Mortgaged To The Hilt And Then What

YESTERDAY was a milestone for us as a couple.  We paid off our retirement cottage.  Still can't believe this happened.  TIS SOAKING IN....we paid off our cottage.  Praise God.  We paid off this mortgage.  

No house payment...RETIREMENT COTTAGE is small, but we have such plans to doll her up.  She's ours lock, stock and barrel!  It is a sweet thought that puts a smile on my face.  WARMS MY HEART WITH CONTENTMENT.

With moving so many times, we had mortgages and rent payments over 42 years of marriage.  We always had a roof over our heads.  Some roofs were bigger than others.  Some cost more to have over our heads.

This cottage roof is small, but still a roof.  Over the years I have no idea what the tally is that we paid on house payments or rent.  If I figured it up I think I would be sick.  When you have a mortgage you still are renting from the financial institution in a way.

Back in the day when I was young and we were just starting out I thought the day would never come that we would have a house of our own.  My thoughts were in the way that thinking having a mortgage we owed the house.  We didn't own.  We were mortgaged.  Even businesses refer to you own your home when mortgaged.  It's not truthful.  You own a mortgage.  You're a servant to the lender.  A HOME is different.  HOME is what I embrace everywhere I have lived.

A HOME is what you have all the time even if you have a mortgage, rent, or live with others without paying anything.  A HOME is where you hang your hat.  HOME is where you live and live life.  We have owned our HOME the entire time we were married and entered into a HOLY UNION back in 1974.  

We had a mortgage most of the time and paid payments with interest to the financial institution.  They made plenty as we struggled to make payments.  We made the payments and yesterday was one for the BOOKS.  We paid off our mortgage.

This is a dream of mine that has come to fruition.  I hope we can stay in this state for a very long time.  Shall see how it goes.  

We celebrated by talking about this over a steak dinner during the LUNCH HOUR as Husband went back to work and I SHOPPED.  It was Senior Discount Day at GOODWILL with 50% off on PINK tagged items.  I found a couple of items with pink tags and took advantage of being over the hill in age because I am a SENIOR.  grins.

One suede blouse which I liked was selected to go HOME with me.  Priced just right.  Also picked up two cute purses for little of nothing.  One of these purses I'm going to check the internet because I am not familiar with this brand.  She looks like she once was an expensive bag that found her way as a cast off.  The adventure begins.  It's a entertaining game.  She's a very cute white handbag with red moire interior and gold chains.

I found a SANTA TEA POT that smiled at me and thought....okay this one is really nice and it's not even Christmas.  I am a SANTA FAN.  He's my hero.  Have you  ever thought about running a CHRISTMAS SHOPPE all year round?  I've been to a couple and think I could do this.  Not sure I'm suppose to, but I have sure thought about it.

My son worked at a shop for a time that was a CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND to the shopper all year round.  It was a place to disappear to for hours dreaming up how to decorate.  He was one lucky kid when he got called to set up a huge Christmas tree in a HOME.  He has the magical touch making branches flare out just so-so.  He did a beautiful job and the couple blessed him with a sizable tip.  He was a college student at the time so this cash gift was welcomed.

He flared out my CHRISTMAS TREE one year and I was amazed at how well our artificial tree stood.  She was a beauty.

My afternoon was pleasant as I went to several shops to price what certain frames cost.  My oversized graduation portraits of my children were smoked and stained so badly in our house fire that when they are returned the frames may be cleaned, but the portraits damaged beyond reason.  My dear Mom gave me her smaller pictures of the kids.  I went looking for fancier frames to use as I'll hang these portraits with pride once again, but they will be in our smaller HOME.  I'll be just as pleased to have these back up on the wall in our bedroom.

Frames for portraits and a frame for my Dad's Kansas flag also frames to display the quilt my Grandma made me that is completely falling apart.  I'll cut the quilt down and display it in the utility room.  I have a place picked out and I will LOVE seeing the quilt framed to display.

I'll wait to purchase these frames until I have coupons or the items are 50% off.  Same with skirt hangers I need to put 5 broom skirts on one hanger.  I have to find ways to make what space we do have go further.  Every little bit helps.  grins.

It was a misty raining day as it rained most of the day.  In the evening it continued to rain.  Through out the night it rained.  We have received moisture to water the flowers and everything else.  Skies remain grey and cloudy.  This is our SPRING.

I'm getting ideas about where flowers should go after they bloom and can be moved.  Our yard is noticeably smaller.  This will take some thinking and muscle to landscape with purpose.  Out front we have some tulips that have not bloomed yet and some irises.  If we plant some shrubs in front of the house then the flowers will have to be moved again making the flower beds larger which makes them located further into the front yard.  There will have to be weed pulling and maintenance along the way.

