Some things are just too difficult to find the right words to share. These past 10 days have been very hard but my brother and sisters and I are leaning and loving on each other and I’m so very thankful to have them here.
My mom has been moved to a new place where she is getting great care and I hope you can understand, but that’s all I want to share…thank you for all your concern and prayers…but can we all just keep it to ourselves?
Let’s talk about another question instead…
This just might be the most bizarre question I’ve ever asked, but let’s talk about our hair…I’ve put one of those wash out colors on my hair for years but have been so busy lately my gray has really started to show…I have the box of color in my bathroom cabinet, ready to use, but my sisters say the gray looks so pretty the way it frames my face…so I’m debating…
So here’s the question of the day…tell us about your hairstyle, if you color or not, when you stopped, why and anything else you want…this should generate some interesting reads… :o)
See, I told you it was bizarre…
I’ll get back to writing about dolls and sewing and more as soon as I can.
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, Jeanne, I’m so sorry things are not going so well with your mom just now; that is so hard! But it’s good she’s in a place where she’s getting good and appropriate care for her post-stroke condition, and that you have your siblings around you and you are all supporting and taking care of each other. that is so important, and so many families have divisions these days, it seems, so you are fortunate, indeed!!
Hair….well, Okay. I’ll go first. I am 73 now (and wondering how That happened! LOL), and my hair is dark blond. Believe it or not, it is REALLY “dark blond”! As in, NO GRAY! I keep waiting for gray, but so far….no! At my 50 year class reunion a few years ago, I was the only one whose hair wasn’t colored and/or gray! In fact, it’s been about 40 years since I tried putting coloring on my hair! Good genes, I guess–daddy had a cousin who lived to be into her 80s, and she never grayed, either. (of course, she was single and childless…did that have something to do with it?! Haha)
I was a white-blond until I was in my 30s, I think; I remember one time I had my hair up in a French roll and my mom asked me if I had been coloring my hair! Why? I asked. Because it’s so dark in the back, she said. And so it was, when I took it down that night and really looked at it. I guess I mostly looked at the front of my hair, and didn’t pay any attention to the back…..Anyway, I don’t color my hair, but I do get a perm and a haircut (no more French rolls for me) about 3-4 times a year, but that’s about it.
That said, I love pretty gray hair!! And some gray hair is really beautiful, I think!! Or white hair, for that matter. When I see a lady with pretty gray/white/silver hair, I always try to say something, as I really do like it. I doubt I will ever have such lovely gray hair, at least not at the rate I’m going! I’m fairly happy with how my own hair looks these days, though–it hasn’t gotten real thin, either (although it really IS baby fine, which is why I get perms)
As for my hairstyle, it’s cut about just-scraping-the-shoulders length, and permed, and I set it once a week so it stays fairly curly. I have bangs–I have ALWAYS had bangs, since I was maybe 7 or 8, as I have a really high forehead, and with my very pale hair (in childhood) and a high forehead, having my hair swept back (or having it cut very short) made me look bald! When I was in my 20s and 30s, my hair was rather longer–about to mid-back at one point, I think–but that’s just too much work to keep up with these days!! LOL
Sending lots of love and prayers for your Mom, you and family. I understand at least partially what you are going through and also realize you need to relax too so don’t beat yourself up if you need a break now and then.
Now concerning hair coloring. You know me and what my hair looked like and looks like now. I started coloring my hair when I was in my 30’s. For the rest of you, I turned 70 this year. When I retired about four years ago, I stopped coloring my hair. I had all the color stripped off and went from brown to white. A little shocking for some, but such a relief for me. I hated coloring my hair. It was time consuming, costly and was always growing out way too fast. I used permanent coloring but it always needed to be recolored every four weeks. Now that I don’t color, I love my hair and especially since I got it cut short. What a relief! I can now shower and go. No more curlers, flat irons, or anything. It’s wonderful. So my recommendation is don’t start coloring. Your hair is beautiful just the way God made it. I’m sure Hubby would agree.
