Our Passions as We Age

Here's a picture of Joe, cutting pork chops for our freezer. Yesterday, he was in the basement making bird feeders....5 of them. He's a jack of all trades. Today, he's taking my car in for an oil change.He can fix anything. He keeps his cars and tools in perfect condition. I heard someone say once...if you are looking for a used lawnmower...Joe's are like brand new. We both have an interest in Church...we go every week. He checks on the Grotto and has been known to sweep and knock down cobwebs while visiting there. He has special things that he loves to cook...especially recipes from his Grandma.  These are the things that make him happy.

I like to do creative things. Like making appetizers for family parties. fixing food for our funeral lunches at Church, fussing with my houseplants, and last but not least...painting a picture. As we have roared into old age...we both do things to keep busy and do things for others. Nothing pleases me more than to take something delicious to a funeral lunch. This is our chance to tell the family that others are thinking of them at the most sad time of their lives. We strive for deliciousness...and beauty at these lunches. Flowers on every table and an array of wonderful food. A lasting tribute to a person who meant so much to family.

Yesterday found me fussing with my orchids. The picture is an old one...they are much bigger than that now. I keep reading about how to take care of them in blogs. I decided that mine weren't getting enough light...so I moved them to a brighter window on the south side of the house. Well, the leaves started to burn and I quickly moved them back. I got some new potting medium and re potted them. The root system looks good and they are sending out new roots and leaves. If they would only flower. sigh

Our family parties are times to try new recipes....although the old ones are always requested. I don't know how many veggie pizzas I have made...but they are the ones that everyone asks for. My grand daughter is starting to make them now...so maybe I can take a back seat and bring something new.

I love flowers...duh! Love to plant and care for them and also paint them. As the years go by, I am doing paintings in a new way, for me. I love to create collages out of my painting and some cut out things glued on...like cutting apart calendars with beautiful floral pictures and bits of doilies, lace, buttons....what ever I find to enhance the picture. This method is easier on my eyes and I still get in a little painting. This occupies a lot of time for me. 

Another thing I do is try to find easier ways to garden. I still want to keep my finger in the soil, so to speak, so I have had to learn new ways to accomplish it. I have found that container gardening is a way to go. I have enjoyed creating new containers...new each year.

I can't close without mentioning a passion that has been with me all of my life. From the time as a tiny girl, sitting on Dad's lap in the big brown chair...enjoying Dad reading Dr. Doolittle books to me and many others. He instilled a love of books without even knowing what he was doing. He could bring a book alive...the way he read. This summer our library is offering a travel mug to anyone who reads 5 books. I started late, so I have had to play catch up. I want that mug so bad that I can taste it. Am I competitive or what? I could buy that mug over and over again, but I want to win one. Yesterday, after fussing with my plants...I got the house tidied and fixed our meal...so that I could read. My old eyes get so tired now...and it is hard to read sometimes, but as long as they work....I'll never give up. I do love books...do you? What are your passions?

Balisha