Is It Even Possible

One of the best sleepers I know

Is this like wining a lottery, with many chasing the dream and few experiencing it?

Does anyone feel better physically when they first get out of bed. Do you wake with no pain or joint stiffness?

Never mind the usual back, neck, shoulder soreness, most days even my fingers, wrists and ankles hurt.

Could this be from an inappropriate mattress or just an aging thing?

I honestly don’t remember if sleep was comfortable in my younger days. Back then after a full day of chores, life and raising a family, sleep of any kind was all that mattered.

Mister and I searched and splurged when purchasing our latest mattress in hopes of chasing the elusive, “good night sleep”.

“Elusive” being the key word. I understand waking up sore if activities done the day before can be blamed, but I know that isn’t usually my cause.

Okay, after whining a bit and writing this brief post I’m leaning towards I have an age issue with a hint of mattress trouble.

• Even waking sore beats the alternative though.
• I’m grateful for every new day I experience.
• I’m aware of how blessed I am that my problems (although overwhelming at times) are as small as they are when compared to the possibilities out there.

I’m still curious though if anybody wakes-up without some sort of mattress related soreness?

Is finding a perfect (no, comfortable) mattress even a realistic goal to strive for?

Note- This is my first post using the new formatting program wordpress has now. Please let me know if there are any issues viewing it, like overlapping text or things.

Noticeable Tan Lines

It’s pretty rare to see tan lines on me, especially ones as noticeable as right now.

I really, don’t like to be hot, so I usually hide in the shade not bask in the sun.

If you’ve noticed I haven’t posted lately it’s because for weeks now I’ve been spending hours and hours a day getting nicks, cuts, and slivers while working on my tan lines.

The feel good part is we finally got a big, to-do, checked off our list.

We removed the vertical deck boards from our under stair storage area and from around our back deck.

I actually like putting up vinyl siding, and I’ve worked with it a lot. Mister on the other hand doesn’t enjoy it, so this job was mostly mine after he got the frame work all up to parr. An arrangement that worked for both of us.

The areas aren’t very big so why did it take a few weeks to complete?

For days we could only work between severe rain storms. This meant bring the saw and equipment outside, then put it back inside, bring it out…

Then of course the daily severe heat warnings arrived. Which meant lots of water and shade breaks.

There was a ton of corners, angles, and trim work to do. Measure, cut, notch, and repeat over and over. Add my mild OCD, and this part took time.

Then of course regular life like eating, laundry, cutting lawns, cleaning house, etc. still used daylight too. It wasn’t all work every day straight either. There was some day trips for supplies and a few visits with family. We even got the boat cleaned, launched and got a few rides in.

It might have been interesting if I actually kept track of the hours I worked, but than maybe I don’t want to know that I work slower as I age.

I tried to think of a helpful hint or tip to share to make this post more interesting, but I couldn’t come up with anything.

If you don’t follow my facebook page I’ve also brought new life to our old table since my last post. The old oak look is now stained navy.

 

Do projects seem to take you longer to do than they use to?

Do you like to hang out in the sun or do you search for shade?

 

Which Group Are You?

When something goes wrong our instinct as parents and grandparents is to gather our family, stay close, protect and support each other. Right now the opposite has to be done if younger family members are unable to completely isolate because of their jobs.

This isn’t a, woe is me, post, but it does suck to be in that higher risk and more vulnerable age group. I’m certain everyone of you who is feels the same.

“Thank Goodness to today’s technology.” Who else agrees that without it this isolation would be so much more difficult?

Using devises and Internet we can not only hear our family and friends voices, we can see their faces, or easily share pictures and videos. We only have to physically isolate, so to keep our sanity any kind of call interactions are greatly appreciated.

Video chats is now how we visit Monkey (our newest grandson) who seems to grow and learn new things each day. It’s depressing not being able to share these in person, but we hope not doing it now means a better chance of doing it for years to come.

