Grandbabe

Now I know I just posted a picture of Kyle but I swear this baby gets cuter by the day, lol. My grandmother Cora used to say, "every crow thinks its feathers are the blackest." Yep, that's exactly how I feel about my grandson. His Momma brought him by last night and brought his first month store pictures. He's growing already and his little personality is too cute. I mean he bowls me over with just a smile and a twinkle in his eye. I'm certain he's likely to figure out in a short span of time that his Nanny is gonna be a real push over. Just sometimes though, and I so look forward to library trips and reading to him. I want to get him his own garden stuff and let him plant seeds and watch his amazement when "his" plant begins growing then we'll read Jack In The Beanstalk. I've got to get his crib up in hopes that perhaps his parents will let him have a sleep over. I finally finished up two UFO's and will try to post those real soon. My new years resolution this year was not to start anything new until I finsihed several UFO's lying around. I guess I used to be a 'serial starter' with my cross stitch but no more. I'm on a roll with these finishes now so that by next month I can start a quaker, Beatrix Potter. I've already found the threads for her too. Well I'm off to my trusty pillow to look at the back of my eyeballs for a few hours. Blessings be to all <3

Our little Kyle

My daughter in law has been taking a photo and sometimes many photos every day since our grandson was born. This was yesterdays photo at 48 days old. He's so adorable and sweet. It is so amazing how much they change. I watched him last Saturday and it's such a joy to be Nanny to this little fella. I don't know how she catches him smiling, I've tried but always miss. He's such a good baby too, I truly LOVE being grandma. I told her she could have a little girl but got a frown and a look (chuckle) so I'll enjoy Kyle and be very thankful to have him to love. His Poppy Wally, my hubby said he was looking at a magazine that sells the old fashioned pedal cars that they had when we were kids. He was so excited talking about the fire engine with real wood ladders on the side etc. I thought hold on there tiger he hasn't learned to crawl yet. Kyle's Mommy and I looked at toys at Target one day a couple of weeks back and I am amazed at the really great educational toys that are available now. Fisher Price is even making some of the same toys my kids played with 20 years ago like the phone with the rotary dial. Hopefully they don't start making those push around marble popping gadgets. That had to be the worlds most annoying toy. My brother bought one at Christmas one year for one of our kids and it discreetly disappeared never to be seen again. I made sure I repaid that favor when he had a son. With the weather change I'm thinking already of putting the garden to bed and getting that chore over and done with. Most of my flowers have seen their days in the sun and since I didn't plant as much this year it will be easier to get things done and put away ~ thank heavens. See, I am getting a little smarter as I age, I just need to convince my children of that very thing.

October is here already, how'd that happen ?

Well I managed to let the entire month of September slip by without posting. Not on purpose of course, time flies like the wind it seems. Here it is October 1st and the weather definitely cooperated with the month because it was brrrr cold last night and this morning. Tyler even turned the heat on which I promptly turned off when I realized it was on. Not ready for that bill to increase just yet. As my Dad used to say, "put a sweater on !" Now I laugh when I think about that - because when I was a teen I remember thinking he was trying to freeze us to death but later came to understand his trying to save on those heating bills etc. I also remember that he was always cold the last nine years of his life because of being on kidney dialysis. The machine either took off too much fluid or not enough which also determined how he would feel the next day. One summer it was nearly 90 degrees and I stopped over to visit him. He had on a t-shirt and a heavy quilted flannel shirt. I remarked, "golly, aren't you hot Dad?" To which he replied, "no, I'm freezing." I couldn't help myself, I yelled, "go put a sweater on !" He grinned and laughed aloud as I'm certain he recalled the many times he said that to us kids. I still cannot walk out of a room without turning off the light switch. Mom even posted a note in the bathroom to, "turn on the water to get wet then turn it off while you soap up with the washcloth then turn the water back on to rinse." These many years later I still do this out of guilt of wasting water. Some lament, "I've become my mother!" Well I quite frankly inherited quirks and good things from both. I chuckle and smile when an incident serves me up a memory or two from childhood. I am reminded of many as my own sons continue to grow and I pass along my learned, "momanddadisms." Lord only knows how long they will tolerate me in my older years, I dare not think of it, LOL. As I end this post I'll add that I'm really looking forward to fall, it being my favorite season with all the glorious colors that only God could paint in a landscape. Blessings be to all~

