WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR DECEMBER 2021

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  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,592 Member
    Stiff and sore from all the gravel shovelling and hauling and all the gardening this weekend.

    But we are making progress!

    I've planted more flowers in the hope to flood the bed with foliage that should be there, instead of weeds and I'm trying an experiment on a patch of lawn. I've determined that our lawn consists of crab grass, super dandilions (I've never seen anything like them), these other weeds I can't identify, clover, and now something small with flowers. The super dandilions have roots like carrots and they produce a yellow dandilion flower but it's about a foot in the air. Perhaps it spreads easier that way. I can vouch for its success. And I don't mind clover in a lawn but when it throws out vines everywhere, it gets a bit annoying. I wasn't aware that clover did throw out vines.

    So I'm digging up some of the weeds and putting grass seed in it's place. Real grass. Either the super weeds will choke it out or maybe we'll get some actual grass going!

    Now to hobble to bed.

    M in Oz
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,245 Member
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    Kirby is on the phone with Costco already. It’s 7am and he is still fuming
  • grandmallie
    grandmallie Posts: 10,085 Member
    Morning ladies
    Well 3 mini date loaves made and 3 mini cranberry orange loaves made for little gifts for our little appetizer party this afternoon..
    Im bringing a veggie platter and cranberry juice and sprite zero ,no cocktails for mr. But will be a fun time as usual.. want to be home by 7:30 as Charlie Brown Christmas is on PBS..
  • Snowflake1968
    Snowflake1968 Posts: 6,945 Member
    Heather - I figure out when I was about 7 that there was no Santa when I recognized my Dad’s handwriting. It was confirmed when I heard him and my Grandfather placing things under the tree and deciding where what would go. 🎄
    Lauryn, Jonah’s Mom believed until she was probably 11 or 12. Her two years younger sister quit believing when she was 7. We always put stockings on the foot of their bed and she saw us sneak in to her room.

    Barbara - I miss the incandescent lights, the LED are a little too bright. It’s better to be safe though. Do you have ornaments that are vintage for inside?
    What a treat to drive home to.

    Machka - what a tragedy.

    Lisa - I love the rubber ducks! What a great idea. It’s great that something so simple made your son’s girlfriend’s day a bit brighter.

    Allie - I haven’t sat and watched A Charlie Brown Christmas in years. I should do that this year.

    I wrapped presents most of the day yesterday and into the evening. My DH is having a nap in preparation for our long day today. I am watching Christmas movies and painting my nails.

    A relaxing morning
    Tracey in Edmonton




  • Katla49
    Katla49 Posts: 10,385 Member
    Heather – Congratulations on your writing achievement! It looks as though you may be getting a feature in a national newspaper for your book. WOW! :bigsmile:

    Barbie – My husband has diabetes and MS. His prescriptions are not cheap, but they are very valuable. I am grateful that we are able to get them at our local pharmacy.

    (((Lisa))) - I am so sorry that the VA is not supporting you as well as they should. In fact, it makes me more than a little angry on your behalf.

    Kim – I hope things go well for your mom. It sounds as though the cardiologist is observant and wise.


    Yesterday we brought our Christmas tree into the house and decorated it. The tree is a dwarf Alberta Spruce and it lives in a pot outside all year except that we bring it inside to be our Christmas tree in December. I had fun decorating it yesterday.

    Katla in NW Oregon
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,692 Member
    I had just come downstairs from my nap when I got a phone call from my old university friend, L. I had been thinking about ringing her. She sounded very upset, so I knew something was very, very wrong.
    Her long term partner, M, had had a heart attack this morning and died. It was downstairs in their house and he called out to her. CPR etc did not save him.
    A friend is driving up to be with her tonight and her sister is arriving tomorrow.
    She is one of the closest people to me.
    She asked me to ring another university friend, A, so I have done that.
    M was 9 years younger than L, so he was 63, and it was unexpected.
    Such a shock.
    I'm glad that she is not going to be alone tonight. She said the neighbours, who she didn't really know, have been really good.

    I was already pondering the death of Richard Rogers, and reading about his life online. (A famous British architect) He was 88 though and lived a full life. He was part of the crowd I moved in in London, though I never met him.

    Death is tapping us on the shoulder.

