What Is Wrong With This Picture?

Corduroy rainbow skirt.

Long sleeve matching top.

Very stylish long blue sweater.

Umbrella.

All a much valued 'back to school' gifts from Zoozie (except for the umbrella).

Answer

Could it be that this is California?

Could it be that this is AUGUST?

Could it be 98 degrees in the shade?

Could it be Abby dressed for church?

Yes, yes, yes, and yes!

Actually, it probably was only 90, but it felt like 98. I apologize for the uninspiring photo. I was lucky to get one at all, as there was an actual bee in the yard (way in the corner minding it's own business) and anyone who knows Abby, knows that she does not willingly share space with bugs of any kind no matter how useful they are.

Remembering 7-7-76

And the nurse said, "arn't you ever going to put that baby down?
And God said, "here is a miracle for you - enjoy"!
And I did! And I do!

"Don't...."

On Sunday I sat on the beach watching Abby frolic in the ocean - occassionaly with random like-minded children, but mostly by herself. For two hours she yelled and screeched at the top of her voice; leaped, danced and tumbled in the waves; threw wet sand and dug messy holes on the shoreline; and fought fiercely and joyously even triumphantly with nature.

And for two lovely hours I didn't have to say "no" or :stop" or "don't". I was close enough, if necessary, (barring an Act of God) to pluck her from danger. She was safe for the moment from rocks and cement and cars and city dangers - she was free and beautiful.

But as I sat there watching, I became acutely aware of how many times, just this weekend, that "don't's" had spilled out of my mouth. Though I delivered them in the approved positive mode, i.e. "use an indoor voice" instead of "don't yell so loud", kids are not stupid and the "don't's" are always there hovering as we try to keep them safe or socialize them. Be safe. Be careful. Be healthy. Respect people. Respect property. Think.

Don't walk near the curb.

Don't hug the dog so much.

Don't run so fast.

Don't get dirty.

Don't walk so slow.

Don't jump on the sofa.

Don't fall on the sofa.

Don't slide on the sofa.

Don't feed the dog people food.

Don't run on the rocks.

Don't run in those shoes.

Don't eat sweets.

Don't walk in the street.

Don't yell so loud.

Don't talk baby talk.

Don't chew with your mouth open.

Don't eat like a dog - even if you are pretending to be a dog.

Don't splash me.

Don't get your clothes wet.

Don't put your mouth on the water fountain.

Don't put the good pillows on the floor.

Don't climb so high.

Don't hide behind the tree.

Don't.....

Abby? She accepts whatever I load on her, trusting that I love her. Appologizes for falling down or for getting hurt and is quick to assure me that "I'm ok, Gramma" if a careless tumble goes wrong.

I tell myself that these cautions, most of them anyway, are necessary and a part of growing up and also that they were more numerous this weekend, because of being in a new place with new challenges, but it just about breaks my heart, nevertheless.

Ghost Colors

A book and story by Abigail June Scheidler as dictated to Gramma.

Ghost Colors

There was a mother ghost who had five children. When she went to the grocery store she always bought ice cream and milk which was all her family needed to keep them white.

One day while the mother was out shopping, one of the children found blueberries in the refrigerator. He was very hungry, but when he ate them he turned blue.

Another child drank the Jamba Juice that was in the frig an he turned green just like the juice.

Then the next child found some red potatoes to eat and he turned red.; the next ate cherries and turned very very red – even redder than the other red child!

The next child who was hungry tried lemons and turned yellow; his friend had some oranges and turned orange and the one who ate cheese turned orange too; but the friend who ate crackers turned yellow.

When the mom came home she found that her kids had turned all the colors of the rainbow. She fed them milk and ice cream right away and they all turned white again.

And they lived happily ever after. The End.


Comentary:

“ this is the greatest book ever! Abby

At this time of life Abby's imagination is MUCH more advanced than her ability to draw or write about what she sees in her head. So we have agreed that for future books I will be the scribe and she will do the illustrations and make up the stories. For this first book we ran into trouble fitting all the necessary words on the page. Gramma

Her second book is an "instruction book" for me on how to make dresses with twirl skirts..."so you won't have to work so hard, gramma".

