RETIRED ROZANN

2014-01-02T11:13:00.000-06:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR...............One of the new Illinois laws is that you cannot drive and talk on your cell phone. Great law. So I bought a Bluetooth. Now it was a little complicated to get it all set up. Plug in, charge, make sure it is compatible with your phone. I made sure I was ready on my first drive with my new little toy. I am safe. Ok, my first person to call will be Barry. I have it set up to just speak in the phone and say Call Barry. So here goes..........."Call Barry".....call Jerry?, you do not have a Jerry on your call list.................I said "Call Barry"............oh you want to call Barry. I said yes! calling Barry.......ring, ring, ring,,,,,,,,but not in my ear. Oh, I forgot to turn the blue tooth on..........wait, wait, I am driving.....pull over on the side of the road.....Turn on blue tooth.. OK. I am ready!!!!! I am driving........"Call Barry".......call Jerry! NO........ CALL BARRY! I think I need a lot more practice. I wonder how many accidents have occurred trying to get the blue tooth to work. It might just be easier not to use a phone at all while driving.

Driving without distractions is very important. I remember years ago when the kids were little. No car seats. Rambling around the car and dealing with them. Fighting in the back seat, and trying to drive safe. I made sure I always had a small car so that it was easy just to reach back and slap all of them. I was being safe, right?

We all have so many distractions while driving. I drive a stick shift and I am able to talk on the phone, drink a cup of coffee, change the radio station, and shift in all 5 gears all at the same time.

I will try to be safe from now on with my new blue tooth. I did find out one great benefit. It is easier to wash dishes with a blue tooth in. Have a great NEW YEAR.

2013-09-15T16:57:00.000-05:00

I heard of a bridge just up the road.

It has been said that it was very old.

I yearned to see this structure of the past,

and take photos that I knew would last.

Upon the approach, feeling its ancient appeal,

Abandoned and silent these bones of steel.

I almost could imagine the horses and cart,

I creeped up so slowly to stand on its heart.

I wanted to cross to feel the ancient ghosts

Unsteady I tried getting half way at most.

But the past held me back, I could not go

As the bridge shook and teetered to and fro.

I will leave you alone this beauty of the past

to harbor your memories that I know will last.

Built in 1901, the Pratt Truss Bride is listed by the state of Illinois as a historic bridge because of its style. Truss bridges are known for their load-bearing elements, forming numerous triangular shapes holding the bridge through compression and tension. The bridges were was to analyze for early 1900's engineers and used construction materials more efficiently than other designs. The Pratt Truss style was found to be practical for spans of up to 250 feet and were commonly used for railroad bridges. The bridge on Stagecoach Road spans 100 feet with iron supports and a wooden deck. There are not too many of those types of structures left in the state of Illinois.

RETIRED?

2013-03-05T10:57:00.001-06:00

So everyone is always asking me, "What do you do all day, now that you are retired?". I always try to answer, "Everything I wanted to do when I was working, but could not fit it in". I am usually busy from the time I get up until that short time after supper, when I am usually exhausted. It is great to spend all day with your best friend, I mean Barry, (even though we do spend a lot of time away from each other since he gets up at 10:00 AM and I get up at 5:00 AM - Makes for a great retirement and marriage). I love to improve on my websites and help others build theirs. I have three businesses. ADVOCARE, which proves to be rather productive. I love learning about nutrition and keeping healthy and helping others do the same. The photography business, which is more of a hobby, also can prove to be productive at times. I try to exercise daily. The third business is E-Bay. Very time consuming, but I love getting bargains and making a profit. I tote grandkids to school and home almost daily, and available for my "over the river" grandkids to babysit at the drop of a dime. I love my grandbabies who are all growing up so fast. I help my big grandson try to find purpose in life, helping him publish his book, and encouraging him to write another. I enjoy the many luncheons with my past coworkers. I love the fact that I can sit and relax and read a great book if I want. Spring/Summer time proves to be even busier, with gardening and walking in the woods. I tried growing herbs last year and dried them. Camping with family is always fun. I always try to find a new craft, like the OLIBELLA hand and body scrub, which I still make for friends and family. My last disaster was the concrete flower bird baths. The new one that I am interested in hub cap flowers. (I will post pictures later). My last endeavor is joining the choir. I love my choir and church. The best thing about being retired is that I do not have to do any of the above if I don't want to.

