I sell vintage items at a local market and on Etsy. It is interesting, to me, the things that sell better at one or the other. Example: I cannot give away vintage cookbooks at the antique market, while they are always one of my best sellers on Etsy. I love doing this, though it is not a huge money maker. It is fun (to me) and I love finding new homes for items and keeping said items out of the landfill. You have to be 100% honest about the quality of the items you are selling, esp if there is any old house smells, mold or mothballs smells. Some items I lump together, like x number of vintage sewing patterns in same size and same era. I have a dear friend that also sells vintage. She researches value of everything! I don’t, because you have to price to sell and move quantity. That doesn’t mean I lowball all prices, but after a while you can gauge demand and typical pricing.

My mom walked out and left us when I was a teenager. I never understood that. Then I went through peri menopause and, while I still couldn’t make sense of her leaving us, I understood it. My mom would have been around peri menopause age when she left. When I was going through it, I remember telling my spouse and doctor that my skin always hurt, like it hurt to be in my skin and that angered me. I think it does help to think of peri menopause as the reverse of puberty, when hormones are raging and there aren’t enough words to express all the angst.

I would do college tours, but in a very low-key, low stress way.

That was my childhood, too. Homemade matching clothes. My sister and I both hated it. We are both in our 50’s now and just recently showed up to a family event wearing almost identical matching clothes. Totally NOT planned at all. We had never discussed what we were wearing to the event and live across country from each other and run in different socioeconomic spheres. It was so weird, like it must be ingrained in our dna somewhere.

Oh! East Texas. I sell vintage patterns at a local antique market and on Etsy. I am not too far from East Texas. You can contact antique markets in that area and see if they have any dealers interested in buying them in bulk. My market does that. Just know that if you sell to a reseller, you will need to allow room for them to also get a profit. Patterns generally go for $1-2 at estate sales. At antique markets or online, they can go for $5-20, depending on graphics and condition. Some obviously will go for more.

My late FIL had bipolar and my MIL divorced him after 40 years of marriage due to late FIL threatening her with a gun during a manic state. FIL had to give up his guns per court order, which was basically on an honor system, with another relative overseeing it and verifying that known guns were accounted for. FIL then went across the state border and purchased more guns. No one knew that until FIL passed away a few years later and more guns were found in his possession. My extended in-law family was always opposed to gun regulations but are now vocal advocates for regulations. The shooting yesterday hits close to home for us, knowing my FIL’s longtime struggles with mental illness. My heart grieves for those affected by yet another horrible mass shooting.

At this point, this woman needs a year off. At a minimum, five years off. That sounds so good, I would settle for ten years off. Seriously. Caregiver fatigue on top of caregiver fatigue is real.

I am so very sorry for your loss.

I have always assumed my DH would outlive me, as I have chronic autoimmune issues and young onset Parkinson’s. Alas. He was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and developed life threatening complications after surgery to remove the tumor. He is doing well now, but it was really scary and eye opening. We have been married almost 40 years, married very young, and I have never had to be an adult by myself. Years ago, he traveled a lot for work so I had long stretches on my own, but that feels like a lifetime ago now and that was so different that being totally on my own. We are now thinking and talking about the prospect that I could outlive DH, what I would need to stay in the house, etc. Thankfully our home is one story and paid off. I could take in a renter, if needed. I have friends in this area, but no family and I wouldn’t want to move back north where I grew up. Timely topic.

I have never taken a test and have not had any symptoms when my DH has tested positive for it. That said. I live in an area of the US that is assumed to have had very early cases, as our airport has direct flights to China. I was extremely sick in March of 2020 and several of my doctors think that likely was Covid.

Yoga. For years, I viewed it as an optional hobby, easily dropped when I was stressed and overwhelmed. Now I view it as something I need to lean in to when life is too much. My body now craves it. In fact, I haven’t been able to go for three weeks because I was hospitalized, then we had a close family member pass away unexpectedly and had to travel for the funeral. We just got back in town and yoga was on the top of my list of ways to reconnect to myself. If practiced regularly, it really does help the chaos and chatter in the mind. I do think there is a yoga style for everyone. Taking care of houseplants is grounding for me. (I also have a large garden.) But there is something special about taking care of houseplants and tending to their needs. Best wishes.

https://heatherchristo.com/2020/11/02/arugula-roasted-autumn-vegetable-salad-crispy-baked-tofu/ I made this salad the other night. It was so good. Nice blend of flavors and textures.I did sub beans for the tofu.

