AUTUMN

She arrived on a calm day.  
Bright BLUE SKIES with mild temperatures to where I could wear a sweater while opening some windows.  Deep breathing.  Take in the freshness.  Embrace the calm.  This SEASON will be welcomed with open arms as I organize, continue to downsize and rearrange some rooms.  AGAIN.  HISTORY REPEATS IT SELF.

AUTUMN BLESSINGS to my HOME will be deep cleaning before the HOLIDAYS arrive.  In a package of four HOLIDAYS...Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.  I am praying for physical energy so I can get much done around our estate.  I am not in demand as who to look to as a domestic guru.   

Knocking down exterior house spider webs.  Spiders like making webs around here as if no one lives here.  I will thoroughly clean the porches this month and hang some twinkle lights up brightening the areas adding charm to the house.  SIMPLE enjoyment.

Want to buy a brightly colored MUM to place in an urn. 
Hang a couple of wreaths on front and back doors.
Interior ceramic pumpkins positioned throughout the house.
Artificial leaves for a fireplace garland.
Freshen up the sweaters in the closet.
Dust.
Vacuum.
Scrub and scour.
Rearrange the Living room and Office.
Clear away some madness.
Making peace and harmony a HOME DECORATION.

AUTUMN GOALS.
Laundry caught up.  (This is exciting...huh.) 
KITCHEN decluttered.  
Fridge cleaned and organized.  (Clearing out containers that need removed.  Worked at cleaning up sticky mess on top shelf of fridge.  Scrubbin' away.  Have acrylic bins that I placed washed Gala apples in for easier access to.  Tidying as I go.  When my fridge is clean and orderly I get warm fuzzies that make me smile big time.)
Master Bedroom tidied.
Guest rooms tidied.
New Media Room created.
Extra BEDDING freshened up, folded and relocated to hall closet.
Porches cleaned and twinkle lights hung.
Riding stationery bike a must.
Daily vitamins taken.
Slow walks about town.
Work on writing book.
Yard prepped for colder weather.
CHRISTMAS Decorations ready to go on outside of HOUSE.

Peace and Harmony to you in your HOME,

d

HARVEST HOPEFULS

I have got to go to the laundromat and get a quilt washed and dried.  Will wash it in the larger machine if it's open.  If not, I'll wait.  Not sure I will patiently wait though.  Might have to go for a short drive until the machine opens and you know how I hate doin that.  Wrong.  I love taking drives on nice days.

It's in the 60s with a grey overcast sky.  Puts me in the mood for AUTUMN where I start FALL CLEANING.  Dear HUBBY has been catching up on lawn work.  Makes me smile as the flowerbeds are looking like somebody cares!

I'll be washing bedding and sweeping floors as I make headway on AUTUMN CLEANING before the mums and pumpkins come out to play.  Today is the 22nd and it's as if the month just started.  Time has passed quickly.  22 days into the month already.  I did buy some miniature chocolate candy bars from SAMS for HALLOWEEN.  BE PREPARED is my motto.  More minis will be purchased next pay day.  Then I'll be ready for the HARVEST GOBLINS.  

I made huge headway on going through a pile of paper beside my recliner.  I have a ways to go before I can say DONE.  With a heated sock filled with rice, I have had to wear this sock around the back of my neck as I am beyond sore.  Not sure of all the reasons, but the heated sock HELPS this ole woman.

TODAY is SUNDAY and I have taken the day extremely slow.  Yesterday I was taking that 'sabbatical' I had been thinking about.  I just couldn't get goin so I stayed put.  NAP and all.

I have HOPES of getting caught back up on the laundry.  Isn't that something to get excited about.  I have plans of taking inventory of the bedding by refolding the articles and making them ever so neat.  I'm still working on rearranging the KITCHEN.  When it's completed then I will more onto the next organizing project.  In the mean time....I give it a lot of thought and I seem to be meaner than I think I should be.  

I can partly blame my thyroid levels for this meanness.  The forgetfulness I'm dealing with is frustrating to say the least.  FORGETFULNESS and stiffness in my muscles.  Because I have been suppressed for so long my muscles are not feeling right.  Slower moving hand gestures, aches all over the body,  heels aching like plantar fasciitis, forgetfulness and not recalling what I just read...forgetting names and having some issues with talking.  I can't seem to easily recall words.  I cannot even begin to describe the sweating.  Intolerance to heat is awful.  Lower body temps than normal.  97 degrees is not normal.

I have lowered my thyroid dose and will watch and wait to see when the energy kicks in and I get so much done I can't help but smile.  My medical appointment went well as the APRN answered the questions I had the best way he could and lowered my dose since I was sweating beyond one's comfort ZONE.

His answers were as I was prepared to hear according to MARY SHOMON the THYROID ADVOCATE.  Others such as Dr. Westin CHILDS have been helpful in understanding what all the numbers mean with the blood work.  

