The Seasons

Friday found Hubby and I back out on the slopes. It was not the best of days, in that it had rained the day before, and the snow was soft and on some places the surface was just plain gone. I tried to make the best of it, but picture conditions late in the season, where the snow is not holding up too well.

Add to that a gazillion little kids, who point their skis or snow-boards down hill and then whiz by, never making a turn! Yeah, after an hour and a half I was feeling the pressure. I told Hubby he could keep skiing, but I was worried I would fall and get hurt, and never be able to swim with Flipper! So, I was going in.

He joined me and we left and came home. If anything, the dogs were very happy to see us, and after a bit, I made lunch.

I relaxed in a hot bath tub and when I got out, Mandy called me and I got to hear my grand daughter’s heart beating! I cried, I laughed, oh how wonderful!

My house-sitters dinner was cancelled tonight as everyone has a cold. So we’ll do it next week, when everyone is feeling better.

Have a good weekend, Everyone!

Isn’t She Lovely!

I was lucky to be able to go down yesterday and spend the day with Mandy and her baby to be! She is looking so lovely, and yes, she is truly glowing!

Feb 19 2012

We went out for brunch, and then went to Babies-R-Us and spent about an hour and a half registering for various things. Oh what fun that was! I found several absolutely adorable things on sale and so I picked them up, and slowly but surely, Baby-to-Be is getting quite the frilly little wardrobe! What fun!!!

As I watched her in the store I recalled the times so long ago, when she was a baby. I kept thinking, “Wait a minute, that was yesterday!” Now she is grown-up and a woman! No longer a baby. Where did that time go?

Feb 19 2012 (5)

I drove back home, stopping to exchange a sweater I did not like, and then I had to help Hubby find a Hotel for the night before our trip. It took us two days, but we finally got the room booked without having to sell a kidney!

I made dinner, did all of the usual, before collapsing in my chair! It’s been an incredibly busy weekend, and I sure hope the doggies let me sleep late!

A Snowy Saturday

We woke on Saturday morning to pretty heavy snow falling outside. My trusty, 4-wheel drive Jeep was dead in the water, with a useless, flat battery. Darn! Hubby was finally feeling better and he offered to drive me in his station wagon. One great thing about Hubby, he really knows how to drive in snow! Whew! I really wanted to go and see my daughter!

So about ten o’clock in the morning we headed out. I was a little bit of a nervous wreck, due to the snow, but on we went! Hubby needed to get gasoline, so we stopped at BJ’s Warehouse, and conveniently across the street is an Outlet Mall. And in that Outlet Mall is a Carter’s Outlet store! So in I went, where I proceeded to buy two very pretty pink outfits and a pink blanket, for my little granddaughter! In fact when I entered the store I stood for a moment and announced to the nice sales girls that, “IT’S A GIRL”!!! They were so nice, helping me find the things I bought for the baby.

We were back on the road heading south, and with each mile we went, the snow seemed to get heavier and heavier. Not good. We saw two accidents on the way down. One car skidded off the road, and probably scared the driver to death, and the other was an actual flip of the car, and I understand the driver was air lifted to Boston.

We finally arrived at the restaurant about 5 minutes early. I was seated and I was speaking to the manager telling him that we were celebrating my daughter’s pregnancy, and learning that it was a girl!

Mandy and Matt arrived and lunch started. We all had delicious food and talked about the baby, the future and life. It was so wonderful!

January 21 005

She is getting a cute baby-bump and allowed me to take a picture, but I do not think my blog is a place to share it. I will share the picture above, as I think you can see how happy we are!

There is no name yet, just Baby-Girl! Time. Time will tell, what name will fit their little girl.

We had yummy desserts and when the check came, the manager told us that Mandy’s dessert was on the house! I thought that was so sweet!!!

We said good-bye and headed off. The roads in Nashua were still bad, and we saw another accident, but as we drove north, home, they seemed to improve.

We needed to stop at LL Bean to get the zipper on my jacket fixed, but when I went in, the saleswoman suggested a find another coat instead. She told me it often takes 2 months to get something fixed. By then, winter will be over! So I looked around and found this coat:

January 21 009

They looked up and saw when I bought my jacket (2005) and I payed $59.00. Here we are in 2012 and they gave me a full credit of $59.00. This coat’s price was $79.00 and after using a $10.00 coupon I payed $10.00! It is nicely insulated and as you can see stadium length! I shall miss my old light blue jacket, pictured in the side bar. It was such a nice comfortable coat!

