A COUPLE OF VICTORIES

THE FRIGID COLD WEATHER IS BACK.  
s h u c k s.  Reminding myself we are one day closer to SPRING.  We were out and about yesterday and have plans to stay warm at HOME today.  Had plans to go to TOPEKA today, but it's too cold and I have plenty to do at HOME.  

The twinkle lights are on.  I still have a lone NUT CRACKER out that plays music when there is a loud noise or a light hits it.  He'll stay out until the end of the month which will be here in a few days.  I'll leave the white candles out with some greenery until further notice.  

YESTERDAY, we went to Sugar Creek for a Rachel Salad then stopped by the coffee shop for a STEAMER.  Bought a winter sweater for 50% off at Florence Adams.  Was happy about my $10 purchase.    

                    

Oceanside Celadon Green in color and I think I'll enjoy wearing it as we inch our way to Spring.  I will donate some older sweaters stashed in my drawers that I don't need anymore.  

While shopping we skipped 37 PINE shoppe.  Stopped by FAMILY DOLLAR and did some price checking.

Driving in cold temps across the wintery PRAIRIE I would see the Flint Hills still full of LIFE as the dried out fields of browns and yellows are full of cattle leisurely grazing the gentle rolling hills.  One field was over taken with large birds feasting off the ground what ever they could find to peck at.  They see a gourmet meal across the fields when I do not.

These creatures have no intention of wintering in the south.  Perhaps they are contented to feed off the land right here in Kansas.  I know the cattle have no choice as they are fenced in, but the birds can fly high journeying to warmer climate.  Sometimes I wish I were a bird that wintered in the south far from the freezing temps of Kansas.  I'm going to have to visit with my husband and see if we can arrange some time in the warmer climates down south for a Winter next year.

From St. Mary's we went to our COTTAGE managing to take heavy boxes of paperwork inside to where I'll work on while hubby guts the bathroom.  I just need a antennae for the tele so I can tune into ME TV for free as I sit and sort the paperwork.  

I took a nap on the leather sofa which was the first nap I have had in a while.  Worked some.

THEN there was a VICTORY when my dear Hubby found in the garage the box that held most of my HALLMARK NOSTALGIA HOUSES AND SHOPS Christmas ornaments that I could not find before Christmas.  Elated!  There they were.  The mystery solved.  

I could not find these ornaments before CHRISTMAS when going through the CHRISTMAS DECOR in our basement.  Where could they be?  They had been in the COTTAGE garage for close to 5 years.  These boxes have been ignored as the emotional attachment was too great to go through earlier.  I know I am now mentally healthier and can go through more boxes that need attention.    

Boxes full of contents that Service Master cleaned, restored and returned to us after our 2016 house fire are still needing attention.  That sounds awful, but tis the truth.  We are still going through things.  

I went through the individual ornament boxes holding each ornament.  A funny happened if you can call it that.  Inside the ornament box that held the FIRE STATION ornament, I found smoke stains on the inside of the box.  The FIRE STATION had smoke stains.  Seemed appropriate.  

The boxed Christmas ornaments were inside a plastic storage box with a snug fitting lid on.  The house smoke made its way into the storage box that was holding the boxed ornaments and SMOKE still got inside to stain the interior of the ornament box.  Will wonders never cease?  

Everything that was in the house we lived in was molested or destroyed by this house fire.  Those that inspected our house after the fire said they had never seen damage like this before.  Only explanation we had was that the old rock house acted as a kiln having very old wood in it and when the high temps from the fire occurred it caused the lacquered wood to put off fumes and vapors where the smoke stained everything.

I'm still amazed that the smoke made it's way into the interior of storage boxes containing smaller closed boxes leaving stains.  Dumb founded.  

I will remove the original bubble wrap and tissue paper from the ornament boxes and use new to wrap the ornaments in.  While I do this I'll enjoy looking at each ornament's details and remember all the wonderful Christmases I had when my children were young.  