Yes, you can just go to one to eat. Oh. Someone mentioned QTrip gas stations. There is a Buccee’s by Alliance airport and one could easily eat a decent meal there. I also vote for the charcuterie board in the hotel room. We have done that for Thanksgiving meals before and enjoyed it.

You can come to my house. I don’t know yet what we will be eating. Aside from that. Great Wolf Lodge or the Gaylord will likely have restaurants open. I think the Gaylord has a coffee shop type place that would likely have sandwiches. There is a Denny’s by Grapevine Mills Mall. It might be open. Blue Mesa might be open, though they are in Plano or Addison.

Re: beans i make a pasta dish, though it is light on the pasta, mostly veggies. I cook some onion and garlic in veggie broth, then add a mix of whatever I have on hand - broccoli, bell pepper, zucchini, etc. Always lots of mushrooms. Then I add a can of rinsed legumes - chickpeas, kidney beans, white beans - whatever I have on hand. Then I toss with a bit of pasta. I add additional veggie broth as needed. Sometimes I add in a can of diced tomatoes. I season it depending on my mood. The beans are really not even a taste in the dish, as it is primarily vegetables.

I went plant based 2 1/2 years ago and it has been life altering. I have Parkinson’s and fibromyalgia. My inflammation levels had been off the charts high all of my adult life and it was to the point that every movement was painful. My inflammation levels are now really good, as are - well all my labs are good now. My liver enzymes are perfect. My cholesterol is perfect. My pain level is manageable now. For myself, I do feel that having a glass of milk daily eliminates any benefit of being plant based. A glass once a week is likely okay, but not daily. You would likely notice that your taste buds change considerably anyway so that it wouldn’t even taste as good as you remember. That said, I think everyone should fine a nutrition plan/approach that works for them. if you feel best having milk, go for it. calcium: I was worried about that as I was diagnosed with osteopenia about ten years ago. I tried to take calcium pills, but just wasn’t good about forcing myself to swallow such a large pill. I just had a bone density scan a few months ago and, honestly, was terrified to get the results. Turns out, I reversed my osteopenia. I asked my doctor when he called with the results and he said that calcium isn’t nearly as important as once thought and that weight training (I am working out weekly with a personal trainer) is very important for keeping bone density as we age. There is research about dairy consumption and increased risk of osteoporosis, though I know some discount it. protein: I don’t worry about protein, though I try to be on the lower side of protein consumption due to my Parkinson’s. I eat one serving of beans a day, sometimes two. b: actually, most people should probably be taking b vitamins, as studies show that most people are deficient in b12. Animals actually aren’t naturally high in b12, rather they make it when they eat grass. As our soils are depleted, the grass is depleted and - most animals aren’t even out grazing or eating wild grasses like they once did, so our meat supply is now deficient in b12. I take b12 a couple times a week. Rancho Gordo: love their beans!!!

If I could afford potential vet bills and kids knew/understand the realities of adopting a senior pet. Our child wanted a pet for the longest time and we finally relented and went to the shelter. Our child picked out a senior pet. I said No. We went back multiple times to look and every time the child picked out the same senior one, even after looking at younger ones. This senior one had lingered at the shelter for months because no one wanted them. We finally gave in and adopted the senior pet. They had an amazing five years with us. We have always been very thankful that we adopted this pet.

There are too many variables. I have been pretty open about my mental health issues, but that is because I think people need to know how difficult it is to get mental health care in America and how - even with the best insurance and access to professionals - it is expensive and impossible to navigate when one is struggling. I don’t think people need to know every dark and dirty part of it, but too many people still brush off mental health issues. My DH’s former boss’ wife died by suicide, bipolar, a few years ago and my DH and I both thought the boss had shared way too much private information prior to her death. We didn’t need to know about her manic episodes to have empathy for the family. I have shared about my pregnancy complications because I think it is important information for people to have. At some point, I may write a book about my mental health and or my pregnancy, but that is to help educate people, not to make money. My DH has cancer and I am trying to be extremely sensitive about what I say because he tends to more private and also because of the nature of his cancer. I do think sharing health stuff is one of those filters that people lose as they get older, which is why older people, I think, tend to share way too much.

I am sorry, esp that it adds more to your already emotional transition. Can you somehow disconnect the two for a bit? The situation with your SIL and BIL may change dramatically between now and when you move. Hugs.

