DECORATING IN SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER is here!!!  The kids are back in school again.  Not sure where the time went.  Summer vacation is over and school activities are in full swing.  Somewhere along the way, they grew up.

Fifth Grade

Freshman

Senior

Senior

Freshman

MAY THEY HAVE A BLESSED YEAR.

The porch will get cleaned off and I'll make plans to decorate it with garland, leaves, and pumpkins.  I'd like to hang some garland above and along the sides of the porch columns.

I'll be transferring the Coleus plants into larger round containers and placing bright yellow mums in the urns they were in.  There's a urn with peppermint herbs in it that I will cut out and fill with a stack of pumpkins.  That should be lovely. 

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 

Lingering effects.  CO V ID  did a number on me.  My sleeping habits have been affected.  The cough I had was tremendous and I had difficulty falling asleep at night.  About 6 weeks later, I  still tend to not want to go to sleep.  I find myself still awake at two or so.  I decided to shut down for bed no later than midnight and force myself to do my best to sleep.

The coughing has slowed way down and I am working at doing more chores.  Being fatigued plagued me.  I deliberately REST, drink fluids and pace myself.  

Today, I walked only 3/4th of a mile.  Even though my times were good, I was breathing too heavily and decided that I did not have it to give.  I'll try again tomorrow. 

PLANS FOR THE MONTH:

Plants transplanted.
Porch cleaned.
Porch decorated for AUTUMN.
Tidy Master closet.
Car Clinic for cold weather to come.
Flowerbed created in the backyard on other side of sidewalk and relocate two rows of Irises.
Winter clothes checked so they are ready to go.
Clear out the SHE SHED.
Relocate the Victorian Bedroom furniture to shed.
Set up the new TV room.
Work on front Bedroom.
Bathroom worked on.

Enough for September.

~d

50 YEARS AGO ON LABOR DAY WEEK-END WE TIED THE KNOT

50 YEARS AGO ON LABOR DAY WEEK-END, we exchanged marriage vows.  We got married and went from there on a journey to grow up.  NEVER enter a marriage lightly.  I strongly suggest and support receiving marriage counseling before tying the knot.

The counseling should allow the couple that is going to marry an insight into what wedded bliss has to offer.  The Minister should assist the couple providing scripture and loving advice on the rolls of Husband and Wife.  The Minister should provide teaching skills on dealing with one another to better equip you for being a married couple.  How to get along, forgiveness, how to deal with conflict, having children, money issues, keeping peace in the home, boundaries, Husband's roll in protecting and loving the Wife, Wife being a Help Meet to the Husband, responsibilities, Christ being the head of the home, praying together, etc.

Before we got married, we visited with the Minister ahead of time that would marry us, expecting to get marriage counseling.  He said he wouldn't as people tend to get married anyways with or without marriage counseling.  It didn't rest with me.  Years later at my Parents 40th wedding anniversary, I spoke with the Minister that married us and shared that I believed that couples should have counseling before marrying.  He remained quiet.  I had challenges that were difficult in marriage and I knew we should have had counseling before we married so we would have been better equipped for the Adult WORLD of marriage.

We were young when we married.  I was 19 and Hubby was 19 and a half.  I don't oppose couples marrying, but believe great thought needs to go into getting married and I believe the Minister marrying the couple has a godly responsibility to counsel the lovelies saying I DO.  Do not enter into the union lightly.  Know each others stances on marital responsibilities, thoughts on children, finances, do you know Christ, will this be a godly HOME, how to handle conflict, boundaries, beliefs.

It bothers me to this day that we received terrible advice from this guy saying no, he wouldn't counsel us.

As for which officiating Minister you are allowing to marry you in Holy Matrimony, you should check out their personal beliefs as well before having them marry you.  

Our officiating Minister had left his wife for his secretary.  I found this out later and was mortified.  I was ignorant and innocent to the point of being stupid about marriage.  My Dad and Mom neither one instructed me in what to look for in a Husband, how to deal with differences, financial health, etc.  

