RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS

RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS.  Am I a fan of Cryptic talk?  I use it a great deal.  Must be a fan.  

Blue skies are gone for now.  Today it's chilly and rainy outside with gusts of wind.  Inside the house, it sounds like WINTER ARRIVED even though it's AUTUMN for a couple of months yet. We're winding down as the leaves litter the yards.  A few more days of this wind and the gorgeous AUTUMN foliage will have disappeared from the trees.  Saddens me a tad as I have embraced the FALL and fell in love with the beauty.  🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂

Pray there's no snow this week.  Not ready for MOTHER NATURE to cover everything with a blanket of white fluff.  Eventually, the WINTER MIND SET will come and I will have to adjust.

What's on the agenda for the day?  Tidying the Kitchen for sure.  This task is taking hours to make it a reality that we have a tidy Kitchen with everything in its place and a place for everything.  Nice and slow we go.  Also need to make a run to the Bank for a deposit.  Making sure the cash is in the account to cover our expenses for bills and life expenses.  Over the week-end, we spent more than usual stocking up the pantry.  If we spent a little extra each month on keeping household items stocked up then it wouldn't hit us so hard in November.  Or so I think. 

I have a sense of satisfaction when we have a well stocked fridge and pantry.  When the kids were little, after a grocery run I always felt a peace that we had supplies and I could feed my family. Comforting to me.  

What should one have in their pantries anyways?  

As for the KITCHEN.  Finding places for all that's sitting on the floor is harder than I want.  I did purchase more Mason Jars.  Getting ready to wash and rinse them.  Not a difficult task.  This afternoon and evening, I'll fill them with what's in reach like beef sticks, flour, sugar, dates, etc.     

I'm tired from being on the road so much.  On the road again... as the song goes, but I really am ready to stay HOME.  

I'd like to decorate the two matching plant containers that will be used for HARVEST DECOR by the porch steps and again for CHRISTMAS with a change of flowers.  After I get started, it shouldn't take very long to cut pool noodles to fill the containers with and add a pumpkin on top with faux leaves.  Zip zip...be done.  I wish the Kitchen clean-up were as fast.

I talked to my Sister late last night.  An hour and a half later, it was time to shut down.  My brother-in-law is deathly ill.  I can pray and speak gentle words to her during this time and yet she is the one that will have to take over their estate.  She's the one that will have to lean on the Lord for direction and strength.  I truly believe that as an adult one should have their affairs in order all the time as we do not know when we will die or what condition we will be in.  Also keep a Health journal through the years where in a matter of seconds you can revisit past medical appointments, diagnoses, know what meds were prescribe with what reactions were to drugs and procedures.  Monitor all the bills, keep some cash on hand and maintain a stocked Pantry.  Live within your means or under.  Keep a tidy house and have inventory of possessions. 

Brother-in-law is taking chemo and is extremely weak.  He doesn't eat food or drink fluids. Sleeps continuously.  I do not see him recovering.  Miracles do still happen, but sometimes one dies.  A slow death in order to say your good-byes.  If by chance he gets better and recovers, he will still have been altered by the strong chemo which more than likely will cause him issues in functioning. 

In the beginning of when the chemotherapy started, the doctor said that he could have my brother-in-law in remission by December.  Now the doc is saying BIL has until December to live. He is dying.  The chemo does not always work and in many cases it makes the patient sicker than sick.  I think it has made BIL sicker than sick.  He has another round of chemo this Friday if he is strong enough for it.  If he isn't, they may be told we've done all that we can.  He probably would be moved into HOSPICE. 

God's peace to him.  Have you made your peace with God? 

I'm getting ready to take off again in the car on this rainy Monday.  I'll make the best of it. 
~d

AUTUMN RAMBLE

BACK TO IT.  We've had a few days off doing other things than work on the ATTIC out at the storage unit.  Back to it.  Hubs talked about it and I will follow.  

There's a stack of storage tubs that have a dish set in them waiting to journey to the cellar.  I had to find all the missing pieces and group them together so they can be together on the shelves. When you have three storage units, a garage, a she-shed and a cellar holding things that got separated from one another with a messy move, it takes longer getting organized.  Or at least it did in my case.

This move has been a nightmare.  Terribly messy.  The worst.  We relocated from our large house 3 years ago Halloween.  Here we be going through boxes making extremely slow progress.  Two storage units have been emptied since the Halloween MOVE took place.  It took us 2 1/2 years to be able to say that. 

The last unit is being kept so we can use it as an attic.  After the ATTIC is finished, then the cellar, garage and she-shed will be dealt with.  Crawling right along, I am in over my head with stuff.  Illnesses, challenging physical conditions, medical appointments, weather, etc. SLOWED us way down.  WAY, way down.  

Tis tempting to throw it in the trash or haul it all away to GOODWILL and be down with it.  For now, I go back and forth about it.  I've done both.  Still, if we can recoup some of the money that has been spent through the years, it will help the budget.  PTL.    

👚👚👚👚👚👖👖👖👖👖👕👕👕👕👕 Laundry got away from me again.  Seems too easy to let this happen.  Anywho, I have probably 6 loads to do of blue jeans that were boxed up hidden in storage.  I think I will just go to the launder-mat and place them in the oversized wash machines so I can get them taken care of quicker.  I can dry them at HOME, but using the larger machines to wash seems like a better option then using my HOME units which cannot handle the heavy loads.

🚼👶🍼A large trash bag sits on the utility room floor full of children's clothing.  Think I will do the same thing with them.  They'll be ready for next Spring's Yard Sales so I will be a head of the game if I don't donate them first.  They still need laundered.

