WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR SEPTEMBER 2023

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  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,699 Member
    cityjaneLondon wrote: »
    Strangely, I don't put many pictures on my walls. I like blank spaces, I have a couple of things in the dining room and in the downstairs toilet, and one in the hall. We have the batik in the living room. A Matisse cut out propped up in our bedroom, and a couple of my very old efforts in my bathroom. So we now have a huge pile of our paintings!!! Nothing framed or on the wall. One I gave away I painted for my son, which is going in his living room, and the beach hut one for my brother, which I will give him at the wedding. Only six months late! :p
    Keep thinking we should have an informal exhibition and sell some, if anyone wants to buy them. Going cheap!!!

    Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx

    Set up one wall with corkboard, so you can do a rotating display.

    M in Oz

  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,699 Member
    ginnytez wrote: »
    So my challenge is to hem some slacks. That may sound silly to many of you but I hate having to cut material to hem and I hate paying the money for it (since the hem charge can be as much as the slacks). Taking it slowly, one step at a time and I will succeed! Mind you-I have no clue when I will finish!

    Take care all,
    Ginny in Ohio

    I used to do it the quick way. :smiley:

    Fold and staple!

    These days, I can't find slacks long enough.


    Machka in Oz

  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,799 Member
    Machka - we rotate our display in the dining room. It's nice to see the colours. They are just propped up. I don't want anything permanent. I like bare walls.
    In our last house there was a blackboard, and I used to blutak photos of the grandchildren on it. Then I decided it looked too untidy.

    I had a great victory today! For the last weeks I have been deaf in my right ear. I've been using drops and occasionally syringing, but only got flakes out. I've carried on with the drops and today I had another go at syringing. Hooray!!!! Splendid results and I can hear again. Everything is very loud, even the toilet flush. :p
    My parents both had very waxy ears, so I've inherited it.

    Love Heather ❤️ xxxxxx
  • barbiecat
    barbiecat Posts: 17,265 Member
    grandmallie wrote: »
    Barbie so glad Jake is on the mrnd and Bodhi is getting into.the swing of things.
    Im trying to do lower carb but also cant overdue on protein because of kidneys

    :) I understand the challenge. Jake is eating low carb and has to be careful of both potassium and sodium so meal planning takes a lot of time. Best wishes to you on this new eating adventure.

    <3 Barbie
  • Anniesquats100
    Anniesquats100 Posts: 3,306 Member
    If you hem pants with duct tape, they will go through the wash okay several times!

    Michele so glad you had a good visit with PJ.

    Pip you guys look so happy together!

    Annie in Delaware
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,799 Member
    Welcome to the new people. I had breast cancer in 2008. Chemo etc.

    Lunch was great. The two girls had been doing Cyclocross in the morning. Bea came second, despite falling off twice. Unfortunately, Edie lost her chain twice. So no placing. My son was so knackered he could hardly speak. He has twisted his ankle, just stumbling in the street. He has weak ankles from previous injuries. I hope he rests this afternoon. :o
    DH paid for our two pizzas and our drinks, plus the kids' drinks. I think they appreciated it. Drinks are so expensive, they usually just have water.

    DH now off for a short walk. He has a sore throat. :#:o I am going to have a nap, but can't put earplugs in because I'm expecting a few things from Amazon.

    Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx
  • barbiecat
    barbiecat Posts: 17,265 Member
    sspell1958 wrote: »
    New here and love seeing the support and friendship you all have developed. I hope I’m not intruding - just looking for same. 65 years old and needing to lose and get healthier. At least that’s the plan 😉. Breast cancer survivor since 2013 and recently Melanoma found early. That one surprised me, but all is good. I’m also married and “Nana” to 5 grandchildren.

    :) Welcome. Each of us was new at one time and we just kept coming back. I hope you will join a conversation that interests you or share more about yourself. I am 77 years old and found MFP some years ago and have gotten to know these great ladies. They have helped me take off and keep off the pounds that bothered me.

