WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR FEBRUARY 2025

Cindy - Yes, thanks for asking! You can do a search for my channel on YouTube at Whilst2024. At the moment, I'm taping a series I'm calling "Old Age Doesn't Have to Suck." Humorous look at how I'm enjoying my post-60s, post-retirement life. I'm no Ken Burns, 😉 but I'm having an awful lot of fun. 😂 I'd link straight to my YouTube, but am not through my first cup of coffee yet, and it took me 45 minutes to find and put on my socks this morning. Ha! 😑😂🐈‍⬛

Allie - I saw your post about your mom's death 25 years ago, and my heart went out to you. I was just talking to my sis about it, and we both buried that death-a-versary with our beautiful Mama. We chose to hang on to her birthday and to the holidays with family that she loved (until my buncha crackpot family went sideways, which they always did). We hold on to her life, and left her death behind as much as we could. Not saying you should, just that's the only way we could deal with it. She's been gone as long as yours, but I had her for 39, and that was the biggest gift she gave.

Meg - So good to see you post. Do come back and let us know how you're doing.

Kim - I'm sorry you'll miss Joann's - but like Barbie, I've moved a LOT of my yarn and everything else online. I totally understand missing a locally-owned and operated company, with people who you can get to know. But massive business endeavors usually annoy me - once they get to a certain point, it seems to me most are more interested in cutting costs than serving customers with quality goods at a reasonable price. But I have an ingrained skepticism about all large businesses, whether for-profit or non-profit. Survival over service seems to be the mantra at some tipping point endemic to their arena.

Kelly - Went back and read your post, as my brain was beginning to work a little better. So pleased about your oldest. You and I both know why.

My daughter, bless her, tagged me in a Facebook meme of a beautiful woman crying last night, saying "No one could of prepared me for what it's like living away from my mom." And underneath, "And holidays too, being away from my mom hits differently when you have kids." (I admit the "of" annoyed me, but I didn't have enough time with either of them to help them understand grammar. 😂🐈‍⬛)

I should not have read that at 2 a.m. Went back to bed missing her and those grandbabies so much it just hurt.

But, what can't be cured must be endured, because what choice do we actually have? Won't say never, but I have no idea when I'll be ready to get on a plane again... Anyway, too much pain for a Monday morning.

My daughter's journey, long:
Oh - and I did take the top two pounds of that seven pound gain off, just by making better choices. NOT having the extra piece of cheese when I made the grilled cheese sandwich, eating smaller amounts of everything except sugar-free Jell-o. Taking five crackers out of the pack and taking them to the table, rather than bringing the whole sleeve. Small things. We all know them. I'm using them. Time to find those habits again.

Is anyone taking collagen, whether pills or powder? Do you feel it helps a lot, a little? Debating getting some of the higher-rated, sugar-free, no heavy metal powders to put in my coffee. Not cheap.

Later, my chickens,
Love,
Lisa in AR

Joann's ... I am not a sewer by any stretch of the imagination, but occasionally I have projects that require supplies and cloth. My last visit to Joann's was a train wreck. The staff were rude, the store looked like a hurricane went through and it was dirty! I couldn't find what I needed and the staff could've cared less. I went to Michael's across the plaza and encountered an entirely different environment. Found everything I needed at a lower price. Not sure how much of Joann's problems came from corporate or local management. I can't imagine looking for cloth material online. I always need to touch.

Kelly ... waving back at ya'

Finally stopped my entitlement eating and I've now completed day 3 on the treadmill and bike.

Beth near Buffalo

Current temp -10F...Staying in by the space heater today. I keep rest of house cool 68 main level. basement 64, upstairs 63. Heating bill is bad enough at these temp. Space heater does add to that too. I do not leave it on continually.

Sleeping too much and eating too much. Too much stress and taking it out on myself. I know, it seems that’s all I talk about on here. No where else to vent but my therapist who I see next week. Winter always brings me down, no matter the weather. Here we had a week of sun and 90 degree weather. This week it’s predicted to get to upper 70’s today then really cold for a few days then back up into the high 60’s today 70s. Sun most of those day, but have had some overcast days. I get plenty of vitamin D from the sun and supplements. Just my normal SAD, which seems to hit me every year, some worse than others. This year it’s the worse side.

