WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR DECEMBER 2024

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  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,344 Member
    704704
  • Whidislander
    Whidislander Posts: 3,873 Member
    margaretturk wrote: »
    This arrived from Brother and Wife today...There are lights but I will use those on an inside wreathe...Cold and snow make it hard to have battery powered lights.mpujxkdjsp3j.jpg

    Rebecca have you talked to your Dr. about your sleep. Not getting good sleep takes its toll. There are many good tools out there to help with sleep today. The more you can breathe through your nose the less likely you are to snore. Breathing through your nose has health benefits too. I noticed this when I started mouth taping and wearing a breathe right strip at night. I have to first clear up my chronic sinus infection before I could start the mouth taping. The infection has now been gone for about a year. One thing I noticed was that I lost much of my double chin. I learned having excess weight on your neck is one of the factors that causes sleep apnea. My mom had both excess weight on her neck and sleep apnea, and it did cause health problems for her.

    Mouth tape is so expensive though! I looked it up once. What do you use? I also have a double chin. When I have vertigo I usually snore a lot too. Or when I have had a sip of anything alcoholic. Or when there's a full moon. Lol, maybe not the last one. I pretty much snore all the time. I need to talk with my primary doctor on some things that might help. I need to lose like 50 lbs. But I don't realistically see that ever happening.

    Rebecca
    Whidbey
    Wa
  • TerriRichardson112
    TerriRichardson112 Posts: 19,134 Member
    The weather cleared up before lunchtime so we went visiting after all.

    🤗🤗🤗 and 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 for those who need them.

    🙋‍♀️ céad míle fáilte to any newbies.

    ☘️ Terri
  • dlfk202000
    dlfk202000 Posts: 3,241 Member
    LisaInArkansas wrote: »
    Hello, my dears,

    Not a lot of plans for us this morning. As long as my gut is behaving, we do want to do a little exploring, driving around the countryside. Something we used to do almost every weekend... and now that I'm feeling better, it's an option once more. Just getting out and seeing what's near us. There are little roads all through this country, what my mama used to call "pig trails," that wind through these areas, and you never know what's around the next bend.

    Still have made only one cut on Corey's workshop apron. Got some more input from him last night, though. Might mock it up on some thrifted fabric before I put it on the final, heavy duty fabric, though, and make sure pockets are deep enough, straps are long enough, etc. Probably a good idea.

    Time to get his work clothes in the dryer - That's the only laundry for the weekend, super easy since he had a day off this week. Hope your weekend is full of whatever you want it to be full of, whether that's peace or party-time!

    Love from chilly Arkansas,
    Lisa

    YES, making a mock up is a great idea. I am going to do that when I make shirt for a friend. We are changing the pattern a bit
  • skuehn48
    skuehn48 Posts: 3,067 Member
    <3
  • margaretturk
    margaretturk Posts: 5,287 Member
    Rebecca I use the bandage tape that is about an inch wide. I just cut off about a inch and tape it across the middle of my mouth. I don't tape it all the way across my mouth. In the morning I take it off and adhere it to the top of the roll container. As long as I am not sick I can reuse it a couple of days so it is not that expensive to use. The breathe right strips are more costly but I get $75 every six months from my supplemental insurance to pay for this kind of health aid. Also I watch for when you buy one and get 50% off the second box. Then it cost me about $7 a month for the strips. So insurance is paying for these. It is nice to get something from insurance that is pro-active for my health. I can also buy the medical tape with this program too. I find I don't have to buy this tape very often because I use so little of it. Then I have enough money left to buy my Epson salts that I like to use. I would buy these products without insurance because using them is helping me to stay healthy.