    <3 Barbie in NW WA
  • ginnytez
    ginnytez Posts: 1,411 Member
    Annie-I believe duct tape can hold darn near anything. The sewing isn't my insecurity-it is cutting off excess material and measuring!
  • teklawa1
    teklawa1 Posts: 678 Member
    :)
    Betsy in NW WA
  • sspell1958
    sspell1958 Posts: 9 Member
    barbiecat wrote: »
    sspell1958 wrote: »
    New here and love seeing the support and friendship you all have developed. I hope I’m not intruding - just looking for same. 65 years old and needing to lose and get healthier. At least that’s the plan 😉. Breast cancer survivor since 2013 and recently Melanoma found early. That one surprised me, but all is good. I’m also married and “Nana” to 5 grandchildren.

    :) Welcome. Each of us was new at one time and we just kept coming back. I hope you will join a conversation that interests you or share more about yourself. I am 77 years old and found MFP some years ago and have gotten to know these great ladies. They have helped me take off and keep off the pounds that bothered me.

    <3 Barbie in NW WA

    Thank you Barbie. It sounds like a wonderful group 😊 A little about me in addition to the above - I’m retired and living in Tennessee. I am originally from Florida but after retiring in 2016, decided to move here. I lived here many years ago and loved it and always wanted to come back. I too was on MFP years ago and decided to come back. It’s a great platform and I know it will help me refocus once again. I hate it because I was in good shape 2 years ago and boom - gained it back and started slacking on exercise too. I need to get back to it to feel better and because in not doing so, It also increases chances of breast cancer reoccurring. Are they any hobbies you all enjoy? I have been painting for several years with acrylic, I also love gardening and reading. I did see someone posted a week ago a shadow Bo’s they made! I have always wanted to make one! Any tips would be welcomed 😊.
  • kevrit
    kevrit Posts: 4,397 Member
    2023 Self-Care September 2023

    Word of the year: appreciate. Today I appreciate my morning oatmeal.
    Meditation: daily. 14/30 (82%(started Feb)(94%,100%, 74%, 93%,100%,100%)

    Recommended exercise: cardio 5 days 30 min 14/30
    Strength all muscles 2 x 0/8 a week
    Flexible (yoga, stretching) 0/8 a week 10 min
    Balance 5 days 10 min 1/20

    Rita
    Stop B12
    Switch DHEA to every other day on sept 6
    Kev
    Add folic acid, once a day
    Add magnesium to 3x a day
    Up Berberine to 3x a day

    Foods to avoid:

    Barley
    Bell peppers
    Chicken
    Clam
    Egg white
    Eggplant
    Ginger
    Rye
    Wheat
    Winter squash

    1. cut back drinking and limit to 2 days a week. 0/8–(300%,100%)
    2. Average 7,000 steps a week. 5784, 9858(7,700,100%-9851,100%-9526,100%-9,559,100%, -8347,100%—7465,100%—6328,90%—6059,87%)
    3. Update budget every 2 weeks 2/2 —(800%)
    4. Contact close family every week (4x) 200/208—(733%) should be 172 by October 1)
    5. Contact Donat and sibs once a month (8x)72/94 (800%)
    6. Weigh less last day of month compared to first until I reach 140. Start at 178.6,176,174.2,173.4,175.4,174,175.6,173.4 (500%)
    7. Develop a journaling practice by aiming to journal at least 5 days a week. 11/23 (681%,100%)
    8. Read 12 books at least this year. 35
    /12 (100%)
    9. Pay off credit card debt by January 2024 by making monthly payments to NDR/Reach Financial 8/12—(900%)
    10. Continue building emergency fund at SLFCU (min$25 a month)$25+$25+$71+700+25+25 +25+25 (900%)
    11. April started putting 4% on income in savings. 700,200,200, 107, 157,(500%)

    January Met —100%
    February met —-90%
    March met met —-90%
    April met——86.36%
    May met——-89%
    June met—-99%
    July met — met 81%
    August met—met 99%
    September met
    October met —
    November met—
    December met—



