WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR SEPTEMBER 2022
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Carla, I needed help for my brain and my attitude before I could successfully let go of stuff. I had stuff from my mother and grandmother and carefully curated and organized papers and photos going back almost a century. Even with no siblings or children to share my sentimental attachment to the stuff I couldn't let go without creating the right mindset. I read many books and listened to many podcasts to ready myself. I (and probably others) can make recommendations of what helped us
Barbie in NW WA2 -
Had my bathroom closed up for a while yesterday and when I opened it back up it smelled like gas in there. DD turned the gas off so we need to relight the pilot today.
Our power went off for a few minutes earlier and our Arab mare was acting like a crazy horse. They are in the pasture with the electric fence and they are able to hear it when it is on. She knew it was off so went running around tossing her head and tail. She has been known to walk through an electric fence if it is off. Luckily it came back on soon.
DD stopped on her way home from work yesterday at Bob's corn and got one half dozen fresh ears so guess what we are eating this weekend.
Everyone take care, Sue in WA5 -
Pip, You're welcome! You know I support the cause and we are all so proud of you & Kirby. That refinishing project is so charming. You should be proud of yourself, you did a wonderful job on it.
Terri, What a wonderful poem. We are graced by your words.
Heather, Wow. That's a lovely bowl, can't believe it's your first effort. Can't wait for updates. I'm a sucker for hand thrown pottery.
Carla, In thinking about your last post, Barbie's words above, and my own epic downsizing project, my comments are these:
You have already taken the first step because you are honest with yourself concerning what motivates you to hang onto things. This will help you as you create the right mindset, as Barbie suggests. Three specific factors contributed to my readiness to let go:
1) my spouse needs to be in a continuing care environment, so we started looking and have committed to moving later this year.
2) I retired and took several months to recover from a demanding career. When I started decluttering, I kicked myself for taking that time off, but I now realize it was necessary and I no longer regret it.
3) I parted with the hardest thing first - my mother's beautiful walnut sewing table. In retrospect, this was a huge leap of faith, because it could have been devastating. As it turned out, the joy it brought the young woman who was the recipient of Mom's sewing table dwarfed any grief I may have felt. It was one of the most satisfying and enlightening days of my life; subsequent photos of the new owner's little sewing corner have brought even more gratification & affirmation.
I rediscovered that I really love to give my things to other people. It is extremely rewarding. I don't miss anything I have given away yet, and I have gifted some real treasures! Artwork, sewing tables, old sewing machines, an iron bank collection, china, dolls, pottery, most of my teapots, children's glass, lovely books, hand-lathed wooden bowls, and much more. I've also given away recyclable items like empty hand soap dispensers, dish liquid squirt bottles, dishwasher pod containers, old/broken jewelry and glass, plastic plant pots, and other items that would have otherwise ended up in recycling or the landfill. It's amazing what people want and can repurpose. Just this week a man took a small bagful of flatware odds & ends for an art project, and awhile back an art teacher took broken glass and tiles for her students' mosaic projects.
We can let go of things we love. But we have to be ready to do so.
Karen in Virginia
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Karen - Lovely words. 😍 I too find giving things to people who value them very uplifting and freeing. DH has a few pictures in the garage attic that should be sorted out. We gave away some quite valuable batik ones.
For those who are hovering, just do one thing and see how it makes you feel. You might, just, get a taste for it.
You all have encouraged me to make a start in my cluttered utility room. Plus some stuff in that attic. It's so easy to forget about it when it's out of sight.
I also may sell some gold jewelry I never wear and buy something I will wear. I did something similar a few years ago and I've never missed it.
Love Heather UK xxxxxx2 -
Rebecca love your plan to help your sister not “tend” to all those who come to celebrate her DH. As for your other sister, would asking for photo of the clock be enough for you?
Karen love the poppies, love even more that your brother has sold some paintings. $ recognition=a much needed boost imho. Heather’s idea and Gracie’s cottage sound perfect.
Tracey love the dragon castle for Jonah!
