24 October 2010
My big boy Julian
28/10/10 11:33
Last week my step-daughter and her husband and my grand-babies arrived for their annual fall visit. Christy grew up in Cleveland and now lives in the south. She misses the colors and smells of fall in the midwest and each year she makes a pilgrimage here for a visit and to re-connect with what fall really means for her. For us it means the crispness of the air, the raking of the leaves, the burning of the leaves, carving pumpkins, making pies, and spending time watching the children play and enjoy new experiences. This trip Julian (above) and his big sis, Ella, got to pet a giraffe, rode on a camel, played in a maze of straw, and feed carrots to llamas, goats, exotic birds, and various other animals at the pumpkin farm. The wonderment in their eyes was worth getting up early and driving forty minutes and walk around the place. We had a great time. The rest of the weekend was spent carving pumpkins, making a pie, watching football and all those fall activities!
More pics to come.
And a note to Ella and Julian, I miss you already and wish you could move to Illinois and we could spend much more time together. (whisper in your parents ears at night ok?)
Love, Nana
My Likes...
25/10/10 11:25
The other day I said that “tomorrow” I’d give you all a list of my likes. And, unfortunately I didn’t get that list, although I had a great reason why, as my step daughter and her husband and our two fabulously wonderful, beautiful, and oh-so-fun grandchildren were visiting. So, instead of doing a blog entry I was enjoying spending some great time with them. They were such fun to be around and children certainly keep you young, and honest. But, I will admit to feeling my age, and to some degree certainly happy I don’t have a six year old and a baby living with me 24 hours a day! I love them so very much.
As promised here is that list: (these are not in order of importance)
- My husband’s music. (I wish I could hear it again with two good ears instead of one)
- A cold rainy day, snuggling under a blanket on the couch, watching the Bears game, with a pot of home-made soup on the stove, and my husband in his favorite chair.
- Curling up on that same couch with a great mystery/thriller.
- Watching a great movie with cheddar cheese popcorn.
- Making new play lists on the ipod.
- Chicken paprikash, marinated flank steak on the grill, chocolate chip & toffee cookies, veal parmesan, Chicago style pizza, gyros and Mai Tai’s at The Squire, Chicken Enchiladas with mole sauce, shrimp rolls at California Pizza Kitchen.
- Candy (Mike & Ikes, jelly beans, Hot Tamales, twizzlers
- Looking at old family photos and pics of my nephews when they were little.
- Watching the wonder in my grandchildren’s eyes.
- Hearing from an old dear friend.
- Knowing that old dear friend will have my back no matter what.
- Watching my favorite old movies: Gone With The Wind, The 10 Commandments, The Quiet Man, The Haunting, Watching some “almost old” movies: Dave, Fried Green Tomatoes, Forrest Gump, Enemy of The State, Out of Africa, (yes, I’ll even admit it) Enchanted, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Night at the Museum just to name a few.
- Watching decorating/home improvement and cooking shows including: Holmes On Homes, Sara’s House, Diners Drive-ins and Dives, Barefoot Contessa
- Cable shows instead of prime-time regular channels: Weeds, Dexter, Californication, NCIS (yes, Mark Harmon is just yummy), The Closer, and unfortunately I must admit to watching Say Yes to the Dress (guilty pleasure)
- Snuggling with my kittens.
- Decorating the house for the holidays.
- Watching my nephews grow up (although it’s tough to let them go. I don’t want them to ever have their hearts broken)
- Hearing my grandson say “I wuv woo”.
That’s it for now!
