and just like that, November is over.

did some little cleaning things today. Kevin made popcorn and m&ms for supper. I made him enchildas for lunch, and opted for leftover chicken pot pie. not a huge fan of Mexican eats. with the exception of walking tacos and tacos and frozen chimichungas. cleaned out living room closet. found his cold weather gear and put in his trucks. my Muck Boots are in house.

nsv (non scale victory) last time I tried on my pig barn life bibs I couldn't zip them. here I am, November 29, 2025. zipped AND I can breathe.

scooped Rip's potty trail twice. both times I thought about how my great grandpa Lewis Brown fell over dead of a heart attack at age 55 scooping snow. and I'm 60.

Black Friday.

my super secret Christmas project is coming along....there have been some bumps in the road, but the only one more row to assemble... online Black Friday shopping...all the grands will get jammies for Xmas. first snow. Kevin had OT for the first time in years. decorated LR window.

'twas the day after Thanksgiving and deb was cleaning the oven... because while whole baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil and baked in the oven are a kick ass side dish....if you put them directly on the rack, they're gonna ooze all over the bottom of the oven. maybe next time I'll put them on a cookie sheet? or at least place one on the rack beneath them? 60 years of walking this earth (insert disappointed emoji face here.) but I am thinking I'm a genius for using my vacuum to suck up all the stuff I scraped off bottom of oven. way to use the old noggin. Kevin risked burns yesterday scraping the most of it (it was burning and smelled AWFUL, not at all complimentary to the wafting odor of roasting turkey)while oven was on, right next to the element...cause that's what good guys do when their wife has a colossal fuck up. not easy being married to deb for 42 years....just ask Kevin.

today was the first annual deb turkey trot gobble gobble 5K in my home with the wafting odor of roasting turkey.

KJ, Ann, & Izzy came over for Thanksgiving lunch. Kevin picked the menu: turkey, fried bread, noodles, baked sweet potatoes. he also bought a chocolate pie. I added a pitcher of Sweet Tea. Ann brought Better Than Sex Cake. Izzy helped me make tea, and we made sugar cookies with peppermint sprinkles. she loves eating cookie dough as much as gramma deb. The Chiefs lost. there were some exciting leap-out-of-your-chair-and-scream-and-double-high-five-your-youngest-grandchild moments.

while in the shower, I made the decision to cancel the upcoming test that Dr. told me after I scheduled it was 'probably not necessary.' quite easy to do on that blasted My Chart app. I am not one for going to the dr. for shits and giggles. I've only had the baseline mammogram. and have successfully avoided a colonscopy thus far. really don't want a tube shoved up my nose and down my throat. nope, nope, nope. especially knowing I am most likely never gonna meet Dr. Spencers criteria for surgery. unless I consent to gastric bypass. I could probably have that fuckin' tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

this week I have....

swept the basement steps. found Katie's MyTwinn doll & accessories for Coralie. sewed. a lot. done some day drinking. licensed the trucks. blared Christmas music. spent days in my jammies. wore Christmas hoodies. swept and mopped floors. had some phone conversations. made Rip a boarding appt. put money in a Salvation Army Bellringer Kettle. been a Grandma Christmas Angel. wrapped Christmas presents. hit x3 for the 3rd time. started using the hand weights. read. doodled. hooped. am I pushing myself too hard? not hard enough?

AND The House At The End Of The Road is getting a lot of attention. dragging shit out of house and yard. bonfires. I'm guessing house will be demolished. hope the guy found a place to sleep besides his van.

there was fierce wind yesterday and today. I admire those brave souls who stake out the inflatibles. they're optimistic folk.

Missouri Burial Facts.

Missouri: a death certificate must be filed with the local registrar within five days after death and before final disposition of the body. Typically, the funeral home, mortuary, cremation organization, or other person in charge of the deceased person's remains will prepare/ file the death certificate. (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.145 (2024).)

Embalming: process in which blood is drained from the body and replaced with fluids that delay disintegration. Though it's still a common procedure, embalming is rarely necessary; refrigeration serves the same purpose. Missouri: if you're using a funeral director, the body must be embalmed, refrigerated, or placed in a hermetically sealed casket if disposition won't occur within 24 hours. (Mo. Code Reg. tit. 20, § 2120-2.070 (2024).). Refrigeration or dry ice: usually preserve a body for a short time. There are resources available to help you learn to prepare a body at home for burial or cremation. The website of the National Home Funeral Alliance is a good place to start.

