DOG DAYS OF SUMMER WITH SWEAT ROLLING DOWN MY BACK

THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER RETURN.  With sweat running down my back, I know there's a better way to work outside.  Have to watch it and stay in a cooler climate than what is outside.  Playing it smarter.  Think this afternoon, I'll take a nap.  

THE HEAT MAKES IT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO WORK OUTSIDE.  It was hitting the 90s when we finished loading up storage boxes, transferring them to a different unit then unloading and stacking them in another unit.  We made a huge dent in the one unit.  Our goal is to clear out the one storage unit by the end of AUGUST.  I think we might make it.

As we relocate the goods, I have to open the lids to see what's inside the vinyl boxes.  Tomorrow, I will be back at it again.  There are paint canvasses to bring to our garage.  That will open up more unit space.  We haven't removed the Christmas tree yet.  Our plans were changed for us as Hubby had a procedure done on his toenails by a doctor and his toes were bandaged up.  Makes my stomach hurt thinking about it.  So our schedule changed.

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NO CAN DO.  There was a dead rodent on one of the traps we sat out a few days ago.  It actually looked like a small rat.  Have to stay on top of this as I don't want the upholstered furniture to get chewed up.  

CHANGING THE SUBJECT...time for a pretty picture!

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I was up early this morning and read the local newspaper.  One article was about a husband needing to lose 15 pounds with their doctor advising him to eat a broiled hamburger patty and a dish of coleslaw.  Then for supper munch on celery.  This article was posted 50 years ago.  It caught my eye as the author wrote from the inside of her stone house which we lived in.  

This is really a simplistic diet plan.  Would it work?

NOT SURE if it would for me.  Once the weight is taken off, one must do their best to keep the weight off.  Not always successful.

There's a group called, EAT LIKE A BEAR.  I believe the creator of this plan is Amanda Rose, Ph. D.  She lost 140 pounds and has kept it off.  She encourages you to eat a large, oversized salad each day.  I'm sorta doing this right now.  I don't believe she ate supper.  I'm not there yet.  

https://eatlikeabear.com/

Increasing vegetables is the added ingredient for success.  I'm still eating way too many starchy foods and carbs.  I confess I am guilty. 

I hope to go walking later this evening when the temps are cooler.  I want to and need to.

HEALTH WISE I am coughing way less.  PTL.  It's been a month since  co v id  got a hold of me.  I am on the mend.  Still weak in the legs.  Sleeping better, but fatigued needing daily NAPS which are long ones.

GRANNY NANNY CHRONICLES.  The grands are starting school this month.  St. Louis Grand and Oklahoma Grands have begun this week.  Kansas Grand starts next week.  Have to get my hands on some pics to post.  Another school year begins.  Two grands are Seniors and two are Freshmen.  One's a 5th grader.  My goodness how time has flown.  I am going to deliberately pace myself to take it all in each day and pray a great deal.  Amen.    

AUTUMN is early and I think I will embrace the cooler temps.  Looking for some Autumn decor and found some sparkly pumpkins that I think I will put out early.

HAVE MERCY.  As I was sitting visiting with my spouse, I noticed spider webs.  Halloween/Harvest is on the spiders' minds.  The Dining room walls that meet up with the ceiling need a deep clean.  Spider webs are encroaching my space.  Unbelievable how fast that happens.  

I rearranged some dolls that I have in my old Victorian desk to put my newest doll in the upper case.  The front of the desk has quite a bit of dust caked on it.  I know that this COTTAGE is extremely dusty.  I think the old worn out carpet fibers contributes to the dust being stirred up as the carpet is broken down and fuzz floats about in the room.

If we go the route of new carpet or hard wood floors, it will be in 2025 when this happens.  Being realistic.  I do not want to tear up the rooms just yet.  I'm thinking that more things need settled before we start on this huge project.  Maybe after Christmas into the new year. 

Like having the storage units emptied.  My goal is to have two of the local units cleared out before the year is gone.  I know the larger unit in a different community will be a part of us for a couple of years as it is like an extension of a basement.  The garage and basement will be organized as we go.  I believe I can clean the majority of the garage by myself and the basement as well, but I will be slower than slow. 

I wish I enjoyed remodeling more than I do.  The waiting is difficult for me.  Honestly, I am not enough of a pioneer to enjoy it.  THANKFUL I live in the year 2024 with all the conveniences I am blessed to use.  

God be with me in this journey.

~d

 

HELLO WORLD

TODAY WAS A GREAT DAY THAT HAD A SLOW START.  I like it this way as it allows me time to go through the mail, thumb through the newspaper, locate bills, write out correspondences to mail, scribble out notes for the day, etc.  I've been skipping breakfast this week.  Cutting back on calories on purpose.

I won't be making a New Year's Resolution this coming year about losing weight as I am continuing on this already and it is happening. 

