 The Cumbres and Toltec Railroad is a National Historic Landmark. It's a 64-mile day trip that you will thoroughly enjoy and never forget. The narrow-gauge heritage railroad operates between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. It crosses the borders of Colorado and New Mexico 11 times as it chugs its way up and over the 10,015′ high Cumbres Pass.
The Cumbres & Toltec goes where no automobile can go. Most of the route is through “off-the-grid” wilderness, so you’ll experience views into canyons and over ridges that can’t be seen in any other way. The train travels at a top speed of 12 miles an hour, and that’s the beauty of it! You won’t miss the aspen groves, the wildflowers, the steep mountain canyons, or the plentiful wildlife. The steam engine is coal fired and carries you through steep mountain canyons, high desert, and lush meadows as you zig zag between the Colorado and New Mexico borders. There is, indeed, spectacular and rare Western scenery which can only be viewed from the train's unique route. The Cumbres and Toltec Railroad has steamed through history and across the Rocky Mountains since 1880, when first tracks were laid across Cumbres Pass. This unique experience will take you back in time and off of the grid so you can experience the sounds, steam and steel of bygone years. Your daily grind can’t follow you into the great, unspoiled West. Originally part of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad's narrow-gauge network, the line has been jointly owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico since 1970. In 1988, a nonprofit organization called the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was established to preserve the history of the railroad and help maintain infrastructure and rolling stock. The Friends of the C&TSRR also participates in various education programs and provides the railroad guides, known as docents, who inform passengers about historical aspects of the railroad as well as locations of interest. A recent honor: USA Today - "Best Train Ride in America” Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad ranks among the most authentic steam-operated railroads still in existence. Passengers aboard this National Historic Landmark travel along a track laid in 1880 between Chama, N.M. and Antonito, Colo. Source... Related Travel Info...
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 Clutter has been a growing problem in the lives of many people! Many of us have ineffective methods to cope with clutter, and we don't realize the drain it puts on our internal and external resources. So, what can we do about it?
We can use articles, books, and websites devoted to the "how-to" of dealing with clutter. One excellent source is Karen Kingston who is an international best selling author and clutter clearing expert. We especially like her best selling book, "Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui." In this book, Ms. Kingston defines "clutter" as: * Things you do not use or love * Things that are untidy or disorganized * Too many things in too small a space * Anything unfinished This definition is a bit more complicated than the dictionary definition of "a crowded and untidy collection of things." Do you feel that decluttering is a daunting and impossible task? If so, take it "one bite at a time." Actually, getting out from under clutter doesn't have to be complicated and involved. We believe the best approach to dealing with clutter is to simplify (not clutter) the process. Break any seemingly impossible task into more manageable steps. Take a simple approach to dealing with a complicated task. So how do we deal with the clutter in our lives? According to Dr. David Kantra, don't make it too complicated. Just two steps really:
Although simple in theory, this approach works. Whether we’re talking about cleaning out the garage, organizing your desk, writing a book, or losing weight, the process is the same…break the task into smaller, simpler steps. For example, if your project is to clean out the garage, the steps may look like this:
Take pride in each step you accomplish…it’s another step toward reducing the clutter in your life. Follow these same seven steps for the other areas of your home, office, and other areas of your life that need to be purged! When our surroundings are cluttered and disorganized, we tend to feel burdened and uncomfortable. Clearing your external environment of unused and unwanted clutter, and sorting through the accumulated mess around you, will psychologically help you attain a healthier live style and live a happier life. Gotta love those Winter Workouts! No matter what time of year it is, exercising in the cold weather has many benefits. Many people use exercise for weight control which is great but don’t forget the myriad of other benefits. Just to name a few: *Keeping your spirits bright during the short days of winter. *Combating “cabin fever” by getting out of the house and into the fresh air. *Controlling stress and keeping balance in life.  