Centenarians Follow-up

 Billie says her longevity is because of her genes. Her parents were well into their eighties when they passed, and that was in a time in history that was unusual. She has 10 siblings, and they are alive. In their youth, they all worked on the farm. It sounded like her upbringing was pleasant. She is still walking a mile a day and feels the importance of that. She does have a walker and uses it wisely. To see her, you would never guess her age. Maybe I can get a pic of her and her walking partner today.

Centenarians

 We have a Centenarian where I am now living. Her name is Billie, and she is 101. I remember Billie from my youth. She was a clerk at a dime store for many years, and then, when that facility closed, she worked as a clerk at a pharmacy. I see Billie every day as she is making her walking route the same as I am, same route, same distance. The only difference is that she breaks hers up more than I do. I am sure there are more differences than I know.

I might also remind you that I live in an INDEPENDENT Senior facility. When the opportunity presents itself, I plan to ask her what she attributes her longevity to. 

The article below was borrowed from the internet:

Living to 100 is a rare feat. You can follow all the traditional medical advice and best diet recommendations, but the odds of reaching the century mark are still quite slim.

However, when someone is lucky enough to celebrate their 100th birthday, it’s worth listening to the wisdom they have to offer. Centenarians are a special breed of people who have experienced long and fruitful lives, so it’s a good idea to listen and take note of how they achieved such an impressive milestone.

Many centenarians attribute their longevity to daily routines that may seem surprising, such as eating fatty foods and drinking alcohol. Others credit their lengthy lifespans to maintaining an optimistic outlook and enjoying plenty of laughter.

The only thing we can know for sure is that nothing is certain when it comes to living a full 100 years. Every centenarian reaches that mark by different means, and each one is likely to have their own unique advice to impart.

 We can let their wise and humorous words guide us on our own personal journeys, as each day may bring us closer to our own 100th birthday.

I look back on my life like a good day’s work — it was done and I am satisfied with it … life is what we make it, always has been, always will be. ~ Grandma Moses

Happiness lies in moments, and while you have it, you’re not even aware; only afterwards do you know you were happy. ~Olivia Dehaviland

A good idea is to behave well to other people, show them respect, and help them as much as you possibly can, and it will be repaid a hundredfold.

~Emilia Harper

Remember, plenty of laughter, but no shouting.

~Yvonne Old

Wear Depends. Don’t let it stop you from going out and doing things.

~Mildred Kirschenbaum

For Sale

Staying Connected...

 Jigzone.com. Butch and I had an ongoing duel every morning putting together an online jigzone puzzle. We did this for 20 years or more. Last summer, it didn't happen very often, and I had only done it once, and I think that was when I was in Texas. I do not know how it happened because it was not a conscious move, but jigzone popped up on my screen! So I said to myself, "Ok Butch, I will do the puzzle today." I am so out of practice that I did not do it well.

Later, I was scrolling on Facebook and came across the photo of Butch's scorecard when he made a hole-in-one at his favorite golf course, The Hill. I thought Butch was being rather chatty this morning. After I decided to do this post, I tried to find that photo again to no avail!

Scrolling a little further, I came across the song, "Put your head on my shoulder. " (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvazBqAlx58) This is when I lost it...

Thanks, Butch...

Change...really?

The gossip is fast and furious around here, and I am learning that a 2-bedroom is opening up on Monday. Of course, the people are probably getting some time to make the move, and it will be cleaned and readied for its next occupant, which is most likely me! It is just a few doors east of where I am now. I thought the next opening would be west of where I am now. One never knows exactly what the future holds. I understand this was a very fast incident for the lady, as everyone is very surprised. We never know...

I tried to entice someone to walk with me on the bike trail at 9:00 AM to no avail, so off I went on my own adventure. The weather is so nice, I could not pass it up. The first half-mile was all about working out the kinks. The next mile and a half were most pleasant. FYI, I was the only person on the trail.

I then stopped at the grocery store to see if anything appealed to me. I ended up with some fish, broccoli, and apple strudel. I hope the yearning keeps up.

Oh, yes, Gary, the middle son, came to Jefferson for a quick trip. I like these little surprises. We ate out at a Chinese restaurant, and we played pool. We both won some and lost some. A good time was had by both of us!

Till next time.

