Grandson Garrett had to share a photo of his giant slice of pizza from MoMo’s in Tallahassee with his cousin in Texas. I called this one, “Wish You Were Here!”
Tag: grandchildren
Fairy Expansion
Our daughter and her family visited from Illinois these past few days. The youngest grandchild, Harper, was entranced by our fairy house, but she also was frustrated that it had a fake door.
“How do the fairies get in?” she asked.
“They’re magic,” I said. “They just pop in and out.”
“I don’t think that’s how it works,” she said.
We left the fairies in a rearranged state and went for a quick overnight trip to the beach. I’d forgotten all about them, but Poppa (a.k.a. Studly Doright) began planning to build a house with a door that would open and close.
When we returned from St. George Island on Friday afternoon Harper was napping, so Poppa and the middle grandchild, McKayla, went to work on a new fairy house.
By the time Harper awakened most of the building was completed, but she did add her opinion.
In fact, the idea to use leaves for the curtains was hers.
Here’s the finished project. Notice the original dwelling behind the new house. We’ve got the beginnings of a village!
And the door opens, so these fairies don’t have to rely on magic to enter and exit.
I noticed a couple of wee folk have already taken possession of the new place,
along with a happy frog!
Poppa and McKayla, with a wee bit of help from Harper, made a big impact in the Florida fairy world.
Peace, people!
Love
When your ten-year-old grandson enjoys texting you and invites you to play online games, that’s love.
Barbie and the Cave Bear
In my youth I was into playing with fashion dolls Barbie and Ken, along with their friends Midge and Alan. My collection of the dolls never extended past that core group. Alan was lost early on and all of Ken’s fuzzy hair rubbed off, so he was essentially bald for as long as I can remember. Maybe that’s why I find Studly Doright so darned attractive.
Unlike most of my friends I didn’t go in for dressing my Barbie dolls in ball gowns and high heels. The latter never stayed on for more than ten seconds anyway. No, my dolls were meant for greater things than parading about in too tight skirts and sweaters that showed off their alarmingly enhanced charms.
I had two favorite scenarios:
1) “Space Barbie” in which Barbie and Midge are the first women in space. They travel to a distant planet where they rescue Ken who had been marooned for months. Together, the trio fight off strange life forms and build the foundation of a dynamic colony. There might have been some mild romance. I wasn’t very old, and had no idea where babies came from.
2) “Cave Barbie” in which Barbie and Midge are foraging for food in prehistoric times and wander too far from their home village. They take shelter from a violent storm in a cave and discover Ken who’d been exiled by another tribe. Together, the trio fight off strange beasts and build the foundation for a dynamic new clan.
Anyone see a pattern forming? There were other scenarios–“Pirate Barbie,” “Ranch Barbie,” and “Archeological Barbie,” to name a few. In each scenario Barbie and Midge had to pull Ken’s butt out of a life threatening predicament. Keep in mind, this was well before the popularity of career minded Barbie. I was either way ahead of my time or suffering from delusions of grandeur.
Two of my granddaughters play with Barbies. I tried to tell the oldest one about my dolls’ adventures. She wasn’t impressed.
“Did you have a Barbie house?” she asked.
“Well, no, I piled up blankets and created little caves in the folds. That’s where they lived.”
“Did your dolls have lots of pretty dresses?”
“No, but my mom found some fake fur scraps and I draped them around my Barbies to keep them warm in their caves. Cool, huh?”
“I think I like my way better,” she said.
“Fine. Be that way,” I retorted. “But just know that Ken’s blood is on your hands.”
I’m not allowed to babysit anymore.
Peace, people.
Looking Ahead
Post-election depression has put a real damper on my Christmas spirit. I’ve shopped and wrapped gifts, partaken of eggnog, and watched hours of Hallmark Channel movies, but I’m really just going through the motions. A future with Trump in the White House seems too horrible for contemplation. Alas, barring a last minute miracle, that stark reality seems to be in store.
