• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Gully Creek Cottage

Gully Creek Cottage

  • Home
  • Category Index
    • ∙diy’s∙
      • Home Projects
      • Painting Projects
      • Wood Projects
      • Kid Friendly Fun
      • Printables & Techy
    • ∙food∙
      • Breads
      • Entrees
      • Side Dishes
      • Sweets
      • Drinks
      • Sauces/Jams/Dips
      • Snack/Appetizer
      • Other
      • Baby eats
      • Dog Treats
    • ∙beauty∙
      • Fashion
      • Hair/Skin/More
    • ∙FUN∙
      • Family
      • Places
      • Weekend Fun
    • Holidays
    • Celebrations
  • ∙about∙
    • collaborate
    • contact
    • Design help
    • Instagram

Living on borrowed time (turning 60)

02.22.19

Here I am living on borrowed time (turning 60).  I’m vintage, a product of 1959 and I really just turned 60. I’m ecstatic about this. Never have I been so happy about a birthday as I was for this one.  Here’s why, a short story on my passed 30 years.

Living on borrowed time (turning 60)-gullycreekcottage-1959

I’m a dreamer, a believer of signs.  A truster of gut feelings.  When I was 21 it was impressed upon me, a feeling, not a voice or major phenomenon, but rather just a real feeling that came over me.  Telling me that I wouldn’t live over 40.

The first thought that came to mind was, I will never be a grandmother.  Then, I will not live to see my kids grow up.  I will not have long to spend with those I love.  So I made a promise.  To be the best wife to my beautiful man, the best mother to my kids, the best daughter that I could and to be the best at anything I tried to do.  If I had dreams or goals, I would try my darndest to fulfill them.  My motto:  “life is what you make it.”

40’s

When I turned 40, I silently smiled and thought…well, maybe it was meant that I wouldn’t make it to 50.  So I quietly celebrated my 40’s.  I made the best of it.  Thinking about what I could do to live out some dreams, I decided to open an interior decorating business and run with it.  It had been a dream of mine. Here I was, living in the Houston area, a place as good as any to make a career change. Business immediately began taking off and I loved being able to transform other peoples living spaces.  The kids soon headed off to college and my son returned to Texas to pursue his musical dreams.   We were empty nesting it and in our spare time, my husband and I took weekend trips, some long trips.  We had a laid back leisurely life.  The 40’s turned out awesome!

50’s

My 50’s quickly came, as well as the hubs making a career change.  We moved to the Dallas area where we made beautiful friends, and being able to spend more quality time as husband and wife.  Then on to Austin where we spent lots of time with our son and catching as many of his shows as possible.  AND then the grandchildren came.  Wow! I honestly never thought that time would ever come for me.  Never-ever-ever!  What a beautiful gift I’ve been given, is all I could kept telling myself.  But why did my destiny change course? That’s okay, I thought.  I’ve been given a gift.  One that I would embrace and again–run with.

After much discussion and dreaming, we decided to give Texas up, as well as our jobs, and move to the midwest to be near our grandchildren- time was a gift and we had to be a part of that very special gift, those grand babies.

The 50’s were fantastic and while making the best of it, we also decided to open a bed & breakfast.  (Another dream of mine.). Up to the day I turned 60—- I LOVED every minute of being in my fifties.

60

On February 15th I turned the BIG 60!  I was almost giddy thinking of how blessed I’ve been to be able to still be here.  I guess that’s what happens when you think that your life will be cut short.  You take advantage of every day you are able to wake up, get dressed and face the world.  My husband still thinks I’m nuts for thinking I’d be gone at 40 but hey—

I’m here, I’m present, I am thankful for each new day and especially for seeing grandchildren in my life, my kids grow into adults and that Boo and I are really growing old together.  If those aren’t blessings enough, I can tell you that I wouldn’t trade ANY of it.

I still have dreams and goals and we shall see how long I will be here to realize them.  If not, I’ve been given more than I ever thought.  For now, I will not waste time, I will do what I want, I will make people around me happy.  I will cherish every breath I take.  And for you young ones—when you hear older people say that getting old sucks…NOT TRUE!

Living on borrowed time (turning 60)!!!

I LOVE IT!!!  I love being 60!!!  Here’s to living my friends!

Peace out~

 

 

in Family, Lifestyle # age

About GCC

Gully Creek Cottage is a lifestyle blog authored by Belle Jaeger. Sharing DIY's, Cooking, Fashion, Woodworking and life in general! Belle writes about her latest projects, shares some of her favorite recipes, and influences via fashion and DIY's!