Then we went off to Sam’s Club where I witnessed a woman yelling at a disabled employee. This young man is a wonderful, hard worker, and she made him cry with her cruelty. The manager was handling things with the young man very well, talking with him, listening to him, but I felt real anger well up inside of me toward the abusive woman! I made sure that the management knew that I appreciated this man and that I felt he is a good hard worker.

Then Hubby and I headed home, where we were greeted by the doggies! Talk about pure happiness and joy! I’m not sure if they missed us, wanted to eat or wanted to go outside and run around in the snow. It’s okay, after 30 minutes, they had done all three!!!

Now it’s time to sit back and put up my feet. What a great time we had with Mandy and Matt and it was actually kind of nice driving in the snow, with the trees looking so pretty.

Thursday Thirteen

Aug 1 002

Here is what I am thinking right now.

  1. I am thrilled that Mandy and her baby girl are in good health.
  2. Oh, I can hardly wait to see Mandy get big and full with this baby girl!
  3. And then, I can hardly wait to meet her and hold her for the first time.
  4. I would love to rush out to the store and buy little dresses, bows and mary-jane shoes!
  5. Soft silky pink blankets!
  6. I’m studying some photography so I can learn about posing newborns.
  7. Plenty of pictures of this baby, I can tell you!
  8. Less than five months to go!
  9. Mandy and I are just about counting the days.
  10. Matt too. I can tell he is going be a great Daddy to this little girl!
  11. So much love surrounding this baby!!!
  12. Isn’t that wonderful?
  13. A child, simply, can never have too much love!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. A new Miss America was crowned on Saturday night-did you watch? If you were a contestant what would your talent be?

I didn’t watch. I was watching the Patriot’s game. Now what would my talent be? Well back when I was a young girl, I sang beautifully. So I think that would be it. After all, no one has ever cooked for their talent, and really, that would be mine!

2. Do you have houseplants? Real or fake?

I have two plants. A Christmas Cactus, and a Poinsettia. The Cactus is alive and well, but the Poinsettia is nearly dead. I have a green thumb in my garden and a black thumb in the house!

3. When you were in school did you speak up or were you more of the hide your face, avoid eye contact, and pray the teacher didn’t call on you type of student?

Definitely the latter. I wasn’t a great student and I just hoped and prayed they didn’t notice me.

4. Next Monday marks the Chinese New Year…what do you order when someone suggests Chinese food?

We go to a Buffet near our home and I always have Egg Foo Yong, Pea Pods and Stir Fry Shrimp and Vegetables.

5. How would you define a miracle? What would it take for you to consider something a miracle?

God causes miracles every day. They are all around us. Right now the biggest miracle in my family’s lives are the little baby, growing in Mandy’s tummy. We will find out later on today what the baby is. Boy or Girl!

6. What’s your favorite Disney song?

Feed The Birds, from Mary Poppins. I love that movie and still watch it.

7. I should have done the grocery shopping yesterday.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

And on Tuesday we learned that Mandy is going to have a baby girl! My heart is full and Hubby and I and the rest of Mandy’s family are walking on air!

Baby January 17 2012

So for your viewing pleasure, my granddaughter!!!

Happy Birthday, Mandy!!!

How quickly the years have gone by. My baby is no longer a baby, but here she is, expecting a baby of her own! Today is her birthday. How well I remember that day, so long ago, when I gave birth and felt not only an overwhelming and immediate surge of love, but an incredible awe, that from two people’s love, had produced this wondrous babe.

Thus began my love affair with my daughter, which continues to this day.

I wish for her all the joys of motherhood, all the happiness I have known, from the baby’s first smiles, to the first steps, to the first day of school.

I promise you, my dearest daughter, I will be right there with you, loving you, supporting you, and being the best grand mother ever to your child.

Happy Birthday!

Thursday Thirteen

ATT170045

We’re due for some snow tonight, but to tell you the truth we still have green grass! I told Hubby he would have to mow it again…soon! Okay, here are this weeks random thoughts.