I believe children should be instructed what to look for in a spouse long before the wedding day.  There was no sit down and discuss the seriousness of marriage.  They married for love and felt like their children needed to pick who they wanted to marry.  That's fine, but I believe seeds of wisdom need to be planted along the way when growing up.  Not left up to chance.  Children need words of life spoken over them while they are growing up and words of wisdom concerning the details of LIFE especially marriage.

Waiting until the child is of marrying age to share important info about who to marry is late in the game and there may be a failure.  Don't want to be doomed for divorce before even getting married.

The day we married was a rainy one and I thought for sure we wouldn't get to marry outside as we had planned.  It stopped raining just before the town's bells rang with the sun shining through the clouds.  We married and then had a reception inside the Christian Church.  

I will look at our wedding pics later in the day and give THANKS that we are still together.  50 years is a very long time and I can hardly believe we married so long ago.  We tied the knot and with doing so, got tangled a bit needing a Savior to save us from ourselves.  

Happy Anniversary to us!

~d  

THREE DAYS AND KIDNAPPING MY HUSBAND

ON THURSDAY, I KIDNAPPED MY HUSBAND.  Taking by surprise, I started driving the car on a highway in which he asked where were we going.  It was very spontaneous and I knew we needed to go for an outing so we could discuss some challenging news we had received the day before.  The best thing I could do was to whisk him away for the rest of day.  

FIRST, we had LUNCH with our daughter, granddaughter and grandson eating a delicious salad at a quaint location.  Afterwards, I KIDNAPPED HIM.  We went for a drive to discuss some serious issues and needed time apart from what was weighing heavily on us.

It was best to get away for a few hours.  I decided that when we picked up our mail that we'd stop by a shop that had a cow's skull that would be used for HUBBY's artwork.  He'd been eyeballing it for some time and I told him, it could be his 50th wedding anniversary gift.  SURPRISE.

https://sweetgranada.com/products/chocolate-amaretto-swirl-fudge

Of all things, I was craving FUDGE from Emporia.  We talked as we traveled across the FLINT HILLS to Emporia.  Nice drive.  Stopped by a coffee shop to get some cinnamon tea to drink, went to supper and returned to the Candy Shop for that CHOCOLATE AMARETTO FUDGE.  I purchased one piece and that was it.  BIG pat on ze back.  Good girl.  A thin slice was shaved and I nibbled on it as a after dinner mint. We headed HOME before dark.  HUBBY thanked me for kidnapping him for the rest of the day.  

We talked quite a bit, prayed and talked some more.  You may know that when grieving takes place, a person goes through a series of emotions.  Same thing when processing shocking news.  An array of emotions surface and it takes time to deal with it all.  Be kind and understanding to yourself while this is taking place.  Don't jump through any hoops and let the dust settle.

When we got HOME, we received word that the serious matter had changed.  Hopefully for the better.  Shall see.  Still praying for the family this concerns.  Yesterday when I heard about this very serious situation, it was very upsetting.  Threw us for a loop.  By bedtime I recalled that a lot can happen in three days.  Amen.  A lot.

Three days,

~d  

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MAKING A HOME MORE COMFORTABLE

WHAT WILL I DO TODAY TO MAKE MY HOME MORE COMFORTABLE?  CLEAN and play the radio.  

Each day is a little different than the day before and this is what keeps it interesting around here.  I definitely have much to do.  What will I do today to make HOME more comfortable?

CLEAN and play the radio, tidy a bit, be a pleasant woman to be around, be helpful and attentive.  Do not complain and be sensitive to my Husband.    

I will be cleaning to make my HOME more comfortable.  It's a given that our HOME needs kept up.  Having an uncluttered place to call HOME makes it comfortable and when the rooms are clean and orderly, it goes a long ways toward making a HAPPIER HOME.  SO not only will I continue to clean and organize, I will pray for blessings in our COTTAGE.  I will pray that I have a healthy attitude and the peace of God be present in our haven.  Amen.  

Oh Lord, let it be so.

Having a relaxed ritualistic cleaning pattern needs established and exercised.  Taking the emotion out of the cleaning and just doing it, is a winning combination and technique.  

