A vacancy in my house has been filled

I couldn't even begin to fill you in on all the stuff that happened during my blog break in one post.

But I'd love to tell you a bit about what and who was keeping me busy during those many months.

I will say this, it was interesting having a whole family move into our house.
It was actually kinda nice for my husband to have his daughter back here in the US after over a twenty year absence.
Now I won't lie to ya. I am giddy to have my house back and Bill and I love our space.

And we also love that our gas bill isn't huge anymore!!

My stepdaughter Barbara really is a lovely person. I'd like to think we became pretty close over the year + she was here. I found her to be a loving and attentive mother and wife. And we enjoyed an easy relationship agreeing early on who should do what and when in the house and I think made things run smoothly. And boy can this woman iron.

Her husband, George was gone working most of the time but God bless the man although very high strung which the opposite of me, we did have the same taste buds. When I got into the kitchen picky kids be darned or happy with mac n cheese and chicken nuggets,. He and I would always agree on food, how much spice, how much garlic, love of citrus,  what cheeses are the best and the wine, we even liked the same wine. And who doesn't like a man who is wonderfully respectful to your mother, he called her Ya-ya.

The boys, Nickolas and Andrea's, well I don't have to tell you they were adorable and just crawled into a space into my heart and my heart just aches with missing them since they've been gone. The are ten and fourteen and were my very special cookie maker and watcher of Supernatural buddies respectively. sigh....

Shortly after they moved out an orphan kitten showed up at our door. My heart just sang because this sad little fellow was looking for a home, isn't it lucky for him we had a vacancy?!

My friends, meet Eightball.

Getting up close and personal

Things have changed significantly in our lives since the summer. After their plans to live elsewhere went BOOM (big family drama) Bill’s daughter and her family moved in with us. And now we’ve got a full house.

 Bill’s daughter (the one I didn’t raise) moved away as a young woman with her new husband to Cyprus. After a twenty five year absence from our lives they came back with kids in tow and there was a lot of catching up to do.It’s been great having boys (2) in the house again, and their children are very sweet and respectful. Although I’m not their biological grandmother I’ve been married to their grandfather for close to thirty-five years so they call me grandma out of respect (which I love). I am getting to know their personalities, their likes and dislikes and I’m even picking up a word or two of Greek!! My step daughter is a lovely young woman, only eight years my junior and we really get on well, like friends. She works hard long hours to support the family and is a loving wife and mother. Her husband is my food twin!! He loves all the exact food, beer and wine I like just like I like it; funny right? He’s very respectful of all of us and can’t do enough to help around the house, run out to the store or even repair something here or at my mother’s house.  He calls my son’s Billy and Matthew little brother which I think is very sweet.

And what we thought would be a few months stay has been extended to longer but we’re seeing the light at the end of this tunnel. For those of you, who think it’s easy “coming to America” as “a legal immigrant”, think again. My step daughters husband did everything except jump thru hoops to comply with all the rules, forms and fees  and finally this week  he’s received notice he’ll be getting his green card with permanent resident status within a week or two. Although he’s been here before and had two green cards previously that didn't make one iota of a difference. My thoughts turn to 911 and the heightened scrutiny our government takes on each and every application and I can’t help but think this is the reason and the cause for the months and months of wait time. Personally this makes me both annoyed and grateful at the same time.

 I’m just going to end this post with a big hello to anyone who’s even reading this blog anymore!!

 Thanks :0 

And some advice; for anyone reading that might have a relative who wants to come here to the USA and become a permanent resident. Do your paperwork in your home country before coming to America!  If not you best have a lot of money saved or a family member who can work (since you can’t work legally), at least two places to live. Don’t expect one of them to be my house…we’re out of rooms!! 

I like her because....out of the mouths of babes.

In a few days school will start for kids everywhere if they've not started already.
Anyway it got me to thinking about all the cute stories that I remember about my kids and the grand-kids and their school experiences.

I thought in honor of school I'd share an adorable story about my daughters middle son when he was younger.

Let me just set this story up by saying that he is very shy and did not go to take to school with ease in the beginning. To say she was worried about how he'd do in school was an understatement. Moms! We always have one we worry about.