I started collecting these ornaments in 1984 or 85.  So I have a few.  I am relieved that Hubby found these misplaced ornaments.  I am ever so THANKFUL that no one was injured or killed when our house had the fire.  Yes, things can be replaced with other things, but people cannot.  If a person is injured it may be a life long injury with hellish results not to mention the agony.  Thankful for being alive and no one physically injured.  Looking at the ornaments, I can give thanks that we are of far more value and importance than a piece of plastic that Hallmark sold.  Pause.    

On with our day.  Stopped off at DOLLAR GENERAL where I did a little shopping.  On our way HOME, we were tired which helped to decide that our supper should be Cajun Grilled Salmon with broccoli and mashed garlic potatoes made at Applebees.  Off we went for supper.  We're suppose to have fish twice a week for health issues so this was a good excuse to go out for this meal.  It was actually very good.  I left feeling satisfied and ready to go to Target.  

I like shopping there.  I could have looked longer, but we were both tired and needing to go HOME to rest.  A little bit of a drive to make as well.  Found the antennae we needed though.  That put a smile on my face.  HAPPY we found one that will allow us to watch free television while at the COTTAGE.  Free TV.  

Made it HOME late and could tell the temps had significantly dropped even more.  Twas windy and oh so cold.  Ready to be inside where it was warm and cozy.

I had two VICTORIES yesterday.  Ornaments were found!  Solving the mystery of the missing village that had stumped my imagination as to where the ornaments could possibly be AND I found a name that I had been trying to remember for weeks now.  

I could not remember the name of this guy I discovered last year no matter how hard I tried so I could watch his videos and read his blog.  I'd been trying for weeks to remember his name.  Whaalaah...there was his name in a Amish Cook Book I came across.  I now was able to rewatch his decorating videos I had seen last year.

TODAY, I will stay HOME.  I want to polish up a TEA and COFFEE set I have.  Shuffle some items in the Living room.  Pitch a few items in the junk room.  TOMORROW is another day of forging ahead and making progress on LIFE.  

I weighed myself and I am making headway on the weight loss.  54 pounds lighter with having a ways to go.  I wish this weight loss was behind me... and not still on my behind amongst other body parts.  It's takes so much time to lose weight.

Changing HABITS is a struggle at times.  Sometimes there just enough will power to uphold this burden.  It passes.  Staying committed to a new way of doing things is difficult at times.  I have to cheer myself on.  Raw raw raw.  Sis boom bah.

        

It's a marathon and not a sprint.  Slowly it's coming off.  I cannot focus on food all the time, but need to be interested in eating nutritionally dense foods void of sugars.  I'm ignoring grains and dairy as best I can.  Unsweetened Almond milk for me these days when I do drink milk.

Learning news things when it comes to food and what to eat has been  a challenge for this old woman.  

TRIUMPHANTLY yours,

~d

     

BEAUTY IN SIMPLICITY

BEAUTIFUL SATURDAY WITH THE WEATHER BEING IN THE 50s!!!  

Oh happy day.  Not bitter cold.  We are suppose to have a few days where it is like this.  My spirits lifted.  The large Christmas tree is down, the greenery around the front doors is gone and the large metal basket I bought for $4 from the thrift store has been sprayed painted black.  Thinking about placing it beside the Fisher Cast Iron Fireplace Insert filled with wood branches.  

THE HUGE CHRISTMAS TREE IS DOWN BEFORE JANUARY 31st/FEBRUARY 1st.  Gone. Tucked away for another day.  Perhaps she'll come out next NOVEMBER in the COTTAGE.  I'll have room in front of the Dining room windows over there instead of here.  The beginning of a different journey as I decide how I want to change my decorating style to a more NATURAL LOOK.  Cleaner and not cluttered.  Easier to clean and easier on the eye which contributes to being less stressful.  

As of late, I have been watching videos to catch a glimmer of how so many minimalist decorate.  I really see a trend these days with the younger women wanting less clutter.  More pottery, wood objects, galvanized items, natural fibers, knitted items, glass, faux or real plants/twigs and farmhouse accessories.  I wonder if women are hungry for a simpler way of living?  So much noise out there in the world.  A more relaxed atmosphere in the HOME and less to clean.

