CRACK A WHIP AND GET 'ER DONE and TOPEKA THRIFTING

SLEPT IN.  Was exhausted.  Tired all day.  

After I got up and going, I managed to move one of the old oak Morris Chairs into the Living room.  These are heavy pieces of furniture.  This took some doing for me to pick it up and carry it to the Living room through the maze of boxes scattered about so when I managed to get it moved, I felt a sense of accomplishment.    

We have two of these old chairs.  The other one is a little bigger than this one.  A female chair and a male chair.  Hopefully we will haul these chairs to the storage unit today and have them out of the COTTAGE for now.   

With being so cramped in here, it makes the settling in more laborious than I ever imagined. Having a small fit concerning the items in this cottage.  

It is a slow process getting settled in, but I feel like I got something done by moving the Morris chair before heading out the door for the day. 

We got around to go thrifting in TOPEKA.  LUNCH, thrifting, some groceries and back HOME. Quick trip if you can call it that.  Disappointed that I did not get a Iced Green Tea from STARBUCKS.  Three attempts were made to get one, but the shoppes were closed.  Seems like they are in some kind of dispute about Unions.  

That's not good.  Any who, I will miss them.

At God's Storehouse I purchased a bright red out doors quilted vest for $5.20.  Looks BRAND NEW and so very soft.  On bitter cold days like today, it came in very handy.  My winter coat is too heavy to wear while shopping indoors.  I was wearing a sweatshirt so the vest slipped right on and I was comfortable.

I picked up a large white bowl made from ITALY.  Not sure what I will do with it, but in time I will figure this out.  

A couple of cook books.

Quaint illustrations in the book.  
Should be entertaining to thumb through this one.

A Longaberger BAG/PURSE/TOTE.

I may fill this bag with plasticware, napkins, salt/pepper, paper plates and cups then place the bag inside one of my Longaberger Picnic Baskets.  CUTE.

Quick trip to Natural Grocers for sugar-free ketch-up, eggs, extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil. When checking out, the clerk gave us a free shopping bag and a can of tuna.    

Off to SAMS for coffee pods, coffee creamer, grass fed ground beef and cottage cheese.  Not a whole lot to buy, but thought we'd best get this done before another round of SNOW blows in.

The TOPEKA roads were still snow packed making the ride rough.

SHORT SHOPPING TRIP.  Back HOME to get the mail.  Magazine in the box.  COUNTRY SAMPLER FARMHOUSE STYLE.  Will be fun to look through it tonight.

Tis the middle of the week and I am not where I thought I would be with the BLUE WILLOW CHINA placed back into the china cabinet.  Boxes are full of the pieces.  Good thing about this is I know where they are now grouped together.

I should be emptying the boxes by Thursday.  Crack a whip and get this done. 

THE MESSES AROUND HERE ARE GETTING TO ME.  Take a deep breath and count to ten. Everyday we get SOMETHING DONE, but the overall process is eating my lunch.

It doesn't help that it is bitter cold outside.

I believe that saying FAILURE TO PLAN IS A PLAN TO FAIL.  

Think things through.  Pray and go from there.

~d

CABIN FEVER???

MID JANUARY ALREADY!  Spring is hibernating for now.  I think come MARCH, I will be foaming at the mouth to get outside to enjoy the earliest signs of SPRING.  I am feeling a little CABIN FEVER.   

I have an excuse to work hard inside while WINTER is here.  Some would have NO TROUBLE staying HOME for days on end to read, sleep, eat, clean the house, work on paperwork, etc.  I have moments where I want to go places and then have times that I'd just like to stay HOME.

CABIN FEVER is a real thing that has caused many a person to act with a very unwelcome behavior that they might not exhibit if they weren't so stir CRAZEE.  Take a deep breath, say a pray, sip a favorite beverage, do some sit ups, sing, touch your toes, write in a journal, take a hot bath or a cool shower.  What else calms the nerves?  Drink some Chamomile tea.  Think HAPPY THOUGHTS.  Praise the Lord.  Sing praises to him.  Call a friend.  Eat some chocolate. Dust the furniture.  Vacuum the rug.  Clean the Kitchen.  Iron.  DO something productive.  This stir craziness too shall pass.

