THANKFUL THANKSGIVINGS and MORE TO COME

TRAVELING TO OKLAHOMA FOR THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS went well.  With the weather turning wintery, we came HOME on Saturday, but the time between Wednesday evening through Saturday morning were delightfully spent with family.

No troubles with driving the distance there.  Our automobile ran smoothly and there were no incidences.  A true blessing.  Traffic going to Oklahoma was awful around Tulsa with concrete barriers on the side of the road due to serious roadwork, but the traffic HOME went well due to traveling a different way.  I was so very happy to safely get HOME.  We had a real good visit with our oldest Son's family.  

~Our Oklahoma Grandchildren~
-2025 Thanksgiving-

Our short Son.

As older Americans,
we crashed on the sofa.

Right at the moment, I'm sipping HOT LEMON WATER on an empty stomach.  Doing some laundry and debating on what to do first with unpacking from our trip.  One thing at a time sometimes becomes a three ring circus.  

I'll unpack throughout the day.  Laundry as it goes. Thanksgiving and AUTUMN decor put away.  The start of CHRISTMAS gently comes to mind.  I have a wooden pumpkin hanging on the porch that will be replaced with a glittery, wooden snowflake on the ornament arrow.  update: done! 

Saving some of the pumpkin seeds from the homegrown pumpkins that are sitting in our yard and bench.

To save pumpkin seeds, 

First scoop out the seeds and pulp, then rinse them thoroughly to remove all stringy bits. Spread the cleaned seeds in a single layer to air-dry in a cool, dry place for several weeks, flipping them occasionally. Once completely dry, store them in a paper envelope in a cool, dark place until you are ready to plant them or roast them. 

I should have purchased some ornamental pumpkins of various colors for HARVEST TIME to save the seeds, but never thought of doing so.  Next year perhaps.  I'd like to have some white and bluish colored pumpkins for the porch next AUTUMN.  

ONWARD.  This is the week Hubby said he'd help me with this downsizing task as the out of doors is freezing cold.  Snow is expected.  Maybe rain. He won't be working on the porch until next week when it's a touch warmer.  I have to use his help as much as I can this week.  Right now he is taking a nap and I'm blogging.

Plans for the week are working like a banshee to get the living room and dining room cleared out of BOXES, BOXES, BOXES.  With the short Thanksgiving vacation, I am now fired up to get this done. 

WEEK ONE of DECEMBER.  🕯ADVENT SUNDAY is before the month of December begins being the fourth Sunday before Christmas.  Taking heart this ADVENT SUNDAY.  As I want to slow down, I am.  
The rooms will be worked on getting organized.  Put a smile in my heart and get after it with JOY.  Music please! 🎵
WEEK TWO.  Christmas cards and Christmas decorating done. 🎀
WEEK THREE.  Baking. 🍪
WEEK FOUR.  Celebrate Hubby's birthday and the Lord's.  Merry Christmas.
WEEK FIVE.  REST and move towards New Year's Day.

Holiday Time observed and prepare for the new year.  Physicals and deep thoughts about LIFE.

Thank you for visiting today.  God Bless and may LIFE treat you kind.

~d 

THANKFUL FOR THANKSGIVING'S DAY!!!

INCHING TOWARD THE BIG DAY ON THURSDAY.  FOOD was purchased. Paper products bought from HOBBY LOBBY discounted 50% off.  Will use metal utensils though.  Centerpiece is a thrift find which was affordable.  grins.

I won't be using our china this year which will be saved for next year and use the heck out of it. Praise the LORD for dishes as well as paper ones with pretty designs on them. 

Plans are in the making.

Had to go to Kansas City this morning and on our way through TOPEKA coming HOME, we stopped off at SAMs for bottled water, Pumpkin Pie and more French Fried Onion Rings.  Found some miniature dinosaurs for a Grandma gift.  It was one busy place.  I'll be contented to stay HOME for a few days.  Thankful to have a HOME.

Now, not to over eat on Thursday.  Eat slowly savoring each bite.

I'm thankful you stopped by for a visit.  

God bless you real good.  
May you have sweet memories in the making.   

