Will be looking for that book recommendation! We aren’t too bad in the getting rid of stuff category as we’ve had a few big house moves. Dad was great with most of his stuff but he did keep a lot more documentation over the past 3 years or so because he was blind from macular band couldn’t check stuff out. Luckily my brother was the recipient of a lot of that when he did the most of the Unit clean up and I ended up with family memorabilia. I could get extra cranky about the world and what’s happening …but it did not help me at all last time I did when it was Covid time,so I am enjoying some inner peace (for a while anyway).
My mother had advanced macular too, but being a woman of her generation, it was their job to keep things clean and tidy and she also used to get me to help her go through cupboards and clothes once a year.
My husband and I have lived in 12 homes as we moved with his career, so it became easy to have the full Marie Condo clean out - if it didn’t spark joy, then it went. I’m very strong about it. With clothes, if not worn in 12 months they are sent to thrift stores, unless its coats in which I keep them because a good, lined, wool coat is so expensive these days. I have a beautiful oyster coloured one that is almost ankle length and it's like crawling into a warm bed on a freezing night. That will be with me forever.
I,too, was feeling grumpy this week and a bit of cynicism slipped out as I listened to Ella imagining the song as an ironic background to news clips of Trump and his idiocy! And then I laughed aloud! With the incredible heat wave this week and pup walks limited to early mornings and late nights, we've all felt a bit cranky. It's time for ice cream!!
I had chocolate and took the pup for walks, and then things really got better when I saw Queen Max of the Netherlands mirroring the Orange Turnip. I exploded with laughter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zgWFXuqAps
Exuberant is a wonderful word! I feel as you do or moreso, add mortified, about the actions of our administration therefore it's harder to get happy enough that my eye wrinkles stay, but I'm trying!! J
I’ve got LOTS of wrinkles, so many! Hoping most of them point up. Trouble is, as an embroiderer, I’ve always pursed my lips when I’m stitching, so I have smoker’s wrinkles around the mouth and I’m so not a smoker!!!
You're doing all the right things, Prue. In my estimation, it's unrealistic to think that compassionate people won't feel angry (or scared) these days. I think another issue is that with so much chaos, we almost feel guilty for living exuberantly right now. But you and Magnusson are spot on in saying that life is too short to squander that opportunity. And chaos is a strategy, so doing what we can and must to step out of it is one of the most important things we can do!
Your soccer-playing pup (with his spiky hair), and your stitching, and your sheep, and your gardens are the antidotes we all need!
I feel living exuberantly can set an example for my family - that even in the face of chaos, exuberance might be better than panic. Which is all very well when one isn’t an innocent in Gaza, Iran, Ukraine or even the States. And that’s where my mind runs amok.
I remember a statement from one of David Michie’s excellent Substack posts which said words to this effect:
If you don’t like the reels your mind is playing, walk into the projection room of your mind and change the reel.
That is not word for word, but is the gist, and I think so wise. And helpful.
That is a message I'm hearing more frequently these days, Prue. Or that I am paying attention to differently, at least. In a recent gym class the instructor reminded us that we were in charge of our own intensity. That struck me as something of a guide for life!
One has to be very careful not to dissociate though. I’m at that point. I’m done with Trump and what he and his cronies are singlehandedly doing to this world - I have to say it and hope that any sensible American will forgive me.
Thank you for holding the values many of us here in the States still find important. I quote: regime’s fall, mountains, rivers (and oceans) remain. We need your sanity on the other side of the globe
Thank you, Dami. The problem is that we can’t help at all, except to maintain a fury. It is a fury. At my age probably not a good thing and not at all positive and does nothing for anyone.
But recently I saw such beautiful images from Yosemite as an American friend was walking there, and I thought to myself that there lies the sanity in that land and it must be protected at all costs.
Prue I think we all totally understand the short-tempered thing at the moment - it's related to that feeling of constant helplessness and frustration I believe. I have placed the Magnusson book on hold at the library and was glad to hear about it as I quite liked the first one.
(I also strongly support the use of chocolate at this time and, any other time!)
