Confessions of a Grandma

One of those days...you know the kind I mean, where nothing goes right, nothing goes according to plan, it feels like your world is cracking and falling apart.  I have had a couple of those in a row now. Every thing looks fine: And then a sudden ROAR of wind and the flower baskets went crashing and the chairs went sliding across the deck.  It only lasted a minute and then the rain came.  That's how it goes sometimes.

My grandson loves fruit.  His eyes lit up when he saw his breakfast of strawberries, blueberries, and watermelon.   I was working on preparing a chicken craft for the library story time next week.  He thought it  would be fun to put together his own Bob mask. There were pine cones in  my neighbors yard when we went for a walk.  He wanted to send this picture to his sister because she used to be afraid of pine cones.   Teaser. We took some rhubarb to my neighbor.  Dane had never tasted rhubarb before, but he liked it.  He wanted to make a rhubarb pie so we did.  He helped pick, clean, chop, and mix the filling.  He helped make the pie crust but I rolled it out and put it in the oven.  Conclusion: we make a good bakery team. We went to the flea market and he bought a parrot (beannie baby) for 50 cents.  The parrot then accompanied us to the cemetery.  We visited the grave of his great grandparents and then...

Malletts Bay on Lake Champlain My garden is suddenly in bloom. Wild flowers are out, too. Bristol Pond

I am sure that many of you read Ronni Bennett's blog, Time Goes By .  Today she wrote about "good and not so good names for old people." This is a topic she has addressed before, and today's post was prompted by an NPR story which was the aftermath of another story.  Oh, how do we refer to a certain demographic, related to date of birth but broader than generations??  Oh, and how do we make name that which we want to name without giving offense??? You will find a survey on both the TGB and NPR .  If you were born around 1948 or anytime before that what do you like to be called? Here's the list from the NPR site.  This is just a copy; you cannot take the survey here.  You picked what you like and then, from the same list again, what you dislike: What terms to you prefer? Select all that apply.   Old (man, woman, person)   Older Adult   Older American   Senior   Senior Citizen   Elderly ...

Convallaria majalis The Lily of the Valley are in bloom right beneath my bedroom window.  I always have this dilemma: close the window to keep out the pollen and dust or leave it open so I can enjoy the fragrance. If you Google this flower, you will learn of its "medicinal" uses.  I don't advise anyone play doctor with this pretty little plant.  All parts are poisonous so any medicinal value would have to come with fine print warnings or a rapidly stated list of potential side-effects, including death.  Oh...so it is just like any other modern day medical drug advertised these days!

This recipe is a good source of protein and vitamins plus that all important fiber. Shepherd's Pie: Lentil and Sweet Potato 2 large sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed 1/2 onion 2 carrots 2 celery stalks 2 cups of cooked lentils small can of chopped tomatoes some basil Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare mashed sweet potatoes and cook the lentils without salt. Dice the onion, carrots, and celery and cook in a bit of butter until softened.  Stir in cooked lentils and the tomatoes.  Add a teaspoon of basil.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Place in casserole dish and top with the mashed sweet potatoes. Bake in 350 oven for 20-25 minutes. Adding a dollop of sour cream and a generous sprinkle of fresh snipped chives makes it all worthwhile.

POW!  Middle of May, a night of warm rain, and Vermont is living up to its "Green Mountain State" name.  Vermont weather is kind of like childbirth--one gorgeous spring day and you forget the pain of a long, bleak winter. My view as I sit at the table and drink coffee. And can you believe it is the middle of May? This has been a very bittersweet springtime for me.  Spring was Mike's favorite time of year, May his favorite month.  All the times that I think, "Oh, I have to tell Mike I found a robin egg, or the lilacs are about to bloom, or the river's gone down and people have their kayaks out..."  Well, I tell him anyway, but with a tinge of sadness. I have not brought out the deck furnishings.  I have someone coming next week to clean the deck and put the protective coating one it.  I didn't want to move it around twice and it was too cold to use it anyway.  By next weekend that should all be done. My son mowed the lawn on Monday. ...

Last week I learned a new card making trick, a fancy kind of pop-out card in a box. Paper cutter, scoring board, scissors, super sticky  tape. My directions called for a piece of card stock, 9" by 5".  Maybe I am just not big on following directions, but that seemed a.) wasteful of paper and b.)involving too much math and measurements using fractions. I used a piece of card stock that was 8.5 inches by 5 inches. I scored at 2", 4", 6" and 8"--much less margin for error.  Then score a lengthwise perpendicular line at 2.5".  I did not score through the last line but it does not matter if you do. Cut off half of the 1/2" section, then cut on just the top halves of the vertical lines.  Fold and crease the in tact scores.   Attach the 1/2" tab to the inside of the right hand section with double sided sticky tape.  You end up with an open box: Cut a 2.5" square of card stock.  Score a .25" line on either...

The weatherman was not very optimistic about Saturday, but it turned out to be a beautiful day--warm and sunny. I got out in the yard and did some work in the garden beds.  It felt good.  Things are really lagging this year though.  I always used to have violets and lily-of-the-valley for Mother's Day.  Not this year.  My own mother always said that a bouquet of dandelions was her favorite Mother's Day gift.  Even they are in short supply this year. I bought a garden cart on sale today.  I went to the hardware store and asked about them and the counter clerk told me they were sold in a kit (assembly required).  Did I still want one?   Yes.  So he had someone bring one out to my car.  That guy asked if I had someone at home to put it together for me.  Good grief, I must look like a helpless little old lady. Of course that got my dander up and I assembled it myself.  I could have waited until my son got home from work,...