Taking Summer SLOW

Hello from my place to yours.

I'd have that porch fan on if this were 

my REAL place.

HOT enough to drop.

Heard of SHOP TILL YOU DROP?

I dropped when my Sister came to visit me

 in the Kansas Flint Hills.

Each time we'd opened the auto door 

even with the windows cracked,

it was like a furnace blast.

NO shade trees in the parking lots.

Thought I was gonna die.

The meds I take and the lost ability for me to cool off like a normal person caused problems.

Still had fun with her shopping,

but I had to make a declaration to change 

how I SHOP and do things in the SUMMER HEAT.

Every once in a while a cooler breeze will blow and it's as refreshing as can be.

Hubby and I are workin' hard at downsizing.

We've rearranged some rooms,

casted off the cast offs,

making preparations to PAINT the master bedroom

ceiling and walls in the next few days.

I'll wash the windows and shutters when this CHORE is completed
 then hang some lace panels in place of the sheer panels.

Think the sheers will end up in the BUMP-OUT that's on the front of the house.
 I have talked about hanging sheers for the LONGEST TIME.

During the month of JULY,

I'll hang pretty lace panels in our NEW DINING ROOM above the wood shutters.

Light can stream through the window and I can still ENJOY the sight I see as I glance out the window.

For now my handy computer that is a dinosaur

sits on the window sill.

Maybe,

I'll feel a cool breeze over the 4th of July 

and sit while sippin' LEMONADE.

Doesn't that sound almost DREAMY.

Sappy here.

I could make ice cubes that I froze lemon balm 

or mint sprigs in the cube to use for HOME-made Lemonade.

Boy, do I ever have a delicious Lemonade recipe 

to share.

 God Bless you and yours.

God bless AMERICA

and may you have a very HAPPY 4th HOLIDAY,

d

Humble House Poem

Lord, 

this humble house we'd keep
Sweet with play and calm with sleep.
 

Help us so that we may give
Beauty to the lives we live.
 

Let Thy love and let Thy grace
Shine upon our dwelling place. 

~Edgar A. Guest~

Home Poem

"A home is a kingdom of its own 

in the midst of the world, 

a stronghold amid life's storms 

and stresses, 

a refuge, 
 even a sanctuary." 

~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer 

The Dead Ant

IT WAS A HOT DAY on FRIDAY AND AGAIN ON SATURDAY.  Have fans running.
Broke down last night to turn the air on during the night hours.  Thunder clouds are puffing up in the distance as it is not suppose to storm until late Sunday night.  Might go against what the weatherman said.

Putting a load of laundry in the machine after I carry some boxes with dolls in them downstairs.  STILL DECLUTTERING and will be for along while.  It's a LONG project for sure.  Best have fun doing this with a smile on my sweaty face.  

~grins and bare it~

STILL coughing and not sure when this will clear up.  COUGH COUGH.  Sigh.  REST awhile, sit awhile, think awhile, repeat.

Going to have to get the vacuum sweeper out and suck the spider webs away from the Powder Room window.  The spiders LOVE this place.  LOVE the screens and window ledges.  HALLOWEEN DECOR in June...must be CHRISTMAS in July next month.

Ants invading the Kitchen window looking for something to take back to their Queen at their hill.  What do you suppose ants dislike so they stay away from my Kitchen?

Lemon juice
Cinnamon (essential oils)
Peppermint
Chalk line
Baking soda plus powdered sugar
Coffee grounds
Cornmeal

Shall have to see how this goes.

Hoping for a productive WEEK-END.

Blessings,

d

NOT Again

Dear One in Blogland,

After handling tubs from the cellar I was careful to wipe them off as I looked inside of them...three days later I'm coughing and have to say it's not just the pollen of the out of doors.  When handling dusty items, I seem to get sick.  Cough...cough.

It will be better after the dust settles.  Hopefully.  Seems like every time I turn around I am challenged with a cough.  Shucks.

We have been organizing, de-cluttering and making messes as we go.  We have a very long ways to go before the cellar is cleared out.  Takes TIME, muscles and sweat.  TAKING A BREAK.  I just about can't describe the MESS which is an organized mess since STUFF is in tubs.  haha.

In the mean time...a LARGER DINING ROOM.  We shuffled rooms and finally got the nerve to switch the Family room and replace it with a new Dining room.  Pics soon.  It's not finished as I have boxes everywhere and the table isn't moved in yet.

My FORMAL PARLOUR vanished and became the NEW Family room.  The formal pieces are relocated and we have made a very comfortable room out of the Parlour.  I have sat in there for 9 and a half years and said GOOD-BYE for now.  NOT grieving the loss as it is still soaking in that we actually did this.  We have talked about it and talked about it and talked about it.

Did this thang called switcheroo.
 Loven' it so far.

