I'm Such a Fan of the Blurry Close-up!

Well, Looky What I Found!

Youngest Son is on the cover of this book!

He was in middle school when this was taken.

Youngest Son is the blonde one on the upper left.

I lost our first copy. I paid full price for this one, just to keep it to show his future children.

Oldest Son appeared in promotional material for his college.

It really was weird to open up national magazines, and see either a book promo with Youngest Son, or a college ad with Oldest Son. My dad was so impressed with the promotional poster with Oldest Son's picture that it is hanging in his basement.

My daughter's likeness is painted on the wall in mural form at her former school. This mural has occasionally appeared in the background of stories in the paper about the school.

Maybe my day will come...my portly photo on a box of Depends. Someday...

West Wall

This little white table holds the only book shelf on the west wall of this room.

Somehow, I need to bring it into better balance.

I know how to do that. But, it would anger the TV watchers in this room.

The flag belonged to THGGM's grandfather who died when THGGM was five years old. Grandpa was a cook in France during WWI.

It's a treasure.

Book Shelf Number Three (and counting)

Not all of these books are mine. Some belong to my sister, a prolific reader.

Most I purchased for either a dime (paperback) or a quarter (hardcover) at my local thrift store last summer. They know not what they have. No. Not.

I've an old butter pat with glass fruit in it. I know why. I have a friend who once scored a cut glass bowl of glass fruit like this, only life size.
I liked it so much, I found "the home version" for myself.

The next shelf has a child's muffin tin with brightly colored tea lights in it. More circles, I guess.

And then, doesn't a dirty old galvinized bucket call out to you? It used to sit on the shelf under my Mary Cassett print of the two girls on the beach. That picture is in this room, so the bucket stays.

Those are the first three book shelves.

I have four more to go. Hopefully, I will be finished tonight.

Book Shelf Number Two

A tea light holder filled with pool balls.

I've no idea what that has to do with books, but I like the contrast of the rectangular shape of books with the sphere shape of the balls.

There is also a florist's 'frog' which holds old marbles, one shelf down.

It's been interesting to see what books I've been wanting to read.

The little wire holder is now the 'on deck' circle.

I'm going to finish "Welcome to the World Baby Girl" very soon, and then I will start on those.

Book Shelf Number One

This morning I have been trying to arrange my new books shelves in the loft.

We found these at Target for very cheap, but I really really like them!

Now, I am trying to get them organized.


So far, I have managed to get some somewhat related books in somewhat of an orderly fashion. Somewhat.




Taking the pictures has made me realize that it will be easier to sort and organize them by looking at the pictures, instead of standing there with my head sideways trying to read them.


I can just flip the picture and see what needs doing, and do it!
It is very insightful. I see that I have three copies of "Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain".

This doesn't count the one I have on loan.

I just couldn't pass them up for ten cents.

Baby Boy

Well. I TRIED to get Baby Boy to smile for me while wearing his 'I love grandma' bib, but, he would not cooperate.

Of course, being his grandma, I think he is even cute when he cries.
He looks so much like his daddy!
Especially when he smiles!

Although, he does have his grandpa's cowlick.

This Could Have Been Another "Waiting Room" Post

Yes. It COULD have been. But, my dad, who has three doctor's appointments (with the possibility of a forth) this week had to do this one alone.

The migraine that will not let up still has me in it's clutches. In the morning, and in the late afternoon. Presently, I am fine. Just a wee bit tired and goofy.

But, driving into the rising sun? I could not do that today.

I feel guilty. I like to be dependable.

But, I can recall with great detail a FORMER experience in this particular doctor's waiting room.

This is a urologist's office.

I fill out all of the forms when my parents go a new doctor. At our first visit with this doctor, I filled out the front page with all of the pertinent information. Health history, insurance, all that kind of stuff. It said OVER, so I turned it over.

There in black and white stood what looked like a paper-doll. Above it were the words "Draw Area of Problem". You have GOT to be kidding me!

I handed the paper back to my dad and said, "You brought me up better than this!"

Sometimes a line needs to be drawn. And sometimes, it doesn't.

Chinese Year of the Dog

When Daughter was first pregnant, we sat at our favorite Chinese place and read the placemat with descriptions of the Chinese zodiac. We noted then that THGGM, me and Daughter were all born in the Year of the Dog. 2006 is also the year of the dog, the year in which Baby Boy made his appearance, on the first day.