We get virtual tours of projects and changes at the son and daughter-in-law’s place and lots of video visits while we watch Monkey play.

Our daughter also keeps us up-to-date daily with life in the country for her and her husband. She sent pictures of their house renovations, which they luckily had supplies on hand for. We get to see what her fur baby is up to, and she’s keeping us posted on spring progress with her horse.

The effort each and every individual puts into social distancing will make a huge difference.

Remember, just because you can’t see social distancing results in the moment it could literally be life altering.

Mister and I are starting our 4th week physically separated from family and friends. Boredom or running out of projects isn’t an issue yet. Like many of you, I would be lying if I said at times it doesn’t sadden and frustrate us, but there really seems to be no other option.

This situation has increased our desire to move closer to the kids. We had just listed our place for sale before this virus took over. Now, I doubt the chance to sell and relocate will happen anytime soon.

My prayers go out to all during these terrible times. Especially, those whose job takes them out in the public.

Lets keep these people healthy by isolating ourselves if we have symptoms or have been around someone with symptoms.

Lets stay home unless it’s a necessity.

Lets learn what is a necessity.

Lets learn to be happy in our homes. I hear it’s a great time to move furniture around.

Stay Positive.

Be Kind and Considerate to others.

Be Diligent with hygiene, social distancing or self isolation.

I Hope You have someone or something that Can still make you Smile.

What is something you can’t wait to do once this virus subsides?

For me it’s, be in the same room as family and friends. I should clarify that, family and friends other than Mister, because he is certainly both of those.

Probably, do one of our Chinese food get togethers with the kids. I’m craving something not home cooked.

Hold and play with Monkey of course.

Pet and wrestle the grand puppy. Spend time in the barn with the daughter and her horse. Technology hasn’t been able to bring me the smell of horse, leather and hay.

Be able to clear my throat without causing public panic, and be able to touch my nose, eyes or face in a store lineup without fearing illness.

Have you learned any new ways of communicating or staying connected with family and friends while social distancing?

I hope you and yours can remain Safe and Healthy. 

Biggest Surprise Ever

Not that I had a birthday, but that our kids pulled off the biggest surprise ever.

An amazing feat because I’m usually pretty perceptive, and our daughter is usually terrible at letting things like this accidentally slip.

The thought and kid’s joint efforts made this birthday Forever Special.

My actual birthday fall on a week day, and I received the usual phone calls and messages. Even with it being a bit of a “milestone one” I didn’t expect anything more.

I should have gotten suspicious months earlier, when a “family appy (appetizers) night” was scheduled on the Saturday following my birthday. The invitation list was simple with kids, spouses, grandkids, and great grandkids. Although these events are common, they are never put on the calendar months in advance.

It didn’t even strike me as odd when pressed to join the smokers outside before the food was put out buffet style.

Without thought, I led the way back into the kitchen where everyone gathered around the table started to sing happy birthday. 

The cake was homemade decorated cupcakes shaped into a boat anchor. Very appropriate if you know me.

At least there were numbered candles not the exact number of candles to blowout. 

Sitting on the table in front of the cake was a small ribbon wrapped gift box from the kids. Inside was a beautiful handmade necklace with six intertwined silver rings and a saying, “six rings, one for each amazing decade.”

Thank You kids, for the work that went into this,

and

Thanks to all that braved the country roads that snowy night.

I Love you all.

As the night went on stories were shared on how they worried I was going to notice random people disappearing, whispered conversations, snickers, and wagged eye brows during recent get togethers, and during the beginning of the appy night. I had, but never put it all together.

Are you perceptive or suspicious when it comes to things happening around you?

Are you easily surprised?

Traveling Dilemma

 

A good portion of the population wear glasses, right? So, would it kill designers or manufacturers to have different coloured bottles, labels, or even caps on these mini sized products in Hotels, Motels, and Inns?

Maybe, they could incorporate a big, S, C or L, on the label, or just increase some print size.

