My Sunshine

 

Being a grandmother is something I have looked forward to since my kids grew into adults.  I have missed the baby stage and all those in between.. with the exception of the moody teenager who knows everything everywhere all at once, with attitude.  Our grandson was born six weeks early and spent two weeks in the NICU just to be certain he was strong enough to come home with his parents.  He was and he is thriving, having had his first pediatric check up yesterday with a glowing report.  He is my little sunshine and I am so very proud of the mother my daughter became instantly.   I love that my own mother gets the chance to be a great grandmother, too.

My daugher-in-law is due with  baby girl in May, stay tuned!  She sent me a picture she found of a beautiful easy-to-make spring centerpiece and I absolutely love it.  So easy to throw together, too…. use a clear vase – almost any shape will do… a bunch of carrots with the greens still attached, a handful of tulips… put the carrots in the vase with greens sticking out of the top, place tulips in the center of the greens, and fill with water 🥕 🌹

The above is mine, and below is my neighbor’s 🐇 – love the purple tulips!

With the warmer weather I’m more inclined to get out for walks/hikes and get those recommended 10,000 daily  steps in.   That’s harder than it would seem, but I have been managing to come close and if I take an extended hike/walk I surpass it.  Of course, I’m using my phone health app to monitor and I don’t wear my phone on my person at all times, so it’s possible I’m getting quite a bit more in than what’s recorded.  A recent physical indicated elevated cholesterol, which runs in my family, but a subsequent scan of arteries reveals no disease  and I really really want to stay away from statins so I’m tweaking my diet (plenty of room to improve!) and sticking to a decent exercise routine.  Can you believe I still haven’t lost the 25 pounds I’d like to lose? Oh, it comes off in little bits and then jumps right back up to that yucky number.  I’m not giving up though… for me, it’s what I’m putting in my mouth, not a lack of working out.  Ask me how much I love food though!  It’s my drug of choice and I like to cook and bake for others, which kinda sucks when there’s a weight loss goal to be achieved.

Bob’s Pond  and Hammonasset River Trail with my trail buddy, Kai.  Yesterday was a beautiful spring day, so we took advantage of the inspiration and explored land trust trails.

 

The sight and sound of the roiling river was music to my soul.  As a hearing impaired person, to be able to still hear this force of water is a gift 🙂

I could talk about the horror of the newest school shooting and that hideous fact that death by fire arms is now the leading cause of death for children in this country, but I am so weary and so disgusted by the lack of any action by the powers that be… and for all the wrong reasons… but I’ll leave it here with my mother’s words below…

*Thoughts and Prayers*
Let’s send thoughts and prayers again.
It worked the last time
and the time before that and the one before that.
It did work, it must have
because we haven’t done much of anything else!
Thoughts and prayers because it can’t be guns.
The NRA says it’s not and they would know
and tell us the truth.
They don’t benefit from a flush gun industry.
Do they?
Thoughts and prayers because….
the Second Amendment says that’s all that’s allowed
according to the NRA and many legislators.
Besides guns don’t kill people, people kill people.
People kill children.
People kill children with guns.
We can put flowers outside the schools, the churches,
the synagogues, the mosques, the supermarkets.
That’s allowed,
Along with the thoughts and prayers, of course.
Just not sensible gun laws.
Meaningful legislation is not necessary.
It will upset the NRA, the Gun Lobby, the Insurrectionists,
the White Supremacists.
Limited magazines not necessary, background checks at gun shows
not necessary!
So, here we are, left with thoughts and prayers
And flowers.
Always the flowers and the candles, against the fences.
As for more mass shootings
Well, tomorrow’s another day.
Mourning in America!
I’m not a religious person but I find myself praying for us all .. often.   I hope all is well in your neck of the woods, thank you for  taking the time to stop in here, your comments and thoughts are always appreciated .

 

5 thoughts on “My Sunshine”

  1. I kind of teared up when I read that you can hear the sound of water. How wonderful!!!! I love that you are able to start walking outside and enjoying it. We have more snow coming this weekend. It is the winter that never ends here.
    I, like you, am a baker. I wish I could just pass everything along without eating it but that is not my story. lol
    I don’t know what the answer is to the gun laws but my belief is that there is NO REASON for any individual to possess an assault weapon. Really? Anyone can buy one?! There is something wrong with this picture, in my humble opinion.
    I hope you have a wonderful week,Karen. xo Diana

  2. I am so happy for your family!!!!! My mother said becoming a grandmother was discovering a love she never knew was possible.

    I love the flower arrangement idea!

  3. I love that you’re a grandmother, Karen. So happy for all of you. Kristen looks wonderful and happy with her little son. I’m glad that he’s able to be home now. 🙂

    You do not need to lose 25 lbs; the pictures I’ve seen of you? You look perfect, so stop that.

    Your mom’s words resonant with us all, I think. This world we live in now is unrecognizable. God help us all.

    xoxo

  4. I think you’re going to adore grandparenting. I have marginal maternal instincts — or so I thought — and couldn’t figure out what I would actually DO with them. (Rick’s boys came to me at 7 and 9 so they were already little people. Little people I could relate to. But then we had them — and even I found in myself that deep love and joy that I never imagined I had. I love that you are already so ready, so thrilled, so into it! And just wait till they’re older!

    Our world is making me crazy. I feel compelled to follow it and yet who wants to? I’m glad my parents never saw this.

    Your photos — people and landscapes — are absolutely beautiful! Spring is really trying hard to be here!

  5. What a wonderful life you and your family have created . SO happy for all of you. I will not get to experience being a grandmother and sometimes I’m sad that my four won’t experience that love that is the cornerstone of my world. I have to respect their choices and keep my mouth shut but I also somewhat understand why they have come to that decision. When I was starting a family the world was a totally different place both environmentally, socially and financially.

    and then today…another shooting. I don’t watch, but read the news, but today I couldn’t even read about it. I head back out to my yard and lose myself in hard work.

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