A casket is often the single greatest expense incurred after a death- average cost of a casket is between $2,000 and $5,000, the price can run into the $10,000 to $20,000 range for more elaborate designs and expensive materials. Whether due to the cost or for other reasons, some people prefer to forgo a casket altogether.

No law requires a casket for burial. However, you should check with the cemetery; it might have rules requiring a certain type of container.

No law requires a casket for cremation. On the contrary, federal law requires a funeral home or crematory to inform you that you may use an alternative container and to make such containers available to you. An alternative container may be made of unfinished wood, pressed wood, fiberboard, or cardboard.

Although funeral homes might sometimes be very pushy about getting you to buy caskets from them, federal law requires funeral homes to accept caskets that consumers have purchased from another source, such as an online retailer. (Learn more about your consumer rights under the FTC Funeral Rule.) You may also build your own casket if you prefer.

Most bodies are buried in established cemeteries, but burial on private property is possible in Missouri by establishing "family burying grounds." The burial ground must not exceed one acre, and it must be deeded in trust to the county commission, to be used as a family burial ground for the family and the descendants of the person who owned the land. You must file the deed with the county clerk within 60 days of transferring the land in trust to the county. (Mo. Rev. Stat. 214.090 (2024).) Before conducting a backyard burial or establishing a family cemetery, check with the county or town registrar for any local zoning laws you must follow.

In Missouri, there are no state laws controlling where you may keep or scatter ashes. Ashes may be stored in a crypt, niche, grave, or container at home. If you wish to scatter ashes, you have many options. Generally, use common sense and refrain from scattering ashes in places where they would be obvious to others.

You may scatter ashes on your private property. If you want to scatter ashes on someone else's private land, it's wise to get permission from the landowner.

You might want to check both city and county regulations and zoning rules before scattering ashes on local public land, such as in a city park. However, many people simply proceed as they wish, letting their best judgment be their guide.

Officially, you should request permission before scattering ashes on federal land. However, you will probably encounter no resistance if you conduct the scattering ceremony quietly and keep the ashes well away from trails, roads, facilities, developed areas, campsites, and waterways. You can find guidelines for scattering ashes on the websites of some national parks. For more information, begin your search at the website of the National Park Service.

The federal Clean Water Act requires that cremated remains be scattered at least three nautical miles from land. If the container won't easily decompose, you must dispose of it separately. The EPA doesn't permit scattering at beaches or in wading pools by the sea. Finally, you must notify the EPA within 30 days of scattering ashes at sea. The Clean Water Act also governs scattering in inland waters such as rivers or lakes. For inland water burial, you might be legally required to obtain a permit from the state agency that manages the waterway. For more information, see the EPA's page on Burial at Sea.

While there are no state laws on the matter, federal aviation laws do prohibit dropping any objects that might cause harm to people or property. The U.S. government doesn't consider cremains to be hazardous material; all should be well so long as you remove the ashes from their container before scattering them.

In all states, it's legal to have your loved one's body at home after they die. Missouri doesn't require you to involve a licensed funeral director in making or carrying out final arrangements. (See, for example, Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.145 (2024), which permits "the funeral director or person in charge of final disposition of the dead body" to file the death certificate.)

If you won't be using a funeral director to carry out final arrangements, you must complete and file the death certificate yourself. Missouri law requires you to file the death certificate with the local registrar within five days of the death and before final disposition. (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.145 (2024).) The deceased person's doctor, another approved medical provider, or a medical examiner must complete the medical portion of the death certificate within 72 hours. The medical certification contains such information as the date, time, and cause of death. (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.145 (2024).) Missouri now uses an electronic death registration system, but you can still use a paper death certificate. You can obtain a blank death certificate and guidance from the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records by calling 573-751-6387

You must obtain permission from a physician, medical examiner, or coroner before removing the body from the place of death to prepare it for final disposition. For example, if someone dies outside the home, this authorization would be necessary to bring the body home for care. Or, if someone dies at home, permission is necessary to move the body to a location away from home for burial or cremation. (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.145 (2024).)

