Saving The Little Ones

And the rains came threatening to sabatoge the family just outside my office window...

There's something about the little ones.  The innocent.  The poor, defenceless babies 

weathering life storms...    I feel helpless.  

Me:  "Gary!  We have to do something!" 

And so, my knight climbed the step ladder and puttied the hole where the 

rains were flooding the nest.

Soon mama bird returned and gave the little ones a piece of her mind.  I could hear her chirping from inside my office and I watched her bobbing back and forth in extreme animation, probably telling them that they should never allow humans anywhere near the home while she is away.

If they only knew....

Dear Diary,

There are days when I feel like a pup again.  Could be dementia.  Could be just plain spunk on my part.  Maybe one is only as old as one feels acts.  It felt good to rip up that package of tissues and spread them all over the floor.  Real good.  Gracie.

January Storms

A husband who is having vision problems and might have glaucoma, who also is suffering serious bouts of nausea and sickness from his crohns disease.  A 12 month old grandson who is having a major surgery.  A dear sister, who is in poor health to begin with, falls and breaks her arm.  A dog, who has nobody to give him the attention he needs, sits on the porch and waits.  A brother, down on his luck, tries to drink away his troubles and winds up in the hospital with heart problems.

Throw a few relationship problems into that mix and what you have: a quagmire.

January is off to a stormy start.  And I'm not talking about the weather.

But God is good.

  Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.


After going to the specialist, Gary's eyes might not be as bad as they thought.  Another test is scheduled to determine the severity of the glaucoma that they are pretty sure that he has.  His colonoscopy yesterday looked good, but we are awaiting the results of the biopsy.  He is feeling better.

Jasper's (the grandson) surgery was a success...  and after just 5 days in the hospital he is coming home today.

Waiting to be released

No surgery was needed for my sister as hers was a clean break.  She is home from the hospital, arm in a sling, and moving slowly.

I found a loving home for Cabot (my grand dog)

Here he is... living the good life.  Caged no more!

My brother is stable and we (his siblings) are coming together to try and find help for him and his predicament.  

As far as the relationship issues...  all in God's hands.  

And the music plays over and over again in my head...  and I feel a peace.  

The Baby and the Bone

Dear Diary,

The kid aka Short Stuff doesn't say much.  She's fast though.  I have to be on my guard at all times when she's around.

She has this fascination with my ears... probably cause she doesn't have any of her own.

Mom's trying to teach her to be n-i-c-e to big dog.  Mom slides her little hand over my back and says n-i-c-e.  But the minute Mom's back is turned, those little hands dart quickly for the ears and anyone who knows this dog understands that the ears are off limits.  Period.    

I try to keep my distance.  But there are some things that interest me.  Like new toys.  Dirty diapers.  Cereal.  Finger foods.

Mom tries to keep both of us in line...

Short Stuff's trying to teach me how to stand on my back legs. I humor her, and say 'oh yea, that's really cool' when I actually think it's stupid.  She goes nowhere on her back paws legs.  Everyone knows you need all fours to get to where you want to go.

She's not too smart.

"hey big dog, you're ear's inside out. let me fix that for you."

I try to teach her a thing or two.  But she's not an easy learner.  

If I told her once, I've told her a thousand times.  No playing with my slobbery, green bone kid.  Mom will have a fit.

I guess she's tempted though, when I bring it to her and drop it down in front of her.

The nag Mom yells at me.  GRACIE! DON'T GIVE THE BABY DIRTY TOYS!

She must mean dirty cookies too.

Because when I tried to pawn off an old buried cookie...

I got to hear her famous speech:

"Gracie, what is your problem!?"  

Hey, the kid was hungry.  

And I'm all about making friends with this
 future Nilla Wafer carrier/sharer.  Gracie.

"stay away from the ears kid.  ya hear?"

Summer Says

Pop-pop says I  have Grammy's legs.

That's why Grammy decided to start Weight Watchers again.

She said chubby legs look good on me, 

but when you get older  chubby legs are called fat legs.

If you say so Grammy...  

The Man and the Giraffe

"Hey Grammy!  Big Dog's trying to get my giraffe!"

"Hey short stuff...  stop squealing on me.  And speaking of squealing, let me sink my teeth into that squeaky toy of yours."  

"No Big Dog,  It's mine."  

"No Short Stuff... It's mine. 

Tell ya what.  I'll trade ya...  straight up... my new multi-squeaker TOUGH MAN for your rubbery squeaky giraffe.  

Whaddaya say?"

