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Rita Reviews

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Friday Conversations – January 10, 2025

Jan 10, 2025 | Rita

January 10, 2025 Friday Conversation

Hey there! Another Friday, another chance to look back and laugh. The January blues might be setting in for some, but here at Shady Pines, the antics and midlife moments keep us on our toes—and, occasionally, in stitches.

This Week in the wilderness

Work projects have been piling up, but I managed to squeeze in some self-care with a midweek face mask and a bubble bath. The highlight of my week, though, was discovering a treasure trove of old family photos while cleaning out a closet. Seeing baby-faced Uncle R and Ma with her 1960s beehive hairdo was a trip down memory lane I didn’t know I needed.

Life at Shady Pines free range seniors

Ma’s yoga experiment has evolved into a tai chi phase. She says it’s “more her speed,” but Uncle R insists it looks like she’s doing “fancy air swimming.” Meanwhile, Uncle R has taken up birdwatching, turning our backyard into his personal nature reserve. He even named a particularly feisty cardinal “Carl.” Watching him argue with Carl over a bird feeder has been the comedic highlight of my week.

Hot Flashes & More the joys of midlife

This week, I faced a new midlife dilemma: remembering why I walked into a room. It’s like my brain just hit pause, leaving me standing there like a confused extra in my own life. On the plus side, I’ve started carrying a notebook to jot things down. Who knows? Maybe I’ll become one of those super-organized people… eventually.

What’s Cooking for dinner tonight

I started meal planning to help me in the grocery store a little more. WE shop monthly and well lets be honest sometimes I don’t buy enough of something or I buy too much of something else. So, I thought I would share what our dinner plans are for next week and see what you think.

  • Monday: Spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic knots.
  • Tuesday: Beef tacos with all the fixings.
  • Wednesday: Chicken noodle soup with crusty bread.
  • Thursday: Meatloaf, roasted Brussels sprouts, and mashed sweet potatoes.
  • Friday: Shrimp and grits (the seniors favorite).
  • Saturday: Sloppy joes with chips (quick and easy!).
  • Sunday: Herb-roasted chicken with stuffing, steamed broccoli, and chocolate cake for des

A Moment of peace and quiet

This week my moment of peace and quiet was spent in tears. I had a moment in the middle of the night this week that I was just overwhelmed and needs to get it all out. I know that sounds crazy but have you ever had a really good cry? The kind you wake up from feeling hung over the next day but everything feels lighter. Like you shed all the weight off your shoulders? That was my moment this week and I will tell you I needed it.

Storied Conversation a little book chat

Did you know I write more than one blog? Well I do and here are a few highlights from Storied Conversation. Please note that clicking any of the links below will take you away from Rita Reviews. I just wanted to let you know but please click away and give these blogs some love as well. You never know what you may find.

FYI… Don’t Forget to head over and enter The Monthly Chapter Giveaway!

Top-Ten-Tuesday-January-7-2025-768x1152
Top Ten Tuesday | January 7, 2025
Stay-Toxic-by-LLV-2025updated
Stay Toxic by Lani Lynn Vale | Book Review
Betrayal-of-ACMercia-by-MJ-Porter-Book-Review
Betrayal of Mercia by MJ Porter| Book Review
READ MORE FRIDAY CONVERSATIONS

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Categories: Porch Notes Tags: Friday Conversations + Pull Up a Chair

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. mami2jcn says

    January 10, 2025 at 6:46 am

    I’ve had a hard time adjusting to the cold this week. I never want to get out of bed in the morning. The blankets are just too irresistible.

    Reply
  2. Suzie B says

    January 10, 2025 at 7:02 am

    I’ve been working overtime this week with no break; I am feeling VERY run down and tire.

    Reply
  3. heather says

    January 10, 2025 at 8:37 am

    It has been a busy week for me our pump went out and I had to haul in a ton of water that I got from the store then the next day we were able to get the pump fixed thank the Lord. P.S. water costs too much at the store.

    Reply
  4. Sherry says

    January 10, 2025 at 11:20 am

    It’s been a pretty slow week for me. The weather sucks where I live between the ice and the snow.

    Reply
  5. Jenness M says

    January 10, 2025 at 11:32 am

    Lots of staying inside relaxing and hiding from the cold outside!

    Reply
  6. Elizabeth says

    January 10, 2025 at 11:55 am

    I had a few cries myself, but also went on some day trips…

    Reply
  7. Kelly M says

    January 10, 2025 at 1:22 pm

    This week was challenging. I had to get both kids back to school from an almost 3 week winter break. My 5yr old really struggled to get back into the routine. I actually took a nap today when she was a school. First one I’ve taken in a year, but I needed it. Was up also late last night, those peri hormones are no joke and cause so much anxiety

    Reply
  8. Adriane says

    January 10, 2025 at 4:38 pm

    Made a huge decision this week that I had been postponing for a long while.
    Had a petscan – now the waiting
    Trying to visualize where I want to be

    Reply
  9. Barrie says

    January 11, 2025 at 7:01 pm

    I was tickled by the snow we got. It is the most snow that has stayed in Central Kentucky in over 10 years! LOVE IT!

    Reply
  10. Nina Lewis says

    January 11, 2025 at 7:48 pm

    I spent the week going to doctors appointments with Mom. They had to run more tests. And we got to see two specialists. Hopefully, they’ll find what’s wrong soon. They sent her home with new meds and we go back on the 20th for more tests.
    I managed to take all the decorations & Christmas tree down and put everything away in between all that. I babysit the nephews all day Saturday and will hopefully be resting and watching football on Sunday! 🙂

    Reply
  11. Rita Wray says

    January 12, 2025 at 10:35 am

    My pain from the RA is not too bad right now so I have been cleaning house and getting rid of the clutter.

    Reply
  12. Elaine G says

    January 12, 2025 at 4:03 pm

    It was really cold here. Stayed inside mostly except for a dr appt.

    Reply
  13. Kim Henrichs says

    January 13, 2025 at 12:11 pm

    My best friend came for a visit and we had some fun in Phoenix and around the desert. Might have found a definitive place to live when I move so that was good news. A pretty decent week!

    Reply
  14. Audrey Stewart says

    January 14, 2025 at 12:52 pm

    I am knee deep in boxes and cats. I drove almost 7 hours round trip to trap & rescue a feral cat that I couldn’t catch the day before I moved. I finally trapped her and she seems to be adjusting. I was up before the sun, cried the whole way there knowing she hadn’t had breakfast. I had her trapped in 5 minutes. Praise be!

    Reply
  15. Shelly Peterson says

    January 15, 2025 at 11:52 am

    Things are going good. Things have slowed day now that the holidays are over.

    Reply
  16. LeonieT says

    January 16, 2025 at 4:18 am

    Back to reality for me, had to start looking for work again.

    Reply
  17. Stephanie Ann says

    January 16, 2025 at 5:29 pm

    My week was pretty good, got to go out with a couple of friends for dinner so that was nice!

    Reply
  18. Dreaa Drake says

    January 18, 2025 at 11:42 pm

    Decent week just a little boring because of the cold we couldn’t get out. My son had his first basketball game yesterday they lost by 2 points but they were up the whole time until the end. It’s his first time playing so I’m Proud of him. Hope you had a good week!

    Reply

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I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! I am a does to the beat of her own drum woman. Welcome to My Southern Life! Grab a glass of sweet tea and brace yourself as I share the craziness.

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