Tell Me About My Daddy

Something has changed with all of the kids when they come over and their parents aren't around. After the eating and after the playing, they each ask "Tell me about my Daddy!". So I show them their wood working projects from school and other things. And although they have seen everything before, it's as if they are seeing everything for the first time. They want to know what their Daddy's were like when they were little boys. And of course, I had to lie...

Take 2

I had my picture taken by a Barbie camera. Before digital pictures and before printed pictures, there were memory pictures. Images that are forever captured of happy times with smiling and laughing children. Pictures taken with a Barbie camera, they do last forever.

Old Dogs

In his prime, there wasn't an ounce of fat on him. His coat would glisten in the sunlight and you could see his muscles. He could jump into the back of an suv from a sitting position. Now, to take him to the vet, I have to lift him into the car. His eyesight is fading, and everyday brings something new. But amid the decline of the body, his love and devotion are stronger than ever. His only problem is that he wants to be wherever I am. I hate the aging process and I hate the thought that someday he won't be around.

Touchdown

He is destined to be a great football player, cause baby, he was born this way.

NFL Draft for 2030

The problem with being a boy, is that you want to grow up. The problem with being grown up is that you wish you could be a kid again.

Between The Lines

First you learn to crawl, then you learn to walk. Then, when you think that the adults can't see you, you do the two-step waddle run for the stairs. You know that the adults can't possibly hear you say "Dah" each step that you go up. But then your feet fail to properly land on the step and you fall backwards. But a hand appears out of nowhere to magically keep you from falling down the stairs. We all need the safety net of a loving pair of hands.

Trimming The Tree

His favorite part of Christmas is decorating the tree. He can tell by the shape of the ornament, it's size, color and weight, just where the perfect place is to hang it on the tree. He did an awesome job!

The Modern Man

Armed with an iPad, we fight the evil forces of boredom.

The Pizza Angel

I never knew that there was a pizza angel. And in this pizza restaurant, you certainly can use one.

One can never have too many angels watching over them.

Christmas in Clinton

If you've seen the movie It's A Wonderful Life, then you've seen the town of Bedford Falls. My town is very much like that town. Time has stood still here in Clinton. The town hall is about 150 years old. There are street lights with acorn designs, not the high fluorescent anti-crime ones. The Christmas season was kicked off at town hall. There was an orchestra accompanied by a vocal group of veterans. Somewhere in the distance I know I could hear the voice of James Stewart saying Merry Christmas you old Bailey savings and loan.

Grab Life With Two Hands

You meet new people real fast when you assist others who are building skyscrapers in the sandbox and they really don't want any assistance. If you want to develop communication skills, problem solving and social skills for getting along with others, nothing can prepare you better than climbing inside the sandbox.

The Poet

Birch leaves shimmy in the breeze
That waltzes with maple leaves
Which dip and swirl and twirl around
Until they curtsy on the ground.

Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving Day we give thanks for the many blessings that we have. We are grateful for the love of others that encourage us and lift us up.

Food Shapes

Food shapes are an art form. Sculptors use a hammer and chisel when they work with stone. But food sculptors use their hands and teeth to create their great works of art. The food crumbs on the floor did not survive the editing process as food shapes are refined. New food shapes are created and then morphed into new shapes. I need to get in touch with my inner child and create food shapes!

Oatmeal

Grampy's oatmeal must be stirred cautiously. After all, it isn't made the same way as their Daddy. Helpful suggestions are being shared with Grampy about the temperature of his oatmeal, it's consistency, too much milk, too little milk. And then the final comment...I'm not hungry.

Tractor Driving School

Up here in the apple kingdom, when the tractor stops working, you just leave it where it stopped and turn it into a children's attraction. And kids love to jump on it and pretend to drive!

Mr Blue Eyes

He is a very happy baby! Always laughing and smiling. But if you want to find him, just follow where he has been.

Spaghetti Night

When I was a lad, spaghetti was the food for the masses. Whenever there was a lot of people, spaghetti was the food being served. These days, pizza has replaced spaghetti for feeding large groups of people. So I cling to my traditions like spaghetti to the side of a pot. The spaghetti is more than food, it's also passing along all the good memories, stories from the past and good conversation.

The Day After

Monster Nor'Easter dumped almost 10" of heavy wet snow. Widespread power outages. Thankfully I have a generator. I got to my mother's just as the rescue squad was going door to door to take the elderly to a shelter. She had told them she wasn't going. I went in and she was sitting in a chair with her ear muffs on. Turns out, she didn't comprehend that she was being evacuated. I had to navigate down power lines and trees to get to her, but God kept her safe until I could get there.

School Of 1798

The one room school house of 1798, taught what you needed to know. No abstract theories, just practical wisdom. And if you got out of line, the heavy hand of the teacher would show you the error of your ways.

The Storyteller

Inside the old school house are wooden desks that we are invited to sit in. The school house is over 200 years old. But yet I was asked, "Grampy was school like this when you were a boy"? Thankfully, the questions ended as the storyteller told us all about Mary and her lamb.

Redstone 1798

This is the real school house that Mary Sawyer attended. One day her lamb followed her to school and the story of Mary Had A Little Lamb was created. The lamb had been sick at birth and Mary had fed it by hand. Animals never forget the kindness and affection that they receive.

Why Does Water Flow

He asked Why does water flow? Many years ago his father asked me why is the sky blue when he was a boy. I get all of the difficult questions. But with diplomacy I have told them that I only answer the "what" questions. Like, "What is that"?

Crack Filler

Explorers climb rocks by sticking their hands and feet into every crack that they can find on the rock. They move upward, but not always straight. The path is undefined. The explorer will often stop to lean their head back, look ahead and adjust their direction. I need him and his instincts to guide me thru life.