    I lived how expensive it was to treat my husband's cancer and how miserable he was going through those treatments. I realize I can try my best to improve my health and still get sick. I just want to do what I can to make my odds better to stay healthy for as long as I can because my quality of life is so much better!
  • dlfk202000
    dlfk202000 Posts: 3,241 Member
    Very tired- going to grab a shower and go to bed.
    Yesterday we were up about 4AM and I was up until after 11pm. Up at 8 to start making more treats.
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,774 Member
    Wow Tracey! That is a lot of work! <3:D
    So glad Michaela was there to make it more fun. Your village is fabulous. Have you collected the pieces over the years? Also, I see you've put away your normal decorations; what do you do with them in the meantime?
    I'm waiting for John to get stuff down from the garage loft, as there are some string lights I want to put out around the fireplace.
    This year I'm using what I call 'winter' decorations, apart from the tree John is decorating, because I plan to keep the lights, flowers, and fake candles out through the dark days of January. Once the daffodils start coming into the shops, I reckon it's time to retire them!

    Cleaner today.

    Must get wrapping soon. I've bought some very nice recycled paper, with labels and twine included, for the grandchildren. Bea's weighted blanket will need a few sheets! :o I don't buy anything with metallic on, because it can't be recycled.
    But I must write first, this morning. It's a kind of 'grateful' chapter.

    Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,681 Member
    Regarding helper-driver husbands ... mine often provides a steady stream of what I should do next. I ignore him most of the time, but occasionally I will tell him:

    "Do not tell me to go. That's dangerous. I have complete my checks and feel ready to go." -- that's at intersections or roundabouts.

    "Let me figure it out for myself. I'll never be able to do it myself if you keep offering suggestions." -- that's when I'm trying to back the vehicle.

    Sometimes that helps.


    Lard ... I'd like to use lard for pie crusts, but it's hard to find here.


    Taping mouth ... I couldn't do that. I can barely wear my mouth guard! I keep feeling like I can't breathe.


    Machka in Oz
  • kymarai
    kymarai Posts: 3,723 Member
    Good Monday Morning!
    Well, yesterday was productive! DH was out of the house processing deer. I worked on Christmas cards most of the day. I am about 75% done. I watched Christmas movies while working on them. In between and while DH was out of house (so as to not be disturbed) I cleaned out the middle bedroom closet. I believe that since coming back from vacation in September, I had just been dumping stuff on the bed. So on Thanksgiving with company coming, I just put everything in the closet. Even though it was now out of sight, it really wasn't out of mind. It was wearing on me. I really would have liked to have gotten rid of things, but at least everything is put away now! Of course, DH just thinks I sat on my behind all day since he never saw the mess. We keep that door closed due to the kittens and too many pretties sitting on shelves. I also took the kittens outside for about 45 mins on their leashes. It was pretty outside. Too much stuff! Another day's project. Oh, and I put out my Christmas snow globes. Still no tree in the house....that may be a next week thing.

    Tracey I really like your decorations, especially your village in the china cabinet! What a wonderful idea! I have another friend that totally redecorates her house for each season. It is beautiful! I just look at all of DH's stuff and shudder at having to move it all! Though.....it would be a time to deep clean it.....maybe next year! ;)

    Machka I would LOVE to sleep like that! I can't seem to keep my mind settled though. Maybe it is just all the stuff.... Enjoy your Christmas break! We will work a half day on Christmas Eve and be closed Christmas Day. This is the same for New Years. The middle of the week holidays kind of suck! We are only closed on Thanksgiving day as well.

    Debbie Yummy! I am not even sure if I will make Christmas cookies this year. We don't really need them for our health and weight. The grands are too busy to come anymore to help (being teenagers and one adult). So it is not high on the to do list.

    Lisa What a wonderful day for you! I am so happy for you!

    I should get off here. Work to head to today. Am taking off Friday and Saturday this week. Need to get cards in the mail NLT Thursday!

    Much love to you all!
    Kylia in Ohio meeting water drinking goals three days in a row!

  • SophieRosieMom
    SophieRosieMom Posts: 3,694 Member
    Tracey - your Christmas villages are just stunning! Everything is! <3 Please remind me - you leave all the decorations up until after the first of the year, right? Are you allowed to decorate at your workplace?

    Debbie - I'm glad you are hundreds of miles away from me, otherwise I might have to stop in, lol. ;) What does your mom do with her share?