Walking and running are good ways to exercise outside in the winter. The key to sticking with an outdoors workout in cold weather is by layering with adequate and appropriate clothes for the weather. You will definitely want to invest in winter weather gear like a headband to cover your ears, gloves with special smart phone-compatible fingers, even “yaktrax” to put over your shoes to run on ice and snow without slipping. One of my favorite pieces of cold weather running gear is a neck warmer…absolutely love it! Layering up is the key to working out in the winter weather. And, don’t be afraid to modify your workout. If you normally run a bit longer but are worried about getting cold or it getting dark, go for quantity not quality. Maybe start a running streak where you run every day, even if it’s just a mile, but at least you get out and get moving regularly. Where are other places to workout? 1. School bleachers 2. School track, football field or public park 3. Park fit trail 4. Parks 5. Playgrounds 6. Your yard Source... If all else fails, head to the gym for a spinning or “Zumba” class. Another suggestion is walking or running on the treadmill. If the treadmill seems too boring, try downloading some new fast-paced music to put a “spring in your step.” An Arc Trainer or elliptical are also great pieces of cardio equipment for a great workout! For more details, Click Here Winter Workouts Can Be Invigorating As Well As Enjoyable!! Oh, no…arthritis pain! Sooner or later, according to statistics, those Over 50 will be dealing with some sort of arthritis pain in their bodies. Did you know? By the year 2030, an estimated 67 million Americans will have arthritis unless the trend is reversed. This is reported by the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). However, there are ways to combat it: “Arthritis affects approximately 50 million people in the United States, according to the Arthritis Foundation. It is the second most frequently reported chronic condition in the United States. It costs the U.S. economy $128 billion annually. Gain insight on natural ways to help ease the pain of one of the nation’s leading and most costly health ailments.”  Did you know? Arthritis strikes 1 in every 5 American adults. It is the nation’s leading cause of disability. But, be encouraged! You can use natural remedies to help ease the pain of arthritis!
Dr. Jones-Born provides tips on how to help ease arthritis pain using natural remedies. Remember to consult your health care provider to determine the right exercise plan and diet for specific health conditions. Natural ways to help ease arthritis pain: 1 Weight Loss 2 Chiropractic Care 3 Fish, Green Tea and Ginger 4 Acupuncture 5 Physical Therapy 6 Regular Exercise 7 Vitamin C and Flavonoids 8 Glucosamine and Chondroitin 9 Proanthocyanidins 10 Capsaicin (Chili Pepper) Cream The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers the following tips to help baby boomers avoid injuries:
Remember, variety is a virtue. Include in your fitness program several different kinds of exercises. Aerobic activity and strength training will help you keep your joints strong and flexible. This will help you reduce the risk of injury, especially from overuse. Source… Listen to your body. Your joints will let you know when you’ve gone too far. Living with arthritis can sometimes lead to extreme anxiety and depression. Professional counseling or an arthritis-specific support group will give you an outlet to talk about your emotions. They will also provide you with coping mechanisms. Be Encouraged – There are Ways to Combat Arthritis Pain! Your humor for today! This is a great video of what creative, retired guys do in their spare time! This is your dose of humor for today…hope you enjoyed it! Today we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., the historical civil rights leader. His birthday is actually on January 15, but is observed on the third Monday of January each year. King was an American Baptist minister and a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. King is best known for his role in civil rights in using nonviolent civil disobedience which were based on his Christian beliefs. He led the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott. King helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957 and served as its first president. He helped organize the 1963 nonviolent protests in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1963 he helped organize the March on Washington where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. In October 1964, King was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. During the final years of his life, he expanded his focus towards improving poverty levels and the Vietnam War.  Martin Luther King, Jr. King was planning a national occupation of Washington, D.C., called the Poor Peoples Campaign. However, he was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee before that event took place.