Continued cleaning is a must.  With our 50th wedding anniversary approaching at the end of the week, we took some alone time to celebrate before our actual date this past week-end.  We're both having disbelief that 50 years has passed since we said "I DO."  It's almost scary that this time on earth has passed so quickly when looking at the years gone by.  I want to remember the journey and be happy.

Coming HOME after two nights from the Elmdale, Kansas area at CLOVER CLIFF RANCH to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary early, has left a pile of traveling items needing put away.  Pics to follow later of our lovely time away.  I'm so glad and contented that we went the extra mile and experienced this just for us.

No Reception for our 50th.  Need some pictures taken for newspaper announcement.  We'll have a quiet evening at HOME with a gourmet meal next week-end.  Freshly brewed iced tea and spring water on ice.  Simple salad made of shredded Romaine lettuce, thinly sliced radishes, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, sprinkled walnuts with vinaigrette dressing made of olive oil and vinegar.  A large Sirloin steak, string green beans with almond slices, baked potato with butter and a chocolate cake for dessert.  Romantic with candles and gentle music in the background at HOME with the phone off the hook.

SO making HOME a more comfortable place is possible with our own touches and style.  Amen. 

God BLESS,

~d

 

Neil Diamond - Forever In Blue Jeans (Audio)

DO WHAT YOU CAN

JUST GOT BACK FROM WALKING MY MILE in about 75 degree weather.  I huffed and puffed all the way around the track with a small amount of trotting included.  I DID IT!  Worked up a sweat and sat in the car afterwards to cool off.  Poured water on my head and face to help cool off.  My stamina isn't so good, but I'm in motion.  Working at getting healthier so I need to continue being in motion and take my supplements.  Made the mile in 23 minutes and 55 seconds.  I'll feel a great sense of accomplishment when I can walk it in 20 minutes.  Even better at 15.  That'll be the day.  Not sure it's possible.  The fact that I am walking a mile is a miracle in itself. 

Doing housework is a beautiful way to stay active.  I praise all the homemakers that are doing this.  DO WHAT YOU CAN DO.    

Drove over to get the mail at the Post Office.  My Mom sent us a Ritz Cracker box holding the faux corsages she and my Dad wore for their 5oth Anniversary.  We'll have pictures taken next week for our 50th.   Inside the box, she included some pretty jewelry for my July Birthday.  I will telephone her and THANK HER acknowledging that we received the package in good shape. To be remembered by my 92 year old Mom means so much to me.  

The RITZ CRACKERS box jogged my memory that I should try to make a MOCK APPLE PIE with Ritz crackers.  Sounds down right delicious.

Plans today include folding more quilts.  Pulling boxes out of the closet so there is room to store the quilts on a shelf.  Making up the bed with fresh sheets.  Laundry.  Watering porch plants.  Reading some.  Exercise.  Putting the old cassette tapes in the messed up Bedroom to get them out of the Living room.  I finished wiping down old cassettes and found a nice cardboard box to place them in.  A little order was manifested.

AS I DROVE DOWN THE ALLEY BEHIND OUR HOUSE, I was eyeballing the flower beds that are seriously overgrown.  I need to wait until the weather cools off some more like in September.  My plans for the month of September is to finish clearing out one of the storage units, clear out the garage, tidy the she shed.  By the end of October, I hope we have a TV room set up in the pink room and the Victorian room relocated to the she shed.  The front Bedroom will be organized so we have a nicer Bedroom.  I have to be making plans now before the Thanksgiving Holiday arrives so we are ready.  

This shall be my HOBBY.  

KEEPING IN MIND THAT I NEED to be Walking, eating healthy, organizing the COTTAGE and property, praying and meditating upon the WORD OF GOD. 

Blessings,

~d 

 

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TEA TIME and SLOW SPENDING SEPTEMBER

SIMPLY WANTED TO GO TO THE STORAGE UNIT TO GATHER UP THE TRASH BOXES and return them to our COTTAGE curb so the Sanitation Workers would haul off the trash the following day.  The day turned into a trip to Manhattan for a Bank run and picking up a few supplies I completely FORGOT to get the previous day.  Oops.  Back we go.