Needless to say she arrives up at school and there he is sitting up in the front of the classroom with a big dimpled smile on his face. He seemed OK, and in fact he was actually more than OK. She did the meet and great with the teacher and then when they got home she spoke to him about his positive attitude of which she was happily surprised.
Now here's the story and I'm paraphrasing here....



"Emmanuel, Mommy was a little surprised to see you up in the front of the classroom."
"I like my seat" he replied.
"You like your teacher then?"
"Yes Mommy she reminds me of Grandma."
"Oh!" "And hows that?"
He then extended his hands near the front of his chest in a motion she didn't understand.
"You know Mommy." he said earnestly smiling at her.
"No I don't know, you have to tell me."
"I like her because she's like Grandma in the breasts!"

sometimes you just have to roll with it

We sat on the edges of our seats with our cameras at the ready as the school principal called the names of all the children who made the honor roll both A and A/B for the entire year. My daughter and I glanced at each other when my grandsons name wasn't called.

What?

We traded looks. You know the kind that Mom's and Grandmothers trade because we think our kids are the smartest and best looking. I know you know what I'm talking about if you have kids!

When the children who have "good grades" in this school they are acknowledged for excelling by being asked to stand in place and face the audience. I thought that was a rather nice way for the kids to be seen and appreciated for their efforts. After what seemed forever, speeches by countless teaches & guests and an adorable music program by the children the graduation concluded.

 My youngest grandson is now headed to middle school in September. Where did the time go?

After we said our goodbyes to the teacher and walked out to the parking lot and we opened up his report card. Honor roll.....for all the report cards. Apparently there must have been an oversight. One which Xavier didn't seem all that bothered about, he's an easygoing child.

So my blog friends this is my grandson Xavier.

He was on the A/B honor roll the entire year. I was hoping you would be his audience.  Let's make believe the principle is saying his name...Xavier....hes turning...he's turning....he's facing you... I'm clapping, clapping......

Are you clapping?
Louder, louder..
I can't hear you !

what's been going on

The house is quiet!  It's been 16 days since Bill and I have had our home to ourselves. It's been a constant revolving door of company starting with our granddaughter Ava  almost 4yrs old who visited with us for the entire time. What a trip taking care of such a young one after all these years!!

Ava at the park...

And if that wasn't enough..then just before Labor Day a bunch of others arrived; my sons, daughter, son in law, other grandchildren. and cousins and dogs arrived; may of whom are from other states and stayed for days.

Ava and her cousins, Adam and Emanuel and Rapunzel

Ava and my daughter Heather and her husband Bo

My granddaughter Ava and my cousin Colleen having a bubble party
in the kitchen

I found it hard to find any time to get on the computer with all the goings on. Needless to say there was no new blog posts for me and very little if any commenting. Sorry people!

I wanted to come on and say hi. Write a quick post today since I feel kind of bad that I've neglected all of my blog relationships and this blog. I even lost a follower; my first...boohoo :(

Anyhoo, my house is as back to normal as it is ever going to be, just wanted to let you know I'm back!

wordless wednesday- how time flies

How Time Flies

Tick-tick-tick the clock moves

Sixty times and it’s a minute

A little while and it’s another hour

And soon dusk approaches

Night, then a new day

Few hours ago

Now termed yesterday

And before you know it

The year is gone

Sweet memories

Flashing through the mind

Like it happened 

Few seconds past

But lo

That was some years back

Surprised 

How seconds turn minutes

Minutes turn hours

Hours turn days

Days turn weeks

Weeks turn months

And you have a year

Oh how time flies 

Stewart Gideon

When I met him Billy was three when I married his father he was four, now he's 35.

(ok maybe not so wordless!)

Bill with our granddaughters Jillian and Ava (pink)

And yes I did make him that cake all by myself!

youth has no age~picasso

Those of you who read this blog know that I'm a grandma times five..... My oldest grandson is growing by leaps and bounds. When they were here for Easter I actually had to look up at him, he's fourteen, can you believe it? Adam and I have a special relationship, I was there when he was born, baby sat a million times.... how could we not? I even cut his cord! Yuck! 

