COFFEE IN THE MORNINGS

 ~d

SQUEAKING TILL THE COWS COME HOME

I WAS DETERMINED TO SHRED TWO TUBS FULL OF OLD PAPERS and as I was leaving the cottage for the night, another cardboard box full of printed emails was noticed hiding in the shadows.  Will get to this one later.  I needed to complete the task of shredding the contents of these two tubs that when I finished, I was so ready to go HOME and eat.  Actually tired.  Tis done.  Pat myself on the back.  I see a day when I am so organized I will be squeaky clean.   

I didn't get my walking in on the treadmill.  Hubby was working out in the shed where the treadmill is, setting up a muscle rack for storage tubs.  I would have been in his way, so I shredded lots of papers instead.  The shredder squeaks due to having used it so much.  The end results were three large trash bags full of shredded paper.  SO GLAD TO HAVE this done.  So glad.  I was trying to remember when I started shredding old receipts, checks, statements, etc.  I can't even remember as it was months ago.    

When I got home, I watched some television and fell asleep watching PBS.  Went from episode one of Miss Scarlet and woke up at the end of episode two.  Will have to watch again.  I was so tired I faded.

This month, I hope to have packed a whole lot of things that will go with us to the COTTAGE when we make our exodus from here to there.  Doing my best to do all the packing in an orderly way.  Let there be order so the job gets done.  When our house is finally completely empty, I will marvel at the results.  I will walk through the house room by room saying good-bye.  The house will be barren of all belongings.  I hope it will be squeaky clean when vacant.  

Squeaky clean usually requires a great deal of planning ahead of time to get the finished results wanted.  That saying, "Until the cows come HOME." resonates in my head.  MOO.  Where's the cows?

In my head I can see our tiny COTTAGE all fixed up and very suitable for two old peeps living there.  Each time I am at the COTTAGE working, I think and rethink what we will do to make her our cozy home.  As we were traveling today to the cottage to work, Hubby asked about one of my Aunts that has been moved to a nursing home after an illness.   As we were talking about nursing homes, I mentioned how expensive they are and that we will probably not be able to afford one when we are extremely old if we should live that long.  Hubby said that the Cottage will be our nursing home.  We both laughed.  I agreed.  

My MONDAY was busy as I continue to box up CHRISTMAS DECOR.  I needed to run to town to get a few more fruits for this weeks WONDER ZONE DIET.  Sunday was easy enough to do as I skipped breakfast and had a FRUIT SALAD for Lunch.  Some cheese and MARY's GONE CRACKERS crackers to snack on while my soup heated up for supper.  I was very hungry.  Went too long between lunch and supper without eating.  Soup for supper.  Four cups of this WONDER SOUP.  I was full when done and didn't eat my strawberries for evening snack.

Monday's Breakfast was a baked potato drizzled with olive oil.  Some salt and pepper to season it.  Lunch, a nice salad and supper stir fried veggies.  Lots of water to drink.

Tuesday's Breakfast was a Avocado Toast with cherry tomatoes and fresh fruit.  Not sure about Lunch.  Think I'll have an early Supper being another huge salad.

Wednesday will be BANANA DAY and almond milk smoothies.  Also when you mash up a banana, you can make a pudding that's delicious.  The day's food will be easy to do.

Speaking of TUESDAY...it started out kind of rough.  Hubby thought we had more time before my LAB APPOINTMENT and let me sleep in, so when I did wake up, I was running behind.  QUICKLY got dressed, fixed my hair and out the door I went to drive the distance to the LAB where I'd have the work done.  I drank a bottled water on the way so I'd be hydrated making the withdrawal easier.  Arrived on time.  Couldn't hardly believe it.

There was a wait.  The technician was WONDERFUL.  Hardly felt the needle.  That's the way I like it.  Then we were going to go to STARBUCKS where I could get a unsweetened Iced Green Tea, but on the way I had asked my dear Husband what was his favorite BREAKFAST.  We headed toward the CHEF, but they were closed.  Off to IHOP.

I knew I could get some fresh fruit for Breakfast.  As we were talking about the LAB appointment, I said my technician was the BEST I had ever had.  Hubby told me about the time he went to have blood drawn and the technician tried 4 times before she finally drew from the back of his hand.  Makes my stomach hurt.  

As we talked, I thought I'd be sweet and top Hubby's cup of coffee off and add some more cream to it.  I was telling him that if the technician couldn't get the blood on the first try, I would allow a second try and if they couldn't get blood I WOULD...this is when the tiny container of cream jumped out of my hand and landed in his cup of coffee spilling coffee on the table where the creamer in the small container was now floating in his cup of coffee. 

HOW'D THAT HAPPEN?  We started laughing.  I needed the comedy relief as I have been uptight for too long concerning health issues and juggling between the main house and the COTTAGE.  I think the cows came HOME when I did this stunt.  The timing couldn't have been better even if I had tried to make this happen. 

I've tried and tried to be overly clean and overly organized, but for some reason I am not quite there yet.  Makes me wonder if I ever will be. Doesn't really matter does it?

~d

  

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF NOT DRINKING COFFEE!

