We heard "Granny/Grandad at the Myrtle Beach airport even before we saw you. Two lovely hugs and we were ready to be together again. Over the time since December, we managed to FT most days and felt we hadn't missed too much but seeing you and holding you was so special. You are the best. You have learned so much. Mostly you speak in full sentences and sometimes in French. You love to sing and recite. You know the ABC song in both languages, Humpty Dumpty, Old Macdonald had a Farm, Itsy Bitsy Spider and more. You say, I tending (pretending) and I member (remember). You and Grandad had a great play and dance at your house. We love you.
March 4. My bd plans changed when we got an SOS call from your Mama. You and she went to the Robicon. The plan was that you would play with Mikey and that his Mom and your Mama would take turns with the caregiving. However, you weren't especially happy with all the noise and excitement so your Mama asked us to take you home. The event was 2 1/2 hours from OKI so your other Grandma drove to pick you up and bring you to us. You had a great sleep but were quite disoriented when you arrived here. You cheered up when you saw a new Peppa Pig in a yellow raincoat on your little table and we played and played. You had your first sleep-over ever that night and although I didn't sleep very well, you managed to do OK. We had a fun day on Sunday, went to the beach, read stories and played in the water. You blended back into our lives with not problems.
On Sunday, your Mama didn't get home to us until 22h00. You had a long sleep and although you asked for Mama a few times over the day, you coped well. We didn't put you to bed because we knew you were waiting to see your Mama come home. And the reunion was delightful--not sure who was more happy to see who but it was lovely.
We had a fun time at the beach on Monday. The beach is just two blocks away so that is a bonus. We dug and covered our feet and made small sticks stand in the sand. Then you wanted to throw rocks into the water. There are lots of smallish rocks washed up to the sand. First you asked us to throw them in and then you could do it yourself. What fun.
March 26. You are like a sponge. When I sing a new song to you or a rhyme, you say again, again, again and then listen closely so you can repeat. Your French is amazing. You even talk about en Francoise and in English. On the beach one day, you and Grandad were dancing and you were singing "Sure Le Pont" the whole time. Yesterday you and Grandad were playing Super Grandad and Super Girl Brienne. You put you fist up and get a determined look on your face when you say "Super Girl Brienne".
You can "read" tell the stories of many of your books. To name a few: I Like Hats, Mudpuddle, Wheels on the Bus, BINGO, Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Your speech is very advanced for a 26 month old. You were so excited about your cousin Violet's visit. You were like a little shadow and Violet was very sweet with you. She is 8.
You still love bubbles and yesterday, we put the sponge puzzle numbers together and you ran back and forth on the road and said I fast. You have a little red bike that you like to ride on the deck. You aren't using the peddles yet but scoot along just fine.
At the Robotics competition, you were delighted to see your Mama but found the noise overwhelming. Even the next day , you would say "Robotics make sound" and whimper a bit.
We had a playdoh table and you always have the pink plastic knife and I have the black one. We make circles and balls. You ask for chats and chiens which I make and you play with. You have a great imagination having them chat to each other.
Grandma bought you a new dress and sweater and you wore it and shiny purple shoes to her Gallery Show. We called it a party and you said that your Aunt Rebeckah gave you ice cream. You were a big hit as you marched around at the party.
Today you went to your nap room and said, "Brienne chambre.". You were reading a French book, well telling the story and you did it all in French. You also "read" Mud Puddle", and like the Richard Scary Cars/Trucks book.
When you arrive this morning, you had Wonder Woman and Super Girl action figures. When Grandad wanted to see them, you said, "Mine" and wouldn't share. Then you said "Back" to him so he wouldn't come any closer to them. Later you showed them to him. You are very definite. We have your blow-up swimming pool and you love to play in it when we return from the beach. There is a fish shaped watering can that you play with. You were telling us the names for its face. It said glub, glub.
You wanted to go swimming but it was too windy. You found your swim suit and put it on with both feet in the same leg. So I helped you get it straight and you wore it with leotards. You also prefer to wear two different coloured shoes together and will often wear a pick croc and a red and white spotted shoe together. You have a trick to get your shoes off by stepping on the toe of one and pulling your foot out.
