WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR AUGUST 2023
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Betsy-- Sending prayers for you and your sister. Scary being away from home when things like that happen. Sorry you are not feeling well. Please take care of yourself.
Pip--Glad it is going well with Addison.
Barbie--Thanks for getting us going on the new month. School here are starting the 15 and 16. Seems earlier everyyear. Fall is just around the corner. One of my favorite times of year.
Kylia--Glad to see you post. Sending prayers as family drama is draining. Sounds like your siblings are lucky to have you.
Terri--very insightful. Thanks for sharing.
Machka--I love my chiropractor. He has done so much for my back. At first I went several times a week and when I have a flair up. But most the time I go once every 4 weeks and it keeps things working and painfree.
Rebecca --your picture files have given me an idea. I have also taken a lot of pictures and have over 50 albums. I am going to check out Hobby Lobby for some of those boxes and could down size big time. I have been trying to decide what to do as running out of room. Thank you.
Well went to the doctor and he has put me on steriods for 5 days and lasix daily for 5 days. If this doesn't help wants to see about a specialist. Then the office called me this morning to remind me they are going to be making the appointment for my 6 month CT scan to check the nodles in my lung. Kind of forgot about that as last couple times been no change. Getting old is hard work.
Since I got up this morning I have planned a birthday party for our grand daughter that turns 15 today. With DS and his wife fighting so much I feel she needs to know this day is important and make it about her. I ordered a big cookie decorated and invited several other family members and everyone has been told this is about Addison and anyone trying to make it about something else will be taken out. Got a party room at Pizza Ranch.
Blessings, Vicki GRAND ISLAND, NE9 -
The bad thing here is both dh and I keep way too much stuff. For me, it is craft supplies for both me and for the daycare kids and other stuff for the kids. I will be so glad when I am totally done with the daycare and can clear it all out. Beings I don't know what age kids I will get next(will continue to do this part time for a while I think) can't get rid of stuff, not knowing what they will use.
Dh loves to shop and buys so much. It is the only thing that brings any happiness to him at all. He has stuff for his hobbies and tools and..... The garage is totally full- some my stuff, most his. Can't find stuff so buy a replacement.
The biggest project for me to start on when I cut back to two days a week is to clear out my sewing room and really organize it. A lot of the craft supplies that are collecting in the living room in one corner, can go into the sewing/craft room. There is a playpen in there that hasn't been used in years- full of, yep, craft stuff, Can't hardly even get in the room. I want to do more crafting because I enjoy it but can't get to most of it or lost interest in some of it. Maybe I will again.
Debbie4 -
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Betsy - Sorry about catching covid, hope it's not a bad bout... Everyone I know who's had it recently seems to have either been traveling or been at hospitals or clinics for appointments. Take care of yourself.
Terri - Love the poem, so apropos right now.
Barbie and Heather - Glad to see you're both enjoying your "just me" days.
Kylia - Thanks for popping in, hope the health issues continue to resolve... I swear I think of you every time I step on the riding mower.
Debbie - You look SO much like your mother. What a lovely lady.
Lanette - So glad you have your brother in your pocket for the mechanical woes.
Margaret - Love the flowers, so beautiful.
Joy - Well done on saying "no" to one too many added responsibilities, as well as to your own need for spotlessness with company coming. I'm struggling with keeping myself contained here, too, for the same reasons. In fact, may get help with the windows from the kids while they're here - My son said they want to help us out with any projects they can while they're here, and I'd rather eat dirt than wash windows!
Thank you to all for the congrats, the last half of July has me in a better state all the way around than I've been in... well, too long. That whole "darkest before the dawn" thing has a lot to answer for! My best friend told me this morning on the phone that she felt like she was getting her friend back after a long time away.
