If Not a Barber, Then Maybe a Lawn Care Specialist?

Oh, look!

Something constructively destructive!

Baby Boy can pull to his heart's content.

At first he wasn't so sure about it.

But, once he realized that he could pull it out, he was a happy Baby Boy!

I've always wanted a yard man.

This will have to do.

I Offer You, Baby Boy!

Do all of your closest friends suffer from Male Pattern Baldness, but, no matter what you try YOUR hair stays put?

Are you tired of people constantly thinking you are younger than you actually are because you still have all your hair?












I offer you hope! I offer you, Baby Boy!

In just a few quick thrusts, he can 'snatch you bald-headed'!

Soon, the men pictured here will be just as male-patterned bald as all of their friends!

And, with just ONE treatment!

There is no guarantee that the hair will not grow back, so more treatments my be necessary.

Come one, come all and lose your hair just like all of the really cool people in your life!

Free Beauty

This is where I was a month ago.

This is where my mind is today.

I cannot understand why so many people crave crowds and exitement.

No concert or amusement park thrill ride could ever give me the sense of extreme wonder I get from the beauty of creation.

Concert venues and amusement parks are noisy and expensive.

This was totally free.

And there was no one there.

Another Day of Thirteen Dollar Fun!

My sister and I went to lunch to day with this cute guy.

He was happy and entertained us by babbling and squealing with delight.

Again, I proved that one can have great fun on a mere $13.00. I HAD more money, but I'm now intrigued by the challenge of having fun on $13.00.

Lunch came to seven dollars.

At the first thrift store I spent less than three, and came away with a doll pattern, some bias tape, a wooden box to decoupage on and eight tiny tin jello molds. I also found four great books at 50 cents a piece.

At the next thrift store I struck gold! A music book I've been wanting for only 59 cents and several pieces of sheet music, including "What a Wonderful World".

What a wonderful world!

Like I keep reminding THGGM, he is very lucky that I am so cheaply amused.

Listen!

It's very very quiet over here.

Oldest Son, who is visiting for a few days, went with THGGM to see the new Superman movie.

Youngest Son and Girlfriend and Daughter and Son-in-law went to a White Caps baseball game.

I watched Baby Boy. But, they just left with him.

So it is just me Me ME! And I am sitting in the quiet.

Well. That is the relative quiet. Barb, my cat, is asking for his supper and nibbling on my arm.

I have SO much to do. But I'm going to sit here a minute and soak in the quiet.

And, I will tell you that the noise around here today was all happy noise.

Baby Boy learned to "Pat-a-cake" today.

He doesn't quite have the clapping down, but he gleefully clasps and unclasps his boyish little hands. It is SO unbelievably cute!

This morning I took him outside to touch the trees. This is one of his favorite daily rituals. Touching moss covered ash trees.

Youngest Son had left an old soccer ball out there and I started kicking it around. Then, Youngest Son came out, took Baby Boy from me, and we had a little game going with the ball. Baby Boy never once took his eyes off the ball. Youngest Son was like that, too. ALWAYS had to have a ball. He is still like that. He's twenty two years old, and at least once a week I hear myself tell him in my stern mommy voice - NO BALLS IN THE HOUSE!

Well, I'm off to listen to the quiet some more.

I Am From...(by way of Mary at Owlhaven)

I am from Butternut Bread and Koeze's peanut butter. From the local grocery store, the hardware store at the end of the street, the neighborhood barber, the shoe store with the great July sales, the pharmacy with rootbeer popcicles.

I am from the white house with gray trim shaded by box elder trees and the same neighbors for decades. Cleanliness, orderliness, the smell of Tide on Monday and line dried sheets snapping in the breeze. I'm from home cooked meals together every night at 5:oo.

I am from lilies of the valley, lilac bushes and climbing roses. The garage dad and grandpa built where the cherry trees used to be. A gate to swing on, trees to climb and lots of skates with keys.

I am from summer picnics at the lake and the entire family gathered for Christmas. From Auke and Jantze; John. From Bert and Vivian; Alice. From John and Alice; me.

I am from windmill cookies, strong coffee and quiet strength.

I am from "Get your work done first." and "I'm here all day, why do you only need to talk to me when I'm on the phone?".

I am from prayer before and after every meal. I'm from Bible reading after breakfast and supper. I am from going to church whenever the doors were opened. I'm from the people who opened the doors.

