I see 26 acts of kindness from the porch...

The last week has been so sorrowful. I have three grand girls who are the same ages as these children. Most of the people I know are teachers...So when I heard about Ann Curry's 26 acts of kindness idea I wanted to be a part of it somehow.  I am making a list.

1. This morning I watched from the porch as my husband spent hours with his snowblower and cleaned out all the sidewalks in our block.

2. He even swept off a car for a single mom who needed to get to work. With a smile and a titanium vertebrae in his back...

More listing until I reach 26

The One-Minute Writer: Today's Writing Prompt: Laugh

The One-Minute Writer: Today's Writing Prompt: Laugh      Sometimes if I don't laugh at myself I cry. I found the best pair of jeggings on sale the other day.The print black on gray roses. Lots of roses and jeggings. So cute and sophisticated. Paired with a black top I thought I was looking pretty good. I arrived at my great nieces wedding shower to find everyone dressed nicely in dresses or suits. Hmm...I did not get that note. So I adjusted my fascinator (large black rose with pearls) and walked in with a big smile. Later my well dressed great-great niece pulled me aside and told me she loved my outfit. We both laughed. She is seven..

Christmas pageants and the first grade tree...

 

This is on the list of things that make my cry. The first grade tree. Along with the Smucker's commercial where the boys deliver jam and the coffee ad where the brother comes home from Africa for the holidays and his sister puts a bow on him and says he is her present. Family stories about Christmas past do it and
It's a Wonderful Life.
I think I shed a few tears every day in December. Have you ever read The Little Match Girl?
I took my two year old grand flower to see Santa at the mall. She was so excited when she heard his jingle. She walked up to him and said, "Santa, did you come all the way from the North Pole to see me?" Tears!
The Pageant at my daughter's four kids school about killed me. A solo and the bell choir.  La-La's dream came true...she has always wanted long hair. Extensions for the school program. She kept moving  her head to make her beaded hair swing. Big tear. Our Texas family will be here soon. When those grands see our mountains of snow their reaction makes me tear up...

 

I took this picture in Memphis in October. This man was completely painted silver and did not move...

I just can't post without a photo and I found it so interesting that a person could be so still.

Also I forgot to post my SixWordSaturday so I am going to SixWord a Sunday!

Late morning coffee,  reading on couch.

Perfect Sunday activity!

Saturday Snapshot...

 

I love this picture of Papa, grands and dogs running into the blowing snow dragging a Christmas tree!

Winter beach...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took some pictures of the kids on the beach behind their house. Lake Superior, very cold but very beautiful. Then photo shopped them to get some funky effects. I love to do this.

I need an uplifting book to read on my porch...

 

This is what you see in the side mirror of my car...

Oh, yeah. I am looking for an uplifting  book. Actually I need a book. I just read a review of Gone Girl. Not a book I ever want to read.  It sounds awful. I almost picked it to be my next book but thought I should do a little research.Ugh... So I must keep looking.

The good old days...

Family of ten

A
The eight of us

Tinsel town 

 

My favorite family picture...

These were the good old days.
I still remember how it felt to be a part of a big family. To be so excited with the magic of Christmas. Decorating our tree, baking candy cane cookies and banana bread. Eating our Polish Christmas Eve dinner of pierogi in melted butter. I can remember trying to stay awake so I could see Santa...

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday

The Orphan Sister by Gwendolyn Gross

When my sister Odette called to tell me Dad hadn't shown up for rounds, my first guilty thought was that he'd had a heart attack on the Garden State Parkway, that his Benz had swerved, swiveled, and scraped against hte railing near exit 142 until it flipped into the opposite lane like a beetle on it's back, ready for the picking of crows. He'd fumbled for the aspirin he always kept in the cup holder, in a wood and silver pillbox he couln't unclasp when it mattered at last. Blood would mat the silvery-red mix of his still-thick hair, his eyes would be open, he'd be dead, and I'd never have a chance to prove him wrong.

