Another Monday

 Dear Friends, I will be glad to see January come to an end. It has been cloudy, cold and wet. Our weatherman tells us that February will begin with sunshine and warmer temperatures!

The pond has been frozen for a few weeks and slowly it turns to slush. When I look outside, I am reminded of the movie Funny Farm with Chevy Chase. That movie always makes me laugh! 

We live in the country, as I have for most of my life.  Life here is changing though.  We now have people living here and not respecting our laws, our neighbors, our quiet or our friendliness.  They are currently disobeying laws, being a problem with their neighbors and throwing their trash anywhere they want.  I understand that coming across our border with no plans, no money, no direction gives them little choices. Afterall, choices are a luxury for most people. But to just throw your trash out your door onto the neighbors is not American. Then them telling the community that "There is more to come" has raised concern.  You see, we are a good 30 minutes from 911. We depend on each other, on being aware and protecting each other. I pray that these new neighbors and their new community within our community learn that we need each other.

I awoke at 4 am this morning. I hurt from pain in my bones, my old bones, my not so great bones. I saw my cousin's home wake up and leave for work, then another cousin, then another. I am surrounded by family, mostly cousins younger than me, and their kids.  My brother bought the land years ago and then built a pond and a private lane.  He then sold lots to each of our family and we have all built new homes here. I have over 30 years of hard labor in this land, it is beautiful to sit and watch the sun rise up over our pond.

I love Mondays here. It is a quiet catch up day with all the kids back to school and work. A day for me to catch up on my thoughts and duties. My heart tachycardia seems to be less painful and less occuring, at least the intensity of it. My new hip and spine are getting stronger, at a painful and slow pace, due to being flat on my back for over 4 months. I am now only taking 2-4 tylenol per day or less. The work is paying off.

January included some purging, cleaning and organizing. My pantry, didn't get torn apart and wiped clean this year, But it did get wiped, purged and organized. I also concentrated on our bathroom cabinets.  I have a very large three-mirrored medicine cabinet that is great storage. But most of the storage is in lower cabinets, which I don't bend or kneel as easy as I use to. I keep our towels in a cabinet in a corner next to the toilet.  I don't like them there, too hard to twist, bend and kneel so I plan to find a way to move lesser used items into that cabinet. They have some really nice organizers available now, and its a good time to get it done.

It is winter, so not much going on except plans for this years garden. I wanted to order from Park seeds but wow, $50 for 5 seeds packets, had to think on that one. I still may as their quality is top notch but wow, I am having an adjustment period before pay now button is clicked.  Their radish seeds are the best I have ever planted. I want to plant peas, radishes, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes and maybe potatoes. Also I will need the flowers and herbs to draw in the pollinators! 

Our Kansas City Chiefs are going to the SuperBowl!!!!  Yea, we love KC!  We live about 2 hours south and we take short trips to the city to shop and eat great food.  KC Barbecue, yum!!

aka: jackiesee

Another Monday - Hello August!

Good Morning Neighbors.

August is here and I am excited for fall.

I hope I will be able to walk again without pain soon.

My hip surgery is scheduled for the 17th and I pray the pain will be gone shortly after.

I am joining in with Sandra over at

Family Corner Blog for her 

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY!

THE WEATHER:

Better than July, hot but tolerable, overcast skies and a nice breeze.

We might get rain on Tuesday but this is the Ozarks and

Mother Nature is moody, very moody!

OUT MY WINDOW:

Sitting at my dining table I can see our pond, blooming red flowers and kayaks.

Thehubs and I have created a beautiful yard and landscape.

RIGHT NOW I AM:

Blogging, reading and drinking coffee. 

Our sinuses are stuffed so we are waiting for our sinus medication to kick in.

Kitty has been outside and is now asleep in her bed.

Thehubs is working in his office and the house is quiet.

THINKING AND PONDERING:

Boredom.  A list of house work. Laundry. Pain in my hip, back and legs.

This summer has been spent inside using a walker and I have had very little communication to and from my normal world.  Work ethic is big here in Missouri. If my hip wasn't bone on bone, I would have been outside working with the others. It has been a very lonely summer.

Our 25th Wedding Anniversary was a bad memory and how to change the trajectory of our future.

Praying that our 26th Wedding Anniversary is a good memory.

LISTENING TO:

Nothing but quiet.

The sound of my home.

The wonderful cool air blowing through the air vents.

HOW AM I FEELING:

Pain, stopped up nose, ringing ears.

Like an alien in my own body.

Confused, too much stress and too little relief from it.

FOOD:

I have a freezer full of meat, and a pantry full of vegetables.

