WHEN WE TOOK A MINI VACAY

              ~d

COFFEE IN THE MORNINGS

 ~d

COLLAGES and BONNIE PARKER OF BONNIE AND CLDYE FAME

COLLAGE OF THOUGHTS

Hello Somebody!

This word statement caught my eye so I snagged it to share.  
It speaks volumes to me.  Simplicity.

CUTE IDEA

LIL MISS GROWS UP

POOL NOODLES FOR OTHER USAGE

BEAUTIFUL BONNIE PARKER SMILING
of Bonnie and Clyde FAME

We watched THE HIGHWAYMEN movie about hunting down Bonnie and Clyde with Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson the other night.  Liked the movie and the chemistry those two male actors have.  They successfully end the careers of the duo.  Ambushed on a country road, Frank Hamer and company kill the young couple in their tracks.  I forget how many bullets were fired.   

I use to live in Hugoton, Kansas so I'm familiar with Hugoton.  Back in the day, Bonnie, known as Jewel Underwood ran a cafe called Jewels on Main Street.  A friend of mine's Grandparents rented out their upstairs to Bonnie and Clyde.  Clyde stole fuel from the farmers.  Anywho, the car these two were killed in was stolen from a Topeka couple which were related to one of my High School girlfriends.  Small world SOMETIMES.  That's two of my girlfriends that have a link to the duo Clyde and Bonnie. 

Due to another case going on with a different friend, I took an interest in tiny women that can lug a heavy firearm about.  They are capable of doing so.  Their petite build does not limit them to firing a large weapon.  Bonnie proves this.

I had taken an interest in Bonnie's size at 4'11" weighing about 90 pounds soaking wet.  Just how did she use a heavy firearm being so tiny?  Photographs prove that she was able to do so.  In this other case, my girlfriend does not believe the murderer she is defending could use a heavy firearm at her tiny size.  Just saying.    

Looks like Bonnie had a beautiful smile.

Time to get after my day.  Back to Topeka to purchase a muscle rack for our ATTIC.
~d👵

MIDDLE OF THE MONTH

SEPTEMBER 15th.  Have mercy... tis the middle of the month already and AUTUMN is penciled in on the calendar to start in a week.  A new season.  Part of me wants AUTUMN and part of me doesn't.  New territory and a fresh start.

We have no medical appointments this week.  Praise the LORD.   This allows us some time to do other things like stay in the neighborhood and tidy the storage unit.  Sounds like work to me. Best to make the best out of it.  Next week is a different story about medical appointments. 

The heat has gotten to me.  Irritated and worn out.  I've gotten stir crazy staying inside so much this Summer that when I get outside in the heat it is so awful I can't stand it.  Come quickly AUTUMN.  I am looking forward to temps in the low 70s.  Walking plans will kick in again I hope.  sigh.  

Making plans to go to TOPEKA to drop off some metals for cash.  Over the last year, we have gathered brass and aluminum to cash in at a recycling plant.  Extra coffee money.  Cha-ching.  As I was looking over a web sight, they have listed other things that you can cash in such as frying pans, Christmas lights and old cars.  I had no idea that old Christmas lights could be cashed in at the recycling plant.  I never thought about cashing in an old frying pan.  grins.  I'm just not with the program.  What else could I take there and cash in?

I'll have to give that some thought and do a walk about the house, garage and yard.  hummm.  If I really want to downsize and liquify, I should consider doing this.   What is just sitting around that I'm not using that could be cashed in???

Back on track.  I seem to go down a rabbit hole when blogging.  Okay.  Go to Topeka, eat, drop off metal, stop off at God's Storehouse on Senior Day, go to SAMs, get some medicinal Iced Tea and pick up some fresh veggies and fruit.  Sounds like a plan.

Middle of the month and almost the middle of the week.  Time gets away from me.  Can I do anything about this?  Plan carefully and be a good steward of my time as best I can.

A good steward is someone who responsibly manages the resources, talents, and responsibilities entrusted to them,
using them wisely to honor God and serve others.

Have fun doing this,

~d👵

IN THE MOOD FOR AUTUMN

MONDAY ON THE PRAIRIE.  Awesome cool temps early in the morning, but has climbed throughout the day.  I am in the mood for AUTUMN.  In a blink of the eye, it will not be here.  LATE Summer seems like it is going to stay scorching the ground.  FALL arrives in about a week.  I wish it were already here along with temps about 73 degrees.  I will begin anew with a walking schedule in the mornings.  Praying it happens.  