I am from West Michigan. I am from Ireland by way of the potato famine. I am from The Netherlands by threat of war.

I am from homemade potato salad and baked beans. I am from pastle colored Tupperware bowls of popcorn eaten while Ernie Harwell announced the Tiger game.

I am from the three year old boy who watched his older brother fall through ice and drown. I'm from a family forever altered by grief. I am from the premie twin who wasn't expected to survive infancy.

I am from the pictures on the mantle, the canvas painting, the luncheon set, and the panoramic picture of the Sunday School picnic.

Long Ago, and Oh So Far Away...

Long long ago in a time far away from now...

...these three children lived at my house.

I thought at the time that they would be this age for a lot longer than just one year.





Here they are again, about five years ago...

...which still seems like a time far away from now.

Oldest Son, the one who broke his leg last July and spent 10 months recovering from it, is visiting for a few days.

He got a job. He starts July 10.

If I could ever get them to sit still together long enough, I would take a picture. But, that is harder to do today than it was in that time far away from now.

Baby Boy Enjoying Solid Food

Six Months Until Christmas

What were you doing six months ago today?

What will you be doing six months from now?

Six months until Christmas.

Really. I'm not kidding.

To Update Myself

I think this is what I did in the last few days...

Wednesday Baby Boy came for the day. He was happy and playful. I was able to spray paint more jar lids for Bible School, as it seemed like we might have more than 60 kids (we had 58, but i was so thankful to be prepared for more!). Making the "I SPY" jars was fun, and seemed to work for everyone. My happy helpers did catch a few kids pilfering the product, of all things, paperclips and stones.

Since we had 58 kids Wednesday night, and I only had 50 milk cartons prepped for Thursday's craft I sent THGGM to one store, and Youngest Son to another looking for small carton's. They don't sell them. This sent me almost into a panic. While in bed Wednesday night I remembered a bunch of duct-tape bound watercolor paper I had left from last year's crafts. I hopped up and located that box in about two minutes time (but why is it that i cannot find my wedding pictures!?!?). A few weeks back I found a box of 1,000 craft sticks at a thrift store for a dollar. I also found some tiny wooden clothes pins that would work with their craft also. I went back to bed feeling satisfied that this would work out better all around.

Baby Boy came for the day and was extremely content to play in his Exersaucer or roll around on the floor all day. But even with all of his cooperation, I got a migraine late in the morning. Youngest Son directed me to what to take (i just cannot THINK when i get one). By evening I required more medication, and I was a bit more talkative at Bible School than I usually would be. THGGM had to work late and wasn't available to tell me when I am talking too much. I DID have a wonderful time though, and I didn't hear one complaint about the craft. The youngest group made houses by gluing six craft sticks to the watercolor paper and coloring it with markers.

My headache came back with a vengence and at nine o'clock I was in bed. I didn't wake up until 7:20 when THGGM woke me up to see if I was okay. I was.

I've done nothing today but move around in a daze. I managed to doodle a bit, but even the paper seemed too bright. I tried to read, but my mind is in that weird wandering mode it goes into after I have a migraine.

On another note - Oldest Son and Youngest Son are watching cooking shows this afternoon. I find this startling. Well, not really. I'm GLAD they like to cook. I just would never have dreamed 10 years ago that the two of them would be watching a cooking show together. So far, they haven't hurt each other.

Ah, they DO grow up!

And the List of Missing Things Grows...

I still have not found our wedding pictures.

I am now missing eight white 'American Sweetheart' depression glass luncheon plates.

And, a small plastic bag of sharks teeth and a large plastic bag of shells.

Where, oh, where are they?

Excitement Follows Me Everywhere

Really. I am a dull woman. I like it that way.

But, excitement follows me everywhere. I try. OH, how I try. But at every turn, something exciting shows up.

Tonight was the first of three nights of Bible School. We made the 'Sheep Shelf Sitter'. The youngest of the four groups of children who rotated through the craft room did the best.

But the last group had the most excitement.

A bat flew into the craft room.

You can put a lot of effort into having an exciting Bible School, but absolutely nothing can beat a bat! It's the trump card for sure.

By the way...

The bat is no more. At least not THAT bat.

He Rolled Over!

So Homely It's Cute!

I've left a messy corner in my back yard in which to paint.

Red lids. White milk cartons. Gray juice boxes.

