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Venting, Yes I miss that person. I can’t stand the person I’ve become. I’m angry, and have a very short fuse a lot of the time. I’m resentful because I live out of a suitcase much of the time and can’t join or get involved with things because of bicoastal life right now. I’m a nervous wreck about financial stuff which causes anxiety and insomnia.

I used to be a much happier person. I hope I find my way back.
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Alva , I love that idea,

My husband actually got covid on vacation 2 years ago. In Gatlinburg we had to stay a few extra days. It was actually an ok time, I did some shopping, got a good book. While he slept most of the time.
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Venting, to those who have never had the stress we have , that would be such an odd statement

But I get it, we all get it. I've gotten much of myself back with , help from a lot of different avenues, after loosing my marbles this winter. But I still disappear, in worry, greif, stress , I so get that statement.

And yes Alvas right, you have to take care of yourself, to get part of yourself back. The constant worry destroys us. People would tell me I need a vacation, I was like why I still have to come home, the thought of getting away,did nothing to make me feel better. Don't do to yourself what I did. Enjoy your some of your life free of worry
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Venting, at 81 I have been so many people I wouldn't know myself if I passed me in the street.
I often think about this. I think if we live long enough (and of course switch husbands often enough) we live lives entirely divorced from one another. We are quite simply different people at different times.

I think you are getting exhausted with something; I hope you take time for yourself just to do something ALONE that you love, whether going to a Museum, gardening, knitting, taking a few days alone at a motel where you watch TV and eat stuff that's bad for you.
Thinking of you.
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Does anyone miss who they once were? I miss myself. Hope we meet again.
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I was sitting outside drinking my coffee this morning watching the birds and squirrels.

The squirrels are so cute and busy little creatures!

I absolutely loved all of the Beatrix Potter books as a child. I read all of them to my children when they were young.

I really enjoy watching all of the birds too. I started giggling because I suddenly remembered a time when my dad ran into the house looking uneasy.

A blue jay was protecting her nest and attacked my dad! She swooped down and chased him off. He was quite unnerved by his encounter with this bird.
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Margaret,

You’re right about how much people will spend on craft projects.

One of my friends spends an absolute fortune on scrapbooking!

I don’t know how she isn’t broke buying all of her supplies. She has a craft room, plus a closet filled up.

Her cards are beautiful but she goes overboard with spending.

She makes all sorts of things with her Cricut machine.

I have been shopping with her and I would not want to be paying for her credit card bills.
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cw,

I know a woman who does volunteer quilting with her church group. It’s one of their ministries. They do baby quilts that are lovely. The mothers love the quilts.
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CWillie, I believe you are right in many cases. My friends do small quilts and donate them to hospice, they are very often treasured by the dying one and after by the family. My guess is the ones that cherish them, know the love that went into making it.
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Re: the quilting - I sometimes attend a group that makes simple tied quilts for charity and in my heart I have questioned the value of this project. Because we are using donated fabric and thread and the only things we need to supply are the batting and our time I suppose it works out as a positive, but otherwise I'm not sure if the recipients would value these hand made items over a nice warm blanket.
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I re-read my ‘judgement’ on quilting, and it does sound a bit bitter and twisted. So I should add that the people who do it, absolutely love it! Take it up if you will love it too! But it does take a very long time and it IS an expensive hobby.
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Quilting here is never done with bits of worn-out clothing or other fabric. It’s always new fabric, and there are always three layers. It is a very expensive hobby.

The material for ‘pretty’ quilted side is only the first expense. Fat quarters cost more than simple yardage! The fabric backing is special extra-wide fabric (sometimes a high-quality large sheet), and the batting layer in between (the stuffing for warmth) is also a special extra wide expensive exercise. For a quilt, all three layers are stitched together, either by hand (a very awkward job) or on a special sewing machine that allows such a large article to fit under the presser foot. The stitching itself is an art form, not straight up-and-down. Here there are a couple of women who have the big machines and can do it for you, and it costs $$$. Of course both of them are heavies in the Quilting Club. The actual paid-out costs for a bed-sized quilt are between $500 and $1000, without putting any value on the unpaid work of quilting the ‘pretty’ front layer. It’s very different from the old pioneer ‘quilting bee’ using second hand fabric scraps.

It’s like a lot of craft. When I was a child, DIY craft was a way of saving money. Now most crafts are a way of spending money, and often a lot of it. Yes, the ‘pretty’ side or a quilt is often very attractive, but in my mind it is still about ‘ cutting perfecting good fabric into small pieces and then stitching it back together’.
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I don’t know if I could pick a favorite quilt. They are all beautiful.
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I was blessed to have a senior friend teach me how to quilt, it is truly an art form and a total joy to do.

The work that woman use to perform was tedious and quilting provided and provides a welcome chance to visit with like minded people and create something useful and beautiful for your home.

