sunlight on roses

only in texas

taylor.the next generation.

Quote

Words make love on the page

like flies in the summer heat

and the poet is only the bemused spectator.

Charles Simic

Getting Older

 

This getting older is NOT for sissies.  There are a few good things about it.  Like you care less and less what others think about you. You develop a patience you may never have had before.  I now drive slower and walk slower and stop to smell the roses literally. I enjoy the simple things more ,  like a good cup of tea or a beautiful sunset, the smell of banana bread baking , my dogs cold nose when she finds me in the dark and cuddles.

Some of the things I don't like are there are aches and pains where I never even knew I had muscles.  I tire easily.  I gain weight easily.

I want to embrace getting older and enjoy each new transition of life. I have learned that each stage of life carries with it, it's own unique gifts and unexpected treasures. If you slow down and really pay attention. If you are mindful and present in the moment. If you keep your attitude open and hopeful ,  it is a tremendous difference. My mother is 78 and has almost all her life been negative and complaining and not hopeful. I have chose to learn how not to grow old like her. Her choices have made her isolated and unhappy. I choose acceptance. I treat myself lovingly most of the time. I also treat others with kindness and compassion.

I have many personality faults but I overlook them mostly and focus on my better qualities.

I care about others and I strive to be kind and say nice things and put out a positive energy force into the world. That's good enough for me and I'm good enough just as I am. 

State Fair Of Texas

Big Tex



Hubs enjoying the sporty cars



Fountains in International Area

Another muscle car

   I have been going to the fair since I was about three years old.  You do the math.  I only go now once about every third year.  The fair has a mixture of good and bad memories for me. The good outweigh the bad by a long shot. My kids riding the rides and eating all the fair food and laughing so much are the best memories for me. The bad one is when my son was around 11 years old we were waiting in line to get a corn dog when a ride malfunctioned and went off its rail and three teenagers died not ten feet from where we stood. I quickly covered my sons eyes with my hands , but that memory was burned into my brain forever. I being a mother, felt the pain for those unknown moms that were going to hear that terrible, unspeakable news that night long ago.

Many years later I still enjoy my occasional visit to the fair , but I don't go to the midway part of the fair grounds anymore. I go to the creative arts building and enjoy the photographers exhibitions and the beautiful handmade quilts and various crafts, and I always have to eat two "Fletchers" corn dogs, one nut bar ice cream and one frosty cold root beer before I go. Take my advice and skip the "fried beer" it was disgusting to say the least. (Hubs just had to try it)

A Poem

Woman Holding A Balance

Between dark and light,
Between this world and the next,
Between maidenhood and motherhood
She pauses, held in balance
Like the balance she holds.

Her focus not the gold or
The weighing, but the justice
Of her scales, settling to their still
Point in a steady hand,
And she herself unadorned,
A lily that needs no gilding
But the points of light that lie
On her veil like jewels in a crown.

If she raised her eyes, she would see
This luminous beauty, drop the scales,
And, like a blushing Eve, break
The balance and forsake
The innocence of her task,
But she does not.

If she turned, she would see
The Last Judgment, saints and sinners,
Weighed in the final balance, and,
Called to think on ultimate things,
Lose this moment –
But she does not.

Trained on the object, undistracted,
Patient while the instrument swings
To its center and is still, she turns
This little task to prayer - if mindfulness is
Prayer – to an exercise of love – if it is love
To be attentive to the thing at hand.

Marilyn Chandler McEntyre
American poet/author

Aging Gracefully

I've been doing a lot of thinking and praying and more thinking about aging.  I am currently 56 years old. 

 I'm not sure what I thought that would feel like or look like, but it is what it is. I have never done any "work" such as lipo or botox or whatever. I certainly don't sit in judgement of any woman who has chosen

 to do those things. The way I feel right now is that I want to grow old with grace and with my own sense of style. I currently color my hair my natural color of auburn. If I didnt color , it would be sprinkled with gray.

I told my family that after I retire from my job I am letting it go a la naturel' . My husband wasn't very happy with that , but it is my hair and that's what I want to do,

I am also overweight and have struggled with weight issues most of my adult life. I have been on every diet you can name, and yes I lost weight on most of them , but did not keep it off. At this time in my life I don't even want to try another diet or program. I dress nicely and style my hair and wear lovely jewelry so its not like I am a mess by any means. Would I love to be thin, of course I would, but there are things I am just not willing to do to get there. I am not willing to have surgery to lose weight or to starve myself. Every time I went the starve myself path I was beyond miserable. I am a comfort eater and compulsive eater. I love to cook and eat delicious food and am tired of feeling guilty for that choice. One thing I am loving about being an "older" woman is that I am caring less and less what others think of me or my life choices. I wish I had gotten that at a much younger age. It would have made life simplier and I am loving a more simple life.