    1. Find time for self-care. It’s not selfish. It’s essential. Making time!
    2. Notice the things you do well, however small. I will. Talking to campers, meeting dogs, electronics.
    3. Let go of self-criticism and speak to yourself kindly. I will try!
    4. Plan a fun or relaxing activity and make time for it. Did this already! Went for a long walk this morning.
    5. Forgive yourself when things go wrong. Everyone makes mistakes. This will be hard because I tend to blame myself for everything.
    6. Focus on the basics: eat well, exercise, and go to bed on time. Will Do!
    7. Give yourself permission to say ‘no’.. I’m doing this more often now.
    8. Be willing to share how you feel and and ask for help when needed. I will try to remember to ask for help when I need it rather than struggle and get frustrated.
    9. Aim to be good enough, rather than perfect. This needs to be a mind change for me. Whenever I do something, I get upset if it is not perfect. I need to make it a point to accept what the result is while doing my best.
    10. When you find things hard, remember it’s ok to not be ok. This is apt for today.
    11. Make time to do something you really enjoy. I hope to go ‘window shopping’ today. Did this and colored.
    12. Get active outside and give your mind and body a natural boost. Went for a 20 minute walk then the rain started.
    13. Be as kind to yourself as you would to a loved one.
    14. If you’re busy, allow yourself to pause and take a break.
    15. Find a caring calming phrase to use when you feel low. “Breathing in,I am relaxing. Breathing out, I am relaxed.”
    16. Leave positive messages for yourself to see regularly. Sticky notes, here I come!
    17. No plans day. Make time to slow down and be kind to yourself.
    18. Ask a trusted friends to tell you what strengths they see in you.
    19. Notice what you are feeling without any judgement.
    20. Enjoy photos from a time with happy memories.
    21. Don’t compare how you feel inside to how others appear outside.
    22. Take your time. Make space to just breathe and be still.
    23. Let go of other people’s expectations of you.
    24. Accept yourself and remember that your are worthy of love.
    25. Avoid saying ‘I should’ and make time to do nothing.
    26. Find a new way to use one of your strengths or talents.
    27. Free up time by canceling any unnecessary plans.
    28. Choose to see your mistakes as steps to help you learn.
    29. Write down 3 things you appreciate about yourself.
    30. Remind yourself you are enough, just as you are.

    RVRita in Roswell, NM
  • sspell1958
    sspell1958 Posts: 9 Member
    LisaInArkansas wrote: »
    @sspell1958 in Tennessee - Welcome! You'll find people who paint, and who craft (like the shadow boxes, which is our Tracey - @Snowflake1968 - who does amazing things with and without a Cricut). Our Terri does everything, I'm pretty sure, from poetry to paper crafts, among many others. One or more of us does every form of exercising from biking to triking to running to resistance work, and on and on. Gardening, reading, you name it, someone here does at least one of pretty much everything it seems... we're an eclectic bunch! Drop into any conversation that intrigues you, or where you feel you can add your own experience.

    Heather - I like the little tiny boxed paintings, there's a symmetry to that I just love. I've got to drag my paints out again. In all honesty, I'm looking forward to the winter, when there's nothing calling me outside to clean up or prune or mow, and I can concentrate on inside things like sewing and painting and such. Right now, between getting my exercising habit re-established, and the ordinary daily things, I don't have time to create... but I am writing a lot more in the early mornings, so that will have to do.

    Chellie in Tipperary (@ChellieIrish ) Welcome to the group! Well done on the 35 pounds lost, as well as the standing up while roller skating, too. :smiley: Feel free to drop into any conversation where you're comfortable. We're glad you're here.

