BORED.... Never

                             As I age, I am slowing down. Do you find that to be true, as well?

 And, I find that with just myself to look after, I end up with hours each day with little to do!!

                                Gee, I used to wonder when that day would come..........

                                                                     It has!!

                                                         So, I find that I am bored.

I ran across some quotes I'd written down, some tips about growing older, and guess what I found.
                            

                 "You should never allow yourself to become bored"   

                                                                      DUH

        That quote came out of a book my son gave me several years ago. A very wise book. 

                                                          I should read it more often!!

Dr. Pillemer interviewed more than 1,000 people over the age of 65 to find out their advice to the younger generation. It's so informative, inspiring, a "gotta read" book. 

One lady that Dr. Pillemer wrote about, aged 94, says this:

"I tell them (the younger people) to find the magic. The world is a magical place in lots of ways. To enjoy getting up in the morning and watching the sun come up.....You can be grateful, happy for the things that have happened. You should enjoy your life. Grow a little. Just because you're getting older doesn't mean that you need to stop growing...."

                                              Well, that slapped me right in the face.

Here I am, gonna turn 85 in a few days, very healthy (slowing down but not sick), my mind is very alert, I am surrounded by love of family, friends and life. And, I am BORED!!

                                                          What the heck?

                                         So, I am on a MISSION. Will you join me?  

And, here is a prayer that I intend to say every night as I go to bed. 

              The things that I am the most thankful for... they are the simple things of life

Linking with Thankful Thursday and Little Things

Reading, Painting and Walter

Son Michael is back to work now after his vacation and I am filling my days best I can.
I am doing things I enjoy, like reading...
I am almost finished with "Incident At Big Sky", the true story about a young girl training for the biathelon in the Olympics. She is running the mountain trails in Montana when she is captured and held captive by a father and his son. She gets shot but survives. This happened in 1984. You may remember it... if you are old enough, that is! 

I am wandering about my son's house, finding things that intrigue me.

This is a piece of scrimshaw that was a gift to my husband several years ago. I don't know if it is true scrimshaw but it looks cool nevertheless. I would like to think that it is.

And, if you have ever seen Jeff Dunham, the ventriloquist, you know Walter.

I just love Walter.

This one talks if you push his button. Ha ha. 

I walk outside and enjoy my son's flowers. He knows how to grow things. This is a Rose of Sharon blossom.

Besides reading, I am writing another book, doing entries in my journal, trying to blog often, keeping up with my facebook friends, I have two instagram accounts. You really ought to check those out. One is accidently_aging and the other is willielatanebarton. I have fun doing those. And, I am still doing watercolors. 

This is yesterdays attempt at a swallowtail butterfly

Well, that's all for now, folks. The weekend is coming up. I am sure we will get into something or other while he's off work.

And, that means more things to enter in Tom's Willy Nilly Friday 

It Doesn't Take Much

                              I have so much to be thankful for. Big things, little things, it doesn't matter. 

                                                              God's blessings come in all sizes. 

Here are some things I am sharing over at Thankful  Thursday, Willy Nilly Friday Five and Little Things


                                                                 Good Books to Read

                                                                      A Quiet, Peaceful Sunrise

                                                                                 A Waterfall

                                                                    Naps On The Sailboat

             Ordering Food at a Restaurant and There Being Enough To Take Home For Another Meal.

Do You Keep A Journal?

                                                                     Do you keep a journal?

                                                       They called them diaries back in 'the day'.

  1. I started my first one when I was in my teens but it was one of those tiny little books with scarcely enough room to write anything. All I entered was the scantiest info, like 'met Elbert Barton today' or a couple years later 'he proposed'.

2. It was not until 1999 when I read 'The Widow Down By The Brook' a well-documented diary written by a widow. It made me realize just how little I had revealed about my life in those 'tiny little diaries'.

3. I bought me some theme paper (college rule, of course) and set about documenting my life day by day. There soon came our move from Alabama to Virginia, my cancer scare, Elbert and my journey through his Alzheimers and finally my new life as a widow. I had become that widow "Down By The Brook".

4. I have scores of journals, mostly the back and white composition books that we used in school.
I find they are about the right size for a years worth of journaling. As I have needed, I have gone back to those older journals to recall certain events, find out info I had forgotten and relive those special times in my life. How I wish I'd kept more detailed journals before 1999. Oh well, we learn as we go along.

5. I wonder if my children will keep my journals after I am gone. Will they read them or will they be stored in a trunk or perhaps eventually tossed out. It doesn't matter. They have served a purpose for me and that's all that is important.

Linking with Willy Nilly Friday, Thankful Thursday and Little Things.

This is part of my Growing Old Gracefully series. 

