HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!

Turning 88 today.

Isn't that something!

You are much loved,

d

$AVING MONEY During This Crisis

Being on a TIGHT BUDGET while adjusting to HUBBY retiring late last December was something we had to do to adjust to the new cash flow due to no flow.  We spent two months waiting for Social Security to KICK in before we really knew what our new LIFESTYLE would be like.

It doesn't take long for money to quickly disappear while on a FIXED INCOME as I have often heard it called.  It is very fixed.  Keeping myself busy was how I managed.  The middle of December I was hit with a horrible cough advancing to a January 1st FLU.  By the time the flu passed I was still deeply coughing.  It would ease up but not disappear and blamed this on asthma.  Here it is April and I am finally doing well before allergy season takes place.  The burning of the prairie has started and it's a health issue as the smoke causes more coughing and burning of the eyes.

February was a challenging month as we had to travel to Arizona to visit a dying brother in law, and be present for his funeral.  Took a different route HOME through more southern states to avoid snow. Exhausted comes to mind after driving nearly 40 hours round trip.  On the way HOME is when we detoured to TOMBSTONE to get a break from the real world to consider this a mini vacation for the whole day we stayed there.  A shame we did not stay longer.  A shame.  I have some memories and pics to stir up a fantasy get away from this horrible pandemic.

We rested and would eventually go to OKLAHOMA to see FAMILY and celebrate our Grandson's 13th Birthday.  We were on the edge of the beginning of stay at home treatment.  We were made aware of small communities looking like GHOST TOWNS as we traveled HOME.  EERY comes to mind of how the lack of seeing human life in the middle of the day presented itself.

Returning HOME when the State of KANSAS announced STAY AT HOME.  So we did and we are.  I ventured out on a Saturday wearing gloves and social distancing to shop at SAMS.  Inside it was nearly empty of people.  SHOPPED QUICKLY and got the heck out of Dodge.  One of the quickest shopping trips evah.

I will have to make facial masks now as it is critical to wear one when in public.  For now I will do my best to make a non-sewn mask using hair elastics for the earpieces.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/04/health/how-to-make-your-own-mask-wellness-trnd/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0MnYrQmqZHdejBwSKHRmopa-jH52d20l7vq1_SXxWXkr7edKLENZSPi4E


NOT GOING OUT TO EAT is where we are saving money.  I do not want to do CURBSIDE SERVICE for food fixed by others.  I cannot see how this does not cause a at risk increase of getting exposed to the coronavirus.  I have seen video of clerks at food windows touching the money then handing change back to the customer, touching each other's hands then handing the food bags to the customers.  This is not increasing the risk of getting exposed to this beast?  I don't know how human logic justifies this as being safe.

SO for real we are saving money by staying HOME and not dining out to eat.
Not buying fast food.
Less driving of our automobiles, less expense buying auto fuel.
Not going to the movie theatre.
Not going to places of businesses.
Not going to out.
Not going to see people to visit.
No spending period.

Enjoying the interior of our HOME.
Will need to pull weeds in the flower beds.
Watching FREE movies.
I will crank up the radio and dance.
Organizing rooms and cleaning.

I have truly spent way too much time on the computer watching the Coronavirus Task Force Briefings which were dragging on for two to three hours a day mostly with our President doing the talking.  Much of what he says is redundant.  Repeating himself often.

I have to discipline myself to stay off the computer and not listen to these briefings which are not brief.

I can get a brief briefing from reliable sights that I use to touch base with what has been stated during the briefings.  AND IF I SO DESIRE I can watch the entire briefing on youtube in their archives.

So I am staying HOME as most of the United States is doing and not spending money focusing on decluttering the rooms of my HOME.

Last night I watched videos of the WALMART LOT COP talking to the people in the parking lot about washing hands and no loitering.  I had read where only a few people can enter their store and waiting outside requires 6 feet distancing.  It was eery.  ALSO armed guards were at TARGET's entrance.  I sense that we are being groomed for martial law and being consumers likened to a third world country.  Rationing without so called hoarding.  

The economy is tanking.  Jobs are being lost.  Health visits are being limited.  AND there is great controversy about having a vaccine for this covid 19.  Latest I heard is that if a person does not have anti-bodies against this then a vaccine will have to be given so you can rejoin society.

This makes my hair stand up on the back of my neck.  What will be in the vaccine?  Will it assist you in getting diseases in the future?  Will you be denied the vaccine even if you want it if you are 80 years old?  Will you have to take it no matter what?  Makes me think of Biblical info about receiving the mark of the beast or you'll not be able to do business as usual.