Glad to hear that your mother has a new placement. I’m sure whatever the choice, it is the right one. And so nice to have your siblings helping with the decisions.
I’ve enjoyed reading Marilyn’s comments the last few days, especially about the Haviland china. No wonder I can’t find any more of that pattern I have from my mother in law. It is a laurel leaf design in green/gold. Let me know if you find any. 🙂
Hairstyle/color? Having just turned 70 last week, I’ll start with the early years. I was born with reddish hair and blond as a child. Gradually it darkened a bit during the winter but always bleached out in the summer. By junior high aka middle school, I started using lemon juice in the summer sun to lighten it more. And winter skiing kept it blond too. Wore it long in HS, college, and eventually shoulder length. I’ve had bangs too like Charlotte for many years covering my large forehead. My DNA says I have much more Neanderthal than most. Perhaps, that accounts for it. 🙂 🙂 Anyway, during my working days, I started using a Clairol product to streak. A few years back, I mentioned to daughter that my streaked hair was almost the same color as my own and that I was going to stop coloring. She told me that I would look a lot older. 🙁 But, I just found that it was easier. So now, my hair is what I would say is shiny white/gray blond, chin length, and fairly straight. Except if I get caught in the rain, at which time I may turn into a poodle.
Keep us posted.
Joy, what’s on the bottom of the china? Some say Theodore Haviland and some Haviland Limoges or Charles Field, and so on. That could help you narrow down to a couple thousand patterns. Then you could search Ebay or Replacements using “Theodore Haviland laurel” for example and you’d have a search of almost reasonable size. Also, if you are lucky enough to find a knowledgeable seller, like this one https://www.ebay.com/itm/Haviland-Limoges-Schleiger-525-Blank-24-Green-Laurels-Red-Flowers-Dinner-Plate/132384667949?hash=item1ed2bdb92d:g:fkwAAOSwAaJZ-10q you’d have a Schleiger number and, in this case, the number of the blank, which would help on Replacements. However, since many sellers are clueless about their items, you’d have to use a general search too. But you’d find so many pretty things, and some might blend with your pattern.
My prayers are with you and your family at this most difficult time. But it is so good to hear how you and your siblings’ relationship is so close . That is a true blessing. Share what you want when you want, or nothing at all. I am a very private person, though you probably wouldn’t guess that from my lengthy comments, but I pick and choose what I share with others and have no problem with others doing that also. Please take care of yourself also. We want you back as soon as you are able. And thanks for checking in every now and then. It’s truly good to hear from you.
Now for hair, well I could make this very easy. I could just say “ditto” to all of the above, but that would take a lot of fun out of this, so I’ll elaborate. I turned 72 in December. I grew up with chestnut brown hair I loved. My sisters were half-sisters and they all had blonde hair. I loved my brown hair, even though it was at a time when everyone thought “blondes had more fun”. In my mid-50s I started showing a lot of gray hair and I wasn’t ready for it, so I started coloring. It took color so well it looked very natural. I did this for years, but it was becoming very expensive and time consuming and my hair grows fast so I had to get it done about once a month or no more than every six weeks. I decided in my mid-60s that when I turned 70 I would cut the cord and stop coloring. I did. I was shocked at what happened as it grew out. My hair is nearly white on top, but as it grows out there are darker sections. I mentioned this to David and he said it was probably the coloring growing out. I told him it’s been two years since I had my hair colored and the coloring has been cut out long ago, since I still get it trimmed. In short, my hair is multi-colored. The hair around my face actually looks light blonde. My mother had beautiful salt-and-pepper hair, but mine’s not at all like that. I love it. As for length, I used to keep it short but I’ve let it grow out. It is now several inches below my shoulders, but I’m going this week to have about three inches taken off. While my hair strands are finer than they used to be, there is still a lot of them and it’s giving me a neck ache. So I decided I would get it cut for Easter and my spring concerts. Going Thursday. Can’t wait.
