Retirement 101 - You're Never Too Old

1983, United Technologies
Hartford, Connecticut

I have been
going through
my 'inspiration' 
stash that I
collected 
through the
years.

It's time 
for me to
share them 
with you.

This is one 
of my favorites:

 "It's What You Do--Not When You Do It".














'Retirement doesn't mean sleeping in your recliner in front of the TV. It's time to do what you wished you had done when you were young. The time is now! Get up and 'Do It'. You're never too old! 

Just look at what these 'icons' did and when they did it!

Golda Meir -71- Prime Minister of Israel

George Bernard Shaw - 94- One of his plays was first published

Benjamin Franklin -81- Framer of the United States Constitution 

'Follow Your Bliss'  Joseph Campbell -in his 70's- The Power of Myth

Some people made their mark when they were young. Maybe, you can inspire your children and grand-children to get a head start and not wait until they retire to do what they really want to do. 

Coming Out of Retirement

Okay, my friends are right. I have failed at 'Retirement'. I am working harder than I ever did in the 'Real' world. The 8am-5pm five days a week world was a piece of cake. 

My Heritage Quilt
Double Wedding Ring
Hand-pieced/Hand-quilted

When I retired in 2005, I had a bucket-list of things I wanted to do that I didn't have time to do when I 'worked'. The problem is that there are too many things on the list. In order to get them done I have to change my mind set. Therefore, I am no longer retired. I am working as always, but my hours vary from day to day. However, I am working not retiring. My work is different. I volunteer at the library, quilt, paint, sell stuff on Etsy, blog, and read. The only way I can get it all done is to work at it.

Garvan Woodland Gardens
Hot Springs, Arkansas

We even take vacations from retirement. 
Sometimes it's a day-trip. 

Crystal Bridge Museum of American Art
Bentonville, Arkansas

Sometimes it's a longer trip to visit family or enjoy each others company.  














I already feel better. I spent today checking things off my list and still had time to read, watch a little (very little) TV, exercise, and nap.

2017-IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR

A look back at 2017. Wonderful memories in pictures!

There are a few missing months, but we were busy playing golf; volunteering at the Library; Marshaling at Granada Golf Course; Heading up the Marketing effort for the Community Concert Association; going to church at Christ of the Hills United Methodist Church; and just enjoying life with our friends and family!

January: Biloxi, Mississippi and Fort Morgan, Alabama

Jefferson Davis' Home in Biloxi

April: Community Concert, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas

June: Chuck's 60th Class Reunion, Benton High, Benton, Arkansas

and Village Quilt Guild, Quilt Class 

        with Dot Collins from Texas

         "Tossed Salad"

August: Full Eclipse of the Sun: We had to do a selfie. You can see the partial eclipse mirrored under the eave of the house. 

and I made this 'pouf' or 'tuffet' for the living room

October: Found this great place to buy Arkansas pecans outside of 

               Hot Springs, Arkansas. Took two pounds to our daughter

               to make pecan pies from her Thanksgiving dinner. 

November: Trip to Nashville, Tennessee

Parthenon

Andrew Jackson grave
at The Hermitage

Best Music Venue

and Thanksgiving in Benton with Family

December: Art and Quilting

Block of the Month
December

Diptitch: Under the Sea
Mixed Media Acrylic

and Flowers

First Year that we had flowers
on our Camellia bush!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

Rocky Mountain High, Colorado (Part Two)

When I left you at the end of Part One, we had driven from Denver to Idaho Springs, visited Georgetown, and were on our way to Estes Park.

Part Two - Estes Park, Colorado

What a wonderful place!  I visited Estes Park in the 60's, 70's, and now 2013.  It is a tourist town with a small town feel.  Tourists are always welcome as a part of the community.  We were there this time to visit family and meet some new friends.  We pretended we were natives, but got in a little 'tourist time'!

Highlights of this tourist:

Brad Fitch (CowboyBrad.com) one-man show in Performance Park. We were outside under the Western sky when Brad sang 'Rocky Mountain High' (Colorado State song) for us and an audience of about 350.

 

 Taking a stroll on the
Copeland Falls Trail at Wild Basin,
Rocky Mountain National Park.  
I will take you on the trail in Part Three: Rocky Mountain High...Walking a Trail at 7500 feet.

After leaving the trail we made a quick stop at the Baldpate Inn, a favorite stop for all tourists. It is best known for its collection of keys:

These keys have been sent or left here
by visitors for all over the world.
I adopted a key that had lost its tag.
It will be placed in the Arkansas Section
of the ceiling of tags.

Sat on the porch 

for a few minutes.

Chuck caught a

hummingbird in flight.

Highlight of the trip - just hanging out with family and friends.  Hanging out for Chuck meant a chance to 'jam' with Cowboy Brad while the rest of us enjoyed a concert. 

Someone said (not sure who?):

"All good things must come to an end."

If that is true-Our end of this good thing was 

a beautiful Colorado sunset.

Part Three is coming....

Rocky Mountain High, Colorado (Part One)

Just got back from a week in Colorado...first to Idaho Springs, Georgetown, then Estes Park (Part Two!

We had a great time visiting relatives and meeting new friends.  We came from from approximately 300 feet above sea level in Arkansas to 7500 feet in Idaho Springs and 8500 in Georgetown and back down to 7,500 feet in Estes Park.  Definitely had to adjust to the change.  We drank lots and lots of water and didn't move too fast.  Colorado is one of my favorite States.  The Rockies are awesome and the people even more so.  

We don't buy 'dust catchers'...just send ourselves postcards!

Continental Divide on the way to Idaho Springs from Denver Airport

Idaho Springs

'Vintage Moose Tavern' where we had Beer and Antipasto

Gospel Music-Group getting ready
for Gospel Music Festival
that weekend-we would be in
Estes Park by then so we stopped and listened for a while.
In the cutest shop-

(Cute Shop-No, I couldn't buy it!
It wouldn't fit in our suitcase.)

Walk by Clear Creek 

Georgetown

Louis DuPuy's Hotel de Paris and Gardens

On to Estes Park...continued in 

Part Two of Rocky Mountain High, Colorado!