Showing posts with label grammy's page. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grammy's page. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

glancing back ~ april

Blue skies and sunshine.  That is story the photos tell.  It's just not the whole story!


It was a typical west coast April...where we knew had to take advantage of the sunshine because it could be raining again shortly.  But we are closing off the month with a string of beautiful days...and the temp's are soaring.

Let me just share a few of the month's happenings.  On a sunny Sunday afternoon, we took a drive out to Point Roberts.


Though it is just over an hour's drive from here, we had never before visited this jewel of a place along the ocean.  It's a little slice of  the USA on the Tsawwassen peninsula...accessible only through Canada. It seemed most of the vehicles in Point Roberts sported a BC license plate. Since there is much to share about Point Bob...I am breaking my one-post-a-month-for-now policy and doing a separate post on our day trip over there.  (You can scroll down and find it immediately below this post...or click here.)

And then there was Easter!  We celebrated with the family on Good Friday this year...because that was what worked best for all. (It didn't work out all that well for Spencer though, who missed out on all the fun because of the flu!)


We timed it just right and had an Easter egg hunt outdoors between rainfalls!  As for the eggs that never got found that day...I'm finding them now as I do my gardening. 

On the Saturday of the Easter weekend...we grabbed our passports and headed back to the ocean on the American side once again...not all that far from Point Roberts. 


Our destination was Blaine...and a beautiful wedding at the Semiahmhoo Resort.  Once again...the rain stopped just in time!  Mikki and Joe were married in an outdoor ceremony along the ocean.  We rejoiced with those who were rejoicing...at the marriage celebration of the daughter of our long-time friends. Most special!

In other news...


...the weeping willow tree next to our house is gone!  I could weep over that...but I won't.  It is for the best...I know!  We planted two willow trees on the front yard ten years ago...when we built the house.  The one nearest the house grew twice as fast as the other.  A healthy specimen indeed!  One month ago we realized that the roots of the healthy tree were winding their way through the drainage pipes around the house.  Water was backing up where it shouldn't be.   What to do?  Hubby brought the chain saw and that was that!  There is now a stump where the lovely tree once stood.  I'm still trying to decide how to best hide the eye-sore...and what to plant where the tree once stood.  Take note ~ weeping willow trees are not supposed to be planted within 100 feet of drainage or septic pipes. 


Our annual trip to the tulip fields never happened this year.  It wasn't for lack of trying!  We piled into the car and began our drive out there one afternoon, only to realize the tulip fields closed at 4 o'clock and we were too late.  It's hard juggling schedules and school hours to fit in a trip to the tulip fields while they are in full bloom!  Next year.


Maggie and Lucy decided they would pick daffodils from Grammy's garden instead...and each had a bouquet to take home.  


This week the guys are busy cutting grass.  As the saying goes...'make hay while the sun shines'!   And so the farmer was busy 'making hay'...and the 'farmer's wife' went to Grandparent's Day on her own this morning. 

And those are a few of the memories and moments from the month of April at "My Front Porch".

Thanks to all of you who continue to stop by, even when it may seem like I'm not home.  You are wonderful friends!  

Until next month...



Friday, February 28, 2014

February...come and gone

February 2014 began like spring...
and then brought a dose of winter mid-month...
and a big dump of snow several days ago. 
And just to round things off...
we are ending the month with a bit of summer.
In our favorite oasis...



...Palm Springs.

A few of the month's highlights included...


...a violin recital by our granddaughter, Ranen.
We also spent some time together working on 'sharpie plates'...
Valentine's projects.

Mennonite Girls Can Cook have helped raise funds for the kitchen at Matthew's House...
and were invited to come for a tour.



Matthew's House is a respite home given to caring for children
who live with serious healthcare issues.
  Here they can be left in a safe place,
while parents can get some much needed rest.
What a privilege for us to have even a little part in this project.


Prior to our tour of the new facilites...
we met together at Lovella's for a wonderful time around her table...
and fabulous food.
Of course!

And then there was Valentine's Day.


The grands all came for a party...
and we had a chocolate fondue this year.
Ryder had a whole plate of bacon to go with it...
just because it was Valentine's Day.
And apparently bacon is his favorite food!

And of course we spent a fair bit of time in Sochi this month...
figuratively speaking!


Among my favorite moments...
seeing the Dufour-Lapointe sisters take gold and silver medals for Canada in mogul skiing.

And...


...the Canadian women's hockey team defeating team USA in overtime to take gold.
And for the grand finale...
we awoke at 4 am on Sunday morning to watch the final men's hockey game...
and see the Canadian guys take the gold medal there.

Our athletes represented us well...
at the winter games of 2014 in Sochi!



And that was February in a glance...
and update sent from another 'front porch'.

Thank-you all for your continued visits and comments.
Enjoy the month of March, my friends!


 

Friday, December 27, 2013

on Christmas Day in the morning...

Let me give you a wee picture of what happens behind this closed door on Christmas Day...
in the morning.

 

We always do brunch with the family.
Some traditions change from year to year...
but that is one that has remained the same.
We have the very same menu from year to year as well!
I'm not allowed to mess with that...
so I have been told.

Christmas Morning Wife Saver (breakfast casserole)
Fresh Fruit Salad
Croissants


These two were here before the others arrived.


Lucy fetched Baby Jesus from the nativity scene...
and cradled Him for a bit.


Maggie returned Him to His place among the shepherds, wisemen and angels.

