Friday, August 19, 2016

I'm Growing Up!

My hair has been driving me crazy for a full 2 weeks now and I finally went to visit my stylist this afternoon. She knows me well and has been gently leading me into having what I call 'real hair.' That means hair I can feel on my neck. For 16 years I have kept my hair super short. This was a big change from the long hair I wore my entire life. However, LIFE as I knew it was changing for me along about that year of 2000. I acknowledged the change with having my hair cut - short!
I've pretty much kept it short since then until this year. Last year I tried to let it grow but ended up in the same frantic condition when it got on my neck and insisted on getting it cut short - again.
Something seems to be happening to me this year that gives me the assurance that I'm still growing up.....even at 67 soon to be 68 years old.....I'm still growing up! I can feel myself letting go of something I cannot even identify. I may not know exactly what or why but I can FEEL the change in me. It's kind of exciting.


This is the picture my sweet stylist took after my hair cut.....or trim.
I was amazed at what a change she made in my hair and how little she actually cut off!
Notice the bouquet of flowers??
She bought them for me!!
How sweet is THAT???
You better believe that come September First, I shall be giving HER a batch of my Spiced Pumpkin Muffins. Perhaps she will come over and join me for tea! September First is a time to celebrate like a holiday so OF COURSE I should invite some friends to tea!!


I had fun figuring out where to put my bouquet,


I was afraid the candles would flare up and singe the flowers so I relocated them to a prominent place by the entry way to the den.


I even used the pretty tangerine colored fabric to tuck into this bouquet of faux sunflowers.
Waste not - want not!!!
I seldom waste a thing!!
Something else that makes me think I am still growing up - I stopped biting my fingernails!
I stopped about 2 months ago and that's the longest I've ever gone without biting them all off in a fit of frenzy.
I have been a life long nail biter and wore fake fingernails for a few years when I was working because that was the only way I wouldn't bite them.
I remember a cartoon I saw back then that was so funny.
Let's see if I can tell it right.
This woman was a real nail biter and one day she bought a package of artificial nails to wear to a special event. Her husband glanced over and saw them then quipped, "What?? Now you're eating them right out of the box??"
I'm actually encouraged that change is possible - and growth - no matter how old we are!
It's probably symbolic that I am GROWING nails and hair and that makes me feel more like a GROWN UP!

Well, today was THE day!
Louis Dean promised to help me get all the fall decorations down from the attic.


You can tell by the look on his face that he was dreading it.


But he IS my Knight in Shining Armor!
He got it ALL down!

Decorating for fall is a combination of deep cleaning and decorating.
It's hard work.


I decided to do this year as I used to do - one room at a time.
This means the house is pretty much trashed for several days as I go from room to room, but we have a fairly open agenda with not much going on for the rest of the month.
I did something today I have wanted to do for a long, long time!


I took down the green blinds!
I forgot to take a pic of the first set....


but this is going to be so much better.
It is a temporary fix for fall and by winter I will need to find permanent window treatments.
This fabric has been around a long time. My sister, Deanie, gave it to me after using it for a multitude of purposes in our mother's house and then in hers.
I used it as a backdrop in our old gazebo last year,
Now it's in the den and I am already loving it!

One last area I can feel myself growing up is in the fact that I am throwing away things.
I'm also not using every single thing I have for fall and will drastically cut down the amount of Christmas I do this year. Both seasons will still be 'Over the Top' but it won't be as much as I usually do. I am finally and at long last feeling like I can let things go.......a little at a time.
Louis Dean is going to be so relieved.
I wonder if HE is going to be able to throw out some stuff?
Nah! Probably not!

24 comments:

Linda said...

No doubt LD doesn't see his stuff as 'debris.' I'm not sure what's going on with the window treatments but anytime I can see outside I like it! I don't know if you can call it growing up but I've definitely gone through stages. One of those stages was getting to the place I could let things go. Amazing but that can feel as good as collecting them once did. It will be good if you can have it all done so you can relax and enjoy it a few days when you have surgery.

