I'M BACK...AGAIN!

Life continues to be busy...even in retirement!  I have had some friends recently to comment that I haven't been blogging lately…so true.  I have had several projects going on in recent weeks plus a new semester has begun…at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

This semester I will have 27 university juniors and seniors to work with…the huge number is the bad news, but the good news is I have already completed one week and at the end of October I will have two more weeks with them…in these two weeks I will be working fast and furious.  I really enjoy the job so I'm certainly not complaining.  I recently received last semester's evaluations (anonymous) by my student teachers and all but one made me feel really good about what I do.  I guess you can't please everybody!  Interesting though that those who work really hard and do their best are usually the ones who like me as their supervisor:)  

I have tried to finish up several projects recently including cleaning out closets, drawers, and cabinets…mostly done but still working on a few.  I also finally COMPLETED my genealogy work on my mother's family tree. It's been labor-intensive but was a true labor of love for me.   I sent it to Mama just this week and I think she is having herself a high old time reading about her ancestors on both her father's and mother's sides.  I even located a picture of her great-great-great grandfather along with some other old family photos.  Ladies, explain this to me…back in the "old days" many of the men were quite handsome but some of those old gals….well, let's just say they wouldn't have won any beauty pageants!  It was probably due to them having to cook, clean, and be consistently pregnant all without electricity or running water!  I do love genealogy though!

 The "grands" are into full-swing in school.    
"M" is in K and "R" is in 2nd.  They are both progressing very well...making their teacher grandmother very proud!      "R" is about half way through soccer season and has matured so much since last year.  He's already scored some goals making his Daddy Coach very proud!  Here are some recent photos:

Miss M really likes to pose!

Self-Portrait….he loves to take pictures

To my blogger friends, please don't give up on me.  I hope to get more regular with my posts so please come visit often and see if I'm still here!  Hope all is well in your world:)

VALLEY GIRLS...ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

After quite a long break from blogging, I’m finally BACK with something to write aboutJ  I recently returned from my yearly trip with the VALLEY GIRLS…my 8 best friends from high school.  (You can read about each of them HERE.) 

This year we traveled quite a ways to the beautiful and quaint city of ASHEVILLE, NC.  JERRI was our trip planner and found us a lovely old home named LAUREL COTTAGE to rent.  It had 5 bedrooms (each with its own unique name) and 2 ½ baths, 2 of which had CLAW FOOTED TUBS!  It also had two sitting rooms, a great kitchen, and a sweet little porch.  We just loved it and it was perfect for our get-together.  (By the way, our first night before we traveled to Asheville) was actually a slumber party at KAYE’s house…she and husband Chip are wonderful hosts and they have a beautiful home.)

LAUREL  COTTAGE, Asheville, NC

While in Asheville we played tourist  one day and rode the trolley  all over the city.  Our guides were great and we saw beautiful homes and buildings with interesting architecture.  We also learned a lot of the history of Asheville and visited the GROVE PARK INN where we stood inside a huge fireplace for a photo op!

The next day we toured the magnificent and beautiful BILTMORE HOUSE .  If you’ve never been there, you should put it on your bucket list.  It was built by George W. Vanderbilt in the 1890’s and is definitely beyond the imagination!  I knew it was going to be HUGE, but I still was not prepared for the size of it.  I had a difficult time wrapping my brain around how anyone (especially in those days) could have the foresight to design such a home, much less build it.  In fact, a railroad had to be built to carry the building supplies to the site.  In addition to the opulent home, there are exquisite gardens and beautiful mountain scenery all around.  You will never regret the decision to visit it for yourself.  (You can go HERE to learn more about it.)

Because I’m just a south GA girl who loves her grits and fried chicken, I wasn’t too excited about Asheville’s food.  Most of the other VALLEY GIRLS, however, loved it.  I had my first experience with INDIAN FOOD…one I don’t want to repeat.  However, the service at MELA was great and, as I said, all of the other girls (except for JACKIE & me) really enjoyed it.  I ate the very best FRENCH ONION SOUP  I’ve ever had at THE BISTRO  in the BILTMORE VILLAGE.  We also ate at TUPELO HONEY, one of the most popular restaurants in Asheville.

One of my favorite places (thanks to BEANIE, sister of VG NANCY who took us there) was the CHOCOLATE LOUNGE.  If you love chocolate (as I do!) you have to go there on your next trip to Asheville.  I had a delicious latte while others had Mexican hot chocolate. 

