Clove water

It is good for cleansing out a certain kind of parasite naturally...and it tastes like fall.  I like it hot and cold.
 

Declaring war!

There are at least two dogs who roam our countryside and it makes us...Ted...angry and Kari...afraid.  Our local animal control will not deal with the problem.  People in our area have to "deal with things as you see fit to protect your person and property".  So...we have a tool sitting on our counter.

I have not seen the dog in awhile...last time it was up by the garden and Teddy scared it off.  Every time I let the dogs out at night and in the morning, I am on high alert.  Our two little dogs would not fair well, as this dog is large and looks to have pit bull traits.  And I am not strong and fast to take on a big dog...they bite and it would hurt.

Once in awhile throughout the day, our dogs bark crazily.  I am beginning to learn there was probably something outside!  We walked ouside Monday morning to do business and there was this nasty pile up by the sidewalk by the house.  NOT COOL!  I had to clean it up and gagged.  It makes me mad that people are so irresponsible and will just drop dogs off they don't want anymore out in the country.  These dogs get into stuff and attack people's animals...and with the plan to add some animals here...we are ready to protect if and when it is necessary.  That is NOT how it should be!
 

Helping Teddy

And this is proof that whatever is put out for the world to see...is not the whole story!  One of my jobs this week was to take pictures of this house for Teddy to be able to share with those who may be interested in renting this place when we move out.  So...I moved the temporary bags and boxes that act as our drawers and shelves and dressers.  I did stop to clean while I had things moved aside.

I want to remember our time here.  I have been able to make it cozy and homey for us as we transition from our MI home to our TN home.

I moved out the extra seating...which are lawn chairs.

I turned the smaller lamps on for warmth.

I did the dishes and removed the daily things off the counters.

Angle is everything!  And cropping works good too.  Disguise storage tubs with extra bedding.

These are pictures that did not make the cut...for various reasons.  Can you see why?  The table was moved out of the kitchen...and held all the odds and ends.

Baskets and bags...oh my...

Piled up suitcases and stuff shoved in the closet...

The back room that is a bedroom and office and storage room right now.

The room that will be...

Laundry room in progress...

Workout room and various tools...

Porch...with assorted tools and supplies...

but to us...it is Home Sweet Home for however long God wants us to be here.  And really...I didn't have to do any radical cleaning!  In our mess of boxes and bags...we are pretty clean and organized!         AND 

The spray Ted found has dealt with the Japanese beetle infestation!  It has worked on flies, ticks, fleas, stink bugs, a hornet, and moths...but not the big spider crawling on my towel that scared me to death!

 

Steps toward relocating

What is happening?  Something is happening!  You made everything clean and smell good.  You started a fire in the fireplace.  What is happening?!

Today...is picture day!  A gal came this morning to take pictures of our beautiful home.

I've walked through each room taking care of things to de-clutter and de-personalize this last week.

Yet, still trying to keep things homey and inviting.

We walked through each room and turned all the lights on and double-checked details for each room.  Then she got busy taking pictures.

The dogs wanted to say "Hello!" but they were ordered to their cages to keep them out of the way and out of the pictures.  I moved buckets and cages as we worked through the house.

Everything looked so inviting.

Everything was clean.

Everything was cozy and smelled good.

God has blessed this home through the years.  Our children grew and flew from here.

We have shared time with friends and family here.  We have learned many things here.

I am thankful for the opportunities that God has given us here.  Now it is time to let someone else move in and call it home.

Oh the memories of Covid and the cafuffle we raised with the HOA when we painted our house blue!

From every angle and in every season...it is beautiful to me!

Now to walk around the house and remember where I hid some of the needed daily things that did not need to be shared in pictures...dog dishes...check.

Bathroom stuff...check.  I laughed as I put things here this morning!  I remember Mom telling me she did that when company was coming over.  I considered using the oven too...but in my current mental state, I was afraid I would forget and turn the oven on for something and chaos would follow!

I think I remembered where I stashed everything...we will find out!

A space for all sorts of things...

A walk down this mini hallway...

to find a miracle happened!  

This is what it looked like all week long...I know Alisa had her doubts when she left if I would ever be able to get it halfway organized.

I am finding that God gives me exactly what I need for each day!  "Abundantly above" all that we can ask or think.

And He keeps answering in the little things as well as in the big things!  "Ask...believing..."

 

When life is heavy and affects you...

you do cry when your supper plate lands on the patio in pieces.  Salmon, sweet potatoes, and salad...it was a good supper too!
 

Friday night date on the patio with the pups...

and they got to try something new...the cobs of the corn to gnaw on!  They enjoyed them...however...Chica ate the cob and then puked it up....soooo, we will not do that again.

 

Did you say salad buffet?

I have a love-hate relationship with the wildlife in our neighborhood right now!  This is the second time they (deer, rabbit, geese, no idea) have eaten my impatiens in the dark of night.

Before we left on vacation, they were eaten off in the front landscape.  Mom moved them to the back patio and tended to them.  They came back and were actually even bigger this last week than this picture.  I came down Monday morning to see them...gone...again.

 

Goals!

I went to Costco to pick up some meat to make jerky for Ted.  I walked around and found a couple favorites and yummy looking peaches.  As I rounded the corner, this gal was stopped arranging her box and then zoomed away.  I had to laugh as I decided that was what I am going to do when I am much older too!  A goal for keeping myself out and about in public settings.  She used the store's motorized scooter and had a box in the basket with several paper cups from the sample carts.  Tuesdays don't have as many, but she had an impressive variety.  She had finished the different samples and was on her way over to the trash can.  I don't know if she did any other shopping, as I did not follow her, because that is just weird!  But I made a mental note for future goals when I am old.  Costco often stresses me out with the sheer number of people wandering aimlessly amid other people on a mission.  But it is an outing that meets all the needs in one area...food, clothing, home decor, health and beauty, car, snack food, and gas!  It is very peopley all the time and I always spend more than I planned on...so that is another goal to work on too.