Monday, October 31, 2011

Ghosts at Multnomah Falls? Oregon

Window was left unlatched so
the young workers could co-mingle.
Happy Halloween!  

I have a little secret for you.  Please tell everyone you know. 1)  I am a tongue-in-cheek ghost believer.  2) I thought I should tell you that Multnomah Falls Lodge here in Oregon may have ghosts.  Really, I think there may be something going on there.  I am not an expert but that place just begs for a ghost or two.


I was privileged to be invited to an Oregon Press Women workshop at the Lodge last week.  The day featured a private talks by several very interesting people.  But the manager of the lodge, Rick Buck caught everyone's interest.  Stories about the lodge going back to it's beginning included pictures of the locations when it was just a train station for picnicers from Portland during the early 20th century.  During Buck's opening remarks a lady seated next to me interrupted his talk to ask if there were ghosts in the lodge. The question brought him to a stand still. Did I detect a blush or a hesitance on his part?  Maybe.

It seems those people that like the paranormal and actually create shows for TV to entertain us with spooky ghostly footage had contacted the manager a number of times wanting to film the interior at night. He is unwilling to allow that to happen. The lodge, built in 1925, stands at the base of a falls that descends a total distance of 650 ft. Numerous deaths have happened over the years as a result of treacherous slick walkways, lost hikers and heaven's know what else. The legend of how the fall began goes back to the Multnomah people and the loss of one of their young woman. It is believed that her spirit haunts the falls. The story starts...
Nice waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge ne...Image via Wikipedia
Image via Wikipedia
Maiden jumped from the fall to her death!  Do you see her
sitting in the falls?
Many years ago the head chief of the Multnomah people had a beautiful young daughter.  She was especially dear to her father because he had lost all his sons in fighting, and he was now an old man.  He chose her husband with great care - a young chief from his neighbors, the Clatsop people.  To the wedding feast came many people from tribes along the lower Columbia and south of it.
It continues to a conclusion with the death of the beautiful bride and plea for a sign:
Other people followed.  On the rocks below the high cliff they found the girl they all loved.  There they buried her. Then her father prayed to the Great Spirit, "Show us some token that my daughter's spirit has been welcomed into the land of the spirits." Almost at once they heard the sound of water above.  All the people looked up to the cliff.  A stream of water, silvery white, was coming over the edge of the rock.  It broke into floating mist and then fell at their feet.  The stream continued to float down in a high and beautiful waterfall. (from Lewis and Clark Trails) 
How could there not be a spirit lingering on the property from such a beautiful story.  But if the lodge shares in Multnomah Falls history, we may never know.  Rick Buck just doesn't want to find out. I, on the other hand, really would like to see if there are spirits walking up the fire escape that used to connects the men and women's dorm rooms or in the halls that pass their rooms used in the 1950's for youthful employees.  After seeing the upstairs rooms one could not help but wonder.


Happy Halloween...again!



If I had the right camera I am sure you could have seen the ghosts!
b


Links: Most haunted Places in Oregon
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Sunday, October 30, 2011

SAVE lots by being a snow birding?

Being a snow bird is not something most of us rush into lightly.  We count our pennies first and then fly south.  It occurred to me this morning that in a lot of ways leaving our home in winter is saving us a lot of money.  How?  Well here is a list:

