There is one large perk in getting older that I am cherishing more and more.
I think a lot of people have trouble sleeping as they age. This becomes much less of a problem when you retire and no longer have to show up ready to put in a good day’s work. In fact, it’s life saving.
My husband and I vary all over the block on how we sleep. We have always stayed up late, heading up for bed around 11:30, midnight, or after. Sometimes I have trouble actually GETTING to sleep. Other times I wake up with my hips hurting, or have had a bad dream, or….
I come downstairs and read until I’m sleepy again. We don’t get up until 8am, so this usually isn’t a problem.
Last night I noticed the light was on downstairs and joined my husband about 3am. We read for awhile, and then went up to sleep. I again noticed the light on later, but was too sleepy to join him again. I don’t know what time it was. Then he was up when I woke up again at 7. I got dressed and we started our day.
We will both probably end up asleep in our recliners after lunch.
It’s a really good thing we can plan our day – usually – around how we are feeling. We have times during the day when we feel awake, alert, and energetic, and times we can hardly keep our eyes open. The perk of being able to give in and sleep when you would like is a luxury beyond price.
It may be an odd way to live, but we aren’t bothering anyone else so we’ll take it.
Filed under aging
I did my yoga practice to earn one star, then my husband and I took off the fragile tarps and bungee cords from the garden planters and replaced them with new tarps and cords. We also put new tarps on the cement mixer we use to mix our Mel’s Mix for the garden planters and the pile of potting soil bags we keep to replenish the brick planters around the house. With temperatures in the 60s and bright sunshine, it was the perfect day to do it – earning a second star. The third was for the scales smiling a bit at me yesterday.
We have another stellar weather day today before things deteriorate tomorrow and into the coming week. I’ll make sure to get outside and walk around the yard this afternoon to show my appreciation for the day.
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I actually just came in from walking around the yard and taking a few pics to share. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to spring. As we uncovered the planters before covering them up again yesterday, I wished I could start playing in the dirt.
I also took some pics on the way back to the house from the shop and garden –
I love wandering around the yard. I had to stop myself from spending time weeding and getting ready for spring, since I wasn’t wearing a jacket and it was in the 40s out there now. I’m still hoping the weather people have it wrong and we won’t get ice Wednesday and Thursday….
Ivan Lovatt Chickenwire Art – http://www.designstack.co
It’s chilly now, but it’s supposed to get into the 50s this afternoon. Ahhhhh. Nice weekend ahead for us and I’ll take it. I’m afraid I’ll have to reschedule my happily-anticipated massage on Thursday of next week – if the weather people are right – due to forecast ‘wintry mix,’ (especially ice), on Wednesday and maybe Thursday, as well. Did I tell you I’m ready for spring?
I’m feeling good today, having lost a bit more poundage – almost 4.5 lbs this week – and I did my yoga practice again yesterday. I’ve decided I will try to do my yoga each afternoon. I’m feeling less stiff and sore and hope to improve my practice each day.
I thanked my lucky stars when I discovered Cat Kabira a couple of years ago. I found her on a website called Sixty and Me. I bought the DVD they were selling to get seniors into yoga. I didn’t want to wind myself into a pretzel shape or fold myself into a paper airplane, but I did like the idea of getting and staying more flexible, alleviating pain, and improving my balance.
I now do my own thing on yoga stretches, but the thing that Cat stressed was that no one gives you awards for putting your hands flat on the floor after touching your toes, or bending forward while sitting and putting your face on the floor in front of you. (Good thing!) :0)
The thing that is important is that you stretch yourself in that DIRECTION and then breathe into it. You will improve as you learn to relax into the positions and you will get the same benefit as if you HAD touched the floor. THAT freed me from feeling defeated before I started.
As I’ve told you, I’m a champion hard-head, so I have to keep reminding myself that the benefits don’t continue if you don’t practice. So now I’m almost starting at square one, stretching TOWARD where I would like to go, trying to get my poor, sore and stiff body to relax into it once again. I AM starting to feel a difference, and my husband noticed I was doing better yesterday.
I’m on a roll with my determination to ‘shut my mouth and practice yoga daily.’ Hopefully, I can keep this going.
Filed under DIET!, exercise, Thoughts on a ________, weather
My husband said I deserved a star for the day when I finished my yoga practice a few minutes ago. :0)
I’m really trying hard with it after NOT doing it for way too long. My poor body has stiffened up. I finally started it again because I really didn’t feel well. I was waking up in the middle of the night with my hips hurting, etc. In other words, I was paying for my sloth and had to re-teach myself that yoga is important to my health.
I’ve been doing it this week. The first time, I really had trouble and was cracking and popping like the old Rice Krispies Cereal. Do they even make that anymore? I’ll have to check. I’m still having trouble, but I’m doing a bit better each time.
I’m only doing old lady yoga with lots of good stretches in all directions and a concentration on relaxing into each position, rather than standing on my head or folding myself into a paper airplane. I feel looser when I finish and am hoping I can sleep through the night soon.