The Year of the Dog?

Not a good one for dogs around here. It was only a month ago today that Niki had to be put to sleep. I miss her everyday. For sixteen and one half years she followed me everywhere. I miss feeling her cold wet nose on my calf in the morning as she pushed me towards the back door. I miss that yesterday would have been the day (warm and sunny) I would have given her a 'spring' hair do, and would have thrown her fur to the wind for the waiting birds. Then she would have come inside and danced on her ears.

My aunt and uncle also lost a dog this year. A large, beautiful, loyal companion. When we would visit, he would stay in the room and watch us until we fell asleep. But then he fell ill - gone too soon.

I clung to Max, the two year old who I bonded with so tightly when he was a puppy. Certainly, he would be around for years to come. To wack me with his paw when I wasn't giving him enough attention. To nibble my left ear. To body slam me in happy puppy play. But, he too, gone too soon.

And last week, it was my sister's beloved golden lab. Suddenly sick. Suddenly gone.

The Year of the Dog?

All I can say is I'm looking forward to the Year of the Rodent.

Yah, I Love Grandpa, Too.

I spent the day with this kid, who was wearing an "I love grandpa" bib.
He stuck his tongue out at me, but I thought it was cute.
He tried to whistle, but couldn't quite get that right.
Then, he puckered up.
Now, who could resist that!?

The Weekend

I thought I'd recovered nicely from my Friday night headache. For those who wondered how I could write while in pain, remember, I get songs stuck in my head when I have a migraine. It wasn't much of a stretch to switch it to my own poetry. If it sounded somewhat like Dr. Seuss, it's because I had been reading him to Baby Boy during the day.

Saturday I awoke feeling chipper. Okay, well not actually chipper, but the pain was gone. It really was gone, because while working early in the morning I had no trouble at all sucking up hundreds of dead carpenter ants in my vacuum (which required bending over!). I did this for about an hour with no pain. I thought I was cured.

THGGM had a free rental from all of his rental travels of yore, so he brought home a Chevy TrailBlazer (he wants to be sure i spell it correctly) in which to haul home the cabinet he bought while on vacation. I'm not vain, shallow or into cars at all - but I must confess to coveting that TrailBlazer. I was sad to see it go. THGGM was sad to fill it up with gas, so there will never be one in my future. Unless, maybe THAT one, but in 10 years or so.

So, while he loaded the cabinet into the TrailBlazer I shopped at the antique mall we bought the cabinet from. And, let it be duly noted, I did not buy anything there, not even a button.

Next, since we were already in Holland, we went to the Carter outlet. THGGM and I each picked out an outfit for Baby Boy. And, a bee finger puppet.

Amazingly, I still felt good. We went to a local antique mall, were I did actually buy a large bag of old buttons for $1.25. And an old Christmas postcard. And two things I cannot remember at the moment - because - the headache came back and stole my senses.

Except of course, my sense of smell, which it heightened.

So, I spent yesterday in that hazy, dazy, lazy state of weirdness. Breathing into my shirt to avoid the smell of paint - THGGM spray painted two upholstered chairs - and fingernail polish remover - THGGM spray painted his fingernails a lovely shade of deep maroon and needed to remove it.

But, the whole point of this was to tell you about the great book I was reading from yesterday. Short stories, which I LOVE. In a book I picked up at a thrift store a few months back. It's "Journey into Christmas" by Bess Streeter Aldrich. I hadn't heard of her, but I so enjoyed it. It reminded me of Debra at www.debrasotherthoughts.blogspot.com and sure enough, Debra has her listed in her sidebar, so I was able to read up on her.

My head still hurts some this morning. But not quite so throbbingly. Baby Boy and I have a big day planned with books and songs and fingerpuppets. And it's two minutes to arrival, so I'd best get moving...

What Rhymes with "Put Me Out of My Misery?"

It's a migraine I have
Oh jolly delight
I've so much to do
That won't happen tonight.

I've a craft room to clean
From bottom to top
And it's Friday, of course
So I've bathrooms to mop.

No dinner is cooking
In my shiny new oven
And the husband is coming
Expecting some lovin'.

