My Little Sister

I have several books which try to explain the relationship of sisters. Other than the obvious, people are individuals, and all the 'explanations' in the world will not describe each individual relationship, they are good reading.  The truth is, sisters are our true friends, even though my sister, Liz, arrived five years after me, she knows me better than even my parents did.

We have sharing a room (when we were little) knowing when the other stayed up to read by flashlight under the covers, sharing dreams, measles, mumps, and chicken pox, fears, and my convincing Liz (when she was three) that we were seeing Santa Clause fly by on Christmas Eve over the rooftops of our neighbourhood! I was concerned that when she stopped beliving, our parents would stop with the good Christmas gifts.

Of course, as a big sister, I would try to take advantage, I would be bossy when we were old enough that my parents would leave us alone with 'me in charge;' Liz can probably tell you with more detail and conviction of all those sins of mine. I remember when she got old enough, my tricks stopped working, and the fights began!  Fortunately for me, I think that after all these years, she might just have forgiven me of most of those things, that, and at some point I realized I could no longer control her!  I remember one time, I don't remember what Maggie and I did to aggravate her, but we tried to appease her with a piece of chocolate cake.  Well she was so mad at us she threw it up in the air, and it hit the ceiling!  I don't remember how - or whether, we got the icing and cake crumbs off the ceiling. Maggie probably does, she has the better memory. In any case, our parents were NOT amused.

As you can see in the picture, above, my parents liked to take pictures on Easter, every year we would have to walk up the front walk before church carring our baskets and wearing our Easter clothes, they didn't make us do any special Christmas pictures, but that was Easter! In the other picture, you will see us with Liz's bunny, 'Fluffy'.  Liz always had this beautiful blond hair, and I thought she was always much more beautiful than me, I was a gaulky kid, with unmanageable dark curls. That's another thing about sisters, we envy each other, and yet we love, with a fearce, and loyal sincerety.

Over the years, as we married, and had families, each with their own challenges, we have become closer,  with a bond that will never be lost. As adults, we are individuals, different occupations, likes, and dislikes, but each of us are rooted in the belief system our parents indwelled in us, on the surface you might see big differences, but we are the same family, and that is the glue that holds the world together.

Have a great day,

Phoebe

Lets Move on!

I love the Christmas holidays, but there is always a time; when the visitors have gone home, the leftovers are finished, house put back in order, decorations are put away; and then comes - "the big sigh"!
I think my favorite holiday picture this year, is when our dear new addition, Feather, wouldn't stop crying, and Uncle Paul and Izzie tried valiantly to smile for the picture! Of course, the visit was too short, but each time I see them, is just added to my tally of beautiful memories. I carried Feather around for most of the first hour they were here!  It was so good to finally see her! Izzie, is such a big girl now, and very good with her new sister. I have been thinking about my own relationship with my 'little sister'.  I have to blog about just that relationship!  What a topic!
          I was also proud of our dog, Tom, he was so gentle with the two little girls!

This Christmas, I lost one of my clients, she was one of the grand ladies of her age, and will be missed. As a result, which is just the way my job goes; it will take time for my company to replace the hours in my schedule. Maybe not too long, they have given me one new client who will replace at least some of the hours.

Enough though! Now I have to get on with all my projects that have been neglected in order to prepare for the holidays! First is to pull out my easel and continue with the drawings I couldn't finish before Christmas! I have decided to do some portraits and action drawings. I was able to get preliminary blocking finished, so I won't be starting from scratch! The real trick is to get a sufficient block of time to really concentrate on the job at hand! I will be implementing a 'dry-brush' technique with india ink.  It is hard on the brushes, but lends itself to details.

See you next time, and have a good day,

Phoebe

Olympic Torch Run!

I know it's Christmas Day, but this week has been nuts, and I have a quiet time now before everyone gets up! Wednesday, December 23, 2009, was Maggie's (!!) birthday, and also the day the Olympic Torch Run went through Essex County!  It went right past Maggie's house!

Well, of course we HAD to celebrate!  I left work early and Paul and I helped decorate the front of her house, and two of her husband's Mack trucks.  The ground was too soft to put a flatbed across the front yard as they wanted, but it was just as well, because we had to go out closer to the road, and as far as I am concerned, it was more exciting!

Even though the party had to be at 3:00 p.m. when the torch passed, there was quite a few people out for the torch as well as our party! The big local celebration happened at 7:00 p.m.when the torch rested for the night in Windsor, but the runner, and all the procession knew when they passed Maggie's house in LaSalle, Ontario!!!

What a blessing for Maggie!  How often would the Olympic Torch Run close enough to visit, let alone pass your house on your birthday! We were so excited, and loud, we were given little Olympic flags as souvenir's of the occasion. The Olympic Committee wanted everyone to wear as much red as possible, so as a result, I was given a metal commemorative bottle of Coke Zero, with  the Olympic seal and dated for the 2010 Torch Run! So it was okay I dressed like a ketchup bottle!

I had to take this picture of Maggie for her special birthday!  We were ready outside in plenty of time to see the procession. The crowd was just starting to gather when we came out to wait.  They came by with big trucks, A Coke truck, an Olympic Committee truck, lots of police, LaSalle, and the Mounties, some of whom ran along with the official runner for extra security. There was also a bus for the runners to wait their turn, and of course ambulance etc. LaSalle even brought out their antique police car for the occasion!  I tried to get a picture of it, but when I pressed the shutter, I accidentally pressed the off switch instead!