Yesterday (March 31), it rained very hard and in a lull, we thought we would go to the beach. So you put on your Lady Bug Girl boots and we had jackets and umbrellas. Well, we got a couple of houses down and it started to pour again. We were wet in minutes. You had been jumping in mud puddles like Peppa Pig gang so I popped you in the stroller and we ran home. We were standing on the concrete pad under our house and you were again jumping in puddles. In March, we spent 22 days together out of a possible 29.
April: Today when we had a ft session, you asked for Grandad which you often do. He pretended to fly past, you were amused. Then he flew back and you went for a quick fly around your living-room. Very cute. This evening you found your drawer of clothes and put on about 17 dresses. Some were just over your head and gathered around you top. You are so fun.
When you visited on Monday, you were having cereal while Mama and we were chatting. You picked up you bowl and drank the last of the milk. Your Mama was not impressed. You looked at me and said, "Mama not like this game.". I said that you could only do that at GrannyGrandad's place. Then later after being at the beach, you were in your pool on the back deck and you drank some water from the pool. I didn't react and you said, "Mama, not like this game.". Later your Mama told me that she tells you not to drink out of the pool or tub. So you are learning that there are somethings you and do only in some places.
You and my friend, Miss Betty played many elaborate games while they stayed with us. Betty is the best at playing. You called them Miss Betty and Mr. Tom because well brought up children in the South learn to us the preface words when talking to adults. Betty brought a book about Penguins. Betty was reading it to you and talking about a nest. A week earlier, I discovered a bird's nest in a folded beach chair and showed it to you. So you thought a bit and then told Betty that nests are in "chair". Later when I was reading this book, you said, "Miss Betty gave". You language skills and thinking seems to grow daily. When you paint you are very intent and even name what you paint sometimes. For instance, you painted a blue blob and called it a lion. You love to jump in puddles with your Lady Bug Girl boots on. You love to dig at the beach and run along the shore. So far this time we haven't taken you in the water. (April 11, 2017)
Today, we were chatting on FT. You asked for Grandad. As it was early morning, I said, Grandad sleeping. You said, "Make noise. Grandad wake and play with me."
You had a great time in the bath. We had a tablet which made the water pink. What fun. After you were dry, I combed your hair into curls. What a sweetie!
Drove you to Wilmington this am so you could stay with Grandma. At noon, she brought you to the Olive Garden where we were finishing lunch. You were happy to join us and then go home with us. We gave you a little dog who we named "Happy". We sang the BINGO song to it substituting HAPPY.
Went to the beach with you this morning. You had a grand time running and jumping in the puddles. You were wearing a hat and were great at leaving it on but the wind blew it off and it landed in the water. You were happy to wear it even though it was wet.
After a big rain fall, we went out to jump in the puddles. Your Grandad bought some boots so he could jump with you. You got wet because you fell down in the water. You didn't fuss much just walked on home for a "clean new, shirt and clean, new pants" from the Mud Puddle story by Robert Munch. You are really into Corduroy books just now. You like to "read" the story and turn the pages. At the end of the Pocket for Corduroy book, they nuzzle noses which is something you do with your Mama so when I asked what is "nuzzle noses" in French, you told me. You love the French TV programs that we watch. Max and Ruby is one. You can converse very well in French. You are even able to talk about the language which is amazing.
Today when we were chatting with Auntie Sheryl on FT, you sang happy birthday to Uncle Neil as it is his birthday is tomorrow. Later we were reading a Sesame book and there was a picture of a nest for Big Bird. You mentioned Miss Betty because of a previous discussion with her about nests and penguins. What a memory.
You had another sleepover at our house last evening. Mama was finishing a paper just in time to be in by midnight. You went a tad sad when you realized Mama was not coming but fell asleep easily--not surprising it was 22h00. You waken in the night and missed your Mama but fell back to sleep and wakened again at 8h00.
Story from Mama: When you were getting ready to come to our house, you said, "Grandad, saying, Where is my Brienne?. Grandad saying, Where is the squirrel?" Upon arrival you wanted to Grandad play "little bit". You two went out onto the back deck and played. Then you came in and put your hands on the floor and lifted one leg and said you were an acrobat. And you danced like a ballerina, and claimed to be Super Girl.