    Susan and the HorseImage by Always at Home via Flickr
  1. First of all I am healthier.  I don't know if that is a savings but it certainly could be.
  2. We don't heat 1500 square feet in bitter cold.  
  3. We turn off the water heater to save more electricity/gas.
  4. Our second car goes in storage and we only insure it for storage.
  5. We only use one car in Arizona.  
  6. Groceries are cheaper in Tucson than they are here...and more fresh vegetable are available because of the location.
  7. Our entertainment is mostly taken care of in our RV resort.  We do not spend much to keep ourselves happy.
  8. I do not have a winter and summer wardrobe.  Because the summer temperature in Portland is very similar to the winter temperature in Tucson I only need one set of clothes.  I buy all of those off season when they are on sale.
  9. Just turning off our TV cable, computer and telephone save us a lot of money.  ($160+ this last month.)
  10. Garbage, computer service, vampire lights all go away here in Oregon.  
    Arizona Front DoorImage by Always at Home via Flickr
This is the all important departure list that we use:
  1. Mail...the post office with forward mail with a beginning and ending date.  If you are in one location, this works perfectly.  If you are on the road you can have a family member forward you mail occasionally or you can have your mail forwarded to a service and they will take care of this for you.
  2. Turning off the water if possible...I know, you think this is a no brainer.  You need to consider that if you turn off your water you also need to turn off your water tank.  The tank could burn up without water.   Draining pipes might be necessary if you are from the frozen north!  But, no matter what, you need to find a way to have your water turned off.  Water damage is a horrible thing and it happens a lot!
  3. Have the insurance for you second car changed...this can save you a lot of money.  The insurance company will change the cost for you if you have the car in storage.  Cutting the cost for car insurance for six months out of the year saves around $400. 
  4. Keeping the bad guys out...I know people that turned on an alarm system and walked away feeling very secure.   Be very careful.  We have someone check in occasionally.
  5. Make your home look lived in when it is not...(see keeping the bad guys out).  
  6. Make choices about turning off garbage, TV, internet, phone service, etc.  Most of these services have a "vacation/hibernation" setting.  That means that they don't disconnect you entirely and all you need to do when you return is give them a call and they turn your service back on.  Talk with your servers for more information.
  7. Decide on a wardrobe.  It has taken me years to learn what to take with me and what to leave behind.  If you are a total newbie, check on the temperatures during the months you are going to be in a locality.  Arizona is NOT hot in the winter.  Locals and experienced snowbirds do not dress like it is 90 degree when the temperature rises to the mid 60's during the day.  
  8. If you leave the electricity on, UNPLUG EVERYTHING that can be disconnected...the vampires can cost a lot!!! 
Hope you find this helpful.

b

Thursday, October 27, 2011

#1 in Scrapbooking: My Memories Software Give-Away!




If your hobby is scrapbooking (like me) and you love your computer, this is the type of thing you will find very interested.  I have a software package waiting with YOUR name on it...maybe.  All you need to do is leave a comment here on the blog.  Tell me about someone you know that has a strange hobby.  I personally read one time that "dumpster diving" was a hobby.  I quit looking for strange hobbies after I heard about that.  I will draw a name from there.

The contest begins today and will end on November 14th.  Please notice the code and ad in the sidebar for $10 off material at the My Memories website.  Click on the ad and it will take you directly to the website.  Use the code to get your $10 off.  Simple as that!  My motto is never shop without a code or a coupon...never!

Have a wonder scrapbooking day!

b



Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Sometimes Life Hands you a good Laugh!

See...even cracks in the wall
grows beautiful things!
Men and women should marry, but maintain separate houses
A woman needs her space and room to breath, and, more importantly, men need to learn how to take care of themselves. (from Sex By The Numbers)



The tombs are easy of course - perfect models who stay perfectly still for you... (from: Shelley Scrap, Musings of a Roving Illustrator)


Report says the more coffee you drink, the lower your risk of skin cancer.  Starbucks is celebrating! (@retirementlover)


Just a reminder that if you’re tempted to drop a turkey from an airplane, the FAA will be watching you. (from: Good Mom/Bad Mom)


I don't know why but sometimes I find lots of things funny...all on the same day.  It it me or are people just funnier on Tuesday? (from: me somewhere in my other blog) 


Have a wonderful day!


Monday, October 24, 2011

Fall Colors in Oregon Wine Country - Red Ridge Farms

We have been trying to find a day to visit the Red Ridge Farms since last summer.  An article in the Oregonian spoke in glowing terms about the location, scenery and olive oil.  Olive oil in Oregon is indeed an oddity and worth looking into.  We knew we needed to find this place and see for ourselves.

We are located in Hillsboro so the trip to the farms and surrounding wineries can be reached in a number of ways.  We decided to take the Bald Peak Road via S. Hillsboro Highway into Newberg and then head west on 99W toward Dayton and McMinnville.  We had the Garman working full time as we turned right onto NE McDougal and right again onto NE Breyman Orchard Rd.  We were following the signs and GPS carefully.  It was not easy to find at all.

Note:  You can scan a mobile app for you smart phone called Mobile Wine Tour that will give you turn by turn directions to the wineries.  If you are in a rental car this would be great.

In the back of my mind I was thinking, how many people actually do this?  Surely we will be the only people here.  When we drove in at around noon, the parking lot was full.  Who knew? Standing in the parking lot we were awestruck by the vista spread out before us.  How could you find anywhere more colorful/verdant/spectacular?  It was the perfect fall day.

The location includes a green house with olive trees, lavender and old fashions annuals like scabiosa.  This is the end of the season so the stock was very low but we will be going back in the spring when Lavender Festival is in full swing.

