WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR NOVEMBER 2023

Annie, Kylia, Rita, and others in need of hugs...sent your way!

Well, I managed to clear out 2 huge boxes of clothes from my closet and dresser. I think I'll do another pass before sending them off. I just want a few outfits that I can wear out and feel good about myself. Currently, I have nothing of the sort.

A friend of mine was hit by a car while he was walking last week. He was in ICU (intensive care) with a brain bleed and cracked skull. Yesterday, we thought he was on the mend, but he passed away this morning. He wasn't even 40. It was a hit-and-run, likely a drunk driver. We were supposed to go to the opening lacrosse game in two weeks. He had season passes and I was usually his "date." I think I'll go to the game in his memory.

I was in the process of making him "get well" cookies when I got the news. It's a sad day indeed.

What makes a sad day a bit better? Seeing all the pics of the kiddos in your lives! Thanks for sharing your families.

Back to the kitchen. Baking and cooking make me feel better.

Tina in CA

Reading on my phone and didnt take notes. I love the photos of the Christmas decorations!

Tina...So sad about the loss of your friend. My sympathy to you on his passing.

I joined a declutter group on Facebook because I was overwhelmed bringing all the junk and boxes in the storage room downstairs. I received much support and many ideas. It was interesting learning how trash is handled in various jurisdictions. One idea was to ask the neighbors if I could put my trash in their bins. This person must live in a wonderful neighborhood. I only know a couple of neighbors and dont have that relaxed of a relationship with them.

The junk service will come on Wed and remove a good haul of trash and junk. Then I am optimistic I can do the rest myself. Meanwhile my dining room and hall have trash and junk. I hate this!

Best
Rosemarie from Georgia

Prayers and Good Wishes for All of You Going Through Tough Times!

I have read and read but can't respond because I have been so busy trying to get my computer problems figured out for the last few days. I have had to reset my computer and fight with my internet provider to get my wifi settings corrected. Think I finally got it done today.

Annie ~ I laid awake last night thinking about your dad dealing with the possible loss of his beloved wife. I pray that he will be given the help he needs when that time comes.

Pip ~ Your decorations are beautiful! Everything looks so neat and orderly!

Barbie ~ Love your OWL.

Rosemarie ~ Your efforts to clean out your storage rooms are great! You would be aghast at all the things in our home that need to be dealt with. A basement full of old things from an antique shop and estate sales that never got rid of, 3 generations of family furniture, nick knacks, and clutter. I cringe to think what my son and his wife will have to deal with at some point. I and my husband have clothes from ourselves and parents that are probably 25 yrs old.

Tried to roast a 6 lb hen tonight and it was as tough as could be. Will put it in the pressure cooker tomorrow to try to get some of the meal. Won't buy any more hens! LOL

Carol in GA

Carol

kevrit wrote: »

I was reading something yesterday about ‘loving detachment’ as a way to deal with the narcissist DH that comes with alcohol. I convinced my self to try that after some research on it. I felt so much better! Helped me to let go of his depression and enjoy the day. Felt so much better, so going to try to continue this. Here is a little info about ‘loving detachment’”

“ When you detach from someone with love, you don't allow their problems to affect you emotionally. You allow them to experience the consequences of their choices without intervening, or feeling like you must “protect” them. Detaching with love helps you become more grounded, and secure in your own thoughts and emotions.”

It is tough but works. There is a lot more about this if you Google ‘loving detachment’. Interesting stuff!

RVRita

That's what I do with my entire family, often including my husband ... although I am a little less detached with him.

My family is not my responsibility. I have my own life and responsibilities ... I don't need to take them all on as well.

After all, if this were 120 years ago, I would be over here in Australia and I probably wouldn't be in contact with any of my family again. Just because I live in a time when I can be in contact with them, doesn't mean I am responsible for them.

Most of my closer family are adults who have their own experiences, personalities etc. and who are able to make their own decisions.

I might not make the same decisions as they have, but that's OK. They probably wouldn't have made many of the decisions I have made. And it isn't a matter of right and wrong, it's a matter of being free to choose the way we all prefer to live.

For example, I prefer to lean toward being vegetarian while much of my family are carnivores. And one suffers gout because he loves his meat. I have said something once or twice years ago, but his choices are not my responsibility.

M in Oz

sh0tzz99 wrote: »

Annie, Kylia, Rita, and others in need of hugs...sent your way!

Well, I managed to clear out 2 huge boxes of clothes from my closet and dresser. I think I'll do another pass before sending them off. I just want a few outfits that I can wear out and feel good about myself. Currently, I have nothing of the sort.

A friend of mine was hit by a car while he was walking last week. He was in ICU (intensive care) with a brain bleed and cracked skull. Yesterday, we thought he was on the mend, but he passed away this morning. He wasn't even 40. It was a hit-and-run, likely a drunk driver. We were supposed to go to the opening lacrosse game in two weeks. He had season passes and I was usually his "date." I think I'll go to the game in his memory.

