Monthly Archives: October 2017

10.30.17
by

We have come so far!

Last night I read one of those Facebook posts that pops up on my feed that I cannot seem to avoid clicking on.  This one was about hygiene during the medieval period that our ancestors lived through   I had heard/read about most of the inconveniences like no bathrooms, no indoor plumbing and no laundry detergent as well as throwing potty pot contents out the window.  ….and then I got to the part about carrying poseys in your pocket ala ring around the rosy, pocket full of posies and wearing a nosegay because of the stench of live unwashed bodies as well as those deceased.   The nosegay on your wrist so you could have a whiff of something that smells good.

…and then my mind fast forwarded to modern day weddings and proms.  While I understand traditions have changed and the reasons for prom dates and brides and grooms to carry/wear flowers for accessories now, I wonder how many know that the original reason for these traditions originated out of necessity for stench….

What’s more…..apparently tradition is changing as we speak.  The groom and groomsmen wearing a boutonnière of a flower to match the bride’s bouquet as a connection between the two is now making way for the men to wear things like hearts on their lapel and feathers in their pocked to match the “theme” of the wedding.  I’m getting old but it just seems so complicated….yet this new protocol which is flourishing on Pinterest seems like a positive way to go considering history and all.

Until next time……

10.27.17
by

What are you thinking about?

Him:  farming, angus, fields

Me:  when we get home, I can get the laundry done today and back in the camper before he takes it to be winterized Monday, should I strip the bed when we get home or wait until spring so they will be clean, sure wish I would have frozen some water yesterday so the food in the coolers will be okay…I guess if the frozen veg thaw too much I can just toss them.  Holy crap there are a lot of dead armadillos…used to only see them further south…see them around KC now..what on earth would cause them to go north and why are they all dead.

Are we normal?

10.25.17
by

I’ve been turning off the hot water heater

In order to save propane.  While we have two very large propane tanks to use from, the furnace has been running pretty steady, so I decided this morning when we woke up to 42 degrees at 9 am that we needed to hit Ft Bennett for an electric heater to help with propane conservation.  Because quite frankly if we lose the ability to heat the water for showers and dishes when we need it, someone is going to get cranky!


Fort Bennett is a store just outside the park that stocks everything other than fresh fruits and vegetables…..and I’m not kidding.  Anything you might need for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and eating will be stuffed on a shelf somewhere in Ft Bennett.  I remember the first time we stopped with Brett at the store 15+ years ago, my first thought when we pulled into the narrow gravel drive/parking lot was…..seriously, we are going to find something here ….. then we walked in the door, I thought Oh Holy Mother of God, I could spend a day in here just browsing all of the “stuff” crammed in the space.

Last night on my campground walk, I detoured down to “the bridge”


I took this picture looking toward the confluence of the stream and the Niangua River.  My new IPhone 8plus takes some pretty good pictures after dark.


The result looks like a painting.  I then spent some time practicing the portrait feature with him as my subject. Feel free to label his thoughts!


Until next time……..

10.24.17
by

The air was chilled with the wind

He got in a walk on the trails today but not before he came back to the camper twice for more clothes.  We had penciled in a trip to the Heartland Antique Mall just off I44 in Lebanon.   But I thought…hmmmm…antiques and primitive stuff is always cheaper at the little antique stores along secondary roads rather than off the interstate highways so we took off south out of Lebanon on highway 5.  Think of the difference between highway 5 and I 44 as the difference between wreath ribbon and curly ribbon….after you put the scissors to the narrow curly ribbon.  There is nothing on highway 5 south of Lebanon except cows.

After what seemed like a hundred miles with me gripping the safety bar above my window, we decided to go cross country on a road that made highway 5 seem like an expressway.  Narrow, curving and culver crossings rather than bridges over waterways….and no bathrooms….so I had him pull over on a gravel next to a field of curious cows so I could get some relief.

Finally made it back on 44 and to the antique mall where we should have gone in the first place but I needed an adventure and I got one……and the curious cows are all now emotionally damaged.

Until next time…..

