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

LIKE BEING GIVEN A NEW CHANCE

We ventured back to the COTTAGE SHED and worked away.  This hit me harder than Sunday's clean up as there were more of our children's childhood things that need cleaned up and sanitized.  Mice apparently got into some of the boxes and had a hay day with the newspaper wrapped items.  We wore gloves which made me feel a little better, but still the items will need seriously cleaned.

We filled a multitude of large boxes with throw away stuff, old unnecessary papers from when we lived in other communities from years gone by.  Medical papers, school expenses for high schoolers, craft ideas, spiritual research, books, junk galore, notebooks, pictures.  

Made a donation pile and a keep pile. The papers that we have kept will be taken into the house and later I will sort through and group like papers together, then shred what isn't needed and file what is.  More time needed on this.  

I will be beyond happy to have order once again.

Pressed glass Cake Plates like this one.

I came across a box of old cake plates that are seriously smoked stained.  Our Watkins All Purpose Cleaner did come in the mail so I will try some of this awesome cleaner on these vintage cake plates and see if the stain comes off.  If it does, then I will wash everything and save for a rainy day.  

Before the house fire, I had my cake plate collection lying on our Dining room table.  The fire happened and they were seriously smoked and Service Master refused to clean them.  I was disappointed, but wanted to try to clean them myself.  My opportunity didn't go away.  Five and a half years later, they are getting an opportunity to become good as new.  I had at first intended to give my great nieces one and my granddaughters.  I may still do this if they sparkle like new.  I hate to throw them away, but will if they don't clean up.  

We made headway in the shed.  I figure about one more very long day of working in there and all the boxes will have been gone through.  We're thinking about bead boarding the old walls in this structure, scrubbing and painting the floor then placing the muscle racks into place filling them with Christmas storage boxes.

First comes the Fourth of July.  The rest of the week I will be cleaning on the main house preparing for company.  

Yesterday, Hubby placed by the curb an old white book case that was in the shed before we bought the property and an old baby bed that came from the shed.  A lady came by and asked about the bookcase and when he told her it was free, she wanted it and took it home.  One less thing to mess with.  The baby bed was gone today when we returned to work in the shed.  That's good.   

PRAISE THE LORD, I am quicker at throwing things away.  PRAISE THE LORD.  I am actually throwing things away.  PRAISE THE LORD.  I throw things away.  PRAISE THE LORD.  I am actually donating things.  PRAISE THE LORD.  I am actually throwing things away.  PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!

We loaded the donation boxes into the car (hurray!), put the to-keep boxes back into the shed then drove to the nearest GOODWILL to make a huge donation drop. Hurray!  I wish my heart would sing some as we are one day closer to having more order.  I think the idea of knowing there is so much more to do that I am having difficulties in smiling at all.  I keep saying we are closer to being done than before.

It isn't easy for me to say it, but I do believe that I am a small town hoarder on a small scale compare to what I have seen on the internet of THE HOARDERS.  I do collect more than I am comfortable with and things have gotten out of hand.  This DOWNSIZING PHASE of LIFE is much needed and I believe we have a great start to it.  Throwing away years of miscellaneous papers felt pretty good when I think about it.  I have no idea why I hung onto so many old calendars.  No idea any more.     

HOW TO DOWNSIZE?  Changing the way I have been living is a work out.  Lord have mercy.

I have to admit, I don't have as many paper as I did a year ago!  I have been working at thinning out the papers for a while now.  I have been really bad about collecting old pictures and frames. Have mercy.  I have had a very bad habit of collecting dishes, dolls, magazines, purses, glassware to name a few.  Way too many Christmas decorations, books and Knick Knacks.  Way too much.

I am not a minimalist, but think I could be if I tried really, really, really hard to be.  I admire uncluttered spaces that are over the top organized, clean and orderly.  I'm striving at turning loose and being more care-free.  

Basket that I kept my hair curlers in from my childhood.  I loved the basket, but she's smoked damaged.  When I came across this basket I held it in my hands and said that these curlers were the ones I used as a teenager.  I am a 66 year old woman now.  Way past time to get rid of these. Away she went.  Bye.  How did I feel about that?  Alright.  No pain.  

Put this boat in gear and let's get out of this deep water.  A storm is approaching.  Time to be back on shore.  Dry ground and seek shelter.  

It doesn't do any good to kick myself that I kept so much.  I did.  I was playing it safe keeping all the receipts, warranties, medical records, etc.  I still will keep work related papers, income tax, sentimental.  I just won't have nearly the amount of paper I once had.  I am alright with turning loose.

I am feeling like a cleaner person, if you can imagine like a ton of weight coming off my shoulders.  Like a new birth.  

I am feeling better about getting the shed cleared out and moving on.  Life awaits me.

