Monday Morning Grandma: Make time for yourself

Monday isn’t over yet. I’ve been busy. I organized my filing cabinet, figured out a way to make more time for writing, and finished the book I was reading. Last weekend I had a glorious time at Time Out for Writers. It was like drinking from a fire hose—so much useful information, so many good friends. Tomorrow I will attack Hidden Heritage with a new fervor and knowledge.

We all need to take time to replenish ourselves. It may not be going to a writing conference, or any conference for that matter. We don’t even have to leave home. Take a long hot bath or shower. Go for a nature walk. Sit by a lake, ocean, river, or in a forest whatever is near you. A library is another good place to take time to refresh yourself. You cannot fill the water glasses of those around you with an empty pitcher.

Monday Morning Grandma--Grandchildren

February 10, 2014

As the name of this segment of my blog says, I’m a grandma. I have 17 grandchildren. I could write stories about all of them, but I'll be kind to you dear reader. If I mentioned them individually, this post would be too long. 

How time flies. The eldest will be graduating from high school in June.

One family with 5 lives in Washington state. We don’t see them very often, but love every minute of it. Four rambunctious boys and one of the most feminine girls you will ever meet still, that curly redhead holds her own with the boys.

Another family has 3 girls and 1 boy. At 11, he already has girls chasing after him, and has since a few little girls began to notice little boys. They only live forty-five minutes away: Most of the time we see them when we go to cross country meets, soccer games, baseball games and such. They are a very busy family.

The rest live in the next town. I love watching our “quadruplet cousins.” They are 5 this year, and will start kindergarten next fall. 3 of them were born within a week of each other October 2008, and the caboose in the first week of December. Whether there are 2, 3, or all 4 together, they have a blast. Have since they were infants, and could reach for each other. Naturally I love playing with them even if there is only one. Their siblings make up the rest.

I love being a grandmother. There is nothing like it.

Monday Morning Grandma--Grocery Shopping

I have found a few things that make shopping for groceries easier.

I make a table with 3 columns, and as many rows as fit on one page. One for a discount store, one for a grocery store, and the third for the place I buy fresh vegetables. I also have a separate page for a warehouse type of store.

I list the items we buy regularly in each column. I go through the store and number the items in order they are on the shelves. It cuts way back on running back and forth while shopping. Sure it takes time to set up and 2 or 3 tries before I get everything in order, but in the long run it saves a lot of time. When I’m smart, I also put the coupons in the same order.