WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JUNE 2025

I'm sitting here with a 12 oz glass of water starting at me. For some reason, 12 oz doesn't seem so overwhelming, but a huge container of water does. Its a visual thing.

Yes this peach, mint, honey and lemon juice/lemonade mixture is like a whole new flavor created! I have a 16 oz insulated carafe for it.

Your adult kids sound like amazing humans.💖. My eldest sailor son has a couple more years with the Navy then will retire with 20 in. Not sure exactly what that kid will do. College for small engine repair? He wants to run a scooter shop, but telling him that Whidbey island isn't really the place to do that, with rain, and snow and not enough sunny days might be tricky. I am all for continuing his hobbies, just not a career to actually make money. He has a kind heart, and not a lick of business sense. Maybe working at a place that's already established, could work. My middle son seems content at the investment company he's joined. He sets up the accounts, the second part after the salesmen start it. He is really great with people and customers have told him, "I want you to take care of my account". So I would imagine playing with rich peoples money is quite a thrill.💖👍🏼 My youngest is playing the waiting game. Waiting for Skyrizi to heal him, to the point that the Navy, and him is happy with, waiting to see what the separation board will do, waiting to see what disability benefits he'll get. All the while, trying to eat well, and manage his Crohn's. Horror days of standing at attention for whites uniform inspections come and go. I asked him to paint me a picture of what that was like dealing. He said about half hour in, he has to use the bathroom. 1 hour in he is frantic. Almost 2 hours in he is getting shooting pains from his backside. He made it back to the barracks to collapse on the toilet, taking a shower, and passing out on his bed, just spent. Its so apparent that Crohn's and Navy do not mix. Thankfully that isn't such a reoccurring thing.😥💖

Rebecca Whidbey Wa

Hey, guys,

Going to run into town to pick up a couple skeins of yarn I want while it's 30% off at Hobby Lobby. Then back home and staying cool the rest of the day. The morning's work. The last load (of six, I think) I had tied to the box blade before I unloaded them, and about 30 feet of brush. Will let it dry for a week or two and burn it.

Checked in with Kim for a bit while my lunch was cooking (thin crust chicken pizza with pesto from my own basil plants from September that I pulled out of the freezer before I went outside to work. So fresh tasting!) She's doing well overall, definitely in a better place mentally and emotionally. Still can't drive, though as her vision is unpredictable, at best.

Rita - supposedly the funniest joke in the world is the following, with the answer in the spoiler:

What's brown and sticky?

I find it hard to believe that's the funniest, but who am I to argue with Reader's Digest? 😹🤷🏻‍♀️😹

Later, my dears,
Love, Lisa in AR

@bwcetc - In another life, I sold mattresses. To my observation, most people are too embarrassed to properly try out a mattress. Take your pillow and dress in something soft like sweat pants and T-shirt. Set a timer for 20 minutes, then lay down on the mattress in your favorite sleeping position —- if you can't stay there comfortably for 20 minutes, you won't be able to sleep. When you find a promising candidate, sit on the edge and take your shoes on and off —- it is amazing how a lack of edge support will make a mattress feel unstable. Repeat. Let the salesperson know that you will be taking your time because you have missed a month of sleep —- you can even tell them ahead of time what your plan is and ask if they have any suggested tweaks.

My DH thinks that he can lay down on a mattress and immediately tell. I embarrass him but not myself. It would be even better if he would lay down with me, but he won't.

Y'all are so amazing and productive.

Elaine

Fort Worth, Texas

My latest garage sale project is coming along. May do some designs/flowers/something later

My daily snack! I just eat maybe 7 pieces of each kind. It definitely helps me process my food!

Rebecca Whidbey Wa

we have a 4 bedroom ( they are very small rooms and we have way too much stuff in each room)house for just the two of us now. He has his room with tv/massage chair, 3d printers plus his toys he has collected and now he also has pretty much the same things in ds's old room(bed instead of a massage chair) plus a projector and screen to watch movies on. I do have my sewing/craft room which needs to be totally cleared out- that is down the list a bit.
I am slowly thinning out all the daycare kids things that I won't be using anymore- things that Ezie is too old for. I will keep just a few of the things for the younger kids, in case I get another on.
Cleaning the living room today- SOOO much craft supplies in here, because my craft room is such a mess, for both Ezie and I to work on. Need to extra toys gone so I have room for all the cat trees we have been picking up at Black Friday.