I'm more inclined to relax right along with them with a different decorating theme.  I want a change in decorating as I am getting older.  A pleasant change.  Our culture's interior design has morphed into many different themes.  The word is out that it's alright to go simple.  Not complicated.  A challenge with me is to have less.  Let go and be changed.  Less is more is what I hear.

 

I had no trouble cleaning the wooden floor where the tree was for the Holidays.  The shutters were quickly dusted in under 5 minutes.  Upholstered wing chairs were scooted back into their old place.  Deciding to not return the Dumb Waiter table between the chairs for now.  Not sure where I will go with the table just yet.  It's a mystery.

PRINCESS IS GLAD TO BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION AGAIN.

THRIFT PILLOWS I BOUGHT BECAUSE OF THE BEAD WORK.

I'M NOT SURE MY DEAR SWEET HEART WOULD AGREE TO HAVE A LIVE PUG 
IN THE HOUSE SO PRINCESS WILL HAVE TO DO FOR NOW.

HOW MANY GROWN WOMEN DO YOU KNOW HAVE STUFFED TOYS FOR THEIR PETS?
THERE'S ONE ON THE PRAIRIE THAT I KNOW OF NAMED d.

SATURDAY is here.  A quiet pace has fallen upon me.  The main thing I am working on today, is getting the piles of paperwork off the floor that I have placed about my recliner.  Into a box they are going.  I have gone through papers until I am blue in the face.  I plan to haul these boxes to the COTTAGE to sort through as HUBBY works on the COTTAGE Bathroom.  

I will be just fine and comfortable doing the paperwork at the COTTAGE then when HUBBY needs an extra hand I can stop what I am doing and help him out.  That is my goal for next week. TODAY, I am prepping for the transition. 

I had hoped to get to the place where I feel comfortable painting primer on the Dining room walls.  I have to have the area around my recliner looking better before I can switch gears and paint.  I'll vacuum the area rugs after the paper mess is cleared out.  

The Christmas garland has disappeared about the front doors.  Our HOME is slowly returning back to pre-Christmas.  I have still to put away the NATIVITY PLATE and greenery that's on the Entryway buffet.  I'm in no hurry to put this away as I enjoy looking at it to remind me that the Lord Jesus did enter our world as a baby born in a manger wrapped in swaddling.  Mary is so pretty as she gazes at her infant son.    

The other Christmas tree that is at the other end of the Living room will stay up another week.  I love looking at the twinkling lights on this tree without any ornaments.  The WINTER WONDERLAND out in the screened-in porch won't vanish until March 1st.  Deliberately we are leaving the wonderland up to winter with us.  Then we will decide which of the eleven artificial trees we'll keep and which to part with.  

The two urns I have on the front porch didn't have any Christmas decor in them this past Christmas.  We just had greenery, twinkle lights and ribbon about the doors.  I came across a picture of urns that were topped with grapevine wreaths then pumpkins sat on top.  Loved it and wished I had done this for AUTUMN.  Next year I hope to remember and will copy this for the porch.  The COTTAGE has a covered porch on it that will be rebuilt when we get further down the road.  We're planning on having an ornate little porch which will have room for a couple of urns on it.  

I have one urn over there now that is empty.  I will fill it with potting soil and put the Coleus clippings I have that are ready to be potted.  I'll place the urn inside in the COTTAGE to winter and come Spring when the weather is warming up, I'll place the urn on the porch filled with Coleus. 

I've gone through a few old magazines before throwing them away.  I tore some pages out for now to keep some recipes I'll try.  Mom had given me an old REE DRUMMOND magazine and I took time to thumb through it.  She is a wonderful cook for sure.  I'll try her green bean recipe where she adds diced red peppers, onions and garlic to green beans.  The last batch of organic green beans we had were steamed and so delicious.  Adding the other ingredients would make the dish even more nutritional.  The more the merrier. 