Some crematories require that you use a funeral director to arrange cremation. If you don't want to use a funeral director, make sure the crematory is willing to accept the body directly from the family. In Missouri, a completed and filed death certificate authorizes final disposition of the body, including cremation—no additional permit is required. (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.145; Mo. Code Reg. tit.19, § 10-10.100 (2024).)

BUT you do have to be embalmed to be in an above ground crypt cause smell. what if the crypt was on private land? out of the public? how far will the smell carry? hmmmmm.

important update. deb's death wishes.

if I go first, which I'm sure I will....Kevin is not ok. with donation to The Body Farm or cremation. I have decided I am ok with burial. in. a. mausoleum.

a mausoleum is of course a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people. I'd like a cool one. stone. wooden door. fancy metal on it. a big old chain and padlock. haunted looking. that way no one can get in unless they have a key. or bolt cutters.

spent the day at Koren's for Thanksgiving with her family, Katie & Brayden, and Ed & Norma.

Koren is a wonderful cook, she loves to cook and you can really taste it. (unlike my substance cooking for survival.) the kids have all week off for Thanksgiving, Cody has Mon-Tue. off, and Koren Wed-Friday, so they have it covered. they are really making the dual career 4 kids in the house thing work. they've turned the Toy Room into The Guest Room and The Toy Room has been relocated to the basement, next to The Game Room. it is so fun watching them adapt as the kids grow and change.

on the way home, found Bottle Ugly Christmas Sweaters. and a Christmas hat and light up necklace for Z and Christmas Week. got home hustled to get steps in. usually I spread it out over the day.

the leaves are falling to the ground....the sun is shining after days of dreariness...it's a beautiful autumn day in north missouri.

yesterday bought 2 new sets of flannel sheets on Bass Pro Black Friday sale. time to retire the old ones...one is currently being repurposed into Kevin's Christmas gift...which is coming right along. I think?

also exchanged my new chair for kevin's old one. new deb has some back steps on her evolution, apparently...

Kevin has a full day to hunt today....and the sun is shining for the first time in days.

Thursday.

Toyota truck oil change, tire rotation, and inspected.

Izzy called and asked if she could come over to play. of course I said yes. foggy, dreary.

thought of a couple more Christmas gifts tailored to the kids.

got today's to-do list done, and some of tomorrows.

Kevin finally made it to the deer stand today. season started Saturday.

Saturday we drove to Wichita for the Joe Walsh VetAid concert.

on the way we saw a buffalo ranch. some beautiful huge old houses. oil derricks. our hotel was absolutely beautiful. with a grand name....Hotel at Old Town. a 1906 former warehouse on a brick street. within walking distance of our concert venue AND Old Chicago and Eggs(something) where we ate breakfast. parking garage next door. the leaves were absolutely beautiful. very quiet, peaceful hotel. elegant mirrored elevator. smooth ride and soooo quiet. a window seat. Gustavo haunted Room 203. did not feel haunted. but looks like it possibly could be. the spookiest part was walking home from our concert after midnight with dying phones and a vague idea of where we were going through throngs of young people out partying. I felt old and frail. just a matter of numbers. seeing Joe Walsh perform in person was fun. Life's been good to me so far....

Izzy came over today 'cause Mommy was sick.

we had a fun day (I think???) probably should ask Izzy...

speaking of Christmas....

every year when I drag out the ornaments, I find the Hallmark 1998 baby photo frame ornament someone gave Katie for her first Christmas. that I never put a picture in. I need to find a tiny one and remedy that. I also realize that Koren's baby ornament is missing. there HAS to be another Christmas Box! or I'm missing a tiny little wrapped ornament every year. (double checked the boxes I found. then triple checked.) and KJ never even had a baby ornament. what kind of mother am I? jeepers.

update. ordered KJ and Koren vintage ornaments off eBay. now to find teeny tiny pictures....

this just in....breaking news....we interrupt your previously scheduled program...I'm being told that deb went. to. the. basement. and. found. 3. baby. pictures. and Katie is NOW on the TREE. KJ & Koren will follow when their respective ornaments arrive. we now return you to your previously scheduled program, already in progress....

another message from dr.

she won't see me until I get my weight 'under control.' or lose AT LEAST another 20 lbs. whatever. it is what it is. at this point, I will most likely eventually die with a hiatal hernia. or maybe die from it.

a hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach pushes up into the chest through a small opening in the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the abdomen from the chest. A hiatal hernia results in retention of acid and other contents since the stomach tends to get squeezed by this opening in the diaphragm. These acids and other substances can easily back up — reflux or regurgitate — into the esophagus. usually not fatal. and of course... caused by obesity. common over age of 50. yadda yadda yadda. I really would like to find another dr. I don't care for this ones attitude. maybe eventually I will ask for a second opinion. of course this would be AFTER I lose at least 20 more lbs.

anyway. had a productive day. to Girdners to buy items on my list. started patching the holes and cracks in foundation. taped and did a coat of paint on ledge endcaps. started on Kevin's surprise Christmas present.

