~NIGHT~

"The night has a thousand eyes"... John Lyly~

When the moon is full...I toss and turn...I do not sleep...how about you?

GRANNY, I'M SORRY....

There is only ONE...I repeat ...ONE... disadvantage to providing care for your grandchild...

it is almost guaranteed that if a wee one has the SNIFFLES you can bet it's just a matter of time before "Ole Granny" gets it...pass the tissues...please...

SPRING~

The view outside my window on this first day of Spring 2013... 

All I can say... my peas will not be going in the ground anytime soon!...

ANOTHER WINTER'S DAY~

Exactly how many days till spring?

 the snow falls...

and falls...

REWIND WINTER~

There is a winter snow storm sitting on the horizon... it appears... according to local meteorologists, snow  will begin falling by late evening dropping 12-15" inches of snow on our doorstep...  and for good measure... snow showers will continue on and off throughout the week....I do hope this is winter's last hurrah...my peas are waiting...

 I will remain optimistic...what else can one do?

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Happy St. Patrick's Day...

For each petal on the shamrock

This brings a wish your way

Good health, good luck and happiness

For today and everyday...

May God grant you always...

A sunbeam to warm you

A moonbeam to charm you,

A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you...~Irish Blessing~

I wish I could tell you my absence was due to being the winning recipient of the lottery or I've been vacationing at some distant tropical location, but alas it is not so... Winter continues to linger here in Maine...however...last week "we" were treated to temperatures nearing fifty degrees while under brilliant blue skies...



the snowshoes came out...

while the girls were treated to some much needed "dirt therapy"

 Travis and I have been enjoying both morning and afternoon walks... 

Oh the benefits of fresh air...fortunately for me, "ole granny" I can get Travis stripped of his winter wear and have him settled in his crib before he becomes fully awake...I too quickly settle myself in my easy chair and catch a few winks...

 Sadie Puss has spring fever... in one door and out the other..this kitty does not know if she is coming or going..

 

Sadie seems to continually find herself  on the wrong side of the door...



 and at times in between doors...

 The sunflowers and tulips purchased at Trader Joe's last week continue to hold their bloom...

 

My mom and I visited Trader Joe's this past Friday, another lesson learned... do not go to Trader Joe's on Fridays...it was busy...perhaps it is always busy... Trader Joe's is relatively new to our area so the novelty of its presence has not completely worn off...I've only shopped there a handful of times... I have just discovered that Friday is the day their fresh flowers and plants arrive...

 

This week my treat was three bunches of sunny daffodils at $1.69 apiece...While some of you  laze in the warm sun, have the good fortune and weather to begin gardening... we here in the East continue to muddle through these late winter days...our snow is melting...  the signs of spring may be subtle...but we know spring never skips it's turn...and yes... I have daffodils...I am thankful...for Tuesday... snow is headed our way...Oy Vey...

~I NEED COLOR~

This week I find myself longing for color...the view outside my window continues to remain in shades of white as in snow...brown as in mud...and grey as in skies...  a trip to Trader Joe's was warranted ...  I don't shop there often, but when I do it is always a happy excursion...the clerks decked out in their Hawaiian shirts are always helpful and friendly... it's a busy, hustle bustle  atmosphere...music playing...bells ringing...and samples being handed out..

The cost of one bouquet of flowers purchased at a local grocery store...equals two at Trader Joe's...It soon became apparent the majority of folks shopping today had the same thought process as I..FLOWERS...

 also my pantry was void of fig bars...if you like figs  you need to give these bars a try...they are sooooo yummy...they also come in strawberry and blueberry, but the  fig is my favorite...

another favorite ...Strawberry Yogurt O's, similar to Cheerios but with more of a crunch...a grown up Cheerio...

the last item in my cart... a loaf of crusty french bread...a bread which is crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside...slathered with Irish butter...(a new to me product)...oh sooooo heavenly...If you need a bit of color in your life...head to Trader Joe's...however...I would NOT recommend visiting on a Saturday...I made that mistake only ONCE...what a ZOO!....

~WEARING THE WORLD~

The necklace below, is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry, given to me at Christmas by my parents.  It was custom made by Chart Metalworks, a small company located on the waterfront in Portland, Maine.  

This necklace holds a small map which can be customized to hold locations from anywhere across the globe .A piece which can depict a story, memory or a place  close to your heart. My necklace does just that. It is a map of my childhood home, a place where wonderful memories were made, a place that will forever live in my heart and now around my neck too... 

Home, the spot of earth supremely blest, a dearer sweet spot than all the rest. ~Robert Montgomery~

~ GRANDFATHERS~

A grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart...Grandfathers are for loving and fixing things...~Unkown~

One of the most powerful handclasps is that of a new grand baby around the finger of a grandfather.~Joy Hargrove~

Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old. ~Mary H. Waldrip~
I like to do nice things for my grandchildren. Like buy them those toys I have always wanted to play with. ~Gene Perret~
And, no cowboy was ever faster on the draw than a grandparent pulling a baby picture out of a wallet.~Unknown~