The fresh vegetables are tapering off.

I fried sweet potatoes last night for the first time and they were delicious.

Too hard to plan right now, our eating schedule is eat whenever.

The benefit of retirement I guess.

WHAT AM I WEARING:

Long gown pajamas with soft socks.

My favorite would be jeans and t-shirt.

ON MY READING PILE:

Blogs, Instagram

ON MY TV THIS WEEK:

Nothing, we rarely watch it.

Too much want, too much sex, too much of too much of everything.

ON THE MENU:

Not sure, have lots of food and will decide each day.

LOOKING AROUND THE HOUSE:

The house is good.

Dishes, laundry, general pickup and of course dirty toilets.

I will be needing to repot some plants.

Our bed is on the floor due to my hip so

my bedroom looks a bit un-done.

I ordered two prints from Kirklands for my birthday.

I love them but am hitting a blank when it comes to hanging them.

I hope to get my fall decor down this week.

I am hoping it cheers me up.

TO DO LIST:

Get some new glasses.

Paint light over kitchen sink.

Cook a meal for our neighbor that is so helpful.

Mail a card to a friend in need of some uplifting words.

Take Mom for ice cream.

DEVOTION:

Thank you for coming over to visit. I am glad you stopped by.

Jackie See

aka GeeDazee

Another Monday - the end of July

Today is the last day of July and I think everyone is glad to see it go. This week's temperature outside is expected to reach 108 degrees.  I have had an outdoor thermometer for almost 20 years and this is the first time it's used three digits. To sum it up, July was HOT, painfully hot.

I turned 65 and with that came all of the medicare mail. I am very popular right now with medicare solicitors. They call, they email, and the mail box if full.  So confusing, but I stayed to the helm and managed to get one that fits my needs. Now to notify all the medical angels that are in my life.

We lost a dear friend yesterday to a brain bleed after a fall. Another reminder to get out and visit all those who hold a place in my heart. However, as I age and my body fails, this is not an easy trip.

I also found out that I am in extreme need of two surgeries, hip replacement and 3 spinal fusions (I already have two). This will be my23rd and 24th surgery so nothing is going to surprise me.  But, this is the first time I have had to wait in a line for 2 months to get in.  In pain, and waiting my turn, another 2 months to go.

Now on to Happy Homemaker link up:

Come and join the party by linking up with

www.familycorner.blogspot.com

The weather:

inside it will be 76 degree and I pray that our ac unit survives. I also pray for those who are going to have to choose between paying their electric bill and other necessities. There are a lot seniors suffering with this economy right now and a $300-$400 electric bill will take a large percentage of their social security.

Out my window:

Looking out my dining room window, I can see the gorgeous flower pots of geraniums and hibiscus still blooming.   I love this view, even though our back covered patio is really thehubs mancave. In between flowers you will find yard tools, work gloves, shoes and a beer fridge! He loves it out there and usually has evening guests that stop by for a cold beer and to say hello.

Right now I am:

Doing laundry, dishes, preparing files for phone calls this afternoon, and emptying my mind of words. 

Thinking and Pondering:

How full of words I am and how it all feels raw. I want to get out of this survival mindset. I really need a break from my environment, the past year it hasn't been healthy for me. I've dreamed of getting in my car and driving away not even knowing where I am going, just driving. Then I wake up and everything is the same. Thinking about losing my legs and not being able to walk or work, scary thoughts right now.

Listening to:

My washer, dryer and dishwasher and the ringing in my ears. It is now harvest season for local fields and the dust in the air is high which makes our eyes itch, ear ring and our sinuses stuffy.

How am I feeling:

Trying to empty and organize my thoughts today. So many to do's and no one to help. It's lonely when you lose your children.

Food:

I have a refrigerator full of food. BBQ pork steak, Grilled filet mignon, grilled vegetables, fresh vegetables from our garden and several bags of delicious fruit. I am not a good eater. I lost my colon, then have had more surgeries that have ended up with me having a belly full of scar tissue. I eat about every two hours, small portions.  I usually divide a meal for thehubs into small portions for me and I eat one vegetable at a time throughout my day. At the end of the day I have eaten a full meal, just in 2 hour increments. I can't lose a damn pound... because I drink a gallon and of milk and 2 days. I love milk.

What I am wearing:  Lounging pajamas. I am cleaning house, even with a walker, and trying to get it finished before I need to make phone calls this afternoon.

On my reading pile:

My journal and some blogs. I enjoy reading everyday people doing everyday things. Like walking next door and having a glass of iced tea.

