Eternally30 Where the age you feel meets the age you are

Positive Comments Make My Day!

April 21

I am so excited! It’s not because my new house now has bricks and wallboard and windows. That thrills me, but it’s not number one. It’s not because we have most everything finished to put this house on the market, either. It’s not even because I am about to have MORE time to do the things that I really want to do, like write this blog. What excites me tonight is the discovery of several positive comments, from people like you, who have read my blog! These comments were automatically sent to a spam folder that I didn’t know to check. So, if you’ve left me a comment and received no response back, I apologize! Thank you for taking the time to comment.
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I’ve got to share something that I witnessed yesterday. I can’t get it out of my mind. I know all about the food chain and how all things are created for a reason, but sometimes I feel too sensitive for the realities of this world.

The other day,when Mike mowed the lawn, he saw a rabbit hole lined in white fur and filled with babies! He said they were cute little gray bunnies, and they looked pretty big–about the size of the one in this picture.

Yesterday morning, Mike noticed the mama rabbit guarding the hole. He told me to come watch. Apparently, it was time for the youngsters to leave the nest. You know how real estate agents always stress location, location, location? Well, this mama rabbit missed the mark. She made the nest in the middle of our yard, between 2 apple trees. When her babies came out of the hole, they were totally exposed.

In the trees around her lurked 2 huge crows. They cawed back and forth in a frenzy–a feeding frenzy. :( One of them kept flying toward the babies; the mama rabbit repeatedly chased it away. She made a valiant effort, but the crows out-smarted her. We heard more loud cawing, and then one crow flew in to distract the mama, while the other crow nabbed a bunny and flew over the fence. Mama rabbit chased after them, to no avail. The crows were off to breakfast on her baby.

I’m really not a softy for rabbits. They can be pests, but I couldn’t help but sympathize with this mama rabbit. She tried so hard to protect her little one! Watching her lose the fight was a sad scene that I won’t soon forget. It reminds me too much of how the strong exploit the weak, whether animals or human beings. I long for a kinder, gentler world.

My Updates~

My daughter and granddaughter, Kristen, are coming this weekend for a visit. We can’t wait to see them. Here’s a picture of Kristen whispering a secret to her younger cousin.

This morning, on the Martha Stewart Show, a guest made an adorable rainbow layer cake. Kristen loves rainbows, so I want to make the cake for her. I went to Michael’s after the show and bought the Wilton food coloring needed to tint the batter vibrant colors. I can’t wait to try it.

I’m still reading The Truth About Beauty, by Kat James. I’ve bought some great new health-promoting products.

It’s time to call it a day, to snuggle in, and to catch some z’s. Buenas noches!

©2010 BLN
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Paraben Containing Skin-Care Products Diminish Health

March 12

I can’t believe what suckers most of us are! I’ll speak for myself here, but I know I’m not alone. Let’s say I’m watching TV or reading a magazine, see an attractive ad for some skin-care product, and just have to have it. By the next day, I’ll have made a trip to the drugstore and paid $10-$20 to try it out. I’d rarely check what’s in the products. I’m a great ingredient checker for foods, but oh, so trusting when it comes to skin-care products. I usually picked products based on advertising, name brand, smell, texture, and the promises on the bottle. I naively thought “Recommended by Dermatologists” meant they were effective AND safe.

I’d heard about parabens and other toxins found in skin-care products, but hadn’t paid much attention. When I began reading Kat James book, The Truth About Beauty, a light bulb went off in my head. You don’t have to eat something to internalize it. What we put on the outside of our bodies soaks in and either does good or does harm, depending on the product.

Parabens may cause rashes, cancer, disrupt hormone levels, remain in tissues, and increase UVB-mediated DNA damage. Kat James warns that parabens and other toxins reek havoc on many aspects of health, like WEIGHT CONTROL. That hit home. I headed for the bathroom cabinets to read bottles.

I couldn’t believe the number of paraben-containing name-brand products I found. Take a look. As I was going through the many bottles. I realized how


foolish I’d been. How many skin care products does a girl need? I rarely used most of what I had, though it took up an entire shelf in the linen closet. Suddenly, I felt disadvantaged to have them and naive to have wasted money on them. Throwing them out made me feel wasteful, too. I thought about giving some of them away, but if I don’t think they’re good enough for me, why would I give them to someone else? l want to replace them with a few basic products that are toxin- free. The fewer bottles I have, the better I’ll feel! That’s my idea of privileged.

So, in the next few weeks I’ll be looking for health-promoting skin-care products. Anybody have any recommendations?

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Tonight I have a date with my husband to see Crazy Hearts. I’m so happy Jeff Bridges won Best Actor for his part in this movie. I hope we like it as much as I think we will! The rest of the weekend, it’s back to the old grind of working on the house. I can’t wait for it to sell and for us to get settled in our new home.

Here’s a link to a great song about feeling like a kid even when getting older. Cute! Do you remember your 1st letter from AARP? I do. I received it when I was 48. I was highly insulted! I\'m a 50 Year Old Kid, by John Fern

Enjoy!
Have a great weekend! :)

Note: I have not been compensated or asked to endorse any of the products or services mentioned in this post.

©2010 BLN
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Personal Images

I turned 58 in Feb/10. I’ve been married since I was 19, to the same man who still thrills me. We have 3 beautiful daughters, 3 adorable granddaughters, and a 4th grandchild due in August, 2010.

My husband and I both attended college after marriage. He graduated in Texas, I graduated 10 years later in Arizona.
My love has always been writing, but my school didn’t have a journalism department, so I majored in Secondary Education with a concentration in English and history. I absolutely adored going back to college; everyday was an adventure. One time, I almost missing a Shakespeare examination, because I was studying at the library and became so involved in a play that I lost track of time!

I briefly taught high school English, taught adult education, and then moved into social work. In my spare time, I read and wrote. A couple years ago, my husband asked me to quit a dead-end-job and do what I love to do. I took him up on it and write as much as possible.

So here I am nearly 60-years-old! It’s shocking to be so much older than I feel. I’ve become fascinated with the whole subject of aging and the fact that no one escapes its clutches.

This blog isn’t intended to be a scientific study of aging, or a place to get aging related information, such as “Overcoming the Terrors of the Medicare System.” The purpose of this blog is more personal–a conversation, of sorts, between friends–albeit “aging friends!” I want to embrace this time of life and enjoy it as best I can. Writing positively about my life as I age gives perspective to the stage of life so many of us dread.