A Time Alone

                                       Since I live alone I have found that I can do anything I want to!
Nobody needing me for anything. No husband wanting breakfast. No children to send to school. No pet to be fed.
I am my own boss. Although I sorely miss my companions (my husband and then my partner) and would want my life back the way it was, I sort of like being on my own. 
I have a routine every morning. I am a fairly early riser if you can call 7 early. I walk into my office, sit down in an old swivel-rocker that had been my Moms. I ask Alexa (Echo) what the weather is, then ask her to play some classical music (it's a different composer usually each morning). 
I reach for three books that are nearby. The Bible, "Letting Go" by Beatty, and "Who Will Cry When You Die" by Robin Sharma. Those books have lessons I need to set the tone for my day. I read a bit, say a prayer, sometimes I meditate (just being quiet and peaceful) while maybe Chopin or Beethoven provides the background music. Sometimes I choose the sounds of the ocean or a thunderstorm to play on my Echo.  I love this quiet time, just me, God and my thoughts. 
                               As Robin Sharma says "The way you begin your day determines the way you will live your day". 
                                                                How do you start your day?

Reading A Book

                                                I've always loved to read. 

I guess I got that from spending every afternoon at the library waiting on my aunt to pick me up from school. For whatever reason, I love to lose myself in books. Go to places I could never travel, get into adventures I'd never have otherwise, meet people who inspire me, scare me and those I just love. 

     I was cleaning out a cabinet the other day and ran across this book from my childhood. 

I've read this to my children and most of my grandchildren. Maybe I need to start reading it to my great-grands! 

Reading is so important. I was thrilled when I was invited to join my great-grandson, Dylan, at his school for lunch one day. 

                                    And, they just happened to be having a book sale. 

                                                    So, I bought him a book. 

                                        I am so thankful that he enjoys reading. 

I am linking with Little Things and Thankful Thursday

School Days

I spent yesterday noon in a school lunch room filled with noisy, happy children. What a gift that was!

I was invited to have lunch with one of my great-grandsons. Now, tell me, how could a Gigi turn down an invitation like that! 

So, I donned my best slacks and blouse, combed my hair, swiped lipstick across my lips, set my GPS, cranked my car and before you know it, I was pulling into the school yard. 

How long had it been since I'd been to school? Wow. Years and years and years. 

After lunch we walked around the book fair. Great-grandson picked out a book about dogs and I handed him some money so he could purchase it. You can't give a kid any better gift that a book. 

I guess the point I am trying to make here is.. well, there's more than one point, come to think about it. 

Every moment you spend with a child makes your life and theirs more joyous.

Every book you read gives that child knowledge they might not of had if you hadn't taken the time.

And, curled up on a bed, with a child next to you on a pillow, a book in your hand and the two of you reading about a magical wonder land. There isn't a better feeling anywhere than that! 

I read to my children. I read some to my grandchildren. I need to make sure I read to the grands soon, too. 

Rough Around The Edges

Hey there....

How are you today? 

Some days I feel older than mud. Used and worn out.

Some days I feel more like young mud!!! Ready to be molded into something interesting. 

I've put some living in my years. Surprises the heck outta me when I look back at all I have done and I am still doing. But, age has a way of leaving a mark on you.... like wrinkles, and grey hair, and creaky bones. In the picture below I am 'touched by time and rough around the edges'. 
                     Man, it was windy the day we made that picture!!

I have always loved story telling and I have a bunch to tell. I've written my and my husband's life out for the kids and grands, just so they will know where they came from. I've put together dozens of picture scrapbooks so they can have visual proof that I was telling the truth... at least as I remember it. 

And, I wrote a novel about a couple living during the Depression. Now, I know a thing or two about that era and the characters in the book were patterned after people and events that I knew about. 

Here I am doing a speech about the importance of trying something new even if you are older than mud.

So, my quote today pretty much says what I want my life to be like at this ripe old age of 83. I want to be sort of like fine wine... aged but oh so tasty. 

Have any of you left any stories behind for your 'youngins' ? Just asking. 

You might want to think about it.  

Five Books in Five Categories

Once upon a time I discovered Pinterest. And, I hit it hot and heavy for a brief period of time. I still save things occasionally but mostly I used my boards to refer back to when I need help with something or to just sit and enjoy the pretty pictures.

For Willy Nilly Friday Five and Five On Friday  I am selecting five books, each from different reading categories.

BOARD # 1... Books I Have Read (There are 428 pins here)

1. Bios like "American Caesar" about Douglas McArthur

2. History like "1776" by David McCullough

3. Self Help like "Life Code" by Dr. Phil McGraw

4. Humor like this one by Erma Bombeck

5. Spiritual like "Draw The Circle" by Batterson

What do you read? 

Reading Rick Bragg

                                                 Have you ever heard of the author, Rick Bragg? 

                                                                                     No? 
  
                                                 Well, just let me introduce you to this writer. 

