It's Friday !!

     Alice and Rose give out a big, "Hello",  Are they not as cute as they can be.  I am taking the picture through our front gate.  Oh, how they would love to come in our yard and nibble.  Ha!  Let me tell you they have plenty of fun running around the outer yard with the chickens.  Along with Elvis the little back stray cat and Edgar our very big stray cat.  I just love to watch them running at full speed, then they jump up on their hind legs, turn their heads sideways and keep going.  Let me tell you I get out of their way.  They are pets.  Started out belonging to my Granddaughters but have been passed down to Grandpa.  Ha!  He loves taking care of them so it all works out.
     Yes, as I said it is Friday but now that we are somewhat retired,  SO WHAT.  It just does not have that same meaning.  Kinda sad in a way as the anticipation of looking forward to the weekend is gone.  Yes, I know we have everyday and believe me we do enjoy them. 
     The gym was great again today.  Oh, how I love to be in the water.  It is so refreshing and fun.  Speaking of the gym,  Have you joined one yet ?  You know it's important to find the gym which has the wellness program.  You will be with other Seniors and feel very comfortable.  It's no longer, only for 20 year olds, with their slim bodies.  I think that is what scares some people away.  I just wish I could have all of you come to "In Motion Fitness", in Chico, CA.  Bree and Stephanie are super trainers for the Seniors and Kelly is the best for water wellness.  Can you tell I love it.  If you can't or are unable to come here then check in your town or a town nearest you and join.  You will love it and the rest of your life will be healthy and happy.  Tootles and Dootles

Autumn is Here and I like it

     Don't you just love the changing seasons ?  I think it's great, the change in the weather that is.  We get use to and depressed about those very hot days, especially over 100'.  That is just too much.  I don't care how many times you can jump in that pool.  We have had our little pool put away for about a month now.  It works out very well for us.  We only paid 200.00, I say only, but it really is a lot of money to us.  After discussing it back and forth, Jim and I decided it was worth it for extra exercise on the days we do not go to the gym and for just having fun and cooling off.  We really are so glad we bought it.  I would not want a built in pool that you have to maintain year around.  Everyone I have talked to that has one, regrets getting it.  So we are happy we did it this way.  Next year we can get it out set it up and just buy the chlorine for it.  Hopefully that will all work out.
     Speaking of the gym, are you checking them out yet ?  I'm telling you, you will love it.
      Have you heard about the diet, Prism.  It's suppose to go through the church.  I have read about it on the internet.  Sounds interesting.....but here is what I think......  Believe me I have no objection about this diet or any other diet plan, if it works for you then go for it.  I have found, with all the diets I have tried, what works best for me is using common sense.  Now I know that is nothing new but I think sometimes we make it much more difficult than it really needs to be.  I do not have anything, diet labeled.  That is a given, that it has something inside which is not natural.  If I want real butter on my potato, bread or whatever I do not go overboard.  I do use a little sugar, I mean come on, if you are having a bowl of Cherrios you are going to want some sugar.  I, however do not ever (it's been twenty years) have soda's.  No Pepsi, Coke, etc.  I try to limit snacks.  If I make homemade cookies, you can bet we are having company.  That way I can share and indulge myself.  I do not eat beef.  Once in a while I have chicken.  I love fish but can't really find a good source to buy it.  So that is a little of what I do.  I'm not on any diet plan and I go with the flow.  In other words if I find myself with a group of people or just my husband and myself and the only, absolutely the only food we could get was beef and I was hungry......?  You bet your life I would have that juicy hamburger with the works.  You just use common sense.  More later.  Tootles and Doodles

Some of Our Cool Girls

     Don't they look fashionable in their red hats and tweed jackets ?  What show girls.  We just love them and of course, love their delicious eggs.  We also have two smaller chicks, one is white and the other is light brown and their eggs are a  beautiful pale green.  They are just prefect for my morning breakfast.  How fun it is to watch them scratch all over the yard, then take off like a bullet and scurry to the other side of the yard.  I do like to watch them and as you can tell really enjoy them.

