Monday, July 15, 2013
Super Heroes
This is a time of super heroes. Theirs is a world of laughter, ideas, games, stories and fun. There is nothing they can't do. They can ride a bike, climb a tree, write a story, draw, sing and soar through the sky!
Two of my super heroes turned 5 last month. We gathered for a super hero day at a Georgia water park. Super fun!
The tallest ride and the fastest slide is no match for these two!
Even super heroes need a cold treat on a hot sunny day.
I guess some people don't actually believe in super heroes, like the people at the park who said these two are too short to ride alone down the slide. Well, super heroes are law abiding.
Time to fly this place to the super hero party!
Nothing like a super treat to celebrate!
Looks like the next event will be a super swim!
Happy Birthday Cooper and Tucker !! Thanks for all the fun!
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Dolls
A few days ago, Conley and I were playing with our American Girl dolls.
She asked me about the dolls I had as a little girl. I told her that I had my dolls in a box and did she want to look at them. We went to my bedroom closet and opened the box. Whew!!! Did they stink!!!
My very first baby doll that is at least 60 plus years old was covered with a white chalky material. She looked like a ghost. Her legs and arms are made of a rubber product and both hands are gone. She has brown blotchy marks on her legs and her toes have nail polish on them. Conley stepped away in horror. I was surprised by the condition of the doll but I knew what happened.
ALERT Don't ever store dolls in basements or attics! It was a few years ago that I found my dolls along with precious memoirs in the basement. My dolls had mold on them. I decided to clean them with a mild bleach solution and stored them in this clean plastic box with their clothes, many crocheted for me by my mom who died in 1964.
Alas the weeks, months, years of closure in a plastic container did nothing to improve their sorry condition. So I tossed the clothes in the washer and sprayed the dolls with Febreeze. My baby doll needed more attention. I literally scraped the white substance off her head, eyes, ears, nose and mouth. When she sat up, she looked like she had cataracts. I had to wrap her in a towel so Conley wouldn't have to look at her deteriorating body. The more time I spent with her, the more I realized she would have to be thrown away. Should I keep her head? Maybe just cut off her legs and arms? Her fabric body with the little sound box that makes her cry when she lays down also has this awful odor. Across her chest is a piece of narrow adhesive tape that has my mother's hand writing and says "Francie" with a star. My sister has the same doll (in much superior condition, I might add) and mom wanted to help us tell them apart. Here is a picture of her after I cleaned her up a bit.
What to do with such a precious childhood treasure. No daughters to give her to and the granddaughters have their own loved dolls. She is in such a state of distress that I think she will just have to go. I'm sure there would be no discussion to an alternative if I left her in the box and years later when the house is cleaned out she would be tossed in a dumpster without a thought. I'm considering preserving her memory with a photo and her last set of clothes made by mom in a memory box.
I know I hold the past close and dear but I am surprised at the emotion of giving her up. Too bad I didn't have the same emotion about preserving her. Well, the Bible tells us,"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy (mold) and where thieves break in and steal." This is good advice. It isn't the doll really but what she represents, love of a parent for her child. That is God's message too, His love can not be compared to the shabby, broken material possessions we gather around us on earth. Jesus goes on to say, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
If I keep these verses in mind, it will be easier to clear out my earthly "treasures."
Post note: My sister read this blog and offered to give my baby doll a new body. So she left her old body and is awaiting her new. Picture to follow. So here she is with her new body and clothes, now on display, not all boxed in.
She asked me about the dolls I had as a little girl. I told her that I had my dolls in a box and did she want to look at them. We went to my bedroom closet and opened the box. Whew!!! Did they stink!!!
My very first baby doll that is at least 60 plus years old was covered with a white chalky material. She looked like a ghost. Her legs and arms are made of a rubber product and both hands are gone. She has brown blotchy marks on her legs and her toes have nail polish on them. Conley stepped away in horror. I was surprised by the condition of the doll but I knew what happened.
ALERT Don't ever store dolls in basements or attics! It was a few years ago that I found my dolls along with precious memoirs in the basement. My dolls had mold on them. I decided to clean them with a mild bleach solution and stored them in this clean plastic box with their clothes, many crocheted for me by my mom who died in 1964.
