Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"....but I guess that's what it's all about - we change, things change - but the memories stay."

                                                       ~ Teresa Longo-Smith

Teresa, a former Teacher co-worker, posted this on Facebook concerning her son's last day at school.
As I read it, I thought - that's perfect for what I'm going through at the moment - and I asked her permission to post it.

Knowing that despite the major changes I'm going through, the memories I hold dear will remain with me as my residence "changes" and in turn, so do I.  The memories will stay with me always.

And when my memory starts to fade, I will have photos and writings, as well as young offspring, to help me remember.

How wonderful is that!

Tip for a Tuesday....

Start sooner than you think you need to.

Whether packing up to move, packing for a European vacation or a week down the shore -

it's never too early to begin.

The same can be said for traveling to appointments and events like weddings or graduations.

Leave just a little sooner than you planned to allow for the unexpected.

Over the years I've found that starting early lowers my stress level and increases my ability to deal with whatever is going on. 
Well, that and a bar of chocolate. 

A Monday memory....

In 1999, the Englishman and I needed to downsize our living arrangements.  When our search began there was one particular house he wanted me to look at. As it happened, I was quite familiar with the one he had in mind.  During the last few years my Dad commuted into the city, I would park the car across the street from that exact house, wait for my Dad to descend from the bus and then drive him home. So yes, I knew it. And no, I didn't want to look at it.

Being the persuasive man that he is, however, the Englishman managed to convince me I needed only to agree to a "look see."  I relented and we went to view the property.  While waiting for the realtor to join us, I entered the back yard and as I rounded the corner, was greeted with the following scene:

At which point I cried out, "Oh no! We love this kind of thing!" upon spotting the charm and multiple angles of the house and yard.  Despite the cave like atmosphere inside the house, the vast amount of work clearly needed to be done and many other factors, I think we both knew by the time we left that this was the house for us.

And now, fourteen years later, we are leaving.

The transformation of this house is nothing less than amazing, I think.  Our goal and hope was to restore it as closely as possible to the cozy family home it may have been, before the '70's and a chiropractor added on and turned half of it into a medical office.  That saying, about leaving something better off than when you first found it, comes to mind.  I hope we've done that.

It still surprises me, even at my advanced age, how things often turn out quite different from the way I imagined they would.  I'm grateful to say that most times I feel they turn out far better than I had thought or hoped for.  That has been my experience with this house in particular.  It certainly found its way into my heart over the years.

Through photos, a good memory (so far) and the fact that one of our daughter's will be in the house for a while, I will be able to still hold on to the house in a way and not have to fully "let go."

What a gift!  Among the so many in my life today.

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Friday Fotos....

It's been rather busy around here lately.  The Englishman and I are moving to our "retirement" house a few years earlier than expected.  So there is much packing to be done....

which has clearly exhausted our Basset Boys!

Daughter #2 gave us these pillows which are absolutely perfect for our kitchen!

And there is nothing better in this world than granddaughters who smile and giggle....

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend - isn't it wonderful to see the sun.

Here's hoping it stays a while....

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"....knowing (and believing) you are worth profound care...."

That's a thought worth holding deep inside I think, for each and everyone of us.

An incredible milestone....

Today my mother turned 90!

I think that is just amazing!

Before her 65th birthday, my brother called and said he thought that might be her last "big" birthday, so we should really go all out.  

Without hesitation, I disagreed.

I believed she had many more years ahead of her, but even I didn't think 90 was in her future.

She gave us quite a scare four years ago when multiple serious medical conditions were diagnosed and needed immediate attention.  Yet she survived them and is still going strong.

Now I think she could outlive me!

My sister and her family moved in with her nearly two years ago, at which time I handed over all care taking responsibilities for her, and so we don't see each other as often as we had when I was looking after her myself.

We talk on the phone every single day, as we have done since I got married, with the exception of only a handful of times when I was out of the country. So the truth is, most days, she doesn't sound like a ninety year old woman to me.

She just sounds like "Mom"

For me, that is a most wonderful gift -

which I cherish now and will remember always.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

A Monday Memory....

"Every picture tells a story, don't it?" ~ Rod Stewart lyrics

or in this case, every table.

When the Englishman's then teenage son moved in with us, many, many years ago - it quickly became apparent that a larger table for daily family gatherings was required.  Packing everyone up in the station wagon, we headed off to our  my favorite Ethan Allen furniture store.  

