Dear Grandchildren (45)

Dear Grandchildren,

Sunday morning, Halloween. We slept in a bit later, which bothered Kooper, who wanted us up and about. He checked on us a few times to check if we were there yet and still breathing.

GrpaRick got up before me watched a movie, and had a bowl of cereal. He started his work clothes laundry, dressed, and went outside. He came inside out of breath, so I asked why. He is so focused…he took out the air compresser to clean out the carbs on the ice auger we bought Thursday evening. He showed me the chamber and the tiny hole the gas pumps through, that malfunctions with the tiniest little particle blocking the hole.

We had driven in the rain at night an hour away to Cotton Lake, MN, to purchase the auger. I live-shared our location enroute so the seller could see when to expect us. The seller, a “snowbird” soon leaving for winter in Arizona, was technologically impressed. So, when we go ice fishing with winter our new auger will dig through deeper, thicker ice.

Several seagulls just flew overhead, heading east to west, as I shared a popsicle with the pups, and drank my morning coffee.

Today, is the birthday of one of my mom’s beloved cousins. Every year we all wish her a blessed, heavenly birthday on her facebook site. Perhaps, she and my mom are visiting and laughing over a cup of coffee with other family up in heaven. That is a nice thought!

Happy birthday, Cousin!

It is overcast, breezing, and chilly out. The clouds are blowing southward, and the skies are clear and blue to the North. I am hoping the sunshine will warm things up around here.

Yesterday, GrpaRick emptied a small shed, and moved it 90°’s. He rearranged the summer fishing gear with our winter ice fishing gear. Our Trailblazer was emptied out of our four rods, a bucket for fish, two tackle boxes, fishing nets, life jackets, the aluminum paddles, floor and benches, the hull, a large battery for the trolling motor, and the motor itself, the bag containing the inflatable raft, and of course, the air pump. Everthing, except the raft bag, go inside the Trailblazer. The reels and some tackle get transferred to the icefishing gear.

Yesterday, my oldest granddaughter held my youngest granddaughter for the first time. Cousin Charlee will be 17 by the time Breeze turns 1 year. Charlee’s sister, Layla, will be almost 12.

You are all so precious to me, my dear grandchildren! I am proud of who each of you are and I always will be! Have a Safe and Enjoyable, Happy Halloween!

L♡ve,

Grmaval

Postscript: I just cut up more apples for two pies. I used premade pie crusts, added sugar cinnamon, sugar & flour & baked. I have vintage pie crust cutouts, so I cut a apple-shaped holes on the top crust.

Dear Grandchildren (44)

Dear Grandchildren,

Saturday morning, full tank of gas, boat and fishing gear loaded, beautiful weather for our last fishing outing on a lake for this autumn season, then, the check engine light comes on!

Brilliant Morning Sky

As far as we went.

We turned around as GrmpaRick reset his brain to figure out all of his household, seasonal chores, and yardwork he now will be doing…filling up his schedule instead of fishing. We didn’t dare take the chance of becoming stranded out of town on a country road.

Back home

Nice day begins

I completed recovering the footstool cushion, stapling underneath it all last night.

One project complete

I further carved the chair’s seat cushion for a perfect fit. I nicked my fingertip as I carved, not bad though. Earlier in the week, I had carved my thumb while cutting cucumbers, and I poked my pointer fingertip while cutting onions, so, I have really been hard on myself, unintentually, of course.

I think I will get back to bed for a bit, since we had gotten up so early. It is a chilly morning, so snuggling under the warm covers really feels good right now! I’ll start my day again, later.

Enjoy your day, my dear grandchildren, you are always in my heart!

L♡ve,

Grmaval

Dear Grandchildren (43)

I babysat Breeze late this afternoon. She is starting to smile and coo. She is soon 2 months young. She slept on my shoulder for a long, sweet, precious moment.

