The Road

Yesterday I saw a road
meandering off through the woods.
It made me stop and think
of all the paths in life we take.

Some that lead us toward love,
success and everything good,
some lead us on through hard times
and disappointment with the choices we make.

If we could somehow go back
and stand at the start,
look ahead at the trees
and grass and flowers.

Maybe make some choices
 a little closer to our heart.
Enjoy our lives a whole lot more
and thereby lighten our load.

The Road

 

This is my Sweetie Girl.  She is gorgeous!  She had been to a birthday party and came by to see GG'Ma! 

Anaila 2/20/2012

This is my Sweetie Girl!!  She is gorgeous--until she smiles!!  The gap is so cute!  She is on the young side to have so many teeth out already!  It seems she is growing up way too fast!!  She is so busy!!She is a Daisy Scout--selling Girl Scout cookies and going to scout meetings!! and to girl friends' birthday parties! 

Pincushions

Christmas

Today I was doing what I swear I will never do--shopping on Christmas Eve.  Just to the grocery store, but still!!  As I was looking at the meat (ca ching!!), I saw a cute little girl in a shopping cart being pushed by her mom.  Dad was near by, looking at the hams.  I cannot resist cute kids!!  I asked her if she was getting excited, waiting for Santa.  She said NO!  I was shocked!  A child in today's world who wasn't eagerly awaiting the big gift giver!! I asked are you sure?  She said yes!  Then she said naughty!
I looked at mom, she said the little girl had decided that she would rather be naughty and not recieve Santa's gifts than worry about being nice and get them!! I went on about my business, still shocked!  Then I began to think that maybe she wasn't so alone after all.  How many people are there out there who would rather the "freedom" of being naughty whenever they please rather than the work and responsibility of being nice and reap the reward of behaving themselves?

Children!

My six year old great grand daughter is not a morning person!  Neither is her mother!  Last day of school before Christmas vacation, girl informs mom that it is a "free dress" day.  If your children are required to wear uniforms to school, you know this is a good thing.  Mom and girl go back upstairs to change--lots of voices, noise coming down.  Girl is not happy with what mom has selected for her to wear.  Mom leaves for work, girl is 'put out'!  Stomps around sputtering, just as I am about to admonish with obey your mom, your mom loves you, etc., she looks at me and says " she won't let me wear what I want to wear, she is set on making me into, into, into HER!"  This is most profound thing I have heard lately! 

Christmas

In this economy, everyone I know is having money troubles.  At the very least, cutting back on movies and dinners out.  My oldest granddaughter works overtime frequently to make ends meet and have a little extra for her kids and family.  A few weeks ago, she came to me and said, "We need to have a theme for Christmas this year!"  Thinking she meant something like Victorian, or western, etc., I said sure, what did you have in mind?  "Homemade!" she said.  I liked it! We all like it!!  We dug deep, and remembered things that we all used to make or had made for us and it has been great fun!  Old skills and new projects have gotten us all into the true meaning of Christmas,  love for one another! Celebrating friends and family and Christ's birth rather than 5 am sales on Black Friday!!

Kids and Names

In 1960, I had the first grandchild in both families, a girl.  Two years later, I had number two, another girl.  A year later, my husband's oldest sister had the first boy.  Very cherished, and indulged, (anything he did was wonderful).  My girls called the older auntie "Sanny".  The younger, Carolyn, objected to my girls calling her "Curder".  One day while shopping, she heard her sister's little boy call from a distance in a very loud voice, "Caca, Caca"!!       She no longer objected to Curder!!

More kids saying funny things!!

My young friend, Isabella, actually her mother, has reminded me lately that there is an A at the end of her name.  I have formed the habit of calling her Isabelle.  She doesn't seem to mind, always responds and even answers to Bella.  I personally like Belle, or Bella.  My little 3 year old had us all in stitches when he calls her "Bulla"!!

Kids Say The Funniest Things!!

Whew!  It's been awhile! 

Just when you think your kids (and those around you) are not paying attention---I have been encouraging Isabella to read labels.  Like most good intentions, it has come back to bite me!  We have formed the habit of making our lunch sandwiches by putting all our options on the table, choosing what we want and making our own.  Isabella picked up the Dijon mustard and said, "Grant!  Don't eat this!! It's made of wine!!  Luv it!!

Oh honey...

Miss Lilly Anne Manzanera

We have a new edition to the Sellars Dynasty!  Born this morning around 8 o'clock in Los Angeles.  She of course is beautiful, Mom and Dad are ecstatic, Grandma D is over the moon!  We will have to see how soon we can talk them all into coming up for a visit--it's their turn!!

A New Year

Wow!  Where did January go? 

We are well into the new year, but life has JUST slowed down enough to gather our thoughts. February will be a VERY busy month--a day of school staff developement (no school for students), Ground Hog Day (he saw no shadow), Valentine's Day, a Monday holiday, and another Monday holiday --with a trip to LA to celebrate the coming of a new great-granddaughter which brings extra busy ness in getting ready to be gone for two days. (I luv it!!) It was traumatic decidng who was able to go, were we gonna drive, or fly, etc.  By the time it was resolved that I was going alone, the ticket price had gone up $40!
I have found a new quote!  It seems to explain how some very educated people can sometimes seem so dum--ah--dense!

