WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR FEBRUARY 2025

Rita I see nothing wrong with how you signed. I think it ws very nice to send condolences. Don't add any fuel to the fire you DMD is trying to start.

Barbara - thank you for attempting to connect with Katla. I too wonder how she's doing/if she is still alive and also how is her husband who had so many health issues?

Barbie - good to hear an indoor cat is no longer a concern. The rules are actually fairly relaxed in my subdivision. The CC&R's say "no pigs and no chickens". Two other people have chickens, and no one is bothered by it that I'm aware of - we all have from 1 to 2 1/2 acres. I've decided if anyone raises a big stink, I'll tell them OK, would you rather I get some peacocks? They aren't on the list. That'll teach them, lol.

We do have too many barking and threatening dogs, sadly. There's also the rule that buildings have to "match". For example, my house and shop have the same siding, paint color and architectural design, but my next-door neighbor put up a metal/tin sided shop as did the owner next to him. There's no HOA, at least not one that's enforced. People here do a good job of keeping their property kept up and looking nice, mowed and weeds down, etc. We're pretty much a "live and let live" group here, thank goodness.

Margaret - that sculpture and ice sculpture are exquisite. Gave me goosebumps. Thank you very much for sharing it, I'd love to see both of them in person. You see the neatest things! I do miss that about not living near a big city.

Carol - I am exactly like you, I don't think I have any "dress-up" type clothes. It would be nice if we could raid Heather's closet. I also have no desire to be around groups of people. Very uncomfortable. And too many germs swirling around. Maybe you can sit near the back and excuse yourself to go to the restroom and slide out the back door.

Heather - glad to hear you are making trips up and down the stairs. I forgot to ask my sister how my BIL is doing with that - all of the bedrooms are on the second floor. Maybe he's been sleeping in the recliner downstairs.

Rita - Good gravy, your DMD needs to calm down. Sounds like she has some emotional problems, and they aren't your fault. As Mel Robbins would say about her behavior - "Let her." I would have posted similarly as you for clarification. Hope your day goes better.

Lisa - nice photo of Kels and your granddaughter. Isn't it neat the way things turned out when you married Corey and got bonus kids and eventually grandkids?

I love to watch the videos of people rescuing animals and the joy of seeing them being placed in loving homes. I can't tell you how many times in the past year I see a dog or kitten available at the animal shelter and reach for the phone to see if it's still available. Then I bring myself back to reality - the potential medical bills, will it cause Rosie to backslide or even be at odds with her? Will I be able to physically handle another dog? (Those labs are so cute!) I can foresee, when Rosie is no longer with me, getting a cat or another small poodle/mix dog. So in the meantime, I get to enjoy them vicariously now thanks to you all sharing photos and stories about your amazing little ones.

I made another super early run to town this morning to finish my grocery list. Snow and slushy roads up here, some snow falling. 3 degrees warmer in town, everything bare and wet. Glad it's done.

Have a great weekend ladies!

Lanette
SW WA State

Good Saturday!

Beth As a couple of people have said, there is a quiz to help determine your main "bug". Cas used a peanut butter jar analogy in one of her videos. Is it on the counter or in a cupboard? In my case it is in cupboard. So that would be ladybug or cricket. Now the difference between a ladybug and a cricket....with ladybugs you grab the jars carefully because chances are the lids won't be on them! Oh so true! With crickets, not only is the lid on correctly, it is labeled facing, in alphabetical order. You may be a blend of two or more circumstances depending. I am overall ladybug-hide it! With a little cricket thrown in. I struggle to put things in detailed order, ie file drawers. Lids are rarely on containers. Baskets work great. There is a quiz. I was happy when I found Clutterbug (Cas) after I had organized my office closet with fabric bins without lids and maintained it that way for several years prior. Everyone thought i was crazy. I can maintain simple with a little detail. So example....I have three bins on a drawer. One for charging cords, one for charging blocks, the third is blink stuffs. In the charging cord bin, I have 3 gal size baggies. 1) micro to usb.1) C to usb 1) C to C cords. Are they all wound up and wire tied neatly, nope. But i needed to be able to find the correct ones quickly . Anyway, I aspire to be a cricket, but is not something I can maintain so will be the best ladybug I can be! My DH is a Bee. Very visual and detailed. Also even though organized well, you sometimes have to go in and reset. Last night was one of those times. I told myself I was just going to cleanup one of the bathroom vanity drawers. That led to 2, which led to 3, which led to the whole vanity, my medicine cabinet, and DH's medicine cabinet! One 13 gal trash bag now out of house! Less than an hour, was already organized, just needed a reset.

Barbara Thank you for your effort in touching base with Katla. Just sad when people just vanish. I do feel she was showing signs of cognitive decline after the move. Just so you all know, instructions are in my just in case notebook, to let you know if something happens to me.

Machka Your planning and adapting ability is amazing! Your DH is in good hands.

Carol These days pants, t-shirt, pretty cover up (sweater, shawl, jacket), a necklace and earrings will do you most of the time. I hope you found something you were comfortable in and enjoy yourself.

