WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR NOVEMBER 2015

cityjaneLondon

Hi there!

Phew! Back from the flat clearance and I just nodded off for a quick nap.

Of course I didn't sleep well last night. :ohwell: I set the alarm, but was awake long before. DH was a little bit grumpy at being chivvied along so early, but he put up with me.
We arrived before the men and set to boxing up crockery, saucepans, bits and pieces, bed clothes etc. DH dismantled two wardrobes and then we took down curtains, light shades etc. Felt pleased with ourselves until I asked DH to take a look in the loft with the torch I had brought with us. (Couldn't get the electricity to work, even though I went out and put money on the key) There was LOADS of stuff up there! Junk galore!
The guys came and I explained that I hadn't realised there was so much stuff up there. We only had a tiny set of steps, but they managed to manhandle one of them up there and took nearly an hour clearing it out. The rest of the flat only took half an hour! ! Of course I had to pay quite a bit extra for extra cubic feet in the van and extra half hour labour, but they worked like TROJANS and, although they were clearly exhausted, managed to keep cheerful. Youth, eh! ! ! ! Such hard work!
Of course, I tipped them well.
DH swept up and we left.
Just waiting now for tomorrow when the solicitor tells me it's all gone through and we have completed! ! ! :drinker:

Love to all and welcome to the new people. Stick with us and slowly, but surely it will happen.
I have not eaten my stress this month. These ladies help me sooooooooo much.

Heather UK

barbiecat

DamitJanit wrote: »

I’m so excited about having guests for Thanksgiving dinner but of course now I’m concerned about the menu. Just because I only want turkey and dressing and roasted veggies doesn’t mean that our guests will. So I’m looking at options to add a bit more to the meal. I don’t eat sweet potatoes but saw a recipe for sweet potato and butter nut squash with roasted pecans on top. I might add that as DH will eat it and I can send some home with guests. It would add a little color to the meal.


Myrtle Beach, SC

DJ, the first time I had Thanksgiving dinner for a group, I asked each of the invitees what one thing was really important to them as part of the Thanksgiving meal....then I made sure to include all those things along with the turkey and stuffing that I already planned to make as my favorite. I think I ended up adding green and black olives Grandma Ellie's sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, and pumpkin pie.

mollywhippet

Good morning everyone!

Last night I took the grands to gymnastics and the evil exwife showed up. I was freaking out, but I called my son and he just said, "well, she has said she wanted to come watch them at gymnastics." Like it was no big deal. The middle DGD said that her dad told her that her mom was coming. Sure wish he had mentioned it to me! I managed to make it through the episode without making a scene, but it was touch and go there for a few seconds. This is a woman who has had her parents abduct the kids before and hide them. I don't trust her. He says she has changed, but I don't buy it. Maybe I'm just a hateful and vindictive old woman.

This morning after taking the kids to school I went to the Y, then took Spot to the vet. He got his boosters and a clean bill of health and was pronounced to be a great little dog by our crotchity old vet. Then I went to the home of the potter who died recently. His wife wanted me to come look at all the pottery stuff he left behind and try to help her get rid of it. She has no idea what all is there or what it's worth. He was a hoarder, so one I saw it I understood just how overwhelmed she was. There are massive amounts of stuff. Some good stuff and some junk. I left with a box full of magazines and a really nice sieve that I plan to pay her for. I'm going to have to get some help from some of the other potters to organize the rest of the stuff and get it taken care of.

Yesterday I met with my walking buddy and another artist to discuss making an artist's coop here in our town. We went to see a building here on our main drag next to the trailhead park for the rails-to-trails. It was an enormous space, and we all loved it. It's across from the farmer's market, and it has lots of parking. It's in really bad condition so it will take a LOT of work to get it ready to use. We are hoping to get 20 or more artists to split the rent/costs and run the gallery. There is a small business development center on campus and they have offered to assist us on the planning stages. Just what I need. Another project. I have preliminary visions of selling my pottery there and using my current building to have art classes. Each of us would work in the gallery a certain amount of hours each month. Does anybody know of art guilds or coops in your areas that are working successfully? If so, please share the names of the places so I can research it online. We are looking at business models to decide on exactly what we want to do before we open it up to other artists. We want to have a jury process and not accept just anyone.

Well, It's after 11 already. I can't believe I've wasted half the day. Better get busy!

Take care!