TODAY IS MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of not drinking coffee.  I was a die hard coffee drinker.  With creamer...Half and Half.  I'd sip coffee with creamer throughout the day, day after day, after day.   I know I drank more than the average Joe.  Pun intended.  

During the past year, about the only thing I missed about not drinking coffee was holding the mug and sitting down to drink.  What boggles my mind is that it has been an entire year of not having any.  When I stopped drinking it, I had no withdrawal symptoms at all.

I thought this was unusual, but all the better.

When I put my mind up to doing something, sometimes I actually accomplish doing it.

So here's to me celebrating my one year anniversary!

d

DAY 3: NO COFFEE

Can I give up coffee?  Yes.  I know I can.  I gave up Pepsi, Coca Cola, Dr. Pepper at 42 years of age and I'm now 65.  23 years ago.  WOWZER.  All except 7-up during illnesses and occasional Root Beer.  Back to drinking H2O...water.  Spring water.  I believe the day has come to adjust to no coffee except on occasional occasions.  grins.  I can do this thing.


TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF 3 DAYS WITHOUT COFFEE.  SO far so good.  NO HUGE CRAVINGS for this liquid gold.  Which amazes me.  No craving.  No extreme headache.  No desire.  Fantastic.


I had the understanding that drinking coffee helps with lowering ones blood sugar level.  Soooo I freely drank it.  Daily.  Almost all day long throughout the day.  No questions asked.  Simply accepted this as truth.


A good thing gone sour.  My Blood sugar level has been on a higher side of things for years.  This SUMMER I've been checking my levels in the morning and it was higher than in the comfortable zone.  Monitoring it.  TOO HIGH.  Decided to go off coffee.  Will do this for a month or so and see if there is a better outcome from having no coffee.  


I did this one other time about a year and a half ago and my blood pressure went down.  Will see if this helps the sugar levels.

This is interesting to me as I seem to not fall into a text book category of what is considered the norm or withdrawal.  Perhaps the Lord is making this easy for me.    

Dear Lord, I love you.                                          

Show me the way in which I am to go,                        

d

Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
2 Chronicles 15:7 - Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. 

Coffee Kind Of Day

I do like my coffee.
I do like my tea.
I do like my water.

Quiet time sometimes is alone time, thinking and praying with a beverage at my side.

Being refreshed.
d  

Pot Of Coffee and A Whole Lot of Talking

WE MET UP WITH OUR DAUGHTER AND GRAND at the Mexican Restaurant which serves the best, very thin chips with salsa before the meal.  I look forward to their root beer as it is the BEST.  I had shredded chicken enchiladas with red sauce, rice and beans.  AFTER our meal, we went over to our daughter's for a pot of coffee.  


When we entered the door, DOTY came out fired up and oh so excited to see us.  It's been a while since we were in her house.  Her tiny hairy body was so excited to see us she sang a high pitched song and begged for attention as we were petting her back.  This much excitement makes me a very happy visitor.  

She is so full of energy it's invigorating to watch.  I just love her.  LOVE her.  

We had a nice chat and visited.  Just enough time to sip a cup of coffee, unwind at Daughter's and look outside through the picture window to see the FLINT HILLS.  It is a healing balm to my weary soul.  I need a strong dose of scenery every once in a while.  

Sometimes I wish I could look out our back window and see the rolling hills covered in AUTUMN browns and golds that disappear with WINTER then awaken again when perky SPRING comes.  

Home we went and I seriously took a NAP.  These days it doesn't take very much effort to run out of gusto and need an afternoon NAP.

I know I slept with my mouth open.  YAWN.  Not a pretty sight.  We had left over roast beef for SUPPER which I made into a stew.  Out of soda crackers so we had ritz instead.  This added a nice flavor.  Twas really good if I do say so myself.  

Watched a series on the big screen and stayed up late.  Slept well considering that I sweat while sleeping and can't get an answer as to why.  Autoimmune messed up.

Things to do this coming week in preparation for THANKSGIVING.  Afterwards CHRISTMAS will happen with JOY and excitement in the cold.  Hope it snows come Christmas Day!!!

Bucket list is in need of being rewritten.  Some quiet time is needed to give this some thought.  I think the last time I did this one of my dear friends passed away.  sigh.

Every day is different.
Lovely to be a HOMEMAKER!
d

Frothy Morning

MORNIN'.  I woke early this morning for me.  5ish.  Wide awake.  Cleaned the toilet and Bathroom sink.  Did a few dishes.  Misted the fern in the screened in porch.  Checked facebook.  Am still in my housecoat sipping coffee as the sun is coming up to greet me. 

Door open and gentle cool breeze drifting into the room.  Still have a fan on as I tend to not cool off like a normal person. 

Nothing like having CHRISTMAS in JULY.  A frothy coffee was created to drink.  Thought of some CHRISTMAS songs to sing.  Funny thing is this past week as I was driving my Grandson around, I saw SANTA in the City Park all decked out in his gorgeous red CHRISTMAS suit of clothing.  He had a photographer with him as I believe they were doing a photo shoot in the heat of the day.  Cooler weather will come and then it will be just like CHRISTMAS.  For now it is CHRISTMAS in JULY.