Rita OMG! I am just over the whole name thing. My DH asked why I have my maiden, ex, and current names on my FB profile. I had to explain that different people know me from different times in my life. Before FB , try finding female friends who have married! I see nothing wrong with how you signed.

It has taken all day to type this. Sending now


Kylia in grey and wet Ohio

Rita, my DH and I have been married for 49 years. Every single time I go to a funeral visitation, sign a condolence card, or whatever for someone on my side of the family, I sign first name, maiden name, married name. Otherwise, they are very likely to ask who the heck is that? Yes, the close relatives know my married name, but the extended family does not. There is nothing dramatic about it. My maiden name is still part of my name.

It’s pretty easy to determine if you are a cricket/ladybug as opposed to a bee/butterfly. Are you likely to have a mug for your pens and pencils on your desk or do you prefer them in a drawer? Crickets and ladybugs want them in a drawer. The other distinguishing feature is a little harder. Cas asks when had you rather spend the time - putting something away or finding it when you get ready to use it. Ladybugs and butterflies want to just throw everything in a container labeled meds, for example. When they need the Tylenol, they’re willing to ramble through the basket looking for the Tylenol. Crickets and bees will take the extra time putting it away so they can reach right for the Tylenol when they need it and not have to sift through a dozen pill bottles.

I also think you can be slightly different organizing styles for different parts of your house or your life. I am most definitely a bee, but I can get crickety if expecting company or butterfly-like if I’m in a time-crunch. I am never a ladybug. That one drives me crazier than anything.

Machka9 wrote: »

Katla started showing signs of dementia for a year or so prior to her move out of her home to the care facility with frequently repeated questions and other things. I was very glad that her children stepped in because both her husband and Katla needed help. It was sad to see her deteriorate (from a distance). She was a lovely lady. It is possible Katla may have been moved to a special care facility.

Machka in Oz

"Watching" Katla go through that was one of the more difficult things I've experienced online. I have been lucky not to experience any dementia in my family, so watching it slowly unfold made me feel helpless and incredibly sad. Katla is an Oregon girl, from where I live now and so incredibly kind. I felt close to her immediately and miss her and think of her often. She is a special woman. Very much loved here.

Flea
Willamette Valley, OR

Had a wonderful day yesterday. A friend and I went to Leavenworth, WA. We had lunch there and then went on a horse-drawn sleigh ride. It was 34* and sunny, a beautiful day.

Today it was supposed to snow but it held off and DD and I were able to buy groceries and run some other errands. Glad to get those things done as I had not left home at all earlier in the week. Schools were closed and classes cancelled at the YM.

Tomorrow is my dog, Nessa's "gotcha day", the day she came home to us. Hard to believe it has been 7 years. We bought her a special dog cookie at the pet store.

Katla and I met in person once in Vancouver, WA at a horse expo. She was a really nice person and we had fun getting to know each other. I was so sorry to see her deteriorate the way she did.

Everyone take care, Sue in WA

Good Sunday

Worked on getting tax paperwork together last night and now today everything in the house is bugging me-smh. There is just too much stuff again everywhere and I am not talking tax paperwork. Will have to do a walk through later. I need to smooth out my record keeping for taxes...maybe putting stuffs in the excel spreadsheet once a month and a separate basket for rental stuffs vs medical/donation. That would make for less time sorting and inputting. Unlike Machka, I find that part tedious but necessary.

Somehow still got in 30 mins active and over 10k steps yesterday. Was over on Calories but most were healthy. I did add chopped up zucchini and carrots to my venison chili last night. DH ate it. He said it smelled different-lol! I thought it tasted the same.

I have a long family history of dementia. It scares me. I believe that is why I am trying so hard to get my in case of emergency book done. Tax time always makes that more apparent as well. If I have doable/understandable systems in place it will make things easier for someone if I should die before my DH.

Machka I would have been surprised if you said you were a butterfly or ladybug! Cricket makes perfect sense to me.

Terri Yes, blending is a challenge. At least you are both visual. My DH and I are totally opposites! He too is a bee with cricket tendencies. It has served him well being visually challenged. It drives me crazy to have so much out on surfaces or to file in file cabinet. We do tend to blend well and influence each other though.

Headed to local theater this evening to see "Chicago" with oldest daughter and youngest (15yo) granddaughter. Maybe traffic won't be hateful with it being super bowl.....

Read something in reader's digest about healthiest weight. It said that the best weight is one you can comfortably maintain by eating as healthy as possible and exercising. I found that interesting and probably healthy mentally too. I came to the conclusion years ago that I will never/nor want to be less than 100 pds again. I would not look healthy there. I am comfortable in the 115-120 range. If I make more good choices than not so good ones my body likes 120-125. All I know is mentally I am not happy with current body shape whatever the number(which I don't like either). I also know that having given up nicotine is playing a part in that.....

So....
Make the best choices you can in the moment !
Healing thoughts and prayers!
Hugs held tight!
Thinking of those no longer checking in.
Grateful for all who keep us moving forward each day.


Kylia in Ohio getting ready to house walk.