Have a blessed THANKSGIVING'S DAY.

~d

IT'S TAKING TIME AND MUSCLE also THE TEA LEAF CHINA HELPS LIFT MY SPIRITS!

THANKFUL HUMAN I AM.  
THANKSGIVING DAY HAS COME AND GONE.  I am so THANKFUL for sooooo much that my heart is overflowing with appreciation and love.  Grateful.

I woke early on THANKSGIVING and did some chores as I was switching out two freezers making a better plan for my homemaking.  It took me awhile, but I got this done.  I'd work awhile then rest.  Repeat.  She's completed on THANKSGIVINGS DAY.  Praise the LORD.

We had a turkey meal prepared by the community churches offered to the anyone.  FREE WILL DONATION.  This helped with our grocery spending as well.  Took them up on it this year and oh so thankful to have a full Thanksgiving Dinner.  It was delicious.  I did not have to slave away in the KITCHEN this year.  This was a blessing as I am worn out after a very long and eventful year.

White and dark turkey meat, mashed potatoes with gravy, dressing, green beans, dinner roll and pumpkin with pecan dessert.  I did not have to slave in the KITCHEN this year.  Easy clean-up and enough for supper tonight. 

We ate while watching the MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE in New York City.  It's been years since I watched this parade.

Thinking about the ones who actually created the balloons and floats boggled my mind this year. It cost about $28,000.oo to fill one balloon with helium.  I can only imagine what a balloon or float cost to make.  Where do they make these creations?  In a airplane hanger?  Not sure.

I had a NAP afterwards.  I am thankful that I can do this.

ON THE HOME FRONT.  Started a gift box to fill for my Mom's Christmas treats from us.  I'd like to get this done and placed in the mail next week.  All the GIFT ornaments for family are in our grandchildren's hands.  Our children were given a treat as well.

My friendship circle meets in two weeks.  I cellophane wrapped and tied with a blue ribbon their Christmas ornaments and have them ready to go.  My Alaskan friend's ornament with a long letter was mailed last week.  A relief to have this taken care of.  Get well cards and Sympathy cards have been mailed.  I completed filling the China Cabinet with the Blue Willow China, I move to the next project.  The FRIDGE and FREEZERS.  

I'm organizing the fridge and freezers.  The fruits and veggies have returned to the main fridge in the KITCHEN as they were in their own fridge in the utility room.  The two upper shelves across the fridge hold fruits and veggies.  

A bottom shelf holds more veggies on the left and milk on the right.  There are two pull drawers and a glider.  The left one is for cheeses and the right one is for meats.  The bottom pull out glide drawer has more veggies on the left side and eggs on the right.  Condiments are in the doors shelves.  

The freezer has been divided up.  Top pull shelf is for ice cubes, ice cream treats and concentrated fruit juices.  The bottom area is divided.  Left side holds nuts in the back and up front are frozen fruits.  The complete right side holds frozen vegetables.  I did it!!!  It is a fully functioning fridge and freezer that is orderly.  I can smile and say well done.  Looking clean and orderly.  Which I like and need for now.  

Hubs is shuffling items from the SHE SHED to the cellar and garage.  Nearly completely cleared this out making it ready to hold a bedroom suite.  This all has been a hard work-out.  He gives these projects muscle and sweat.  I have to exercise PATIENCE and do other things while waiting for completion.  

Trying to keep my chin up as it is taking longer than I'm comfortable with.  I know this is a new assignment, but at 69, I figure we should have our HOME in order all along.  This moving and downsizing thing is a difficult assignment especially when things are hard to get rid of and we have frailer bodies handling heavy items.  

I have watched the program HOARDERS for years to encourage me to not live like a hoarder.  I fast forward through the programs starting the program then zooming through it to the finish so I can see how clean the house is.  I think I understand how one loses interest in life and lets everything go, which in no time the house is a complete mess.  The not caring or the not being able to clean comes to mind.  I do not want to be one that gives up.  I'd rather be in order and a neat freak.  Not judging, but then again I think I am.

We cannot take any of this stuff with us when we die, so I should be able to turn loose of so much more and not be bothered that we turned loose.  On to a better life that is less complicated.  More care free.