I asked the APRN about the magical WORD: OPTIMAL.  He said OPTIMAL is the reference range.  WRONG ANSWER.  WRONG.

OPTIMAL is where our levels are when we feel our best.  Where the body is operating at it's best level.  One person may feel wonderful at a 4.0 and another at a 2.0.  I'm aiming for a 1.0, but am a 0.094.

With the reference range many age groups of people are gathered together to average their numbers and box together in a reference range.  Different age people have different needs for levels of thyroid hormone.  So this averaging really isn't the best range for an individual such as myself at 64 compared to a 10 year old child or a 90 year old man.  

With some time under my belt, I will cool off and relax some about having to wait 6 to 8 weeks before having my thyroid levels checked again after lowering the dose.

I asked him about osteoporosis happening when on a suppressed TSH level for a long term.  I was concerned since I have been suppressed for 9 years.  He said I no longer need to be suppressed.  In which I just about did back flips because with being suppressed the TIREDS and FATIGUE is devastating.  Debilitating.  I would like to feel well because I am well.

Last November I was measured at 5' 8 1/2" which is an inch and a half shorter than my normal 5' 10" tall.  I have lost an inch and a half.  I may get a bone density test done in the FALL.  Making a list and checking it twice gonna find out whose naughty (sick) or nice... Santa Claus is coming to TOWN.

Hey Santa...will you send some elves over to clean my house and do the laundry?  I'm the elf.  Oh... Thank you.

Additional lab work done.
Bone density test.
Mammogram.
Pap Zap.
What else?
A1c.

I will take what the APRN shared and go from there.  I'll keep reading and printing out info for recall.  When the excessive sweating has stopped I'll know that my levels are where I feel the best at.  For my records I have a list of blood work that I will have in the month of October or early November to compare to the previous year labs.  I need to go in and visit with my regular M.D. and talk with him about yearly records for recall.  I want my HUSBAND to do the same.  So we will have a DINNER DATE after our medical appointment.  

NOW to get after the laundry.  I so hope I get to feeling more energetic.  VITAMINS a MUST.  More on that later.

HUGS and best wishes,

d

Cooking with Lady Carnarvon - Homemade Elderflower Cordial

I am a FAN of DOWNTON ABBEY since way back.  Movie DATE was Downton Abbey on the big screen September 20th OPENING DAY.  

Hobby Time allowed me to research Lady Carnarvon for real as the KEEPER OF THE HOME at HIGHCLERE CASTLE.

ELDERBERRY CORDIAL made to look easy to make by the hands of the LADY.  Will have to try to make some after I make sure to get the correct Elderflower flower and not Queen Anne's Lace.

Happiness is HOMEMADE,
d  

ENJOY TODAY!

DECIDING TO HAVE A GOOD DAY sometimes involves actually determining to do so even if it isn't easy.  A smile on your face and a melody in your heart HELPS.  Praises from one's lips about the GOODNESS OF GOD HELPS.    

AND so I will WILL IT.  Focusing on the good.  

BLESSINGS TO YOU,

d

Help Me I'm Fading!

I DIDN'T SLEEP WELL LAST NIGHT.  I tossed and turned.  Woke up during the night and would drift off to sleep, but not a deep sleep.   Woke up around 8 to get ready for medical appointment.  Took a shower, shampooed my hair, got dressed and ate a breakfast on the road to TOPEKA.  Yearly exam for thyroid health.

HUBBY went with me.  I had a long list of questions to ask during the appointment.  We sat in the lobby and hour as there was a medical emergency putting the medical attendant running behind so it was closer to noon when seeing him.  

My Ultra sound results were good.  TSH too low and the FREE T4 indicated that I'm sluggish and overmedicated not tolerating the heat well at all.  Walking from the parking lot to the front desk caused me to sweat.  Sharing symptoms with the APRN believed I was overmedicated.  THOUGHT so with my TSH so low.

After being suppressed for 9 years I was concerned about osteoporosis.  Last NOVEMBER at my yearly physical when my height indicated that I was an inch and a half shorter than I normally am, I was stunned.  If your TSH is suppressed long term, it can encourage osteoporosis.  One of the questions I asked was about this and I was told I no longer need to be suppressed.  I'm going to aim for a 1.0 TSH instead a 0.094.  Blood will be checked in 6 weeks. 
    

Last Monday when I went to see where my daughter is working I overheated as walking.  Granted it was HOT OUT, I overheated too easily.  I can hardly walk these days.  My face was tomato RED and I felt like I was a walking furnace.  I became incredibly irritated.  One sign of being overmedicated.  I was there.

My muscles ache and I feel like my hands and tops of my feet are tighter than comfortable not wanting to operate.  Cramps.  My heels are aching like I have plantar fasciitis.  My neck aches when turning.  I sweat way too easily.  Brittle fingernails.  Dry skin.  Forgetfulness and difficulty remembering what I just read.  Hypo and hyper symptoms.  I'm human.  Weak muscles and lack of umpf.  Not a good way to be.    