Sylvia

mollywhippet

TerriRichardson112

nissanmama I remember that feeling! Although mine was when I was 39 going on 40. I went into a blue funk about a month before my 40th birthday. When the family asked me what was wrong, and I told them, they laughed themselves silly. I was furious, until they calmed down long enough to tell me that I wasn't 40 until the following birthday! Turning 40 didn't seem such a big thing the next year.

Lisa I admire anyone who can write a full length book. I have only managed short stories, although I was working on a longer one last year. I find Poetry is much easier for me to write. I guess poets and authors have slightly different talents with words.
I think the selective amnesia re what I was eating was a big part of my problem in the past. Now I log 'every bite and swallow', to quote one of our compadres, and along with copious amounts of exercise, it seems to be doing the trick.

DJ We have been 'doing Christmas' for so long now that I know exactly what everyone likes. Most of our dishes are tried and tested family favourites from the days when DMIL was the hostess. I do a vegetarian option for the non-carnivores. Everyone likes to bring something to the table and the whole family muck in to help. Sometimes I have to throw them out of the kitchen because there are too many helping hands. I work out a schedule on my iPad and iPhone and get timely reminders of when things have to go in the oven etc, which means I don't miss the festivities in the main lounge because I am tied to the cooker. I set the table on Christmas Eve and we eat late afternoon on Christmas Day so that we are done in time to watch the Christmas Dr Who! (We are almost all addicts!) There is never anything left as D#1 and 3 DGKs stay until the day after Boxing Day and they have very healthy appetites.

Heather Hooray! Completion is good! Such a relief for you!

Sylvia You are not a vindictive person! She has form. A leopard doesn't change its spots!
I wish I lived in the states. I would be up for some of that potter's stuff. And I love the idea of your artists collective. It sounds like it is in a good spot for passing trade with the farmers' market and all. Best of luck with the project.
Rotfl I just found your cartoon.

Computer woes! Our main family laptop hard drive seems to have developed a problem. It's the one I use most of the time for my writing and such like. All the work is backed up, but I am having problems accessing it on the other laptops. (DH has 4 altogether for various societies he is involved with.) Thank goodness for my iPad, otherwise I would be in stook.

This is today's effort from flower arranging.




Healing thoughts and prayers to those who need them!

Welcome to our Newbies. Sit a spell!

Each one of us is a vital cog in an infinite universe.
We may not know our purpose, but each cog needs to be oiled and tended.

May peace and joy shine on your day!



Irish Terri

terri_mom

Happy Thursday ! ! !

Grits – My Dad turned his bathtub into an easy-walk-in shower with a chair and 3-fold doors, and he LOVES it ! ! ! // So sorry about your taxidermist friend. Hugs for all friends, family, and loved ones ! ! !

Joyce – We got a little storm last night, but not as bad as was expected. Lots of lightening, so winds up to 50 mph, and it is still pretty windy but the temp is back up to 50 degrees. A co-worker and I are going to try walking a little outside during lunch. We’ll see how that goes.

I think DH lost his mind last night at H.S. bowling practice. The assistant coach stood up to him and said he would not step down for DH to step up. DH walked up to the director, had a long conversation, then pulled DS off Varsity to create his own JV team. Why is everybody afraid to tell this man the truth? Too bad I have to miss practice again next Monday for the Cooking for Diabetes class, so I can’t get it fixed before next week Wednesday, unless the Director agrees to have a special Coach’s meeting. I will just never understand why people can’t do what’s best for the greater population instead of only worrying about their own child. Whenever someone invites DS to be on their bowling team, I tell the kids and parents straight-up that my son’s average could hurt the chance of the team winning, so they can make the correct decision for their child. Uggggh ! I just don’t know how to think straight about this. This is a time when I REALLY miss my Mom, because she was so open-minded and calm.

More later, hopefully, after lunch. Leaving for our lunchtime walk soon.

Hugs for Everyone ! ! !

Terri in Milwaukee

margaretturk

Sylvia love the poster.

Lenora so sorry about your friend. Reminder in an instant. Enjoying every day I am given.

Liking my new choir. He had us sing a fun song about being in a choir just for fun. Walking the talk. I even shared music with one of the woman who gave me a hard time on my first night. I think she is realizing I do know what I am doing and I have no wish to supplant her with the descants.

Margaret

pipcd34

hey peeps-
someone started a gofundme acct to raise $ for Kirby and she wants to transfer the acct to me to take it over but I am having a HELL of a time, won't transfer and there is no phone cs help just email. :0(

oh, also got a call from the storage place, a guy parked next to our airstream nicked it with his boat. :0( when he was trying to park his boat back into his spot. geez, what else :0(

barbiecat

Heather, congrats on finally getting things finished on your rental....you were so wise to just do what needed to be done to get the last of the stuff out and and thank and give a good tip to the workers who did all the work....now you can put your energy into the next thing on your list.

