Quick Post

 

Yesterday we buried my Dearest Granny.  Due to Covid concerns, we were limited in what we could do and as it turns out, my Granny just wanted a very limited service, did not want a sad affair.  So, we met just small extended family, and then we held brief but very beautiful graveside.  It is about a 4 hour drive for us, I left at 5:50am with my niece riding with me.  DH went up the day before we our friend, J, from Florida.  He got on a plane from Florida and came just to be with us and help in anyway he could.  His wife had to stay in Florida - she is a busy nurse.  J and DH drove up Sunday to check on J's lake house.  The weather was sunny and beautiful - low 70's.  Today, back home I woke up to high 60's and it go up to 73 before a front moved in and it got cold and dark, windy...pretty soon the rain.  So glad we did not have rain yesterday.  I got some very nice calls, texts, posts and cards from my family and friends.  My husband's family brought by a couple of beautiful strawberry hydrangeas.  I planted them Sunday.  

We were so lucky that our minister from my small town I grew up in was able to travel from his city to perform the service.  He was able to tell nice stories of when he was a new minister and came to our small town, that the 3 ladies on the hill (My Granny and her 2 sisters in law) were his biggest cheering section.  My Granny he was especially close to, because she kept the books for the church.  He has gone on to have a large church in another big city in my 'hometown' state of Missouri and moved on to have an even bigger church in another big city.  He is well thought of in the Methodist church structure.  He and his wife have grown their little family of 4 kids to numerous grandkids, all spreading their wings now.  We were so happy we could do this for my Granny.  We had someone give her service that had known here since 1987.  I know my Granny would have been proud of her family coming together and so that is what I will hold close to my heart, that she is smiling down on us.  

A Very Sad Post

 My very Dearest and Cherished Grandmother died yesterday.

RIP BEL 3/6/1919 - 11/3/2020

Have been so busy dealing with the end of my Granny's last days on earth.  She was moved into her new apartment right next to her daughter end of September.  She fell a couple more times, broke her wrist about 2 weeks ago.  I did not have a chance to get up and see her in the city to tell her about the wild horses and all the springs, like I had hoped.  But once she declined, she declined quickly.  So, after my very first week on my new job, on my day off (Sunday) my sister and my niece drove up to see if she would know us.  She was resting peacefully, but gave signs she might have heard us.  We held her hands and stroked her hair and told her her job here on earth was done and to fly and be free.  We know she is excited to go to heaven and see her parents, sister, sister in law, brothers, cousins, husbands, dauther in law (my mom) and especially her son.  

So, as the entire free world is watching the election results, I am getting her obit finished, her funeral arrangements, her pictures and preparing the picture she painted of me and the afgan I crocheted her to be buried with her.  

Whatever the outcome, be nice to each other out there.  

More Summer Stuff and Some Sad News

 We found out last week my DH uncle had passed away in his home alone and the town police force called to let DH mom know.  She and my sister in law went over and took care of his affairs and made his arrangements.  They are this Friday.  He was a veteran, so he will have military burial.  He was a very nice man, funny, enjoyed talking to him.  I am sorry he died alone.  I am even more sorry he was an active alcoholic and did not have a relationship with God.

I also heard about a woman in my hiking group, losing her son suddenly to a heart attack.  He was only 50.  Then, my DH brother's wife lost her mom.  She had fought a long battle with Alzheimers.  Something else troubling me is how quickly my dear Granny is declining.  She continues to have falls and mentally is just not doing well after nearly 6 months of isolation.  

DH and i boarded 2 dogs and took 2 dogs with us to see our friends at the lake.  My friend, J i have known since grade school.  He inhereted his mom's lake home couple years ago, even thought they still live full time in Florida.  The lake has become even more busy than ever due to the Covid 19.  We stayed just one night, had a nice visit. Swam Saturday and took a boat ride Sunday, then drove home.  

We took this girl with us and she was a big hit.  She stayed right close to the house and everyone loved her.  She does not want to get in the water though.  I tried for 30 min and she was not having it!

During our boat ride, we saw this huge flag and i thought it was really neat looking, so i took a photo.

At our friend's lake house, we had the downstairs bedroom which looks directly out at the lake and when we woke up Sunday morning, it was really foggy on the water because it is cooling off in the evenings, but still pretty hot during the day.  This week was supposed to cool off, but is still pretty warm today.  I like the cooler evenings, but i am not ready for summer to end yet.