Then we went into the tasting room/gift shop.  My daughter and I stopped dead in our tracks. Really you just wanted one of everything.  A beautiful selection of different salts, pottery and the olive oil created on the farm were all displayed beautifully. An outdoor patio with heaters was the perfect place for a bottle of the Durant Vineyards wine created from the grapes grown on the estate and a luncheon platter.  The people at the table next to us were being given a wine flight tasting.  I think this is available by appointment.  Let me tell you...it does not get much better than this.

We left very quickly that morning and I did not realize I didn't have my camera or my iphone!  I will add pictures taken by my family later this week.  Please check back.  Or better yet, go next weekend.  Harvest has begun in earnest.  It is around 6 weeks late this year.  The vineyard workers are yelling at the rain to stay away and automatic cannons are blasting to keep the birds from eating the precious harvest.   When it is not your vineyard it is a lot of fun to see!

b

Note:  We also visited Lange Estates Winery and Torii Nor Winery.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Really GOOD Free TV and Movies

An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy! (Log...
Image via Wikipedia


We share one TV right now.  It is that time of year when my husband really NEEDS to watch football/golf/baseball all at the same time.  Our one TV is busy-busy-busy.  I am beginning to sympathize with Bob Lowery over at Satisfying Retirement.  He and his wife decided to cut the cord and eliminate cable TV.  I too am basically without cable tv right now.  But, after I began tuning into Hula on my computer, my hunger for more choices was taken care of.  I actually think we could do the same thing as Bob.

This is the way it works.  You go to Hulu.com and start clicking.  If you are willing to add a little money ($7.95 per month, one month free) and increase your choices you can sign up for HuluPlus.  I do have a free account but you can also sign in with Facebook or not sign it at all. It is easy and did I mention FREE!

I watch cooking shows on my kitchen computer when I am working there.  It is just comforting for some reason.  When my husband is watching games on the big screen, I just find a show on Hulu and watch it on our laptop.  I will be catching up on Fringe and Bones. It is a whole new tv show/movie world out there.  And FREE is good so we will stick with that!

b

Saturday, October 22, 2011

10 Rules for a Retirement Marriages...will it be Heaven or Hell!

Sail away with me...the best is yet to come!
Gibraltar at sunrise by b
Listen up boomers.  Retirement and marriage can be a very bad mix. You thought working was hard.  You haven't seen anything yet.  So get prepared.   Men moving into a different world, women moving from one role to another. Both expecting more than the other is willing to give. It can be very hard!

I know I've told you about the time my husband moved all the silverware from one side of the kitchen to the other because it "would be better over there".  I spent a long time getting used to the new placement of something so simple as a fork.  Well, retirement marriage is like that.  The life you are so accustomed to has been misplaced or replaced and it takes some getting used to.

Hopefully, you are a couple that has always lived in peace.  You can work together and love spending time together.  But if you are not in that kind of relationship, you need to follow some basic rules of civility until you get it all worked out.   Now I know, you have dreamed of a life without rules, i.e. retirement, all of your working life.  Now I am here to tell you that your relationship with your spouse will fill some of the hours you spent working.  You can live a long time with a partner if you seldom see each other.  But when you look up day after day, weekends AND weekdays to find your spouse in the room, it is a different life.  This is not a time to begin a life of anarchy or war.  There needs to be some law and order.  Here are 10 rules of a retirement marriage:

  1. If you were the boss on your job, remember you are not the boss anymore.
  2. Arguments are bound to happen.  Play fair.
  3. It is not so much what you say as how you say it. Mind the tone of your voice.
  4. Cooperate and collaborate.  Remember the space you share belongs to everyone.  Problem solve together.
  5. Compromise.
  6. Leave for a period of time every day.  Your routine needs to include some away time.  A short walk, trip to the library or coffee with friends will work.  This gives you some new conversation topics.
  7. Help.  No man or woman want to cook/clean while the spouse sits and watches.  Cleaning is not fun for most people and neither is cooking.
  8. Go on a date.  All married people need a little romance in their life.
  9. Bite your tongue.  Remember, the person that has been doing a job all their life does not want to be told how to do it when they retire.  Your way may or may not be better.
  10. Talk about your dreams for retirement.  If your spouse expects to ride off into the sunset hand in hand and you plan to ride off into the sunset in your golf cart or with the girls in book club, be sure your spouse is on the same page.  The biggest problem I hear about is lack of communication.  It is much better to unveil the dream than to spring a surprise.  That can be a deal breaker.
So there you have it.  I am sure there are a hundred rules.  If you are like my grandson and don't want to hear about the rules because "when someone mentions the rules" you are in trouble, I apologize.  But occasionally we need a reminder or two.