Something, so those of us who don’t wear our glasses in the shower can identify which product is which.

Clear containers work when shampoo is also clear, and only if hair conditioner and lotion aren’t both creamy white.

Some places also offer body wash. That makes four bottles to choose from, increasing my odds of failure. Yes, I have tried to wash my hair with a wrong product.

This is a minuscule issue, but it is a pet peeve I have when traveling.

I do try and remember to check which is which before jumping in the shower.

I’m also grateful you don’t get those packets, like ketchup comes in, that use to be supplied anymore. The ones that were just as hard to tell apart, and nearly impossible to open with wet hands.

Funny thing, our next stay after this post was drafted, supplied shampoo and conditioner in the slippery packets with tiny print.

Have you ever had to play a guessing game with these mini bottles?

Have you fought with the shampoo packets with wet hands?

Who Remembers

Who remembers cameras using film?

Who remembers taking the rolls into a photo shop?

The waiting sometimes a week for it to be developed? The anticipation? The hoping that picture of something special turned out?

Did you ever come home from a holiday and spend hours writing dates and notes on the back of prints? Or, did you put them in albums right away with side-notes?

I love that newer cameras and mobile devices allow you to check a shot before the moment passes, and that dates are recorded automatically. If you have location service turned on even where you are can now be recorded.

Years ago, when Mister and I did our cross Canada retirement trip, we had a digital camera which was a blessing for checking shots. At that time though, location service wasn’t even an option. Every evening I would download that day’s pictures onto my laptop, and we would name them before we would forget. In our defence, when you cover a lot of miles and see numerous highlights in a day, details are quick to blur and mingle.

I’ve pretty much switched to digital albums, because of storage space, but there’s nothing like having a photo album on your lap and flipping pages.

Have you stumbled across prints years later that you wish you would have taken the time to write on the back?

This just happened to me while going through some boxes.

Oh and remember the sleeves of negatives, seldom ever looked at again but too precious to throw away? I still don’t know what to do with them.

Do you get print copies and do photo albums, or just have digital albums?

Where Was I?

This was a busy work station

To those who follow my blog I would like to apologize for my absence, and also let you know I’m working my way back.

Since my last post, I’m sure Mister and I have spent more time not home than home. With Wi-Fi not always assessable, (hard to fathom, but we only use phone data for emergencies) blogging was put on hold. The positive to this was, when we were not on a highway we were either with family or friends.

Here’s a quick update on happenings that have taken place.

• Our daughter and her husband bought our acreage, and are busy making it their own. Thankfully, for the time being, we still store things there and we didn’t have to make a complete move. Thirty some years of accumulated address changes was time consuming enough to do.
• Mister and I got to enjoy house hunting with the son and daughter in-law while they shopped for their first home. Then we shared our knowledge and extra hands to help build a garage and do some inside home renovations.
• We put our cottage up for sale, which meant sprucing it up first and getting some small overdo projects done. It also led to packing up some personal items for staging (who knew that was going to take almost a full cargo trailer). We love where we live and our friends here are special, but it’s time to move closer to the kids to cut down highway traveling when visiting. After 37 years, I’m also looking forward to the conveniences of living in a town or small city.
• We had our boat in for motor repairs last spring which resulted in it getting stolen. Fortunately, the R.C.M.P. recovered and returned it, unfixed but in one piece. The repairs finally got done this spring by a different mechanic.
• With the help of social media, a very special person and friend who moved away long ago and I were able to reconnect.
• One of our granddaughters had a outside wedding last September. The beautiful ceremony was made even more memorable by light falling snow.
• There’s been an exciting addition to our family. We already have four awesome grandchildren, but in February we were blessed with grandchild number five. The son and his wife delivered a precious new grandson who definitely melts our hearts with his smile.
• Whenever I can, I’ve been loving the smell of horse and leather again. Pulling experience from my past to help the daughter with training her young horse.
• Sadly, but for her own plus her family’s well being, one of my sisters was moved into an Alzheimer’s care facility.
• Some people believe winters in Alberta are long and boring, not so here at Gleniffer Lake. Although considered a summer resort, there’s a good number of year round residents which keep active with weekly coffee get togethers, crafting sessions and playing cards.
• I also took time this winter to dig into my stashed sewing/quilting projects. A grand total of 132 got completed (wow, they can sure add up). Plus, a few hats were even knitted in the evenings.
• I recently got to spend a week as the daughters assistant doing a kitchen cabinet make-over at the acreage. (I love doing this kind of stuff).

