I'm all In and it's a New Day

 May 1st was the big day and now it's the 15th of May and I have just a few boxes left to unpack but lots of stuff to find a place for and of course there's the Craft Room to be completely organized...Oh Happy Day!

This is the before shot.

Draft, another Draft and I'm fixin to write another....Oh No!

 Wull...who kew. I just pulled up my blog to write a new post and found 3, maybe even 4 drafts that I had not pushed the publish button on!

So, I just published my last which is about the move and "I'm in" story. But right now, this post is about finally....all the unpackable boxes are unpacked. Wa-Hooo!

And there are wall hangings up in every room, curtains are up where they should be and a couple of windows with 2" blinds only ( I love the look and the light). I'm taking a couple of days off and then I'll be straightening and organizing the closets one by one and the rest of the rooms as it goes along. My car is finally in the garage every night and on one side of the garage inside is a row of empty boxes and on the other wall has a few opened boxes with stuff to be distributed still inside...small boxes. There are now 2 shelving units in the garage on the inside wall where the door to the kitchen is that are almost full. Actually I could use another one and there is room without impeding movement from the car to the kitchen door.

Hopefully this time next week all the empty boxes will be gone. I don't mind saying I'm tired and ready for a couple of days off from what I've been doing for months now.  Milo and I walk most mornings around the complex but in the evenings we just walk around the back yard. Also sit on the porch in the late afternoons around 6pm and enjoy the breeze.

The one thing that has stuck out in all this moving process is that I went from my 70's to my 80th Birthday last month.  It's the first ever age change number that has noticeably ddchanged how I feel. On the inside instead of thinking of myself as in my 30's it changed to now thinking of myself as being in the 60's. Honestly it's quite odd that there should be such a noticeable difference from last day of the 70's to the first day of the 80's.  Kinda funny I think. Instead of getting up out of a chair I now unfold out of a chair. Instead of rising out of bed and move along, I rise up and stand for what seems like a long time just to adjust to the vertical position from the horizontal position...odd. Then there's the act of unfolding after sitting for a while. That never use to be. Seems like when I wanted to get up out of a chair, I got up out of a chair. Now, not so much. When I'm ready to get up out  of a chair, it's a skoot to the edge of the chair and with great effort finally rising up on my two feet and then stand there for just a little bit. WHAT? You're Kidding, right?

Nope...not kidding! It's different and it happened all in one day! Don't get me wrong...I'm glad to be 80. Feel like I've earned it and frankly never thought about being 80 and what that might look like. I've got the picture now and it's not too bad, so far. 

Gonna turn out the light now. It's 12:32am March 24th Saturday Morning. So sorry about the drafts not posted. I'll post another one as I leave tonight. They will just be out of line that's all. Oh, and Milo seems to be feeling better, not so jumpy so I guess he's beginning to settle in too.

Good night and until next time have fun every now and then...This is Judy sitting on the edge of the bed typing on my laptop with Milo laying up against my back asleep. Sweet dreams....

My imagination grew and grew until nothing fit....

 I called the manager of my new apartment complex and asked if I could get in my new apartment to see it. And she said Yes!!! So I grabbed a friend and we drove out there and got the key and went inside. The whole experience was a wonderful, fun time. I had not been in MY apartment only in another with the same floor plan so there were some questions I had and wanted to have a look see. Especially since I've been placing furniture on copies of the floor plan that I had made.

As you probably have guessed by now my imagination had so enlarged the areas even though I had the measurements of each room. To actually stand in the master bedroom was just plain funny and as my friend and I guestimated where things would go I realized that the vanity I have which is a regular wood desk that I had painted as was using as a vanity will not fit in the bedroom...it's too long! So now as I write myself to sleep I'm coming up with all kinds of ways to make a vanity that will fit!

I do love doing this sort of thing. It's actually more fun than just buying a piece that will fit the space and the reason for that is that I have to figure it all out and then do it and as far as I'm concerned the process fits right in with crafting.  I have to tell a story...