Alas the weeks, months, years of closure in a plastic container did nothing to improve their sorry condition. So I tossed the clothes in the washer and sprayed the dolls with Febreeze. My baby doll needed more attention. I literally scraped the white substance off her head, eyes, ears, nose and mouth. When she sat up, she looked like she had cataracts. I had to wrap her in a towel so Conley wouldn't have to look at her deteriorating body. The more time I spent with her, the more I realized she would have to be thrown away. Should I keep her head? Maybe just cut off her legs and arms? Her fabric body with the little sound box that makes her cry when she lays down also has this awful odor. Across her chest is a piece of narrow adhesive tape that has my mother's hand writing and says "Francie" with a star. My sister has the same doll (in much superior condition, I might add) and mom wanted to help us tell them apart. Here is a picture of her after I cleaned her up a bit.
What to do with such a precious childhood treasure. No daughters to give her to and the granddaughters have their own loved dolls. She is in such a state of distress that I think she will just have to go. I'm sure there would be no discussion to an alternative if I left her in the box and years later when the house is cleaned out she would be tossed in a dumpster without a thought. I'm considering preserving her memory with a photo and her last set of clothes made by mom in a memory box.
I know I hold the past close and dear but I am surprised at the emotion of giving her up. Too bad I didn't have the same emotion about preserving her. Well, the Bible tells us,"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy (mold) and where thieves break in and steal." This is good advice. It isn't the doll really but what she represents, love of a parent for her child. That is God's message too, His love can not be compared to the shabby, broken material possessions we gather around us on earth. Jesus goes on to say, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
If I keep these verses in mind, it will be easier to clear out my earthly "treasures."
Post note: My sister read this blog and offered to give my baby doll a new body. So she left her old body and is awaiting her new. Picture to follow. So here she is with her new body and clothes, now on display, not all boxed in.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Summer Time
I love summer! This summer started early with a visit from Natalie (3) and Jack (5).
Then a quick trip to Savannah to see Cooper and Tucker, now 5, graduate from pre-school. They do it right in the south, caps & gowns and a great program!
A summer tradition, chalk sidewalk art and hopscotch. Thanks Conley!
Can't say enough about enjoying the flowers and trees throughout the summer. It is such a joy to begin the day looking at the landscape.
Even on rainy days.
Stay tuned, there will be more lazy hazy days of summer to come, I haven't even included our water park birthday party!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Transatlantic
Bonnie and I have been friends for ____ years, lets just say since our college years. When she invited me to travel with her, I was on board. All I had to do was send in my $$ and 6 months later we met in Miami on the ship, Rivera of the Oceania cruise ship line. A bottle of champagne awaits us, bon voyage.
Two of her friends from California joined us, mostly for dinner and a couple excursions. We had lots of laughs and girl chatter over scrumptious food!
Our first port is King's Wharf, Bermuda. We toured all over the island on a beautiful day. Oh, to be on those pink sand beaches! The houses are painted in multiple colors with white roofs and lots of churches. Our one shopping stop in Hamilton was fruitless.
For me, the pictures are my souvenir.
The next day we sailed on a glass bottom boat to see the reefs. When ships sail into Bermuda ports they need a local pilot to navigate around the reefs and 400 ship wrecks.
We enjoyed this cruise around the island but the fish scatter with the shadow of the boat, it's definitely not the same as snorkeling over a reef. Another beautiful day, more shops and a rum swizzler, the local drink. This next picture shows a tour bus and the wonderful flowers of the island.
The next four days we are at sea, sunny, breezy, 60s. Lots to do on board ship: art classes, lectures, entertainment, dining, high tea and for our friends the casino. Then we come upon the jewel of the Atlantic, the garden isle, Madeira Island, Portugal, at dawn.
Our tour includes the city of Funchal and a cable car ride to Monte then to the botanical gardens. Everyone has a vegetable garden and flower garden, many grow bananas. The decorative cobblestone streets are typical of Portugal. We also stopped at an embroidery factory as Maderia is known for their embroidery. The local drink is poncho served in shot size glasses. After climbing the hills of Monte and the gardens we take a Poncho break.
Maderia Island has won many European garden competitions. The weather here is much like southern California.
Another couple days at sea before our next port in Tangiers, Morocco. The weather gets a little rough and we don't go out on the decks. Time to read and watch movies: Elizabeth, The Kings Speech, The Full Monty, Anna Karenia, The Impossible, Casablanca and Argo. Finished the book "Unbroken". We arrive in Tangiers, our guide is Syied (phonetic spelling). First stop is a performance of dancers, gymnasts, a magician and musicians in a beautiful tent. The non-alcoholic drink, mint tea.