I am very HaPPy about being on day 6 of the JACKIE KENNEDY/JACKIE O DIET.  Today has gone very well and tomorrow will be the same I hope.

Easy to eat 2 hard boiled eggs and drink hot tea for Breakfast.  I was actually looking forward to the Cottage Cheese and fruit for Lunch.  Supper will be a large salad.  Snack was...shhhhh.  2 pieces of dark chocolate sugar-free Hershey's bar.  It helped get me through the afternoon.  

While I was going through the paper work I came across some print outs of food that I had ate over the past year while I was counting calories.  I now know that even then I had to seriously cut the calories a few days a week to lose some weight.  One of my lowest calorie days was when I skipped Breakfast, ate 5 Bean Salad for Lunch and Organic Soup for Supper.  Snack was popcorn.  

I believe that I can do this again when needing a very low calorie day.

I stepped on the scales today and was surprised that I lost another pound.  My goal is to be quite a bit lighter at my April Physical than I was in April 2021.  I am hopeful I can do this.  I'd like to reach my goal weight by next Christmas.

Keeping it simple with the meals I am eating.  Decluttering my HOME.  Making plans for remodeling the COTTAGE and spruce up our main house.  

If I have less to take care of and surround myself with a different decorating style then I will be a happier person because I will have freed myself up to being ME.  She's in there some where and I am working at getting her set free to be a better person.

I believe it is God's better plan for me.  Jeremiah 29:11.

    

Blessings to you and may you have a sweet LIFE,

~d

  

JOINING THE FUN OVER AT:  https://familycorner.blogspot.com/2022/01/happy-homemaker-monday-01242022.html

WEATHER
CURRENTLY CLEAR 48 DEGREES WITH THE HIGHS AROUND 55.
THE LOWS 25.  A NICE DAY TO GET OUT AND ENJOY THE TEMPS BEFORE TAKING A DIP.

HOW I'M FEELING THIS MORNING

I FEEL GREAT THIS MORNING.  READY FOR THE DAY!

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE

ANOTHER JACKIE O BREAKFAST OF 2 EGGS THIS TIME POACHED INSTEAD OF HARD BOILED AND HOT TEA TO SIP ON AS I LOOK THROUGH PAPERWORK.

READING PILE

MORPHS INTO GOING THROUGH PAPERWORK.  STUDYING UP ON DIABETES INFO.

ON MY TV

OLD MOVIES.

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK

JACKIE O DIET FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.

SUPPER VARIES.  SALADS AND STEAMED VEGGIES FOR SURE AND A CHUNK OF MEAT.

FROM THE CAMERA

?

LOOKING AROUND THE HOUSE

MESSES EVERY WHERE.  VERY SLOW AT DEALING WITH THEM.

TO DO LIST

REARRANGING THE KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS.

SWITCHING OUT THE COFFEE/TEA DRAWERS.

RELOCATING PAPERWORK FROM MAIN HOUSE TO COTTAGE.

TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL

PROVERBS 24

1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

PEACE TO YOU AS YOU LIVE LIFE,

~d

REMODELING, PRODUCT REVIEW, JACKIE O DIET and STAYING WARM

OUR BEAUTIFUL VANITY WAS DELIVERED TO THE COTTAGE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. Impressively boxed.  It took some time unboxing it.  We checked her over and there was a small ding on the side of the cabinet.  We think we can repair this.  No chips, cracks or breakage to the Carrara marble top.  THINK WE'LL KEEP HER.  She'll remain in the box in the Kitchen until the Bathroom is finished out.  A step closer.

Our sweet COTTAGE will be remodeled to our liking.  We have MUCH to do.  Sigh.  I pray that I continue to get ambitious and encouraged to get 'er done.

The reality of remodeling isn't a pretty picture.  Stop me in my tracks REALITY. If I can look past the mess...and keep my focus on a finished project, I will perhaps close my eyes and dream bigger.  

