Lily Love

For the last 7+ Years, I've had the pleasure of having the sweetest relationship with the most wonderful child.  I've spoken of her before in this place, but as she ages and new aspects of her personality blossom, I find new things to report.

The visit on Tuesday, was another Growth Ring in our relationship tree.  I have gone from changing her diaper and making toast points and eggies for her breakfast once a week, to beginning to teach her how to crochet and sew.

My little heart soared when she mentioned in my sewing room this week that she wants to learn to sew and that she thought that I should teach her.

And I agree.

When Lily comes over, she knows what she wants to do.  When she was younger, we had specific things that had to be covered: Tea Party, Play her song, (Jars of Clay, Sunny Day), play the drums, color, and go through the vintage jewelry in my china cabinet.  Now, she kinda free lances it; going from one event to the other as they happen.  I go on to my events and she hers.  We interact and share our projects but basically she just wants to utilize my crazy house and all it's distractions.  Whether she's playing office, shop or house, she is content to share square footage with me and play with my things.

This week, her other good buddy, Youngest Son, who used to co-babysit with me, was off work and invited us Ladies out to lunch.  He thought that a different park would be nice for a change and we Ladies agreed.  He thought that a trip to the Local Jiffy Treet might be more memorable than just going to McDs for a Blizzard.  It certainly was for me; Chocolate Dipped Cones are not that easy to come by in our small community. Yum.

And so our day went, as all Lily Days do; pleasant, entertaining, conversational and instructive. 

Lily started her time with me by drawing.  She allowed me to choose between a floral interpretation and an ocean scene.  Telling her that I am a flower aficionado, I choose the trio of posies.  She delivered to YS's abode, the Ocean drawing.

Lily has also discovered photography.  She loved sitting on my porch limestone seating, taking a myriad of photos of cars, golf carts and pedestrian's passing by.  And she caught me in a serious embroidery moment, as Adoring Dixie looks on.

One good turn deserves another, so I snapped her as she sewed two pieces of fabric for the first time.  It was exciting for both of us.

Little Brother Grant came with Lily's Mama along with other brother Maddox.  LBG has not come solo to Lily's Debbie's house yet.  But he is nearly ready.  He too, along with his siblings, is intrigued with the house as well as the Owner Occupier.  A mystical woman, not related nor near by or  family involved.  Just this generic grandmotherly sort, too old to be an aunt or parental friend.  Just a kind of unclassified enigma that seems to be a part of their family. LBG climbed up on my porch swing next to me,  reporting the important things to nearly four year olds: Like the time his dog got hurt and had to go to the dog hospital to get better. Pictured here, he found a headband that I was working on and immediately placed it on his Tshirt, and proclaimed that he looked like his daddy, the math teacher. Because I just happened to have safety pins on my porch, (doesn't everyone?), I lickety split affixed it to his little shirt and I know that he felt like a big grown up man with a tie.  Ah, the magic of dress up clothes...Being a thirdsie helps a lot too.....

And this parting shot of My Lily will stay with me a long time.....Her pensive concentration.  Her determination to do that which can still stymie adults....The closeness that her interests galvanize to my heart.....

Pretend Grandchildren....Wondrous Gifts....

Grant Goodness

I had an orange lunch today.
My buddy Grant set the table. He found my cobalt blue plates on the shelf in the dining room and decided that we needed to use them. Good choice, Grant. Orange and blue; highly complementary on the color wheel. Grant was pretty sure that he should have his milk in the blue willow tea cup. I agreed. He poured it carefully from his little cup. Grant will be three in March.

After my visit with Miss Viv last week, I decided I needed some magnetic letters for her next visit. Cracked them open to let Grant have at them in his usual academic ways. He had alphabetized them in a twinkling. He told me the color of each letter as well. Grant will be three in two months.

We had grilled cheese, oranges, steamed carrots and Cheetos. (Cmon! Ya gotta have some fun!) Grant kept to good manners, using a fork with his Cheetos as well as his carrots! Good lunch.