🍁🍂🍃🍂🍁 The AUTUMN COLORS are more prominent showing up in nature and with decorating items in the stores.  Slowly the trees are changing their leaves into gorgeous oranges, yellows, browns and reds.  I think it is really beautiful this year.  Perhaps I will be ready for what is next.  Colder weather with sleet, rain and snow.  🌧⛄. The decorating makes the seasons more enjoyable to me.

The stores have completely ignored the PILGRIMS 🦃🦃🦃 of THANKSGIVING and have gone from Halloween 👻🎃 straight to 🎄🎅🤶 secular CHRISTMAS.  Sad.  Too busy to be thankful for our harvest and abundance we have received?  Not here.  Living a grateful and THANKFUL LIFE is the best yet.

There will be the Thanksgiving Parades and turkey dinners, but the decorating is a different story.  We can add Pilgrims and turkeys to the AUTUMN decor.  I have a complete set of dishes I could use for our Thanksgiving Meal that will probably remain in the boxes this year as this downsizing and organizing EVENT is a bit much.  Paper plate time.  I have no shame.  Being real. We may just eat a Community meal prepared by others.  Seems likely we may do this.  It will certainly be an economic way to eat.

We grocery shopped yesterday for meats.  STICKER SHOCK when the register hit $350.00.  Being frugal is so important.  

I have a few AUTUMN decorations in the house, but very little.  I'm still concentrating on the stuff that came out of the storage unit that need dealt with.  Lord, help.  It shouldn't take as long as it does for me.  TODAY, I plan to box up MORE glassware that I will turn loose of.  Clearing out the Living room will be my PLANS today.  

🍬🍫🍫🍫 🥨🥨🥨 I've got to get some Halloween goody bags made up for my Grandchildren as well.  I have luncheon bags to fill with some Hersey miniature nuggets and pretzels. I think this will be plenty for them.  I'll place the goods inside the bags and tie them shut with twine.  Should be alright.  

Up early today.  Best put some laundry in and round up some glassware to box up.  The quicker I get this done, the better.  Truly.

This is not what I want to consume my old age with.  Heavens.  It will be 10 years ago on the 25th that we had the house fire.  The shock of it all.  10 years.  We lost so much of our physical things that this contributed to going overboard on GETTING THINGS to replace what we lost.  I know now, I overdid it and am detoxing from this mindset.  I can relax about not having so much STUFF.  So that is what I am working at doing.

At 71 years of age...with a brother-in-law deathly ill and a Alaskan girlfriend's Hubby in the hospital with head injuries...I am convinced that we have to live a life that doesn't need so much stuff.  Life is short and eternity much longer. Knowing God, following the Lord and loving people is the most important thing of all.  Only through being BORN AGAIN through Jesus Christ and filled with the HOLY SPIRIT can I be who I am suppose to be.

Thank you for stopping by.  Hope you are well.

~d on the prairie

OUR FIRST FROST?

FIRST FROST IS ON THE WAY???

🧥CHILLY MORNING.  Sweater weather for sure.  Hubby covered our geraniums and mums last night with a make shift shelter.  He gathered the potted flowers and covered them with a large canvas.  The large mum left in an urn on the porch was covered with an old bed sheet.  They will stay covered until Saturday afternoon.  There were frost alerts for early Saturday morning.

OUR FIRST FROST of the AUTUMN SEASON?  Not ready for this.  Oooooh not so ready.  The furnace is ready for use.  The cars are ready for cold weather.  I am not.  I need to get our heavy coats out, gloves and scarfs out of the seasonal closet.  Mood wise, it'll take a hot minute to be ready. 

A few days ago we went to Manhattan for Hub's medical appointment.  First sweater of the season was worn and I was still a bit cold.  Chilly and rainy.  We had a decent day as we went to the appointment, had medicinal iced green tea, went to two grocery stores and Walmart.  Needed some greens for meals. 

I quickly managed to clean out the fridge before leaving for the day.  There seems to always be veggies or fruit that go to ruin before we get to use them.  Always.  I scaled down the purchases as I am being careful to not over buy.  We had corn on the cob, blueberries, grapes, carrots, cauliflower, some lettuces that were still eatable.  The rest was rotten.  I bought some more arugula, spinach, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, canned beans for quick fixes.

To me, having a full pantry and full fridge gives a sense of satisfaction and contentment that we are taken care of.  Feeling this way for years.

COMPUTER TIME.  I watched a video by a lady where she talks about 10 or so foods to have on hand to feed a family for little expense.  These items last longer.  Need to watch it again.  She suggested peanut butter, oats, canned tomatoes, dried beans, cabbage, potatoes, rice, butter. That's only eight.  Maybe pasta?  Can't recall.  Finding that video again might be fun.  Salt, pepper, sugar.

DECLUTTERING AND ORGANIZING.  Spending time with the glassware in boxes.  I want to get some more small, heavy duty storage containers for storing my glassware in.  Three years ago, I purchased some and they have held up real well.  I just need more to keep the unity.  Heading out later to shop Menards.  I think they still have them.

Finding my pretty, white china beverage servers brightened my mood.  Oh my gosh...I forgot I even had these.  Made me smile. 😀 They're vintage (maybe antique) with lots of curves and glossy, beauty finish.  I do not want to get rid of these for now.  A coffee server, tea pot, chocolate and one other.  Small, dainty chocolate cups, larger tea cups with saucers and soup.  Lovely.  I'm working at grouping like-kind items in like-kind containers.  A run to Menards for more super duper tubs to store these little darlins' in.

Praise the LORD.  

He is good is worthy to be praised!