    Writing this morning, adding to and polishing up a piece I wrote a while back. Time to get a few clothes folded to finish the laundry, and then decide on the rest of what I'll do on this "active rest day." Might not be able to "resist" doing the resistance work. Woke up thinking about it - always a good sign... :smiley:

    Later, y'all!
    Love,
    Lisa in AR


    Lisa, thank you for such words. I too am moving to inside hobbies with the upcoming weather changing. I forgot, I also took up pottery last year. The wheel is much harder than it looks, but I’m loving the new craft. On my new painting I’m starting I think I’m going to attemp a bear and mountain scene 😉. With exercise I love cardio - either race walking or biking. Other than that it’s usually squats and weights. Still not having luck with the bat wings on my arms that flap with age 😂. Any ideas?

    Thanks again for the welcome.
  • Whidislander
    Whidislander Posts: 3,907 Member
    cityjaneLondon wrote: »
    Tracey - I think your Cri-Cut work is very impressive and professional. It is really hard to monetise these things, as you know. :# Have you thought about giving some small classes in your home? Just an idea. It would require advertising locally of course, and asking around. Or, now you have a teaching qualification, you could see if a local college wants to run classes. Just musing...... :D<3

    I've sent you the Instagram post I used for the tiny squares painting. It's something you could easily do with your granddaughter.
    I also think they would make great home decorating pictures, in a set of colours toning with the furnishings. Or seasonal colours theme. It was quick and fun to do.
    Of course, a lot depends on the framing of these things. A good frame can totally change a picture. Some bargain shops have decent cheap frames.

    Strangely, I don't put many pictures on my walls. I like blank spaces, I have a couple of things in the dining room and in the downstairs toilet, and one in the hall. We have the batik in the living room. A Matisse cut out propped up in our bedroom, and a couple of my very old efforts in my bathroom. So we now have a huge pile of our paintings!!! Nothing framed or on the wall. One I gave away I painted for my son, which is going in his living room, and the beach hut one for my brother, which I will give him at the wedding. Only six months late! :p
    Keep thinking we should have an informal exhibition and sell some, if anyone wants to buy them. Going cheap!!!

    Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx

    I have many blank spaces as well. Our bedroom is just the bed, dresser and chair. It gives me peace as does what my vision of a bedroom should do. I have clusters of pictures here and there, in the living room and library. I am not much for arranging them in a mathematical sense. Here's a couple clusters.🙃
    3licgvnfmuug.jpg
    fz37i3suu7ko.jpg
    Yes that is a green putting hole to practice our putting.😂
    Rebecca
    Whidbey
    Wa


  • myvt9v4crh
    myvt9v4crh Posts: 391 Member
    <3

    Katla in Illinois
  • Whidislander
    Whidislander Posts: 3,907 Member
    exermom wrote: »
    Did Firm’s Cardio Weight DVD. It was raining so no walk. However, it seems that the rain has stopped so I might go for my walk but take an umbrella. Put yogurt in the IP. Bowling tomorrow. My one neighbor said that she was coming. Hope so.

    After exercise, it started raining so went to Food Lion to get Vince soda then WalMart then Dollar General. I knew I saw the knee pads somewhere and Vince really liked mine so I got 6 more at half price. Also got these sheet pans for the grill at half price. Found these cones for PJ since he likes to run, he can run around them and also a ball (that he’ll probably throw in the house – oh well) that the lady gave me for ½ price. I suspect she did that because they are trying to clear out their summer stuff.

    Chellie – awesome weight loss

    Barbara – you’re getting as bad as Rebecca with the food porn…..lol

    Heather – so glad you got your ears cleaned. Isn’t it great? They usually clean out my ears when I go for the MRI to be sure the tumor hasn’t grown. What does an MRI have to do with ear wax, you ask? Well, before they do the MRI they do an auditory test and that’s when they really clean out my ears. Use this special suctioning device

    sspell1958 – welcome! Not an intrusion at all. We’re glad to have you. Come back often so we can learn more about you (and we wouldn’t mind seeing pics of the grands, either) And WB to MFP