The fact that my husband has noticed and approves of my efforts means a lot. I gave myself a silver sparkly star on my desk calendar today. In fact, I gave myself two – one for the yoga and the other because I’m starting to get the lard off again, being down 2.5 lbs this week.
Onward and downward!
Filed under exercise
Olga Teplolino Russian Thread Art – MyOwlBarn.com
Amy Romaniec – Highhorsefarm.com
Filed under ceramics, Clay Art, highhorsefarm.com
I was able to get and print 2 of the 3 things I need from our investment accounts this morning. As soon as I can get the third, we can bag up or tax stuff and take it to our CPA. I always feel so much better when my part of this is done for another year.
I have all appendages crossed that our weather cooperates with me so I can get my massage next week. We’re supposed to get rain Monday and Tuesday, with a possible ‘wintry mix’ Wednesday, just in time for my massage on Thursday. My body would really be grateful if we can keep that appointment.
I’m doing better with my yoga, though. I’m starting to loosen up again, although it will be awhile before I get back to where I was. Why do I have to prove to myself over and over again that this old woman really NEEDS these stretches? I could win a prize for ‘hardest head’ I think. I’m also doing better at keeping my mouth shut this week. I’ve lost 2.5 lbs and hope to continue this, earning gold stars on my calendar. :0)
We’ll leave for Lunch Bunch in about an hour. It was SOOOO good to finally have most of us there last week. I just got a text saying two of us won’t be there. :0( Hopefully, Kay will be there.
I hope you have a wonderful Friday.
Filed under Challenges, Friendship, Thoughts on a ________, weather
The weather experts were right. I’m not aware that we got the ‘heavy downpours’ that were predicted, but we have the rain, and the cold front is moving in today, changing us from the high 40s now to the 20s this afternoon with a wind chill in the teens. BRRRRR! Did I mention I’m more than ready for spring?
I brought some of the sweet daffodils inside so we could enjoy them, particularly since the ones outside blooming or budding now will freeze today. :0( I’m glad I saw these so they could be appreciated.
Yesterday was a 2-Star day. The first star was for finishing the ‘cleaning-out-and-finding-my-desk’ project. The second star was for the combination of my yoga practice, the fact that I ate nothing between lunch and dinner yesterday, and am weaning myself off of no-added-sugar ice cream, resulting in the loss of almost a pound. Hopefully, I can build on that today.
We’re going to go out – probably after lunch – to run errands. We’ll get our mail, buy replacement tarps to cover the garden raised bed planters again, and stop at Real Food to see if they have some good dinners for us. After that, we’ll ‘hole-up’ in our warm, dry house and enjoy being out of the weather.
I hope you’re safe from the weather, too.
The biggest thing that doesn’t show is that the things IN the desk have been reorganized. I deleted, changed, and added files that will save me work at the end of the year when I have to organize things to give to our CPA for taxes. Other things were moved to my art room upstairs, to shelves in the office, etc.
I have to admit that the only time my desk looks this clear is when I’m not doing anything. :0)
Filed under Organizing/DeCluttering
Our son is really into meditation and it has really helped him.
He used to have quite a bit of frustration. At times it would erupt – one time resulting in broken bones in his hand when he ‘punched a chair.’ (The chair won.)
Over the years he has practiced meditation, even going to places where he could receive instruction in how to do it better. He has taken bits and pieces and made his own form now. He practices every day now, getting up early so that he can practice before he starts his work for the day. I don’t know if he does it again in the evening or not. It has made a world of difference for him. He is content and happy now, able to handle even really frustrating situations with an amazing maturity.
He has tried to get ME to try it, and I have. I’m a dismal failure. I guess I don’t want to do it badly enough. I simply cannot turn my mind off, rechannel my thoughts, or use any of the many suggestions he has made. I envy him and now look to HIM when I need help dealing with things.
The best thing I’ve come up with is finding Art – like that above – in which I can lose myself. Music is a huge help, too. Music I loved in the past transports me to where I was when I first heard the song. I’m finding new music and new artists I find amazing. Frustration, anger, and depression simply melt away. Books help. I dive into the worlds of characters I love, leaving my concerns somewhere else as I immerse myself in their lives. Yoga is becoming a coping mechanism, as well. It’s really hard for me to totally relax, but I come really close when I practice my yoga stretches and poses. When I finish, my mind is calm and my body feels looser.
The world is a very complicated place now. I hope you can find something that works for YOU.
Filed under Challenges, Changes, coping mechanisms
We have some interesting weather here in Arkansas the next couple of days. We have a ‘wind advisory’ today – even warning about being watchful of gusts when driving! THEN we have ‘heavy downpours,’ ‘thunderstorms,’ and possible severe storms late this afternoon and overnight, a cold front moving in tomorrow, with possible FLURRIES (It’ll be in the 60’s today…). It’s ‘hold-onto-your-hat weather!
I MAY finish the infamous ‘Find-My-Desk’ project today. My husband mentioned that he saw there was a piece of furniture under the piles yesterday, but then his intelligence kicked in and he wisely shut his mouth rather than adding to his observations. :0)
My simultaneous ‘Shut-My-Mouth-and-do-More-Yoga’ project has a good start now, though the results may not show for quite awhile.