Would you read this book?

Oh, My! from my porch...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can hear myself think for the first time in days. Towels are washed  Sheets are piled up by my washer. The trash cans are still packed with diapers. Remind me to empty those after I blog...
The turkey has been eaten, leftovers, too. The grands are gone from the old front porch.
We all packed up for camp to put up a tree that rivals Charlie Brown's. By the time we hit Isabella
(the name of our cottage & our dog)  it was snowing so hard we could not see! The kids and the dads braved the wind, snow and cold and brought back the best tree! Completely kid decorated. When I  said "This was the best Thanksgiving ever," my daughter rolled her eyes and told me I say that every year. I guess I do and it was...

I'm back on the porch...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home from my travels to Memphis, great BBQ, MLK Memorial, way too many people!
Texas grands soccer, touch football with Papa and the combo of Romo and Rogers, trick or treating  together!!!

Lost an old friend today...

 

 

 

Gracie, our old dog of 15 years has left us for greener pastures to run and jump in. She was barely able to move anymore and she had been a runner and a a swimmer in her salad days.
Grace was my husband's best friend. Always by his side at camp since retirement. In his truck at work waiting for Papa in air conditioned comfort on the state highway.
Someday when it does not make me cry I will tell the life story of this amazing dog.

Photo Card

Blessings For All Religious

Turn your favorite photos into Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

After the storm on the porch...

 

Intense rainbow after a fall shower on Lake Michigan beach.

I just finished reading ARC copy of Wellesley Wives by Suzy Duffy. I enjoyed this romantic comedy so much. I loved that Popsy Power was 50 and her best friend Sandra was 45. Popsey even has a grandchild! The story gives us an insider view of glamour and wealth and the results  an economic downturn can have on  this life. Popsy and Sandra  stand by each other through all the trials life throws at them. Pain and loss do not weaken the strong friendship these women share. 

A long walk from the porch...

Apple pie I  baked from very tart apples picked from a rustic tree at camp. I have had to shoo deer away so I can have a few apples for my couple of pies I bake each fall. This pie was so delicious!

So, today I did a 5K! I have always wanted to blog that! I did come in last. I walked more than I ran but I did it.  My family cheered at the finish as I crossed. My daughter had to backtrack to make sure I was still on the trail and stayed with me till the end. Fun and the best bagels fruit and ice water ever!! 
So I really needed a rest after my walk for a cause. I turned on the Hallmark channel and watched "A Smile as Big as the Moon. " It was so incredible. True story about a special ed class who went to space camp! Reminded me so much of my students over the years. The obstacles these kids had to overcome because of their differences, especially the name calling  and taunting by other students made me wish every kid would watch this movie. Inspirational...

Last days of summer at camp...

 

 

 

 

 

 

A chill in the air, blankets on every chair, apple pie and eye contact with a young spotted deer through
the window...fall is in the air.
Our old dog (15yrs) is hanging on. Izzy at a year old weighed in today at 85 lbs.
Because of you 'serendipitous' I got out my macro lens and hunted for a bit of color in our drought ridden landscape and look what I found. A tiny red maple leaf in a pine bough, an even tinier white flower in the field and a couple of apples the aforementioned deer could not reach.
Camp for three weeks. A long time away from stores and traffic and sidewalks. I read The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. So moving. He was a man of joy and passion. He knew how to wring every minute out of a day. A must read for any mortal. Also My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. Good book but the ending was just wrong. I need a new book...now! Library, pick up dry cleaning and make "brownie points" for the kids tomorrow.

Today on the porch...

The ceiling is finally painted...the porch ceiling that is. My first day of blogging I put that on my list of things to do. Done, check! How long have I been blogging??? My dear husband power washed the 125 year old lead based paint off the bead board ceiling then painted it sky blue to discourage wasps. I will be picking up paint chips from my lawn and my neighbors lawn for the rest of my life or until it kills me. Whatever comes first. Be careful what you wish for...