Joy, try https://www.replacements.com/ for your Haviland china pattern. (Replacement, Ltd.)
Jeanne, I hope things work out with your Mom. I’m so glad you have the support of your sisters and brother.
As for coloring your hair, why not stop for awhile and see how you like it natural. You can always go back to color, if you want. I quit coloring my hair when I retired and I love the silver (never gray). Find a good shampoo made for silver hair. I think you’ll like it.
I am a natural girl now.. I was a teen leader for many years so I thought that I had to color my hair so the kids wouldn’t think I was so old and unrelatable. So I finally felt that it was time for the younger generation to take over the leadership.. When I left I stopped coloring my hair and let the white flow in. I thought that it would end my time with the teens.. By golly… The teens still came to me with the problems and I would just listen and be there for them.. So I guess the moral of this story is not to wait for the right time.. Now is time to go natural.. God is the greatest painter and painted my hair the most beautiful shades that fit me to a tee!!!! By the way I am in a group of ladies on FB called “Going gray and Lovin it” The makeup artist /hairstyles that runs it is a no nonsense woman that will teach you to go natural and how to do it gracefully and has you refocus on your hair and teaches you very basic makeup technics .. But the most wonderful part is the fact that there are so many women encouraging you to be YOU and to not fall into the hype that we need to follow what the world tells us to do. You learn to find yourself and grow.. I would recommend the group to any woman out there.. we are off all ages.from around the world.. If you join in loo me up.. I would love to encourage you to be the woman God wants you to be. Hugs
I’m so glad you found a place where your mother can get good care. My aunt chose to do that after she had her stroke and could no longer use language — no writing or speaking, though she could say a lot with her eyes and her understanding was fine. My mom used to call her. A caretaker would say, “I’m giving Agnes the phone,” and then my mom would talk until she heard the dial tone, meaning my aunt was tired. My mother had very bad hearing, and the conversations would have been a little difficult if Aggie could speak. What they did was the best they could do, so they did it, and they did visit each other.
My mother died in 2010 and Aggie in 2012.
When she heard, my sister said, “When did she die?” because it was then that my sister dreamed that she and my father were standing on a hill where they could watch, and Mom and Aggie were being pushed in wheelchairs by attendants — not because they couldn’t walk but because they were so busy talking — my aunt could talk again and my mom could hear, and they talked and laughed and talked some more.
From about the time I was 25 to when I was 40, my hair was a lot like Julie’s, but dark blonde and longer. Most of the time I braided it and pinned it up. Then my face was scarred in an accident — if you see someone with a scar like mine, sort of like a long frown line, we got it the same way — hitting a windshield while wearing glasses. I cut my hair and permed it as a distraction from the scar. When it started to show some gray, I had it streaked so that it stayed its natural color. In 2014, when it finally started growing back after the chemo, it came in silver white, which I liked. Really, I would have liked any color as long as I had hair. It’s definitely thinner, so I use volumizing shampoo and conditioner, and at least it shines and looks healthy. I am thinking of adding color to give it more body — I have a good stylist and she’d be happy doing something different. She’s good at making colored hair look natural. I’ve enjoyed not coloring it, but a change is sometimes nice. I’d have to be sure that any product I used didn’t use a cancer causing agent. Once is enough on that, and so far, so good.
It sounds like so far, pretty good for you too, Jeanne. Thanks for sharing. What a good topic — isn’t it nice to think about something different?
Well, so…. you will receive many opinions on the hair coloring vs. naturally letting it go gray {grey}?? I never know which is the correct spelling. Anyway, I have gone natural… again! This time for good. I wear it in the short Grandma style. I have thick and very tough hair. It used to be quite curly but after having children it made some changes. It is curly here and there. It is straight here and there. It is wavy here and there. I have impossible hair and most of the “hair artists” cringe at trying to work miracles with it. Part of the issue is that I don’t like to fuss with it. After years of having to be polished up for the corporate office it is a treat to just be “as is”. For special occasion I do the blow-dry and makeup thing but otherwise I go as I am.