I am always proud of anyone from Alabama (my home state) who makes it good. And, Rick has done us all proud. 

That man is a real storyteller and some folks rank him right up there with Harper Lee and Eudora Welty. Now, that's mighty impressive.

I read one of his books several years ago and I was hooked, I mean big time. He writes just like you are right there, smelling the food, hearing the backdoor slam, hearing the ole hound dog howling. 

I think the first book I read was 'Ava's Man' and soon followed it with "All over But The Shouting". Just sweet, simple stories about his mama, bless her heart, who had to raise him in the poorest conditions, with no help from a no-account alcoholic father. 

Anyway, Rick grew up in the little community of Possum Trot. The stories just tug at your heartstrings, make you laugh, and shed a tear or two, as well. 

And, lo and behold, there he was, on the back page of my favorite magazine, Southern Living. Do you all have a favorite magazine, one you can't live without? It's Southern Living, for me.

Well, heck, I got off track there - sorry.

He was a newspaper reporter, worked for the New York Times but he's best at storytelling. He has received well over 50 awards including the Putlitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1996. Get on Amazon and pick you out a book. Rick didn't put me up to that. Heaven's to Betsy, that man doesn't know I exist. But, I bet you will enjoy his writing. 

A Beautiful Day

It's a beautiful day in my neighborhood...

1. I have been so distressed over the fires in and around Gatlinburg. We often hear of fires out west but seldom of  large ones in the east, closer to home. My heart aches for the losses. 

We once had a family vacation in Gatlinburg...such fun. Here's a picture of some of the gang!

2. Everybody have their homes all decorated for Christmas? I love this time of the year. Here are a couple pictures of my decorations in my little apartment.

3. I get my car back from the repair/collision shop today!! Yippee. After 3 1/2 weeks I am ready for wheels.

4. "Is that my Mama?" Just a silly quote I thought of while viewing this photo.

5. One Christmas (a hundred years ago. hehe) I received this book from my aunt, who was a school teacher and thought I needed to learn to read. Well, actually it was about 78 years ago that I got it and you know what? I still have it!! 

Have a good one, blogging buddies!! 

I am linking to Willy Nilly Friday

I'm Inspired.

This is sort of an 'aside' for me... 

but, I just wanted to share with you something I saw Friday night on 20/20. It was an interview done by Diane Sawyer with Jaycee Dugard. 

Remember....
She was the 11 year old who was kidnapped and held in a backyard shack for 18 years. 

Well, I am just so impressed by how she handled herself in the interview. She's smart (and evidently was not schooled all those years of captivity). She's articulate, funny sometimes. Not afraid to laugh, not afraid to live.

                            What an inspiration she is for us all.

Now, I just want you to know that no one has asked me to tell you about this. But, I am going to tell you about her book that is coming out next week. I certainly want to read it. It's called "Freedom - my book of firsts".  I just know it will be an eye-opener and inspirational as well. 

Now, I've said my piece. So, I guess I will sign off and go to bed. Wishing you all a very good night's sleep. 

Prayers and Wishes

It was voting day today. I expected long lines but there was only one person ahead of me and that was Leslie. We got checked in, was handed a paper ballot and we went into the little booths and prayed that the marks we made on that ballot make a difference. God knows we need a change in this country. 

We couldn't have asked for a better day, bright, sunny, warm and we don't even think about the ice and snow that they are predicting 3 days from now. I take advantage of the warmth and sit on the balcony to dry my hair. I watch the cell tower as I pull the brush through my hair.... There is no sign that the osprey are back. But, they will be soon.....

I am reading "Four Seasons In Rome" by Anthony Doerr. A true story about he and his wife's year in Rome. They arrive with 6 month old twins and some of the story is of their day to day struggles and joys. Some of it is so descriptive of the history, the culture, the life's blood of Rome. And, I ache to go there. 

And, oh, do I ache to write like Mr. Doerr does. But, that will never happen!! 

I hope that if your state is in the throes of Super Tuesday that you will go to the polls and vote. It matters very much that you do what you can. 

                                                                                                                                  

My Mom's Little Booklet

Got up early (before sunrise) this morning and was looking for something to do when I spied a box of old letters I need to scan one of these days. Why not do a couple this morning? And, the first one I pulled out was not a letter but a little booklet my Mom had made in school.

Mom was born in 1904. Let's see, if she started school when she was six, then that would have been about 1910. Since there is a IV written under her name on the front of this little booklet I am thinking maybe that means she was in the fourth grade. So, now we are figuring this treasure was made about 1914. It's over 100 years old!!

So, I thought I'd share my find with you this morning. And, link up with Tom over at Tuesdays Treasures.

                                                                      THE COVER

FIRST PAGE

SECOND PAGE

It has 12 pages in all. Just such a precious thing to have, with my Mom's own handwriting.