Pale Flowers

Ikebana

Tracey Bucket List

Lola writes: “I have completed my first Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) class. What a lovely experience it was.” (Click here to see what others have checked off their ‘bucket lists’)

Pink Fabric

“Pink Ladies”

Tracey Good News

Last week, the women’s ensemble I sing with had the honor of performing for a group of women and men who deserve all of our appreciation — the Redwood Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. (Once known as the “Pink Ladies” they changed their name in 1982 to include male volunteers. Nice move, ladies!) Celebrating fifty years of service, these generous, hardworking people …

Generations of Phones

It adds up!

Tracey Tracey's Blog

For the last few months, my husband and I have been tallying up our ‘electronic’ expenses, annoyed by what we were seeing. Between the landline, cellphones, iPad, computers, and television bills, it felt like we were pouring money down the rat hole. It was just too many greenbacks going out each month and for what? A couple of hundred television …

Eiffel Tower at Night

Le Week-End

Tracey Columns

I was recently given the opportunity to preview the new movie, Le Week-End. I thought it would be right up my ally — a sixty-something couple grabs a weekend in Paris to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. Naturally, as someone who spent part of her honeymoon in Paris nearly 37 years ago, I was quite intrigued. But beyond my romantic memories …

Goat

Greek Goats

Tracey Bucket List

Melanie writes: “My husband and I vacationed in Greece. Don’t ask me why but I’ve always wanted to milk a goat. We visited a goat farm while there to taste the cheeses they produce. Delicious. Everyone on the tour thought I was nuts when I asked if I could milk one of their goats. I’m sure the farmer was thinking …

Sun and Earth

Cosmos

Tracey Good News

I never thought I’d feature a television show as Good News but, like so many things in life, there are always exceptions. Consider ‘Cosmos: A Space Odyssey’ now running on PBS. Inspired by Carl Sagan’s ‘Cosmos’ of yesteryear, this wonderfully entertaining production is hosted by astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson. Once referred to as “the rock star of the universe,” this man …

Ladybug

Lady Bugs

Tracey Tracey's Blog

It’s never been a mystery to me why lady bugs are the most beloved insects in children’s books. After all, how threatening can you possibly be sporting a bright red body, happily decorated with black dots, as you slowly crawl through the garden? If lady bugs could talk, they’d obviously be nothing but cheerful. Like so many things in our …

Notepad and Pen

Make a plan!

Tracey Columns

Dear Tracey, I am a single woman in my sixties and I want to do something different with my life. I’m retired, kids raised, good health, and I have some discretionary income that allows me to play a little. The trouble is, I don’t know what I want to do. Isn’t that silly, knowing I’m in a good position and …

Digital Camera

Photos for fun

Tracey Bucket List

Susan writes: “I just came home from  my very first photography class. Such fun. I am inspired!” (Click here to see what others have checked off their ‘bucket lists’)

Rolling Luggage

Pack for Purpose

Tracey Good News

Planning your next adventure? Here’s something any of us traveling can do, which is Pack for Purpose! (http://www.packforapurpose.org) It’s all about: Small Space, Little Effort. Big Impact. It works like this. By adding just five pounds to your luggage, you can pack 400 pencils or five deflated soccer balls or a stethoscope and 500 bandaids or … any number of …