Confessions of a Grandma

I have been reading reflections on the year about to pass, 2015. Some do not mourn its passing in any way, can't wait to slam the door on that one.  Others muse philosophically on the lessons learned over the past 365 days. Still others look forward, making prediction for the unfolding of 2016. You other bloggers!  You make me wish I was clever and thoughtful and smart so I could sum up 2015 in an entertaining way. Truth is--I can barely remember 2015.  Did it actually have 365 days?  Because it seemed a heck of a lot shorter than that.  I have some advice for 2016: Slow Down! I spent the winter in Florida--did some volunteering, did a lot of yoga, did some writing.  Five months gone in a blur.  When I got back to Vermont, I noticed that my grandchildren, babies when I left, had grown.  I guess I really need to update those pictures on my sidebar. I know I spent a lot of money, starting with the installation of a new furnace. Thinking ab...

and Peace!

I got concerned that I was getting just too blase (don't quite know how to tick that e,  but you know what I mean) about being near the beach.  I arrived on Tuesday.  Granted, I felt the need to sleep for practically two days but, still, it was Sunday and I had not been to the beach. I had to fix that.  I slathered myself with extra sun block and went for a walk on Sunday afternoon. The beach erosion continues to be in evidence, but there is still beach to walk on. The beach was cobbled with shells and the waves were gentle, winter cool.  The sky was clear blue and a couple large herons fished from the shore.  There were many young families taking advantage of the entertainments of the sea shore. I was struck by the number of people who smiled and greeted me along the way. In particular, I carry the image of a small, dark-haired boy, maybe three or four years of age.  He gave me a distinctly three part smile--a small upturn of the lips, a wide...

I did some Christmas decorating here is Florida. Paper trees I made. Candle tree Angels  Fake palm tree filled with German bells that I made last year. Pine cone I made out of an old                                    sweater. And more angels. One little guy I know will not be so impressed with my efforts.  I "ruin Christmas" by going to Florida where there is no snow.  I think that means I ruin Christmas by not being with him.  Moment of sadness...

It is quite a rainy day here in Florida.  I went out to run a few errands and now, mid afternoon, I am relaxing with a cup of fruity tea and two cookies. These are my current favorite cookie: I get them in Vermont at the small town market and at the Healthy Living store. I was surprised to see them at the Amish market here in Venice because they have a large in-store bakery operation and offer very  good homemade style cookies. These are Ginger Zingers and they are so delicious.  I snapped them right up.

 The photo above was taken on December 14, 2014.  We had a lot of snow and it was pretty cold besides.  It served as a good reminder of why I like to leave Vermont in winter and head south with the rest of the snowbirds. The next photo was taken outside my new Vermont town house on December 14, 2015.  The little garden area had been prepped for the winter, but I noticed that the rose bush had suddenly popped out green leaves.  It could be that the record will be broken for the warmest December on record and for the latest snowfall of at least one inch. Wouldn't it be something to see roses bloom on Christmas!  El Nino at work disrupting the world's weather. I left for Florida the next day all the same.

Here I am at the airport waiting for my flight to Sarasota.  Oh, whoops!  I don't have a selfie to prove that statement.  I am sure I may have photo bombed someone else's though because the phone cameras are snapping all over the place. There are two people who are not taking selfies besides me--one is sound asleep with a tiny little dog also sleeping on her chest and the other is softly playing the ukulele.  I am busy people watching.  Also bird watching as there are at least o half dozen sparrows flying around and scooping up dropped food crumbs. I was in the cab and heading to the Burlington airport at 4 a.m. but I have had some coffee now so I am feeling somewhat functional. I had the two grand kids for the weekend.  I also had my brother, sister, and brother-in-law for dinner on Sunday. Before and after of the promised crackers grandson, granddaughter, brother, brother-in-law (camera shy) and sister Monday was the real treat for ...

I am making the rounds of good-byes to Vermont family and friends as I try to keep up with the details of getting ready for my snowbird flight to the southern clime. Details include: -notify the post office about mail forwarding (seems like I just did that.  oh, I did!) -notify the bank and credit card company about travel plans -arrange ride to airport -are the bills paid for the month now? -get some cash for travel -make sure I have all the things I need to pack in my carry-on bag--computer, phone, chargers, my tax records, medications, my checkbook and credit cards I do have a complete household in Florida so I really don't have to bring much, but the small list still contains some important stuff I wouldn't want to be without.  My son will be here at the Vermont place through the winter months so that takes some worry off my plate.  Although I did wonder about hiring someone to come in and dust and water plants once a month. I have been doing this for...

My grandkids are coming for the weekend.  My daughter is being driven crazy by my grandson.  First he was devastated about my selling the house--where I had lived for his whole life.   Now he is wanting to move in with me (and prevent me from going to Florida which is too far away!). I had already planned to have the brother who lives nearby and my sister and her husband for dinner on Sunday.  It will be a full house. I have not decorated for Christmas so I thought the kids and I would spend some time viewing decorated places.  We have no snow yet, but lighted shops and houses look festive at night all the same.  And I got the idea to visit a nearby garden center from Linda Reeder . For the dinner, I thought I would get the traditional British crackers to set at each place setting and add a bit of holiday spirit.  I was reading about the crackers and found that a party hat, a joke, and a sweet are included in a traditional one.  I may re...

Kitchen Downstairs powder room Dining room (painting by my mom) My bedroom Living room I have put up some curtains and will do decorating of living room and spare bedroom next summer.  It is cozy but bright and I am enjoying the new place.

The title is "I have Nothing New to Say," and you can read it  here .  I urge you to do so. The blog author knows better than most the terror of a shooting.  She was wounded during the assassination attempt on Gabrielle Giffords in 2011 in Arizona.  Her young companion on that day was killed. She has nothing new to say and I having nothing to add--except that this message needs to spread and be heard. Amen.

It is no secret that I have a bit of a thing about bed sheets. When Mike and I rented places for the winter in Venice, Florida, I would usually last about 90 minutes before I was refolding all the sheets in the rental linen closets.  I would tell myself upon arrival that this was a compulsive behavior that I should conquer.  I would tell myself I would just fold sheets properly as I changed and washed them.  I would tell myself there were far better things to do with my time.  It never worked.   I always broke down and refolded the sheets and pillow cases. There's an advantage to having my own place...I know the sheets will be fine upon my Florida arrival. But I don't call myself obsessive. Alphabetizing books, CDs, spices--that's only common sense. The sheet thing is just a kind of tic. I am thinking about this now because I was helping my friend Ginnie with laundry last week.  Now, Ginnie is a perfectionist about many things...folding fitted she...