Check out my grandson's book on Amazon. "Spilt Inklings"

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/182-4258838-5711700?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=spilt+inklings

THE CHOIR

2012-11-07T05:24:00.000-06:00

So, I must reveal a secret. I decided to join the choir at church. This decision had not come by lightly. About 2 years ago, maybe 3, Barb, the organist asked me to join the choir. Of course, I declined, because I have been told by many people, mostly my family that I CANNOT SING, and you know, I know I cannot sing, but I can carry a tune…. Mostly off key. Many months went by, but Barb kept after me to join the choir. I kept saying no. Thinking to myself, why would anyone want someone who could not sing, in their choir? Then she said, you know the only requirement to sing in the choir was to be able to walk up the stairs to the choir loft. That intrigued me, as I have never been up in the choir loft. The thought was always on my mind. I finally took that climb up those steep stairs. Thank goodness there was a banister to hold on to. Out of breath, and not able to talk, much less able to sing, I found a remarkable kinship and friendship that I always knew was what the Catholic faith was all about. I found my church family. I was welcomed with open arms, thanking me over and over for coming, and I felt almost at home. I thought to myself, this is not too bad, people cannot see me as the choir loft is in the back up, up, up and away, and I can always lip sing.

The first practice, I kept thinking, why are they thanking me? They have not heard me sing! Barb, the organist, said here are some of our books and music and if you have a keyboard at home, you practice the songs. WHAT???!!!

I cannot read music!!! Keyboard. Oh no! Why did they think I could play or read music. I CAN ONLY LISTEN TO THE SONG, AND HOPEFULLY REMEMBER WHAT IS SOUNDS LIKE AND THEN MIMIC IT. I am thinking the only requirements are to walk up the stairs. I did that, I am in! I thought BUT here is the music with all these little squigglies and notes, oh yes I do know they are notes. Doe, a deer a female deer, and so on. I am trying to recall, back 50 years when I was in music class in school, to, yes, I remember…… Every Good Boy Deserves Food???, no that is not it…….EGBDF…….Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge or Fun??? Oh well. FACE……where does that come in? I do know most of the songs, including some of the latin ones, but I cannot read music.

I am amazed at how anyone can look at those squiggley notes and know what it should sound like. Do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti, do………where do they go??……..on those lines, Oh yes, I remember, called bars.

So, I am singing in the choir, mostly lip-singing. Will they ever find out I cannot carry a tune?

Our choir director is AMAZING. So talented, we are so lucky to have someone like him in our little town of Jerseyville, Illinois., …….I know he must know I cannot carry a tune. But he keeps telling us to belt it out. ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA….. I am thinking, can he hear this voice. My voice…….He must.

I am in awe at anyone who can read music, play music, sing music by following those notes on the bars with the squigglies on them. It is a different language. The music is in my soul, but that is it. My vocal cords do not know what to do with all those notes.

This is an ongoing story. We are practicing for Christmas. Maybe I should try to learn to read music at my old age, I am just thinking. Can this old dog learn new tricks?

ADVOCARE

2012-06-06T11:47:00.000-05:00

http://www.loseweightafter50.info/

After using AdvoCare products for 4 years now, I truly believe that I am younger. I feel younger. I look younger. After retirement, I am free now to do the things I want to do and the things I love to do. I would not be able to do anything if I did not feel as amazing as I do. I attribute it using the AdvoCare products. I am hooked for life!

One Door Away From Heaven

2012-02-17T08:45:00.001-06:00

I just finished the book, "One Door Away From Heaven", by Dean Koontz. It took me forever to finish. I did get two great quotes from this book so I decided to blog about it. The first is....."The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the the faith to believe it is possible."

The other one is for all dog lovers......