Katla49

Irish Terri: I am very pleased with my blood work and proud of myself for doing a little research on the internet and coming up with a plan. It is gratifying to know I've made some good choices. :bigsmile: There is a Christmas Dr. Who? Is it available to purchase? DS has been a Who fan since he was a little kid & 'd love to surprise him with something like that. :flowerforyou:


Heather: Congratulations on the flat clearance. You must be practically walking on air! :bigsmile:

Sylvia: You are not a hateful and vindictive old woman. You are a smart one and know exactly how unreliable the DGK's mom can be. Good luck on the artist's co-op.


Pip: I'm so sorry you're having a tough time just now. I have no idea about gofundme accounts. I wish you luck. :flowerforyou: The travel trailer assault guy should pay for repairs. :mad:



I had a difficult talk with DD that I think turned out well. We will not see her at Christmas because DH doesn't want to travel, & the cost of airfare this time of year is sky high. I would rather travel in January to help her close up her house and get ready to move to Illinois. She seemed satisfied with the outcome.

Katla in Beautiful NW Oregon

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Thomas A. Edison

November Goals :
1. Log every bite and swallow.
2. Cardio exercise at least 3 days a week. Work on flexibility and back strength.
3. Have fun every day.
4. Drink at least three glasses of water daily, preferably more!
5. Eliminate alcohol.
6. Monitor sleep. Try to average 7 or more hours of sleep nightly.

exermom

Did an hour of a strength training DVD with the band today. The plan for tomorrow is to do a workout in the deep water. We shall see if the CD player will work, I'm not optimistic.


Denise just told us that Pete's parents are planning to give them a "sizeable" downpayment on a house. Why the rush??????

Kristina from So. Ca - welcome back! I'm so sorry to hear about your A1C. Never heard of Contrave, but I would think that there'd be some sort of comparable med.

Lenora - I'm so sorry you have such problem with your family. You are such a good person, why do things like this have to happen? I think Denise has this "motherly" instinct in her. She wants to "fix" things. When this guy was physically and emotionally abusing her, she still stayed with him and I think there was a part of her that felt she could "fix" him. Also, to me his mother is "enabling" (Vince hates when I say that) and it's so much easier right now to just let someone else do things (like pay for a truck, co-sign for an apartment). but what's going to happen in the future?

nissanmama - welcome. Are you in the Susquehanna valley? We used to live in the Poconos and then lived in Kennett Square. We got our fair share of snow when we lived in the Poconos, so I totally understand where you are coming from. You can do this!

Hey Kim. Come back often.

Vicki - hope you get some sleep

DJ - the only reason I'm upset about the rings is because I know that Denise has wanted them for years and now she won't be getting them. Oh well..... I guess now I'm just feeling that marriage is a new experience and it'll be new for them and for us. I suspect that they're real tight. I just hope they remember that Denise has a family, too, and they don't expect us to always roll over for their family. Well...we shall see what the future brings. I wouldn't have any rings if Denise were to get them, but that doesn't bother me. I hope these pics of my rings do them justice. As you can see, there is a 3-prong holding the diamond, today most dismonds are held on with just one prong.

Sylvia - you are such a great grandmother, I just hate that you have to go thru so much with the exwife. Loved your pic



Michele in NC

exermom

I don't know why one picture is in the middle of my post and the other one is at the end. But I hope you can see.



hmmmm...might be a good idea for me to learn how to resize the picture, too


Michele in NC

mollywhippet

I'd like to get some opinions on something. This is the bathroom we are getting ready to redo. We built the shell when we remodeled the outside of the house, and now are getting ready to open it up. Originally I planned to put a bathtub in the addition, but since our trip to Spain I decided I didn't want a whirlpool tub after all. (Some of you may remember my fiasco in the whirlpool tub at the hotel.) So, we have decided just to make a big shower instead. Along the lines of a wet room. We're just thinking of putting a frosted glass door on it and putting the control knob near the door. There is a small round window high up in the wall in the shower room, and a high pitched roof. Originally there was a tub/shower combo in the room where the toilet is. We thought we would take that out and put in a sink with a nice counter and a linen closet. One sink will stay where it is. I'm a little concerned that it won't have any counter space, but hubby said he doesn't need any counter space, just a medicine cabinet. And we decided to enlarge the closet instead of using the whole space for bathroom.

