Patience/Tolerance: Same Difference!

I hope you are all having good times and making happy memories these last couple of months of 2021. I don’t know about you, but I will be glad to see this year go! With a lockdown for 2020, we were hoping that this year would be a bit more lenient. We did get in some family trips but were still constantly reminded of COVID-19 restrictions. And then there was a bit of family drama over the Thanksgiving holiday. I was reminded (by my husband) that I needed to take a “patient pill.” What?! Who are you calling impatient?! Ummm, obviously me. Have you ever been right about something and feel the need to drive the point home because those around you don’t seem to get it? You get the idea. I definitely should have taken a different tack with my situation. Isn’t hindsight always 20/20? The misunderstanding has been rectified, but from now on I will be a little more introspective if and when a similar situation arises. Could you, too, use a little humbling?

I’ve mentioned that we are blessed to have a place in Ruidoso, New Mexico. I was also lucky enough to spend some time there by myself a few weeks ago. I did some maintenance and turned to see this bad boy walking by!

Later I ventured over to the Inn of the Mountain Gods. Unfortunately the bar area was not open at the time (!), but I did manage to get this beautiful sunset image from their back patio!

I’m still hard at work on my daily exercise. Daily walks are such a habit now that I feel badly if I don’t get one in. That’s why you sometimes have to force yourself to do something you do not like temporarily until you like it consistently! But everything in moderation, too. Tuesday was yoga, followed by 30 minutes on the exercise bike (I need to keep working that “new” knee), and then yesterday was Zumba. Maybe a little too much back to back, says my thighs! Ha ha!

I’ll continue to promote Young Living oils–I think they are the best! And speaking of achy muscles (!), try diffusing these oils individually to ease your pain: Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Wintergreen, and Rosemary.

Thank you for being a loyal reader! If you enjoy the blog, I would love it if you would Follow Me and I’ll come straight to your email. Until next time!

Stop Focusing on Your Flaws

Well count me out for the first time in a long time! I went to visit my kids and grandkids last weekend and was felled by allergies! Good grief they kicked my butt. Here in Texas it seems like we just go from one allergy season to the next, and this one got me good. I am not one to be idle so doing a lot of nothing was difficult. I didn’t say I didn’t! Ha ha. But I felt a little guilty nonetheless.

I have been working fervently on staying in shape and exercising, even if it’s just my daily walk and basic yoga stretches. I want to make sure that I am fit and able to keep up with my grandkids as the years go by. But I have found that I tend to beat myself up if I don’t stick to my schedule, or take some time off, like getting this persistent cough and having to deal with that.

As you age your eyesight tends to wane, so when you want to put on eye makeup, for instance, you use a magnifier. I have found, however, that the more I use it the more I find “flaws” in my face, hair, neck, etc. I started to notice that I tend to only see my shortcomings. Is that you, too? My mother was always looking for products that would help erase wrinkles, or fix imperfections. I finally told her “Mom, we don’t see any of that. All us kids and the grandkids see is your smile.” Are you guilty of the same?

My point is, we women are notorious for beating ourselves up over one thing or another, and we need to stop! Maybe it’s just a mantra we need to recite when we are feeling particularly vulnerable. Maybe it’s just making a conscious effort to step away and take a breath! Either way, make time for your beautiful self!

I’ll continue to promote Young Living oils–I think they are the best! Since I have been suffering with seasonal allergies I have to share a blend that is working for me: Lavender, Lemon and Tea Tree. Diffuse these for an all over house cleansing! Ahhh–I’m breathing easier already!

Thank you for being a loyal reader! If you enjoy the blog, I would love it if you would Follow Me and I’ll come straight to your email. Until next time!

Local Activities Are the Best, Pt. 2

[Last post in my Halloween costume!]

My husband is a good sport. When he’s not working, he tries to get things done around the house, but he’s also willing to go on an adventure. Personally, I think he really has FOMO (fear of missing out)! Ha ha. I am not a sit around-er, if you have been reading my blogs. If there is something going on within 100 miles I want to be there! After all, this IS a travel blog! My father-in-law often says that I will get tired of traveling, but I hope not. Maybe it’s because I started traveling early in life; my dad was a Navy pilot. Wherever he was stationed my mom and the five of us kids went. We even got to live in Japan for two years, and I still know a little Japanese. Yep, it’s in my blood!

We didn’t make it to the nearby Championship Barbecue Cookoff in Meridian (not my choice), but we were able to check out the races in Cresson. Motorsport Ranch has two tracks on which individuals can drive their sports cars, race cars and motorcycles. While I have upgraded my Jeep to a Mercedes convertible (an early birthday present to myself!), I did not participate in the racing. I do not feel the need for speed, but apparently others do! It’s hard to get the low-down when you are doing 60 mph on the highway, so I am glad we had the opportunity to see this venue first hand. And even though it was warm and windy, we enjoyed checking out, watching the races and talking to the participants.

Sunday evening our neighbors got us tickets for an incredible outdoor experience in Granbury–The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. You all probably know the story of Ichabod Crane:

Ichabod Crane, fictional character, a lanky and unattractive schoolmaster who is the protagonist of Washington Irving’s short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Ichabod Crane is quite poor, and his main interest is self-advancement. He attempts to further his cause by impressing the daughters of rich families with his learning. He is also very suggestible, however, and his belief in ghosts and other supernatural phenomena ultimately gets the better of him.

The group who presented the story was great! Here are some pictures I managed to capture:

And speaking of Granbury, keep your fingers crossed that our wonderful little city makes it three years in a row for the Best Historic Small Town in America!

Now about exercise: when we first moved here I turned one of my bedrooms into my “gym.” I had a weightlifting setup, as well as free weights, a mat and a yoga ball. But I used it infrequently. It turns out that I am best suited to, and more motivated by, a gym where there are classes (Zumba, pilates, yoga) as well as stationary bikes, treadmills, and exercise machines that I can use at my own pace. My local YMCA fills the bill! Have you checked out an exercise place in your area? I often read a blog where the person works out at an Orange Theory. How about you? What keeps you motivated to exercise?

I’ll continue to promote Young Living essential oils–I think they are the best! Since it is fall (another cold front is finally getting here to Texas!), thanks to #heytherejae for these suggestions: 3 drops of orange, 2 drops of ginger and 2 drops of cinnamon; 2 orange, 2 cinnamon, 1 eucalyptus, 1 clove; 2 bergamot, 2 lemon and 2 eucalyptus. Fill your house with these wonderful scents!

Thank you for being a loyal reader! If you enjoy the blog, I would love it if you would Follow Me and I’ll come straight to your email. Until next time!