I have found myself tearing up some because of this going on.  Be not afraid comes from the galley section of well meaning Christians.  I would rather be honest with God then pretend I am alright with all of this.

The truth will make you free,

d

HAPPY IN TOMBSTONE

Happy in 
TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA.

I was having a very nice time right there.

REMEMBERING FEBRUARY 
as we visited the tourist town of Tombstone 
the middle of the month.
I don't suppose there are very many people walking the streets today as we are staying HOME.

Blessings to you,
d

PALM SUNDAY

~PALM SUNDAY~

At HOME.

Blessings to you,

d

A TIME MACHINE

APRIL IS HERE.  April Fool's Day came and went without a trick.  This month will contain some birthdays.  My BABY turns 40 on the 5th.  Mom's Birthday is on the 9th.  Palm SUNDAY.  Passover.  Good Friday.  EASTER.  Deviled eggs and dying eggs just might take place.   

I have 40 things from my daughter's childhood gift wrapped to give to my daughter to open in celebration for her 40th.  Not sure how to do this since we cannot be near each other.  Perhaps if the weather is nice she could open them on her outside porch to where I could watch from a distance?  Perhaps.  

I have been waiting for this special occasion for years.  I did these giftings for both of her brothers for their 40th birthdays.  It was like going back in time as a mom as I was there when they received all these treasures.  A TIME MACHINE. 

This year will be different for sure.  NO HUGGING her on her special day.  This saddens me.  We're still alive and for that I can rejoice.

d

I PROMISE.....

TODAY, I ACTUALLY GOT DRESSED.

WINTERY WIND IS BLOWING TODAY.  The french door leading into the screened in porch was open yesterday with the temps as a nice SPRING day.  This morning I woke to freezing weather where snow lie on the ground.  Yesterday was my kind of weather.  The furnace is running today.  The difference between today and yesterday is as different as coffee and tea.

Thanking GOD for this laptop computer and the internet.  My constant companion.  God and the computer.  

When the temp gets warmer I WILL go for a walk.
I WILL go outside.
I WILL drink in the blue skies and fresh air.
I WILL give THANKS.
I WILL...go for a drive to social distance myself.

Yesterday, I walked the house stairs for exercise.  I also lifted heavy metal candlesticks over my head for arm exercise.  Today I will do the same as the washing machine washes a load of towels.  With the coronavirus happening, we ordered a miniature washing machine that hooks up to the KITCHEN SINK.  It's working alright for the time being.  I didn't want to go to the Laundromat.  Staying HOME. 

I am once again working at getting caught up on ze laundry.  ONCE AGAIN I find myself running behind.  It doesn't mean the same thing to me as it did 3 months ago.  I am dusting my home... each day a different room.  Today I will return to tidying up the JUNK ROOM.  I am alright with pitching more stuff.  Tis easier these days for me to turn loose.

The paperwork is needing attention.  Will get to it when I can.  This staying home and social distance has it's advantages.  I am not depressed, but occasionally find myself tearing up and saying a prayer.  Tis horribly sad what is going on.

Will probably have to make a couple of mask as this pandemic is real and we desire to stay well.

Tis quiet inside the house.  I hear the wind blowing as if there is 4 foot of snow on the ground.  Maybe this would help me desire to stay inside.

d

DINING ON THE PRAIRIE Meatloaf

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease loaf pan.
In a large bowl mix all ingredients.
Fill the pan with the mixture.
Glaze the top of the meatloaf with your choice of glaze such as ketchup.
Bake 45 to 60 minutes.
Wait a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Life just got a little easier with this recipe.

'Easy Does It Meatloaf' 

and who doesn't want easy,

d

ARE YOU SOCIAL DISTANCING???

Are you social distancing?
We are.
So far I'm doing alright with it.  A few days I have had a few moments of being sad.  Grieving might be an explanation of this sadness.  So much death.  
Some have said that there are more deaths so far this year with this, that and everything else.  They say to keep this in perspective.  This does not comfort me. 
This virus is still new and we know so little about it.  It's still killing and we know so little about it.  Not living in fear, but believe we have to respect this virus with a healthy respect toward safety and cleanliness.  
Social distancing is a must for now.
I'm not as hopeful thinking there will be a quick fix.  Not over sooner than later.
Am praying as I know many are.
Dear God, Have mercy.