A few updates, now two months in. DH had his second surgery in July and developed life threatening complications. It has made a surreal diagnosis even more so, that someone so healthy could almost die from complications before he really even got in to this awful cancer thing. (I mention that only because it pretty much clouds everything else I will say.) Thankfully, he has since recovered and has now started weekly immunotherapy infusions. They will do new scans/tests right at Thanksgiving time to see if the treatments were successful. He has an aggressive form of one of the most recurrent cancers, so this will be a lifetime of beating it back and trying to save the organ where the cancer originated. I have read half dozen or so books on cancer in the past two months, some really good ones that will try to come back and mention. When things seem out of control in my life, I tend to go in to deep research mode and this time has been no different. I have talked with my therapist several times about what is a healthy level of research and what isn’t, as I have a close relative that doesn’t research anything and thinks I am too obsessed with researching this. My DH and therapist think I am still in the healthy zone. Dr Fuhrman (mentioned in earlier post) is coming to the city where I live next month and I am so excited to attend. I have done way too much stress eating! But I am staying focused on my own goals - eating healthy most of the time and I have been consistent with working out. I was super impressed with the hospital food when DH ended up back in the hospital with complications. (I am still traumatized by the dreadful hospital food 20 years ago when my child was in NICU.) A friend came to the hospital last month and helped me navigate the cafeteria, scoping out the gluten free vegetarian options before she pulled me out of the ER late that first night, knowing I needed to eat. I hadn’t eaten all that day and was taking my Parkinson’s med off schedule and without food in my system and I couldn’t even focus my eyes. I am trying to figure out my life now. I had started a small business about six years ago. I was already downsizing it before my husband’s diagnosis but am now trying to downsize it even more. I am not sure when to go ahead and just pull the plug on it. Part of me just wants to be done with it and move on, I feel uninspired to continue on, then I feel sad about doing closing it entirely. I applied for a part time job a few weeks ago, though didn’t hear back from them. I think I do need to get a part time job because we are worried about the possibility of DH needing to take disability down the road and I feel a deep need to have some more control of my financial future. On paper, we should be okay financially, but there are too many scary unknowns. Sorry to ramble. I think I have turned in to my MIL in the past two months and ramble on too much. LOL

I am very well endowed. At age 12, I was already much more endowed than my mother. I lift weights so, now at mid-50ish, they are very firm and non droopy. I probably could get away without wearing one in public, but it is ingrained in my head that I need to wear one around other people. I almost never ever wear one at home. This year,I have started gardening some without one, but I have 25+ years of pulling up my shirt to wipe sweat off my face so know I have flashed the neighbors a few times this summer. The timing of this post is somewhat ironic as I have been thinking about gardening topless in our backyard. (We have high wooden privacy fence.) I would love to get more sunshine on my skin. (I know, I know. That is awful. But I struggle with very low vitamin D and depression. My dermatologist told me at my last skin cancer screening that she was comfortable with me getting more sun exposure.)

My child graduated high school in May 2020. They were doing dual credit for all of their senior year so in person classes canceled at spring break. They moved to college that fall to a campus that was totally locked down. In hindsight, we probably should have kept them home. They did well academically, but the emotional toll was awful. They are only now coming out from under the weight of all of that. It didn’t help that I was diagnosed with a major neurological condition in February of 2020 and we, as a family, were dealing with that. OP, I feel your pain and I am so sorry.

I sell vintage items at a local shop and used to do markets. I was told I should have insurance in case anyone gets hurt while shopping my products. I do not have insurance, though I have previously considered it. If I sold edible products, I would want insurance or at least an LLC to protect my personal assets.

That sounds so good. And seriously makes me want some peach salsa. And it reminds me that I have a small salsa cookbook that I have long wanted to pull out and cook my way through. My DH is so not a foodie and is so not even remotely a good helper in the kitchen.

Selkie. I have really missed her posts and wanted to ask if anyone knew how she was doing. She has been so helpful and inspirational regarding my chronic health issues, then with my husband’s cancer diagnosis. I have really wanted to touch base with her bc 1.) I am doing to a WFPB convention SQUEAL! and 2.) My husband developed life threatening complications after his last cancer surgery and…well… I should update the thread I had started re: my husband but I/we have really dived deeper in to researching cancer and lifestyle changes… Just needed some of her inspiration! I miss the Healthy eating posts. You, Jean and Selkie are all so wonderful!