Sunday (16th) – Combined Birthday Bash
Last year (September 19), Richard turned 70. We celebrated with a big, end-of-summer BBQ with friends and family who lived nearby. It was warm and sunny, allowing us to have the full party outdoors. This October, I turn 60. I will be away on Home Exchange on the big day. Building on last year’s success, Richard and I combined our birthdays and prepared another BBQ Bash.
The weather was cool and wet. But the warmth, generosity, and ingenuity of friends refused to let a little rain dampen our evening. Richard had also prepared three poster board collages providing glimpses into my past 60 years. It was a very endearing touch!
Monday and Tuesday (17th and 18th) Hanging out with Liesbet and Mark (Roaming About)
The photos here are deceptive. It wasn’t all about the food. It was about friendship and connection. But the duo’s handmade pizzas (1. Chicken with Caramelized Onion, 2. Vegetarian) were phenomenal!
Liesbet and Mark always offer such wise insights. I look forward to meeting up with them again.
Wednesday (19th) Richard’s Actual Birthday
Breakfast in bed, golf, lots of communing with nature, as well as brunch and dinner lovingly prepared by friends. How did we get so lucky?
Thursday (20th) Meet Up with Ann (The UnRetired)
This was the second time this week that I was able to hang out with a friend whom I met through blogging. Today, I met up with Ann from The UnRetired. As usual, we chatted non-stop with spontaneous bursts of laughter. If you haven’t yet visited her blog, I encourage you to check it out.
Friday (21st) The Start of our Weekend Dog Sitting
We had the pleasure of pet-sitting our neighbours’ five-month-old Australian Labradoodle, Kaylee, for the weekend. I was able to sneak out for a walk with a friend whom I have not seen in a long time. But I did receive a lecture from Kaylee when I returned!
Saturday (22nd) Hike with Friends
The weatherman (correctly) predicted that we would have four hours without rain this morning. We took advantage of this by hiking at one of my favourite spots. The rest of the afternoon we watched movies and had dinner with friends. I was so mellow during the afternoon part that I forgot to take photos!
Sunday (23rd) Loafing, Puttering, and Packing
I set aside today to pack for our upcoming Home Exchange. True confession — I did not pack light. I know, I know! I have repeatedly sung the praises of packing light, and I still do — for airplane travel, hiking/backpacking trips and weekend getaways. This trip is none of the above. There is plenty of room in our vehicle. I packed to ensure that I will not need to take my suitcase out until we reach our final destination. I did follow my tried and true packing guidelines, 1) Use a travel checklist. (I used the exact list that I used for this same trip last year.) 2) Pack in advance. 3) Avoid ‘Justin Case’ items. I was also excited to include in my suitcase ‘Of Human Bondage.’ It’s been years since I last read this novel. I look forward to reading it again…around a pool, with drink in hand!
Monday (24th) Girlfriend Lunch
Once every couple of months this group gets together for lunch to catch up. Many of these ladies are also in our Thursday walking group, and three of them live close-by. Love them!
Throughout the Week
Throughout the week we have been adding leftover party food to our salads, pasta, roll-ups, scrambled eggs, and sandwiches. We finally used up the last of the leftovers on Saturday. In what inventive ways do you use your party-food extras?
How was your week?
Retirement Reflections 
That looks like so much fun. I re-read of Human Bondage a few years ago. I will be interested in your reflections.. I found it very disappointing the second time around. How time changed everything. I hope we will see one another over the year I am on Hornby Island when I need a fix of city life.
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Hi, Ann – Thanks for reading and commenting. I’ll let you know what I think of OHB the second time around. You made me laugh referring to our small town as “city life”. It’s all relative! Looking forward to seeing you again.
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Such a beautiful week, Donna! You look great with the tiara and happy in all the photos. My past week was great, too. Got in my daily fitness activities, attended one art exhibit with the Flowers theme and two very different music performances, lunched with a friend at an Indian restaurant, and watched a comedy movie with my neighbours. Safe travels and have fun at your home exchange!
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Thank you, Natalie – You always say the nicest things! Your week also sounds amazing. I sort of fell off the wagon in the gym-yoga department…but I promise to get to hem both soon!
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Hi Donna – Gym and yoga can wait when it comes to birthday celebrations 🙂 I look forward to reading about your next bloggers’ meet up. #MLSTL.
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I love that advice, Natalie!
I promise to keep you posted on my next Bloggers’ Meet Up. That one will be with Janis and Kathy. If you want to join us in P.D. you are very, very welcome!
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Oh, Donna (wait, is that a song?), that looks like so much fun… all of it! I love the idea of a girlfriend lunch and a walking group! I so look forward to seeing you and Richard next month. And, one of these days, I need to visit you on Vancouver Island and see all of that beautiful scenery for myself.