Just walking about my HOME, I overheat so easily.  Tis awful.  Backing off of the dose of Armour Natural Desiccated Thyroid, I pray I regain my strength and health.  The last 9 years has been incredibly challenging as I do not handle Levothyroxine well.  I'm one of THOSE people that doesn't do well.

The hours I have read and researched thyroid information has been numerous.  Adding frustration to my emotions as I read and cannot recall what I just read.  This is really frustrating as I am wanting to know what I should know.  Gathering the questions to ask was more laborious than it normally should be because I would have to return to read info over and over and over again as if I hadn't read it before.  Recall was very poor.  Finally got my notes typed and printed out.  I remembered to take my questions with me to my appointment.  After my appointment I was in better spirits and off we went to play.

After my medical appointment, we went to LUNCH at OLIVE GARDEN.  Salad with lots of black olives.  A small serving of spaghetti with meat sauce and meata balls.  Breadsticks and raspberry lemonade.

Went to TUESDAY MORNING to buy some ginger snaps.  MENARDS was on the list of places to go to get WATKINS Hand Soap in a pump bottle.  Decided to go drive the POTWIN PLACE NEIGHBORHOOD.  Just drove around not on an agenda.  Discovered where RESTORE relocated to.  I will return to pick up some recliners we purchased.  What a fantastic bargain we got.

SUPPER will be TV DINNERS.  Meatloaf, corn, mash potatoes, gravy and apple dessert.  Good enough for a very weary and tired 
o v e r m e d i c a t e d  THYROID PATIENT.  LORD HELP ME.  I am weary.

FOR NOW I am fading.  I can feel it in my soul.
Feet up.  
d

GIRLS SHOPPIN'

We had a fun filled day shoppin'

Ate some LUNCH

CHATTEDSHOPPEDHUGGED

Said our good-byes.

Twas fun.

Have a pleasant LIFE,

d

IN THE MOOD

AUTUMN IS BEGINNING TO SHOW HERSELF IN THE TREES.  Tree leaves changing colors.  I'm in the mood to see more.  In the late afternoon there are long shadows across the grass.  The last of SUMMER is here.  HARVEST approaches.  


I want to start decorating for AUTUMN.  In the mood.  In the mood as AUTUMN begins and LATE SUMMER disappears.  Waiting for cooler temps to where I can open some windows and look forward to oranges, browns and yellows in the color scheme of things.  TIME to find some PUMPKINS in storage to decorate with.  I was talking about throughly cleaning the Kitchen porch area and stringing some twinkle lights in there for a whimsy tough.  I had better get after it...time flies the older I get and before you know it the seasons change.  Age happens to us all.  Every minute we age a little more.  Best use our time wisely.  The decluttering has become easier to my ole soul.  I want to declutter and be refreshed as AUTUMN floats into place.  

I was just looking at the fireplace mantle and envisioned a Autumn Garland hanging from it.  Pumpkins on both sides of the television.  Think I had better get after this and make it happen.  I need a swift kick in the pants to get me going.  With fatigue that comes from my thyroid levels being what they are...I need a swift kick to my pants to get me a going.  I give thought to what needs done then I pace myself about when to do it during the week.  A little done every day. 

THINKING BACK.....recalling. 

ON FRIDAY I drove HUBBY to work in his car as the tires on my car are in need of being replaced. As we shop for new tires we are using HUBBY's work car together.  I dropped him off at work and then proceeded to see if I could get a doctor'e appointment or see a physician's assistant for a possible sinus infection that has made the back of my skull sting while my neck is getting progressively more painful to turn. 

My regular doctor was in and an appointment made for an hour and a half later to see him.  I was relieved that I was able to see him.  I drove over to the financial institution to take care of business then returned to doctor's office waiting for appointment.  Medicine prescribed.  LUNCH with HUBBY as I was good with a cup of hot coffee mixed in coffee creamer along with two pieces of buttered toast 'n jelly. 

Drove to PHARMACY to pick up medicine to take a horse pill.  Telephoned my Optometrist to let them know I also needed to have the doctor examine my right eye as a flashing white light appears now and then synchronized with my heartbeat.  For three weeks.  I wondered if the pressure from my sinuses is causing this odd phenomenon.  Sorted some laundry while I was at HOME.  Got to thinking I would like to try the Hair Dresser over at ST.  MARYS as a walk in.  Phoned her and made an appointment.  Drove over and arrived just in time.  She washed my hair and styled it.  Straightened it and I liked it so much I know I would use her again.  Went to the dollar store to pick up some poster board.  

Wonderful day.  Returned to pick HUBBY up from work.  Took a nap.  Exhausted.  Worked late into the night preparing for a garage sale.  Went to bed really late.  Got up early and was ready for a sale.  VERY SLOW SALE.  HUBBY trimmed the low branches off of the TEACUP TREE.  I manned the sale.  He loaded the tree branches into the back end of PETE, his work car.  CLOSED UP SHOP and called the sale a bust.  