"Every world has dogs or their equivalent, creatures that thrive on companionship, creatures that are of a high order of intelligence although not of the highest, and therefore are simple enough in their wants and needs to remain innocent. The combination of their innocence and their intelligence allows them to serve as a bridge between what is transient and what is eternal, between the finite and the infinite."

I love all animals, but our dogs are so special.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-26T08:36:00.000-06:00

I did experiment on my family this Christmas. I have an attic full of Christmas decorations. I limited them to a Christmas tree, nativity set, 1 snowman and a door wreath. I usually put out many snow globes, wind up this and thats, miniature trains, miniature trees, angels, snowmen, snow houses, lights, and on, and on, and on. It did prove one thing. It did not matter what was in the house but who was in the house. Lots of love and fun. This grandma (Memaw) is very happy this year. I do not have to put much away!

OLIBELLA

2011-11-15T12:31:00.001-06:00

The idea of "Olibella" was developed in 2008. Olibella is a salt scrub for your hands and body. After many trials and errors, the recipe for Olibella was finally produced. Olibella is a combination of sea salt, olive oil and a variety of fragrances. The incredible softness of this product is unbelievable. Sea salt has many healing properties and olive oil is the ancient secret of all the Mediterranean women, back to the time of Cleopatra. The fragrances also produce from a calming feeling (like lavender) to an envigorating feeling like tea tree oil.

Olibella was named after my granddaughters Olivia and Bella................."Oilbella" Bella is beautiful in Italian and Olivia is Olive for Olive oil in Italian. Thus the Mediterranean name and logo of the Italian Flag.

We knew that Olibella softened the skin. That was the main reason for its creation. Over the years we found Olibella has been beneficial for many, many other things as well.

Removes callouses from heels elbows
Promotes healing of eczema
Relieves the itch of dry skin
Kills germs
Removes sticky labels
Removes magic markers/paint from skin
Removes tar from cars.
Cleans and deodorizes sinks and bathtub

*Olibella is not recommended for the face, as salt is an eye irritant.

2011-06-13T14:36:00.000-05:00

PINK LEMONADE SPARK SMOOTHIE

5 STAWBERRIES

2 ICE CUBES

1 TBLS WATER

1 PACKET OF PINK LEMONADE SPARK

12 ICE CUBES

1 CUP OF WATER

Blend the strawberries 2 ice cubes and 1 tbls water in the blender till smooth. Poor in 8-10 oz glass. Add one packet or 1 scoop of pink lemonade in blender with 12 ice cubes and 1 cup water. Add on top of blended strawberries.

Quote of Today

2011-06-13T14:08:00.000-05:00

Quote of the day:

'Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.

She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.'

WHERE DID THE BUNNY GO?

2011-04-24T09:35:00.000-05:00

Here is a funny Easter story................My son, Scotty, around the age of 16, came home after being out for quite a long while. I said, where have you been? He said I was out getting a tattoo. I said, I do not believe you. He said, yes! I did. I got a tatoo of a bunny rabbit. Again I said, I do not believe you and I do not see a tattoo anywhere. So where did you get a tattoo? He said, on my (a__) bottom. I said, now I know I don't believe you!! He said well, I did. Okay, okay, I said, show me the bunny then. He dropped his drawers, and there was the "moon", with no bunny. I said, I do not see a bunny! He turned his head and looked down at his (a__) and said, Whoops he must have gone in the hole!. Joke on mom!

Low Carb Enchilada Bake

2011-04-16T18:44:00.000-05:00

I love Joseph's flat bread. I am always trying things to use them to replace bread, but this time, I used them and replaced flour tortillas. Oh this was soooooo good that I decided to post it. I was going to just put it on Facebook but decided to blog on it.

Pride of the Farm Taco Flavored Turkey
Joseph's flax, wheat bran Flat Bread (Lavish)
1 Onion
1/2 Green Pepper
1 can of Rotel tomatoes and green chilis
1 8 oz of Mexican Taco Cheese
1 cup of tortilla chips
Sauer cream (optional)

Brown turkey with onions and green pepper.
Add about 1/2 cup to flat bread
Roll up and place in a baking dish
Spread Rotel over all tortillas
Add cheese (save 1 cup) for later

Bake 350 for 1/2 hour.
Add 1 cup of tortilla chips to top
Cover with remaining cheese
Broil on high for 2 min.