“MSUM Baby Dragon”

First Halloween

Practicing Winking

With Grpa Rick

I worked on recovering a footstool cushion, spraypainting the board that the foam and stapled fabric will go onto. I also carved the edges of the foam seat cushion with a serrated bread knife. Next step there will be sewing the upholstery.

I saw the cardinal again, today. I captured more nice photos oh him among the autumn leaves, and up on some more bare branches in one of the trees nearby.

I will post some of those someday, soon. Have a wonderful weekend. My daughter-in-law Jaci and granddaughters Charlee and Layla will be seeing Breeze for the first time tomorrow, which is so exciting!

L♡ve,

Grmaval

Uncle Tug

“Uncle Tug”

By Valerie J Laidlaw

A few years back I inherited an aunt Enid and an uncle called “Tug,”

Upon learning of his story, he is truly one of the bravest persons, I will ever hug.

During a war time when our country had interned him, his brothers, family and friends,

This brave American-born 18 year old young man joined forces till the war’s end.

Being bilingual and of Japanese descent made him indispensable, useful, yet, extremely vulnerable wherever he went.

I was honored and pleased to meet Uncle Tug and learn of the medal he had earned and received, Given decades since his service to his country with the freedoms in which we all believe.

Aunt Enid chose wisely when she married Uncle Tug, From miles away, I send this to her enclosed with a loving, caring hug.

L♡ve,

Val

A painting completed for Enid. “With This Ring”

Dear Grandchildren (42)

Dear Grandchildren,

This morning started out calm and foggy, with a half moon straight above me. It was still cloudy as the sun started to rise. Eventually, the clouds thinned out and the sun appeared, warming everything up, and drying out the rainsoaked out-of-doors.

I was able to capture some photos of a cardinal in my neighbor’s back yard. He posed on branches with colorful fall leaves and on the pavement of my neighbor’s deck.

I cleaned and moved some things around, today and cut fabric for a couple cushions, one for a chair, and one for a stepstool.

I stopped to see Sommer and baby Breeze this afternoon for a bit of time. On the way home I mailed a bill payment, and picked up some foam for the chair seat cushion.

Not a real eventful day. Just a nice, busy one. Tomorrow, I plan on carving the foam, and sewing the chair’s seat cushion. Late afternoon, I plan on babysitting Breeze at 4:30pm.

I wrote a quick poem about the fog:

https://grmaval.wordpress.com/2021/10/28/foggy-mornings/

Enjoy your evening tonight! I hope you will have sweet dreams.

My Grandma Gena, colorized by my Aunt Muriel, plus, something my Grandma would have said.

L♡ve,

Grmaval

Foggy Mornings

“Foggy Mornings” By Valerie J Laidlaw

When I was little, As I went to school, My mother would tell me, This directed rule…

“It’s real foggy out…So be very careful, today!” As I went on my way. Normally I’d go slowly to school, and play.

With her warning, my imagination went wild, After all. I was only a naíve little child.

I imagined a large “froggy” hiding, waiting for me in the misty mush, So, I ran all the way to school with a hurried rush.

I imagined him chasing me, and didn’t wish to be caught, Relieved, finally reaching the school doors I’d sought.

Whenever it is foggy in the morning, I still remember her warning.

Now, I realize why she wanted me to travel to school with some fear, As the cars could not see her small, little “dear.”

Dear Grandchildren (41)

Dear Grandchildren,

Today is a rainy day, so I’m staying home and dry. I put my Australian flag fleece over my new chair on the deck. I plan on using some waterproof weatherproof upholstery on the cushions and the footstool. Just not today. (Updated, later plan…chair came inside for indoor seating, fabric seats, instead)

A wildflower painting I painted in Manitowoc, WI in the mid-seventies.