But yuck isn't my "Y" word youth is..... 

"Y" youth......

I've decided to just highlight some quotes about youth that I thought were witty or thoughtful.

But before that I thought I'd share with you a picture of my grandson, I really think it's adorable. This child is  so youthful so bright and just brimming with personality.

Don't you  love teenagers? They are their own breed! When I took this picture he was giving me "that look" as if to say Grandma really a camera!" "You're actually pointing that thing at moi?" Notice the forehead, it reminds me of The Rock with those creases and the eyebrow lift. Kinda cute!

Oh! to be young again! 

Well, I know I'm not young anymore but I know I'm not old either. I guess for a while I get to live in that middle age dead zone. But there are times when I feel especially young, like when I step into the room with my childhood friends and the old stories start to fly. But to be truthful I don't really feel my age I think I feel a bit younger......but the kids deaths took it's toll on us as a family and me in particular; how could it not!

Anyhoo, here are some of the quotes I really liked and wanted to share with you.

"Youth is easily deceived because it is quick to hope."
Aristotle

"The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently."
Friedrich Nietzsche

"Youth is wasted on the young."
George Bernard Shaw

"In youth we learn; in age we understand."
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

"Youth is not restored by the dyeing of your hair."
Abu Bakr

"Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age."

Victor Hugo

"Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old."
Franz Kafka

So friends, do you feel your age, or do you feel more youthful?

Do any of thee quotes speak to you, do you have a favorite?

little ones have that ability don't they?

"L"

This is a story is about a few "L" words it's about little ones it's about loss and its about laughing. Children are a blessing aren't they? And when we see our little ones do something adorable then it's a story that needs to be shared. It's a good one, you're going to love it.

My brother and my sister in law usually visit us every summer for at least a week. This is what happened one summer day about ten years ago. My grandsons were visiting, that's three boys, Adam, Emmanuel and Xavier and my brother has two girls Sydney and Alexandra and a boy Gerard, the oldest child was my niece Sydney {6yrs.} followed by my grandson Adam {4yrs.} This story is about the two of them.

It's important at this point to mention that my nephew little Gerard has allergies so they do not have any pets so they were very attached to ours. We on the other had always had both dogs and cats; at this point we had one dog Charlie and five indoor/outdoor cats. Since their last visit our other dog Cosmo had died of an immune disorder so my brothers kids were devastated that she was gone. I should also say we have a little pet cemetery with little grave markers in our yard.

Lazing on the back porch my brother Gerard and I see my grandson Adam and his daughter Sydney heading over to the pet cemetery. From where we're sitting we not only have a clear view but we can clearly hear every word they are saying; but they seemed to be unaware of our presence.

In a very solemn voice Sydney says to Adam. " We need to pray for Cosmo Adam." Then she crosses herself showing her little cousin the correct form for the sign of the cross. " In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Listening from our perch on the back steps we then hear as she recites; "Hail Mary Full of Grace the Lord is with thee.......  over my dead dog Cosmo's grave.

What an adorable site to see, my brother and I were in tears it was so darn cute.  When the prayer was complete Sydney turns to Adam and says in her little voice. "It's your turn now Adam OK?" Adam looked up at his bigger older girl cousin shook his head in affirmative and without missing a beat put his hand on his heart and said, " I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America...... His cousin serious as a heart attack followed suit hand on heart and they both recited the pledge.

By this point, my brother and I are in tears and laughing simultaneously at the level of cuteness as  they express their loss at the pet grave in a way only little ones are capable of doing, with innocence. Never taking our tear filled eyes off them we watch as they finished their pledge. Then they embraced and walked together hand and hand towards the front of the house.

credit

This is one of my very favorite family stories. I will always cherish those moments.They can bring us to tears one minute and make us laugh the next.; little ones have that ability don't they?

embracing my inner Ernest today

"E"

I have to admit I did a good bit of procrastinating on picking a topic for this post; not to mention writing it.  I knew I should have done more letters in advance but truth be told I didn't!

