CANDY BARS AND CRACK

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MONDAY.  I WOKE UP WITH TERRIBLY DRY EYES.  This is something I've noticed after having too much sugar the day before.  AND I DID have way too much sugar the day before.  Not a good thing to have.  Sugar is addictive and does awful things to the body especially when eating too much. 

 
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I had some miniature candy bars as I sampled our HALLOWEEN STASH purchased from SAMs and Hubby made a graham cracker treat with pecans and caramel on top.  It's like CRACK.  I know I overdosed on this stuff.  I fell off the wagon this week-end and must climb back on.  So today is that day AGAIN.  I have to do better.  The sugar is not going to change the fact that I am stressed out from the remodeling projects that are going on or need done.  Candy bars and crack are a huge NO NO for me.  Eating this stuff caused my eyes to dry out.  I caught on that this is what happens when too much sugar is in my system.  DRIED EYES.  🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫

Today, the new week is in full force.  I jotted down on a list the things I need to get done.  I am hopeful that I will accomplish what needs to get done even if it takes me all day.  As I lay down at night to fall asleep, I usually go over the list in my head what I would like to get done and begin decorating the house in my head and pray.

Wake up.
Toilet
Wash hands
Comb hair
Take morning meds with Spring Water
Jot down and review the days events
BLOG
Get dressed

Go for morning walk
Cool off
Go get the mail
Go Home
Put a load of laundry in
Clean up
Read mail
Breakfast/Brunch
Breakfast clean-up
Morning chores
Rest
Laundry
Read
Lunch
Lunch clean-up
NAP
ETC.  🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫

I've got to squeeze in writing and working on some kind of HOBBY for relaxation and for the sake of doing something else besides chores all the time.  Know what I mean, Vern.

It never goes the way I plan, but that's alright.  Somehow it helps keep me going and stay on track.

The outdoors temps are cooling this time of year in the mornings and it is the best time of the day to go WALK. As it usually warms up by afternoon and gets too hot for comfort.  Yesterday, it reached into he high 80s almost 90 and I have no business being outdoors walking in the heat even if it is good to sweat I don't do very well.  🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫

I best get to it.  I will phone in a prescription after the Pharmacy opens.  A small gift needs wrapped and placed in the mail.  Questions for the thyroid visit need typed up and ready to go. Tomatoes picked from garden.  Sofa vacuumed.  A newspaper article typed up.  Correspondences made about my Mom's new address.  Laundry worked on.  Things to put away or give away.  Car cleaned out.

This is the day that the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it.  Amen.  Being a HOMEMAKER is an honor.  I have to stay focused and remind myself of what my ministry is.

~d🏡

CURIOUS GEORGE and GRANNY NANNY CHRONICLES

SATURDAY BABY SITTING HAPPENED.  I went over about 8:45 am and stayed until 3 or so.  He was the best lil guy.  He's nearly 3 years old and letting it be known when he needs to use the toilet.  Watching CURIOUS GEORGE videos kept him busy while I read.  I still like the CURIOUS GEORGE videos myself. 

I took a few pics of him as he watched George and got tickled how squirmy his body was, but his face stayed focused at the computer screen.  He loves CURIOUS GEORGE.  

For now this is one of his favorites.  

I really thought he'd be very unhappy when he'd have to stop watching George when time to eat, but he wasn't.  I fixed him a small lunch, had it ready when I went over to the computer closing the lid as I told him it was time for LUNCH.  He ran over to his chair and ate.  As he drank his milk from a Sippy Cup, he began to get heavy lidded and I knew he would be ready for a nap after LUNCH.

It all went very well.  I told him when he finished his LUNCH that he needed to use the toilet then take a NAP.  He got out of his chair and started to whimper for his mom.  I told him she'd be HOME later.  He stopped and requested his tiny pillow from the sofa, so I told him I'd get it and then he wanted some books.  I told him he could get them.  He covered himself up with a blanket, lied down and started looking at a book.

I walked out of his room and went to the living room to sit.  About 5 minutes later I checked on him and he was asleep with the book over his face.  I removed the books from his bed and went to have some quiet time in the living room.