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Yup – that was a song alright. It was sung by Ritchie Valens and released the year that I was born (1958). My parents claim that there is no connection between the two! I am super excited about seeing you soon. I am definitely going to try to nail down a date for you and your husband to visit Vancouver Island. Did you and Kathy decide on a date for the Meet Up?
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Hi Donna! Happy Birthday to Richard AND you. We will have to throw you a party while you are here! You didn’t mention your actual birthday day but it doesn’t matter, you should celebrate ALL MONTH LONG! Love seeing the photos and look forward to seeing you in person very soon. ~Kathy
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Hi, Kathy – It’s wonderful having you and Janis comment back to back. I just mentioned your name in my reply to Janis. My actual birthday is October 15. I am not sure if I will actually celebrate all month long — but I am very happy to celebrate friendship…and friends who blog!
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Hi Donna,
Looks like a fabulous week well spent! Happy birthday (pre and post) to you and Richard. My daughter is on the island now and telling me about the rainy weather. Gotta take advantage of the dry times, as you did! Cheers,
Deb
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Hi, Deb – Your daughter is right – we are definitely at the beginning of our rainy season. To humour ourselves, there is a common saying out here “at least you don’t need to shovel rain!”. 🙂 I look forward to you visiting your daughter on the island sometime soon.
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We’re already discussing when I should visit. She is trying to dissuade me from coming during the rainy season so she can do a better sell job on ol’ Momma making a move to the island 😜.
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This is awesome news, Deb! I can give TONS of weather related selling features. If you take the coldest month on mid-Vancouver Island (January), the average high is 7 C, the average low is 1 C and the average days of rain = 10. January in Toronto is an average high of 0 C, and average low of -7 with an average of 9 days of rain. Most people that move out here do so because of the mild winters….and the beautiful beaches! Oh, and Vancouver Island has very strong artist communities. Does this help?
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Happy birthday to you both! My girlfriend dinner is coming up soon and I always look forward to them. We’ve also had a family of deer hang out in our neighborhood this week. So cute! Sounds like you pack like I do for our beach vacation although I do some Justin Case stuff (I blame it on the iffy weather!). If it fits in the car, it’s ok! Have a great time.
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Hi, Kate – I love families of deer hanging around. The ones in my photos are so people-friendly that my friend stood and gave them a lecture about not eating her plants, and they patiently waited and listened!
BTW – I also like your “if it fits in the car” theory. I may be using that!
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Nice to see you having such a wonderful week Donna – I’ve spent mine with laryngitis and a cough – yours looks like it was MUCH more fun! So glad you both enjoyed your birthdays and it was lovely to see your smiling face in all the photos – Happy Birthday!!
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Hi, Leanne – Thank you for your kind words. I am sorry to hear that you have not been feeling well. Sending you warm get well wishes, and virtual hugs, across the miles!
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Hi Donna – I forgot to mention that I loved your tiara by the way – there is never an excuse NOT to wear a tiara! #MLSTL and I’ve shared your post on my SM 🙂
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Hi, Leanne – It’s funny that you mention tiaras and excuses. I tried to come up with several reasons why NOT to wear it — but my friends would not listen to any of them! 🙂
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Good looking eats. Happy birthday to all. You know how to have fun.
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Thanks, Antoinette – That’s a huge compliment coming from you. Your posts always make me hungry!
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You definitely have a handle on how to live life. I could learn a lot from you 🙂
Enjoy your home exchange 🙂
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You are so kind, Aimer. I always learn new things when I read your blog. That’s one of the many things that I like about it!
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Ah, thanks. I think you get to wear the “kind” badge too 🙂
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A “Kindness Badge” that we can pass on to others is a great idea! 🙂
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It really is 🙂
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🙂
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Happy birthday to you and Richard! I loved all of the photos, Donna. Family, friends, fun and food…the best parts of life! Thanks so much for sharing these special times with us. Waving to Liesbet and Mark! xo
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Hi, Jill – You are absolutely right about family, friends, fun and food. They make everything better! I know that Liesbet and Mark are waving back!
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Waving right back at you, Jill! I’m hoping we can meet in person one day as well!
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Looking good Donna. You sure have retirement down pat! Once again Happy Birthday and have a safe trip!
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Thanks, Fran – Retirement can be such a wonderful time. So much to see, do and explore. I look forward to your next post so that I can read more about yours!
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Second attempt at trying to leave a message. Looks like a wonderful birthday week. Kaylee is so cute, I would have trouble giving her back. I love hiking in the fog, looks like a cool morning. Have a wonderful trip and safe travels.
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Thanks, Karen – I am so sad to hear that you had difficulties leaving a message. Last week a couple other readers mentioned the same thing. I disabled any unnecessary plug-ins and switched to the default theme hoping that that might help. I’m glad that you got through the second time — thank you for persevering!