And the reason?  My older son along with the granddaughters are visiting for Easter from Atlanta so I've been busy busy today doing things like shopping and making beds, assigning bedrooms and making sure little girls to eat their mashed potatoes! You know, very important Grandma stuff!

I did however decide on an "E" topic last night at about 10:00 p.m sort of in desperation but in all practicality it's very relevant to all of our lives as bloggers and writers. The word that I chose is edit.

As a blogger I some times wonder if I spent more time writing my posts or more time editing my posts. I actually prefer to write in advance. Then I'll sort of dip into my post later fixing language and punctuation or the general flow of what I'm writing. I tend to do this over the course of a day or a couple of days depending; that is until it's what I want or have hit a deadline. I also spend quite a bit of time on layout, do you? I'll set up my text with my pictures, fonts and captions so their just so. Editing is quite an important tool for this blogger.

On a personal note I just want to say; thank goodness for spell checker or this blogger wouldn't publish a thing! I am the worst speller in the whole wide world and I sincerely doubt you'd understand a single thing I write without it!

How much editing do you do in your writing? A lot? None?

The first draft of anything is shit. ~ Ernest Hemingway

order in the family & the home

Keeping order in family is hard to do, believe me I know. I raised five kids- three of which were step children. To be a family I think you have to act like a family, do things as a family unit and one of those things is to be responsible for the space in which you live. How you ask? Chores! Yup you heard me right we made the kids do chores, age appropriate chores, this is something my husband and I were firm believers in.

Did you have chores assigned to you when you were a kid? My Mom and Dad asked me to do things when they needed doing and I was responsible for keeping my room clean but I don't remember having a regular schedule of chores. I remember doing my own laundry from a pretty young age, and we had a huge house with a big yard. We were always doing some type of gardening or bagging leaves. But all and all we- my brothers and I just did what we were told when we were told, you didn't question you just did.

We made our kids do chores, keeping their room tidy, dishes, mowing the grass (we have a riding mower). Then as they got older they helped with other things,firewood, weeding, planting the garden, vacuuming, and laundry. That's not to say they were happy about any of this because they weren't; well... sometimes they were happy to help! Sometimes it was like pulling teeth.

My daughter cracks me up when it comes to this subject; she and her hubby work full time. To deal with this  she has a list of chores that the boys have to do every week; vacuuming, tidying up their rooms- their bathroom, putting away their laundry, that kind of stuff. I asked her if she had to keep after them like I did her when she was younger. She replied," the kids get an allowance if they don't do their chores they don't get their allowance that means no spending money." "You don't yell at them or anything?" Thinking back to the knock out drag outs we used to have over dish washing and bathroom cleaning. She just shrugged and replied, "I'm not riding my kids like Seabisquit a trip or two to the store without money and they get the idea!" Problem solved for her, but then my grandsons are little angels, just sayin!

Yesterday Bill and I set off to do a few things on our list of many that need to be done around the house. Might as well get some stuff done while we're stuck in the house in this cold weather, right? I cleaned the oven. It has a cleaning cycle which takes 3 hours and leave ashes that need to be wiped out afterwards. Then we defrosted- cleaned and organized all the food in our chest freezer out in our breezeway and closed down our extra refrigerator which stands right next to it. We only use that over the summer months for beer and extra food since we usually have lots of company.

As hubby and I meet ourselves coming and going bringing order to this house and a huge piece of property without the help of the children I started to think.....  I never really gave much thought to how all those things got done after I left my parents house. But I can guarantee like us the did it with a good bit of effort!

How do you do it?

I am so inspired by my friend Melissa over at mamemusings whose word of the month is ORDER or click on this button to find out how you can join in and be inspired too.

ending the old year and beginning the new

Happy New Year!

The days following Christmas for us have been busy for us here in our house. My cousin Colleen called from Charlotte and made plans to come up with her friend  Jim for a few days to ring in the New Year with us here in Virginia.

 Colleen and Jim

One of my three grandsons, Xavier decided to come stay with us for a few days of his vacation. It was actually his first time alone without his older brothers and he did wonderfully. He hung out with us and played with my cousins dogs Doodle and Stitch. And he really enjoyed playing with his Christmas present that Grandma and Poppa (that's us) got him. It only took me forever to register the darn thing, but it was worth it! Encouraging reading was my plan so it seems to have worked, we spent a bit of cuddle time reading a Percy Jackson book while he was here. Yippee!