His folks were on their way back to the house by this time.  Actually the Baby sitting job went FAST.  Went HOME and took a NAP for myself.  Tired.  SO tired.

On Friday, I went to have some LABS done for my yearly thyroid exam.  By evening the numbers were in my health portal.  No wonder I'm so tired and somewhat sad.  My TSH numbers are way too low so I will lower the dose of my medicine and see the ENDOCRINOLOGIST later in October.  I believe my numbers are wonky low because of a couple of medicines I started taking.  I believe it has messed with me.  humph.  

We went to Topeka for the labs, ate lunch and stopped off at SAMs.  It was a short trip for the day, but always a pleasure to get away for a few hours also seeing the gorgeous Prairie landscape displaying seasonal beauty along the highways and byways.  AUTUMN colors are coming forth and I can't help but admire them in all their glory.  I know cold weather is coming and it isn't what I look forward to, but if I focus on the beauty of the landscape knowing we're one day closer to SPRING I should be alright.  Appreciating the differences in NATURE is far better than shivering in the cold.  Bundle up Buttercup.

I had time to rethink about having a miniature vegetable garden next SPRING beside the house where the sun will hit.  I believe it will be for the best to stay with miniature veggies in this small spot that we will work up next SPRING.  Cherry Tomatoes, Baby Cucumbers, Scallion Onions, Bibb Lettuce, miniature Peppers will be the produce to grow in this spot.  A SALAD GARDEN.  

There's an area alongside the Garage that might work for Carrots, New Potatoes, Squash and Zucchini.  

AUTUMN clean-up.  I need to clear out the containers that held our tiny tomatoes and peppers this year along the house.  The abundant crop did super and blessed us with such tasty produce.

I dead headed some of the mums out front of the porch.  The blossoms were plenty and I'm hoping to have more during AUTUMN.  It's the best I can do right now for front porch decor. Giving it some thought where I will WINTER the Geraniums before ice cold weather comes. With the temps in the 60s, it's lovely to have the screen window on the storm door open.  The air conditioning was turned off and fresh air is coming into the house.  

THIS WEEK-END, I need to return to walking at the football field and track.  I've stayed busy, but haven't deliberately walked my mile each day.  STILL, I've made a conscious effort to stay in motion.  

With my thyroid numbers too low, I really can tell that I am fatigue more so than normal. Waiting for the numbers to rise will take a couple of weeks.  This bothers me as I wait, but there isn't much I can do about it other than to faithfully take the meds on an empty stomach and WAIT.  Keep on keeping on staying busy.

AUTUMN is here where I purchased a ceramic pumpkin at a thrift shoppe.  She'll go in the center of the dining room table.  I had better get busy decorating the porch as time flies so quickly where HOLIDAY decorating changes her theme toward the CHRISTMAS tune.  

While shopping at the thrift shoppe, a lovely Amish women with four daughters arrived in their car all dressed in their religious attire.  These peeps were not in horse and buggy.  No pics.  They purchased plain colored men's shirts.  I know the mom got a bargain on the clothing as the prices are competitive.  $6 per shirt instead of $60 from the mall. A few years back, the shirts would have been a dollar. 

I wish I had decorated the porch in September for AUTUMN.  Gosh, if I could just get my act together I'd be ahead of the game.  The gorgeous decorating I have seen on videos and pictures makes my heart swoon. 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕 

So blessed.

~d🏡

1 Tbsp of Peanut Butter: Lowers Blood Sugar, A1C, Insulin Resistance & ...

WELP...I guess I should eat PEANUT BUTTER to help with health issues if the peanut butter is fit to eat. A tablespoon a day?  I'll give it a go.

God bless,

~d

THE POLITE LADIES APPROACH TO THYROID HEALTH

HAVE MERCY.  I just spent the morning and early afternoon playing TELEPHONE TAG with a Heart Hospital about scheduling a thyroid ultra sound for my yearly Thyroid Cancer Appointment to find out there was no work order for a TUS from my endocrinologist specialist.  Okay, getting in contact with the Endocrinologist Office to speak about this hic-up took some time plus researching in my health portal to find out the wrong work order was placed a year ago.

