was busier than I imagined.  Quite a few people had PUPPIES with them.  

My HUSBAND was my side kick as I walked and thankfully my feet did not ache.  This would come later as I sat at HOME.  Was next to impossible to walk to bed.  This morning I am sore, but not like last night.

WALKING AROUND the City Park was something I had wanted to do for 20 years.  Sigh and exhale.  Completing before my 65th birthday.  Praise the LORD.  I had wanted to quit several times and had to talk to myself about forging ahead knowing that if I did not complete this walk I would regret it.

I had to talk to myself when inside the Statue of Liberty when we were there years ago as the walking down after being in the crown was a scary experience to me.  I did it and I am so glad I finished what I started.  I was only 34 at the time.  Here I am 30 years older and doing a first.  

65 comes tomorrow.  I am officially a matronly woman.  PAUSE.  

PAUSE,
d    

  

A Walk

The Kansas wind is blowing and with the familyroom window open, I can hear the church bells when they chime.  Laundry is in and I have been doing some much needed dusting.  For the life of me, I do not understand how a mouse could get on top of the wardrobe and do his business.  As I was cleaning....there were mouse droppings.  Mighty Mouse must have flown up there and thought it was his toilet.  How can this be? 

Auto is in the shop, So I walked Lil Miss to school this morning and will walk back home with her when school ends for the day. 

There's a couple of glider benches in town that we sat on for 5 minutes while waiting for school to start.  We walked past the Bakery with people carrying Home-made Cinnamon Rolls to their vehicles.  Not fair!  Oops...better not go there.  Onto school.  The skies are grey.

She was on time.  On my way home and as I was walking past the Courthouse, the 8 o'clock bells were chiming.  Heard Doves cooing.  Love this sound.

I walked past a place that I call "The Christmas House."  It sits on a nice size lot that doesn't have a fenced yard.  What some would call a garage looks more like what a carriage house would have been.  "The Christmas House"  is runned down, but the main floor rooms are very spacious.  I have no idea what the upstairs looks like.  The roof is in terrible repair.  She's not for sale.  I have no idea why this house has a hold on me like it does. 

As I reached home, sweat was running from my brow...it wasn't hot outside and the humidity wasn't up.  It seems that I overheat way too easily when I assert myself.  Thyroid related.  Not pleased about that. 

Remember traffic jams in the cities. Going nowhere very fast.  Auto exhaust coming through the air system.  Driving a very long ways to get to where I was going to shop, go to Church, socialize, etc.  Truthfully, this small town has a lot going for it when it comes to a slower paced life. 

I like this tiny community.  In the early morning hours there is some activity on Main Street.  She's basically a quiet place.  Some have sub-divisions, some have acreage in the country.  Some have no lawn and some have a little.  Here, we have 3 lots. 

With Autumn coming...I hope we can have the lawn groomed by having it edged.  Weeds pulled from the flowerbeds.  This week, the porch decorations need to be placed outside.  Interior dusting completed.  Radiators dusted and ready for use in colder weather.

I know that this may not sound very exciting to you, but it helps gear me up to get it accomplished.

I sat in my overstuffed chair and began to cool off after I put a load of laundry in to wash.  As I type, the wind is blowing through the tree branches as to say, slow down and take some time to notice me.

Autumn is creeping in as the locust harmonize with the sound of wind swaying in the breeze.  Take a deep breath and see what the day has instore for me.  I have not had quiet moments like this for a very long time.

I will not worry.  I will not worry.  I will not worry.
d