When I stepped on the scales at the Doctor's Office, I was extremely HAPPY to see that I had lost weight.  I was so happy last August, I danced a jig.  Not every time I step on the scales do I cry, but I thought the cartoon was funny.  grins.  

Weighed myself this morning talking to the scales telling it, "It's time to loss another 10 pounds." No Breakfast.  Lunch was a Combination Salad with a Chicken Breast, some Dorothy Lynch Salad Dressing  and water.  Supper was 2 cups of Pacific's Organic Butternut Squash Soup with a handful of croutons.  Dessert was a Peppermint Patty.  More water.  A grand total of about 780 calories today.  My stomach is full and satisfied.  Will sip water throughout the evening and not eat again until tomorrow mid morning.  That will be an intermittent fast of about 12 to 14 hours.     

This is on the lower side of the count, but much needed as I was over the top high last week as I ate extremely well at Kansas City Union Station Pierponts Restaurant on Tuesday, Country Plaza P.F. Chang's on Wednesday, and last but not least CHRISTMAS DINNER on Saturday with lots of Cream Cheese spread on Ritz Crackers with Pepper Jelly plus the Pretzel Rods and German Chocolate Cake with extra frosting.  

Oops, but it was worth every bite.  Stepping on the scales doesn't lie and I need to cut way back this week.  Will do.

This past year, I haven't had any trouble cutting out sweet beverages, pop, fruit juices.  This is a help.  Skipping the bread has gotten easier for me.  

I will have trouble cutting bacon completely out of my diet.  I haven't been able to do that yet.  Pork Chops are very rare these days to eat.  What else needs cut out of my diet.  No problem NOT eating BAT.  Never have had it and I don't plan to ever eat it.  No rabbit or alligator.  I'm good with turkey, beef, chicken and occasionally fish. Trying to eat more grilled Salmon.  Cookies haven't caused problems this past year.  Ice Cream is rare.  Potato Chips weren't the easiest to stop eating.  Occasionally I crave them.  When I eat potatoes, I try to cut the portions way back.  I don't miss cereal.  Seldom do I have alcoholic beverages.  Once or twice a year isn't over doing it.  

THIS MORNING my Husband and I had a talk about LIFE.  We decided that we'd go over to the COTTAGE and visit about what we need to do in each room.  We'd chat a while then go and actually look in the room jotting down what needs done.  We were at it about four hours. Mentally, it stimulated me, but not to the point of no return.  I wish it were already done and behind us.    

If I had the habit of working non-stop Monday through Saturday day in and day out, this task of remodeling the COTTAGE might not be so daunting, but I don't work on it each day.  I have had to have frequent breaks.  These breaks have helped me to be able to cope with the house fire where we lost so much and health issues.  I believe we will be all the better after we have thinned through more things, achieved godly order and continue on our journey about LIFE. 

Drove HOME in the dark placing more items in a donation box for the week.  I'm aiming for a box a week.  Just my speed.  Slow, but steady. 

This week, I need to gather more organic veggies and fruits.  Do some laundry.  Prepare for New Year's Eve.  Clean some in the house.  Make a trip to donate box of items for charity.  Put some more items in the donation box for next week's donation trip.  Go see the Optometrist this week to have him check out my left eye that had a Sub-conjunctival Hemorrhage a week ago.  Start painting primer on the Dining room walls.  Tidy more in my closet pulling more garments. Here's to having a successful week.

HOME LIFE is for me,

~d👸

~Joining in with the fun at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom~
Happy Homemaker Monday
https://familycorner.blogspot.com/2021/12/happy-homemaker-monday-12272021.html

The Weather:  It is unpredictable.  In the 70s one day then expecting snow on Saturday.

How I am feeling this morning:  Relaxed and ready to go.

On my mind:  Remodeling the Cottage.

On my Breakfast Plate this morning:  Absolutely nuttin'.

Reading Pile:  I actually placed my hardcover books that I hope to read soon in a Longaberger Basket and placed it over by the fireplace.  Magazines went into a different basket.  Books about cooking for Diabetics.

On my TV:  TV is off.

On the menu this week:  Loads of organic veggies, some fruit.  Salads, salads, salads.

From the camera:  Baby LOVE.

Looking around the house:  CHRISTmas decorations are still very much here and will be until after the New Year.

To relax this week I will:  Rest, write and pray.

Something I want to share:  Stay busy and remember to clean up after yo' self.  I am rejoicing that my cholesterol is down where it needs to be down and up where it needs to be up.  A1c is down.

On my prayer list:  I had a sub-conjunctival hemorrhage last week and it gave me a black eye.  Healing very slowly.  Appreciate prayers for healing.  I'm thankful I can still see.  

Blessings,
~d

A Heavy Load

WHEN I look at this lady in the polka dot dress
 I see a nicely groomed woman in a pretty dress.

Not a heavy set female.

Well dressed and clean.

What say you?
d