~d  

COMING ALONG ON DECLUTTERING AND WALKING TOWARD THE LIGHT

WAKING EARLY AND REFRESHED was a warm greeting to the beginning of the day.  I managed to get a half mile walk in and I felt awful when I finished.  I sat at the convenience store sipping an ice cold water to cool off and rest a bit.  Not sure why this walk hit me so hard.  I deliberately walked at a slow pace not trying to beat a time.  

Last year, I walked 6 minute laps at the Football field.  Hubby timed me recently and I was doing good to make the lap in 8 minutes.  It'll take a bit of time to get back to 6 minute laps if ever. Perhaps by CHRISTMAS, I will be back to my old self.  If not, if I'm moving then I shall be thankful.

Today for Breakfast was a small bowl of oatmeal sprinkled with blueberries, sliced almonds, cinnamon, cocoa, maple syrup and milk.  I have sipped on water today.  Having a 4 o'clock cup of BLACK SILK COFFEE for afternoon pick me up and today I need it.

I walked a half of a mile then worked on things at the storage unit called OUR ATTIC.  Thumbing through a cardboard box with my name on it were old photos of my Dad and Mom.  Some childhood photos of Dad were in the box.  He had so few pictures of himself.  They need to be put in a photo album or framed.  I was going down Memory Lane with tears and getting choked up. Dad will have turned 100 years old this November.  100.  pause.  He's been in heaven almost 10 years.

Hubby shuffled boxes out of the unit so he was able to open up the left side of the unit for more muscles racks to go in.  The center of the unit will be open so we can get around easily.  Heaven knows we have a plan.  

A bag of baby clothes went into the car.  They will be laundered later.  Another box we found some sweaters and jackets that I am not sure how they made their way into a cardboard BOX. Just the way this messy move went.  Surprise! 

With my brother-in-law deathly ill and family members no longer with us,  I know this earthly LIFE is short and should be taken seriously.  What is my earthly mission?  I have no need anymore to hang onto so much of these earthly items.  I have been foolish in so many ways.  I can work faster and longer at getting things whipped into place around here.  

🍵🫖My small Tea Cup and Saucer Collection is bubble wrapped ready to be placed on a shelf in the cellar along with overflow glassware and small appliances.  I have about as many sets that will be turned loose of to the ones I'm keeping.  Saying good-bye to some then I'll be working on something else.  

Gathering and grouping ALL the CHRISTMAS decor including garland and twinkle lights to store in the ATTIC.  A tub here and a tub there.  All the extra glassware overflow will go to the cellar.  Hubby doesn't know it yet, but what we are doing with the ATTIC will speed up decorating the COTTAGE when the time comes.  Having decorations grouped, in colored coded storage tubs, etc. will make for an easier task of getting the house decorated for a special HOLIDAY.  Praying it is soon.  

Small appliances and overflow on glassware.  When we need a small appliance, we'll go to the cellar to get the item that will be kept in a box for cleanliness.  THIS getting organized is so slow, I hurt.  Gotta keep it interesting and fun.  

When we are finally done with this task of relocating and shuffling, repacking our stuff, it will be awesome and I will rejoice that it is done.  It's like being employed and never getting a day off and retirement will never take place.  What a drag so I must change my attitude for the better.  I don't want to have nothing, but a little less of it would be more practical and functional. Realistically, it would be well suited for someone such as myself that is 71 and doesn't need to pretend I'm any younger.  

This evening after the weather cools down some, we will be unloading some area rugs that are rolled up in the back of our cruiser.  I need to unroll them to look at their overall appearance. They've been rolled up for three years.  3 years.  Imagine that?  Two of them match.  Not sure if we'll use them in this house or not.  May want something else instead of these.   

I will be ever so contented when our home is in order.  I never dreamt that we'd have so much to deal with when it comes to the items we have.  Time to turn loose.  Where's the light at the end of the tunnel?  Somewhere in the future.  Can't be sure of when it will be seen, but when we do, I'll let ya know.

I've got to get a shampoo in.  I will visit with my primary doc about the Dual Isotope Stress/Rest tests.  Appointment made.  Will keep.  Better write out my questions now so I am not rushed. Between eyes, teeth and the rest of the body, our social life is tied down to medical appointments.  

Blessings,

~d

WORKING AT HOME TO BE BETTER OFF

TIS A RAINY DAY OUTSIDE, but in my thought life I'm having a sunshiny day.  How does this happen?  

I work awhile, I sit awhile, I work awhile, I sit awhile...repeat.  I'm seeing progress on fitting into this COTTAGE by serious downsizing and decluttering.  This has been a very slow project for us due to health issues so when I see progress, I celebrate.  Let out a joyful noise.  

Hubs is turning the storage unit into our ATTIC for HOLIDAY DECOR.  I do what I can along side of him.  Together we share ideas and get after it.  He's more muscle than me.  There's a great deal to handle in the ATTIC as there are still so many things that needs emptied from the unit.  A little at a time each piece will be dealt with.

Inside the COTTAGE, I am grouping together boxes of items of like kind.  There's a pile of books by the wing chair, boxes of glassware are in front of the corner cabinet in the Dining room that will go to the cellar, a stack of empty storage tubs are by the front door ready to be filled for safe keeping, empty cardboard boxes in a pile, etc.  I'm going to move the dining room table up against Grandma's Sideboard so the area in front of it is used for stacking boxes of this and that of the things that will go to the cellar or turned loss of.

It's a waste of time to take too long to dwell on this matter.  Make it happen quickly if possible. 

I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I DO NOT NEED SO MUCH STUFF JUST TAKING UP SPACE 

AND IS SOMETHING FOR DUST TO COLLECT ON.  Giving to others that need these things is a far better way to live while I am ALIVE.  Nothing can be taken with us to a heavenly realm.