Oh by the way, my husband and I have been married for 51 years (almost) and have been retired for 15 of those.  I speak from experience, both good and bad! We have endured because we always remember the most important rule of all: 
  • 11.  Have fun and laugh.  

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Grandchildren will tattle on you! Be careful!

Brothers on the outs!
Over the years my skills as a grandmother babysitter have been questionable and there is a long list of things I have done wrong.  The worst mistake I made was quoting my mother and saying that the neighbor's dog was "so worthless he should be taking out in the back yard and shot".  I guess I had never visualized what that would really look like.  Then my grandson quoted me and tattled about where he heard it.  I was in big big trouble!

So there are a few things I need to warn my daughter-in-law about:
Even though my children have never brought the grandchildren extremely early in the morning they should know that really early is probably not a good idea.  Oh, yes, I do love the babies beyond reason but I am afraid I might hurt them.  I did almost cut my finger off making a sandwich for my husband very early one summer morning.  He doesn't let me use the knife before noon.  It just doesn't seem like a good idea to let me handle babies either.  I just thought you should know.

And your telling me they eat ANYTHING???  That just can't be the truth.  See I tried giving them squash soup last week and the both looked at me like I had two heads.  The older one wanted to know what it was and younger one rubbed it in his hair.  Good thing his hair is orange already.  You didn't even notice did you?  Anyway, if you want me to feed them anything but Mac 'n Cheese let me know.

My next question is about the pull ups and the big boys underwear in the bottom of the diaper bag.  Why are there 3 pull ups, two of the big boy underwear and one pair of blue jeans.  This just does not add up.  If he uses up all the pull ups, I am on to the big boy underwear.  If he gets one pair of those wet what will he wear to cover his legs over the last pair?  I cannot not even think about the answer to the final pair of underwear.  I'm just doing the math.  I will not let him drink very much until you explain to me.

So, I think that is all the information I have for today.  FIY:  call me anytime day or night!  I am up for the job.  I am just warning you about my level of skills and competence.  They are questionable at best!

Mom, Grandma, b

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

6 Links to Bargain Discounts Online--Wine, Kindle, ebooks, Rv Spaces, more!

I have learned to sign up for email offers and email lists at my favorite stores.  I even do it online with some of my favorite websites. They send email coupons that you can print or a flyer in the mail.  I opened my email to find some of these offer today.  See if there is anything that tickles your fancy.

FIY:

    Case of Barclay's Wines


  • 20% off Barclay's Wine --My husband was given a Groupon gift certificate for $75 toward a case of wine from Barclay's Wine. He didn't believe it was such a good thing until he went to the Barclays website and actually ordered a case.  The case came in at a little over $100...$25 out of his pocket.  We received a case of a variety of different wines.  The wines were above average $10-$12 a bottle wines. We now order a case as we need it.  As prefered customers we received an offer we would like to pass along.  We submit your email address to them and they will send you an offer of 20% off a case of wine.  This actually works out to be about 2 bottles free.  Honestly, I want this discount too but it was not offered to us.  Add a link to your website/blog in the comment section below.   The website must have contact information so I can forward it to Barclays.  You get 20% off and we get a $5 voucher if you decide to buy.  We both win!
  • AARP Give Away and Memory Test--WE'RE GIVING AWAY AN AMAZON KINDLE® A DAY AND A FANTASTIC GRAND PRIZE BUNDLE!


  • MAC Power Curls from Quirky for all those computer cords.  Quirky is a place where you can submit your design ideas and people like you and me vote on their viability.  I loved the little Power Curls (above) from the beginning.  Check out the website and vote for a good idea.  They do have a sales department.
  • Free Downloadable Books from 30 day free from Audible.com.  I have not tried this yet but I will before we leave on our trip to Tucson.  I purchased a book for last year and it cost me a fortune. If you sign up with the program you will get your first book for $7.49.  This included books like The Help ($28+ regularly). You can also join and get the first three month for $7.49 per month and that includes the NYT or Wall Street Journal.  You can cancel at any time.  Does this sound good to you?  It might be. 
  • Apartment Therapy always has a calendar of sales events from all over the country.  You can take a look and see if anything appeals to you!
  • 15% off RV rental space in Tucson AZ luxury park.  We are still offering an opportunity for you to take advantage of 15% discount on a months RV space rental.  Leave a link to your website/blog in the comments here.  Be sure that your site has contact information.
  • Frugal Girls--an online blog crammed full of the best coupons and deal out there.
Have a great week.

b
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Monday, October 17, 2011

Living with Ghosts or Where are you Mrs. French?