Barbie how frustrating not go get a definitive answer, but how grateful no macular degeneration, glaucoma, optic nerve problem, tear in or detached retina. Diagnosis by elimination, always nerve wracking.
Machka thanks for the self care September link, I’ve somehow fallen off the daily happiness calendar bandwagon. Time to hop back on.
Allie when do you see the MD for results of ecg and xray?
Vicki hope the mammo and gp visists went well.
Only through pg 2, look forward to KJ’s update and hope to see posting from Debbie. Would love to see Julie’s @bananasandoranges, and Kylia’s @kymarai smiling faces too.
Done:9/2: Move: 2 sets pt, dogs to powerline, active mins:311 steps:7981Lighter, lovelies!
Fuel: plants (running count for week) 9+6+2+9+2 so far: almonds, apple, artichoke, banana, basil-pesto, beans-red kidney, carrots, cashews, celery, cherries, coffee, cranberries-dried, cucumbers, graham flour, lettuce-American blend, mushrooms-cremini, olives-almond stuffed, onions, peach-white, peanut butter, pecans, peppers-pepperoncini, potato flour, radish, romaine, sauerkraut, spices-basil/celery seed/garlic powder/onion powder/pepper/rosemary/turmeric, spinach, tea, tomato paste, walnuts, watermelon. CI<CO=883
Live: Joe, readings, BP, chiropractor, bottle return, Grocery Outlet, Freddie’s, recycling, hymns.
Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD
2022: Be still and listen.
September: Move more, fuel better, live NOW.
Actually its not the clock per say that I was trying to reclaim, but the experience of repainting it with my grandmother. Thinking upon it, remembering giggling as we were putting gold here and there. That was enough for me. Maybe one day when we again have a mantle, I might ask for it back. But its safe where its at. I'm not worried about it.💖
Rebecca
Whidbey
Wa4 -
Had my bathroom closed up for a while yesterday and when I opened it back up it smelled like gas in there. DD turned the gas off so we need to relight the pilot today.
Our power went off for a few minutes earlier and our Arab mare was acting like a crazy horse. They are in the pasture with the electric fence and they are able to hear it when it is on. She knew it was off so went running around tossing her head and tail. She has been known to walk through an electric fence if it is off. Luckily it came back on soon.
DD stopped on her way home from work yesterday at Bob's corn and got one half dozen fresh ears so guess what we are eating this weekend.
Everyone take care, Sue in WA
Unlike cows where if you move an electric fence they won't cross the grass lined edge of the old fence line for like days! Silly things! Horses are smart things!
Hopefully your bathroom is back to a normal scent!
I know when we lived off base in Japan we had a "home broiler"(little metal box thingie) which was lit by a pilot light. If you wished for hot water in the kitchen, you had to go to the bathroom and turn the home broiler on. If you wanted to take a shower you had to do the same thing. It probably saved you from not having a big water heater but it was a nuance!
Rebecca
Whidbey
Wa0 -
Definitely good guidance on decluttering here lately. I have been slowly moving forward. Have a couple of boxes ready for Goodwill-may have another one by tomorrow. I agree with you Karen-we have to be ready to give things off.
Lisa-thanks for the reminder about not beating ourselves up. I've been beating myself up about weight gain post smoking. However, I am still at a very healthy weight and need to just keep doing what I have been doing.
Pip-you really seem to have a knack with redoing furniture! Glad you are raising funds for MS-I have a couple of friends (younger than me) who are dealing with it.
Off to fold laundry and get ironing done. Also going to watch Ohio State play in a couple of hours-should be a good game.
Take care all,
Ginny in Ohio2 -
Pip, love the new painted cart! You did a great job and its beautiful.down to the Yogi paw knob!💖
Rebecca
Whidbey
Wa2 -
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Had my bathroom closed up for a while yesterday and when I opened it back up it smelled like gas in there. DD turned the gas off so we need to relight the pilot today.
Everyone take care, Sue in WA
What's your sewage system like?
