HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Grand has a birthday.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I love you and wish you all the best,

Gma

He's 6 years old this month.

Doesn't seem possible!

We missed his party and it broke my 'ole heart.

Had to watch some of this on the computer.

Hope to visit with him via computer.

Blessings,

d

GOING TO THE STORE ISN'T SIMPLE FOR ME

INTO DAY 8 of not drinking me morning coffee with cream.  I think I'm doing pretty well without drinking a morning routine.  I hope I can keep this up.  Some moments it's like I want to give in to holding that coffee mug.  

Maybe I should just hold a empty mug and look at it.  I could drink hot water from it and day dream.  I felt very tired on day 6.  Very tired.  I'm hoping this is simply a caffeine withdrawal and nothing more.  I did not have a severe headache.  Just tired.  

Moving right along.  I bought some medical throw away masks.  The mask I have been wearing is made out of cloth.  I had trouble being comfortable in it when evening humidity came with temps being about 82 degrees.  I should know better that I don't do well when it's humid, 80 degrees and wearing a mask.  My glasses steamed up this time.  Better the glasses then my temper. WALMARTS always seems like it's 10 degrees hotter inside the building.

I went to WALMART to return a pair of jeans that did not fit.  No dressing rooms open due to covid so I bought the jeans, tried them on in the privacy of my home, no fit.  Extra trip to return. When I arrived at Customer Service there was a long line with 10 people waiting their turn.  I decided not to wait in line and will try again tomorrow.  I don't care to stand in line for 20 minutes or more.  Standing too long causes my back to cramp.  The line was long and my use of time would be better used elsewhere.  

Once again I need to do some laundry and hang the items on hangers to air dry.  Get it done quickly and be done with it.
Do some dishes.
Wipe down the door knobs and light switches.
Clean the wood trim in the entryway.
Make a grape pie.  

I hope I have all the ingredients in the pantry to make this.  Trying to work out of the pantry.  I have a crust and Kool-aide.  Will need sweetened condensed milk and cool whip.  Now I know I don't have cool whip.  Shucks.  Will have to get some which means another trip to the store.  

Going to the store isn't a simple thing for me.

I have a bum foot and bad back.  Sometimes walking is next to impossible.  Praise the Lord, I'm not sweating like I use to.     

Moving right along. Two products I'd like to review are from Dollar General.
Dust Clothes and Eraser Pads.  Both reasonably priced.  Tried both products and really, really, really liked them.  I'm sold.

We do not have indoor pets, but I thought if these work as well as I think they would in picking up hair and dust then I more than likely will like the results.  I dusted our wood floors with these and am sold.  I'm at the age where I cannot work on the floor dusting while on my knees.  Hurts too bad so I stood using my foot to move the cloth around.  Super control here and getting some exercise at the same time.  No need for a handled apparatus when I can control the dust cloth with my foot.  The texture of the cloth is excellent for additional pick up.

The DG/home SUPER ERASER MULTI PURPOSE CLEANING PADS surprised me beyond belief.  I used some on the KITCHEN CABINETS also in the Powder room on the door and on the wood trim.  I was amazed at how well they worked.  With ease.  Add a little water to the pad, squeeze the excess water out and go to town.  I was amazed and am sold. This made cleaning the cabinets like a game.  

Moving right along.  I do wonder if I'd like to have a PAID SHOPPER all the time or just be the one to do the shopping. The closest thing to having a PAID SHOPPER happens when I use curbside pick-up.  Wiping down the products still has to be done.  Being a paid shopper makes me think of other households that have hired help that does the shopping.

When I worked at the Kansas State Fair for the entertainment department where we fixed the meals for the entertainers, I did the grocery shopping.  It was actually fun to be a paid shopper.  I was given a list of items to get and then would go shop, unload at the Fairgrounds and put items away.  I took orders and followed through.  Nice memories.  Liked doing this part.  When I got into trouble was when I showed that I liked the job too much.  Had to tone it down some to appease my Auntie V.  Not so many smiles or laughter allowed.  Imagine that.  The Kitchen we used was called THE PIT.  It was underground and we were lucky to have an air conditioner in there.  Still too hot.  I learned a lot.  Met some celebrities.  I shined MEAT LOAF's Stage Shoes. 