    Love to all, Heather UK xxxxxxxx
  • kevrit
    kevrit Posts: 4,301 Member
    KetoneKaren wrote: »
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    Barbara,

    Here is one of the Yorkies with a Dingo Ring. That's all she will eat. Just the red stuff, then leaves the rest of the rawhide unless quite desperate.

    lol

    .

    Love the Yorkie! Lol

    RvRita
  • dlfk202000
    dlfk202000 Posts: 3,182 Member
    Whidislander wrote: »
    dlfk202000 wrote: »
    auntiebk wrote: »
    Accountability:
    Chose well: BP, 10 min stroll w/Joe and dogs before nail trim
    Bonus: got Joe set up and new pharmacy, picked up rx, made pecan fudge, spiced rum balls and (failed) English Toffee,
    Just one thing:
    Do good December.
    18: Ask for help and let someone else discover the joy of giving. Joe and the Christmas lights and tree?

    Stiffed the puppies today on play training and powerline, time crunch to nail trim appointment.

    Probe failed on thermometer while making English toffee, but can’t blame candy failure on it, left the water out OOPS so the butter and sugar never completely cohered. Any suggestions, Debbie, KJ or others who make candy?

    New thermometer ordered with two professional replacement probes and this is the 2nd time cheapo probes have failed. Kinda hope the replacement probes fit the other to thermometers as I like their design better for setting temp alarms.

    Heather :love: your Buddha vision, and the Christmas Bingo card. This would have been fun to play at last week’s girls’ movie night, with some Americanization adjustments. Maybe next year ;) Truth in that poem. Thank you.
    Barbie “only joy and no disappointment” is due to your attitude as well as your choices. Bravissima. Thanks for sharing the morning lights.
    Macha I almost choked snorting my cocoa when “. . .the Tree is done” appeared. Think I’ll do that tomorrow to surprise Joe. :laugh: 2 tonnes of gravel? :nowah: Will you feed your bees the leatherwood honey?
    Karen Hallmark Christmas movie then falling back asleep sounds like just the rx! Had to goodle Dingo rings. Hmm…
    Lisa back on the elliptical as well as back to smiling. YAY! “. . .mouth-breathing, itchy-faced, snotty little sniffler…” Boo!. :sick: ((hugs))
    Annie what Lisa said about resetting and timing. 2 mins would be a good place to start and now would be the best time (says she who is 5000 steps below goal NOW.)
    Pip just :love: the Yogi pics He has such an expressive face.
    Allie it always amazes me how the sound of a dog getting ready to puke can rouse me from a deep sleep to standing, picking up dog, carrying to bathroom floor before eyes focused and without glasses.
    Katla sounds like you’re prepared to receive hard news about your 2009 computer. ((hugs))
    Mary ((hugs)) Parkinson’s is such a hard dx.
    Tracey so relieved to see your smiling face! Fingers X’d for the ultrasound. Can you set a time limit for listening to the needy friend? Like when she calls, say something like “I want to hear you but I have to leave the house at 3pm, Will that be enough time?” Really listening can be an exhausting gift to give, especially when the caller won’t take steps to help themselves. Boundaries are necessary for self-care. Read a book about effective listening, can’t remember the title or author, who recommended rephrasing what we hear in terms of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It was really hard to do but could be effective if I could detach enough to keep my ego and emotional reactions out of the conversation.

    Christmas cookie memories: making almond crescents and holiday nut balls with Mama. If I do nothing at Christmas I make a batch of each. It is important to me.

    Lighter, lovelies!
    https://us.v-cdn.net/5021879/uploads/editor/5a/f8qt1s098sxm.gif Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD
    2021: choose to be leaner/stronger/kinder NOW

    The recipes I use are just simple ones-no temp checks-
    The cracker toffee is just butter and brown sugar, bring to a boil for 3 min, pour over the laid out crackers , bake five minutes, sprinkle with choc. chips, spread while hot then sprinkle with chopped nuts- that is it.
    It is called Cracker Crack- so simple but so good.
    The caramel corn is basically the same start but it does have corn syrup and baking soda added after you take it off the heat(and before you pour over the popcorn- that one takes an hour to bake on low.