In no time at all, the Englishman and I quickly decided on the table and chairs pictured below.  It had a sort of English country house look about it and the distress marks, which were part of the set's charm, would allow us to relax and not have to hover over the kids for fear they would ruin the new furniture.

The table and eight chairs we purchased served us well for a very long time.  Giggling school aged children bouncing in their seats, women chatting away while sipping tea, parents discussing world affairs, and toddlers consuming countless bowls of Cheerios were among the numerous scenes which were played out around it.  

You can just make out where the finish was removed on the table top when the Englishman took apart a small gas powered engine from a model car he was working on.  And no - I didn't lose my temper.  I tried to see it as an addition to the table's "charm."

Two house moves later, the set had to be relegated to the lowest level of our present house for a decade because it was just too big for the kitchen.  So I was quite happy when we purchased the "retirement house" and could place it in our kitchen.  And while it is always fun to change things around and make new decorating purchases, I find it a real comfort to sit once again at this particular table and recall all the happy memories it brings back.

Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and numerous friends, both young and old, have sat in these seats.   The fact that some of them are no longer with us makes this furniture even more dear to me. 

Where once our youngest, then four, sat and ate her meals - our now four year old granddaughter sometimes sits.  

Lovely to think that maybe one day our great - granddaughter will sit there too!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

Oh, ain't it the truth?

Wishing everyone along the East Coast safe passage through today's rainstorm!

Keep the Wellies handy!

Wednesday's wisdom....

Try something new....

Yoga

The thought of trying yoga has always been a little intimidating to me. I've had years of training in ballet, jazz and even modern dance. My concern was that despite that, and given my advancing age, would I be able to twist myself into the pretzel shape I envisioned was required of yoga 

Thankfully, due to daughter #1's very positive description and experience with a nearby yoga studio, I decided to give it a try.

I've taken two classes now and I just love it!

There is much to learn yet. 

And my former toe shoe feeties want very much to point rather than flex.

But the calming, slow moving pace of yoga is so soothing to me. 

It is clearly something which can be done at any age - given the wide range of poses and class levels. 

The instructors repeated direction: "inhale 'Let' then exhale 'go' " is my absolute favorite part of the class - something I've been repeating to myself on a daily basis since first hearing it.

Apparently, you never are too old to learn something new.

What's next?  The choices are endless!

Tip for a Tuesday....

Make a list and check it twice....

My recent trip to London required that I attend a number of functions, ranging from casual to Black Tie.  Having spent the bulk of my formative years wearing a school uniform, figuring out what to wear has always been a bit of a challenge for me.

While getting ready for this trip I had a moment of inspiration which turned out to have been a huge help. First, I printed out a list of the various activities I would be attending. I then made notes next to each one, listing the outfit I thought would be appropriate for it, right down to shoes and accessories.

This method proved invaluable for several reasons. It helped me organize my thoughts concerning my attire, provided me with both a pre- trip shopping list  and a packing list, and was a concrete reminder once I was in London about what to wear each day.

Easy peasy!

If travel is in your future plans, why not jot down a list of daily destinations and clothing combinations.  Then use it as a guide for purchasing what may still be needed and as your packing list, ticking off each item as you place it in your suitcase. Less stress when you dress will free up your mind to enjoy every minute of your vacation.

Friday Fotos....

There was much fun to be had when I looked after the "grands" last week....

Chalk drawing on the driveway kept us busy.
This was Grandmom's version of "Mommy and Daddy" - with some added touches from the two year old.

There were many smiles and giggles when opening the daily gifts left behind from Mommy and Daddy.

A rescue mission was called for when M spotted a caterpillar on the carpet.  (He's just to the right of the cuff of her jacket.)  We set him free in the front yard.

This little escape artist certainly gave my heart a bit of testing over the four days she was under my care!

And not to be outdone by her tiny sister, M found the perfect hiding spot under the table.

It was wonderful and exhausting, full of memories I will cherish!

Wishing everyone safe passage through this latest rainstorm.

May your shoes - and your basements - be dry!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

Wednesday's wisdom....

Took a yoga class yesterday, with daughter #1.  It was only the second yoga class of my entire life.

Goodness - how did I get to be so old before discovering why everyone it seems is doing it.

Because it is wonderful.

Relaxing. Freeing. Dance like. 

The best part of the class, for me, was when the instructor encouraged us to think the word "let" as we inhaled, then think the word "go" as we exhaled.

Let....

Go....

Fabulous!