No offense, but I like the actual food meatloaf bettah.  

Going shopping earlier in the day works better for me than waiting until evening.  I wear out too  easily when shopping in the evening.

NOTE TO SELF:  Write out list the night before the shopping outing.  Shop in the morning. Keep trip short.  Wipe down items when HOME.  Clean up.  Wash hands.  Rest feet. Take a break.


Note to self:  Enjoy doing all the little things that make a house a HOME.  God has allowed me to live in the here and now.  I praise HIM for helping me see the light.  Detoxing from cults and wrong thinking.

Blessings to you,

d  

LIFE CAN BE RATHER ROCKY AT TIMES

 I haven't seen the ROCKY movies before.  I can't say that now.  We had a ROCKY Marathon over the week-end. Watched 5 of them with the understanding that there are 2 more called CREED and CREED 2.

Rocky is a boxing saga of popular films all written by and starring Sylvester Stallone, who plays the character Rocky Balboa. The films are, by order of release date: Rocky(1976), Rocky II (1979), Rocky III (1982), Rocky IV (1985), Rocky V (1990) and Rocky Balboa (2006).

WHAT IS THIS...ANOTHER ONE released in 2006? 

ROCKY BALBOA

I'll have to see if the Library can get this one 

and the CREED movies.

Overall critique: Family friendly.  Decent story.  Time is spent getting to know the characters and has many LIFE LESSONS intertwined throughout each movie.  From rags to riches to rags again by the 5th movie places emphasis on family that stays together is far more important than material riches.  

Each movie shows how Rocky trains for a boxing match, gains stamina and ends with a fight.  Upbeat endings. So far.  Not sure how the others will end.  The character Rocky wasn't a disappointment to me.  He was more temperamental and sensitive than I had imagined.  I liked him.  He was a praying man, a faithful husband and eventually a family man.  His friendships were few, but the ones he had were meaningful.

Will take a break from boxing and begin again later if I can get my hands on the movies. OVERALL...I liked the shows.  Thought they were decent and would recommend to others. Sports FANS or not.

Blessings,
d

DINING ON THE PRAIRIE: Skinny Bagel Sandwich, Grapes, Celery Sticks

Dining On The Prairie with fewer carbs 

will become more prevalent as I get older.  

The TIME has come for lowering blood sugar levels 

and this is where I must start.

Skinny Bagels were used with Bacon, Spring Greens and Tomato.

Celery and chilled Green Grapes.

Made for a crunchy meal with fewer carbs.

Carbohydrates are necessary for feeding the human brain and helping with energy so I do not want to completely eliminate carbs.  Some carbs are needed especially when you get my age.

I believe I will be alright and drink 

more clear liquid like delicious H20.

SPRING Water is the drink of Champions,

d

SUNDAY SERMONETTE: Civil Conversation

Blessings,
d
  

PRAISING GOD FOR MY DISHES

MY COFFEE PERCOLATOR is similar to this one in the illustration.  We had started to perk our coffee in the percolator to cut costs on coffee expenses.  We'd been using KEURIG PODS for the longest time and after figuring the budget we are taking a pause with the pods and the disposable cups with lids.

Perking and using REAL COFFEE CUPS.

We cut corners even more when I decided to take a break from coffee drinking to see if my blood sugar level goes down.  DAY FIVE here on the Prairie without my dark liquid that I sip throughout the day.  

It was a easy HABIT FORMING thing I looked forward to doing every day.  Mental conditioning and comfort food.  Who'd ever think that coffee is a food?  I did.  As many a morning I drank coffee instead of eating real breakfast food.  The weight did not come off.  Disheartening, but the way it is when having no thyroid and the meds don't work.

Beefing up my game.  I am doing floor stretches right on the Living room rug.  To cheer me I am going to play MUSIC.  No GYM MEMBERSHIP NEEDED at the time.  

FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL:  Last night, HUBBY and I watched the 1976 movie ROCKY.  It starts out kind of slow before interest kicks in.  Maybe I should say PUNCHES IN since he was a boxer.  The character ROCKY does start drinking raw eggs in the early morning.  I have no desire to do this, but could do scrambled eggs instead.  I was reading about raw eggs drank by early on athlete's over a 100 years ago.  EGGS are high in protein helping with the muscle build up. 