Our toilet room does that on warmer days sometimes, but someone told me to run the water in the bathtub (which we rarely use) for a few minutes and that does seem to help.
M in Oz
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Decluttering ...
For me, being able to declutter and let go has been because of significant events.
When my first husband and I separated, I was energised to want to make the place mine and get rid of that past life. I had kept all the newspapers that came into the apartment for about 7 or 8 years with some plan of making scrapbooks of cute cartoons, and files of interesting articles. Only I was working far too much to do any of that trying to make ends meet. So first thing I did was to cancel the newspaper subscription and toss the lot!!
Then I went room by room decluttering, redecorating, etc. Possibly the biggest part was my filing system. I had two full-sized filing cabinets plus quite a few additional file boxes. I got all of that down to one full-sized filing cabinet.
Then about 5 years later, I decided to move into a little suite in my parents' basement so that I could get my Bachelor of Education. A neighbour could store some of my stuff, but I had to get rid of probably 1/3 of what I had for that to happen. So I did ... and it was very hard. Very emotional. A few items were particularly difficult to get rid of and I still have twinges of sadness. But ... on the other hand, I wanted the education more than those things.
Then about 5 years later, I was getting ready to move to Australia. I was allowed 300 cubic feet. Like the size of a smallish bathroom. I wanted to bring my sofa and bicycles and they ate up a lot of the room. So I went through everything again and got rid of another 1/3 of stuff. Lots of shredding of old files, handing off books and toys to family. Took all my sheets and blankets to a shelter that was asking for those things.
I set up a large table in the garage, got my stuff out of storage, and went through each box. Items went into Keep, Toss, or Give Away piles. I'd leave the items in those piles for a few days as I went through more boxes, and might shift a few things from one to another ... and then at certain times, I'd toss the whole Toss pile and distribute the Give Away pile, then start packing the Keep.
That downsize wasn't as difficult because I'd already got rid of the things with a deeper emotional attachment and had already downsized by 1/3. One of the things I did with that downsize was to take pictures of everything.
My current husband and I have accumulated a lot of things since then, but every so often I will go through a file box or something and get rid of things. About a year ago, I attacked the bathroom - reorganised and got rid of a lot of old stuff. That was good. Again, I find doing it room by room works for me.
I need to do everything under the heading "Office" but there has been so much other stuff taking up my time that I haven't got to it yet.
Machka in Oz
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This is bone density day for me. I need to sit upright for half an hour, then I can go about my day. I take alondrate once weekly to keep my bones strong.
DH and I are living in an apartment in a senior center facility while he recovers from a heart attack. He is getting excellent support here.2 -
G’day all. This morning I was wrestling with technology, trying to get myself organised for tomorrow (2 groups restarting) I really need to update my iPad. The poem I posted is one of my pieces for Creative Writing Group. I set an optional theme of Renewal.
Lisa: Those goals are simple but effective.
Pip: Great job on the up-cycling
Heather:🥰the bowl.
I’ve been trawling through old banking documents during the wet weather. Out of sight out of mind is so true. We have changed banks several times, and some of them don’t even exist anymore!!! Our shredder is working overtime 😝 lots more to get through 🤦♀️ I’m becoming ruthless. And Hallelujah!!! DH is finally on board.
DYD has landed safely in Boston. Her dog has settled in with us well. He spends a lot of time sleeping on the couch.
This afternoon we will Skype with the rest of the family. Our accommodation is booked for the weekend that we are taking DYGS over to his Uni.
🥳🎉 Cheers to all those celebrating.
Virtual (((hugs))) and 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 for those who need them.
🙋♀️ Miele failte to the newbies.
☘️Terri4 -
We went to a train show today! Full-sized old train carriages, old buses, etc. and model trains plus their background scenery.
We like that sort of thing ... eventually, I could see him building the train side of things and me building the scenery. But we need a place for it!!
Machka in Oz2 -
Morning ladies
Im up with Alfie
Its in the 50s here so have a sweatshirt on..but sitting out on the screened porch ,Jeans place is on a cove and a loon has been trilling all morning.. a favorite of mine.just saw it swim out farther in the lake..