Xavier playing with his new Kindle

We were blessed with some beautiful weather here in Virginia that we were able to throw some ribs on the grill one of the days our company was here. I would have much preferred a white Christmas; it's the northerner in me, but I know my cousin would have never come and that would have been a big let down! I continue to hope for some white stuff before winter ends however.

And on another day while they were here, we went out for some chicken wings and a few beers and gave Jim a tour since it was his first time here visiting our home and our neck of the woods. Having company at the house is great but with such beautiful weather we just really needed to get out of the house for a drive and enjoy the sunshine while it lasted.

One night in honor of my beloved Aunt Frances I cooked my almost famous meatballs and spaghetti. Even though my Aunt - Godmother is no longer with us, her children and Colleen is the youngest of the four girls; are so used to me cooking them for her they've come to expect a meatball or two from their cousin Jen when she's has a kitchen within her reach.

Now Bill and I didn't make it to midnight, we were exhausted. Jim and Colleen awoke to texts from their respective sons which was nice. But Bill and I were blissfully cutting logs by then, dreaming of what the new year might bring.

As far as the New Year goes; I'm not big on making resolutions, for me its just is a big list of probable failures for the year that will end up making me feel badly about myself. But I would like to make an effort this year to get moving, be more active and to eat more healthfully. And if that resulted in some weight loss that would be GREAT because I could benefit from that. These past five years I have acquired some lazy habits both regarding diet and my activity level all of which I am not blind to or unwilling or unable to change. All of these areas of my life could use some work and for 2012 I plan on focusing on them.

How do you feel about making resolutions in the New Year?

What if any changes are you planning in your life in 2012?

PYHO -a blended families christmas dinner recipe - patience, love with a dash of chaos -

We have yet to decide what we're going to eat for dinner and it's yet to be decided whose going to be here for dinner on Christmas Day for that matter.

We actually don't have a traditional dinner that we eat every year and whose going to be here from year to year fluctuates. We usually just eat what ever we want when we want, things are pretty free and easy around here lately. As long as I can use my Christmas china I'm happy.

Sometimes the menu might be decided by how many people I'm cooking for. With a lot of people we might have turkey or ham, maybe even both. My grandchildren like that meal so if they're here and my daughter and son in law aren't working then that would usually be the menu. We've even had Italian one year, oh my goodness it was a feast! We stuffed our face with several different types of pasta, talk about carb heaven.

My daughter , her husband and my grandsons a Christmas past,
it was the Italian Christmas.

If my husband's ex comes to town and visits our daughter then that usually changes everything. Confusing right? She gave birth to her I raised her so we share that's why if you knew us you'd find us both calling her our daughter. Anyhoo... then we - Bill, Matthew, Mom and I might be munching on prime rib or lobster. Forget the pasta and pass me a bib and a shovel for this meal! My Mom loves lobster, so this is really a favorite meal for her. She won't even touch the beef, not a single bite.

Matthew (red)and his older brother Bill (grey) doing the Christmas dishes, oh yeah!

This year I don't think the ex is coming but I believe with their crazy schedules,(she works days ,he nights so  one parent's home with the kids) they've decided to stay home; maybe. This is one thing I've learned about blended families; everything is always fluid and emotions are usually pretty high around the holidays for the kids, even when they're adults. 

Things between the ex and us are fine and we're great friends. But the kids and her, well it's hard on all of them, her too, but circumstances were what they were. So that left many thing unsaid and undone. And as good a relationship as mine was with them growing up, its just not the same. Our other son Bill and our granddaughter is now living with his mother and trying to get his life in order. His adult life has been one poor choice after another. To be perfectly honest my relationship with him is rather strained because of it. Family relationships can be rather complicated; all our efforts long ago exhausted we'll have to see how things work out with this new situation.

