Thursday, June 4, 2009

The End of this blog and a new beginning...

If you click on the title of this post, you will be linked to the blog that officially takes the place of this one. Off to England is in the laborious (but most enjoyable) process of becoming a blurbed hardcover book. This blog should have really been limited to my Once in a Lifetime trip to England but it morphed into something much more to me. I've re-discovered a serious love for journalling - incorporating a passion for photography and more recently, grandchildren (!) all of which makes this forum simply irresistible. So this summer, I hope to put the finishing touches on my book and then I will be closing down this blog and continuing with This Pilgrim's Progress. I thank you for visiting and look forward to keeping in touch with you 'over there'.
Pictured above is a beautiful heirloom quality book by John Bunyan, featuring the inspiration of my new blog name. Below, you get a peek inside the covers where a large, luscious font delivers the Old English story in its original form. Next to the Bible, it is considered one of the most widely read books - throughout the last few centuries-
It easily makes my top three choices for the next extended read-a-thon.
WHEN??? she wails pathetically.
Poor Christian with that symbolic burden on his back!
A regular visitor to our daily stock of cat food. We have a big bossy Blue-Jay swooping in daily for his fair share as well. Obviously, I had no idea what I was starting when I began this feline mission post!
It was definitely a Crock kind of day - we (the fabulous five grandbabes plus my daughter) were outdoors for most of it, blowing bubbles and generally soaking up the sun.
A scraped knee is positively calamitous until
Curious George pops out of the First Aid Kit.
....Oh, AND another trip to the pond WITH Hippo for good measure!
Blowing bubbles with one hand...capturing the bubble dance by camera with the other.....you get the idea? It didn't seem to diminish the excitement one iota.

Synopsis of Sorts

  • The three musketeers came by invitation for a two night sleepover.... here's a pictorial tour of our first day together - which was beautiful and breezy by all accounts!
Well, well. We seem to be no worse for wear considering that two of the three got up around midnight for some TLC.
I made the mistake of mentioning pancakes for breakfast. With chocolate chips.
Micah has the sort of recall that makes an elephants memory seem infantile.
  • Also mentioned 'in passing' was a possible trip to the pond fountain after breakfast. I had no idea that wee man Micah could scarf down a pancake like that! The journey to the front of the property was waylaid momentarily at the sight of this shovel - apparently begging to be used.
Rachel loves the courtyard gates as much as I do. She could have played the proverbial gate-keeper all day had I not mentioned one other thing to them....
Okay, so here's the proof - I keep my promises when I'm 'reasonably' able - he got his five minute awe with the fountain. Still keeping a highly cautious distance from the 'shoreline'.
Also per typical, Danielle threw caution to the wind and needed to be chased more than once!
Then I reminded the munchkins that we were going to visit Diana for cookies and juice in the office andthat set them off at a dangerous clip toward the house again.
Nothing like snacks to gain compliance and did you know that grandmothers have "license to abuse all known house rules" written right in their contracts?! :)
One last 'kick at the can' for the Rachinator with Mr. Mischief right beside!
They all have this uncanny sense of GPS on locating this Diana lady of ours....I actually had to run to keep up for crying out loud!
Ahhh.....she even had SPECIAL ginger smiley face cookies for the occasion. What a great gal!
We really enjoyed playing boss-man in Grandpa's absence. Hee-hee.
Yep. Rachel always goes for that extra touch of authenticity!
Much to my delight, our grandkids are thoroughly intrigued with the Aslan type figure-head on office wall. He adores it but 'respects' it enough to not want to go anywhere near it without adult supervision.
A thankful goodbye to our gracious host
And of course, we could not leave without a run through the shop. A supervised run, yes.