We were headed to the out of town Doctor's office this afternoon.  I had a lab appointment at 2:00 and when the nurse called early this morning, she was asked if my Husband could see the doctor due to bad coughing.  My labs were rescheduled and Hubby took the time slot.  On the way to the Interstate, we decided to turn around and go HOME.  WEATHER was treacherous and I didn't feel SAFE on the highway.  Early this morning it was -7.  The roads were too slick. Concerned we'd end up in a ditch or worse.

The snow falling was fluffy and oh so pretty to see while inside comfortable looking out the window.  Driving in it made me nervous.

By the time we'd drive to Manhattan, drive across town to the office, attend the appointment, go pick up meds in a different town, drive HOME, the roads would be even worse than they were. About 3 hours would pass with it snowing making the driving even more dangerous.  Hubby called on his cell phone canceling the appointment.  

Slowly I drove our big boat of a car and made it back to our community.  Hubby mentioned we should get some more groceries as our pantry has not been stocked back up like it should be replacing what was cleaned out with expirations.  DOLLAR GENERAL it was.

Last Summer they remodeled putting in more refrigerators.  Glad they did.  They carry almost everything I need.  

I haven't spent so much on groceries from DOLLAR GENERAL before, but it was necessary. Left with PIZZA for our LUNCH, organic lettuce, milk, almond milk, canned chili, canned black beans, bottled water, SMART WATER, paper towels, shredded cheese, bread, some VALENTINE CARDS, cold medicine, beef sausages, taco shells, ground beef, taco seasoning, spaghetti sauce and spaghetti noodles.  

We'll have PIZZA for LUNCH.  OTHER MEALS for cold weather from this stop with being snowed in:  Spaghetti with salad, grilled cheese sandwiches, tacos, chili.  We have some frozen meats that I can rustle something else up, but for now we will not starve.  Along with what's in the fridge, freezer and pantry shelves.

Before going HOME, we went to the POST OFFICE to get our mail.  There was a City Bill for the utilities AND proof that our MORTGAGE was paid off.  No house payment this month.  PRAISE THE LORD.   

Safely HOME.  Once I got HOME, I was contented to be there ready to stay awhile.

Unloading the groceries and putting them away.  Had Clover Valley Pizza for LUNCH.  Was actually pretty good.  Will avoid taking a nap today and put some laundry in to wash.  I want to shuffle some Dining room boxes out of the way so I can work on placing china in the China Cabinet.  I've got to move some boxes out of the Living room placing them on the sofa so there is floor space for the old Morris chairs from the Dining room to sit in the Living room.

When the weather warms up, these chairs will be taken to the storage unit.  After I get them moved out of the Dining room into the Living room, I'll have to shuffle more stuff so I can get to the China Cabinet.  If I can get this all done today, I will be a very happy woman.  PROGRESS will have taken place.  I can relax this evening and watch ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL.  Then watch MISS SCARLET AND THE DUKE on PBS.  

LIFE IS GOOD.  We are blessed.  Thankful we did not end up in the ditch.  I stayed calm while driving, but was very thankful we decided to turn around and go HOME.  I am not too proud to admit that we are fragile and need to play it safe.  

Thinking about there will come a day when the COTTAGE is in better shape making me smile.  It has been quite a work out getting settled in and we are still not there.  For now I have to think a great deal about where are the books going to go until the book shelves are built? Maybe stacked under the Buffet in the Living room?  Where will the old nesting mixing bowls going to hide out? Maybe in the slender cabinet by the stove.  I have about 4 sets.  Not sure my daughter, daughter.in.law, and Granddaughters would be interested in these antiques like I am.  They have got to go someplace else instead of sitting on the table in the Dining room.  

As I empty the boxes, I will be surprised what is in them.  SURPRISE!!!!!  Take that CABIN FEVER.  I don't have time to be suffering from such things.  Gotta stay focused and forge ahead.

Staying HAPPY as I can,

💚d  

MID-CENTURY GLASS CAKE PLATES

GLASS CAKE PLATES, I have a few.  I started collecting these way back when.  When they were first sold during the mid-century they came with aluminum dome covers.  My plates don't have covers.  What good are they without the covers?  

Two dozen chocolate chip cookies were placed on one and cellophane wrapped with a bow to be presented to our Granddaughter for her 17th birthday.  I can give these mid-century glass cake plates to others with cookies on them in the future.  They are footed on the underside.  Neat.

