Monday Musings on Antiques and Silver Swans
We have always loved decorating our homes with antiques. Both of my parents loved antiques, so I grew up surrounded by them. In fact, I get a kick out of the fact that our kitchen table in California is one that we bought at a garage sale for $10 over 48 years ago! I’ve always believed that antiques get better with age…and so do we.
2 – SEED PEARL NECKLACES
As we began decorating our little apartment in Vancouver, all the big pieces ( bed, sofa, easy chairs) were bought new. Now that it’s time to add some personality, I’m looking for antique pieces that will give the place a distinctive look…much the way our personal accessories do for our outfits.
We stopped by one of my favorite little shops last week and found this antique Swedish mirror that had to come home with us. It’s petite, which is just what you need for a small apartment. I have no clue where I will hang it, so for now, it’s just leaning against the wall. I’m also trying to figure out what color to paint the walls… which is a whole other challenge.
**I also want to share a terrific discount code with you. Frank & Eileen has generously offered my readers $50 off your cart with the code ESCAPE at checkout! One time use on any full-priced items and can not be combined with another code. Valid through 9/1.
We also explored Little Italy in Vancouver this weekend. The deli’s, bakeries, and restaurants are amazing! We managed to control ourselves because we’re leaving on a road trip, but it’s a new favorite destination and we will be back to shop for more culinary delicacies. Each day, we discover new reasons why living in the city is such a rich and vibrant experience.
Silver Swans
I am not planning to retire in the very near future, but my daughter has been encouraging me to think about what I will do with my time when I do. The natural thing would be to do more of the hobbies I enjoy now. The problem is I don’t have that many. Then I remembered a book my husband read when he retired. It encouraged him to think back to what he had a passion for in his youth and resurrect it. He was a big swimmer, and it’s now become one of his daily passions.
As I thought back, one thing stood out above all others, and it hit me like a bolt of lightning…ballet. It was a love and obsession for many years. I went hunting online for in-person classes. Everything I found mentioned 35 and above. I don’t know about you, but my 35-year-old body was worlds apart from my almost 68-year-old one.
I searched for hours until I found the magic search term. Senior! Once I put that in, I discovered the Silver Swans program. It was designed by the Royal Academy of Dance specifically for those over 55. Bingo! They have teachers throughout the world, and I’ve reached out to see if I can attend classes locally. I also discovered some YouTube classes to get me started. I know my body won’t come close to doing what it used to do, but it may still feel as graceful.
Oh, and my daughter also convinced me to take some golf lessons, so that should be interesting. I smiled when I realized it might require a new category of clothes :).
What was a passion in your youth that you could take up again?
I’m assuming you are up in Vancouver Canada. will you be shopping and sharing your purchases with all the Canadian gals who follow you?
Yes I’m in Canada. The clothes I buy here are from Talbots, Athleta, and Eileen Fisher.
Love the mirror!
Do you happen to remember the title of the book you mentioned that your husband read?
My husband is retiring soon and needs a little inspiration to find his hobbies!
I always look forward to reading your blog each day, and will enjoy seeing what you do with your Vancouver home.
I’m sorry I do not, but I will ask my brother because he was the one who recommended it to us.
Such a great post and some interesting replies!
I am golfing 2 days a week….18 holes. It is a long walk, I am taking a cart in the heat but I would like to join a 9&dine group soon. I’m 79 on my next birthday and my feet are causing such a lot of trouble.
Golfing with the ladies is just super. We even go on an annual golf trip to the okanagan to golf taste wine each fall.
The outfit is important!!
Your golf trip sounds like so much fun!!
Hi Jennifer,
I do hope that you will continue your blog. You are always so thoughtful about life and so good about helping your readers find their best selves.
I agree that retirement is a good time to find our authentic selves and look at what we enjoyed in our childhood.
I too was a ballet girl and now I have bunions to prove it! I’d love to do a Silver Swans class in sneakers (wide)!
I was always interested in arts and crafts, now I enjoy sketching and painting in a travel sketchbook when we take trips (next up Wales and England).
I volunteer tutoring in reading, and of course I adore cosy mysteries!
It is the perfect time for us to rediscover ourselves and commit to enjoying life! I will still continue my blog 🙂
Hi Jennifer,
I’m sorry to hear that piano lessons were torture for you as a child. Perhaps you and the teacher just did not click. I am a nearly 70 year old piano and violin teacher. I want to point out to all of your readers that retirement is an ideal time to take music lessons, whether for the very first time or as a refresher of the skills acquired during youth. When taking music lessons one does not need to worry about arthritic knees or hips. Playing an instrument is very elder friendly! I have quite a few music students over the age of 60. Currently, my oldest student is 74. I am still wowed by the man who lived next door to me and my husband when we were newly-weds 50 years ago. He was a 91 year old bachelor who started playing the piano for the first time at age 83. He was still taking weekly lessons and practiced for around 3 hours a day. Music was truly his passion in his twilight years.
I love your story of your neighbor. Music is a great thing to take up in retirment! It’s so soothing and creative. Thanks for sharing Kathy.