Today I had a very small window of opportunity in which to paint while Baby Boy took his morning nap.

I went outside, lined everything up, and right by my head heard cooing and a flapping of wings.

A mother Mourning Dove flew away, leaving her incredibly homely baby behind.

I could have picked this baby up. It didn't even flinch. Being that it was down wind of my painting, I moved all my stuff and proceeded to paint away in a new location. The minute I was done, it flew away.

I was very careful to keep my door shut so Barb would not feast upon this feathery delicacy.

In the afternoon, I checked the yard and found it to still be bird free. I let Barb out into the backyard (from which he cannot get out).

Baby Boy had very opinionated ideas about afternoon nap time. He insisted that I hold him. When he seemed very sound asleep, I laid him down. FOUR TIMES. FOUR TIMES he woke up, gave me a dirty look and set to screaming at me reasons for which I should continue to hold him. I had much to do, but I obliged him (he is cute and little and i get to send him home).

While I held him as he slept, I heard the back screen door open. This I knew to be Barb, letting himself in. So, I continued dozing with Baby Boy.

Then I noticed Barb let out a muffled meow.

Good Grief.

If it wasn't bad enough that we used to have mice IN our house, did he have to go outside and bring one in?

Only a tail hung out of his mouth.

I held in my screams so as not to startle the sleeping Baby Boy.

Barb walked all through the house why I tried to figure out whether or not this was worth waking up Baby Boy. I was about to try putting him in his crib again, when Barb thought it would be a good time to let his catch go. Right in the middle of the quilt Baby Boy sits on when he looks at books. I jumped back up on the couch and buried my face in Baby Boy's neck. He slept on.

I don't knew what happened to the mouse. Barb insisted it was under the Exersaucer, but it wasn't. He seemed sort of surprised by that. Even now, hours later, he keeps looking under it.

I'm just glad he didn't get the bird.

My Dad

This is a picture of my dad. I forgot my camera today, so this is him on Mother's Day, holding my mom's flowers.

He is 80. It is a miracle that he ever survived childhood, as he had a severely deformed heart. Although, he did not know this until about six years ago. He had major surgery and came through it all really well. Some of the damage was irreparable, but he copes. He also has lung problems, prostate cancer and a bunch of other ailments. But, he never complains.

I do think that his life is anything but easy. For the past several years he has had to take on more responsibility as my mom, his wife of 58 years, suffers from dementia.

Today I watched my dad as he hurried through church trying to find her. He had told her to go to the car and wait, but since it is her very short term memory that is effected, she forgot. He was trying to find her, huffing and puffing as he went up and down steps trying to locate her. At 80 he is still learning patience.

I doubt that these are the 'golden years' my dad signed up for. For years my mother presented him with three meals a day, a spotless home, finances all in order and every medical incident thoroughly researched and properly recorded. Now, all this falls to him.

But, he never complains.

In fact, if you were to talk to him, he would tell you how thankful he is to God for all of his blessings.

Especially his wife, three daughters, four grandsons, four granddaughters and one great grandson.

My Life

These are two of the three crafts for Bible School next week. The funny looking one is a sheep. He still needs his sign, which will say "Lost" on one side and "Found" on the other. I still have a lot of prep work to do for the sheep, as most of the juice boxes, which compose it's body, have juice in them!

















The jar with the red lid is an "I Spy" jar. It is mostly filled with rice, but hidden inside are nine different objects. One of those objects is a coin. It's really quite fun, and kept my '20 Somethings' occupied trying to find them all.


Not pictured is the "House". I just could not get a good shot. I'm having the most trouble with that one, as glue just refuses to dry in this humidity. Why, oh why did I not remember that from last year? Today I sprayed gray primer all over empty milk cartons, then filled them with plaster. I think they still need to be painted white, but I'm not sure. I'll have to call on my 'committee' for this one.

How To Have Fun on Less than Thirteen Dollars

I am happy to report that my sister and I had a wonderful day of thrift shopping. We also picked up Daughter and Baby Boy and lunched at our favorite Chinese place. Although they graciously passed on the thrift shopping.

The darling knit and crochet bib was only .50 cents. Oh, and it doesn't REALLY have a heart on it, that's just a foam heart floating around on my dining room table.

