stories, photographs, adventures…the next chapter
This post inspired by Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: The topic: In or On Water
It didn’t take much for a group of 6 year old boys (and one little brother) to make excellent use of water.
In the backyard swimming pool…
Enjoying their own brand of fun…
One hot July afternoon…
While their parents partied nearby.
This post inspired by Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge. The topic: Cute Factor
Cute Factor! How could I resist this challenge? Absolutely impossible.
As soon as my daughter became mobile, she’d crawl…and eventually run…to the front door when she heard her daddy come home from work.
Carrying his guitar. After a long day teaching teenagers how to play notes and chords and…eventually…What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor.
She was ever curious about this guitar which was so often in her daddy’s lap. Capturing his attention. As he practiced and made music. While he sang. To himself. To her.
At times – apparently deciding that enough was enough – she’d toddle over to wherever he was strumming. Press her fingers on the strings…silence the music…and demand, as only a tiny child can…No tar daddy!
Daddy would take a short break.
When he left the guitar case propped open next to the living room wall…
our little girl often made use of this just-the-right-size-for-a-toddler seat.
This post inspired by Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge. The topic this week: Looks Like a Face
A grill with a sense of humor?
Back in the days of home ownership, we left our gas grill out on the side deck all year. Covered up. It was too big and cumbersome to lug down 4 stairs en route to storage in the garage.
So, why not use it year round?
Winter arrived. Every year…bringing snow and more snow. Burying the deck. Including the grill.
Just needed to shovel a path. Clear away the snow. Bundle up. Grab a flashlight. Move fast. Hope the gas hadn’t run out. Grilling hamburgers one New Year’s eve comes to mind. Much to the surprise of our visiting guests.
Only steps from the kitchen door, the grill was also my route to avoid using the broiler pan. And the resulting greasy, crusty mess. Including scrubbing out all those slats. Never a popular chore…especially for my teenage son who was often recruited for the task.
One snowy January day, this is what greeted me when I opened the side door…
…either mocking me…or offering a friendly greeting.
I could never decide which.
This post inspired by Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge. The topic this week: Tender Moments
Being a big sister is not always easy.
I know that from experience, as I was a big sister 4 times. By the time my youngest sibling was born, I was in high school and became more of a surrogate parent than a sister.
My daughter was almost 6 when her brother was born.
Five and three quarters! she would be quick to remind us.
The transition to sharing parental attention was a challenge I understood and tried to make as smooth as possible for her.
Without shortchanging her little brother.
Well, my husband and I got lucky. And with some guidance on our part…their relationship blossomed from the start. Her love for her brother was palpable. As was his for her. Not without some healthy competition of course. And normal periodic friction. Racing to the front door to be first. To the car for the front seat (Shotgun!). And down the stairs to see what Santa brought.
But there were also the quieter moments. Looking at picture books.
Playing games. Giggling at secret jokes.
And sitting under the backyard trees exploring what was hidden in the grass.
Their childhood together lasted until he was 12 and she was 18 and left home for college. Nineteen years ago.
But their connection remains solid to this very day.
And for that, I am eternally grateful.
one letter UP ~ diary 2.0 