SUNFLOWERS GALORE, HOME SICK, and THRIFTY FINDS

SUNFLOWERS ALONG THE WAY.  The Kansas STATE flower since 1903 are the sunflowers which grow well in all of the Kansas counties.  Kansas GOLD.  This time of year, the sunflowers are brilliantly decorating the sides of the roads and fields with their splendor. Raising their heads following the sun as it goes from east to west.  As we drove to Des Moines, I couldn't help but notice their presence along the way.  Beautiful displays of Kansas Gold.

The edge of the roads were covered with tall, yellow and green sunflowers.  Gorgeous display of nature.  Seeing their blossoms makes me appreciate their charm as their cheeriness is a reminder to me of better days.  

We brought our GRAND DOG with us for our road trip.  She loved the attention she got.  Loved it. 

 

I wanted to go visit with my 93 year old mom that lives there.  We tend to see her three times a year.  I miss her being in Marion, Kansas.  She's been living in Des Moines for almost two years come October.  She wanted to live closer to one of her children and relocated.  I wish she had stayed in Marion, but I didn't get my wish.  

When we want to see her, it's now a 5 to 6 hour drive for us as before it was only an hour and a half.  I miss her and I miss Marion.  When I get HOMESICK for Marion, I will drive over and entertain happy memories as I tour the town.  Since co vid, the family reunions and yearly gatherings died.  This is a part of my life that is difficult to let go of.  

We had picked up a wheel chair of Mom's that was left behind at her previous living community in Marion and took it to her in Iowa.  She had asked for it.  

Only walked a mile once when in Des Moines over our four day stay.  I walked the hall way at my Mom's apartment building walking back and forth down the corridor 4 times making a mile there.  Looking at the inside of the hallway isn't the same as walking outside admiring nature, but I knew I needed the exercise.  Just sitting around puts the pounds on this old body.  Saw my sister and went shopping with her and Mom.  My visit went so fast.  Back HOME again.  Back to working on our COTTAGE.    

🌻🌻🌻 MORE ABOUT SUNFLOWERS.  Our neighbor down the block grew a few straight rows of sunflowers to the side of their driveway.  Each time I walked the block this past Summer I could see how much the flowers had grown upwards shooting heavenly.  Well over six feet tall. As September arrives, their brilliance is starting to fade.  They're withering away. 

Sunflower seeds are easy to munch on.  As a kid, I'd eat by the handfuls the prepackaged salted seeds.  If I had access to the seeds still in the sunflower head, I'd probably eat them after baking them in the oven.  

If you are fortunate enough to watch birds rest on the sunflower blossom's head nibbling at the seeds still in the flower, you'll see them being nourished by Mother Nature.

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 

Looked at the calendar.  Two weeks until the start of AUTUMN.  9 Vegetables to plant in September comes to mind.  What shall we eat that's in season?

All of these veggies are eaten in our HOME.  Only a little Kale, but the rest are whole heartedly welcomed.

These veggies actually look good to me as I am striving to eat more veggies and plant based foods.

My body is slow to respond to healthy foods.  I'll just have to give it my all sticking to eating healthy and waiting for the good results.

THRIFT.  While in Des Moines I went thrifting at St. Vincent de Paul's Thrift Shop.  A really nice thrift store if I do say so myself.  Right away when I entered their front door I saw an owl that I placed in my shopping cart.  

A pillow that says THANKFUL on it.  A shinny pinecone.  I wondered over to the dish racks that display their treasures and there it was, a beautiful antique serving dish with lid.  Oh my my.  You're going HOME with me. Dresden Warranted China Tureen with lid in the rococo revival style.  I knew it was old, just not how old.  MY PRIZE POSSESSION.

 "Dresden" was a popular motif, but several different companies used "Dresden" as a style or location.

• Dresden, Ohio: American companies, like Dresden Pottery Works, used the name and produced semi-porcelain dinnerware from the late 19th century to the early 20th century (circa 1875-1927). 
• Dresden, Germany: European manufacturers, including those in Germany, also created items in the Dresden style, which was known for its luxury designs and fine porcelain. 

ON OUR WAY BACK HOME, we stopped off at the AMISH STORE in
LAMONI, IOWA.  Lamoni is a small community of about 2,000 

people.  The store isn't necessarily ran by the AMISH, 

but they have some AMISH WARES.  

I purchased a book by Wanda E. Brunstetter's
AMISH FRIENDS LIFE HACKS.  

