Mon 3/2/15

Was going to post for myself someday and for anyone who cares.  I was at the baby shower the other nite and there was a lady there who had recently retired and moved into an RV with her husband who was still working and moving around.  She complained she was so bored.
Well, I never get bored or make it a purpose to never get bored.  Here is what I do.  I do my paint/drawing hobby, I do my music, I sew/quilt, I play and train my dogs and my birds, I read (outside when its nice or in the pm), I watch TV in the evening, I do computer projects and watch training videos for dogs and birds and sewing, I organize my pictures on the computer (a really big and unending job)  as I have a bit of a photography bug also. I try to learn my new computer and phone and camera(on going in order to keep up)I walk, or I hike, I bike occasionally, I do other assorted hand projects like felting, knitting,crocheting, and etc (anything that looks new and fun) I clean and wash clothes as those projects never quit no matter where you are.  We go to museums, historical things, we hike anywhere we can find, try out new trails, go to local events and things that are going on, do some touristy things but not the big really "touristy" things, we find its more fun to do the local things and meet the people, as new things pop up all the time.  I meet new people and ,as I have the gift of my mother, I know all about a person in a matter of minutes.  I usually learn more than I intended. Oh I keep the books and pay the bills.  I also do a bible study each day, which may surprise many of you. And I follow an exercise routine mostly every day, either Jessica smith, my boxing trainers routine, or a vigorous walk or hike.  And I cook, some of the meals, Leroy does some of those two, maybe more than me.  I love to bake. I help out where I am if there is an opportunity as helping the owners with some job or doing work at the pound like I did in Missouri.  I tried selling Air Photos but it didn't really pay for all the work I put into it so I put that on hold. Am open for other opportunities that come up and new ideas.
  I wanted to retire so I could flex my creative muscles, let my interests stretch and become the best I could be in the last third or fourth of my life.  I plan on going out kicking and having used myself up and done everything I could ever have thought of or dreamed of. I do not plan on sitting and waiting for it to happen.  I sleep about 8 hours a nite if I am lucky as my legs often change that plan and its usually less than that.  I am thankful for anything more than 6. I respect my fibromyalgia, arthritis, and asthma, and chronic pain but i am determined not to let them, or my mieneres and  what is becoming  my severe TMJ, rule my life.  I am falling apart slowly but if I sat still I would fall apart faster and no way am I letting that happen.
Someday we will settle down, probably when Leroy is ready as I doubt I will.  I am a gypsy at heart, having never had a stable life as a child.  I never knew what tomorrow would bring and I learned to live liking it that way.  I never liked set schedules, routine jobs and I enjoy traveling as long as I have a house now in my old age to take with me.  Taking my house with me allows me to work around my infirmities and not let them get the best of me.  The world has so much to see and so much to do just in our own little country. I may not be able to travel abroad, which I confess I would like to, but I can explore this one.  I always wondered why people wanted to go to other countries when there was so much here to see.  The grass isn't always greener somewhere else. To me our country is our backyard.

I find that my favorite place is where I am.  I find that I am me wherever I am.  If I don't like myself the place won't change that so I am trying to like myself better.  This life is helping me learn more about myself and in turn like myself.  I know I could live anywhere as I think everywhere has its own beauty, its own bad weather and its own good weather, its own problems and its own politics of both sides.  There is always someone you can dislike but its easier to like people than not.  The ones you don't like you stay away from.  Traveling helps that too.

I have found that things are just things.  You don't need as much as you think, in things or space.

I realize a marriage based on a friendship is probably the most permanent.  A person you can respect and admire holds when things are thin.  You can love someone but want to kill them on certain days.
No one person will fullfill all your needs or wants.

I have learned, don't gain weight, as when you lose it you still aren't the same and you will never look like you did, so don't gain weight in the first place.

I have always known that if you laugh, laugh from your core.  It seems to brighten others as well, as I have been told many times when I have been embarrassed by my laugh.  I learned to laugh and keep busy and open myself to the world many years ago when I was going thru severe depression.  Its also when I learned to love to walk.  It has held me well over the years and I battle depression at all times, but less and less with each day. You laugh and smile even if you don't feel it and it does change the way you feel.  I still struggle to remember that when i get down.

Life is a gift, use it wisely, make the most out of it, leave your mark, and Love freely.

Wish I could have shared this with that lady at the baby shower but it wasn't the time or the place.
All I shared was the two points of wisdom of parenting we were asked to share and they came from my mom. "Don't do anything You would be afraid to tell me and I won't do anything I would be afraid to tell you."   and  "I will love my kids no matter what they are like or do, but I want others to like and love them as much as I do so I want them to behave for that reason".

Sun 3/1/15

Here we are.  After a 5" snow storm and some temps in the 20's it has warmed up today, probably will get into the 40's.  I will probably go down to the park for a stroll.
I posted a couple of pictures on Facebook, and need to get some updates on the blog too.
I have been sewing.  I did the last two superior thread classes and yest. I whipped up a baby quilt yest. (a panel of course) but it turned out really cute. I had been invited to a baby shower at the managers  house for a sweet girl in the park.  She is young, has a little boy, and is so sweet she oozes.  But you can't help but like her.  She is all baby, not one tiny ounce extra I swear.  I took the quilt over last nite but she wasn't home so will try again today.
I have another gift to finish today.  A quilt table topper for some one in the family.  I have really been prolific and of course then you really get better.  Each thing is improving.  The thread class has been so good and I learned so much and with each one I learn more about this machine.  That was my reason for bringing it along even tho its heavy and it gets in the way. 
Did I mention Iris and Sallee earned trick titles while we have been stuck at home?   Sallee got intermediate and advanced and Iris got her advanced.  Now they are neck and neck to earn the expert.
Diesel is trying to work towards his intermediate.  He loves working, he is so proud of himself and so excited to have all that time to himself.  He just smiles and bounces for joy.
We just got two pair of shoes we ordered from  Joe's New Balance Outlet.  I got three shirts but have to send two back as they aren't large enough.  If you have  never looked there try it.
I also ordered two pair of reading glasses from readers.com which is one the manager here recommended.  Will tell you how I like them.  Lots of styles and reasonable prices.  I lost two pairs and will find them as soon as these come.  Always happens.
I am working on a coloring fabric project and Leroy got me a 96 colors.  I really wanted a 108 one  but then we found a carrier with 156 colors.  So much fun.  So Leroy took the 96.  Anyone want to come color?  Bring your book.
Well I was going to mention something which is why I started to write on the blog, but of course, I FORGOT what it was so I think I will go take my walk at the park and see if it comes back to me. :)