Confessions of a Grandma

Mike keeps two binoculars by our back door and a spotting scope.  He likes to be prepared should should deer or fox or other critters appear in the field.  He also uses them for keeping an eye on the birds in the back yard.  These are old military glasses that are well made and expensive.  Still, they have a certain fascination for young ones who see them within arm's reach. We gave Kristen a pair of binoculars and a bird book for Christmas last year, but It was Dane who had them around his neck when we set out for a walk yesterday.  We crossed a bridge over a brook and spotted a mallard floating on by.  Its head was such a shiny green that Kristen decided she had to look at it through the binoculars.  Of course, her brother did not want to give them up. "They're mine!" "No, actually, they are mine.  Tell him, Grandma." "Yeah, they really are Sissy's because I gave them to her for Christmas." That brought about some sadness, but at least ...

I spent the day with the grand kids.  We went out to lunch, went to the playground near their house, took a walk to Elfin Lake, and made Father's Day cards for their dad.  I showed my grand daughter how to fold the origami shirt and let my grand son decorate his card with markers and glue on embellishments. Because of all the snow days, my grand daughter will not be out of school this year until June 21. That's late.  I am thinking of doing "grandma camp" with them this year on an individual basis.  Dane had never had exclusive time at grandma's house and Kristen is at the age where she both has many other activities to keep her busy and would appreciate some little-brother-free time.  Four years old and ten years old--that's entering a hard time to do things both will enjoy together anyway.  So I'm giving it some thought. Memorial Day tomorrow.  I will make a visit to the cemetery where my parents are buried.  It seems from the amoun...

I read my horoscope every day.  It's not that I believe that the position of the stars is influencing my life; it's a habit and a bit of amusement over morning coffee. I'm a Gemini--well at least I always was until someone had the bright idea to add one more sign and realign the whole astrological chart.  I continue to read my Gemini horoscope because somethings just are not worth changing. Sometimes my horoscope will say something specific--like I will get some money.  I sent one of those to the Superintendent when I was teaching and asked her to forward it on to the payroll department.  I got a note back from her saying how she really liked my sense of humor, but I don't think she ever passed it on.  There was no extra money in my next check at any rate. Most of the time my horoscope is much more obscure--often so vague that I forget about it as soon as I've read it and turned the page to the crossword puzzle. But today, I liked my horoscope: It seem...

It was just one of those days that seem to have less the usual 24 hours. Mike had a lucrative night on his e-bay site so that meant he was busy packing up things for shipping and I made the run to the post office.    While he was busy with his new listings for today, I wrapped up the  card and gift for his grandson who will be graduating from high school next week.  More packages to go out tomorrow. I finished up some paperwork I was completing prior to a meeting with our lawyer.  Since Mike and I were both out and about at the same time (!) we decided to go out for a lunch.  We drove into Burlington and went to a place we like near the lake.  Today it was a lot nearer the lake than it has ever been before.  The whole ferry dock is under water.  Another BIG rain storm headed our way and more flash flood warnings go out as I sit here.  This is getting tiresome. I had left the car at the Ford Service.  On Tuesd...

My 1973 Volkswagon Beetle was a good little car.  My father was less than thrilled with my choice--a car he was sure was designed by Hitler did not sit well with a World War II Vet.  Still it was reliable and I had it for quite a long time and still remember it fondly. It did have a standard transmission.  I thought by that time that I was quite good at driving a standard and managing the changing of gears.  Other people did not agree and, apparently, the car itself did not agree either.  I did end up having to replace the transmission.  Maybe even more than once.  It took at least two more cars and who remembers how many transmissions before I finally realized I was meant to drive automatics and that's all there is to it. A new feature for me on this particular vehicle was the lack of rear doors.  Wrestling a toddler and an infant into the back seat along with all the attendant paraphenalia was quite the balancing act, especially on thos...

The rain stops and starts.  At least there are times to get out and do some work in my little gardens. Bleeding heart goes from zero to sixty in no time. Crab apple tree in bloom Bean poles, peppers, rhubarb Lilacs Miniature iris...so cute C'mon sun, hit those tomato plants. This snowball bush finally looks like it will do something (besides get eaten by beetles). I love these iris. I am kind of a dilettante when it comes to gardening.  I so admire my neighbors who have grounds that are worthy of magazine spreads.  I look in wonder at the pictures posted on so many blogs--lush, colorful, welcoming "outdoor rooms."  Since I have retired, I have doubled or more the amount of garden space I maintain, but I don't come close to having anything that would make it into a magazine (except maybe as a before shot).  I certainly don't have anything that would qualify as an outdoor room unless you want to count the deck with its bird feeders and couple of p...

...are the Devil's workshop. Even so, I guess I missed the BIG cut as it appears that I was not one of the 200 million people saved in the Rapture.  Oh, wait, I wasn't killed in a cataclismic scourge either.  But I am not making fun...the volcano in Iceland and the tornado in Minnesota give me pause. Oh, well...I'll just have to carry on with amusing myself with scissors and glue dots. I found this tray on the side of the road on Green Up VT day. Why someone felt the need to throw an old cafeteria tray out their car window, I have no clue. Why I felt the need to clean it up and decoupage it, no clue either. I can amuse myself with beads and wire as well. This is a pin I'll use with a scarf I am knitting. All right.  I guess it is time that I looked for a job. A real job.