My Life in 30 Years?

See that bit of electronics just above? My husband bought one of these a couple years ago. It is an Alexa Dot. He uses it to control a lamp in our living room mostly. Real useful right? I have checked out skills to see if it could add anything to my quality of life and kept coming up with nothing much that I thought was very great. So there Alexa sat day in and day out right by the TV waiting to hear "Alexa, lamp on." or "Alexa, lamp off." Sometimes when the kids visited Alexa played music for us or told us a joke. Occasionally I asked he for the weather forecast. Not so exciting and all things we could do in other ways. Just another gadget for Jim taking up space and needing to be dusted. 

Finally I found something in her skill set that I think could be a cool thing for me. Did you know, especially if you are a fellow blogger, that Alexa has a writing prompt skill? Well now you do! Like most little blog writers like me we think our regular days are not worth writing about most of the time. I have no audience for the niche that I am an expert of since I don't consider myself and expert of anything, at least not anything useful but I want to and like the idea of having a blog and writing more often. I hope the writing prompt skill on Alexa can help with my goal of posting more frequently. 

So I asked her, "Alexa, open writing prompt." She did and she said, and I am paraphrasing here, "How do you see your life in 30 years?"

So below the picture I'll tell you.

Photo by Nathan Bang on Unsplash (I added the text)

30 years? Hell yes, take me there! I would be 95 years old. This is not such a crazy idea because I have some long lived relatives that were in their nineties and some even over 100 on my father's side of the family. I have said to my kids that I would like to at least be around long enough for a 90th birthday so 5 more years, why not?

Living a long life and living it well is why I walk daily, try to eat well, quit smoking more than 10 years ago and keep my brain active by reading, needlework, and learning new things. My greatest wish it that my hands and eyes don't fail me so I can keep learning and creating. 

I even have a couple new role models for life in my 90's! Both of these folks are quilters, so they are both still living a creative life. I have quilted before and want to again along with knitting and crocheting in the life I envision for myself. You can read about my heroes if you want some inspiration today. The first I found on the blog Happy Cottage Quilter. Nina Borroz was featured in this article telling of her hobby of quilting for Veterans. Theron Jennings at 98 was featured in an article from 2018. He learned to sew 4 years before the article and uses that skill to make quilts for kids all around the world.

Reading about these two people confirmed my belief that a useful and creative life is possible well into old age. That is the life I see for myself in 30 years. What about you?

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

 

 The Amazon links in this post are affiliate links. I could earn a small commission if you click and then purchase. The other links to stories about my 98 year old role models are for your information and inspiration only.

Walking in a New Way

Most years I don't ask for anything for Christmas. I have whatever I want or need and giving people and especially Jim gift ideas is really hard. I also believe that Christmas is for kids. I think that about Easter and Halloween too. But I digress. 

Over the last couple years I have developed a serious walking habit. I really try to get in 10000 steps at least 5 days a week and most weeks I do that. 

In Jackson during the winter it is harder to get out for walks. It is not the cold that keeps me in however. In Wyoming the streets are not cleared to bare pavement like Utah does and spoiled me by doing that. Here in Jackson there are lots of runners and walkers out and about all winter long but not me. The problem is that the streets and most of the intersections develop layers of ice. I am not willing to risk my old bones on an icy road or sidewalk. Once winter sets in and it looks like this

or this outside my window it is time to stay in to walk. I go out for groceries of course. Still gotta eat! But I walk carefully over the ice in parking lots hoping that today is not the day I go down and break a hip.

So this year I asked for a treadmill. I have used it for a little more than a month now and I really like it. I get my steps in and feel like I am improved my chances of a good and mobile old age with every step. 

We ordered it from Amazon (where else does everything come from anymore?) along with a mat to put under it and some recommended oil to lubricate the belt to keep it running smoothly. I am very happy about this purchase so far. Now if I could just get Jim to use it too. I am sure it would be better for him that sleeping his way through the news or shows on the Food Network. The man doesn't cook but watches the Food Network but I guess that should be a post for another day.

Back with more again soon. Mask up, stay safe! Take care and stay cozy!

Walking, Etsy Shop News and Photo of the Day

What's on my mind today?

Walking, walking and more walking. I find it settles me down and clears my mind. Over the past few days I have been trying different routes around town. I have taken in the site of Canadian geese at the Visitors Center on the north side of town. I have seen the first snow on Sleeping Indian and big horn sheep from the National Elk Refuge Road. I walked along Snow King and to downtown in a big loop. I haven't been carrying a camera with me. Maybe I should start doing that.

Shop News

Hats! I have wanted to get some hats into the shop for awhile and now I have started to do just that. I have started with a basic slouchy beanie because I love that way these look when you are wearing them.

I am also letting you know that for the first time ever I am running a coupon code for blog readers and twitter followers. From now through the 31st of October the code SHOPEARLY20 will save you 20% off your order at cozy.etsy.com. I will probably be closed most of November so I wanted to encourage any one who needs to get cozy to shop ahead of the holiday madness of December.

Photo of the Day

This one was taken a couple years ago. The place I took the photo at was the boat ramp at the Signal Mountain Marina on Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park. The view looks across the lake to Mt Moran. The day was a bit hazy but I love all the blue.

Til next time.

A note for me

This is to remind myself that I kind of blew it when it came to walking this week. Last week was every day but this week only three times. It is not like I have to struggle through a tough lower ab workout or boot camp style workout to look great in a bikini or something. Those days are over but I do want to be healthier. It is just a walk. So do it. Every day.

Day Two

If you follow along with me here you may know that this guy is my DH. We have gotten rather comfortable with each other over the years and I like that. Watching television after dinner one night while he was still awake, cause he works long days and is usually snoozing in his chair before going to bed, we saw a commercial about hair loss treatments. I asked if he ever considered checking them out since he is a bit thin on top. He said no and I am okay with that. I don't mind his gray either since it gives me something to tease him about since I am about half a year older than he is and not nearly so gray.

What I do mind is my weight because I want to set myself up to go into my 60's and beyond in good shape. This was day 2 of my measured morning walks. I did a different route for just over one mile and according to my phone burned 98 calories. Being a simple free app I think it does averages to come up with the numbers. It does not ask for your weight or any other special things like walking with weights, dogs or strollers. It does not take into account extra vigorous movements like Splendid Little Stars asked about in my previous post.