You were saying Fais Do Do which is the song Mama sings to you when you are going to sleep and Grandad found some French songs on the computer and that song in particular. You were delighted and sang along. Then it was time for your nap and you came along a sweet as could be until you heard another song on the computer. We returned so you could listen and then off to bed. We read the two Corduroy books which are your current favs. You have a book at home called "123 Canada" and of course, there are pictures of snow in it. In the 'Pocket for Corduroy" book, the bear is left at the laundromat and in his exploring, he slips on some soap so everytime we read that part you talk about snow and Canada.
You think you Grandad is the best and want him to "play a little bit". You like to be an acrobat: you put your hands on the floor and raise one let. You are also a Balerina: you go up on your toes and put your hands above you head and dance around. You are also Super Girl: you put your arm up in a fist and run fast. You like to look for stuff using flashlights with Grandad. Usually you look under beds and in the bathrooms where it is dark. Today you came out and told Mama and me that you found "dust" under the bed.
May 5 -- you were painting with Grandad. He was painting different coloured lines. You studied what he was doing for a while and then tried to make some lines as well. You made two sort of lines and then made a blot and called it an 'H'. You really study things so closely. Also, because you had waken quite early, I was thinking it was time for a nap. You suddenly said, "I sleep now" and toddled off to your bedroom and got into your bed. You didn't was a story, just to go to sleep and so you did.
What a sweetie. Except on the last meeting of STEM council, your Mama left home before you waken and Grandad and I went to your house to be there when you wakened, you came out of the bedroom and looked at us and went raced back and got back into bed. You were quite mad a us because you weren't your Mama.
You have a good memory. For example, in your bedroom at our house, there are two single beds. You have one and I lay on the next while you are getting ready to nap. The third one was used by Krista in March. Yesterday, you told Grandad that it was Krista's bed. You still remember Miss Betty and the fun you had with her.
Your eyeteeth are coming in and you have a runny nose and a bit of a cough. You like to have your nose wiped with a wet facecloth. Today we "played a little bit". You helped with Dad's bd cake. You like to sit on the counter and help me stir stuff. You like pancakes and part of it is the preparation.
You love your stuffed guys and often give them hugs. And we play with them together. Also you like three little cats that were in your Easter eggs and also the monkey puppets from "Monkeys Jumping on the Bed".
We have had the best time watching you grow from a tiny baby to a fun, interesting almost 28 month old little girl. Today your Mama sent a text telling us that you were blinking at her and said "parpierre" which means eyelids in French. What a joy. We are excited that you and your parents are moving to Canada.
Tomorrow is May 16 and Gandad and I are driving home to Ottawa.
Love you. Granny
PS Mama sent a photo of you and the Etch a Sketch whee you had drawn a face with eyes and a smile. What a smartie.
Sunday, 21 May 2017
Monday, 15 May 2017
Toronto, OKI and Brienne and company , Feb. 27 to May 16, 2017
February 28, Toronto. After 18 hours in the air, George saw the CN Tower first and we had arrived. We stayed at the airport at the Alt hotel. There is a train from the airport to it so that was a bonus. We had a relaxing afternoon. Next morning Spring had arrived, we took the UP Express downtown to do many errands, including breakfast at Marche, a blood test for me, buy Coaguchek strips, O Henry Easter eggs, have Tim's coffee. A bit of a hiccup getting the strips but George ironed it out. We walked and walked. By the time Frank and Brenda arrived for dinner, winter had returned--windy, windy. Fun dinner.
Arrived in Mrytle Beach after a lengthy buzz at the US customs in TO. Probably checked passports and boarding passes about 10 times before we were cleared to board. We heard Brienne at the airport before we saw her--she calls us Granny-Grandad when referring to both of us. What a delight as is her Mama, of course. We saw Noah later that day. Our place is different--a bit closer to the ocean and farther from C & N but it is well equipped and has two swings and two rocking chairs.
Listening to Celine was the beginning of my birthday day. Yay. It was slated to be a quiet day as Claire and Brienne were at the Robocon and Noah was busy with school stuff. However, around noon we had an SOS from Claire and the result was that Lynne went to get Brienne and then she spent the rest of the day, night and next day with us. Having Brienne at the event was too much! Anyway, we had a lovely time and Brienne's first sleep over ever was successful. Claire didn't return until around 22h00 and as B had had a long nap, we didn't even think about putting her to bed. The reunion between mother and daughter was a delight to watch. I am not sure who missed who more.