LUNCH was a Quarter Pounder Hamburger at the park.  I drove to the dump and HUBBY pitched the tree trash.  Then loaded up the garage sale left overs and went to TOPEKA to drop off STUFF at GOODWILL.  Got coffee and a HOME-MADE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE.  BIG LOTS called our name for Ginger Snaps and wouldn't you know it, they had PUMPKIN SPICE ones.  Over to ALDIs for organic milk from the organic cow in the fridge.  HOME to play pool on the computer.  This helps relax me.  A very productive day!  Felt really great getting so much done in one day.  

Over the next few days, the garage will have to be tidied and put back in order.  With cooler weather we can put some flannel shirts on and get after it tidying the garage so my car can sleep in there when not in use.  Wish I had a kitty.  Cleaning out the Carriage House, Basement, Cottage Garage....doesn't sound very exciting but I have to think about it so much to get psyched up to get this done.  Boring to some, but to me, I need the encouragement.  

NOW THIS WEEK...I will be socializing at the medical facilities.  Medical appointments.  Squeezing in time to get some laundry done will be a challenge as I have to make special arrangements to get laundry done.  Humpf.  Optometrist visit.  Tuesday Senior day at thrift shops.  Which reminds me I didn't act fast enough to snag a doll house with furniture and lost the bargain.  Sigh.  More to follow.  Hopefully.  I have a place in mind in my Living room where a doll house can gooooooo over by the window on the back of the HOUSE.

Thyroid Yearly EXAM this week......in which I am working on questions to ask the medical attendant who is not an Endocrinologist but an APRN.  Which I pay a co-pay of $60.  I will ask $60 worth of medical questions and listen to the answers not challenging the APRN, but listen to what he has to say and I'll let you know how close I am to their pat answers.

Soon my sweetheart and I will go to the theatre to sit in the dark together to watch DOWNTON ABBEY on the huge silver screen.  We're planning a dinner date.  I wish I had historical clothing to wear to the theatre to watch DOWNTON.  That would be a hoot.  HOOT.  

It'll be fun to see on the big screen all my favorite characters in their lovely garb speaking with an English accent the latest.  I wouldn't mind actually touring the place where this soap opera was filmed, HIGHCLERE CASTLE. 

  

ONE OF THE BEST THINGS to happen was when my dear Sweetheart brought inside a box that was holding my American Sweetheart Monax dishes.  I hadn't seen the dishes close to 3 years as they were hidden in storage where I was beginning to think my Monax dishes had been destroyed in the house fire.  When I opened the box to see the dishes, I was thrilled.  Oh so HAPPY to see these again like seeing a long lost friend.  THIS WAS ONE BOX that I needed to go through.  I was in the mood.  

HAVE A LOVELY LIFE,

d

AUTUMN'S IN THE AIR

GREY SKIES TODAY with some rain.  Gentle rain.  Falling straight down.  No thunder or wild wind.  Peaceful and pleasant.  AUTUMN-like moisture.  A rain to enjoy.

I can see why so many have weddings in OCTOBER when the weather is milder leading up to frigid winters where snuggling is heart warming and making babies exciting.  OCTOBER is a lovely time of year.  Harvest is happening.  The vegetation is turning with brilliant orange and brown color changes migrating toward greys and whites.  Naked trees and grey skies blowing winds in which to bundle up to stay warm.  

2020 AUTUMN/FALL IS APPROACHING.  I'm going to embrace it with open arms.  Looking forward to milder temps that don't cause heat strokes.  The windows of the house will soon be opened to allow fresh air drifting into our humble abode.  The french doors that open into a screened in porch will be wide open.

THINK I'll look for HARVEST DECORATIONS and door wreaths this month then go ahead and position them throughout our HOME.  Mid September is just around the corner.  SUNDAY.  Fall cleaning continues.  Making a list of to do's.

When you're a LIST MAKER you find comfort in making list after list after list.  

HOME BLESSING TODAY:  Focusing on turning loose of STUFF.
Supper figured out.  CHINESE FOOD tonight so evening energy can go into garage sale preparations.
Powder Room Mirror polished.  Will return to polish light fixtures.
Blue jeans loaded into auto to make way to laundromat this afternoon for a BLUE JEAN kind of day.  
Decluttering rooms of extra nic-nacs to turn loose of.  I can do this.  Being attached to my pretties is part of my personality yet I must keep in mind that being too attached makes turning loose of STUFF more of a personal challenge.  DOING MY PERSONAL BEST shouldn't mean being disorganized and a hoarder. 

After reading the obituaries in the newspaper, I know that we cannot take this stuff with us.  I should have all my ducks in a row ready to move forward into eternity.  If I died today, my family would have a lot of things to deal with.  I WILL IT: there will be order.

