A lesson in frugality

A few days ago I tore my garden up and started laying leaves all over it.  During the destruction period, I came upon about a dozen nice tomatoes.  Perfect shape, no spots or rotten places, but no good to eat.  But I picked them anyway and brought them in the house.  Next I wrapped each one in a sheet of newspaper.  Tonight I  unwrapped them and "voila!"  They are beautiful, soft, juicy and perfectly red/orange!

I could have just stomped them in the garden, but think what I would have lost!

Sort of like children.  Young, immature, nice to look at but they don't taste too good.  But wrap them up in love and let them simmer in life situations, with mom and dad being patient, waiting for them to "mature" and guess what?  They will be more special, and more worthy of bragging, than my tomatoes!  (At least my kids were!)

Dad and Grandpa

Ghastly Grandpa

Tonight I was bored, so I grabbed my costume and sat on the porch, in order to pass out candy for "trick or treat."  I got quite a reception from some!  A few hit me on the head.  Darby wouldn't even get close!  Other families thought it was quite a blast to see this old man impersonating a Ghost.  Mom wouldn't let me cut any holes in her sheet so I sat there not seeing a thing, while everyone got their kicks! (literally, I think!)  I also had a tape recording of hideous noises, grunts, groans, screams, etc.  I punctuated it with a buck call and I would scream a bit as well.  Fun!

So here is a picture of me.   Next year I will be a scarecrow.

Grandpa

My Favorite Picture

A few years ago, I was taking some pictures of Darby and I caught this one.  It has to be the cutest picture of Darby ever.  She seems to be contemplating the meaning of life.  Or maybe Jesus is talking to her for the first time since she got here on earth.  I don't know.  But if it was Jesus, then she is already very wise to pay close attention to what He is saying.  That's what I want to do, don't you?

Grandpa

Another day

Last night Grandma and I went for a bike ride with the DeBacker family.  We went up to the University to see the "Cryderman House."  That's a nice gesture in honor of Grandpa Great, don't you think?

Enroute, Crisilee, who was on in line skates instead of biking, wiped out going around a corner.  She was pretty beat up, but took it like the young lady she is.

Piano lessons this week for Crisilee and now Ashlee.  Both are doing well.   Crisilee is planning a "mini-recital" as she closes out her first complete year of lessons.  

We are still picking tomatoes!  They are delicious!  

I'm going fishing tomorrow night.

That's all that is in my mind this morning.

How do you like the picture of Grandma and Me?

Grandpa

This past week

It was a busy week.  First I went out to wire brush and sand the outside door of the garage, but after looking at it I decided it needed to be replaced.  So I went and ordered one and it was delivered that afternoon.  In the meantime I took the old one out and cleaned up the opening.  When the new one came I discovered it was about a half inch taller than the old one.  So I had to tear out some wood and then it fit.  So after I shimmed it and caulked it, it worked perfectly!  For a non-carpenter, I felt pretty good about it.

Then I had a meeting with an insurance man in Portage, so I decided to take Mark and the "I" man out to eat at Red Robin.  Well, the "I" man ended up paying for it, so that was cool. Then Friday came and McKenna wanted us to come back over again to hear her play the tuba at the football game.  So back again.  (Let's see, three trips in 7 days at about 120 miles a trip, divided by 28 miles a gallon times $4 a gallon makes,...let's see, about $52!!!   I guess I'd better cool it with the driving.  But I did repair Mark's garage door opener, so when he sends me the check for that I'll be fine!

Church today...good...sang in the choir with Brent...then to Aaron's football game and now getting ready for bed.  Nite!  

New friends

Tonight I noticed that my hummingbird feeder was empty so I went in and got the sugar water and began to fill it.  While filling it, I heard the unmistakeable "buzzing" of one of my hummingbird friends and I had an idea.  What if I would hold the feeder instead of hanging it up? Would they come and feed or would they be too frightened?