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You’ve had a full week, Donna! And more to come it seems with your next adventure. Welcome to the 60’s! I’m halfway through them and think they are pretty great so far.
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Hi, Molly – Thank you for the vote of confidence regarding the 60’s. I am sad to leave my 50’s behind because they have brought with the so many amazing things. Fingers crossed for the 60’s. I officially dive in on October 15!
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You will do our decade proud, Donna!
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I promise to do my very best in this regard!
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I have no doubt!
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Just looks like a fab celebration Donna!! You had a bit of everything, friends, food and fun, can’t get more better than that!! Happy birthday and thanks for letting us celebrate with you. X
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Thanks, Debbie – Blogging does provide a wonderful opportunity to share our highs and lows with friends across the world. I’ve loved reading your new grandmother posts this past week — they have made me smile!
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That’s great of you to say, thanks Donna. Just popped back to say I’m sharing for #mlstl
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Thank you for sharing this post, Debbie. I greatly appreciate it!
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What a week. Thanks for sharing it with us, Donna. It’s brilliant to see how both Richard and you are enjoying life to the full. I know too many people who think retirement means the end of everything. i don’t know where you find the time to do everything you do, but maybe that’s something you’ll share in a future post.
Lovely to see you meeting up with friends through blogging.
Keep on having fun.
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Hi, Hugh – Thank you for your kind words. My strategy has been:. Say ‘yes’ to what I want, ‘no’ to what I don’t, and embrace my bucket list items NOW! My retirement motto has been “if I don’t use it, I lose it.” That’s been enough to keep me going!
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What a wonderful time you all had, Donna! Love all the photos and right now I am a little jealous of your cool, drizzly weather. Temps in the 90s here this week, so ready for real Fall weather. How fun to connect with other bloggers and again, you’ve inspired me to start planning a late fall 2019 birthday bash when Hans and I both hit 6-0! I love seeing my friends turn 60 and exude a youthful, healthy lifestyle ❤
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Hi, Terri – I will gladly trade you cool and drizzly for hot and dry anytime. Enjoy the remainder of your 50’s — it was one of my favourite decades!
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So I’m having one of those days when my comments vanish in a puff of smoke. Love the tiara and all your birthday photos! I think you should wear the tiara all the time 👸🏻!
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Hi, Anabel – I swear that WP comments are the bane of my existence! Both of your comments did come through so I combined them into one. Thank you for the kind words – that’s a definite ‘no’ on full-time tiara wearing! 🙂
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You sure had a social, fun last week at home, Donna and I’m glad to have been part of it. As always, it was wonderful to catch up with you and Richard and being able to celebrate your birthdays with you was a bonus. I’m glad Rich had a nice day of the birthday as well. Did he finish the last pieces of pizza as part of his breakfast in bed? 🙂 Good times all around! Enjoy your trip to the sun! Xx
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Hi, Liesbet – I am glad that you were part of our birthday celebrations as well. Richard didn’t have your homemade pizza as part of his breakfast in bed — we had already eaten it all by then! Where are you now? How have your travels been going?
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Glad you enjoyed the leftover pizza. And, I’m happy I could finally fulfill the promise I made to you about making our pizza for you both one day. 🙂 We are currently in Port McNeill. Had a foggy and icy day trip to Malcolm Island, biking throughout the island. Needed gloves. Don’t have gloves. Never thought we’d need gloves ever again. This might be all our warm-blooded bodies can take. That being said there are a few really nice days in the forecast, so we better pick our next destination wisely.
PS: did you see my recent bear photo on my personal Facebook page? Certainly one of the highlights in your island so far.
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Hi, Liesbet – Thank you for telling me about your FB post. I just checked. What an awesome shot! That was a BIG bear and a BIG fish! Enjoy the rest of your travels. Please keep us all posted.
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Note to self: don’t look at Donna’s photographic posts with dinner still two hours away. You’ve made me hungry! Looks like fun, and congrats on returning to a classic novel. I have a rule that each year I have to read one classic book.
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Hi, Marty – Nice to hear from you. Sorry about the hunger pains. I’m also packed Raymond Chandler’s ‘The Big Sleep’. I didn’t want to run out of reading material! 🙂
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What a lovely happy post to read Donna. You’ve had a wonderful week! Happy Birthday for whatever date in October is your 60th Birthday! I love that main photo of you and your husband blowing out the candles on the cake – just lovely! You had a week doing all the kind of things I enjoy – e.g. meeting up with friends and a bit of walking out in nature etc. My week hasn’t been quite so great because I’ve been sick (this is the 3rd week!) but I did get notification of being a finalist for an award which was a lovely pick me up! 🙂
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Hi, Min – Congratulations on being a finalist for the Bupa Blog Awards. I just went in and cast my vote. Good luck!!