    I made cracker toffee with a bag of cheap animal crackers my husband bought. He thought he was being thrifty, but he learned the official animal crackers in the small boxes taste way better. But they were a nice crunch in the toffee.💖👍
    Rebecca

    I use the saltine crackers. I got some that Grocery Outlet had marked down to .50 a box. They are great- they are in sheets of four crackers instead of individual or two crackers. Taste really good too. The sheets make laying them flat in the cookie sheet so much easier/quicker plus they don't float while baking like the single ones do. Also easier to spread both the toffee and the chocolate.

    Debbie
    Napa Valley,CA
  • dlfk202000
    dlfk202000 Posts: 3,182 Member
    edited December 2021
    auntiebk wrote: »
    Accountability:
    Chose well: BP, dog group, dogs to powerline.
    Bonus: researched and ordered telescope for Joe, Grocery Outlet, Freddie’s for rx
    Just one thing:
    Do good December.
    18: Ask for help and let someone else discover the joy of giving. Joe and the Christmas lights and tree?

    “I don't want to be smart, I want to be emotional! But I love you and don't want you to die in a house fire.” So agreed to let Joe throw away all the vintage, incandescent, twinkle bright lights. He could tell that decision hurt my heart, so is putting them up in the garage which has a reliable circuit breaker, to see how they do. Gotta love that man!

    Dragged my unwilling butt to dog group. Despite a few sprinkles was glad I did. Then stopped and Grocery Outlet “for just one more bag of chocolate chips” and found all the produce needed for the week. Other than an early morning trip to the post office Monday or Tuesday, and dog group, I can hunker down and not leave the house ‘til after the holiday.

    Annie, rock ON!
    Debbie your cracker crack and caramel corn sound yummy!
    Karen Oh what a naughty little look! Better the red stuff from the dingo ring than the sandal ;)
    Machka the “sat quietly in the glow of holiday lights” square reminded me of my BFF. She used to overnight on my couch and loved to watch the Christmas tree lights randomly blink off and on. She told a story about her and her sister as little girls “kissing” each Christmas light goodbye when their mom took the tree down. Like Barbie and Katla, the lights give me great joy.

    Oooh, twinkly lights strung above the garage windows and around the rafters! Coming home from dog group, driving into the garage, was like driving into a magical Christmasland. Thank you Joe!

    Pouring down rain now, all the more cozy reason to stay in.

    Lighter, lovelies!
    Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD
    2021: choose to be leaner/stronger/kinder NOW
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    Don't you love all the treasures you can find at Grocery Outlet. We have two in our town, two in the town just north of us(one is where my son works as a produce manager), one in another town just NE of us and one just north of there. All have different stuff/different prices. It is a treasure hunt for sure.
    On our road trips up to Seattle, it is always a game to see how many GO's we can find and stop at. There are quite a few going up 101 and coming home on 5.
    My son likes the owners he works for. So much better than working at Safeway. Just a better fit for his personality. Everyone we have talked to at the different stores all seem to like working for the company
    That is our favorite store. We shop there first, then check out the two Lucky's in Napa. Last is Safeway(that dh works at). Love to find my bargains!

    Debbie
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,692 Member
    edited December 2021
    Karen - <3

    I am feeling very mortal.

    Heather UK xxxxxx
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,245 Member
    Rrrrrr
  • skuehn48
    skuehn48 Posts: 3,038 Member
    The sun is shining! After all the rain yesterday it is especially nice. I have been to church and am going to take the dog for a walk in a short while.she had to spend most of her outdoor time yesterday in the barn instead of the pasture.

    Lisa - love the rubber duckies.

    Everyone take care, Sue in WA
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,692 Member
    Loving the duck emotions. <3Lisa

    Heather UK
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,245 Member
    Stat for the day-

    housecleaning etc- 2hrs 24min 32sec, vacuum, dusting, change bedsheets, sweep, rake leaves from front patio= 700c
  • Anniesquats100
    Anniesquats100 Posts: 3,285 Member
    edited December 2021
    I put on my calendar that I would write three hours a day but I can only stand about an hour in the chair. My shoulders are stiff. I think the keyboard is in a good place, but I hunch over to see the screen of the laptop. Hope I can work the kinks out of the position!

    Meanwhile I'm spending more productive time and less hanging around time. Yay!

    Annie in Delaware
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,592 Member
    Anniesquats100 wrote: »
    I put on my calendar that I would write three hours a day but I can only stand about an hour in the chair. My shoulders are stiff. I think the keyboard is in a good place, but I hunch over to see the screen of the laptop. Hope I can work the kinks out of the position!