Later,
Love y'all,
Lisa in AR
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Stats for the day-
Walk w/ family- turned back at 2 mi w/Addison and Lucy- 1hr 34min 43sec, 29elev, 2.53ap, 80ahr, 105mhr, 4.08mi= 414c
Strava app= 500c
Zwift home bike trainer- strava stats- 6.47min, 20elev, 89aw, 17.6amph, 108amph, 142mhr, 1.98mi= 54c
Zwift stats- 6.49min, 22elev, 88aw, 56arpm, 17.52amph, 1.99mi= 34c
Traditional strength training- 14.21min, 3sets of 15ea w/1 3#weight extend arm in front, weight at chest and extend out, arm extended swing side to side, 85ahr, 95mhr = 66c
Zwift home spin bike- strava stats- 25.21min, 548elev, 145aw, 19.2amph, 114ahr, 149mhr, 8.11mi= 175c
Zwift stats- 25.22min, 551elev, 145aw, 60arpm, 19.21amph, 8.12mi= 210c
Zwift home bike trainer- strava stats- 20.32min, 52elev, 85aw, 17.9amph, 6.13mi= 185c
Zwift stats- 20.34min, 53elev, 85aw, 58arpm, 17.88amph, 6.13mi= 100c
Total cal 8941 -
https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/YN4ApbMXSA6C1qbfya8roA.aWltntIpkcfCNm8p7w65cQ
Son, daughter in law, and Athena did a photo session.💖
Rebecca
Whidbey
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Beautiful pictures, Rebecca. What a lovely family.
Tracey, tried out my window cleaning gadget and it worked like a charm! Very pleased with it. Now no more hauling a ladder around the outside of the house to do window cleaning. Will be giving it a workout in the fall. I like to wait until after harvest to give them a good cleaning again.
Trying to figure out something to clean roof gutters (eavestroughs) from the ground. Anyone have any ideas?
Speaking of harvest, our barley crop looks very good. Heads are quite large and DH is pleased. He thinks it will be a bit of a nightmare to swath though as some had laid down due to strong winds we experienced a bit earlier. Now as long as we can avoid hail, we should have a good harvest. Still a good two weeks away from swathing.
Joy7 -
Rebecca, those pictures are just lovely... Just looking at Athena's smile and carefree demeanor, too, in her last few days as an only child. They'll all do very well.3
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Lisa- thank you!!
I hear that often. In some ways I look like my dad but almost completely like mom.2 -
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Betsy-sorry Covid caught you. Are you a paxlovid candidate? Hope your case is mild.
Terri-love the poem. Copied it (with your copyright-I have a couple of friends who will also appreciate it.
Margaret-the flowers are lovely. Thank you also for sharing on minimalism-this has turned into an interesting dialogue!
Lisa-love the addition of Kermit with the yay! Annie gives us all a valuable lesson-we need to celebrate our victories!
Annie-I'm surprised they renewed your father's license for so long. They have the 8 year rule in Ohio but once you hit 65 you can only get 4 years at a time (by the time they started it I was already 65
Barbie-hope Jake makes it home safely and you enjoy your day!
Heather-good job getting back into running. Your day sounds perfect.
Lanette-who knows what they do in garages?! Hope car comes back in good shape!
Joy-the baking tradition with GD sounds like a good time. Taking Lucy in stages is very sensible.
Vicki-hope meds work. Good for you with GD party-and laying down the law!
Debbie-maybe as you move out some of your stuff, DH may follow suit. As stressed as he sounds right now, probably wouldn't put that pressure on him.
Rebecca-beautiful pictures!
Absolutely nothing to report here. Worked from home except for time at Department Heads meeting. Catching up on stuff so I can finish other stuff. Workwise pretty loaded right now but I know it will slow down. Good tackling issues feeling better. No ct result yet. Not going to obsess about it-it is what it is and I will know when I know!
Take care all,
Ginny in Ohio
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Whidislander wrote: »I'm always confused with where to post comments on last of month after new link is posted (that truly is a first world problem!)
Terri-thanks for sharing the song-I have always liked "Raindrops keep falling on my head." There was the great scene in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" when it was sung. And Burt Bacharach was so talented (better at composing and playing than singing).
Machka-hope you stay safe during your wicked weather. And thanks for clarifying map-like Lisa I was very confused!
Kylia-good to see you and Karen popping in.
Margaret-I find myself in agreement we gather too many things. I used to think my mother did because she was a depression baby-I don't really have an excuse. I do find the 10 minute patrol at bed time to be helpful.