WHAT A MESS.  The upper wall covering has been taken down.  The jacuzzi tub controls have been removed.  The old toilet, wall cabinet and vanity removed.

Three days in a row we dealt with the COTTAGE vanity.  Stumbling upon it was day one.  I haven't been in Loews for years so this was a happy accident.  Tuesday, I wanted to go to God's Storehouse in Topeka and look for bargains.  We had some business to do at Loews when I came across this vanity.  I liked it right away.  Returned to Loews the next day after finding out on the internet that this vanity was $700 off the original asking price.  Purchased it then made arrangements to have it delivered to our sweet COTTAGE.  Delivered on Thursday.  We can rest a little easier that it is sitting in the COTTAGE.  Mentally, I can see the bathroom completed.  

It seems a bit daunting to me what we hope to do to the COTTAGE.  It will take some doing to complete it all.  A piece here and a project there. We'll get back to gutting this bathroom after the main house dining room is painted.  TODAY I will begin to prim the dark blue walls.   

Back to painting the Dining room.  The sooner this room is done, the better.  I have drawn this out for far too long.  The new chandelier is hanging.  Hubby has started repairing a crack in the wall that doesn't need to be there.  Where are my paint clothing....

PRODUCT REVIEW:  Twice I have used DR. MERCOLA's Shampoo and Conditioner.  It's doesn't lather up like the other shampoos I have used for years.  Will I get use to it?  It smells nice even with the label stating it is UNSCENTED because of the peppermint and red clover. The fragrance smells pleasant.  

Today my hair feels softer, but will I get use to the shampoo not sudsing up as much as Suave, Prell or other brands of shampoo I have used???  If I have a change of heart, yes, I think I can get use to less suds.  It may take some doing, but yes, I suppose I will get use to it. 

Can shampoos cause Migraine headaches?  I wonder.

Reading that the scalp has 20 blood vessels, 650 sweat glands and 1,000 nerve endings that soak in the toxins...I'm not sure where these numbers came from.  Still it didn't settle very well with me as I am wanting to have a healthier life and lifestyle.  Should I be concerned?  Soberly I say, YES.  Another thing to change about how I do things.

I don't dye, color or bleach my hair, but that isn't all that can cause issues with toxins getting into your body.  Shampoos, conditioners, hair spray can cause issues.  I suppose mousse does as well? I realize that I am one that doesn't like change and I need to change.  CHANGE.  

SHAMPOO INGREDIENTS:

CONDITIONER INGREDIENTS:

OVERALL PRODUCT REVIEW:
The products smell relatively pleasant.  Shampoo doesn't suds up very much.  The conditioner was a little clumpy.  Have to shake the bottle better.  Willing to use this product for a while.  Will see how my scalp likes it after using the entire bottle.  

I believe it is a good product and will continue to use.  I give this product an A-. 

Hello Jackie O.  How's the Jackie Kennedy Diet coming along? This diet is definitely for people who have a solid constitution about cutting calories or don't struggle with liking food. Yesterday was day 4.   

I struggled a tad in the late evening.  I wanted to eat CHOCOLATE!  I wanted to snack.  I suppose I could have ate carrots or celery, an apple. Something clean.  I went ahead and had one cup of popcorn.  I strayed some.  Today is day 5 already.  I was planning to do this simple diet for a week.  Have mercy...it is already day 5!  That's 3 days away from completing this fabulously low cal food program.  

I have not done well about eating only 600 calories a day.  I will try extra hard to do this today, Saturday and Sunday and then I will have to chew on my shoe to keep from going overboard on Monday.

STEPPING ON THE SCALES...I dropped 3 pounds so far.  The plateau was broken.  Now to continue spiraling downwards and weighing less.  

I like cottage cheese.  That's a bonus when eating the Jackie O way.  I'm okay with the fruit.  The boiled eggs and hot tea...yes.  My taste buds are fine, it's the lack of calories that I will not be able to do long term.  At least the 600 calories a day thing.