On my tv this week:

I don't watch much television. I use to watch the news but turned that off when I felt I was being told what they wanted me to hear. So we just leave it turned off. 

On the menu:

listed above.

Looking around the house:

It is in good shape, just the usuals, laundry, dishes, and dirty toilets. Too hot to even go outside.

To do list:

To much to list. I am a caregiver to my Mom. and July wasn't good for her. I have been immobile and I only saw her once. August has to include new glasses, maybe a surgery I hope, dental repairs, and a promise to keep blogging. Hoping it helps me organize and understand my thoughts better.

Devotion:

~jackiesee~

We've had a lot going on these past couple of months.  

I didn't even realize it had been that long since I had posted on my blog.  

I guess I took a little electronic hiatus.

But other projects required my time, attention and energy.

I am trying new foods and new stores as we travel around.

I am also growing a lot of vegetables.

I haven't decorated anything,

except our front porch.

Kitty (Russel) likes it

and lays here each morning.

I've been fishing.

Our weather was amazing,

until,

it got hot.

Now we are having August heat in June.

I also am learning how to relax, 

enjoy where I am, who I am with, 

and discovering what I like to do.

More to come.

Thanks for stopping by!

Another Monday...

We are getting ready for a garage sale.

It is our least favorite thing to do.  

I have been asking these questions.

• Do I have room for it?
• Is it in the way when I want to use something else, something that I use often?
• How many of this do I need?

I don't bend and stretch like I use to. 

• How many times have I cleaned something in the past month that I really never use?
• Or that I forgot that I had? I walk by it everyday and don't see it?

Garage sales are hard work.

• But it will never bring what it is worth at a garage sale!
• But it has a nice memory attached to it! I can't let that go. Remember when....
• But I like that, it is pretty.
• Oh, remember so and so gave that to us. I don't want to hurt their feelings,and you know they will come to our garage sale.

Stay focused.

Thehubs went to a class a few weeks ago and the instructor told a story of her grandma's dishes. Her mom had called and said she was bringing "grandma's dishes over". The instructor told her she didn't want grandmas dishes, that her cabinets were full of other pieces of grandma's dishes. The next day she came home from work and there on her porch was that box of grandmas dishes. She called her daughter and told her she was bringing grandma's dishes to her house. The daughter said no, her cabinets were full and she didn't want grandmas dishes either. So the instructor called the local flea market and asked of anyone there bought dishes. They said no, their market was too full of dishes and they weren't accepting anymore in their store.

That story stuck with me. How much stuff have I kept just because it belonged to someone I loved. I have a famous tea set, a family heirloom with a lot of history behind it. But it is very ugly. The dishes are so thin, that I don't dare use them and how often do I serve formal tea in extremely thin cups. They have been stored in a box in the closet for 17 years, since we downsized and moved from the big house. Kdaughter thinks they are ugly, too fragile and doesn't want the responsibility, brother won't even talk about taking them. My grandma didn't want them, my mother doesn't want them, and I think I am tired of them being in my closet.

• Do I dare break the family line of the famous tea set in the box in the closet?
• Would grandma hate me for not passing it along?
• Do I keep it another 17 years, in a box, in the closet?

Stay focused!

Yea, right.
The tea set is still in the closet.

Till later...

Another Monday...

Out my window:
a little rain, a little sunshine, sometimes at the same time. It's spring! I am sitting here with a nice hot cup of coffee watching the sky change from bright blue to gray every few minutes, then back again.

looking east on a rainy morning - unedited

This week:
We plan to be home all week unless we decide to take off on a day trip somewhere local.  I've been wanting to visit Euna Maes Shop in Springdale, Ar or maybe a drive to Pawhuska, OK to have lunch at The Mercantile and a tour of The Pioneer Womans Lodge.

We may spend a day fishing in the pond, getting the kayaks wet, and grilling. Or maybe a weenie roast around the firepit on Saturday. It is spring here in the Ozarks, so the weather will be warm, cold, windy, calm, rainy or dry, maybe all in one day, so a lot of plans depend on the weather.

My backyard, spring 2018, early morning - uneditied

On the Menu:
We have been wanting to make some of those easy dinners in the foil packets that we can cook on the grill. I also saw this video on facebook for Strawberry Cake using a box cake mix, jello, and crushed strawberries. I googled it and found it here: Easy Strawberry Cake. Strawberries are really nice this time of year.

I had fun in my kitchen Saturday making home made cinnamon rolls for our neighborhood. It was a chilly and breezy day, it felt good to have the oven on.