Heather-glad you were able to dodge the heaviest of the rain.
Carol-hope your ankles and knees continue with improvement-it seems like they have been bothersome forever.
Rebecca-your comment about the boxes being organizational hoarding made me smile-and I may be guilty of some of that-but I use cheap boxes.
Felt pretty good again today. The medication change does not seem to be hurting me and I definitely have more energy and fewer aches. Hope it continues.
Need to put a few things away. Work from home day for most of tomorrow.
Take care all,
Ginny in Ohio
I bought that photo organizer, (my second attempt as my first ones were photo boxes for eldest and youngest sons). The thought of going thru 7 albums is a bit daunting! I am glad I went thru the albums for middle son first and made a photo box back in 2016. They say the middle child always gets the short end of the deal. I had made a box for him, removing baby thru high school from the albums. I then put index cards to the back of photos that were a bit sticky on the back. I separated each different place we lived by a taller index card, that had our address, dates we lived there, and school he attended. Might be nice when he gets older.
When I was down at my sisters I bought a plastic photo organizer
I had sent one to our middle sister because my eldest sister didn't want to go drop off 5 photo albums we borrowed from middle sister last year. Sending them back by mail would have cost a pretty penny! So I removed ones I thought she would want to keep, albums that were my grandparents, my fathers, took copies of ones I wanted, and gave her back the originals. She had mentioned she wished another one, so I am sending her thus one. I figure when we pass, the boys will get together and go thru photos anyway.💖👍
Before I learned about what minimalism was, I bought some of those collapsible canvas cubes. In various colors. They were at the dollar store, so not a big investment. I have my art supplies in some, and batteries & bulbs in others. I do like that when I think of anything I have, I know just right where it is. Why that makes me happy, is a puzzlement!😂
Rebecca
Whidbey
Wa
My father has been scanning family photos and I have scanned a lot of my earlier ones too, years ago. So I don't have albums anymore. But I may have hard copies of some photos in one of the boxes in the office ... or maybe my parents have them.
I'm so glad my father is scanning the older photos so I don't have to sort through them!
One of the goals with my office clean up is to digitise as much as I can.
That's my type of minimalism ... put everything on computer! 😀
M in Oz3 -
Jake's trip to Seattle was successful for him. He arrived early, they fixed the problem with the suspension as soon as he got there and he was finished and ready to come home an hour earlier than his scheduled appointment. He arrived at the ferry dock just in time to be the last car on the ferry and he was home before 10:30. I was delighted that he was home safely and early but disappointed that I didn't have my long day to putter with my projects while listening to my music.
A few years ago I scanned, labeled and organized all our photos. About ten years ago I was able to turn many of my slides and father's slides into jpeg files. Unfortunately we got a new computer with a newer operating system and the slide scanner didn't work on the new system. I recently did some research on scanning slides to save on my current computer and learned a lot. I decided not to buy anything right away but I'm looking forward to that new project. Part of intentional living for me is postponing big purchases for awhile so I can think about them and decide if I really need them.
Barbie in NW WA
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Evening ladies
Went to the outdoor concert tonight,was fun,just not my type of music..but good to catch up with friends...
And it was outside,so felt safe.
Betsy- sorry about the Covid I just got over it myself.. its not fun . rest and lots of fluids
Nighty nighty2 -
Went in the pool, then went for a walk around the block. For one thing, I wanted the steps (calories) but I also wanted to see how far it was. It’s 2 miles around the block. After dinner we put in three pieces of the border. Will probably put in 3 more tomorrow or the next day. I know Vince talked about cutting the grass.
Tomorrow I’ll go to the gym to do a body pump DVD, then Aldi, come home to put away the groceries, then I have an appt with the sleep MD, then to the Salvation Army to make a donation. Probably in the pool afterwards because Vince talked about cutting the grass around 3.
Betsy – so sorry to hear about the Covid. Hope it isn’t real bad and you get well fast
Lanette – you will be welcome any time at all. If the pool isn’t your “thing”, maybe the spa is. Oh my, about your Subaru. Vince always says that I’m too trusting. I need to be more like you.