When we were stationed in Hawaii in the mid 70's we were invited to a party at a fellow worker of my husbands. The acquaintance had built his own home! That in itself was reason for us to go to the party besides the opportunity to enjoy the party. Not sure how many couples but probably at least 10. I'm saying that to give an idea of how large the home was.  It was absolutely amazing. The owner/builder took us on a tour and actually pointed out to us all the mistakes he had made in the process of building. Corners that didn't match, flooring that wasn't even, on and on. The home was absolutely awesome regardless of the mistakes that didn't show. We only saw them because he pointed them out to us.  When we retired and were no longer in the military we bought some land and proceeded to build our own home. It was nothing like his because number one it wasn't in Hawaii! The point is, after seeing what he had done gave us the courage to try it ourselves figuring if he could do it, we could do it.

Well with that same enthusiasim and delight at the prospect I have continued to do such things even now that I no longer have my other half. The posibility that I could do something, anything like build a table or use a cordless drill to make something instead of having to buy a readymade table or whatever is still with me and so...I will be making my craft room furniture or if not making it entirely, rearranging a piece of furniture and adding or subtracting to it to make it into what I need is an exciting prospect and part of my crafting!

Just a few more days and the projects will begin. And by the way I don't buy the best, I buy what will work and is within my budget and adapt or make do. If you are unaware...it's amazing what paint can do. I will be decopauging some things and changing the appearance in other ways with paint once the item has been built.

Of course I will post pictures along the way.  BTW, I met a couple of my new neighbors. This is so much fun. I was concerned my dogs blk rod iron fence wouldn't work on the patio just outside the back door but it's gonna fit just fine and we will both be able to sit on the back porch together safely and even have some potted plants around and atleast one hanging plant...a spider plant to be precise.  I had dreamed of having some plants inside all gathered infront of the living room window but not so sure it's going to be as large as I'd imagined. Of course everytig is smaller than I iagined...time does change what I thought saw but to be honest, the apartment is perfect, cozy comfortable and has all the elements in it to make my life comfy. Did I mention there's a garage? LOL! Oh, and a dishwasher, garbage disposal and built in microwave... The saying we've all heard about not appreciating what we have until we no longer have it is really true, just incase you didn't know that!

May 1st is the day the truck will haul my stuff to the new place. It's an absolute gift, certainly undeserved and I'm indeed thankful to the giver of all good and perfect gifts from above. 

Blessings to all who read and please leave a comment or even just a Hi!

Thanksgiving 2023

 There's lots to be said for such a day as the first of the winter holidays "Thanksgiving". All my family left town except for my 18 year old grandson. Let met tell you what a very special day we had yesterday. With all the family gone one would think it would be a dismal and lonely day. NOT!!!

My daughter had invited me to use her home to have and serve dinner for some of my friends. We all live in small apartments. It just so happened that the grandson was going to be home and was going to help with the meal. He may be just 18 but...he's quite the grandson and my husband's name sake. So...together we cared for the turkey in the manner of the Grandfather who enjoyed all our married life fixing the turkey and dressing, stuffing as some say. Chase provided the turkey and made sure it was thawed. I arrive with all the stuffing ingredients except for the major ones which I forgot at my place and had to return home to get. Isn't that what's suppose to happen?

I put all the ingredients in a very large iron skillet, mixed it all up and after the bird was rinsed out well and patted dry, stuffed the bird. Wrapped it in extra strong foil and in the oven it went. The grand was watching the time and thermometer. Company came and some helped in the kitchen while others watched White Christmas. Dinner was served...pretty much on time!

We sat down to turkey and stuffing, green beans, mashed garlic potatoes with bacon, cranberry jelled sauce, gravy, my favorite salad of cool whip, baby marsh mellows, pistachio instant pudding dry, pecans, and crushed pineapple, all mixed in a large bowl, and 7up with cranberry juice in a goblet and lots of pleasant remarks about the food and the day. Being the only male in the group Grace was said by Chase. Desert followed quickly which included, home made banana pudding, lemon pie with whipped cream, pumpkin squares and pecan pie with a different molasses take. 