Two loads of laundry under my belt this afternoon.  An abundance of paperwork completed.  Fridge cleaned and produce list written out for restocking.  It seems like I am over buying the veggies and they rot before I get them used up.  Not a good plan.  Adjustments needed.  

If I RESTOCK ON TUESDAYS, then I probably could go as well just before the week-end and be well stocked for week-end meals.  Where I live, I do not have close access to a grocery store, so there is always a need to travel to the city for veggies and fruit.  I enjoy getting out of the house to shop.

AUTUMN 2026 starts on Tuesday, September 22nd.  Calendar wise, the temps will probably still be hot.  Soon, very soon, it'll be cooling off. 

May this week be productive,

~d

WEEK-END

WITH THE EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER STILL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, the brewing thunder storm will hopefully cool the temperature and we'll be revived.  While I stepped outside to tell my daughter and grand bye, I snipped the rosemary plant back that sits on the porch.  The aroma is heavenly.  I meant to trim it a couple of weeks ago and here I am finally getting around to trimming it.

I placed the trimmings in a glass jar and sat it on a Kitchen counter.  It will dry out.  For a time I will get a sniff of a wonderful fragrance.

This morning we watched our youngest grandson play in a soccer game.  He did well and it is a treat to watch the blossoming athletes.  We sat on the sideline in lawn chairs under the cloudy skies which shaded us from the heat where we had a gentile breeze keeping us from sweating.

We went HOME and our little guy came over afterwards to visit us.  Fed him lunch and watched PAW PATROL on the television.  His favorite.  We rested and had a pleasant time.  His Mom arrived around 3:30 for coffee and chat.  Nice to catch up.  

As evening started, a storm rolled in with a down pour.  We simply had cereal for supper.  Good enough.

We shall see if we can sort glassware that we no longer want and place it in a to go tub.  The CHRIsTMAs DECOR that was in the Living room was taken to the "ATTIC" making room for empty tubs to fill.  A slow, but rewarding move.   

Time to clear out the fridge of old produce and clean the inside of the fridge.  I usually place paper towels inside the drawers for catching drips and leaks.  I'll do this then make a trip to town for fresh produce such as lettuces, green beans, asparagus, zucchini, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, fresh fruit, etc.  We'll be ready for the week to come.  

Quick wrap up.

~d

SUDDENLY...

LAST NIGHT WE WATCHED A MOVIE THAT MADE ME CRINGE. Winning Best Film, Best Male Actor and Best Director in 2016, The REVELANT was our pick for the day.  There is a scene where a bear attacks the actor Leonardo DiCaprio's character Hugh Glass which is beyond realistic.  Extremely believable.  Extremely.  More action than I could handle.  

Truthfully, I watch entirely too many movies.  I could probably be a movie CRITIC.  In a way everybody is as we all have an opinion about what we watch.  

My time can be used more wisely.  Can I switch gears and do something else with my TIME? Yes. Absolutely.  Visual stimulation has had a hold on me for years.  Being human, I am caught up between telling myself that so much TV is acceptable verses the opposite.  I should be doing something else of greater importance.

Today is Friday!  The week flew.  Back to working on the storage unit that is now OUR ATTIC. Getting ready to take a load to storage.  Praise the Lord and a huge hug to my Husband for making the space become our attic.  He made progress.  He disassembled a muscle rack and hauled it to storage, sat it up and started loading it with tubs.  Took some pics to show me. Looked great.  

Our plan is to continue clearing out things out of storage that do not belong in an attic. Relocating decorations there is on the menu.

Still, I am unsettled that this is taking so long and there is much to do to get the finished results. The garage is in a terrible mess, the storage unit is still in the works and the interior of our COTTAGE looks like hoarders dwell here.  gulp.

My strength is gone.  I need restored.  Refreshed.  Here's to a suddenly.  Make the order appear. I shall see how far we get today and over the week-end.

I have been in this mess longer than I can bare.  Being realistic about downsizing and making order isn't going well.  Help.  

God bless you.

~d   

'LIFE JUST GOT A LITTLE EASIER' A DECENT MEAL

Internet sources for image

'Life Just Got A Little Easier'

 A DECENT MEAL!  This is something I could do and will.  

This would be very filling and full of nutrients.