Of course, we had to visit the library. It is only 198 steps from my home. As we descended my front steps, Grant reminded me: 'Nana, you need to hold my hand.' Advised.
Good library visit. Two Frog and Toad books and one Fox book. I found them on the shelf and he read the titles to me. Grant will be three in two months. We picked up a video, Tales of Desperaux; he watched two minutes of it. We watched at least the first 15 minutes of at least 5 videos. To his concentrating credit, he did sit through the entire reading of five books. One which he helped me read by pointing out important words.

What a fun day we had!
Next week: Gracie's turn!

Queen Contest Night...

....and I didn't go.

Did go to lunch at The Baptist with Lovely Wife's Mama...We particularly like to go to The Baptists for their Turkey luncheon with the Cranberry Jello. LWM LOVES cranberries and made a pitiful attempt to hi jack mine; you must get up pretty early to snatch food away from this ol' lady......Seen it all... Also at The Baptists is the Craft Show, showcasing all the entries to the famed Persimmon Festival Craft Contest. The winner for us this year was a skein of yarn made of cat fur. Who knew? With one long haired cat and another one dying, I could have made a killing in cat yarn. Bald cats, but a new market......I did graciously offer to make a cat scarf for Sweet Sharon, a dear friend who happens to have a rather strong 'dislike' of the feline varieties...She did not find that humorous.....LWM and I enjoyed the turkey AND the cat fur this year.....
Pictured above is a secret. Faithful Friend has ordered a new bag. She gave me ideas and requirements but left the rest to me.....This fabric, from Danville Indiana, is SOOOOO soft and luxurious....Amazing upholstery fabric....If I had a sofa made of this I would become an avowed Couch Potato....It is such a joy to sew for friends; you just want it to be the best so it stretches creativity and skill....Spent a joyful afternoon playing with the design and 'reading' Alan Alda's book, 'Never Stuff Your Dog'.......A surprise visit from the 2G's and their Mama and my afternoon was made, even if My Dear Grant had to find out that Nana has a Time Out Chair and a timer....Ah, reality.....

So after my full day, I transmogrified Mondays tacos into Wednesday's chili. A quick supper for hubby and I before we head north to Wednesday night church. We are on Part Two of a twelve part series, so the Queen of the Persimmon Festival had to be crowned without us.....

When I got home, I took Dixie on a walk and saw a forlorn miss walking the muddy streets of Mitchell, trying desperately not to get her fancy frock wet and trying to cope without a crown on her head.....I really wanted a photo but just could not do it to the poor girl....

Ah, reality.....

Dinosaur Playdough

Grant came to visit today. His first time as a solo visitor and not officially being babysat. Just for fun.

Grant knows his way around a kitchen so what should our first craft project be? Playdough!
He decided that we should color it yellow, Nana's favorite color.....

But wait a minute! We still have three little bottles of color left. And they do have those cute little pointed caps. And the bottles are tiny, just right for a two year old's hand...
Okay. Let's add some of the red. Grant, when you mix red with yellow, what do you get? Quick answer: Orange! (his daddy asked him last week who the president was, after mama said that she thought he wouldn't quite meet the requirement of kindegarten, provided he was five years old. His answer was an immediate, "Obama". Two years old plus change.

As you can see, we did not stop with the red bottle. We worked our way through till most of the colors were gone except for the pure green on Grant's hand and Nana's arm. (don't ask) As we were off to lunch with our green hands/arms, we proudly announced that we had made Dinosaur playdough.

Grant is pictured here making snakes for his daddy, mama and Gracie......

What a day!

Thank you, Grant......

Here's the recipe we used from online:

4 cups flour

4 cups water

1 cup salt

1/2 cup cream of tartar

4 tbls oil

Mix all together in large saucepan till it heats and starts to get thick. If your lucky, a small child will color it for you at this point. Knead with a little flour if 'needed' *hee hee*....

Knead till smooth. Store in a zip lock bag. Have fun making snakes.