Great Grandson Blows 'em Away

I've heard that pictures tell a story. Pictures can also be deceiving. Bet you'd never guess...

I am so proud of 11 year old Liam. He plays trombone in his school band. Looks like he is giving it his all, but this was a candid shot. He was standing on stage among his peers waiting for dismissal. He wasn't making a sound.

I would do anything to protect him, but I am not his bodyguard, and that is not a weapon in my hand. It is my cell phone.

For my writer friends out there, Chicken Soup for the Soul has many callouts for several titles for next year. Now is the time to submit your story. I went through my old files, discovered a slew of stories that were not accepted over the years and sent all ten of them off after I edited each for the upcoming titles. 

 People ask where I get my ideas. I pull from my reservoir of life stories. We all have stories. Why not get paid for sharing yours? 

Good luck to you. Write on!

Introducing Jackson ... E-I-E-I-O

Jackson is 17 months old and he is our pride and joy. His mommy Abby and daddy Kyle (Bill's grandson) have a working farm. Jackson has been introduced to farm animals, tractors, and all aspects of farm life. He has two dogs, cats and loves "steering" the tractor and side by side vehicle with his daddy. 

This is Tommy, a calf who was the same age as Jackson. He was rejected by his mother, so Kyle bottle fed this little calf. Tommy was not put out to pasture for a while and hung out around the outside of the house and in the large garage. His favorite thing to do was chase the two dogs around the perimeter of the house, around and around the three of them would race, alternating who was in the lead. What a joy to see.

Jackson has a roomful of stuffed animals and toys, but he prefers the real farm animals.

He loves the geese and especially the  new ducklings.

He adores the baby chicks when they hatch.

And when he came for a visit to our house, he discovered our cat who was skittish and ran away. But he fell in love with this battery-operated cat that meows, moves its head and tail. Jackson said, "Hi, Kitty!" And he played with it all day, and kissed him. So cute!

 

Growing like weeds!

 Liam is as tall as I am. Alex is right behind him, and Charlie is a big kid, too. They spent one of their spring break days at our house. Liam brought his key board, and for once the boys collaborated on a song instead of fighting. I predict they will be famous musicians in a boy band. Watch out world!

Liam has taken up an instrument at school this year. He was chosen as a star performer district-wide, to represent his school as the best TROMBONE player. He has a spring concert this week, and I will be sure to post photos. 

I am amazed at how time flies. I am weeks away from having my LUCKY birthday, and the boys all have summer birthdays, too. I miss their "little" days, but am so proud of our great grandsons. Alex had the cutest spring concert, right up my alley: At The Beach. Charlie's performance was adorable, too. 

Announcement ... Jackson, eighteen months is our fourth great grandson, and do I have cute pics to post of him along with stories. Do come back. Thank you for your visit.

Charming Charlie

 It has been three years since the devastating loss of my blog. I cherished the time spent sharing my life with all of you, and I have truly missed you.

Charlie is going on eight, Alex is almost nine, and Liam is weeks away from 12. I used to babysit them, converted our basement to a preschool area. I taught PreK for 40 years, and spent another three teaching my two youngest great grandsons downstairs.

When Charlie went to kindergarten, I had a yard sale and sold every preschool item: wall hangings, equipment, craft supplies, books...the works! I was so afraid of Charlie's reaction. I did not tell them about the renovation: a family room, furniture, rugs etc.

He stopped at the top of the steps and looked down stairs into the preschool area. When he saw a new large carpet, he screamed, "Nana!" He bounded down the stairs, stopped, gazed all around and said, "Oh Nana Linda, thank you for building us this cool hotel."

He brings me such joy and has given me so many laugh lines. None so funny as the day when he was much younger and lectured me about my innapropriate behavior.  

 I sat in a chair outside. He stood between my legs and fiddled with the ties on my peasant blouse. "I love these pretty beads."

 He asked me to tie his shoe, then he said, "Oh, Nana Linda don't be gross. You cannot show your butt outside, only in the bathtub with your brudders." 

I showed him I was sitting on my butt. He walked around me inspecting. The he looked at my neckline and said, "How DID you get your butt up that high?"'

"Oh, Charlie that is not my butt. That is my cleavage."

Last year I participated in a live show performance, Mama Said, Mama Said! along with a dozen  others and  shared quips and quotes about charming Charlie.

My Chicken Soup for the Soul stories have been published in 38 books, and I am still writing.

I would love to hear from you!

Is Anyone Still There?

 I have no idea how I recovered my blog, but when I told my dear husband he said, "Wow! A younger person." 

He is lucky I like/love him!

I have missed blogging and hope I still have some followers.  Lots has happened since my last post when my blog went bye-bye. I have certainly missed you!

recovered my blog

 Hi Everyone, I have no idea what I did, but I am BACK!

Got my eyes set on you!

Our house sits on a main road. The homes behind us are at a lower level than our elevated house and the other ones on our street. Therefore, neighbors cannot see into our back windows. Still, I do not make it a habit of going nude with drapes or blinds open.

I got out of the shower and realized I had forgotten my bra. I covered my chest with my arms, and reasoned, "No one can see in anyway. Just go grab your bra from your lingerie drawer and go back to the bathtroom to finish dressing."

Then my little voice of reason began yapping. "Relax! Neighbors cannot see you. They'd have to be on a ladder gazing in the window, or hanging out in the thirty foot tall tree behind us." 

No sooner a thought, and I glimpsed a neon yellow vested communication technician working on the cable lines, hanging like a monkey gawking in at me! (Only me!)

Charlie is 4, and he saved his own little soul when he got "caught."

He was building with blocks, and when he knocked them over accidentally, he got frustrated and shouted, "JEEEsus!" He looked up at me looking at him and he said softly, "Jesus, I love you!"

Moral of my stories: you never know when someone is watching.

My mom used to use fear tactics: "No matter where you are, who you are with, or what you are doing, someone is always watching, and I WILL hear about it." 

I was a good kid, but always on the look out for mom's friends, our neighbors, or someone who could rat me out.