WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MAY 2025

At the house we lived at before moving to where mom is now(built that house when I was in 4th grade) had tons of those blackberries. We would always pick them for jam/pies/cobblers.
Always got jabbed a ton. When dad found these thornless blackberries, he was so excited. Planted on 100ft row then added a second one
Here is my son out picking berries with grandpa and I(and eating more than went in his bucket)

Tracey - Gosh, that smile! You can see she is your mum. 💖

If anyone fancies reading an article on French regional food, here's a good one. I have eaten all those foods, in the places listed. I've also had a go at cooking most of them.

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/may/03/culinary-tour-of-france-french-food

I'm hoping to get to Bordeaux before too long, and maybe rent an apartment. Then we could get ourselves off to Arcachon, to see the sand dune, and eat oysters. Or I would be eating them, John isn't keen, but he would probably try one.

It's strange that I have never written about my love of food. I was on the brink of writing a book in the early 70s, which had interest from a publisher, which was a kind of cultural, philosophical, and historical celebration of food. It might have done well, as it was ahead of its time, but I became a bit scared of the ambition of it, and babies saved me from having to do the work. Now, for my next book, I'm thinking of incorporating that lifelong passion into a memoir of my years in Camden Town, in the early 70s. There might even be recipes!

I'm slowly moving out of my bedroom. John has taken my memory boxes upstairs and I am emptying furniture. I will be sleeping upstairs for the painting. I had the brainwave of swapping my current bedside cupboard for the one in our joint bedroom. It just needs a paint to match the walls, which the painter can do. It has a drawer which is useful, as well as the cupboardspace. John is happy to have my wooden varnished one, on my side of his bed, as it matches the other furniture.

He is off to cricket again, as the weather is gorgeous. I will just potter around, slowly taking lamps, books etc into his room. He said he doesn't mind, as long as he doesn't trip over it in the night. At some point we will have to measure for curtains, (Amazon), and I need new lampshades etc. It never ends! You improve one thing, and the other things look all wrong! 🙄 I can feel my perfectionism kicking in. Oops!

Love to all, Heather UK xxxxxxxx

Saturday

Bicycle ride
Laundry
Helped a friend move a table from across town. Our van had enough room for it.
Reading
Colouring
Watching the Giro d'Italia (An annual multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in Italy - 3-week Grand Tour)

Machka in Oz

Yesterday after my dermatologist appointment we drove up to Anacortes, WA, which is on Fidalgo, the island next to Whidbey. We walked downtown area, visiting the used book store, and I played the piano there. I did about 8 tunes that are in my head, like twice thru. It was nice to express myself. It is scary kind of, because they turn the music down so I'm always kind of "eep, brain don't fail me now". Its a balance of relaxing enough to not think too hard and totally blank on a song, and breathing so it can flow out in a way that sounds ok. One of the worker guys thanked me. I thanked him for having a piano that is cared for and in tune. He said it was tuned a couple of months ago.👍🏼💖

Afterwards we walked to Village Pizza, sat in huge comfy seats, chatted, and we took photos of each other from the Athena phone.😁 My husband acted silly, the git.💖

I don't know how to transfer my photos from my phone to my tablet, also my phone has no internet so theres that. Its just a phone, and also does messages which is nice.

I ordered a nice local red ale which was tasty, and a small pizza with sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, tomatoes and olives. I had 3 pieces and have 5 pieces for lunch today. I was so tipsy when we walked from the restaurant to the car. Wheeee! Just a definite buzz. I wasn't stumbling or anything. I think I drank 3/4s of the can. I'm kind of a lightweight.

When we arrived home I was able to video chat with my youngest sailor son. Last week he had gone shopping for food. He had bought an eight pack of tortillas, a family bag of Tyson's chicken tenders, a bag of Mexican shredded cheese and other stuff. It was all gone in a week! That kid. He has yet to buy himself a mug so his tea is made in a solo cup used for each time. I told him to buy an electric kettle and a mug! Dang kid. We chatted an hour and a half then my head was kind of pounding and I had to beg forgiveness and say bye. Went to bed at 8:30 pm with some Tylenol, a tums, and a melatonin. A trifecta of good.😂

Rebecca Whidbey Wa

Thought for today:

Why can’t a leopard hide?

Because it is always spotted!

RVRita in Roswell

Good Saturday,

Lisa- Funny that I read what you typed and had the same thought you did! Understanding what you meant though! So add my "Happy Mother's Day" wishes to all the women who support young children in becoming adults.

I am grateful to have mothered two wonderful (most of the time)daughters who became wonderful mothers. No special plans for me tomorrow. Oldest daughter gifted me some aroma therapy shower stuffs. The thought was nice. I don't do "smelly" stuffs. Even my deoderant is lightly scented. I gave them to my great niece on DH's side. She loves them so all is good.

Barbie- My Pyrenees would tear up anything that had foam in it. She left pillows and beds with fluff in them alone.

My oldest daughter tested for ADHD along with her kids. After answering the questionnaire and being diagnosed as ADHD. She is encouraging me to go get tested. She believes mine is actually worse than hers based on answers she knows would be mine. There are a lot of adhd characteristics that I have so maybe she is right.....throw in some first born, two alcoholic parents, early responsibilities, high intelligence, strong work drive, fear of failure, fear of disappointing people, anxiety, disorganization..…the labels go on and on, but let's not forget the squirrels that continue to jump from thought to thought. Then there is the procrastination productivity. That is needing to get something done but doing lots of other things while avoiding that one thing until it is urgent. Yep I am me and a mess!