Village Antiiques Mall said...

You are on a roll Linda. You look great in your picture today. Good haircut, sweet hairdresser. Less is more? Can't wait to see each room as you make your changes to fall decorations. Hugs.
Joy

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

I understand what your saying. I've gone through some of the same thing (with being able to let things go, and not decorate with everything) and I wonder if it is 'growing up' as much as it is being at peace in your life. I feel that is what has happened for me.

Your hair looks great! LD is a keeper, girl! You and I are blessed with our men!

Pondside said...

Great hair cut, Linda! It suits you very well. Isn't it wonderful to feel so good in your own skin that you can embrace change - initiate change too?

Linda Reeder said...

I think I'm past growing up. My hair is shorter than ever, and my nails are clean and clipped and short. Both my hair and my nails are natural. My make up is Oil of Olay and Chapstick. I am who I am, and that is a grown up. You will find that place too. You only have to please yourself.
As a former teacher I hang on to summer as long as I can. My fall decorations will wait until October. But I'm sure you will have fun with yours!

Ginny Hartzler said...

Your hair is so pretty! And what a sweetheart your hairdresser is! I love your big bold and beautiful sunflowers! I went to Hobby Lobby and got a bunch his month; 40% off! The window looks SO much prettier with the green blinds gone! It is really pretty now.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Forgot to tell you. I always bit my nails, from the time I was a toddler! Then when I was in maybe my fifties, I just stopped for no reason! I did not have the urge anymore! Now I have to deal with breaking nails! But I can buy lots or pretty polish!

Kathy said...

Your hair looks great! I am going next week to have my hair trimmed. Hope it looks as good as yours. I have never bitten my nails, but I used to tear them off. Glad I stopped that.

I really like your new window treatment. It's so much brighter in the house.

Can't wait to see your fall decorations. I've always loved fall but this year I am really going to celebrate it!

Vee said...

You are as cute as a button! We have opposite difficulties...you don't like feeling the hair on your neck, and I don't like it on my forehead. I used to be able to have bangs...no more...and my stylist always wants to give me bangs. She says it would "soften" my look. I'm sure it might.

My first thought when you said that you were growing up is now why would you want to do that? But now that I have read your post, I see what you are saying. I love your "new" window with its view. I must have views, though many of my friends prefer the closed in style, including Mary my sister-in-law.

Kiss that man of yours! What a helper he is. His expression did make me laugh! Enjoy your decorating. I know it will be delightful!

MadSnapper said...

Love that bunch of flowers, those are the ones i like, cut flowers that look like wild flowers.. and i like the new window treatment. i am threatening to take down my blinds and put sun blocking curtains instead.. still thinking on it. i am now wondering if i never bit my nails because i was to busy stuffing food in my mouth, my mother was fat to and she did not bite hers. so maybe the answer is to get really fat and you will not bite your nails... now i will be looking at everyones nails to see if i am right

Susie said...

Linda, What is happening? LOL...I too have started to finally let go. I have packed up so many things for my daughter...if she doesn't use them then people in her burg of a town will. I had some things I had worn a lot and others, maybe once or twice and so many with the tags still on them...I think it comes from my childhood of being raised poor and not having enough. But I am proud of you and of myself. I was beginning to wonder if I would be starring on the show "Hoarders" one day. Yikes. My hoard would not have bugs or rodents ...cause I am nuts that way. LOL. As you are learning. The bug man cometh this Wed. LOL I re-scheduled for this coming Wed..instead of this past one. I did not want it raining while he was spraying outside. I loved the bouquet of flowers and your new do is very pretty. But then you are ,so any hair-do works on pretty people. Bless your wonderful man for getting your decorating down form the attic. Can't wait to see the rooms as you get them done. Blessings, love you, xoxo, Susie

Cheapchick said...

Change is good sometimes! Your hair looks great!!

Arlene G said...