~HEALTH~

Soon, I will receive a Vitamin B12 injection.  Sometime in the near future we will go to Quest Diagnostics to have our Vitamin D levels checked.  Maybe B12 and A1C as well.

The more I research the more I am aware of how Vitamin D deficiencies are present in ill people.  It is a hormone that seems to be ignored by allopathy docs.

Instead of checking for vitamin, mineral and electrolyte deficiencies, one is put on a medication where you still don't fix the root cause of illness.  When you can be healthier by getting your levels at optimal levels, it is ignored unless you get wise to the deficiencies 

and insist doing something about it.

Then there's the thyroid circus.  I've learned that you need zinc, selenium and iron to be in an optimal range or high blood pressure can be a problem.  There' magnesium and potassium issues that add to health problems of high blood pressure.

So at the time, I am engrossed in thyroid, vitamin, mineral and electrolyte issues.  Working at raising Vitamin D and B12 levels.

Be as healthy as you can be.
GOD Bless,

~d

WE'VE STARTED THE LONG HAUL OF GETTING RID OF STUFF

MONDAY AND TUESDAY, HUBBY AND I WORKED EXTREMELY HARD EMPTYING A STORAGE UNIT.  Not done, but getting close.  Made great headway in the heat.  We'd work a little and then rest in an air conditioned car or our house. Both days we took an afternoon NAP to cool off and to get recharged so we could work some more.  

I will polish and clean-up some of the furniture and knick knacks on Wednesday so the items are in good repair for the next owners.  

With our hip, ankle and knee issues, we're a pair.  Moving slow, but moving.  Between the two of us, we've got our health issues and it's challenging. 

He plans on rounding up stuff from the garage to get the items out of there.  This will only make a small dent in the garage as it is a complete mess, but we're working on it.  We've started.  With the SUMMER HEAT coming, we'll have to work in the early mornings and late afternoons.  A little here and a little there each day.   Two storage units, a garage, a she shed, a cellar, and a tool shed ALL NEED DRASTIC ATTENTION.

I have to remind myself that we are having to do this clean out in stages.  I can't linger on this too long or I get really overwhelmed as there is more than I can do by myself.  Just me and HUBBY and we are old.  I have to slow the boat down and be realistic.

After this week-end, we're planning on clearing out the garage to where muscle racks line the walls.  I will fill the shelves as staging place.  After the racks are filled, the in town storage unit should be completely emptied.  Any whoo, the main thing is to clean out the garage and store items in it that I am not ready to completely turn loose of, empty the in town storage unit and empty the out of town unit.  

Salvation Army, Goodwill, God's Storehouse, etc.  will be getting more donations.    

MONDAY NIGHT AFTER WE WORKED ALL DAY, a ferocious wind storm with rain blew in. We think the wind was 65 mile an hour or so.  It was horrific.  Next day tree branches were down throughout our small-town America.  Some complete trees were uprooted.  More thunderstorms are coming.  

I need my rest.  Tomorrow we continue on the getting rid of stuff.  

I'm battling with this.  Lord, please make the decisions easy for me so I can move forward.  

~d

SPRING CLEANING AND DECLUTTERING

MY BUM HIP IS SO MUCH BETTER THAT I PERKED UP.  Oh my goodness, it was a horrible thing to go through.  Still babying it some.  My MRI indicated some arthritis, but nothing indicating needed surgery.  My doctor believes in order to move forward that I can get a consult from a different facility or get a cortisone injection.

I WILL NOT BE DOING A INJECTION.  I will not.  I'll go to the consultation and hear what they have to say and go from there.  My daughter is bringing me her infrared blanket that she offered me to try.  I'm willing.  If my HIP and GROIN continue to improve I will be ever so appreciative to GOD that this injury healed.  Praise the LORD.

With a busy day yesterday, I am pacing myself today.  I moved a ceramic plant container that's called a fish bowl and a wooden stand into the Dining room for now.  Sweeping up dried leaves off the carpet and running the vacuum will take place soon.  I think I am feeling more energetic today.  Glad.

I talked myself into donating some items.  The sooner the better.  LIFE passes us by and I don't want to be stuck in a rut not being able to get this decluttering job finished.  It's a huge task before us and I know I cannot get it all done in a day.  This is a process.  

My mental health means more to me than a few dollars that I might get from selling the items I'm getting rid of.  The clutter needs to be removed from the house.  Having order return to our HoME would mean more peace.  

Hubby carried the heavy box I had full of stuff and bedding to the car.  A couple of nice lamps went as well.  I have been stuck not able to move on with this decluttering bit.  It seems like it will never end at times.  I purchased a long storage box to store the high dollar greenery garlands I had hanging over the Living room windows.  They have been there for two Christmases as I left them hanging up.  They will find their way to the cellar later.  

Finally felt like they could go into storage.  The curtains look new again.  I'll need to disassemble the curtains in a couple of weeks to launder them and freshen the room up some more.  When the curtains are down, I can clean the windows.  SPRING CLEANING in gear.

Decorating ideas flood my mind.  The colors I will use come to mind.    It's taking some time to figure this one out, but I'm getting there.

THIS SPRING, I hope to get the house and garage uncluttered.  I already know it will take time and effort to achieve this doable task.  Getty-up and get this done.  I seem to wear out before I start.  This isn't the way to be.  So don't be this way.  Amen.

Will this help?

Baby LOVE.

Can't wait,

~d

MEDICAL APPOINTMENT, SHOPPING and GETTING A HAIR CUT

HAD A EARLY MORNING START so HUBBY COULD GO TO A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT in Manhattan.  Another day out in the cold.  Unbearable temps.  Spotting a few snowflakes flying through the air reminded me that we are suppose to have snow this evening, not early morning.