Flowers along the sides of the house is one way to stretch the collection we have.  Then there is thought about putting up a backyard fence which means flowers could be planted along the sides of this fence.  Not all at once, but the flowers will be planted and we will have a nice, small backyard to enjoy.

TODAY is my darling Daughter's Birthday.  She turns 37.  WHAT A BUSY YEAR SHE HAS HAD.  She got engaged, married and became a step mom all in one swoop.  

Remembering well when she was born on a sunny, Saturday morning and I became the momma of three children.  I was one busy momma with these blessings.  Wished I had played more on the floor with them than I did.  We played, but I still wish I had done more of this as the time passes so quickly and they grow up right before my eyes.  Bedtime prayers and conversations.

WISDOM tells me to there are times to just be in slow-mo as the time vanishes before your eyes.  Learning can be entertaining and fun.  HUGS and more hugs.  Not so much on the go, but right at HOME fun and nothing to do but be.  Slowed way down to a crawl and enjoy the sound of laughter and little voices asking why.  Sitting on the sofa reading children's books and drawing circles to color in.  Playing music and doing a few chores to make HOME life a HOME.  Meals at the table and desserts outside.  Long family walks and family talks.  I miss it all even the dirty laundry.  It is truly a special time in LIFE to embrace and call on God to show the way.  

TODAY I will simply sit and think about my children.  I'll be praying birthday blessings on my daughter.  TODAY is a good day to sit and think about good memories and happy times.  Sit and think.  Sip some coffee and probably cry happy tears and I have been blessed to marry, make a home for my husband and children, birth children and have a part in raising them.  I have been blessed to be a woman that has been a wife and mom.  Homemaker and keeper of the HOME.  BLESSED.

NOT A CARE IN THE WORLD.  God is able to deal with all the details.  I cannot, but HE can.

As we continue to go through this fire recovery, it is a emotional work-out.  I am having to think about living in a different way.  My children are grown with families of their own.  I have this opportunity to change the interior of a house that we are calling RETIREMENT COTTAGE.  We are taking steps to prepare for my Husband to retire from employment.

Taking steps to lighten the load of belongings and streamline a simpler way to live and clean and take care of our old bodies that continue to age.  Vitamins and prayer.

Living below ones means isn't a nightmare.  It's a way to live while saving more money if possible and focus on a simpler lifestyle.

Time for a second cup of coffee,
d

Jibber Jabber and LIFE Goes On

Too many irons in the fire sort of speak with recovering from a house fire, squeezing into cottage, documenting damaged items, cleaning out a fully stacked garage, shopping for replacement furniture.  We're doing our best to get all that needs done finished.  WRAPPING IT UP.

Knowing to take time to just REST, sit, sip coffee, THINK WHAT MUST BE DONE, pray, get outside instead of being inside so much, relax.  BEING BALANCED requires being.

WE MADE AN EVENING OUT shopping for coffee pods.  grins.  Settled for Dunkin' Donut Coffee.  Decided to live a little by using our Keurig instead of coffee perculator while we gain our ground during recovering from home fire.  Having a quick cup of coffee without going through filling the coffee perculator and waiting is what we are doing for the time being.  LATER we may return to perking.  It's economical to perk.  Easier on the budget, but we decided we needed some pampering as we recover.  It's our medicine.

Still looking at furniture.  Huge decision to make concerning what type of sofa to get...a regular size or love seat size.  Still out to lunch on this one.  I know I want two comfortable matching chairs and a sofa.  Now to find the style and sizes.  REJOICE.  THIS SHOULD BE FUN.

Wardrobe downsized.  Adding to it as we go.  This is ongoing and should be enjoyable.  I hope to do some sewing after I get a new sewing machine.  I'd like to sew a quilt, some women's blouses and maybe matching shorts.  I may try to stitch a blue jean skirt as the one I had melted in the fire.  MELTED.  

The shoes that were saved that the cleaning company took have come back with curled labels inside the shoes.  Sigh.  I have to sniff them to see if they stink, try them on and go from there.  I have replaced two pairs of SHOES as I needed black pumps for my Dad's funeral service back in December.  I have also purchased black clogs.  With the weather warming up it's sandal time.  Inside I go barefooted, but not in public.

THIS WEEK, I'll continue clearing out the garage.  I found storage boxes needing wiped before placed in auto to transfer.  They'll go to our cottage cellar and placed on monster racks that HUBBY already took apart, transported to cellar and reassembled.  

A little here and a little there, we are making headway with completely relocating to the cottage.  I'm praying that God will bless me with more energy as I have so little.  Once again my thyroid meds were tweaked as I was on too high a dose having heart palps.  Very uncomfortable.  Feeling better after reducing dose.  Better.

I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY!!! I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY that it's April!  

We took a load of goodies to Topeka's Goodwill, ate supper at SAMs,  treated with a White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks then slowly returned HOME by route of a scenic drive.