 

There are the highlights on what’s been going on in my life, and I’ll elaborate on some of these happenings in future posts.

I look forward to reconnecting with everyone.

The Wheel and Lost With A GPS

I hate when reality proves there isn’t enough hours in a day or days in a week. When life is like being on a hamster wheel. With me running and running, and no matter the pace I get nowhere.

At least I’m still on my feet and life hasn’t thrown me out onto my butt. Smiley Face.

For anyone feeling like they’re in a wheel, let’s take a deep breath, put our heads down and focus. When it slows, we can jump off and take time to smell the roses.

How do I get so far behind so fast?

Are you, in the wheel or out smelling roses?

If you noticed I didn’t post last week it was because that darn wheel wasn’t laptop friendly. Besides, I was busy self-discovering.

Mister did a lot of traveling during his working years so him and I being separated was common back then. Since his retirement it rarely happens. The days we spent apart last week were eye opening. Who knew we would miss each other that much.

My biggest surprise was learning I’m human (or maybe aging). I’m not ashamed to share this next tidbit because maybe it will put someone else it’s happened to at ease.

Stress and sleep depuration can and probably will affect your concentration and coping skills more so as we age.

Did you know even an experienced traveler can get lost while using a GPS? It happened when I didn’t realize the wrong destination on the touch screen got programmed.

My road-trip home was going good, the first pee break was in the city I knew it should be in. After that was when things went south. Actually, I needed to drive south but under the cloudy sunless sky I didn’t realize I was heading east. Sure, I had moments of, this road seems different, but I chalked it up to Mister is usually driving while I’m distracted by reading or napping. When I passed a town I knew I shouldn’t was when all faith in the GPS left and I felt lost. That rattled my tired self which only frustrated me more. So, on the side of the unfamiliar highway with my data-less phone I made a few calls. Do you believe with everyone carrying cell phones it took five tries to reach someone who could confirm that I would eventually get home? The three hour trip turned into five because of my detour.

Thanks goes to the daughter-in-law who answered and the son who she put on the phone for the out of the blue call for a Google search.

Do you put your trust in a GPS when traveling?

The daughter-in-law informed me that it’s also very hard to get a good, clear picture of a hamster in a wheel for this post. Thanks for trying.

Missing Information

Fresh from sleep, before daily thoughts and duties influence my mood, is when I enjoy writing. When I’m connected with my true feelings and creativity seems to flow.

When a crazy nightmare gets me out of bed earlier than usual, I can shift that energy and spin the heavy thoughts into interesting post topics. Those mornings can be very productive, but health wise I’m glad they’re not a regular occurrence.

For me, writing is therapeutic. Putting thoughts down on paper often brings clarity to issues.

Blogs are great platforms to share lessons, hints about life or interests, or inspiring stories.

I wish everything I posted was upbeat and made people smile, but that wouldn’t honor the “life as it comes” part of this blog. I do sensor my subjects though. Tucked deep in my iPad are drafts that will likely never get published. The stories I regard as too sad or the subject is too sensitive to share.

Does January have power over us like people suggest? Is it more depressing than other months? I’m not sure about all that, but it seems to make me contemplate life. Here’s where my heart and thoughts recently visited.