84 year old Body Builder Ernestine drinks egg whites everyday.  I don't believe I can do raw eggs period, but have some EGG FIT POWDER to mix in with my PROTEIN DRINK when I drink it.  I will have to become more dedicated to doing this then I have been.

This past week, Hubby has been working on the screened in porch roof.  Terrible leaking and wood rot.  Early mornings and evenings he's out there in the heat rejuvenating the structure.  BIG PROJECT.  My part in this is to take photographs and cheer him on.  Encourage him to avoid working in the afternoon heat to stay well.  Heat stroke is real and we do not need to experience it so we can say, we suffered a heat stroke.  He's removing tile and cement backer board and removing wood post plus all that was used on this years ago.  It wasn't done correctly and leaked.  The inside of the porch ceiling will have to be replaced as well.  The water warped it so badly it's ruined.

LOOKING INSIDE THE KITCHEN CUPBOARD where my dishes are, I started thanking GOD out loud for my dishes.  I am so glad to have them to use.  They sit so nicely in the cabinet.  Admiring them.  Imagine not having dishes.  The dirty dishes do pile up as do the pots 'n pans, but we have food that has dirtied them up.  We are blessed to have the dishes, pot 'n pans, glasses, silverware and huge coffee mugs that I am not using for the time being.

Praising GOD for everything in the house.  Thanking HIM for everything.  EVERYTHING.  Praising GOD for my dishes.  

We are staying HOME this week-end instead of going to an out of state birthday party.  I wish we could have gone, but we're social distancing.  Trying to come up with a way to see FAMILY later in the year.  If we rent a camper and stay at a camp ground, we could sleep, cook and use the restroom for breaks, then visit with family.  Praying about this and making plans.  Happy Birthday to my lil guy who turns 6 this month.    

His Momma is going to Home School him.  PAUSE.  I wish all my young Grandchildren were being HOME SCHOOLED this year.  I am concerned about COVID.  There may be a stand still come October and November if this virus becomes more active with school aged children.  Not very happy about how this is being handled across the country.  The encouragement to re-open schools during a pandemic is encouraging our children and teaching staff to get ill.  Well, you can't shut down school buildings...yes you can.

The devil comes as an angel of light.  Re-open the schools seems like a good thing to do?  I don't agree.  It's not wise and rather stupid.
d


Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.

DINING ON THE PRAIRIE: Cheese Pizza and Salad

FRIDAY NIGHT RITUAL

Combination Salad and Cheese Pizza.

Just enough crunch with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and yellow peppers 

spiced up with vinegar water with a hint of sugar to add some zing to the vegetables.

Store-bought Pizza

with some homegrown veggies made for a simple meal.

Dining On The Prairie

made easy.

Here's to making a HAPPY HOME,

d 

DAY 3: NO COFFEE

Can I give up coffee?  Yes.  I know I can.  I gave up Pepsi, Coca Cola, Dr. Pepper at 42 years of age and I'm now 65.  23 years ago.  WOWZER.  All except 7-up during illnesses and occasional Root Beer.  Back to drinking H2O...water.  Spring water.  I believe the day has come to adjust to no coffee except on occasional occasions.  grins.  I can do this thing.


TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF 3 DAYS WITHOUT COFFEE.  SO far so good.  NO HUGE CRAVINGS for this liquid gold.  Which amazes me.  No craving.  No extreme headache.  No desire.  Fantastic.


I had the understanding that drinking coffee helps with lowering ones blood sugar level.  Soooo I freely drank it.  Daily.  Almost all day long throughout the day.  No questions asked.  Simply accepted this as truth.


A good thing gone sour.  My Blood sugar level has been on a higher side of things for years.  This SUMMER I've been checking my levels in the morning and it was higher than in the comfortable zone.  Monitoring it.  TOO HIGH.  Decided to go off coffee.  Will do this for a month or so and see if there is a better outcome from having no coffee.  


I did this one other time about a year and a half ago and my blood pressure went down.  Will see if this helps the sugar levels.

This is interesting to me as I seem to not fall into a text book category of what is considered the norm or withdrawal.  Perhaps the Lord is making this easy for me.    

