Keep In Motion

Walking to the Post Office only took a few minutes, but my hips felt like I had vice grips on them.  Since having thyroid cancer, they do that from time to time.  No explanation as to why.  More reading to do to become better informed.  

Made it HOME, cooled off and sipped a PERO.  Thyroid Health is ongoing.  With foggy brain though, I read something then cannot remember very well what I just read.  Much of the thyroid info goes right over my head or through it.  I take notes then forget where I put the notes.  Welp...that's not good.

I am trying to keep my body moving.  Little second exercises throughout the house.  The edge of the Kitchen counter is available and won't move if I lean into the counter like a push up.  Today as I got out of bed I raised myself up on my tippy toes several times to stretch my legs.  Felt good.  

Actually felt good.  As I sit and do paperwork or watch the tele I raise my arms in motion and wiggle my fingers often.  Twist and turn the arms as if lifting weights.  Better than nothing.

LAST NIGHTS Baked Ham turned out so tender that I went back for seconds.  SLOW COOKING has it's advantages when dealing with meats.  Very pleased with the BROWN SUGAR-MAPLE SYRUP-MUSTARD GLAZE.  It was just what the doctor ordered. 

Plenty for left-overs.  In a few days the ham will be used for HAM and BEANS.  I'll thoroughly rinse the beans then soak them in the crockpot over night, add the ham pieces in the morning and slow cook until supper.  A HARDY meal for an evening.  This week we won't starve.  

Bake some cornbread on the side, add a salad and applesauce.  Might skillet fry some potatoes.  HUBBY loves those with HAM and BEANS. 

Mailman made a drop.  Early today.  Not like clock work.  Weekly free newspaper should be there.  Look forward to glancing through the paper on Wednesdays.  

Last week I had forgotten about the traveling HEALING WALL being at the Park until I read about it in the paper.  LATE Friday night we went and looked at it when the temps were cooler.  Well lite.  Very impressive.  

The Wall That Heals: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Traveling Replica

www.vvmf.org

This traveling wall has a tent museum as well.  Years ago we saw the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Traveling Wall in Houston as well as the original Washington DC Wall.  Third time to view.  Each time it is the same, very sobering.

This go round the Wall was a different one... just as impressive as the others.  It is very humbling to see so many names that were actual people's names of those that died during the VIETNAM CONFLICT.  My cousin Bob's name is on it.



He died so young.  Married with a baby on the way.  He never did see his son and his son didn't know his Dad.  Sad.  

So many stories that these men have.  The crowd was very respectable and quiet.  Tis very humbling.

Even though our present day current events are very challenging, we are so very fortunate to be living in our country.  This country.  

The land I love.
May you have a blessed day,
d 




2 Chronicles 20:12
O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.

Isaiah 40:26
Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.


Psalm 120:1 In my distress I cried to the LORD, and he heard me.

FRIDGE TALK

Is it TUESDAY already?  Yep.  Getting ready to put a big 'ole ham into the crockpot for supper.  Will make the Brown Sugar-Maple Syrup- Mustard GLAZE to pour over that bad boy.  

Ever so often I go through the freezer and take inventory then tidy.  
The HAM came out a couple of days ago to thaw first in the sink then finish in the tiny fridge.  TINY for me as I am use to a LARGER FRIDGE for more refrigerated items.  I have purchased small bins for grouping jellies and syrups in one, salsas in another, V-8, water, etc.  It's taking on a new look.  A cleaner more stream-lined environment.  It can happen.  

Keeping the fridge clean is a very personal thing to me.  ha.  I keep the inside wiped clean as best I can.  Kind of like the micro-wave.  I like these appliances to be well taken care of.  My babies in a way.  Smudge marks and drippings aren't my cup of tea.  I will be clean.

My present freezer is one of the smallest freezers I've ever called my own.  When we were newly weds and rented a place in Hugoton, Kansas, the 'ole fridge we had froze up.  A very old fridge with old problems.  Freezer was dinky.  Freezer froze up as well as the fridge part.  Had to go bye-bye.  

