Make-up as we age...

like the words, but she doesn't look 'old'...

Someone recently posted about the importance (or not?) of make-up as we women age. I found this interesting... (or at least a diversion from worrying about Julie). 

The comments were diverse as could be expected... some putting more importance on the issue while others found it not so much.  I think it boils down to how much each of us feels about our self image, whether or not we're still in the ball game (work - career or volunteer), and whether we're alone or sharing our lives.

Personally I've always hated wearing make-up. Do I do it? Yes, of course - (I used to love when I went on silent retreats out at Montserrat during my working years where for 3 whole days I could be make-up free. Putting it back on when I returned to work was like putting on the war paint and preparing for battle.)

But that's just me. I never wore a lot... as my mother who lived with us for 15 years always told me that she couldn't tell that I had any on. "Put a little lipstick on" she would say... and I have to admit I disliked lipstick too... it never stayed on and what I did wear was very light.  

Now at almost 75, I wear a little light foundation, a bit of blush, and some Vaseline on my lips...  (no eye make-up anymore) and I wouldn't wear the foundation except that my skin color which is basically fair has some uneven coloring due to age spots. So yes, I do wear make-up when going out or entertaining at home - but never at other times.

I guess my philosophy these days is that as long as I'm clean and well-groomed, that should do it. Take me as I am or not at all. When I was working I was willing to play the game. Now - not so much.  Some may disagree with that, and that's OK too.

I understand that some women really like make-up, dressy clothes, and jewelry (my mom sure did). There's nothing wrong with that. It just never was a priority with me.  How about you? 


Hugs,
Rian


(On another note, I don't especially like the color purple or feel the urge to wear red hats...)

2020: We made it!

my 2020 mantra...

First of all, Happy 2020! I find this date a bit hard to believe... why? Many reasons.

One being having been born in 1945, 2020 just sounds really odd. 

Next, I vividly remember watching the movie, 2001:A Space Odyssey, in 1968. The movie taking place in 2001 seemed so-oo futuristic. And I remember it so well as I was 9 months pregnant at the time and the theme music (those drummings at the beginning of the movie - click here) made the baby (now my 51 year old son) kick up a storm. (Since he was my first, I thought he was going to kick his way out).

 And also because in 2020 DH and I will both be 75... (or hopefully we will be that is). That's a critical date for me for whatever reason. Might be because my dad died at 75 - not unusual I guess, but for some reason it's become embedded in my psyche.

Now... the reason for my poster pic here at the top. I was going through Pinterest looking for something interesting or possibly funny to post when I saw this one. Well, for those of us who have reached a certain age we have (or at some point will) come to the realization that there are some things that are simply no longer possible - or if still physically possible, probably not smart. This is not easy to accept, but accept it we must.  

However, there are also many things that we can still do where age may be an advantage. After all, we do have experience and maturity (hopefully)... and a lifelong perspective. Must be worth something. Anyway for each of us it will be different, but one of the things I decided I wasn't too old to do this year was 'publish my book'.  So when I read that "I was not too old and it was not too late" poster - it made me think of that. 

And there are so many of us out there who are doing or producing worthwhile things... even at an advanced age. So many of you bloggers are inspiring to me. Even just blogging and sharing your life experiences and thoughts with others is a wonderful thing. So I say if there's something you've always wanted to do or say or share, then maybe 2020 is the time to do it. 

And please continue to blog as I love hearing what is going on in your lives or thoughts.  We all have so much in common and although sometimes this world today seems so unstable, I really do believe that most people are good and basically want the same things. We just can't agree on how to go about it.

So thanks for reading. I didn't really plan on writing all this. Sometimes my thoughts and fingers have a mind of their own...

Hope you have a wonderful New Year's Day!

Hugs,

Rian

Julie says Hi!

(Julie has been having some very strange problems lately. I don't want to go into it here, but will another day... as I need other opinions. It even has our Vet puzzled.)

jaw still hurting...

It's been a strange week... feeling better, but jaw still hurting - Tylenol X-tra strength helps. If it's TMJ, I'm not wearing a mouth piece and I'm not taking meds - so I guess I have to add it to another of age's inconveniences (at least for now). Eating soft foods and being very careful when I sneeze or yawn helps.

I have been working on some new clay pieces. Click here if you'd like to see them  or  just go to my Cheeky Chickens Studio (should be listed over to the right under "New Blog").

Have a wonderful weekend!

3 am...

Jack sitting on the counter this morning with my DVD series

Yes, it was one of those 3 am wake-up calls.  They don't happen a lot, but do on occasion... and last night was one of those.  So I made a cup of hot tea, and the cats and I watched "Pie in the Sky". Then I went back to bed at 4, and slept until 7.  Not too bad. Had read somewhere that if you wake up in the middle of the night, you shouldn't force yourself to stay in bed... that if you're still awake 20 - 30 mins. later, to get up and do something.  So I did.

Anyway, I was also reading Chippers post about 'being silly' this morning.  He's right.  We forget how to have fun as we age.  To be honest, I can't think of many ways to have fun.  People party for fun. I've never been a party-er.  Guess I cook for fun, work on the pottery wheel, take pictures, read books, write stories... but most of these are solitary actions.  They don't need a crowd... or even other participants. I would love to learn to fly fish (but again, this can be done alone). When I try to think of fun with others, all I can think of is 'going out to eat'. We do do this. And I guess 'taking classes' qualifies as a fun group activity...  It's all very subjective.

Wrote up a list of my favorite things the other day (actually it was while I sat at the DPS waiting to renew my TDL).   Will figure out how to add those somewhere on my blog page. Which reminds me, my "spell check" here on blogger doesn't seem to work... any ideas?



Our backyard sanctuary



Looking through our backyard arbor into the greenback beyond...

 

We don't go back there much anymore.  We did once when we first moved here and the kids were young.  We spent a lot of time down on the lower patio by the creek, lying in the hammock, talking,  and drinking wine.  But now it's pretty overgrown, and English Ivy covers everything (which is pretty, but can also hide copperheads and water moccasins).  The feral cats, raccoons, possums, and box turtles love it!  I keep thinking that one day we will reclaim the yard... but so far, we haven't.  (Another big problem that keeps us from enjoying the area is West Nile Virus, which is prevalent here in Texas.)




One of the box turtles that live in our yard.  He comes up to eat the catfood and figs




This pic is of one of our Mama coons and her 5 kits having supper

We do enjoy watching the wildlife. Like our cats, they make us laugh... and sometimes cry.  But we do what we can for them and look upon it as a way to 'give back'.  But I do worry that one day as we get further into our retirement years, we won't be able to maintain them.  And I do believe that if you can't 'maintain' an animal (give it the food, shelter, and health care it needs), then you shouldn't have it.  I read the question on another's blog once (and I think it was meant to be rhetorical), "Is there such a thing as too many cats?" And I have to say, "Yes!"  We now have 6 inside and a host of ferals outside, and for the moment we are able to maintain all of them.  But there will come a time in the future where it may not be possible financially (or even physically as we age). This does worry me.