November 2017 Autumn

It has been awhile since I had something to write about but I will now:

Took a trip to Florida for three weeks to visit my friends,my son, my sister-in-law and my two lovely daughters.  It was a whir-wind with our RV in tow. Finally resting in Lutz Florida to await Thanksgiving Celebration.

 It was a lovely, delicious Thanksgiving at my sweet daughter Valerie's home with a visit for the first time from my new Great-grandson "Tripp". His mother and father from Texas and my son and daughter-in-law Jennifer Rothschild.  Had the luck of my grandson from college there too, Connor.  What a wonderful visit all day on Friday.  I am showing a photo of all of us which includes grandson Matt, grandson Jag, son-in-law Robbie.  Did I miss anyone?  Yes, son and daughter-in-law David and wife Hilda from Louisiana and daughter Cindi from Pensacola.

There were four generations together for first time and I fully enjoyed being the "Queen Mother" as shown in photo also.  I had tears of joy when they arrived and tear of sadness to "Tripp" leave.



Family minus a few not able to join us, but missed.

The next day we started for home in Tennessee.  The traffic was horrendous for those traveling North to South but our South to North was a breeze and watching along the Interstate the trees changing color the nearer we got to our destination.  You see, Autumn and Winter, I love these seasons, with Spring coming in as third.  We were glad to be home! Be it ever so humble.

Hot Summer!

This has been awfully hot for East Tennessee this year but has just started to let up this week but still too hot.
This of course, has led me to stay inside air-conditioning or fans about but even so being cooled I found myself to be lazy and my thinking shut down as far as crafting or writing goes.  However, to try to keep my brain alert I started doing puzzles.  First on my IPhone but then and now with puzzles done at the table.

I started with a 1000 piece puzzles titled The 1980's.  Wow! Never again, it took me forever.
My dear husband tried to help and we finally got it finished with one piece missing.  Get that! 1 ONE piece missing.  I called the manufacturer who said he was sorry and would send another.  I said "Not the same one please, not 1000 pc."  I picked out of their catalogue a 450 piece and it went nicely and took about a week to complete, maybe 10 hrs.  Then another one for 300 pcs, a breeze but not challenging enough so now we are doing a 500 piece old time photo puzzle. This one taking longer even with the help of dear husband.  Being retired and hot outside this gave us something to do other than cleaning the house.   YAY!  We are hooked!

My memories started to flow back also.  I remember my parents having a cardboard table set up and a puzzle on it all the time.  See, I forgot about that until we finished our puzzles.  It must bring alive nostalgic moments.  If only it could help my literary sense.

One exciting thing! I became a Great Grandma to a beautiful (we all say that) baby boy.  His name if Phillip Clayton Rothschild III.  That's because my son is the first, his son the second with same name.
I suggested, at least I think it was me, when they sent me a video to tell me they were preggie I suggested that they think of calling him by TRIPP.   Triple Phillips for the P and Trip for triple.
Aren't I creative?  At least I hope it was my creativeness. If it wasn't my idea I am sorry but I am getting older by the minute as I either said it to them or heard it from them.  I just love this little guy and I hope I am allowed to live to see him at the very least go to first grade.

Now, I haven't blogged in awhile so here it is.  Hopefully the next blog with be about rving in our camper  to some interesting place.  WELCOME FALL!!!  I MEAN AUTUMN .

Dust, Colllections and Aging

 

I would like to be 40 and know what I know  at 80+.

You never can imagine what being 80 plus would be like when you are 40. Even if you still had parents living near you where

 you could see the changes as they age, you just don't believe it happens to you.

The things that happen as you age when you are 50 or 60 don't seem too different except your children are older, your parents

 may have passed and there are those parents who need care.  You just don't see that in your head happening to you.

Then unexpectedly as you get to be 70 you noticed a difference in your thinking, walking or your desires.

At least I did at 70.  I started seeing a doctor more as Medicare creeped in at 65.

