I Can Tell

I can tell I don't play enough. I can tell because the last time I did something fun was when my grandson and I played in the pouring rain (and I blogged about it in May). It's June now.

I can tell because my husband and I played wii bowling with our son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. My husband broke the plastic control protector. I broke the clay plant pot sitting on the coffee table. We were just bowling. Our son is not sure he wants to wii with us anymore.

I can tell because I am always trying to multitask, even when I have my grandson with me. Let's water. Let's plant. Let's pick up toys. How about a bath? Come help nana...We need to play.

I can tell because I can't think of the last time I had coffee with a friend (not counting family, because they will meet me anytime, even if it's only for a few minutes). Wait. It may have been last summer.

I can tell because IF I have free time...Scratch that. I don't have free time.

I can tell because IF I did have free time, I dream of things I would love to do. Like watercolor painting, throwing clay pots, rubber stamping, walking, taking pictures, strolling through antique stores, reading good books...

Someone needs to take some time and play. If she doesn't, she is going to just spend all of her time working. There is always something to do. So maybe she'll have to table the work, and chunk out some time for play.

Yes. I think that's what I'll do.

Super Nana

Super Nana struck again. Bonus points awarded for extreme sports. Despite heavy downpours and cautious adults, Super Nana whisked away socks and pants (his), zipped up the hoody, grabbed the camera and umbrella, and headed out to wade in the slickery fast street gutters. Oh yeah.

Upped my "favorite toy" status.

Umbrella

While walking down the streets of Paris one afternoon, we enjoyed the pleasant weather. People watching filled our minds with images of beauty and interest. Waves of shoppers and strollers passed, holding hands, pacing briskly, both empty hands and hands filled with purchases.

Without much warning, the skies darkened and opened. Nothing like an easy going mist, but a full blown summer rainstorm pounded down and glistened on city sidewalks and streets.

Bloomp. A veritable sea of dark colored umbrellas and striding legs flowed where just moments before faces and entire bodies were visible. Where had the umbrellas come from?

Then bloomp. The clouds dispersed. The sky cleared. A snap of the fingers and all signs of umbrella life disappeared, back to the mysterious nether regions of storage.

The only sign of the storm was the shine of cobbled walkways. No evidence of an afternoon disrupted. Life continued.

As did people watching.

Prolific Painted Lady's

Received: 35-ish tiny, black squiggly lines in plastic container

Procedure: Use a fine paint brush to put one squiggly line in each small communion type cup after putting in 1/4" of yellow caterpillar food for each

Close: Securely seal lid to prevent prying fingers

Next: Observe daily with excited and detail oriented 2nd-3rd graders; graph results on chart

And then: Get totally excited about the 'J' shape and suspended chrysalis'

Add: All chrysalis papers to large pop-up tent. Continue counting days before arrival of butterfly beauty

Joy comes in the morning: The best time to creep out, smooshed, bedraggled, and oozing left over body fluids

Let air dry.

Feed. Notice length of proboscis.

Tah-dah!

Pretty painted lady butterflies and gleeful children.

The Third Day

Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

But the angel answered and said to the women,

"Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.

So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

(Matthew 28:1-8 NKJV)