Dear Lord, I love you.                                          

Show me the way in which I am to go,                        

d

Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
2 Chronicles 15:7 - Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. 

A $10 TOMATO

The tomato plant that was purchased and planted produced 3 tomatoes.  Period.  

This one in this image split at the top.  My Grandma always covered her tomato plants before the heat of the day.  Hers didn't split.  They were delightfully good.  She was a HOMEGROWN GARDENER herself.    

Note to self:  Try again next year, but cover in the heat of the day with a tea towel like Grandma did way back when.

Note to self:  Don't forget to stomp on Tomato plants before they produce tomatoes or knock the plants silly with a broom.

Ending with this.  Hubby knew a guy that had the most prolific garden around with the most beautiful tomatoes.  His secret that he was willing to share was that he stomped his tomato plants before they starting producing the fruit.  Because Tomatoes have seeds they are considered a fruit.  They'd come back with a vengeance.  Big beautiful Tomatoes to enjoy. 

Blessings to you,

d

PIE CRUST RECIPE

DAUGHTER'S PIE CRUST RECIPE

With her permission I'm sharing.  

Her Grandma's wonderful pie crust recipe 

makes a crust that just about melts in your mouth.

Pie Crust Recipe

1 cup flour
3 heaping tablespoons of shortening
A dash of salt
a tiny bit of ice cold water

Mix ingredients together well. 
Roll out on wax paper.
Assemble pie.
Spread a little milk on top of crust before baking.

Simply delicious,

d

SEEING COMO RED

FOR MY JULY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

LAST YEAR

I was blessed with this galvanized tub 

which we used for icing down sodas 

when we had company.

The tub fixture remained in the KITCHEN through out the year collecting bags of potato chips, potatoes and just a little of this 'n that.  Instead of putting it in storage and not using it very often, 

I thought it would make a cute planter.  

We moved it outside to the KITCHEN PORCH.

I wanted to be the one to drill holes in the tub for drainage. 

Asked HUSBAND if he would show me how to use his handheld power drill.  He did and I felt powerful using it.  4 holes later, I wiped the tub out and we dumped nutritious potting soil in.  Placed the mum in and patted her down.  Watered and admired the lovely BELGIAN MUM in the tub.

Two other MUMS will be planted in the large round containers that sit on the patio.  

All the same color called COMO RED.

~BEFORE~

~AFTER~

Glad we did this simple little chore.

Makes me HAPPY.

We should get hours of pleasure when looking at the flowers in tub. 

AUTUMN is in about 43 days starting on September 22nd.

Pumpkins will join the encore soon.

Temps need to cool off 

and the evening shade start earlier.

Thinking about wreaths for the front doors.

Autumn colors.

Blessings to you,

d

FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL

We used CURBSIDE PICK-UP from Aldi's.  Liked doing this.  Ordered a PIZZA for our Friday Night Special along with a movie.  Did a double feature.  No soda.  Iced Tea.

I needed to dry freshly washed towels over at the COTTAGE and pick up a load of undies. Their little Dollar Store is a favorite of mine.  It's tidy and cleaner than the one here in my small town America.  I prefer shopping there than here.  

I wanted to get a snap on lidded sweater box to store foot health supplies in it.  Quick trip inside wearing a mask and quickly out to the car.  We buzzed over to Manhattan's Aldi's where our online order was ready for us.  I liked this so much I screamed like a little girl.

Drove HOME seeing the landscape as a beautiful place.  Hubby wiped down our order and carried it inside.  

We had pizza and watched a double feature.  SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA and COUNTY LINE.  I'd seen UTOPIA before and couldn't remember the movie at all.  Like a new flick.

I know that in the movies the actors are performing.  They have real lives away from the camera.  Dukes of Hazzard's star Tom Woput was decent in COUNTY LINE, but in real life he has his own drama going on with cocaine and women.  I hope he straightens out before it is too late for him.  On probation...

I am who I am and I like watching movies in the evening.  Popcorn is a plus for fiber intake.

Our PIZZA had Philly Steak meat on it.  This was a first for me.  Philly Steak?  It was alright.  Not sure I will get use to it. 

Blessings,

d