LAKE WABAUNSEE WEDNESDAY

GOT UP REALLY EARLY TO TAKE A SHOWER and get ready for the day.  A busy day ahead.  I was willing to go.  Drove over to Manhattan for labs and Prevnar shot.  Arrived early to the DOCtor's office and while waiting did some office work in the car.  My MOBILE OFFICE or office on wheels.  Wrote out a medical bill and Mortgage payment.

As we waited in the lobby, we started talking about the very first piece of furniture we bought.  It was a solid wood chest for $80.oo.  Which was a lot of money for two newly weds that had very little income.  

I said it was less money than what I just paid on the medical bill today.  $96.93. My goodness times have changed.  I'd rather buy a piece of furniture than always be paying medical bills.  Medicare did not pay the entire amount for my WELCOME TO MEDICARE PHYSICAL.  Well, how do you do.

Hubby and I both had labs and the technician was very good at her job.  Then we waited for the shot nurse to call our names.  After getting the Prevnar shot, I started getting tired.  I asked if the nurse would weigh me.  Of course.  

I was weighed and thrilled that I had lost weight!  Still have a long ways to go.  It's an adventure and a journey.  Not a sprint, but a marathon which I need to enjoy the journey.  Now to wait for the A1c results.  

Afterwards we picked up a Protein Box from Starbucks, paid our mortgage payment, ate at the Park and dropped off a load at Goodwill.  By this time I needed a bathroom break.  I was looking at the goods on my way toward the bathroom only to have Hubby tell me that the bathroom was locked and there was a line.

OUCH.  Quickly I browsed the goods and made a quick decision to purchase 4 white square Better Homes and Gardens plates that will coordinate with my every day white dishes and a oil painting that we will gesso over the canvas and oil paint something else on it.  A very economically way to get a canvas.  I really don't need more dishes at this time, but I have had a crush on square dishes for a while now and here they were.  Only 99 cents a plate.  We had a discount coupon with us.  Saved us money.

We drove HOME and that's when I fell asleep in my chair.  I took a LONG nap.  Too tired for even lunch.  Hubby went ahead and went to the COTTAGE and I slept.  Way too tired to go anymore.  He proceeded to plow up more of the flowerbeds.  When he came HOME, he had had a very productive day.

I told him I was hungry for Fried Chicken and he looked up a place at Lake Wabaunsee that just so happened to be having Fried Chicken on Wednesday.  We were going that direction to pick up Irises from a lady at Lake Wabaunsee.  

The drive over was gorgeous with gentle rolling hills and winding roads.  Thought the countryside was gorgeous.  Absolutely gorgeous.  These pictures do not do the scenery justice.

By the time we left her house, Wild Olives had 3 chicken wings left so it was salad for me with chicken pieces.

It was still very good and I was glad we ate supper out.  Will have to return earlier on a Wednesday for fried chicken.  

The drive around the Lake was lovely.  I could live there easily.  It was very relaxing to hear the birds singing in the trees and catch glimpse's of the lake.

I didn't work at the Cottage on Wednesday.  Better luck on Thursday.  I hope to be more energetic in the cool of the day.  The boxes of books are waiting just for me to handle them.  

I can handle this,

d

     

DOLLING UP THE COTTAGE

As I was thinning out papers, I came across this one I had torn out of a old magazine that caught my eye for how to crown the top of a window.  I liked this idea and think this is what we will do to DOLL UP the plain trim in our FOLK VICTORIAN 1900 COTTAGE.

TYPING LATE AT NIGHT...I am kind of tired.  I spent the majority of the day over at the COTTAGE going through boxes and boxes.  Again HUBBY spent the day outside plowing up the ground for future flowerbeds.  The day wasn't too terribly HOT.  Much needed break from the heat.  We are getting a little break in the temps until Saturday when it will get HOT again. 

I had it made in the shade as the inside of the COTTAGE wasn't hot.  Once again I was BLESSED to make headway.  If I can put in more hours this week, the little Master Bedroom will be cleared of BOXES!!!!  That makes my heart sing.  Then I will thoroughly clean the bedroom windows including the storm windows.  That will take some muscle as they are filthy.  Will use a tooth brush to help scrub the dirt and grime from the storm window's metal frame.  They have been neglected for I don't know how long.  A good scrub will BLESS the COTTAGE.  