And, here is the best recipe ever for plump, soft, chocolate chip cookies. They are RICH and I use ridiculously expensive dark choc chips in mine.
I think it's to do with the chill of winter too. Last year, I was in recuperation mode with nursing and doctor’s visits etc. so I basically missed from May till late August.
This time I’m stuck with it. Hence the desire to keep busy, by which I mean inside OR outside, depending on the whim. As for world affairs, I have had to take myself in hand. NO reading or watching current affairs. Pretend the world is far faraway and be like Anne of GG - a world of imagination.
Re the cookies - I make cookies every week, it’s something of a comfort food for he and I and I checked the recipe and the ony things that are different are that I use Self-raising flour, and my sugar mix is raw sugar and dark brown sugar. To make them more sinful, I also drizzle melted dark choc in a haphazard pattern over the top after cooking. Yummmmmmm…
This was lovely Prue, although I am ages late in reading as we were delightfully cut off from the internet for most of the time in Yosemite. I look forward to reading your recommended book: exuberantly—what a great word! And I loved the image of your pup nosing the balls around the field, showing off his skills with, yes, exuberance!
The time in natural spaces is always good for the soul, if only to remind us that these human annoyances will eventually pass and become part of the earth again like everything eventually does. Anyway, thanks for sharing the snippets of your life that we can all relate to!
I hope to take the pup into one of our national parks for a walk tomorrow. There are some where one can go with a dog on lead. As you know, being in nature is fundamental to my very existence, so I really do understand the value of these places.
Will be looking for that book recommendation! We aren’t too bad in the getting rid of stuff category as we’ve had a few big house moves. Dad was great with most of his stuff but he did keep a lot more documentation over the past 3 years or so because he was blind from macular band couldn’t check stuff out. Luckily my brother was the recipient of a lot of that when he did the most of the Unit clean up and I ended up with family memorabilia. I could get extra cranky about the world and what’s happening …but it did not help me at all last time I did when it was Covid time,so I am enjoying some inner peace (for a while anyway).
All those lambs coming! Wow.
My mother had advanced macular too, but being a woman of her generation, it was their job to keep things clean and tidy and she also used to get me to help her go through cupboards and clothes once a year.
My husband and I have lived in 12 homes as we moved with his career, so it became easy to have the full Marie Condo clean out - if it didn’t spark joy, then it went. I’m very strong about it. With clothes, if not worn in 12 months they are sent to thrift stores, unless its coats in which I keep them because a good, lined, wool coat is so expensive these days. I have a beautiful oyster coloured one that is almost ankle length and it's like crawling into a warm bed on a freezing night. That will be with me forever.
I love that...and yes to the keepsake coat for alllll the reasons.
I,too, was feeling grumpy this week and a bit of cynicism slipped out as I listened to Ella imagining the song as an ironic background to news clips of Trump and his idiocy! And then I laughed aloud! With the incredible heat wave this week and pup walks limited to early mornings and late nights, we've all felt a bit cranky. It's time for ice cream!!
I had chocolate and took the pup for walks, and then things really got better when I saw Queen Max of the Netherlands mirroring the Orange Turnip. I exploded with laughter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zgWFXuqAps
A question...what to do if one of us ( me) is good at divesting but the other ( him) is not???
Happy wife, happy life...
This is SUCH a common complaint Susan and one I truly understand and have written about a few times. You might enjoy this piece of mine if only for the better to laugh than cry element: https://www.nextavenue.org/will-downsizing-be-the-downfall-of-your-relationship/
Happy sigh. Wonderful. 🤗🤗💕💕
Exuberant is a wonderful word! I feel as you do or moreso, add mortified, about the actions of our administration therefore it's harder to get happy enough that my eye wrinkles stay, but I'm trying!! J
I’ve got LOTS of wrinkles, so many! Hoping most of them point up. Trouble is, as an embroiderer, I’ve always pursed my lips when I’m stitching, so I have smoker’s wrinkles around the mouth and I’m so not a smoker!!!
I tend to be a lip biter myself....I wonder how that ends up! Hopefully up!!