Dr Who Of Hearts

Dr Who had a coat that was covered with question marks. The Princess of Hearts has her own special outfit for her collection of hearts.

Apple Cider Donuts

Up here in the Apple Kingdom of the Great North, it is apple picking season. We celebrate this season with hayrides, apple pies, apple crisp, apple cider that is heated, apple picking and throwing rotten apples at each other. But two of the highlights are fresh Carmel apples and fresh Apple cider donuts. Little voices from the backseat ask to go to the farm, just to get fresh apple cider donuts. And of course, we must go!

Helping Hands

I sealed my driveway last week, so I used the broom to sweep away some rain puddles. Eric saw me sweeping and went into the garage and found a broom that was his size. To receive help from others when you never requested it, is a reflection on the care and attitude towards others that they possess. I am very proud that all of our grandchildren have compassion for others and do what they can to assist them.

Water Therapy

Watch a child throw sticks and stones into a stream and then observe how they laugh and shout as their rock makes a loud plunk in the water. Then he says "come on Grampy, it's your turn"! So I join in and before I know it, I am acting like a kid again. Who says you can't go back in time?

The Miller

He emerged from the cellar of the mill with his future cast in stone (pun intended). When he grows up, he will be a miller. That way he never will grow hungry, and living at a mill is superior to living at Home Depot!

Gears

The big attraction at the mill wasn't the water wheel being turned by the water. It wasn't even the humongous grinding stones. The big attraction were the large gears in the cellar of mill. Little boys are in awe of the symetery and the loud gnashing sound from the revolving gears being turned to move the grain elevators and the grinding stones.

The Stone Age

Before the digital age and before the mechanical age, there was the stone age. The neat thing about going to a Grist Mill, is seeing these huge grinding stones that are used to grind the wheat. They are so cool, that Eric wanted to be a mill operator when he grows up!

Fall

Fall is finally here and we can all breathe easier. The humidity has disappeared, the temperature is cooler and the air is as crisp as a Macintosh apple.

Crawling To Walking

The mother child relationship is really very special. No one will feed you, train you, play with you, read to you and encourage you like your mother.

Man Time

Quality man time doesn't involve thinking outside the box, it is doing stupid man things outside of the box. Things you'll look back at and say "I did that"? But the fun is in telling the stories, and the journey in doing them together.

The Past

The past is never behind us, it is deep within us. Memories are time capsules that store all of the precious moments of those past times. All it takes is an old photo to connect us to those memories. And suddenly, we are 18 years old again, having a picnic at Great Falls, Virginia.

Talk To It

We were almost to the park, when he said, "ice cream makes me have to poop"! I asked if he could wait, he said "no"! I told him to tell it, that it had to wait, and that we would soon be at a bathroom. He said "I'm talking to it and telling it to wait"!

Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie made by a five year old and it came out fantastic! Ethan made it all by himself! He had some help reading the directions, but he did all of the work. He made it, and he willingly shared it! He is amazing!

Hay Wagon

The best part of the hay ride is staring at the back of a tractor, which is awesome if you love tractors like he does. He knows that John Deere tractors are green. So when he saw blue tractors on the farm he asked what they were. I told him that blue tractors are smurf tractors, he totally agreed.

Road Less Traveled

Here in the apple kingdom, it is apple picking time. The temperature and humidity are perfect. The air is as crisp as a fresh Macintosh. It is a perfect time for making memories with grandchildren.

The Old Fashioned Way

In Grampy's garage are hidden treasures of tools from another era. He asked what is a sickle? I told him that it is a weed wacker. He couldn't understand how it could work with no engine or nylon cord. I told him it works by swinging it at the weeds. I told him I used it when I was a boy. And watching him swing, I was transported back in time working with my grandfather in the yard.

1969 Is A Big Number

Eric asked what does that no parking sign say? I told him it was a no parking sign from the presidential inauguration of 1969. He said Wow, 1969 is a big number!

I Just Wanna Dance

The cancer has spread every where, but it won't stop her. She doesn't care what kind of music it is, she told me that she was going to take her shoes off, because, I just wanna dance. There is something in our lives that connects us to life and keeps us dancing, through all of the pain.

The Event Planner

It is August, but he had to show me his halloween costume. He is planning to go as a fireman. He has put a lot of thought and planning into being ready when it arrives and to being the best fireman that he can be. It matters to him, to be ready and to be his best.

Brendan

He has a smile that goes from ear to ear. His eyes lock onto you and follow you, and he continues to smile. It's fun to watch him interact with Deb. He laughs and giggles at everything she does.

When Will You Be Back

I stepped out, and I was asked, when will you be back? As a young man, this always bothered me, I thought it to be controlling. It wasn't until I grew up that I learned that it means, I miss you when you are away, hurry up and return. Now I like to be asked that, it means that I am missed.

Manned Flight

The ocean winds are strong enough to lift anything. Ocean winds can lift a little boys kite and a little boys hopes and dreams. Seeing the smile on his face, always lifts my spirits!

Peace

The best part of vacation, is being on vacation. The house has an amazing back porch, with fans, gliders and lots of furniture. The backyard is wonderfully landscaped and filled with beautiful flowers. It is very peaceful here. You can't buy the peace that nature gives us.

SEALS

A seal watch and all you can see are seals! I asked the captain if there was any buried pirate treasure on the island. Arrgh Matey, just follow the map!

Happy Gilmore Mini Golf

The objective is to hit the ball. It doesn't have to be stopped. Moving balls can be hit with sweeping hockey swings. The origins of man talk can be traced to sports. Overheard from young boy to his dad, "it was an 'honest' three"!

No Game Apps

Can you remember a time when games were not played using web apps? I got a base hit, by hitting a plastic seahorse over a bucket. Who can make up games like kids? I'm going back to the future.