Weed Wacker

The gardener used to cut my tiny plot of lawn in under three minutes. They used one of those string trimmers and it didn't seem difficult, so I figured doing it myself was an easy way to save 10 bucks a week. Three minutes once a week and how hard could it be?

Today I spent twenty labor intensive minutes "cutting" the grass and the best thing that can be said about my lawn is that it is shorter than it was. The overall look is remeniscent of that mounding ornamental grass you see in flower beds and, in addition, my hands are so weak that I can barely type.

Now this is either a good oportunity to gain more upper body strengh, assuming that with practice I will surely become more skillful; or time to try another option - like a rotery mower. I can do that. The dear sister-in-law who loaned me the trimmer also has a push mower that I could try. My problem is (pause): THE GARAGE. I don't have room to store a lawn mower! The garage is full of my car and...and stuff! Stuff that is obviously so essential to my happiness that I won't get rid of it - it will be with me forever and ever and ever.

This story has no end...

I took this class

The three hour class was titled "Water Saving Irrigation - Techniques & Technology" and was put on by Pasadena Water and Power.

THE MOST "LIFE IS UNFAIR" THING I LEARNED
. That my daughter, who has never met a potted plant that she likes or owned one that she has not murdered; who waters her front yard, oh, once a month IF she remembers, is actually practicing a form of "tough love" on her poor unappreciated and neglected plants. Evidently plants actually LIKE to be stressed a bit so they can rest and recouperate and so they will grow stronger and deeper roots. That is why her roses are beautiful and her grass doesn't die and why, when the much loved and pampered plants and trees of the more virtuous amoung us will suffer and die in the anticipated drought, her yard will continue to thrive. Doesn't this sound UNJUST and just plain WRONG?!

THE USEFUL THINGS I LEARNED:
. That it is the length of the day NOT the temperature which determines a plant's water needs. Thus, more water is needed on a cool June 21st (the longest day of the year) than on a sizzeling 100 degree+ day in August or September. The plant only works when the sun shines. The longer the day the longer it needs water to work.

. That the slower the water is delivered to plants the more is absorbed.

. That most plants have an ideal root (the roots that can absorb water) length of only 18 inches - even trees. For trees the long "tap" root that everyone talks about is just to keep the tree upright.

. That you should never plant anything below the soil line - a few inches above is better - because the plant will choke to death.

. That the hole that you dig to plant something can be as wide as you like, but should not be any deeper than the longest root.

. That a rule of thumb watering schedule is: 3xWk in summer; 2xWk in fall and 2xMo in winter (only if needed) for approximately twelve minutes if you are ovehead watering.

. That the symptoms of OVER-watering and of UNDER-watering are exactly the same - wilt.

. That overhead watering needs to be done in the early morning , but underground or drip watering can be done at almost any time during the day.

In the car with Abby

I have terrible night vision. I can't see street signs at night. I can't see freeway signs at night. I can't see car license plates at night. So mostly I stay home after dark unless I already know where I am going. Unfortunately, Megan and Aaron have a thing about the beach and also for restraunts in the city. In other words they insist on living and socializing out of my comfort zone. Google and I do fine in daylight, but sometimes..it gets dark.

So I purchased a GPS and on Saturday morning, before taking Abby home I program the address into the unit and it is talking to me...

Abby: Gramma why is it talking to you?
Me: It is telling me where to go.
Abby: But Gramma, you KNOW how to get to my house.
Me: Yes I do. I am just seeing how this works so that when I don't know where I am going I will know how to use it.
Abby: Oh. My Zoozie has one that shows where she is going backwards.
Me: I know, thats a very special one, but mine doesn't know how to do that.
Abby: Then how do you back up?
Me: Well, I have to be very carful when I back up to look behind me.
Abby: I can help you gramma! I can see behind.
Me: That will be great! I will appreciate your help.

Silence

Abby: ...but gramma, I won't be here ALL the times!
Me: It's ok. I will be especially careful when you are not here.

Silence

Abby: ...but my Zoozie's is the best - I'll ask her to buy you one.