This AUTUMN, I will be thinning out and getting better organized with my clothing.  I will turn loose of things I'm not really very fond of and replace a little here...a little there with clothing that I really like.  Several articles OUT.  An article in it's place.  I mean just how many articles can a person wear a day?  Wardrobe should match up with lifestyle and daily events.  I'm too old to wear stuff that I don't like.  Yuck.  After all... I'm a person that ought to LIKE what I wear.  Right?  That's right.  

The basement will be gone through this AUTUMN in preparations for CHRISTMAS.  I'll make another pile let go stuff and actually turn loose of it.  This is a on going adventure and I know it.  It's emotional for me to go through this stuff.  I'll be better off when thinning out.  THOUGHTS.  I can do this.  I really can.  There are more important things in LIFE to be concerned about.  RETIREMENT is one of those things.  Making steps toward this phase in LIFE.

If we are so blessed to be RETIRED then I shouldn't worry.  Worrying just saps one's energy and steals one's joy.  It doesn't help.  

Have a pleasant day,

d  

FOOD VERSES FUD

~Dining On The Prairie~

I grew up on the Southwest edge of Kansas where we ate real meat, shade vegetables, had HOME COOKED MEALS with snacks prepared by my MOM.  Later my sister and I made PIZZA together.  My COOKING lessons were by observing my MOM and some instructions given by her.  

Very little was shared when it came to cooking.  Mom was the head chef, cook and bottle cleaner.  She did it all and seemed to like doing it all.  I took Home Economics in Junior High in which a semester was dedicated to cooking/baking.  Also I was a Girl Scout where we fixed fireside meals like Silver Turtles in which food is wrapped in aluminum foil and placed in a open fire pit.  Making S'mores qualifies one as a seasoned chef.  

The rest of learning to cook/bake was what I did myself such as whipping up a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies to bake at HOME.  Eating the dough and actual COOKIES made me a very HAPPY child.

My sister, Debbie was the one that had award winning chocolate chip cookies.  Not me.  I did not enter food in the Five State Fair in Liberal, Kansas as my sis did.  I thought about the time that my Dad with a sense of humor said as he was holding up one of her cookies that had a long hair baked into it, "Look a flying cookie!"  He dangled the cookie by the hair to where it looked like the cookie was levitating on it's own.  Flying through the air all by itself.  Sister was embarrassed by this, but when thinking back about it, it's a funny memory.  I can see in my mind's eye my dear Dad who has gone to heaven and my sister who was in a young body growing into a young woman making headway as a cook.  Polishing up her skills that would mightily bless her future family that would enjoy her cooking for years.  Was a treat to visit Debbie and eat her superior cooking and sweets.    

This flying cookie memory took place in our small cracker box house's living room full of love and safety.  Cookies in the living room.  Popcorn on the floor.  Pizza in the oven.  Dining full of chores.   

I loved the oatmeal cookie dough and would eat it til I could eat no more.  THIS MEMORY makes me want to fix some cookies.  Think I should whip some up and remember GOOD MEMORIES that come with this experience.

QUAKER OATS Raisin Cookie Recipe was my friend.  

GROWING UP I could shape meat patties then fry hamburgers in the skillet, peel potatoes to boil, fry eggs and toast the bread.  Make biscuits, salad, put canned vegetables in a pan, make homemade pizza, dip out ice cream, whip up brownies, pour dried cereal into a bowl, add milk, sugar and eat.  Munch on left over fried chicken stored in the kitchen cabinet.  Make orange JELLO with grated carrots.  Cook on the stove the old fashion way chocolate, butterscotch, vanilla, banana PUDDINGS.  Later make instant pudding the fast way.  Set the kitchen table and clear off the dishes.  Wash, rinse and dry dishes.  Put them away.  Sweep the floor and dump the dirt into the waste can.  Run the vacuum.  Dust.  Make my bed.  Strip the sheets.  Make a pile of dirty laundry.  Scour the toilets, sinks and tub.  I had a childhood which was wonderful, but my Mom didn't do detailed instructions when it came to cooking and baking.  Mostly observation.  I taught myself to sew doll clothes by hand and sew blouses on the sewing machine for myself.  I could decorate the family room and bedroom.  Draw.  Style doll's hair.  Climb trees and play in the mud.  Army and Honey West imaginations galore.  Sing and dance on the sidewalk.  Twirl in the yard til dizzy drunk.  Pick flowers.  I had a great childhood.  A great one.      

Real FOOD can be called FUD for short/joking.

As an young married adult I had to learn to cook and bake more things than I learned on my own as a child plus middle school in class by experimenting.  Trial and error.  I could have used more schooling on this subject as well as actually doing it instead of going through the motions in my head.

Fish Sticks and TV Dinners are far from healthy and satisfying.  I graduated to burnt taco shells and HAMBURGER HELPERS.  Eeeeck.