Dollop each serving with sauer cream

SAVING MONEY DURING HARD TIMES

2011-03-05T12:08:00.000-06:00

On the today show this morning they were talking about how you could save up to $4,000 a year by not buying name brand products. I think this is very important in this economy. I have been doing this for years, so now how am I going to find even more savings? They tested families by fooling them and replacing the store brand in the name brand box. 95% could not tell the difference. Also they said the ingredients were of the same quality.

I do not save coupons. I do not know how these people do it. They come out of the store and their groceries cost only 50 cents. I just wonder why we are not all doing this. I know I tried. I really did, but I ended up with crap in my house that we all did not eat, or use, or should not have eaten because it was all non-healthy foods. I spent hours and hours clipping coupons filing, etc., of “stuff” like $1.00 off of Tide. Yes, that was an amazing savings. The Tide cost $5.00 and I ended up paying “only” $4.00 for this amazing product. They have us all fooled! No-name brands cost only $2.50 for the same amount. Where is the savings??? Did you know that if you add a ¼ cup of ammonia to your laundry (Ammonia is so low cost, it is almost free) and it boosts the cleaning agent that you are already using. Oh by the way the ammonia smell does not stay on the clothes.

Personally, I think there are some coupons are great, like diapers or coupons like oil changes, and restaurants. I guess you would have to make that choice on your own, but I think it is a waste of time and more savings are out there by just buying no name brands. It is just my opinion. I sure would like to pay 50 cents for $250.00 worth of groceries, but I think it is unrealistic.

So where will I get my savings now that food prices are going up and up? We thought about getting a cow for milk. Too funny but a good thought. We are going to try to can our own vegetables. I think with both of us being retired that we will have the time to do this. Wish us luck!

Send me your ideas on how you are saving these days and I will try to post it.

http://rozeggyphotography.web.officelive.com/

Retirement

2011-01-18T09:11:00.000-06:00

Your life map is so clearly laid out in front of you; yet the last piece of the puzzle – retirement – is a fuzzy and often incomprehensible anomaly.

With people living longer and striving for earlier retirements, the very definition of retirement is evolving. No longer is it merely a way to stop working and basically wait for death to come; that would take too bloody long and be a bore. Now retirement takes many different shapes and forms:

Starting a new business

Part-time consulting

Travel

Volunteering

Reading, writing, resting

Getting fit

Watching grandkids

Farming

Gardening

…whatever you can imagine and whatever you want.

Josephine

2010-12-01T11:55:00.000-06:00

Restored photos from my mother, Josephine Dion Loeffler, for your enjoyment is below. Memories forever........

Click on Shutterfly below.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AcN2zJo4btGboY

Retired Hunting

2010-11-21T07:21:00.000-06:00

Forget all you heard about elaborate tree stands! This is the ultimate. Just go out your front door and boom; kill your supper! Here is my Barry doing a little hunting on Saturday, November 20, 2010.

PHOTOGRAPHY SPECIALS

2010-09-09T10:57:00.001-05:00

FREE SITTING FEES FOR MONTH OF OCTOBER. BOOK YOUR SESSION NOW! THEY ARE FILLING UP FAST.

Click on the site below to put your order in. You will be called within 24 hours.

http://rozeggyphotography.web.officelive.com/

OLIBELLA

2010-08-14T18:50:00.000-05:00

Olibella Salt Scrub is made from imported salts and olive oil. The salts from the Mediterranean sea containing 21 minerals. These minerals have been known for their healing properties. Olive oil was discovered over 5,000 years ago by the Egyptions for skin care. It is the ancient secret of the beautiful Mediterranean women. Olibella contains only all natural ingredients, hypoallergenic and has antioxidants. Olibella is a SPECIAL formula of olive oil, sea salts whch have been claimed to help the itch of eczema and the itch of bites, poison ivy, etc. Each product contains a unique oil/fragrence that promotes its own "special" powers that leaves your skin feeling incredibly soft. You will have a pschological feeling of well-being. DIRECTIONS: Are included with each order wrapped individually with nylon netting that can be used in your bath.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/53850674/olibella-salt-scrub

