My Grama's Soul

Arizona has finally eased into Spring.  I know much of the county is still having inclement weather, but here, at last we have a touch of perfect weather.  It does not last long as summer comes so very quickly with temps that are scorchers.  But for now, we simply enjoy what is. Speaking of enjoying "what is"..... I know this last year has been so very difficult for most of us. However, the sun always rises and the seasons always change....nothing is permanent.  Things come....things go. The Buddha embraced impermanence....Our world is in constant change.  I truly believe that the secret to real contentment is accepting that we really have so little control over our life.  We can control our thoughts and that is really about all if you get to the bottom line.   Easier said than done, I realize...but if practiced on a daily basis....it does become a little easier. Once again, I am spouting off....please just bare with me.  Thanks. Jo

I have never professed to being a whiz on the computer side of things.   I do like to mess around a bit to see if I can mix things up as I do get a little tired of looking at the same thing all the time.  Since we are now in THE PAUSE as it is called by the younger crowd...you know....staying in, social distancing, etc., and I can only rearrange my living room so many times; I have decided to work on changing my blog.

Yesterday in my yoga class, our instructor asked us the above question.   I must admit....there were a lot of puzzled looking ladies staring back at her.  Everyone one of us can get stuck in a rut with our lives.  In fact,  it does seem easier to do the older one gets.  Your world can become so small that you have absolutely nothing to look forward to. When I left the parking lot, I vowed to begin each of the coming weeks with something NEW to look forward to.  It does not have to be a costly endeavor. It can be as simple as going to a movie by yourself, stopping by the near by library that you have been promising to go to for years,  eating a simple lunch or dinner at a new restaurant, taking a creative class of some sort ( just make sure it is something you have not done before).   Some structure is a necessity in every life...but if you get too STUCK IN YOUR WAYS...you will never learn anything new. ...

Hi dear friends.  This is a photo of me on my 70th birthday.  It was taken at a dinner in celebration of same.  I'll soon be 71 and of course should have spoken out about this little issue earlier.   Why is it that in today's society that once you are past 60 or 65 you suddenly become invisible.  Your opinion seem to no longer matter, your visibility all but goes into a closet and any  thing of new  interest always seems to be about the young.  I know.....we have had our "time in the sun" so to speak...but we still have ideas and comments to contribute to the world. I follow a number of different media sources and rarely are the older folks even mentioned.  We are still here and we still are interested in design, beauty, art, culture, reading, making a living, cooking, people, travel.....just to name a few things...and the list could go on and on.  Oh.....didn't even MENTION politics!!! Often times...even...

It does not matter what age one is......you can still have fun with color. I have lived in 10 houses during my lifetime and I have pretty much decorated everyone of them myself.  Now, mind you, I am NO DECORATOR.....but I do know what I like and how I want to live. Each time I have moved, I certainly have not been able to afford new things....so I just keep recycling them same old things I love. Getting out the paint and changing up my color scheme to match my mood is something I have done in each home.  Lately, my mood has been pretty lively if I do say so myself. Little table above used to be a boring brown...lamp...a navy blue..got tired of both..so changed the color on both. Yellow chest below used to be red....then a rusty orange and now sunny yellow. Have used all the art from my other houses in new rooms and in new ways...just to mix things up.  I like shopping from my own home to change my feel. My beautiful husband accuses me of ...

I have not been in the blogging world for quite some time now.  I have missed it and I have occasionally visited various friends here.  It does seem that this summer's events have really put a damper on who I normally am.   As most of you know....we moved in late July....a downsize which we love..but was SO VERY MUCH WORK.  Unpacked in about 5 weeks.  I mean everything...pictures on the walls everything organized for living. THEN....on August 26th my wonderful soulmate had some very serious colon surgery.  We are not "spring chickens" any longer so recovery has been a slow process for him.  And, it seems, for me also.  LOL LOL Perhaps there is a tad bit of depression going on....but I plan on snapping out of it and getting back with the business of life. Speaking of which.....tomorrow is my birthday.  Nothing big planned, although we are going to be going on a little trip for a week or so with our traveling frie...

Since we are in the process of putting our house on the market to sell, some of you have asked me to see some shots around here.  I've taken a few shots with a few little things we have changed this summer....it is so hot outside that all you can do is stay inside and do little projects there.  The round mirror above the little table used to be antique gold and hang in our powder room.  I loved its shape and wanted to change it so I painted it a wonderful shade of dark, dark blue...which actually looks purple in the pic.  The cloth on the table is one of my Kantha cloths from India.  I actually have started becoming a collector of these things.  I can't believe it, as I have almost NEVER been a collector of any one thing...but I have fallen in love with all the color.  They are actually made from old Sari's and hand stitched in the little villages in India. This is a shot of the other side of the living room.  Th...

How many times in our lives have we waited to do something?  You know the feeling....I'll wait until a better dress,  car , man, friend....etc. comes along.  Only to find that our waiting has actually made what we wanted a thing that will never be attained.  Making a decision and then going forward with it can at times be very fearful..but more often than not it is the right thing to do. I have always be one to be proactive in most things...sometimes to my peril..but that is just the way I am.  However, with age and wisdom now on my side...I am more able to put on the brakes occasionally and make a more considered decision.   But I do believe there is a difference between making a considered decision and waiting to long for fear of making any decision.....how do you feel about this....and have you had experiences where waiting has been a definite advantage or disadvantage? Case in point right now for us is this move we are anticipating. ...

All of us, at one time or another, have had to make a transition in our life.  Well, at sixty-six years old, it is finally time to make yet another one in mine.   My wonderful husband and I have decided to sell our large home and downsize into something more manageable.  We have been here almost 12 years....live in a wonderful area....have beautiful neighbors and certainly will miss this spot.   However, I know something even better is around the corner.  The biggest concern now is what to do with all the "stuff" that one does seem to accumulate over a lifetime.  Of course, we will keep things we love, but out of necessity we will part with things that no longer have any significance in our lives.  I want to do this move while we both are still alive so as not to be overwhelmed when one of us do eventually pass. I am feeling a little overwhelmed at present...but I do know that this process will take time.  It is kind of like ...

Big changes are coming in our life this next year.......things are far from firmed up.....but I will keep anyone who is interested informed. Blog changes are going to happen also. Have a wonderful day, Jo

HAPPY WEEKEND..... xo Jo

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." Viktor Frankl I am an an avid reader of the morning paper.....yes...I hold the paper in my hands and sit down with my coffee and have a little time in the morning to see what is going on in the world and my community. Sometimes the news is "good" but more often than not it is "not so good." When I'm finished reading I often ponder....how can I help this troubled planet and the people on it.....I'm just one individual and we are talking about "MAJOR" issues. After reflecting on this a while this is the conclusion I came to.....all of us on the blogging bandwagon are attempting to make this world a kinder, prettier, gentler place.  Oh we have our bad days and sometimes just need to vent...but for the most part....posts are positive, uplifting, just telling our day to day stories or showing our wonderful creativity.  Unlik...

  "Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes." Benjamin Franklin Changes are in the wind for us........my beautiful partner and I are ready to down size a little. Smaller spot......smaller town.......fewer expenses..... less stress. We are just kicking tires for now.......but I know we will make it happen.  We are both retired and ready for a lifestyle change....we'll still travel and see this wonderful country of ours....but hopefully our home base will be a little less work and a little less costly. I say..........We are ready.......hopefully you'll follow along on the ride....no matter how long it takes. Hugs sweet friends, Jo photo:  Art Worth Hanging UP ~ Ben Sillvermann Jeff Rogers ~ Flikr