Joy – please refresh my memory about that window cleaning device
Vicki – that is so very nice of you to be making that party. I know it’s something Addison will never forget
Rebecca – lovely pictures. Thanks for sharing
Look at the time! Better get to bed.
Michele NC4 -
Our side wall and door are done! Loved the way it came out. Now just have to wait for the electrician to come and install a plug by the fountain so we don’t have to run an extension cord underneath the mat
n
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LisaInArkansas wrote: »Rebecca, those pictures are just lovely... Just looking at Athena's smile and carefree demeanor, too, in her last few days as an only child. They'll all do very well.
I think so too. If anything, one takes one kid, one takes another if its a stressful day.💖. I think they've been talking alot to Athena about when her brother comes. Its something she can't ignore, because Momma looks about ready to pop. She seems very happy during thus pregnancy, radiant. She did not take preggo pics when she was pregnant with Athena.
Rebecca
Whidbey
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Whidislander wrote: »I'm always confused with where to post comments on last of month after new link is posted (that truly is a first world problem!)
Terri-thanks for sharing the song-I have always liked "Raindrops keep falling on my head." There was the great scene in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" when it was sung. And Burt Bacharach was so talented (better at composing and playing than singing).
Machka-hope you stay safe during your wicked weather. And thanks for clarifying map-like Lisa I was very confused!
Kylia-good to see you and Karen popping in.
Margaret-I find myself in agreement we gather too many things. I used to think my mother did because she was a depression baby-I don't really have an excuse. I do find the 10 minute patrol at bed time to be helpful.
Heather-glad you were able to dodge the heaviest of the rain.
Carol-hope your ankles and knees continue with improvement-it seems like they have been bothersome forever.
Rebecca-your comment about the boxes being organizational hoarding made me smile-and I may be guilty of some of that-but I use cheap boxes.
Felt pretty good again today. The medication change does not seem to be hurting me and I definitely have more energy and fewer aches. Hope it continues.
Need to put a few things away. Work from home day for most of tomorrow.
Take care all,
Ginny in Ohio
I bought that photo organizer, (my second attempt as my first ones were photo boxes for eldest and youngest sons). The thought of going thru 7 albums is a bit daunting! I am glad I went thru the albums for middle son first and made a photo box back in 2016. They say the middle child always gets the short end of the deal. I had made a box for him, removing baby thru high school from the albums. I then put index cards to the back of photos that were a bit sticky on the back. I separated each different place we lived by a taller index card, that had our address, dates we lived there, and school he attended. Might be nice when he gets older.
When I was down at my sisters I bought a plastic photo organizer
I had sent one to our middle sister because my eldest sister didn't want to go drop off 5 photo albums we borrowed from middle sister last year. Sending them back by mail would have cost a pretty penny! So I removed ones I thought she would want to keep, albums that were my grandparents, my fathers, took copies of ones I wanted, and gave her back the originals. She had mentioned she wished another one, so I am sending her thus one. I figure when we pass, the boys will get together and go thru photos anyway.💖👍
Before I learned about what minimalism was, I bought some of those collapsible canvas cubes. In various colors. They were at the dollar store, so not a big investment. I have my art supplies in some, and batteries & bulbs in others. I do like that when I think of anything I have, I know just right where it is. Why that makes me happy, is a puzzlement!😂
Rebecca
Whidbey
Wa
My father has been scanning family photos and I have scanned a lot of my earlier ones too, years ago. So I don't have albums anymore. But I may have hard copies of some photos in one of the boxes in the office ... or maybe my parents have them.
I'm so glad my father is scanning the older photos so I don't have to sort through them!
One of the goals with my office clean up is to digitise as much as I can.