Our trip did have a little bit of unwanted excitement…CHRISTY had car trouble.  Long story short…we ended up at  ASHEVILLE FORD LINCOLN where the folks were just as nice and helpful as they could possibly be…especially when it was the weekend!  It ended up that CHRISTY & JACKIE had to stay an extra day to have the car repaired while 6 of us (along with luggage…as usual I packed w-a-y too much) piled into JERRI’s van for the return trip home.  We dropped KAYE off at her house, took OLIVIA to the airport to catch her plane to Texas, and JOAN and I hopped on a shuttle bus and traveled an extra hour to where Joan lives and where my sweet hubby picked me up.  What a long…but fun…day!    Funny story….we got to the shuttle bus right when we thought  it was going to leave and I HAD to go to the bathroom.  I took off running through the Atlanta Airport…and I did make it.  However, JERRI was worried I’d get lost due to my very poor sense of direction.  Thankfully I found my way back only to have to wait about another 20 minutes for the shuttle!

As usual when the VALLEY GIRLS go off together, we had an absolutely fabulous time.  Lots of laughing, talking, eating, laughing, talking, eating…and not much sleeping.  (You haven’t laughed until you laugh with EVELYN…she has the most distinctive and delightful laughter.) 

We continue to be in wonder at how close we all still are after so many years.  I couldn’t ask for better friends…or more fun ones!

After a few days of fun and fellowship we all made our way back home once again with wonderful memories.  I always look forward to getting back home to my family, but at the same time I always come home just a little sad that it will be awhile before I’m back together again with the 8 best friends I could ever imagine having. 

We think our next trip might be to New York so…look out BROADWAY, here come the VGs!

THIS & THAT

It’s been about a month since my last blog post…can’t believe it’s been that long!  It’s been a busy summer with lots of grandmother duties plus I just haven’t had anything interesting to write about!  I’m sure I’ve lost some of my followers by now but hopefully a few friends will drop by to visit.

It’s not been a great summer.  Two of my best friends fell (in separate accidents) and each broke a leg.  A third friend fell and scraped herself all up…all three fell in June.  I’m beginning to think it’s bad luck to be my friend!

I am now in line for a root canal and I fear dentists like the plague.

 Plus the weather here has been hotter than a cat in heat and drier than a thirsty camel. 

Anyway….here are a few pictures to share.  Hopefully soon I’ll have something more exciting to write about!

Yes, this is our grandson!  It was WACKY WEDNESDAY at Soccer Camp!

Granddaughter M loves to color, paint, & draw.  She really has become a budding artist.  Give her a box of crayons and she's happy for the day!

Fun with AlkaSeltzer!

Put a little warm water in a film canister (Fuji works best); add 1/4 to 1/3 of an AlkaSeltzer.  Quickly replace top, turn upside down, & place on ground.  Wait a few seconds....and it shoots into the air.  Tons of fun for very little money:)  Grandson R loved this!

Dress Up Day!

Magician in training!

This was his wizard outfit.

Recent projects...I love bird cages.

Yes, I do have a life outside of grandkids...well, sort of!

I’ve really missed blogging, both writing them and reading them.  I hope to be able to give it more time soon.  Hope everyone is having a great summer and that all is well with everyone you love.



GRANDMOTHER TIME

It’s been awhile since my last post…I hope my blogging friends haven’t forgotten me!  BLOGGER has been giving me issues plus there just hasn’t been much going on.  Now that school is out and summer is here, my GRANDMOTHER

duties have taken over.  Trying to keep two young ones occupied all day is no small feat!  I thought I would use this post to share some of my

FUN WITH GRANDMOTHER

ideas in case I might give some of you other grandmothers (and mothers) some ideas you can use…and hopefully some of you might share more ideas with me.  I can use all the help I can get!

                        ( I consider myself a hip grandmother!)

SCAVENGER  HUNT

This is one of our favorite activities.  I type up a list (with pictures) of various things that can easily be found outdoors in and around our neighborhood:  a green leaf, big rock, old bird’s nest, piece of paper, something red, etc.  Then we set out on the golf cart to explore and find all our treasures which are checked off on the list (grandson’s favorite part) and placed into our Treasure Box.    You can also have a Magazine Scavenger Hunt or An ABC Scavenger Hunt….especially good for rainy days.