Hic-up and a half.  Wrong work order from the professionals.  Okay. I'm the little 'ole lady that this wrong info was played on.

The Thyroid Ultrasound is to be done before the yearly appointment so the doc can go over the report with the patient while they are present at the appointment.

Putting it in a nut shell the TUS won't be done until two weeks after my appointment.  Tadaah!  I can read the results in my health portal afterwards, but if I have questions then it's up to me to go the extra mile and ask the doc questions through the health portal.  No need to see a doc when I'm expected to read for myself the report on-line.

I will follow through with my yearly appointment with the lab results already done THEN get the TUS and wait for the ultra-sound results on-line.  This will be my last visit with this circus.  I will stay on top of my TSH numbers and ultrasounds through my regular doc and WALK-IN-LABS. No need to see the ENDOCRINOLOGIST anymore.  My experience with this particular medical facility/company has been a rocky road where I am better informed about Thyroid issues through reading on my own.

FOR 14 YEARS, I was not told to avoid dairy products after taking morning thyroid meds by my Endo.  A list of don'ts has transpired and it wasn't my Endocrinologist that educated me. With my constant weight gain, I was ignored when I asked questions it went nowhere.  With my fatigue, it went nowhere.  Caffeine can interfere with thyroid meds absorption.  They were not the ones that informed me of this.  What vitamins and supplements should I take? NO comment. Are there foods I should avoid?  

I've drawn a conclusion that the Endocrinologist believe that if their patient's TSH numbers are within the so-called range, then they have done their job even if the patient still feels horrible with hypothyroidism symptoms.  They will do no more investigating with additional blood test. It's narrowed down to the patient probably NOT TAKING their meds even if the patient has faithfully taken the meds as instructed.  

What course of action is done if I have been faithful in taking meds, but my TSH does not stabilize?  What test are done to investigate? How well is the T4 converting to T3?  Is the T3 too low?  Is it pooling as reverse T3?  NO answers.  

I've found out elsewhere that what one's T3 numbers are more important than T4.  They have not checked my T3 number.  Tis always T4.  How does one raise their T3 so my body functions optimal???  I can go to Walk in labs and get a blood test that indicates what the T3 is, but without medical help, I don't believe I can raise it to where it will be optimal.  Will have to check into this.  If my T3 is raised, I should feel good and lose weight.

With my appointment in October, I will read the questions I have written down and see if they suggest anything and if they don't, I will politely and quietly excuse myself from their presence and be done with their establishment.  

I'm very blonde.  Slow at times.  I stayed with this particular ENDOCRINOLOGIST giving it a go hoping they would help me feel better, energized and lose weight.  Going to a functional doctor about my thyroid issues is an option.  Out of pocket expenses to follow.  Frustrations can run wild.

Being POLITE when at the Doctor's office is the way I prefer.  So be it.  Admitting that I have to do medical care differently than what I have received is being PROACTIVE.  So you can be polite and proactive at the same time.  Amen and amen.  I know better that 14 years is a while to suffer with having NO THYROID and only replacing a person with T4 isn't the same as receiving T1, T2, T3, T4, and Calcitonin. 

Off I go on another adventure.
~d

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I CRAVE PEANUT BUTTER

THAT'S FOR SURE.  I get to craving peanut butter.  Not always sure why.  I had asked my hubby to pick me up ONE piece of peanut butter fudge since he was going to be in the community that has a candy shoppe and save it for me until I returned HOME.  He did and I have munched on it today.  

As I was traveling back to KANSAS on Tuesday, I went through Topeka and stopped at GOD'S STOREHOUSE where they sell wonderful peanut butter cookies.  I bought one and was one happy old lady.

~PROTEIN~

What is it when we crave some food?  Our body is needing something that food has in it.  I'd read protein.  PROTEIN.

From cutting calories, I'm needing more protein.

https://cravemagnificence.com/craving-peanut-butter/#google_vignette

When I was in Iowa, I was thinking about purchasing a jar of peanut butter, but didn't.  So with all this craving peanut butter, I think I need more protein.  YUMMERS.