    Ladies – I have a confession to make. I’ve been dealing with this and think I just about have it. I found out about a week ago that Bryan and his “girlfriend” (not sure what they are) had a baby. It’s sad to know that I have a grandchild that I’ll never see. I haven’t seen Bryan in about 10 years. And I only get to see PJ two days a year. Denise called last night and said that his “girlfriend” texted her that although Bryan doesn’t say it, she feels it bothers him that no one acknowledged the birth. Vince was the only one who sent him congratulations when he announced the impending birth. It did take him a week after the birth to tell us. I texted Denise asking her to text G (the “girlfriend”) that the reason I haven’t responded to Bryan is because of the things he said to me, I really don’t think he wants to hear from me. But I wanted her to know that I love Bryan, Leo (the baby), and even her (although we’ve never met) with all my heart. It’s interesting, Athena was born around the same time PJ was born and Eli was born at about the same time Leo was born. I’ve always enjoyed seeing pics of Athena and knowing that PJ is probably going thru the same sorts of things like getting a tooth, etc. Now I’ll be looking intently at pics of Eli knowing that that’s probably what Leo is doing. It’s just said that I’ll never see him. I’m crying as I’m writing this so I’ll probably stop.

    Michele NC

    Oh I am so sorry!😥. Families can be so darn complicated. I hope that one day there will be peace with that issue for you.💖
    Rebecca
    Whidbey
    Wa
  • Whidislander
    Whidislander Posts: 3,907 Member
    edited September 2023
    grandmallie wrote: »
    c58czkbgx2cd.jpg
    4bjdbkmedzro.jpg
    Miles enjoying a party with his stuffies..

    Awe so cute! My boys collected a lot of stuffed kitty cats. For some reason we bought them each collars and they had names just like real pets. It was cute but kinda sad at the same time! They put them in a circle and had tea parties with them. Does Miles have a tea set? That kind of play helps with sitting down at meal time.😁
    Rebecca
    Whidbey
    Wa
  • LisaInArkansas
    LisaInArkansas Posts: 2,960 Member
    edited September 2023
    Michele - My dear, I am so sorry. No real words of comfort, dear heart, just hope that it's not never until you see him. Having families of their own can change people...

    Sspell in Tenn - Beautiful grands, those are... and I always wanted to try pottery, especially after Heather did quite a bit and posted her creations here. EDITED: Ok, along with Heather, you inspired me... I just went and signed up for one that starts next week for the next eight weeks. Not cheap, but talked it over with Corey, and he was all for it. Oddly enough, at a local college just a few blocks from his job, too, so he can show me the back way to stay out of traffic when I head home!

    On craft projects: I have a bookshelf quilt in the design stage right now that's top of my list and about a half-dozen more projects lined up behind it to sew or construct, as the case may be. They provide nice breaks from the more boring parts of quilt construction. When I'm sitting in front of the TV with the hubby, I have a crocheted afghan that I'm still working on two years later. My grandson will be in college by the time I'm finished with it, at this rate. (He's 12.)

    Regarding batwings: We call them "bingo wings" where I come from... 🙋‍♀️👀🙃 I can tell you that you can firm up the muscles underneath and make the appearance less noticeable, but the minute you stop lifting weights, you're right back where you started. So, in all honesty, my resolution for bingo wings is... three-quarter-length sleeves! 😎 Works every time.

    Allie - Loving Miles' party! My sis and I refused to play with dolls growing up, so the gray kitty stuffie got to be the queen, and the brown dog stuffie was always the king. We were not necessarily creative in our naming...

    Youngest grand, Levi, with Mom and Daddy Cruz. I try not to flinch when I see the jerseys, but it's not their fault that my now-ex-husband cried the day that Bret Favre retired and left the Packers--but he didn't cry the day I left him. :smiley: I spent a lot of years watching Packer football. I do not miss it at all... 😚And things work out like they're supposed to, in the end.

    y6550806hmsi.png


    Later,
    Love,
    Lisa
  • 1948CWB
    1948CWB Posts: 1,663 Member
    Happy Sunday to All! :)

    Love all the photos that you are sharing! Beautiful grandkids!

