The Peg and Back Again

Hello all. I'm back from Winnipeg and none the worse for it. I missed the Big Sky. Everywhere I looked, there was a different cloud bank and different colours. Some other differences I noticed in The Peg. I smelled the burning of the stubble in the farms around the city and the meat packing plant. It was different from the smell of the seaweed and salt air on the seawall. But, unbelieveably, I found it more humid there than here, in wet city.

Here is a picture of me with my former pet, Suzie. She was so happy to see me and the feeling was mutual. She is being well cared for by her new family.

I spent many happy hours with friends I have missed. Thanks to everyone for the great company especially to A and J and W for putting me up. Ate lots of food, drank a few bottles of wine and managed to consume four lobsters at Lobsterfest. I had a great time.

It's good to be back home....I never said that about Vancouver before. It really is my home now. In the taxi on the way home from the airport I opened the window and took in great gulps of Vancouver air.

I am happy to be back to making jewellery, looking for studio space and playing with my granddaughter. She is the jewel of my life...beautiful Remy. She is smiling up a storm now. She knows what smile are for- she's initiating smiles to get smiles back from others. Darling daughter and wonderful son-in-law are doing a great job with her.

Upcoming highlights: Mother's 90th birthday celebration, a four-day session in Lacey, Washington, to become certified to teach Precious Metal Clay making.

May you all be as happy as I am.

Be well, do good work, and keep in touch. ~Garrison Keillor

Greataunt, Greatgrandmother, Great Trip coming

Here are two pictures of Remy with greataunt Carolyn and greatgrandmother Vivian. They came for a visit on Tuesday and we enjoyed seeing them. It was especially great to see Greatgrandmother with her. Remy is Vivian's tenth greatgrandchild. Isn't that great? May I live so long.

In the jewellery department, I received some new ceramic pendants from brother-in-law J. and am excited to get started on some new pieces. I applied to get a table at the Portobello West craft market, but no answer to that yet. There aren't any places available until next March, but we will see.

My friend and mentor, A. and I are going to create a studio together and rent out space and equipment. We will be working on this as soon as I get back from Winnipeg.

I am excited to be going to Winnipeg to see all my friends. My appointment book is filling up fast for lunches, coffees, and dinners. I am so happy to be leaving next Tuesday. I don't plan to blog while I am gone, so don't expect anything. And, who knows, maybe I will even find a couple of new places to sell my jewellery.

When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money. ~Susan Heller

All of Our Future

No new pictures of Remy to share yet. She has a little baby acne and I decided not to take any more pictures until it clears up a bit. Oh, vanity, thy name is woman!

I went over to M. and J.'s today and spent the afternoon with my little treasure. As soon as I cuddled her, rocked and hummed she went to sleep. This allowed Mommy to take a shower and go for a walk to Safeway to buy groceries. Remy doesn't like being put down even after she is asleep. But she slept for a good couple of hours in my arms. It felt great holding her while she slept. It made me think of my mother who was a natural with babies. I still miss her. At least she got to spend some time with her granddaughter. I wish he could have seen our granddaughter.

Sometimes when certain expressions pass over her face she reminds me of her Daddy. Her general look is like M. at that age, but she does have more and darker hair. She has changed so much already. Babies change so quickly. She is 18 days old today. Soon she will be smiling and chirping, making pre-language noises. I wonder what she will be like as a crawling baby, a toddler, an older child, a teen. With two intelligent parents like hers she is sure to be smart. She is all of our future. And the future looks bright.

She has gained weight and is going a little longer without needing milk especially at night. But it is tough for Mommy to be essentially tied to her. I agree with most of the books that one can't "spoil" a baby at this young age. She needs to be held - a lot. Making her feel secure by holding her will be a good basis for her future development. It's good I am here to help out with that task so that Mommy doesn't have to be always with her. Of course Daddy is doing his share and more, but he had to go back to work today.

Granny is willing and able to take on the childcare when needed. I am so glad I moved here, a short walk away from my granddaughter. It's not quite a whole village raising the child, but it's early days yet. Parents should not have to do it alone. Lots of young parents don't have grandparents close by to help. Children are the future of Canadian society. Society should help to raise children. It was hard enough when M. was little with the two of us and grandparents to help. I can't help but admire the single parent. So many things about child care have changed since I had a child, but one thing hasn't. There wasn't enough day care then, and there still isn't. What progress have we really made? That's my rant for the day.