A third project I’m beginning to think about is my Raised-bed, Square-foot Garden project for the spring. I’m getting out my grid paper and will start to plan what I’ll plant and where I’ll put it in the garden. This is all based on where I put things last year, so I’ll have reasonable crop rotation, and then I want to have a ‘square’ between like plants (like I don’t plant broccoli plants in adjoining squares) so cut down on any disease problems. I use up lots of grid paper as I dream, making notes on when I should start looking for plants in our local stores. I want to be ready to plant broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, and spinach, for example, as soon as I can get them into the ground. I’ll group them so I can cover them each night with tarps until the weather is more cooperative, making their growing season as long as possible.
As soon as I finish at the computer, I’ll get to work on my desk again. I’ll post pics when this project is done. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Filed under Gorgeous Gourd Art, Gorgeous Gourds
I just came back in from driving our trash down to the bottom of our driveway and getting our mail. When I started to go down the driveway I caught a glimpse of yellow out of the corner of my eye. When I got back, I got my camera and went out in the yard to find two groups of daffodils budding and blooming in the middle of February! Talk about something that really lifted my spirits. I wanted to share them with you. I KNOW that they don’t realize that it’s still the middle of winter here and that they’ll get frozen one day soon, but their determination to bloom in the middle of whatever is happening around them is motivation for me to try to do the same.
My “Find-and-Re-Organize My Desk” project is going slowly, but I’m definitely making progress. Instead of just stuffing things away somewhere else this time, I’m really trying to re-think where it makes the most sense for things to live – rather than piled on my desk. This takes more time, but will be helpful in the long run. I’ve already cleaned out my tax records file drawer in the desk, caught up with January 2022 records on new spreadsheets on my computer, and filed January’s stuff in old-plus-added folders. It won’t look like I’ve done anything on the project until it’s finished, but I’m plugging away at it with several sessions during the day, with walking out to the shop and back between sessions to enjoy the weather and get my body moving more.
I actually did a session of yoga yesterday afternoon. It felt so good I’m going to do another today, rather than waiting until Wednesday.
I hope that you enjoyed your Valentine’s Day yesterday and that you’re having a hopeful Tuesday, too.
Filed under DIET!, exercise, Gardening, Organizing/DeCluttering, Seasons, Thoughts on a ________
Calvin Nicholls 3-D Paper Art – Margherita Cole – MyModernMet.com
Filed under Calvin Nichols, paper art
Okay. The Super Bowl is over. I love it that they were so evenly matched. I was happy the Rams won because they won it the same way they got to the Super Bowl in the final game that won their place there – a come from behind win. I switched allegiances several times during the game because I love a really close, nail-biter game more than anything. (My husband is still rolling his eyes because I liked the uniforms of the Bengals MUCH better than those of the Rams.)
We enjoyed our splurge dinner of chili mac with onions and cheese, thoroughly enjoying every forbidden bite. :0) Splurge mode is officially over now. I’m using cronometer.com to track my eating. I’m still trying to work out how to eat the foods that are supposed to be good for my husband’s and my various health concerns – building a master list of foods to INCLUDE as often as possible and ones to AVOID. I’m adding to it as I read more and reprinting the list so I can keep it on the fridge to remind me.
I have a yoga session on my calendar for today. I’m also going to include a walk out to our shop and back each time I take a break from my ‘find-my-desk’ project started yesterday and continuing until the emergence of an actual piece of furniture, rather than a pile of STUFF.
Filed under DIET!, exercise, Organizing/DeCluttering
Filed under Gorgeous Gourd Art, Gorgeous Gourds
Forwarded to me by a dear friend.
Filed under Friendship
Calvin Nicholls 3-D Paper Art – Margherita Cole – MyModernMet.com
Filed under Calvin Nichols, paper art
The Writing Cooperative
I’ve told you several times that I’m really trying to eat right. This quest is not only to lose the lard, but also to improve my husband’s and my health.
It’s easy to Google things like, “Increasing your fiber,” or “foods that clean your arteries,” or “low carb foods”, etc.
My newest pet peeve is that a food that is on ONE list is not on another. (An example would be foods to increase your fiber may be really high in carbs.)
I have several issues for which I’m trying to eat the right foods. My husband has another list, including foods NOT to eat since he is a Type II diabetic.
I’m trying to make 2 master lists:
The foods to avoid is easier, but you might be surprised at how hard it is to find foods that meet all of our needs. It seems that the PAPER the food comes in might be a better bet than the food IN the container or bag.
I’ve now printed several lists from the net and am in the process of comparing them to see if there are any foods on ALL (or most) of them for my master INCLUDE list.
THEN there is the whole issue that the two new frozen food places in town we love that provide real food with no preservatives that TASTE good, help us with portion control, and are actually good for us, include foods we are supposed to be avoiding for one reason or another. ARRRGH!
In my next life, I will be a nutritionist specializing in creating custom food lists to address health problems or issues about which people care.
Filed under DIET!, Food for Thought, Pet Peeves
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