~d

PLEASE MOW THE LAWN AT MY CHRISTIAN HOME

PRODUCTIVE FRIDAY AROUND HERE.  Somehow the Dining room table had become a catch all.  I worked throughout the day tidying here and there then when I'd walk past the table, I would deal with items on it and then go off to do something else.

Today I will finish this task and go ahhhhh, back to normal.  

I have a couple of packages I need to wrap the contents in the box and get mailed.  Knowing the way my day will go I'll just get the boxes filled, taped shut and addressed.  They'll make it to the post office on Monday.  A few personal letters need typed up and included in the boxes.  

Yesterday, I worked on five loads of laundry.  Another one needs to be done to say I am caught up once again.  Hurray.  That's a great feeling.

We took some things over to the COTTAGE on our way to pick up our GRAND who said she'd mow the lawn.  

Hubby got a Eastlake Parlor table out of the Carriage house and loaded it into the lil car of ours.  Took it to the COTTAGE and placed it in front of the bay window.  It looks nice there.

I was reading about Eastlake furniture which was made for COTTAGES.  I thought how appropriate to place this table in the COTTAGE.  I'll Scott's Liquid Gold it and she'll be good as new.  I imagine a vase of flowers on her after we get the remodeling completed and the Parlor will need some flowers in the room to brighten her up.  I have a lovely crystal vase large enough to hold a flower arrangement in the Parlor.  Ideas are coming to me about how to decorate a small room in a large way.

This isn't a picture of the exact table, but close enough to give an idea of what I'm talking about.

Took Grand out for supper first then we drove to the main house and she mowed.  It was awfully hot.  The grass had grown quite a bit due to all the rain we've had.  She did a super nice job mowing.  It took her two hours to complete then we took her home. 

 

A storage box full of Christmas garland went to the COTTAGE.  Slowly we are making progress one tub at a time.

In a few weeks, all the Christmas decorations will be over at the COTTAGE and out of the basement, carriage house and bedroom.  Except for the artificial trees we still have.  I have to downsize quite a bit.  Can I do it?  I have gotten rid of some, but have a ways to go.  

In my thoughts I can imagine how the outside of the COTTAGE is going to be decorated.  The inside is coming along.  She's charming.  

While at the COTTAGE we turned on the tele to watch an old episode of a police show.  At ten, I drove HOME and we watched an old movie.  Mr. Deeds with Adam Sandler.  It was a bit too violent for me.  Not funny.  

Enough movies for a few days.  

PLANS THIS WEEK-END:
*Donation Drop.  I will continue gathering things to donate to thrift and make a donation run this week.
*Clean the HOUSE in preparation for company.
*Work up a menu for when company is here.
*Grocery shop.
*Write out bills.
*Prepare for the 4th of July.
*Shall see what else needs done.

Saturday is here.  Another week flew by so quickly it hurts.

AS FOR DIETING...I bought more veggies/fruits making plans to eat salads/soups this week along with a mid-week BONE BROTH day.  The benefits of BONE BROTH are wonderful for losing weight with still getting plenty of protein.  Shall do this.

How shall my Christian HOME be?  Full of order and tidy as a pen.  I am not in maintenance mode yet with all the decluttering going on while going through drawers, closets, shelves, cabinets, etc.

I envision my Christian HOME to be a pleasant place with everything in it's place and a place for everything free of clutter.

My Christian HOME is full of prayer, fellowship, food and rest.

My Christian HOME is in the making so I must do my best to be pleasant to be around while there are messes everywhere.  Some days I am not a good example of being pleasant.  Lord help me.  Amen.

  May you have a blessed week-end,

~d

THAT JOYOUS WORD: DECLUTTERING

THREE GENERATIONS

HUBBY, SON AND GRANDSON were busy yesterday carrying some things out of the basement and carriage house loading them into a moving van.  We have housed some of our Son's belongings for a few years and it was time to take them to his territory.  Bye Bye.  More things were removed from this old house contributing to decluttering.  

Twas good to see them.  The grandson is on his phone quite a bit watching videos.  I was teasing him that this has caused him to not be able to hear as well and his phone is attached to him at the hip.  He's 12, tall and ornery.  We ate well, visited, watched some movies and I enjoyed their company.

Hubby will need some down time after the week he has had.

~d  

SKINCARE, THE DAILY GRIND and A MENAGERIE OF JUNQUE

WAKING EARLY, I decided to go ahead and work in the JUNK ROOM going through piles of paper, boxes, looking inside big yellow envelopes and pictures.  Shuffling some items, I still can't tell that I made a dent.  The room is full of sunshine.  It is really pleasant for me to look out the Windows as I work.  I work awhile, sit awhile, work some more, sit some more and think what in the room is next to get man handled.  Another trip down MEMORY LANE.