Retirement isn’t for the weak. No, that’s not quite right, aging isn’t for the weak. I don’t mean in the physical sense. I’m sure this statement and my following explanation is thought about by many, realized by most, but is seldom spoken out loud.

My fingers have already paused periodically over the keyboard, debating if I should continue, but here goes.

Have you ever watched or seen a retirement condo advertisement. The lifestyle they flaunt looks grand. They boast about gatherings and activities. Sometimes they have me comparing them to child summer camps. Of course, there’s no large bunk-bed quarters, shared washroom facilities, and usually no chaperones. (Not that I’ve been to summer camp, but I’ve seen them on TV.)

The lake development where Mister and I live isn’t a retirement or even a restricted adult park. There are plenty of young people and families who own places here. We love it, and we love the friends we have made. The majority of the time, life is grand.

The thing is many full time residents are, I hate using the word but, older. So, back to what you don’t see mentioned in commercials or pamphlets about places with an aging population.

Using a well-known cliché reality can sure, “take the wind out of your sails.” I’m not naïve, I know it’s our destiny and that bad things can also happen at any age. But, seeing an ambulance with lights flashing visit the park always sets a bad feeling. No one told me about the high exposure to sicknesses, diagnosed diseases and worse that comes with aging and sometimes where we live.

Emotional strength is needed and tested far too often as our circle of friends decreases. Smiling and staying positivity is sometimes the most difficult thing to do in a day.

So there you have it, the not so rosy part of aging. What do I hope this post accomplishes? I hope it reminds us to appreciate every waking day we and our loved one’s have.

On a lighter note something else I was never warned about that also happens regularly in retirement is, how hard it can be to figure out what day of the week it is. This makes us seem like we’re losing our marbles, but honestly it just doesn’t hold as much importance. Smiley face.

People Say The Funniest Things

It’s not a big, beach inspired craft piece, and it doesn’t ooze restfulness or pop with vibrant colors. It’s no great work of art, but I did option two from, Art and a Glass House.

Funny things pictures have inspired people to say over the years caused me to pause before this college wall I finally got done in our bedroom.

On occasion, I too am guilty of blurting what pops to mind without realizing its silliness. It usually happens when I’m either comfortable with the company I’m in, or embarrassingly, when I’m nervous.

There are successful comedians whose routines reflect and feed off this action, so many of us must share the habit.

Innocent, spontaneous and uncensored comments can be far more real and entertaining as long as they’re not cruel.

I would never want family and friends to watch what they say or be correct in how they speak.

Our 8 x 10 enlarged wedding photo taken with a personal camera, has long since yellowed and has spurred comments like, “Wow that’s an old picture.” I’ve never said any following responses aloud, but I’ve thought them. Gee, could it be because it was framed over three decades ago? You would look old too if you’ve hung on the wall as long as it has.

I’ve been asked, “Is that you?” I certainly hope it’s me since the person is beside Mister and it’s our wedding picture.

“You look so young.” I hope I looked young in my twenties. Maybe they really mean, but are too polite to say, I look old now? Smiley face.

If you studied the wedding picture making your own judgments, you’re not seeing things, that is a stagecoach behind us. And no, that wasn’t the mode of transportation at the time. We were married in the saloon at Fort Edmonton historic park.

There are other photos in this collection that have received interesting remarks. One is a family shot when the kids were young. This I’ve actually heard more than once. “You had such a cute family.” Wait! What are they saying, we’re not cute anymore? Another smiley face.

Here’s one I’m sure everyone has heard. “Is that your family?” Wouldn’t you like to reply, “No,” once just to see their confusion. I could mess with them right now though with the picture frame I got for Christmas. Until I change it, it’s displaying a smiling store bought family.

Most times people don’t even realize they’ve said these things, and that’s part of what makes them funny.

It only took eight years, but every picture hanging on our walls which needed updating is done. I’m pleased, and the cottage feels homey.

Have you heard funny comments about a picture you have?