Occasionally I will strive for the 600 mark.  Maybe in the middle of the week, but aiming for 1200 is a better target for me.  Still to think a 6 foot woman is encouraged to eat the same amount of calories as a 5 foot woman doesn't make sense to me.

ONE SIZE FITS ALL DIETS are not realistic nor healthy.  Who on earth decided to have the same number of calories for a tiny petite woman verses a large amazon?  It is ridiculous.  

Web Md states:

Where Did the 2,000-Calorie Diet Come From?

Congress passed the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 to give people more information about the nutrients in the foods they eat. The law also set up guidelines about what claims could be made by food manufacturers. To put that information into perspective and show how the nutrients fit into an overall diet, a standard reference was needed.

The 2,000-calorie diet is based on surveys done by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on how many calories people ate. Men said they ate an average of 2,000 to 3,000 calories a day, and women said they ate an average of 1,600 to 2,200 calories daily. Based on those numbers, a 2,000-calorie diet was settled on as a standard reference. 

I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THESE SURVEYS WERE DONE. HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY INTERVIEWED?
WHO WERE THEY?
WHAT DID THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY EAT?  WHAT TYPES OF FOODS DID THEY EAT?
ANY CONNECTIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT TO SWAY THEIR RESPONSE?
HOW DID THE PEOPLE KNOW HOW MANY CALORIES THEY WERE EATING?
WHAT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WERE THESE PEOPLE FROM?
WHAT LINE OF WORK IF ANY WERE THESE PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH?
WERE THEY OFFICE DWELLERS, FARM HANDS, HOMEMAKERS, SINGLE, MARRIED WITH CHILDREN, ELDERLY, YOUNG BUCKS, COACH POTATOES, SALES CLERKS, STANDING ON YOUR FEET ALL DAY WORKERS OR WHAT?

STAYING WARM?  Trying to and we are blessed to be warm inside our HOME. Staying indoors doing what I can inside.  Going through more papers, old magazines and letters.  I'm beginning to think I will never reach the bottom of the barrel when it comes to paperwork.  I hope I am wrong.

Here's to a good week-end as the temps are suppose to hit the 40s and 50s.  It will seem like we are living in the far south.  When the temps get warmer I plan to spray paint black a large metal basket, take the Christmas garland and ribbon down from around the front doors, pot some coleus cuttings and take a drive in the country. 

Here's to keeping my HOME A HAVEN.

God Bless,

~d

Baking cinnamon rolls, brewing vitamin tea 🫖 Farmcore workplace aestheti...

AN OLD WOMAN LIKE ME!

AFTER I CHECKED ON THE VANITY I SAW AT LOEWS ON THE COMPUTER, I found out that this particular one is $700 off of the original price until February 2nd.  Hubby and I both agreed that this vanity was the WINNER for the day and would be loverly in our COTTAGE.  

I have been looking at bathroom sinks for awhile now.  This one hit the nail on the head.

I loved the soft grey and white Carrara Marble counter top with back splash as well as the soft grey colored vanity.  The COTTAGE bathroom isn't huge and having storage available for extra toiletries, grooming supplies, etc. a cabinet would be more functional for us than just having a pedestal sink.  I'll need all the storage space we can make and still look like a lovely bathroom for us.

When I read this sale goes off February 2nd, we decided we should go back and purchase this Bathroom vanity.  My staying HOME all day went out the window.  I ate two boiled eggs and drank hot Green Tea on the way to Topeka.  

We got up early this morning and drove back to TOPEKA to purchase it.  According to the web page, Loews said they were out of stock.  We'd check Topeka first then if this were true about being out of stock, we'd go onto Kansas City to get one.  When we left Topeka yesterday, it was before Loews had closed for the day, so someone could have bought the vanity after we left, but when we arrived early this morning the box was still there.

Hubby got a cart and the HELP came to load the 325 pound box.  The HELP suggested a larger cart to put the vanity on to wheel it to the check out and by the way the larger cart is over on aisle such and such.  Instead of him going to get the larger cart he told my husband where it was.  Can somebody say, "I don't work here.  You're the hired HELP, please HELP me, a paying customer. You go get the larger cart."  