My favorite quilt, a crazy quilt that has used all the leftovers from clothing your family. Beautiful beyond words.
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I am amazed with the artistry of quilting and watch anything I can on TV. It amazes me that the most poor people with the least access to supplies made some of the most stunning works of art I have EVER seen. My favorite Museum, the DeYoung in San Francisco (look up their current exhibitions of florists making floral tributes to paintings on Bouquets to Art 2024 De Young Museum) is full of quilts and often has special exhibitions. I cannot imagine being able to do these. The craft program on our Public TV station has amazing programs about them. Ken Burns Collects American quilts. I would love to make them. Or to play piano. Or or or or . Next life. Just around the corner, don't you know!
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Where I am, quilting is a Very Big Thing. They put quilts on beds, hang them on walls, put them in the cupboard to wait 20 years to be a new baby’s eventual wedding present. There are competitions in the local Show, annual exhibitions, shops that sell ‘fat quarters’. You name it, it’s here.

As far as I am concerned, it’s about cutting perfecting good fabric into small pieces and then stitching it back together. For pity’s sake!
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Just bought a Twin size cover to decorate my queen size bed.
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Oh I've always wanted a hand made quilt, just never wanted to spend that kind of money on one. The work that goes into it, they absolutely deserve that money.

I've seen them hung. I think a home with high ceilings , or in an entrance way , where you have 2 stories , near a nice staircase. Would look nice.
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Eva,

I love transitional pieces too. They are tasteful and versatile. I prefer a collection of pieces, rather than a contrived look.

It’s more interesting to have a blending of styles. I especially like combining old pieces with newer ones.
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I saw a beautiful handmade quilt at an antique shop. It isn’t large enough for my king sized bed.

I have fallen in love with it, and considering purchasing it. I thought about hanging it on my bedroom wall, but not sure of the best way to do this.

Have any of you hung a quilt on the wall? If so, please share what you did.

Thanks!
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Vegemite is now providing the umani to 'flavour balance our meals', due to my DH watching TV cooking shows. All good. But I'm also good with my plain old spag bol & my vegemite on my toast 😁
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NHWM,
I love decorating and interior design.
Put that show you mentioned on my list.
No money does not buy taste, sometimes displaying wealth creates opposite effect.
Like some gold toilets and so on.
I am kind of minimalistic or between comfort and modern, which is transitional style.
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Margaret,
Your husband is like mine, he thinks as well I am good cook and beautiful.
Nothing wrong with vegemite, it is full of nutrients.
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Margaret,

I had to look up Vegemite. Interesting product!
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Margaret: I hear you! DH is always saying "We'll do it tomorrow." Hello! You mean to say that "I'll do it tomorrow." I don't put it off, though.
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Eva, you must be a decade younger than me. Most men of my vintage who re-incarnated themselves as chefs, used every utensil in the kitchen and never learned to wash up.

My Tony will live for days on toast and vegemite if I am away. Minimal washing up when I get back, because he wipes the crumbs off and reuses every plate and mug. He thinks I am a wonderful cook, as well as being beautiful, and he is a genuinely nice man. Like I said, quit when you're ahead!
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Eva,

You have been busy!

Prepping for a move is a lot of work. Moving is work too.

It’s a good time to get rid of things that aren’t absolutely essential.

I find that the older I get, the less I want. I hate clutter.

I have always been fascinated with architecture and interior design.

I watched the series Million Dollar Decorators on Netflix.

It’s amazing to see how the super wealthy furnish their homes. It boggles my mind!

It’s also interesting to see that money cannot buy taste! 😁 One of the clients was a woman who married into the Max Factor family. Super rich family!

So, she said that she had an MBA and a law degree but didn’t know how to shop or decorate. She hires an interior designer, but wouldn’t allow her to do her job!

She was practically a hoarder. She bought pieces from all over the world.

She had a spare room in her house filled with art and furniture that she didn’t know what to do with.

She also had three storage units filled with more stuff. The interior designer had a really difficult time working with her.

Oh, one person on the show had a $30 million dollar home in La Jolla, CA. They spent $3 million just on the furniture. Must be fun! Huh?

One of the designers does work for Elton John, Cher, Sharon Osborne, etc. He said that he loved shopping with other people’s money! 😝
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Margaret,
That retirement advice or whoever wrote it did not get a memo that it is 21st century!
Actually one couple retired now and husband took over almost all the cooking and cleaning!
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Come now, husbands can often do things wives can’t do at all! Like replace a broken lock, which I had to beg a friend’s elderly husband to help with, because mine is down south selling the farm. The issue is the fair division of labor, which changes after DH retires.

The ‘retirement’ advice I’ve read rarely talks about how to divide the tasks differently. It usually assumes that DH needs to find new interests (or just 'enjoy leisure', avoid over-eating, and get some exercise), while W does all the usual work to keep running the household. Perhaps DH 'helps', but that's not dividing responsibilities for keeping daily life functioning. It's something that W is supposed to be grateful for, every time. That’s not fair when you are both getting old!
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NHWM,
Yes.
In the last month I cleaned, decluttered and in general prepared our house for sale.
Sold it, finalized purchase and legalities of new condo.
Then need to sell, donate most of our furniture.
Fun will be buying new, except checking on line some won’t be ready till late August. I guess we will use patio furniture for a while as we are moving in mid July.
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