Years ago when I first went into a Health Food Store in Manhattan, Kansas, I noticed the peanut butter making machine.  This was a new concept to me making one's own peanut butter.  It was before I took an interest in making my own ANYTHING.  I was so conditioned to just buy store bought everything.  I am a true consumer and the stores love to see me coming as they know I purchase store bought items.  

Have I changed?  I still buy already made items in the jar.  Now days I am more of a label reading buyer.  Selecting less ingredients in things.

It's alright to change your mind and I have.  I keep doing this.

DO YOU GET FOOD CRAVINGS?

Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe from the past.

https://homehavenministry.blogspot.com/2009/08/life-just-easier-peanut-butter-cookies.html

~d

100 Year-Old Nutrition Professor: 7 Keys to Longevity | Dr. John Scharff...

ON THE ROAD AGAIN AND A BATHROOM REMODEL

I DROVE HOME ALONE ALL BY MYSELF, but I wasn't lonely as I prayed practically all the way HOME for 5 hours.  Had an incredible drive through IOWA, MISSOURI and finally back to KANSAS.  Went last week to spend some time with my 92 year old Mom and Sister in IOWA.

Went to a doctor's appointment with Mom and we girls did a ton of shopping and talking.  I am officially dog tired.  

HUBBY stayed HOME to work on our bathroom and it is coming together beautifully.  I decided that I could handle the trip by myself with GOD helping me.  He didn't disappoint me.

The scenery was gorgeous.  Hints of AUTUMN are present as AUTUMN began on Sunday.  It rained some as I drove HOME.  Lots of semi-trailer trucks on the interstates and highways.  When I pulled up to my COTTAGE yard, I was relieved that I was HOME again.  I had a neat time with family, but am pleased to be HOME with my HUBBY.

I phoned my Mom when I arrived HOME so she'd know I arrived safely.  She was excited to tell me that a different apartment had opened up across the hall from where she lives that faces the South to where the patio would be getting full sun.  The apartment she's in faces North and the patio has a huge tree by it that cast branches onto the patio where she can't use it.  Just yesterday while we were parking the car to get out to go inside of the building where she lives, she said she wished that she had gotten one of the apartments right there.  She got her WISH.

This evening, the Iowa family is working on moving her stuff across the hall into the new apartment.  Heavens, this all happened so fast it makes my head spin.  She had just told us that she wished that her apartment was on the other side of the building.  Well, tonight it is.  She started moving her clothes this afternoon.  Wham.

I can't turn around and return to IOWA right now to help her move.  I had no way of knowing that she'd get a different apartment so quickly.  If I did I would be no good as my energy is GONE.  A 5 hour drive may not be anything to some, but to me, I do not travel the best.  Low energy doesn't multiply more energy for me.  It drains it.  So much for being 69.

As I drove alone, I felt empowered as I have seldom traveled alone without my Husband by my side and here I was navigating strange territory.  It's important to be somewhat independent as an older gal, huh?  I had time to think out loud and run through my mind steps of what to do next with shuffling furniture in the COTTAGE to make the place more manageable for us.  

HUBBY remained HOME so he could work on the bathroom.  It's looking nice to me.  Soon the clawfoot tub will be installed and we can bathe in comfort.  We purchased the tub so long ago, I can't remember when we got it exactly, but the feet were nickeled about a year ago waiting for their place on the tub.  It's a small tub and we bought it for the rock house with a tight fitting bathroom.  Hung unto it and are now using it for this small COTTAGE bathroom which isn't overly large.  

The 124 year old closet door is mahogany!

Rain Glass for privacy.

Still some work to do on it, but it's looking very nice right now.  We had started gutting the bathroom over three years ago when we weren't living in the COTTAGE yet...it's been a long drawn out remodel for us.  LONG DRAWN OUT.  Hello somebody.

I can't help but get somewhat excited that it is just about completed.  Visions of the next step in fitting into our retirement COTTAGE dance about in me head.  I want to go with lots of white and soft grays.

BEFORE PICS OF THE MESS WE STARTED WITH.

The remodeling of the old Bathroom reminds me of when CHRIST takes us where we are and begins to clean us up after we receive HIM as savior and become filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.

HE loves us so much that HE wants us to be who we should be in HIM.  HE loves us into a new creature in HIM.