meyers birdie

Well, we have another new baby to love only this one is not a grandson like the other one but a little fid, a meyers parrot in the african poicephalus family. She is the smallest of that family of parrots and so cute. I am teaching her, "step up," on to my finger. She's learning well already. She was weaned on to pellets, fruits and veggies which is wonderful because seed is not very good for them and so much of it isn't eaten thus wasted money. The seller sent me home with some dry formula to mix up and use a syringe with to give her a little bit of the baby formula so that she bonds with me. He called it yum yum and it was comical to watch those birds when he said that. He would roll his cart up to a cage, open the door and say, "yum yum" and out they would jump for their share. She knew exactly what I had when I mixed it up and sat her on my lap to give her a taste of it. She makes a sweet little noise that sounds much like a kiss. Her coloring doesn't look very impressive but as she grows to an adult her head will turn yellow on top, the same as the front of her wings. You can't see it but all the way down her back is the most beautiful shade of torquiose and a beautiful green as well. I am still trying to think of a name, we've been calling her, Peeps. Who knows that might stick unless I think of something else but I'm open to suggestions, maybe I'll google bird names and see if anything strikes my fancy. Wow, can you believe tomorrow is September 1st already ?? Where did summer go so quickly, although I won't deny I love the cooler temps we've been having. Fall is afterall my very favorite time of year with all the array of colors.

Blog Candy Giveaway

Melissa has been blogging for 8 years, amazing ! She has decided to have a blog candy giveaway to celebrate her blogiversary/1000th post. Here is a link to enter the drawing which is open to anyone, the deadline for entering is 11pm PDT Wednesday August 26, 2009. There are many wonderful things included in the giveaway and would keep any stitcher happily stitching for some time. How very kind and generous Melissa, thanks.

http://www.thedailymel.com/2009/08/16/blog-candy-time/

"Sweet Baby Kyle"

Last night a sweet little baby boy was born at 7:26 PM, weighing in at 8lbs and measuring 20 inches long. He has stolen away my heart like I never could have imagined ! Look at that precious little face ! Having had three sons, I know all about the snips and snails and puppy dog tales and everything that boys are made of. I just never dreamed that having a grandson could be so very special. When I held him today 20 plus years of time that has passed since I last held one of my own infant sons, came soflty to my memory and my heart just swelled with love for this little guy. Watching his mother Gerri hold him and rock him made me so thankful that he was here and I thanked her for this sweet baby boy. His daddy was taught by the nurse to diaper him and bathe him also today and I smiled as I watched him change Kyle's diaper just after I arrived. Then when he held him and kissed his sons head so sweetly my eyes welled up a bit. How awesome to watch your child with their own, a new experience for me and one I will journal about in Kyle's scrapbook I'm making for his parents. Friends have shared how wonderful it is to have a grandchild, but I honestly never dreamed I'd have this wonderful feeling of being overwhelmed with such joy ! I am so looking forward to reliving the days when my own children were young and seeing the world through little Kyle's eyes. I'm so thankful for his and his mama's health and that all three are doing just fine. What a dear and special blessing they are, thanks be to God.

thinking of a name.......

I have put a deposit down on a meyers baby bird and can barely wait until she is weaned. Another fellow blogger owns one she named, "Stella," after her grandmother. Cute name and according to Maria, Stella is a baaaaaaad birdie. I have read many of her antics and she is just a hoot. That is Stella sitting in Maria's green teapot in the photo above. When I saw it I nearly fell off my chair laughing aloud. She thought she was hiding from her owner and her cute little head would serve as the lid but she was found out. Maria is so comical she once said if you looked up the word evil in wikipedia you would find a description of Stella and a picture of her also. She actually showed it on her blog. She really had folks believing it and said she had copied the page and photo shopped the pic of poor Stella. My baby won't be weaned until probably mid September. I'm thinking of calling her Lola or Tasha after the late Natasha Richardson. She was such a talented and beautiful actress, how tragic that she died at the young age of 45. On a happier note Gerri worked her last day on Saturday and we await baby Kyle to be born. How very exciting. I haven't looked at baby things so much in 20 years. Amazing all the new fandangled things they've come out with. One of my favorites is a quilted cover that fits over the area where you sit a child in a shopping cart. It covers up all the germs. Surely a Mom thought that one up, great idea ! Bring it home after use and throw it in the washer until the next shopping trip. I'm keeping my phone by my bed in case I get the call in the night that baby is on his way to be born. I have been finding Pooh Bear things for his room. I love Pooh and Tigger and Piglet etc. Can't wait to read to little Kyle too, I'm really looking forward to that. We'll make many library trips to get books to share ~ books can take you anywhere ! Blessings to all <3

A larger than life birthday.........