I also found four patterns for 15 cents each. Two are very old stuffed animal patterns, with all of the pieces present. One is for a smocked toddlers dress. I know no toddlers, yet. Anyway, it would take me a long time to learn how to do it. And, one pattern for a Hollie Hobbie doll. I don't really know how I got that one, it must have been stuck between the others.

A 25 cent pink pig came home with me also. I don't even collect pigs. But, I guess I just felt like flagrantly wasting money yesterday.

Oh! And I found two paper bells, the kind that come folded flat and open up into three dementional wonders? I got two! Now I will have to retake the pictures of my plastic wedding party. The bells will work wonders for those, I think.

Books were another thing I did well in! I bought two for my church library. A hard copy of Frank Peretti's "Monster", and a copy of "A Grace Disguised" by Gerald Sittser - which is garishly marked in pink highlighter.

For myself I bought "Devotional Classics" edited by Richard Foster. I also found a hardcover copy of "The Cape Ann" by Faith Sullivan. I have wanted this book since I saw it in an illustration on the front of one of Mary Englebreit's magazines a loooong time ago. I think this will make nice summer reading, along with the C.S. Lewis biography I'm reading at night.

THGGM, the doler-outer of money in this home so generously gave me thirteen dollars for the day. Isn't he a kind and generous man? So, to have a really fabulous time I had to be thrifty. Lunch at our favorite Chinese place is always a bargain. I had the Chicken with Vegetables which comes with Egg Drop Soup, an Egg Roll and what in our family we have always referred to as a 'dacshound leg'. Since we are fairly regular customers and tip well, our favorite waiter gives us free crab cheese. All that, with tip, came to seven dollars.

Between the two thrift stores I spent $1.80 and just under $4.00.

I came home with treasure! Memories! And .33 cents.

Aren't They Cute?

THGGM graciously went with me to the Thrift Store last night.

I found these WONDERFUL bridal party figures there.

As we checked out, the cashier said "Oh, is someone getting married?"

THGGM responded with disgust, "NO! But she HAD to have them!"

Really. Aren't they wonderful?

I wasn't home 2 minutes before I had my 'weekend thrift store find' linen tablecloth draped over a chair. I snapped away like a mad woman (see Inky Fingers).

I could not tell you why, but they make me SO happy!

In other news...I am reading A. N. Wilson's biography of C. S. Lewis and enjoying it very much.

When not caring for Baby Boy, I am finalizing my Bible School craft projects. I've priming to do which will go much better if I get it done before the humidity returns.

For some reason I am also more exhausted since my vacation ended than I have ever been in my life - and it hasn't even been hot yet.

So I'm taking today off. My sister is coming to town and we are going - you will NOT believe this - THIFT SHOPPING! And, she is going to try to help me figure out my parent's insurance debacle. Hmmm...that just might be what has been making me so tired...

Anyway...I still haven't found my wedding pictures, so the plastic happy couple will have to do!

...of Such Is the Kingdom of Heaven

There's been a noticable change in me since the arrival of Baby Boy five months and 14 days ago.

I want the world to be a better place.

Of course, I always wanted that, but more for selfish reasons.

I don't like to suffer.










But it's different now.

It seems more urgent.

Now I don't want anyone to suffer.

Black/Gray Day

I'm happily following 'Color Week' as laid out by Stephanie at www.littlebirds.typepad.com on my Inky Fingers blog (see right side bar).

These are the pictures that did not make the cut for Black/Gray Day.


In my 'real life' I am taking care of Baby Boy and finalizing three crafts for Bible School, which begins next week. My dining room looks like a dump site, which is causing THGGM to break out in a severe case of "Irreconcilible Differences Hives". He cannot stand to have piles of craft sticks, cotton balls, empty milk cartons and assorted other treasures on HIS dining room table. The poor man.

He also cannot understand why he finds his wife out in the backyard taking pictures of gray colored pencils in a smashed tin while Barb watches with delights. When your cat understands and your husband doesn't...hmmm...much to ponder!

Anyway, the crafts are coming along nicely. I have two helpful helpers, and then THGGM who will help by putting up with the mess on the dining room table until Saturday, when I will have him carry it all next door. Lots of people coming for dinner on Father's Day, and I will need the dining room table for that!

Shhhh...It's Reading Time at Grandma Judy's

I am so glad that Baby Boy likes to read!

Everyday when he comes to my house we have reading time.

Usually, it consists of ME reading to HIM, but lately he's been enjoying looking at books all by himself.