    Mo - you got me inspired to start cleaning out my bookcases and removing books for donation that I know I'll never read again. But with T's news that thrift shops aren't taking anything except clothing right now, not even books, I'm stalled. I can't just throw them away. :( . Hopefully things will improve after Christmas and they'll welcome books again along with other items. I'm starting to get a pile of things on the bed in the guestroom.

    Kylia - You and I are on the same page with re-starting the water drinking. And the de-cluttering thoughts! Hope your work week goes smoothly. <3

    Lisa - I could feel your excitement at finding the "perfect place." DH and I used to take little drives and do the very same thing. :p Loved spending time talking about houses and little farms we liked and planning what we'd do the places, what our lives would be like. Some of my favorite memories. I still tend to do that, tho my next move will be closer to town.

    Margaret and Rebecca - the book "Breath" by James Nestor gives tips on mouth taping, as Margaret has mentioned in the past. If my sinuses are acting up at night, which is often, nose-breathing at night is tough to do - though I've been successful nose breathing when sleeping in the recliner so my head is elevated a little. I've tried all kinds of tapes, too. The ones strong enough to keep my lips together tend to take off skin anyhow. :p My DH used those nose strips successfully to help with his snoring. But he had tougher skin than me and didn't remove a layer when he took it off in the morning. During the day I am conscious of my breathing and nose-breathe as much as possible when my sinuses clear out after a couple cups of coffee. My drug of choice! :D .

    Heather - love those cups you bought, I know you'll enjoy using them. "Vintage" from the 1970's caught my attention. Why, that wasn't very long ago, right? It's finally dawning on me that I was born "mid-century" in the 1900's. I'll soon be lumped in with the generations who plowed with mules and used kerosene lanterns, no telephones, no electricity and all that. We certainly didn't grow up with cell phones and computers and we played outside and actually talked to people, lol. :p

    But I'm very grateful for computers and the internet - no chance of me being lonely, even though I live alone, when I have friendships with people all over the planet. How lucky to be born and raised in the "old ways" but I get to take advantage of the "new ways."

    I took the old Camry for a spin yesterday to try out the new battery. Of course, it worked fine. I need to reprogram the radio and reset the clock. Some YouTube shorts came up interviewing mechanics about the best older cars, and 2004 to 2009 Toyota Camrys and Corolla's came up in the top 3 in all of them. Hope they are correct. Also, one mentioned that Subaru's prior to 2009, (if I'm remembering right) could be problematic because of the leaking head gasket. Yep, I agree. I see a teensy drip now and then on the cardboard I keep under the car. One mechanic said if older cars valued at $6,000, let's say, are in otherwise good shape - no rust, etc., it can be worth it to spend several thousand $$ on major repairs to keep them going for a long time as opposed to getting rid of them and buying something newer which might come with its own set of problems.

    I need to work on the grocery list - heading out at daybreak to get some shopping done.

    Make it a fabulous week! <3

    Lanette B)
    SW WA State



  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,681 Member
    kymarai wrote: »
    Machka I would LOVE to sleep like that! I can't seem to keep my mind settled though. Maybe it is just all the stuff.... Enjoy your Christmas break! We will work a half day on Christmas Eve and be closed Christmas Day. This is the same for New Years. The middle of the week holidays kind of suck! We are only closed on Thanksgiving day as well.

    Much love to you all!
    Kylia in Ohio meeting water drinking goals three days in a row!

    We get the 25th, 26th and Jan 1 off for stat holidays.
    Gov't workers (like me) get 3 additional days which are (I think), the 27th, 30th and 31st.
    My usual Friday's off are the 20th and Jan 3.
    And of course, there are weekends in there.

    So I took 23rd, 24th and Jan 2 off as recreational leave to round it all out ... and it amounts to 17 days.

    During that time, I hope there will be a lot of relaxation, but I'm also hoping to make progress on the garden, attempt to unpack much of the house, as well as lots of exercise. :smiley:


    M in Oz
  • 1948CWB
    1948CWB Posts: 1,649 Member
    Tracey ~ Your hutch cabinet with the Christmas village is beautiful. And, all the additional decorations are too (especially the beautiful snow scenes and decorations around the windows)! Michaela looks very much at home as she watches tv on the sofa!