But I'm on the couch
Just staring in space
With my head in my hands
And a scowl on my face.

By jove! I hate headaches
I hate them so much
And this one I've had
Since right before lunch.

All day I've been blessed
With a boy that is happy
This helped me of course
And his extra long nappy.

Now that he's gone
I have much to pick up
So it won't be too messy
When we sit to sup.

What that will be
I haven't a clue
Except that it will
Be from a drive-thru.

So tonight I will sit
With a cat on my tummy
And try to look perky
Although I feel crummy.

I hope I shall dream
After all this caffeine
Cause if I don't sleep
I get sort of mean.

Early tomorrow
When I wake up
I will seek out some coffee
To put in my cup!

My cup runneth over
With certainty I say
It's just that I cannot
Feel it today.

The Waiting Room

Today I drove my parents to an eye appointment. Just a routine eye exam. They went in. I stayed in the waiting room.

I tried to finish my book about Maria Montessori. The appointment took about an hour. I think I read six pages. Each paragraph over and over and over again.

Why?

Apparently, waiting rooms are where many many overly extroverted people go to hear themselves talk.

I will admit that I am hormonally challenged today. It was a challenge getting myself out of the house at 7:15. I had to bring my stomach ache with me. That is why I stayed in the waiting room. And, I am hopelessly introverted. I do not have even one extroverted cell in my body. Not one. Not even a half of one.

I would like to introduce you to a small sampling of THE PEOPLE IN THE WAITING ROOM.

Loud Truck Driver Man - He played 7 degrees of separation with his seat-neighbor. I now know about everyone he has ever known. And, he DID know his seat-neighbor, as this man used to come in to one of the many many places he worked AFTER he retired from truck driving.

Obnoxious and very LOUD woman who used to live in DC until her parents moved the family to Maryland due to knives vs. guns in the 50's and 60's - She came in the door talking. Talking LOUD. She let all of us know that her appointment time wasn't for an hour but she had to take her husband to work because she needed the car and she wasn't going to go back home because she was sure she would fall asleep if she did. Every two seconds she would say, I HOPE I DON'T FALL ASLEEP! Personally, I wished she would. But, she most likely talks in her sleep. I know where her husband works and for how long. I don't think her appointment was forced on her, so I wonder why she made such an early one if all she was going to do was complain about it.

Spanish Speaking Woman - She was sweet, when she was speaking English. But, she told her true feelings to her husband in Spanish, and I know just enough to know that she said something very unkind about the LOUD woman. I looked right at her, and she looked SO embarrassed.

Two Other Loud Women who knew they knew each other from somewhere but couldn't figure out where - Loudly, they proclaimed everything they had ever done in their lives. I'm sure they met in another waiting room, were the conversation went exactly the same way. And I was there, too. I know it. This happens EVERY time I am in a waiting room.

Loud Religious Man from Jenison - he proclaimed over and over that he did not need doctor's because he had Jesus. He proclaimed that loudly to his seat-neighbor, who after a few short minutes told him that HE was a doctor. Soon he clarified that eye doctor's weren't in the same category as other doctors. Well. That cleared that up nicely. I know where he goes to church, because he kept name dropping, and the people that I know who go there go to the doctor regularly. He and his seat-neighbor discovered that they are neighbors! Can you believe it??? Loud Religious Man from Jenison was dumb struck. For about a half a second. You can't throw a stick in Grand Rapids without hitting someone from Jenison, but hearing this guy you would have thought that Pat Robertson should invite him on his show to discuss this strange happening.

Two Ladies with White Hair - They were nice and did not talk too loud. They were just close to me and hard of hearing. They were discussing the upcoming election for governor of Michigan. They were both planning to vote for Dick DeVos, because they knew someone who knew his dad really well. Now that I understand the criteria for voting, MY children were in a play with Dick DeVos' children, so now I guess I will HAVE to vote for him. But, I didn't share that with those women. Because I am introverted, and trying to read.

I tried really hard to read my book. Maria Montessori was a brilliant woman. I have to concentrate really hard to read things about brilliant people as I am not one of them.

I do realize that the world is made up of mostly extroverted people. THGGM is extroverted. I gave birth to three extroverts. But, in 47 years of being an introvert, I have NOT gotten used to the noise!

There. I said it.