"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.  Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad!"

Family and Friends

Christmas at my house was wonderful!!  My youngest daughter and granddaughter gave me a very thoughtful gift that will bring pleasure for years to come, my oldest daughter gave me a sorbet/icecream maker that I had been searching for, my husband was also very thoughtful and generous.  It is amazing to me that some people can find just the right gift that says,"I love you and want to make you happy"!    And then, after a wonderful Christmas day at home with my family, my young friend, Janeen accompanied me to see one of the great movies about the south.  I had never sat through all 4 hours of Gone With The Wind and to see it on the big screen was a special treat.  The music was great from the surround sound of the theater and the scenery of the burning of Atlanta and the countryside was breathtaking on the big screen!!  Young Clark Gable wasn't too bad, either!! She topped the day off with a hand-made scrapbooked calendar that will make the year special.  I feel especially blessed this year, everyone is growing and thriving, doing so well in school and work.  2011 will also bring another great granddaughter!

Holidays

 Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday!!  I love everything about it!  In addition to the 'reason for the season', the colors, the smells, the fellowship with a little extra thoughtfulness and general good cheer.  Finding the perfect gift for all my children, grandchildren and now great grandchildren, watching the joy shine in their faces Christmas morning--wonderful.  My son-in-law cooks Christmas dinner so I am completely free to enjoy!!

Thanksgiving is a close runner-up.  After the cleaning, cooking, eating and shopping, comes the first of the Christmas specials.  The family sitting around together, the little ones oohing and ahing, with an occasional "I want that"!  Friday we were watching a holiday show with Andrea Bocelli (wonderful) and the Muppets, I remembered the first time I heard of the Muppets.  My granddaughter, living in Oregon, would tell me over the phone about "Bertnernie".  For the longest time, I didn't know it was not one word!!

Adrian

Aren't kids wonderful?  And amazing?  We, as a family, have paid SO much attention the the 5 year old and what she is learning and doing, maybe we have neglected to take proper note of what the 2 year old is up to.  For instance, the very same day Gramma scolded Daddy about a slip of the tongue in the children's presence, Adrian demonstrated his keen sense of mimicry.  He had broken a part off of a small truck Daddy had given him the night before.  Not a very expensive or sturdy toy.  When Adrian tried to put the part back on and couldn't, Gramma heard very clearly "Oh Sh--"!!

Mean and Ugly

I greeted a young man recently with "Hi, Mean and Ugly!"  His response, needless to say, was not nice!!  I had been saying this to people I love for so long that I had forgotten that not everyone understood.  I though "Oh My Gosh!  I need to explain where this came from!!"  So I sat down, thought and thought and guess what!! I don't remember the very first time I heard this phrase!!   I remember a time when Donna brought "Oregon" down for a visit and they came to the school where I was working.  They found me in the faculty room, having lunch.  I turned to introduce them to my friends and to let my friends know just how proud I was of my beautiful granddaughters, and hopefully not embarras them toooo much, introduced them as "my granddaughters, Mean and Ugly!  This one's mean and that one's ugly!!"  Brought the house down and broke the ice for everyone to enjoy being together.  For many years when we had been apart for some time, when we could be together, I called them Mean and Ugly--never the same one each time.  If you want to see just how Ugly these young women are, go back about to April posting, you'll see!!  Love you Girls!!  Love you Don!!

Candy Fairy

A vetran kindergarten teacher told me of a wonderful custom that allows children to have the fun of candy but not the cavities!  Kids go trick or treating (prefer to attend a harvest party at a local church) mom allows them a piece or two of their loot, but then--while they are sleeping the Candy Fairy comes and takes most of the candy and leaves a small gift instead!! What a great idea!!  Only I think she should be called the Sugar Fairy and come on the day after Easter, too!!

Boating Safety

In the '70s and '80s, we had a small, 16 foot ski boat.  A major part of our recreation time was spent on the rivers and lakes near by.  Late in the summer one year, we took our four children and a friend out for a weekend of camping and skiing. We camped on a spit of land across the river where it splits into the San Joaquin and the Sacramento.  Overnight a big windstorm came up and blew hard.  In the morning, we discovered that the boat battery was floating in the boat's transom.  We were not overly distressed, there were many boats on the water all  around us and we expected someone to come to our assistance.  After lunch we began to worry that we would be overcome by darkness and would be stranded another night on the island  So--Ray and I decided that we'd row the boat around to Sandy Beach where our car was parked, run into town, buy a new battery, return to pick up the kids.  We had no oars, so we used skis.  Since Ray was so much stronger than I, we went in circles--frustrating!!  The wind was still strong, so we got out a tablecloth and held it up between us and the wind filled it, and away we went!!  Scudding across the slough, right into Sandy Beach!!