We, Jim and I went to the gym today. We got a late start so our routines were not our usual but that's ok as we do as much as we can on the machines for as long as we can until 10:00 as that's when we go to the swim class.  What a hoot that is.  We try to make up with our routine in the pool.  Mainly just keep moving all the time.  We do a lot of social talking as we are moving.  The water walking is great, believe me your muscles get a good workout.  I want to pass along what I have come to know.  If you do go to the gym then great, keep it up and good for you, but if you don't, then please consider it.  We joined the Senior Wellness program at our gym and we love it.  You have instructors who not only show you how to set up the machines but they also monitor your heart rate while you are doing it.  So you don't ever have to worry about over doing and hurting yourself.  Get up right now, check out what you have in your town.  Go to all of them and ask if they have a wellness program.  That's what you want to join and the water swim class is a must.  You get your exercise along with visiting with some great people.  Go, Now !   Tootles and Doodles

Introducing our Animals and More

Elvis

This is Elvis, my husband named him, I really don't know why for sure unless it has to do with the letter E.  He, also is a stray.  Showed up one day in the outer yard, one tiny little black spot and scared to death.  Jim started putting out food, as he would not come near him, and quietly talking as he would get closer and closer.  I would say it took him a few weeks but before long Elvis would comes running when he would sees Jim.  Now after a couple of months he comes up to our fence early in the morning when Jim is feeding our other cats and dogs and watches through the fence.  It is so adorable.  I'm hoping soon he will want to come in the yard but our other cats are somewhat snotty and one of our dogs, Tasha is so spoiled she can't believe we would give more of our attention to yet, another animal. I will be putting more pictures of our animals and our yard each day so sit back and enjoy a cup of tea, I, myself, would love a cup of earl gray, thank you very much.
     Besides our animals and yard and garden, we have another love.....The Gym.  We go three times a week.  It's called, "In Motion Fitness".  It's about 35 miles away and we love it.  They have a Wellness Program for Seniors or really any age.  I say that because some of our members are young (young to me anyway) but have had an accident, an illness or are recovering from something and need some extra care and handling.  That's what you get in this program.  Bree and Stephanie are our trainers inside with the machines.  They check our heart rate while we are doing our workouts.  It's great and you just feel so much healthier and fit.  Then we go outside in the pool, which, by the way is completely covered so we don't have to worry about the rain.  As for cold weather, well, this is CA but we are in the Northern part so it does get cold sometime just never any snow, plus the pools are all heated so we are covered.  We get a great workout from our trainer Kelly, (who also manages the cafe, at the gym. Talk about healthy food and delicious, well I haven't yet but just wait, I'm just getting started) who is the kindest person you will ever meet.  Our class in the water is unique as everyone has a different disability, although I prefer to say we are each uniquely different in our exercises.  Believe me we have a blast and I have met some of the nicest people.  We share our laughs, and difficult times but we always stay positive and happy.  Tootles and Doodles.

Hello and Welcome !

     Arcanes Portus Aveo   which means Secret Haven of Happiness and Good Health   That is the name of our home.  What could be better, now I ask you. 

     This is Edgar but we call him Sparky.  He showed up one day inside our house.  Yes, that is right.  You see we have a dog and cat door, so our animals come and go as they please, (no surprise messes on the floor).  Well, low and behold Jim and I get up one morning and here is a new meow, looking up at us.  We live in the country so what a surprise.  As you can see he is quite large, much larger then our other cats which I will be showing you.
     You have much to look forward too.  Our line up of animals..... Tasha, Bella, Olivia, Elviria, Eleanor, Elvis, Alice and Rose.  Along with chickens.  So sit back and be prepared to smile and shake your head as we do have lots of fun at our Secret Haven of Happiness and Good Health.  Raine