Now be quiet. I'm trying to read.

My Baby Solves the Problem of My Baby

I went through a really tough spell about 12 years ago. I could not, absolutely could not remember Youngest Son as a baby. I could remember Oldest Son, I could remember Daughter, but, it seemed, I could not remember Youngest Son as a baby.

Now I know why. Youngest Son, who is my baby, came into the room while Baby Boy was crying. He looked at him and said, "I like it when you cry, it's the only way anyone would ever know that you are a baby!"

Problem solved.

I DO remember Youngest Son as a baby. He just never SEEMED like a baby. He weighed 10 lbs. 8 1/2 ounces at birth. He slept through the night right away. He didn't cry much.

I got out pictures. I remembered all of it. He just didn't seem like a baby. He seemed like a little boy.

So, I fill up a blog for my grandson. Just in case Daughter cannot remember Baby Boy as a baby. He IS a baby, but he seems like a little boy.

Happy Baby Boy!

Two Laptops Are Better than One

Ummm.

Excuse me.

It is MY turn to be your laptop.
Please.

Please!

PLEASE!
Look. I've got all day.

But, I don't want to wait.


I don't have many teeth left.

But, I could probably do some damage.

I want to be your laptop.

I strongly suggest that you do not anger me.

It Was Me.

While THGGM and I were calmly sitting in our den eating dinner, suddenly, a man burst into the room demanding to know what we had done with his cologne.

Nothing. We both replied. Why would we do anything with his cologne?

He accused. He KNEW where he had last seen it. He KNEW that he had not moved it.

THGGM replied again that he had not done anything with it.

I rolled my eyes back into my head as I looked at THGGM.

Youngest Son was SURE that I had to have done something with it.

I was equally sure that I hadn't.

Surely I would remember if I had.

Surely.

Not.

When THGGM turned on the furnace last night, I reminded him that it would behoove us to close the opened windows.

He did.

The bathroom window was held up with Youngest Son's cologne bottle.

Yah, I did that.

I remember now.

Oops.

Ten Simple Pleasures

I've been tagged by ACP at www.hiscrackedpot.blogspot.com These are ten of my simple pleasures. Please leave yours in the comments, or a link to your blog.

One - a cup of coffee

Two - my bed
Three - a collection of swan planters all in a row
Four - a shelf full of creatively inspirational magazines
Five - a wonderful book to make me think
Six - a little corner in which to sewSeven - my new stove Eight - a stack of decorating books
Nine - a shelf of old books

Ten - a lovable, furry, old kitty

The Vacation and the Return of THGGM

Presently, all is quiet in the living room. I sit on the couch with a laptop and a warm cat who has just experienced what we call "Spa Day". He is well groomed. I'm still frumpy looking.

THGGM just left to go back to work. Back to work HERE. Close to home. Not hours away. I like this.

But, the benefits of his having worked out of town were many. He was given a bonus week of vacation besides an unexpected financial bonus which made it possible for us to do fun things last week. Well, fun for US. I'm sure no one else would consider them fun.

We did a lot of antique shopping. Six different antique malls, some of them more than once. We had our carpets cleaned. Three closets were cleaned out. We bought a new stove. I just could not bare to cook anymore with that oven that had had all the mice running in and out of it in the past. Behind the old stove we discovered a small hole. It is now plugged. This stove has a perfectly flat top. There is NO WAY that even one mouse could climb into it. I am well pleased about that.

THGGM's nine months out of town enabled us to purchase, with cash, a new washer (the only thing the old one adgetated was ME), a new dryer (we hadn't had one in years), the new stove, a real set of pans (mine had been THGGM's grandmother's), a new couch (to replace the dirty yellow one), a beautiful sleigh bed (I could not even begin to describe the condition of our old bedframe) and to catch up on all (at least we THINK all - if we still owe you, please call!) of the bills we had gotten impossibly far behind on when THGGM lost two jobs in one year. Those were fun times. I injured my leg BEFORE his insurance kicked in, and if you want to fall QUICKLY behind financially, get injured without insurance. It will suck you dry and spit you out and then laugh at you while you writhe in pain. Surely it will.