It was a day filled with thanks for all and ended with take home containers filled, full tummies and hearts ready for that special nap. A truly thankful day for all of us.  I hope for you as well.

And now...?  Merry Christmas!

Judy here at zero dark thirty, the day after...and dishes to be washed! And Black Friday too. 'till next time. Happy December. From me and Milo.

Been a little busy have you?

Boy, I sure have been busy.

I'm currently leading two Bible Studies on Revelation, Life Lessons series by Max Lucado. That means I do the same thing in both groups. Actually it makes it some what easier because I prepare twice for the study and then present it twice.  So in the real time of it I study twice, the second time to refresh what the class will be about. I also meet for counseling purposes with one senior lady once a week for which I pray and study for according to the leading of Holy Spirit for the particular individual.

I also keep up with friends regularly calling and visiting every week. Once a month I meet my cousin on my Mother's side to get to know each other. For me, other than my immediate family she is the only first cousin I have contact with. I have some nieces and nephews but do not regularly get to visit with them. I do have a daughter and grands living near by sorta. The grands have left the nest mostly. One is studying with her new husband to become missionaries, the middle daughter is in college and plays on the JV basket ball team so she is away from home but close enough to come home on the weekends. I don't see them often and the youngest is in college but lives at home. I do see him at church.

Not sure why I'm telling  you all this personal stuff except to give you a since of my life at 79. I continue to keep busy on things I believe are helpful in the Kingdom of God. My life is rich at this age and I'm continually amazed at what God continues to do in me and my life and that He continues to use me, maybe more in some ways. The point is I'm not done living life at this stage. I'm excited to meet a new day each morning though, I do creak a bit some mornings when I first swing my legs out from under the covers and set my feet on the floor. But, that soon passes as I keep moving.

You could say I have kind of a new life.  I never in a million years (I like that phrase) did I think I would write a book and it be published...self published but never the less published. Some look down on that manner of publishing but a good deal of those people haven't written a book that is on the shelves and on line for purchase. I'm just say'in.

I wanted to post so anyone who checks to see if I have a new post would find one. I've already decorated my apartment for Christmas. But, keeping with the calendar, I'm meeting with my grandson to discuss Thanksgiving Dinner. He and I are cooking the turkey, a couple of pies and other side dishes for some senior lady friends of mine. My daughter will be out of town so she offered her home for the dinner. This morning will be a planning session so that we will be set for the big day. I'm excited to cook with my grandson.

So, here it is, Happy Thanksgiving to all and blessings for all the things you do during this season. May God bless you and keep you.

It's early in the morning on Friday before Thanksgiving and I'm Judy. up and at 'em while Milo is sleeping on his circle bed just behind me. We're in the cottage and it's still dark out this morning. Until next time, stay warm if it's cold where you are and be careful in traffic.

Got a new Blog

 I'm trying to figure out how to combine this blog with my new one www.jchasewrites.blog. I can switch from one to another but I can't combine them. Maybe I can link them. I'll look into that in a little bit. But, just in.case there is anyone that still checks this one I wanted to give you a heads up that I'm back.  

I do have a couple of other blogs out in space but they haven't popped up anywhere. Sure wish I had known how to keep the stuff I did on those. Well, apparently I backed this one up because it's still here.  

Yay.  

Come see me at my new place. I'd love to have you, you are always welcome!

It's Judy in the cottage, still here with recliner. Gotta new pooch, you'll have to come and see.

Thought I'd resurrect this!

It's a short one for a re re new entry.  After all it is 2018 a very long time since my last writing.  All I can say is life happens and it's been happening all this time even though I haven't been writing.  So what's new...It's 12:19 on April 18, 2018.  That's 12:19 am. So this is gonna be very short.  I'll tell ya what's new tomorrow.  I'm gonna go to bed.  It's Women's Bible Study in the morning and then work later in the afternoon.  But I'll explain that later.  There's a specific reason that I'm back but again, I'll tell you about that tomorrow.  I'll give you a hint...it's a new adventure!  Later gator, good night and God Bless your sleep too.