Today is my 53rd birthday. I commented on my facebook page that rather than burning the house down with that many candles lit atop a cake large enough to hold them all I pondered on switching the numbers around and using 35 instead. That way maybe only the house smoke alams would go off. I've been thinking a lot of the kindness we all need to extend to others and was reminded by my Aunt about that yesterday on our way back home from my Uncles funeral. Imagine how much lower our blood pressures would be were we not to let things bother us to the extent that we sometimes do. Why also is it that wisdom doesn't arrive between our ears until we're much older. Thankfully most of us have some horse sense but perhaps it's the life lessons that cannot be taught that bring the wisdom in later years. I try to teach my sons that everyone has a story and to be mindful not to judge for that very reason. We don't always know what path life has taken them down and the valleys they may have gone through just to live each day. I know that's why we become much wiser by listening than by talking. There is much to learn, even with each new day and someone we have yet to meet that may be one to teach us. I'll close here with a quote, one that I often think of when I think of my darling husband <3

If you live to be 100, I want to live to be 100 minus one so that I never have to be without you. Author- Pooh Bear

Bittersweet Summer

This past Tuesday my Uncle Charles passed away, he was 73 and I want to quote the pastor that spoke at his service today in saying that he lived a, 'beautiful life.' He had been ill with pulmonary edema and it was his heart that gave out Tuesday. He was married to my Aunt Betty for 56 years. He was a wonderful father to four grown children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that spoke so highly of their love for him today and the joy that he and his wife have added to their lives. He was a State Farm Insurance agent in Chillicothe Ohio for more than 30 years and thought so much of his customers and they of him. He recently gave his life to Christ and I'm sure is now with our other loved ones that have passed including my own Mother, his sister. He will be greatly missed by all of us privledged to know and love him. He touched many lives in his own lifetime. He teasingly called me Donnachellnabber and my sister Briarcatty when we saw him and always told us we were, "prettier than speckled pups." I will remember him fondly though we'll all miss him so much. I'm so grateful for having gone down to visit and see him twice in the past couple of months. I'm thankful also that the suffering has ended and for the beautiful service and many family members who were able to make the trip safely. I pray them all safe travel mercies back home again. Days are precious and so are loved ones. May we never take any of it for granted for how swiftly the days go by but yet another season has passed - not only in the year but our lives as well.

Cannon-The Boys in The Band

Two of my sons are in a band called, "Cannon." They played out a few weeks ago at St. Bernadettes Church in Westlake much to the chagrin of their parents and friends ! They played well for a first time out and had gotten the word out that they would be there by word of mouth and handing out flyers at a local mall. A nice crowd turned out to see them, lots of fun ! Last night they played at the,"Newport Music Hall" in Columbus Ohio. Apparently a lot of big name bands got their start playing at this place - so very cool !! Several other bands played but the two main bands were listed on the tickets and Tyler our middle son, the guitarist/backup singer commented that they were..... and more <---- listed on the ticket. He cracks me up. Ryan is the singer for the band and Tony is the bass player/backup singer also. Our oldest Dustin said he was very impressed that they were playing at a venue that required buying tickets through ticketmaster. I thought it very cool also. Jared, our youngest and the drummer made it through the night thankfully, even though he had an awful accident smashing his left index finger with a sledge hammer. The end of it literally exploded, just awful. He played like a trooper but I'm sure it throbbed terribly. The guys all went to school together and are really good friends. All in all, they got to play for close to 45 minutes and I would call it a stellar performance, not biased or anything you know, LOL !! I love them all so much and it is with great joy that I watch them fulfilling dreams they're dreaming. In the back from left to right are, Tyler, Ryan, Jared and Tony. I don't know who the girls are. I'll end here with a little tidbit.......not mine of course, I just like it.

Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.

