• The body in the suitcase…

    June 22, 2013 / 10 Comments

    One Sunday not long ago, I heard laughter coming from my living room as my daughter and I were in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on Sunday lunch.  I found my grandchildren reading aloud the titles of all my books in my living room library.  They were obviously entertaining themselves.  They were stuck on the books by one of my favorite cozy-mystery authors, Katherine Hall Page.  Each book title (and I have all of her books) begins with “The Body in…”.  My shelves are filled with all types of books – from English and American literature (I was a college senior and an English major prior to switching to Nursing!), mysteries (especially FBI mysteries), poetry, sewing, painting, romance, romantic comedies and many others.  However, they were drawn to “the body” books!  I love the cozy-mysteries – especially those by Katherine Hall Page.

    This suitcase is well traveled…it has been many places.  Unfortunately, it is broken beyond repair and it’s time for a new one…and, hopefully, lots of new places to go along with it!

    This morning as I was cleaning the apartment,  I decided that my now deceased suitcase (the zipper finally broke beyond repair on my last trip to Florida) would make a good container to carry empty boxes and other things to the large trash container – two flights down, across the tarmac and beside the garages.  I would deposit everything – suitcase included – into the trash.  Clearly, the suitcase was heavy and I wondered if anyone else in the building had as vivid an imagination as I do?!

    As I hauled the suitcase down the stairs, I was reminded of one of my all-time favorite classic movies:  Rear Window!  I loved Jimmy Stewart and he was wonderful in this film.  Raymond Burr was also memorable as Lars Thorwald…the no-good husband who really does put a body (well, okay, if you want to get technical, parts of a body in a suitcase).  😉  All done in the classic good taste of the 1950’s.  Come to think of it, I think it is time to see this movie again.

    Lots of empty boxes made the trip to the dumpster in the old suitcase…I wonder if Katherine Hall Page has ever considered a book about The Body in the Suitcase?!?  Hmmm….

  • Thirteen years ago…

    June 18, 2013 / 6 Comments

    Thirteen years ago today, my firstborn’s firstborn arrived…a beautiful baby girl.  Early on, they had shared with us that the ultrasound had revealed she was a girl but kept her name a secret for nine long months!  When my son called to tell us the happy news, we were beyond excited.  After informing us that mom and daughter were both healthy and doing great, as well as the vital statistics, my son then quipped:  “Mom, don’t you want to know her name?!”  Finally!  Of course I did!

    As I’ve watched her growing up, I’ve been amazed to see so many of the talents that, apparently, each of us grandparents had passed down to her parents…and to her.  This sweet girl loves writing and art – two of my gifts and passions.  She is also athletic – that would have come from her parents, her paternal granddad and maybe her maternal grandparents!

    She plays the violin beautifully and is in the youth symphony in the city where they live.  She loves music and has a lovely voice.  She spent almost 7 years of her life living in Peru where her dad was a missionary doctor, and she has been bi-lingual for much of her life.  At this point in her life, she wants to be a pediatrician when she grows up – like her dad.

    I’m glad they are now back in the states but just wish they didn’t live eleven long hours from me!  I would love to see all the milestones for myself!

    Happy Birthday, sweet girl!  I love you…

     

    The early years…

     

    Above:  With Granddad, her late paternal grandfather, at the Memphis zoo…

    Below:  Thanksgiving 2012…

     

     

     

  • Anna Maria Island…

    June 14, 2013 / 9 Comments

    After a wonderful fun-filled-four-days visiting all four theme parks at Disneyworld, we headed to Anna Maria Island, Florida, for another four days of sun, sand and relaxation.  It had been more years than I could remember since I had seen the beautiful Southern waters of the Gulf.  It brought back memories of our family’s vacations on the Outer Banks of North Carolina on the Atlantic side years ago.

    My daughter had found a very nice beach house for us right on a canal and complete with a private pool.  The house was decorated in the sunny and cool colors of the beach:  shades of blue, yellow, lavender and coral.  The white trim throughout the house accented the colors perfectly.  There were several abstract paintings throughout the house that we learned had been purchased in Brazil.  With speakers inside and outside for the pool, we also enjoyed the beach music selections provided by the owner.

    I shared a room with my four year old grandson with a twin bed for each of us.  He’s a perfect little roommate and I loved it when he said, “goodnight, Grandmommy”.  Although on a couple of nights, I was actually asleep before he was and he tiptoed in without waking me.  Perfect little gentleman.

    After a morning on the beach, we walked the 5 minutes back to the house and had lunch – after rinsing off in the outdoor shower.  Afterwards, we usually watched a video, played or read for a while during the hottest part of the day.  Then it was out to the pool where the fish my grandchildren loved practicing all their strokes and actually playing in the water.  The three older ones swim competitively and have a stack of blue ribbons to prove it.  Consequently, they have little time to actually “play” in the water.  I enjoyed being in the pool some with them, then reading my Karen White book which I’d brought along with me.

    I think my daughter had the perfect idea, scheduling the four relaxing days after the four busy ones.  Ten days passed all too quickly and we flew back to Iowa on Tuesday morning…with a bank of memories of a wonderful time together.