Our next two days were full of Brienne including a bd celebration for me with candles and cake. Also coffee at Southport. On Thursday, George and I drove B. to Wilmington to stay with Lynne. We did a bit of shopping and went to see "Logan" which is part of the Wolverine movies. I had not seen any of the previous ones and found this one very violent. I was glad to be at the back of a sparsely populated theatre as I found I could hardly watch some parts of it and had to stand for others. Grant will be surprised when he hears that I went to that movie.
We are having daily walks on the beach and sometimes get there twice in one day. Next week we will do some chair swimming. Our routines are beginning. One of which is Wednesday night ribs at a hole-in-the-wall place.
The Texans have arrived. What fun to have them visit. The weather didn't co-operate very well but we did have many walks on the beach, plays in the sand, lots of yummy food, a couple of movies and fun. Brienne thought Violet (almost 8) was the best--she was like a little shadow and Violet was very sweet with her. It was fun to watch the greeting hugs. We, four, had an afternoon in Southport with lovely coffee. A great week.
Robotics is taking Claire to Raleigh on Thursday so we drove there with Brienne. We had a delightful time at a nearby playground and then went to IHop for pancakes. (B's current fav.) Next day we stopped in at the Robotics competition but Brienne found it too noisy so we drove home to OKI during her nap. Even the next day, she would say "Robotics make sound". In the evening we went to B's other Grandma's art show. B was a hit in her new dress and shiny, purple shoes. Lynne has a lovely studio and lots of lovely paintings.
Today Sunday, March 26, I set up one of the bedrooms for painting. I want to get doing some acrylics and started a painting of meerkats which are in the mongoose family and we saw them in SA. Watercolours usually leave me frustrated. Although I discovered a way to paint little people so have been working on painting Brienne and George on the beach.
Our week has been full of beach time--saw dolphins again. One was swimming in the middle of a wave and another one breached the water--very cool. We have been chair swimming. Yesterday we got caught in a rain storm with B. It just poured--luckily we weren't far from home when it pelted down but we were all soaked in no time. We stood on the concrete pad under our house and Brienne jumped in puddles with her Lady Bug Girl boots. (I really must buy some rubber boots for me. I think that I have always wanted some and these days they are cool even for adults.)
After last Fall's hurricane, the dunes were washed on to the street and under many houses that are on stilts. They gathered some of the sand and it is in piles along the beach--looks a bit like piles of snow after a storm at home. So starting April 10, they will replace all the dunes--six feet high and forty feet wide. Two truck loads of sand per linear foot. They must either stop or complete the six miles of dunes before the mother turtles come to lay their eggs for this year. Should be an interested event to watch.
The beginning of April weekend is a quiet one to get ready for company. We played with Brienne, cleaned, tidied, did some errands and spent lots of time at the beach. Unfortunately, the tops of George's feet got burned and they are as red as a cooked lobster. We are usually so careful about sun screen but sometimes these things happen. Good news today--we have the apartment reserved in the Lamplighter in Ottawa--the very building we wanted to live in when we return there. Georges main criteria for location was that it be within walking distance of 4 or 5 coffee shops. Yay. We are excited and delighted and I guess, our days of being Meaderthals will cease at least for a while starting July 1, 2017. Sad or glad? Who knows!
Tom and Betty arrived on Tuesday evening and we immediately had a walk on the beach. It was windy. Lovely to see them. Wednesday was our day at Myrtle Beach to mini-golf, have KK donuts and walk on the beach by the Atlantic Breeze which is our old stomping grounds. The day was overcast and finally rained as we finished our walk and then it poured with lots of rain and thunder and lightning while we were having dinner. George got 3 hole-in-ones but Tom had to buy the donuts. It was a fun day.
Brienne was over. It was too windy to stay at the beach--little needles of sand were blowing at us. So she had her LadyBug Boots and we walked around the block and Brienne jumped in the puddles. A friend of Claire's and her daughter joined us for dinner. We enjoyed a video of our golf game, other movies and saw a movie in Shalotte, had coffee and a tour of Southport. Betty and I had many walks on the beach and Tom and George played crib. Monday was Passover and Lynne hosted a Seder meal which was yummy and interesting--lots of special foods and traditions. We all read parts of the ceremony called Haggadah and Noah and Rebekah read in Hebrew.
