Georgie Jessel

Last week, John and Linda and the boys were at our place just hanging out.  Anthony came over and climbed up on the couch beside me and leaned his sweet little head on my shoulder.  He looked up at me, touched my face and said, "I love you, Oma."  "I love you, too, Anothny." 


Then he reached up and touched my hair.  "I like your hair, Oma.  It's pretty."  Thank you, Anthony.  That's sweet."


Anthony settled in against me again for a moment, then sat up.  He touched my necklace -- the one I always wear --  my Hugonot Cross.  "What's that, Oma?"  I looked down to where he was touching my necklace and as I did that, his little hand came up and flicked my nose!  "Got you, Oma!"  And away he pealed full of laughter.


Thank you, John, for teaching this little trick to your son!  I must admire, though, the patience and care Anthony took to set me up.   I can't wait to see what he'll come up with next.

Big B. Little B.

What begins with b?

Barber, baby, bubbles and a bumblebee!

...for the birds...

I was awake very early this morning. I'm kind of an early riser anyway, but when Harry is out of town I seem to be unable to sleep long.  I go to bed very late and I get up very early.  It's a beautiful, warm sunny day here so I took my coffee and bagel out to the patio to eat.

I've made a few additions to my raised garden bed recently.  While mom was here, we dug out a small bush that didn't survive our dry winter.  In it's place, we planted clematis against  a lattice frame that we have in the corner of the bed.  It's been cool and rainy for the last few weeks, so the clematis is getting a slow start.  Once it fills the lattice it will be beautiful!

Next I added a small bird bath -- actually, it's just an interesting, old stump and one of my larger pottery pieces.  The stump was Linda's idea (thanks!) and she patiently watched me try a green bowl, a turquoise bowl and a brown bowl.  We agreed the brown bowl was the nicest.

Then, last Friday, Bruce (the owner of the flower shop at the end of the block) appeared at my back gate bringing me a rather unique bird feeder made by a local artisan.  Bruce has been selling these for the last two years and I've admired them many times.

Without actually intending to do so, it seems I've created a "bird" corner.  The corner was a flurry of activity this morning.  Birds enjoying the feeder ... dipping in the birdbath ... perching in the lattice.  That's when I realized that I have a bit of Grandma Kole in me.  I like birds!  (oh yeah ... and I like clean windows!)

So this morning, as I enjoyed my breakfast on the patio, I also enjoyed the company of birds chirping and happily going about their morning business enjoying their new space in my garden.

Yeah, the blog look s different again.  I'm the kind of person who likes to change it up ... frequently. 

I have just spent the last 2 days helping Linda out with the boys while John has been out of town.  Under normal circumstance, she wouldn't need any assistance (she's remarkably organized and cool about having 3 kids in 3 years).  But little Benjamin is fully into the colic months now and that means a pair of extra hands is useful.  Jacob suffered true colic so Linda and John know what to expect.

Most babies are "colicky" from time to time.  But babies who suffer actual "colic" give their parents a real run.  It tests the limits of their sanity!  Babies with colic usually overcome it by 3-4 months old.  Yay!  However, when in the throws of it, they cry unconsolably for hours at a time.  Parents of a babe with colic qualify for temperary sainthood, in my opinion!

When he's not screaming, Benjamin is adorable.  He's 8 weeks old now and breaks into huge smiles when you talk to him.

While Benjamin fussed,we were visited by ...

Mr. T ...

... and a Smurf !