4th of July

Our vacation this year consists of coming to Denver to visit my son and daughter-in-law.  I must say Denver is much nicer a place than New York.  It is a beautiful, clean city.  Though the weather these days is rainy the temperature is comfortable and my daughter and I are having a great time.

Today was particularly fun.   We went to the arts fair.  You have to understand that the week prior my daughter, her friend and I went to the arts festival in Salt Lake City.  Though it had improved much from about 10 years ago when I went last, Denver's art festival was much more fun.   It was much bigger with more of a variety of artists.  I was particularly intrigued with one booth.  The artist at this both created small quilts and purses.  They were made of applique but different from the usual applique.  She used a different technique which is difficult to explain.  My understanding is that she laid all the pieces down and sewed it all together with free hand embroidery.  But it looked different than any applique I had seen before.  I was intrigued.

We spent some time at the mall where I bought I Life for my computer had delicious barbecue for dinner and went off to the fire works display. 

I love color.  I love bright bold mixtures of color and light.  Seeing fire works live is one of my favorite things to do.  We were right up there close and personal.  There was fun music in the background.  Fireworks make me feel like a little girl again.  Watching them reaches into my heart and sole like nothing else does.  Fireworks with fun music is an incredible experience for me and I had forgotten how much I enjoy it.  I tried to capture it in pictures and on video.  I love my new I phone.  The video I took with it I though was impressive.  The kids will have to teach me how to post it on Facebook.  All in all this was an absolutely wonderful day.  

Nature Around Us

Good morning all.  Another beautiful sunny day.  Spring is over and summer has slowly crept in. This is the time that goes by quickly.  The next two months will fly by and then the rush and struggle of the Christmas season will be upon us once more.  I have a lot to say about the Christmas season but I will leave that for future discussion at another time.

Summer comes complete with lots of action.  As I look out the window these days I see some very happy flower plants.  That would not be the roses and lilies that have been clobbered by the deer lol , but the peonies and other flowers that the deer don't enjoy munching in.  There are two Grouse (they are big black and blue birds that have a horrible screachy sound ) and a couple of little squirrels clobbering the cherries on my cherry tree.  Outside my bedroom window there is a nesting Robin.  The robin is definitely my favorite.  She sits there all day long.  From time to time she will leave the nest but for very very short spurts.  I have wondered what she thinks about all day.  Sometimes I see her get up and look inside the nest.  Probably checking to see if her little eggs are ok.  Then it looks like she moves them around with her beak.  Watching her take such good care of her little ones fills me with joy.  God often talks about how He takes care of his creation.

Speaking of creation I miss my little grandson.  My daughter-in-law had to go back to work. My heart goes out to her.  I know how difficult it is to leave little Ethan all day long.  God created us to take care of, watch over and protect our young ones like that little robin in the nest.  But I also know that God will be watching over and protecting the lovely lady to who taking care of him and Ethan will always be happy to see his mom when she gets home.  I was able to see Ethan on internet yesterday.  He has grown so much since I last saw him.  You should see how he holds his head up by himself now.  I haven't seen him laugh yet but I know he smiled at me. He looks directly at the computer screen now. 

On that note I encourage you to take the time and smell the roses if the deer hasn't gotten to them yet lol and when you do think about the great beauty God has created for us.

Let Me Tell You About My Grandson! Part 3

My time is almost over and I will be leaving for the airport soon.  Sigh I will miss being here though it is good to get home.  I must admit that I miss my sewing machine, but not that much. lol

I have some more things to share about Ethan.  I honestly don't remember if I wrote any of this already and I don't have time to look back and read what I have already written since it is almost time to leave but here goes.  

Ethan loves his swing.  His swing has a little mobile with rainforest animals the circle around his head.  He loves sitting there watching them but only for a limited amount of time.  I think he gets bored after awhile but who can blame him.  He is very very smart and moving animals have got to get boring after a while.  He has learned to drop his binky when he wants attention.  We are sure he drops it on purpose because then he cries and we put it back in his mouth and that is attention.  He will repeat this over and over again till he has permanent attention ie being held lol.  Told you he was intelligent!  Oh he loves lying in mommy and daddy's bed.  He always stops crying when they put him there.