Brienne thought Miss Betty was the best--which she is as she loves to play and she and Brienne had some elaborate games. One day they were talking about nests and Betty asked her if she had seen a nest. Well, the week before, I had discovered a bird's nest in a closed up beach chair and showed it to Brienne. So when Brienne thought about the idea of a nest she told Betty she saw a nest in "chair". In the South, well brought up children call adults Miss or Mr and then their first name.
We were sad to see Tom and Betty leave on Tuesday. We always have a great time with them. Some of the world's problems could be solved by Betty and I during our beach walks. Until next time
George and I have been walking on the beach in the mornings before breakfast. One day we stopped to sit. We were wearing red tops and our "twin" hats that we bought at Walgreens which is at the corner of Happy and Healthy near Southport. A woman stopped and said, "You look so cute, I would like to take your picture". We have become "cute geezers". The weather indicated much chair swimming so that is what we did all week. One evening we saw about fifty pelicans flying overhead. They moved like they were playing "crack the whip". Very cool. On Good Friday we spent the whole afternoon with our feet in the ocean and then went back to watch the sunset.
On Thursday, we took the car to Toyota in Wilmington to have the oil changed. Had a pleasant time wandering at a shopping centre while we were waiting. Suddenly, we heard calling "George, Pat" and there were Noah and Brienne who were going to buy shoes for Brienne. Imagine seeing someone we know on the sidewalk in Wilmington.
Our days seem to be: walk on the beach and chair swim, care for Brienne, Repeat, have a day off, Repeat again. She is learning so much so quickly. We feel fortunate to get to play with her. There are always lots of pelicans flying over when we are at the beach., Haven't seem any dolphins lately. The end of this time is looming. Claire's exams will be done by May 8 and her job search will be started and who knows what will be next for them.
George has been working on a trip for us to Atlantic Canada for June. It is shaping up nicely. I completed a painting of the story of creation as depicted in the Freedom Park Museum, in Pretoria, SA. I am quite delighted with the results. It began with nothing, then, rock. fire and water. After the animals, the people walked out of the reeds. I put five people to represent we five, here in OKI.
Our landlord brought two more rocking chairs for our front deck. He has a very loud voice (110 decibels according to George). There was a lot of rain on Monday so we went puddle jumping. George bought rain boots so he could jump with Brienne. I refused to buy any because they only had black ones with green soles and I wanted some more like Brienne's ladybug boots. ( The old cut off your nose to spite your face!) It was really fun to watch them jump and the puddles were big. Brienne fell down and that was that.
We have been doing lots of chair swimming--usually for a couple of hours before a late dinner. We read while we sit. I must always be careful not to let my book get wet. Here is a lovely thought that says it all. "The ocean, stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings joy to the soul." Love that. I would also add that pelicans flying overhead make my heart soar. On May 3, we were chair swimming, the tide was coming in and as usual I was more in the water and George was at the edge of the where the water rolled over the sand. A large wave bumped me over and I fell into the ocean. I got up with no difficulty--just swallowed a bit of water.
We encountered a man gathering rocks along the beach today. He was putting them into his car. He told us he was using them for landscaping. Rocks on the beach are a problem because there are so many. The dune restoration is complete as far as it can be until after the turtles lay their eggs. We noted that an ATV drives along in front of the dunes every morning looking for evidence of laying of the nests.
It was a full moon so George and I went to the beach to view the beauty. The glow of the moon reminded me of the poem by Walter de la Mare called "Silver", Indeed the water and around had a silver glow. We laid on the sand and enjoyed the evening. Enjoying time on the beach has been a special part of this time.
May 12, 2017--we told Brienne that we were on an adventure and we were. This was convocation weekend in Raleigh--Claire had completed the course work for her Master of Engineering at North Carolina State University and we were there. First there were photos, Claire looked great in her cap and robe and hood. Then, ice cream at the Howling Cow on campus. Then a family dinner with the Klein clan at a yummy Korean Restaurant and that was Friday. Dennis had flown in from California to be part of the celebration. Here is a Claire Engineering joke: George had ironed her robe and couldn't seem to get the ironing board to fold up. Claire said,"Let me, I am an Engineer." Early Saturday, Brienne wakened still suffering from teething pain, so Noah stayed home to care for her while the other five went to the big graduation ceremony which was held in the hockey arena and it was packed. We were in the nose-bleed area but we had binoculars. The ceremony was to honour all the graduates (Phd, Masters, and Bachelors). It was so exciting to see Claire in her regalia. Unfortunately, the speaker didn't seem to know her audience and wasn't a tad inspiring.