FROTHY COFFEE.

BEAN ENVY HANDHELD FROTHER 

creates a wonderful FANCY COFFEE at HOME.

Kansas weather is so unpredictable.  This week it is to be cooler then last week.  This is amazing for a SUMMER MONTH.

Over the week-end HUBBY was up really early putting in muscle and time in the cool of the day making a new FLOWERBED along the fence.  So far he has dug about forty feet and has another ten to the tree.  I encouraged him to take this slow as he digs in the heat.  The weather Saturday was awful.  Soaked in sweat.  Stop and cool off digging more in cooler weather on SUNDAY.
SUNDAY was a cooler cloudy day with some rain for moisture throughout the day.  I LOVED IT!!!

This is the time of the year to plant and relocate IRISES.  The area they are in now is difficult to weed the beds.  The new location will be a narrower bed in which it will be easier for older people to reach and stretch in.  The present beds will be planted with grass for the lawn.

When we moved here over two years ago, our time was short to relocate the IRISES so they went in an area of the lawn that was not a flowerbed.  We (and I should say Husband) will return the lawn to being a lawn once again.  The flowers will migrate to their new flower beds latter part of JULY and early AUGUST and hopefully in the SPRING of 2020 bloom again.  With them having been relocated there may not be as many blooms like this SPRING.  They were prolific this year.

The SUMMER IRIS SALE is in a few days and I wonder if we'll go?  Humm.  Shall see.  Shall see.

I have conjured up in my imagination how to arrange the irises in circles with like kind.  I can imagine the blossoms in my head.

Grandson returned to St. Louis.  I was exhausted.  Good to see him, visit and good for him to return to his HOME.  I rested most of the day.  Needed to.

I love my GRANDKIDS.  I do.  Still...other slower individuals will identify how the ole body slows and all the energy bouncing off the walls is kind of difficult to take.  The noise factor takes place.  Still love the kids.  Need to rest more often than before.  Sorry, but it's the way it is.

I will continue to say my prayers and have good thoughts.  Fond memories will arise from time together.  Though I have laundry to do, bills to pay, dishes to wash and a nice supper to fix, I won't be apologizing if I take a nap today.  

Sweet DREAMS,
d on the prairie    



Linking to HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY!
https://familycorner.blogspot.com/2019/07/happy-homemaker-monday-07222019.html?showComment=1563805901466#c3020246195415142210

So Beautiful

Today I will walk over to the rock house and snap some pictures of the flowers that have already bloomed.  This SPRING I will not be living in this house  as we have moved into RETIREMENT COTTAGE.

THE COTTAGE is where we are recovering from the devastating HOME fire.  My heart aches some as I think about having moved away.  An adjustment.  Today, I will take some pictures and get ready for clothing and textile items that will be returned to us from fire recovery.

It will be a mess around the COTTAGE as we sort through items that are in good shape and those that aren't.  What is called 'smokies' will not enter the house, but be reviewed and photographed outside.

We will have a full day preparing for this endeavor.  A full day.

For a few minutes I will sit and sip my coffee with thoughts on what we hope to get accomplished TODAY.  Tis a gorgeous SPRING-LIKE day here in my part of Kansas.

We did the shuffling in the Living room and Dining room over the week-end.  I think we will be comfortable in the cottage after we finally get settled over the SPRING.  We will have time to prepare further for retiring and moving forward.  A journey we haven't taken yet.

May you have a blessed and pleasant LIFE.
God bless,
d

Day Twenty Nine: Pass The Cream

Day Twenty Nine

Thanks for stopping by.

Coffee?

 SOMETIMES ALL YOU NEED IS COFFEE AND A FRIEND.

LOVE GOES ALONG WAYS,

d

How To Make A Great Cup Of COFFEE

Is there really that much to making a cup of coffee?

Yes....I'll get back to you asap.

COFFEE makes a lot of peeps HAPPY.

 

Any tips on making spectacular coffee would be appreciated!

My MOM taught me to add a dash of salt to the coffee grounds.  Salt helps with bitterness.
She did this as a young woman working the deli counter at a store many moons ago 
and was told this was the BEST COFFEE in town.

Start out with a clean percolator, cold water, add fresh coffee grounds and a dash of salt.

PERK TO PERFECTION.

HUGS,

d 

PARTYING WITH THE BIG GIRLS OVER AT::

http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2016/08/foodie-friday-and-everything-else_18.html#comment-form

Coffee In My Cream

Admitting that I am slowing down.  Not sure if I can blame it all on aging, or the medicine I'm on or the fact that I have NO thyroid and not sleeping the best.  Hubby checked my blood sugar level for me this morning and I was a tad bit high for fasting.  Yesterday morning and today when I sat on the sofa to have coffee, I was groggier than normal.  Felt like I was drugged. Not good.  So I asked Husband if he'd check my sugar level.  I'll have to keep an eye on this.  sigh. 

May you have a blessed day, 

week and life!

d

I SAY Coffee Anyone

Hello from the PRAIRIE.

May you have a super WEEK-END.

Guess what I'll be drinking this week-end?

That's right,

d