Olibella was inspired by Olivia + Bella = OLIBELLA

Two little Italian beauties that I love

Disability

2010-08-12T17:15:00.001-05:00

The definition of disability is……..

the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness...... So

Are we not all disabled in some form or another?
I am disabled when it comes to changing a tire on a car. I am physically unable to change a tire. I know how to do it, but I physically cannot turn the lug nuts on the wheel. So Barry says if I were stopped on a back road in the woods and the boogie man was coming to get me, that I would be able to change the tire. I do not think so, but I think I would have the ability to hit the boogie man over the head with the tire wrench. Barry has also informed me that most people do not realize that if you use your feet to get the lug nuts off, it works. See, this is new to me...... I do have the ability to learn, but do you think my feet could really get those lug nuts off before the boogie man gets me? I will use the tire wrench to hit him over the head. Oh yes, I forgot, there is a gun in the glove compartment.

But all kidding aside, my grandson, Sky, who is starting College for the 3rd time, gave me his profound quote......."The only time you are truly disabled is when you use your disability as an excuse" by Sky Rains.

Animals

2010-08-10T10:19:00.000-05:00

"Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened."

MONDAY - DAY OF REST

2010-08-09T13:30:00.000-05:00

MONDAY

Thoughts for Monday: Monday, the “New Day of Rest”

I think that Monday should be the new “day of rest”. I know I am going to make it MY “day of rest”. Sundays always should include going to church. The modern family tries to cram in a week’s worth of fun on Sunday.

On Saturdays the modern family has to get housework done, doctors appointments and anything else that could not be done during the working week hours.

Sunday is impacted with back-breaking, strenuous, exhausting, wholesome, jam-packed, fulfilling, satisfying, rewarding fun. Whoa! No wonder why everyone hates Mondays so much. Having to go to work after that, would make anyone hate Mondays.

Ahh, but alas, to all my mutual retirees out there, I declare Mondays as the new “day of rest”. You will catch me doing almost nothing today. I say almost, as I will have to make myself and my hubby something to eat and go to the bathroom. (Should I order carryout?) I deserve it! After all those SUNDAYS, on Mondays I will read, watch my favorite recorded movies, check facebook, email, etc……I love Mondays.

LOSE WEIGHT AFTER 50

2010-08-07T14:17:00.000-05:00

I am free, I am retired, and sometimes reeeeeeeeeeeel tired! I am tired of trying to work at losing weight. It used to be so easy, but once that number "50" hits, the easy is gone. But then Blondina found Advocare for me. Now it is easy again. The weight comes off without effort. Most of all it is easy to maintain. That is all I care about these days. I have too much fun to look forward to, without worrying about weight or losing it. Oh and about the most important thing IN this retired life, is ENERGY........ I want ENERGY........I have SPARK.......now I have ENERGY. SPARK = ENERGY.

Free to be Retired

http://loseweightafter50.info/

Craftaholic

2010-08-07T08:32:00.000-05:00

Somebody stop me! No, don't. It is just that I can't find the craft that I am a master of. I am the ultimate "JACK OF ALL TRADES, MASTER OF NONE". Right now I am into soap making, but I am driving myself crazy. I can't just make one kind of soap and be a master of it. My mind goes crazy. I wake up in the morning thinking of a new kinds of soap to make. I have made ice cream soap, salt scrub soap, cinnamon soap, heart soap, hand soap (shaped in a hand) and then after I make the hand soap, I think I can add jewelry and it just goes on and on and on. That is why I said somebody stop me! But I am having fun. I do not have enough hours in the day to do what I want to do. No, that is not right. I do not have enough energy to finish what I want to do in one day. I just hope I live long enough to finish all the crafts and projects I want to do. I will try to post my crafts so that you can see what Retired Rozann has been doing.