They would make nice plates to use for gatherings for holding finger sandwiches, miniature tea sandwiches, treats, fruit, cookies, bon bons, chocolate covered cherries, sliced breads.  That sort of thing.  Or for center pieces, candles, flowers.  

For now, I know that I have them.  I'll give it some thought about future uses.  

Slowly going through the moving boxes and recalling what is there.  Slowly.  The outside temps are bitterly cold.  Staying inside.  Making some headway on turning the Dining room back into a Dining room instead of being used as a warehouse holding our belongings.  Wish it were already done. Truthfully, I know unpacking would have gone faster if we weren't so cramped inside the rooms. It takes great effort to even walk through a room.  See-sawing through the path to get from one room to another.  I hope I can laugh about this one day remembering how we danced about just to go through the house.  

Plans for this week are to have the BLUE WILLOW dishes back into my Mom's China Cabinet.  I forget how many pieces I have.  Over a hundred.  They will be taken from the stacks of boxes just sitting in the Dining room.  As I empty the boxes, the bulky boxes will disappear.  Praise the LORD.  One more EMPTY BOX GONE.  

I'll have to shuffle stuff to open an area to work in to make this happen.  As the boxes disappear, it will get so much easier to continue at what needs to be done.    

When the weather warms some, the old Morris chairs that are stacked in the Dining room will be taken to storage.  The two Henredon chairs as well.  Not sure when we will have a warm snap this WINTER.  Just getting these chairs out of here as there really is no room for them will help open up the house.  SO the next step is to clear out more things so the COTTAGE is opened up and functioning.  When the weather warms THEN we will work at clearing out the storage units. This is the way we have to do this downsizing thing.

With the weather being so cold, we cannot work on the units.  

I want to keep the cake plates.  They have been placed in a nice storage box for now.  I know I will have more glassware and dishes that I have to do something with.   

Making this lil COTTAGE a HOME
by taking inventory so I know what I have that I can use.

~d

NEEDING THE VICTORY

GETTING SOME FRESH AIR.  On some mornings I open the front door and walk onto the porch, sit on an old chair that's out there and breathe in some fresh air.  I only stay a minute or so as it is bitter cold outside.  -6 degrees this morning.  Wind advisories are being predicted which will make the wind chill factor -40.  That's dangerously cold.  

There will be more snow.  Best to stay HOME and enjoy the wonderful world of our cozy COTTAGE's warm interior.

With SPRING coming, I imagine the time I spend on the porch will increase.  The lot across the street is presently vacant, but builders are planning to build a duplex.  With this happening, the noise level will increase and so will the traffic.  Right now gazing at an open lot is fine.  I'd rather look at it the way it is then what will be coming.  I regret that we didn't buy the lot.    

My Husband will not like the noise when it building begins to take place.  This will be a challenge for us both.  Something we will have to adjust to?

On Friday before dark, I went to the Dollar Store driving very slowly due to the slick roads to pick up some crackers and bottled water with electrolytes.  I believe if I had been drinking this kind of water while I was taking diuretics, I would have felt better.  I discontinued the water pill about 9 days ago.  I have no plans of returning to use them.  Instead I will consume foods and beverages that are diuretics taking 200mg of Vitamin B6 daily that helps with water retention.

Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) has been linked to developing skin cancer, increased blood glucose, increased lipids.  While using it, I developed diabetes, my cholesterol increased and have a precancerous place on my eyelid.  My own doctor said that it's my body when I didn't want to take statin drugs.  He's right.  I do have some say so in what meds I take.  I am watching my blood pressure and water retention known as edema.  

If you have diabetes you are not suppose to take HCTZ.  Isn't that something.  I am T2 diabetic and my doc prescribes this med to me.    

With diuretics, electrolytes are washed out of the body leaving one depleted of them.  The doctors are suppose to check one's blood work to make sure the potassium doesn't get too low. I am checked once a year at my physical having been within range. What I know about ranges now is that they have come from the averaging from sick people.  I have lost my mojo concerning what is said about being within range.  That powerful word OPTIMAL comes to mind. I can always use WALK IN LAB to have blood work done which does not require a doctor's ok. Just  get a lab order via computer, pay and go.  Results via computer.

