Friday, May 25, 2007

Little Big Foot

We went over to visit the kids the other day and this sight greeted me. It made me laugh, but also shook my time clock. Blink, blink, blink - thirty five years buzzed and whirred forward and back and round and round.

My youngest sister bought these moccasins for Butterfly when she was just a baby and now they grace Smudge's feet. Where has the time gone? Buzz, whir, spin, spin, spin!

Her Aunty's Moccasins

Smudge's little feet look lost in them don't they? Her toes come just past the opening, and the shoes that always looked so tiny to me, now look huge.

Hanging Ten
The moccasins were so big they fell off when Grandpa picked her up to rock her, and I just had to take another picture of her cute little feet. Tiny little fingers and toes are awesome aren't they? Oh what a wonder babies are.

When will she take her first step? Where will those little feet take her? What adventures will she go on? How do we give her the guidance she needs to keep steppin' in the right direction and find her own North Star, so she can follow her dreams.

Those little feet have already walked right into my heart and made a lasting imprint. Oh joy!

Monday, May 21, 2007

Rockin' Rollin' and Strollin'

On the Porch with Grandma
Poor little Smudge had a very fussy weekend and AC and I did some major Rockin'...

Big Burps
Rollin'...

On the Porch with Grandma
And Rockin' some more!!!

They say that babies sometimes go through a growth spurt at four weeks and need to eat constantly and fuss when they aren't eating. Well, Smudge seemed to follow that path this weekend. She was not a happy camper and just about wore poor mom to a frazzle. Grandma and Grandpa were glad to come to the rescue.

The sun was shining for most of the long weekend, so we took advantage of the nice weather and sat on the porch for some of our rock 'n roll duty. We even took the wee fussy bundle for a "roll" in her stroller, but the strollin' didn't last long. She just couldn't settle lying down. So it was back to the front porch and the rocking chair there. I quite enjoyed it actually.

I am glad to be off my rocker now though and will soon be heading to bed. Talk to you all later. Nite nite!

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Oh My!

Hugs

Isn't it amazing what AC can do with Photoshop?

Smudge and parents came over for dinner yesterday, and the baby was a tad fussy when they arrive, so I had a chance to rock her for a bit. She was down for the count after a few minutes of snuggling with Grandma. Oh the joy of that feeling when they cuddle down into you and totally relax against you.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Thanks Sare

Shawl and Pin

It is THE BEST! I wore it to our Anniversary dinner this week and felt very elegant in this most beautiful Pashmina shawl. It is soft, warm and oh so elegant. I love it. Thank you!

Friday, May 18, 2007

Young Whippersnappers

AC and I celebrated our 38th Wedding Anniversary yesterday and Smudge celebrated her four weekiversary. AC posted a picture of us taken with Smudge here, and filled you in on the details of our day yesterday, but I thought it would be fun to post a couple of old pictures of us when we were just young whippersnappers on our wedding day.

Thirty Eight Years Ago


Thirty Eight Years Ago

Makes me smile just to look at them again. Hope they make you smile too.

Enjoy your day and walk in the sunshine every chance you get.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Bunnies and Babies

Bright Eyes and Bunny

This little bunny arrived in the mail yesterday for Smudge and in the blink of an eye, he hopped to it and got right to work when she needed some support in her baby chair. She snuggled up to him like an old friend and seemed quite willing to share her space with him.

Babies and Bunnies, what a cute combination.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Smudge and Friends

Babies, you just gotta love 'em. We sure are wrapped up in ours these days. To all you Grandmas out there - does it get better or are we hopelessly lost to endless bragging and picture showing? You must be getting tired of all these pictures by now, but I just can't help myself. She is just so darned cute!

Butterfly brought the wee bundle over for a visit the other day and we introduced Smudge to all the friends on the wonderful Grandma quilt my friend made for me. It stays at my house for the exclusive use of Smudge when she visits.

Smudge on Grandma's Quilt
In this picture she looks like she is doing the "Walks like an Egyptian" dance. She's definitely got attitude and pizazz, and wants to strut her stuff!

Smudge on Grandma's Quilt
After she did her little dance she was ready to go for a walk with the lion and the elephants. What an adventurous girl.

Thank you SAM for this most wonderful gift. I am sure Smudge could feel the love oozing out of every tiny stitch as she snuggled down on the quilt's softness. I sure could as I watched her wriggle and squiggle on it. I think of you and your priceless gift of friendship every time I see it and send a heart hug to you when I do.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Weekend Celebrations

Warning! This post might be a boring read for most of you, so fast forward past this one if you want to. It is mainly for the A TEAM but you are all welcome to read it too.

Last week I started wondering out loud what to do for Butterfly this mother's day and dad stopped me in my tracks and told me I didn't need to plan anything, Mother's Day was all taken care of. I spluttered on about not wanting Butterfly to have to plan anything or do any work and he again assured me that that was not my responsibility this year. He and The Boy had things well in hand. OK, I would let them take care of it and just enjoy the day with Butterfly and the Baby.