That's my type of minimalism ... put everything on computer! 😀
M in Oz
We have two huge albums each like a ft thick. One is our Renaissance faire days, and the other is our SCA historical reenactment days. Both can't be scanned because husband wrote in them, and lots were glued with fun memorabilia. So there that. I have two pizza boxes (new), that were a box of 20 my husband got for his board games. One for mom, one for dad. Much of what I have from them are items that aren't really scannable. Plus there's a part of me that like the feel of the old photos, letters etc. But at least I only have a small container. Nice of your father to scan them.👍
Rebecca
Whidbey
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Today’’s (8/1) gratitude: This thread and all the wise, compassionate, funny gals who share their lives here.
Machka “* Meeting, meeting, bow-beeting, banana-fana, fo-feeting . . . “ Thanks for the laugh, and the memory!
Terri your poem really resonated. “Waking up is winning” indeed.
Kylia If you can, plan some travel now. Never know what’s around the corner.
Margaret “Rather than focus on what is not done I try to focus on how far I have come.” Brava! Are those phlox? Do they have a scent?
Lisa the Kermit wildly “YAYYYY”ing meme and you richly deserve it!
Annie Lisa’s YAYYY to you for the successful airport trip. 8 years renewal? SMH.
Heather sending good thoughts that the borderline hemochromatosis is gone, gone, gone.
Rebecca Brava for sticking to your guns. Can you send the milk glass back to the sisters since they value it so much?
Michele thanks. Back then I’d have never believed it would be possible for me to be smoke-free for 22 minutes, much less 22years.
Betsy so sorry to hear about the C-19. Is your sister able to keep safely away from you and the virus? Hope yours is a mild case, quickly over.
Rita that was a lucky cougar. Animal control here doesn’t relocate predators that range too close to residences.
Debbie sticky sap from jasmine hedge?
Lanette when you get the transporter working, pick me up on your way to Michele’s, ok?
Joy would love to see a pic of ragamuffin Lucy before any trims… Well done on the “No.” Lisa’s right, it is not a dirty word.
Vicki prayers for your CT scan. Well done on the Addison bday party plans.
Allie glad you’re feeling better.
Pip Lovely wall transformation.
. . .
July intentions and summary
Move: average more steps than May: 950 short of goal, but 53 steps more than June.
PT 58% down from May 68%, skipped too many times.
Fuel: less sugar than mfp allows. Way no. 238 g over for the month even after switching (mostly) to unsweetened tea. Urk.
Live: mindfully with people, dogs and when putting things in my mouth. Open heart and mind before mouth. Needs work.
July average weight 0.2 lbs less than June.
August intentions
Move average more steps than May (7778), daily-ish PT.
Fuel: less sugar than mfp allows.
Live: Get back into daily-ish habits of sitting with Joe and playing with Tumble and Shadow. Squeeze in some mindfulness meditation.08/1: Move: 2 sets PT w/D, stroll with D, dogs to powerline, line dancing. Steps:12042! And I’m pooped!!!Later, lighter, lovelies!
Fuel: sugar in vs mfp=11 CI=1323 CO=789
Live: Joe, readings, BP, AF, play with plants. Wt:132.3
Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD
2023: Be of good cheer. August: Move more, fuel better (less sugar), live NOW.
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I keep forgetting, but want to report back, that my wrist, that I broke on May 1st, is almost completely better.
I have resumed doing knee push-ups, and do two sets of 15. I used to do 30 at once, so not totally back to normal, but I can also do downward dog etc now. I must say, I'm quite surprised at how well it's recovered. I did do all the recommended PT.
When I remember that, when it came out of the cast, I could only bend it a centimetre or so, it's amazing how the human body heals. I had to do a lot of gripping on the cruise because we like to sit near the emergency middle steps on the coaches for quick exit and entry, and those steps were like mountain climbing! I'm sure it helped!
Raining again today. At least yesterday was a bit better and DH got a full day's cricket in. He was ecstatic about the chorizo and brown lentil paprika stew I presented him with when he got in, as the day had been a little chilly. Big heap of broccoli.
I think tonight is fish soup.
I'm finding the dinners are easy on no carb, but lunch is harder to fathom. My saviour has been packets of cauliflower rice, which I do love. I will be having half a packet with pastrami and other salad bits, while DH has 'brown' rolls. Actually they are called, 'ancient grains'. (Of course those microwaveable packets are terribly bad for the environment. )
I could rice a cauliflower, but I honestly am too lazy, just for lunch. I used to do it for dinner.