In the garden:
I took a chance and planted 5 pounds of red and 5 pounds of white potatoes on St. Patrick's Day. I really am trying to stick to the old timers calendar of planting. We've added lots of compost and granulated manure to the south facing beds.

Next on the list is to till, and work the dirt on the north facing beds.

Living with fibromyalgia:
It's been extra hard this past week with the weather changing so much. From time to time, I will try to share what works for me, like my worn white cotton socks. My biggest constant complaint is the feeling all my skin is burnt, as in a bad sunburn. This is constant. But these old, worn (the elastic is very stretchy), white cotton socks are best at aleving that. I put them on and the pain almost goes away.

Weird, I know but it works for me.



My inspiration:

Favorite photo from my camera:
The two geese are still here.  We are still pretty sure they are nesting in the pecan grove. Last year, we had two stay and raise their babies on our pond. It was so interesting watching them teach their babies to fly.

On my mind and in my hands:
I need to spend some time getting a few Easter Cards sent to some special people.

Time to purge some stuff. How about a garage sale? Hum...

Time to say goodbye. Till later...

linking up with Sandra over at
Happy Homemaker Monday

Another Monday...

time to grow herbs
unedited

My morning:
I poured myself a fresh cup of hot coffee, fed Kitty, and sat looking out the window watching the two geese that are making our home their home. The sun coming up on the horizon was blood orange, the sky was deep blue, and the pond was steaming with white clouds. Now as I am writing,  the sun is hiding behind a gray sky and it is 42 degrees.

Sunrise on a cloudy day
unedited

This week:

Kitty,
my furry assistant

We are traveling for a few days to the big city to visit friends and family. I'm hoping to find some towers for my garden beds and see some inspiration in their garden centers.

I also hope to do some grocery shopping at the bigger supermarkets. Locally, we just had another grocery store close because they just can't compete with Walmart, we now have 7 Walmarts.

Our Sams Club just completed a big remodel and if you use their app, you don't even need to check out. You can go right to the door.



On the menu:
Tonight will be smoked pork shops with cabbage, sweet peppers, and potatoes. Maybe some chili mac tomorrow. Since we are traveling, I have no new recipes in mind this week even though Pinterest peaked my interest yesterday. You can check out my boards and see who I am following by searching for Gee Dazee. I love Pinterest and I am turning to it more than I am my treasured cookbooks. I guess I am changing with the times.

In the garden:
The peas are up. I was a little worried about them, they took a week longer than they should. I think I planted them a little too deep. I added compost and peat to the soil mix along with a natural fertilizer. Uncle Carl loaned me his twist and turn tiller and it worked out really well. It took me two days and I am only halfway through turning and mixing the black Missouri dirt.

Peas poking through that black Missouri dirt, hoses, more hoses, that twist and turn tiller and some dirt vitamins.

I planted one bundle of Texas Baby Sweet onions, and two 15 foot rows of red radishes. I will plant more in 2 weeks. Then  I will be planting potatoes, green beans, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, and lots of marigolds and other flowers. I wanted a drip watering system, similar to Kdaughters big nursery, but after I added up all the parts, the budget said no. So I invested in two 50 foot soaker hoses (and will probably get 2-3 more), a brass multi faucet (I can hook 4 hoses up) and a watering timer. No more dragging that heavy hose around on those hot summer days in July.

Living with Fibromyalgia:
It's been a tough week with not being able to sleep because of the joint pain and fatigue. I so enjoyed being outside two full days this week. I work for 20 minutes in my garden then sit down on the front patio and rest for twenty minutes. At night while I lay there awake, I can blame my pain on something other than my body.

This week, maybe my pain

was caused by

accomplishing something

I wanted and needed,

not this awful disease.

Living with an Ileostomy:
I met a "new to me" blogger who also has an ileostomy and she sent me a nice note. I'm still trying to learn more about fiber, thanks to scar tissue, fiber is not good for me. I am also trying to lose those extra 20 old age pounds. Raw veggies, nuts and grains are not going to be part of it. I thought about going totally sugar free, but after reading about the sugar substitutes, and giving in last Thursday to my addiction to brownies, that thought passed.

Living with an ostomy

has taught me that

no matter what this body does to me,

I can and will adjust to it.   

My Inspiration:

On my mind:
Thank you to the two little men (Maymay's angels) for the handmade Easter Egg! They are strong and caring little boys whose Father is in heaven. Big brother is now 5 years old and big enough to drive their golf  cart all by himself. He was issued his official "drivers license" and he is very proud and cautious. Growing up in the country comes with stuff like that.

Time to say goodbye. Till later...

linking up with:
Sandra over at
Happy Homemaker Monday