I got up Saturday morning and discovered this gift on the dining room table for me. I was a bit puzzled when I saw it that day, seeing as Mother's Day was the next. Dad told me that Saturday was my Mother's Day and Sunday would be my Grandmother's Day. What fun! He had the whole day planned and after I opened my gift I was told to go get ready because we were going out for breakfast and then off on an adventure. As you well know, I love surprises like that and mystery adventures.

Can you see what the CD is? It is Mary Oliver reading forty of her poems. Oh joy! My favourite poet and to hear her reading her own poetry will be amazing. What a gift! The quote on the back cover reads "The poem is meant to be given away, best of all by the spoken presentation of it; then the work is complete." I will let you know more about it in another post, but for now let me continue on about my most wonderful weekend.


After breakfast on Saturday we took coffee and Timbits (sustenance for the journey) out to the car and continued on our adventure. I soon found out that we were going on the Red Trillium Studio and Garden Tour. We drove along country roads vibrant with the fresh colours of spring, and visited Artist's studios and Master Gardens all along the route. As you might have already guessed, I picked up a beautiful piece of original jewelry at one of the studios. It will look fabulous on the Pashmina shawl Sare sent me from South Korea.

The sculpture in the picture above was one of many at the most unique studio of the day. The house was built into the side of a hill and had windmills and energy panels all over the property. They were not off the grid completely, but they were moving in that direction. The Studio was in an old building out back where the artist made beautiful sculptures using wood, clay and stone. Her work was amazing.

We stopped at a quaint pub for a late lunch/early dinner, at the end of the tour and then finished off the day with a stop at S&E's place to get a hug and hello from them and the Smudge before heading home.

Sunday dawned sunny and cool and I slept in, then lazed around in my pj's, and lingered over coffee in grand style. What a totally relaxing, luxurious way to spend a Mother's Day morning.


Mid-morning I received this beautiful mixed plant basket from you guys. What a nice surprise. Thanks gals. I sure miss you.


Love this little bunny hiding in the leaves.

Dad and I took a picnic to the park for lunch and then headed over to Butterfly and The Boy's to stay with Smudge while they went out to enjoy a walk in the park and maybe get an ice cream. We all gathered at dinner time for a BBQ – the guys cooked and the girls snuggled the baby. It was a great Mother's/Grandmother's Day.


I received this unique Grandma mug and cute magnets from Smudge, and this whimsical figurine from Butterfly and The Boy. Just in case you can't read it, the mug says "Not your average Grandmother". I am drinking my coffee out of it right now. Yum! The figurine is called "Happiness" and it makes me smile and feel happy just to look at it.

What a fabulous weekend. Wish you could have been here, but did feel you here in spirit. See you soon. Hugs Mom

Mother's Day Pictures

Two Generations of Mothers
Queen for a day! Butterfly and I polished off our tiaras and were all set for the day.

Generations on Mother's Day
The Little Princess joined us for a snuggle.

The Princess is giving orders to her court. We all listen intently.

Mommy and Smudge
I think she just told mommy a joke.

Mommy and Smudge
Now it's time for a snuggle


OK, enough of that, now it is time to kick up her heels and have some fun with the bears she gave mommy for Mother's Day.

We had a wonderful day yesterday. Hope you did too.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

First Happy Grandmother's Day to Me



AC took this picture yesterday and processed it to look like a pen and ink drawing and then a watercolour painting. He had the colour picture waiting for me on the dining room table this morning. What a nice Happy Grandmother's Day present.



I am absolutely loving being a Grandma. I send warmest wishes to all you moms and grandmas out there. Have a wonderful heart-warming day.

Friday, May 11, 2007

Smiles and Chuckles



Oh, I just can't help myself. I just have to post one more video. I am sure Smudge was smiling at me! What do you think?

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Too Cute

Three Weeks Old

Today is Smudge's Third Birthday! Yep, she is three weeks old today. What a cutie huh? She is Little Miss Bright Eyes these days.

Three Weeks Old
She can really pull funny faces too. What talent, and only three weeks old.

Butterfly had a rough day yesterday, so I spent a lot of time over there today to give mom a bit of a break. Lots of rockin' and walkin' was done, and I loved every minute of it. Sure am tired now though so I am heading off to bed RIGHT NOW. Just had to post a picture first though. Enjoy.

Ottawa River Parkway Bike Path

Time to put my birthday gift to good use. The Boy put the bike carrier on the car for us this past weekend, so today was the day to figure out how to get the bikes on it and go in search of some new bike trails.




It took us awhile to figure out the best fit for the bikes, but once we did, all I had to do was make one small adjustment and we were ready to go. Yahoo!


We packed a picnic lunch so enjoyed munching delicious whole grain pitas stuffed with lettuce and cheese at this beautiful park at the start of the trail.



While we munched our lunch, Mr and Mrs. Duck enjoyed a delicious snack too. I couldn't resist taking a picture of them shaking a tail feather.