Gorgeous scenery to see as the sun was setting.  Misty and colorful sky.  Scenery looked like we were elsewhere in the world as the part of Kansas I grew up in is not as scenic as the Flint Hills.  No camera.  Mistake to not bring camera when we are out and about.  If I could just sit and absorb the surroundings in the country I WOULD.

BREATH TAKING.  I cannot describe the beauty of the sun setting on the misty horizon of the Flint Hills.

MARCH has passed.  Tis raining and flowers blooming.  After working on the garage this past week-end, we made huge progress, but have a long ways to go in order to say she's completely cleaned out.  The backyard has items that need removed as well.

LAST WEEK, we walked through the rock house and said good-bye.  This is a ritual I have done when selling a house and leaving it for the last time.  I SAY GOOD-BYE HOUSE.    

We are able to say we no longer live at the corner of 4th Street and ILLINOIS.  The property belongs to another.  LAST FRIDAY we sold the shelled house to another.  Sold.  It is soaking in, but very slowly.  We sold our house that we loved so much.  

Husband and I went out to dinner at HARRY's as this is our favorite of favorites Restaurant to celebrate at.  

HARRY's

It was a very tamed celebration as we ate the best and sat for an hour and a half before we took a evening drive.  We keep telling each other that we sold the house.  We sold the house.  

House sold to another.

http://harrysmanhattan.com/

We will focus on our cottage and make it comfortable for two older people who want to retire and go at a different pace doing other things.  

I have mixed feelings as I loved our rock house and did a lot of living in this location.  Saddened, but relieved at the same time.  We will not have to rebuild or tear down the house.  She remains in this community waiting to be rebuilt by the hands of another.

For three months we waited to hear back from the Insurance company as they were figuring dollar amounts on the damage etc.

  I knew in my heart that I did not want to rebuild. 

To rebuild her would cost us twice as much as we received from the insurance company.  OUCH.  We are thinking with logical reasoning verses with the heart.  Not easy, but doable.



 I knew that I didn't have it in me to go through this as we have been working on the house close to ten years already.  I knew that we are too old to get another house loan that would take years to pay off if ever.  I know we need to retire.  

It is bitter sweet to say we sold the house.  

Bitter sweet.

The rock house has been emptied.
She's ready for her next phase to happen.  
We have moved into a tiny cottage that we affectionately named RETIREMENT COTTAGE.  
This is where we are living to recover from our house fire that damaged or destroyed everything in the house including the interior that we worked on for nearly ten years.  
It was devastating.

LIFE GOES ON AS I AM THE MAID.  I continue to launder the things that were returned to us.  Most of it has a strong chemical smell, so I have to wash items to see if the smell comes out.  A few pieces still smell of smoke and this doesn't wash out.  BYEBYE THESE GO TO THE TRASH after I write the item description and number down with a picture for insurance purposes.  I WILL REJOICE when this task is completed.  It's going to take a full year to document each item that I can and deal with insurance.

BLESSED to not get injured or killed from fire.  BLESSED.  We are piecing together our belongings that were taken for clean-up or repairs.  Pitching so much that was seriously damaged.  With time and healing, I believe it will be a different time of LIFE to enjoy and explore what God has for us as a couple in their 60s.

MONDAY is here.  APRIL will bring celebrations as our daughter turns 37, celebrates first year wedding anniversary, Mom turns 85 and Father-in-law turns 87.  SPRING will cause flowers to bloom and we will be closer to being settled into our cottage.  Kitchen designs are drawn and I will find ways to make our closet work for us for clothing, shoes and bedding.  In many ways I feel like a newlywed. 

THIS SPRING has to be a NEW BEGINNING in a NEW CHAPTER OF LIFE.  Has to be.

Pacing myself.  Taking time.  When I begin working on it, I am challenged with fatigue and emotional issues.  Taken by surprise that dealing with this destruction emotional strings are attached that get in the way of functioning.

I smiled when a storage tub was opened filled with EASTER DECORATIONS.  They are not damaged and I can use them in my new HOME.  Actually genuinely HAPPY that there are still nice things to decorate with.  HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

So thankful.

The two large metal racks on wheels in the dining room are nearly empty.  Took two weeks to empty.  SO HAPPY that this part is finished.  When the weather warms up, I have boxes to go through of items that were non-restorable.  More documenting and picture taking.  A deep sigh of relief will take place as this is concluded.

AS FOR FIXING UP RETIREMENT COTTAGE.....I continue to go back and forth on carpeting or laying hard wood floor.  It would work better for us if we laid wood flooring in one room at a time as to allow furniture to be moved out of one room at a time, laying floor then returning furniture onto a wood floor.  I thought I could always get nice area rugs to cover the brunt of the floors after the new floor were laid.  hum.