SCIENCE  FUN

Last summer we made SLIME & FUNNY PUTTY  (see my post HERE ) and other such icky stuff….definitely fun and worth the trouble.  You can find many recipes for Slime as well as FLUBBER, FEELY GOOP, & FUNNY PUTTY.  Here is one recipe for SLIME (from Martha Stewart):

         Mix together:  1/3 cup warm water

                                            ½ cup Elmer's glue
                                4-8 drops food coloring
         Stir thoroughly & set aside.
         In separate bowl mix together:
                                ¾ cup warm water
                                2 teaspoons Borax
         Stir thoroughly.
            Pour 2^nd mixture into 1^st mixture, stirring continuously.
        Remove glob from bowl and work with your hands 2-3 min.
        Store in resealable plastic bag or air-tight container. 

COOKING

Cooking with kids is great fun, plus you can throw in some reading and math skills and they never even suspect itJ  Cookies are an easy (and delicious) treat…and you can eat the cookie dough too!

Another fun recipe for kids is PUDDING  POPS.  Here’s one recipe from www.kraftfoods.com.

         1 small pkg. chocolate instant pudding mix

         2 cups cold milk
            6 Oreo cookies
         ½ cup thawed Cool Whip or other whipped topping
         Beat pudding mix & milk in large bowl with wire whisk 2 min.
         Place cookies in resealable plastic bag; seal bag.  Use rolling
         pin to crush cookies.  Add cookies & Cool Whip to pudding; stir
         just until blended.  Spoon into 9 small paper or plastic cups
        (bathroom size is great).  Insert a wooden pop stick or plastic
        spoon into each for a handle.  Freeze 5 hours or until firm.
        Tip:  to remove from cup, place bottom of cup in bowl of
        warm water for 15 seconds.  Press up on bottom of cup.


Some other easy, but fun, things to do include: 
      visit the library for great books
      play board and card games
      go on a picnic and/or nature walk
         paint seashells & rocks
      blow bubbles
         play in the sprinkler
         wash the car (they think it’s fun & you get a clean car!)
          have an un-Easter Egg Hunt (just like a regular hunt, just not
                   at Easter)
      build a fort

I have a warm feeling after playing with my grandchildren. It's the liniment working. ~Author Unknown
That should be enough to keep you busy for awhile.  Have fun and let me know how things go.  Any ideas to share????

JUST BECAUSE

Has anyone ever (besides your family) given you a gift  JUST  BECAUSE?

Well, that’s what happened to me yesterday!  I got a  JUST  BECAUSE gift…and it is  FABULOUS!  This is what came in the mail….

I tore into the box lickety-split and when I saw this I knew that something good would be inside…

And I was right!  Look at this beautiful  BOX !

And then inside….look at all of this…can you BELIEVE it?

Now to see what was inside all these special little WRAPPINGS…

French-made LACE, beautiful  RIBBONS, a floral HANKIE (to add to my collection)…

I think there’re CHERRIES on this sweet lace, don’t you?

A sweet little BUTTERFLY & butterfly cards (from an old tea company)…

Look at these adorable MONOGRAMMED cards…wonder who these people were…

More sweet goodies…

And, saving the BEST for last….

I love, love, love everything but this DOORPLATE is my absolute favorite!

By now I’m sure you’re wondering who sent me this fabulous gift.  Well…..

I can’t tell you!  Sorry, but she asked me not to.  She’s such a sweet & thoughtful fellow blogger who doesn’t want any “glory” for sending this to me.  I will tell you that I have been following her blog for awhile and it is just soooo beautiful.  I have also been leaving her comments for awhile and something I said must have caught her eye because she sent me a note telling me she wanted to send me a gift  

JUST BECAUSE  

she enjoys my visits to her site.  Now, have you ever heard of anything nicer?

I enjoyed my special gift so much and it gave me some FOOD for THOUGHT!  I’d like to make someone feel just as special and happy as my blogging friend made me….so one of my followers out there can expect to receive a little gift from me sometimes soon.  A few years back Oprah had this “thing” going on…maybe you saw it…RANDOM  ACTS  of  KINDNESS.  She encouraged people to do nice little things for others for no reason other than to make the world a nicer place and to share the  MILK of  HUMAN  KINDNESS .  Wouldn’t it be a wonderful world if more folks took part in that?  And why should we???

JUST  BECAUSE!!!

Thank you so, so much…to a sweet & special blogging friend.  You made my weekJ