"Rainbow Connection" - Grammie Style...

Have you ever pondered "connections" and wondered what it was all about?  When would the ultimate connection in your life happen?  Well; I have been through alot.  Most of us go through alot of one form or another in our lives before we are done.  Some is good, some is bad.  But; like I always say, the things we live today make us who we are tomorrow and I like to think that is all in the end for the better.  Being who we are is ok.  Hopefully; by the time we are grandparents we are getting a handle on who we are and therefore have earned the title "Grand" parent.  After raising five sons, having twin grandsons, and yet another baby boy grandson who I never get to see, now nearly two (MATTHEW & TOMIE'S son STERLING)...I like to think that perhaps Iris is my ultimate reward.  I never had a daughte.r  I don't feel I ever really got to be a "little" girl excepting when "I" was with my grandmother (the favorite relationship of all time in my life).  I like to feel that such as I am I am that person, making that relationship with Ms. Iris.  I like to feel we have a connection.  That delightful little girl (film at eleven) is such an inspiration to me.  She can be a handful.  She can be "spoiled" which I have made her.  But; she can also be thoughtful, caring, tender, and sweet.  She is my built in reminder sometimes helping to keep me straight and again, my inspiration.  She loves to do all the things I always wanted to do and hopefully she will get to do them.  She is artistic, creative, coordinate and bright.  As she skips out the door to school in her "Little Hippie Girl" outfit she makes me smile.  I have never honestly seen a child happier to go to school.  All smiles and all energy away she goes to spend time with her idol Mrs. Adams.  She adores her teacher not unlike many early school age children.  Mrs. Adams is awesome and she can do no wrong in Iris's book...just as it should be for a good teacher. 

All that said, I like to think that I am facilitating the "connection"...and that it is a "Rainbow" connection.  All things good, beautiful, and wonderful that our God can provide.  No her life is not perfect.  She has problems in her little life that I would take completely away would I could....  But; as it is, she spends 95% of her little life outside of school with her grandparents who keep her well stocked and provided with the tools of the trade for a delightful four-year-old (or nearly five she likes to remind us).  The paper, pens, pencils, crayons, paints, glitter, glue, scissors, sewing machines, paint brushes, and all the fixings of creativity keep coming.  The music flows, the devices to play it on provided.  Yes; hopefully I am making that Rainbow Connection with this little girl.  Hopefully; she will keep going with all her creativity and I can be a part of it through her.  She is afterall the most beautiful granddaughter in Norwich!

More from Mel (Lilhippiema) later....

Kindergarten Was Never Like This For Me!

My Iris started Kindergarten this year.  She will be five the end of the month.  She has now made it through about five days of school.  :)  The stories she tells make me well aware that school is just not what it used to be!  I find myself regaled(?) with tales of "purple girls" who never do anything good, girls with hair like this and girls with hair like that....none of the poor things apparently have any names.  Also; there seems to be a strange deficiency of boy presences.  Apparently; lunch is totally different than it was in my day.  Lunch is delivered to HER in her classroom by "her servants" who do whatever she wants!  Today's lunch was chocolate brownies.  Everyone just ate chocolate brownies.  Seems a high price to pay $2.50 for a lunch of JUST brownies!  However; she did mention telling them how to make a peanut butter and butter sandwich so perhaps lunch tomorrow will be better.  There is hope! With the exception of the "purple girl" who apparently is from another planet school is declared to be "awesome" in every respect! 

I suppose I could call and get more details on the $2.50 brownie lunch delivered by servants and the "purple girl" but I hate to shatter the images playing in my mind that make me laugh so much.  :)  I mean the reality might not be nearly as pretty!  :)  So I stick to the Iris version of school.  Wishing mine had been like that.....

Loving Grammie Mel

PS:  I have encouraged creativity and imagination in this child from the beginning.  I wonder if that has something to do with her portrayal and descriptions of her class?

Long Time No Chat.... So Much...

Well I am here.  Still kicking.  So much going on.  The life of mine just keeps spinning.  :)  Still hoping to see all my boys together for something..sometime soon.  Just miss that.

Ms. Iris...seems such a short time ago she was born!  I took care of her in the hospital and ever since.  Soon she will be five.  Started Kindergarten yesterday.  The night before she informed her Dad that she could not go to school the next day because "she did not want a fat teacher".  I laughed so when he told me that.  Then; after school the next day, she told him "I love my fat teacher".  :)  Her teacher has taught kindergarten for like 26 years give or take a year.  My son Christopher had her for kindergarten and he is now 26 years old.  Speaking of Christopher, one of my all time favorite songs is "Rainbow Connection".  Everytime I hear that song I think of Christopher perhaps because he always loved the Muppets and does such an interesting Kermit imitation.  :)  Been that way today.  Lots of thoughts about my kids.  Concerned for Ms. Iris as her folks don't get along.  She depends on me so much.  Her folks love her I guess but are in their own worlds too much for my taste.  Today after school, for her, both her parents were home.  Mom was in PJ's sitting on the couch (when I got there).  Dad was on the computer.  Ms. Iris had called me and told me on the phone (all by her self she does this) that "Dad had lost the truck and would I PLEASE just come get her".  Mind you she had been home from school probably about 20 minutes.  Neither of them taking time to talk to my granddaughter and spend time with her after her second day of school.  She had to call her Grammie to come get her and cuddle her and talk to her.  Then we went to Joann's!  :)  Well we had to do something right?  Anyhow; if you like Rainbow Connection, there are several versions in my Playlist containing lots of my favorite music.  Take a listen!  :)

I hope to get some soap and some bread made this next week as "Dad" is off work and I should get a free block of time.  I have so much to do though and never seem to get it done.  I now am caring for a seven-year-old boy on weekends while his single mom works second shift.  He is "hyper" by current labeling.  Ol' Mel is not a fan of that.  I get such a kick out of him and he and Iris are good for each other.  He has alot of issues due to his parental situation, Dad in jail, house burned down two months ago, and it goes on and on.  But; he loves it here and he loves Iris.  The dogs love them both!

Well that is enough catching up for now.  I hope to hear from some of you soon.  Sorry to be gone so long.  When I get the soap and bread made you can send me  your orders!  LOL  Meanwhile I am crocheting and adding Plastic Canvas projects to my repertoire.

Bye for now!

Melody