Full of informative HACKS to help me in my journey as a KANSAS HOMEMAKER.

Hundreds of tips for cooking, cleaning, gardening, wellness and more.  

🐸  Along the way HOME, we stopped at THE 

ENCHANTED FROG Antiques and such.  

Near Kansas City.  It was here that I purchased another pillow.  

This one caught my eye and poked my attitude.

Can this be done or is it a fantasy?

Aiming to live life like I've imagined.

It seems that Summer is winding down with Autumn two weeks away.  We've had a relatively gentle Summer where the temperatures have not been in the hundreds, but rather in the 80's and low 90's.  This has been a gentle Summer for Kansas where brutal temps are usually the norm causing heat strokes and exhaustion for many when the temps are in the high 90's and 100's.  I believe I can take more gentle Summers like this one.

Our pumpkins are getting ready to be picked.  I wanted to decorate the front porch with them, but with the porch being rebuilt I will have to do something else with these pumpkins.  Tis time to decorate with oranges, browns, deep greens and yellows.  I may place a bench in the front yard to use for FALL/AUTUMN decorations so I have satisfaction that I decorated for AUTUMN.  I can place it under the branches of the redbud tree we have.

  

Some of our mornings are already getting chilly.  I was concerned that the early morning temps would dip into freezing where my porch geraniums would be injured.  I have one rather large geranium that I hope to bring inside during the freezing weather.  Perhaps it will live for years in the galvanized container and I won't have to purchases baby geraniums for the front porch next year.  I'll just wheel the cart that it's in out to the porch in the Spring and wheel it back inside at the end of Fall. 

As the week continues, I am needing to walk when I can, eat right, continue cleaning the COTTAGE and resting.  Tis Tuesday already and I am geared up for the month of September.

September.  My efforts need to go toward a full blown HEALTH PROGRAM.  Seriously.  I cannot ignore the size I am.  

I need to walk twice a day.  Truly walk the distance.

THE HAVE TO's:  I have to exercise.
I have to eat a certain way.
I have to use portion control.
I have to rest.
I have to declutter.
I have to PRAY.
I have to cheer myself on.
I have to drink water.
I have to sleep at least 6 hours a night.
I have to be positive that I can do this and do it well.

God richly bless you,
~d

A SUCCESSFUL BUDGET MEETING, THE EARTH MOVED, and ENTERTAINMENT ON THE CHEAP

BUDGET FRIENDLY MEETING.  We're still friends after we had a successful BUSINESS MEETING as we discussed ways to clean up our budget so it is more efficient.  The only way that we see where to cut corners is to get rid of the storage units, stop eating out as much and continue doing what we are already doing.  Sticking to the PLAN will have to happen.

We had a very successful meeting where we were not upset with one another.  There were no tempers flaring.  No voices raised to make a point.  

We have had a few of these along the way.  This time it was calm and productive.  Thankful.  I need business meetings so we stay on the same page.  There has been a time when we were not on the same page.  We were not even in the same book or library.  Bad times were had with a lot of hurt feelings.  We were old enough to know better, but got lost along the way.  It'd take work and coming to the end of ourselves before we healed.  Prayers and conversations galore.  TOOK years to master this obstacle.  AND I DO MEAN YEARS.

Realistically, it will be another year before we turn loose of another storage unit to where we receive a small break in expenses as the priority right now is to get the house ready for THANKSGIVING COMPANY meaning our time has to be directed toward the interior of our COTTAGE and not to a storage unit.  I have little less than 3 months to get there.  Counting. the days.  3 months til turkey day comes.  gobble gobble.   

If I can get the rooms taken care of THEN the garage will need cleared out and organized so some of the items from the storage units have a place to land at HOME.  I'd like to get to this place where boxed dishes are in our garage instead of a storage unit.  Aiming to have only one storage unit instead of two as an extension like a basement of a house.  A year ago, we cleared a unit out.  We had three when we started this relocation drama, plus a messy cellar and a garage not mention the side building attached to the garage.  The square space that we have now is far less than what we came from which causes issues with the downsizing.  Knowing where to go with it all is a work and I'm not a workaholic.   

HEALTH.  THE EARTH MOVED THIS AFTERNOON AFTER 12 DAYS of being seriously challenged with the plumbing.  The earth finally moved.  AND I went ahhhhhhhh.  AT LAST.  Code for going to the toilet to have a BM is the earth is moving. Being as polite as I can here with this issue.  THE EARTH MOVED.  This means I had a BM.  No earthquake.  Tis serious when it is you having issues.    