I retired 2 years ago and the first thing I did was get a library card. I finally have time to read! I also signed up for line dancing classes at the local community center with their over 50 program. Movement and good brain exercise, as well. And it offers a chance to meet new people of a similar age. Next, I want to take some golf lessons and start golfing again.
Awesome!
What a great post Jennifer! I loved reading all the excellent ideas people are doing in their retirement. I just retired a year and a half ago but have been busy helping my Mom move to a senior’s residence and sell her home so have been late in starting my retirement activities. I used to love photography and baking when I was young. I am now working on more challenging baking such as bread and dough and would like to try pastry and pasta next. I plan to get a new camera for photography. As I love continuous learning, I have many interests that I hope to get to do. My bucket list contains learning to play piano, learning French, as well as drawing and painting. My husband (who retired 5 years ago) and I are also currently working on some cottage renovations so hope to get back to travelling in the near future.
I also wanted to share a posting that I found useful in selecting paint colors for one’s house. It takes into consideration the light exposure of the room when selecting a color which I found very helpful. See link: https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/how-to-choose-paint-colours-for-a-room-with-2-exposures/
I am so enjoying my retirement after working for many years and I am happy to hear others are as well.
Have a great road trip Jennifer. Thanks for all your great posts.
I love reading all these ideas too! Thanks so much for sharing that link, I will have a look and see what I can learn. You are so blessed to still have your mom, but it must be very hard.
I retired about 3 years ago from a very full time, stressful job. Since then, I have tried various activities which I had always wanted to do. One was a recipe club. I found that was not for me. Another thing I do is volunteer at the Family Search library. I don’t know that much about family history, but I am learning. I have sewn since I was about 10 years old–I should be a better sewist than I am–but recently discovered a charity that refurbishes Amercian Girl Dolls for boys and girls in foster care. (there are both boy and girl American Girl dolls–I did not know that either) I make little doll outfits from my many scraps and send them on to this group. It’s amazing what you can do with small amounts of fabric. I also sew from the grandchildren. It’s good to know that many senior Advantage insurances (Medicare Advantage plans) will pay for a gym membership at gyms that agree to participate. So you can get to a gym for free! I just love a good deal. Also renewed my library card and try to push myself to read new authors. If I don’t like a book, no harm done and no money spent! Also love to read your blog each day. You have great ideas and are an inspiration. Thank you.
I had no idea they had boy dolls either! That sounds like such a rewarding program. A recipe club sounds wonderful. We have been talkling about cooking classes. I love your ideas, thanks for sharing.
What ever you are doing with your hair keep it up. your hair is looking very healthy and polished.
Thanks
After many trial balloons have settled on 4 things for my retirement fit. All focus on my personal pursuit of happiness as opposed to that of others. This is upside down of how I’ve lived my life. True for most women. It took a while to overcome the feelings of being selfish. Now living alone, it’s time to put myself high up on the list. 1) Due to challenges with physical demand I exchanged volunteering for a weekly community discussion group. Topics may be local, national or international. Associated fact based reference materials are available in advance of meetings. This helps my mind exercised. 2) Reading for education, insight and pure joy. While I’ve always read, career, chores and responsibilities often interfered. 3) Always wanted to learn to draw. Joined a mixed media class. For me it encourages developing the practice of truly seeing a thing as opposed to a casual look. I’m more observant now and appreciate what I see more. The challenge of acquiring new skills exercises my mind, too. This desire was put off until, at retirement, I realized: if not now, when? 4) Adapting my home and gardens for comfort and easy care. Top shelves are, now, bare eliminating the need to pull out a ladder. Dishwasher safe kitchen ware and table settings have replaced the need to polish and hand wash. Place mats have replaced table cloths. Floor coverings, furnishings and accessories, now, require less maintenance. A new landscape is low maintenance. Ground covers contain the need to weed. Now plantings only need maintenance once a year even though all but the grass and evergreens bloom. On it goes. I am happy.
Being happy is the most important, Peggy. You’re right that most women need to move on from always putting others care above their own. Learing new skills is the best way to keep our minds active. Thanks for sharing.
After retiring from nursing 22 years ago, we continued skiing and biking, hiking in our mountains and camping. At home I was the yard keeper and loved gardening. It is hard to grow flowers in the high desert but I had fun trying. Like you Jennifer, I did dance and voice lessons until the end of my 17th year. I have not done barre since and I am 79. I married as soon as I turned 18. Sounds horrifying now but was quite usual for my age group. Fortunately I had the good sense to go to college and get my degree in nursing as it fed my four sons and then myself for 30 years. I loved knitting, sewing for my grandchildren and reading. I dabbled at painting and drawing. I’m a terrible golfer although many tried to teach me as my parents were avid golfers and so were both my brothers and two of my sons still enjoy it with their sons. Piano was torcher for me as well. My dad took it up at 72 and got to be quite good. Most is all past tense as I am disabled with crippling osteoarthritis and peripheral neuropathy with a genetic chronic pain condition I found out about in my 60s. Now I listen to Audible books and color with artist quality pencils on good hand days. We hold hands for my balance when we walk our little dog every morning to start our day. My husband is my caretaker and does most of the household chores. I help where I can. My retirement is not what I pictured it to be in my very active youth. All of you ladies sound very healthy and I applaud your efforts and fun activities. I enjoy being a part of this community of women understanding that we all have our challenges going forward.