Thank you for your kind words. What I love most about retirement is that no two weeks are exactly the same.
I hope that you are feeling better soon!
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You are a perfect ambassador for Sizzling Beyond 60 Donna and I enjoyed celebrating your birthday week through your photos. Such a lovely time to share birthdays together surrounded by love and friendship. Sending you love and hugs from ‘down under’ and look forward to reading about your Home Exchange. Thank you for being part of #MLSTL and I value your support. xx
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Hi, Sue – Thank you for your continued support and kind words. Did you have any commenting difficulties this week? I keep hoping for a miracle in this regard!
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Hi Donna trying from my phone 😊
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Yahoo! I am so glad that this worked. We’re getting closer!!
Enjoy your upcoming holiday. I can’t wait to see the photos!
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Happy birthday to you and Richard! Looking forward to hearing more about your Home Exchange.
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Hi, LuAnn – Thank you so much for returning to visit and comment. My husband and I have participated in numerous home exchanges (Paris, Prague, Bangkok, South of France, Australia, San Francisco, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Palm Desert, Florida, Vancouver, Ladner, Victoria….). They each have worked out well for us. This is our third return visit to the same home in Palm Desert. You can read more about our Home Exchanges at; https://www.retirementreflections.com/category/home-exchange/. Let me know if you have any questions about home exchange. I would be very happy to answer what I can.
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Soooo nice to read this Donna thank you! I was smiling which as we all know is a feel good something. Thanks for supplying a link about home exchange. I’ve known about this for some time now but it’s been under my radar. Definitely something that I must remember. I just saw a FB post that said about making plans for travel is one of the best things one can do. I didn’t read the post, those few words were enough to convince me of the truth of this. We arrived yesterday in Southbroom which is on the Natal south coast, and where we’ll be for the next few days as guests. The men folk are golfing today. But this morning when I was walking on this unfamiliar beach I was thinking of how glorious is it to be able to travel … flip it, blooming blessed …
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Hi, Susan – I am so happy that our blogs found each other. Your posts and comments always make me think. I love how you also read all comments. According to some survey that I read somewhere, only 3% of blog readers do that. It is absolutely glorious to travel. Planning for travel brings hope, possibility and wonder. All very good for the mind, body and soul!
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What a busy and fun week you had! I loved looking at these photos. Thanks for sharing them with us. #MLSTL
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Hi, Christie – It was a wonderful week. Friends and family have a way of making everything that much more special. Thanks for stopping by!
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very interesting , good job and thanks for sharing such a good blog.
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Hi, John – Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
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Hi Donna, I love the way you celebrate life and enjoy retirement. You have everything that is important in perspective. Totally agree with the packing thing; anything goes when there is a car involved. Happy Birthday!
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Hi, Suzanne – Thank you for your kind words. It feels strange not to have a single backpack for travel (I’ve become VERY used to that). In my defense, I did pack many groceries since I had recently done a big Costco shop for our party and we had even opened many of the items. 🙂
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What a fun and full week! A life filled with family, friends, and shared good times. I LOVE it! Thanks so much for sharing with us.
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Hi, Trisha – Thank you for stopping by, and for sharing your kind words. Both are greatly appreciated!
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We are visiting with Liesbet and Mark now. Interesting fact: Rob and my ages add up to 131, too, although the math is a little different.
Jude
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Hi, Jude – Enjoy your visit with Liesbet and Mark. They are such a cool couple!
131 is a great number!!
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It is starting to look as if Mark and I are on the “meet a blogger” tour. 🙂 We just visited with another (sailing) couple in Brentwood Bay, who I met via our blogs as well. In Victoria now and leaving your beautiful island in a few days.
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A ‘Bloggers’ Meet-Up Tour’ sounds like great fun! I’m glad that you have been able to reconnect with so many good friends. I’m also glad that you enjoyed your Island tour. We are very proud to call it home (despite all of the rain)! 🙂
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Looks like you all had a wonderful time and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you both ♥
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Hi, Dee – Thanks for stopping by. Your comments continue to go into my Moderation Folder. I have been working with Askimet and Jetpack on this. On your next comment can you leave off the emoji at the end at see if that helps? Thanks so much.
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Sorry to hear that Donna. Still working with Askimet as per your request. I’ll leave off the heart at the end but I do that to a lot of sites, not just yours. ok, let me know how this works.
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Hi, Dee – Thank you for your continued help with my commenting errors. Sadly, your most recent comments (and Hugh’s) have continued to go into Moderation. Askimet has given me one new thing to try, which I just implemented. Fingers crossed that your next comment comes straight through.
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