We purchased a new refrigerator for $400.oo and made payments to the BANK.  We had borrowed money for this fridge.  So proud...our first LOAN TOGETHER as Husband and Wife.  It was amazing to sit in front of Mister Banker and fill out the paperwork.  Our fridge would be bought across the street at MONTGOMERY WARDS.  A floor model.  

I cannot remember how we got her HOME, if they delivered her or what, but we had a brand spanking new side by side door fridge to enjoy for quite a few years.  She was a good one.  MONKEY WARDS as my Husband called them...did us right.

FRIDGE CALL:
Hugoton Rental 2 fridges.
WE moved to our first mortgaged house in Hugoton.  
The fridge came with us.
Took fridge with us when we moved to Liberal, KS.
Same fridge to Omaha, NE.
Same fridge back to Liberal, KS.
Same fridge to Spring, TX.
Here she broke down and we bought a new one.
That makes 3 fridges so far.
Moved to Marion, KS and took fridge with us.
Marion to Jenks, OK with the fridge.
Had to have work done on her.
Moved to Manhattan, KS with her.  More work.
When we moved to the Farm, we left fridge behind in Manhattan and bought our 4th fridge.  A big black side by side.  Almost like a big box.
Moved to small town america and she quit in the rock house.  So disappointed.  Most expensive fridge we had paid for and she didn't last 4 years.  Bum run.  Bought another fridge. Number 5.  Went cheaper due to the budget.  
FIRE GOT HER.
Bought our 6th fridge and left her in retirement cottage.
Our fridge that we use today was in the house we bought.
6 fridges over a 43 year marriage.  More than 1 every 10 years.
What can I say.  They have to be replaced ever so often.

Depending on what style you desire or can get makes a difference in the price you'll pay.  When did stainless steel get so popular?  I don't even remember, but I like mine and am glad to have it.  Our fridge is in the wall and half as deep as others.  Still getting use to it.  

Having to figure out how to organize it so I get the most use out of it.  Kind of like everything else when settling into a different HOME.

Okay with no ice in the door.

I have been through a few different styles and if  I live long enough there may be a few more to enjoy.  THANKFUL we have a fridge and running water.  THANKFUL to have a HOME to call my own.

Aren't you?
d

Lavender Wishes

HOME to cool off.  I walked over to the Post Office placing a birthday card in the mail for my Sister-in-law who will be celebrating turning 60.  

Twas HOT out, but wasn't in it for very long.  Cooling off as I type.

The sky's puffy clouds of white and grey suggest rain tonight.  Not sure.  Could use the moisture to cool things down and water this place.  If it does rain, I'll try to put the patio furniture that is in the screened-in porch outside to bathe.  They need a good washin' since wintering outside.  The dirty porch will get washed this month. 

Quickkly I organized the freezer, t-shirts folded then put away, Barbie dolls relocated, watered the plants, studied up on nutrition, moved some boxes, laundry gathered, etc.  A little here and a little there.  It's ongoing.

Over the week-end we bought 4 lavender plants and will be planting them this week.  Lavender helps keep the pest away warding off mosquitos.  Yep. Around the porch they shall go.

Lavender has a fragrance that last.

Great for sachets, soaps, and room fresheners.

Slowly we are getting things done around here.  Slowly.  I hope to have a small vegetable garden next year in a raised bed.  Knew I couldn't get my act together this year.  Have been giving the flower garden much thought.  When the irises can be transplanted some will moved to line the sidewalk and go in front of the carriage house.  Daylilies will run along the fence.  Small veggie garden in raised bed.

Last Saturday of the month, KSU Gardens has a Iris sale every July.  Hoping for some grab bags.  In past years we did this.  We had so much beauty from the bags, I couldn't have been happier.

Falling in love with yet another lovely plant, 

Lavender.

LAVENDER WISHES.  

Fragrance should be lovely,

d  

Happy Father's Day

Miss you,

d

Ferns For Fern

KNOWING THAT FATHER's DAY is this Sunday, I asked my hubby what he wanted to do on his special day.  THINKING ABOUT IT.  The way he has been working at work and at HOME, I believe he deserves the day off.  

