HOLIDAY HAPPINESS

Yesterday, the geraniums were brought indoors before the frost got to them.  Hoping to WINTER them in the mechanical room or the spare bedroom that is a catch-all at present.  

The miniature candy bars are gone, gone, gone.  Still  have Tootsie Rolls in a antique casserole dish with no lid sitting on the Buffet.  Think the Grandchildren will enjoy these at Thanksgiving.  The Rolls are small enough not to spoil anyone's appetite.

Taking a BREAK from Thanksgiving cleaning and planning.  Jumping HOLIDAYS.  Having a few minutes to surf the net and came across CHRISTMAS PRETTIES.  Want to share.  Knowing that CHRISTMAS is about 6 weeks away, thought it would be enjoyable and relaxing to look at beautifully decorated HOMES to gather some ideas.

THOUGHT this one just about anyone could do and would be very inexpensive to copy.  After the HOLIDAYS, re-purpose the toilet tissue back into use.  Nothing wasted. 

 

 

 

MAY YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK-END!!!

So very glad you stopped by.  Maybe next time we can have some apple cider.

Now I must get back to THANKSGIVING preparations 

and get greatness done.  
So many think that being a KEEPER OF THE HOME 
isn't doin' anything.  

Are you kidding?  

ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT NEEDED.

Taking care of the details of running an Estate 

 is a heavenly task.  Doing the LORD's work when taking care of Family and Home.  

A missionary field.

Blessings,

d

AWESOME AUTUMN, Hershey Bars and Paperclips

 I did not make this up about being more sustaining than MEAT!  They obviously know what they are talking about.....right?

Oh dear....I've had one of those awesome mornings where I sat down to write out medical bills to be paid and got side tracked by needing a paper clip.  Went looking for one and changed my pattern of thought to go get another cup of coffee with creamer in it then needed to visit the toilet, wash me hands and walk back to the family room to check email.  An hour later, I turned the washing machine on and realized that I forgot the paperclip as I walked past the kitchen sink seeing I need to buy some dish detergent...all out.  

Went hunting for paperclips and whallah...there she is.  Return to bills to write out and here I be at the computer to see if a message I was waiting for came in.  The phone just rang and I heard the buzzer go off from the washing machine.

GRINS.

Back to the bills on a Monday morning, but first....I will blog!!!  Oh wait....it's TUESDAY already.

I bought a couple more color coded storage boxes for a reasonable price.  Black body with orange lid screams 
I'm Halloween STUFF in here.  Halloween items are going in these and then they will be transported to the garage for storage.  

Dear dear dear dear dear dear dear Hubby worked this week-end out in the garage.  He made huge progress shuffling 3 huge monster metal shelve units from one side of the garage to the other.  First the items had to be removed, carried across the garage through a booby trapped path and then re-stacked on metal units.  As we continue going through boxes to see what's inside, much was loaded in the trunks of the cars to be taken to thrift shops.  HELP.  HELP.  HELP.  In all good conscious, I know we are too old to be doing this in our old bodies. 

As we chisel down the messes it will one day be as it should.  This has been an ongoing work with us.  This go round of getting settled has required GREAT EFFORT on our parts.  I think i can....i think i can....i think i can.....i think i can.

I mustn't sound like a nag or a constant complainer.  Mustn't.  Put on a HAPPY FACE and smile.  It's taking more time than I ever imagined.  MY imagination isn't creative enough to make this up or think such a thing could happen.  I am now better informed and will continue on to change what I think is important to keep or get rid of.

Once again we both said, "I don't want to be doing this when I'm 70...should we be blessed to live so long."

I thinned through OLD magazines that I kept for years.  Trashed them.  HUNDREDS of religious papers that I had held onto are now in the trash.  Books are still being boxed to go to THRIFT.  Dishes....ouch....I have a difficult time getting rid of these fine pieces of ART that make LIFE easier to take.

Knowing that I cannot take any of this stuff with me when I die has helped me to rethink what to hang onto or thin out.  I have to be reasonable and let much go away.  Hanging onto so much has been very time consuming and requires much space to store.  Soooooo....out you go.  