And…
As my Caregiver duties have increased {Jack is now receiving Hospice care}, I don’t have much time or motivation to polish up and fuss. Other things matter more so I guess that is what it all comes down to. What matters the most.
I will continue to pray for your Mom and your family during this time of transition. It is hard. We have gone through this with Jack’s sister. Peace and comfort to each of you.
I am relieved to hear that you got your mother in a good place so quickly. Her you are on a waiting list for months. Having your siblings there must be a blessing in this difficult time. That your mother is receiving good care and she is happy where she is at is all that matters. Share what you want when you want and only if you want. I by nature am I very private person so I share very little about my personal life.
My hair. Well I was a blonde until around age 5 then light brown which slowly got darker until it was the color of my dad’s which was black. This was back in the ’60’s when all girls thought we should have blonde hair. So much begging and parents relented and blonde I was. I dyed my hair ever color you can think of but in my late ’50’s it started turning gray. But sadly my gray came in not in the strands but in my part. So it was black on the bottom and white like a skunk. My hair grows very fast and within a week the gray would be back and me looking like a skunk. So I decided to let it came in gray. I hate it. I as so use to dying it and I am not one of the lucky ladies that looks good in it. As far as style…the scissors are my best friend. I am cutting my hair all the time. It’s nothing for me to go from really long to really short and not even think about what I am cutting off. It’s hair…it will grow back. My hair is very straight so when it’s long its usually worn up. It’s very white.Bangs always.
Dear Jeanne, please know that my prayers continue for you and your family.
In terms of your hair, you might not want to make a major decision right now. I have heard that in times of deep emotional trial, it is best not to make major changes. Of course, you could always color your hair again if you choose to do so.
I have found two avenues that work for me as I have gotten older: I die my hair and lie about my age (laugh). Of course, when I am around my friends who know how old I am and I say I am younger, they just roll their eyes and say, “yea, sure.”
I think some women look wonderful with gray hair. My grandmother had white hair when she got older. It looked lovely on her. I couldn’t pull that off. I would not feel like myself. I know that one day, I will just go gray but I cannot imagine that for right now.
It seems like most of the women who have responded so far would have been in high school together. Of course, I am not saying how old I am but does anyone have the notes from Mr. Jones’ French class yesterday? I can’t find mine.
Ha, ha, Dorothy, yes, I’ll lend you my notes! Have you been thinking about what color dress you will be wearing to the prom?
Dear Linda, well, yellow is my favorite color.
I sure hope Fred will be my date again. He was a college sophomore and I thought I was “hot stuff” going to the high school prom with him (laugh). We only dated for a year so I have no idea where he might be now.
My graduating class has a reunion every 5 years (nope, I am not saying what number we are up to – chuckle) and I always dress like I am going to the prom, even when I don’t have a date. I think I mentioned that my husband is imaginary. That is true.
While we’re talking about going to the prom, it reminds me that when I was a sophomore in high school I lived next door to two brothers. The oldest one, Doug, a senior, asked me to the Junior/Senior Prom. I was so excited and, of course, said yes. We were just really good friends and nothing more. But the next school year I started going steady with his brother, Paul, who was in my grade, and went to the prom with him that year. Their mother was over the moon because she and I really got along great. But due to family issues we moved before my senior year and Paul and I lost touch over the years.
I’m glad you have been able to get things settled with a new place for your mom. I know how exhausting it can be, but just hang in there, and of course you don’t need to share anything that you are not ready to share.