Our new house was owned by a woman named Mrs. French.  Her name was on the front door engraved in bronze.  She died at a very old age but not in the house.  I am sorry for that.  I really need her to be around and explain what things are.  This is an invitation to her.  Please come and pay us a visit.  We would love to have you.

It is amazing what you can learn about a person you have never known just by living in their house.  If Mrs. French were to fill out a form telling about herself, I thing she would include some of the following things.
  • She loved scotch tape and used it for almost everything.  The back door had scotch tape over the lock so she would not lock herself out of the house.  There was scotch tape on the dryer knob, on the bathtub knob and every door in the house had several pieces stuck to them.  Most of the scotch tape was invisible to my eye and it was several weeks before I began to notice it.  
  • She believed that acrylic bathtub chalking was the cure for almost anything.  I think it was on sale at the grocery store.  It was in holes in the wall, on kitchen cabinets, the front window and in the garage.
  • She loved flowers but didn't have much of an idea what to do with them.  
  • No plant given as a gift was ever discarded.  Each one was carefully planted around the yard, under bushes and near the sidewalk.
  • She had a parrot.  It flew about the house free as if it were in the forest.  I figured out that it was a bit of a problem for her. It bit holes in the rubber seal on the old refrigerator. She kept the cage in the den.
  • Her dog was tiny and not much bother.  However, it was never house broken.
  • She had never disposed of a picture or a frame and hung each and every one on the wall.
  • Her husband was a minister that loved guns.
  • She did not bake or cook much.
I miss her even though she was not a friend.  I would like to feel her moving about and taking notice of what we have done.  I think the paint on the walls would be okay by her and I think she would feel at home with us.  The garden blooms in strange spots but we have not moved them.  I think she would like that. When the small pink bloom emerged by the front sidewalk I could only wonder what the occasion had been when she planted it.  She would remember I am sure.

So we will be at peace, Mrs. French and I.  Unless the enamel on the stove starts popping off or unplugs itself during a party or a smell appears in a remote corner of the house or water starts dripping mysteriously,  I will believe that she is happy she came back.  I have been told she was a lovely woman.

Happy Halloween Month.  Oh, by the way, the stove problems, the water thing and the smell thing have actually happened to me.  

b
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Sunday, October 16, 2011

Aesthetics for Seniors or PLEASE PAINT MY WORLD YELLOW!

I read an article written by a young woman about her grandmother's last years.  Grandma was living in a nursing home or some other institutionalized environment.  The question the young woman was exploring touched a nerve for me.  She could not understand why it was so hard to go and visit her grandmother and talk to her.  I think she wrote the piece so she could come to grips with her grief and guilt.  One could see that she felt it should not be so hard to spend some time with a person you love.

What caught my interest specifically was the paragraph about the appearance of the place her grandmother lived.  Wall were painted that institutional color that sucks all the light of halls and room.  Uncombed hair and a room devoid of personal effects left the young woman feeling alone and slightly afraid in the presence of this loved one. I wondered how others related to this same situation.

Bring life into our life!
Then I paid a short visit to a website calle "Aging in Place" where Patrick Roden writes.  The article Dr. Roden wrote about sex in the nursing home just jumped from the page.  He spoke about ridicule from the staff, loss of privacy, single beds...not a place that encourages what older people need more than anything else.  Human touch.  But the institutions didn't take the beauty of their patients and their situation into account.  Even an old person is more beautiful when they are clean and perfumed.  A hug is easier to give in such a case.

I was taken back to a concept I discovered several month ago that dealt with the importance of aesthetics in the life of the older person.  The name of this blog betrays my belief in the importance I place on the beauty of the things that surround me.

In all of this time I had never once thought about my family or friends and how the appearance of the place where we live might influence their willingness to visit and stay a while.  Young people are not aware of why they don't want to come but could it possibly be that even the color of the paint on the walls is important? Dr. Roden thinks that the "aging in place" concept supports the humanity of the elderly.  It is not only the size of the beds and the privacy a home allows.  It is a sanctuary for the whole family.   It is a good argument for in home care and all that "home" means to the family that makes such arrangements.

As a young senior in good health, I with my husband have moved into a house that is on one level, wheel chair friendly with access to the outdoors and lots of light.  We even have enough room for a live in helper.  We are making this home as beautiful a possible so we can enjoy the years to come surrounded by an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere.  Hopefully, it will serve us well for many many years to come.

And yes, we are painting some of the rooms yellow.  I just thought you would want to know.

Be well!

b


Saturday, October 15, 2011

Tell Me About Yourself Award...for me!!! :)

Thank you Linda Rogers for this award!
The rules of this award is that:
1. You need to tell 7 things about yourself
2. You'll have to pass this award to 15 bloggers.