I love your hair...that is almost my style but mine is white!! I wore mine short for many years for convenience but found that I really look better wth a little more hair. Also, I was a life long nail biter as well and one day I just stopped...no interest whetsoever. I tell people that I think the Lord delivered me from that nasty habit. It is the only explanation that makes sense to me. I wanted to quit, tried to quit but no success until the desire just left me. I still keep mine short but it is because I want to not because I have to!! Looking forward to seeing your fall decor!!

FABBY'S LIVING said...

I think you look so pretty and so young in your new hair cut.
I cut my hair very often, not to short though, but gosh does it ever grow like crazy !
I bet you are both having a great time in the garden.
Your Mr. is sure working away! So happy to see you both doing well.
FABBY

Kelly said...

You look so pretty with your new hair cut! I use to bite my nails until I got braces as a teenager. I have never bitten them since. It turned out that I have nice string healthy nails too! I hope yours will prove to be the same! I look forward to seeing your Fall decor. I know you love celebrating September first too!

Linda said...

I have learned to love very short hair, actually I love ANY hair. LOL When it's hot and my hair is on my neck it drives me crazy! How sweet of your stylist to buy you flowers :-) I love how you decorate your house....would love to to that....but no one really cares or sees it.

Stacey said...

You look amazing dah-ling!! I love your haircut and your pretty smile. It's neat that you sometimes sense you are ready and/or able to change something. I need to get my behind up and start exercising again.

Can you believe the weather we've had for the last week? It feels like fall!! Enjoy your decorating. I'll be having a give away in the next week that you'll want to see. :)

Blondie's Journal said...

You are cute no matter how short or long your hair is, Linda---I think it's all about the shape of your face sometimes and you have a small cute face. Silly, I know. I can't pull off a very short haircut and like you, I hate it on my neck and bangs on my forehead. In the heat I want to pull it all back in a ponytail or knot. As far as nails, they've always been decent but in recent years I've started to pick at my cuticles. Isn't that weird? They get jagged and painful and then I can't wear polish. It's a hard habit to break and I think its self destructive.

Go for those fall decorations...I know how much time and effort you put into the holidays. I've been leaving a lot in the bins downstairs each year as I don't feel I need it. I think it's time to give it away.

Jane

Hootin Anni said...

I am so ready for Fall!!!

...his expression mimics Bud's Look when I ask him for help getting the boxes down for decorating. LOL

I think I like you better in short hair [don't get me wrong, the longer style is cute, but the short hair fits your vibrant, sassy and go-getter personality!!]

Summer said...

Your hair looks fabulous ♥ I am so ready for fall decorating too ♥

summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

jamarson1 said...

I love the haircut and can't wait to see what fall looks like at your pad:)

Gypsy Heart said...

I love that your hair stylist gave *you* flowers! The girl that does my hair made an absolutely incredible Christmas wreath for me the first year I was here. Great girls, right?
I can't stand for my hair to grow so that it touches my ears or neck! I've worn it short for eons with no plans to change. :) I'm really having an issue with my nails right now and really don't understand why, unless it has to do with the "drugs" from the back injections. I take Biotin and Hair, Skin & Nails so I'm in a quandry about this.

I think it's absolutely awesome that you're letting go of stuff! :) I've gotten rid of so much and yes, sometimes it's been difficult to do but I feel so much "lighter" and it makes room for the new to come in. My mother and aunts always lived in the "depression" mentality of not having enough. I so understand why but I feel like it's not trusting God to provide. If I'm not using something or don't like it anymore, I hope it will bless others!

xo
Pat
P.S. I love what you did with the windows & removing the blinds!

Bev said...

You make me smile....don't grow up too much:)))...

Carla said...

You're so cute. I'm still catching up. You the harvest queen gonna cut back....? Really And Christmas? mmmm Well I really think you need a big big shed to hold all seasonal decor to avoid the attic. I'd have a worse look on my face than LD did if I was climbing up there to get all that debris. LOL Wuv you