The landscape was sobering where the scenery is speckled with snow covering the grounds.  A dull grey sky canopies above.  Looks like WINTER.  Sorry, the ballad Home On The Range doesn't sing true today where the skies are NOT cloudy all day, because they were all day.  ALL DAY.   

I sat in the lobby waiting for him.  40 minutes later he appeared in the lobby announcing he has a sinus infection.  Nothing that a little shopping couldn't help.

The doctor's office is near TARGET so we went.  Wanted to get some more under the bed storage bags for bedding.  They did not have any of the kind I purchase just a few days ago.  WHAT??? You're kidding.  Nope.  They had a whole new line of brightroom accessories, but none like I had previously bought.  WHAT???  I'm not being very flexible.  This messes with my plan of how to store more bedding.  There goes my 'EVERYTHING MATCHES' plan.  Right out the window.  humph.  

Okay, back to the drawing board.

The weather hindered the shopping.  Too cold.  From Target, we went to the grocery store for cottage cheese, green beans, sweet potatoes, chicken breast and a few things not on the list. Thought we'd best get HOME since it was snowing and blowing by now.  Had to pick up Hubby's prescription in a different town.  I noticed a THRIFT SHOPPE a few doors down so I buzzed in and took a look at what they had.  For little of nothing, I purchased a couple of books.  Library stop and then on HOME.  Charlotte's Hinger's book, The HEALER's DAUGHTER caught my eye so this be the one to check out.  A Novel of all things.  

Of all the places this book's story could have taken place, Nicodemus, Kansas is mentioned. Looking forward to reading a novel for real.  

In this cold, my body gets so stiff I walk funny.  Getting in and out of the car took a toll on me, but I managed to get 'er done.  The afternoon tireds started affecting my old body so I knew it was time to go HOME craving SPRINGTIME.  Ready to sit inside our little COTTAGE away from the maddening crowd.  Feet up.  The cold does a number on my thought life that wonders to other places on planet Earth where the temps are in the 70s.  Where might that be?

HOMEWARD BOUND.  HOME, unloaded our spoils and rested.  Laundry to follow.  Since it's the week-end, I'm psyching myself up for finishing the laundry and having the Dining room look like a Dining room again.  I have used the table for a CATCH-ALL and it sure did.  I am being methodical concerning the plan of action to getting THINGS done.  I have to get caught up with ALL the laundry before I can allow myself time to draw or sew.  Laundry is ongoing, but I don't usually get so far behind that I cringe at it every time I walk past the Utility room.  It calls my name even when I ignore it.  Look the other way.

How to make LIFE as interesting as possible takes a bit of mind crafting.  

After I washed my hair and combed it out, I decided that I needed a cut.  Not a trim, but a full blown cut.  I did the butterfly cut on it where you comb the hair forward and make a pony tail at the forehead.  I did then I cut off a couple of inches.  I took the hair down, combed it out, took a leap of faith CUTTING close to 8 inches off.  That was fast and nearly painless.  Snip and just like that it was significantly shorter.  I liked it knowing it needed a good cut.  

By Summer it should be the length that I am very comfortable with.  Hair grows approximately 1/2 inch a month.  

✅ Haircut off my TO DO LIST. 

This evening will be MOVIE NIGHT.  Not sure what we will watch yet.  I suppose that will come to me when the time comes.  

With each passing day, I seem further behind than I want.  I don't think it's my imagination.  The Lord knows I am trying to GET THERE, wherever that is.  If I were to take everything that needs to be removed from the house so we'd have a minimalist appearance, I'd have to get rid of just about everything.  I can box it up and stack it in the garage then when the weather is more old lady friendly, I could go through the boxes deciding what to sell, pricing it or do something with it other than being in a box.  

January comes to a close.  February is a blink away.  SO ready for it and warmer weather.  This Sunday, the weather is suppose to be nicer.  I will need to go to the store and get the rest of the Valentine cards needed.  First thing Monday morning, I will need to go mail my Mom's Valentine's gift.  The cards will go out a little later in the week.  

HEALTH:  Perhaps these arm exercises will help me.

ONE

TWO

Three

I know that the GOOD LORD wants us to be moving about
for our health, so here goes.

    

God bless and may you have
a wonderful week-end,

~d🫶

ANOTHER DAY OF HIGH HOPES MAKING PROGRESS IN THIS ADVENTURE

The highway roads looked good as the snow is gone this morning.  To make continued progress on decluttering and unpacking boxes that you trip over, I have to drive the distance to Manhattan to get some storage boxes much needed for making order from my messy living room and dining room.  Making progress very, very slowly, but it is progress.  I'm further along than the day before.  PTL.

Box needed for white resin bunny rabbits, photos, glass Japanese Floater Balls, sea shells, a couple of Pipka Santas, Military Hat.  As I clean up the rooms, I'll probably need to return to get more nice plastic, transparent storage boxes.  It lifts my spirits to have ORDER and have it in boxes that you can see through to tell what you have there.  Easier access for me.  

Came across a big cardboard box full of my dolls.  Oh my.  I cried.  Not sure where to go with them all.  Might have to box some of them back up until a large floor to ceiling book case is constructed in 2026 or use a curio cabinet for the overflow dollies.  

Some were upside down in the box.  Poor babies.  They've been boxed for two years!  TWO YEARS.  Made. me. cry.  I'm struggling at figuring out where to display them.  I have limited space and it's full right now.  I can rejoice and be happy that I still have them or grieve that I cannot display them.  Healthier to rejoice that I still have them to enjoy even if in a box.  It's like CHRISTMAS being surprised to find them again.