I asked if more HELP could assist since it is a 325 pounds vanity and getting the box up on the cart requires more muscle than what we could provide.  He called another guy named Angel and between the two of them they got it up on the cart so we could wheel it to the check out.  Hubby doesn't have any business lifting this much weight as an older man.

We pushed the cart near the check out stand and decided we had better have LOEWS deliver the vanity.  Getting this box into our car would require help and then it would be up to us to unload it when we got to the COTTAGE.  This wasn't the safest option.  We paid them and the vanity is suppose to be delivered to the COTTAGE tomorrow.  I am very excited that a new vanity is on her way.  It will be up to the delivery peeps to load the vanity in their truck, drive it to the COTTAGE, unload the heavy thing into the Kitchen.  The box will sit in the Kitchen until the Bathroom is ready for her then we'll slide her into the bathroom when needed.  Hubby is gutting the Bathroom and we have a ways to go before this new vanity is installed.   

We went over to the COTTAGE and shuffled some items to make room for the delivery men to maneuver the box into the COTTAGE and place it in the Kitchen.  I watered my Geraniums in pots while we were there.  They are wintering there.  I hope they make it so I can set them outside in the Spring, Summer and early Autumn.  

Had Lunch at Gambinos because I knew I could get cottage cheese from their salad bar along with some fruit.  Staying the course for DAY THREE of JACKIE KENNEDY'S DIET.  I may have to shorten the name of this diet to JACKIE O's Diet.  Same thing.  Stopped at Dollar General for a minute.  

While at the COTTAGE to make floor space more available for the vanity, I went ahead and unloaded four large boxes of white dishes that came from our main house stash.  Moved some crystal about.  Day Dreamed about the new Kitchen cabinets that will appear at a later date.      

We now have our soft grey tile for the floors and a beautiful vanity on the way for the Bathroom. As fast as time gets away from us, the Bathroom will not be completed until Spring.  That will have to be alright.  Getting out into the freezing cold weather makes it challenging for two old peeps. 

An OLD woman like me is finally getting excited about the remodeling of the COTTAGE.  Finally.  After the Bathroom is gutted, we will install a new ceiling with a new light fixture, possibly hang some tile on the wall around where the tub will sit, paint the walls and trim, fix the glass in the window, plumb the room differently because the vanity and the toilet have switched places for better use of the room.  New sub flooring will be laid, new tile laid, fixtures installed and whaalaah the Bathroom will be ready to use.  

I'll be washing the ceiling and walls in the closet.  It will be cleaned up and redesigned.  When this is completed, we will move into the Kitchen to remodel and then the Utility room.

Enough for an OLD woman like me.

DAY 3 of the JACKIE O DIET is just about a wrap.  Day 3 is under my belt.  No serious cravings today, but I had an appetite that I had to talk back to and remind myself that I am not deprived. I am blessed because I am losing weight for a healthier me.  An OLD woman like myself needs to be healthier.    

UP EARLY so Breakfast was on the road 
with 2 boiled eggs (144 calories) and hot tea.
Lunch was cottage cheese ( 222 calories)
with pear (102 calories),
small amount of pineapple (41 calories)
also a green salad (64)
and dressing (45)
with one piece of garlic toast (53).  Closest thing to HOLLYWOOD TOAST I could come up with.
Supper will be 1 cup steamed green beans (44),
red and green peppers (30),
onions (11)
and a small piece of grass fed beef (39).
Snack was yogurt (80) and water.
NO CHAMPAGNE today and I can be alright with this. 

More than 600 calories today.  Hit about 875.  Tomorrow I will try really hard to eat fewer calories than I did today.  No yogurt, no toast tomorrow and probably no beef.  Chicken perhaps. 

It was bitterly cold today.  Dangerous to be out in if having auto problems.  Bundled up and stay safe.  Car ran well and the heater worked great.  Thank you, Lord.