I am now at ease for a few hours and able to function better as a 70 year old WOman having the earth move.  It's been uncomfortable until today.  Win win.  

Serious business when the pipes are plugged.  Know what I mean, Vern?  A healthy sigh of relief is easier to give after this visit.  The earth moved and I'm all the better for it.  Twelve DAYS is awhile to have issues with BMs.  No prune juice, Dulcolax or enemas.  May it continue to be easier to go to the bathroom.  Amen.  

When your body tells you it needs to go sit on the toilet and you obey only to have no action take place, but the sensation doesn't leave you, it's uncomfortable to say the least.

I believe I had some kind of virus as now my hubby is suffering from the same dilemma.  May it quickly run its course.  Relieved to be better.  PTLORD. 

WHAT IS ENTERTAINMENT ON THE CHEAP?  Something that requires little spending to get entertained such as watching television programs.  Reading.  Writing.  Drawing.  Painting. Sewing.  Baking.  Naps.  Taking a Sunday drive on a MONDAY.  Walking.  Listening to the radio, teaching tapes or music.  Singing.  Swimming.  Dancing.  Visiting with a loved one or friend. Fixing a pitcher of iced tea and staying put to drink it.  Exercising in the living room.  Decorating a room.  Yard work.  Gardening.  Learning a foreign language.  Cleaning house.  Trying a new recipe.  Visiting a Library or local museum.  There's more for sure.  Entertainment does not have to be spending huge sums of money at a theatre or restaurant or throwing expensive parties and shopping in expensive department stores.  Right?  Right.      

So we binged watched A MAN ON THE INSIDE on two different nights and NO GOOD DEED on one.  Made for a couple of good entertaining nights.

I loved A MAN ON THE INSIDE with Ted Danson.  His character was fun to watch how he conducted himself as a spy inside a Senior Citizen Community where he was trying to catch a jewel thief.  It was refreshing to see him in action.

NO GOOD DEED had twists and turns to entertain us trying to figure out in this whodunnit mystery, but it has foul language that could have been left out where it wouldn't have hurt the plot.  The "GAY" agenda is promoted in this series.  Adultery, murder and lying as well.   You decide if you want to watch it or not.  

Welp, what can I say?  How we entertain ourselves can be entertaining in itself.  I should have no complaints.  Nor should I be bored.  Having a good attitude about being busy as a retired peep goes along ways.  

AND AWAY WE GO,
~d  

THE BATHROOM REMODEL IS DONE!

SIPPING HOT LEMON WATER WITH CAYENNE PEPPER from a grey ceramic mug.  Tis a nice way to start the day.  No breakfast yet and I don't suppose I'll eat until lunch.  Right now I am not hungry.  

What's for lunch?  Not sure yet, but will work in a colorful salad for supper if not for lunch. Working in more veggies as possible these days.  Better have some fruit as well plus a chunk of protein.  

Boiled eggs for protein will be in the salad since there were no eggs for breakfast.  I do like chick peas and small black beans as add-ins in my salads.   

Plans for the day.  Laundry of course.  A pile of paper needs to be gone through in preparation for my yearly thyroid exam in October.  I'll be going with lots of questions.  A walk in here somewhere.  Arm exercises.  More things taken out of the front bedroom.  

OVERALL CLEANUP OF OUR PROPERTY over the next half year or so.  First, the pink bedroom gets completely cleared out with furniture resting in the dining room and living room. Room will be deep cleaned from ceiling to floor.  Walls wiped down, ceiling fan cleaned, trim and windows wiped.  Maybe some new curtains hung on new curtain rod.  Nice and refreshed for the 1930's bedroom furniture that will come in.  

Then the rest of the front bedroom will be organized.  This will take some doing.  With the front bedroom cleaned out, it will be DEEP cleaned and the new TV room will be set up to function.  

The furniture resting in the dining room and living room will find a new HOME in the front bedroom.  At this point, we will have made a dent in the interior of the COTTAGE.  The floor will come later.

WHEN I GET TO THIS POINT, cooler weather will be here and it will be great conditions to clean out the mess in the garage.

In the mean time, Hubby will be working on the rebuilding of the porch while I am working on the bedroom and garage.  Whenever he needs a helper I will be there as his side kick.
 