TODAY, to help with edema, I will fix a smoothie made with CELERY, CUCUMBER, Kale, Spinach, Blueberries, and Pineapple.  If I had some fresh mint I'd throw some in as it is a natural diuretic.  Think I'll fix some this morning to tide me over until LUNCH TIME.  Green tea is a diuretic so I shall drink it..

COLD WEATHER SHUFFLING PLANS are taking place in my head.  I have a large Schefflera plant in a large, pretty fish bowl that sits on a circular wood stand that I want to move away from a heater vent.  It'll be moved over beside Grandma's hutch/sideboard, but to make that happen, I have to shuffle so much stuff.  The old Parlour Chair will go across the room.  Again much has to be shuffled.  Update:  DONE.  VICTORY.  I managed to get the stuff shuffled.  

Some exercise took place moving these things.  Heave-ho.  The end results is welcomed.  There's a wider pathway to walk through the Dining room.    

The truth about getting settled here is that there is a LOT of heave-ho going on.  Downsizing is still soaking in as this sometimes seems like we're on vacation and will return to the big house later.  I will wake up and we'll still be living in the main house.  Then the reality of we have actually moved and we are already HOME comes to the forefront of my thoughts.  I know it is an adjustment when ever moving.  It takes some time to get use to it.

ON SATURDAY, I tuned in to a live stream of funeral for one of my classmates.  She lived in OKLAHOMA.  Knowing that she made her peace with GOD through our Savior JESUS ushered her into heavenly bliss.  She is healed and whole.  I had left a comment on our High School Facebook page a few days ago about I was so envious of Nancy's Go-Go boots she had when we were in the same 6th grade class in Liberal, Kansas.  Her daughter mentioned the comment in the service that she liked this as her Mom was a FANCY NANCY.  It is sobering to have so many friends and relatives that have died.  I know fewer and fewer people each day.  SO the thought comes to mind once again, how do I want to live my LIFE in the present?  

How should I change and do better for God's glory?  I'm in prayer about this quest.  To sit in the quiet of my small COTTAGE and be able to pray is precious.  IT'S A VICTORY and I need it.

Tis the wk-end and I have hopes of getting much done.  Hubby has been painting the wood paneled bathroom door with white paint.  It looks beautiful.  It will be even better when it is hung back on the hinges and we return to having a real door to open and close.  He is determined to have the door hung this wk-end.  UPDATE:  DOOR IS UP and we have privacy in the Necessary Room when it's necessary.  That's another  VICTORY.

I will dive into going through boxes in the Dining room this wk-end.  I need the VICTORY of getting it done.  I frequently tell myself this.  I want the VICTORY and I need the VICTORY.  It will be my reward for staying the course and getting things done that might seem like a small affair to others who have never been through this as an older person with health ailments and illnesses that seem to want to stay too long.  The illnesses wear out their welcome. STILL, I work at getting something done when I can.  It blesses my soul.  Pacing myself and allowing the fact that it will take more time than usual is part of the journey.  I am a tortoise instead of a hare, but then we know how that story ended.  

I NEED THE VICTORY,

~d

 

MOM'S BEAUTIFUL DISHES

FRANCISCAN DESERT ROSE DISHES IN THE ANTIQUE CORNER CABINET

THE DISHES THAT MOM GAVE ME HAVE A NEW HOME IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CORNER CABINET.  Safe and sound they are together.  PROUD TO HAVE THEM.  

I wiped each piece with white distilled vinegar to clean them before washing in hot sudsy water, rinsing and drying.  Squeaky clean.  I'm impressed with what the white distilled vinegar did to the dishes.  Even though the dishes looked clean before I wiped them with vinegar then washed them in hot soapy water, the vinegar did something extra.  Years of whatever that comes from sitting in a china cabinet unused, was wiped away with the vinegar.  They really were squeaky clean.  

Stacking the dishes as neat as I could, they look good in their new home.  They will stay here for awhile as we morph about getting settled in the COTTAGE, but it wouldn't surprise me if I change their location later.  Morphing along.  Shall see.  

If I add pieces, I will have to find a larger place for them.  For now, they just fit.

Corner cabinet has been filled top to bottom.

The bitter cold weather has not stopped me from working to make this COTTAGE a HOME.

ONTO THE NEXT CHORE.
~d

HAPPY FRIDAY

MORE SNOW IS IN THE FORECAST.  This is going to be a very long and cold WINTER.  Thinking about being one day closer to SPRING helps.  If it does SNOW, I promise myself to take some time to watch it fall to the ground.    