It was a milestone to make German Chocolate Cake from scratch.  I did but my frosting was way too runny.  Then I felt like an accomplished chef making THANKSGIVING DINNER with a baked turkey to carve where I left the gizzards inside the turkey because I didn't know there were gizzards still in tact.  Hahah.  

One of my proudest moments with FOOD was when I won first place at the 2011 PAXICO MEATLOAF FESTIVAL.  Meatloaf!  I still love making meatloaf and eating it.  

Spaghetti with meat sauce, burritos with spanish rice, pork chops, baked chicken, chicken pot pies, hamburgers, fudge, peanut butter cookies, salads, birthday cakes, jellos, puddings, deviled eggs, vegetables trays, fruit trays, baked taco potatoes, stir fried cabbage, Hungarian Goulash, bundt cakes, donuts, tapioca pudding, pineapple upside down cake, pot roast with the fixins, baked ham, hot dogs, pigs in a blanket, cold cuts, scrambled eggs with bacon, tuna fish sandwiches, salmon patties, mac 'n cheese, pizza, cauliflower soup, potato chips, fruit smoothes, etc.  

A little more than knowing how to fix oatmeal cookies, but a great place to start.

I am still learning.  Believe it or not.  I am still experimenting and learning.
FOOD or FUD...it all goes down the same.

Fixing Vegetable Salads is my newest pleasure.  I have finally crossed over to the 'I REALLY LIKE VEGETABLES' phase.  Especially salads mixed with nuts and fruit.  Would never believe it, but I do.

Have a pleasant day,

d

PLANNER

This isn't in cement.  Staying simple and flexible is a necessity.  Planners are NOT meant to be so rigid.  That's why I call it a PLANNER.  Making PLANS.....

Daily Desires NOT Evening Events

SUNDAY              Rest/slow paced day/Bible Study                    

MONDAY             Exercise/Laundry/slow paced day
TUESDAY            Exercise/Thyroid Research/Dr.'s Appointments
WEDNESDAY      Creative Writing/Special Haircare/Bathrooms cleaned
THURSDAY         Exercise/laundry/vac and dust/thrift                      
FRIDAY                Exercise/Thrift
SATURDAY         Whatever Day/Sew


MEAL PLANNER
Breakfast
Lunch
SUPPERS all with veggies
Sunday Salad
Monday Meatloaf
Tuesday Tacos
Wednesday Breakfast
Thursday Chinese
Friday Pizza
Saturday Selection

May you have a gentle day,

d

SPURT OF ENERGY

BLESSED MONDAY.  Today, I have been up and about tidying our MASTER BEDROOM.  A spurt of energy is taking place.  I have these ever so often which the next day not being so perky.  Have to PACE myself when I feel full of energy.

I am tidying the Master Bedroom.  Made the bed with a smile on my face as I am appreciating our new bedding that came in the mail last week.  A box here and a box there until all the items were accounted for.  Piecing it together.  Makes my heart sing zing.  I hope to have moved all the extra things that don't need to be in the room.  

An oversize Longaberger Basket filled with old papers that needs gone through was sitting on the floor.  I moved it out to be beside my comfy recliner in the Living room so when I go through all the papers my back is supported when I work through this mess in a faster pace.  If my back is supported I will be better off working in comfort.

It seems that I have difficulty keeping the Master Bedroom just a Master Bedroom to sleep in comfortably.  GOAL this week is to have this room completely tidied and dusted.  I believe I can do this.  Here I go.

This morning, I am gathering items to turn loose of.  That purging sensation needs to hit me hard as I am in need of decluttering.  Autumn is on her colorful way and I am actually looking forward to this SEASON this year as I want to LIVE LIFE to the fullest as best I can.

Prepping for my annual thyroid appointment in a few weeks.  Loads of questions to ask that I have not over the last 9 years of having had a cancerous thyroid removed.  Partly because I did not know what to ask and partly because I did not want to be flagged as a problem patient that requires too much energy to manage.  This go round I will gently ask the questions I really want an answer to.  I won't be challenging the medical staff, but will listen to their answers and be contented as I sit in their office chair resembling a contented patient that will walk out of their office in the know or in the now.  This is a very challenging journey to be on when I feel so awful so much of the time and when I did ask or make a comment about how I was feeling I got the run around and pass the buck syndrome.  This go round I will ask questions that are backed by their beloved AMERICAN THYROID ASSOCIATION web sight. 

SO between tidying the Master Bedroom, gathering items to turn loose of and prepping for my thyroid appointment...I am spinning my wheels and then some.  Like a three ring circus.  

Tonight's Supper was partially prepared last night as left over spaghetti was baking.  Italian Chicken baked at the same time.  Warming the chicken tonight with some veggies will make a decent meal for us.  Easy clean-up.  