My nephew came next.
He lives in our area...
and has no immediate family nearby.
And he is always fun to have.
Just ask the kids!
He decided to don the Santa suit and be the greeter as the rest arrived.


Ooops. 
All pretense was over...
as the beard fell to the floor.
Since when is Santa tall and skinny anyhow?

Once brunch was over and done with...
we moved to the living room.
We could have lingered at the table much longer...
had Lucy not insisted it was time to open the gifts!


Emme read the Christmas story for us...
from the Children's Storybook Bible.


She had everyone's attention...
even the wee ones.



We started a new tradition this year.
The gift-opener sat on the 'gift-opening chair'.
That worked well!


How was it that these two both got the same gift from the one who had their name?
I was glad that the Furby's were not staying at Grammy's house...
especially when I learned that there was no OFF switch. :)


Emme and Spencer will be playing tennis with us this year!


Brendan loves nothing better than a good book!
I'm not sure he was all that impressed with the books he was required to read on Christmas Day.

But he was a very good sport...
and read to Micah and Lucy for well over an hour.


Ranen and Maggie changed into their new jammies...
and nibbled at chocolate monograms they found in their stockings.



And before we parted ways on Christmas Day...
Ranen played some carols for us on her violin.

And she played one of my favorite old German carols...

Oh, come, little children, oh, come, one and all,
To Bethlehem’s stable, in Bethlehem’s stall.
And see with rejoicing this glorious sight,
Our Father in heaven has sent us this night.

As she played...
the words ran through my mind in German...
like I learned them so long ago.

Ihr Kinderlein, kommet, o kommet doch all!
Zur Krippe her kommet in Bethlehems Stall
und seht, was in dieser hochheiligen Nacht
der Vater im Himmel für Freude uns macht!

And that was Christmas 2013...
behind the closed door.

There was laughter and joy...
good times, good food and good gifts.

But there was also sadness...
as we acknowledge that in a family there are difficult times.

Even at Christmas!

Monday, December 16, 2013

the wonder of it all...

Is this Christmas?


Lucy is two...
and wonders what Christmas really is.

  

For the past decade...
we have taken the pre-schooler grands to an animated Christmas village at a local sweets shoppe.

Micah and Lucy are the only pre-schoolers this year...
and the two cousins had a wonderful time together.

The wee ones love it...
including the old-fashioned 'horsie rides'.


For the old-fashioned price of 25 cents...
they both had a thrilling ride.
And another...and another...and another.



Lucy carries a puppy with her at all times...
and noticed that her 'Spot' was in good company!



Puppies and penguins...
angels and elves...
 soldiers and santas and twinkling lights.

'Is this Christmas?'
...she wonders.

Hardly!

May we always point the wee ones to Jesus...
 the reason for this season.

Wishing you all joy this season...
and Christmas in your heart.

 

And maybe some smiles.
And sprinkles too!


 

Monday, November 25, 2013

fly over canada...

While we were away touring the US of A...
our oldest two granddaughters had a birthday.
So we took them on a birthday outing this weekend!
We drove to Vancouver to take in the new 'FlyOver Canada' presentation at Canada Place.


Since their brother soon has a birthday as well...
he joined us!

We had lunch on the waterfront...
and then walked around Canada Place to the venue.

Though it is all just pretend...
one sees Canada from up above while soaring through the air in a flight simulation ride.
It comes complete with wind...and mist...and scents.

It was a first class flight.
I'd recommend it...
for all ages!

It's a great way to see our vast country in record time.
No RV required!


Spencer and Emerson ~ 12 years old
Ryder ~ soon to be eight

(Emme has a way of standing on tip-toes these days...
since it seems her twin sister has shot ahead in height lately!)


We drove through Stanley Park before returning home...
with a stop at Prospect Point.
Is it ever too cold for ice-cream cones?
Not according to the grands!
They enjoyed their cones.
We had coffee to keep warm.

We treasure time spent with our grands!

 

Monday, October 14, 2013

counting my blessings...

And these seven...



...who call me Grammy

 
...are way up there!

Happy Thanksgiving Day to you and yours.

Friday, September 27, 2013

meanwhile back at the ranch...

Though I've been posting about faraway places that we visited this summer...
life on the home front has carried on as usual.

So I will leave Philadelphia for another time...
and share a few things from the here and now!


The grass fields were all mowed down on Wednesday...
and with a little lot of help from our friends...
the final crop of the year is now in the bunker for the winter.
The storms are on their way...
starting today...
so there was no time to spare!

Why does it seem the seasons come and go more quickly than ever?


It's fall.  
The sweet autumn clematis is in full bloom...
and there is fresh snow on Mt. Cheam peak this week.


The tomato season is about over for this year as well...
so I quickly made up a batch of salsa this week.
That should provide a little heat come winter!

 

I have a sweet grand daughter who is turning five years old this weekend...
and requested a treasure chest cake for her birthday party.


Since I'll be away the next few days...
(check out the book launch events in Vancouver and Victoria this weekend)
the cake got made and delivered in advance.

The years have flown by...
and I can hardly believe she is already five.



 But there she is...
quite fearless when it comes to rowing a boat on her own...

...or climbing a sheer rock wall!
But not quite so fearless when it involves riding the bus to kindergarten without mommy.


She is always lending a helping hand to her sister...
and looking out for her friends.


I treasure all the memories of the good times we have shared over these five years.
 Happy Birthday to our dear Maggie!