Quilting Bee #26

This darling quilt "Pumpkin Party" is by Jackee


Good morning all!! I hope you had a lovely Autumn Weekend! It was just stunning here!! I looove fall, you all know I do!! A lovely start to my birthday week..yup the beans were spilled by my sister Barb..so I guess ..there it is the big 49!! But more about that in a minute..first we have to have cake!! Yup cake today!! A great big carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, a double chocolate fudge cake with sinful chocolate frosting, a simple white cake with butter cream frosting and some brownies for good measure! My friend Sarah has come by with her latte machine and chai mix. What can I get for you today? I have racked a fun silly quilt..just working on the details today so we can chat more...So very glad you joined me today! I love sharing cake!!

Well...Barb (my sis) spilled the beans about it being my birthday this week. Wednesday to be exact. My sister Anne had one yesterday..so I went ahead and decided to let y'all know too. I know some of you already knew...but honestly I had not intended to post about it. So..here it is, a post about my birthday..well sorta..more about what they mean really..birthdays. I am not a big birthday fan. I am not much for huge surprises..I like to know what is coming. Turns out Nonni is like her Mama it would seem. Her birthday is in November - big six this year. She has informed me several times with great seriousness that she wants to pick out her own gifts..period!! No surprises for her - she knows what she wants and that's all she wrote. Yeah a girl after her Mama's heart.

I have been asked of late..does this age bother me..49 is almost 50. Not so much - I kind like it!! I like who I am alot more now, I really do. I have no interest in being 30 again. Although fewer wrinkles would be nice and few less aches and pains..but overall..I'm very happy to be almost 50.

Years ago I was told that in centuries past when women reached the milestone of about 50 they took a couple of years off to contemplate the next chapters of their lives. Serious contemplation about who they were and what they wanted from themselves now that the children were grown and gone. I always thought that was a wonderful idea. Maybe not a couple of years..but maybe a week or a weekend. Most of us cannot leave work or or lives..but how about some time everyday to meditate and consider. A couple of weekend retreats perhaps? I have always wanted to go to a monastery..any sort to just spend a weekend in quiet meditation. Maybe I will plan a trip to do that. Perhaps a weekend at a yoga retreat or in the woods or at the beach..all alone!Ok the dog can come.

Seriously ..I think this is something we should all do as women around our birthdays. Plan some "me" time and find ourselves again. Just a quick bit of time every year and contemplate our direction in this fast paced life we live. Maybe you can't get away for a weekend..but maybe even just an afternoon with a journal and some nature. It is so easy to loose ourselves in everyday things. I think we should all have the right to just breathe a bit..don't you?

So sometime this week I am gonna hike Tubbs Hill and just sit with my journal and camera for a few hours. I'm gonna watch the boats float by and the birds fly. I am gonna journal and take a few shots with the camera. Next year when I turn 50..I think I will try to plan that weekend at a monastery. What changes will that bring do you suppose?

So if you ask me am I concerned about getting older..I will tell you ..Nope, I'm excited! I am looking forward to what comes. I want to thank you for having cake and lattes with me today!! I love it when you come by and see me!! Have a wonderful week and please share with me how you feel about this idea! Namaste & a hug, Sarah