I think I will look for some yarn for my next project. I want to knit something, not sure yet. Going to look online for knitting patterns, items and see what I can find. Our Hobby Lobby doesn’t have much for knitting, mostly crocheting. I do both but want to knit next. Working on Jack and Sally (From Nightmare Before Christmas) 11 inch crochet dolls. Jack was a bugger in mostly black. Really hard to work with black, you can’t see the stitches! But almost done Jack than on to Sally. Won’t take long for her as she is colorful.

Thought for today:

What do you call a cow with no legs?

Ground beef! 🤦‍♀️🤪

RVRita in Roswell

Lanette- I am so looking forward to getting some seeds started. After going to mom's and sorting hers plus bringing some home to start here, got me anxious to get started.
Dad printed out a chart years ago- the longevity list for seeds. I think tomatoes is 7-8 yrs(need to check that)
I brought home some seeds that dad had saved that need to be planted this year and we will save the seeds from them. There are two , one in particular, we can't buy seeds for. They were given to dad many years ago. The original ones came over from Italy with the great grand father of a friend of dad's.
We don't know the real name of them so, dad always called them Bertoli because that is the last name of his friend. There is also the Mexican tomato seeds- another friend gave him those seeds. Both are great, meaty tomatoes. The Mexican is a huge deep pink tomato. One slice will cover a slice of bread easily. The Bertoli is a lot like the Roma but bigger and a bit of an odd shape, more like a pear and about the size of a pear.

When I was getting my gloves out, I came across my box of seeds from last year plus a bag full from the year before I guess. I haven't gone through them yet. I should have done that before I bought seeds. I bought $5 at Dollar tree (well, it should have been but the cashier counted wrong-I hadn't counted them until after I left the store. I had 20 but he counted 16). I know they are not the best quality seeds but, I just need a few of each to grow so I chance it - 4/$1.25.

I will start plants in the kitchen in the hydroponic thing former hubby gave me for Christmas plus I have my own set up. When they get big enough, I will put them out in the green house until time to plant.
I will grow for me and for mom. I will be able to get them started before she is ready to start planing seeds in her green house.
We agreed we need to plant less this year. So many plants didn't get planted and those that did, produced too much and no one came to help pick. They want to get the veggies free but not do any of the work to pick them or help weed.

As for dh- No, I really don't think his mom will be coming home. IF she does, he will need to hire 24/7 care for her which leaves him to care for her on his own if someone doesn't show up. Her house is not suitable for someone who will be 89 in two weeks that has trouble walking. The house is three levels. She will have to go either up a flight of stairs or down a flight to get to the bathroom. She could use the commode chair which she has in the living room but showers would be hard. Trying to get her to not try and go down stairs would be an issue. Also, trying to make sure she didn't get out of bed on her own would be a problem.

He is doing better- lets see how today goes- see if she realizes he wasn't there all weekend. She will most likely think he just missed one day, maybe not even that.
He is a lot calmer, for the most part. Doesn't get irritated as easily lately. That has been a great change.

He commented how it didn't seem fair that I work so hard to loose weight(walking or zumba, watching what I eat,etc) and can't seem to loose any and he has lost 15 since November without even trying.
He needed to loose it but not the way he did. Not good for a diabetic with high bp to be that stressed all the time and not eat and when he would eat, it was not healthy and was very late at night.

He is up and getting ready to take his shower. We will go to his mom's so I can walk the dog and feed him then we will go over to Black Friday- $4 day today. There are a few things he is looking for.

Not sure what else we will do.
No class tonight because of the holiday so instead, we are going to Jalapeno's for "happy hour/dinner" then some of us are going to the park to walk.

Debbie
Napa Valley,CA

Girls here.
We spent some time drawing portraits of each other around the table. Huge fun. I was reasonably pleased with my effort at drawing Edie.
Dinner went down well. Various combinations of pasta. I had just enough gf for Edie.
Now they are painting with John. Their mum will be another couple of hours. Bea loves 'google doodle' games.

