A tiny vase always comes in handy, don’t you think?
Thursday Thoughts #215
Tag Archives: family life
The Real Feel of Retirement
My husband retired this past February. We are nearly 70 years old, so I would say it is time to end that phase of our lives.
What I would also say though is that it has struck me in ways I never really thought about. Such as, how do I describe my husband when people ask me about him? For nearly fifty years I would say, He is in Telecommunications, in Sales. Now what do I say?
The usual remark, He’s retired suffices, I suppose. He was so good at his job that that answer just does not seem enough. Is that what it is? Too simplistic? I’m not sure I know yet.
We purchased a couple rental properties years ago. Because he traveled so extensively, I managed them. By Gods good grace, they both were vacant this summer, and now my husband is the Property Manager.
I stay out of them entirely. He seems to enjoy this new responsibility, and I am grateful. They fill the void retirement created, as one of the properties needs a good deal of fix-up.
The other issue is just being retired. How odd it is to simply say that. The paycheck has stopped, period. That is big. Life is different in retirement. It is a whole new ballgame that I am still trying to figure out. We both are for that matter. Filling our time, paying bills, how to manage our household and farm, are just a few of the big questions to answer.
I recall a finance man I listened to for years over the radio, Dan Celia, who passed away in 2022, saying that retirement depends on what one has built over the years, because eventually the paycheck stops. Boy, does it. It is what one has built and saved that carries into retirement. I am thankful, so thankful we took his advice. It has made all the difference in these, our retirement years. I believe we shall get adjusted to this new phase of life just fine.
Here is an adage to surely live by:
Three in One
Three celebrations in one. A Retirement party, College Graduation Celebration of RN, and a grandsons birthday all rolled in one big party time.
What a grand celebration with family and friends. Now it is clean-up time and some rest time.
Though I’m alittle late in posting (I like to post a blog every Monday), this week I am late in everything…
Hope some of this party gave you a smile.
Thanksgiving Fun
Keeping active children engaged during family gatherings can be challenging at times. I am grateful for the fun, uncomplicated activities found on various child-related internet sites.
Thanks to my daughter for this fun, easy activity for Thanksgiving. I apologize for not knowing to whom the credit goes. But thank you!
We cut out ‘feathers’ from colored paper, put them all about the house. The children ‘found’ them and taped them to the drawn Turkey we taped on the wall. It was fun, but did not last very long.
Do you have special holiday activities? Please share!
Ever Make These?
I am of an age now where ‘new’ things are the ‘old’ things I used to do when I was young.
Macramé is one of those ‘new’ things. I wanted to hang my orchids outside under our tree for summer. I thought I would macramé my own like I did so many years ago. But…
Having them already made to use quickly changed my mind. At the check-out I asked the clerk (who was about my age) if she ever did macramé. She said yes, she had. She made a plant hanger for her mother that she kept until she died. Isn’t that too sweet?
You know what? Think I’ll go get some materials so my grandkids and I can make a macramé pot hanger together for their mommas!
Farm Life—What’s Your Life?
Life on the farm is unique. What compares? Share your thoughts. We grow our own food, raise a bunch of critters, have a bunch of fun, love the land. Outdoors is best. I’m bias? Yes, I am… May I ask you this—Do you love the land?
How about you? What’s your ‘jam’? Tell us, please! As my mother used to say, “It takes all kinds to make this world, Midy”.
She was right.
A Hike up the Mountain
Or should I say a little hike up the mountain. Visiting my twin sister and her family out West has always been fun and exciting. The Front Range has been home to them for around twenty years.
Hunting, hiking, and horseback riding has been their life since moving out here thirty years ago. Hunting excursions are not my thing, but the hiking and horseback riding have been terrific. We have done both in some of the prettiest wilderness areas I have seen.
All her children are now grown, and we both are grannys. As Mom used to say, “I ain’t the horse I used to be.” So now they are the ones to take the big hunts, hikes and horseback rides. Their lives have enlarged and mine have decreased. Such is life.
So this morning when my way-taller than me nephew invited me to join him on a hike, I was happy to oblige.
“You’ll just need to walk slower though and let me catch my breath. Ok?”
Virginia has lots more air than way up here in Green Mountain Falls, CO, elevation about 7,700ft. While my Winchester, VA home is around 725ft.
A bright morning sky warmed the air and made the patches of snow easier to walk on.
My nephew was a patient guide. He stopped frequently for me, which was helpful because we talked the entire little hike to the big rock. Talking between an ‘ole Aunty and a young nephew is easy and comfortable out on the trails.