Last night we picked up a rental truck, loaded a few things including an overstuffed chair that would be relocated to RETIREMENT COTTAGE, drove to Topeka, loaded a second hand sofa, drove to small town america, ate supper then unloaded things at the COTTAGE.  I had vacuumed the ugly carpet earlier in the day.

AFTER we got the small living room arranged, we sat resting up then loaded up a brand new dishwasher that needed to go to our PRAIRIE HOME across the river and unloaded it into our new Kitchen.  Fueled the truck and returned it to the Rental place.  Very long day and tired.  After 11 at night when we got HOME.  Morning will come quickly.

A FERN FOR FERN (my middle name is Fern, but I don't have a green thumb)

Got up early to drive HUBBY to work, pay a gas bill at the Grocery Store, buy some quarters at the Bank, drive back HOME, pay the phone bill, go to the hardware store, buy a 50% 0ff Boston Fern, HOME to rest and pay a few credit cards,  Will get back to it here in a minute.  Need to go to the POST OFFICE to mail a few more family pictures to relatives.  Want to wash the bed sheets and eat lunch.  Need to write out a few more bills.  THEN I hope to have a coffee break.  Will have to go pick my Sweetheart up from work.  Buy some organic milk and go to TUESDAY MORNING to look at pillows.  Need to buy some pillow case covers.

It will be another full day here on the PRAIRIE out in the heat.  Heat advisory today.  Trying like heck to get errands ran before the heat of the day hits.  

Week-end!!!  
Thankful it's FRIDAY,
d 

Cottage PEP

THINK TODAY I need to eat some Kellogg PEP!  I could sure use some extra PEP.  grins.  

Got up early to drive Hubby to work. After I dropped Husband off at work, I drove over to RETIREMENT COTTAGE to vacuum the front room carpet.  It needs replaced so badly it's difficult to look at it with all the stains it has.

It's cleaner, but badly stained.  Did I say BADLY STAINED?  Badly, baaaaadly, badllllllllly STAINED.  Tried stain remover and it is beyond help.  I sat in the room and daydreamed about what I can do to this place.  Needs work.  The COTTAGE is so tiny that I don't think we will ever fit into it if the time should come.

Hate to say it but our cars are on the fritz.  Week-end car clinic.  It has turned off so hot.  Will be sweating.  SUMMER.  Will do my best to stay cool.    

Drove across the river, shopped the THRIFT STORE bought a doll, went HOME, fixed some toast and orange juice.  Time for some cottage cheese.  I tweaked the inside of the fridge.  Looking better.  A little here.  A little there.  In about an hour I will go pick Hubby up from work and go get a small rental truck, drive to TOPEKA, stop by another THRIFT STORE to pick up a love seat we bought a few days ago.  She's going into the COTTAGE so I have somewhere to sit when resting in between painting jobs.


Hopefully in July the PaINTiNg will begin.  This is my baby!  My job for now.

First the Living room ceiling will be painted then the ceiling fan cleaned up.  Will proceed to taking hooks out of the window trim, clean up the windows, paint the trim throughout the room and the doors.  After the Living room, Dining room and two Bedrooms are worked over then I will move onto the Kitchen Pantry to freshen it up.  The Bathroom walk-in closet will be next.  

YOU GO GIRL!

The Utility room and the Bathroom will require more work.  The Kitchen will morph.  The carpet has to be pulled up in the four main rooms.  Not sure if I'll carpet or hardwood floor it.  Time will tell.   

Not going to say how long it will take me to FRESHEN this COTTAGE up, but will re-evaluate this time next year.

Three cheers for a dream,

d

Kellogg's Pep Commercial #1

MUSTERING UP some energy this afternoon by puttering about the house.  Bed made, laundry into basket, dishes washed, birthday cards written out, mail read, day figured, chicken salad made for tonight's sandwiches, plants watered, towels put away, dishes arrangement tinkered with, etc.

I guess I had more energy than I thought. 
Love it when that happens,
d

I LOVE THIS GAUDY STUFF

TODAY I sit a little tired.  JUST A LITTLE.  Yesterday was on the go.  For an old woman I did pretty well keeping up in the heat.  PACED MYSELF.  Good girl.  