Reader Interactions

you may also like
magical site nite
Bluebonnets-babies & music

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

with love
Belle

A Texas girl who likes her sweet tea, power tools, & cooking.

looking for something?

Top hits!

  • How I got my very own ISLAND and you can too
  • Cute font pantry labels- let’s get organized
  • gcc Winter feathery & furry food craft
Belle Jaeger Intellifluence Influencer Badge

gullycreekcottage

Texas girl living in the Midwest! 🥣Cooking 🔧DIYs-Updating a 138 yr old home & some FARMHOUSE country living!

Belle | GCC
My little 3 year old grandson was upset with me ye My little 3 year old grandson was upset with me yesterday. 
.
All because he decided to take his blankie home 2 days before and when we layed down to take a nap yesterday he was upset.  Upset he didn’t have his blankie and upset at Mimzy for not getting it for him. I hate to see children unhappy and that little face of his with tears rolling down made me sadder than he was.  I gave him 3 other blankets that didn’t replace his #1 blankie.  When he woke up he was still mad at me! 
.
It was the 1st and hopefully last time he’s ever mad at me, cause I sure didn’t like that and I didn’t even cause the problem to begin with. All I know is that we got that blankie back over here to avoid this happening again. The clock may be ticking and he’s growing full speed ahead but I don’t want to see that little man mad at his Mimzy if I can help it!
.
#growingpains #time #kids #thewonderyears #childhoodwoes #grandparenting
Been doing some special baking all while running i Been doing some special baking all while running in and out just to grab a bit of the perfect weather we’ve been having.
.
#baking #winter #iowaweather #home #food #lifestyle #makeitpersonal
It’s moments like these and when he lets me cudd It’s moments like these and when he lets me cuddle him that I wish time would stand still. So very thankful to be blessed with precious grands!
.
He likes working outdoors in the cold for a bit so he can come inside and have a “hot cocoa tea party” as he calls it!💋 He loves this tea set and so do I ❣️
.
#grands #life #livingthedream #kids #celebratelife #blessed #grandparenting #lifestyle #amor #teaparty @iowa_amish_country_store #melissaanddoug
Cloudy Friday and 28 degrees. . And I’ll take it Cloudy Friday and 28 degrees.
.
And I’ll take it! Yes, I could’ve easily stayed curled up in bed for a few more hours but it’s my favorite day of the week and there’s playing with the grands to be done!
.
Definitely more important than sleeping in! Or is it? 🤣😂
.
#life #live #love #familytime #sleeplater #countryliving #lifestyleblogger #imagine #grandchildren
Thursday oh Thursday! . Doing something I haven’ Thursday oh Thursday!
.
Doing something I haven’t done in 5 years and channeling my inner “momma”! 
.
Boo and I were shopping in DesMoines and we stopped in at a local tortilleria as I had ordered some masa. However they informed me they only sell in 10 pounds or more... so out the window went my “I’ll just get 5 pounds of masa for tamales” plan. Ten pounds of masa later, I immediately called my sister for backup help! Lol
.
So today is the day for tamales!  First time I’ll make ‘em since my mommas been gone.  So I’m hoping she’s watching and guiding me along. 
.
On a good note... the masa texture looks amazing so I’m hoping it’s a good sign!!! Wish me luck!
.
#tamales #homemade #cooking #mexicanfood #icandothis #familyrecipe #desmoines #iowa
Know what a scullery is? . Well, it’s a differen Know what a scullery is?
.
Well, it’s a different word for a Butler’s pantry. We’ve been updating ours and I find that I’m not a Butler’s pantry kinda girl. I replaced the original door with this beauty of a door I snatched for $12! I repaired the broken panes and  took a piece of plywood to make a new center panel. I then added these details on it. 
.
Our home was built for the David Dancer family in 1883. I added the wash, fold, etc. as the space also houses our laundry room. One of these days I can show you the REST of the space but until now, you get a peek at the lovely old door leading into our scullery!
.
#scullery #butlerspantry #makeover #olddoors #vintage #circa1883 #thisoldhouse #victorian #madetolast #projects #farmhousestyle #diys #woodwork #powertools #housedesign  #interiors #country #cottage #chic #rustic #old #influencer #decor
2019 © Gully Creek Cottage
Design by FD