Take care,
d
  

CORONAVIRUS COMMON SENSE

THESE TIPS MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE.

From a retired Respiratory Therapist on facebook.

Randy Reynolds

March 25 at 1:11 PM

CORONA Common Sense
Since they are calling on Respiratory therapist to help fight the Corona virus, and I am a retired one, too old to work in a hospital setting. I'm gonna share some common sense wisdom with those that have the virus and trying to stay home. If my advice is followed as given you will improve your chances of not ending up in the hospital on a ventilator. This applies to the otherwise generally healthy population, so use discretion. 

1. Only high temperatures kill a virus, so let your fever run high. Tylenol, Advil. Motrin, Ibuprofen etc. will bring your fever down allowing the virus to live longer. They are saying that ibuprophen, advil etc will actually exacerbate the virus. Use common sense and don't let fever go over 103 or 104 if you got the guts. If it gets higher than that take your tylenol, not ibuprophen or advil to keep it regulated. It helps to keep house warm and cover up with blankets so body does not have to work so hard to generate the heat. It usually takes about 3 days of this to break the fever. 

2. The body is going to dehydrate with the elevated temperature so you must rehydrate yourself regulaly, whether you like it or not. Gatorade with real sugar, or pedialyte with real sugar for kids, works well. Why the sugar? Sugar will give your body back the energy it is using up to create the fever. The electrolytes and fluid you are losing will also be replenished by the Gatorade. If you don't do this and end up in the hospital they will start an IV and give you D5W (sugar water) and Normal Saline to replenish electrolytes. Gatorade is much cheaper, pain free, and comes in an assortment of flavors 

3. You must keep your lungs moist. Best done by taking long steamy showers on a regular basis, if your wheezing or congested use a real minty toothpaste and brush your teeth while taking the steamy shower and deep breath through your mouth. This will provide some bronchial dialation and help loosen the phlegm. Force your self to cough into a wet wash cloth pressed firmly over your mouth and nose, which will cause greater pressure in your lungs forcing them to expand more and break loose more of the congestion. 

4. Eat healthy and regularly. Gotta keep your strength up. 

5. Once the fever breaks, start moving around to get the body back in shape and blood circulating. 

6. Deep breath on a regular basis, even when it hurts. If you don't it becomes easy to develope pneumonia. Pursed lip breathing really helps. That's breathing in deep and slow then exhaling through tight lips as if your blowing out a candle, blow until you have completely emptied your lungs and you will be able to breath in an even deeper breath. This helps keep lungs expanded as well as increase your oxygen level. 

7. Remember that every medication you take is merely relieving the symptoms, not making you well. 

8. If your still dying go to ER.

I've been doing these things for myself and my family for over 40 years and kept them out of the hospital, all are healthy and still living today.
Thank you all for sharing. We gotta help one another.

In a NUTSHELL:

1) High temps kill virus, so go as long as you can with a temperature before using Tylenol.  Do not use Ibuprofen and Advil.  Keep house warm and cover up with blanket so the body does not have to work so hard to generate heat.  Usually takes 3 days to break the fever.  

2) Stay hydrated.  With elevated temperature body will dehydrate.  Drink Gatorade with real sugar or pedialyte because sugar will give your body back the energy it is using to create the fever.

3) Keep lungs moist.  Take long steamy showers on regular basis.  Brush teeth with minty toothpaste while showering breathing through mouth.  Will loosen phlegm.

May you be healthy and stay well,

d

SWITCHING LABELS

Who doesn't KNEAD a laugh?

d

King James Version
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

RUNNING LOW ON EGGS!

I won't be running to the store for a while.  When the grocery list gets really long then I may make a trip.  It is an eery thought to me as I am social distancing and avoiding public places like the grocery store.

Doing without might not seem so daunting.

Hubby is taking a nap and I'm getting ready to do something other than sitting here.  Tis SATURDAY and the wind is blowing hard.  Temps are nice with a blue sky.

On Monday the guidelines will be adjusted as the end of 15 days to slow down the spread comes to a halt.  I suppose it will be extended.  COVID 19 cases are starting to show up in our area.

THINK I need to order some powdered eggs to fall back on if I can get my hands on some.  

Using other things instead of eggs is doable.

Blessings to you and yours,

d

THE Great Depression ONION!

THINK this needs a little clarification.

DO you mix the peanut butter into the stale bread 

and then fill the onions?

Think so.

Will have to try this and see how it turns out.

What say you?

d