Hubby had the day to work on one of our cars that blew a hose and overheated on the interstate.  He studied up, got the parts then worked under the hood.  Worked his magic and car is up and running.  Thank you Hunny.

Our cars are old requiring maintenance.  Two cars down at once is a bit much.  My Lily as I call her is ill and sits in the drive way needing some work done on her.  Next paycheck perhaps she will get her needs met so I can drive her once again.  She has a tricky ignition that we are dealing with so she will go into gear.  whah.

We ate left overs for Brunch.  Needed to do a few more loads of laundry, but first we'd make a trip to Topeka.  Just so happened we stopped by McDonald's for iced tea and took a road trip that leads to Topeka going through small communities.  We stopped off at FLORENCE ADAMS and purchased some tea in a tin.

FLORENCE ADAMS has started to carry PLUS SIZES.  Think I will return after payday and try on a few skirts loaded with florals.  I tried on the clothing at home that needed dealt with.  AS I THIN OUT my closet, replacing some pieces that are bright with life would make a difference in my wardrobe that is oh so sad.  

whah.

Onto Topeka to GOD's STOREHOUSE.  One of the nicest THRIFT SHOPPES this side of the Missouri border...Topeka.  Clean.  I enjoy stopping/shopping here.  We treated ourselves to a couple of LATTES priced at a dollar and a half.  NO CAMERA.  Drat.  This would have made a terrific picture.  Bright orange coffee cups on saucers with a beautiful coffee swirl in the center of the drink.  Oh so pretty.

We browsed for a couple of hours then rested.  The outside temps soared to 90 something.  Once again, I spent a little money.  A 50 cent Cottage magazine.  It doesn't matter that it's 10 years old.  Just  like new.  COTTAGE decorating is like that.  

Silver plate service pieces on the shelves of the store waiting for someone to take them HOME and do something different with them.  Create.  

I love this gaudy stuff.  It's like Mel Gibson's character in the movie CONSPIRACY THEORY where he continually buys the book, 'Catcher In The Rye' every time he sees one for sell.  I go into auto pilot and gawk.  I bought a silver plate vegetable server with metal lid, glass pyrex bowl with fork inside a silver plate base on feet.  OH SO PURDEE.

My collection of silver plate service dishes is growing.  It's a HOBBY that many could identify with and others won't.

Not mine.  Just an example of silver.

I envision a very formal Dinner party with silver, china, crystal and candles on a dinner table.  This is something I'm aiming for as we grow old and need a boast.

OFTEN I see white with gold trim Fire King deviled egg dishes and go into a TRANCE.  I forgot how many of these babies I have in storage boxes.  I walked away from this one today.  




From the Storehouse, we went to Menards and Home Depot looking for special Fern Food.  Gentle on the ferns.  Special brand. Then Arby's iced tea, road trip HOME.  

Made my stop at the Laundry Mat, supper, unloaded our spoils and rested.  Since the television station is switching out there antennae, we cannot get the local News Station until the last of June or so.  This is a type of detoxing to not watch the news.  The computer keeps us well informed.  Well maybe.

Understanding that President Trump and North Korean Dictator shook hands and signed some kind of agreement.  Not sure of the details, but I do not have peace with our President making a deal with the likes of a baby faced dictator that kills his own family members.  No sweat off his nose.

WEARING A SMILE

What's a handshake to someone 

that kills their own family members

and starves their own people?

I watched the little movie that our President shared with the dictator.  Terrible.  As if this was SHOWBIZ.  Video states only a few people are so important as to make History.  Of course the dictator was one of the important humans to make a difference.  

Feeding his ego?  Feeding his narcissistic personality?  A guy in his position sees through this   
a m e r i c a n   smoke screen.  We are nothing to him.  He is superior to us in his mind's eye.  Both leaders may have separate heads but both are of the same body going toward the light of the new world order.  Both in the same club.  Eyes wide open.     

Welp.....perhaps I should be silent for now.  As we watch and see what unfolds in the modern world, I pray that God be merciful to our country.  He has been.  Will He continue?  The day will come when He says no more.  Next chapter.

I could say so much more about political poison, but believe I won't for now.

HOME is where I need to be,
d