I remembered where my 1986 Heavenly Blessings Nativity set was! they've been 'missing' at least a couple of years. I started collecting them when I was an Avon Lady, using my discount. as the years went by, I'd buy one or two a season from Avon until they were no longer listed in catalog. then I'd buy a random one or 2 on eBay. I set them under the tree tonight and googled how many there are....13. I had 12. found my missing kneeling angel on eBay for $11.00. so, in a few days....my collection will be complete. A collection started in 1986 and completed in 2025. 39 years. (insert heart emoji here). I don't have any of the original boxes or packaging. Josephs head has been glued back on countless times. mama and baby sheep are no longer attached. but they still snuggle up just right. there are scuffs and chips. they've been moved 5 times.

still can't find Koren's first Christmas ornament with her baby portrait on it. so, there is another box somewhere....it was a gold teddy bear with her picture on the tummy. it used to be on the tip top of the tree.

replanted the free bulbs that I put in front of house last fall. now in day lily bed.

Wednesday post.

beautiful sunny day.

when I went out to scrape dirt away from house to paint, the hole is huge now. I think it needs fixed. therefore, no action was taken. took Ann to dr. then we went to truck stop and Walmart and McD drivethru. Izzy was delightful today. got a call about next test. it doesn't sound fun. and is same day as Ian's Christmas concert. finally got a MyChart message from surgeon. no surgery till AT LEAST under 200. I am sure she said 220 previously. me loosing 35 lbs. doesn't count for anything. will I ever lose 20 more lbs? probably not. this hiatal hernia can't be all that serious, anyway, the way I've been put off and all the conditions. (insert eye roll here.)

lights were supposed to be even better tonight. didn't see anything. oh well. I did see them through my phone last night, although my pictures aren't much proof.

update: Kevin did some googling, and gave me list of stuff to fix hole. so, that's on tomorrows list.

put up Christmas Tree, Christmas Robot, and Bumble. stockings are hung on the closet door with care.

Charlie Brown Tree and Plastic Santa are in place. warmer today. people were posting about Northern Lights. (or something lights.) I went out to look...a saw a pale pink swirl. nothing as dramatic as what people were posting. I guess there's always tomorrow...if I remember...

heard a plane go over house CLOSE and instantly....Red Dawn. The Russians Are Coming. it's my generation. I know it's a crop duster, but my first thought is always Red Dawn. the original. NOT the remake. all Xmas presents thus far are wrapped.

guys put the ledge on front of house today. looks nice!

made Bigfoot an ugly Christmas sweater...if you're cold, they're cold. also hung the Christmas solar lights and red unbreakable bulbs in his pine tree. mailed Tracy's package. called vet for boarding appt. and made hotel reservation for the upcoming Meet Krampus/Shirtless Comic Guy weekend. I found a haunted hotel in Lawrence, but it was pricy and we all know I won't see a ghost anyway. so just went with fridge in room and free breakfast.

spitting snow at bedtime.

and so it begins...

update.

every year I lose a christmas sack or 2. made replacements. all have new homemade name tags and a string of jingle bells....cause jingle bells will add to the merriment. wrapped grands gifts I have thus far and put in bags. finished Tracy's homemade gifts and boxed her stuff up to ship.

ordered baby a wild animal rattle set from Cabela's. found a ghost ring I'd got for Millie.

I ventured out into a blustery 35 degree autumn day in search of a Christmas Alien for Tracy. mission accomplished.