Have a good life,

~d

MIDDLE OF THE WEEK

MORNIN' LOVELY.  I slept so well last night that it took the edge off of being sluggish in the morning.  This beautiful day has started with over cast, grey skies and humidity with hopes of some rain to cool things off.  I went ahead and walked out on the porch this morning in my pink housecoat to get a feel for the temperature.  

Still HOT at 77 degrees with a chance of rain.  It feels hotter than 77 with this humidity.  Stifling. Hubby is outside mowing a different section of the yard.  He said he'd have coffee with me when he comes inside to cool off.  He is working hard to get the yard back to looking like somebody cares.

I think he'll continue to get up early in the mornings when the heat isn't over 80 to do yard work. The hedge of box woods we planted 3 years ago haven't done well as many of them died from winter frost so they will be pulled up and cleared out of the bed.  It looks awful having so many dead, yellow box woods in with some green ones.  The healthy ones will go elsewhere on our property.  We don't want to buy any more of this type of boxwood as it isn't hardy enough for this part of Kansas.  Last year we replaced the ones that didn't make it.  This probably would be a yearly event with this particular type of plant.  At $40 a pop per plant there are other things we want to do with the money.

We'll clear the plants out of the front bed a little at a time and work the soil over.  Not sure yet, but we are giving it much thought what to plant back in this bed.  Irises that we already own are calling our name.  There have been Irises in this bed before and they did well sooooo I think we'll give it another try to beautify the yard.

It's been so hot this Summer.  I use the wash machine to do laundry at a certain time of day.  I was taught that electrical appliances such as a washing machine should not be used in the middle of the day.  Tis best to use when there are not so many others using power.  Cuts the expense of the electricity.  I usually use the machine early in the morning so I need to get a load in.  

Plans for the day.  
Laundry.  
Bills looked over.  
Items taken to the storage unit.  
Finish organizing the Kitchen Cabinet.
Paper work.
Shuffling boxes on the main floor.
Fixing a cool salad.
Coffee Break.
Writing Mom a letter.
Decluttering the house.
Clean the box of miniature kerosene lamps.
TV time.
Devotions.
Shaving my legs for this.
Reading.
Tis Wednesday and the trash needs placed out at the curb as the Sanitation workers come early on Thursday.
What ever else comes to mind.

I cannot get the Living room and Dining room tidied just yet as the "Attic" at the storage unit is still being arranged.  My sanity is going mad amongst the messes.  I'm incredibly moody. Between the heat and the messy house, I'm seeing red.

Time to get a move on.

~d

 

PAMPERING GONE WILD

I CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT WEEK'S COOLER WEATHER.  It can't come soon enough.  We're old and have to baby ourselves when spending time outside.  Pampering gone wild.

Slow down actions and exposure to the HEAT.  Slow it way down.  

Hubby's going the mow our yard and has already made a plan to mow the yard in sections so he isn't in the heat for long.  I'm concerned for his health.  Avoiding a HEAT STROKE.  Our lawn boy is now back in school and can't mow.  Our sweet daughter has mowed a few times for us, but she has her hands full with other matters.  Hubby becomes the physical caretaker.  

I think we ought to get a robot lawn mower to mow.  grins.  I saw one of these in action the other day and thought that's the ticket.

When he gets done and cools off, we'll go to the storage unit to empty the storage tubs that are in the PT Cruiser.  We have to do things in stages.  Tis too HOT to do each project all at once. Staging in phases is one way of doing the stuff that needs done as the sole proprietors of this estate.  While he's outside, I will be organizing the Kitchen cabinet to the left of the stove.  It needs serious attention as it is crammed full of this and that.

Oh to have a certified organizer do this task is tempting.  I could pamper myself really easily. hummm.  Just watch videos about getting organized or read some manuals, right?  Unhuh.  It's not the end of the world...tis a simple thing to want and need to function effortlessly.

I'm trying to make room for a place to store, meds, vitamins and minerals.  It's not going well. Presently the supplements are in a medium size box and elsewhere in the pantry.  I emptied the Kitchen cabinet and stopped, standing there scratching my head how am I going to make it all fit into this tiny space?  Baking ingredients and cooking items are there.  No room for supplements at all.  We have a shelf above the stove that I may take the neat things on there and place things like salt and pepper shakers, cinnamon sugar mix, baking soda and powder, chocolate powder on the shelf.  The larger mason jars of baking and cooking ingredients will stay in the cabinet?  

The story of my life when it comes to making things work.  Each place we have lived has been so different from one another.  What worked for one location may not worked for another.  Seldom does.