I have so much to be thankful for. I am happily married to my best friend for 21 years now. I have a good job that I have been at for 32 years and counting , and three grown sons and three wonderful grandsons. I also have two beautiful black mini schaunzers "doggy daughters".I am looking forward to many happy times. I am looking forward to retirement in a few years and to traveling, exploring my photography and meeting new and interesting people.

Life is good.

Fall Comes

I love fall.  I love that it gets cooler.  Summer in Texas is fun , but oh so HOT !
 I am loving today it is raining a soft gentle rain and the air is cooler.  I have all the windows open in the house and the ceiling fans are on. The dogs are loving that I have the doors open (with baby gate for safety) so they can look out and sniff the air. I am loving all the things that come with fall such as the state fair we are going to tomorrow and  Halloween coming and all the other holidays to soon follow. It will mean pots of homemade soups and chili and baking sweet treats. Family birthdays and gatherings.  The leaves on my red oak tree will turn magenta and then fall, covering my entire front yard with a blanket of leaves.  I love each season for it's own gifts but fall has to be my favorite.

Sunday Images

My handsome Swedish/ American  hubby.

Miss Jolie DeLaine

Sisters sharing secrets.

Some images from around my home today. I love Sundays. I usually find them relaxing and try to have some fun time in there for taking a walk or swimming in our pool. Pretty soon fall will be here and the swimming part will end to be replaced by football and grilling out. We grill out year round as we enjoy it so much. I hope you are having a lovely day.

Anyone have an oil can?

I have osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, and there are days I feel like the tin man from "The Wizard Of Oz" movie. I feel like I need a oil can to lubricate all my stiff joints. I don't talk about the pain very often, because I don't want to be "that person" that only complains about their ills. I know some of this is genetic because my mom and her dad had it so severely. The fibro is a result of my having had treatments for cancer five years ago. At least that's when the worst of the symptoms began. I survived the cancer (so far) but the aftereffects of the radiation, not so pleasant. I try to take care of myself and do some of the therapies I  know will help, such as massage, hot showers, Advil, and rest. A few of the things that help my symptoms. I've come too far to let pain keep me down for long, but some days it just hurts and theres no getting around it.

New Ideas

I've been thinking about so many new ideas lately and reading so many interesting blogs.  I am dabbling with ideas about how to create various streams of income from home and some on minimalism and always photography.  On the minimalism thing, it makes you think about your home and if it is clean and uncluttered and truly just has the things you really need and or love.  It makes you take a look around you with new eyes.  I am slowly in the process of decluttering our home.  What a task that is!
I wouldn't enjoy having a bare house like some of the minimalist do, but certainly want to downsize, declutter and only have the things I love. I plan on doing this with everything in my home. I just went through my kitchen and weeded out dishes I never use. I am also going to sort through all my clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry and other personal belongings soon. The valuables I will probably sell online and the other stuff have a big yard sale. Anything that does not go that way, will go to charity after my son picks through it.

I am six years from retirement and when I am retired I want to live a simple decluttered life and mainly travel and do family things. I will definitely be doing more with my photography. I also want to brainstorm ways to bring in some income from home, so I will never be really retired except from the big corporation I now work for. It is a lot to think about and to put into action , but thats what life is all about after all.

A walk at White Rock Lake

Cristy turns 40 !

My mom feeding Kizzy.

Papi signing Caseys cast.

Cristy enjoying some of her cake...

Chris cooking up some delicious burgers for all of us.

My sweet daughter-in-law Cristy turned the big 40 today! We had a hamburger cookout and little party at their house. It was a lot of fun. We ate burgers and cake and played with the grandpuppies and watched "The Seeker" on the tv together. Ah family!

Italy Texas

I don't know what in the heck happened in Italy, but it must have been weird. They have the weirdest buildings of any small town I have ever seen. They seem to have a space theme of some sort. Maybe it is a hotbed of alien activity or UFO sightings. Whatever the reason it is "unique" to say the least. I was passing through the other day and took these pictures. I just kind of accept weirdness in most forms. It's all good....right?

Miss Angel Marie

cutest dog ever..................just sayin is all.........

Ball Anyone?

The Best Brownie I Ever Ate

I really really was going to eat only half of this dark, moist rich,chocolate brownie. I mean it. No I really mean it. I just was eating it very slowly and taking a few pictures for fun and then before I knew it.......
well it was delicious and I don't have one ounce of remorse. I refuse to feel guilt over eating something so fantastic.
"life is uncertain .....eat dessert first"


Sherry

Old Cemetery In Waco Texas

This man, Parker Kellum must have dearly loved his young wife.  I would love to know the story behind this grave.  First of all we know he had money, for the times he lived in due to the size of the memorial stone, and the poem declares his deep love and grieving. It made me kind of sad for this couple who lived so long ago. It is amazing it is in such good condition still.

Pictures I took This Past Sunday