Children are one third of our population and all of our future. ~Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981

The Weight of History

Here are two new pictures of Granny's Little Treasure. Baby Baloro now has a name: Remy Marie Baloro. Thus a tradition continues. Remy's grandmother has the middle name Marie. Remy's great grandmother had Marie for a middle name. Remy's great great grandmother's first name was Marie. Welcome to the world Remy Marie. You are much loved. Granny is close by when you need her.

Mother and Baby are doing fine. Father is taking care of his two women and doing an awesome job. Everyone is a little tired. There are more pictures of Remy, Mother, Father and Granny on J.'s Facebook Album so if you are a friend on Facebook you can access them.

Stay plugged in for more pics in a couple of more days. Thanks to everyone for their phone calls and emails. It is wonderful to be able to share our sweet girl with everyone via the Internet.

We all grow up with the weight of history on us. Our ancestors dwell in the attics of our brains as they do in the spiraling chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of our bodies. ~Shirley Abbott

The lack of emotional security of our American young people is due, I believe, to their isolation from the larger family unit. No two people - no mere father and mother - as I have often said, are enough to provide emotional security for a child. He needs to feel himself one in a world of kinfolk, persons of variety in age and temperament, and yet allied to himself by an indissoluble bond which he cannot break if he could, for nature has welded him into it before he was born. ~Pearl S. Buck

Announcing Baby Baloro

I am proud to present my granddaughter, Baby Baloro. She was born at 3:53 this morning, August 16. She weighs 7 pounds, 2 ounces and measures 20 inches long. Of course she is the most beautiful baby ever born (next to her mother)!

Joel phoned me at about 3 am and told me they were going to the hospital. By the time I arrived, at 4:00 am she was already born. Margot delivered about 10 minutes after arriving at the hospital. It was no surprise to me because both my mother and myself delivered quickly.

The parents haven't finally picked a name yet, but as soon as they do I will let everybody know. She was quite alert and able to suck right away. She has quite a large repertoire of noises already.

Happy day. Hope you all celebrate this new precious gift.

Where did you come from, baby dear?Out of the Everywhere and into here.~George MacDonald, At the Back of the North Wind

Every child begins the world again.... ~Henry David Thoreau

Three Little Words X 5

I have just three words. Precious metal clay. Also known as PMC. I took a one-day class in its use yesterday. Great time. Really enjoyed it and looking forward to many fine projects in the future.

This pendant that I made yesterday is pure silver, also known as Fine Silver. It is gorgeous stuff to work with. It doesn't look silver in the picture because I added a patina to make it look gold and coppery.

But, I have another one that I left in just silver. It is beeeeoootiful. But I have not managed to take a good picture of it yet. And pure silver never tarnishes!!!! Good news for me as I have bad chemistry with sterling silver. Literally - when I work with sterling, my hands get black.

This pendant is on a necklace of Swarovski crystals that I linked with silver and gold wire. I can't wait to get myself a kiln and really get to work.

Well, I have another three words. Adobe Photo Shop. I am starting to learn to use it and hopefully I will be able to improve my pictures.

And another three words. Lunch at Milestones. Darling Daughter, Wonderful Son-in-law, Sister and I had a great lunch at Milestones today. No reason, just felt like it. It was a great warm, sunny day here in English Bay. It would only be better if I heard three other little words: Margot's in labour. But no such luck so far today. No news on the baby front.

Here are three more words. Bye for now!!!

Life is tough enough without having someone kick you from the inside. ~Rita Rudner

Sesquipedalian Musings

Half a fortnight of engagement at London Drugs for me. I will be toiling today - five till eleven. Only three more shifts peddling beautifying embrocations. Jubilation!

I've swallowed a thesaurus. I've set myself a task in this posting to use as many fifty dollar words as I can.

Last Saturday I had a soiree for the Festival of Lights. It was most diverting, but not as stimulating as the thundering Chinese display or the harmonious Canadian exposition. The Canadian team procured first place. Double jubilation!!

The neighbouring edifice has now reached its ultimate elevation. I had discourse with one of the builders who told me the floor which I was scrutinizing was the roof. So, contrary to my former surmise, my view of English Bay will essentially remain. Vibrant sunsets will still be accessible. Triple jubilation!!!

Tomorrow is G-day. The long-awaited Due Date. The mother of my grandchild assures me the signs of imminent labour are all there, but, so far no parturition. At this point in her gestation an incipient mother becomes truculent and obstreperous. Be tenacious, darling. Our exultation is impending. Infinite jubilation!!!!

I will terminate this communication with a quote from a paragon of humanism. Felicitations!

Hypocrisy is annoying but not evil. Someone who says one thing and does another has doubled their chances of being half right. ~Penn Jillette