Get hard wood flooring, lay it and then get nice area rugs to use.  It is a big decision for me to know what to do.  Sigh.

'JUST DO IT'  comes to mind.  

Just do it,

d  

Old Fashioned Baloney Sandwiches To The Rescue

Small Town American BALONEY Sandwich

Finally made it to the Grocery Store that reopened.  If a small town girl can get excited over having a grocery store to shop at in small town america...then I am that girl.  It is a treat to have a Grocery Store once again.

This past week I heard that it is inappropriate to call women GIRLS.  I shook my head and said, "Honey, you gotta have a sense of humor.  PLEASE."

It's an affectionate term when my Husband calls me his girl.  So Hubby and his girl went to the newly opened Grocery store to pick up some items.  This was the first time I've been inside this building since the store closed I think 3 years ago or so.  SO glad she's baaaack.

We'll have a place CLOSE TO HOME to shop for fresh vegetables...if we do not have a garden ourselves.

'Life Just Got A Little Easier' SANDWICH

The bologna sandwich is a sandwich common in the United States and Canada. 

Also known as a baloney sandwich, it is traditionally made from pre-sliced bologna sausage between slices of white bread, along with various condiments, 

such as mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup.

The meat counter had been moved to the front of the store displaying an array of meats including tubed bologna.  I haven't had this old fashioned tubed bologna in decades.  Talked my Husband into having baloney sandwiches for supper with peppered chips and diet A&W Root Beer on ice.

FRESH at the Deli counter was a woman that sliced enough bologna for our sandwiches.  The tubed bologna is so much better than pre-packaged baloney.  SO MUCH BETTER.  You may not like this deli meat, but hey that's okay.  I do.  

'Life Just Got A Little Easier' SANDWICH.  I have to have EASY at times due to being exhausted or too busy to make a gourmet meal.  Soup and sandwiches plus a salad are my back-ups.  Then crockpot meals are nice.  I have been really BLESSED to have a HUSBAND that likes to cook which he says relaxes him.

Picked up items for 'Life Just Got A Little Easier' Pie.  Cherry caught my eye and so did the chocolate pie crust.  Should be a delicious dessert for tomorrow.  

Kool-Aid (any flavor you want), 

Sweetened Condensed Milk, 

Cool Whip, 

Graham Cracker Pie Crust = a delicious pie treat.

http://homehavenministry.blogspot.com/2010/06/life-just-got-little-easier-pie.html

http://homehavenministry.blogspot.com/2010/06/life-just-got-little-easier-pie.html

We walked out of the store with a little of this and a little of that.  Tis a good thing to have a Grocery Store, a Post Office and Court House with JAIL in small town america.  Our little town has a Car Wash, a Swimming Pool with Park and Picnic area, make that two Parks, Sports area and a Convenience Store.  

A Dollar General opened before Christmas, but we lost the Doctor which moved the practice to another community.  The Doctor's office was sold to another business.  We lost a Vet and one of the Restaurants closed which is a shame.  For now, it's a plus to have a Grocery Store.  

Several Schools, a Day Care, two Pop Machines in town....a Fire Station, Auto Parts Shop, a Coop, Dance Studio, a few Antiques Stores, a Newspaper Office, a couple of Banks, three Beauty Shops, a Community Ministry, some Churches, a Hardware Store that sells greeting cards.  I mustn't forget the Museum.  

A Bakery, two Plumbing and Heating Stores.  There's a Nursing Home.  Wished we had a Hospital and a Pharmacy.  Not too far out of town is a Organic Food Store and a Cheese Factory.  Not to mention a Food Plant and a dump.  

A City Building and Economics Development Office, Lawyer Offices.  A Fair Ground.  No clothing shops.  No Fabric  stores.  No car dealerships.  Plenty of rummage sales during the year and a on-line garage sale that continually sells treasures.  Making the best of it.

We live in a community that isn't too terribly far from other shopping.
  
This Grocery Store has the HONEY I like from Hillsboro, Kansas. Better than what I get at Wal-Mart.  Better.

BUSY BEE HONEY From HILLSBORO

https://www.facebook.com/barkmanhoney/



We left the Grocery Store with Bologna, Chips, Hillsboro Honey in a Bear, Kool-Aid, Shampoo, Conditioner, Q-tips, Bread, head of Lettuce, and as we got into line to check out I grabbed a bag of Bit-O-Honey off a rack.  Which is one of my favorite childhood candies.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bit-O-Honey

When I start remembering the small town businesses, my little town grew a tad.  If you have to walk the town by foot it grows even more.  Well, I'm glad we have bologna to say the least.  It saved the day and rescued a very tired and weary woman that doesn't mind being called a  girl.