🛁🛀🛁🛀🛁🛀🛁🛀🛁🛀🛁🛀🛁🛀

~BATHROOM REMODEL IS FINISHED~ 

BATHROOM REMODEL.  Finished in time for our 51st wedding anniversary. A gift to us.  The BATHROOM is finished and I couldn't be more pleased about it.  Long time in the coming. Admiring the room.  Take a peek.  This is the linen cabinet he's been working on for awhile.  It's beautiful to me.

From this to this.

He completely gutted the bathroom and re-plumbed the HOUSE

 as well.

A door was removed and a wall put up where the vanity would go.  I remember the day the antique mirror was hung.  First a sketch on the wall was drawn where the mirror was going to hang.  

Wood work would be sealed, primed and painted.

PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AND WE HAVE A NICE BATHROOM IN OUR LITTLE COTTAGE.
~d

'TWAS A MESS.

SEPTEMBER, THYROID HEALTH, and A NEW BEGINNING

STAYING UP LATE LAST NIGHT WHICH RAN INTO THE EARLY MORNING, gave me an excuse to sleep in on this Holiday.  I did sleep in so I have to rearrange my day for walking if I do so.  Temperatures right now are at 70 degrees.  This will be the high for the day so walking should be manageable this afternoon/evening.

Making out a grocery list for shopping today came rather easy as we have a stocked fridge already.  Blessed, but need some arugula, sweet kale, more lemons, and bottled water.  A stop at Hy-Vee is needed.  Since it's LABOR DAY I wasn't sure the stores would be open.

I walked to the grocery store in Wichita 51 years ago on the LABOR DAY week-end.  I was walking then as well.  How's 'bout that except I was 19 and in much better shape.  Wished I had maintained my figure throughout the years.  Having thyroid issues did do a number on me.  I hate the fact that I am fatigued.

It is quite common to be extremely fatigued when having no thyroid.  Taking the pills alone doesn't always FIX IT.  I'm broken in a lot of ways.  Rolling over and playing dead comes to mind.  Before surgery, nothing was related to me that I would possibly have fatigue issues to not having a thyroid.  NOTHING.  Was let down by not knowing this info.

Hubby remembers being in the lobby of the doctor's office when a desperately upset man came into the lobby screaming at the receptionist, "They told me I'd feel better having my thyroid taken out and I feel like sh*t".  I get where he was coming from.  The fatigue is debilitating. When the receptionist goes into calm down mode, it's predictable.  Calm down or we'll call the police on you is more like it.

When told if you're going to have cancer, this is the cancer to have....I will debate whoever on this one.  Having cancer of any kind stinks.  There's nothing good about it.  

I survived the thyroid cancer, but I have not thrived.  Surviving, but not thriving.  At times it's been extremely frustrating.  You truly are having to go through life altered.  

Okay, what should I do differently with this NEW BEGINNING in September?  I pray that my upper arms get firmer with less flab.  Let it happen.  I have 5 arm exercises to copy in hopes of being fitter. Will take some time. 

THIS HERE BEING SEPTEMBER is a start to a NEW BEGINNING of doing things somewhat different.  Such as?  Exercising a little each day.
Taking time to write.
Walk more.
CLEAR OUT THE FRONT BEDROOM.
A load of laundry.
A household chore.

There have been times that I have thought to go about my day like I were still in HIGH SCHOOL having an hour per subject matter.  I haven't stuck with it, but think for a time I ought to go about in a similar fashion so I get more done a little here and a little there giving each task only an hour before moving on to the next subject.  Might make a difference in my progress.  PRAISE THE LORD.  Making progress.

We'd journey to Manhattan for a few supplies.  I actually wore a dress for this outing instead of jeans.  My attitude changed being dressed up.  As we crossed the landscape across the Flint Hills, I noticed the tops of the trees are starting to change color going from greens to yellows on September 1st.  I'm not ready for AUTUMN, but the view is already gorgeous against the grey rain clouds.  Good therapy for me on a MONDAY.      

Needed some lemons, kale, arugula, bottled water, olive oil, avocado oil, sugar-free ketchup, a door stop.  Also wanted to check on loafers from Brown's Shoe Fit, but they were closed. Another day will be dedicated to shoe shopping and nothing else. 