But I’m not a gloom and doom person at heart, so I’ve made a list of things that will definitely lift my spirits:
- Hugs from the grandchildren
- Large quantities of wine
- Hanging out with my kids
- More wine
- Having my mother-in-law, Saint Helen, with us for Christmas
- Did I mention wine?
- Studly Doright’s love and support
- And wine
- Cat kisses
- Cheers!
I feel better already.
The Sound of Silence aka The Grandkids are Gone
For almost two weeks we entertained two of our five grandchildren here at Doright Manor. It was the first time Dominique and Jackson have been alone with us for that length of time, and heading into the first week I felt some trepidation.
Would they get bored? Would I be patient with them? Could I train them to cook and clean like small indentured servants?
As they prepared to leave on Saturday morning I asked them each if they’d had fun, and the answer was a resounding “Yes!”
They rode motorcycles.
Fished:
Helped Poppa with yard work:
Visited Poppa at the office:
Chopped down saplings:
Created bird feeders:
Rode crazy rides at Wild Adventures:
Rode motorcycles again:
Enjoyed Japanese stir fry:
Helped Poppa and me build a fairy house:
Created paracord bracelets for every member of the family:
And climbed trees.
They also rode go karts at a local arcade, but the resident documentarian (me) came down with a nasty head cold and stayed at home for that adventure.
Apparently there was no boredom involved. I never even came close to losing my patience–a true miracle. However, the plan to have the kids take over the cooking and cleaning was for naught. Two out of three works for me.
Now to enjoy the sound of silence.
Peace, people!
Age of Innocence
He walks a limb, unconcerned, undeterred, master of his own destiny.
Alone at the top of the world, competent, exuberant.
Dangling meters above the earth, unafraid, unhampered.
Innocence in motion, carefree; nonchalance as an art form.
My heart climbs with this fearless child, for my body no longer can.
May he know this joy for the entirety of his life.
Faerie Dwelling Construction Continues
After a rigorous and righteous game of golf (he shot four over par), Studly Doright led the grandchildren and me in completing the building of a faerie home.
Dominique and I placed pebbles strategically.
We added a door and a mossy door mat.
Then we headed out back to place the house on the stump of a tree that Jackson had chopped down earlier this week.
After much trimming, the house was secured to its stump. 
Tomorrow, we’ll add decorative items to welcome our wee friends.
Peace, people!
Wild Adventures: Day One
The adventure started at breakfast when Jackson celebrated by putting whipped topping on his Eggo waffle. 
Once we were all dressed we headed to the Wild Adventures amusement park in Valdosta, Georgia.
Dominique was all smiles until I confessed that I weigh 300 lbs. just as we were getting underway. “You don’t weigh over 40 pounds do you?” I asked, pointing to the warning sign on the car in front of us: 
She was ready to climb out before I told her I was just kidding.
The three of us got soaked on the Roaring Rapids. Considering the temperature was in the mid 90’s, the drenching felt wonderful.
We rode it twice back to back. The operator didn’t even make us get out of the boat for our second go around.
For much of the day I was a spectator. It seems I didn’t need to ride every coaster in the park. Maybe I’m growing up finally? Jackson and Dominique are in the very top car of this ride that went backwards, forward, then backwards again.
Several of the rides were nearly devoid of riders. No long lines in the sweltering heat!
We’re going back for another go tomorrow. Wish me good health and endurance!
Peace, people!
Hanging With The Grands
I’m having such a wonderful time with my grandchildren, Dominique and Jackson, this week.
We stopped by Studly Doright’s (Poppa’s) office.
Later in the day Jackson and I went for a walk around the neighborhood. He’s all about asking me to challenge him to do physical stunts, such as climbing trees and jumping over obstacles. I’m such a wimp, though, that I can never come up with a suitable activity.
I loved his question, “Nana, do you have any trees that need climbing?”
Dominique and I spent an hour making bird feeders out of pine cones, peanut butter, twine, and seeds.
Here are the final products:
Now we need to hang them.
The kids chopped down a couple of saplings.
Praying for Eyebrowz 