I found a Janie Bennett resin JANADA doll with tears named Cassie in the box that I forgot I had.  She needs her wig glued back on and stains in her dress removed before laundering her it in WOOLITE.  I'll wash her and stitch her clothing where it has ripped.  She'll be good as new.

Praying for creative ways to display all my "STUFF" to enjoy without being a hoarder and a half!  

My Father-in-law's Dress Military Hat was in one box.  It needs treated with more respect than it has received for two years hidden in a cardboard box.  Menards has transparent, small storage boxes of various sizes that has a snap on lid that I will get to store the hat  placing it in a drawer or stacked in the closet.  SO many items need handled with care like this.

What else will I find?

Another day of high hopes making progress in this adventure of getting settled into our RETIREMENT COTTAGE.

~d

TIME FOR MORE THINGS TO GO...

SOMETHING LIKE THIS.  Ouch.
Each box must be gone through.  Each box.  

Each and every box.
I can see an empty storage unit.

Dream on.

PRODUCTIVE DAY AT LAST.  I finally feel like I had a productive day after being down and out for three weeks due to  co v id.  I got a very restful sleep and didn't hear at all the thunder storm that blew into town about 4 AM.  What a surprise when I heard we'd had a boomer and rain.

I got ready for the day knowing we were going to TOPEKA.  We went to the storage unit and loaded the back of our PT Cruiser with items to donate to charity.  The car was FULL.  IT HAS GOTTEN EASIER FOR ME TO TURN LOOSE OF THINGS.  My attitude has changed.  Let it go.  Let it go.  Let it go.  No need to keep it.  No need to sell it.  Let it go to charity.  Let it go.

The countryside drive was gorgeous reminding me that I love this part of the world in KANSAS.  With overcast skies and a gentle breeze, it's not difficult to be pleased with the environment.  Lovely weather at about 80 degrees.  The tree leaves are turning and it's not even the middle of SUMMER yet.  We'll be having an early AUTUMN.  I like the cooler temps outside.  Embracing it. 

Drove to TOPEKA and had LUNCH.  I wasn't very hungry so I had a salad and a bowl of soup with breadsticks.  Sipped on Raspberry Lemonade.  

Then we headed to GOD'S STOREHOUSE to donate the goods from the back of the car.  SO glad that we had a load to donate.  I know we will be doing more loads as we clean out the storage units, garage and basement.  Much shuffling to do.

Walked about the store and found some treasures. 
A green teapot. 
A QUEEN SIZE 100% cotton quilt for $20.oo
A Quail figurine.
A chunky Turquoise necklace.
A silver plated tray with curvy edges.  A size I don't have as it is about a third of the size of the trays that I have.
$ 1.oo T-shirt.
An electric lamp with the body design that resembles an old kerosene lamp.  $9.oo
Twas a great thrift day for me.

Checked out and went to HOME DEPOT for wood trim. 
Visited SAMs.  Spring Greens, cucumbers, bananas, hearing aide batteries, cereal, bread and a sticker book for grandson.
Drove to our HOMETOWN to fuel the car and get the mail. 
Dropped off the sticker book for Grandson.   
Went HOME, unloaded the car, put groceries away. 
Switched out our lamp with the newly purchased lamp, but used the old lampshade that we already had as it was a nicer one.
Fixed up a train toy with new batteries and tried it out.  It sings and flashes lights.  Put it in the toy box.  
Ate cereal for Supper. 
Got dressed for bed and played on the computer.
Will refold quilt and get it ready to store in the closet.  

Another busy day is in the forecast as Hubby has a medical appointment.  Hoping to go to the storage unit before we head out of town to load the car with boxes of glassware and dishes before we go to his medical appointment.  We have a small amount of shopping to do before heading to a different storage unit to unload the dishes and pick up a table for the Utility room.  Head HOME and take table out then return to the in town storage unit to gather trash to haul to our curb.  If we have time, will return to unit to gather the artist canvasses to take to our garage.

Trying to keep everything in order while living here on the prairie.  Heavens, we have much to sort through.  One day soon...it will be all sorted and we will have ORDER.  PTL.  Waiting for that day.

No walking on the track today.  Instead I did walking as I shopped.  Don't have a fit bit to count my steps, but guessing I did walk close to mile.  Cross training.  I doubt that I will walk tomorrow either because I won't be HOME to walk.  AGAIN, I will be walking while shopping and using muscles while working in the storage units.

GOD BLESS and have a blessed day,

~d

THURSDAY

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN!  Tis here.  Can I be ready for it?  I think I had best try.  It boggles my mind that we are now into AUTUMN.  Blink and Summer is gone.  I have to move fast or the day disappears right before me.

BETWEEN PURGING UNWANTED CLUTTER AND going to out of town MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, I'm a tired puppy.  Got up early today as to go to a early morning medical appointment for my hubby.  He had a CT scan.  I waited for him and before I knew it he was finished.

He mentioned eating at THE CHEF and I agreed.  We haven't eaten there in a couple of years due to CO VID.  What could I order on the FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN that would be appropriate for my fitness program?  Eggs and veggies.  I'd have a Vegetable Omelet with hash browns. Water. 

The omelet was HUGE so I asked the waitress how many eggs were in this dish. THREE.  I ate most of it and half the hash browns.  I nibbled on the corner of a piece of toast dipped in their specially heated, sweet jam.

I left contented, but as I walked back to the car, it was difficult to walk as the back of my right foot hurts.  Can't figure this one out.  Drove to Starbucks to get my medicinal GREEN ICED TEA.  Trenta size to last me 4 hours.

