Another evening ramble

Thursday....
Back to pain pills after a welcome hiatus from them. The weather fronts in the area are taking their toll on me today. Only managed two miles on the treadmill. Even taking long breaks every half mile, the pain was too much.

Still, I puttered around the house, straightening things up. The windows were open once the thunderstorm passed. It felt like fresh air should, brisk and breezy.

My flowers arrived today. Some of the buds are opening, and the house smells so nice. They came with a large glass vase which will be put to good use in the future. I'm considering reordering them on a regular basis. Perhaps alternating them with another standing order of flowers.

The grocery store here in town sells cut flowers. The carnations are nice, lasting a couple of weeks, but they're not always available. I've also bought a dozen roses there on three different occasions. The roses wilt and look bad in under seventy two hours. I think ordering flowers online is best for the quality.

Friday....
Was in bed by eight o'clock last night. Took a pain pill near the end of watching Vampire Diaries, knowing once it kicks in that I'm too dizzy and off balance to do anything. Demeter made me get up with her around ten thirty, and again around midnight. Her bladder doesn't understand early bedtimes.

Saturday is my birthday. Today, I received a card from my best friend, and my red riding hood figurine arrived. I took a bike ride, only using the electric assist on hills, came home to make bacon sandwiches, and then took Demeter on a long walk. We ended up at Sonic, where I got a diet soda and Demeter got an ice cream cone. She turned it down flat, no interest whatsoever, so it went in the trash. She's never turned down ice cream before. I wonder if I should worry.

Just had a long talk with my adopted dad. I miss living near him, although we've not been neighbors since the eighties. Mostly, we've lived at least a thousand miles apart over the years. Thank goodness for phones and the internet. We can still stay close. He's eighty two, loves his baseball package on cable and mild winters. 

I bought a carrot cake. Tired of baking my own birthday cakes, I've been doing that all my life. Demeter and I shared a piece earlier. Guess she just wasn't in the ice cream mood after all.

Rearranging some of the artwork around the house. No particular reason for doing it, other than the house is clean and I'm in the mood to do something, but nothing I have to think about. Make sense? Puttering for puttering's sake.

Enough for now.....

Wednesday

A pair of Robins have built a nest in my spider plant on the front porch. I sneak out and water it when they're away from their little home. It will be lovely to have baby birds close enough to see from the windows. Adding to the fun, a pair each of Cardinals and Mockingbirds have set up housekeeping in the backyard.

The trees in my yard are leafing out. Shade will be wonderful this summer. My medications all require that I avoid sunlight. The trees will make it easier for me to enjoy the outdoors. They will also keep the house cooler this summer.

With warm temperatures, I'm feeling well. Haven't taken any pain pills in awhile, and don't miss them at all. The furnace is off, electric fireplace and space heaters have been packed away for the time being. Windows are open, and the breezes are airing out the house. The back door is open so that Demeter can run in and out.

Found a nightly beauty routine which works. Two nights of retinA on my face, followed by a night of aloe vera. My skin is younger looking, the only wrinkles show up when I grin, then disappear when I stop. I stick with retinA on my neck, chest and hands every third day, and use the aloe vera the other days. Lotion daily all over. I keep my supplies in a basket along with a manicure set, so I don't forget anything.

Dusting is the only thing left on today's list. I work clockwise around each room so I don't miss any spots. The bedroom carpets still need to be shampooed. The carpet is still mostly matted in those rooms. I wonder if shampooing first will make pulling up the nap easier. Perhaps I'll try in one of the bedrooms just to see. Found a carpet groomer online, kind of like a rake with small tines. Might be simpler than using the metal dog brush on the nap.

The final box has been unpacked. That only took ten weeks.... It means that this is now home. It's permanent, I do live here. My life is here. Leaving that box full and taped shut meant there was still hope of life with Hubby in Okc. Now, I knew there was no hope of change, but that box really meant something. 

As a result of unpacking that last box, the guest room is now finished. I'd purchased a queen size frame and an eight inch memory foam mattress. Not as comfortable as the fourteen inch one in my bedroom, but extremely close. Wish I had discovered those mattresses long ago, they are so nice to sleep on. The decor includes Mom's oil paintings of the ocean, Jack Vettriano prints of the seaside, and a pair of full size mirrors. There are bookcases, great grandma's settee, and some old glassware. It's a beautiful room, and I'm looking forward to having guests.

Having company will be great. I like entertaining, and hadn't done much during the last few years. Now, I'm finding I want to begin again. Whether it's house guests or friends over for a cookout, I like hosting. 

Shopping for a swimming pool. Eighteen feet is about the most my backyard will handle and still have some privacy. Definitely an above ground, easy setup, needs a privacy screen of some sort.

I've planted morning and evening glories in huge pots along the street side of the fence. That will be a nice view blocker. I look forward to the sights and scents of the flowers covering the chain link fencing. Since five homes overlook my backyard, it will be nice to get in and out of the pool without being watched. I can't see the neighbors, just hear them, and I prefer they not see me in a swimsuit in my yard.

I want big planters around my patio furniture as well. It will feel like an outdoor room. Since I'll be spending a lot of time outside, I want to really enjoy it. I want to have a home that I love.

Enough for now.....

Tuesday evening.....

Went to my first PowWow over the weekend. I loved every moment. It was so fascinating to see a different culture, and to learn traditions, thoughts and ideas. There was so much beauty in the way everyone got along, the way they danced, and the honor and respect in everything they did.

Mowed today, and as a result, did not exercise. Using a reel mower is a workout in itself. The yard is decent sized, and had to be mowed in sections. Taking breaks between each portion helped a lot.

I ordered my birthday gifts online today. A bouquet of lilies and a red riding hood figure. One should be here by Saturday, hopefully the other will also, but I don't expect it.

