WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JULY 2025

Hey - just dropping by before I jump in the shower, then to PT.

This is the project I've been working on that I've been so pleased with - combining my utterly inexplicable love for creating handbags with my love for crochet. Your eyes don't deceive you, it genuinely is shiny - all colors of this yarn are the Metallico brand - I get them shipped in from a Swiss company called Hobbii.

I really enjoyed making this one from the beginning - it's only drawback is that it will not undo more than a stitch or two without tangling. Kind of a pain, but since I knew what I wanted to do, it worked out fine. It's unusual when a project turns out exactly like what I first had in mind!

Every square is unique in terms of color placement, and it turns out with three colors, you get 12 unique combinations if you want white to always be the last row around the square!

I used canvas and a very stiff stabilizer to create the lining so that it would stand up, and will create an insert with a zipper pocket with a yellow lining, and stitch that in as well. My ONLY hand-stitched purse.

Oh heck, got to get moving!

Later y'all,

Love, Lisa in AR

Barbie-I just need to find a way to cut the “at home” budget so I can be away. Eating less comes to mind and is good for weight loss. Food has gotten insanely pricey.

Lanette-I’d like to be a nomad. Own no property. Just go from place to place. I read an article years ago about a couple who retired and travelled around the world, staying in Paris for 2 months, then off to Italy for 3 months, then Costa Rica for a while, etc. They didn’t have any responsibilities. No stuff. Just a suitcase and wanderlust.

Tina in CA

just to clarify, Jasper does not live with me. He and my niece have a studio apartment in a nearby town. I bring him to my house to babysit sometimes when she is working so she doesn’t have to take him with her. She doesn’t have a car yet and uses the city bus when neither I nor my nephew are available to give her a ride. She is no contact with the baby’s father and his mother (more drama not suitable for a public forum), so there’s no help there. Her brother (my nephew), his wife and daughter live about 5 minutes away from her, so she has help from them, too. He is the sweetest, most agreeable baby you will ever meet. The only time he cries is if he is hungry, has a poopy diaper, or hurts himself. I used the term “adopt” to mean I claim him as a grandchild since my brother is dead and his wife is terminally ill. I’m the closest thing he has to a grandma.

today I scheduled my colonoscopy for August 19. I had to get a new doctor since my surgeon retired. This one looks like about 17, but he is bald, so maybe he’s not quite that young!

This play thingy was given to me about 15 years ago by my brother’s wife so that I would have it for my grandson. It was probably my niece’s at some point or maybe one of her other cousin’s. It’s been in my attic. It does not roll, but it bounces if you jump. It’s missing half its toys, but Jasper doesn’t care.

Did an incline interval workout today. At the Y I always went into the family locker room since there aren’t a lot of people there and I could spread my things out in one of the three rooms. Today they asked me to put my things in a locker. Not that it’s a big problem, but what’s the big deal early in the a.m.? I’ve NEVER seen all 3 rooms being used early in the morning. Perhaps later in the day they are, but not at 6:30, even 8:30.

Mo – we have a retaining wall of stone and wasps are forever building nests between the blocks. Wish I could somehow block that off

Oh, picked up my woody car at ceramics last night. Tonight I’ll take the shell with me Update: Finished my Elmo

Colby has decided that he wants his king size bed downstairs. Which means we have to disassemble our bed, move the bookcase, assemble their bed, then when they move dissemble their bed, reassemble our bed. Why he just can’t bring his queen size mattress here (our guest bed is a queen), I have no idea. What a hassle! It isn’t like it’s for a year, we’re only talking a couple of months. We will have to clean out the exercise room (not a big deal), the closet in that bedroom (not a big deal). But we aren’t going to disassemble the bed by ourselves. Vince asked Jess today if she has the boxes marked which are going to storage and which are coming here and she said “we will”. I don’t think they realize that the movers will be there Monday. I hope they’re not planning that they can store their things here. Not going to happen. Colby wants the cats downstairs so that means I need to bring my crafts and jigsaw puzzle upstairs (no big deal), but he’s concerned that there isn’t a door to the exercise room and the cats will get into his computers at night. Even Jess said “why not close the door at the top of the stairs so their cats don’t come down and we put our cats in the bedroom at night so they aren’t roaming around?” That’s probably what will happen.

Making a pork loin right now. Didn’t realize how long it would take to come to temp;

College – Vince went to MIT (studied Engineering, his father was an EE), dropped out (much to his parent’s dismay) but went back to Lehigh and got a degree in accounting.

Annie – I remember my cousin telling her MIL that her son was home cutting the grass. The truth of the matter is that he died. MIL had lost all her sons. How could P tell her that she outlived all her sons. Therefore, P’s husband was “cutting the grass” or he was just at the nursing home – didn’t she remember? Fortunately, one of the workers there looked like her husband from the back so “see, he’s walking down the hall right now”. The MIL probably found out when she got to heaven. P had to go away one time. Fortunately, she had a twin, S so S would go visit and MIL thought it was P!

Took Ganon for two walks today then brought all the bisque from downstairs upstairs.

Gonna take a shower and get to bed.