Here it is Friday already.    

HAPPY FRIDAY,

~d

PRAISE THE LORD! I GOT SOMETHING DONE THAT'S NICE TO LOOK AT

WITH THE BACK ATTACHED TO THE CABINET, THE ANTIQUE CORNER CABINET WAS FILLED WITH CRYSTAL.  A nice place to store glassware.

EARLY TO RISE this morning.  I put the clean dishes away from last night and heated some hot water for a cayenne pepper drink.  Set it aside to sip on later allowing it time to cool down some for a comfortable heated beverage.

Found the step stool so I can bring down the glass pitchers that were temporarily placed high on top of the Kitchen cabinets.  Pulled them down and placed them in the antique corner cabinet. They look nice there.  Found the crystal wine glasses that were in a cardboard box and proceeded to place them in the corner cabinet.

Whaalah.  I got something done that hopefully will stay for a while.  This is what I need for a healthier outlook with what's going on with this HARD MOVE taking place.  It helps me feel like I got something done when I look at the glass sitting in a cabinet.  From each piece being wrapped for moving, to unpacking and placing them in some cabinets to putting them back in a box so I could move them after the corner cabinet got a attached back to placing them into this cabinet...it has been a minute.

I will clean all the crystal after more settling is completed so the room gets tidied.  They'll be waiting for that human touch to give them attention so they will sparkle.  Inventory for now.

WHILE SIPPING on the cayenne pepper drink it was time to ice my sore knee that popped while I was getting up from a fall about a month ago.  The cold from the frozen peas feels good.  Laid down on the sofa and fell asleep waking refreshed.  It works well for sore joints.

BLOOD PRESSURE NOTES:  Drinking some green matcha tea now to help lower my blood pressure numbers.  CLOSELY watching these.  Started taking more CoQ-10 (200mg) which is suppose to help with high blood pressure. Also blended Hawthorne Leaf and flower extract (300mg) blended with Hawthorne Berry (165mg) capsules.  Apple Cider Vinegar as well. Magnesium and potassium.    

Did you know that there are breathing exercises that you can do to almost instantly dropped the high numbers 20 to 30 points?

I can't begin to tell you how many health care professionals say that highly processed foods are a no-no that cause ill affects with your precious health.  Too much sodium, unhealthy fats and added chemicals that are toxic are associated with hpf.  EAT whole plant based, non-GMO foods. Whole.

With going off diuretics, I have some residual edema that should go away in a week or two.  The blood pressure is slightly elevated, but according to older charts I'm alright. 

Water pills may cause you to urinate more frequently and along with this, you are depleting important nutrients.  You may not be swollen, but your organs take a beating.

Thiazide-like diuretics cause an increased excretion of magnesium in the urine. Low serum and selected tissue magnesium levels have been reported among diuretic users. Low magnesium levels have been associated with cardiac arrhythmias, neuromuscular changes, and increases in lipoprotein levels.

 

BRILLIANT SUNSHINE

With the sun shining in the blue skies, it seems like it should be warmer outside than 23 degrees.  Suppose to have a high of 36 around 3 in the afternoon.  BITTER COLD this week.   A great week to WORK inside and make plans for SPRING GARDENS.

AFTER A BIT, I will clear a path in the Dining room so I can reach into my Grandma's Hutch to place my Mom's Franciscan Desert Rose dishes for safe keeping.  When I complete this, I will shuffle some more.  Praying I get further along than I have in the last fews days.  PROGRESS AT LAST.  

Hubby got two coats of white paint on the Bathroom door.  Looks very nice.  The other side of the door and the edges need painted now.  I figure by the week-end the door should be hanging like new.  Each day, we work at getting SOMETHING DONE.  I may be slow, but I'm moving. PRAISE THE LORD.

CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE.  New Year's.  Epiphany.  Christmas decor is put away except for some faux greenery that I want to keep around during the cold months of WINTER.  I have a Santa Claus Chef NUTCRACKER sitting on the herb shelve.  I think it will stay put for awhile.  Cheers me up seeing SC on a shelf.

I was rearranging the upper shelves in the closet to make room for boxed decorative pillows that I don't want to put in the cellar.  They are now sitting pretty in the closet.  

VERY SLOWLY, we are making progress.  

VERY SLOWLY.

~d