The adventure turned into a FUN DAY anyways.  Two trips to the unit for trash and home again turned into making a rather large pile of trash for the HOME's curb drop.  Hubby contacted the trash haulers to let them know that we had an extra large of pile of trash for them.  They pick-up on Thursday.  Bye-bye Christmas tree.  Good-bye deformed cardboard packing boxes that served their purpose for 8 years.  ETC.  Which got me to thinking about where on earth will I put up a tree in our ting COTTAGE that has very little space. 

Actually, there is some sense of satisfaction to have that trash out of the storage unit.  I'm praying we can get organized quickly so I no longer have hard feelings for this taking soooooo long to be civilized peeps.  Being ill has hard challenges to work through.  NEED patience and endurance to be successful.

From the storage unit trash hauls, we drove to a different community to do some banking business.  SCARY.  It is scary how quick the money goes.  I have to watch the budget terribly close.  I can do better and there's room for improvement.  I have plans to slow way down on any kind of spending in September.  Maybe I should call it SLOW SPENDING SEPTEMBER.  Christmas will be coming soon and I want to have some funds for gifts.  Takes ACTION! 

 

AT ANY RATE, we went to lunch, Starbucks for my favorite ICED GREEN TEA, a grocery store for pineapple juice in small cans, V8 in large cans, ketch-up which I cannot do without, prune juice, yogurt without all the additives for a sugar-free coleslaw mixture.  They did not have HARNEY & SONS HOT CINNAMON SUNSET TEA that Hubby adores so we decided to go to Target knowing they sell it.  Drove across town to the controversial store.

They had one can of it amongst many other types.  Lucky me.  I got it.  Hubby will be so pleased.

 

CHERRY BLOSSOM TEA sitting beside it caught my eye in the pink metal can soooo I thought I'd try it.  Into the cart she went.  

I know tea has caffeine in it most of the time.  I no longer drink coffee.  Gave away a coffee percolator a few days ago.  I have a rather large stash of teas now.  I try not to drink too much of it throughout the day.  TEA TIME.  In Australia, supper is called tea instead of Supper or Dinner.  

I wonder if many follow a light supper by having tea with light refreshments instead of a large meal?  I know I eat way more than I should for Supper.  Following some kind of system is different per household, isn't it?  What do you usually have for Supper?  

I know the Delany Sisters would have a milk shake for their Suppers.  Haven't made it that far yet.  More retraining myself to do things differently.  It can be done.  I just don't know if I want to change when it comes to Supper.  Over the last few years I started skipping Breakfast and had Brunch instead.  Now I can wait to eat the first meal of the day after 1 or so.  There are mixed opinions about someone like me with no thyroid skipping Breakfast by practicing intermittent fasting.  Bad idea some say.  

While at TARGET, I went by the clearance racks and pull a jean skirt that was priced a super good price, but it wasn't hemmed and I know how unraveling goes and I didn't want to hem it.  I placed it back on the rack.  I think if I have a blue jean skirt I will be wearing it in an attempt to be more feminine.  I think I'd like that.

We finished shopping and drove HOME, unloaded, rested, did a few chores, fixed some popcorn and watched TROPPO.  There's some rough language, but the story line had me intrigued.  We binged watched til the end of season one.  Murder mysteries solved.  There wasn't much in it that I disliked.  We were allowed to get to know the characters.  Season Two is out.  hummmmm.  I do like a good murder mystery of who dun it.

When walking from the car to the COTTAGE, the singing of the locust was extremely loud, it was deafening.  Incredibly loud to the point of hurting my ears.  This Summer they are busy singing if you can call it that.

Better get after doing my chores.  Laundry in.  Bills looked over.  Lunch eaten.  I feel a nap coming on.  How do I avoid it?  By folding quilts.  I figure if I fold the ones that will go on the larger shelf, I need to fold them 24" wide by 24" deep.  The smaller ones that will fit on a smaller shelf need to be 24" by 12".  It's tricky folding them when so small.  

I'm still feeling unenthusiastic.  A  co v id  symptom that's hanging on.  I have spurts of energy come and go and when the tireds come, they hit hard and fast.  Hubby is on the sofa napping right now and has said he is still getting tired.  It hits fast and down you go.