Michele NC

Lisa - my brother built his house mostly on the barter system. He only had about $3000 cash into it. It’s a two bedroom with good sized living room and kitchen. A big mud room, and a covered porch. He tore down a rental house one of our cousins owned and in exchange for that he got his first hot water tank, electrical panel, and a bunch of other odds and sods. He cuts wood as a way to pay taxes, and had a friend whose dad owned a saw mill. He rebuilt a 1966 international tractor in exchange for his wood to be milled to what he needed. A building supply store was going out of business and he got his countertop for $5 and his bathroom necessities for very cheap.
Our dad was a general contractor so they did all the work themselves. I live going there knowing how much love is in the walls. He’s talking now about giving that house to their son and moving it onto the location our parents house was and building a new house for himself and his wife on the spot our grandparents house was. He’s never had a mortgage and has lived there quite happily for 25 years minus the 4 years they moved into our grandmothers house so she could stay home longer.
Croissants - CrossFit 😂😂
I love that purse! I’ve been eyeing an outfit on a suggested ad from SHEIN for Michaela. It’s a white cotton tank top and pants set. The tank top has 12 small granny squares on the bodice and the pants have a band around the bottom of the flared legs. Very 70’s vibe.

Barbie - I hope that’s the last of the recurring charges to show up. Will the credit card company give you an idea of recurring ones?

Tina - 70% is an insane increase!

Kay - it’s nice to see you stop in. Jasper is a cutie. I think a lot of people need just one person to be in their corner. I hope you being there for your niece is what she needs to be on track.

Pip - That’s a pretty pup. What is her name?

Annie - I don’t really consider it lying with my Mom. She is determined my girls are still little and live at home with me. I used to correct her and remind her that they were grown and adults but it just upset her. Now if she asks what they are doing I tell her they’re out with friends so that she doesn’t want to talk to them but doesn’t get agitated with me for not knowing where my girls are or what they are doing.She also thinks my brother moved to town and visits her every day. He hardly ever visits, but I agree with her.
It’s a kindness in my opinion, we have to meet her where she is. The last time we talked she told me she hadn’t talked to Grammie (her mother)in a while and said she should call her. She then asked me if I had, I said no it had been too long and I should call her too. She passed in 2009.

Margaret - What a pretty picture and a lovely treat table.

Flea - that was funny.

Lanette - Safeway here is one of the most expensive stores. I go there for a couple of things that I can’t find in other stores but I mostly try to about it. Our least expensive store I try to avoid because they been caught a couple of times with price fixing and had to pay out settlements.
I, for the most part, especially this year shop at the local Coop store. It’s Canadian, and a lifetime membership
Is $10, we get back an equity cheque each year. I have gotten back about $300 since I joined. It’s not much but it’s more than other places.

Rebecca - if I was to spend regular money on something for self care it would be pedicures. I love them. The last one I had, I apologized to her for the hairy legs and she told me it’s a North American thing from where she’s from they don’t shave.

Michele - I love your woody car.

I had to go back into work for a meeting this evening it was very quick. I stopped and got ice cream on the way home.

It’s currently 1039 I guess I should head to bed.

Tracey in Edmonton

It’s our 59th Wedding Anniversary today. Looking forward to a celebration meal this evening.

Michele: 🥰the Woody car. My uncle drove on of those and had it adapted to run on gas! (NOT gasoline, actual gas!) I’m sure it must have contravened safety laws!

🤗🤗🤗 and 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 for those who need them. 

🙋‍♀️  céad míle fáilte to our newbies 

☘️ Terri

Getting ready to go into work for my last Friday! I may still do some clean up and work Thursday (last day). But I don't mind because I start long weekends! I am going to take some clothes and stuff over Sunday. Want to get litter boxes and cat stuff set up so ready when I bring them into the house (pen to do that on Friday). Will be busy this next week but it is all good.

Take care all,

Ginny in Ohio

Good morning my friends!

Yes I will have to adapt to bending the truth as he gets worse. I need to get faster and more clever about it. For now I can think of something about two hours late.

Ginny Yay for the new apartment! Sounds like you are having a slow, planned move instead of the one crazy day approach. Excellent!

Margaret you look lovely!

Lanette sorry about the lasting effects of the broken toe.

Lisa love the bag! Interesting yarn.

Rita try a calming med for your dog in the car. The nausea may be related to anxiety.

Heather sorry G is struggling.

Mo wasps! Terrible! Be careful!

Pip yay for your dog search progress!

Michele incline intervals are impressive! Yay!

Terri Happy anniversary!

Well we went out to eat with my sister and my cousin last night. I ate too much and slept in a little. So Dad went outside without his pants again. But no harm done.

My sister is taking an Uber back to the airport today. Hope that goes smoothly. There aren't a lot of drivers around here.

We had a very nice visit. She is such a helpful guest. And conversation is easy and fun. She gave me menu ideas ahead of time then helped fix meals and clean up. So no entertainment stress for me.

May you all be happy, healthy, safe and free!

Annie in Delaware

I hear you!

I love being nomadic.

I have really struggled with buying the house we're in. We bought it a year ago, and it is a good thing especially for my husband, but in some ways owning feels too permanent.

We did that sort of trip in 2012 … 8 months wandering around the world. It was a pre-retirement retirement. 😁 And I've done several other shorter (but still long-ish: 1-3 months) trips here and there. As well as moving and living in several different places.

Do you work?

Could you do your job in another location?

Is there a way to make your work transportable so that you can work from wherever?

If you're retired, and getting a pension, you might be able to come to Australia and become a grey nomad. Prior to my husband's injury, he and I thought one option for us would be that we'd become grey nomads as we got older. Unfortunately, that's out.

Instead, I will attempt to remain with my current organisation for as long as I can, and be happy with the reasonably long quantities of leave offered to Australian employees.

https://canterburycaravans.com.au/what-is-a-grey-nomad/

https://www.greynomadsjobs.com/

https://www.thegreynomads.com.au/

Machka in Oz

Barbie … I discovered recurring charges on my son's bank account after he died. The most difficult ro resolve were those connected with internet based services, but after explaining the situation, every single one either completely refunded or prorated the amount refunded.

Beth