I did a LOT of work outside last week – weed whacking, mowing the front lawn, yanking out lots of invasive plants. I had decided to take it easy on Saturday, but of course, I saw those invasive plants and I couldn’t ignore them. By Saturday afternoon, I knew I had to stop. My arms were sore, my legs were sore, and I was exhausted. Yesterday, we both took it easy and we’re going to do it again today.
We had a long conversation on Friday about the changes in our lives due to age. We just can’t do the things we used to do. Well, we can, but we tire out much more quickly and our bodies complain much more loudly. I hate that. I’ll admit it, I get angry and frustrated with these new limitations, most of which have hit us in the last couple of years. But I cannot deny the facts. We’re in our seventies and attaining septuagenarian status comes with new restrictions.
I napped yesterday, fell asleep during a god-awful movie last night, and slept in today. I’ll play around with the dollhouse today, write this blog, and that’s about it.
Speaking of the dollhouse: I won this table on a eBay auction. It was made by Bespaq, a high-end miniature company that is no longer in business. I have a few Bespaq pieces; the art deco chairs in the living room, the chaise longue in the bedroom.
And this:
This drop leaf table.
Isn’t it lovely?
It is now in the kitchen, where the owners can open up one leaf and sit down for a bite to eat. Or, the owners can move it into the large entrance hallway, fully open it, and have dinner parties.
It is now sitting underneath a cupboard that I made the other day.
The dishes are a bit matchy, but they were the only dishes I had that would fit in that narrow shelf space.
I love my cheery little kitchen!
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
I know what you mean about getting older. I need to paint a room that’s been calling my name for a while. Seems I would rather read, or knit, or watch tv, or spin some fiber or even just sit.
Love your table.
I’ll send you the info about Canada when I get some response from them. It’s a process and I don’t want to send you on the wrong path.
Love,
Eileen
Thank you, Eileen. Much appreciated. I still want to claim my Canadian citizenship. I should have done it long ago!
xoxo
Claudia
Matchy dishes work in a kitchen where they wouldn’t otherwise. I love the cabinet and the table is a gem!
Rick and I have had that same conversation. He notices it more in his cycling (as in “I’ll be lucky to make 5,000 miles this year.”) I notice it every day with this hip or that foot. (I give him a pass because he’s so much younger than I am but I hate the restrictions!) It’s why we’ll move in together in the next few years and that will be good. But still, hard to come to grips with mentally!
That will be good for both of you, but yes, very difficult to accept!
Thanks so much, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
Good Morning Claudia! That new normal sounds awfully familiar. I have “had to” learn the hard way that I Must curtail my garden energy before I think I should….. it creeps up on me and then I can barely move! Pacing is the key… not too long (an hour at the most) and not every day. I am trying to think of ways to cut back on the work load…. not easy.
As for the drop leaf table… well done! It is perfect and gorgeous! I have a RL version of that, an antique cherry (solid not veneer 20″ wide boards!) table that belonged to a great grandmother and we had when I was growing up. My Lovely Old Dollhouse sits on it with one side open… I must ask my Mom Which Great grandmother, come to think of it! Lol! I think your Bespaq one looks gorgeous in the kitchen and what a great space saver it proves to be. The cabinet you put together is also just lovely and perfect for that spot. As always, I am really Really enjoying your progress with this house!
That cherry table must be beautiful, Betsy.
You are absolutely right – pacing is the key.
Thanks so much.
Stay safe.
It’s good to take relaxing, restful days. My aunt said, “getting old is not for sissies!” You and Don sound like you are great at supporting each other and keeping your spirits up.
Take care.
That’s a famous Bette Davis quote, Ellen. And it sure isn’t!
Thanks so much, Ellen!
I am experiencing the same thing as I age. I do some activity and it takes a day or two to recover, I am careful what I can do these days. That said I did have a wonderful time in the mountains with my family over Labor Day weekend. We relaxed, ate great food, talked, laughed and had so much fun. I am blessed! Yes it took me days to recover. Enjoy your fall weather as it approaches. Oh and I do love that table!
Glad you had a good time with your family, Linda.
Stay safe.