A breathtaking view awaited our arrival. My thoughtful nephew guide offered to help me atop the big rock for an even better view. What a fun, special time we had on our little hike this morning. It was wonderful and spectacular.
Remnants of Family Summer Fun
I grew up in the tourist industry. Memorial Day through Labor Day started and finished the busiest time of year for us. It was tourist season, summer time, school break, taking folks through the caverns, working in the campground, and best of all taking tourists on horseback trail rides through the mountains where we lived at Endless Caverns in New Market, VA. Could not get better than that for me.
I have used this reasoning to help understand my sadness at the end of summer and beginning of fall. The season is over, everyone has gone home, it will now be quiet I would think to myself. For years we rented the horses for our livery and they too had to leave. This only added to that empty feeling inside.
We sold the caverns way back in 1976. One would think I’d be over that feeling of summer being over. Guess that’s not going to happen. What I have learned is to enjoy the remnants of summer fun and family visits as I work to get things back in order after all the family visit fun.
As I was cleaning up after three weeks of great family times, I found myself taking photographs of all the evidence of the fun we enjoyed together. It made me smile and filled my heart with thankfulness.
Can you can see what I mean with these fun, silly photographs? All the evidence of family summer fun?
I hope as this summer winds down you too have some remnants of family fun around your house as well. Good by summer, fare thee well and…
Happy Labor Day weekend to you, dear reader.
Is Your House ever Quiet?
I was asked this question many times as a young mother with five children, dogs, cats, and a bird. I would laugh and say, “Yes! Around 2 a.m. in the morning it’s nice and quiet!”
We still have dogs, cats, a bird, horses and chickens but the children are grown and now have families of their own. So our busy, noisy home full of kids happens only when our grandchildren come for visits.
Cousins that do not often see one another get extended time together here on the farm for a couple nights. To say it is wild and crazy is rather an understatement. We aim to please, create life-long memories, and ties that bind us together as family.
Good planning ahead of visit makes these times special and smoother sailing for everyone. The groceries! How much needs to be stocked up for these ever-hungry little people! I know the meals and snacks we will have, and am all prepared!
They pile like a pack of puppies in our downstairs bedroom. Who ever said sleep-overs were about sleep?
They are all here for only a couple nights. Just enough to keep everyone wanting more, while making fun, life-long memories.
They sure seem to enjoy one anothers’ company. Watching them run, laugh, play tag, chase lightning bugs at night and eat like little piggies around the table confirm that these are the times they will hold dear one day. Glory!
They are not interested much in going out to “do things.” They simply want their free time to spend together outside. With the exception of always wanting to go get soft-serve ice cream at Packs. We visited only one place off the farm this visit.
When I watch these happy children run like little wild indians around our farm, I am reminded of the poem The Barefoot Boy, by John Greenleaf Whittier:
Blessings on thee, little man, Barefoot boy, with cheek of tan!…
The joys, innocence and simplicity of childhood are taken away far too early these days. Childhood is gift every child should be given. We see to it these grandchildren have full, simple and hopefully memorable times with each other in this ephemeral time called childhood.
We hope these photos of our barefoot boys and girl bring a smile and perhaps a special memory to you.
County Fairs
Another season is done for our Frederick and Clarke County fairs. Such fun when they come, sweet sorrow when over.
Do you know Scripture says something about joys coming to an end? “…and the end of joy may be grief.” Proverbs 14:13 It sometimes is hard when happy times end isn’t it? Yet God in His grace forewarns us of this. And since forewarned is forearmed, I’m somewhat ready for the end of a happy time.
One thing I noticed while walking around the empty fairgrounds in Clarke County, there is a feeling of joy and laughter lingering in the air among the trees. The few folks that are there are smiling and happy. Perhaps because it is over and it is fun helping exhibitors pick up their entries. There is much work involved to putting on a fair, and those folks do a fine job.
A pleasant feeling of community also lingers. We see neighbors, politicians, our local police, farmers, and lots of young people busy with their animals, all hoping for a ribbon or waiting in line for carnival rides or for some awful, yummy junk food. Often this is the only time during the year we see so much of our community and neighbors.
And now in the end happy crows are busy gobbling up all the leftover treats. Popcorn, French fries, funnel cake. All crumbs are being happily cleaned up by flocks of crows. Even they sound happy!
So as I walk the now quiet fair grounds I smile, for the joy of fairs past and those yet to come. Hope you enjoy this quiet little walk with me.