And, I have enjoyed looking at books all by myself, too!

Call Me a Slow Learner

Today I learned why you should not lean over a diaperless baby. I took the full force of a strong stream of urine smack dab in the face. More accurately, in my mouth. Couldn't see out of my glasses either, by the way. My sister was watching. SHE LAUGHED!

I've got a big load going in the washer now. Learned my lesson, good.

Sunday After Church

Grandpa and Baby Boy take their Sunday afternoon siesta on the front porch swing.















Oldest Son, Youngest Son, Nephew and Daughter play a rousing game of Cranium while Daughter-in-law takes a nap.

I did not sleep, nor did I play Cranium. I spent the afternoon making a sheep out of a juice box. It can be done. It's really not a glamorous life that I lead...

Thrift Finds

I couldn't resist these two little dolls.

THGGM rolled his eyes. The larger one was $1.49, the small one .69 cents.

I feel for the small one. We have the same hair!


And, I also found these Stampin Up stamps!

They had quite a few of these.

But, these two were ones I've always wanted.

I already have three of the stamps in the one on the right. The girls in the wagon, the girl with the flower and the pot of flowers. But, they came along with the others, so, if you are interested, let me know!

Thrift Store Linens

Today's thift store finds were excellent! THGGM and I only went to two stores, and found everything we had no idea we were looking for! Don't you just love it when that happens?
We found a beautiful embrodered table cloth, a linen table cloth and a long Dutch valance.






The two round doilies were .25 cents a piece.

The oblong doily was .50 cents.

I love finding linens for so cheap. Then I am not afraid of ruining them.

I could find no flaws on any of them!

Poor Baby Boy

Poor darling Baby Boy seems to have begun teething in earnest.

And we all wonder just where did that baby, who smiled all the time and only rarely cried, go?

This morning, the two uncles and I, Uncle Oldest Son and Uncle Youngest Son, could not do anything to console him.

Well. Except for sneezing and saying "bless you!"

He thought that was hysterical.

So we did it. Until we nearly hyperventilated.

Anything to help the boy. We are his slaves.

Oh, Barb! Was It Something I Said?

This is my wonderful cat, Barb.

He has been a loyal friend for eight years.

But, while we were on vacation Barb got out. Youngest Son did not realize this, until he came home to find Barb sitting on the front porch.

Barb's voice was hoarse for days. He must have screamed for hours.

He has always HATED to be outside.

Now, we cannot keep him in the house!

I don't know if he found a girl friend (barb is a boy) or a wonderful source of fresh meat, but he does not want to be here anymore.

Those of us who live here are annoyed. Both entries have a screen door which fastens with a hook. There is no latch. All Barb must do is press on the door and he is out. So, I latch the door. This is no fun for the person trying to get in, who cannot.

I feel sad. I could not possibly deal with the loss of another pet.

Homesick for What Is Not My Home

I want to go back.

Notice how the water, clouds and sky sort of meld into one lovely blue color.

The sky was pretty here tonight also.

Dark clouds right on the edge of very blue sky.

It's just not the same, watching the sun set into Target from the Meijer parking lot.

Yes, it was beautiful. But still. It's no Sleeping Bear Dunes.

A Good Nap

"There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him asleep."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

There's Nothing Like a Good Map!

A week ago Saturday THGGM and I were in our neighborhood thrift store where I discovered a map of all the counties in Michigan for only 99 cents.

How cool is that?

The next day we left on vacation - me armed with my new map.

I cannot begin to tell you how handy this thing was. Every little town up there seems to have it's own county and we were in and out of several without going many miles at all. The map sure helped! Even THGGM looked at it.

A year ago January THGGM and I were driving through northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin during a nasty ice storm. All of the road conditions and warnings were based on counties. I barely knew what city we were approaching, knowing what county we were in was indecipherable.

But, at least in MY state, I am prepared!

I kid you not. I truly believe that God whispers into the ears of people in my town "Hey, you with the map. You don't need that anymore, donated it! Judy needs it!" And they listen.

Old Mission Point

The current issue of Country Living was waiting for me when I got home.

How surprising it was to find a feature on the area where we vacationed!

The lighthouse below is just a short walk from our 'private' beach.

I didn't take a picture, because someone has purchased the lighthouse and it is now a private residence.

Really. You should go.
Or, at least buy the magazine!