From there I'll move to the next bedroom clearing out the entire room.  There's a French Provincial chest of drawers and a dresser that I will move into the Master Bedroom as it is closer to the front of the house to get the furniture completely out of the house.  

The Master Bedroom will become the staging place to gather and group the furniture that will need to be turned loose of in this COTTAGE that has been used as a warehouse the last couple of years.  We turned loose of a queen size mattress and box springs a couple of weeks ago and the GE Electric range that we put by the curb last Thursday was picked up.  I was glad to see these go away.   

Besides clearing the COTTAGE out and making flowerbeds, our first big project is gutting the bathroom.  I have most of the decorating done in my head.  After Hubby gets the flowerbeds plowed up and the Irises planted then he will return to gutting the bathroom.  I will help when I can by being his sidekick and GO-pher.  

Lord willing by the end of August, all the boxes in the COTTAGE will be gone through, the new flowerbeds will be full of Irises and completed in time for Fall.  The bathroom fully gutted.  

On Tuesday, as I was going through the boxes, I discovered a lot of books.  ugh.  Now what do I do with them?  I think Goodwill, or God's Storehouse will receive a donation from me by the end of the week in addition to a couple of full boxes that will go on Wednesday.  I'll keep perhaps a third of the books.  I get a little weak in the knees thinking about saying good-bye to my books.  

I-LOVE-ME- BOOKS.  

Tomorrow as I go through these books, I will make a keep pile and a turn loose pile.  The turn loose pile had better be huge compared to the other pile.  I wish it were already done.  

I try to imagine us living in the COTTAGE and we have to do a MAJOR DOWNSIZING to be able to fit.  There will be a floor to ceiling book shelf built in the Master Bedroom for family photos, a few dolls and books.  BUT FIRST, the bathroom has to be up and going.  Then we will move onto the front porch.  In between what I can do to help my Hubby and what I can do inside of the COTTAGE, I will be painting some of the rooms and gathering more ideas to DOLL UP the COTTAGE. 

Like this one with Ball and Stick flower boxes.  I want to do this in the Utility room that has two windows.  These will hold some plants that will get some much needed sunshine. 

Adding charm to the Utility Room.  

Something has gone haywire on turning my images or I'd show you a better picture.  I cannot get it to turn the correct direction.  Not sure why.  Oh well.

I have a LAB APPOINTMENT THIS WEEK.  I'll be glad to get this out of the way.  Knowing where my A1c is will ease my mind some.  Then I have to get right back to dieting and add some walking into the agenda.

OKAY.  When I took an Interior Design Course way back in the day when I was working toward my Associate of Arts Degree, our instructor encouraged us to collect pictures to help us get some ideas of what we wanted to do in the rooms we were going to decorate.  So I am doing that.  With all that needs done on the COTTAGE, I see a year passing by before we are where we need to be to live comfortably in it.  The weight I need to lose will take a solid year to get off of me.  I have to stay driven to get these things done.

When I read how other women took weight off and how they did it, I get inspired to do this thing. I have to cut way back on the carbs, avoid sweets and drink plenty of spring water.  I will be returning to eating a larger variety of vegetables and fruits.  Cut back on the meat, add nuts and legumes.  

This Grapefruit Diet has caused me to get...how do I politely say in hushed tones constipated.  I think my body is missing the fiber I was getting from eating popcorn.

Sooooooo I will tweak this diet.  OKAY, I tried.  I put 10 days into this Grapefruit Diet/Mayo Clinic Diet and what happened...I got constipated.   I think I will take a break from bacon and eggs for Breakfast and drink V8 again.  Stick with lunch time salads and a supper of a meat selection and steamed veggies.  Stay away from snacks except evening popcorn.  

THERE I DID IT!!!!  Turned the image.  

Onward my dears,

d👵

PRODUCTIVE DAY AND IN HOPES OF HAVING MORE DAYS OF GETTING THINGS DONE

SURPRISED MYSELF at the crack of dawn.  Woke up with my hubby kissing me on the forehead.  A very gentle way to wake up.  He was going jogging.  Yes, my 66 year old Husband has been jogging and he is liking it more and more each day.