But regardless of the ex and the kids and whose living where or working when we still have to decide what to eat. Seriously, despite all the Christmas bah humbug that seems to rear it's ugly head like, "you didn't raise me" every holiday and causes everyone to be freaks emotional, we really are an OK family who loves each other. 

In the mean time we're living on patience love with a dash of chaos! 

So what's cooking at your house, something yummy I trust? Do tell!

family,food, cake and a hike

After DC the family got together at my house for some food and relaxation.We did do a lot of walking after all. I have to say mother nature really cooperated and the weather was wonderful so we gathered outside.

My daughter, her husband and their kids Adam, Emmanuel and Xavier drove down to visit with my brother Paul and his daughter Amanda who were visiting from Hawaii. I'm afraid we didn't get pictures of everyone but here goes...

Here's Heather, my daughter and her Uncle Paul hanging out saying their hello's.

And here's Mom, my son Matthew and my son in law Bo enjoying the beautiful day and an adult beverage before we ate.

My husband isn't much for cooking in the house, however he is great at the grill! And of course that's Heather again, even as a child she was a ham bone!

My grandson Emmanuel's birthday was last week so we had to have a cake right? What kind of grandparents would we be! With his parents looking on he's blowing out his candles and making his wish.

Then they all took a hike back onto our property which is about 26 or so acres, this is what they saw.The next three pictures were taken by my nine year old grandson Xavier. I think he's got a bit of talent don't you?

This is our pond, a timber company just cleared about one square mile of timber on the other side of it for a family who inherited the land. It looks terrible and leaves much of my area looking more like a prairie.

This is our old three level tobacco barn. It hasn't been used in many many years as you can see by it's condition. The tobacco would be hung on poles up on top across beams and then a fire would be built on the ground and the tobacco is smoked before going to market.

These are a several trees that are sure to become fire wood for our wood stove at some point. They are most certainly storm damage from our last hurricane. 

And now a few pictures that my niece Amanda took when she was out and about on the hike.

This is a deer track that they found out in the woods, we have a family of deer who come up to the house regularly and eat the apples and pears off the trees.

Our apples are just about done as you can see, this one is pretty rotten on the vine, and the leaves are almost all on the ground now.

And that was our family day, with food, cake and a hike. My brother and his daughter left to go back to Hawaii early this morning. We are SO happy that they could come and so sad to see them go. Maybe next time we can all get together; all of us.

no more books?

I love to read; or I should say I used to read a lot, the accident and subsequent death of the kids changed my ability to concentrate so my enjoyment for reading has diminished greatly. Now alas reading has become something I hardly do, so I blog instead. And on a rare occasion I find a book that I can get through then I am grateful with a capital G. Suggestions would be appreciated on any good reads, I'd like to try making a renewed effort to do some book reading again.

My house is a readers house that fact cannot be denied, look at the bookshelf on my balcony.

Now lets look at the down side to this book shelf.  It is so huge you need 

                                            this and this to clean it.

And guess who does the cleaning? Moi.

It's filled with books and other stuff, many of the books I've read many times over, they are like old friends.


My two guest rooms have a stack of books by the bed side, the bathroom has a basket of reading material and then there's my cook books too.

Like I said old friends.

But the other day I'm not sure what possessed me, I went ahead and did it, broke the ice and made my first holiday purchases. You might ask what it is that would make this last minute shopper extraordinaire shop in October? And what in the world this has to do with books!?

When you have grandchildren who have a lots of everything it becomes difficult to buy them cool gifts for Christmas. Last year we got them the greatest sports watches in bright colors like red, lime green, khaki and blue! 

They do love to read but I wonder if I'm doing the right thing here, I love seeing them with real books. Then again if Kindle's with encourage even more reading then I think getting them their own reader. This is me trying to convince myself I made the right decision in buying them. And there's always the fact that their Mom my daughter gave their purchase her thumbs up!

Kids in this generation are such techies -nerds, and my guess is the kids are going to be thrilled with their gifts.   I have to admit however that this was a hard purchase to make because of my personal love of books, and because I'm a bit of a dinosaur. So tell me dear readers, do you own a reader or are you a book person?  Would you buy a reader for a pre or teenager for Christmas?