So, any ideas or suggestions? Thanks,

Sylvia

grandmallie

Michelle~ beautiful rings.. I would be thrilled to have a set like that....
Tom made it safetly to florida.. and hope he relaxes and enjoys .

Annr

Yesterday did a lot of thinking about my Dad in the Navy, my sons in the Navy, and my life as a Navy wife. Yesterday was my middle Navy sons' birthday (he was 7 lbs 7 oz, born on 11-11) so I always called him my "7-11" baby. The fact that his birthday will always be on Veterans Day, has special meaning.

On his 17th birthday (which was 11-11-11) I told him that I wanted to go to the 7-11 store that had just opened and tell the manager if we could "rent it out" for 17 minutes, play music really loud eat cake and have drinks.... My son looked at me like I had gone off the deep end...."WHAT???" Is all I could say back... We used to always see 7:11 AM on the clocks at home so we just decided to stop the world and dance during the morning when that time would show up on the clocks... His younger brother and I still do that....

So a pic of my Navy men...for those that haven't seen them:



This was on Sept 2014 when my middle son got married.
Becca

Annr

This Oct. I think married life agrees with my son, he seems really happy. My MIL was surprised to see all my DIL's tattoos though...

Annr

hmmm when you look at my eldest son, he has lost weight from one pic to the next. Thank goodness though, my husband has gained weight!
Becca

Annr

[/quote]

Breathtaking rings!
Becca

GRITSandSLUTSandWINOS

Thanksgiving for us will be baked ham, turkey, (I cook these); DOGD does the dressing and squash casserole, DDnL#1 will be asked to make her fabulous red potato salad, DOS will do the green bean casserole. DYS and DDnL#2 will cook other meals. DDnL#2 still doesn't know when she can fly in because that 'dickhead' of an 'ex' hasn't told her when he is planning on picking up DGD#4. She drove last year because he screwed up her plans; she then went hunting when she got her. Sick over the weekend and had to drive by herself all the way home following DYS (or being followed by him). They share custody and supposedly they alternate; but, I don't see it as she did not have her last year. She said she was going to nail down 'next' Thanksgiving so that her daughter will be able to get to know this side of her family.

Yeah, we'll probably be doing funeral for a couple of days. Wake and visitation and then the funeral. Well known Taxidermist in the area, retired last year. His nephew took over the business. He is in his mid 20's now; last time DH had seen her was when he was 16 and driving the truck and trailer to Louisiana to help deliver about 30 different mounting of deer and ducks, and a beaver, and some other sort of animal (Maybe a bobcat). Said that when a car cut them off that Bob reached over and blared on the horn. I don't know what all he said but I am sure when they had the opportunity to pass them again, it wasn't a very nice passing. LOL! Yeah, we've lost several neighbors and other friends, and it certainly makes you start thinking about the things that are now more important than they used to be.

I'm not sure what I want to tackle next ... it has taken DH a long time to work on the glassed-in porch. But, he is slowly getting there.

Peach1948

Michelle - Lovely rings. I can see why Denise would love them.

Becca - Good looking family.

Sylvia - Your plan seems great. I hate my frosted shower doors because they are so hard to keep clean. Your closet will be fantastic.

Beautiful afternoon here today. Love walking the Pom. There were so many Oak leaves in one stretch that you could not see the sidewalk.

Went to Kohl's to actually try on tops and saw what I really looked like. That makes me renew eating habits. All of my weight lands in my torso and it really shows when trying on shirts. Ugh!

Carol/Peach

pipcd34

exermom - Purdy rings

GRITSandSLUTSandWINOS

I'd have to 'hire' professional help for the moving of plumbing, etc. I'll like the change the kitchen cabinet doors to a Shaker style door - I just think painting them would be best. But big expense would be counters (and any extra cabinets we might have built. Then we need new flooring (actually throughout the entire house). Tile in the bath(s) and carpet at least in the bedrooms. Louis would like hardwoods through out the rest; but, I'm thinking, aaah, nah, too dusty living on a dirt road, even been off from the road a way. Need to plant some fast growing trees that will help block some of the dust.

terri_mom

Peach - don't give up. You will find tops that look good, and you will continue to succeed !

I finally broke free of my plateau ! Renewed desire to succeed ! Yay ! ! !

Hugs

17761776

Sylvia: DH has a sink with no counter, claims it's just great, I hate it !!! When we have house guests no place for them to put their things. That's not everday, it doesn't work for me. It does keep the sink area clean, looks like you will have a cabinet with some counter?? Love the shower, n nice closet. Gayle Minneapolis

phyllis115

To Sylvia and all of our other vets, THANK YOU for your service.