Tracey - Aspen reminds me of Edie at her age. In the park she was always to be found climbing on the top bar of the swings!

I managed to find some lovely clothes for Bea's birthday. She approved of them and I had a 20% off voucher.

They will look great with the denim jacket I bought her for Christmas.

Lisa - I still haven't been brave enough to do a video. I really admire you. My phone couldn't handle a long video, so I will start with a short Instagram one. Soon .... soon .....
So lovely to hear of your love for Kelsey. Of course you will get on a plane again
They do have toilets. :laugh:

Heather UK xxxxxxxx

I made biscuits for husband on Saturday night for his obligatory Sunday biscuits and gravy he has every blinkin Sunday.🙃😁. It was so hard (said in jest) as I add Bisquick mix, milk and vegetable oil in a bowl, mix with hands until its combined and pop it down on my floured wooden cutting board, kneed a couple times, then flatten, flour a bit, and cut with a glass. It only makes 6 and a blob but that's enough for a a handful of meals. He just puts them in the freezer. He found an acceptable gravy that's canned and he heats that up. On Saturday night I put a sticky note on his can that said "enjoy your biscuits made with lots of love". Its the little things.
Today I think I will make a pizza with the leftover spaghetti sauce I have in the fridge. I have those pre made crusts, and some cheese, black olives, and we always have those already cooked sausage bites that come in a bag that Jimmy Dean's puts out. I just thaw them a sec in the microwave before I add them. I also like cutting up some pickled asparagus spears and adding those to my pizza for a bit of tanginess flavor. Should be good.👍🏼 Better than anything I can find or order.
Hugs to those that wish them.
Know that putting your two feet on the ground each and every day is a blessing in itself.
Starting each day with a grateful heart knowing I have a roof over my head, food in the kitchen, bills paid, clothes that keep me warm, and people around me that care that I am here on this earth. That's really all there is?
Rebecca
Whidbey
Wa

Hugs and Prayers to All in Need!

Carol in GA

Stats for the day-

Walk w/family- 1hr 53min 6sec, 12652steps, 31elev, 2.73ap, 78ahr, 93mhr, 5.16mi= 464c
Strava app= 625c
ROUVY home spin bike- strava stats- 58.12min, 741elev, 154aw, 20.9amph, 118ahr, 156mhr, 20.25mi= 417c
Strava app= 514c
ROUVY stats- 58.12min, 741.8elev, 154aw, 20.8amph, 59arpm, 20.26mi= 514c

Total cal 881

Still hanging on to 1st place :0)

885885

Garden875 wrote: »

@cityjaneLondon how fun! Cute clothes!

@Whidislander, loved hearing about your dinner and comical way of describing it! Also love your perspective on being grateful! Thanks for the hug!

@1948CWB thanks for the hugs and prayers!

I am of the opinion that we need two things every day, a good laugh, or hugs, preferably both!💖. When I used to work at a grocery store I was a sample lady. At the end of the isle was a little place we reheated food, and a sneeze guard area to put out our samples. There was coffee we served and some days the retirement home van would bring a bunch of socially starved people into the store. I asked if they got their 5 a day? Huh? They'd question me and I would announce you need 5 hugs a day for health. So I would give them their hugs! I had asked my manager two things, could I hug shoppers, and could I sing opera to them. This was pre COVID so he said sure! I loved working there, but it was hard work! The store did away with the sample lady and we were retrained as bakers. We had a kitchen in the back, and we pretty much heated up prepared frozen breads, cookies, bagels, muffins and there was also a proofer to proof the croissants and pasteries. It was just one baker per shift so that was even more work than a sample lady! I would complete a wall of baked goods every morning. Baking, wrapping, and labeling plus putting things in clamshells. I had a specific way of twisting my wrappers so the customers would know it was me that made it. Other bakers didn't do things correctly and I literally couldn't look at the wall on my days off. It was all wrong!😂😂
Rebecca
Whidbey
Wa