Confessions of a Grandma

We had our card making group this past week -- fun to get together and make something while solving the problems of the world. Lunch is included, too. I know that retired men seem to prefer solving the world's problems over coffee at a local quick stop, but then what do they have to show for their efforts? My friend Ginnie and I went looking for the sunflower farm. We were kind of disappointed that the sunflowers were not towering and huge, but they still were pretty. I will try to paint a sunflower scene. I read in the newsletter from the Peace and Justice Center that they would like origami boxes to use in their Fair Trade Store. The directions were included. So far I have made 25 boxes.                                        Too much time on my hands? It wasn't all fun and games though. My former son-in-law, father of my two grandchildren, died ...

I have joined a 50+ keeping active group through Meet-Up and have been participating in some area hiking. On Sunday morning, 14 of us went around Colchester Pond. The start of the trail and quickly into the woods Views of the pond were a good reason to stop for a moment or two: I took this picture of the sun dappled trail behind me but I somehow did not think to capture the really steep sections. Maybe I was too busy watching my footsteps or trying to catch my breath Heading back to the parking lot, the last leg of the hike: There was a wide path through this meadow. It was a warm day, but I was not going to roll up sleeves or wear shorts (long pants tucked into socks instead) because this just screams tick habitat to me. I am enjoying getting back into the woods even with my fears about ticks. Having a group with a leader planning these excursions is kind of nice as well. I found this tick kit article useful but it doesn't give me ...

I took a friend's recommendation and read this book: Now I am going to recommend it to you. Hendrick Groen is, as he describes it, one of the inmates of an assisted living facility in Amsterdam. Out of a bit of boredom, he decides to keep a secret diary cataloging the indignities of aging and the curious ways of his peers as well as the staff and administration of the facility. He manages to catalog the joys and the wisdom and the friendships as well. In other words, the dignities of aging are also evident. The book is funny and sad in turns. It's recognizable as life. You will know some of these people, I'll guarantee. I noticed that there is a follow up book on the new books shelf at my local library. I look forward to reading that one soon.

 An old rail trail that is now a walk/bike/skate runs for 8 miles along Lake Champlain's waterfront in the city of Burlington. On a very hot and hazy evening, there tends to be a breeze off the water and there is plenty of shade along the way. And how lucky to get to see this sunset!

Dane and I went to Smugglers' Notch last Sunday to climb on rocks. The start of the climb Caves along the way where smugglers supposedly hid goods from Canada We went quite high: By the end of running around on rocks Dane was tired. Grandma, of course, was still going strong. Hahaha.

I had more grandson time this weekend. Friday night was spent on the bike path along the Lake Champlain waterfront. There was a music festival going on in the park so it was crowded with tourists and townies. A minor miracle was finding parking when a truck pulled out of a space right next to the bike path as I turned into the lot by the skate park -- no time wasted so the fun could begin. Saturday was a picture perfect July day. We headed out for the Burlington Farmers' Market. The market moved from downtown this year. The venue is much larger but also out in the blazing sun. Lots of people do not like the change but personally I was quite glad not to be stepping on someone's dog every time I turned around. Dane took advantage of a great variety of peppers -- sweet to hot. We used some of the fresh vegetables to make a pizza supper. He was wanting to see the Lake Monsters Baseball game on Saturday night. The theme was Star Wars. (Not Star Trek. Trust me, don't ...

A walk to see the whales' tails. I got out the sewing machine to make him an apron for his cooking lessons. The lake was very inviting on hot, humid days. Grandson Dane is 12 now and he has completed the sixth grade. All the time I was teaching I always marveled at how sixth graders would start off a school year is such an angelic mode and then switch to nascent middle schoolers by June. Probably I had just noticed a trend all those years and not ALL twelve year olds automatically lose their sweet innocence. My grandson is still sweet. He spent the past week with me and he still wanted to do all the grandma traditions. We spent a lot of time at the park and in the lake. It was hot and humid and he is a true water sign. He can swim around for hours at a time. Fortunately he no longer needs me in the water with him the whole time. I took him one day to the card making group I meet with and he was a trooper about that. Although he did mention on the way home, ...