Blood test this pm.
Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx5 -
Off out early to do my weekly grocery shopping.
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Whidislander wrote: »Whidislander wrote: »I'm always confused with where to post comments on last of month after new link is posted (that truly is a first world problem!)
Terri-thanks for sharing the song-I have always liked "Raindrops keep falling on my head." There was the great scene in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" when it was sung. And Burt Bacharach was so talented (better at composing and playing than singing).
Machka-hope you stay safe during your wicked weather. And thanks for clarifying map-like Lisa I was very confused!
Kylia-good to see you and Karen popping in.
Margaret-I find myself in agreement we gather too many things. I used to think my mother did because she was a depression baby-I don't really have an excuse. I do find the 10 minute patrol at bed time to be helpful.
Heather-glad you were able to dodge the heaviest of the rain.
Carol-hope your ankles and knees continue with improvement-it seems like they have been bothersome forever.
Rebecca-your comment about the boxes being organizational hoarding made me smile-and I may be guilty of some of that-but I use cheap boxes.
Felt pretty good again today. The medication change does not seem to be hurting me and I definitely have more energy and fewer aches. Hope it continues.
Need to put a few things away. Work from home day for most of tomorrow.
Take care all,
Ginny in Ohio
I bought that photo organizer, (my second attempt as my first ones were photo boxes for eldest and youngest sons). The thought of going thru 7 albums is a bit daunting! I am glad I went thru the albums for middle son first and made a photo box back in 2016. They say the middle child always gets the short end of the deal. I had made a box for him, removing baby thru high school from the albums. I then put index cards to the back of photos that were a bit sticky on the back. I separated each different place we lived by a taller index card, that had our address, dates we lived there, and school he attended. Might be nice when he gets older.
When I was down at my sisters I bought a plastic photo organizer
I had sent one to our middle sister because my eldest sister didn't want to go drop off 5 photo albums we borrowed from middle sister last year. Sending them back by mail would have cost a pretty penny! So I removed ones I thought she would want to keep, albums that were my grandparents, my fathers, took copies of ones I wanted, and gave her back the originals. She had mentioned she wished another one, so I am sending her thus one. I figure when we pass, the boys will get together and go thru photos anyway.💖👍
Before I learned about what minimalism was, I bought some of those collapsible canvas cubes. In various colors. They were at the dollar store, so not a big investment. I have my art supplies in some, and batteries & bulbs in others. I do like that when I think of anything I have, I know just right where it is. Why that makes me happy, is a puzzlement!😂
Rebecca
Whidbey
Wa
My father has been scanning family photos and I have scanned a lot of my earlier ones too, years ago. So I don't have albums anymore. But I may have hard copies of some photos in one of the boxes in the office ... or maybe my parents have them.
I'm so glad my father is scanning the older photos so I don't have to sort through them!
One of the goals with my office clean up is to digitise as much as I can.
That's my type of minimalism ... put everything on computer! 😀
M in Oz
We have two huge albums each like a ft thick. One is our Renaissance faire days, and the other is our SCA historical reenactment days. Both can't be scanned because husband wrote in them, and lots were glued with fun memorabilia. So there that. I have two pizza boxes (new), that were a box of 20 my husband got for his board games. One for mom, one for dad. Much of what I have from them are items that aren't really scannable. Plus there's a part of me that like the feel of the old photos, letters etc. But at least I only have a small container. Nice of your father to scan them.👍
Rebecca
Whidbey
Wa
My father is scanning all his old family photos and my mother's old family photos and the photos they took from when they got together until photos became digital.
He's doing that for them ... they play on a monitor as the desktop wallpaper.
But it benefits me because digital copies drift my way from time to time.
Mine are still up to me whenever I get around to it.
But similar to what they do, I use the photos I've taken this month as this month's desktop wallpaper.
I also want to scan documents so I can get rid of as much paper as possible.
M in Oz3 -
Heather - so pleased the wrist has recovered well. My husband likes the ancient grains packets, too, partly because they're easy. Hope the test results are good.