Please pass the chips.  
They go great with bologna sandwiches,
d

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bologna_sandwich

~PARTYING WITH FOODIE FRIDAY~
http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2017/03/foodie-friday-and-everything-else_30.html

Thursday Thoughts and Difficult To Read

THURSDAY THOUGHTS.  Over the last 2 and a half years I have been researching, reading and studying about one world religion.  If today's churches are ecumenically friendly, they will fly with success dragging their newest victims behind them into a destructive arena where many are already there to greet them with a handshake and warm embrace.  

All is welcomed and there are no rules.  Just come,  be accepted and here's the kool-aid.  Drink it and be deceived, but in a happy way.  Choose the flavor you want....it all goes down the same way.  Tasty.  

Years ago I guzzled the kool-aid as if I were parched and ate the attractive desserts covered with thick frosting that covered the moldy contents waiting to be devoured before examining whose treat it was.  Easy to swallow and not difficult to digest once it got in my system.  In my efforts to stay out of a CULT I went head on directly into one.  The CULTure I willingly went into was attractive to me because I wanted more POWER so I wouldn't get hurt, wanted an easy way to get rich quick and wanted mentored by others that I thought were exceptional spiritual leaders.  

In reality after the dust settled, I was made aware that the highly admired leaders were wolves in sheep's clothing.  They wore their sheep's clothing ever so well.   

It was like someone punched me in my gut when I started having my eyes opened to all the deception that had been handed to me on a silver platter.  I had willingly allowed myself to be deceived.  I physically got ill to my stomach when I was educated on the way it is.  The agenda is out in the open and presented to the public in such a way that it appears as the truth, but isn't.

It has been a very different ride as I discover what I had taken as God's truth, but really was a satanic deception.  Doctrines of demons?  Something like that.  There was a strong delusion that I was willing to entertain.  It wasn't until I truly got hungry for God's truth that He began to show me the way.  I went looking for evidence.

A little here and a little there.  I will have to talk about this in a deliberately slow way as to not get overwhelmed.  When I put my thoughts in print, it takes some time to do so.

Unbelievably, I had THOUGHT that I was already set free from the word of faith movement years ago to finding out that I was still involved in it through conventionally conservative churches, denominational as well as non-denominational with resources linking to word of faith teachers and Luciferian doctrine.

I had swallowed the medicine sort of speak and was still receiving doses of wrong doctrine that have infiltrated many churches I believed were doing this Christian thing right.  

There's a strong dose of never receiving Christ as saviour.  Being told you're a child of God without the born again experience.  Conveniently leaving Christ out of the picture.  Anything goes and you don't have to.

Others may MENTION receiving Jesus as Lord then hand you a Bible translation that leaves out the born again scripture through Jesus or have removed scripture pertaining to Jesus being deity.  

They may go as far as to tell you to go back to the church you're attending already though it serves up wrong doctrine to where you will be in bondage to work teachings.

I'll stop here for now on this and switch gears to doing the laundry.
Wash me white as snow, Lord.
d


There's a paper pile in a basket that I must tend to today.  It hasn't gone unnoticed.  Just waiting for THURSDAY to tend to it.  Today's the day.

Yesterday, I mustard upped the courage to take my wedding dress out of the beautiful golden keepsake box.  Broke a thumb nail in a odd place that slowed me down.  The box is sealed so strongly that I couldn't get the open flaps to budge.  I'll try again tonight when Mr. Husband can assist me with handling the oversized box.  There's a viewing window on the front of this nice box, but I want to actually take the dress out and look it over.  If it is shrunk I will sigh and be saddened, but will have to convince myself that I should be contented to still have the garment.  

Going through the fire recovery items is time consuming.  Gotta be done.  This is my 2017 assignment.  

Making plans for what to get done and for what I hope we can get done.  It's going to take a while to get caught up on laundry as I wash additional items that were returned to us 5 months after the house fire.  5 months.  Now that's quite a lengthy amount of time to not have socks and underwear to wear if you were waiting on items to be returned.  grins.  

Fortunately we have replaced some of our undies and are doing just fine in the underwear department.

Not sure if I'll get to this today, but have unused material that I will have to wash.  It came back hanging on wire hangers under dry cleaner plastic bags.  Uncovering the fabric, finding the ID tag attached and cutting it off then taking material off hangers, and placing in laundry pile takes a little time to do.

The fabric has a slight chemical smell that I'd feel better about if it weren't there.

It is easy enough to place items in washing machine then dryer.  Easy enough.  Then will neatly fold or roll and place in a storage box for future projects.  

That's the plan and I had better stick to it,
d  

Puddles Of Pride

Grey skies are weeping moisture in the air as it rains dew drops.  Small puddles are forming in the neighbors yard.  Perfect for their chickens to peck a sip of refreshment.  The chicks have not clucked very much today as it is wet outside.  Even these chicks know to stay out of the rain.