A Pig Roast

On the 4th we held a pig roast. This time at the shop as there were going to be quite a few more folks and we wouldn't have the tent and chair rental etc. It turned out to be a wonderfully gorgeous day with the weather in the low 70's, perfect in my humble opinion with a few pretty clouds passing by. We had quite an assortment of food and delicious food it was. Hubby stuffed the pig with kielbasi and kraut then sewed him up nicely to cook. Made it nice and juicy and good, that is if you like eating pig. I'll stick with a burger or maybe just some of Aunt Louise's delicious pasta salad instead. Last fall when we held Jared's 21st birthday party we cooked our first pig and after they had taken him off the spit they put his head on the trailer hitch of the pig roaster. Sometime later Tyler let the pups out for a potty break. Emily, our oldest dachscund turned up missing. Not for too long though. She was found beneath the pig roaster having gotten that pig head off the hitch. She managed to eat half his face off and was laying on her back in, pardon my pun - 'hog heaven.' Crazy dog, she didn't eat for two whole days. Amazing. Had to share that story, it still makes me laugh ! Just as everything was winding down and folks were heading out we saw a few fireworks in the distance. Happy Birthday America, what a great nation we call home.

A Visit

My Aunt Shirley called me to ask me to ride along with her down to Chillicothe to visit my Uncle Charles her brother. I was overjoyed and responded with a resounding, 'yes !' I contemplated how much fun it would be the trip down and back with her. She is always so much fun to be with and when I think of her it just makes my heart smile. When I think of my Mothers three sisters she reminds me most of Mom so it's such a treat to see her whenever possible. We only circled Columbus once trying to find the bypass around it ( giggle ) so that just added to the silliness. Once there we planned a cookout for evening which was very enjoyable. Uncle Charles is not doing very well and has been sick with a pulmonary infection and on continuous oxygen. It's hard to see him sick, reminds me of my own Dad who passed away in 1995. I can scarcely believe that much time has passed. Shouldn't life SLOW down as we age. I ponder that one often however next thing I know a month has passed so I guess I'd best keep up. It was a delight to see Diana my cousin, and her husband Wayne again. In fact I phoned the night before we left to talk with her and Wayne answered. I remarked did he think he could put up with me yet again. Didn't visit for 3 years then did 3 times within a matter of about 6 weeks. He laughed and said sure, LOL. Joyful though and always so very much fun. Diana is most definitely like the big sister I never had and is a sweet blessing in my life standing in the gap filling a void left by another. So I give thanks for that time spent visiting and the memories that were made. Life is a treasure indeed.

A true blessing

Today I had lunch with the girls and we got news that Barb and Larry's daughter Kristin and her husband Evan were granted their adoption of little Nicholas in Tomsk Russia. They started the process in the spring of 2007 and have made several trips back and forth since to complete the adoption. It has been a long journey but they remained strong trusted God in all of it. We are so thrilled for all of them. The excitement to finally have the process completed must be just amazing. They are likely pinching themselves. They have a 10 day waiting period which will alllow them time to begin to bond with young Nicholas then they'll begin their trip back to the states where many relatives and loved ones await. Congratulations to all of you, can't wait to meet him.

Gardening

I'm done planting, well maybe - maybe not. When we lived in the apartment while we were building our home 4 years ago I was only able to container garden and found that to be very fun. So there's always the chance of one more pot. I have been experimenting here each year since we moved in to see what works and what does not. I find gardening kind of like moving furniture around in your house. You can always come up with a new way for it to look which also keeps it interesting. This idea however does NOT work inside my home as my dear husband is a creature of habit and likes everything in the same place......boring. I found this out once when he got up in the middle of the night and tripped over something that wasn't normally there and had been moved in my efforts to change the "look" of that room. I like change, it's like the seasons ~ renewal ~ especially spring. Fresh, new, different - it's all good.

New Beginnings...........

I've been wanting to start a blog for what seems like forever but have been satisfied previously with just reading other folks blogs instead. Time to stretch and grow, like my garden and sprinkle some seeds here for perhaps someone else to read and enjoy as I do other blogs. Such a nice way to kind of keep in touch with family and friends when we get so busy in our own worlds. Most of the time schedules conflict in such ways that a quick email or phone call is at best what we're able to accomplish. Thus, I will try to frequent here and hope others do as well.

On Sunday May 31st I held a baby shower for my daughter in law Gerri. Having had 3 sons she seems like more of a daughter to me so it was really fun to hold a shower for her and her hubby, my oldest - Dustin. They have found out the baby will be a boy and he is due mid August. Our first grandchild !! How enormously excited I am to become, "Nanny." My own children called my Mother, "Nana" and we all remember her as that so I thought I would go by Nanny instead. My Mom passed away in February of 2002 and will miss this new addition but I know she'll be smiling down upon us all. My sons referred to their Dad as, "Poppy." He has decided that he would like the grandkids to call him that too. So here we'll be, awaiting this little fellas arrival, his Nanny & Poppy.