Wonder?

 Are you wondering what on earth has happened to me? I am still in an adjustment period. My younger self would be appalled at how long it is taking me to get my ducks in a row. I have yet to see those ducks on the horizon.

My two possible house buyers have taken themselves off the list, so now I am waiting for new ones to come along. And they will in time. It is perhaps a blessing in disguise. I can relax a bit with no rush pushing me along.

I am walking every morning, or nearly every morning, 7 times around is a mile. When I switch to my old route and when summer weather settles in, I plan to do the 2 miles I have done for years. My friend Colleen has come to Jefferson, so I have my walking partner available again. We just have to get the gears started for both of us.

I am having trouble lining up pool players. I may have to widen the circle of possibilities. I have played a few times.

Life ebbs and flows, and it seems we are in a bit of an ebb. 

Done Deal!

 The pool table was reassembled in its new home yesterday. When the fellow put it together and performed the drop ball test, even he was impressed and had a big smile on his face. He did an excellent job. Jason and I played the first game, and I won. Patience...

In process...

This is a photo taken this morning from my desk window. 

It's a mouthful!

Too Much

 Too much sugar today, so no sleep for me tonight. You would think a person would learn! Now I live in a place where donuts turn up unexpectedly, and a person is inclined to indulge at times when it is simply not a good idea.

On the sunny side, my life seems to be going along nicely. The pool table parts are lying in wait for the expert from DesMoines to come put it back together again. This will happen on Monday, and I am not the only one anxiously awaiting. There are fellows here who ask me when it will happen, and if they can watch. I expect a fair-sized audience.

I have two people interested in my house. I have no idea who will win the race, but I wish they both could!

I will be having an auction of some sort later in May, and once that is behind me, perhaps I can get back to making earrings. 

It takes a lot of doing to change your life as much as I have in the last year. It amazes me how everything falls into place exactly when it should. I just have to relax and let it happen.

I am pleased with my choice of Evergreen Ridge. It is a bit like my South Texas home, as there are always people around to visit with. Happy hour here is from 3:00 to 4:00, which dips into Jeopardy, so I don't make it every day.

My desk here is in front of a window, and it is a treasure trove of activities. Not always good. Today, a local cat, whose whereabouts no one seems to know, was "playing" with a baby rabbit, right outside my window. The cat would flip it in the air and watch it run, recapture it, and repeat. After what seemed like forever, it finished it off and had a partial snack. A crow swooped down twice to pick up the remains. 

Sometimes nature is hard to watch. As it is, the people who have lived here longer say we are overrun with rabbits and lack the sympathy I was feeling. Oh well.

Mostly Moved

 There is still plenty to do. Gary, Susan, Jason, and Laura worked very hard to get me moved to the point where I can live in my new home. They moved all the big stuff and a large portion of the small stuff. I think I can take care of the rest of it by moving a few things at a time. It is so heart-warming to have that kind of help.

This is my bedroom and my office. Remember, this is a rough draft. I am barely moved in, much less settled.

My bedroom/office.

Living room

View from Kitchen

There are all kinds of things happening outside my "office" window

And here is one of them. I am charging my good camera to be always ready.

And then on Saturday, Devon and Zach Hiller came, and between the four guys, moved the pool table to Evergreen Ridge for me. It didn't even take that long! It is now ready for Pool Repair Bob to finish putting it together. He called me a bit ago and said he will be here next Monday. Yippee!

New Place

 This week family moved me into my new digs, Evergreen Ridge in Jefferson Iowa. I am mostly moved. Today, Gary and Jason earned themselves a golf round or two...maybe three. Susan and I are going to manage the small stuff. When I get my wits about me, I will take some photos and post them.

Sometimes when I am looking for something, especially in photos, I will run across something I forgot about or I hadn't seen for a long time.

Here is one of them. A whistling duck, taken in Magnolia Park around 2015.

Getting on with it

 The trip home was smooth as silk, and I could not have had better people to be with. Sherri and Sam are so....fantastic! The whole world is better because they are in it.

So now I am getting on with the rest of my life. It is currently very busy! I had a CT scan yesterday. I am okay. There are a few things we are checking. The truth be known, if I eat like I am supposed to and refrain from overdoing everything, it works like it should. It is like an old car; the body needs an overhaul now and then to make life worth living.