Another run to Goodwill for a donation drop.  More that can go.

I have HOPE that I will get through this as I pray a great deal for enthusiasm and strength.  So many loose papers and receipts, it is a frightful sight.  Pitching so many pieces of paper and having such disarray in a room makes me wonder how on earth did this mess come to be? 

A house fire, two moves, ill health, not being able to walk because of aching feet and debilitating back pain, then co v id, might be why.  I have personally experienced being so far behind it seems like I will never come up for air again.  I give THANX that God has allowed us some time to be able to work at this.  

I just wish it were behind me.  Keep plunking away.   It has gotten easier to toss and pitch so much.  The trash bags are morphing into large plastic objects that have to be dragged to the trashcan outside.  They're too heavy for me to do alone.  Need help.  

I came across papers that I had been thinking about a week or so ago  concerning my older brother's guardianship.  There they be.  Relief.  I can now file them away knowing exactly where they are.  PTL.  Progress.  My dear brother passed away last October and I wasn't his guardian, but his guardian mentioned something to my husband which didn't go over very well with me.  I needed the papers to add to my peace of mind.  Thankful I know where they are.  

It's challenging to walk about the room as things are piled here, there and everywhere.  I have to dodge and dart around the boxes making it somewhat awkward for this old woman that isn't flexible.  

GROUPING LIKE OBJECTS is a start.  I gathered all the art supplies placing them on and about a desk.  There.  Now we know where the hundred pencils are.  Some sketch pads came out of boxes.  Together again.  

Computer papers went inside some drawers nice and neat along with office supplies that were bunched up in a box needing some order.  Frames, pictures and paintings have been grouped together in the hallway.  It looks like I could open a arts 'n craft store.  

Sewing items like portable sewing machines are grouped on and about the treadle sewing machine.  I plan to relocate these machines over to the COTTAGE one day soon when hubby can help me relocate the sewing supplies to the COTTAGE Utility room where I have a special place saved for them.  Clothing and stuffed toys will disappear.  

I came across a large box of my childhood dolls.  I forgot where they were.  I can relocate this to a different room where I have most of my other dolls.  More items of my children has surfaced.  I came across some snapshots that I need to mail to some relatives.  Personal letters and cards will need to find a special place in a different room elsewhere.  SO much more.  Lord, please give me strength.  I look at the mess and a sinking feeling comes over me.  I can imagine a day when I no longer have so much disorder.    

THIS MORNING it was really quiet in the house as my hubby was still asleep.  I sat in my housecoat going through things.  Decided I would stay in my housecoat until after LUNCH.  I have my hair up in a clip as I plan on shampooing it later as I massaged DESERT ESSENCE ORGANIC JOJOBA OIL into my hair.  

Will leave this TREATMENT on for a few hours before taking a shower.  I've used olive oil before and my hair turned out so soft.  Jojoba Oil smells better.

No Breakfast this morning.  Had leftovers for lunch...Mexican Meatloaf, Baby Potatoes and Broccoli.  Not sure about Supper.  Maybe Organic Vegetable Soup as I am aiming for a low cal day.  I haven't been able to hit 1000 calories a day during this week.  Maybe I will by the end of the day.  For some reason, I have not been able to accomplish the magic number 1000.  1200 is the suggested number for woman.  If I were 4 foot tall, this number would be alright, but at almost 6 foot, it's almost starvation.  Keeping my energy level up is difficult.  I have to talk to myself and cheer myself on.  Raw raw raw...bah humbug.  Keeping a cheery attitude comes to mind.  

As Mary Colbert suggested, she walked 3 miles a day early in the mornings, ate 1000 calories a day of a KETO DIET and didn't eat past 6pm, took FIBER ZONE when having the munchies.  She said her weight melted off and she slimmed down.  Tadaah!  I hope to be as successful.  Tadaah hasn't happened yet.

I knew that taking fiber would help with feeling full and help with cholesterol, but I didn't know about it helping with high blood sugar.  The Metamucil I had in the cabinet has aspartame in it and I won't touch it.  Out you go.  So, I am going to use Natural Berry Flavor FIBER ZONE by Divine Health.  A Dr. Don Colbert product.

Okay, my FIBER ZONE came in the mail.  I'm working at increasing my walking and I will try to eat the KETO way for awhile.  I'm struggling with that 1000 magic number.

I need to eat an apple for my snack today, take some fiber and some collagen.  I've got to increase eating 5 servings of fruit a day plus 5 servings of vegetables as well.  These days, it's easier for me to reach the veggies vs. the fruit.  Which surprises me that I cannot achieve this.  

Counting calories I can do.  Not use to counting carbs.  I just try to go easy on these.  Another hurdle to jump.  