Glancing out the window seeing the SPRING Robins jumping about in these newly formed puddles.  They are already dressed for SPRING.  Beautiful red breasted birds looking for gourmet worms to eat.  Very organic and healthy for them.

I was fortunate to sleep in this morning and felt refreshed as I woke to a grey day outside.  Coffee at my side.  Laundry is running in the utility room.  Soon fresh towels will be placed in the bathroom.  Folding towels today is a must as the stash has gone from much to none.  We all need our towels to wash faces and bodies as needed.

Grey and blue are the two colors I have selected when replacing towels.  I went through a green color phase at the rock house and I still like green, but blue and grey caught my attention as of late.  Which surprises me, but how wonderful to have this luxury of selecting decorating colors in whatever size of our living environment.

I don't have a decorating THEME.  I didn't get into the 'Mushrooms' theme nor 'Country Geese' over the years.  'Earth Tones' yes, I followed.  Then 'Victorian' some-what.  'Clean and Orderly' always.  What other themes have jumped out at you?  When Shabby Chic started I wrestled with the chippy paint after struggling to have nice traditional pieces of furniture.  I liked older, vintage items from way back.  My Father.in.law told me he didn't like these things because he grew up with them.  grins.  I think I see where he is coming from.  

This 'Country Farm House' look has taken the country by storm.  If you want to mix and match all the better.  Anything goes including mixing patterns and surfaces.  There are some things I like about the Farm House look.  More casual less formal.  

Do you suppose it's such a popular decorating style because it's more hands on and not just for looking at??? 
   

                                                                                                                                                  Please do not let the children stand on their heads on my furniture.  I cannot stand for it.  Miss Manners here and PROUD OF IT.  Sorry FOLKS.  The white sofas will not stay white for long even with scotch guard treated furniture.

FARM HOUSE LOOK.  A more laid back way of decorating in anything goes motif.  If you like it that's fine.  If this is the way you want to decorate your personal space then that's really your decision.  You don't answer to me nor should you.

Still I like things from the 50s and beyond.  Also like the conveniences we have in our modern day like running water, electricity and modern appliances.  

AFTER we had moved into our 1885 rock house, I took an interest in that TIME ERA.  This is not the only time era I like.  I'm a decorating mutt.  I like this and I like that.  Appreciate this style and that style.  Some rooms are more formal then others. Some casual.  Please don't track mud into the house and were you born in a barn...close the door behind you kind of gal.

I am still a modern woman enjoying modern conveniences, but have had an interest in the Amish People for years.  Still I did not convert to their way of LIFE.  It wasn't until I watched a television program about a year and a half ago that I fully understood that because someone is AMISH that they may not know CHRIST even though I had thought they were a Christian people.  This program was about a young Amish couple who got saved after being born again.  They were secretive about their conversion even amongst their church family as the sermons were in German and the Bibles they used were in German print where the older members of their culture did the reading and interpretations for the younger people who did not read German.

It was an awakening to know that this couple had been born again through Christ their Savior.  Before they believed like the others that it was through good works that made one clean enough to go to heaven after death.  Through works.  Many religions and people believe that if you're a good person then you are good enough for heaven.  Also that in order to be a good person, you were to do good works which makes them good enough to qualify as a good person.  Their beliefs have no mention of CHRIST having done the finished work on the cross to save another's soul.  Nothing about believing in Jesus as one's personal saviour.  Nothing.  JUST good works.  

The young couple that were actual converts of Christ met with other born again Amish in secrecy.  If the older people knew that that they were actually born again, then the older ones shunned the true believers. 

Perhaps it's the thought of not having so many conveniences that gave me hope and admiration for the Amish people.  Their work ethic flickered a spark in me that there are people who still honor hard work.  Perhaps it is in admiring that they make so much of their own items that I admire them.  Perhaps it is the idea that we do not need all the debt to have things in order to live a very good life.  It's definitely not an easier LIFE to do without much modern conveniences.  Much hard work, sweat, dedication and muscle goes into their LIFESTYLE.  

There are times, I know that I have had advantages over third world communities.  I am blessed to have a roof over my head, clothing on my back, grooming supplies, food, running water and lights at night.  Comfortable bedding and utilities.  We are not without.  I am BLESSED to be a homebody.

The quality of LIFE here in small town america is in the comfort zone.  I have many thanks of appreciation for my Husband who has worked to provide finances for us so we can exchange the monies for the necessities we need.  I am blessed and appreciative to be who I am as a Keeper of the HOME.  A HOUSEWIFE and Stay-At-Home woman.  I am fortunate that I can do what I do.  Worship the way I do.  Come and go as I will.  