I was in the process of making him "get well" cookies when I got the news. It's a sad day indeed.

What makes a sad day a bit better? Seeing all the pics of the kiddos in your lives! Thanks for sharing your families.

Back to the kitchen. Baking and cooking make me feel better.

Tina in CA

Sorry about your friend.

That kind of hit me because of what I went through a little over 5 years ago with my husband ... and the man across the ward from him who didn't survive his severe brain injury.

Tina-so sad to hear of your friend. Going to the game in his memory is a great idea.

I live in a definite suburb but surrounded by some farmland. I have seen the occasionally coyote slinking across my front yard early in the morning (I think going from one corn field to the other). We have quite a few of them in our county. I prefer to keep bugs of all sorts out of my house!

Working from home today. Did get call from podiatrist office yesterday-they were asking if I would like a ct of left foot/leg to see if something else is going on since pain is increasing. What a great idea! (I am being sarcastic). Got it scheduled for today. Will hold off on the calls I also got from pt and an alternative treatment podiatrist has discussed until I get ct results. I don't mind pt or trying other treatments, but I would like to be certain of what the problem actually is.

Take care all,

Ginny in Ohio

Good morning ladies!

Up super early again. It seems I've gotten into a cycle - 6 hours one night, 7 1/2 hours the next night, rinse and repeat.

Debbie - I just remembered a similar case to your MIL where a GI married a Filipino gal and brought her to the US to live, she was also a "snag" with a similar mean and controlling personality. She drove both of her kids away. The son married the daughter of a friend of mine, and her 2 kids made it a point to move far away. As far as I know, the snag's husband is still alive. Next time I see my friend I'll get an update.

Tina - so sorry to hear about your friend. Hope they caught the driver and that person is brought to justice.

Ginny - hope they can find what's bugging your foot.

Barbara - how's that leg/foot/shinsplint coming along? I wore different shoes yesterday and woke up with an aching shin! It doesn't take much. Now that I've been walking around the house in my old shoes a little it seems OK. Also, yesterday I walking on the road a little = pavement. "House walking" is easier on my feet and legs since much of it is on a softer surface. Hope that oven part comes in.

What the heck is it with customer service and deliveries these days? Barbara's oven igniter. Joy's TV dish. Debbie's phone. Allie's missing phone. Good gravy.

Kylia - good job on the sales floor yesterday and keeping your weight steady.

Machka - does all honey crystallize? I have some I bought years ago, theoretically from bee keepers within my area, that is still very liquid. And I have a couple quarts of local honey I bought just last year that are crystallizing! I'm starting to wonder if the liquidy stuff was adulterated with corn syrup. It doesn't have an intense honey flavor either.

Beth and KJ - are you getting lake effect snow right now? It's 25 here. Gradual warming starting tomorrow and rain due by Thursday. Daytime temps won't be too warm until the weekend but at least no more freezing nights. Every morning just before daybreak I've been taking hot water out for the hens. By the time they get to it, their water bowl has cooled off some but still. They seem to be surviving.

Chicken stuff - Yesterday I was busy soldiering up the roof over the chicken run. When Roger helped me put it together this summer, he used a 1 x 2 center beam and we arched wire fencing over it, then placed a tarp for sun/rain shade. If we get snow or an ice storm that puts much weight on that tarp, that 1 x 2 probably won't old the weight. So I put a center beam in. It's only a 1 x 2 as well, but it's something. I found a 2 x 2 in DH's wood stash that I'm drying out and will have ready. It's weathered but seems pretty sound. Just when I said the egg production is falling off, Gladys and Thelma are back at it again. Maybe it's that warm water they get in the morning. See above.

More thoughts on our aging brains .... I think being around younger people helps us immensely. It seems you moms and grandmothers who are able to interact often with younger family members and friends may keep your brains from aging. I feel lucky that my best friend is in her early 50's and we message or text each other several times a day about all kinds of things and I generally see her once or more a week. In fact, people my own age seem older than me most of the time. I guess that's why going to a senior center or similar place where "old folks" hang out doesn't interest me right now.

Regarding hawks taking out little birds - I sometimes see the hawks doing their business here - not very much since I haven't remembered to fill the bird feeder. When we lived on the farm, neighbors would lose little dogs like Yorkies to eagles and larger birds of prey. We never lost a lamb to birds. Some did come up missing after our guard dog died, either from coyotes who were brave enough to come into the barn or perhaps a large cat - something that could drag a lamb over the fence.

Was going to go shopping this morning but think I'll stick close to home. Want to make beef & barley soup, and try my hand at making hummus. I found an old jar of tahini in the fridge, if it's not good anymore, peanut butter works well too. I'm going to take the time to remove as many "hulls" from the chickpeas as I can.

That's the latest. Need to poke the fire in the woodstove, doesn't want to get going this morning for some reason.

Make it a super day!

Lanette
SW WA State