DH and i have become curious about having a place at the lake, so we are exploring that.  We have pretty much accepted that I will have to be back to work indefinitely to wisely afford a 2nd place, so i have began exploring that too.  My current team leader has indicated we might have a few years on this project and she has told me about a full time position - that is more of a long shot, because i am sure there will be a LOT of competition for each position.  I have also reached out to my old boss in the city to see if i can now work for them again remote, since everyone currently is remote - he sounded positive about the possibility...so we shall see.

Have not sold much, but i did finally sell a jean jacket of DH that he bought and decided was too short.  So that's good.  And we agreed we are going to possibly go camping next month, so we are going to go through our equipment and keep what we will use and well what we don't want.  So, that will be really the last area of our stuff that we haven't cleared out.  September as it cools down will be a good time to clear out and organize the shop (3rd garage).  

What i have been doing...i made 3 desserts to take to the lake for our potluck - they were all a big hit.  Choc cake, lemon bars and home made apple pie.  Or course, i had to at least sample all 3, lol.  But i have been doing really well not eating sweets otherwise and have decided that intermittant fasting is something i want to try.  I am doing 6 - 7 hours of eating and fasting the rest of the 17 - 18 hours.  I will let you know how that goes for me.  I don't need breakfast, so i wait for late lunch 1.30 or 2 and that way i can still eat after yoga at 7.30 or 8.

I have planted some grass in 3 areas of my yard - so that next spring the grass will be mature enough that i can weed and feed.  This area is going to be my fountain area, eventually.  

Between all the pavers i am getting grass going, so i still just mow right over it, but it looks interesting and minimizes the difficulty i have getting a lush grass area because of the traffic and because of the lack of sun all day there.  Plus, i can put a fountain in the center and minimize the trimming around the bottom.  More on that soon!

I have also transplanted a few cactus and succulents to simplify my pots outside and have planted some things in my raised beds sort of late in the season, but so that i can simplify how much i will have to bring in for the winter in pots.  My west wide of my house is the front, but i am going to get it as low maintenance as possible, focusing on cactus and drought tolerant plants, since they get so much sun.  Here is my Florida cactus i potted in a bigger pot.

When we got home from the lake yesterday, i took a nice leisurely walk while it was barely still light outside and when i got home DH was in the process of watering a bunch of my plants and it made me so happy because he is starting to enjoy the plants also and i did not even ask him for help.  So, maybe he will get hooked like me!

Hope you are enjoying these last weeks of summer and taking time to make your daily lives better.  Bye for now.

Good Time to Catch Up

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I posted.

My favorite uncle passed that week and so I went to the city and stayed with my aunt for a week helping her get services ready and keeping her company.   She is doing ok.  I worry about her.  Losing my uncles income will tighten her budget.   She has a big family and support system.  I hope they keep it up.

I saw my elderly Granny day after her bday couple weeks ago.   She was good.  Now they are not having visitors for the time being.  My Granny is trying to stay positive.

Last week our internet was out for 5 days.   I went ahead and went on a trip (I drove) about 4 hours south with my hiking club to a lake and couple state parks.  There were 20 of us.  We had a good time.  I like the women in the group.

When I got home Thursday I was sick.  So of course I have worried a bit.  But I am pretty sure just allergies and my chronic condition.   No flu symptoms.   I have been getting lots of rest.

Saturday we stocked up on groceries.  Bought pantry stuff and also lots of fresh fruit and veggies.  We are just staying home as much as we can next 2 to 4 weeks.  Yesterday and today was dreary and gray/drizzling.  I walked anyway.  Going to try to stay active and enjoy some solitude. 

I am eager to get my plants outside and plant some veggies...wont be long!

Until then we are enjoying chilly evenings and a fire on our wood stove and projects inside.

Stay well!

Salad Day

Just took a break with a friend at work and there was a bunch of left over Greek salad/hummus in the break room - score!  The food was from Zoe's and I just love their Greek dressing!  It had lettuce, tomatoes, diced red onion, feta cheese and Kalamata olives.  So good.

Thursday, DH had an appointment in the city early Friday.  So his folks were going to run by and feed the dogs for us, he went to see Granny and I met him over there on my way out of town - to home.  We visited with her an hour and he went on north and I went on south.  He got home Friday after apt and playing golf with is brother.  I enjoyed my house just me and the dogs.  Was nice.  We watched TV in bed!