Hubby was sweet and went inside to get my Tea.  As I sat in the car, I noticed the MUMS Dillons had for sale at $6.99 each. Wonderful price, so I decided to comparison shop.  Went by ORSCHELN Farm and Home...no mums.  So close to Walmart.  I was looking for reddish colored mums. None.  Onto MENARDS.  Yep.  $5.49 each.  We had some money left on a rebate and this covered the price of the mums.  Winner winner.  Walked out of the store having spent no money at all.  It was covered.

So this week-end, I will take the front porch geraniums out of the urns replacing them with MUMS.  I'll have to see if I have any extra pots for the geraniums to winter in.  They look pretty good and I'd like to try to keep them until Spring when they can be returned to the out of doors. I'll have room for them in the COTTAGE Utility room.  When floor to ceiling shelves are built then I will have some shelving for plants as well as my cook books and sewing notions.  That will work.

Well, I had better go for a hunt down in the basement to see if I can find anything else to get rid of as we purge away.  This is an interesting phase to be going through.  Not really FOND of it. The days fly by so quickly I can hold it together for the rest of the week with the house being in a uproar.  My goal is to make it to Sunday and have decluttered like nobody's business.

I came across a box of old 45 records that belonged to my dear brother.  I'll slowly go through these when I can take my time and decide what to do with them.  

I have been going through my old albums.  What memories.  I haven't listened to these in over 40 years.  Ha.  Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, Chicago, Neil Diamond, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers, Three Dog Night, Loggins and Messina, Stevie Wonder, Carpenters, Jimi Hendrix, and a few others.  Gosh.  Can I turn loose of these?  I think so.

FRIDAY is just around the corner.  ANOTHER PURGE DAY for sure.

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN!!!  It's cool at about 57 degrees with grey skies.  Awesome after being too HOT.  Awesome I need.

The day is getting away from me.  
Better close.

d    

      

WHAT DAY IS IT?

TIS WEDNESDAY.......this week is getting away from me.  Tadaaaaah, it's Wednesday. This week alone, we have 6 medical appointments. I need the medical appointments to be over.  I was craving chocolate chip cookies and milk.  I overdosed on these today.  I am a emotional eater on weeks like this.  

AUTUMN begins tomorrow and here comes the veggies on day one of FALL.  A fresh start.  Back to it.  

Yesterday, we both had labs done in preparation for our Endocrinologist appointments later in the month.  Checked our medical portals at the end of the day and the results were in.  I'm way too low on my TSH numbers.  Suppressed way too low.  I worked on questions to ask the medical staff.  I almost cannot focus on what I am thinking.  I question if this is like BRAIN FOG?  Scary. Recalling what I have read is challenging and there are times I cannot comprehend what is being said to me.  I have to repeat listening to what was said.  Irritability is present.  I think I feel better when my TSH is about a 1, not 0.104.

Hubby had a HEARING APPOINTMENT at SAMs so I looked about while he was checked over and then I had a Dental appointment because my lower jaw teeth had been aching.  I checked out fine.  No infection...no cavities.  Not sure why my teeth had been aching.  They stopped.  If the aching continues I will probably get a mouth guard.  I mentioned that perhaps I am clinching my teeth while I sleep as I am too busy which causes STRESS.  

Between medical appointments, remodeling the cottage, thinning out stuff, purging, decluttering, thinning out old papers, medical concerns...I think I am just too busy and expecting too fast of results.  Not sure I can relax like I ought to.  When the house is messy, it affects me in a negative way.  I have to be realistic, but I am human and messes bother me because I know they're not going anywhere without me.  They are staying put until I deal with them.

With my TSH numbers off I think I am off as well and not being able to stay focused on what needs to be done before I have jumped to a different task.  

This week the PURGING continues and I hope to see GOOD RESULTS by Sunday.  Take some time to rest and then return to the paperwork.  Next week I should be wrapping up this OVERWHELMING TASK.  Painting the Kitchen Cabinet needs to finish up.  Hubby will be working hard on the Storage Shed.  Hoping to be wrapping this up before the snow blows.  The HOLIDAY DECOR will make an exodus to the shed.

Hubby will move onto the COTTAGE Bathroom.  This will take up most of AUTUMN.  By CHRISTMAS it should be done.  After I get the cabinet painted and loaded with small appliances then I will see how I'm feeling and decide what to do next.  Possibly paint the Utility Room, paint ceilings in the LIVING ROOM, DINING ROOM, two BEDROOMS.  

PLENTY TO DO.  The MAIN HOUSE's  JUNK ROOM needs cleared out.  If I put an hour a day into this then by CHRISTMAS it hopefully will be done.

When the PURGING is out of the way for AUTUMN and paperwork completely caught up, I will have freedom to move onto other tasks.  This is what is taking place in my 'ole LIFE right now.  I get a bit worked up.  Keeping a GOOD attitude is work for me.

BLESSINGS,

d     

DIS IS WHAT I'M TALKIN' 'BOUT

PERHAPS IF THERE WERE THREE OF ME 

I WOULDN'T BE RUNNING SO FAR BEHIND.

Perhaps.

All of these papers I'm handling are making me rethink what to keep and what to pitch from here on out.  It's tiring having so many pieces to deal with.  Better now then later.  I saved just about every receipt, medical invoice, check, etc.

This is just something I am going to have to go through to get where I need to be.  The Spring/Summer of 2022 is one I probably will remember as an older woman.  

And away I go.

I'M FURTHER ALONG ON THIS PAPER JOURNEY THAN I WAS THE DAY BEFORE.  Still, I have a long ways ahead of me sorting through the individual boxes.  Take a deep breath.   The hat I'm wearing today is a Filing Clerk.