Still not sleeping much, though I did get a couple hours. For the moment, at least, it doesn't seem to be having much of an effect on my days, so I'm not going to worry about it. Just finished all the paper sort, and have a large garbage bag full of paper going to the burn pit to use as fire starter for the brush piling up. I realized after I had shredded Corey's old paychecks that it made no sense to both shred them AND burn them. Even I'm not that safety-minded. In future, I'll be keeping them only long enough to make sure the bank acknowledges the deposits. Yes, his company still issues weekly paper checks.
On the minimalism aspect:It's oddly helpful that this is my second life... My first being my child and young adulthood and then marriage to my first husband for 28 years--basically, through the age of 50. Only my siblings are still alive to remember those years, as my now-husband, in which I gained two children and three grandchildren weren't part of that first life. And only two of my nine siblings and I are in touch in any way.
Makes it easier, when you think about it. Bluntly, my brother and sister couldn't care less about pictures and photographs and souvenirs of my military and Air Force years. The ones I have of our shared childhoods were sorted out when my mother died, so that we each took some of ourselves and each other.
But - I have dragged a scrapbook around with me for more than 40 years that my mother created for me (and created one for each of us) that had my childhood things, fingerpainting from kindergarten, report cards, attendance awards, and so many other things like that. It takes a boot box to hold it, and I've had to replace the box three times from all the moving. I took three things from it that mattered to me, and pitched the rest. It wasn't a loss, it was a relief. No one cares whether I had perfect attendance in third grade, or A honor roll in high school. Not even me. And certainly not my children, who are, I think, pretty sure I was magicked into being 15 years ago when their dad and I met.
One of the things the Swedish Death Cleaning movement advice basically says is ""Will someone be happier if I keep this?" It makes the decisions soooo much easier. I kept some of the greeting cards that my daughter's sent over the years, as well as my son. I know that my daughter will cry when she sees hers, and I plan to keep a note with them that says how much those cards meant. My son's abiding penchant for nostalgia tends to extend only to his own life, so I just don't know. But I'll keep a few cards for each, and let them decide how to feel. I've already told Kels I'm getting out of sending greeting cards anymore.
Okay, now that I've pontificated on that for long enough, time to go find the spray cleaner and unplug and give the shredder a final cleaning. It's a good shredder, but no longer necessary. Donation box it is! One more thing done...
Later y'all,
Love,
Lisa
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Whidislander wrote: »On Minimalism ...
My husband and I have both downsized dramatically twice in the early 2000s.I got rid of about half my stuff in 2004, put the rest into storage, and then spent the next 3 months living out of panniers while cycling around Australia. Then I returned to Canada, lived in 2 rooms in my parent's basement and got my Bachelor of Education.
In 2009, I got rid of about half my stuff. I got it all down to what would fit in a mid-sized bathroom and had that shipped to Australia.
Meanwhile, my husband got rid of more than half his stuff in 2005 and travelled to Victoria to follow the Harvest Trail by bicycle.
Then in 2009, he set up a very small house in preparation for my arrival ... and lost almost all of it in the 2009 Victorian bushfires.
When I arrived in Australia, we lived in a small shack at the back of the property where he worked for a year, with practically nothing. Electricity came from a generator and later solar panels. Heat came from a fireplace. We cooked food in the fireplace or on a Coleman stove. Water came from the rain. We were 2 kilometres from "the grid". It was a very interesting first year together!
After all that, we decided we wanted stuff. So we've filled a small 1140 sq ft house.
I don't have any desire at all to get rid of stuff.
However, I do want to organise the office ... eventually. That is a BIG job.
(I've been hoping for a miserable weekend this winter where we have to stay inside and do inside stuff, but that hasn't happened yet. When it's nice out, I want to work in the garden, not inside.)
A couple years ago, I managed to find time to organise the dressing room, bathroom and bedroom. I'm reasonably happy with them, although I could tweak a few things. It would probably take me a day or so.
The lounge room isn't bad. Once the office is done, it will be better because some of the things out here actually belong in there, but there's no point putting them into the office now.
