My Favorite Granddaughter, My Only Granddaughter

March 2016

Easter is fast approaching. Only four more days. My husband and I are so looking forward to a visit with our favorite granddaughter who we have not seen since Christmas. At the age of 2 years and 2 months there are sure to be many changes that we certainly will notice since December. She looks so much older in her current photos, she is talking more clearly and is becoming more independent (if that is even possible)! She has a mind of her own and has been a very independent child from early on!

Those of you without grandchildren please bear with me. Hopefully those with grandchildren will understand when I tell you that MY grandchildren are the brightest, most creative, talented grandchildren ever! I don't even remember thinking my children were as bright as my three grandchildren. I know for a fact that some alien invaded the body of my father when he became a grandfather. There is no other explanation for the change in personality/behavior when he was around my children. That misbehavior that landed me in time out got a chuckle out of him when it was his grandchildren! Go figure!

March 2016

Easter 2015

So here goes my latest tale about my very bright and creative granddaughter.... In the bathroom with her mother she sees a bag of cotton-balls which she is determined to have. Being told no she persists in her attempt to have a cotton-ball. Finally, her mother gives in and shows her one hoping to satisfy her curiosity. She wants another one and so is given a second cotton-ball. At this point she jumps down and attempts to place one cotton-ball on the top of each foot and proudly announce to her mother that they are "Tinkbell" shoes! No stuffed bunny from Gramma and Grandad this year! She instead is getting a Tinkbell dress-up costume. I couldn't find the Tinkerbell plush doll I saw online and do not have time to order it before our Easter visit so I thought a dress-up costume might have to do.

Grandsons 2013

My Favorite Grandsons!

1st Easter 2014

So while most children might be thinking of soft little bunnies there is one little girl who will be dressing up like Tinkerbell. Possible photo in a later post. Not to leave out my grandsons, I will post more about them later as well.





While bunnies, baby chicks and Easter eggs are fun and festive let's not forget the most important reason for this time of year. As Christians we will remember Christ's death, burial and resurrection this Easter Sunday morning. Because of this one selfless act we are able to claim victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ.

Blessings to all this Resurrection Day!

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Saint Patrick's Day has come and gone and Easter is just around the corner. In planning an Easter trip to visit my favorite daughter, even if she is my only daughter, I find myself taking a walk down memory lane. For one, she and my dad always played the favorite/only game. He would ask, "How is my favorite granddaughter?" to which she would reply, "I am your ONLY granddaughter!"

My favorite sister, aka only sister, has taken to writing articles and sharing them on Facebook recently. Her article, Dreaming of a White Christmas, mentioned the time my daughter asked God to let it snow. We lived in Florida at the time. It happened to be January or February 1977. She was 4 years old and her Sunday School teacher had told them they could pray and ask God for anything. She asked for snow... in Florida! How does one caution a 4 year old that not every thing they ask for may happen. She is a feisty girl and has been since day one! Needless to say she was rather obnoxious about my lack of faith and even more so when it actually snowed!  Even so I do love those memories! Thank you to my sister for reminding me of a memory nearly 40 years ago!

My sister's article from December 13, 2015

She is a horticulturist and gardener. A former writer for Cooperative Extension Service, Master Gardeners and The Newnan Times-Herald. 

Dreaming of a White Christmas

By Carolyn Fjeran

Surprisingly, Buffalo, New York is without snow for the first time in 116 years! Not to worry - there are several days until Christmas, so chances are good they will see a White Christmas.
My young niece, while living in Tampa, Florida dreamed of a White Christmas and prayed for snow fully believing it would happen. Children hold the delightful ability to believe in the unexpected, the extraordinary, the supernatural. She was undeterred when her mom suggested it doesn't snow in Tampa - Tampa after all is in a warm climate zone. Shortly after, it snowed in Tampa.
This led to some interesting perspectives. Children also have the "delightful" tendency to declare their victories  with, "I told you so!" But, as we all learn with time and experience, perspectives change. "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust.
Southern landscapes covered with fields of cotton can take on the semblance of a white dusting of snow.  Delightful, and warm.
Cotton grows only in warm climates. Soil temperature needs to be 60 degrees for planting and the growing season requires 160 degrees of frost free days.Flower buds, called squares appear two months after planting and open white. Flowers change to pink once they are pollinated. A green pod known as the cotton boll appears after the flower withers. Fibers inside the boll swell and burst open to reveal white fluffy cotton. The decorative qualities of the cotton boll make it desirable to many home gardeners.
While passing through south Georgia, I forgot to take a close up of the cotton boll - so began my search in Newnan. Not only did I find a good sample at a local antique shop, the gentleman working the floor reminded me that cotton is one of the traditional anniversary gifts (second year). I'm impressed.
Another vendor at the shop overheard us and shared that her husband, while in college, worked as a scout in the cotton fields. Scouts methodically search the fields for evidence of pests and when found, they identify the specific insect to inform the crop dusters so they will know exactly how to treat. She noted it was long hard work in the hot blistering fields. And important work - the boll weevil devasted the industry in the 1920s.
Websites provide detailed information about growing cotton, but due to the boll weevil erdication program, it is illegal for home gardeners to grow cotton in states where it is a cash crop. Some states in the eradication zone issue permits to grow cotton in a home garden - your local Extension office can provide information about your state.
Fields of fluffy white cotton stretch for miles this time of year. Dreams of a White Christmas south of the Mason Dixon can and do come true. We've learned to see through different eyes.
Carolyn Fjeran, horticulturist and gardener - former writer for Cooperative Extension Service, Master Gardeners and The Newnan Times-Herald.