After gathering ALL the paperwork from various locations, I have already thinned out quite a bit. Now it's downsized to this.  Each box will still take hours to go through to thin out.  We had so many papers saved in an old nine drawer oak file cabinet.  After the fire, many of the papers were just boxed and placed in a storage shed.  I didn't have the heart to deal with all of it until recently.  Praise the Lord, it's happening.

I mustn't drag my feet.  Forge ahead.  This is the day the Lord has made.  Rejoicing.  Be glad in it. I want to be excited about life and not let this task drag me down.

Smile and carry on.

~d

ARE YOU HERE JULY?

Scripture card drawn today...

"My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."

 -Psalm 121:2

Dear Father, thank you for the Holy Spirit and for the strength he gives.  Teach me how to fix my thoughts on you and your love and power.

In our back door porch entrance, we have a robin's nest with 3 baby birds large enough to stand up and look around.  I suppose next week they will fly the coop.  

This is the second nest to have in this area this Spring and Summer.  We're careful not to upset the mother as we come and go.  

After these lil ones fly away, we will clean the nest area up and install an old screen door we bought a few years ago.  It will be functional as well as to keep more bird's nest from being made so close to the back door.

JULY 1st.  The month of July suddenly arrived.  It seems to have come out of NOWHERE and hit me between the eyes.  Where did the month of June disappear to?  One day at a time. 

I was extremely busy during the month of JUNE.  Thinning out everything.  E v e r y t h i n g.  NOW...I must work even quicker at getting items out of the house so not so much of LIFE is ate up by this course of events.  It truly is a very time consuming thing to go through and I do wonder if we'll finally be at the place where we say, "Finished...well done!" 

When thinning out, enough time must be allotted to the project.  I really do think if you have a move planned in the near future that the thinning out is a must because it makes the BIG MOVE easier.  A year in advance seems like fairly enough time.  I know it can be done in a shorter amount of time as I have done this in the past.  Being in my 60s is a different story.  

We've had some large items that had to be disposed of.  
*Childhood furniture of dresser with a mirror and chest of drawers
*Antique Gentlemen's Vanity
*Appliances
*Ping pong table
*Large leather sectional sofa
*Clothing, children's clothing
*Dishes
*Picture frames
*Glassware
*Books, records, movies, CDs
*Bedding
*Dolls
*Christmas decorations
*Stove
*Dishwasher
*Sewing machine in wood cabinet
*Bookcase
*Vacuum sweeper
*Old hats
*Teddy bears
*Misc.  too much to list

DOWNSIZING isn't a very popular subject matter to be sharing.  This is what I am going through right now which is bogging me down.  

Hubby has gone to the post office for me and as he left the house I mentioned that the two bags of give aways were in the car could be dropped off at the thrift store on his way to the hardware store.  Making the trips count.  That's two more sacks of goodies gone off the property.  Will I ever feel like the dam broke and the extras that we are donating washed away from our HOME PROPERTY?

With each load, there is little emotion that the stuff disappeared.  I suppose when this purging is completed that I will surely fell something.  Perhaps I am in robot mode.

AND AWAY IT GOES.  2 more large bags...gone.  Poof...like magic, gone.  I must continue thinning out and organizing.    

 It's important to have your household in order at all times.  Much fell through the cracks.  Health issues contribute to slowing me down which causes resistance.  Tis doable to get much done, but one must work with the reality of what the challenges do to the efficiency of getting things accomplished.  

I realize that I have challenges.  Sometimes, I just have to take a nap or sit until the next gust of energy comes by.

The waiting is something else.  While I wait, I research, read, search, study, do paperwork, write correspondences, etc.  Because I have to sit doesn't mean I am idle.  Fatigue is something I have had to deal with when not having a thyroid.  I pray that I can continue on and the energy returns.

The DOWNSIZING continues.  The gutting of the COTTAGE Bathroom continues.  The painting of the pantry continues.  I may be slow and I am, but I try really hard to stay at a steady pace.

I am amazed that it's July 2022.  I have hopes of accomplishing  

s o m e t h i n g.  Something may be housecleaning, thinning out, downsizing and working on the COTTAGE.  This is a busy season for an older couple.  Doesn't seem like we're retired at all, but needing to get fired up.  

I noticed a new house going up on the way to the COTTAGE.  When there's a crew, it sure can go up fast.  I wish our projects would happen as quickly.  

AFTER six weeks of coughing, I finally was back to normal.  Yesterday, I began to cough again.  This time from working out in the shed with too much dirt.  Doesn't help me at all.  I should know better about handling things from a dusty shed.  I wore gloves, but should have also wore a mask which would have been two days after handling the boxes and other things that have been in the shed 5 and a half years.  That's just long enough for the germs to incubate   I should know better.  A strong tickle in my throat.  Shucks.

Since I was working outside while sitting on a bench, I thought the fresh air would be a safe place to work.  Vitamin C, garlic capsules, sucking on ginger balls, and DayQuil will hopefully make me feel better speeding the healing up.  Dear Lord, here I am again asking for healing.  Company is coming.  The house needs to be ready to receive.

Today, I am washing two loads of towels, going to the Laundry Mat to dry them, tidying the Living room pile beside my chair where I have a stash of magazines and books, vacuuming the Living room, tidying the three Bedrooms, dusting the stairs and printing out my week-end menu, rounding up my FILE IT papers and placing in a tub for now.  What else?  Shall see as I go.

Psalm 121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Are you decluttering, downsizing, thinning out your belongings?  How is it going?  Are you surprised at the amount of time it requires to deal with turning loose of STUFF?  Are you feeling like a load has been lifted off of your shoulders when the clutter is gone or this is a big mistake to not have these THINGS anymore?  

July is a hot month and I hope we can get much done...

Peace be unto you,
~d