I kept on asking my doctor what I should expect physically right now as I was never this age before.  The Doc being in her 30's or 40's

 had no answer because she was not there yet.

Enter a geriatric doctor, who of course is also younger than 70 but I feel maybe her studies in that field of aging gave her

 more insight.  Good idea but hard to find one or not taking any new patients.  Seems my generation feels same as me and

 still quite a few of us around. I would like to be 40 and know what I know what I do at 80+.

You never think about or imagine what being 80 plus would be like when you are 40. Even if you still had parents living near you

 where you could see the changes as they age, you just don't believe it will happen to you.

Changes that happen as you age when you are 50 or 60 don't seem too different except your children are older, your parents

may have passed and there are those parents who need care.  It’s not something you dwell on at that age.

  I like to collect.  I have done that for 30 yrs.  I collect all kinds of things that I finally sold (thank you eBay), as our circumstances changed.

Once again I began a new phase of collecting, that of which  I picture below.

 Now I look around at what seems like dust collectors.

These collectibles, which use to give me pleasure to look for and "collect", still give me pleasure in my home. I started to put away for whatever,

 my trinket boxes and my glass balls.  Put away I mean, boxed up and labeled for the "whatever".  Into the garage they went.

No, I don’t consider myself as a hoarder, just have an eye for lovely things.

I still have to deal with my miniature tea sets, pie birds, Harmony House collection, and Cats Meow's each set holding a memory for me.

I also have my breakfast room, called a Bird Room, filled with wall

pocket birds.  Almost forgot to list those because they will always stay.

I hate dust!!  I hate the fact that I have arthritis!  Both intersect with each other as my arthritis of aging makes it difficult dusting.

 When collecting years ago  I never thought about upkeep of collecting things.

So, let those who are in their 30's or more know what it is like to be 80 plus from me.   Be thoughtful of that body as it will reach a time when “ things”  occur to it.

Now in my 80's I spend time watching my birds at a bird feeder while I sit, meditate and wonder "what's next".

  I like to collect.  I have done that for 30 yrs .  All kinds of collections not even mentioned before,  some I had already sold (thank you eBay),some I still have.  Now I look around at what

To me became  dust collectors.  Dust, I do not like to collect.

These collectibles, which use to give me pleasure to look for and "collect", still  some give me pleasure in my home.

 

Cats Meow - Places we visited

Harmony House 

Miniature Tea Sets

 Bird Pockets/etc

Although  I started to put away, for whatever ,in my garage,

 my trinket boxes and my glass balls.  Put away I mean, boxed up and labeled for the "whatever".   Sent to garage for a vacation.

I still have to deal with my miniature tea sets, pie birds, Harmony House collection, and Cats Meow's each set holding a memory for me.

I also have my breakfast room, called a Bird Room, filled with wall pocket birds.  Almost forgot to list those because they will always stay.

I hate dust!!  I hate the fact that I have arthritis!  Both intersect with each other as my arthritis of aging makes it difficult dusting.

 When collecting years before  I never thought about upkeep of collecting.

Maybe  hiring a cleaning lady a good idea?

Ending of 2016/Begin 2017

Need to tell you all about my New Year's Eve.  I bet a lot of you had a wonderful time watching New York drop the ball.  Well,  I was in bed.

My granddaughter decided to get married on New Years Eve so her " to be husband", now a husband, would never forget their anniversary.  However, most of my family lived out of D.C. and had to fly in from Florida, Missouri, Louisiana and DH and I drove with our dog Katie from Tennessee and we were all worried about flight changes, snow etc. but it worked out well and we all got there.

We stayed at a lovely hotel and used Uber (first time) for going places except my daughter, mother o the bride, made sure we had things to do.  She hired a trolley to take us to and fro the Victorian house that grand got married in and buses to take over 100 attendees back and forth to their hotels.  Parking and places hard to find and parking areas outrageous to pay for.  Frugal Me!
The wedding was lovely but I had to walk  down the aisle limping in my gown as I am having knee problems. No big deal as they were all waiting for the bride.

