Confessions of a Grandma

So, my last post showed some of the pictures that were forwarded to me by the real estate agency last Saturday morning.  I thought, "Gee that looks so good maybe I will just stay here."  My plan was to put in serious cleaning time after the kids left on Sunday and into this week, too.  I have a list of things that need doing--from having the underground fuel tank removed to having the chimney cleaned. I took off for the lake for the rest of Saturday.  When I got back, I was getting Dane into the shower, not and easy chore, ( What?? I have been in the water all day!!)  and starting something for our dinner.  It was around five thirty.  I had not taken my cell phone to the beach and I didn't notice the message light on the home phone blinking because it was on the floor behind the couch.  Don't want picture of cluttery things after all. Well there were frantic messages from the realtor when I did check.  Wanting to show the house at five o'...

Okay, here is a real tip.  It is simply insane to put a house on the market while entertaining grandchildren. I know this from experience. In truth, I thought I was just getting advice about how to go about selling--but my slow processing speed and a high-powered, super aggressive real estate agent left me with head spinning. They did manage to take pictures that look like the house was not overrun with a real life Peanut's PigPen. One of the consequences of this happy, wide-angle picture taking was that I could not find my answering machine.  That is a whole 'nother story!

The past week was perfect summer weather.  My granddaughter was here for three days but then she had to go home so she could attend high school orientation.  (Which is something that does not even seem possible.)  My grandson was just not ready to go home so we stretched his visit out to a full week.  He really thought he should be allowed to stay until Tuesday since he doesn't have to go back to school until Wednesday. The weather was most conducive to time at the beach.  We only missed one day. One day we had a picnic, much to the delight of the seagulls who were given a special invitation by the grandkids. We took a trip to Smugglers' Notch and climbed on rocks.  It would have been a great place to take some pictures, but I forgot my phone and my camera is broken. We, of course, had to do some shopping.  Dane discovered the joys of the mall when he realized it wasn't all clothing stores--there was a skateboard shop, a toy stor...

Someday soon I may have the energy to read and comment!

It will be a busy week with grandkids.  I have some time to use the computer now, but I find that I just really want to go to bed instead!

I did a different kind of painting today.  I believe that I mentioned that I have had the house appraised and inspected as I keep thinking I have too much house and too much yard and taking care of all that interferes with other things I could be doing. My house is in good shape but there are things that need taking care of. Electrical codes have changed since the house was built in the '70s. I have an underground fuel tank which is frowned upon.  Bolts are needed where nails have sufficed for thirty years.  My smoke detector is the wrong kind--even though I know that it works from the occasional kitchen mishap--burnt toast or a bubbled over pie in the oven. And then there is that wallpaper which is currently out of fashion with home buyers.  I stripped the wallpaper myself and was going to call in a handyman to paint.  A few years ago we had the the two story entry way, the upstairs hallway, and the ceilings painted.  last fall I had the trim painted i...

I spend some of my hobby related money on water color even though I have had absolutely no art instruction ever. I do have a clear memory of, perhaps five years of age, standing at an easel staring at the blank paper. Finally, I painted a green line across the middle of the paper. Grass. My child-like whimsy persists. I have decided that -- most likely in Florida this winter -- I will take some lessons.

I have been making cards--on my own and with the group. A small sampling of recently completed or almost completed cards: It is a fun hobby, but don't think it is a cheap way to supply oneself with cards for every occasion.  There is just no end to the supplies one needs, I mean needs , for this entertaining occupation.

My nephew, the younger son of my second younger brother, was married yesterday.  It was a gorgeous day for an outdoor wedding. The happy couple. My brother's two son's, groom on left. Good looking guys, aren't they?  The one on the right is available but I doubt you will be seeing him star on The Bachelor. First dance as a married couple. Weddings are so beautiful.

We cannot solve our problems wearing the same shoes we wore in creating them.                                                                                    -- Leigh Weinraub This quote is from an article "Awakening to Walk and Talk Therapy," Spirituality&Health (May/June, 2015, p32).  Leigh Weinraub was a tennis player and coach who is now a psychologist with a private practice.  The article was about how she uses walking in nature with clients as an alternative to sitting in an office and just talking about problems while the therapist sits in a chair of authority.  I can understand that, but the quote above just strikes me as a good excuse to go shoe shopping. I have shoe shopping on my mind because I had to do some shopping. My nephew is getting ...

Apparently, I have been living under a rock .  But I am catching up now and have been watching a couple of episodes of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt  for the past few days.  I had not heard of it until seeing the trailer on Margaret's blog. I was pleased to be staying current with Last Tango in Halifax   but I now am seriously considering deferring that til another time.  August is prime sink into a depression time for me and, let me tell you, British dramas don't have anything to offer in the way of lightening the mood. This August marks the second anniversary of Mike's passing, but August has always been a trigger so it is not just that.  At least I know it will pass and that I should exercise extra vigilance around machinery and such.  I get extremely accident prone when I am depressed. I have been reading  The Awakened Introvert: Practical Mindfulness Skills to Help You Maximize Your Strengths & Thr ive in a Loud & Crazy World  ...