    Carol in GA
  • SophieRosieMom
    SophieRosieMom Posts: 3,709 Member
    edited September 2023
    Tracey - our local college sponsors "Community Education" classes and darned if someone doesn't teach a Cricut class now and then. The ladies in this group have great suggestions. Nice looking pickles and what a nice picture of you and your daughter. <3

    Barbie - how interesting about Jake's knee. Glad they figured out the problem. Sounds like he's able to get around OK and take care of personal things, which is a blessing. I'm sure he's frustrated he can't get around as quickly and do things he easily did a few weeks ago. Opportunity for patience, indeed.

    Lisa - Beth and other ladies - My husband was also exposed to my normally dormant spectacular cussing vocabulary when helping him with projects. He'd become irritated and impatient at my inability to read his mind and do things just right/quickly enough while helping him do something I had no clue about. I finally rebelled and matched his cursing and amped it up. We temporarily solved the issue by me walking off the job and screaming "Do it yourself, I'm done being your bleeping assistant FOREVER!!" :p

    Well, it wasn't forever, but in subsequent projects, I helped only on the condition he'd first tell me what the end goal was, what tools he'd likely need, the steps he planned to use. It worked great. :)

    So when I was Chicken Roger's helper as he was putting together the chicken coop for me this spring, he was amazed at how I was able to anticipate what tools and pieces he needed. We were like a surgical team. :)

    Interestingly, my DH was also allergic to reading directions on how to assemble this or that. And would become angry and irritated when it wasn't going well. I'd stay out of the house until he got the job done. So after he passed away, when I ordered something that needed to be put together, I first read thru the directions, then laid out and identified the pieces and made sure I had the drill or screwdriver or whatever. These things aren't intuitive for me but most of the time, the directions (and YouTube) make assembly easy. ;) Amazing, isn't it?

    Dairy Intolerance - My heart goes out to you ladies who have digestive problems with dairy. I have no digestive issues whatsoever, my symptoms are all in my head, lol. Stuffed up nose and plugged ears, and that's the extent of it. And having those symptoms at night caused headaches so the nightly zyrtec habit developed, which caused dry mouth and burning nose which irritated everything further.

    Since I have so many environmental allergies, that also trigger similar symptoms, I'm wondering if dairy at times just piles on. Funny that Dr. Matt said if I could get some of my environmental allergies under control, the food intolerance/sensitivities would likely go away.

    By the way, since I've cut back on dairy, my protein intake has also gone down quite a bit since I'm not a big meat eater and use it more as a condiment. Still eating plenty of eggs though.

    Did grocery shopping this morning. I like Ezekial bread, found in the freezer section at Walmart. Last week it was $6.18 per loaf. This week $7.53. :# That's quite a jump! My girlfriend goes to Trader Joe's quite a lot. In the past they've been least expensive and the bread is fresh, not frozen. I'll ask her to add a couple loaves to her grocery list next time she swings by there.

    Rebecca - your house is so nice and neat and calming. Middle son did a great job on the soup, that looks like what I put together a lot. This morning I went through the pantry and found several cans of Great Northern and Navy beans, "best by" dates in June of this year. So will be making a white bean soup for supper.

    sspell1958 - great looking grandchildren! So glad you are around your granddaughter and can spend time with her. Yes, we are a crafty bunch, and there are gardeners here too. And chicken ladies. Do you have a name we can refer to you by? Even if it's made up, lol. Or middle name or whatever. My brain always looks for a name and location at the bottom of each post. I've had a talk with it about being less anal and it refuses to change its ways. :D

    Loving those pictures ladies! <3

    Welcome new gals and keep posting so we get to know you better. As Barbie says, we were all new once.

    A reminder that if you want your info included in the "Weekly Check-in" post tomorrow, please shoot me a message thru MFP today or tomorrow morning.

    Lanette <3
    SW WA State

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