Dh has two friends that came down from Sacramento for the day-they went to Shabuya for lunch- I was invited but let them have their time plus gave me quiet time to work in the living room, then they went to see MIL- both guys have known her for many years. One of the guys dh went to high school with over 40 yrs ago. They are at the movies now.

I usually skip breakfast but decided now that I am back tracking to listen to what you have been talking about about upping protein. I had two eggs, a small amount of Colby cheese and lots of salsa on it.
Tasted great(not usually a fan of eggs unless they are deviled ;) )but an hour later, I was feeling so hungry. This happens when I eat breakfast. If I skip it, I am good until at least 2PM.

Snacks so far today are baby dill pickles, nori and fresh raspberries-
First real picking of the season yesterday.

Dinner is on the stove simmering-salsa chicken- chicken breast, Pace salsa, canned corn, canned black beans. Will top with a little Colby cheese and sour cream-maybe guacamole and served with tortilla chips

After work made lemon squares for S who will be here this weekend.

Vince went for his allergy shot and then to the sleep MD. When he came back, we cut the grass. It’s actually a lot of grass, not a lot of weeds. I do think we’re going to go with someone else for the landscaping. He does a few of my neighbor’s lawns and they look real good. Plus, it seems that he isn’t as expensive.

Well, Vince has declared the pool clear. Now to find the time to go in it! I’ll make the time, that’s for sure

Allie – I bet the sound of those waves is very soothing. I know that when I’m in the pool, the sound of the waterfall is very soothing.

Was just texting with a friend. The one who just had a mastectomy and Vince is subbing for her on the bowling team. Well, she asked if I could bowl tomorrow since one of their teammates is out. Honestly, I don’t like this league. But I’ll do it for her. Because I know that if ever I need something, she’ll be there for me. Maybe she can “nudge” J to pour the ceramics I need (one thing I was asking for for months and wound up buying it in FL, a few others I’ve been asking for. I need the turtle she has so I will have time to paint it for Denise.). So looks like I’ll be bowling in this league this week and next. Really, I wanted to make an apple pie for when S comes this weekend, but I guess I can do that Thurs. since i don't work.

Off to a shower. Sending good wishes to everyone.

Michele

Hi everyone! It's been quite a full couple of days. The boy performs on the karate demo team for local sporting events, fairs, etc. and they had 2 this week, plus his finals, drivers ed and all our usual obligations. We just got home from the gym where he invited one of his friends to join us. Before that he had his Masters class at Karate. He has been fun to hang around with this week, less teenage attitude than usual, LOL. At church our pastor was discussing idolatry and I leaned in and said to the boy, "idolatry, similar, but not to be mistaken for a dollar general" I thought it was quite the funny, but he didn't get it and so I've had fun teasing him a little. Anyway, while the guys got the muscle building on, I did 6.3 miles on the recumbent bike and then walked a mile on the treadmill. Now I'm enjoying my Dunkins coffee. My treat to myself for burning calories.

Mo: the boy and his dad (my youngest son) have a terrific relationship, but it's more of a close uncle/nephew bond. He has only just begun getting to know his bio mom in the past year. She was a bit more unstable and we're taking it slow, but she has been doing great so far. My oldest son likes to refer to himself as the boy's "bruncle" part brother / part uncle, LOL. But he's called "uncle".

RVRita: Do you wish you had stuck with Karate? There are days I don't want to go, but once I'm there I don't regret it and have a good workout. Our dojo is primarily Shotokan, but we also learn a bit of Krav Maga and Judo as well.

Lisa: Thanks, I guess I always had a bit of an interest in martial arts but never acted on it when I was young and fit enough to really go far with it. When the boy finally convinced me to join, I looked at it as another form of fitness that broke the monotony of the gym 5 days a week. But as I have progressed, I have developed pride in my achievements and motivation to go further.

Hope all are well and happy!

Regards, Lorna in Maine.

Beautiful Maine pictures.

Wishing Kim continued improvement.

Allie - Looks like a relaxing place to sleep.