That's just life!

Hope and pray that your Christmas holiday is a blessed, and exciting one.
Phoebe.

Morning Meeting Of The Minds

As I have mentioned before, I work in the homes of, mostly elderly people, as a Personal Support Worker. At a nearby senior's apartment building where I visit three mornings a week, I regularly pass a group of about five to seven, elderly men in the front hallway, they move outside the main doorway in the warm dry weather.  Each morning, they congregate to discuss local and world current events, building community events, and; of course along with other things, the weather.

Yesterday morning, they asked me about the temperature outside as I passed, "It's quite chilly this morning!" I told them.  "See what I said," one chimed in,"we didn't have a decent summer this year, and now the winter weather is here!"; someone else added: "I didn't even get to turn my air conditioner on this year!"; another said: "I didn't even bother to put mine in!"; and my favorite, and by the way, he speaks for me: "I feel gypped, when the cold weather comes, and we didn't even get a decent summer!"

We, in the "Sun Parlor Of Canada" are used to a steady diet in the summer of tropical, warm to hot, humid weather for three to four months of the year, and tend to get a little cranky when we are asked to endure a cold Canadian winter, (even though it is not as severe in Essex County), when we haven't had a fix of HOT HOT weather! I fully understood their complaint; it echoes my own feelings, and many others all over the county this year.  We want to know WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR SUMMER??? If this the effect of global warming, where is the warm?

I visit that building tomorrow; should I tell them I saw ice in a dish that was outside on my back porch this morning?  It calls for flurries on Thursday, that should be good for another HOT COMPLAINT TOPIC! So there's my news flash for today, winter weather is upon us, can Christmas decorations be far behind?

Have a great day,

Phoebe

"Feather"

My son and his wife like to get professional pictures taken of their daughters and the whole family. The newest addition doesn't seem to be as willing  a model as her sister, either that or they didn't let me see the entire 'photo shoot' for Izzie.  I commented to my son, after seeing an extensive photo shoot for our "new addition" that it seemed to be feather torture for her, he didn't seem worried, he said she was hungry.  Personally, I think the pictures are priceless!There was a range of facial emotions that can only be met by a very frustrated baby. I can see her wondering what on earth was happening to her? Why had her parents put her in such a curious place? There were some pictures of her balancing in the air on the hands of her parents, she didn't look any more comfortable in those either. What we do for cute baby pictures!

When you think about it, the whole first year of life, when communication is rudimentary at best, is not just frustrating for we, the parents, but can you think about how it is for the baby?  The questions alone are mind boggling! "Who ARE these people?" "I recognize the voices, but, so THAT is what they look like!" "What do I look like?" "Who is that little person who keeps kissing me?" (Izzie)

The baby discovers what it is like to be cold, hot, hungry, uncomfortable, sleepy; and the parents learn the different cry's. A time of learning and discovery for everyone! 

As some of you know, I use 'pen names' for me and my family, well dear "new addition" I dub you "Feather" for the purpose of this, your loving paternal grandmother's blog.

   May all the necessary trials of your life be light and airy.

Have a Great day!

Phoebe

Do You Have A Round Tuit?

There is much truth in the old saying "You are only as old as you think".  Some people say "as you feel", but with arthritis starting to really kick in, I will stick with "think"! Today is my birthday, I am 62 years old today, but my mind is full of things I really have to get 'around to doing!'

I have a round sign on my fridge:  A Round Tuit

     "This is a Tuit. Guard it with your life as Tuits are hard to come by, especially the round ones.

This is an indispensable item. It will help you develop a Service Culture.

For years you have heard people say, "I'll do it as soon as I get a

Round Tuit." Now that you have one, you can accomplish all those

things that you've put aside 'til you got a

Round Tuit."

I'm not talking about procrastination, although this sign is good for a laugh, and I still have a list of house jobs I have to get 'around to doing'; I'm talking about big things. Several trips I would like to take, more time to paint, some day I would like to write a book, (my oldest son is ahead of me with the book). I would like to have the time for long visits with my granddaughters. Izzie is just at the right age to teach several crafts, and she is so full of wonderment and excitement with life in general. Just so many things to do, My mind thinks I should be younger, maybe thirty, but both my sons are over thirty, maybe I should be a little older, but would I have the time to do everything?

My friend, Maggie and I have decided we won't have the time for many of these big things until we retire. But I say, will we have the health? There's one thing for sure, I won't be one of those people who are bored with my retirement! I don't even have time to be bored now!!!!!

Whenever your birthday is, have a great one, and don't ever run out of excitement and goals!

Have a great day,

Phoebe

Overflowing Love

 

On Monday, October 19, the miracle of birth happened again in our family!  The new addition, is another girl, personally, I think she should have waited to be born on her grandmother's birthday (mine), but she is healthy, and welcomed in to the family with open arms!  Big sister, Izzie, is very protective, and dutifully helping as much as she is allowed.

As a long distance Grandma, I have to be satisfied with pictures and Skype calls until we meet, but, unconditional love abounds from this house in Windsor! Uncle Paul is also very proud, and I'm sure that our dog, Thomas will be just as gentle with the new addition, as he is with Izzie.

It is at times like this that I am overwhelmed with the Power and Glory of God's Perfect Love.  I came across this quote in one of my daily readings:

"Every child born into this world is a new thought of God, an ever-fresh and radiant possibility."  Kate Douglas Wiggin

A short post today,

Have a Great Day!

Phoebe