Then Saturday I went to my other friend who passed from cancer (in August) - to his celebration of life.  It was fun driving up with and visiting with my sister.  We took DH convertible.  We also got to see lots of our friends, but it was really draining.

Maybe that is why I am just feeling out of sorts.  Sluggish and lethargic.  Plus I am puffy and yucky from eating bad.  I am starting back over on the no sugar thing.  I had gone with out eating red met until Saturday on the way home I stopped for a snack and ended up eating fast food, yuck.  So starting over there too.  Had not eaten red meat for almost a month.  I don't know why I am having so much problem right now eating for wellness.  I went to yoga last night, other than walking and being really busy doing projects around the house (DH mowed without me Saturday - surprised me so much!) I had not worked out officially since last wed yoga - so I went last night and sweated like crazy - then came home - had a light meal and watched tv show - then bed.  I am tired of this schedule, in 3 more weeks I will give my 2 week notice - so 5 more weeks in total.

At least it is still in the 90's and hot!  It was good weather to stay in and organize...last weekend I organized and cleaned out my spice cabinet.  This weekend I cleaned out and scoured the freezer part of the fridge - I need to do free standing freezer next weekend.  And we have a nice 8 by 8 ish storage closet off our garage - I cleaned that out, organized and swept the floor/shelves and re-arranged.  Got rid of a carload of knick knacks...and DH is clearing out his giant collection of encyclopedias so we can offer then for sale at his sister's store and empty out several of our bookcases.  We looked at the small yard house(new house) once again and decided that the storage was just so lacking - we could not do it.  So, we are staying in our current house.  But, DH agreed that we could continue to purge.  If we actually considered this house - we must both be in agreement that we could do with less.  So, I am going to continue to pare down excess and DH agreed, because someday we will want to move and find house with smaller yard (and probably less storage).  Mainly right now, I get tired of cleaning around stuff!

And for my own part...I am going to store nothing in our attic except 4 Christmas and 2 fall totes.  I told DH I was purging down so much, that if/when we do move, I will easily be able to quickly look and decide what I do NOT need to keep.  Experience, not things is my mantra. 

I do not regret that I plan to finish a few cheap money/labor intensive projects around my house that we will get to enjoy and that will make our house and yard look great. 

Oh, I forgot to tell this...my friend at work brought me a bag full of pears.  They are really delicious green pears with a pretty thick skin.  I got them all up and put in bags in my freezer for smoothies because they are pretty small just to try to halve.  I made DH and I pear and spinach smoothies and my little $80 bullet from Walmart did great!  We did not detect the skins or the spinach.  I was very happy with my inexpensive blender. 

Then, Monday we had peach, apple and banana smoothies and they were yummy.  I am going to get another giant supply of apples this week and so I wanted my apples still in the freezer used up.  Hope you are reaping some great produce as this harvest moon approaches!

Final Wayfair Share

 

This weekend I got to see the coffee table I had ordered that DH has assembled while I was working last week.  We were a little disappointed that the bottom shelf panels were missing, but a quick email indicated they would be mailed to us soon.  I realize these things happen, but why don't they mail them back with the same communication/urgency of the original order?  The tabletop had a divet out of it that we tried to patch, but it still did not look great and we were afraid it would not hold up over time - I requested that be replaced too and it has been nearly 2 weeks!  So, for small inexpensive items, mail order has been fine (plus I wanted 3 very specific and small things).  Most furniture you see in retail stores is 1)  expensive!  and 2)  huge.

I am overall happy to get exactly what I want, fairly inexpensive and be a little patient/put them together. 

This was after I got home from the city Thursday evening and turned around and rode back with my sister.  I really should have stayed home, I was exhausted to the point of needed to nap.  Which is not like me.  We did learn when we stopped to visit our Granny that she is moving.  From an independent living apartment to another closer to her daughter.  She was afraid we would be mad, I don't really understand why she thought I would be mad, I guess because she was not moving closer to me.  I never expected that.  Anyway, she insists on hiring a moving truck (she does not have much, will be $900).  I am grateful for that, because otherwise even though we have cousins in the city, DH and I would have done the majority of the work.  This way my sister and I can take a couple days to help unpack and make her place more of a home.  We are honored to help her.