ONTO something else:

PLEASE PASS THE CHOCOLATE.
Aren't you glad that CHOCOLATE is so healthy for women?
Men also.
Gotta be.

The last of the miniature candy bars are just about gone.  ALL GONE.  Lasted over a week.  AWESOME.  A little CHOCOLATE each day makes one ___________________ .

Medical research says it's so gooooood for you.  All that copper etc.


I LOVE THIS LADY!!!!

I have two weeks to get our dear HOUSE in better order for THANKSGIVING.  Can I do it?  Not at the rate I'm traveling.  GRINS.  Am THANKFUL that the Turkey and Ham are waiting for me in the freezer.  I will rewrite my menu and shopping list to get to the details.

Now where did I put that bag of paperclips.

Did I forget to tell you that you are mighty special!
Have a sweet day,
d

Celebrating Life

Super Heroes are important when you're 6 years old.  

At 60 I still like Super Heroes in my life.  We celebrated this lil guy's birthday charged full of energy, 

excitement and fun.

THERE WERE SUPER HEROES 

every where.

Super Woman that I am, 

I wouldn't have changed a thing.

Had a SUPER good time.

d

I left the party with Spider Man hanging on for dear life to my leg.  

Please don't tell anyone that I am attached to this SUPER HERO.

I know that you can be trusted!

For the time being, he's all the Super Hero I need.

Decorating On The Prairie: Parlour Pretty

Decorating On The Prairie 

made easy with JUNQUE.

The Eastlake Parlor Chair that I carried HOME 

(in the auto) was purchased at an Estate Sale for a song.

More for looks and not function, I admired this beauty.

First noticing her at a different City Wide Sale, 

I'd buy her six months later for $12.oo.

$12.oo

Not bad for an accent piece.

How do you decorate your HOME?
With trinkets, second hand treasures, 
brand new beauties, handmade items, 
gifts, etc.


Thank you for dropping by.

Hope you have as much fun JUNKIN as I do.

God Bless,

d

Staying Out Of Trouble While Parking

AUTUMN is here.  Yes, it is.  
Getting use to the idea that SUMMER passed and cooler weather is near, HALLOWEEN seems to be the closing chapter in my book of LIFE that personally tells me, AUTUMN has arrived.

I seem to fight it every year that SUMMER has gone away just in time for FALL to blow into the forecast.  It makes me sigh.

SIGH.

Browns, bronzes, coppers, deep greens, bright oranges, reds and dark purples are colors appearing in the area.  Lovely down to earth colors.  Out come the sweaters and Christmas mugs.

Believe it or not, Christmas decorating lifts my spirits and helps me to adjust to the cold better.

I don't pout when the shiny and sparkly decor begins to show up in the stores when they do.  If there were a year round Christmas Store here, I'd visit it in the SUMMER because I'm that way.

I walked through Dillards while in the Mall to have a WAXING.  Want to return when I can leisurely stroll looking at all their pretties they have on display for Christmas. 

The Party dresses are appearing and I like that.   

Party dresses.  Beautiful partay dresses.  

 
I picked Husband up for Lunch with my overly sensitive red skin.  My face/neck were so red that I didn't want to go inside a restaurant for a meal, so Husband and I ate in the auto our Southwest Salad with crispy Chicken and iced water to drink by a Park.  

We parked by a Park.  Stayed out of trouble while parked by the Park.
The wind blew and called my name as I sat behind the driver's seat eating salad.  

Completely innocent.  Completely.  Nice to be parked by a Park and staying out of trouble.  This is a wonderful sensation. 

There was a tiny, tiny, tiny house for sale down the street.  Sometimes I dream of having a very small, easy to manage single dwelling house to live in after Husband retires.  I checked the rooms out on the computer.  This is one very fascinating option surfing the internet has to offer.  Really handy.

Just type in the address of said place and often there will be additional pictures of the interior.  Excellent way to stalk a real estate property never leaving home.  

Houses are very expensive in Manhattan, Kansas.  University TOWN and all.  So much coming and going of students and military.  

I really don't know where we will retire should the day come.  Giving it some THOUGHT.  I think as we continue to get our rock house remodeled that we should   s.t.a.y.   p.u.t.
to enjoy the fruit of our labor and continue to enjoy small town living for a little while longer.  If the Lord wills it.