Martin Luther King was awarded two honors posthumously – the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. The federal holiday to honor Dr. King was created by a bill signed by President Ronald Reagan on November 2, 1983. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was dedicated in 2011. A point of interest – King’s legal name at birth was Michael instead of Martin (his father’s name was Michael as well). The elder King changed his and his son’s name in honor of the German reformer Martin Luther after attending the Fifth Baptist World Alliance Congress in Berlin in 1943. Source… To celebrate this special day, King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech text can be found by clicking the link provided below. Click Link for “I Have a Dream” speech. This is perfect for football season…a football-shaped meatloaf! Use your favorite meatloaf recipe (or use the one below) and form it into a football shape with a nice ketchup-based sauce and cheese strips for the lacing. How yummy and fun is that? Your friends and family will be impressed with your creativity. This football-shaped meatloaf is sure to please the “foodies” in the group!  Football-shaped Meatloaf Recipe makes 8 servings 1 1/2 pounds ground beef 1 egg 1 onion, chopped 1 cup milk 1 cup dried bread crumbs salt and pepper to taste 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons prepared mustard 1/3 cup ketchup Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 2. In a large bowl, combine the beef, egg, onion, milk and bread OR cracker crumbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste and place in a lightly greased 5×9 inch loaf pan, OR form into a loaf and place in a lightly greased 9×13 inch baking dish. 3. In a separate small bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard and ketchup. Mix well and pour over the meatloaf. 4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour. 5. The finishing touch is cheese strips for the lacing. (A variation to this football-shaped meatloaf is to substitute some of the ground beef with ground turkey.) Source…
This Football-shaped Meatloaf is sure to please your party guests! In this day and age, a Baby Boomer may very well be a solo senior for various reasons! According to Sara Zeff Geber, about 20% of Baby Boomers today do not have children. There are also thousands of Baby Boomers whose kids are estranged, not functional or live far away. They will also age solo! On any given weekend in a retirement community you will find lots of visitors milling around the property and visiting the residents. Most of these visitors are family; namely, adult children and grandchildren of the residents. These families are making sure their oldest members get out of their homes and remind them they are not alone in the world. What happens when the older generation in our society who do not have family to take them to lunch and visit with them? Who can they count on for companionship? And, who will give them aide when they reach a point in life where they cannot do everything for themselves?  It is crucial that solo seniors carefully prepare to ensure a safe and secure future for themselves. This includes:
********************************************* Here are helpful resources for a Solo Senior to age successfully:
Join a Facebook Group for Solo Seniors ~ Elder Orphans Facebook group Start a Club ~ Start your own club Find a Life Care Associate ~ Aging Life Care Association Do you want to know the 6 Myths of Retirement? Of course, you do! Myth# 1: How much should you save for retirement ~ “Your retirement plan and withdrawal strategy should be as unique as you are, taking into account your current finances, future income, goals and dreams along with many other considerations.” Myth# 2: Medicare will cover healthcare needs during retirement ~ Medicare can be a godsend for doctor visits and hospitalization costs. However, it does not cover most long-term care needs such as extended nursing home stays, assisted living and many types of home health care. Keeping health care costs in mind is a vital part of retirement planning. Myth# 3: I can’t count on Social Security ~ You can’t count on Social Security payments to cover all your retirement needs. However, it can make sense to estimate what your payments will be as part of your overall retirement planning and budget. Consider delaying Social Security payments beyond your full retirement age up until age 70. You may receive significantly larger monthly checks.  AnMyth# 4:
I can work as long as I have to ~ Did you know that half of all early retirements are due to illness or disability? Also, finding good paying jobs later in life can be difficult. The bottom line: it’s probably best not to rely too much on income that you may make during your retirement. Myth# 5: I’ll spend less and pay less taxes in retirement ~ You may actually be spending more in retirement than you thought. Think about traveling, visiting children and grandchildren as well as pursuing new hobbies and activities. It all takes money! Myth# 6: Home situation will stay the same ~ Moving is often a major part of retirement. You may decide to move closer to family members. Or, you may need an assisted living situation or an area with more transportation and maintenance services at hand. Make sure you consult with a certified financial planner (CFP) and/or a lawyer with expertise in finance issues for retirement. Avoid the 6 Myths of Retirement. For More… And More... 6 Myths of Retirement – Plan Now! Looking for Creative Bookshelves? Look no more! Here are several DIY very creative bookshelves that offer much needed storage for books as well as for displays. They are, indeed, functional as well as attractive! These bookshelves also add a touch of character to your home. The best part is that these are beginner projects. Which one is your favorite?  READ Creative Bookshelf  Stepladder Bookshelf  Circular Bookshelf  Bookshelves with Wine Bottles All of these bookshelves have a unique twist which is sure to please you and the other book readers in your life! They are a good way to give your decor a little twist. Nothing outlandish, but making DIY projects that are just a little different creates a home with personality. For more engaging bookshelves... Source… Enjoy These Creative Bookshelves DIY Projects! |
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