I color my hair regularly. I used to have it done at the salon, but it was around $90 each time and grows so fast it was greeting really expensive. My stylist told me what color numbes to buy and how to mix them, and now I do it myself. My hair is dark brown with reddish highlights so unfortunately I don’t have the pretty silver gray. My gray is more of a yucky yellowish gray that I don’t like. I turned 56 last week and already have quite a bit of gray to cover. I am envious of Charlotte not having any gray hair. If only I could be so lucky!
It was good to see that you are back, if only for a day, Jeanne. My days just haven’t been the same without your wonderful blog!
So now you have your mother at a different place, and I hope it works out for her and you.
Hair! Oh dear, my hair is the bane of my existence! I was born with thick, light brown hair, with a slight curl. WhenI was about 10 years old, I was seriously ill, and my hair was not as thick after I got over it. I spent a month in the hospital, and while I didn’t lose all my hair, I did lose enough that it wasn’t thick anymore, and never grew back as it was previously. It was so difficult to fix, and during my college years, hairspray was my dearest friend, especially when you go to college in a humid place like Cape Girardeau! After college, in the late 60’s and early 70’s , it became the thing to have hairpieces and wigs, so I bought a few while I was teaching.
As far as gray hair, I can never recall my mother having it, since she always had her hair dyed at the beauty shop. My grandmother only had a little in the front, and that is what I have, although I do color my hair. I keep my hair short, so much easier to fix,andwhenI can’t do anything with it, I pop a wig on! So easy!
Linda D., you mentioned about hairpieces in the late 60s and early 70s; I had forgotten about that! My first hairpiece was a long braid, MUCH blonder/yellower than my own hair, but I would put my own hair in a ponytail, wrap the braid around the base and pin it in place, then tease and fluff and pin my own hair over it, all around, so it looked like I had a nice big bun on the top of my head! LOL My hair was like that for my college graduation photo (1968). Then later I had a wiglet and later still a cascade, both of which were pinned on top of my own hair. When we got married in 1974, I had my hairstylist style my cascade, then put my own hair in a French roll, and pin the cascade on top. It looked like I had a huge amount of hair, all in curls! After the reception, I took my cascade off, left the French roll in place and covered it with a scarf-hat as part of my going-away ensemble. When we finally got to our hotel after the wedding/reception, I was so glad to get all those pins out of my hair!!
Jeannie I am continuing to offer prayers for your mother and it is a blessing when you can be with your sister and brother and just catch up on life and little things.
I am relieved to hear that your mom is in a great care facility. I do hope she receives the greatest attention.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your stories. I adore the comments and just all of your thoughts about this stage in our lives. Even though I do not know any of you, I have to say, I sense that all of you are absolute gems. I wish all of you a happy day
I must get going right now, and prepare to take my 95 year old daddy to the dentist. He has been continuing on with out my mom for two years and it is lonely but he is managing. He lives at Ashby Ponds a horribly expensive retirement community, thankfully he worked hard for just a guy from Holland and came from a very poor family he became am accountant, after ww2 my mom found him at a ymca post war christian group and the rest is history. I live in Virginia and moved my dad close to me in 2013
I am :coughcough: 64 and continue to color my hair with Natural instincts non ammonia hair color. It is dark brown. My older sister was a blond and she is now gray. It looks good on her. I cannot seee myself gray.
I would love to type away 4 more paragraphs of entertaining wonderful stories but I have to get out of here and get to my dad’s apartment
When I click over to other blogs and see the dolls, I want to take out my AG dolls and play with them. At present, I am just sewing quilts and a few grand daughter dresses I have 4 littles.
Love and happy wonderful day to all of you
Rosemary, hello. I am sure that your American Girl dolls would love to engage in some merriment with you. They are probably playing games when you are away (laugh).
Did you know that dolls have eidetic memories? They can move things around and then put everything back just the way it was so we never know that they were up to mischief (laugh).
I read the book, The Doll People, by Ann Martin and the dolls she wrote about were very busy when the humans were out of the house.
Hmmm, where are my reading glasses? I thought I left them on my desk.