Bless you, Sydney. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I’m so glad you’re part of our community!
Jennifer,
Love the white linen gauze shirt with knot at waist! Now, because of how good you make it look, I’m convinced that I should get one even though I haven’t been a fan of this fabric! Can you explain your use of “Similar” ? Is it a generic word substituted for a brand name? I searched your website but links took me to Amazon or other brands.
Retirement activities will not be an issue for you! Seems like you’re always busy, and that will continue in “retirement”, I guarantee it! The more time you have, the more things you’ll find to do, because other interests will pop out! Love the ballet idea! My retirement is about learning new things that I’ve been curious about but didn’t have time for…pickleball, MahJongg, beading/jewelry, walking, finding new recipes, table decorations (Pinterest!) sewing project, birding, gardening, etc! …and yours will be filled with that too! You’ll see!
Thanks for all you do right now though!!
I use similar when the exact itme is sold out and the link is to something similar but not identical. I have only played Mah Jong a few toimes and loved it. I should look for a group. Thanks for reminding me.
Our Rec and Park department has an art studio. I was intrigued by the course title Anyone Can Draw-since I couldn’t. After retirement, I signed up. I’ve now been through drawing, painting, jewelry, and my current obsession stained glass. I can’t claim to be proficient in any but it’s s loads of fun and a good community of aspiring artists.
That sounds so fun!
Golf and ballet sound wonderful. I took up golf when I was 57, but didn’t play much till I was in my 60’s and had more time. Take lessons and then join a Ladies league – usually just 9 holes and then apres golf socializing. Women are more fun and encouraging to play with, plus you’ll make new friends. And golf clothes are quite stylish now 🙂
That’s exactly what I was thinking! I hope you’re doing well xo
My first thought was – Oh no! I would miss you! But, perhaps a less frequent blog on what’s happening in your life and your thoughts on style etc. I find plenty to do in retirement and also savor my quiet mornings- and there’s always travel! Planning and researching takes time🙂
I would miss you all too much! I adore my quiet mornings too Elaine
I used to go to the gym six days a week before work and enjoyed it. It gave me energy and kept me thin. But as my arthritis has lead to a knee and two hips. I think all those workouts might have lead to my joints wearing out prematurely. My first knee was at 58. Since then I’ve tried yoga and tha chi but both were too slow and bored me. I tried a dance exercise class that was fun but then I needed a hip so dropped that. Walking and the pool seemed to be the best exercise at this point. I’ve been thinking of checking out Pilates for this fall.
I used to love to paint so I joined a group last year. Well, I’ve lost the ability. I was shocked at how bad my painting was. I would need to take some water colour lessons as a refresher.
I did get into gardening big time once I retired and moved to the Island. Everything grows here so easily. Designing my gardens, planting and tending gives me joy. I find it to be very relaxing. Just me, my plants and my thoughts. I have had to hire some help this year but still do the bulk of it. Gardens are ever evolving.
I do love pretty gardens but have trouble keeping things alive. I hear you about the joints. I stopping running years ago because of my hips.
Oh, and we love to travel, especially cruising with family or friends, seeing the world. You unpack once and your balcony room feels like home. From your ship you roam countries, seeing the world one at a time. It’s a big, varied world to explore. I know you’ve traveled so you understand the appeal.
We love cruising!! For just these reasons.
Beautiful mirror — a great find! Interior decorators often just lean a mirror against a wall, rather than hanging it. You might consider doing just that. Mirrors open up the space as well — a neat trick for your small apartment.
It was a great find! We love it.
We have decided to downsize and move to a 55+ community. We are getting rid of our big pieces of furniture like our dining room table and china cabinet and bedroom set. It’s exciting to start this new chapter. I will also be deciding on paint colors and new pieces to make this new place our home. I’m excited to read your journey through this new phase.
That is very exciting!! Have fun Donna
Hi Jennifer,
Perfect timing! I will be retiring next year and one thing I’ve always wanted to do was to learn how to play piano. Dancing also sounds fun.
I love your articles, very helpful and informative.
Wonderful!
I love that you are thinking of taking golf lessons. I learned to play when I took lessons with my Mom when I was 10. My husband is a CPA and not quite retired but golf is our time together. We love it. I took tap and ballet also and loved that too. I developed bunions from toe dancing so that’s out for me now. I’m recovering from rotator cuff surgery but I still am golfing but not quite there yet. Hopefully one more month. That’s the one drawback of aging…..injuries. Thanks for listening!
I suspect many of my foot issues are from dancing in toe shoes. Brutal devices but oh so graceful looking. I’m looking forward to trying golf. Thanks for sharing Rosemary.