    Meanwhile I'm spending more productive time and less hanging around time. Yay!

    Annie in Delaware

    Do 45 min then stand up and stretch for 5 min, walk for 5 min, then write again for 45 min and repeat.
  • Anniesquats100
    Anniesquats100 Posts: 3,285 Member
    Thanks Machka that's a good idea!
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,592 Member
    Anniesquats100 wrote: »
    Thanks Machka that's a good idea!

    That's pretty much what I do. It's not healthy to sit for long periods of time.
  • exermom
    exermom Posts: 6,516 Member
    Exercised. It felt so so good. Then made most of the Chocolate Cream (just need to top it right before we have it) dessert and cut up the spinach feta for the lady at bowling tomorrow. Have it in the refrigerator right now. Then put the yogurt in a container to have. I have found that the more starter you use, the thicker the yogurt is.

    M – I think that’s Vince’s feeling about decorating for the holiday

    Tracey – another thing we did was either write out the tags in the other hand or change the handwriting. Where we lived at the time (the Poconos) we had a downstairs bathroom. Every December something happened to the bathroom and we locked the door so no one accidentally flushed the toilet, used the sink, etc. Actually, that was where I kept the presents. And every year the day after Christmas it suddenly got fixed. Do you know the kids didn’t figure it out until we moved? Denise is the youngest and she was in 4th or 5th grade. Jessica never figured it out, and she was in about 8th grade.

    Barbara – I must have missed it what was the problem with the incandescent bulbs?

    Lisa – egg doesn’t “help” you?

    Heather – I’m so sorry about your friend’s husband. What a tragedy

    I went thru all my old inspection reports, etc and gave them to Vince and said “do I need any of these”? He said that I didn’t. Now he said “I hope you didn’t throw out your new registration” so I told him “that’s why I gave the to you”. He really doesn’t like to be wrong, it’s always my fault. Well, we’ll just have to order a new one and if he says anything, I’ll just tell him “you’re as much at fault as I am, you ripped it up rather than putting it in the pile of things to be shredded because it’s easier for you to just rip it up. I asked you if I needed anything and you said “no”. It’s not my fault that you didn’t look closely.” so we just have to order a new one. Personally, I don’t see the real big deal.

    Pip – how frustrating! I do hope you get your stuff

    Michele NC
  • Katla49
    Katla49 Posts: 10,385 Member
    Heather – I am so sorry that your old friend lost her partner to a heart attack.

    Barbara – Your DH is kind to help work on your Christmas lights. We’ve gone to minimal Christmas decorations this year. We have decorated our tree in the living room and have put a wreath outside of our front door. I am happy that you were able to go to your dog group. In fact, I am envious. We will be looking for a new pup as soon as the breeders have litters. It is likely to be months before we can visit a breeder and look at puppies. We were lucky when we found our last pup. We sat on the outside steps of the breeder’s house and the pup chose me. He cuddled up beside me and that was that. I hope we will be that lucky again. Right now, we’re just lonely for our sweet old dog.

    Rebecca – Athena is a cutie. You will have fun watching her grow up.

    Pip - Sorry to hear that the delivery guys from Costco did not do the job as they should have done. I hope Kirby gets a call back asap.

    Katla
  • skuehn48
    skuehn48 Posts: 3,038 Member
    <3
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,592 Member
    edited December 2021
    Christmas

    -- Cooking/Baking - I have done none of it! And I don't plan on doing any until December 24. I will likely make a pavlova then.

    -- Santa Claus - I was not raised on Santa Claus. I didn't know who Santa Claus was until I went to kindergarten. About then, my parents read us some stories on the traditions associated with Saint Nicholas.

    -- Decorations - I am "making" a set of decorations using up my old nail polish. I got a collection of "wood" ornaments and I've been painting them with the nail polish. So far I have completed two sparkly silver snowflakes and should complete more this evening. It is a bit of a process painting one side, letting it dry overnight, painting the other side, then all the edges, etc. I've got 10 in production (2 of which are finished) and would have more, but I don't have the room to spread them all out.

    I also buy a new decoration (or two or three) each year. This years were a cat and two lovely stars.

