This is a Test. This is Only a Test.

I am expanding my horizons and trying new things. Isn't that what a person is supposed to do to stay young? Well, I seriously doubt that trying new things is equal to the Fountain of Youth, but it is fun for me to dabble in something before untried. Keeps the cobwebs of the mind from forming.

I see on many blogs that I read regularly that videos in one form or another are included. Usually it is You Tube, but I decided to try out some of the software that came with my computer. These should be playable on Windows Media Player, which comes with most computers. The titles are added with Windows Movie Maker which also came with my computer. If anyone wants a copy, I can probably email it to you.

Quite some time back David emailed me a video of Boston, and Jill did the same with a couple of videos of Zach. I used these to do this test, and if it works, not only will I be hounding you all for photos, I will add videos to my wish list. Be prepared!

Christmas Past

The "secret" surprises for my grandkids mentioned in the last post are finally finished. I was moaning and groaning to Jill just last week that I had my doubts that I would finish on time, and was afraid that I would have to take her suggestion to give them to the kids next year. But this morning I finished. Picture Mom doing a Happy Dance around the kitchen table. Or not. Kind of a scary thought.

While working on these surprises, I had lots of time to think, and my thoughts turned to Christmas Seasons past. My Mother was big on Christmas and tradition. Every available space was decorated for the holiday. She made cookies weeks ahead and froze them. I especially loved the Candy Cane Cookies that were made with twisted ropes of red and white dough and topped with crushed peppermint candy. Back when she could still use her hands, she was good at coming up with some new crafty idea for decorating. One year she made a wreath out of white feathers, adorned with small red shiny ornaments. Another year she used embroidery hoops, ribbon and shiny rope beads to fashion a "Kissing Ball" that held a sprig of mistletoe. Those that saw this liked it so much that she wound up making several for friends and family.

We always had a real Christmas tree decorated with ornaments that my parents had collected over the years, lights that were the old fashioned big bulbs that, when one burned out the whole string went dark, and as much tinsel as the tree would hold. Mom would put what looked like quilt batting around the bottom covering the tree stand, to look like snow. And Dad would always remark that the tree was the best one we ever had, no matter how sorry it might look.

I should have said that we almost always had a real tree. One year in the late 1950's, Dad came home with a "modern" Christmas tree. This thing was similar to the artificial trees that most of us have now, except that it was made of some sort of shiny silver material. Looked like an explosion in a tin foil factory. Dad loved it, but I believe we only used it that one year. Mom made him go get a real tree the following Christmas, and the silver tree was banished to the back of a closet before finding it's way to the dump.

My parent's two little girls started to pester them about three in the afternoon to have supper so we could open presents. To our chagrin, supper was at the regular hour of 6 PM. Mom had her tradition there as well. She made a big pot of chili for us and a pot of oyster stew for Dad. He loved oyster stew, but he only had it on Christmas Eve and maybe on New Years Eve. Life was such that the rest of the year meals were made that all would eat, as the wasting of food on children who would not touch the stuff was not to be, especially in times when money was tight. This was most of the time. So Dad would sit and enjoy his stew and eat slowly, savoring each bite, while we girls inhaled our meal and impatiently waited for Dad to finish his meal.

After the dishes were washed, dried and put away, our little family gathered in the living room around the tree. Dad would always get his Bible and read the story of Christ's birth to us. In later years, when we girls could read well, he would ask one of us to read the Christmas story. I always felt honored to be asked, as this was an important part of our Christmas tradition.

While I have been taking this journey back in time in my mind, it occurred to me that I couldn't recall many of the gifts I received at Christmas. A few were remembered, like a Cinderella wrist watch one year and ice skates another. In the photo below I am holding the last doll I ever received as a child. She was a "walking" doll, as I recall, and when you held her upright on the floor and moved her forward, she would move her legs to walk. I think this was my last doll because I just wasn't all that interested in dolls or playing house. That was more Libby's thing. I was more interested in playing softball or going ice skating or spending time reading.

http://www.4shared.com/file/76988665/c899a30b/Christmas_Past.html

I think that my inability to remember Christmas gifts I received as a child is not due to my fading memory that comes with age. I believe that it is because the presents weren't the important thing about Christmas. Our parents instilled in us that Christmas was about the birth of the Christ child, about the importance of family and about loving one another.

So the things I remember most are the smells of a ham and pies baking in the oven on Christmas Day, the decorating of a tree that was "the best one ever," of time spent with much loved relatives and the joy and laughter that always was present on Christmas Day with Ronnie and Em and their family. I remember Mom's passion for decorating the house, Dad's oyster stew and his "World Famous Peanut Brittle" that he made every year. There was always a Christmas program at church and we memorized a "piece" to recite during the program. Afterward we were rewarded for our performance with a small bag of Christmas candy for each child. These memories are better than any wrapped gift that money could buy, as I can take them out whenever I want to and look at them and remember a time of happiness and contentment.