I need to go to the store and get a new plastic storage box to put my small plush toys in for safe keeping.  For now they will go to the Guest room where I'll have to decide what I want to do with all of this.  I don't see me keeping so much of anything as I continue to downsize for retirement.  Letting go isn't as easy as one would think.  Letting go....perhaps I ought to put a 'FROZEN' wig on and start singing, LET IT GO.  Dancing around like a little girl....dancing like no one is watching.  'CAUSE no one is.  grins.  

The delights of being HOME ALONE is cherished.  I can just be me and no one else.

Welp....if you'll excuse me I will put some music on and dump the clean towels on my bed to start folding.  

AND away I go,
d

Kitchen Research

TODAY I took time to research Kitchen design as I surfed the net.  My little Kitchen here at RETIREMENT COTTAGE is not large, but larger than our previous one.  We have hopes of making our new Kitchen more modern than what it is now.  My dear Husband has already drawn up Kitchen designs for our Kitchen here.  

We had planned on having WHITE cabinets until I saw grey.
After seeing soft grey Kitchen cabinets and white subway tile along with stainless steel appliances, I stared for the longest time.  Do I like this?  Yes....I think I do.

So, I may have some more THINKING to do.  Do I want white cabinets or grey?  

Thinking is good,
d  

FLOYD's GRACE

Very relaxing week-end I endured.  As this week progresses I hope to as well.  Made headway on inspecting the textiles that were returned from fire recovery.  The metal racks on wheels have been a godsend.  VERY HELPFUL.  

Almost finished with the inspection of textiles returned to us.  Today I have been washing items that I plan to keep that have that chemical smell to them.  So my helpful utility appliances are working over time as I do laundry.  I am so very thankful for working appliances.  THANKFUL.  THANKFUL.  THANKFUL.  

If I can muster up the courage to unbox my wedding dress, I will take the gown out to see if it shrunk from the chemicals that are used to clean clothing after a fire.  I wish I had just taken my gown with me when I showed the people that were picking textiles up for fire recovery.  I wish.  It was returned to me in a beautiful wedding dress box.  Very nice for a KEEPSAKE.  Hope she is in good shape.  If she has shrunk I will still have the garment.  Will be saddened in a way, but thankful in another.  

~A BEAR NAMED GRACE~

Today I will continue to go through some of the boxes that were returned.  There are a few plush toys that survived.  I have them sitting on the table beside me giving them a glance from time to time.  A bear named GRACE was saved.  

~FLOYD~

How appropriate... a bear named GRACE.  She survived.  No smoke stains on her.  Floyd sits beside her.  They're a couple now.  Floyd's Grace is beautiful.  THANKFUL these characters don't smell of SMOKE or CHEMICALS.

MY TEDDY BEAR GRACE WAS SAVED FROM THE FIRE.  I'M GLAD TO HAVE HER.  THIS GRACE CANNOT SAVE ANYONES SOUL, BUT I LOVE HER NAME.  WE CAN BE SAVED BY GOD's GRACE THROUGH GOD's ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, JESUS, WHEN WE RECEIVE HIM AS OUR PERSONAL SAVIOR.  I LOVE THE LORD AND AS IT SOAKS INTO MY SOUL THAT GOD LOVES ME AND SAVED ME THROUGH HIS GRACE, I AM DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE.  FOR IT IS BY NO OTHER THAT WE ARE SAVED THAN BY THE LORD JESUS.  A BLESSING TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH THIS SPIRITUAL REBIRTH.  LET THE WIND BLOW INTO YOUR LIFE.


It's going to be a long haul recovering from so much loss.  I am very BLESSED to be able to rest through-out the day at HOME.  My dear Husband had to return to work right after our fire and it has taken a toll on him.  PRAYING for strength.  My Father's illness and death along with his Mother's death are difficult enough. 

A QUILT SQUARE that my Mother had pieced together was not saved.  We still received it as this is the practice the company does.  They'll clean it if possible and return it to us cleaned.  If it cannot be cleaned, they return it to us as well and it is up to us to pitch it or keep it.

The square was not cleaned and we threw it away, but after I thought about trying to clean it myself, it had to be found in the trash bag we had thrown it away in.

Now my DEAR HUSBAND went searching for the quilt square after I said I wish I had tried to SAVE the square first.  HE FOUND IT.  HUGS to him.  HUGS.  I believe it will wash up alright and then I can still have something my Mother had given me.  So much of what Mom gave me was destroyed in the fire.

When sentimental things are destroyed it's harder to rejoice.  More difficult.

I think recovering from our fire will take a full year with emotional residue to deal with as time passes.

My dear friend Sherry told me that after one of her Uncles went through a fire that he went insane.  The dear man went insane.  Another cousin told me that after her Father-in-law went through a tornado, he never got over it and died.