Kevin wasn't happy that I went. there were some text messages. he was having a football day. I baked brownies when I got home, he ate one. nothing was said. but when Sunday night football came on, he muted that woman wailing the song, so he still loves me. I do annoy him beyond belief by just being myself...grands Christmas sacks now have jingle bells - cause why not - and new nametags. gifts thus far wrapped and in appropriate bag. have to sort through the stack of books and notebooks...

also finished the gifts I was making for Tracy and boxed them up to go to Post Office (tomorrow, if I remember. I wrote it on the list, but somedays I don't even look at the list....I'll admit it. started RH app yesterday. I can't navigate it. Walkfit not counting the steps for the RH workouts. I don't want a diet plan and water reminders. so cancelled sub. it's good till Dec. 6 so I can do the workouts. confession: it is 10:13, I have not done them yet. but I will. in a minute. I've been busy. AND....today was my 150th day of hitting my Walkfit Step Goal. yay me! I am amazed. I am not known for my stick-to-it-ive-ness.

went to Kenton's wedding.

always fun to hang out with Brenda. weddings are so much more complicated these days....venue. photo booth. dj. catered food. various dances. speeches. bar. sunset pictures. it was a beautiful venue.

spent my afternoon sitting in a dealership having warranty work done.

then to Walmart to buy a few things. Kevin took me out to supper. Crazy Horse was packed.

November 6 2025

Project Clean The Basement has commenced.

some progress has been made. wrapped a couple of Tracy's gifts. attended KJ's family photo shoot. Zerelda wasn't feeling it. Izzy was all about it. the photographer is an elementary teacher that Z knows. she included her, asked her advice, let her pick poses, and after a few minutes, Zerelda was ALL about the photo shoot. from my angle, it was ADORABLE. The Beaver Moon was beautiful. beautiful.

City of Mercer has their Christmas lights up.

while Rip was getting groomed, I walked the trail. leaves are changing. beautiful day.

wrapped some more gifts. after my one-a-day-pepsi, had a violent urge to puke. didn't make it to bathroom. so the hall got a mop.

started on a burlap voodoo doll.

Izzy invited me out to play with her. cleaned out Christmas Trunk, broke down cardboard boxes, wrapped a couple of gifts. inventoried Santa Sacks and Gift Card Book Boxes.

on Monday.....

cleaned floors.

merrily working on Christmasy things. slept in AND lengthy chair nap. in Kevin's chair. my new chair is not a nap chair. I've decided that I am going to try for a 3X on Walkfit. that's 22,500 steps in a day. put this on my tomorrow list....(insert eye roll emoji here.) if I watch enough tv and walk the whole time I watch anythings possible, I guess...it's good to have goals.

last nite

while talking Rip for his moonlit bedtime potty walk, we didn't turn around at the first parking lot of park like we always do. it was such a bright, pretty night, we walked to the second parking lot. then I decided I was already at 17000+ steps, I'd just walk till midnite and see if I could get the 22.500 steps for my coveted first Walkfit 3X goal. and......found a YouTube video to walk in front of.....and at 11:47 p.m....mission accomplished. my own personal little victory.

the guys might be back today if the parts they ordered come into lumberyard, so set an alarm. something I did for years and years and years and now just do randomly to keep track of appointments, obligations, etc. mornings are my best sleep. I always suspected that. and now I know it to be true. back in the day it was an alarm clock. first a windup. then a series of digitals. there was the worry of electrical outtages and power failure. I always put it just out of reach so I couldn't hit the snooze. now it's my phone. my phone does EVERYTHING. I can calculate, check my calender, social media, look shit up, shop, play games, track my steps. it's a portable boombox. don't want to carry a book? read on your phone. (but I have to blow it up so big that scrolling is annoying. so I stick with REAL books except in extreme emergencies where I find myself without one.) what time is it? don't look at your wrist. it's on my phone. if I had a ring camera, I'd know who was at my house when I wasn't. I can communicate.

found out last night while Kevin was watching tv that there is an Australia Ghosts. hmmmmm.

"we" finished our 3rd section of fence! yay "us"!

daylight savings time. Katie's 27th birthday. how is that even possible? KJ and family came over to watch the Chiefs lose. and Idk what Rip ate when the grandkids room and Katie's doors were open, but he puked and puked and puked some more.

rainy. Kevin left to work on fence while I was mid-walk.

so I built my Miniverse Halloween Haunted House...glued pompoms on grands new X-mas bag gift tags...brought in some of the Halloween stuff...tossed the jack-o-lantern over the fence. He had earned eternal rest.