    Debbie ~ I think I gained a couple of pounds looking at all the treats you made!

    Lanette ~ Glad the Camry is running well!

    Carol in GA

  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,774 Member
    edited December 9
    It still seems strange to me, after all the years that I've been on this thread, that cookies are a thing at Christmas! It feels like it is the last thing you would want to eat with all the other delicious food.
    Here it's mince pies everywhere. I don't really like them. :s In France the ubiquitous thing is oysters! A stall on every street.
    In many places in Europe it's mulled wine. Gingerbread.

    I'm just waiting for the cleaner to arrive and then I'm off to have a look at the newly opened Søstrene Grene in town. They are opening everywhere now. Scandi homewares. The name means 'the Green sisters', the founders.
    I hope I won't spend anything 😕

    John called the fencing people this morning. They are coming to estimate on Wednesday. It will be expensive as the big posts have rotted. They were excellent when they replaced our front fence. Of course, they are super busy after the storm!

    Going to put my new robin earrings on for a seasonal touch. :p

    I'm debating buying some kind of extra cupboard for my current bedroom. At the moment, I have nowhere to put medication and charging cords etc. Makeup, wipes, kindle, etc. It's a bit of a mess, which I hate. The room is desperate for a paint , so I've ignored it, but now I'm sleeping in it I feel I ought to get it sorted. After the fence expense, I don't think we can stump up for a repaint.
    My v old (antique) bedside cupboard opens the wrong way, with the hinges towards me, which is really getting on my nerves. Grrr!
    I need to win the lottery!

    Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx
  • margaretturk
    margaretturk Posts: 5,287 Member
    edited December 9
    LanetteYes good info in the book Breathe. I could't do it until that sinus infection on the left side healed. Changing my diet is what finally got rid of that sinus infection for good. No I did not use an antibiotic this time. Low sugar minimal grain and lots of organic veggies is part of what did it for me.

    Nose breathing also helps your teeth. Your teeth are remineralized by your saliva. When I breathed through my mouth at night I woke up with a dry mouth. Reducing the sugar also makes a big difference in preventing tooth decay. It is sugar which promotes bad bacteria. I wrote about this before in the book Ultra processed people the author talked about a study where they gave rats ultra high processed food. One set a version which was low sugar and the other with a high sugar version. It was the high sugar group whose teeth showed decay. I find it interesting that my dentist offers cookies and OJ for snacks in his office. HMMM! OJ is a high sugar acidic drink!
  • kymarai
    kymarai Posts: 3,723 Member
    <3
  • LisaInArkansas
    LisaInArkansas Posts: 2,941 Member
    Morning, my chickens...

    Nearly 50 degrees outside (10C), so Egg is happily out there checking out her usual stuff. The rain stopped in the late afternoon yesterday, but the days are so short now that it was already nearly dark. So glad we got out and about the day before.

    Kylia, Tracey and Lanette - Y'all pegged it exactly right. So much joy just in the going, but also in the searching for that absolutely perfect place, the one that feels right when you're there, that ticks all the boxes. We both missed being able to go on those drives. One of those things you don't even know how much you miss doing until you get it back. Never been one to moan about spilt milk... but oh, it was lovely to be able to go. Between the pressures of work when we got here, working on this house and land, and then being sick, it's been many long years since we could just explore. Hope to add that to the weekends as a regular thing again.

    Tracey - Your Christmas decorations are utterly beautiful, every bit... I keep going back to the three snowmen in the window, though. Those are so humorous and charming, much like you. They're my favorite!

    Kylia - I know that sometimes this thread can seem like one more pressure when we're getting pressured from every direction. But I really do love seeing your posts when I pop in, no matter how often you feel like contributing. So glad you're here.

    Heather - I think those kind of memories are wonderful, and if there is something you can hold and touch that brings them back each time, then so much the better.