  1. Although my back is getting better, it is still sore. So, I am really doing a lot of stretching and no lifting.
  2. Weight Watchers was a great class today. They debuted their new 2012 program! It isn’t a total reboot of the system. Just many little tweaks.
  3. Upon getting home, the rain seemed to get heavier and the fog cooler and more chilling, so I decided not to go grocery shopping today.
  4. Of course this was a mistake because tomorrow we are due for 5 inches of snow, which will mean I won’t really feel like driving out in that, either!
  5. I made a new dish. WW chicken enchiladas. They were so good and very different!
  6. I think the one thing that happens to people after being on a healthy eating plan is, you get really tired of the same foods, meals, over and over again.
  7. So I am trying to shake it up and make “new” things.
  8. I really need to start working on my Christmas shopping. Although I am in the spirit, I just feel uninspired to shop.
  9. Perhaps next Wednesday after class I will go to a few places to shop.
  10. I wish Mandy was available to just kick around with, but she is busy with work.
  11. We are planning a lunch really soon.
  12. I simply love shopping with her. Mandy and I have such fun!
  13. Best of all, yesterday Mandy had her second ultra-sound. Here is her baby. Head to the left, you can see the spine and the hand, as it tries to find it’s thumb.

Baby December 7

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Do you send Christmas cards? If so about how many will you send this year? How do you display the cards you receive? Or don’t you? (gasp!)

We send cards every year. At this point, we’re paring down to about 75. Mostly to those we hear from, and a few shut-ins we keep in touch with.

2. When do kids become adults?

I remember thinking when Mandy got into her 20’s that I simply said to myself, step back and allow your girl to make her own way! Oh, it is hard, but you really need to allow them the respect to be their own person!

3. Does your ‘beauty regimen’ change with the seasons?

No. It’s simple. Moisturize!!!

4. What’s something you like to eat that might cause another person to turn up their nose?

Yes. Lima Beans!!! I love them with butter and salt and pepper. Most people do not!!!

5. Gloves or mittens?

Gloves. I have a pair of leather gloves lined with sherpa, and they are wonderfully warm!!!

6. What’s the longest queue you’ve ever been in? Was it worth it? Queue=line but doesn’t queue sound nicer?

I guess at the airport. And yes, it was worth it. Mostly though, I do not like crowds, so if I see a long line, I go the other way.

7. Besides Christmas, what is one thing you are looking forward to in the month of December?

Celebrating Mandy’s Birthday! I know it is hard for her being born 5 days before Christmas, but I will tell you, she was the best gift I ever got!!!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I think about life now and how next year at Christmas, I will be celebrating my grandchild’s first Christmas! What a blessed event that will be!

So Much News!

Today is a very special day in my life. It’s the day I can finally announce to you all, that I am going to be a Grammie!

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My daughter, Mandy and Matt wanted to wait until she was through her first trimester before we announced it. I have to tell you, I have been so excited I have hardly been able to keep it to myself!

Their baby (too soon to know what it is), will be born in mid June! I think we’re all walking around with the biggest smiles on our faces. Oh, how blessed our families are to have this little one on the way!!!

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Congratulations Mandy & Matt!!!

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My next piece of news is that today my cousin, Janet and I are going to Connecticut to celebrate my sister’s 40th Wedding Anniversary! They met when they were 13 years old at summer camp and back in those days, the only way to stay in touch was writing letters and occasionally a very expensive phone call. Yet, even though we lived on Cape Cod and Ron lived in Arlington Massachusetts, their love blossomed and they married right after High School. I was her maid of honor, all those years ago and Janet was a bridesmaid. I tried to find a picture taken back then, but couldn’t. Instead, here is a picture of Mel and Ron taken at their son, Mike’s wedding.

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Happy 40th Anniversary you two!!!

Pepe La Pew!

Today we drove down to Nashua to have a birthday celebration with Mandy and Matt. We had so much fun, celebrating his birthday and talking about the wedding. I forgot my camera, unfortunately, so I cannot show you any pictures.

Mandy cooked a great meal, and we all enjoyed it. Steak, Scallops and Shrimp! Yum, yum, yum!

After dinner, Hubby and I drove home. It seemed like a long way, after dark and with full stomachs! When we turned into our driveway we saw something fluttering along the road.

A SKUNK!

Now I knew I would have four dogs at home who would want to go out and do their business. How would I get them all out and walked, with the threat of Pepe La Pew hanging over me?

I put the leash on each and every one of them and walked them outside with a flashlight, quickly, and then I hurried back inside, safely!

Now I will go off to bed, and hopefully, Mr. Skunk will move on through the neighborhood by morning.

Oh, I do hate Skunks!