I'll snap some pics later after the dust has settled and share the change with you.  

Hello CHANGE,
d

PEACEFUL

~PEACEFUL~

Dear Ones,

Hello from my corner of the world

in blogland.

Today was one of much needed rest                       

so into the tub I went to take a long soaking

BATH.

Water temp was just right and soak I did.

Peaceful and relaxing.

Out I came clean as a whistle.

A rather LARGE whistle.

Still, it doesn't matter what size or shape you are 

clean is so necessary.

I haven't soak in ages.

Twas wonderful.

BACK to downsizing and simplifying my world.

I so hope that you have a

peaceful week-end.

PEACEFULLY YOURS,

d

A Date With BATMAN

HELLO from Small Town America.

I continue to DOWNSIZE.  There is so much more to do that I am feeling it in my sore body.  A large load of dishes made their way to the THRIFT SHOP.  It was easier to turn loose of my boxed stuff than I thought it would be, but my lungs hurt from screaming.  I had a date with BATMAN.  More to follow.

Sitting on the sofa thumbing through and throwing away OLD CHRISTMAS cards, letters and pictures that I have managed to keep for umpteen years was a way of downsizing and lightening the load.  I decided to group all my cards together from relatives and friends, thin through them only keeping my favorite ones and doing away with all the rest.  

TIME slows as I reread most of the cards and reread what they had handwritten in their yearly messages.
TIME seemed to stop as I had thoughts about that person.  Especially if they are no longer alive.  I just about can't pitch these away knowing I will no longer receive future mail from them.

I did what I had mentioned earlier about tearing some of the cards into, keeping the front of the card to use as postcards.  Some I will keep for a tad bit longer and thin out later if ever.

Took a break from this as my day became THURSDAY NIGHT.  Husband was asleep on the sofa...a common occurrence as he was extremely tired.  I sat on the other sofa having computer time as I noticed something dark flash past the corner of my eye.  Thinking it was a bird, I watched as it flew through the room. 

Asking myself, "Was that a bird?"

Quickly I knew it wasn't a bird, but a BAT.  LOUD soprano SCREAMS came out of my mouth as I was taken a back that there was a live one flying in my house.  HUBBY startled awake and I cannot get this image out of my mind how he responded to my screaming.....hahahahaaa.  He woke up and started asking questions in a high pitched voice as to what was going on, what's happening, etc.  He was still partly asleep and had tornadoes on his mind.  When he heard me screaming he became a Soprano himself.

The day was a storm filled one with tornadoes and very threatening weather.  We had the cellar door opened in case we needed to make a MAD DASH to the basement.  Tornado Sirens went off through out the day.  So we are not sure if the BAT got inside the house through the cellar or somewhere else.  

The BAT flew right on upstairs as if he knew that he needed to get away from a SCREAMING WOMAN and a STARTLED MAN asking questions in soprano.

We have never experienced a BAT in the HOUSE and I never want to experience this again.  I found a new shower curtain packaged and waiting for use as Hubby stapled it to the opening where the stairs lead upwards.  We were sure that we had him contained upstairs.  Later he decided to fly into the plastic shower curtain and attempt to come back down to our Family room.  Deciding on how to capture him, he somehow managed to make a hole and make his way out of the upstairs and get into the main floor of the house. 

It would take awhile to find him, but find him Hubby did.  Welding gloves were worn as a wet towel was thrown on top of this creature.  Still not sure why GOD created these things.  Don't get it.
Mister BAT will not be missed.

I had a DATE with my HERO, my HUSBAND...the BATMAN

extraordinaire.

Too much excitement for this old Lady...not the date, but with the BAT.  Take a deep breath and don't faint.
I rather like time with my HUSBAND.

Blessings, blessings, blessings,
d

2016 Sidewalk

After a rain,

d

Purged

The young man across the street is oh so proud of his car's sound system as he plays the music extremely loud which vibrates through our rock walls.  Pumping up the rhythm as he works on something inside his auto.  There have been a few nights where he enjoys the sounds of bass guitar at 3 in the morning.

Now here in my corner of the world, it's common to be awake at one sometimes two in the morning.  Hearing the thumping of 3 o'clock music will cause a headache.  

Not sure where his momma is at that hour, but think a few more early mornings like this will be reason to telephone a complaint to our good law enforcement officer that lives across the street from him.

I was young once.  Never forced my love of music at 3 AM to where the neighbors heard the sounds of Joni Mitchell, Chicago, Classical Gas or any other.  I usually was asleep.  Wore headphones.  Remember those huge honkers on the side of your ears that made sound dance around your head as if you were at a personal concert?  

