Life-long learning...

This summer I have decided to try to learn something new every day. (Well, at least 5 days a week. I will take off on the weekends.)

This week I learned:
1.) You should tie up your daffodil stems until they dry out when the blooming is done. They look nicer while the nutrients go back into the bulbs!

2.) Rhubarb is $2.99 a pound in the grocery store. I'd get rich if I sold mine. But I'd rather give it away!

3.) I can use my cell phone as a calculator! (Those kids were right!)

4.) If I shop carefully I can find exactly what I am looking for at a Rummage Sale!

5.) No matter how grown up you get, it is still wonderful to go home to Mom's house!

She's a girl!!!

She will be a little girl that takes after her Mommy!

We just heard about her today...

Her parents are thrilled and tickled pink;

...and planning for her birth day!

Happy Birthday, Owen...

Happy Birthday, Owen!

Happy Birthday to our beautiful boy!

Two years ago, a bundle of joy.

You are learning and growing and changing so fast...

Discovering 'Life-growing' lessons expansive and vast.

Happy Birthday to our exuberant boy!

Two years of loving and giving us joy.

You've been enchanting and delightful from first to the last...

Thanks, little Grandson, we have had such a blast!

Milwaukee County Zoo...

We have had a membership at the Milwaukee County Zoo for several years with the thought that someday we would take our grandchildren there. On Mother's Day weekend we had the perfect opportunity to introduce Owen to some of the Zoo's finest. What a great day!

The happy hippo below was finishing every last leaf of hay for her breakfast while her mate took a swim.

Have you ever been THIS close to a tiger?? Hold on tight, Grampa!

How about these Polar Bears? They seemed a little bit out of sorts. Maybe they are missing the ice and snow...

We watched the elephants have baths inside, then we watched them outside... getting dirty all over again!















The peacocks were beautiful as they competed for the attention of the hens. (All that strutting and the hens didn't even appear to notice.)



Owen's favorite word of the day was peacock.











Have you
ever seen dancing bears?


Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? "I see Owen looking at me!"

















It was a fun day for all, but a few of us needed naps when we got home! We will have to go back again to see all the critters we missed.

Basketball kid...

We had visitors this weekend and we planned many activities for them. However, the basketball kid only had one thing on his agenda:

"Shoot the backetball, Gramma!"

"Watch Grampa!" "Oh, baby!!!"

"Big backetball!"

"Got it!"

It was fun, but Grampa is tired now and needs his nap.

We hope our little visitor will come again soon, but in the mean time Grampa will keep working out to get in shape for backetball...

Sweet Sixteen...

Dear Megan,

Hold on to the moment, Sweet Sixteen!
It's gone before you blink!
Hold on to the memories, the laughter, the fun!
More important than you might think.

Hold on to your sweetness, Sweet Sixteen!
Don't grow up so fast!
Savor each moment, each blessing, each loved one.
Invest in those things that will last!

Hold on to Jesus with all your might
And lean on His great love!
Trust Him to guide you, your pathway to light,
With wisdom that's from above.

Hold onto this year, my godchild,
Unwrapping the moments with care.
Sixteen is a gift just as you are a gift
To be treated as precious and rare.

Love,
Mary Margaret

One in the oven.......

Will it be a little girl that takes after her Mommy? ? ? Or a little boy that will want to fill his Daddy's big shoes? ? ?

Even though we are dying to know, the important thing is that we're thrilled to announce that we will be grandparents AGAIN!

Todd and Jewelie are "infanticipating" sometime in October and their little one will be another addition to the ever-growing "cousin's club".

Best Wishes to the parents-to-be! Blessings all around!

Windchill -40 degrees...

January 30, 2008



Batten down the hatches
A blizzard's coming through!
Pay attention to the scratches
at the door of doggy, do!

Here it comes, an icy blast;
Beware the great barrage!
Of bitter cold and windy gale
And frozen pop in the garage!

I cannot stand this winter cold;
It’s 57 in my kitchen.
Is it me, am I just getting old?
Can YOU cook in a mitten?

They called and said no work today.
Didn’t let it get to my head.
I surely can’t go out to play
So I’m going back to bed!

Playtime...

A busy boy comes to my house to play,
and he keeps me running all the day!


He runs, he jumps, he shoots the ball!
And he plays at the easel in the hall.



He loves his collection of matchbox cars;
The red and the black and the shiny blue.
He shares the fun with Tazzie, his dog,
Did I hear him say "Doggy, you play too!"



A little boy comes to my house to play,
and we love to hide and seek!
His giggle and laugh keep the "blues" at bay.
...here he is, take a peek!

Rocky Mountain High...

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Todd and Julie's home in Colorado last week.

Here is their ranch under a spectacular blue sky on one of the many lovely days we spent there. This is their house, garage and newly constructed horse barn. The home is beautiful with its vaulted ceilings, brightly painted rooms and unique open staircase. (All appropriately decorated with photos of its occupants engaging in a variety of "extremely" dangerous sports as well as an antiquated pair of Phil's zebra-striped-skiis from the 70's.)We celebrated Thanksgiving Day by watching the Packers win at the neighbor's home. Mimi was so rowdy that she attracted the attention of several other "neighbors".

Our Thanksgiving Dinner was on Friday and included all of the customary dishes.

The best part was sharing the day with not only Julie, Todd and Mimi but also with Amy DesRochers, Shane and their puppy Jasper. While we feasted Caleb and Jasper wore themselves out with all of their their playing. Phil and Todd installed their new dishwasher while Amy got some knitting tips from Mimi.
Saturday included a hike in the fresh mountain air with Mimi setting the pace and Phil snapping photos on his new digital camera! Saturday evening's full moon was one more gift from God; The One Who put this entire beautiful scene together... Suitably, we spent the evening under the moon soaking in the healing mineral waters at Sulphur Springs. What a way to mellow out...Our visit ended as it began with Phil planning his next trip to Colorado..... and another Rocky Mountain High.

Where's the baby....?

Where did Owen go?

He was right here a moment ago!

There he is!

He's right here in Gramma Mimi's backyard!

We put a basket out on our front porch...

...and nothing happened.

...but we had rhubarb in the freezer and flour in the pantry, so we made a delicious rhubarb pie!

Then we called up our Pastor and invited him over to share it with us.

mmmmmmmmmmmm