I have been selected by Linda Rogers for a giant pyramid of "Your Blog is Great" Awards.  I want to play.  So here are 7 things about me:

  1. I like football but think it has one too many quarters.
  2. My husband reads the newspaper to me.  I really can read it myself but he like to read out loud and I don't mind listening.  I have actually learned a great many things from him.
  3. My cat used to have the name "trailer trash" but I renamed him RV.  I began to think the first name was not nice.  He adopted us in Corpus Cristi TX in a really bad trailer park.
  4. We just moved.
  5. I love to listen to myself talk and write.  I guess they go hand in hand.
  6. I always sleep on the right side of the bed...it turns out I can't sleep on the other side.
  7. I am a mother, grandmother, wife and teacher.  They are all pretty much the same so I decided to introduce them in a clump.  
I have nominated the following blogs:



Retire in Tucson or How We Live in Style Affordably!


Agua Caliente Park, Tucson AZ

Living the Snow Bird Life
The area around Tucson AZ attracts a great many snow birds.  They come flocking in during the fall to fill RV resort, apartments, and condo rentals. Golf course fill up and the driving habits of all those seniors cause younger people to pull their hair. Grocery stores are full of shoppers and the nurseries order extra plants so these visitors can fill a pot of small garden with winter flowers.  The snow birds in Tucson and Green Valley just south of Tucson increase the population considerable. We find the cost of living to be very affordable in this area so we have chosen to make it our winter home.  We live in Oregon in the summer.

Snow Birds Yearnings
The robins are back here in Oregon. Their flight path south and north takes them through town for a short period of time. In the spring they come to visit and chirp their happy song every time the sun appears.  If it is a partly cloudy day they wake up again and again every time the sun emerges. In the fall they do much the same but because it rains a lot here we have not heard them before today. We like Robins!

If we are not beginning to think about traveling south for the winter by the time they come in the fall something is very wrong.  I opened my eyes this morning as the sun appeared through the golden trees and the song of the Robin greeted me in the morning air.  It must be time!

We are three weeks away from leaving Oregon and I have begun the count down to the day we close the house for the winter.  I am a woman so all travels begin with my clothes and the things that make a shelter a home no matter where we travel in the world. I carry quite a few kitchen tools with me to Arizona and take some plants back and forth.  When we travel I carry some pictures.  I know it seems foolish but those are the things that give me comfort.

My husband is in charge of computer packing, tools, and the other mundane items needed to maintain both places.  Our park model is waiting for us in Tucson.  We have chosen to live in the small space because it is affordable and we have a built in group of friends when we return each year.  We like that.  It is a bit like moving back into the college dorm after summer vacation.

Creative Lifestyle for Snowbirds
A game of cards on the deck.  Tucson AZ
Many of my friends are quilters.  In the RV resort we live in, people have spaces for quilting, beadwork, silver and lapidary and wood working.  We play pickle ball, bocci ball, cards, pool and bingo.  Most seniors have that creative need and love to indulge in their whims while they are away from their family.  Those new to the lifestyle do miss their families and some even feel the need to fly home mid year. These hobbies help them adapt.  Soon they begin to realize that the winter break is good for their family as well as for themselves.

Almost everyone that comes to our park and buys a park model will immediately begin making the small space their own.  The aesthetics of their surroundings continue to be very important to us all.

Animals in the RV Resort
We will be taking our cat south this year.  He had been boarding at my daughter's family for several years but he is getting a bit old and not a reliable as he once was.  He is ours so we will take responsibility for his care, feeding and general spoiling.  He is a very good old cat.  In our RV resort you can have a cat if you keep it in the house.  If you have a dog you need to live on a street called doggy row.  I guess barking dogs are not appreciated everywhere!

Have a wonderful day and come on down and visit us!

Note:  I have added the list of blogs on the left so you can see a few of the blogs I follow.  I added The Casablanca Transformation today.  The author has some beautiful creative and inexpensive ways to make her home beautiful.  Check it out!

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Thursday, October 13, 2011

Before and After: the kitchen re-decoration with paint1


Before
After
Oh my gosh...when I began to post these two pictures of my before and after kitchen I noticed something very strange.  On the day that I took the picture of the kitchen last August, my display space above the cabinets had been packed with every piece of bric-a-brac that I owned.  When we were moving into this house, my son and daughter began unloading the boxes and before we knew it the whole top was filled with everything from Buddhas to a Red Riding Hood cookie jar. There sitting next to the kerosine lantern is our black cat.  I really have no idea how he got up there but pictures don't lie.  The cat can climb the walls.  Really.