Sean and Jean will be leaving around noon to go to Tanglewood, to see Van Morrison. And I will leave early in morning tomorrow and take it slow as it will be raining,and I hate driving in the rain...
Today is my brothers 58th birthday so I treatred them to dinner last night .. we went to a very nice place called the Common Man.
I had apple cranberry chicken.which was delicious..
Alfie is having the time of his life up here,because he is off leash and can chase squirrels and just basically have a blast..
Jean has been very pleasant and has filled hummingbird feeders and they are fighting over the food..
The lake is slowly waking up a few boats out there.
But Im enjoying it all before the weather turns
I told Jean something about Tracy not wanting to go to the cottage anymore and now Tracy is mad at me .. oh well.. hopefully she will get over it..
Every generation changes especially when the patriarch that held that cottage together passes and things change
So Tracy told me she and the family wouldn't go up ever again.. and I told Jean that.
Well Jean called Tracy and they talked all about it..but now im in hot water with Tracy for breaking her confidence. If its not one thing its another.3 -
Been away from MFP for a while. I have really fallen off the wagon, gained weight, not exercising. DH is having health problems and I’m waiting for gall bladder op. We’ve booked a holiday in December, but will be different as we’re staying in a hotel and won’t be able to take our usual long walks. I can still do the walks but it’s not the same on your own. Sorry to be moaning, I am going to try and get exercising again and losing some of the weight. I know what to do it’s finding the motivation to do it.
I’ve been trying to do a bit of decluttering too. Nice to see posts from you all.
Kate UK ❤️11 -
Grandmallie: So glad you are having a good time!
Terri Richardson112: Hang in there with attacking the paper mountain!
Sandr5917: Welcome, I am new. I was told to jump right in and start posting, so I would encourage you to do the same!
Heather: I love your pottery. I have done some for 10 lessons in 2021. There is a knack for keeping the walls from getting too thin. I was still working on it.
MachKA9: Great on doing the biking!
Carla: Glad the windows are open and the music is blaring
dlfk202000: Beautiful picture of the sunset
KetoneKaren: Sorry about the move to continuing care. Let us know how it is going.
Katla49: Hope all goes well with the bone denisity test!
I am up early this morning and hope to sit on the deck before getting hubby up. I am aching to take a walk and might do this while my company is here. They can visit with my husband. I would love to go to Starbucks, but will settle for ice coffee that I make. We will have BBQ ribs for lunch!
Rosemarie from GA6 -
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Note to self: Do not take supplements BEFORE eating, especially on Alendronate day. :sick:
Does anyone else detest haggling? While waiting at one stand at the farmers’ market today, I heard one customer ask the vendor to recount the change, he’d shorted her a twenty, the next gal was startled at the cost of her corn $4.50 for 5 or 6 ears?, so when he tole me $12 for a small zucchini, a medium crookneck and a bulb of garlic, I asked him how much the zucchini was. He said $3/pound but the garlic is $12/lb because the seed garlic cost $26/lb. He re-weighed every thing and came up with a new total of $6.50 and said must be tired as he’d been “doing this” since 9:00 am. C’mon, it was just 2:30! I didn’t mean to try to get the price down I just wanted to know what I was paying for. Now I feel cheated, how much lower would he gone if I’d tried to haggle? Hmpf. Last time I buy from his stand. Much prefer Sylvia’s where the prices per pound are clear on the chalk board and she’s always rounds the change down.
While at the farmers’ market, a kindly elder gentleman pointed out that my car’s tags expired in August. Yikes! Told him they were probably in an envelope somewhere. He gave me a keychain led flashlight engraved with “Oregon Sheriffs’ Association” that he said he gave to all the “nice people.” Hope he didn’t think I was flirting Checked and yes I paid, but no tags appeared during recent desktop archeology frenzy. Maybe was lost in last mailbox theft. Really have to pay better attention to informed delivery message every day. Meanwhile asked they be sent to the PO box. $10 for reissue. Sheesh.
