My Grama's Soul

For the next 100 days I have committed to do a post each day of something that I deem to be beautiful. MY GRANDSON........... Jo

This is a finger painting painted by my beautiful grandson when he was around 3 years old. He was into dinosaurs at the time and he calls this his dinosaur....but I think it looks like a bird.  Remember "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". J0

Have you ever had a request from someone and been torn as to whether you should help them....or not?   This morning it happened to me in regards to my beautiful grandson.....I was asked to keep him all weekend and give up plans of ours that had been made for several months...because of conflicting schedules and illness..we have been unable to get together with these friends..who, by the way, are like family.   I explained the situation to the person requesting the favor and felt guilty the whole time.  The situation is quite serious on the requestor's end....and it was all I could do to say no, I'm sorry I can't do this.  You also must understand that we are VERY available to take care of our grandson most of the time. When I discussed the situation with my wonderful soul mate....his reply was quite simple.....Jo, you can't take care of everyone......keep the focus on our life and let others take care of their own. Such a simple concept....but a...

Well.....we "old fossils" finally got the tree up.....not decorated mind you....JUST UP.  LOL LOL   I don't remember these artificial trees being so heavy...of course we usually have someone help us with this...but this year....we are braving it alone.  Well....we will have a little help from my sweet grandson who is going to help decorate the thing over the weekend.  I really don't care what it looks like as long as the darn thing doesn't fall over from being lop sided or something.  (O: Julian doesn't have a big tree at his house so we always have one here for him.  In fact...we saw him just the other day..and the first thing he said was "grandma.....where's the tree".  Sooooo gramps and I got busy.   Our livestock are helping too....with encouragement.... O.K. maybe not exactly helping..but they are encouraging...don't you think?? hugs from here. Jo

For those of us who grew up with SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE on the television...the above title should certainly bring back memories and a chuckle or two. Remember the Farkle family...Fred Farkle..Fanny Farkle..Fritz Farkle (i think) and SPARKLE FARKLE.....Each time I get out all my sparkly Christmas decorations...this show comes to mind...I know...how weird is that!  Anyway....have been busy sprucing up the house for the holidays. Don't buy any new decorations anymore....at my age...I just want to dispose of things.  So...I get out old favorites and reuse and redo them in various ways.  ALTHOUGH....if I keep taking things apart...I just might need to get a few new things to last for Christmases to come. I've had this big Snowman for years...won it as a giveaway from Laurie Ann's Vintage home...thought he needed a little color since he is all white....so added some red things...and he fits right in. Had this old wire ribbon from last year...and sim...

Well.....springtime is finally here in this part of the country....just mild days....and cool, cool nights.  Here is a shot of my first Iris of the season.  I have them in my  beds with my roses and Lavender. I am always amazed at how they spread all by themselves.  This is the kind of gardening I like "volunteer gardening" is what I call it.  I only have purple Iris....but when they all bloom...it does take your breath away. In closing today...wanted to show you a small photograph that was purchased in Ganges on Salt Spring Island...many years ago.  It is from the Lumina Gallery there....don't know if they are still around...but this piece struck me even then. Isn't it amazing how everyone sees things so differently.  I loved the treatment of this Iris...and I'm sorry can't remember the artist's name.  Do any of my Canadian followers know who this is....it was a beautiful woman with such a distinctive style all her...

This weekend I took my wonderful grandson to the Phoenix Zoo.  He has been there before but it has been many, many, many years since I have visited. The vision for our zoo began in the early l960's and has grown to be one of the largest zoo's in the country. It was a warm weekend here as we walked the zoo's grounds and stopped at all the various exhibits.   Seeing all the animals in their habitats was certainly wonderful...ours is a somewhat interactive zoo...which allows various animals to be fed and touched.  But the most memorable event that I remember from our little outing was this.... No...not the peacock...but the willingness of complete strangers to help you see hidden animals when needed and just jumping in with information when you had questions.   The zoo was packed over the weekend with hundreds and hundreds of visitors...yet we all had this commonality~~ no matter how different we each were~~ all of us were enjoying Go...

For many of us.....holidays have always been a very stressful time.....too much work...too little time.  However....as the years have passed and holidays have changed over the years...I find that ours are getting better and better.   Yes.....this could have been me a few years ago....(actually....my cute grandson was taking pics with my camera)..but you understand my meaning.  Christmas ALWAYS seemed more about the presents and what everyone received than just spending time with people who love you.   My wonderful grandson could be the reason they seem so much more pleasant...oh yes....he loves presents.... But...he also....just loves hanging out with his grandma and grandpa.  He is an only child and has quite wonderful attitude about life.  He enjoys every minute and is always looking for the next adventure.....kind of like his grandpa. Miss Sophie doing what she does best at the holiday.  (O: These pics were...

Thanks to each of you who stopped by with your kind comments yesterday......as they say TODAY IS ANOTHER DAY!!  Can't stay in the doldrums for long.....I'm saving all of everyone's muchness in my heart and now it is Pink and fluffy~~ as it needs to be  . Here are a few Christmas pretties to share over this cold, cold weekend. We have our wonderful grandson this weekend....going to get a fire going and make a Gingerbread House......It could be the first one he has ever made....and I know it will be my FIRST! (O: Hugs and warm thoughts to all, Jo