Once we had been fortified we started our adventure, and enjoyed a most delightful ride on this fabulous path all along the edge of the Ottawa River. You can see Quebec on the other side of the water.



We pedalled along the water's edge all the way to the Parliament Buildings in downtown Ottawa.



A thoroughly enjoyable and beautiful ride.



This was our turn-a-round point for today. A park bench in a shady spot by one of the locks on the Rideau Canal in downtown Ottawa. You can be sure that we will be riding this trail again real soon. What a treat it was for the body and soul today.

Monday, May 07, 2007

Summer Kitchen Ceili

What fun we had at the Summer Kitchen Ceili yesterday. The fiddlers were fabulous, and the step dancers delightful. The old Town Hall was packed with hand clappin' toe tappin' Celtic music enthusiasts and we all had a grand time.

Summer Kitchen Ceili
The laundry was hung out to air, the doors thrown open, the rugs rolled up, and music was played loud and long to shoo all the dusty winter air out of the house to make room for the fresh spring breezes.

Summer Kitchen Ceili
The step dancers were dressed in their finest and sparkled and shone as they stepped and twirled on the stage.

The show was supposed to end at 4pm, but the encore took us all the way to 5:45. The music kept flowing, the dancers tapped and the audience clapped. Yes, a good time was had by all.

AC has a couple of videos and more stills he will post later so be sure to check out his blog if you want to see more pics.

During the last two weeks since Smudge's arrival, a Gibran quote has floated to surface of my mind more than once.

"When either your joy or your sorrow becomes great, the world becomes small."

I have found this to ring true the past little while. Our world has shrunk down to the size of baby Smudge and our little family circle. In time it will open up again to include other things, but for now, not much else is allowed in. Isn't it amazing how such a little being that wasn't even here three weeks ago, can take up so much time energy and "space" in our lives.

It felt good to step outside that tiny circle yesterday and go to the Ceili, take a picnic supper to the park afterwards, and then of course stop in for a hug from Smudge before going home.

Today we are off to town to take the car in for repairs and then do some shopping. Yes, another step will be taken outside this small circle, but a hug for Smudge will be indulged in before the day is over. Pure joy!

Hope you find something to bring pure joy into your life today too.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Pre Dinner Stretch



We arrived at Butterfly's house just before Smudge's dinner time yesterday, and Grandma was privileged to hold the wee one while she wriggled and squirmed in her pre-dinner warm up routine.

Thought you might enjoy a peek too.

AC and I are off to a Summer Kitchen Ceili this afternoon at the Town Hall. Lots of Celtic music, step dancers, fiddlers, singers, and drummers will be there to entertain us. We are really looking forward to it. Must run now and get ready so will end this short post here and talk to you all later. Enjoy the video.

Friday, May 04, 2007

This That and a Hat

Pictures are slowing down aren't they? That is because I never seem to be home these days, and when I am, I am usually heading to bed for a nap!!! Oh the joys and trials of Grandmahood! I am loving every minute of it though, trials and all. Even though my pictures are slowing down, Butterfly's are picking up and she has posted some great ones on her blog. Be sure to check them out here if you want a Smudge fix.

AC posted a very heart-warming blog this morning, with some cute pics of Smudge's first stroller outing here.

Mom and baby have had a few rough nights this week, so I have put in major rocking time and managed to work some Grandma magic on a couple of occasions. How neat! Here it is Friday and we have all survived. Yahoo. Weekend is here, so dad will be home to help for the next couple of days, and Grandpa and I will step back a bit and just be on call.



I had the privilege of accompanying mom and baby on their first outing in the car without dad this week. Mom wanted to deliver thank you gifts to the nurses at the hospital, so it was my honoured task to sit in the back seat with baby while mom drove. By the time we got baby secured in the car seat and loaded into car, she was howling big time, but cars work like magic to lull babies to sleep and after about two minutes on the road Smudge was in dreamland. I couldn't resist taking this pic of her sleeping in her car seat whilst sporting her cute little chapeau!

I think I will follow Smudge's lead right now and toddle off to dreamland too. Nite, nite. Talk to you all later.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

First Visit to G&G's

First Visit to the Grands
Momentous day! Smudge went to the doctor's today, and mom discovered that baby was apparently well fed because she was back up to her birth-weight. Yahoo, time to celebrate, so a visit to Grandma and Grandpa's house was in order. It was a treat for mom to get out and Smudge seemed quite happy about the outing too.

First Visit to the Grands
Well for a little while anyway. Once out of the car Smudge started to get uncomfortable in her seat and wanted out thank you very much.

First Visit to the Grands
Grandma came to the rescue and soon had Smudge happy as a clam. We snuggled like this for about an hour while mom and I chatted and dad helped grandpa network his new printer.

We are all feeling a little more human today. I went to Tai Chi this morning and had a good workout. Tonight we are off to line dancing which is always fun. Yes, normal routines are picking up again and it feels good. One big difference in normal these days though - Smudge makes everything better.