Taking ownership of the Kitchen is needed to make this small HOME work for us.  Something that sounds so easy to some, but isn't for me.  It's difficult to make this happen.  Doable, but difficult as I want strict order like Martha Stewart or Marie Condo TIDY, if you know what I mean.  My HOME is well lived in and not a museum.  Perhaps if I visited a KITCHEN MUSEUM it would benefit my efforts.  I can research on the computer to get ideas how to create a sweet KITCHEN from little of nothing.

Why am I making this so difficult?  sigh.  I need it done, so make it happen.  Right?  Shuffle and morph along, sweetheart.

~PAUSE~ 
I thought about it and stared at the shelf above the stove as I was thinking about it.  The if's went wild.  Clearing the shelf above the stove, I measured to see if the tall MASON JARS filled with cinnamon sticks, powdered milk, oatmeal, etc. pertaining to baking that I own, would fit in that space.  Whalaah, they did.  The inside of the cabinet has space now for meds.  The tall jars fit snugly on the shelf.  Looks good to me.  Orderly and easy to get to!  Wow.  I am making HOMEMAKER PROGRESS in a tiny COTTAGE KITCHEN.  I'll go with the flow.  

Now to find places for all the little items that were crammed in the cabinet.  

The elderly HOMEMAKER has gone wild.  

Gone wild, I tell ya.

~d

  

LABOR DAY LABOR

TIS LABOR DAY.   The Banks, City Building and Post Office are closed.  Many are having a HOLIDAY today embracing the meaning of what Labor Day is celebrated for.  Me, I am putzing about the house and getting ready to put the lawn sprinkler out on the front yard to feed some moisture into the parched ground.  Tis horribly HOT in the out of doors.  Hitting a hundred degrees plus heat index.  Tis a scorcher.  

Watering of the yard took place.  We loaded storage tubs from the garage into our PT Cruiser to haul to the storage unit which is our temporary ATTIC.  Even with it being blistering HOT, we managed to transfer a bunch of tubs into storage.  Tadaah.  We did it.  After we finished loading a second bunch of tubs, we traveled to Wamego for SUPPER.  Keeping the Kitchen cool, eating out was a delightful meal to have.  We shared chicken tenders with bar-b-que dipping sauce, home-made potato chips with cheese and sweet potato fries then ate peach bread pudding with a small scoop of vanilla ice-cream.  Twas ever so good.  Hubby loved it.  I usually have water, but this time I had unsweetened iced tea. 

So we did labor on Labor Day.  Felt great to get more work accomplished on our huge undertaking.  We hauled large CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS that will be used for the front porch decor to the unit.  This is where we are beginning to make some order.  In a few weeks I should be able to go to the "ATTIC" and know exactly which boxes hold what of the porch decor.  The garage will not be used for decor storage and the cellar will be transformed into a safe place to store small appliances that don't fit in the Kitchen and overflow glassware. 

We have yet to bring out of the cellar the CHRISTMAS decor.  Carrying these items will require some muscle and will power.  Climbing stairs is a different animal when carrying stuff.

We didn't spend much time out and about before traveling HOME to watch a Australian TV series we have been binge watching.   The sun was going down and I was thinking how beautiful the skies are painted gorgeous shades of orange.  Quietly displaying God's beauty.

Tomorrow, will be a new day.  
May it be exceptional.

~d

 

MINI VACAY FOR OUR 52nd ANNIVERSARY

WE CELEBRATED 52 YEARS OF MARRIAGE AUGUST 31st.  HAD AN AWESOME TIME.  It soaked in.  Hubby surprised me by making arrangements to stay a night at CLOVER CLIFF RANCH in the LINCOLN SUITE.  

On our way, there was a major detour to get there.  It was a GOD SEND as I had wanted to visit Marion where we married on our actual wedding anniversary.  The detour caused us to go there. What a sweet blessing.  We actually were in Marion, KS on our actual wedding anniversary. THINKING OF THE DAY WE MARRIED.  August 31, 1974.  It was a cool day with overcast skies. It had rained in the morning and we exchanged vows around 6 in the evening.  The sun came out and the birds were singing.  All was well.

After we played in Marion, we drove to Council Grove for a late lunch at the 1857 Hays House Restaurant.  I had a good 'ole fashioned 🍔 hamburger with 🍟 French Fries.

Drove over to Clover CLIFF RANCH to stay in the Lincoln Suite.  Magical.  Lovely suite.