Hi everyone! Long time reader. I may have posted before. I’m 62, started going gray in my early 20s. Once in my 30s I had a semi permanent color put in at a salon. BUT it didn’t cover the gray so that was the end of that. What I have done is fun colors. Green, burgundy, purple, red, pink! I only do the ends or streaks. My hair is about half gray, almost to the middle of my back and wavy with some curl. I recently cut it twice. I cut my own hair and normally trim a scant half inch. This time I did almost 2inches. I use a color depositing conditioner. Smells great, makes my hair soft and silky and fades very gradually. I will continue doing that indefinitely!
Jean you will get through this. It’s hard but you’ll be glad you could do it.
Wishing you and your family strength, prayer and a sense of humor. It is a tough time and so glad you found a spot for her that knows how to care for stroke patients. Your family is wonderful! Darn it anyway..and she was doing so well too ?
Oh the hair question is great. We all have our opinions for sure. What we really need are PICTURES. LOL My daughters have hair the color of yours and it is hard to get the color just right…just don’t go too dark…pick the next shade lighter than what it shows on the box. My sis or daughter and I always do each other’s color with L’Oréal. It seems to keep its color. We keep a big old towel marked HAIR COLOR and one old housecoat together to use. Do a search for how to do hair color…it’s not a bit hard and so thrifty. Your sweet daughter could easily do it. Just takes a few minutes to put on and you can wash it out yourself.?
Mine was med brown and started to get grey in my 20s so I frosted it and that was great for many years…then I just colored it med blonde because there was too much grey..and every once in a while I let it grow out a bit but it isn’t the same all overdo I color it again.
Last but not least, there is a fairly new product call Magic Root cover by Loreal and when your color grows out you can spray it right on your part and it is magic how it covers.
It’s in a small spray can and lasts a long time.
Hi Jeanne,
Thinking of you and your sweet family and keeping you all in my prayers. You’ve got this and The Lord has your back!
HAIR!!! What a fun question. I have lots to say on the subject lol my pc and my phone have eaten my comment once to many times today so ill have to get back to you later.
Hugs
Ingrid
Dear Jeanne,
I’m glad you’ve found a safe new place for your mother where she will be well cared for. Prayers that things will improve. For many stroke patients the brain can relearn tasks by making new connections.
Hair! Fun question. I was born with medium brown hair with a slight curl on the ends. It was slightly darker by the time I was in grade school. It always took on some red highlights in the summer sun. Being part of the crowd when the feathered layered hair was in, I had mine that way from sixth grade through high school, sometime chin length and sometimes to my shoulders. Even though my hair wasn’t as thick or coarse as some, I could curl it with a curling iron in the morning and it would stay all day. I could re-feather (is that a word?) and it worked without hairspray.
I’ll be 51 in May and my Master hairdresser has been weaving in some silver highlights the past couple of years. My gray is coming in metallic and I like it fine. I’ve never put coloring on my hair and don’t intend to. I did have a couple of perms in high school, but not since. I have it about an inch below the top of my shoulders all one length now. I have a left side part, always have. I twist and pin up the sides or sometimes wear a hairband
Hi again… Jeanne I hope and pray things with your Mama are going well and with each new day there is improvement.
I enjoyed reading about everyones thoughts on hair. So fun to imagine what everyone looks like and how they wear their hair. Until my mid twenties my hair was a med brown that had natural red high lights. I’ve had long hair most of my life, my mom liked it long and after marrying my hubby likes it on the long side too. So long it is (with bangs to hide a scar on my forehead from a car accident). After Mister Grey started visiting blonde high lights were the norm. Lucky me my daughter has a license in Cosmetology and likes playing with my hair.
I know you asked but hair is such a personal thing, I think you need to do what feels right for you. You have such a beauty young face I think any color you decide to go with will work for you. The nice thing is if you don’t like it it’s just color, you can change it anytime you want.
Hugs
Ingrid
*Beautiful young face : )