In the after picture you can seen the green paint under the cabinets and a tan above.  The green shows a lot greener than it really is or if I am to believe the first picture, it is a lot greener than I thought.  Pictures don't lie!

Note:  My husband made the spice can holder out of a piece of welders metal.  We bought the cans at our local Krogers store (Fred Meyer).  He also made the gadget hangers over the counters.  He painted molding and spray painted cup hooks after straightening the hooks slightly so the gadgets would slide on easier.

b

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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Why TRAVEL now? WAIT AND IT MAY BE TOO LATE!

Trip of Santiago Guillén and Antonio Veciana a...Image via Wikipedia
I was reading an aritcle on a website called BOOTSNALL, ONE STOP INDIE TRAVEL GUIDE.  The "11 Reasons to Stop Dreaming and Start Planning Your Round the World Trip!" title caught my interest.  I don't really even want to go around the world but still it might be fun to plan a trip and see if it is doable.  How many things do you want to do but are "waiting" for more money, time or until you get old or even young again?

This article has a list of reason NOT to wait and even related articles to support their argument.  I think you should read it today.

Just word here.  If you are waiting for retirement to make your dreams come true, you need to rethink that plan.  Do what you can do now to make a little part of your dream come true.  After all if you wait and it may be too late!  




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Monday, October 10, 2011

Did You Like It Better Back Then? 2011 Post

I wrote this article back in 2011. As we look back to that time, I realize that I am so much better off than I was then. For those of you that were caught in the storm of 2009 I wonder, have you adjusted or did things change enough that it didn't turn out as bad as you imagined it would?


I woke up thinking about the theory of evolution this morning. You know, that idea that things change for reasons we don't or won't understand. We all know that "retirement" is not what it was for a short period of time in the 20th century. Back then we believed the notion that "early retirement" was an attainable goal for everyone. 

Dreams of houses at the beach helped people in cold climates to get through the frigid winter and our nation was so prosperous we believed anyone could have one. We may not like it but those day are gone, maybe forever. So, do you like new ideas and concepts? It could be we had better get used to some new things. There is no escaping today and it's reality. Here is what I think.
Choices at the Crossroads


Life in retirement/old age might be morphing into something new and even wonderful. As with the bird that was born with two white feathers on the back of his head that looked like eyes was able to survive longer than those that did not get those feathers, those that are able to grow new ideas will survive and become even be stronger. Those that are not flexible or smart enough to make some changes in expectations and lifestyle, will not experience the full joy of their old age.

In the world of nature, the strong endure and the weak whine and die. Mankind and animals evolved because forces of nature require change in order for them to survive. It is a hard truth. Could it be that, given the forces in play now, the average American's expectations for old age will evolve? Will factors like economic climate and the expanded life expectancy force our citizens to change? Will it be like that time when man was old at 30 and something happened in nature or knowledge that allowed man to live to 40. The reality was humans had to work to live. There was no stopping at 30 even though that was the way their ancestors had done it. As we grow older we have to work longer.

Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you view this time on this earth, we are living longer. We are finding ways to remain active and healthy much later in life. My grandparents were old at 70. They wore false teeth and lived a very small life. My grandfather worked until he was 72. Then he sat down and waited to die. They did not want much more when they quit working. As the aging process slows, we are finding that our desire to grow and reap rewards is not stopping at age 62 when we can begin to collect Social Security. It is said that age 50 is now the new 40. Maybe age 62 is now the new 52. And the new 72 will become the new 62 (when we begin collecting Social Security).

Now people are not done living when they retire. They want an enjoyable retirement full of adventure. They are faced with the possibility that the financial benefits are not going to be what they need to fulfill their dreams. If they continue to want a better or even equal lifestyle, they are going to have to continue working. The economic realities and extended life span have changed all the rules.

I had thought, "Just get over it!" It has been my feeling that people are too attached to their possessions and money. "Why" I kept thinking, "can't they just live on what they are making?"

 Am I wrong? Could it be that Americans have come to a crossroads? Are they willing to face the changes that are necessary as a result of living longer? 

There are many choices. Will they adjust to their longer life span in today's economy and see that being productive for an extended period of time is necessary if they are to have their dream retirement? Will they see the advantage of living life as they go along not waiting for a retirement that won't happen nearly as soon as they thought it would? Oh better yet, will they see that a simpler life can be happier than one filled with dissatisfaction? 