I had a cup of Harney & Sons Cherry Blossom Tea and boy was it GOOD.  I do believe I picked a WINNER.  

HOW TO SLOW DOWN ON THE SPENDING:  Stop spending and focus on no spending.  I believe I can leave more lights off in the evening by not flipping the switches.  Continue to wash clothing in cold water and air dry articles.  Less electricity.  With the air getting cooler outside I can begin to open windows not using the air conditioner.  Use fans instead if needed.  No tele or far less of it.  Make an exception and play the radio instead.  Eat more economical meals at home.  Stay away from the thrift stores.  STAY HOME PERIOD.  Go for walks and leave the car alone.  Absolutely no charging.

WELL, there are some suggestions.  Got any ideas?

Gotta get after it. 

~d  

  

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the food allowance AGAIN.

~d

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING...FIRE AND BRIMSTONE

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THUNDER STORM BLEW IN WITH RAIN.  I walked twice around the football field when rumbling started.  That's a half a mile then cut the walk short with going to the car.  Didn't want to get struck by lightening.  As I opened the car door, the raindrops began to pound the pavement.  Just in time.  Started up the car and left.

The City Bill was dropped off and our mail picked up.  Drove around some and went HOME to rest.  I'll try to walk more this week.  

While wearing my reading glasses, I stubbed my toes on the step stool ladder's legs and bruised one of my toes pretty bad.  The day before I rammed my knee on a cart bruising my knee.  Am I accident prone?  It seems that way sometimes.  Ouch.  Some losing my balance in addition is a reality.

The week has started and I have much to do.  That's good. 
I started washing old bedspreads. 
I have a ton of laundry to do before next week-end. 
Hoping to walk more. 
After a shampoo, I'll style my hair and maybe trim it with the butterfly cut. 
Hope to make another run to the storage unit clearing out trash on Wednesday. 
Clean out the storage unit.
Grandson has a birthday this week being 10.
Continual cleaning and organizing about this tiny COTTAGE.
Check into having a booth at an antique mall. 
Have a photograph taken of my Husband and me together for the newspaper  announcing that we will be celebrating 50 years of marriage.
Prepare for a stay at a fancy Bed and Breakfast at the end of the month for anniversary.

Next time we travel down the highway, I will deliberately stare at the gorgeous countryside to admire God's beautiful handiwork.  Time is passing.  10 years ago, one of our grandchildren took their first breath and enter into a new arena of life.  We were there that day.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIDDO.  It was a long drive getting to the Hospital, but we wanted to be there.  That little boy today is full of life, energy and motion.  He's being homeschooled this year making him a 5th grader.  

I remember being 10 years old back in the day in Liberal, Kansas.  That was the year I deliberately accepted Christ as my Savior at a small church across the street from where I lived.  My childhood friend, Kathy invited me to the Apostolic Faith Church Revival.  

I was being raised in the Methodist faith and attended on a regular basis, but my friend had extended a invitation to their revival so I went.

Thinking back to when I was sitting in preschool Sunday School class coloring a picture of Jesus with young children amongst him on the piece of paper at the FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, I innocently believe that this was the time I first accepted Jesus as the son of God and part of the Holy Trinity.  I had a child like faith then and I believed.  Going up to the altar when I was 10 was a deeper commitment which grew through the years.  My spiritual journey has been a ride.  MY FAITH continues to grow at 69 years of age.  I chose JESUS over all other religions and there are so many out there.  I continue to grow.  I've done my best to stop my ears from itching, but have to admit...I did have itching ears for many years as I listened to false teachings and false teachers until God opened my eyes which stopped the itching ears allowing me liberty in the LORD. 

Christianity is a relationship with God, not a religion.  Through Christ we can have a personal relationship with God.  All other religions have their manmade ways and practices of how they promote as the way to get to God.  Jesus is the truth, the way and the life.  It's through Jesus we have salvation and are in a rightful position with God.  Nothing else.  No incense required.  No money needed to receive a blessing.  No beating up on your body to make yourself holy.  He is the one who has done the work so we can have peace and be in a relationship with God.  It is by believing in JESUS as our personal Savior as the Son of God that died on the cross for ALL MANKIND.  

Do you believe?

~d