Took Husband back to work and made my way to the Bank.  Drove HOME. 

I would have loved to do some additional SHOPPING, but couldn't bring myself to being so RED in the face.  Looking sun burnt.  

I'll return to beautician in a couple of weeks for another waxing.  By this time I should be in high gear for Thanksgiving.  Company hopefully will arrive and we will have fellowship.  

Returning HOME, I drove through windy conditions across the rolling gentle hills of the Flint Hills landscape fashioned with golden honey colors.  The closer I got to our small town america, the smokier the sky got.  Somewhere in the beautiful countryside someone is burning leaves and brush which causes smoke to settle in the valleys.  The smell grew stronger the closer to HOME I went.


The smell reminds me of when the grounds are burned in February, March and April.  Smoky.

When I went to Oklahoma a few weeks ago to celebrate Grandson's 6th Birthday, we took the grands most of their Christmas gifts.  This has taken a load off my mind about the Christmas Holidays.  Will be more relaxed as we sing Christmas Carols and think about the Birth of Jesus.  In my head, I am already giving thought as to decorating, cooking, baking, going to church and watching Christmas movies.  This gesture has eased the tension about the month of December. 

This month, the bump out needs cleaned again as it was in full character for Halloween with spider webs and bugs residing there.  The front porch lamps are filthy.  New Curtain Valances with rods will be hung in the Family room, the Guest Bedroom with oak furniture freshened up with new blue sheets, Master Bedroom tidied, and the Kitchen worked on.  Seriously have to clean the Dining room as she continues to become a catch-all as we work to downsize.  The Garage needs attention as well as we have some large items out of place needing relocated so the Garage is a garage once again.

Hubby bought some more wood and cabinet hardware to make the cabinet doors for the kitchen cabinets.  I have to get a little excited, because this will make us closer to having a completed Kitchen.  That will be the day.  You know I have showed many pictures of the progress as we have inched our way to having a cute and efficient Kitchen!  Waka Waka.

This past week, I made headway on paper work.  My contentment meter is vibrating as I make ends meet and know that I have gone through thousands of pieces of paper.  Thousands.  Made my head spin just in time for Halloween.

Last week, we purchased our big purchase of the year besides a car.  We were at SAM's to buy Halloween Candy and came across an Entertainment/Heater Unit for our Family room.  WE LOVE IT!!!  This is our Christmas Gift.  She is a welcomed addition to our cottage. 

Tricky getting this large purchase home.  NO SMALL FEAT.
We  RENTED a truck to make the journey.  We loaded this over 200 pound unit and drove home on the interstate.  A young BUCK jumped a car in front of us.  Husband slowed the truck down.  This young deer kept jumping about as if it were dancing.  He seemed to make his debut, Got our attention then darted off onto the median. 

This was interesting to see.  There was no adrenal rush as I often feel when frightened.  There have been times that I should have been scared and the rush never happened.  I think this is what I will call a GOD moment.  PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.

Philippians 4:7

 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, 

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

As we were coming into town, a young man driving a flatbed truck took a corner which caused his basset hound on the back of the truck to fall off.  Basset Hound looked dazed walking by the curb next to a Park.  Driver of the truck was unaware of his dog's absence so Husband caught up with the young driver to tell him his dog was back at the Park.

Then we went HOME to unload the Entertainment Center onto our porch and into the house.  Took the heating unit out of the box to make sure it worked alright before heading back to the big city to return rental truck.  We had it all timed out and had to go back to Topeka to return the truck and once again drive from Topeka back to our little town.

Too tired to put the unit in the Family room, it would have to wait until morning to make this all happen.  It made for a busy evening for a couple of OLD people.

So very glad it's Friday and the week-end is here.  Pray that we make headway on the cleaning.  This may not sound very exciting to many, but I get excited knowing the estate is taking shape!

When LIFE gets in the way of having HOME in order and often you are so close to being at the place you need to be...perhaps you will understand that it can be very frustrating to be within arms reach of being completed and then you cannot reach what needs done.  Uggggh.  I could say THAT's LIFE and forget about it.  Not going to do this.  Needing this order.  Dodging stacks of boxes while walking through the formal Dining room is great exercise for the docile.  