Just a thought.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

71 YEAR OLD WOMAN Succeeds at Social Media...surprised?




Sunday Finds

Screen Shot of Journywoman website.  Retro and Wonderful!
It is interesting the things I stumble onto on Sunday mornings.  This morning as I went through  my email, I found a notice from my linkedin travel group.  One of the members had recommended an article about an a successful travel expert.  The title of the story attached to the audio interview above jumped off the page at me:  "This 71 year old knows more about social media than you and I do,"  the title read.  All I could think was; really?  You actually said that?  You see, I know 71 is not old; most people of that age know more about everything. That is no surprise to me.  I am coming up on 70 in a few days.

The Author

The story was written by Ron Tite on his blog and included his youtube audio interview above. Ron Tite is a very successful man and has been named one of Canada's most creative men by Marketing Magazine. He is working currently as Vice President [of] Innovation Practice at Euro RSCG. He managed to score an interview with Evelyn Hannon, a travel expert and mentor for women that travel alone. She truly is an amazing woman and evidently always has been. But what caught Tite's attention was the fact that she is a 71 year old that understands social media and makes it work for her. I would assume that he had never had much contact with people older than himself and works in a world that does not include more experienced humans.



The Story
Evelyn Hannon began her journey as a single woman in the 80's after a divorce.  She had traveled a great deal with her x-husband and found she was a little apprehensive about venturing out on her own. She over came her fear and began traveling and journaling about her experiences and knowledge.  As the years passed she shared what she knew with other woman and in the late 90's built a website called Journeywoman, A Premier Travel Resource for Women.  The website remains unchanged and is now getting awards for the retro look and forward looking advice.  She simply does what she does because she cares about the people she connects with.  

The fact that she is a woman does not count nor does that fact that she is 71.  What counts is that she is doing what she loves and doing it better than anyone else.  You have to love that!

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Saturday, October 8, 2011

Fall, Summer, Winter, Tropical...all in one suitcase?

How in the name of all that is reasonable am I going to begin packing for this season away from Oregon.  My husband and I will leave Oregon where it is already cold.  Early in November, we will travel over the mountain (probably in the snow) south to Arizona where it will be warm and sunny.  We will be there for one month.  On December 7 we will travel to China where it will be cold, wet and smoggy.  After about a week we will travel to Viet Nam with our son and his family where it will be rainy (I am told).  We will take an over night train to the northern part of the country where my son, his family and friends.  The men will hike and I will learn about the culture. It will be cool there.   After a few days we will fly to the tropical part of Viet Nam and stay in a resort on an island.  Then we will return to China.  If we are still living we will get back to Arizona in late December.

I am thinking I need zip off bottoms on every item of clothing.  I might need some wool and some light cotton.  Hiking boots, sandals and sparkly shoes along with a pair of two of shopping shoes.  I will need a big purse, a little purse, a backpack and a shopping bag. I will need underwear that will dry very fast and coats that breath but are water proof. AND I will need 2 really big big suit cases.

Oh, and did I mention that it will be Christmas so I will need to take gifts for everyone.  I think I need the big book of lists.  I know there has to be such a thing.

Wish me luck.

b

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Gift Registry? Weddings, Birthday, or Christmas Ideas

Making the Gift Registry Work for You
I have a suggestion.  Crate and Barrel has a registry online.  (Don't most stores have a registry?)  What if you were to add all those things you love to one of those registries.  If people ask for suggestions for a Xmas gift, you just send them to the registry you have used.  

Better yet ask you friends and family to fill out a registry somewhere and then you can use the items for ideas for gifts.  I loved the online idea...we all like to shop from home.  Then a person can simple order something and have the item waiting for you at your local store or at home.   I have seen Crate and Barrel's gift boxes and they are beautiful.  You may have to call a local store but our cell phones have no long distance so who cares.  What a way to possibly save postage and still get the loved one just what they want.  See how it might work...it may be just what you need to do.  I am going to talk to the women on my list and see if we can work something out.

Some Summer to Winter Decor
Below are some before and after pictures using products from local retailers like Crate and Barrel, Bed Bath and Beyond & Pottery Barn.
The wall over the sofa...I could not get it right!
Then we painted, added drapes (Bed Bath and Beyond) and changed out the throw pillows
for crewel embroidered ones bought at Pottery Barn.
I made myself hang wall decor in a straight line. I think it looks
more up to date.  Don't you?

The late summer table had me stumped.  Nothing would work!

Then I found these beautiful ginkgo branches in silk at Crate and Barrel.

They are being sold online for around $10 each.
I had the clerk dig three out from the back store room.
I think they are stunning.
Have a wonderful day.

b

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