Tag: granddaughter

The Monday Peeve- 12-12-22- Getting a Grip

On By Susan St.PierreIn In my humble opinion..., Writing Prompts12 Comments

Welcome to my refreshed Monday Peeve! Unburden yourself of an annoyance and you’ll feel better afterward. Or not. Complain in my comments or crab in your own post. Doesn’t have to be on a Monday. You do you.


Lately, I’ve been peeved with myself.

I’ve become terribly extra sensitive to topics concerning animals. I keep telling myself, “Get a grip!” but my heart aches and stomach tightens constantly. I have always loved and talked to animals, but my mind won’t take a break!

My husband watches an assortment of ‘Reality’ survival shows. On many, the ‘contestants’ have to harvest their own food. When it comes to catching and killing animals, I have to leave the room. If those people hadn’t been placed in those settings for our ‘entertainment’, those animals would have continued their natural lives!
I am not against hunting or harvesting animals when it’s humanely done and necessary BUT “for our morbid entertainment” isn’t good enough for me.
My sensitivity to roadkill has been elevated too. it haunts me far longer than ever.

Now, my teenage granddaughter is about to adopt a lovely kitten. Am I happy? Absolutely! Any teen having her own loved one to come home to is a smart venture. Teens do reckless things but feeling counted on and loved can offer their brain a more noble option to a momentary “thrill”. Yet, I’m going a bit off the deep end anticipating that kitten getting injured or lost! I know that I’m being irrational. What has happened to me?

I suspect that the constant level of angst that TV news is presenting is a large part of my heightened state of worry. I also know that they are doing that on purpose! My rational mind has temporarily lost its authority. I’m hoping that the holidays will serve as a well-timed distraction. Perhaps, I should indulge in an alcoholic beverage now and then. [I haven’t in quite a while.]

Whatever is going on, I promise that I’ll conquer it. But, for now I need to “GET A GRIP”!

Thanks for listening. ❤

WQW #42-The Mysterious Sense of Touch

On By Susan St.PierreIn My Photo Adventures, Writing Prompts5 Comments

Currently, this weekly writing challenge runs from Wednesday through Tuesday at noon. All you need is at least one quote to go with your post. Share photos, and/or write a poem, story, or memoir. Just have fun with it and let the quote or quotes lead the way.


Below is a photo I took of my oldest granddaughter (when she was just a toddler) while she was making friends with a wild frog at a little pond that we set up at our forest get-away location. It goes so well with the Mitch Albom quote below, I’ve nothing else to add.

If you could pack for heaven, this was how you’d do it, touching everything, taking nothing. – Mitch Albom




https://alwayswrite.blog/2022/11/02/wqw-42-the-mysterious-sense-of-touch/

E.M.’s Sunday Ramble Prompt #21

On By Susan St.PierreIn Weekend-Contemplating Alone, Writing Prompts3 Comments

Here are the questions:

  1. What is at least one thing that makes you happy today?
  2. What is one thing that happened last week that made you feel positive and happy?
  3. What is your positive personal mantra? (Mantra means “a statement or slogan repeated frequently” via Oxford Dictionary.)
  4. What is the nicest act you secretly did for someone?
  5. What is one hobby you would like to try?
  6. Bonus Question: What is your go-to song to belt out in the shower?

    1. It’s Springtime. What’s not to feel happy about? My flowering quince is taking on a hue of “pinkness” signaling that an explosion of blooms is imminent.

    2. My granddaughter (age 9) and I have been writing a children’s story together. We’ve kept a journal that describes our characters, explains our story line, and keeps our notes as they pop into our heads. It’s been on and off with many of our imaginings taking place as we wait for the school bus. Last week was Spring vacation so we had a whole afternoon to work. I sketched our characters as we had imagined them, and she added some of her own touches, as well as, outline and color. It was one of those productive days that you don’t want to end. Her excitement was the most delightful part! Things are coming together. Her dedication to the project is heartwarming and she now realizes the work that goes into a creative project. We are ‘making memories’ and building skills.

3. My personal positive mantra is: “Yes we can!”

4. I can’t even begin to recall the nicest act that I’ve ‘secretly’ done for someone because I truly don’t remember. I don’t keep score or hang on to those things. They are “seeds” offered to hopefully ‘take root’. I would have to answer, “Whatever my next one is…”.