🛁This suite has a bubbling jacuzzi.  I had dreamt of taking a long soak in this device.  So I did. Climbing into the tub was a bit of a challenge as I was nervous about my knees getting injured as it is a very deep tub. Climbing out of it wasn't as difficult since I have a technique of turning on my side, rolling over on my knees, grabbing ahold of the side of the tub and climbing out of it. Like clockwork it worked for me this time.  We stretched out on the bed and watched some television until night fall.

🛏You will sink into the mattress which is super soft with poofy pillows.  We woke to the fragrance of Breakfast.  🍽 Breakfast was gourmet, if you ask me. 

🫖Stopped off in Marion and had a treat at THE SIT DOWN coffee shop in an old Victorian House.  Relaxed. 

After we said our goodbyes, we drove back to Council Grove to visit the Dustie Shelf again. Looked at a piece of jewelry that did not fit.  We had a change of plans and stayed in town at the COTTAGE HOUSE INN in the Wedding Suite!  Loved it.  We skipped Breakfast to eat lunch at the Hay's House again in Council Grove.

We caught the FLINT HILLS BOOK STORE open that's in an old Bank. 

https://www.flinthillsbooks.com/

📖📚Jennifer Kassebaum runs this really neat shoppe.  We have not been able to catch the store open before until today and it was a real treat.  Very nice book store with an oversize painting by Jak Barnes.

🌡🤒We drove HOME afterwards and took a well deserved NAP.  I woke feeling so very tired.  It must be the heat.  108 in the shade this morning.  Slowly, it cooled off some.  This evening it's 84.   

Gosh, we had a wonderful HOLIDAY celebrating number 52 and blessed to still be married.

🍁🍂Tomorrow, it's going to be just as HOT as the HEAT RING continues.  By the end of September, AUTUMN will be so welcomed.  So far I have not guessed well how the weather is going to be in certain months.  Our September is hellishly HOT for a September where I thought it would be cooling down like Autumn meant business.

🌞OUR ON GOING PROJECT of getting settled in our retirement HOME has been so different than I predicted.  In my mind's eye, I was thinking that the temps would cool off making it pleasant weather to clean out the 3rd storage unit.  We started in June at cleaning out the 2nd unit that took until August to finish.  Weather and health did not go as planned.  At the rate we're going, cleaning unit 3 will not happen quickly.  We'll have to switch gears and work at 6 in the morning to get right conditions to be out in it.  The weather AINT cooperating.

👁THURSDAY.  Honey had an eye appointment.  While he got his eyes checked, I stayed in the lobby and looked at eyewear for myself.  I was not impressed with their inventory.  Yuck.  I want a pair with spring hinges and they had so few to choose from where I liked the frames.  What am I to do?  I'll check SAMs next week and see what they have.  

👀Hubs appointment went really well with the doc saying his eyes looked good for a 71 year old. Good news!!! 

🌷We went to the VINTAGE TULIPS in Wamego and right off the bat inside the door were some old Victorian pieces that Hubby blessed me with for our Anniversary.  An old metal water pitcher and butter dish with dome.  A miniature coffee pot cute as can be went in my basket as I begin a miniature collection.  Some jewelry!!!  What a fun day.

🪺Off to Manhattan to pick up a few items in the heat.  Horrible temps.  Target was first for tea.  Short visit.  We had to stop at the Eclectic Charm on our way HOME.  $15 for a large container holding 5 BABY Aloe plants was too good of a price to pass up.  They sell Farm Fresh Eggs and I was in need of some eggs so we left with a huge container of Aloe plants and 2 dozen Farm Fresh Eggs.  

🥣Tired by now and ready to journey HOME.  Quiet time and rest.  It'll be cold cereal for SUPPER.  Ready, set, go.

💪Our plans for FRIDAY are to get up really early, disassemble the muscle rack then go to the storage unit making room for it to sit.  Set her up and start filling the shelves with Christmas decor.  Lord, I pray we can get this far or further.  Need to make progress.  Oh wait...our PT Cruiser needs cleaned out as it is holding STUFF from the unit that needs placed in the garage. Hopefully, we'll get this done.  Might be Saturday when we get the muscle rack taken care of. 

We've been busy over the Summer, but I am in a hurry to get to the end of this project.  The finish line behind us on this one.  My patience is gone.  Oops and a half.  I relax when away from the mess, but when I walk amongst the projects, I turn into someone I don't like very much. grrrrrr.

Hello, Week-end.

~d