  • Four days at Disneyworld…

    June 13, 2013 / 2 Comments

    On Sunday the 2nd day of June,  I took a direct flight to St. Petersburg, Florida, with my daughter and her family.  They rented a van to seat all seven of us and we headed for Orlando and four wonderful days touring all four of the theme parks at Disneyworld!  I was finally going to see Disneyworld for the first time in my life!  My daughter had rented a fabulous 4 bedroom – 4 bath house complete with a private pool and about a ten minute drive from Disneyworld.  It was beautifully decorated and fully equipped, although it was hard to imagine using such nice furnishings in a vacation rental home!  Nevertheless, we totally enjoyed it!

     

    Below:  After we picked up the rental van at the airport and were headed to Orlando! 

    Can you tell the kids were excited!?

    On Monday morning, we headed to Epcot and spent the next twelve+ hours seeing everything!  (On the first of the four days, I was tired beyond measure but got progressively better as the week progressed.  I took that to mean that I should definitely start walking TEN+ miles a day!)  😉  Well, maybe not ten!

    Epcot was amazing with all of the different countries represented.  I could have spent a whole day just visiting that section but there was so more much to see!  And there were so many great rides!  I think my two favorite rides in Epcot were Test Track and Soarin’.  We finished the first day at Disneyworld enjoying a fantastic fireworks show.

     

    On Tuesday morning, we headed to Animal Kingdom.  That was probably my favorite of all the parks, but it’s hard to say.  There were also some great rides in Animal Kingdom.  I loved the African setting especially and seeing all the wild animals.   My daughter loves roller coasters and rode the Expedition Everest several times.  I gave her my fast pass ticket – that’s for sure!  😉

    Read about the Tree of Life below here.  Amazing sculpture!

    On Wednesday, we enjoyed the Magic Kingdom…a fairytale come true!  Each day, there were great shows to see as well as rides.  I especially enjoyed The Little Mermaid musical and The Lion King show.  Such talent!  There were also great rides at the Magic Kingdom!  And, yes, I rode Dumbo the flying elephant and the Goofy Barnstormer among others!
    Tropical storm ANDREA arrived in Orlando on Thursday morning.  We ventured out anyway, covered in plastic ponchos – this time to the Hollywood Studios theme park!  We enjoyed several shows and rides to remember.  Altogether, a fun day regardless of a mere tropical storm!
    In past years, I have taken my camera everywhere but, this time, I was carrying a backpack with water, etc. and didn’t take my camera.  I wished I had but we were moving so fast, not sure there would have been time to take pics!  My daughter snapped these pics with her phone but I never could get HER in any of the photos!
    Coming post:  Four days on Anna Maria Island…

  • Summer days…

    June 13, 2013 / 7 Comments

    The past few weeks have been busy ones – leaving little time to blog about it…but it’s time to catch up now.  The photos below were taken a few weeks ago on the last day of school and the weekend after.  We went to a nearby park while we waited for the time to pick up my oldest grandchild from class.  WE climbed a rock wall (I still have the bruise on my leg to prove it!), went down the slide several times and climbed on the gym set.  The only thing I absolutely could not accomplish were the hand-over-hand monkey bars!  Clearly, I no longer have the upper body strength.  My daughter captured it all on film but I am so not going to share those!  No doubt, she will blackmail me with them when I am eventually old and refusing to give up my car keys!  😉

    Below:  At their house, my grandsons enjoying an old but still fun game – Mario!

    Below:  At the park the day classes officially ended for the Summer…

    My sweet granddog, Kiana, is also glad for Summer days.  She’s a Hungaria Vizla…

    The first weekend after school ended (although my daughter’s children homeschool some year round), my granddaughters came over for a sleepover.  We cooked a delicious supper (they’re great helpers) and made a delicious JELLY ROLL with strawberry jam!  They took some home to share.  I have plans to teach them how to bake several different things over the summer and will post the recipes as we go.

    Below:  at my apartment, creating stretchy, adorable bracelets out of gum wrappers!

    Below:  Enjoying spending time at Grandmom’s apartment…reading on the porch.

  • Sweet rosebud barrettes…

    May 16, 2013 / 4 Comments

    During my recent week in Dallas, we all went to an Etsy Fair…what fun!  Several of the booths there were featuring adorable little barrettes.  They were a little on the pricey side and I decided that I should try to make some for my sweet granddaughters – especially the younger ones.

    I’m still in the “self-teaching” phase, but I think they are actually looking pretty good.  (I ordered fine wool felt and lead-free barrettes to ensure safety.)  I have several more works-in-progress almost finished but I am putting together a package to mail to my little 19-month-old granddaughter.  Hopefully, she will like them and they will stay in her hair!  Her Mom trimmed some bangs in her hair which is helping some, but that beautiful strawberry blonde, silky fine hair just escapes most barrettes…or some adorable someone takes them out!  😉

    It’s evident that I’m a beginner at these but I definitely think they will improve.  In the meantime, they will look adorable on her!

    We’ll see what she thinks about these…

    Here are a few of the finished ones…there are several other colors.

    While they look larger, each one is only about 1.75″ wide.

     

    A “practice” one…I want to do another one with stitching on the cupcake and cherry!