Today I got an updated driving licence. Yup, I can be on the road legally for the next two years. I also got my passport renewed.

I have access to my new apartment at Evergreen Ridge. I don't have a bed! Butch built an RV-type bed in our home, and it is queen-size and nailed to the wall. So, in my downsizing process, I ordered a bed from Amazon, and all the parts of that are here except for the mattress. It will be next week before it is here. One day at a time...I keep telling myself...one day at a time.

I have lots of good help around me, and I am so very grateful.

Tonight, as I was writing this, I experienced a big old lightning strike! It has been a long time since I heard one of those!

Home!

 It was a very quick trip to get me home. Sherri, Sam, and I left at 6:00 AM on Saturday. I told them they had a free rein in all aspects.  They took turns driving, and Sherri got the short end of the stick on that one! We hit rain near Austin, and it was heavy rain on the whole stretch. I don't know how many miles of that we had, but it seemed like forever. Sherri handled it well, VERY well! 

We were in Wichita, Kansas, by 7:00pm Saturday night. That is 800 miles in case you were wondering. We all felt pretty good, too in spite of it all. The next morning, we met up with friends of Sam and Sherri that they had not seen in 20 years. It was a great reunion for them and me. I knew the folks on a lighter level. As we played golf with them when we lived in a town near Atlantic, Iowa. We made it to Atlantic, IA, by early evening, but too late for me to take off on the last leg, a 75-mile drive to my hometown of Jefferson, Iowa. I have come a long way in a short time in my driving skills.😀

When I arrived in Jefferson, I went directly to Evergreen Ridge, my next new home. I dropped off items I had in the car that I didn't want to move twice, signed some papers, and wrote a check. I was greeted warmly by all, and it reminded me of Trophy as everyone was telling me how nice it was and assuring me I would like it. I know I will.

Jason came over to help me with several items, and we played some pool!  He was rusty, and I was not. I'm sure we will learn a lot from each other this summer.

My current bed is an RV-type bed that Butch built, so I won't be able to move it to my new home. So I have ordered a bed. It should be here on Thursday. It is not easy trying to live in two places, so I will be very happy when my new bed arrives,

I am showered and tired, ready for another busy day.

 

Iowa Bound

One more day, and I'll be on the road again with my very good friends Sherri and Sam. These are friends from Atlantic, IA, who came to look around South Texas a little bit and drive the very long distance back to Atlantic in my car, with me in it. I feel confident enough in my driving skills now to drive myself back to Jefferson from Atlantic, a distance of 75 miles. It is a familiar road, and I have driven it many times in years past.

Once I am settled in Jefferson, I assume I will have more free time. 

Ghost Town?

 To those of us who winter here and stay till April or more, it can get downright spooky towards the end. It is like you hosted a big party, and this is the day after. It really is! I have done far more cleaning up than I have all winter, and I am getting to unfinished projects that have been waiting a while. Yesterday, the whole day went by, and I waved at a few folks, but that was the most of it. I am not complaining by any means. It just is!

Sunday, friends Sherri and Sam are coming to help me make the trip north. We will have a few days to get some touristy stuff done before departure. I am excited about all of it.

I was looking at some pictures on my phone taken recently and transferred a few to my Chromebook for blog viewing.

Bill and Sandy kept their bird bath filled all season, and they got some regular users. Most noticeable was a grackle who came at least twice a day to drink and bathe.  I swear he must be the cleanest bird in the park. He is now coming to my house!

This is one of the doves who are also regulars.

Barb , Sandi and Bill at the Alamo parade. 

And next:

I wish I could take credit for this one, but I can't. Friends of ours were workcamping as gatekeepers when all of the fracking was going on, and we stopped to visit on our way north. She took this photo, and I asked her to send it to me. Being out in the wide open spaces offers a much different way of getting good photos.

That's it for now, Till next time.

Spring has sprung!

 Time in sunny South Texas is growing short. My friends Sherri and Sam will soon be here to see what wintering here has to offer. They get barely a taste in a week, but perhaps they will choose to come again when they can stay longer. They are flying in and escorting me home in my car.