Hubby so surprised me as he found a tub of my antique TEA LEAF China that I will place with the other Tea Leaf I have in the Library Case in the Dining room!  I smiled so big when he showed me what he found.  You made my CHRISTMAS!!!   Actually you made MY YEAR!!!  I am sooooo hApPy to have these dishes in my HOME again instead of in storage.  

 He is uncovering some treasures that I want to have inside the COTTAGE.  Praise the LORD that he is being successful in this endeavor.

Also a Angel was placed in the corner cabinet with the crystal.  This lifted my spirits as I felt like we made progress this THANKSGIVINGS and I don't have to be sad it is taking so long to get settled.  Praise the LORD.

   

By Sunday, the Nativity Scene will be located and put out, a garland wrapped around a spring rod hanging between the rooms, outdoor greenery located along with twinkle lights for outdoors decorating, and the things in the pink room boxed up so the furniture can be relocated to the SHE SHED.  

Christmas decorating on the outside of the house should take place next week.  Wished I had it done already.  Next year, if I am so blessed to still be here for a CHRISTMAS...I suggest we get the outside decorating done in November when the weather is more people friendly.  Christmas cards to follow.

🎄🎅🤶IF WE GET A TREE UP...I will decorate it in a very simplistic fashion.  Twinkle lights and velvet ribbons.  After CHRISTMAS, I think I will leave the tree up and decorate for Valentine's Day.  Hum.  I just might do this.  💗

Peace.  I'm not looking for perfection.  I'm working toward a cleaner HOUSE.  A MORE ORGANIZED AND STREAMLINED HOME.  It is taking time to make this happen.  There needs to be a happy medium.  

I can pitch things faster if I try.  I can speed this process up, if I work at it and I must work at it.  Amen.  CHRISTMAS IS COMING.  I pray we are further along than we are at the present.  That's our goal.

HOME LIFE IS FOR ME and I'd like it to be clean.  grins.

~d

THANKSGIVING

 

THANKSGIVING WEEK and the WEEK OF THANKSGIVING

THANKSGIVING WEEK IS HERE AND I'M READY.  The HOLIDAY hasn't snuck up on me this year.  Last week we purchased a couple of turkeys and placed them in the freezer along with a ham for future eating.  Saving the HAM for Christmas.  To make room in the freezer, the older frozen turkey from last year was taken out and set in the fridge to thaw so I can bake it for now eating.  The old turkey will hopefully still taste good.  Supposedly a frozen turkey stays good for at least TWO YEARS.    This week we'll have TURKEY SANDWICHES.

HUBBY and I will be HOME alone for THANKSGIVING and I think I'm alright with this. I placed a RSVP with the local community THANKSGIVING DINNER that HUBS will pick up on Thanksgiving Day to where we will be dining at HOME.  Hallelujah.  We'll be thankful.  I won't have to BAKE or CLEAN-UP.  THANKFUL for this! I can pour my energy into something else such as continued downsizing and shuffling.

I love getting together with family, but this year is a bit different.  Our children will be celebrating out of state.  Our oldest Son and fam will be dining with his In-Laws this season.  Our Daughter and fam will be together with our middle Son and fam in St. Louis which makes me very HAPPY as our Son seldom has company.  Having his Sister and fam will be welcomed. Warm wishes to them all.  I mailed Thanksgiving cards to them earlier and suspect they have received them by now.

Hubby and I will be working this last part of November plus the first part of December in getting the rooms rearranged in HOPES of being settled in the rooms before CHRISTMAS.  This will be my Christmas present from my Hubby....having the tiny COTTAGE with the pieces of furniture placed where they need to be before we start doing more remodeling of the interior of the HOME. 2025 will be a year of painting ceilings, walls and trims throughout the house.  Probably carpeting and tiling the kitchen floor.  When the weather warms up some in 2025, the front porch will be rebuilt.  More downsizing and clearing out storage units.  pause.  

Couldn't we do the remodeling with the furniture the way it is?  The place is already torn up.  Yes, but we are so very slow and I need to have some sense of order while we are living in the in-between stage of things so the furniture needs to be present.  