Be it ever so humble...there's no place like HOME,

~d

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH THE REST OF MY LIFE?

The Quickest Black Bean Salad

Prepper Pantry List | 14 MUST Have Items For Your Food Stockpile!

QUIET HOME TIME WITH NOT DESPISING SMALL STARTS

FREE TIME FOR A LITTLE BIT.  Don't get me wrong...I love my Husband and spending time with him, but I also need some alone time for myself.  He's off getting new tires put on the car over in Manhattan as I stayed HOME.  The house is very QUIET and right now this is an appealing quality to me who needs alone time from time to time.  I can hear myself think.

DAY STARTED EARLY.  I'm sipping spring water after having taken my morning meds.  Thyroid meds on an empty stomach with spring water.  I won't eat anything for a couple of hours.  FRUIT this morning.  Think I'll aim to have fruit for morning food and lunch will be a large salad.  Supper will be steamed veggies.  I believe I can pull this off.  Hubby will get extra protein with his meals.  I'll be cutting back AGAIN on the red meat.

Having had CO VID in JULY, something has happened to my taste buds.  I look at food and it turns me off.  Hubby is having issues with eggs.  Perhaps, I will be able to downsize in a easier way by not eating as much.  My friend JUDY has shrunk in body size over the last year.  She went to the doctor and was told she was fine.  She told me that she lost interest in eating and doesn't know why.  Perhaps I'll do the same.

OVER THE WEEK-END, I babysat my youngest grandchild for an over nighter.  First time for him and parents to not be sleeping under the same roof.  I thought he would perhaps cry some at bedtime, but he was really tired and went to bed without any problems.  I deliberately kept him occupied and busy and allowed him to stay up until 10:30.  He stayed in his own bed and slept through the night. 

Now on the other hand, I didn't sleep sound because I was concerned that he might get up in the middle of the night and I wouldn't know about it.  It all worked out and I took a 3 hour NAP when I returned HOME.   It didn't keep me from sleeping at last night either so I was truly tired.

Still waiting for the KENMORE VACUUM part to arrive at our front door to see if the vac will work after I burned up the motor a few years back and went to using a BLACK and DECKER that was deep cleaned recently.  I will vacuum the upholstered living room furniture today if the BLACK and DECKER will work right.  This is my today plan.  The entire living room will be deep cleaned.  

I had kept the KENMORE beast and refused to throw it away.  I didn't have the heart to pitch it knowing what we had paid for it, but being busy with illnesses and a move with an assignment to downsize, the vacuum stayed out of sight until now. 

I'm preparing for a visit with my elderly MOM later this week.  Hubby will stay HOME remodeling the bathroom while I venture to IOWA.  The housing complex Mom lives in has a very long hall and if I walk it 4 times, I will have covered a mile.  I wouldn't have to face the outdoor elements this way when walking for the day.   

Praying for a blessed day.  I'll busy myself here in a little bit after I drink my HOT TEA.  Slow morning for me and then off I will be busy on this TUESDAY morning.  

Having a slow start does not necessarily mean a slow ending, does it?

First, move slowly when you're making any major decision. The book of Proverbs says a lot about this. PROVERBS 21:29 says, “Wicked people bluff their way, but God's people think before they take a step” (CEV). And Proverbs 4:26 says, “Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure” (ESV).

Zechariah 4:10

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin".

Home LIFE is for me.

BLESSINGS TO YOU, 

~d🏡

  

ASPARTAME INTO FORMALDEHYDE

HEAVENS.  Another eye opening tid bit of information about unhealthy substances has come to my attention.  I did not know that aspartame breaks down in the human body into formaldehyde.  Probably cancer causing.  

You've got to be kidding?  no.  Checked it out and sure enough.

Everywhere I turn, I'm finding out that dangerous substances are introduced into the human body by eating products sold by companies promoting products with cancer causing ingredients sold to the public.

Now, you don't have to purchase them, but breaking away from mind sets we have formed that encourages us to purchase the products in the first place can be a challenging thing to change.  Working at this.  Kaboom.  Another blow.  FORMALDEHYDE from aspartame.  

I seldom digest aspartame that I know of, but.....will I remember?

~d