Beth - Good luck with the mattress. Can you try out others in the store ahead of the exchange so you have a better idea if what you want?

I am so grateful these last few days that we went ahead and invested in the heat pump when we had to replace the furnace last fall. Nice to have a cool house to come into after feeding critters in the afternoon.

Lanette - Have you watched Clarkson's Farm on TV? They are on season 4 and it is hilarious. Jeremy Clarkson from the Top Gear TV show decides to take up farming, very entertaining.

Everyone take care, Sue in WA

Good morning my friends!

So wonderful to be missed. Thank you for being such a fantastic community of supportive women. I tend to withdraw when I get moody, when I should really reach out.

I gained fifteen pounds in the last six months. So definitely time to put a stop to that. I feel heavy and lumpy and awkward. So yesterday I jumped back to better eating, and being me, I overdid it and ended up with a wicked headache and so dizzy. I was over by 147 calories so the end wasn't bad. Except I had to take a nap which left Dad unsupervised.

I tried to do some of my old exercises. I have to give myself credit for trying but I can't even decipher my old notes. But I did a few minutes on the floor which is more than I have been doing. And I at least got on my stationary bike. It doesn't seem to hurt my foot, so maybe I can do some prep work leading up to a workout. 5 minutes a day sounds about right.

And I tried to meditate but the TV was so loud that it was challenging. I guess that needs to happen earlier in the day.

So I'm starting over again. And I'm grateful that my body can be improved. Many people struggle with health issues without a cure, but this fitness thing can be done. Yay!

Debbie those raspberries look lucious!

Tracey I was the responsible one in my marriage too. It's not fun.

LSamara love the Maine pics! I used to go to Moosehead Lake as a child.

Rebecca I had amoebic dysentery once while traveling alone through an airport in Colombia. I had to leave my place in line four times to use the bathroom and start over at the end of the line. Finally I left my luggage to keep my place, and was so surprised it didn't disappear! For a long time, I never talked about my bathroom issues, so I felt alone and embarrassed. I'm glad your son has someone to listen.

May you all be happy and healthy!

With boundless affection,

Annie in Delaware

Morning, my dears,

Lorna - I had to say "idolatry" out loud like three times before I got the joke… And I was just at one last week!🤷🏻‍♀️😹😲 Not enough coffee yet, I think. Your husband's photos are just absolutely gorgeous. The time with the boy sounds both fun and exhausting! 😹

Tracey - You got me pegged on the first go. It's so fun, and terribly satisfying to be able to do things with that tractor that I simply can't accomplish with my body, like hauling heavy tree limbs up a hill. Plus, I feel guilty any decent-weather day that I'm not out accomplishing something with it! 😂 Still trying to justify the spend, I think.

And regarding spending, my ex-husband and I devolved into the "Well, if you get that, I get this," relationship, and there was no responsible adult to save us. If he wanted to spend $1,200+ on rims for his car, I would have insisted that I was "owed" $1,200+ for whatever I wanted, and vice versa. We played that game until we drove ourselves right over the cliff into bankruptcy.

Machka - Kinda loving the designs! Not sure how you're doing that, but it's pretty…

After two days of busting it outside, I think I will get my flowers a little water this morning and then relax. Just the newly planted ones, I'll let the established ones be, as the rain is coming in by about 5 tonight and staying until Friday afternoon. It's already nearly 70, with the humidity hovering at 93%, and sunrise is a half hour yet. By 9 a.m., it will be 75 F (24 C), but will feel like the swamps of the Louisiana bayou country…

Hope it's a grand day, my chickens.

Love,
Lisa in AR

I managed to get my roots done today. I always put it off and put it off, until the day dawns when I can't postpone it any longer. It takes less than an hour from the start, to having dry hair again, and it's not difficult at all, but it's one of those tasks that I always baulk at. Of course, it saves me squillions of cash, so it's absolutely worth it. 😛

Tonight is Cercle Français. A lecture on Madame de Staël. I'm going to serve Dim Sum at around 5.30, and order an Uber just before 6. We come back by bus, and may pop in to M&S, which closes at 8, to pick up the things that they do best. Stilton cheese being one.

Love to all, Heather UK xxxxxxxx