THANKSGIVING is in a few short weeks.  Doing my HOMEWORK on how to make this HOLIDAY less stressful by being more organized.  Snicker.  I will try to be ready as ready can be.

Thanking the Lord ahead of time.  

Heavenly Father, I pray in Jesus name that you'll BLESS our HOLIDAYS!  I truly appreciate your help and BLESSINGS.  Open my eyes to what it is you want me to do, know and understand about this time.  It is better to give than to receive.  Thank you...for being there for me.   Amen and amen.

Romans 15:33

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Blessings to you!
d


  

'Life Just Got A Little Easier' Blueberry Crunch

~Blueberry Crunch~

'Life Just Got A Little Easier' dining on the Prairie with this crockpot dessert that just takes a few minutes to prepare when the SLOW COOKER on high does the work in about 2 and a half hours. 

ADD some vanilla ice-cream to top off

this dessert.  Making you smile.

Delicious and easy,

d 

3 Ingredients:
2 cans of Blueberry Pie Filling
White Cake Mix
Stick of Butter

Instructions:
Dump both cans of pie filling in clean crockpot.
Pour entire box of cake mix on top of fruit.
Smooth out cake mix.
Cut butter and lay on top of cake mix.
Place lid on slow cooker.
Bake on high for two and a half hours.

2 cans of pie filling dumped into crockpot.

Pour white cake mix on top of pie filling.

Smooth out cake mix and place butter on top of it.

Place lid on slow cooker.

Cook for two and a half hours on high.

Life got somewhat easer in my unfinished Kitchen after eating Blueberry Crunch.  EASY on the nerves.  Grand-daughter helped fix a wonderfully SIMPLE dessert in the crockpot.  

JOLLY good time.

All the best,

d 

Joining FOODIE FRIDAY at Michael Lee's!

http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2015/11/foodie-friday-and-everything-else.html

Focusing

It has been a most miserable week waiting to have another WAX JOB done for the removal of unwanted facial hair. MOST MISERABLE hide out I've done.

I cannot be seen in public with this facial hair that's gone wild.  I'm no hero, but I have had to preach at myself to let the hair grow so it can be waxed off.  This has been a tough one for me.

Have to have the hair length longer than I am comfortable with.  This is getting on my last nerve and am having to focus on other things.

SORRY GUYS…..I disagree.  I haven't been focusing on JUST facial hair AND it's a bumper crop.  It's growing wild on its own.  Wish it were different, but it taint so.  

Soon and very soon I will pay my beautician a VISIT to WAX this stubble off my face and I will be ever so grateful that it is gone…for awhile.

Let you know how this turns out.  I am not a fan of bearded ladies.  Sorry, I feel more compassion for these gals as time goes by.

All the best,
d

Happy Birthday!

~HAPPY 38th BIRTHDAY~

SON

Wishing you all the BEST.

God Bless you always.

Hugs.

Love you,

Ma

Treats On The Prairie

Ready for the Trick or Treaters with candy 

in a basket as Frank stands at the door.

Lil Miss was cheering us on knowing that she and her Mom would be knocking at doors for candy.  So away they went returning later with a big bag of candy.  

CHOCOLATE is my favorite.  

Each October 31st, Husband and I sit in the Parlour waiting for the children to visit our HOME.  About 30 on Saturday.  We didn't have a jack-o-lateen on the porch this time.  Did't miss it.  Left the porch lights on and handed out treats.

We ate Supper, watched a movie and sampled the spoils after the porch lights were turned off calling it a night to hear Trick or treat!

As the temps lower with each passing day as we get ready for Thanksgiving, the seasonal celebrations warm my disposition as I watched the leaves disappear from the trees.  Almost all gone and on the lawn.  It seems like only yesterday that the trees were aching to sprout green leaves.  This has been the fastest passing year I have lived. 

I know that many do not approve of Halloween.  

Still...I enjoy seeing children in their costumes 

that come out once a year for candy. 

TREATS for the Trick or Treaters.

Only treats.    

Frank, Tell 'em Good Night.

d