I went down memory lane last night as I went through some old pictures that I had forgot about that were still the trunk of one of our cars.  I will make copies of some of these pics as they are priceless.  Many I had not seen before of my Mom as a young girl.  I had only seen a few pics of her before, but these pics are priceless of when she and Dad were dating and then married.  Pics of her as a adolescent with her sisters.  There are a few of my Dad as a young man in his early twenties.  Grandparents as young adults on both sides of the family.  

Very enjoyable looking at these pictures, but when I saw pics of my children as youngsters I cried.  Where does the time go?  It goes.  A few pics of myself and Hubby as young parents.  PAUSE.  Time doesn't stop just because I want it to, but when looking at old pictures it's like TIME STOPPED just for a minute and a half.

I must work fast at HOME getting our estate in order in maintenance mode.  I don't want to be overwhelmed about this.  It is important to me to get this accomplished.  Retirement is inching along and having old papers gone through is a must.  

I'll take a COFFEE BREAK after the Bedroom is tidied.  Then move onto the next thing I hope to get done today.

Have a gentle day,
d

HAVE A GENTLE DAY

AFTER WRITING OUT A LIST 

OF THINGS TO DO, I decided to have a GENTLE DAY.  

A NO RUSH kind of day here on the prairie this Sabbath.  

A Sunday not meant to be in a hurry by no means kind of day.
Slight chance of rain kind of day.
Eat a SALAD on SUNDAY kind of day.
I hope to get that done today kind of day, but if I don't... no rush will do tomorrow kind of day.

A deep breath, I can handle this kind of day.

Recalling the last few days with pleasure. 

Pleasant kind of day.

EXCITED WOMAN!  OUR NEW FIVE QUEENS COURT BEDDING ARRIVED IN THE MAIL!  The bed is made up of new bedding.  Love it.  HUGS.  Thank you, Lord for this bedding.  Thank you HUSBAND for giving the okay to purchase this.  I am so very HAPPY that our MASTER BEDROOM bed has this on it!!!  A soft French Blue color theme with white lace curtains, white walls and oak flooring.  Now to get the room dusted and keep it pleasant to sleep in.  
  

My Friday day plans changed as my HUBBY wanted me to go to TOPEKA to get copies of his birth certificate for a RETIREMENT MEETING this coming week.  Making preps for retirement.  I guess I should have gotten a couple copies of my birth certificate as well to have on file as I advance toward 65 next SUMMER.  Wasn't thinking along those lines.  SHUCKS.  Am I in denial?  Must be.  My thinking is that I just turned 64 in July and 65 is a ways away.  Heavens....is it?

So I changed my plans and went to Topeka.  The laundry didn't get washed.  The floors didn't get swept.  OFF we went down the road to St. Mary's.  An old white car sat with a for sale sign in front of one of their businesses.  Once again, I said, "Eeeew Ooooooh look at that car!  AND IT's FOR SALE!!!!!!"   

Smile.  

WHAT A BEAUTY!  1939 STUDEBAKER.

Went around the block to snap a picture.  She was so so so purdeeeee.  One of my dreams is to own what I call a humpy back car.  It's a far off thought.  Hubby took a pic of this 1939 Studebaker for me as I was in the driver's seat of our car and didn't want to get out of the car.  He spoke with the owner.  I don't have the money for this BABEE.  Dream on.   

We ate LUNCH at Puffy's Family Diner in the small town of ROSSVILLE.  Very affordable SPECIAL they had for $9.99 including beverage and a dessert of Oatmeal Cake.  Easy to cut tender Chicken Fried Steak, corn, dinner roll with butter, mashed potatoes with gravy was served to me as I sat in a booth in a very quiet restaurant on a Friday afternoon.  Service was good and the restaurant was very spacious and clean.

Into TOPEKA we drove straight to the building where we needed to go parking our lil hoopie that we call PETE.  Parked at a meter and fed quarters into it so we had a spot looking at the STATE CAPITOL.  I'd like to return when the weather is cooler to tour the STATE CAPITOL building in which you can tour one of the highest parts of the dome.  Put that on my BUCKET LIST of things to do in the near future.  

The office we needed for vital stats had been relocated to another part of the building which has kiosks for patrons to fill out the info needed instead of using paper and pencil.  We are now officially into the 21st Century.  Tadaaah.  I was in this building one other time when they were having a POPCORN SALE at such in such time.  Maybe that was last year?  Think maybe so. 

We got what we needed and went on our merry way.  When my Husband has a full belly he is so much nicer to be around.  We left and went looking for a THRIFT STORE that I had not been to since they relocated probably a year ago.  We found MIDLAND CARE FINDABLES RESALE.  40% SALE and I became the proud owner of a silver sugar scuttle.  It needs a scoop.  Will be looking for one.  Alabaster eggs were carried in an egg carton in my Husband's possession.   

https://www.facebook.com/Findables

The day wasn't boring as we saw someones yard full of fire hydrants lining their chain linked fence as if they were yard ornaments to decorate their space.  Interesting what people collect and display in their yards.  My collection for our yard are IRISES.  My sweet HUBBY planted an additional 132 purple grape ones along the reworked flowerbed that runs along the sidewalk leading to the CARRIAGE HOUSE just this week.  He had worked in 192 Irises of different varieties in a new flowerbed along the wood fence on the side yard.  He's da IRIS man.