Trivia will take place two more times before it folds up shop for the summer. It has been a year of growth for trivia. We had some record-breaking nights with over 50 players a few times. I plan to head up trivia again, "if the good lord is willing and the creek don't rise."

Stay Happy!

Trivia Pics

If you are looking for the fire, I removed it. It is a complicated world we live in.

Latest trivia photo- March 10th, 2026

My helper Shelly Brower. She is very helpful. When I am ready, I hope to hand trivia over to her. She is one smart cookie!

 

She's a Lady

A family member of Bill and Sandi D. took this photo of a snowy owl. 

Here is some snowy owl info. 

• Appearance & Size: They are one of the heaviest owl species in North America, weighing 3.5–6.5 lbs, with a wingspan of 4.2–4.8 feet. Females are larger and more heavily barred with brown, while males become whiter with age.

Winding Down...

We are seeing the South Texas exodus heading north. Easter seems to have some meaning in the thinking process of setting a departure date. It can't be the weather! It is still cold up there, and the leaves are not on the trees.

Happy Hour: Happy hours tend to have a reputation for gossip. Ours do not. No brag, just fact. I brought my notebook to one of our recent gatherings so I could get a handle on all the subjects covered. It was hard to keep up! 

The Anzaduas Park was a recent location for the biking group, and it was highly rated as an excellent event by a couple of the bikers who attended.

(Anzalduas Park, located in Mission, TX, is a scenic recreational area that offers a variety of outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy walking trails, picnic areas, and beautiful views of the Rio Grande. The park also features playgrounds and open green spaces, making it a great spot for families and nature lovers alike.)

We talked about the water coloring craft classes and how helpful the instructors are in getting new people started.

 We talked about tacinite and the mining of iron.

(Taconite is a low-grade, iron-bearing (25–30% iron) sedimentary rock found in the Lake Superior region, particularly Minnesota's Mesabi Range. It is processed into iron-rich (~65% iron) pellets used for steel production. The mining involves large-scale, open-pit blasting, crushing, magnetic separation, and pelletizing, creating significant waste tailings. )

I knew nothing about the subject or that there existed a Mesabi range!

We had a discussion on the many ways to throw a bean bag and the success rate of the choices.

We talked about harvesting cranberries.

We talked about Dillinger and his demise.

We talked about Amway and are they still in business. Yes, they are.

Worms and itchy stuff: I don't remember the details of this one.

Every session is like this one to some degree or another. We liken it to "school for seniors", and this one is well attended.

Birthday Yesterday

 Yesterday was my birthday. I have had many birthdays and, thanks to my friends, this one was a doozie. It started off with my walk with Renie, and you will be glad to know we have solved all of the world's problems.  Happy Hour, Sandi passed around Shipley's birthday donuts. They are the best! Bill and Sandy treated me to a birthday supper at Dirty Al's, which you all know by now is the best place and my favorite place to eat. Shrimp and Fish Combo with coleslaw side, Yum! Darrel and Linda Millard joined us as Linda's birthday is March 8th. You would think we are done, but Noooo, we came back to Bill and Sandies to enjoy a birthday cake provided by friends Gina and Carl! Thanks to all my friends, I had a perfect birthday event.

This morning, I went with Bill and Sandi for breakfast at the Alamo Cafe as usual, but I decided to have something different, so instead of having a veggie omelet, I had a waffle with strawberries! I did not know what I was in for! 

Dee-liscious!

                               

This House of Sky

I do not recommend books often because tastes are so very different among us all. I could not pass this one up. Butch was a fan of Ivan Doig, the author of this book, so when I ran across it, I decided to test it out. This is by far one of the best-written books I have ever read. The sentence that left me thinking this morning was "The two I remember the best were as alike and different as salt and sugar." When a sentence pulls you up short and makes you think, it's a good one! This book is full of them.

This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind

 "Ivan Doig grew up in the rugged wilderness of western Montana among the sheepherders and denizens of small-town saloons and valley ranches. What he deciphers from his past with piercing clarity is not only a raw sense of land and how it shapes us, but also of the ties to our mothers and fathers, to those who love us, and our inextricable connection to those who shaped our values in our search for intimacy, independence, love, and family.

 
A powerfully told story, This House of Sky is uniquely American—yet also universal in its ability to awaken a longing for an explicable past.
 
"Engrossing and moving."—Time"