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Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After

Rediscovering Life after Retirement

Categories: Rediscovering ME

Currently, 02.2018

Currently, 02.2018

Hello, dollies!

It is time for “Currently, 02.2018”!  Linking up with Anne in Residence for this Valentine’s-infused edition.  Sharing with the whole wide world what we are finishing, hearting, subscribing (to), watching and wishlisting.  And just like that, we’re off.

Currently, 02.2018

When Anne shares the prompts for the upcoming “Currently”, I put on my thinking cap.  Should just keep it on, huh?  And once it’s on, I start brainstorming ideas.  I’ve been known to misread one of the prompts, write all these ideas and then realize I had the wrong word!  Dang, that really throws a monkey wrench into the works.  Double-checked this month, and I have the words right.

Finishing

…my Valentine wreath.  Not a moment too soon, huh?  That’s why I need to keep my thinking cap on 24/7/365.

Currently, 02.2018

Hearting

…my new over-the-knee (OTK) boots and new tulle skirt.  Have wanted a tulle skirt forever.  When I found this one at Target for $11.99, I had to make it mine.  You can get one, too!!  Just click on the photos below (doing so earns me a few cents…truly, a few cents) and follow the link to Target!

 

I am still hobbling around on one foot with an orthopedic shoe on the other.  So I may not be able to do much more than heart my boots for awhile longer.  Hoping to wear my skirt for our Valentine’s date.  But not sure what to pair it with.  Would like to find something with a bit of shine or sparkle like a tee with sparkle or pearls.  Here’s what I came up with today.

Currently, 02.2018

Would a body even wear OTK boots with a skirt?  Yes, I still have my thinking cap on.  But maybe it’s time to change the batteries.  For today’s post I put it with a gray tee, white lace sweater and pearls.  Yay or nay?

*Later:  Decided to look for a sparkly tee to buy for my skirt.  Found one that A) was affordable B) cute C) Valentiney.  Put together this little slide show of possibilities and the one I bought is mixed in.  Which one do you think I bought?  Would you pair any of these with my tulle skirt?

 

Subscribing

…52Frames photo challenge.  Ok, this isn’t a subscription exactly.  Not like a magazine or newspaper.  But Google lists several definitions for the word subscribe.  And I am subscribing to the second definition in regards to this prompt.

sub·scribe 
səbˈskrīb/
verb
2.
express or feel agreement with (an idea or proposal).
“we prefer to subscribe to an alternative explanation”
synonyms: agree with, accept, believe in, endorse, back, support, champion, buy into;

formalaccede to
“I can’t subscribe to that theory”

I am supporting, championing, endorsing (and participating in) the 52Frames photo challenge.  Last week’s prompt was ‘new’.  I used my new camera (which is really 2 years old but hasn’t been used much) and tried some new settings to take this photo.

Currently, 02.2018

Used a setting that allowed me to get good focus on the bougainvillea while blurring the pool and pergola in the background.

Here is the photo I submitted for this week’s prompt, ‘neglected’.

Currently, 02.2018

Below is the story that accompanied my photo.

52Frames photo challenge, Week 5, “neglected”
“Rest in Peace”
Before I retired in 2013, I worked at a school built atop an old cemetery. When the school was built in 2005, the construction company yanked up these headstones and threw them in the vacant lot across the street. From the start, this school was so troubled. The community is called the Devil’s Triangle. Much poverty, drug abuse, gang activity. My precious students came from such sad home situations: 95% low socio economic, 53% ESL, 72% at risk. The few involved parents we had, were allowed to come at 6:00 am with holy water to bless the community areas of the school: gym, cafeteria, office and library (where I worked) because it was believed the school was haunted. When I saw this week’s theme, I thought of these headstones, the lives and deaths they represent and my students I so loved.

Watching 

…”Peaky Blinders” and “Bachelor”, of course.  My brother suggested we try “Peaky Blinders” on Netflix.

Currently, 02.2018

[source]

The show is the story of  “A notorious gang in 1919 Birmingham, England, led by the fierce Tommy Shelby, a crime boss set on moving up in the world no matter the cost.”  [source]  It is pretty violent and has more than a few R-rated scenes but the story line is interesting and the acting is excellent.

As far as “Bachelor” goes, I don’t care much for Arie, so almost hate for a ‘good’ girl to get paired up with him.  The most conniving little miss got kicked off the island yesterday.

Currently, 02.2018

[source]

Wishlisting

…books on my Goodreads and a lens for my Samsung phone camera.  Carrie at Curly, Crafty Mom has a new lens for her phone and it makes selfie-taking much easier.  So I put one on my Amazon wishlist.  Only trouble is, no one sees my list but me.  When I hit the lotto, though, I will have all of these things I need (want) on my list just waiting to be purchased!

Currently, 02.2018

[source]

And there we have it, “Currently, 02.2018”.  Hope you will run by Anne’s now to see what she’s up to “Currently”.

Your Turn

So how would you respond to these prompts?  What are you finishing, hearting, subscribing to (in any sense of the word), watching and wishlisting?  Would love to know.

Later today and then later this week I have a “Wellness Wednesday” post, a piece about transitions in life, “Little Letters” and “10 on the 10th”.  Hopefully, something for everyone! HaPpY hUmP dAY!

Hugs and kisses,

leslie

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About Leslie Roberts Clingan

I am an aspiring blogger and children's author, wife, mother, daughter, sister, - in-law, responsible pet owner and recently retired elementary school librarian. I hope to figure out the next chapter of my life as I transition from crazy, busy work world onto totally idle retirement and now to something in-between.