Saw some pretty purple Asters in small pots outside the grocery store for $7.99.  Purchased a couple of them.  They'll go into the mum bed to the side of the COTTAGE.  Asters were one of my wedding flowers.  Since yesterday was my wedding anniversary, I'm partial to these flowers.    

Before we headed out the door to go to Manhattan, we rounded up the large Longaberger basket that was in the front bedroom to move to another room in the COTTAGE as a step forward of clearing out the room.  Yah.  This is one large item out of the room.  I placed the basket in the utility room on top of the washing machine.  Looks great there and will be useful as well.  Slow goings, but that's alright.  The plan is to move more items each day.

It rained on the way HOME so no walking this evening.  Perhaps tomorrow.  We went sight seeing for fun on the way HOME.  Drove through a new housing area and got out of the car to peek through the windows of this new construction.  OMGoodness.  Sticker shock. $619,000.oo

Seeing the interiors of houses is a treat.  I thought the open concept would be a good floor plan for older people.  Hubby said he didn't like it.  Oh well.  I did.  

On the HOME FRONT.

Two pumpkin plants were planted in mid June that have taken over our little backyard.  Impressed.  

Hubby said he wanted to pick a PUMPKIN from the backyard as some of the pumpkins are ready for picking.  His small garden with pumpkins has been prolific.  Hallelujah.  I wanted to grow pumpkins this year and they took off like a BANG.  

Next year hopefully we can grow some WHITE PUMPKINS.  I'll decorate the front porch next year for FALL.  This year, the porch will be torn up and rebuilt during AUTUMN HARVEST so decorating would only be in the way.  

My imagination goes ape over 

what it could look like.

~d

MARIGOLDS FOR NEXT YEAR and A ANNIVERSARY MEAL TO ENJOY

Ruth Graham suggested a parallel between training dogs and raising children, emphasizing simple, consistent commands, persistent follow-through, and praise for correct responses, rather than material rewards.

We're DOGGIE SITTING for our grand pup.  We love her, but she's a tad bit nervous not being in her own HOME.  It'll be fun watching her for a few days, taking her for short walks, outdoor toilet time, feeding her, water for her and loving on her.  She's bright and attentive.  Dogs require attention and that's the way it is.  We're praising her.  She has a toy pig she carries around with her and she cries as the toy belongs to her human that has gone off to school.  She knows something is up and feels it.

I went for my mile walk this afternoon in 73 degree weather.  It was lovely walking weather with a breeze.  Taking some mail to the Post Office inspired me to walk instead of driving.  I walked my mile plus 1/10th returning HOME where I walked through the backyard picking marigold seeds from our two plants.  Kind of neat picking seeds off of our plants for future plants.  Will save them in a yellow envelope for next year's plants.  Instead of having only two plants, I may have 30.  That's prospering.  Will have to start the seeds.    

I messed up and didn't pluck the Iris pods off when they were ready.  Shucks.  Completely forgot about this as we have been in and out of state.  Better luck next year.

I'm cooling off as I sit.  It's taking a good hour to do so.  I didn't think I was so sweaty and steamed up to where it'd take an hour to cool off.  Never know.  I believe I am finishing out the month of August with only 13.3 miles recorded under my belt plus some walking I can't account for when I have been out shopping, etc.

13.3 is better than nothing, but had hoped to make at least 30 miles.  Will give it a go in September.  New month.  Stick to it.  

Labor Day Week-end is underway.  September is here!  This month, LORD WILLING, I will make huge progress on clearing out the front bedroom.  I failed to make this happen during the month of August.  Too much going on.  Out of town visits, illness and fatigue were part of my August Experience this year.  

We celebrated our 51st Wedding Anniversary week-end with a trip to KC and then a quiet day at HOME on our actual anniversary day exchanging greeting cards and sweet words.  Not planning much of anything else for the day, but a delicious steak dinner.  Kansas City Strip Steak, baked potato with butter, asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce.  Think an ice cream bar for dessert will be added.  Should be a delicious meal for two old peeps. 

Hollandaise Sauce can sure add a lot to asparagus.

Watching the old Romantic/Comedy 1984 movie ROMANCING THE STONE.  It's like a new movie, 'cause I cannot remember any of it.  

As of today, I have experienced 51 years of marriage.  Lots to think about when it comes to it.  

Here's to more that are full of blessings.  

~d

Seph Schlueter - Counting My Blessings (Lyric Video)

I'M STILL COUNTING MY BLESSINGS......

~d