The Red Shimmer Topper from Pair Eyewear!

One of my favorite Pair Eyewear Toppers has a fun touch of color and shimmer . . . the Red Shimmer! While there are certainly many things to love about this topper, I really like how it is a beautiful deep shade of red and it shimmers with every move! What isn't there to love about this!

grandma's cookbook - Children's Day Treat - S'mores!

Children's Day is on June 14th, and if you are looking for a fun recipe you could make with your grandchildren to celebrate children and fun, look at this recipe  for S'mores I found on  Pinterest! Follow the link for the recipe and plan to make these with your grandchildren on Children's Day! 

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Saint Jean Baptiste Day

Yesterday I wrote about a holiday celebrated in Canada - Victoria Day - today I'm happy to share what this "Lost Canadian" has learned about another Canadian holiday - Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day - which is celebrated June 24th as a National Holiday of Quebec and French culture. Here are some details about this holiday -

Help the Children You Love Know God with illustrate my own - Known Bible Hero book series

     

You are likely familiar with the Bible people from my illustrate my own - Known Bible Hero book series - Noah, Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah (otherwise known as Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego), Ruth, Joshua, Caleb, David, Elijah, Jonah, Daniel, Joseph, Hadassah (Esther), and Gideon so just think how much fun it would be to illustrate these familiar accounts . . . whether you are an artist or draw your illustrations with stick people. As much fun as it would be for you to illustrate these Bible adventures for your grandchildren, think how much more fun it would be to illustrate them together . . . and most importantly, think about the fantastic conversations you will be able to have as you work together to illustrate your books!

You & How You Feel Matters

A few words of encouragement today - a Dr. Seuss Quote I find one worth considering is . . . "Don't cry because it is over - Smile because it happened!"  This is a quote which makes me stop and think as there are things I agree about with it, and things I do not. Certainly as we go through life, there will be times we rejoice and times when we wonder what is happening. But there are going to be many times when we may not "smile" because something happened and when we may cry from relief when things are over. I feel this way nearly on a daily basis with all the things happening in our country and world right now. I guess the thing I want to say for today is, as you go through life, how you feel and the things you experience matter. Your feelings are valid. Your feelings matter. If people tell you to "get over things" or to "look on the bright side", you need to feel the freedom to feel whatever you feel because your feelings are legitimate and they do matter.

Fun Idea for Children's Day

 

Children's Day is June 14th this year - it is always the second Sunday of June. So, if you are looking for a fun idea you could try for a gift with meaning, consider making handprint blankets. Just gather the supplies and wrap them up. Then, when your grandchildren open their gifts, you all will be able to make the blankets, put their and your handprints on them, let them dry, and then they will have a special blanket which will remind them of your love for them throughout the coming years.

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Victoria Day

We all may think children enjoy celebrating holidays, and they typically do, but this "Lost Canadian" thinks we grandmas enjoy the celebrating the most because we get to plan and then celebrate with the ones we love! Of course I know all about the holidays we celebrate here in the USA, and while Canadians do celebrate some of the same holidays, I thought it would be fun to learn about Holidays in Canada, so for the next few days I will share with you what I learned about these days which bring opportunities for grandmas to plan and celebrate with the ones we love! I will share a list of Canadian Holidays at the end of this post, but today I'm writing about the next Holiday to be celebrated in Canada - Victoria Day . . .

Adventures with Candy!

   

I have three books in my Candy the Kitten . . . And Me! series of books and wanted you to know of one more option for getting all three stories - a three in one book -Adventures with Candy!  In this book you will find A Family of Her Own for Candy, Candy's Favorite Place, and  What Makes Candy Purr? - all three stories about Candy the kitten, which are sure to be loved stories if you have a child in your family who loves cats!

grandma's cookbook - Potato, Squash, Oat Bread

I live in the house my grandparents built - my dad was born in this house and when I was a child, I often was able to have a sleepover at my grandparent's and always loved when my grandma baked bread - when it came out of the oven I always got a fresh-from-the-oven slice of bread to enjoy! What could be better! Now I'm the grandma in this house and when my grands come over I often make bread for them!

Since today is a chilly day (it is currently 33 degrees and will only get up to 53), I thought I'd share a tasty recipe with you - homemade potato, squash, oat bread - it is wonderfully tasty for sure!

If you would like to try this recipe with the people you love, this is it . . . 

Today is a Great Day to Make Your own Book!

Today is Make a Book Day, so if you are looking for something fun you could do with the children you love, consider doing something creative - make your own book! Consider making your own unique story or sit down together and make your own unique "twist" of a favorite book. When my grands were younger they loved Dr. Seuss' There's a Wocket in My Pocket - and one day they made their own version of this story - complete with fun illustrations!  

First, some history of books, which I found on-line . . .

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About the Canadian National Anthem

Growing up in the USA, I of course, know the National Anthem - the Star Spangled Banner and the history behind the song. Since I am a "Lost Canadian", I thought I should learn the history behind the Canadian National Anthem - and learn the Anthem, too. Today I am happy to share with you what I have learned.

First for the history behind the song, O Canada! -

“O Canada” came into being in 1880, 100 years before it became Canada’s National Anthem.

What Makes Candy Purr?

  

For the past few days I've been letting you know about the new books in my Candy the Kitten . . . and Me! books - today I want to let you know about one the children you love are sure to enjoy - What Makes Candy Purr? In this fun story children will get to learn about the things which make Candy, a sweet little calico kitten, purr. And, not only will they discover the things which make Candy purr, but they will be surprised to learn about animals which are not cats, but still are able to purr . . . such as bears! Did you know bears purr? In What Makes Candy Purr? the children you love will enjoy discovering not only about the things which make Candy purr, but will be surprised to learn about other animals which purr, too! 

Water-Wars for Children's Day Fun!

June 14th is Children's Day, so, what might the children you love want to do if it is a warm, sunny day and they are at your house? 

Play in the water! And, not just play in the water, but use squirt guns if you have them.

May is Photo Month!

The month of May is Photo Month . . . although, as a grandma, I firmly believe any and all months are "photo months" since all times are excellent times for photos!

So, along with being sure to get photos of your grandchildren, encourage them to take photos of themselves (or have their parents help with this) and then send them to you!

And, just for fun, you could take "silly" photos of your grandchildren . . . they will enjoy it and you will get a smile on your face each time you see them!