We drive into the countryside to Hercules Caves. Large caves where the Atlantic rushes in is located at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, the Straits of Gibraltar. Hugely commercialized.
We drive on to the light house Cap Spartel also at the entranced to the Mediterranean. The vendors add to the color of this scene.
As we travel the land, our guide tells us the history of Morocco, the economy (20% unemployment) but many new businesses and also a primer on the 5 pillars of Islam. Today is their holy day and many in the city go to the mosque. The market place is busy and he guides us through the old city, the kasbah. So colorful and the sounds of the call to prayer.
We were given the choice to shop on our own or go to a shop that the guide suggests, the whole group followed our guide. All the time in the kasbah we had men trying to sell us jewelry and purses, they were relentless. I guess we felt if left on our own we would be harassed too much and maybe get lost in the winding walkways of the old city. It was a wonderful experience to see this living, thriving, ancient neighborhood and observe the people and their crafts.
We returned to the ship and sailed another day to Barcelona, Spain. No touring there but home calls me. Bonnie and I say good-bye to our plush accommodations and wonderful service. Cheers, dear friend, a great adventure.
Two of her friends from California joined us, mostly for dinner and a couple excursions. We had lots of laughs and girl chatter over scrumptious food!
Our first port is King's Wharf, Bermuda. We toured all over the island on a beautiful day. Oh, to be on those pink sand beaches! The houses are painted in multiple colors with white roofs and lots of churches. Our one shopping stop in Hamilton was fruitless.
For me, the pictures are my souvenir.
The next day we sailed on a glass bottom boat to see the reefs. When ships sail into Bermuda ports they need a local pilot to navigate around the reefs and 400 ship wrecks.
We enjoyed this cruise around the island but the fish scatter with the shadow of the boat, it's definitely not the same as snorkeling over a reef. Another beautiful day, more shops and a rum swizzler, the local drink. This next picture shows a tour bus and the wonderful flowers of the island.
The next four days we are at sea, sunny, breezy, 60s. Lots to do on board ship: art classes, lectures, entertainment, dining, high tea and for our friends the casino. Then we come upon the jewel of the Atlantic, the garden isle, Madeira Island, Portugal, at dawn.
Our tour includes the city of Funchal and a cable car ride to Monte then to the botanical gardens. Everyone has a vegetable garden and flower garden, many grow bananas. The decorative cobblestone streets are typical of Portugal. We also stopped at an embroidery factory as Maderia is known for their embroidery. The local drink is poncho served in shot size glasses. After climbing the hills of Monte and the gardens we take a Poncho break.
Maderia Island has won many European garden competitions. The weather here is much like southern California.
Another couple days at sea before our next port in Tangiers, Morocco. The weather gets a little rough and we don't go out on the decks. Time to read and watch movies: Elizabeth, The Kings Speech, The Full Monty, Anna Karenia, The Impossible, Casablanca and Argo. Finished the book "Unbroken". We arrive in Tangiers, our guide is Syied (phonetic spelling). First stop is a performance of dancers, gymnasts, a magician and musicians in a beautiful tent. The non-alcoholic drink, mint tea.
We drive into the countryside to Hercules Caves. Large caves where the Atlantic rushes in is located at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, the Straits of Gibraltar. Hugely commercialized.
We drive on to the light house Cap Spartel also at the entranced to the Mediterranean. The vendors add to the color of this scene.
As we travel the land, our guide tells us the history of Morocco, the economy (20% unemployment) but many new businesses and also a primer on the 5 pillars of Islam. Today is their holy day and many in the city go to the mosque. The market place is busy and he guides us through the old city, the kasbah. So colorful and the sounds of the call to prayer.
We were given the choice to shop on our own or go to a shop that the guide suggests, the whole group followed our guide. All the time in the kasbah we had men trying to sell us jewelry and purses, they were relentless. I guess we felt if left on our own we would be harassed too much and maybe get lost in the winding walkways of the old city. It was a wonderful experience to see this living, thriving, ancient neighborhood and observe the people and their crafts.
We returned to the ship and sailed another day to Barcelona, Spain. No touring there but home calls me. Bonnie and I say good-bye to our plush accommodations and wonderful service. Cheers, dear friend, a great adventure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)