    -- Christmas Lights - we've been using LEDs since we started putting lights on our trees in Australia. The first couple years, we didn't use lights, we just let the sun make the tinsel shine, but I wanted lights for the evenings.

    -- Trees - we have 4 trees, but this year I put only 2 up. They're all artificial. One is a small tree I've had since I was about 17. We put that up in the sleeping room. Two are trees we picked up in different locations here - that's the trouble with having stuff in storage half the time, you end up 2 things. And one my husband built last year with Rhody in mind. We put that one up again this year.

    -- Christmas Music - I've been listening to it since the beginning of December. I've got quite a good collection now plus there's a radio station here that plays it.

    -- Booster Shot - is scheduled for late Dec 22. Which means I might not feel like much on the 23rd based on what others here have experienced. But I might show up for work in the morning of the 24th to finish up a few things.

    -- Holiday Plans - laying low and spending time with my two guys: husband and cat. :)
    We're into masks here for the second time. The first time was a week this past October. Who knows how long this time will be. Possibly till they decide to close the borders again. So we're not keen on mingling with people or going to busy places. Home and/or outside in nature ... that sort of thing is good.

    I'm off until Jan 10th.

    My hope over the holiday season is 1) to make a dent in my Things To Do List and 2) to spend some time relaxing and doing things like playing the piano, colouring, cycling, running, etc.


    M in Oz
  • auntiebk
    auntiebk Posts: 2,610 Member
    Accountability:
    Chose well: BP, livestream church
    Bonus: veg prep, Xmas cards to those who sent to us, one load laundry, wrapped pecan fudge
    Just one thing:
    Do good December.
    19: Contact someone who may be alone or feeling isolated.
    20: Help other by giving away something you don’t need. Joe wants to donate the Perry Masons instead of trading them in for credit at the used bookstore. What a guy.

    The things I’ll do to avoid catching up on T’ai Chi and Line dancing SMH! Today it was addressing Christmas cards to those who sent to us. Not something I usually do, something I’d usually resent, but if it means procrastinating on exercise.. :laugh:

    Lisa :love: the rubber ducky story and the pics of Egg.
    Heather what a shock. Glad your friend won’t be alone. So hard to loose someone during the holidays and worse when its so sudden and unexpected.
    Rebecca Athena is getting so tall!
    Tracey, yes, have both vintage and sentimental ornaments for inside. Alas I haven’t yet put them on the tree ;}
    Debbie oh how I miss Lucky stores, and Winco…
    Pip your stats don’t mention how many cals you burned keeping Kirby from doing in those “delivery-not” drivers.
    Michele, Joe didn’t want to put the incandescents outside because he was worried the old wires, electricity and our rain were a bad combination. He was reluctant to string them up inside the house because of how hot they get. He came up with the idea of lighting inside the garage and we are both delighted ;)
    Karen, what your mom said.
    Katla I hope you find a breeder soon so the right puppy can choose you.
    Machka your holiday plans sound just right. Hope the time is restorative.

    Wanted to march in place while watching a couple of Jeopardys on DVR. Power light on but no picture, no sound. Rats.
    Really hope Joe will hook up one of our other TVs up temporarily to the cable box/DVR. Do NOT want to try to buy a new TV four days before Christmas.

    Lighter, lovelies!
    Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD
    2021: choose to be leaner/stronger/kinder NOW
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  • KetoneKaren
    KetoneKaren Posts: 6,412 Member
    Heather'

    Me too.

    <3

    I am sorry your friend died.

    Karen in Virginia
  • grandmallie
    grandmallie Posts: 10,085 Member
    Morning ladies
    Well ive been awake since 3:30 i dont know if ill nap today or not. A lovely time at Trudys yesterday and home in time to watch Charlie Brown.. and snuggle up with Alfie.
    Elena had me laughing yesterday she said that Homer ordered his breakfast at the drive through at Dunkin Donuts and had a sourdough egg sandwich ..barking into the speaker .lol that dog is a hoot.. what Homer wants Homer gets
    Tracy usually has Thursday's off but needs to take today off to have an ultrasound done because they wont have a tech on Thursday.. so she will work Thursday and i will take Carmine to guitar lesson and im sure McDonalds..
    I was invited to a friend's house Christmas eve its about 1/2 away.. and I really dont like driving in the dark but will go maybe.. and will breakfast with Trudy .and then spend some time with Tracy and the family

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