And my husband surprised me yesterday by doing some fairly significant tidying in the kitchen, although it still needs ... something. I'm just not sure what it needs. I don't go in there much.
And then there's downstairs, which is basically a garage we use as a basement ... as a workout room. It's less than half the size of the main floor. One day I'll have a look at what all is down there.
As for Time Minimalism ...
Sometimes I wish I didn't have deadlines and things I need to do, attend, follow-up with, etc..
Sometimes I feel it's all too much.
Sometimes I wish I could come home in an evening and do nothing. I enjoyed taking a few days and retreating to a cabin in the middle of nowhere last month where I slept, read, and coloured. I needed a break like that.
But right now, Opportunity has dropped into my lap and since I've got at least 11 years of work left till my "official" retirement date ... and maybe longer, I want to make the most of Opportunity. Something has happened I began to believe would never happen ... and I'm enjoying it. I don't know how long it will last, but I'm planning to make the most of it while it's here.
Meanwhile, I am making choices of what can stay and what can go. The chiropractic thing I mentioned a few posts up, for example, can go.
Machka in Oz
Having that first year off the grid, well I am awed by that. I would have been a wailing woman in the corner. I appreciate nature, but I need to be separate from it. When we would go Renaissance historical camping I put MANY layers in the tent. We had an inner flap of the canvas bell tent, and first layer was plastic holding down the flap. Then came a blanket that I sewed together a BUNCH of Gerber cloth diapers together. I had dyed them different colors but a great moisture wicking layer. Then came many blankets of various sizes, the finally the top layers, heavy Korean mink blankets (not real mink, like a heavy fleece blanket. No bugs in my tent! The inside of the tent was large enough to fit 4 sleeping bags. Nightly my husband would light incense in the tent, so no bugs would wanna venture in.
I will state that you have an admirable work ethic. In everything you do, you plan what needs to be done, and do it.👍. I know those facts can weigh on you, but you have tools set in place to help you thru. You inspire me to be more.💖🤗👍
Rebecca
Whidbey
Wa
Thank you.
I don't mind most insects. I'm a little less fond of arachnids, but it would be hard to have a house in Australia without insects and arachnids ... even in winter.
M in Oz
2 -
SophieRosieMom wrote: »Machka - I enjoyed your rundown about minimizing. I've noticed a lot of new storage buildings going up. I know monthly fees can be high, I always wonder what people are storing.
Lanette
SW WA State
We've used a commercial storage twice ...
In 2012, we packed up the little house we were renting then, and put it in storage for almost a year. For the first 8 months, we cycled and travelled in various places around the world. Then we lived with a friend for a bit before we were able to rent a place again.
Then we got our stuff out of storage ... and put it all back into a slightly larger storage unit 5 months later.
Then we moved to Tasmania and it was another year before we were able to get our stuff and move it to Tasmania.
Some people decorate their houses seasonally. I used to watch a lot of ... I think it was HGTV ... when I was in Canada and there were people who furnished their houses in a neutral palette, and kept all sorts of coloured/seasonal stuff in a storage unit. They'd pull out the rust coloured cushions and brown rug and autumn leaves wreath for autumn. Then they'd put that away and out would come the red rug, red and green cushions etc. for Christmas. And so on. They practically had a housewares bed and bath store in their storage unit.
So that's one possibly use for a storage unit.
M in Oz
0 -
Machka, my garden is really doing well this year. Will be picking my peas in probably another week and a half. DS and family are here next week so will be spending time with them for a few days. They are flying in from Ontario and have been a bit busy getting ready for their visit. Usually do a lot of baking but decided not to this year as I usually end up with a lot left over that I don't need to be eating and neither does DH. Will be making cinnamon buns with my granddaughter as that is something we started doing a few years ago. I think she was 6 when we first started....she is now 12 and loves baking and cooking. My DDIL is not a bread maker so I am quite pleased that I have been able to show my granddaughter how to make the sweet bread dough and form the buns. We usually freeze some and they take them along for the flight home. A nice memory of Alberta.
Joy
Yum and yum!
Peas and cinnamon buns.
M in Oz
1
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