Be Brave Little Snowdrop

Before


After


This poor little flower has to try even harder than it did a short while ago. If this keeps up, we'll be asking "where's Waldo?"

Today's View

I was supposed to drive to Cathy and Cliff's this afternoon and babysit four of our grandchildren while the other two, plus Daddy, got their vaccinations.



Well about 1:00 the promise of yet another whiteout day appeared. It even let up a bit and I went out and took these pictures, and I thought, well, I just might be able to go afterall. But nope, it's started again with a vengence.


Snow upon snow

I'm still thinking its' Springtime in Ladner!





A lonely snowdrop, trying to be brave and live up to its name

The Many Faces of Abby

I had the good great fortune to spend some time with Abby on Saturday and Sunday and how lovely it was. She has turned into a serious stair climber and this Nanna (Abby calls me Nanna not Nanny) thought that she might benefit from learning her cousin's method of going downstairs. They stiffen their little bodies and surf down. After a few tries, Abby too mastered this technique, and adapted it in her own special way. She even did the bent-knee, step down technique. What a clever little gal she is! I didn't tell her mommy or daddy this, but I am one those obsessive-type people, who when I see a little dab of something or other on a carpet (especially on stairs as I am going up them), will pick up the speck of whatever it is to remove it from the carpet. Well Abby saw me doing this (just a few times, because April and Nick's house is as neat as a pin and I wouldn't want to give you any other impression), and she too was doing it, only, she wasn't picking anything up, just imitating my action. Now is that cute or WHAT!!!!

Here are just a few pictures of beautiful grandaughter number 5, but as with each and every one of our grandchildren, they are always and forever, Number One in my heart-of-hearts!

Playing with Pappa

What a splendid family

This walk was too long Nanna! Don't you just love floppy ears on that hat?

Demonstrating how high the Mole Sisters looked up

It's Springtime in Ladner!

I have the privilige of staying at our daughter April's (and Nick and Abby's) on Saturday. I slept over and on Sunday morning we went for the most delightful walk and discovered that it is actually Springtime in Ladner.

One beautiful blossom reaching out to the other!

Heather in bloom

A promise of better weather.

Do you know what we came home to in The Grove? Snow still on our rooftop, mounds of snow on our snow covered lawn, icy sidewalks that weren't cleared and some sidestreets still looking treacherous. As I type this, we are experiencing more of the "white stuff". What happened to that Groundhog the other day anyway? I'm thinking Ladner would be a mighty fine place to live.

It's Doggies From Here On Down

Yesterday's blog was about Jake, today's blog is about Beauty.

Beauty's "Momma and Daddy" are away on a holiday, and our terrific neighbour, Linda, who is looking after her is down in the US doing their monthly buying for a local foodbank. So we are doing the honours until our neighbours currently in the US return tomorrow.


Look who was waiting for me to arrive tonight!

Beauty had been suffering terribly from loneliness in her misstress' absence. She stopped eating for several days until our neighbour took her to her Vet for fluid sustenance (I don't know the technical names here). I am glad to report though, she is on the mend, she's eating, and playing and alot more like her old self. Linda will be so pleased. I took these pictures of her tonight and she truly is a little "Beauty".


Out in the snow investigating all the nooks and crannies.


The only headshot she allowed me to take. Our little Diva!


And proof that she is actually eating again will be e-mailed to McGill Univ. where the couple's son is attending University.

Footnote: The picture I took of Jake catching the orange ball was submitted to the Vancouver Sun and they put it on their gallery -snowshots. Only they cropped the picture and took out the "ball"!

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/photogalleries/template.html?topic=snowstorm2008&g=0

The "Dog Days" of Winter

This morning Jake, the puppy from across the street was out romping in the snow. It's his very first Winter. Here are a few shots of him out playing.

Jake in our front yard

Playing ball with his mistress. Stop Jake, Stop!

My "best shot of the day". Can you spot the ball?

Hint: it's bright orange.

I love this shot most of all, I captured him eyeballing it as it was thrown!

Not Wordless Wednesday, but Wintery Tuesday

This morning The Grove, like many places in the lower mainland awoke to snow. Inspired by my daughter Cathy's blogs this week, here is a sampling of outdoor pictures taken at my back and front doors. The snowdrops were hidden away under about 6" of snow, but by the time I took the pictures it had compacted.
The skimmea (spelling) in its' winter outfit of berries.
A little patch of snow under a chair leg.
Our Hornby Island Rock proudly displaying its' winterwear.

Top of the World Ma, Part II

Yesterday my beloved and I did a spectacular walk on a portion of the Fort to Fort Trail (Fort Langley). We dragged the camera along, well actually my beloved did, and here's a shot to match the Machu Picchu picture of Amy's. Okay, well not really, but my beloved said it reminded him of hers.

Aren't the mountains behind me spectacular? I guess I have to fess up. It was really only a grassy knoll which overlooked the Fraser to my left and to my right a lovely little hobby farm with horses munching on the frozen tundra.

Top of the World Ma

Machu Picchu


Our kids are having a wonderful vacation. I can't say it's a trip of a lifetime, because I think they had that one last year, no wait . . . was that the year before? No matter, they are having the time of their lives. These two would make great Amazing Race contestants that's for sure. Happy Travelling Amy and Tyler! Looking forward to your next entry on your return from the Amazon.