Also saw a HOLY GHOST COUNTRY sign painted on cement advertising a church with the PASTOR and FIRST LADY's names on it.   Thought this was interesting as TOPEKA should take credit for the turn of the century 1900 Azusa Street Revival that took place in California a few years later.  I won't bash it at this time, but have since learned since I was introduced to this movement a thing or two about the true roots to this movement that others might like to know.  Another post another time.

Also saw a FIRST FOUR SQUARE CHURCH 

in a Topeka neighborhood.

DROVE ABOUT POTWIN PLACE to look at some house colors for future references for when we paint our PRAIRIE HOME.

Moving on we went to GOD's STOREHOUSE and had a delicious cup of coffee...well almost a cup.  Mine was a iced LATTE and mercy it was good.  If they had peanut butter cookies I was going to get one.  They did and so did I.  This recipe is quite good.  Too much to eat at one sitting.  Saved some and shopped the store finding some nice thrift sweaters for my HUSBAND.  Since he was with me, he tried a few on for size.  The prices are a little higher than I wanted and it wasn't Senior Day where I get a discount, but that's alright.  He was pleased to get a few more sweaters for this AUTUMN/WINTER SEASON and I was glad we got them.  L.L. BEAN, NAUTICA, CHAPS, FADED GLORY, CABELA, LAND'S END, GOODFELLOW.

After shopping, it was time to head HOME since I was getting the drags.  We didn't make it to BIG LOTS or SAMS.  

We drove over to eat supper at a Mexican Restaurant.  TACOS for me.  They were busy for a Friday evening.  Stopped by to wish our Grand-daughter good luck for her first Cross Country Meet on Saturday.  Stayed for a short time and then went on HOME to rest.  After we went inside to rest....we heard a very loud bang like someone dropping a metal lid.  The next morning we would see that the front tire on the car was FLAT.  This blow out could have been while we were driving the car, but instead it blew out in the driveway.  A blessing for safety, but we will have to get some news tires which isn't in the BUDGET.  Have to work this one out somehow.

SATURDAY MORNING ARRIVED and we drove to the CROSS COUNTRY MEET to watch Lil Miss run the race.  She said she was nervous, but I told her she'd do fine.  Just suit up and show up to do your best and you'll be a winner for just showing up.  You were there.  She did well.  
Looked like a winner as she ran across the FINISH LINE.  
She did win.

Afterwards I drove HOME to rest.  I TOOK A NAP in my recliner and dreamed about things to do.  I seem to have to PACE myself in this CROSS COUNTRY RACE called LIFE.  I rested then studied up on THYROID HEALTH.  Exciting news...huh.

Stayed up late.   
Next morning HUBBY planted 132 irises while I scrubbed two toilets, put some laundry away, wrote out a list of things needed done, ate and sipped coffee.  Found out that our small PT Cruiser 'PETE' had a blow out as well.  Think our little car is trying to keep up with our larger car Goldie which had a blow out Friday night.  IT WAS A TWO BLOW OUT WEEK-END for us.  

So now we will need new tires for PETE as well as for GOLDIE.  Our HOUSE PAYMENT has gone up $210 a month due to tax increase.  This is not in the BUDGET either.  It's raining expenses.  I will choose to have a gentle day anyhow.



LIFE is full of expenses that are not in the BUDGET.  Better PLAN for these cause those rainy days do come and I had better know how to relax as well. 



Not only am I planning to have a GENTLE DAY...I will have a gentle day because I willed it.  It's not mind over matter.  It just matters.

HAVE A GENTLE DAY,
d 

  
This week, we prospered.  We were NOT in a car wreck due to a serious blow out and lived to tell about it.
A silver plated sugar scuttle is sitting on the dining room table as this time last week I did not have a sugar scuttle.  Am increasing metalware.
We inherited a sugar scuttle AND a dozen alabaster eggs.
Husband has 7 thrift sweaters for the next chilling season.
132 Irises were planted in reworked flowerbed.
Husband replaced windshield wipers on Goldie.
The power did not get turned off over at the cottage.
Our new Five Queens Court Bedding came in the mail.
Made up our bed with clean sheets and new bedding!  We have a Bedroom.
Saw a Grand run a cross country race in person and Grand run Cross Country via facebook.
Ate well.
Studied well.
Medicine refilled and picked up.
Scrubbed two toilets instead of one.
Have copies of Husband's Birth Certificate proving he was born and not hatched.
Now that's a blessing.

SUNDAY LUNCH