In the cool of the evening while sitting outside on the porch bench munching cheese curls from a red dixie cup, I took a BREAK from sorting through my present day messes.  Fresh air blows through my hair as my dusted fingers are bright ORANGE matching my blouse.  Barefooted with Purple Passion painted toenails, I'm comfortable in my old bluejeans.  Typical attire on a Sunday afternoon on a beautiful day.  Blue skies and no rain.  AND then there's that music coming from across the street.

Finally the temps are gentle enough for a walk.  No rain today.  In the forecast this coming week, cooing doves are heard in the distance.  Other birds are chirping.  This is the kind of music I'm alright with hearing at 3 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon.  

Our Lilacs did not bloom this month.  Disappointed.  Too wet?  Not sure.  I'm indoors most of the time as I am exercising my rights to clean house, shuffle big pieces of furniture, sort through boxes, pack more up to say good-bye.  Much energy is going toward downsizing.  More than I'd like to admit.

We bought a secondhand dishwasher and until it can be installed I made room in the utility room for it to sit.  The dining room is a warehouse once again.  This will be pretty common as we are finishing up remodeling the Kitchen and gathering things to go away.

The quicker I can do this the better.

I relocated the metal racks that were in the utility room to the dining room where they will be used to place boxed items on that will vanish before my eyes as the items travel to the trunk of the car.  Need some more boxes.  Boxes.

Hamburgers were ordered for supper.  Kitchen out of order.

Hubby came walking up the sidewalk dragging behind him a trash bag full of trash that he had picked up.  He had been working on his car and looked like a grease monkey.  Black grease all over his hands and clothing.  T-shirt and work jeans will be thrown away as they are too greasy for our washing machine.  These were a few things easy to throw away.

Spending the day going through OLD magazines tearing out helpful pages as the brunt of the magazine goes in the trash.  I will not be subscribing to the magazines I always do until I am further down this road of downsizing.  Bogland have given magazines a run for their money, wouldn't you say?  

I have saved many issues over the years....think the time has come to pitch them.  I can pat myself on the back as I have gone through my old books and lightened the load.  Want to thin these out some more.  Also my clothing.  Dishes....well that's saying a lot.  Old make-up gone.  Lipstick and nail polish are goners.  Hobby stuff almost history.  Old papers and old checks will take some more time to go through.  Then there's the cellar....oh no....cannot bring myself to go down there until the main floor and upstairs is completely purged.

Purged...now that's an interesting word.

Old Greeting cards are not far behind.  The cards will be torn into.  Saving the fronts for postcards.  
Before I do this...I will reread all the cards and remember the LOVED ONES who sent these greetings to me.  Many have died and I expect another trip down Memory Lane.  Some friends of ours pray for the people who sent them cards at Christmas.  They leave a card on their table and pray for that person through-out the week then switch out the cards.  Always thought this was a very thoughtful and appreciated gesture.  During the year they'd mail a note to the person they had prayed for.

Sometimes people say they will pray for you and really it's between them and God if they HONOR this.  I HOPE to always be faithful to HONOR my word when I say I will pray for you.

BLESSINGS,
d

Muscle Toner

When I decided to get REALLY REALLY REALLY organized, I was about 34 years old when LIFE took a turn where the organizing went right out the window.  I remember the day well.

We would MOVE again which was a difficult move after a lay-off.  Still, that ole flame inside of me that warms me to GET ORGANIZED hibernated as a slight flicker.  Didn't go completely out.  Living in a tiny rental mandated that I be more organized and streamlined.  That first Summer after the move meant I had to deal with things.  So I did.  Took me all SUMMER, but succeeded.

When the time came to RELOCATE AGAIN...more attention was given to turning loose of more things stored in a barn.  So once again I sorted through items and turned loose.  I remember I had enough children's clothing to open a small boutique.  It was shocking to me that I had stored in a tub so many children's clothing that others could have used.  Blue jeans running out my ears.  VICTORY HAPPENED after the tub was emptied. 

It's been an ongoing drama.  It isn't just a fleeting thought or made up delusion....it's a reality that I have a problem with collecting too much.  Sigh.

HOARDING might be a exaggeration...depending on who you talk to.  My goodness me.

BUT here we are once again DOWNSIZING and having to release ourselves from STUFF.  Another trip to the THRIFT SHOPPE to be done with it.  I can't bring myself to JUST PITCH IT into the trash can....just too good to pitch.  Some other soul will benefit from this so off it goes to being RECYCLED to another through the middle man at the THRIFT SHOP.

A deep sense of relief that it's re-gifted to another human.  Perhaps it's a waste of time to take it to the THRIFT SHOPPE.  

Back to when I started to get really organized.  Along the way I starting entertaining myself by buying plastic storage boxes.  Over time these sometimes crack and the outside gets sticky, so the forever 'n ever mind set isn't a very good one to have.  They do warp and break-down.  All is a temporary fix.  Nothing seems to beat just getting rid of the stuff with not collecting it in the first place.