Comments

  1. Laura

    February 7, 2018 at 5:58 am

    Wow! Your “neglected” photo and story behind it are amazing!! I love the burgundy OTK boots, but they might not show up as well depending on how long your skirt is. Just a thought. Have a happy day!

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      February 7, 2018 at 12:10 pm

      Thank you for helping me with the OTK boot and skirt question. I think they will go up too high to be seen with my skirt. The skirt appears to fall just below my knee…haven’t tried it on yet. So will probably pair it with the booties or heels. Seems like OTK boots are better with jeans. Do you have any?

      That poor school is so troubled, Laura. Oh, my. When we realized that the school was built on an abandoned (paupers’ cemetery?), it became clear why it is that way. Such a sad situation. And most of the graves are for children. Babies. So very sad.

      Reply
  2. Andrea@WellnessNotes

    February 7, 2018 at 10:05 am

    Such a fun post! I love your skirt and boots! What a shame that you won’t be able to wear them for a while. But it will be truly special when you finally can!

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      February 7, 2018 at 12:12 pm

      I might have a private fashion show for PC in my skirt on Valentine’s. I am thinking the OTK boots probably work better with jeans so those will have to wait. But I might be able to wear the skirt with my orthopedic shoe on one foot and a dressy flat shoe on the other for a few moments while we sip some champagne!!

      Reply
  3. Ashley Ziegler

    February 7, 2018 at 12:57 pm

    I’m not a huge fan of Arie either!

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      February 11, 2018 at 10:26 am

      Glad I am not the only one disenchanted with Arie. Of course, I am still watching!!!

      Reply
  4. ShootingStarsMag

    February 7, 2018 at 6:09 pm

    I am really curious about that lens that Carrie got. I want to get more gadgets for my iphone that might help with taking pictures for the blog/instagram.

    I’m so curious about Peaky Blinders – so many shows I need to watch though. I love Cillian Murphy, so I’m sure he’s great. 🙂

    -Lauren

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      February 11, 2018 at 10:31 am

      Peaky Blinders is definitely not for the faint of heart. A lot of bloodshed and quite a bit of R rated sex/skin. But the story is based on a gang in the early 1900s in England. And the characters are very well drawn and the acting is excellent. There’s a surprise of some sort in every episode.

      The lens I found for my Samsung is under $20 on Amazon. But I have to wait til payday to pick one up. She has really enjoyed hers and plans on using it for their Valentine’s date. So we can check out those pics this week!

      Reply
  5. Daenel T.

    February 7, 2018 at 6:21 pm

    Great photography there, Lady! Love the colors on the flower one and the bokeh (the blurriness). The neglected story is creepy and sad. I have issues with things being built on cemeteries, even though I know there are probably bodies under a lot of buildings…

    The OTK boots are too cute. I keep saying I’m going to get a pair. And a tulle skirt. I want a tulle skirt too. Just because I want to twirl. LOL

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      February 11, 2018 at 10:36 am

      I had seen the word bokeh used but didn’t know what it meant and for some reason didn’t look it up. Bad librarianship!! Thank you for you comments on my photography. You are an inspiration with the beautiful photos you take.

      Isn’t twirling the best? My daughters had a hand-me-down dress from an older cousin when they were toddlers that we named purple dressy. It was extremely twirlable. And from the day we received it in a box of other hand-me-downs, my youngest would wear nothing that wouldn’t twirl, at least not for long! She came home from school every day and put on purple dressy so she could twirl through life.

      Check out Target for tulle. The skirts were down to $7 last time I checked. Pink and black. Velvet and tulle.

      Reply
  6. Anne

    February 8, 2018 at 5:05 am

    What a fun find with that skirt! And I am never not wishlisting books on my Goodreads 🙂

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      February 11, 2018 at 10:38 am

      When I was a little girl growing up in Boston, the school instituted a program to try to encourage children to read faster. I don’t remember any emphasis on reading better, with more comprehension and understanding! Just faster. How I wish I could read faster now. So many books waiting for their turn to be taken off my Goodreads to-read shelf!!

      Reply
  7. Sarita

    February 8, 2018 at 5:28 am

    What beautiful photos! And yes to arie being no fun to watch!

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      February 11, 2018 at 10:39 am

      Maybe we all need to write Bachelor to tell them how unpopular Arie is!! And that we need to vote on who they pick next. I don’t think Chris Harrison even likes him. We should have cheered for Crystal to win and they could ride off into the sunset together. I hate to see one of the ‘good’ girls that are left get ‘stuck with him’. Boo!!

      Reply
  8. Lysha

    February 8, 2018 at 9:10 am

    Love the Valentine wreath you’re making! I’m so bad about decorating for pretty much anything except Christmas. I need to pull out my Valentine stuff even if it is for a few days.

    I love that you watch the Bachelor. I watch it too, but I’m not feeling it at all so I am several episodes behind. I was not happy they chose Arie for this season.

    Reply
  9. larkycanuck

    February 14, 2018 at 6:24 am

      “Big Little Lies” and “Peaky Blinders” What’s next for Caitlin?

    Reply
    • Leslie Roberts Clingan

      February 16, 2018 at 11:56 am

      I started watching “Big Little Lies” after reading the book and then something happened, and didn’t continue with the series. Need to check it out again. Did I hear correctly that Meryl Streep is joining the cast?

      Thank you for stopping by. Hope you will come back again!

      Reply

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In what felt like the blink of an eye, I have gone from full-time wife to my sweet husband, hands-on mom to my two beautiful daughters and elementary school librarian to a retired, empty nester with lots of time on my hands. Join me on my journey to rediscover who I am. Glad you are here...
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