Busted

I haven't abandoned this blog. I just have been very busy. Business at the dog grooming shop where I work is booming. It seems that family Christmas pictures include the family pets, and many of our clients want Fido looking good for the occasion, which means longer hours and fewer days off. I am not complaining, mind you. We thought because of the current economic situation that business would be slow, but that just hasn't happened. I am grateful for having a job that continues to be busy. We will require no government bailout. We are making it on our own just fine.

I also started a project that needs to be finished by Christmas. When I first began this project (which will remain secret until Christmas) I thought, "What a neat idea." Lately, my thoughts have been, "What was I thinking." But there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and I may actually finish on time. But this project leaves no time for blogging. It isn't the blog itself that takes time. It is preparing the photos, writing the stories and all of the other things needed for a blog entry that take so much time. There is light at the end of this tunnel as well. I shall have one wonderful, glorious week off after Christmas and will be able to do several entries then. I promise. I have a backlog of photos just waiting to be digitally scrapped and I am looking forward to having the time to play with them soon.

In the meantime, I received in my email box this wonderful photo of Jacob playing with his new found water toy. Of course, he was busted in the act, and the look on his face is priceless. I just couldn't resist sharing this with you.

http://www.4shared.com/file/76687479/7285a88c/Busted.html

Merry Christmas to you all.

Summer Remembered

Over the last couple of months I have received photos of my grandchildren, showing me some of the things they have done over the summer and into early fall. I so enjoy these photos, as through them I can see what is going on in their lives.

Chris and Nicki both played ball this summer. Nicki's softball team received a third place trophy in their tournament, and Chris's team won their championship. Way to go! Both of my oldest grandchildren are good athletes and enjoy various sports activities. They have fun playing, too, and that is the way it should be. I recall how much fun it was for me to play on my 4-H softball team. I wasn't very good at it, but it sure was fun, and I am glad that the kids have a good time.

There were a couple of "firsts" lately. Boston lost her first tooth. She called me to tell me all about it, and assured me that the tooth fairy did indeed pay her a visit. Jacob, who is growing by leaps and bounds, had his first big boy haircut. His dad reports that he didn't shed a single tear, but watched with fascination the whole process.

The rest of these pages are of various things the kids did over the summer. They look like they are having so much fun. I believe that the summer months should be enjoyed as much as possible, especially if you are a kid. Some of my fondest memories of when I was a child are of the things my family did on warm summer days. There were picnics, camping by a lake, fishing day trips and just enjoying the outdoors when we lived on the farm. Summers are for kids, and I am glad to see that my grandchildren make the most of them.

http://www.4shared.com/file/68552327/384a5aa5/Summer_Remembered.html

Family Picnic

Those of you who regularly read this blog are aware that I often bemoan the fact that life has changed considerably since my youth. Yes, I am one of those who long for the more simple life of "the good old days." I don't necessarily wish to wash clothes in a tin tub with a washboard, or cook a mastodon for dinner over an open fire, but I really do miss the pleasures of a less frantic lifestyle.

Well, this summer, my children brought back one of the things that I was missing. The family picnic by the lake. We got together in late June, feeling a need to be together as a family after Mike's death. As I watched my grandchildren swim and play in the sand, I couldn't help but think of how Mike would have enjoyed that day. He always loved time spent with the kids and grandkids.

We met again on a beautiful sunny, breezy Saturday afternoon in late August. After several emails back and forth, it was decided who would bring what. We had burgers on the grill, potato and fruit salads, veggies, brownies, and a cooler full of sodas and water for all. Food fit for a king. And it always seems to taste better in the outdoors near the water.

The day was made even more special with the arrival of Kelly and Jackie. They drove down from Bemidji just for the day. Kelly had told me some time ago that he would love to get together with all of my kids, as it had been a long time since he had seen them, so I let him know about our picnic. It was so good to be able to spend time with him and Jackie. The fact that they would drive that distance just to spend an afternoon with us is amazing to me. They brought with them some family photos that we all enjoyed looking at. Some were of Emily's wedding. She has grown into a beautiful young woman.

The adults talked, laughed and remembered times past. We got caught up on what everyone had been doing lately. Jackie had met Jeri when she and Kelly came to see me in June, but she had not met the rest of my family. I teased that she was a brave woman to voluntarily come into the middle of this crew! She is such a sweet lady and she makes my brother happy. I just love her to pieces.

The kids went swimming, dug holes and built things in the sand, and brought us a giant grasshopper to look at. They fed a family of ducks who were waddling along the beach, looking for a handout. They did cartwheels and handstands, showing off their gymnastic abilities. They are so very busy.

I used to think that it would be so nice to have the energy of my grandkids. I don't think that way anymore. I have reached the age of understanding that if I had their energy, chances are real good that I would just hurt myself. So now I settle for watching them and enjoying them.

http://www.4shared.com/file/67781153/224766a8/Family_Picnic_2.html

Late in the day, Kelly and Jackie had to leave for their long trip back home. I wonder if they know just how much it meant to me to have them share the day with us. Since the deaths of our parents, my brother and I tend to value our time together more than we have. I have always enjoyed spending time with Kelly, but I find that our time together now makes my heart glad.