So I held it quietly.  In about a minute I heard one of my friends coming.  It was a little female and she flew quite close to my face, as if she was looking to see if I was friendly or not.  (I seem to have a way with women...birds)  She apparently concluded that I was a friend so she began to drink.  It was just beautiful and it almost made me cry to see that little creation of God, wings fluttering so fast I couldn't see them, drinking away.  I could even see her tongue as she brought her beak out of the little orifice.  She would then fly up to my face (so close I thought she might poke me in the eye).  I think she was just saying "Thank you for being my friend!"  The males, with their ruby throats, stayed away tonight, but I will be back trying tomorrow.  In the meantime, they can drink at my window ledge.  Grandma tried to get a picture, but I don't think you can see it, she is to tiny.  We will try to get a better one tomorrow.

This is a test

Heidi is trying to teach me how to add photos to my blog.  

Here is my very youngest granddaughter.  I am not sure what she is doing here, but we will see if this works.  If it doesn't, it's Heidi's fault.

Today I went to a soccer game in which my granddaughter, Mylie, played.  She did so well.  Once she was defending when a girl came down the field.  As she approached the ball to take it away, the girl kicked it hard and it hit Mylie right in the chest.  She had a sad look on her face because it hurt, but she didn't cry.  She just played all the harder.  Then when the quarter ended, she came over to her mom and the tears came down.  But she went right out when the next quarter started and played her heart out.  She never gave up.  And then, when there were about thirty seconds left in the game,  she and a teammate got the ball in close to the other team's net and when the other girl hit it over to Mylie, she kicked it really hard!  And what do you think happened?  The ball smashed right into the net.  Mylie SCORED THE FINAL GOAL!  And you should have seen the look of joy on her face.  It was priceless!

Mother's Day

Yesterday I was planting some grass in our yard.  I had a sack of hay in my shed and planned to put some of it on the fresh seed so it wouldn't wash away.  I wondered if, during the winter, some animals might have been tempted to make a nest in the straw, so I looked carefully.  Sure enough, there was a pile of fur in the corner.

Not knowing if it was a rat or some dangerous animal, I dumped all the straw in my wheelbarrow and then I saw movement!  Being the brave person I am, I went and got my pitchfork and began to move the straw around.

There peeking its little head out from under the straw, was a mouse!  Now I don't like mice, so I thought I might send it off to heaven.  But as it moved further, lo and behold, it was carrying, or rather I should say, dragging five baby mice along its side.  As "she" (I now realized it was a mother" tried frantically to get away from this 6 foot 3 monster, she was carefully dragging her little ones.  Actually, they were in the process of drinking their lunch, and she couldn't move very fast, nor would she desert them!

So I decided to let her, and them, live for another day.  After all, Mother's Day is just around the corner and this little mom just tugged at my heart strings!  (please don't tell Mariah!  She thinks I am an animal hater! Ha!

So, in honor of Mother's Day 2008, these little six of God's creation are going to live for another day.  Pass the cheese!

My Grandkids

There are fourteen reasons I am glad to be alive!

That's because I have fourteen grandchildren.  Ten girls and four guys!  They are smart, talented, good looking (you should see the babes!)  And most of them are musical.

This week, I have seen seven of them and heard from most of the rest of them.

Last week, I saw one play soccer.  She's pretty good.

So that's why I am a happy man!

I Did It!

Well,

Just two weeks after surgery, I preached twice today at Williamston.  It went great and I am no more tired than usual.  So that is great and I am thankful to God for getting me through all this.  But I am especially thankful for the wonderful family who carried me through all this with their prayers, and their encouragement.

By the way, I have had this blog since January and this is only my second entry.  That is because I didn't remember how to post a new entry!  Can you believe it?  I am such a NERD!  But Michael, my grandson, came to my yesterday and walked me through the incredibly simple process and here I am again.

So watch for me now, cuz I will be back!

Back to School!

Well, what do you all think of having to go back to school? It was hard getting up this morning and trying to find all my books, and then get dressed. I couldn't decide what to wear of my new clothes that I got for Christmas so that was a bummer. Then my toast burned and the bus came and I wasn't quite ready, and.....

....Oh, I forgot. I don't go to school anymore. In fact I don't even go to WORK anymore. I just sit in my easy chair with my coffee and read the paper, have my devotions and if I am still tired, I just take a nap.

Sorry for all of you school people!

GrandpaC