You should see him on his belly.  He is starting to lift his head up.  He has really strong legs and with his legs he can inch himself forward.  He still needs to strengthen his arms.  He does get frustrated after about 15 minutes.  Oh and did I tell you he loves to dance.  I will pick him up and start to dance with him in my arms and he loves that.  He is so quiet and happy when I do that.  The best part he loves to have my nose touch his.  When I do that he gets a big smile and makes gurgling noises.  Yesterday he was staring at a stuffed bear and was making gurgling noses at it too.  See I told you we have conversations.  He is also starting to like it when I kiss his belly.  

The poor little guy has lots of gassy problems so his tummy hurts a lot.  When he really cries hard and pushes his little legs into a curl you know he is hurting.  He will be a great soccer playing someday.  I told you he has strong legs.  He can't keep socks on.  He will kick them off in minutes.  I didn't think that was possible.  I had to see it with my own eyes.  Also I watched him grow.  I am sure that he gained a wee bit of weight and grew a tiny bit while I was here.  He definitely looks bigger today than he did 4 days ago.

That is all I can think of for now.  I will be leaving shortly right back to my routine.  Luckily I will have the joy of visiting my other son and daughter in law shortly.  I am very very blessed to have such a wonderful family.

Let Me Tell You About My Grandson! Part 2

I will make these short and sweet because there are many distractions in my son's apt.  Right now there are two grandmas her me and the maternal grandmother.  She loves to cook and she is a fabulous cook.  Not my thing better her than me I must say.  She comes over and cooks for the kids often.  She will cook then food for the whole week.  Me I could fill their home with quilts if they asked.  Not as useful, I understand but it is what I enjoy.  I honestly wish I enjoyed spending an entire day in the kitchen but it would drive me nuts!

Ethan loves to dance.  I love to dance too so we have something in common.  When I dance with him in my arms he just leans on my shoulder totally content.  He loves to have his nose tweaked.

When you touch his little nose he smiles.  He loves his vibrating bouncy chair and his swing. He also loves going out.  He falls asleep in the car and stroller with no problem.

Ethan and I have had several interesting conversations.  He has communicated to me that his stomach cramps really bother him after he eats.  He tells me he loves me just by the expression in his eyes.  I have started teaching him how to say his prayers and started teaching him about the 5 piggys.  You know you the one that went to market and the one that stayed home....

He doesn't quite understand that so he doesn't smile at that yet.  He has told me how cool his hands are and how he loves putting them in his mouth when they are free.  He told me it hurts to scratch himself but he can't control his hands enough not too.  It really frustrates him that he can't communicate his needs and thoughts to us properly yet.  I told him not to worry that we will be patient with him and that in time he will be able to.  I have told him about all the exciting things we will do together when he gets bigger.  I told him about the zoo and the children's museum.  I started to tell him about how Jesus loves him and how as time goes on I will teach him all about Jesus.  I told him about all the great books I have at my house that we will read together when he comes over.  He told me how much he loves to sleep in my arms.  

I told him how lucky he was to have wonderful, loving parents and how I will always be there for him if and when he needs.

I must say that I had forgotten how difficult infants are.  I am glad I have raised my kids.  Being a grandmother is truly wonderful.  We can hold those little ones, play with them care for them but in the end they go home to their parents lol.  I often thing how wonderful it would be to be young again but honestly when I think about it long enough I realize I am glad I am just where I am in life and except for going back temporarily to change a few minor details in my life I am happy where I am.

Maybe this wasn't so short after all lol..........

Let Me Tell You About My Grandson!

Finally, I made the trip to meet my grandson Ethan.  I decided to make the trip when I received some pictures from my son in Denver.  It showed Ethan taking a bath.  The expression on Ethan's face looked just like his father when he was a baby.  I made reservations to New York within a few days of that picture.  The two weeks waiting for the trip seemed like forever.  I can honestly say that time can actually go by slowly even at my age.

The day finally came so here I am.  It didn't take him long to get to know his grandmother.  He learned quickly that she is sucker.  Ethan loves to be held.  When he is awake he stares at things and studies them.  He is starting to smile and he loves baths.  I think that is when I usually see him smile.  This evening I babysat and I put him on his belly for awhile.  That mat has a picture of an alligator on it.  He kept looking at the alligator.  Then there was a mirror next to the mat. He would stare at his image and smile.  It was so very cute.  I think I will save the rest for another day.  I am so tired tonight I can't keep my eyes open.  I pretty much held Ethan the whole evening and I must say there is nothing sweeter than holding a sleeping baby in your arms.  