The size tubs I migrated towards has now become cumbersome, too large to handle and awkward to this aging, matronly woman that I have become.  The size of the tubs are too large to handle easily. 
Too heavy for my aging muscles.  I will admit that I am older and needing a change.  NOT a good way to tone muscle anymore.

SOOOOO...I'll downsize to sweater box size which is more my speed these days.  Transparent bodies are all the better.

I've continued to gift wrap my children's memorabilia placing the packages into the teal colored storage boxes that have housed their treasures for quite a few years already.

Last year after gathering the storage boxes I began going through their things beginning an emotional ride down memory lane.  I suffered through my oldest's things, gift wrapped 40 gifts for his 40th birthday and let the other two kids stuff stay put behind the family room sofa out of sight, but not out of mind.  During the cold months of Winter, I picked through their stuff and wrapped some.  SLOW process.  Silly me just about couldn't do this as I am way too sentimental.  Here it is the next year with SPRING in the air and I have had to encourage myself to finish this task.  Nearly done.

Daughter got married and when I was going through some of her left behind stuff...it was clear to me that she isn't as sentimental as I in this department.  This made me reconsider what I think she will keep in the future.  Most of this junk is just junk and will get a funny haha from when opened in a few years.  Some of the stuff doesn't mean anything except to me, so I'll keep a few things from their childhoods and that's that.

Lifting the full storage boxes was too much weight for me.  I've got to put these storage boxes in the cellar or back in the garage until it's time to surrender them to their rightful owners that grew up and moved away from the HOMESTEAD.

LOOKING BACK, I wished that I had kept a file box to fill with Grade/Report Cards, certificates, school programs and the school papers that would be kept per year.  This is a regret that I have.  It wouldn't have been so laborious if I had kept a file box on each child filling the accordion slots as we went.  Birthday Party invites, newspaper clippings etc.  Easier to locate and easier to use.  As for artwork, frame a few and display them.  Save the other in plastic sheet protectors in a notebook.  

It has all come together, but as for looking back, I wished I had kept a FILL BOX for each child.  Short Sigh.

Is it a sickness to always be analyzing what would have been more productive after the fact?
  
Wish I had kept a medical journal per family member.  I do keep the print outs of each visit to the doctor as I have done this since I lived in Texasland since 1987ish.  That's kind of like a medical journal.  Would be helpful to write a short note at the top of the page as to what was diagnosed, what medicine was prescribed for recall and if there was a weird reaction to the meds or how well the meds were tolerated.

Another helpful thing would have been to keep a diary of events.  The newspaper use to print what a local figure had handwritten about the day's events such as the date with 'We went to neighbor Fred's for a meal.  Had great conversation when we got stuck in the mud.  Rainstorm washed the bridge out so we were stranded for the night sleeping in Aunt Peg's Barn till we could go another way home.'  Next entry went something like this, Brother Paul suffered a injury from building a pig pen.  Injured his leg and is laid up for a week or so.  Went to help finish the pen just in time for more rains to come.  Ate apple pie in the field.  Best day ever.'  'Baby was born in the middle of the night.  Healthy and fat little guy.  Wife sleeping.  Doc didn't show.  No fee for him.'

Saving a few sentimental articles of clothing happened.  Some hang in the closet, some folded in drawers and cedar chest.  My wedding dress is in a cedar chest.  She comes out to play once in a while.  I wore her at two style shows when I could still fit into her.  I felt like a Princess on my wedding day.  This was the most expensive dress I ever wore or owned.  Shoes to match that still have grass stains on them from the field we were married in.  Dried wedding bouquet of flowers where the lilac ribbon is still attached.  Sugar doves from the cake stay in a glass box to look at when the spirit moves me.  Napkins and wedding invites with wedding rice in bags.  Pictures.  Garter.  My wedding vows spoken before God and witnesses are in my mind, my heart, my memory bank and a marriage license stays put in a book.  

Back to downsizing and streamlining.  A time well spent.  One day, I just know I'll be where I'm suppose to be.  

Well maybe.  Thinking positive.
d

The Glory of Graduating

Dolled up with a pretty hair do, fancy nails 

and a formal that she bought herself, 

she smiled BIG TIME.

HAPPY to see her GRADUATE 

and become a HIGH SCHOOLER. 

 VERY PROUD of her.
This kind of moment only comes once in a lifetime.
It was a sweet pleasure to witness this first hand.

LOVE MY GRANDCHILDREN,

granny d nanny

Denim And Rhinestones

Longtime LOVE affair with rhinestones.

Think I'll copy this look and call it good.
Who can go wrong with denim and rhinestones?

As I de-clutter my HOME something good 
is being birthed in me.
Manifesting.

Feels like a new birth of sorts.
What will this bring forth?

SHALL SEE.
Happy Week-end,
d