It is still October, the month I had Kyle. 44 years ago, Kyle had a crib in our second bedroom. GrgrmaViv came from Fargo to stay two weeks to help out. We had a twin bed in Kyle’s room for guests. Kyle reminded my mom of my brother Danny who was born on her birthday in 1967. Sadly, by baby brother had passed away less than a month later. It was very difficult for her to go back to Fargo. That next spring we visited GrgrmaViv when she experienced breast cancer. She was very comforted that Kyle and I visited her through that experience.

Kyle was due in September. We had neighbors who purchased and flipped farmhouses. They had a 5 pound baby girl in July 1977, and moved into one of their farmhouses. I babysat their baby girl often after they had moved. They were surprized in late September when I was still expecting. After Kyle was born at 10 pounds, I visited their family. Kyle and their baby girl were the same size. I had so many good friends during those days in Manitowoc. I was 21 and really cherished those friends as a young mother whose husband worked long hours in management at a local drug store.

Cross Country Skiing at state park along Lake Michigan, WI

The town was situated on the shores of Lake Michigan. There were many beautiful parks, and nice restaurants along the shoreline. A state park to the north had snowmobile paths which were converted to cross country ski trails. The two golf courses also had trails in the winter for cross country skiing. In the summer country roads made perfect places to ride bike. There were small towns surrounding Manitowoc that specialized in smoked hams I purchased for holidays.

Kyle visiting a lamb on a farm outside of Manitowoc, WI, just prior to our move to Decatur, IL

When Kyle was a year and a half we were moved through the drugstore company to Decatur, Illinois. I flew down there with Kyle, and drove back up through Chicago to catch up with the movers. Arriving there, I had a tire blow out. I was so grateful it did not happen on the freeway. Our first car was a 1973 Ford Pinto. The second one was a 1976 Ford Maverick which we kept until the floor on the passenger side was rusted through and you could see the road below. My next car was a 5 speed manual 1980 Subaru station wagon. That car I drove out west in 1988 after Aunt Kaira was born and had turned 3 and Kyle and Kevin were 10 and 8. That was their first long trip to see mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

Our Maverick, plus, GrgrmaViv, Kyle, Karre & Brandi

1988 in MN, just prior to our journey

I wrote a poem to revisit that journey:

A Traveling G’limerick By Valerie J Laidlaw I once drove a blue Subaru 5-speed wagon
Crossing Rocky Mounts like a cowardly dragon.
On level land – such a lady
Year and speed matching ‘80
Surviving a trek which became worth much in braggin’.

I loaded bags, an old tent, and a cooler
At the end of the ’88 school year.
Kyle, Kevin and Kaira
Still young kids in that era
Joined me with joy and “No Fear”.

We reached Teddy’s Badlands for a sun-setting view
Slept in a Miles City Motel for the start of day Two
The first range danced like clouds
Wearing bright snow-capped shrouds
As I climbed down-shifting my stubborn and reluctant ‘Ru.

Like an Angel “Our Lady” with love guarded over us at Butte
Reassurance from above – we’d survive our long route
We loaded up on provisions
Praised awesome views we envisioned
Souvenirs became treasured like the young desperados’ bagged loot.

We skimmed across the pan handle
In the twilight of a flickering candle
Spent a night in Coeur d’Alene
Till Day 3 when light came
Then we crossed Washington State at an angle.

Our next “mapped-out” destination
On our quest across this great nation
Was the bay Puget Sound
And capital grounds
Of Olympia, with much fascination.We spent a day full of play at the ocean
Running, jumping waves in their hypnotic motion
First time beholding this sight
Of the mass and the might
Of the Pacific and it’s endlessly, infinite notion.

Olympia, WA

We saw Seattle’s great needle
Thread the sky as a wheel-topped steeple
Took a ferry
To San Juan isles’ sanctuary
Where we camped, hiked and met various people.

Waterfall on Orcas Island part of the San Juan Islands in Washington

Turning East-ward we spied on fields of bright flowers,
Bold peaks with cascading mountain-size showers.
The Grand Coulee dam,
A gold nugget scam,
As we pressed further for many long hours.