10.23.17
by

It should be noted that one of us likes order

And the other one…well the other one just stuffs things in any space with an opening as long as the door will close.

Case in point….we have the same cords plugged into our USB chargers…I may have one more than he does.  Before we left for our camping trip, I attempted to wrap all of my cords around the charger base the way he does.  I had a worse mess than if I would have just followed protocol and stuffed them in my bag.  [full disclosure:  when he pulled his neatly packed cords out yesterday there was some sniffing and snorting because his were a mess too] and (full disclosure:  I turned my back to him and snickered)

After I crammed all of my cords down the side of the dresser in the bedroom.


I looked over at his side


😳🙄

Beautiful day at Bennett Spring today.  We took a couple of walks and  I Pretty much sat outside under the awning and read most of the day.  

He relaxed too but with spurts of getting up and organizing things.  If opposites attract we have a perfect marriage ❤️

Until next time

10.21.17
by

Exactly where I was supposed to be…..

I had a particularly satisfying guided Meditation tonight.  I have my favorites and I usually choose Jason Stephenson…but tonight when I was selecting which You Tube video I was going to use, I didn’t think about it….for some reason I chose This one.  It was the right one….it took me where I needed to be.  it’s almost like hypnosis….he took me deeper and deeper into total relaxation and then successfully guided me into working out some things I needed to learn about myself.

And then when he brought me out of it and the meditation was over, You Tube automatically took me to my next saved favorite Video.

And I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

Namaste…..

10.18.17
by

There are just those people…

In Ankeny Iowa for a CT and appointment with ENT to figure out what is going on inside my head….sinus headache since mid August.  Off and on now but the first couple of months were hell until I had the guts to put Braggs Apple cider vinegar in the neti pot which got things moving.  I’ve found some other anti-inflammatory remedies but sharing only with a select audience.

Because I have to drive to Iowa for my health care due to only Iowa doctors and facilities are in network with my insurance….at least I have insurance…. I was able to spend the evening at Panera with childhood friends, Suzy and Lennie.   I had no idea how much I needed to have some girls talk until the Hello Hugs in the parking lot.  These two are in my small circle of long time friendships who offer love and acceptance with no judgement…..I guess we call that unconditional love.  I feel very, very safe and loved when in the company of these friends!

……and then there is Brett….Brett’s been gone now for 7 years.  I miss him everyday.  Today is his 50th birthday….we will be at the stream next week and the soul of Bennett Spring will bring us together again! I posted this picture on FB this morning and it got me primed for the day….the short bouts of tears.  So, Happy Birthday, Mr Hall….hahaha  you would have been 50 😍


Until next time…..

10.06.17
by

This is gross, but you will be happy I shared…

Apple Cider Vinegar with mother.

I have been dealing with a sinus headache since August.  Just the sinus headache…no typical congestion.  I’ve been on two rounds of antibiotics and prednisone, I have been using the neti pot several times a day, I’ve used saline spray, Claritin, decongestants, ice, heat, mucinix, sinus massage, Tylenol, glycerin drops for my eyes  and three doctors.  When my eyes flared up, the eye doctor prescribed steroid drops for 5 days.  I had a headache every single day…just the severity would change from day to day or really hour to hour.  I have an appointment in two weeks with an ENT and sinus CT.  Doctors assume I have a blockage.

A couple weeks ago, I read on google the advantages of ACV for allergies and sinus problems so I started taking a shot glass full with water a couple days ago orally.  But one of my natural healing websites also recommended snorting ACV with water out of the palm of your hand or a spoon.  Quite frankly I didn’t have the guts to do it….until yesterday afternoon.  It burns…like hell…but I was able to blow some….well, you know ….out of one side of my nose.  Last night I used 1/2 teaspoon of ACV along with the salt in my neti pot….it is working on one side…oh is it working.  The right side is still tight and not much moves…so there may be an obstruction up there so I’m going for the appointment in two weeks…but I no longer feel helpless.  For all of you allergy, sinus infection people…google ACV for sinus rinse and go for it.  It burns your nostrils but so worth it.
Until next time…..