This morning I really wanted to take my Miata to work but it was a little chilly. Told DH, no worries, ayer work we could maybe go for a drive on some backroads and find a small town to explore. Busy day at work. We got home and the next thing I know we are pulling out a grill we are giving to DH's friend and making sure it works. Then DH gets out zero turn to cut a few things while I clean out the trees the real squirrels keep planting in my flower beds. This led to me cutting more grass. Now.…my DH has "friends" who think he "owes" them and can "afford" to loan them money with no time constraints or accountability. One of those people works part time for the shop, quit his other job the beginning of December, still doesn't have another job, and the list of bad decisions goes on. He is 64 yo! I have tried to fire him from cutting our grass for several years now for a variety of reasons. Do I need another job, NO. Would I get to leave work early to cut grass like my sister in law, NOPE. But his lack of care and consistency drives me crazy! Last year he wanted to cut once a week because he was getting paid per mow. Too bad we were in a drought. So far he has cut our grass once-2 1/2 weeks ago. I expected him a week ago this past Wednesday-no show. He left in hurry on Thursday from shop. On Friday I asked him when he was cutting grass. He said last Saturday. I said 100% chance of rain. So he said he would do it last Friday. He drove to our place, then left-smh. When I asked why he didn't cut grass he said it started down pouring. I have cameras. The awning people were next door at SIL'S. No rain. So I again asked when he was cutting grass. He wanted to do it on shop time on Thursday. SIL said no. He isn't getting double paid. So after he got pissy, he said he will be out this coming Monday. 50% chance of rain after a beautiful weekend. Oh well he only has 50% of the mowing left to do as DH and I did 50% of it this evening. I was tired of looking at 12" of grass around the house. Oh he owes us money for car repairs and has already been paid for this years mowing when he couldn't pay bills in January. I will help a person out, but they really have to be trying on their own too. At least I can see my cats in the yard when I let them out now. No I don't get the Miata out. We took the shelby out to make sure no issues before driving her to Indiana on Thursday night. Went to dinner, then a cruise in. Now catching up with all of you.

Sorry so long.....…

Love to you all!

Thankful to have you all as my family!

Love,

Kylia in Ohio

DD and DS on their way home from the airport. Should be here soon. Things are ready but don't know for sure what dinner will be. Possibly burritos. DS will be here until Wednesday and then off to golf with buddies up near Leavenworth and Wenatchee. He heads back to San Diego next Sunday.

Everyone take care, Sue in WA

Heather - I so agree with you about changing one thing then needing to keep changing.
I just told Kaitlyn today that I am mostly happy with my living room/dining room/kitchen area. I want two more stands, but am willing to wait.
I really need to do the bedroom.

Lisa - I hope you both get some rest in your busy weekend.

Allie - I really enjoy yard sales. I’ve found the last few years though I don’t buy much of anything at them.

Rebecca - Lovely photos of you and Leigh.

Kylia - I’m pretty sure I have some ADHD too. I truly think we all have some of the traits.
I hope the guy cuts your lawn soon.

I had a great day with Kaitlyn. We had brunch, then went to Costco. She was going to buy me some cut flowers but I asked her to buy my hanging basket of flowers instead. We also went to our local produce market.We then came home and sat on the deck and visited.
She took a selfie of us in front of the flower basket.

Tomorrow Rodger and I are going for lunch. Happy Mother’s Day!

Tracey in Edmonton

Hey kids -

Why didn't I know that Canada also celebrated Mother's Day tomorrow? I guess I was thinking it was celebrated with the UK in March. Happy Mother's Day to y'all, too, all you moms and grannies to my north, as well as my friends in the U.S.

Tracey - love the basket, and love Kaitlyn - your warmth and joy shines out of her face. That picture of your mom showed your smile, too, I agree with Heather…

Doesn't look like my daughter's package made it to her, which is annoying, but my own fault. I should have got it mailed on Monday. It didn't even leave Oklahoma City until yesterday, although I mailed it Wednesday - and OK City is less than three hours from my house. Oh well, like I said, it was my own fault. Maybe it will get there tomorrow and be even more of a surprise, who knows.

Anyway… yesterday was getting two loads of laundry onto the line, then I swanned into town and got fresh veg, etc., for the week for Corey's lunches. Got back home and put it away and headed outside.

We found a back way over the stream, all on our own land, to get to all that trash so we didn't have to make an even longer path from the very well-traveled highway. By the time we got that path done and another carved out to get to the dumpster, we both just stood marveling at how much of a mess these goobers had made over the years, and quit for the day.

Discouraging to know how much work it took to access it, only to be faced with a massive job to do at the end of it. Far too much to deal with tired. So today will be all trash, all day, it looks like. Maybe some trimming first. Still thinking about it. Corey's got some work to do on one piece of that path, and I have some string trimming to do with the weedeater.

Either way, another day of hard physical work. I will say, I sleep really, really well after one of these days. Too tired to care what hurts. Still too cold out there - I don't do well when it's under 60 degrees or over 80 degrees (15-27c). Under 60 hurts and over 80, I just melt into a sweaty little puddle.

Oh - and just one snake… :) Probably a Western Ribbon Snake, one of the garter snake family. He/she was departing quite hastily in front of me, but still gave me a start…. they're everywhere here.

Later, my dears,
Lisa in AR