Rascal - concerned when anyone leaves home

Books

The day my grandson was born, I took him his first book and read it to him.  It was Dr. Seuss's The Places You'll Go.  Ever since then, I've been the Book Grandma, bringing him books for every occasion and sometimes just for the heck of it.  He has three book cases.

On Thanksgiving, I brought him the illustrated Hobbit I used to read to his father, but five year old Evan looked at the pictures and told me, "We do chapter books now." He meant his mother read him longer books these days.   I had to convince him that the Hobbit was indeed a chapter book.  He read the first paragraph to me, carefully sounding out the words.

So, we enter a new phase. My grandson is now literate and I must adapt accordingly.  I am scouring the bookstores for new titles.  Elizabeth and Colette, our local librarians, give me advice about not only chapter books, but easy readers. I took a stack out home this morning to peruse.  He will get the Guardians of Ga'Hoole.  I think he will like reading the Junie B. Jones, Elephant and Pig, and Captain Underpants series for easy readers.  He already has the Narnia series.  

The word has gone out to my friends.  I wait for more suggestions.  

Ice cream

As of today, I estimate twenty-two performances in eight states come summer.  There will be more to come but for the moment, I work on logistics. No, not locating the best highways.  Not finding camping sites. My number one problem when on the road is ferreting out  good ice cream.  I don't mean Dairy Queen type ice milk or Culver type custard.  I want hand scooped ice cream in a variety of flavors.   Where can I get Mackinac Island fudge?  Where is almond amaretto?   How about bear claw?  

When I am in Upper Michigan, I can find Jilbert's ice cream, about the world's best.  New Zealand has fabulous flavors in every little burg in the North and South Islands.  China has the oddest flavors.  Green tea ice cream anyone?

Where will I find ice cream in Utah, Idaho, Oregon? Does Moab have an ice cream parlor?  What about Devil's Lake, North Dakota?   This requires major research on my part.  I feel I am up to the task.

Snowfall

The first of today's snowflakes are twirling out of the grey skies, this first day of December.  It seems I will be walking through a white world as I go downtown to hang posters for Los Posadas, our celebration of the Mexican tradition.  This will be our third year going from door to door with Mary and Joseph and their donkey, asking for a place to stay.  A local farmer provides a donkey each year.  Last year's was an amiable soul called Moses, who loved having all the attention.  Our first year, we had Lily, who wanted no part of us and dug in her heels.  I was all on her side. We were dragging that pregnant donkey around.  She had every right to complain.

We end the celebration with a fiesta with authentic Hispanic food and pinatas for the children.  My grandson will be there because he likes to "bang that thing".   Sounds nasty but he doesn't mean it that way.

A Memory Tree

The Christmas tree in the living room went up three days ago.  Decorating is slow going because each ornament has a story to tell.  The oldest is a plain glass bulb I received from my grandmother when I was five. Each of my siblings received one out of a box of six but theirs were broken almost immediately.  I treasured mine and there it is, Christmas after Christmas.  It would shatter if dropped so I  hang it high, away from the cat.  Three plastic gingerbread men were the first I bought for myself, so old they were made in Japan. Then there are the stuffed toy-like ornaments I made when Chris was a toddler. Next to hang are all the craft projects he and I made in those years.  The little teddy bears came from a art show I attended with my mother.  My oldest sister knit tiny hats and mittens.  My niece, today a university professor and renowned expert on potatoes, crocheted a heart when she was still in grade school. My youngest sister gave me the Twelve Days of Christmas.  My grandson likes to find them on the tree.  His photo is on an ornament that plays "I love you, Grandma. Mehhy Christmas."  He was only three and I dread the day the battery wears out.  Friends have contributed to the tree, too.  Last year, a choir member gave me a bell from her collection. A friend from New Zealand sends me an angel each year.  One by one, these treasures go on the tree. The first week in January, I reverse the process, each time remembering, remembering, remembering, as I put Christmas away for another year.

My decorations will never appear in Better Homes and Gardens, but I wouldn't trade them for the world. How could an interior decorator improve on a tree of memories?

Time for a breather

I've now e-mailed all the libraries along my route.  Now for a breather as the librarians think about summer and try to fit me into their schedules and vice versa.   There are still some open dates, especially on the weekends. Gary is researching national forests for me, finding the best campgrounds and hiking trails.

Now I turn my attention to my good friends Heather (Scotland) and Jacynth (N. Ireland) who will be visiting me during Lent. They sing a capella Celtic music and will be performing in this area.   I've found them a few bookings but they need more, so now the e-mails will go out each evening to churches and libraries here in Wisconsin.   They have audio clips at their websites: www.myspace.com/celticcaim or www.cluniemusic.com


Tonight, the final rehearsal for our Advent Concert on Sunday.

The days speed by.

Christmas Cards

Despite my love of the internet, I am still a friend to the post office, at least during the holiday season.  I send out around 70+ Christmas and holiday cards in late November, starting the process on Thanksgiving Day.  It is a once a year opportunity to catch up on the news from friends that I've met in my travels throughout the world, especially those who never have caught on to the idea of e-mail.  Each card must contain a letter, note and/or photographs of my little family.  It's a time consuming process but I enjoy reviving memories of times well spent.

And how I treasure the cards I get in return!