 It was not your conventional wedding as her Dad past away a couple years back and she didn't want anyone else to take his place.  No bridesmaid but her dog Harriett all decked out in a wreath of flowers walked in front of her to where the fireplace lit up with candles and her to be husband stood.  Amazing how this dog knew she was to sit next to the bride and just look up at her and the groom the whole time. I think Harriet, the French bulldog, was an amazing idea and behaved so well.

The reception was amazing as it was in the same Victorian house and each room had a different menu.  You could have, vegetarian, Asian, American sliders, and two others I never got to. Then the eating area with tables dressed with candles and flowers filled the largest room in the house.

Dancing and champagne tower I missed as I had enough of the DJ music. Going into a less inhabited room on the first floor where my DH decided to have a glass of wine in a quiet area for awhile.  Then from 6:00 till 10:00 we knew our legs and feet had it so we took one of the bus shuttles back to the hotel. (which was like a new greyhound bus).
Besides our little Katie (dog) was alone in the room and I felt sorry for her.

We were in D.C. with all five of my children (adults) for those days plus a couple before to get makeup and hair done (not my idea), and to help if needed.  New Years Day dear husband and I and Katie left for home.  It was to me a great reunion with my five adult children which all together does not happen that often.


Grandfather(DH), Groom, Bride, Mother and Grandmother (me)

Wanted A Lap Dog.....Got Her!

This is my second Boston Terrier.  First one was Petie who is now in dog heaven
This one is Katie who will be 8 this year.  I wrote about her in this poem as a birthday present
to her, Happy Birthday Katie Dog.

                                                        Katie Dog

 She keeps me still, she keeps me quiet, she sits upon
my lap. 
She follows me where ever I go,
Upon my bed as I take a nap.

I know how much she loves me. and its
easy to give back.
She listens to my every word, as if to understand,
 I am sure she really does, for she is truly,
                                                        this " Woman's best friend." 
                                                                                                                 

                                                       

                                                       
                                                   
                                                       

                                                       
                                                     
                                                        
                                                       

Empty Nesters!

December 1st,  We started putting up Christmas decorations around the house outside first.
As I started replacing the wreaths of Fall I had up and noticing the leaves falling from our trees, creating spaces in between,  I could see bird nests. Empty!

I have photos of birds buiding in these nests and of their babies hatching and growing feathers.
I watched as they tried to fly out on their own, mama bird watching.  It gave me thought of what some of us have also watched but not necessarily birds.  Yes, I am a bird person!

Thoughts of Empty Nesters came to my mind.  Isn't that what we are sometimes called. Empty Nesters, children flew the nest.

We make our homes welcoming to our babies.
We watch and nurture them every day.  Like birds in nests, we keep them warm, feed and hopefullly instructed as to how to behave. I saw how the Mama and Papa bird would bring their babies   something to eat, lean on them to keep them warm and when time came instructed them on how to fly.

They do eventually fly out of those nests that once rested on my summer wreaths or in the corner of a roof or in the bow of a tree.  That is what I feel is an Empty Nester.  We as parents become Empty Nesters too.  Our babies become adults, get their wings and start to fly out of the Nest we made for them.  Some come home to roost, some to visit from time to time but still not the same as keeping them close by.

  Those nests around my home are either gone or just waiting for Spring to be occupied once again.  Then once again the birds, some the same ones, will be setting up their home and I'll be watching.
Just as ours, will always find their way to their home.

                                                 Just like my little birds have flown.

Finally! My Season

The weather is starting to change
The colors I always wait for each season have
started to show their beauty.

Some trees have already turned to gold and yellow,
deep red on the top of their branches and some the
entire tree

It seems late this year, this turning
or maybe I am just anxious for hot
weather to leave

I still have the rest of this season to
enjoy, even when snow will appear

A glowing fireplace, cup of hot chocolate
snuggling beneath a soft blanket, my pup on my lap
That is all I need to relish the cold winter days.


Note:  That black spot under the tree is our neighbors
            pet goat.