 Well done, Sista!

 

Spring Has Arrived

Another favorite...My Garden in Spring

Spring is slowly arriving in my garden. I took a walk around this morning to see what is coming up. The Daphne has lost her blooms and the daffodils are almost gone. The Hellebores were blooming in February thus the common name of "Lenten Rose". Also sometimes called "Christmas Rose" I would then assume that some varieties bloom at Christmas. Mine still have blooms and are going to seed. The few I planted a few years back have spread like nothing else. Except maybe the Lemon Balm which is now a weed popping up every where. 

Daphne is a genus of between 50 and 95 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs in the family Thymelaeaceae, native to Asia, Europe and north Africa. They are noted for their scented flowers and poisonous berries.

Hellebore bloom with seed pods

Genus, Helleborus, comprises approximately 20 species of herbaceous or evergreen perennial flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae.

Hepatica

 I have a lovely native bed at the edge of the woods at the back of my yard where I have planted only native plants. The Hepatica,Trilliums, and Dwarf Crested Iris are the first to come up. Since the Hostas haven't come up yet the deer will munch on the Trillums until their favorite Hosta snack arrives. I will have to see how long they last if I don't hurry up and buy some more "Deer Off" spray. It works until I run out.   

Trillium

I love this flowering Quince. I was afraid I wouldn't have any spring blooms on it. The warm weather at Christmas (70 degrees here in Georgia) caused the daffodils to come up early as well as the Quince. However, it has not disappointed me this spring. I even think it has more blooms than ever. 

Last photo for today is my garden rooster. Lovely gift from my grandsons last year. He is watching over the chives which are ready to bloom. I don't need to buy dried chives any longer as I have a good supply already! 

Until later, enjoy a few of my favorite plants from my spring garden. 

Grandma's Favorite

Peonies, my grandmother's favorite flower

Ten months later and still trying to figure out what to do with a blog. I might have to ask my sister's permission to post some of her articles here. She is hoping I might do a little photography and come up with some interesting shots to go with her articles. Possibilities? I did mention photography as one of my faves! Yeh well, something to consider!

Still looking for that big old house I dream of and wanting to move to small town, USA! Or so I think I do.... I suppose it's the "grass is always greener" dilemma. Tired  of the traffic, crowded stores, waiting in line, waiting in traffic. However much I think I would love  life in a small town away from city life the question remains, "Would I miss the convenience of life in the suburbs?" Oh, one more thing...a husband to convince! 

And on that note I will close my post tonight with my one and only attempt at poetry. It has been revised a few times and this is the latest. Inspired one morning in May 2010 by a dragonfly in my garden and my dad's cancer diagnoses a few months earlier. 

I saw a dragonfly In my garden this morning and it inspired me...           

MY GARDEN IN MAY

A dragon fly flutters by

Lavender in bloom

Whispers softly to sunrise and the fading moon

My Garden glistens in the early hours with dew upon her skin

Serenaded by the sparrow's sweetly whistled whim

Ladybugs are feasting on aphids as they rise

While the cardinal and his soul mate watch a chipmunk scurry by

The daffodils are gone now as the roses linger on

The promise of a new day has only just begun

Little footprints in my garden bring a smile to my face

Footprints on my heart that will never be erased

A promise of a new bloom if only for today

Promises new life that will never fade away

My garden whispers softly,

"Come sit awhile, come stay"

S Baker

May 31, 2010 … revised Feb 24, 2016