To the Moms, Wives, Daughters and Sisters of Vets- THANK YOU for all that you do/did to support your Vet. Your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed.

Tracie in Green Bay- Yes, I am also an emotional eater. The first step for me was/is recognizing that I’m not hungry but reacting to a situation. Second step is to pick something else to do. If it happens at work, I excuse myself as soon as possible and do some steps in the stairwell. Not only does it help me calm down but it makes me thirsty so when I get back to my desk I can work on drinking some water. After I’ve had some water, then I know I’m not hungry.

Grits- Yes, I fantasize about remodeling my house all the time! I’ve been in this house for 26 years but there never seems to be enough money to do the things I want to do. I loved reading your ideas.

Katla- Congrats on the great blood test results !

Heather UK- Great Job with the flat clearance.

I had a great NSV yesterday, I went shopping for a dress to wear during the holidays. Found a great dress that was on sale. The best part was that this dress has a belt. I was modeling the dress for the friend that was with me when I burst into tears. When I could finally talk, I explained that I haven’t worn ANYTHING with a belt in years. I usually refuse to even try on outfits with a belt. I didn’t even realize that this dress had a belt when I first put it on. MFP and this group WORK !!

Time to go do today's 15 minutes of decluttering.

Phyl in Cincy

margaretturk

I agree another big thank you to our vets and current soldiers for the sacrifices they made and are making!

Michelle Love the rings.

Margaret

Katla49

Michele: Your rings are lovely. :flowerforyou:

Sylvia: We have a large shower in our master bathroom, but it also has a tub. We use the shower most of the time, but once in a while I want to soak. The tub has a built in jacuzzi and we seldom use it. The large shower area is the most frequently used portion of the facilities and we like it very much. We have two showerheads and can both shower at the same time at different temperatures. :bigsmile: (I like it hot.)

Terri_mom: Congratulations on breaking thorough your plateau! Three cheers! :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

Phyl in Cincy: Congratulations on your new dress with a belt! That is a NSV to treasure. :flowerforyou:


I thought things were settled with DD but it seems to be a moving target. She sent a text asking me to come in mid December to help watch the kids. Her DH is wanted on the job by his new employer sooner than expected. Very bad timing for me, & I'm hoping the other Grandma can step up. If she can't, I'll have to see what I can do.

Katla in Beautiful NW Oregon

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Thomas A. Edison

November Goals :
1. Log every bite and swallow.
2. Cardio exercise at least 3 days a week. Work on flexibility and back strength.
3. Have fun every day.
4. Drink at least three glasses of water daily, preferably more!
5. Eliminate alcohol.
6. Monitor sleep. Try to average 7 or more hours of sleep nightly.

oceanmelody

Michele I think the rings are beautiful. It sounds to me like these are more symbolic than most to both you and Denise. I think you have legitimate concerns about the whole situation and it is really tough to only be able to sit back and watch. Hugs! Hang in there and take deep breaths!
Betty ROC

mollywhippet

Michele, I love the rings. I suggest you save them for her second husband to give to her. This guy doesn't seem like he's going to last.

skuehn48

Hi all: Have not posted for a while but I finally caught up with reading. Raining here and supposed to keep raining for several days. Paddock for horses is very muddy. They stand in the shelter and I think Ruby the Arab gets very bored, she tore apart two hay feeders last night and this morning. They have access to the pasture but just don't want to go out in the rain. Spoiled horses!!

I have finally made an appointment with a new primary care physician here in WA. I have been procrastinating on that and am relieved that it is finally done.

My Christmas cactus was a very small start given to me by a friend and it took about two years before it bloomed. It is now huge and is beginning to bud. I was afraid it might not bloom this year after being moved from SD and being in an east window instead of a south window as it had been since I first got it. I have been told they bloom dependent on the length of daylight hours. Mine has always bloomed twice a year near Christmas and Easter.

Kim in CA - I want one of those sweatshirts!!! That horse looks just like my old guy, Moose that I had for 24 years. Please PM me and let me know how much it would cost to have one made and shipped to WA.

Katla - Congrats on the blood work. We now have an electric mattress pad because when we had the electric blanket my DH would turn his side on high and then get too hot and throw it over on me so I would be too hot. With the mattress pad he cannot do that and I can leave my side on low or turn it off.

Healing angels to all who need them and congratulations to those with victories. Sue in WA