I am in hopes that we will recover as best we can and continue on in this journey called LIFE.  Things fall apart and age right along with people.  This fire has been devastating.  I am working at willing a attitude that doesn't defeat me, but makes me see LIFE through different eyes.  Get involved with making NEW things to fill the void made by loss.  It won't be the same, but it might be even better.  PRAISE GOD we are not burn victims, there were no deaths.  PRAISE GOD we have an opportunity to LIVE awhile longer on earth. 

WHAT WILL I DO WITH THIS TIME?  I continue to age as we all do.  There are issues with fatigue and strength.  Health challenges, etc.  LIFE goes on and I must as well.

BLESSINGS,
d 

Purse, Compact and POWER

Hi.
I had a really nice week.  IMAX was in the forecast.  This was my first time to experience the jumbo movie screen and sound that caused me to jump.  SOUND can do that.  INFRASONIC sound transducers are sometimes used by Churches and at conferences.

This is the kind of SOUND you feel, but cannot hear.  Read that Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn use these.  Should this cause alarm?  I think so.  Infrasonic sound can cause one to cry when you are not expecting to or creating emotions that make you feel really great.  Mistaking the ministry to make you in the audience feel something you wouldn't normally feel.  Creating emotions of what ever the ministry desires for you to feel.  SOUNDS dishonest to me.  I sense this is the truth. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrasound

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/elephant/cyclotis/language/infrasound.html

CRANK 'EM UP just in time to assist the audience to want to buy the ministries materials that make life better, but especially better for the one selling the items.  What else can they do?  Mark Twain experienced Tesla's infrasonic sound to where it caused him to pass body waste without trying.  Didn't Twain wear white suits?  Oops.  He soiled his white suit. 

http://historybuff.com/mark-twain-and-nikola-tesla-were-buds-y65xDmZNq2XJ

I do recall hearing Joyce Meyer tell her audience first hand that she always prayed that angels would help DIRECT people to the books they should buy.  I heard her say this in person.  ANGELs, huh.  In my opinion they would be infrasonic aided angels.  Not to be sarcastic, but.....

Can infrasonic sound come across radio frequencies to where when you're listening to oh, I don't know...maybe Joel Osteen...to where you start feeling happy while listening to Joel give words of encouragement?  Can the happy vibes come across the television as well?  Anywhere there is sound???  Do I SOUND like a conspiracy theorist???  I do.  BUT I know I'm onto something that makes sense.  

Not to go off on a rabbit trail here as I sometimes just go with the flow and may end up saying things that don't pertain to how I started out.  Forgive me.  I iz human.  All girl.

Back to IMAX.  I sat in the middle of the theatre and felt like I was transported to another world watching BEAUTY and THE BEAST.  Overall I liked the show, the songs, the scenery, the story.

IMAX's screen is in the neighborhood of 40' tall.  I don't know what sound system they're
using, but it was loud.  Okay.  I heard that SOUND.  I am old and getting older by the minute.

THIS WEEK I found myself going through the fire recovery items on the racks.  I remove a plastic dry cleaner bag off of the items on hangers, SNIFF the item, remove from hanger, take the green numbered tag off the item that's attached by plastic stubs then place item in a laundry pile.

If the item doesn't stink with smoke, it smells of chemicals.

I'm not as far along as I thought I'd, but it's not midnight yet either.  Tomorrow it will have been a week since this load of textile items were returned.  I managed to open the gold wedding gown box to look at my dress, but haven't taken it out of the box yet to see if it shrunk.  This week I will.  I decided that I was going to take care of the hanging items first.  There are some cardboard boxes to go through as well.

Some of my plush toys have returned just fine.  I have to go through some of the dolls this week.  Take a deep breath and perhaps these will be just fine.

Birds are chirping outside.  The ceiling fan is running and Husband is taking a nap.  This is my time to escape to the tub to soak.  Reviving relaxation.  A load of laundry is running on this beautiful Sunday.  The start of washing the articles that have returned has begun.  

I made a pile of knitted items, a pile of aprons, a pile of shirts and skirts.  Neckties went into a tub where Husband will pick out the ties he'll keep.  The others will go into the sunset.  I need to find my scissors so I can snip the tags off the items.  This would speed this task up.  I'd like to be finished with this challenge.

I did purchase a set of white Simply Shabby Chic sheets like the ones that were destroyed in the house fire.  I like them so much that I wanted to replace these before they stop making this particular style.

I'll need to launder these this week.  I may hang these on the clothes line to dry taking in fresh air to where the wind irons out the wrinkles.  Putting nature to work for me is very economical.  PRACTICAL. 

Found a lavender colored purse at the THRIFT SHOP for SPRING weather.  Like her a lot.  Downsizing my handbag once again.  It's a mystery to me how the purses I carry start out light then as the days pass they gain weight.  Must be hypothyroidism in the purse department.  NOT FUN.

Way to go!
d