Random Pictures of Our Super 7

Carly was the only grandchild exiting the bus by the time I got to school. I thought, I'll try and capture a picture of her as she starts down the stairs, just like a vintage puzzle that belonged to her momma. That didn't quite work out, but I love this one.



After dropping Carly home, I went back to pick up Cameron and Claire. They are so funny and playful. I think these two pictures exemplify them best these days.

Catie tackled a puzzle today for the very first time and completed it without a speck of help-way to go Catie-Girl! Look at that terrific smile, she is as she should be, so pleased by her accomplishment.

I called them the "hairy-beasts" and asked them if I could take a before picture. Before as in, all four are getting haircuts after supper. They all agreed, even came into the living room for their portrait, but then not one of them would sit still! Am I surprised? Not really. I think by the time I settled them, Nanny was in a hurry to "capture the moment" as the saying goes-hence the blurriness and I even have a gizmo on my camera to stop that. There's a lot of energy in that house, if only they could get it into a generator somehow, they'd never need BC Hydro.

Three little gals are missing from all of the above pictures and it wouldn't be a good Nanny Blog unless I included them. Pictures from recent visits.

Caroline builds Lego Towers, really, really high. You should hear her speaking voice, she sounds like she's been influenced by the Mandarine language. Too cute.

Baby Courtney, not nearly as excited about Tupperware as Nona, Mommy and Nanny!

A playful Abby-Uncle Tyler imitating Abby, Abby imitating Uncle Tyler. Taken a week before the beginning of their South American adventure.

You Don't See This Everyday

I was over at Cathy's this afternoon helping with pick up and delivery of school kids following a field trip. I decided to bring my camera along, just in case. I think after you see these pictures you too will be dragging yours along.

I was in the laundry room and I heard little Miss Caroline (aka-face slapper and direct hit to head with etch-a-sketch,she was in some kinda space today!), anyway I digress. She was all excited because she saw the garbage truck outside of her window. So being the nosy Nanny that I am, I had to see what got her all excited. For her it was probably just the garbage truck, for me, something totally unexpected ....

I caught up with these two young workers on my way to pick up Cameron and Claire and they recognized me from taking the pictures from the living room window. They told me, that today was their Friday and they were just having a bit of fun. They were fun and a delight to talk to and both wanted to have one more picture taken. I told them I was going to e-mail them to the local newspapers, I have. I hope they print them.

Happiness Is

It's all in the packpacks!

Lima Bound!
Who travelled all those hours?

A room with a view!








Happiness is . . .


Hearing that your daughter Amy and partner, Tyler, have arrived safe and sound in Lima, Peru. It was a marathon trip, but they made it. We just know they are going to have a great time sampling the local food and drinks and seeing all the wonderful sights

Amy has caught the blogging bug, keeping us updated on a travel blog. It's almost like we are right there, almost!

Two Beautiful Ladies, Two Days in a Row

It was dejavu all over again. Today we paid a visit to Abby and April just like when April was on Mat leave. Finding themselves without childcare today Momma (courtesy of her place of employ), got to stay home with Abby. So we paid a call!

Last night my beautiful mom, and my beloved and I had dinner together. Now my silly mom, won't like this picture, but I do, and that's all that counts (sorry Mom). I think she is a raving beauty. And now that I think about it, both of these ladies are. Two visits with two blue-eyed beauties. How lucky can a "girl" get?






UPDATE: My mom likes this picture, she told me so in an e-mail last night! I'm glad you like this one Mom. Love you. xxx

A Gathering of Bloggers!

The common denominator here is that there were actually 6 bloggers at Cynthia's Tupperware Party yesterday. Unfortunately Jasmine had to leave early or she would have been in this picture too!

Note: Courtney is not a blogger, yet, but I'm sure her momma will inspire her to be one, one day.

It was so nice to meet these young women in person.

The Power of Two

Yesterday I went to a Tupperware party at our dear friend Cynthia's house. I don't know about you, but it has been a number of years since I last attended one. We played a few games, and each of us got some great take home gifts, my favourite--the orange peeler! I used to attend these parties just to get one. Now though they are a grayish colour versus the orange of old, but I'm sure that won't affect its' usefulness.

It was neat to see the new products, and the colours. When I first started going 40 years back, everything was just plastic, no colour. The amazing thing is they still make that neat kid's toy, a red and blue ball with yellow handles for pulling it apart to shake out the shapes. I know it has a name, I just don't know what it was called, but it was fun. It was strong and durable and my babies spent many hours trying to figure out firstly how to get them into their designated spot and secondly, how to shake them out!

One thing that struck me as I reflect on this gathering of women, were the duos -- the power of two. There were:

2 sisters

2 cousins

2 adorable babies (Alexander 12 weeks and Courtney 7 weeks)

2 prenant women, both due in Spring

A lady with "twins"

2 Tupperware Consultants (Cynthia in training!)

2 Grandmothers (guess who was one of them)

If you haven't been to a Tupperware party lately, and you are invited to one, go! It was fun, you meet nice people, have a little nibble and find creative new ways to store and carry and serve your food. And that's a good thing.