On our way back east

Before two more days turned to dark
We reached Yellowstone National Park
Pitched and slept in our tent
And the next day was spent
On to “Old Faithful” and “Mammoth Springs” we embarked.

Our final night was in Minot
‘Cause I figured we were there so – “why not?”
Wash our clothes and get rest
Freshen-up-that was best
And leave early homeward before temps grew too hot.

Now my kids from that trip have grown up – quite a bit
They love to travel both downward and up – not just “sit”
Across the states and to Italy
Crossing mountains and to the sea
Like their mom-discovering sites became their tea of cup
– and that’s it!

Time sure changes our lives! I hope you can capture and enjoy many precious moments in your lives, Grandchildren. Try to revisit and cherish your good, pleasant memories, often, even when you are going through difficult, sad times.

L♡ve,

Grmaval

Dear Grandchildren (40)

Dear Grandchildren,

Today was extremely windy! All the leaves are flying. The birds, even the crows are having a tough time flying straight across the sky. They’re swept across with the wind. The neighbor’s apples were bobbing on the branches, and her yard is full of dropped apples.

I went for a drive to drop of some Halloween stuff for Kevin’s boys. Kevin got a kick out of the crab skeleton since it is a crustacean or exoskeleton, lol.

Afterwards, I stopped at a thrift store to see if they had a large fish net. No luck there. I bought a nice wicker chair and foot stool for the deck. It was originally from Pier One. I also saw a nice folding table for the deck, which I purchased. I bought a MSUM baby dragon sleeper for grandbaby Breeze. If I take a photo of her in it, I can submit it for the Alumni Newsletter. I was able to save $20 on my purchases with a Senior discount.

I decided to decorate my pumpkin this year like “I Dream of Jeannie’s” bottle. When I’m done, I’ll post my photo here. It is fun to be creative.

My inspiration…

Aunt Kaira shared her jack-o-lanterns she carved with her friends in California.

Kevin painted some wood he upcycled for Halloween decor.

For supper, I threw some pork and barbeque sauce in the crockpot. I will be cutting up potatoes for the airfyer tonight, too.

I hope your days went well today. Stay safe and warm, my grandchildren!

L♡ve,

Grmaval

Post-script:

1. Getting ready

2. Taking before spraying

3. Lit up!

4. Done!

“The Legend of the Diamond Dipper” a poem as retold by Grmaval

“The Legend of the Diamond Dipper”
By Valerie J. Laidlaw
25th of October, 2021

A long time ago, a girl lived in a land
Of gentle hills, lakes and streams.

She loved to hold her mother’s hand,
As they shared eachother’s dreams.

One year, the rains had ceased to fall,
And quench the earth below.

The girl listened as her ailing mother’s call, Gave her a task upon to go.

“Please, dear daughter, take this, now,”
As she handed her a dipper.

“Climb up to the mountains, somehow,”
So, the girl tied on her slippers.

She climbed up the rocky cliffs,
To a waterfall, with its natural fountain.

She filled the dipper to its brim,
And, gingerly descended down the mountain.

As she went along her path,
She met others who begged for her water.

Her soft heart gave a bird a bath,
And to others, sips, as the sun rose, and the day became hotter.

When she crossed the last field to roam,
She shared more of her water with another.

Eventually, she reached the tiny home,
With a few drops left for her mother.

As she held the dipper to her mother’s lips to drink,
The mother smiled upon her daughter.

Suddenly, the dipper glistened with seven diamonds,
Rising upwards towards the sky!

Honoring a mother’s generous loving daughter, Twinkling nightly, as a blessing for our eyes.

Dear Grandchildren (39)

Dear Grandchildren,

When I first read about the “Diamond Dipper,” the story was in one of my grandmother’s old school textbooks. It had old engraved illustrations, the second poem, here, is similar to the story I read. I have adapted into a poem.

