December 31st, 2019, My Favorite New Year's Eve Ever

New Year's Eve nudged me from my cozy bed early this morning. Reviewing my day so far, I can say I've done a year's worth of work already today. The Ever Ready bunny rep is applauding me.  I'm about to initiate my holiday celebration with a Raspberry Tart beer brewed and bottled by New Glarus Brewing Co. here in southern Wisconsin.

Three extraordinary occasions occurred in 2019.

1.  I turned 70.
2.  My husband and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary.
3.  I retired.

Fortunately, I don't feel 70, Lon and I are happier together than ever before, and I'm finding retirement is a joy I didn't foresee.

I plan to become best friends with my blog. I am easily motivated to pound out a few words and post a few photos.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU.

   

My Beloved Photo Archives

Tom and Jerry's are my favorite Christmas time treat.

Coloring is a joy with gel pens.

The variety of coloring markers, pencils and pens available is endless.

They love their milkweed.

On Lake Vermilion, this resort is a favorite.

Petunias are beautiful and easy to grow.

My mother loved observing birds and taught us to do the same.

I'm amused by this unusual pose for a robin. Looks like he's watching something very closely over his head.

Metallic gel pens go on very smoothly, makes coloring so effortless.

Another glimpse of my leisure time effort results.

 My recent photos are on my phone. I have no clue how to get them to the laptop I'm using for my blog posts. Until then, I'm using photos stored in my computer archives.

I hope you enjoy them.

Ahhhhhhh.....What a Wonderful World!

Crescent Beach, Siesta Key, Florida

A wooden container that my father made and my mother painted using the rosemaling technique

I completed the biking part of a biathlon and was about to put my bike down and start the run.

A newly emerged monarch butterfly

A pelican coming in or taking off

A hawk in our back yard dining on a bird that he scooped up from our feeder

I hope you enjoyed this hodgepodge of photos from my archives. 

My Happy Place

Actually, my happy place is every where I am. I hope and pray you feel the same about yourself.

Pilates and Racquetball

This is my racquetball gear. I'll be ordering a glove any minute now. 

 

My pilates class is held in this room.

I left home this morning at 8:00 to go to the Y. My pilates class started at 8:30. After that one hour class, I played racquetball until 11:30. Granted, Renee and I spent time teaching a young lady the game, but we also played singles, cut throat and doubles. 

Man, I enjoyed all of it. I LOVE RACQUETBALL. I'm looking forward to playing in a new league that's being organized. 

I haven't been sleeping well so every morning I wonder if I should stay home and take it easy or get a workout at the Y. I'm always glad when I go and I don't miss many opportunities.

I've said it before and I will say it again, the Y is a lifesaver for me and I know it could benefit any of my readers who want to get moving.

Will You Dance?

My challenge in navigating through my days is that I have more options than I ever anticipated. As a result, my head spins and I do many a happy dance. Seriously, I can't dance but my moves are joyful.

I want to be happy. My friend, Cap, reminded me that "To feel good, do good." I will focus on that as I go forward. And, I'll eat chocolate!

I have so much to be thankful for. It's humbling to consider the mountains of blessings I've enjoyed in my life. I will do my best to be a blessing to those whose lives I touch.

And so I ask, will you dance with me?

In a Couple Hours, I'm Retired

Baby, it's cold outside.

I'm nearly retired and so ready. I hope to be back here to my blog now that I'll have much more time to do as I please.

Where will I begin?  It will come to me.

I Was Afraid to Retire

Enjoy this beautiful bluejay I photographed in our backyard a few years ago. 

I've wanted to retire for quite some time. I hesitated because of memories of past experiences that haven't faded. I worked for several years at Sears in the late sixties and early seventies. I was promoted to department manager of draperies and linens. At the time, I didn't have the confidence to feel comfortable in that position. I chose to walk away from the job. My self esteem plummeted.

I didn't do well without something to do. Fortunately, a neighbor invited me to a class at the YMCA. I know we took a pool exercise class and perhaps also did exercises in the gym. In those classes, I met racquetball players and runners. Soon, I was playing racquetball, running and feeling good about myself, busy and enjoying life again.

I worked part time jobs and in 1978, Jared was born. I had never felt like I would be a good mother until a grade school boy, Jim, in our neighborhood started coming over after school everyday. He stood at my elbow while I worked in the kitchen. We bonded as we chatted while I made dinner or folded laundry. His sisters, Janice and Jennifer, spent time at our house too, pretty regularly. Knowing they chose to hang out with me boosted my motherly instincts.

Lon and I decided to start a family. Of course, being a mother to our son, Jared, was a joy. Lon was a wonderful father and I got the hang of mothering in no time.

My parents were reliable and, of course, willing babysitters. That made it easy for me to take dental assisting classes at Blackhawk Tech. After graduating, I worked for a general dentist, an orthodontist and finally at the office where I remained for 28 years.

As I mentioned, I considered retiring several years ago, but feared I would struggle again as I had in the past.

One day in September this year, I realized I really needed to retire. I gave it much thought and informed my boss on October 1st that I was ready to retire ASAP but would work until the day before Thanksgiving if necessary. I contacted a previous coworker/ friend and she agreed to work a few days a week for me until Thanksgiving.

With more time to myself than I've had in years, I joined the Y again. I've taken several classes already and have even played racquetball. I'm excited to get back into exercising, something I truly enjoy.

Thankfully and happily, I'm not afraid of retirement anymore.

Being Semi-Retired Is Lovely

Feet up and laid back, resting up for the weekend. ☺️

Early in October, I found a former coworker to job share with me until I retire on the day before Thanksgiving.

With a new membership at the Y, I'm finding plenty to fill my time. I intended to spend time there this morning but it's 10:00 and I'm not in a big hurry to do anything.

I hope to be back here on my blog often sharing my days in this rather solitary but enjoyable activity.

My Quest to Save Monarch Butterflies, Part 12

I have to be really careful when I unzip my mesh enclosures. See how that "cat" is right next to one of the zipper pulls? It is very easy to overlook when I am cleaning. Now, I always check the zipper before I open the enclosure. I learned the hard way last summer. That was my first fatality. I was trying so hard to raise them properly. I felt so bad. 

My Quest to Save Monarch Butterflies, Part 11

This caterpillar has shed its outer layer.  Its shriveled skin trails temporarily behind it. During its growth, it will shed its skin 5 times.

My Quest to Save Monarch Butterflies, Part 10

(The photos are clearer if you touch them and they enlarge).

I kept a lot of records last summer. I was so interested in everything I was observing, I just had to. 😊

The first list above is release dates of my monarch butterflies. I enjoyed naming them and was able to follow the growth of each caterpillar. I had several mesh enclosures so I was able to identify caterpillars with small name tags on the floor of their safe space.

The other lists indicate each caterpillar's history. I marked down if I adopted it as an egg or caterpillar. I kept track of growth and developmental stages including j hanging, chrysalis formation and the fun day when they emerged from their chrysalides and flew off.

My Quest to Save Monarch Butterflies, Part 9

I saw this transformation about 40 times last year. It never ceased to amaze me.