Joy

Good morning to all on this bright sunny morning.  My house except for the closet are ready for summer.   The sprinkler is on, the air conditioner has been checked, the lawn fertilized and spring cleanup outdoors complete. Wish I could say I did it all but no I did none of it.  I am still waiting on the closet because I know that as soon as I pull out the summer clothes it will snow again.  Salt Lake weather is very unpredictable.  We have had snow in June.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon in my sewing room.  I think I mentioned my new sewing machine at some point in the blog.  A few weeks ago I finally attempted to embroider with it.  To my great disappointment it failed miserably.  I took it back to the store and spent about three hours there.  Not only did they give me a long private lesson and taught me a couple of new tricks, but also checked the machine.  It turns out that the bobbin case designed for the machine is slightly defective.  They had to adjust it so the embroidery would work again. I might have to readjust it to do regular sewing. There is a new bobbin case to replace the old one on back order.  Who knows when it will show up, but at least my machine works now.  So yesterday I decided to attempt another design.  I bought designs that when finished and put together create a children's book.  I started with the elephant.  This design also has a little bit of machine applique.  I even used fabric that wasn't the best so if I messed up I wouldn't feel like a total failure, but if it worked out I could use it.  To my great surprise and joy it worked perfectly!  I was so very very excited. I was so excited I couldn't even contain myself.  When my machine works it works so beautifully it is unbelievable.  On top of that I sewed another row onto my quilt.  I had a real sense of accomplishment.  I thought about joy yesterday.  The joy I experienced was short lived as all temporary and artificial highs are.  The true joy,  the one that lasts is the result of loving God.  Only through Him can true happiness occur.  Only when I am right with Him do I have that constant feeling of contentment.  It is a different kind of joy.  It is more a joy that comes from peace in knowing I am right with Him.

The Deer and the Dear

The title of this blog will have to wait as I really don't quite know where I am going with it this morning.  I don't write often because I have to feel inspired to write.  That usually happens when I am on vacation.  It is difficult for me to write in my natural habitat because life is so routine and as a Household Manager (Homemaker) life because a bit boring and it is difficult to see outside the box.  

Outside the box at this moment there is a cherry tree in full bloom and many flowering plants trying desperately to grow.  There are the lilies and roses among others trying to make their way to the surface.  But there is danger lurking all around.  The danger is the deadly deer.  I know you will want to laugh at this but trust me my roses and my lilies are not laughing at this time.  I hear their cry of terror when the deer come out.  Yes you think those sweet delicate looking animals with those cute ears and those big eyes are really innocent, but they are not.  They sneak into the unsuspecting yard.  They look around and they find their feast.  They go over to it and destroy it.  They eat the poor innocent new buds of the flowers that have just come up.   Then they see me in the house.  They know I am there and they stare.  I know what they are thinking.  They are daring me to come outside.  I go outside.  They continue to stare me down.  I am only a few feet from them and they continue to stare.  The look is not innocent.

They know what they have done and they know I don't like it.  Then they turn around and run out of the yard.  Yesterday, my husband saw a baby buck just sitting outside on our grass.  He looked so sweet and innocent.  My husband wouldn't let me go outside to scare him away.

Last week I saw a dead deer on the side of the road.  He was hit by a car.  Well one down and don't know how many more to go.  

On the exciting part of my life there is my little Ethan.  He is three weeks old now and getting cuter every day.  My son has been good to me.  Several times a week he calls me on I Chat and shows the baby to me.  I actually saw him with his eyes open a couple of times now.  Last night he didn't want to keep his little gloves on.  Who can blame him.  I would want to see what my hands look like too and of course there is the thumb.  He probably wants to suck on his thumb.

He managed to remove one of his mittens but he daddy put it right back on him and he began to cry.  Can you imagine how frustrating it must for that little one.  The reasoning for the glove is to keep him from scratching his face.  I love the way my son cares for his son.  I know they are both such good parents but it is fun to watch my own child be a parent.  I am so proud of him.  I only wish I had known how to appreciate child development when I had them right near me.  But God is now allowing me to see and appreciate the miracle of growth behind the scenes.

I must say that if I stand back and take time to smell the roses (when they are there) I am in awe of God's creation.  He is so good to us and through His creation He is reminding us how much He loves us.  Both the deer and our dear loved ones are to be loved no matter what they do because Jesus loved us first.