So much to do.  Hubs said he'd be shuffling down in the cellar today.  In hopes of his being ready to start moving bedroom furniture into the SHE SHED this week.  Oh LORD, Make it happen.  

The tool boxes we purchased last week have come to good use as he has filled each one with smaller items that he wanted to group together such as all the hammers he owns are grouped together in one tool box.  I can tell that he wants order as badly as I do.  He lit up when he showed me a pic of his work.  I'm going to Manhattan today to pick up some special flour and while I'm there, I'll buzz by Menards and get him two more tool boxes to complete his transformation from being in over our heads messy to being organized.

This move has been a difficult one as it was not what I would call a CLEAN MOVE.  We were in a hurry to vacate our property which meant not everything being packed was done decently and in order.  When you have to vacate quickly, you may run into this.  We did.  I'm still unpacking boxes that are in the garage.  It will take another year probably to get to the bottom of this as we have two storage units full of things that need dealt with.  I suppose I will have to deal with it like it were a HOBBY.  With the weather turning off cold, it will be a hit and miss kind of thing when we can work on it.

HOPES FOR THE DAY.
Bills written out and ready to be paid.
Laundry to fold and put away.
WALK.
Correspondences written.
Getting lined out for this week to come.
Locating our Christmas Tree and garland.
Baking a turkey.
Hair Appointment.
Picking up some heirloom flour from a friend.
Purchasing tool boxes.

WHEN rearranging some dishes to make room for some of my treasures in the house,  the antique Tea Leaf platter I placed in the cabinet took a nose dive falling over causing two of the cups to fall to the floor breaking one of my 1890s coffee cups.  Saving the pieces.  Might try to create a piece of jewelry from the broken pieces.  No tears.  Thankful the big platter didn't chip.  gulp.

Our Thanksgiving meal will be picked up and eaten at our tiny COTTAGE this year and the day won't be all about the meal, but thoughts of WHY we celebrate the day in the first place will come to mind and shared.  To God be the glory great things HE hath done.

Here's to wishing you a blessed THANKSGIVING,

~d

🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃

GOBBLE GOBBLE

 

~d

HALLOWEEN HAS PASSED! NOVEMBER BEGINS

WE HAD PLENTY OF CANDY TO HAND OUT TO TRICK OR TREATERS.  Closed down shop around 8 pm.  Dark outside and time to call it a day. 

DOWNTOWN HALLOWEEN PARADE

~Family~
Mom and Dad are deers and Lil Dude is a HUNTER.

Earlier we drove downtown and watched the kids dressed up for Halloween parade on the sidewalks getting candy from the merchants.  Had a few laughs at how adorable the tiny tikes looked.  

We stayed until 6 then went HOME for handing candy out.  

We had 15 goblins.  Only 15.  I know the downtown parading overrides the ones who go door to door.  

My daughter, her hubby and lil dude came by.  I'm so glad they did.

Parading downtown is a safe option.  I'm glad they have this option for the kids.  Until next year.  

🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃

NOVEMBER has arrived.  28 days until THANKSGIVING!!!  Turkey time.  We have so much to do before the HOLIDAYS, it makes my head hurt.  Lord help.  I will need to put myself in FAST gear.  In order to have the house ready for Christmas Guest, we have to continue clearing out the She Shed, the pink bedroom, organize the cellar and make the house presentable.  

Hubby is still shuffling racks down in the cellar.  I'll be carrying china from the garage to the dining room.  I'll be looking through our CHRISTMAS decorations in the cellar to get an idea what I have.

This all gives me purpose to make headway on the COTTAGE.

I'm keeping Thanksgiving very simple.  VERY SIMPLE.  Most of November's energy will be spent in getting the house ready for CHRISTMAS.  

           🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃

TYPICAL THANKSGIVING MENU

Turkey
Dressing
Cranberry Sauce
Mashed Potatoes with Gravy
Green Bean Casserole
Buttered Corn
Dinner Rolls with Butter  
Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream
Iced Tea
Water
 

Taking time to think on the things 
I'm THANKFUL for.

November is here!
D