The beautiful thing about this is...the lymph node in his neck that has been bothering him for about 10 years has stopped hurting and has shrunk!  This is the way we want to go.  He canceled surgery to remove this lymph node in the neck after giving it much thought and now he is jogging.

We are starting to scare myself.  Just who are we these days?  A couple of older people in their 60s.  I never thought that 65 was elderly before.  To me 80 is elderly, but the experts say that 65 is elderly.  I beg your pardon.  I must put myself in gear and work faster than I have been to get much accomplished before Winter blows into town.  AUGUST is here and that means that we are entertaining the 8th month of the year.  Year's half over!  

YESTERDAY, we went back over to the COTTAGE to work on everything.  Hubby plowed up the first flower bed in the backyard along the sidewalk.  This is where the grape scented purple Heirloom Irises will be planted.  He made huge progress.  He believes he'll have this bed ready to add nutrients in a few days.  

Another long bed will be plowed up later in the week along where a fence will go in the near future.  A variety of colors will go here.  Then the flowerbed along side the house will be created. We have many Irises to dig up and transfer to the small yard.

Saturday, we purchased 75 more bulbs at the KSU GARDEN IRIS SOCIETY SALE.  The Irises have become our passion.

As Hubby was plowing up the backyard soil, I was plowing through boxes in the Master Bedroom.  I made progress and I think I could have continued working into the evening, but we were hungry.  So we stopped working, cooled off and headed out the door to get supper on the run.

Some surprises in the boxes.  I was pleasantly surprised to find a pretty ring that I had forgotten I even had, a $20 bill stuck in a cubby of one of my old purses, artwork of my children's when they were young kids, baby clothes of lil miss, some Fair and Sports ribbons from my childhood, some old jewelry, doll clothing for my baby dolls when I was a child, a white ceramic pitcher that was made in 1967, some porcelain pieces that I will display when we finally make the transition from big house to cottage.  

I lost count of how many boxes I went through.  Just know it felt great to make headway. Decluttering made for another donation box to deliver when it is full.

One box had vintage material in it that I purchased when I was about 31 years old.  I am now 66. It was old when I bought it.  I still don't know what I'm going to do with it.  Maybe I could sew a long skirt, a jacket or drapes.  For now I should hang the fabric in the closet.  

I started a box to bring HOME with me full of important papers and pictures.  I need to file them. More paper of all things. 

I had to sit a few times as I overheated and needed to rest.  As I sat, I could imagine the COTTAGE all cleaned up and remodeled like I want.  Lots of whites, light grays and wood floors in the Dining room and Living room.  Carpet in the two bedrooms.  Tile in the Bathroom, walk-in closet and Utility room.  Not sure about the Kitchen yet.  Either wood floor or tile.  

I hope to return to the COTTAGE and sort through some old books, and more boxes.  It's unreal how much there is to go through.  After our 2016 house fire, we were busy getting a different home set up.  So our time and energy was taken.  Enough time has passed now that I am not an emotional wreck going through what needs to be dealt with.  It's just that there are so many boxes to still go through.  

After the fire, I think I was in shock.  Then my Dad had a stroke and died.  About a month later my Mother.in.law passed away while we were still waiting for Service Master to return to us what they could salvage.  We'd buy a house and continue with replacing what we could.  It's kind of hard to replace things not knowing what was coming back in good shape or not returned.  The LORD and my Husband helped me get back on my feet.

I remember after the fire that Service Master and another company that worked with textiles came into our home so fast and swooped down on things to take so they could charge the Insurance Company for trying to clean and repair as they'd get paid for the amount that they collected even if the things were in rough shape to get a large check from our Insurance Company.  So much that was damaged I thought I'd probably would not be replacing it, but the cleaning companies took the items away before I could throw the things away.  It made my head spin.

I remember that night after the fire, my Husband climbed through an upstair bedroom window to retrieve my wedding ring that was in a special place.  I did not want the cleaners to get their hands on this ring.  The house stunk to high heavens. 

I am so thankful that we are 4 and a half years down the road.  A thing like a house fire can devastate a person.  We were so blessed that no one was burned, injured or killed from this thing.  Sometimes the scars come from trauma.     