This is the first year I won't be celebrating at Festival Of The Arts in Okc. It's been a tradition for years to go, and I will miss it. I loved all of the artwork, the entertainers on the stage, and the food. The food alone was worth going...

I'm using solar lighting in some rooms of the house. With three rooms of the house having only one electrical outlet, and one without any, I have to find some way to provide extra lighting. I bought several outdoor solar lights. During the day I put them in an empty flower pot outdoors. In the evening, I bring them in and put them in vases in different rooms. It seems to work fairly well. They're not real bright, but work well as night lights. sure wish I had thought of doing it years ago. 

Most of the homes I've lived in during my life have been from the 1860's to 1950's, three were from the 1920's. This house is from the early 1920's. 
I love the old houses the most. They have charm and personality that newer ones don't have. Those are the houses which feel most like home to me.

This house has rapidly become home. It's far from perfect, and that's alright. It's cozy and comfortable, my possessions look as though they were always here. I'm liking the way it looks and feels.

I'm comfortable with my choice to move back to this town. It's familiar, a small town similar to the one I grew up in. There is a strong sense of community. People are accepting of others, and are friendly. If you go down the street, or are shopping, folks stop and chat. It's nice, after being in the city, to be back in this place.

Enough for now.....

Smiling

I'm so pleased with my new hairdresser. My hair looks great and feels wonderful. Back to being a redhead, the cut is perfect. Seems I won't need to go to the city for beauty. Yippee!

Been out and about recently. Rode the etrike to the store for flowers and bread. Only using the power assist when going up hills, the knee cries and I keep going through the pain. Took Demeter for a long walk. Got my hair done, bought a soda, etc.

Opened a couple of windows today. It felt so nice to feel breezes flowing through the house. Some windows don't open, others have no screens. It may take some work to unstick the windows which do not open. I think they're painted shut.

Did some weeding in the front garden today. The hyacinths, gladiolas, and ferns are up. I need to mow tomorrow before rain hits on Sunday and makes the grass too tall.

Some of the coleus plants in the plant starter are finally coming up. I'm anxious for them to be large enough to plant in the pots and gardens.

Somehow, I managed to burn part of my neck. I think that I grabbed something other than the moisturizer I usually put on it at night. I need to label beauty products more carefully. Unfortunately, it's not the first time I've done that.

Most of the living room carpet has been shampooed. Either tomorrow or Sunday, I plan to finish the living room and hit the dining room.

The carpet is so filthy. I vacuum at least twice weekly. I've raised the nap that was matted, and that revealed even more dirt. Hopefully, the carpet shampooer will make a big difference. 

More guys are hitting on me. I get stopped by them when I'm out, they follow me when I shop. Any excuse to talk, and to ask me out. All ages, from early twenties on up. One guy I've known since he was a kid, and is the same age as my youngest son (24), even sexted me. Kind of funny.

Anyway, I'm still married. Not looking for a date, relationship, or a playmate. But, my oh my, it's wonderful for my ego. Especially with me turning fifty three in a couple of weeks....

It tells me that even though I failed at this marriage, my love life isn't over. I'm still doing something right. Still me, not allowing the rough things of the past couple of years destroy me. I've come through the storm, and I'm standing tall.

Current things.....

Good day overall. Got a few things done, errands run, prescriptions refilled, found some DVDs for three dollars each. Mazzios delivered dinner.

I chased cobwebs with my broom. I have no idea if I got any, or even if I had any. But it felt good to sweep every corner of the ceilings.

Demeter and I have gotten out and walked. The weather is improving daily, and my pain levels are low.

My brother-in-law pestered me until I purchased a heated mattress pad. I'm so glad he did. Sleeping much better and awakening feeling rested is lovely. Sometimes I get great advice, and at times, I even follow it.

Tomorrow, I plan to get my hair done. The last hairdresser left most of the dye in my hair. When I washed it, it took a long time to get it off. The water ran dark brown in the sink for a long time. My scalp has been raw, itching and peeling from that for several weeks. It's finally healed, and I'm going to a new hairdresser to get rid of this cheap wig type color that was done. There are about a dozen hairdressers in town. One is now scratched off the list. Hopefully, I can find a good one. 

My gladiolas and hyacinths are up. I need to weed and get the rest of the seeds planted in the front garden. 

The seeds in the starter boxes have done nothing in the couple of weeks since they were planted. I'm impatient with them, anxious to see them sprout. Nine are Bird of Paradise, three different varieties. They take awhile to sprout and grow.

I have a huge pot in the Mudroom. At the moment, I'm thinking of planting the Cinnamon Tree and the Key Lime Tree in there. They require temps above freezing, so they must be potted. They're of a similar size, and I'm hoping that they do well together.

Started reading a history of Byzantium this week. Really dry, nothing but battles. Boring, boring, boring... I've downloaded a few more books on the subject, and am hoping to find those more interesting.

I wish writers would include more details than who slew whom. I want to know what the people were like, how they lived, worked, shopped, dressed. I want to know how they thought of themselves and how they related to others. I want to know what they learned, what interested them, what they were passionate about, and why.

The left eye has lights flashing in it a lot more recently. Sort of like being on a stage with cameras flashing at me, is the only way I can think to describe it. Very distracting, but just another part of the ongoing battle my immune system is waging against me. It's hitting me where I am the most vulnerable. Being an extremely visual person, had I the choice, would have gladly given up any other sense rather than sight. 

My small home library of favorite books; reference, fiction, hobbies, most loved art, children's books will be kept. Same with my basket of kaleidoscopes, they are a symbol of hope to me. They're there awaiting the day that a cure is found, and I can read them again. 

Enough for now......