Yes….we are all getting older. I don’t mind the gray hair and the wrinkles. What I do mind is losing my strength. So I’m trying to remedy that by exercising more to get my arms and legs stronger. I also use a kneeler/bench for weed pulling and such. That really helps me. So, while I am getting older I’m fighting to keep up my strength. So far it’s helping. But, there are still things I can no longer do…and that makes me sad.
I like that table and that cabinet you made. They look nice together. Enjoy your day! ;)
We do a lot of physical things, especially mowing this big property. We can do it, but the recovery time increases a bit every year.
Thanks, Donnamae.
Stay safe.
I am always surprised when I run out of steam doing chores. I think I could do that before no problem. It is terrible to feel your aging but there isn’t much we can do. Just pace yourself but it is so annoying.
I love to see what you are doing in your dollhouse. The table is beautiful.
Stay safe,
Marion
Thank you, Marion!
Stay safe.
I always wanted a ‘real’ table like the one you found for your little house.
Looking back on your posts, I just wanted to note that my uncle was scheduled to be working in the world trade centre building on Sep 11. But then plans were postponed for a week or two later. So he might have been in one of the buildings the day the jet plans flew in. Wow. That would have clearly affected our family!
Judging from your pictures, all your and Don’s hard work certainly shows because your house and gardens are absolutely beautiful. You can be so pleased.
The wasp situation isn’t over for us, and I hope that we aren’t charged again if the woman from the pest or bug control comes here again. I’ve been trying to bait them with a homemade solution. I can’t get into the shed or the garden. I try to water from a distance
Thank you so much, Irene.
Stay safe.
I find aging frustrating too. I can do whatever, but I know it’s more slowly and I recover more slowly!
The table looks lovely and reminds me of the gated table my grandmother had. I wish I had room for it when we were cleaning out her house. Had to donate it.
Got back from our 2-week trip to Hong Kong and Tokyo. Walked at least 6-8 miles a day in hot humid and often rainy weather. I was the oldest, then my daughter’s boyfriend’s mom (who is 7 years younger than me), then the 3 young’uns. Both us Moms kept up but sometimes they forgot we were with them and sped up. Still kept up though! Doing vacay laundry is more exhausting!
Returning is an economic whiplash. Want out for lunch yesterday and it easily cost 3-4 times as much as what we had been paying in HK/Tokyo.
However, nice to see cloudless skies and the sun again!
It’s very expensive in the USA. Very stressful for everyone, including us.
Stay safe, Wendy.
the new table, all on its own and combined with that wallpaper and wall-cupboard, is beautiful! great job painting the wall-cupboard, too.
sorry you and don have pains. do you each have things that give you relief? i hope so.
i very much relate to what you described. i sure feel a difference due to age (i’m not far behind you at 68). also, it’s been almost six years since four vertebrae were compression-fractured, due to osteoporosis. bad on their own, but also all lumbar and one remains “medically unstable”, so there is very, very little bending that is safe/allowed. put an immediate stop to running. means no tennis lessons ever (something i wanted to learn and enjoy in my retirement), no more skydiving. no gardening … …. i feel like that injury and those limits have aged me by at least ten years. i try not to think of it because it makes me sad and angry (due to osteoporosis having been “treated” for twenty years at that point) and just keep walking, doing all i can. and telling people to please get your bone density checked!!!
thanks for listening.
and keep on keeping on!!!
hope your days are safe and happy.
xo,
kathy
Thanks, Kathy,
Stay safe.
The house is beautiful! I would like to live in it. <3
Haven't been able to do any weeding in my gardens due to an injury. Next week I'll be having surgery and hopefully will have a very short recovery so I can pull the giant weeds before winter arrives. I'm not a very patient patient!
Hope you get some rest.
Sending best wishes for a successful surgery, Betsy!
Stay safe.
I love the table! Bill did something fun for my miniature house. I wanted some light so I could take better pictures of it. He just put one of those small puck lights on the ceilings in the rooms. I love the way it lights up now. It’s not professional lighting but it does the job. Don’t even get me started on energy. I have none especially with this heat! Hopefully it will cool down soon. I love that you get to see deer. So sorry for the plants though. Now rest up !
Thanks so much, Deb!
Stay safe.