As I go through these boxes, I must turn loose of more.  I need to remember that we cannot take any of this with us after we pass from this world.  This helps me to thin down papers that just aren't needed anymore.  Turn loose of magazines, books, clothing, toys, dishes, glassware, etc.  

Two very productive days in a row.  I'm on a roll.  Praise the LORD.  

I came across some magazine pages that I had torn out and had in a folder.  One of the pages was a picture of a window with decorative crown at the top of the window.  The window also had stick and ball decorative shelves that one could place indoors plants on so they would get enough light to nourish the plants needs.  I have two windows in the Utility room that I think would be great candidates for this.  This would add a lot of charm to my COTTAGE Utility room.  

Lord, Please give me the strength and will power to accomplish this task of decluttering and making HOME a better place with order and cleanliness.  IJNIPA.  In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

I phoned my Mom last night and she told me she got my Dad's walker out of storage and started using it to help her walk.  She has lost her stamina and strength as of late and not the steadiest on her feet.  She took a walk and I was glad to hear that she got some fresh air and exercise.

TURKEY is baking as I type.  I know it will be delicious!  After it finishes baking, I'll let it cool a bit or rest/sit as they say before carving it at midnight.  Heavens, it will be so good for tomorrow and the next few days.  

I usually fix turkey for Thanksgiving, Christmas and that's it, but I had a turkey in the freezer that I wanted to get used up so...there you have it.  Turkey in the Summer time.  I love turkey sandwiches.  I will have to get some bread and have one with mayo.  The turkey is low in fat.  The bread will need to be nutritious and the mayo, well I'll only use a little along with pepper and salt to add flavor.  

Gobble gobble.  Turkey is one meat that I think we need to eat not only for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but all through the year.  Yes, indeed, all through the year. 

Some peeps have Christmas in July.  I think next year I ought to have Christmas in July and fix a turkey on the 25th.  How great is that?  Maybe even play Christmas music.  

 

Blessings to you and yours,

d

PRODUCTIVE WEEK-END

I had a very productive week-end.  Very productive.  That's a great way to be when after so much of what I'd call down time has taken place.  August 1st arrived with a little cooler temperature, but heavy on the humidity.  This week it's predicted to be somewhat cooler than in the 90s.  Perfect weather to plow up ground for future flower beds over at the COTTAGE across the river.  

Determined to make headway on going through a multitude of storage boxes at the COTTAGE. Also Upstairs in what I call the Victorian room, I sorted through things I cleared out of the linen closet that isn't used for linens.  A huge assortment of grooming supplies and odds 'n ins.  I started gathering the items that have not been used for about a year and placing them in a big plastic bag that once held a blanket or bedspread, that I'll turn loose of.

I have some older bedsheets and pillowcases that I will find a different home for them.  It is alright to have a couple of spares on hand.  AND I do.  So I need to thin out these oldies.  My mind races as to how did I ever get so disorganized and behind.  BOLDLY BEHIND.  Then I have to remind myself that it hasn't been too many months ago that I could not walk because of my feet aching so or stand more than 10 minutes due to back pain that flared up.

I feel like I have been spinning my wheels and now I need and want to do something else like sew a quilt, write a book, take a walk, garden, paint.  

Everyday I need to make huge progress on tidying up this house, going through our belongings and figure out what I need to accomplish fixing up the COTTAGE.  Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to empty several big boxes making a dent in the Master Bedroom.  Pitching some of the stuff and making a pile to take to GOODWILL.  Off I went to drop off a donation.

That felt good.

I feel an urgency in my spirit to make quick work about this.  Life is too short to be in limbo.  So the stuff is going away and I have peace about this.  Quickly.  Get.  This.  Done.  

Yesterday, I didn't go to church.  Instead I stayed HOME and meditated on scripture.  This gave me peace.  I worked on thinning out the papers in baskets beside my recliner.  It amazes me how quickly this area becomes a messy mess.  I made headway!  Have a couple more hours of work to do on this.  

Having papers filed and not having so much paper has to be a reality.