Eating smaller portions of food in general is extremely difficult for me.  Trying to eat my first meal of the day at 11.  Have an afternoon snack and then eat supper before 6.  I haven't gotten to the place where I don't eat an evening snack.  I'll have to take fiber in cold water in the evening if I get a hankering for late night snacking.  Can I do this thing if I assert myself?  

It takes a huge effort on my part to skip the munchies.  I can have a full belly and still want to munch on chips or popcorn.  It's not the healthy kind of stuff I crave either.  I need to brainwash myself to accomplish a healthier outcome.  Here I go again talking to myself.

The weather isn't cooperating with me as it snowed and is bitter cold.  I can't go over to the COTTAGE today to walk on the treadmill.  Perhaps I could just walk in place.  Stay in motion.

I just about cannot believe it is FRIDAY.  Seems like the time is flying.  

WEEK-END PLANS...not sure.  Probably continue working in the JUNK ROOM.  It is already the 11th day of the month.  Spring is about 9 days.  This week-end is the time change.  This seems to always mess my sleep up.  I do better when the time falls back.  Fall back...Spring forward.  I will take it as an opportunity to begin walking daily, drink more water, get better organize, glam-up my skincare routine and not feel sorry for myself.  

I have a special book that I enjoy thumbing through from time to time.  Judy Lindberg McFarland's book AGING WITHOUT GROWING OLD.  She shares her special formula for skincare and I will return to doing this.  The first time I tried it, I was in my 40s and thought it was too oily for me.  Now that I am 66, I will give it a go again.  I'll share what she says about this special skincare treatment.

JUDY LINDBERG MCFARLAND’S

SPECIAL FORMULA

INTO A SMALL CREAM PITCHER, 

I POUR 1 OUNCE OF “JASON’S COSMETICS” 32,000 IU VITAMIN E OIL 

INTO 4 OZ. OF “DESERT ESSENCE,” 100% PURE COLD-PRESSED JOJOBA OIL.

THEN I SQUEEZE 30 OR MORE 10,000 IU VITAMIN A CAPSULES INTO MIXTURE.

I STIR IT UP AND POUR IT BACK INTO THE ORIGINAL BOTTLES.

THERE ARE MANY BRANDS IN YOUR NUTRITION STORE, BUT THESE ARE THE ONES I HAVE BEEN USING.

IN THE EVENING I CLEANSE MY FACE WITH THIS OIL, USING A WARM, WET WASHCLOTH TO WIPE OFF THE OIL AND MY MAKE-UP.  THEN I SPREAD THIS OIL COMBINATION AGAIN OVER MY ENTIRE FACE, NECK, AND ARMS.  IT WILL ABSORB QUICKLY.  IF YOU USE THIS AGAIN IN THE MORNING, YOUR FACE WILL BE SOFT AND MOIST.  LADIES, APPLY THIS MIXTURE TO YOUR LEGS AFTER YOU HAVE SHAVED.  MY HUSBAND USES THIS INSTEAD OF AFTERSHAVE LOTION.  THIS IS ALSO A GREAT MASSAGE OIL.

VITAMINS A AND E:  ONE OF MOTHER’S BEAUTY SECRETS

NATURAL VITAMIN A FROM FISH OIL IS THE FORM I USE WITH THE MIXTURE ABOVE.  VITAMIN A IS THE KEY VITAMIN RELATED TO SKIN HEALTH AND IS A POTENT FREE RADICAL SCAVENGER.  I DON'T USE COD LIVER OIL AS IT SMELLS TOO FISHY.

VITAMINS A AND E WERE ONE OF MOTHER’S BEAUTY SECRETS, ALTHOUGH SHE FREELY TOLD EVERYONE ABOUT THEM.  SHE ALWAYS SQUEEZED 10 - 20 VITAMIN A SOFTGELS (25,000  IU EACH - AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME) INTO HER NIGHT-TIME MOISTURIZING CREAM, ALONG WITH 10 - 20 SOFTGELS OF VITAMIN E (400 IU) TO REALLY FEED HER SKIN.  SHE KNEW THE MOISTURIZING CREAM HELPED HER SKIN ASSIMILATE THE OIL VITAMINS.  YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE HOW GREAT YOUR SKIN WILL LOOK AND FEEL!

 

Praise the Lord, this is the day that the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Last night we watched a 2007 Demi Moore and Michael Caine movie, FLAWLESS.  I actually liked it.  It's about a 1960s diamond heist out of London.  It was relatively clean, hardly any foul language and no nudity.  It actually had a plot.  May watch it again.  The fashions were neat to see.  Red lipstick, pearls lots of pearls and diamonds of course.

  

 I feel a nap coming on.

I'll have to shake it off as I want to get back at sorting through the JUNK ROOM.

May you all have a super week-end.  

I'm so glad it's here,

~d👵