Belated welcome back @hap2go and belated welcome @sandr5917 ! Would you both let us know what you’d like to be called and your general locale?
Heather no effort is wasted, if the Guardian doesn’t publish the article it will come in handy elsewhere. 10 signs of healthy friendship, spot on! Love the posters, pic and the inventing board games with Grandpa activities. Johnny is a gem. Very impressed with your first time thrown pot. You have the gift!
Margaret what was the question you answered?
Rosemarie would you share the title of the fun novel? I’d not heard of the eyegaze computer, hope it brings your husband some joy. Really hope you can get out of the house for at least a little while the nephew and sons visit this weekend.
Viv your Dana/Dawn/Cas take your home back decluttering and getting fit with Rick exertions are inspiring!
Machka I wouldn’t mind a fold down clothesline like yours for sheets, but far prefer the softness of dryer dried towels Do you iron your clothes? I’ve never seen magnolias like those, at first I thought they were naked lady lilies, then tulips… live and learn Like you, I have little floor space for mat work. My office/dog training/music/craft/storage room is jam packed and needs some Karen and Viv attention. So much so that my pt exercises are done in the living room !
Lanette had no idea Rose of Sharon blooms were edible. Always loved seeing them, now if they’ll grow here…
KJ Wow for that quilt and its story. So very well-deserved. Thanks for the grands’ pics.
Debbie prayers for your Mom’s ear surgery. Brava for walking to clear your mind. Much needed in your situation. Sounds like all your walking and dancing are having a good effect on your hips and back. 8 miles, WOW, well done!
Sue in WA praying Nessa’s tests discover something easily and completely fixable. Gas in the bathroom?
Rebecca Horrors! Your middle son’s bug wall would give me nightmares. :noway: Thanks for the Welcome September meme and aerial photos of Japan to cleanse the mental palate.
Michele what KJ said about your kindness to Jerry, including teaching him about boundaries. Safe travels and enjoy!
Thanks Karen for the link to pip’s MS Ride page.
Terri love the poem. (insert whine hear about darkness falling earlier ) Had to google “baps”
Katla ((hugs)). Are there activities in your new residence, like Yoga?
Carla “…emotional attachment to things” I am so with you. Machka, Karen and others talk about feeling liberated and freed after decluttering. Not so me. I feel diminished, grief, loss. Then, when I finally manage to let something go, there’s the anger and frustration when the next week I could have used it. Pfaugh! I have been making progress on purging files, no emotional attachment to tax returns from 2003
Rita saw a bumper sticker about Roswell and thought of you. ((hugs))
Pip very creative, especially the knob. Well done! Brava on the MS Ride, it means so much to so many, not just Katla and her DH.
Kate! So good to see your smiling face! Was just thinking about you and your holidays in the sun. Sorry to hear of the health issues, especially that you have to walk on your own.
Allie glad you’re enjoying the cabin.
Barbie, Karen, Heather, Machka thank you for your decluttering wistom. Hope it sinks in Meanwhile, like Lisa, I won’t beat myself up for what I haven’t been able to do… yet.
And yes, Lisa, enquiring minds do want to know. Love and concerned about you.
And that’s that, caught up. Basta.
Done:9/3: Move: 2 sets pt, dog group. active mins:249 steps:8029Lighter, lovelies!
Fuel: plants (running count for week) 9+6+2+9+2+6 so far: almonds, apple, artichoke, banana, basil-pesto, beans-red kidney, carrots, cashews, celery, cherries, coffee, cranberries-dried, cucumbers, graham flour, lettuce-American blend, mushrooms-cremini, olives-almond stuffed, onions, peach-white, peanut butter, pecans, peppers-pepperoncini, potato flour, radish, romaine, sauerkraut, spices-basil/celery seed/garlic powder/onion powder/pepper/rosemary/turmeric, spinach, tea, tomato paste, walnuts, watermelon. CI<CO=74
Live: Joe, readings, BP, farmers’ market, post office, request replacement registration stickers, pantry purge Cheezit crisps (oops)
Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD
2022: Be still and listen.