In my grandmother’s home, there was a sink with a pump we had to prime with an enameled dipper. We had just enough water in the dipper, and we held it up to the spout as we pumped. Soon, more water would come out of the spout. Outside the house, there was a water tank, she paid to get refilled.

Once, when a small circus came to town, my aunts and uncles pumped water, and filled a large basin outside for “Rosie,” the elephant, and her baby.

I wrote this poem about that day.

“During a Time of Kennedy”

By Valerie J. Laidlaw

My cousin’s now a Grandma, yet, it seems not so long since she was born,
On that day, like no other, the day we bid “goodbye” to an era, of which, we still mourn.
A photo-cube I have displays
Six old views of a child’s day.
A gathering of a family,
Months before that day in history.
Beside the graveled driveway,
Back in that time and place,
Next to Grandma’s clothesline, on a grassy lawn,
Rested a purple, patent leather case,
Which, a “bubble-cut,” brunette Barbie sat upon,
Driving from Texas and afar,
Former Naval Uncle Mel,
Working for NASA at the time,
Had brought his Jackie-looking bride,
And baby, Cindy, curly-haired,
In their copper-finned, white walled sports car.
Cousins, Gail and Tommy, watched in an excited dance,
As their dad, Arlen, held up their expectant mother, assisting her to a stance,
“Respect” devotedly given, without second thought or glance.
Across the road,
A baseball field was active,
A travelling circus was in town.
My cousin Gail and I ran over,
Looking at the glittery rides,
Calliope music escaped the tent,
So we took a peek inside.
Me, in my “pedal pushers,” and her, in a dress,
Were brought up on the stage, and asked to sing a song,
Gail, belted out, “Jesus Loves Me,” as I shyly sang along.
The circus lady pranced out with us towards a jewelry stand,
Engraved, silver bracelets were placed into our hands.
Tommy joined us later, as we walked out of the crowd,
So many people milled about, and the noise was getting loud.
We spied a baby elephant in the shade among some trees,
The elephant ate and played for us, as we felt a gentle breeze.
As we raced back towards Grandma’s to tell them all our news,
A big, old, wrinkled, “Rosie,” splashed mud upon our shoes.
Inside, the uncles were taking turns pumping vigorously,
As the aunts kept busy filling a basin with water at her feet.
After the trainer and Rosie sauntered along, and away,
The family gathered with sandwiches, and began to pray,
We celebrated with cakes and song, for Gail and Grandpa Mel’s birthday.
After arriving home that day, I remember blowing bubbles,
Standing in a child’s world, with no worries and no troubles.

So, now I will share my new poem:

“The Legend of the Diamond Dipper” By Valerie J. Laidlaw

A long time ago, a girl lived in a land Of gentle hills, lakes and streams.

She loved to hold her mother’s hand, As they shared eachother’s dreams.

One year, the rains had ceased to fall, And quench the earth below.

The girl listened as her ailing mother’s call, Gave her a task upon to go.

“Please, dear daughter, take this, now,” As she handed her a dipper.

“Climb up to the mountains, somehow,” So, the girl tied on her slippers.

She climbed up the rocky cliffs, To a waterfall, with its natural fountain.

She filled the dipper to its brim, And, gingerly descended down the mountain.

As she went along her path, She met others who begged for her water.

Her soft heart gave a bird a bath, And to others, sips, as the sun rose, and the day became hotter.

When she crossed the last field to roam, She shared more of her water with another.

Eventually, she reached the tiny home, With a few drops left for her mother.

As she held the dipper to her mother’s lips to drink, The mother smiled upon her daughter.

Suddenly, the dipper glistened with seven diamonds, Rising upwards towards the sky!

Honoring a mother’s generous loving daughter, Twinkling nightly, as a blessing for our eyes.

I hope you grow up to become as kind and as generous as the daughter in this fable/legend/poem, my dear grandchildren. As you look to the stars in the sky at night and see the “Dippers,” be reminded of this story, and share it with others.

L♡ve,

Grmaval