Today is International Cello Day

I love the cello. I do not play the cello, but I love listening to cello music. I love the mellow sound of a cello and especially enjoy the Piano Guys as their cellist is excellent! So, even though today is a day to celebrate the cello, it is also a day to celebrate music and those who make music. My grands so far have played the saxophone, piano, French horn, bass, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar - and I'm always happy to listen to them play music. Take time today to enjoy the cello - or whatever music the ones you love enjoy making!

Here are a few cello facts and a link where you will find the Piano Guy's music . . .

A Fun Resource for the Ones You Love

  

In this day and age it is especially important for grandparents (and parents) to be focused upon passing confident faith to the children they love, but it can be a challenge to find resources to help us do this. Generations Quest ~ Cultivate the Faith was written for this reason and provides 52 weeks of lessons grandparents/ parents will be able to use to engage our grandchildren/children in learning how to love, know, and walk with God!

Each week there is a science activity which will engage children and connect them to the point of the Bible event. They will learn about Bible people and how to pray the Psalms back to God along with fun activities which are just for fun!

Just for Fun . . . New Year's Fun Facts!

New Years - 2026, is nearly upon us and the children we love have one week before they bo back in school - unless they have another snow day - so I thought it would be fun to look on-line and see if I could find any interesting, surprising, and fun New Year's facts to share with you . . . look what I  found . . . 

Just for Fun - National Chocolate Candy Day!

 

It has been a busy week for me . . . cooking a special meal to celebrate Christmas, celebrating Christmas with my family, and time spent with the ones I love! Busy for sure, but wonderful in every way!

So, today I thought I'd take a look on-line and see if December 28th was a "special" day . . . and I'm happy to say, it is! Today is, "National Chocolate Candy Day"! Now this is a day to celebrate for sure!

Don't Worry: It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren - Look What People Are Saying About It!

    

I am very happy to say,  Don't Worry: It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren is available on Kindle and as a print version on Amazon - and it makes a wonderful gift for the parents and grandparents you know! But not only for parents and grandparents as if you are an aunt, uncle, or someone who works with children, this book is for you, too.

grandma's cookbook - Broiled, Herbed Chicken Breasts & Tater-Tot Casserole

With the New Year just around the corner, I have been in the mood for meals which are warm, comforting, and full of healthy ingredients! So, I have been working on preparing meals which are healthy and home-made; not from a box or can and using fresh ingredients. Now, when you think of Tater Tot Casserole, you may not think of healthy or fresh since it tends to be smothered in canned mushroom soup - but not my tater tot casserole! Today I's sharing my recipe with you.

Just For Fun - Today is Make Paper Snowflakes Day!

Yes, today is, "Make Paper Snowflakes Day"! Where I live in Michigan we currently have few real snowflakes outside, but since today is, "Make Paper Snowflakes Day", I thought I'd share a couple fun and surprising facts about snow, a real photo of a real snowflake, and some ideas for making some of your own paper snowflakes! 

grandma's chuckles . . . Apparently I'm, "So Easy to Operate"!!!

 

When my oldest grand was five years old they were quite the reader! Sounding out words was easy for them and they found great joy at being able to sit down with a book and read what all those words have to say! 

This of course, made me a happy grandma as I want my grands to love reading! It also gave me some unexpected opportunities to see how they thought . . . and a few good laughs as well!

Pair Eyewear Red Shimmer Topper!

On January 1, 2026 I am starting the new year with a fun touch of color and shimmer by ordering a new topper for my Pair Eyewear glasses. My insurance will be reloaded for 2026, so since January 1st is the last day of the wonderful 30% off sale at Pair Eyewear, it is the perfect day for me to order a topper I've had my eye on for some time . . . the Red Shimmer!

Today is National Candy Cane Day - Have a Candy Cane Hunt!

 

Today is National Candy Cane Day - according to Daysoftheyear dot com, "According to German folklore, the first candy canes were made in the 17th century when a choirmaster in Cologne, Germany, needed to find a way to keep the children quiet during the exceptionally long Christmas Eve Mass.

grandma's chuckles - "Gimli!! Gimli!!! Gimil!!!!"

Today I'm remembering almost eleven years ago when my grands were at my house and the youngest who was 18 months, was frustrated about something and said; "Gimli!! Gimli!!! Gimli!!!!" I found this to be very funny because Gimli is the name of my grandson's dog and Gimli is an aggressive chewer. There has been a number of times when my son and daughter-in-law have walked into a room and found things all chewed up all over their floor. I suspect it is at times such as these my sweet grand heard his parents say; "Gimli!! Gimli!!! Gimil!!!!" Apparently, when you are frustrated you say; "Gimli!! Gimli!!! Gimil!!!!" See why I thought it was so funny for him to say this?!!

My Christmas Carol for Today - Mary Did You Know - by Penatonix

I first heard this song a number of years ago - Mark Lawry wrote and sang it. I love - Mary Did You Know - and I LOVE how Pentatonix sings it - enjoy at this link. It seems like a wonderful song to include today in my Christmas Carols - enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Here are the lyrics if you want to sing along . . . 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I celebrated last night with my family, so whether you did the same or are celebrating today, I want to say - Merry Christmas!

Christmas in a Nutshell

On grandma's cookie jar you are able to find ideas for Christmas: including crafts, recipes, gifts, and reviews. It doesn't take more than a quick look at grandma's cookie jar to know I LOVE Christmas and look forward all year to celebrating it with my family! But, along with the "fun" of Christmas; crafts, cooking, celebrating - I also want to take a moment to point to the, "reason for the season" . . . Jesus.