You're doing all the right things, Prue. In my estimation, it's unrealistic to think that compassionate people won't feel angry (or scared) these days. I think another issue is that with so much chaos, we almost feel guilty for living exuberantly right now. But you and Magnusson are spot on in saying that life is too short to squander that opportunity. And chaos is a strategy, so doing what we can and must to step out of it is one of the most important things we can do!
Your soccer-playing pup (with his spiky hair), and your stitching, and your sheep, and your gardens are the antidotes we all need!
I feel living exuberantly can set an example for my family - that even in the face of chaos, exuberance might be better than panic. Which is all very well when one isn’t an innocent in Gaza, Iran, Ukraine or even the States. And that’s where my mind runs amok.
I remember a statement from one of David Michie’s excellent Substack posts which said words to this effect:
If you don’t like the reels your mind is playing, walk into the projection room of your mind and change the reel.
That is not word for word, but is the gist, and I think so wise. And helpful.
That is a message I'm hearing more frequently these days, Prue. Or that I am paying attention to differently, at least. In a recent gym class the instructor reminded us that we were in charge of our own intensity. That struck me as something of a guide for life!
One has to be very careful not to dissociate though. I’m at that point. I’m done with Trump and what he and his cronies are singlehandedly doing to this world - I have to say it and hope that any sensible American will forgive me.
Thank you for holding the values many of us here in the States still find important. I quote: regime’s fall, mountains, rivers (and oceans) remain. We need your sanity on the other side of the globe
Thank you, Dami. The problem is that we can’t help at all, except to maintain a fury. It is a fury. At my age probably not a good thing and not at all positive and does nothing for anyone.
But recently I saw such beautiful images from Yosemite as an American friend was walking there, and I thought to myself that there lies the sanity in that land and it must be protected at all costs.
Yes, I came to the USA because of it’s beauty and open wildness. I hiked Yosemite and the Sierra. Nature here will keep you honest
Prue I think we all totally understand the short-tempered thing at the moment - it's related to that feeling of constant helplessness and frustration I believe. I have placed the Magnusson book on hold at the library and was glad to hear about it as I quite liked the first one.
(I also strongly support the use of chocolate at this time and, any other time!)
And, here is the best recipe ever for plump, soft, chocolate chip cookies. They are RICH and I use ridiculously expensive dark choc chips in mine.
Highly recommend wth tea: https://pinchofyum.com/the-best-soft-chocolate-chip-cookies) Always trying to help lol xo
I think it's to do with the chill of winter too. Last year, I was in recuperation mode with nursing and doctor’s visits etc. so I basically missed from May till late August.
This time I’m stuck with it. Hence the desire to keep busy, by which I mean inside OR outside, depending on the whim. As for world affairs, I have had to take myself in hand. NO reading or watching current affairs. Pretend the world is far faraway and be like Anne of GG - a world of imagination.
Re the cookies - I make cookies every week, it’s something of a comfort food for he and I and I checked the recipe and the ony things that are different are that I use Self-raising flour, and my sugar mix is raw sugar and dark brown sugar. To make them more sinful, I also drizzle melted dark choc in a haphazard pattern over the top after cooking. Yummmmmmm…
I know that haphazard pattern of chocolate well lol! xo
I lick the dish!
LOL! I do the same drizzle with shortbread - from a height - and we call it 'Jackson Pollock Shortbread' haha!
Snap! Me too! Boring but beautiful shortbread suddenly becomes spectacular and garners comments! Love the title of Jackson Pollock!
This was lovely Prue, although I am ages late in reading as we were delightfully cut off from the internet for most of the time in Yosemite. I look forward to reading your recommended book: exuberantly—what a great word! And I loved the image of your pup nosing the balls around the field, showing off his skills with, yes, exuberance!
The time in natural spaces is always good for the soul, if only to remind us that these human annoyances will eventually pass and become part of the earth again like everything eventually does. Anyway, thanks for sharing the snippets of your life that we can all relate to!
Thank you, Sabrina.
I hope to take the pup into one of our national parks for a walk tomorrow. There are some where one can go with a dog on lead. As you know, being in nature is fundamental to my very existence, so I really do understand the value of these places.