September: Move more, fuel better, live NOW.
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minicooper452 wrote: »MAGNOLIAS! OF course, M! Makes sense. I knew I'd seen them somewhere. When we were vacationing in SC. My Auntie had the most beautiful garden and she had a magnolia tree, but it was white.
Love and Blessings, Carla, in MN
They come in white too. A house a couple down from us has a large magnolia tree filled with white flowers. It's quite magnificent!
Machka in Oz
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Machka I wouldn’t mind a fold down clothesline like yours for sheets, but far prefer the softness of dryer dried towels Do you iron your clothes? I’ve never seen magnolias like those, at first I thought they were naked lady lilies, then tulips… live and learn Like you, I have little floor space for mat work. My office/dog training/music/craft/storage room is jam packed and needs some Karen and Viv attention. So much so that my pt exercises are done in the living room !
Carla “…emotional attachment to things” I am so with you. Machka, Karen and others talk about feeling liberated and freed after decluttering. Not so me. I feel diminished, grief, loss. Then, when I finally manage to let something go, there’s the anger and frustration when the next week I could have used it. Pfaugh! I have been making progress on purging files, no emotional attachment to tax returns from 2003
Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD
2022: Be still and listen.
September: Move more, fuel better, live NOW.
The only way I'm going to get dryer dried towels and sheets, etc. would be to take them to a laundromat. Sometimes we talk about taking a load of bigger things there, like duvet covers and everything, but we haven't actually done it.
As I mentioned, when I did the downsize in 2004 before moving a couple provinces over to live in my parents' basement, the downsize process was very emotional. It wasn't liberating and freeing. I had set up my apartment the way I liked it in the 5 years after separating from my husband. I liked my apartment. I was very comfortable there and setting aside a lot of other aspects of life, I could have gone on living in that apartment for years and years. I would have happily moved the whole apartment with me.
However, I wasn't happy at work anymore and I wanted to move on and to accomplish more goals. In order to do that, I had to give up something I really liked. It was a tough decision and one that I didn't take lightly. In the end, when I was giving up things I liked, there were many tears. It was heart wrenching.
The first change, when I separated from my husband, was easy because I got rid of stuff I didn't like and replaced it with stuff I did like.
The second change, described above, was difficult.
The third change, when I was packing up to come to Australia wasn't so bad because mostly I got rid of stuff I could replace ... like bedding, some of my clothes, etc. and a lot of my things went to other family members. My mother took quite a number of my books ... I have a feeling they and a lot more could come back to me eventually!
These days, I'm not interested in decluttering things I like. When I did my bathroom recently, I got rid of toiletries and make up that was OLD! Stuff that smelled bad and had the consistency of cottage cheese. I had kept it all because ... one day I might use it. But no, if I felt slightly sick just catching a whiff of it, there was no way I was ever going to use it. Toss it!
A couple years ago, I did my section of my dressing room and put a number of things into a bag to take to an Op Shop. I'm not sure if they've actually gone or just disappeared downstairs. One day I'll find out. But basically, if I tried it on and it didn't look good on me or if it wasn't comfortable ... bye-bye. I wanted to be able to reach into my closet and feel happy about wearing whatever I happened to grab.
When I do something with the office, my plan is to shred whatever I don't need (i.e. old taxes etc.) and scan whatever I'd like to keep.
Machka in Oz
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Did my exercises and then managed to write half a poem about my bowl, a few notes for editing my article, and then a Facebook post and an Instagram post. A good Sunday morning.
Love Heather UK xxxxxx
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No yoga here. I miss it.1
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Heather - Loved the bowl.
Karen - Loved your brother's painting.
Terri - Loved your poem!
Barbara - I'll send an email.
Pip - Well done on the cart and the Yogi button. Glad he's doing well.
I am reading, y'all, and hugs to all.
Later,
Going back to bed,
Love, Lisa in AR
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Auntiebk thank you for your donation!!!!!1
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