    Debbie - I did mock up the workshop apron in the end, and it was a good thing. I forgot how much bigger he is than I am. Fully done, pinned on him, and now I can use the mockup as a pattern to get the fabric pieces all cut out and the pockets lined with lightweight leather, as well. Will be putting rivets in all corners and may put rivets and leather at the end of all the straps, too. He's hard on work clothes.

    Regarding taping your mouth shut at night, just the thought of it makes me twitch. I can't wear necklaces, scarves, turtlenecks, or even a round-necked shirt. They all make me feel as if I'm unable to breathe. Throw in mild claustrophobia, and just the thought of taping my mouth shut gives me nightmares.

    Egg came back in all misted with the light drizzle that is apparently going on outside, and immediately wanted some lap time - notice the claws are ready in the first pic and just gennnnnttttlllllyyyy inserted through the shirt in the second. Her favorite small torture...
    n7oprkj68pav.png

    Hope it is/was/will turn out to be a grand Monday.
    Love y'all!
    Lisa in AR



  • kevrit
    kevrit Posts: 4,374 Member
    Today is: Get those Christmas Cards out!! Mailing mine today and done!

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    hciqeruhsfv9.jpeg
    RVRita in Roswell
  • barbiecat
    barbiecat Posts: 17,242 Member
    LisaInArkansas wrote: »

    Regarding taping your mouth shut at night, just the thought of it makes me twitch. I can't wear necklaces, scarves, turtlenecks, or even a round-necked shirt. They all make me feel as if I'm unable to breathe. Throw in mild claustrophobia, and just the thought of taping my mouth shut gives me nightmares.

    :) That's what I was thinking, only you said it better.

    :)Tracey, Your house decorated for Christmas is awesome. What happens with all the things that are normally on those shelves?

    :)Debbie, Thanks for the photos of all your great baking. I did stuff like that years ago but now that I don't eat cookies and don't have people to share them with, I don't do it any more. It brought back great memories.

    :)Lisa, your drive in the country sounds heavenly.

    :) I've finished breakfast and am ready to go for a walk but the dogs are sleeping so peacefully that I hate to disturb them.

    :) Here's what I've done with the books I didn't want any more. https://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php#google_vignette I have two tidy boxes of books in the closet that I've listed on the site and the opportunity to search for books that I want. It's an opportunity to turn my unwanted books into books that I want for much less than it would cost to buy them either new or used. Also, I can browse at home on my computer. It's not free like using the library but has been a source of joy for me for years. I've used it to send books to friends.

    <3 Barbie in NW WA

  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,344 Member
    dlfk202000 wrote: »
    kffkv38evbq4.png
    Back home. Half the treats stayed at mom's, half came home with me.
    I will do more this week.
    6 batches of caramel corn, three cracker toffee, two kinds of fudge and two batches of peanut clusters

    Mmmmmmmm, I want some
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,344 Member
    705705
  • GodMomKim
    GodMomKim Posts: 3,708 Member
    Books.... We have a friends of the library group that takes all sorts of books and either donates them to the library or resells them or arranges for recycle.... any money they make goes to "extras" for our library... might be worth checking out in your towns...

    smiles Kim in N. Cal
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,774 Member
    My expedition was very enjoyable. :) I have only been into the big shopping mall once, so it was a bit confusing, but I found the shop. Monday was a good day to go.
    They were playing music, but fortunately it was classical and choral, so I was happy 😊
    Nice stuff, medium price. Some very cheap acrylic paints, which I might go back for another day. The stuff was all displayed in baskets, which looked like Finnish birch baskets. I used to have one, in my Finnish addiction days. I asked the assistant if I could buy the baskets, and she said they had just a few left. I bought the biggest size to put all the random stuff I was talking about this morning in. Amazing coincidence! :p I also bought Finnish salted liquorice.
    On the bus on the way home I discovered that the basket was made in China from cypress wood. Of course, a real Finnish one would be five times the price!!!!
    j341y90awkpc.jpg
    I'm very happy with my 'dupe'. :p

    Making roasted cauliflower and chicken thighs for dinner, with sauce vierge from fresh cherry tomatoes.

    Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx

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