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It’s twelve noon and I just uttered the words “Oh God” (not meant as profanity, actually a prayer). I’ve been “downsizing” business receipts, bank statements, etc., all morning. Then I started the box labeled “Alaska trip.” It is so extremely difficult to sort through all this memorabilia!! It’s still too cold to be outdoors so the perfect opportunity to sort and discard. I’m requesting your prayers because (for me) it is more painful than surgery!! I’m not going to the CARE Center for lunch because this project (albeit harmless) has made me sick.

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Pictures, journals, receipts, travel brochures… all going back into the box and the box will go into the dumpster. Look at the time stamps on the two pictures; I spent two hours sorting the material. Postcards were separated out and will be given to an individual or business that identifies themselves as a collector. ~~ This trip was made with a 1971 Dodge Explorer motorhome; I found my Canada Non-Resident Inter-Province Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card  (valid through September 13, 1979).

Some day a granddaughter may read about my experiences via my several web sites. It would be music to my ears to hear her say (today) “I wish I could read about your trips as you documented them, in your own handwriting.” ~~ It breaks my heart that family is not interested in my memorabilia.

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First time visitor to my blog? Here are pictures of the oft-mentioned tarp shelter and greenhouse.

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I ventured outdoors briefly to photograph the fountain. A quick tour of my “yarden” reveals many of my plants were killed by the hours of freezing temperatures!!

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Grateful to volunteer Woody for installing a new battery in July so I have 12-volt electricity. Our power went off today from about 9:00 AM until 1:30 PM and I’m benefiting from 12-volt for the first time. Grateful to handyman Roger for fixing my furnace so I have heat when no electricity. My Lasko would be useless on this miserably frigid day!! Grateful for a recent purchase of bird seed so I can share with a neighbor and feed my feathered friends. Grateful for sunshine because it brightens our “coldest day in three years” (according to Houston TV meteorologist).

I searched (unsuccessfully) my blog messages hoping to find the one that commented on new battery. I found this message about Melted like butter with details and pictures regarding the opposite end of the thermometer.

This afternoon, we gathered in the CARE multi-purpose room for the memorial service for a resident who recently passed away. Two hours earlier, a dear friend resident departed, with family, for his new “assisted living” home in New Mexico. Poor health and old age takes a toll on our small community. Residents come and residents go. We are blessed, and grateful, for a very supportive environment!!

Many of my plants are dead, or dying, from prolonged freezing temperatures. Occasionally, I have maintenance concerns. More recently I’ve shared “bottle bush blues” BUT 

Two weeks ago, we were suffering with freezing temperatures. Four weeks ago I wrote about plummeting temperatures. Remember, I had to rely on the electric space heater?! Thank goodness, today my furnace is working. Frankly, it has been a miserable afternoon!! We’ve had rain, sleet and snow. The walkways are treacherous; I walked very, very, very cautiously!! Ideally, this afternoon, the residents should have been “nestled” warmly in their comfortable chairs, at home, but “we” were enjoying a “going away” party for a departing resident.

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Click each picture for better viewing.

This evening, I’ve been removing labels from gift bottles. Munching an apple, listening to Christian TV as I work. Then I dashed outdoors to get a box to house the bottles. OMG, bitter, biting cold!! Note: “RealFeel”: Nineteen degrees!!

…according to Houston TV meteorologist.

Your blogger watched the 10:00 PM TV weather forecast and regretted that she hadn’t brought special plants indoors. With door wide open, she rushed out to gather several plants. So much time and energy spent on the plants and “the stupid old lady” didn’t act sooner!!

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There are dozens of projects I should be working on–indoors!! So much of our nation is experiencing severe cold weather–Southeast Texas, too. Freezing temperatures predicted for the next three nights. I plan to bundle up–about one o’clock–and spend time covering the plants/planters. I should take advantage of enforced indoor weather to downsize clutter. However, I’m coloring Tabasco bottles given to me by a resident in the adjacent Rainbow’s End RV Park. (More than four dozen Tabasco bottles!!) I firmly believe these bottles will be pretty “blossoms” on Awesome Blossom.

I attempted, unsuccessfully, to find the picture/pictures of boxes of Tabasco bottles. But I found this earlier blog message that “speaks” to me today.

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Postscript, Friday, January 6, 2017: I “knew” there was a picture of the boxes… and I was determined to locate. Three searches…!!

Honestly, I tackled this project as though I knew what I was doing!! Only today, about nine-thirty, I decided to consult the Internet. Well, my instincts must have been finely tuned because it appears I’ve been doing it correctly. Yes, I “roll”–and “shake.” However, I did not “bake.” That never occurred to me because I’ve allowed them to “air dry.” I plan to stay with “air dry” because my oven is storage for cooking utensils I never use. (Time to “downsize”?) ~~ It’s a mystery to me (and frustrating) when some bottles accept the paint and look attractive but some bottles require twice the time and are streaked and uneven. That’s why I searched the Internet for information.

Painting the inside of glass bottles (Youtube video).

Another about painting the inside of glass bottles.

A third How to paint the inside of glass bottles.

This is the very best instructions: DIY Painted Jars, Bottles & Vases.

Postscript, Friday, January 6, 2017: This project is very demanding!! Every few minutes and/or once every hour the bottles need to be turned or up-ended.  After two days (!!) the paint is not dry and (overnight) settles to the bottom of the bottle. Now I see the merit of “baking” the bottles to dry the paint. I suspect I’ll postpone this project until the outdoor temperature is hot enough to “air dry bake“ the bottles.