5. I’ve tried a lot of hobbies and jump from one thing to the other. I’d like to revisit turning clay pots on an old-fashioned potter’s wheel. That was fun! I haven’t done that for 48 years.

6. I never sing in the shower. Ha! Probably because I’m inclined to sing and dance throughout the day. My cellphone ringtone is Come and Get Your Love by Redbone. That song grabs me. I love breaking into to song when it goes off. Spam calls don’t bother me because I’m dancing and ignoring them all at once! LOL

https://emkingston.wordpress.com/2022/04/24/e-m-s-sunday-ramble-prompt-21/

Weekend Writing Prompt- Recipe

On By Susan St.PierreIn Writing Prompts8 Comments

Weekend Writing Prompt #249: This weekend you challenge is to write a poem or a piece of prose in exactly 36 words using the word “Recipe”.

My oldest granddaughter Katherine.


A text from my granddaughter at school: “What you got to eat?”

“I’ll make tacos. Come to my house on the bus.”

“I’ll be there!”

It was well worth driving to the store for THAT recipe!

36 words

https://sammiscribbles.wordpress.com/2022/02/19/weekend-writing-prompt-249-recipe/

Weekly Smile 5/31/21~ Impromptu Movie Night

On By Susan St.PierreIn Writing Prompts7 Comments
weeklysmile2b

This Memorial Day Weekend was a weather washout for camping at our forest retreat.
My daughter’s family did slip in some time on Friday but we (Grandma and Pepe) stayed home.
The family decided, midday on Saturday, to pack up and come home.
My youngest granddaughter (age 8) was terribly unhappy so I offered her a sleepover with Grandma.
We got all cozy, made popcorn, and chose a movie to watch.
Neither of us had seen the movie and ended up having a fun time!
The trailer is posted below.
The final segment, featuring Billy Crystal, of the trailer was the most quotable ‘funny’ that my granddaughter loved.
She repeated it several times and it was her first comment to her Mom the next morning.
My daughter and I think Evelyn is ready to watch The Princess Bride.
Her humor ‘meter’ has matured to the perfect level.
I’m amused anticipating Evelyn quoting “Anybody want a peanut?” for days.
We had the best time on Saturday night. When life ‘zigged’ we decided to ‘zag’.
(Since Billy Crystal is also in The Princess Bride, perhaps Evelyn will be repeating, “Might as well give me a paper cut and pour lemon juice on it.” too. lol)

The Weekly Smile for the 31st of May, 2021 #weeklysmile | Trent’s World (the Blog) (trentsworld.blog)

SoCS- 5/1/21 The Scary One

On By Susan St.PierreIn Writing Prompts6 Comments

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “may.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
The word “may” is a bone of contention between the kids and me.
I grew up in a grammatically correct home. I’ll wait for your laughter to stop.
You wouldn’t automatically know that, I’m sure.
But, there were little ‘no-nos’ and big ‘no-nos’ and some of the big ones actually took hold.
The difference between “May I go outside?” and “Can I go outside?” is tremendous to the ‘word use stickler’.
My kids, day care kids, and now, my granddaughters have all been reminded of that zillions of times. I remember one summer that making the proper distinction between those phrases became my mission. Over, and over, and over, the kids were asked to rephrase their requests along with the explanation for my dismay. Some started to come around but that ‘war’ ended in a draw.
I gave up.
Well, you never know when something you do makes a difference.
At age 6 or 7, my oldest granddaughter complained about a ‘scary’ teacher. She was a very large, imposing, woman with a no-nonsense attitude. Katherine had watched other kids reduced to tears by that teacher and avoided any attention from her. But, one day, the Scary One was a substitute in Katherine’s class. Katherine needed to use the restroom and had put it off until her needs had become critical. Finally, Nature moved her to make the request.
“May I go to the restroom?” she asked.
The teacher smiled. And with an unusually tender voice responded.
“Aren’t you a polite little girl? Yes, you may.”
Whew!
That teacher treated her gently from that moment on. From the overheard future scoldings on topics of grammar (often on the “may” or “can” dynamic) from the Scary One, Katherine realized her default use of “may” (from my drills) had been the ticket to that teacher’s good side.
Katherine is 15 now. Think she still uses the word “may” correctly?
Not a chance. LOL
Oh well, it’s in her head somewhere.

Have a great Saturday folks! Avoid that Scary One if she comes around.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS May 1, 2021 | (lindaghill.com)