My aunt and unle were so thrilled at my sister's gift of a call-button system.  Very proud and happy.  Nice that my sister can do that for them.  We had a nice lunch with them Sat before we drove back.  So, I was home Sat night, Sunday and Monday.  My sister and I also enjoyed a nice dinner with my girlfriends from the city T and D.  We haven't kept up with D as much, she does not really keep in touch much either, is busy with her grandkids.  Frankly talks about them non stop.  She still indicated she wanted to come down to our house.  Not without T, I will just have to put it off maybe.
Sunday DH and I mowed and looked at 2 for sale houses in our little town with smaller yards.  One house over priced and needed a $5000 - $8000 wood fence replaced - PLUS it had 7 giant cut off stumps in the yard - a fairly small yard.  It had been gutted and remodeled beautifully, but lacked these 2 huge items for us - and overpriced.  The other house was brand new - very pretty and I really loved the layout - tiny yard which is ok for us.  But it was REALLY small (not that I care).  Just not sure we are ready to downsize that much this quick. 

Then Monday we looked at 2 larger homes 1 old 1 new in nearby higher traffic area.  One had a nice view, the other did not.  Both smaller yards - 1 mostly rock.  DH really hating our huge yard and the mowing.  I offer to do the mowing, he is not willing to have his wife do all the mowing - so it is a quandary for us, somewhat.  We may consider finding room in our budget to hire someone, but it would be $70/week!  We will see.

One thing this looking has shown us - we are essentially on the same page - we just want cozy home, to enjoy each other and reduce our focus on stuff.  However, I have been feeling this pull for about 5 years -to reduce my stuff and he seems new to the change - although surprises me sometimes.  Actually 2 things, we both really do feel the happy goal of making sure the other person is happy and satisfied where we are in life and in our retirement...more broadly, in our life journey. 

I told DH last night as we were relaxing before I had to get to bed early to get up at 3:45 am - I just care about him, not what we have or where we live.  Plus - we really do love our house.  So, we will probably stay put and enjoy all we have done on the house.  It has been quite a summer indeed.

First Weekend in Extended Stay

We are pretty much accustomed to the noises and limited space and limitations of the extended stay hotel.  But, we are sleeping fine and managing to get our meals taken care of and the dogs are adjusting and doing fine.  There are many things that i appreciate such as the limited space to take care of, we are on the southeast corner (cooler than west side) and we can crake the AC and keep it really cool and we are paying for the electric or cable!  haha.  I also noticed that we cannot hear the fireworks in the neighboring housing additions very much which is good for the dogs.
We went out with friends Friday evening who all have June birthdays.  It was good to see our friends we had not seen in a while.  I ended up going to watch BIL band.  We were not going to go this time, since it was so hot and it was outside.  Then DH heard a rumor that one of my favorite singers was going to show up at this small dive venue.  DH told me to go and he was going to hotel to be sure dogs were ok.  Since it was in the opposite side of the city, i went with a girlfriend.  The rumor was false but I had fun.  Sat I shopped for my Granny and visited with my aunt who had been in the hospital for over a week.  Then I went home and DH and I went to a housewarming party for my good friend.  That was nice seeing people too.  We have been so focused on packing and moving, that we had not done much else the past 6 months.  Sun it was cool from an early morning rain and we went to one of our favorite state parks and hiked 3 miles, then lunch.  I got a few groceries and we relaxed Sun evening.  It was a full but fun weekend.

Fri-Yay

Super busy at work.  Yesterday I finished my annual continuing ed, so that is a huge relief.  If one plans ahead they can get much/all of their cont ed free - I got half of mine free.  So all finished until next year.  Then I came home and loaded last of the big content (bunch of kitchen stuff/clothes/misc still) in suburban.  It is simply amazing what that thing will hold.  We are really pleased that we have been able to pull of this move all by ourselves for only the money we have put into that used suburban (too much).  Then I fixed dinner and sat for few minutes and then I walked as the temp had dropped to a lovely 91 degrees!  My stop and smell the roses moment was sitting and visiting in the driveway with our dear neighbors Wed night, after hanging out with my Granny.  Then Thurs it was going to bed early.  I was so tired that I fell asleep as my husband was trying to talk to me...ooops.  We have this last large load to unload in the heat tonight (and find places to put!).  But at least I can unpack/organize mostly inside in the AC.  We also get to ride together this trip - my DH is glad because he usu makes me drive!  I am right on budget for everything.  I am actually little under b/c DH paid for my probiotic supplement and his rx and gave me some extra money since he is not paying any house payments now!  I immed pigeon holed it for savings!  Have a wonderful Friday!