Recent Posts

Has It Been Six Months?

Has It Been Six Months?

I just realized I haven’t written a blog post in six months!  The time has come to renew my domain if I choose to do so. While contemplating my decision, I decided to roam around my site and read a few past posts. This journey 

This House Has Character!

This House Has Character!

Well, it’s been a while since my first post about the house that we purchased. There has been a lot work done on it and I meant to post along the way, but life has been busy. I actually wrote this blog post several weeks ago 

A New Adventure with an Old Friend (House)

A New Adventure with an Old Friend (House)

This story begins way back in 1983.  I was in high school and had been assigned the duty of prop manager for our drama/theater production.  For a particular scene, we needed to find highball drinking glasses.  My good friend David suggested that his grandparents could possibly have the items needed, so we paid them a visit at their home.

 

What I remember about this visit was not only how delightful his grandparents were, but also what a beautiful home they had.  David’s grandfather built the place following a tornado that had destroyed their former house at the same location.  I immediately fell in love with this home and the story behind it.

 

I visited this place several more times over the next forty years, finding more to love each time. After his grandparents passed away, David actually lived in the home for a few years.  When David moved out, this beautiful home sat empty for around ten years.  His mother Patty now owned the property after inheriting it from her parents.

 

I cannot count the number of times that I jokingly mentioned to David that his mom should just sell the home to me, but it was never a really serious discussion.

 

In early 2022, I inquired again and Patty indicated that she might finally be interested in selling.  Unfortunately, the years of sitting empty had taken it’s toll on the property.  I began to have hesitations about the repairs needed and the costs, but still adored the home.  There were foundation, plumbing, and electrical issues that needed to be addressed, as well as updating/remodeling.  My husband and I were discouraged from proceeding , and my heart was broken.  We instead decided to do some remodeling at our current home and I attempted to put this house out of my mind.

 

Well…easier said than done.  Every time we drove by this home, I felt overwhelming sadness to see it empty and continuing to deteriorate.  This was a place that I just could not get out of my mind.   How could we make this work?   I contacted David again and asked him to have a conversation with his mother about what she would feel comfortable selling the place for, given the work that needed to be done.  When he came back with a number, both my husband and I agreed that this just might work!  This would allow us to do the necessary structural repairs, remodel, and still hopefully stay within my budget.

 

So, now what?  We contacted a foundation repair company to inspect and quote a price before we purchased, just to assure this could be done.  Once we scheduled the work, I made the necessary calls to the local title company to begin the process of purchasing the home.

 

After the foundation and electrical repairs were made and we closed on the house, we were ready to figure out the steps to begin getting the place into livable condition!

 

In my next post, I will introduce you to the house and all of the little pieces of character that made me fall in love with it.  Stay tuned for this, as well as updates as we move closer to living there!

 

 

Goodbye, Old Friend (Great Bend Taco)

Goodbye, Old Friend (Great Bend Taco)

If walls could talk, I wonder what kind of stories the Great Bend Taco (formerly Taco Hut) would tell. That place has been around for more years than I have been alive, and today they closed the doors.   I was born in Great Bend, 

Proud Wife of a Janitor!

Proud Wife of a Janitor!

Okay..the title says janitor, but my husband is a custodian. It’s the same job, just a slightly better word for it.    My husband worked over twenty years as a truck driver with great pay. He drove mostly local routes but did a few years 

Get the Heck Outta Here 2022!

Get the Heck Outta Here 2022!

Happy 2023!

 

I had a blog post written already and planned to post it, but reading over it I decided to scrap it and simply speak from the heart.

 

Basically, 2022 sucked. I had physical health issues, my anxiety went into overdrive..complete with severe panic attacks. Family members had serious health problems. Other family members struggled through many obstacles. In a year that I also received blessings beyond belief, all of these things definitely brought me down a notch or two. As I questioned why all these things were happening, the thought occurred to me that maybe it was because I didn’t deserve good things in my life. Others on the outside looking in thought I had it all..but couldn’t see all of the inner turmoil. 

 

Much of my time in 2022 was spent worrying and stressing about others and situations that I had no control over. I feel like I have wasted an entire year of my life, time that I will never get back. I know several people that actually lost dear family members this year, making my problems seem miniscule. 

 

Life throws us crap that we can’t control. All that we CAN control is how we react to what is thrown our way. I’m praying that I can find the strength to deal with things in the right way. I’m praying that the unkind people will look within themselves and find that spark of goodness that we all have somewhere inside of us. 

 

Will flipping the calendar over to 2023 really change anything?  No, of course it won’t.  Will I be making a ton of resolutions that I won’t be able to keep? No.  What I WILL do is appreciate time spent with family and friends. I will NOT let myself blow a gasket and lose sleep when I witness how cruel and unkind people can be. I WILL allow myself to accept my blessings without feeling guilty or unworthy of such. I WILL realize that I’m not going to be able to help every person that is having difficulties, but I can still send positive thoughts and/or prayers. Last but not least…I WILL NOT waste another year letting life get me down. 

I wish only the best for all of you in the coming year. Claim it as your own!

 

Sit, Sip, and Stare

Sit, Sip, and Stare

I’d like to begin by giving credit where credit is due for the title of this post. I recently started exploring TikTok, and found a delightful woman that lives, collects, and dresses in a vintage style. As I have mentioned in my last blog post, 

Understanding REAL Anxiety

Understanding REAL Anxiety

Where do I start? I guess I’ll begin by saying that I recently started seeing a therapist for my mental health. No shame. I truly needed it and I do believe it is helping me. I mentioned to her this week that I have a 

Edible Cookie Dough

Edible Cookie Dough

This afternoon I found myself really craving something sweet.  Since it is early in the new year, we don’t have much in the kitchen to satisfy a sweet tooth (you know… resolutions and all, ha).  I did, however, have a bag of chocolate chips.  Perfect time to try my hand at some edible cookie dough!  Perfect!

Edible Cookie Dough

Sometimes a person just wants the dough, but not the cookie!

Course Snack
Keyword cookie dough
Prep Time 10 minutes
Chill 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. For added food safety precautions, heat treat raw flour prior to preparing by microwaving for 50-60 seconds.

    1. Cream together both sugars and butter with electric mixer.  Add vanilla and salt.

    2. Add flour in small increments, along with milk. If needed you may add an extra tablespoon of milk.  

    3. Fold in chocolate chips.

    4. Chill for approximately one hour, and enjoy!

I Really Like Your Sweater

I Really Like Your Sweater

A few weeks ago I was getting on the elevator in an apartment building for senior citizens. No, I don’t live there..although in a few months I will be officially old enough to be a resident there if I wished to be. 😊 As I