I am so pleased that my children want to take the time to do things like a family picnic. I understand how busy their lives are, what with jobs and children and other obligations. I think that they understand how much these times mean to me. We have discovered in the last year just how important family is to us all, and I treasure these times. The fact that a family picnic takes me back to simple pleasures in simpler times is just a bonus.

This last picture is of a picnic by the lake over 50 years ago. Often in the summertime, my family would go to the park at Big Kandy Lake for a Sunday afternoon picnic with Ronnie and Em. On this occasion, Ronnie's sister, Margene and her parents, Myrtle and Lawrence Lindblad were there. Margene is at the far left, next to Em and Ronnie, and Lawrence is sitting next to Dad.

http://www.4shared.com/file/67476309/2572725b/Family_Picnic.html

At those family picnics, we brought sandwiches to eat, along with Mom's potato salad and deviled eggs, and Em's delicious crisp home canned dill pickles. There usually were tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden, and someone nearly always brought a big watermelon. There was always a big jug of lemonade with slices of real lemon floating in it.

The kids would play tag or hide and seek among the large trees at the park, and would go swimming, while the adults talked and laughed. I remember that whenever we were with Ronnie and Em, there was always laughter. Lots of laughter.

Thank you, my children, for giving me a day like those days I so fondly remember from my childhood.

Grand-puppy

Every grandparent should have a Grand-puppy. They are fun, like Grandchildren, but without the daily responsibilities. My Grand-puppy is Charlie.

I remember when David first got Charlie for Staci. He was no bigger than a minute. Mike and I puppy-sat on several occasions when he was small. We firmly believed that he had invisible springs attached to the bottoms of his paws, as he seemed to bounce wherever he went. He thought the cats were his own personal play-toys. Chuck the cat finally got smart and would sit on a surface just high enough so Charlie couldn't reach him. Then, whenever Charlie would bounce by, Chuck would swat him in the head from his elevated perch. Charlie, rather than getting angry at being swatted, thought that this game was marvelous fun, and would bounce by time after time so Chuck could swat him.

The last time Charlie stayed with Mike and me, Mike had a bit of an adventure with Charlie and our two dogs, Buster and Rose. Mike decided he would try to walk all three dogs at the same time to save having to go up and down the stairs so many times. He hooked all three up to their leashes, and off they went. About fifteen minutes later, I heard a commotion outside our apartment door. There were dogs barking and Mike swearing. When I opened the door, there stood Mike with a couple of leashes wrapped around his legs and three overly excited dogs. "Help me untangle this mess," he said as he stumbled into the kitchen. I got the door closed behind them, and then dissolved into gales of laughter. Couldn't do anything but laugh. Mike had his angry face on, but at the sight of me helpless with laughter, he soon started grinning, too. As soon as I could stop laughing long enough, I unhooked the dogs from their leashes, and Mike extricated himself from the tangled mess. "I think I'll walk them one at a time from now on," he said. That worked out a bit better.

Charlie came to stay with me for a few days this summer while David and Staci were out of town. By that time, Buster and Rose had gone to their new home, so it was just Charlie, Noodle the cat and me. Charlie has mellowed out considerably since his puppy days. I really enjoyed his company. He would come up to me and look at me with those sad Beagle eyes until I would stop whatever I was doing, and pet him a while.

David brought Charlie's bed with him, and I put it next to my bed. It remained unused until he went home. Charlie preferred to lay by my feet at night, and he always faced the door. I was well protected and guarded.

Charlie's cage was here as well. I set it up in my bedroom for him to use while I went to work. Charlie is used to this when he is home. But he would have none of it while he stayed with me. The first morning I tried to leave him in it, he started barking as soon as I locked my door. I discovered that you can hear a Beagle's bark all the way from my apartment to outside my workplace next door. Knowing that my neighbors would be less than thrilled to listen to a Beagle bark all day, I went back upstairs, let Charlie out, hooked up his leash, and we both went to work. He was perfectly happy to be in a kennel at work where he could see me.

The second morning, I tried again to leave Charlie when I went to work. I found that the sound a Beagle makes when he howls carries nearly as far as does a Beagle's bark. So Charlie spent another day watching me work.

I took a few pictures of Charlie while he was here. As you can see, he seems to have worn himself out guarding me and watching me work. I really enjoyed having him with me for a few days, even if David didn't trust me to feed him properly. David claims that the last time he left Charlie with me, the dog gained five pounds, so David arrived with Charlie's food all measured out in zip bags - one for each day that he was here. Charlie likes chicken, meat loaf and hot dogs, as well as his dog food. But he is really partial to French Fries. Nice try, David.

http://www.4shared.com/file/64179305/1582a508/Grand-puppy.html