"No, Big Dog ~ Grammy says your man is dirty 

and I would just put it in my mouth."  

"What does that nag she know?  Here...  

take my MAN and see for yourself. It's clean as a whistle."

"Grammy!  Come quick! 

Big Dog is trying to get my toy!"

"Ya little traitor...  Give me back my blanket..."

"Here Big Dog...  you can smell it, but promise me you won't steal it."

Dear Diary,
If it looks like a dog toy.  And squeals like a dog toy.  And smells like a dog toy.  Then it is a dog toy.  Now...  to get it off the little trouble maker without getting in deep doo doo with the nag mom.  Gracie.

I Have To Put Up with Her...

Dear Diary,

When the newest little person arrived...  several things happened.

1.  I lost my place on Dad's lap.

2.  I lost my place on mom's lap.

3.  The other little people aka Cupcake began getting bored because the world no longer revolved around her (welcome to my world  Cupcake) and she began to avert her attention to other things like messing with my toys...

No wonder my angry bird is angry!

What could the older peeps be thinking - cluttering up my floor with things I'm not allowed to breath on, step on, or chew on?

I know it's only a matter of time though... till short stuff will be tossing Oreo cookies at me.  Makes me hungry just thinking about it...

In the meantime, I have to put up with her...  and she's so needy.   Gracie.  

Seeing the Girls and Mini Vacation

Summer is still sick.  She has a horrible cough.  We stopped by to see the girls tonight and Gary played with Rissi while I rocked my 'lil Kitten (Summer). 

 Sometimes she purrs...  when she's just about to fall off to sleep she'll make the cutest sound of contentment.  That's one of the reasons I call her my kitten.  

I rocked her to sleep in my arms

Rissi - pretending

As soon as she's put down - wide awake!

Gary is taking me on a surprise mini vacation this weekend.. well, it's not a surprise anymore because I kind of guessed.

We're renting a cabin in Mt. Airy, NC - home of Mayberry Days and Andy Griffith.  I'm pretty excited because I've always loved The Andy Griffith Show and I'm a huge fan of the 'simple life' that was portrayed in the show.  

It's about a 6 hour drive down through Virginia and into North Carolina.  It will be good to get away for a few days.  

Shhh...  don't tell Gracie.  

Advice from Gracie

So, anyway...  there's a few things you'll need to know if you want to visit with the nag the grammy often. 

 First of all, if the nag grammy gives you a cookie, always ask for another one because you want to give it to the dog  more is always better.  

Secondly, never eat Cheerio's from a no-spill bowl.  I heard they're cheaply made in China and the paint's not good for little cookie carriers like you - oh don't worry about spilling them... I've got your back.  

Oh, and one more thing...   the dog always trumps the baby.  

Got that? 

  Now go see if you can't get us yourself a cookie...

   

It Doesn't Take a Detective For This One...

Me: (at the grocery store)  Oh, look!  Lucky Charms are on sale.  Should I get a box for you too?

Gary:  No.

Me:  Are you sure?  I don't want you touching mine.  You eat all of the marshmallow's and that's the best part.

Gary:  I'm not going to touch them.  

Me:  You better not!

FAST FORWARD - ONE WEEK LATER

Me:  You were into my Lucky Charms!

Gary:  No I wasn't.

Me:  Then why is there a clip on the top of the bag?  I always  fold it over.  It doesn't take a detective to figure this one out...  AND...  what happened to the marshmallows?  

Gary:  Gracie?

Dear Diary,  

Make. Her. Stop.  It's baby this and baby that and isn't she cute and no, she's not talking about me.  

  What's so cute about it?  Gracie.

"HEY!  YA GOT ANY COOKIES IN THERE?"

Fanatical Friday

Fanatic?  Who, me? 

Obsessed?  Just a little...

Should I apologize?  Probably so...

I promise...  my Grammy high will pass.

And I'll be normal again...

It's not my fault you know....

If she'd just stop being so cute...

 If they would stop being so cute...

Summer on her birth day...  (taken with Lindsey's phone and for some reason I can't get this picture to rotate)

 Dear Diary,

Pinky = Rissi's best friend.  She's pink, just like her name and she wears a different outfit every day.  I'd like to tear her from limb to limb (cause that's what us dogs like to do)  but Pinky is OFF LIMITS.  

Bambi = Rissi's blankie and comforter for all of her life. I want to snuggle with Bambi and see what all the fuss is about but 

Bambi is OFF LIMITS.  

But I watch and wait...  and fantasize... Maybe some day.   Gracie.