For a year now we have only had one car. It was nice when THGGM had a work rental, but I think we will manage nicely with just one. He still has a few free rental days, and he earned enough points for a free week's stay in a hotel, which we will use in May to celebrate our anniversary. It will be our twenty-eighth. We celebrated our 25th by bringing Burger King whoppers to the park and walking our dog. It really was enjoyable. All the children were already in Illinois for Oldest Son's wedding. But, we will soon get the chance to do it up right. In Traverse City. Where there are many antique shops. And much natural beauty to soak in.

Welcome home, THGGM.

Our Easter/Birthday/Pass Around the Baby Celebration

Easter dinner was at my house yesterday. We all pitch in, and it works!

After dinner we played a lively game of "pass around the Baby Boy". It's been 22 years since this family has had a baby to play that game with, so everyone plays. Except for James, who my niece claims is afraid of babies. James did not deny this. Great Aunt is the official "Put Baby Boy to sleep" person. Works every time!
The "greats" all get in on the fun. Baby Boy enjoys the attention. Notice the hands of Great Grandma in this picture, trying to intercept Baby Boy from Great Grandpa.
And a successful interception it is! Great Grandma now has Baby Boy!
It was also a birthday party. For Youngest Son, Oldest Niece and Oldest Sister. Oldest nieces is now exactly half the age of her mother. Oldest Sister loved the pins I made for her (see pins at my Inky Fingers blog). This is a fact that startled my immediate family, who gasped and were appalled when I told them that was what I was giving her. It's nice to have SOMEONE appreciate what you do!
Missing from the festivities were Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law, who live in Illinois, and the two nephews, one who lives in California, and the other who attends graduate school in Toronto. I'm sure it pained them to miss all the fun!

A MEME - Six Weird Things about Me

Stacy at www.gosduck.blogspot.com has tagged me.

Oh, were it only simple. Like 20,000 weird things about me. But, I must narrow it down to six. That is HARD. But, I shall try...

SIX WEIRD THINGS ABOUT ME

1. I tell THGGM 'where it hurts' so that if I suddenly drop dead, he will have some clue as to why. I really do this. Almost daily. I continue to do this, even though I KNOW he is not paying attention.

2. I tend towards agoraphobia and at times cannot leave my house alone. It's a big scary world. I'm actually surprised that more people aren't like this. Well, maybe they are, we tend to be hard to find.

3. I have never, not once in my entire life, pumped my own gas. This made going on trips difficult. But, I once stood by my very own dearly loved mother and watched HER pump gas for the very first time. Call me supportive, if not helpful.

4. I cannot swim. I failed my sixth grade swimming lessons at the Y. It's the only thing I have ever failed. This is probably because Home-Ec was not required.

5. I am a collecter of ideas. I LOVE ideas. I have many many unfinished projects, because I was seduced by the 'idea' not the finished project.

6. I cannot remember the last time I was bored. I have a rich inner life which keeps this from happening. If I were to get bored, I have a great store of things in my mind that I can pull out and play around with. It doesn't get better than that. But, I've been told that is weird.

Baby Boy's Easter Basket

This was such a FUN Easter basket! It has two wrist rattles, a 'Thank Heaven for Little Boys' bear blanket, a stuffed chick, three Easter cookie cutters, a polo style onesy, a 'Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?' board book. a finger puppet an iron-on patch that looks like Max, a pair of sandles, and a stuffed cell phone that plays cell phone sounds.

And best of all, NO CANDY!

To think that I made a special trip to get a certain kind of Easter basket grass, and it doesn't even show!

Good Friday

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, honour, and glory, and blessing. - Revelations 5:12

"Worship is giving God the best that He has given you." - Oswald Chambers

Thursday and Friday

Yesterday, THGGM and I had a wonderful time antique shopping. We went to two antique malls in Holland. We also drove to Saugatuck, but the mall we were going to was out of business. That seems to be happening a lot these days.

There was just the slightest hint of green in the trees, and the forsythia bushes were blooming. I LOVE those! THGGM doesn't.

Anyway, he liked being able to see all of the houses in those areas without the leaves getting in the way. I did a lot of screaming,
"Watch the road!".

Anyway...today we stayed put and were entertained by Baby Boy. He has quite the personality for a three month old.
He actually slept most of the day, with Papa on the porch swing. They both loved that!

But when he woke up, he was all smiles and giggles and goofy grins!

He is spoiling us rotten!