The upstairs bathroom was tweaked a little along with the Victorian room.  The messes took over and I let it happen.  I could hang my head in shame, but what good would that do?  The past is the past...the present is a present we can give ourselves.  The future holds the unknown.  With less clutter about me, I will feel better. 

I watched some more videos about the KonMari Method.  I believe I will continue to fold t-shirts and jeans, maybe fold some socks the KonMari Way.  Being super neat has it's benefits, but I don't think I will thank the house for protecting me.  I will THANK GOD for that and not an object like a house.  If I KonMari the entire house, I'd have a very nice set-up.  Using all the space as best as possible, the COTTAGE will require this as it is extremely tiny.

I am doing a lot of thinking about what to turn loose of and what to put in the COTTAGE.  After my favorite cousin died, I believe I need to work quicker than I have to getting the COTTAGE fixed up, doing repairs on our big house and get use to idea of having much order, disposing of old papers, downsize my wardrobe, have order, order, order to make a comfortable living space for two adults in their 60s heading toward 70, Lord willing.  Denice's death has seriously affected me.  I knew I needed to thin much out, but now I know I must do so.  

I played a game of checkers with my hubby.  It was a close game, but I won!  I got a kick out of that.  We haven't played checkers or other board games in like... forever.  It was actually fun.

A load of bluejeans were washed and hung to dry outside.  Tomorrow I will try to get a couple of loads done as well.  

This evening, I will need to return upstairs and work some more in Victorian room so I continue to make progress.  Earlier my back  started to ache and that wasn't expected.  It has been doing better.  Maybe I just overdid it this weekend.

Time was spent studying up on decorating small victorian bathrooms so I can get some more ideas about colors and textures for our small bathroom.  Trying to make it as functional and pretty as I can.  The small walk in closet, I believe I just about have it figured out.  When we downsize to the cottage, I will not be using all three bedroom sets.  

Our Master bedroom has a Tallboy/Highboy that we bought at a thrift store a couple of years ago.  It was in rough shape as the legs needed serious repairs to it.  My talented Husband repaired it.  I hate to put it in storage or sell it so I came up with the idea to place it in the walk in closet.  I believe it will fit and become a very useful piece of furniture once again.  I have a general idea how I want the closet to look and function. 

We have been visiting about our future flower beds at the COTTAGE.  This week I hope the backyard will be worked on preparing for the Irises new location.  Hubby has drawn up some plans and I think he has a great plan for our future.

This week is the start of AUGUST 2021.  My plans are to reduce another 10 pounds.  A goal that I pray I achieve.  This week I will be having labs done to see where I am at with my A1c.  I have presently lost 29 pounds since April when I weighed a whopping **4 pounds.  I have deliberately been dieting all 4 months.  So when I step on the doctor's scales I am so hoping to have lost 30 pounds or more.

I have been following the GRAPEFRUIT DIET or the vintage Mayo Clinic Diet.  The newer modified Mayo Clinic Diet is a lot like Weight Watchers.  I'm making my way to finishing this first round of 12 days on and 2 days off.  When I hit the end of the 12th day and have 2 days off...I hope to not go hog wild thinking I can eat EVERYTHING and ANYTHING I WANT.  

I will have a couple of fruit smoothies, a chocolate chip cookie, and some popcorn!  That will be my splurge before beginning round two of 12 days on.  I'm not missing the bread, the coffee, the tea, or soda.  That seems like a huge accomplishment to me.  I do miss eating all the vegetables I want, and some fruit.  Sugar-free candy calls my name every once in a while.  Even with it being sugar-free, it has calories that I don't need.  umpf.  After round two, I will be close to half over toward the two and a half months of doing this food program.

SO August's goals are to continue with weight reduction.  (Go to Doctor's office and get weighed.  Have labs done.)

Paint the Dining room...this is a broken record.

Empty a multitude of storage boxes.

Donate to charities.

Celebrate my 47th Wedding Anniversary.

Five biggies.

HAPPY AUGUST!

d

   

Joining the PARTY:

https://familycorner.blogspot.com

COLOSSIANS 3:16

 

BEAUTIFUL, INFORMATIVE BIBLE SCRIPTURE.  

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another                                           in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,                                                                                                  singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Sunday Blessings today and always,

d