~d

DAY TWO OF JACKIE KENNEDY DIET

I found yet another sight about JACKIE'S DIET 
that allows a little more food to it.

WITH YET A DIFFERENT SIGHT SAYING 
Jackie would have yogurt for a snack. 

BUT THIS PRINT OUT SAYS TWO BOILED EGGS instead of only one.  Also Hollywood Toast with honey and skim milk.

I had to research HOLLYWOOD TOAST because I had no idea what that was.  It has quite a history to it.  I can't get my hands on HOLLYWOOD TOAST so if I eat toast it will just be regular multi-grain bread.  I can go for this and honey. 

ACCORDING TO THIS PLAN Lunch has broiled meat and skim milk along with the cottage cheese.  Then Dinner is about what I knew it to be...Chicken or fish, steamed veggies or salad.

I may add TOAST and honey to my Breakfast, but stay the same for my LUNCHES of Cottage Cheese and fruit.  Staying with the original SUPPERS.

I seriously doubt that I will be drinking champagne any time soon, but in case there is a big celebration between today and next Sunday, I know I can drink champagne and not have a guilty conscious.  Not sure how many calories champagne has.  Jackie definitely had a social life amongst the world.  I do not.  Shucks. 

SO FAR SO GOOD ON DAY TWO.  I had to tweak it a bit since I wasn't HOME for LUNCH.  I started my day with two boiled eggs seasoned with black pepper and hot Green Tea with Pomegranate just like yesterday.

THINKING ABOUT MY DAY...

Loaded wet towels into the car to take over to dry at the COTTAGE.
2 stops for Banking business.
Lumber Yard stop.
Paint Store stop to get a paint sample to try out on the Dining room.
Starbucks coffee for Hubby.  Green Iced Tea for me.
Drove past a Flower Shop to see if they were open yet and they weren't.
Drove over to COTTAGE to put towels in dryer than made a trip to small town America Post Office to check into post office box for mail in the future.
I looked around in the Antique Mall while Hubby went to eat a couple of tacos.  I only spent $1 for a Blue Willow Chop Stick Pillow.  
Drove to Topeka to God's Storehouse to look around.  Wore my mask.
4 o'clock frozen yogurt.
HY-VEE Grocery Store for a few organic items.
Natural Grocers for a few more items.
Loews Lumber.  I think I found a beautiful vanity with Carrara Marble for the COTTAGE BATHROOM.  Believe I will have to return tomorrow and get it.  That will take some muscle.  

DROVE HOME IN THE DARK, but made it safely HOME.  PTL.
SUPPER sure tasted good tonight for being a salad.  Yummers.
  

  
I thought I could go longer than what I did without LUNCH today, but around 4 in the afternoon I was actually very hungry.  Since we were in Topeka I had to improvise.  We had a small FROZEN YOGURT.  This helped hold me over until I could eat SUPPER at HOME.

I had a large green salad and used my Cottage Cheese QUOTA to top the greens with.  Water to sip on.  I can almost say that DAY TWO is under my belt.  

I believe I will finish out Day Two just fine.  Being very busy today helped me keep my mind off of eating except when I saw a donut shop and I told myself after I complete my week of this JACKIE KENNEDY DIET I want a donut from THAT PLACE!  It seems like when I am on a strict diet that I do start craving THINGS I shouldn't have LIKE DONUTS for instance.  The craving passed and the day went well.

May day 3 GO JUST AS WELL.  I plan on staying HOME all day. I will massage Jojoba oil into my hair in the morning and let it soak in.  Then later in the day, I will shampoo it out, let my hair air dry and try curling it.  SPA DAY.  Perhaps I ought to do a facial.  Lots of paperwork to do.  The temps are suppose to drop into the 20s.  Today was beautiful because it was in the 60s.  Heavenly and oh how I enjoyed getting out.

I am so very THANKFUL I have a HOME 
to live in.  

Very THANKFUL,
~d~