A July Visit to Grandpa's

We headed up to Maine this weekend to spend some time with my Dad and Sister Amy. Unfortunately we had wet weather, but we made the best of it! I think the highlight of the visit was when Dad and Amy took James down to the creek to go fishing. Dad fashioned James a fishing rod from a sapling like he did for Amy and I when we were little. The headed down to the creek in nice weather and on the way back got hid with a nice mid-summer downpour!

Just look at that smile on James' face. He LOVES his Grandpa! Ella as you can see is giving her new look to the camera, the one where she lowers her head and looks at you from beneath her eyelashes.

Here's Ell, Dad and I. Isn't my little sweetheart the cutest? And Dad just showers her with kisses. There's nothing quite like seeing your parent with your children. It's a very precious sight.


Here's Ella trying out her demure look:


And James being his regular goofball self:


Dad treated us to Maine lobstah and haddock on Saturday night, and my sister made us an old-fashioned chocolate sheetcake. What a feast!

We came home with a car loaded down with goodies, including a vintage folk art rocking horse, a ride-on plane from a dear family friend, tons of belated birthday gifts for James from his Auntie Amy, and some special items for Chris and I from Dad, including a beautiful painting of a Greyhound.

I meant to take more photos from around my childhood home, but the weather just did not cooperate. Maybe next time!

What Do Wee Ones Do When Visiting Grandpaw?

They feed the horses,

they visit with their Auntie Amy,


they bed down the stalls,


they run around in the fresh air,


they learn how to ride a bike,


and they make their Grandpaw smile,
and smile,
and
SMILE!

A Little Story about A Little Girl and A Little Chair

Once upon a time there was a sweetheart of a little girl named Ella Josephine. She had curly locks and bright blue eyes and the prettiest little smile you ever did see.


Now one day a while back, Ella's grandmother Judy found a teensey-weensey chair, just right for a cute little girl. It had a sweet puppy on it, and Judy knew that her granddaughter, who at the time was only a peanut that couldn't yet walk or talk, would adore it.

She swooped up the chair and took it and kept it so that one day it would be a special gift for her little granddaughter, whom she affectionately called Lu-lu.

Now it just so happened that Ella was to grow into that chair before her grandmother would have the pleasure of giving it to her in person. But, Ella's Grandpaw Chuck, remembered that the chair had been tucked away in a safe place all those months ago, and he brought it with him when he came to visit on Christmas Day.

Now, Miss Ella can sit on that chair all by herself, and swing her legs, and sigh, and sing, and daydream, just like her Grandmother knew that she would.

Thank you, Grandma. And thank you, Grandpaw!

THE END

Father's Day Weekend in Maine

We headed to Maine to spend Father's Day Weekend with my Dad. It was GREAT. Chris suggested that when I post the photos I ask James to narrate. His comments are in italics.

Grandpa and Jamesy picking strawberries!



We picked 11 strawberries.


I am holding a really big strawberry! I ate it and vanilla ice ream.


Here are honking geese that are eating bushes!


That's Jamesy with flowers and holding a nectarine. (I don't see a nectarine in this picture, but O.K.!)


Some flowers from around the house:




Strawberries! (As you can see, there are more than 11 here.) We ate them over Gifford's vanilla ice cream. James even had seconds!


Playing baseball and then going to the tractors. (Don't you love the goose in the background, getting right in on the game?)


More flowers. I think Dad said the Daisies are Buckeyes? I'll have to check.


Here is Dad on Saturday evening before we headed to the hotel, bringing Gaby the Goose right into the car to say goodbye to James! (Is that a riot, or what!! I LOVE MY DAD.)



Daddy and Baby Sister! I really love this photo--there was a very, very light misty rain coming down and the little droplets were collecting in Ella's eyelashes. She was blinking ever so sweetly.


Jamesy riding a tractor! The tractor was out of the barn getting worked on. It seemed much larger than before!


You feed a horse with your hand out. Dad was showing James how to hold his hand out flat. That will be a lesson that could stand some repeating!


Jamesy riding on Flash like a cowboy! Yes, here he is riding alone. My heart was in my throat, but Flash is a very good and patient boy. Dad showed James how to hold on to Flash's mane and he did great!



Aw it's Grandpa and Mommy.


Flash! Isn't he gorgeous? Sonny Boy is getting older, and was a little camera shy.



Baby Sister and Daddy! Chris was asking her if there was butter on her chin. LOVE THAT!


I am riding in Grandpa's car like a big boy! Mmmmm . . . yup. Its a tradition when we go see the horses--they are a little ways down the road and since it was raining we drove.


I hope everyone had a great weekend!

A Weekend in Brunswick, Part II

On our trip back to Maine last weekend, we were glad to be able to spend some good time with my Dad at the house.


James loves to visit his Grandpaw, because he gets to play with all sorts of great things. My Dad has a collection of antique duck decoys, and for whatever reason, James is fascinated with them. He calls them "dekes" and is usually carrying one around the house the whole time we are there.

This time though, his Grandpaw had put some vintage bats and gloves aside for him. James is clearly becoming a southpaw, and we will be encouraging him to pitch for the Red Sox!


As you can see, there are no aluminum bats for this boy--I guess when he gets big enough for tee-ball he'll have a good swing!

Ella had a great time visiting, too, even though she is a little touchy around Dad. That was the way James was with my Mom--so now I guess it's Dad's turn!

We were talking about how Mom always thought that I needed to have started Ella on baby food sooner (Mom would have been giving Ella apricots immediatley after her birth, LOL.) Anyhow, I was wondering what her weight was, and wouldn't you know it, Dad has a vintage baby scale in the house!

I mean, really, I guess I shouldn't find it that surprising--given all the great stuff he has!

Turns out she loved it! And, she weighs 17 pounds. She is getting to be a little chunker! I love a fat baby! Take a look at these thighs!

Did I mention in the previous post that we went back to Danny's for hotdogs and Cote's for ice cream on Sunday? Yup. Can't get enough of that good, hometown food. Next time we'll be hitting Fat Boys Drive-In, and James will get to see his Auntie Amy car-hopping!

Next installment--our trip on the Airline Rail Trail!

An Afternoon at the Barn

James asks me several times a week, "Can we go see Grandpaw so that he'll take me to the barn to ride the horses and the GREAT BIG RED tractor? PLEEEZE???" That's what he got to do this past weekend!

I love this next pic of the two of them walking to the barn. My Dad is over six feet tall, so the comparison is really sweet. A little boy and his grandfather.


Take a look at the name of this tractor. FARMALL. Look and sound familliar? The tractors in the movie Cars are CHEWALLS. Tee hee. Those Cars people crack me up.


Is James excited, OR WHAT???


My Dad is still really in pain after my Mom's passing, but spending some time with his grandson gives him great pleasure. I think that is pretty obvious.

There is another horse at the barn that is being stabled there. He is an Arabian named Flash. He is pretty fat for an Arabian, but DANG is he a great looking horse! My old Sonny Boy is going on 25, so this four-year old spring chicken makes him look like an old man.

Priceless. I am so happy to be able to give my son these experiences, and give my Dad an opportunity to smile a little bit.