Welcome to our blog.

This was our original purpose for creating this blog:

We are both baby boomers fast approaching sixty. This blog will chronicle the time leading up to reaching our significant day. Our mutual goal is to complete sixty specific tasks each by our 60th birthdays, and to both celebrate our experiences and our accomplishments.

We are "the fabled tortoise" in this effort. Our blog will begin with a slow start, so we ask for your patience. We are aiming for a strong finish, so we ask for your encouragement. We invite you to join us on our journey, laugh and cry with us, and celebrate with us. We encourage you to leave us your comments and feedback. Most of all, we hope you become inspired to perhaps create and complete your very own "___ by ___ list."

We borrowed this idea from a blog one of our nieces told us about: http://makingitlovely.com . The author is working on her list of "30 Before Thirty."

As we progressed we continued to reflect on the process and the progress:

We would like to make a point of clarification. Because we did not begin our endeavor until April that left us both with less than a year to complete all 60 tasks on each of our lists. Actually, JR has about four months and CEA has about seven months. For that reason we agreed that we would both use CEA's birthday so that we both have the same amount of time to complete our tasks.

Now we are both 60 and moving forward. We have decided to continue the blog, setting goals and celebrating our accomplishments, sharing our experiences and voicing our thoughts, and enjoying life by making the most of every day with which we are blessed.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

JR's list: Updates to previous posts

Update to #2:   The latest vet's report was very good.  My horse has not infection, no limp, and no splint.  He should be back in his own stall by next Wednesday.  He will need to be rested for several more weeks, but then he should be good to go.

Update to #12:  I have added mint and dill to my hanging basket garden.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

JR's list #6: (done) Raise the bed by 7" to utilize area for storage.

I was able to take the furniture lifters that I had originally purchased for the daybeds in my office and use them in the bedroom instead.  It took some doing to get them under the bed and then get the bed set where I wanted it, but I did it.  I only had to use one 3.5" lifter under each leg to achieve enough additional space to accommodate the soft-sided storage containers I found at Target.  The bed is very stable and it is now so much easier to get in and out; not to mention the additional storage space. Yea!

JR's list #7: (done) Raise the daybeds and corner table in the office by at least 7".

It's true.  You can find just about everything you need or want on the web.  I was given a great daybed corner set (two daybeds and a bamboo corner table).  I set them up in the room I use for an office.  They really make great couches.  For me, the large pillows that came with them were cumbersome and stiff, so I gave them away and purchased a set of bolsters and daybed covers.

I got the daybeds set up with the new bedding, but the side of the covers were too long.  Also, because the beds were set so low to the floor, I was having trouble getting up and down when I sat on them.  I found some stacking furniture lifters and tried them, but I didn't think they were stable enough and the beds could not be moved without falling off the lifters.  I went back to the internet to look for furniture parts.  I discovered a whole industry designed to make adjustments to the home which assist the elderly with everyday living.

I found the website Homeplace Parts (www.homeplaceparts.com).  They had a great selection of furniture legs among many, many other things for repairing and rebuilding practically anything in the home.  I was able to get 7" legs to attach to the beds.

Now, the bed covers no longer touch the floor and I now have additional storage space as a bonus.  Best of all, I have no problems sitting down on or getting up from the daybeds.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

JR's list #2 - (making progress) Work with Terry to have the two younger horses rode for six weeks.



When in the car with my young nieces and nephews we would play “Slug Bug, (color)!  It was fun, everyone earned points, and no one was slugged in the process.   In  the new Volkswagen commercials, the game has been rejuvenated with “Blue One” as the spotter who sees a VW punches the unsuspecting person standing close by.   Last week, that commercial became my new analogy for life.

Terry (ex-husband, significant other, and best friend) and I have horses.  All three of our horses are palomino in color, two of which we have raised from babies.  The two younger horses are four and five years old.  Both horses have been broke, but have had very little riding over the last year and a half.  They are our babies.  We want to keep them, but we want to be able to ride them.  The problem is we are 60ish with “green” horses.  Solution:  Find someone younger to ride them for us, which is just what Terry did.

The horses were going to get ridden daily for the next six weeks, so maybe the old folks could start riding again.  That’s when life said, “Blue one,” and punched us in the arm.  While being ridden during one of his first few time, Binky stepped on something that punctured one of his hocks.  Long story short, he has a hole in one tendon and a nick in another, but no surgery was necessary.  Binky will be fine with some time and TLC. 

In the meantime, Bella is still being ridden daily, so progress is being made.  As soon as he is recovered and the vet gives us the go ahead, it will again be Mr. Binky's turn.  Bottom line, we consider ourselves beyond lucky and very blessed..