We stopped at the "Cook Out" for a quick lunch. It is the restaurant of choice of students of NCState--the best thing I could say is it was fast and cheap. We then went to the smaller more intimate graduation for Masters degrees for Engineers. Claire's name was called and we enjoyed seeing her walk to the front of the room to receive her degree. Yay. She did very well and we all felt a part of this celebration because we had helped to care for Brienne over the past 2 years. The day finished with a lovely meal at the home of a friend of Claire's. What a day!
On Sunday, we had breakfast with all to celebrate Mother's Day. Brienne had cards for her Grandma and Granny. Noah and Claire took Brienne swimming--she is like a little fish. We drove on back to OKI and went chair swimming. A wave surprised me but didn't knock me over this time. We had face time sessions with Sheryl and Grant and that was Mother's Day 2017. Yay.
So on our last day, we had a fun morning at the beach with Claire and Brienne. Noah will join us for dinner after work. George and I are packing up to leave tomorrow, May 16, 2017. And so it goes.
Arrived in Mrytle Beach after a lengthy buzz at the US customs in TO. Probably checked passports and boarding passes about 10 times before we were cleared to board. We heard Brienne at the airport before we saw her--she calls us Granny-Grandad when referring to both of us. What a delight as is her Mama, of course. We saw Noah later that day. Our place is different--a bit closer to the ocean and farther from C & N but it is well equipped and has two swings and two rocking chairs.
Listening to Celine was the beginning of my birthday day. Yay. It was slated to be a quiet day as Claire and Brienne were at the Robocon and Noah was busy with school stuff. However, around noon we had an SOS from Claire and the result was that Lynne went to get Brienne and then she spent the rest of the day, night and next day with us. Having Brienne at the event was too much! Anyway, we had a lovely time and Brienne's first sleep over ever was successful. Claire didn't return until around 22h00 and as B had had a long nap, we didn't even think about putting her to bed. The reunion between mother and daughter was a delight to watch. I am not sure who missed who more.
Our next two days were full of Brienne including a bd celebration for me with candles and cake. Also coffee at Southport. On Thursday, George and I drove B. to Wilmington to stay with Lynne. We did a bit of shopping and went to see "Logan" which is part of the Wolverine movies. I had not seen any of the previous ones and found this one very violent. I was glad to be at the back of a sparsely populated theatre as I found I could hardly watch some parts of it and had to stand for others. Grant will be surprised when he hears that I went to that movie.
We are having daily walks on the beach and sometimes get there twice in one day. Next week we will do some chair swimming. Our routines are beginning. One of which is Wednesday night ribs at a hole-in-the-wall place.
The Texans have arrived. What fun to have them visit. The weather didn't co-operate very well but we did have many walks on the beach, plays in the sand, lots of yummy food, a couple of movies and fun. Brienne thought Violet (almost 8) was the best--she was like a little shadow and Violet was very sweet with her. It was fun to watch the greeting hugs. We, four, had an afternoon in Southport with lovely coffee. A great week.
Robotics is taking Claire to Raleigh on Thursday so we drove there with Brienne. We had a delightful time at a nearby playground and then went to IHop for pancakes. (B's current fav.) Next day we stopped in at the Robotics competition but Brienne found it too noisy so we drove home to OKI during her nap. Even the next day, she would say "Robotics make sound". In the evening we went to B's other Grandma's art show. B was a hit in her new dress and shiny, purple shoes. Lynne has a lovely studio and lots of lovely paintings.
Today Sunday, March 26, I set up one of the bedrooms for painting. I want to get doing some acrylics and started a painting of meerkats which are in the mongoose family and we saw them in SA. Watercolours usually leave me frustrated. Although I discovered a way to paint little people so have been working on painting Brienne and George on the beach.
Our week has been full of beach time--saw dolphins again. One was swimming in the middle of a wave and another one breached the water--very cool. We have been chair swimming. Yesterday we got caught in a rain storm with B. It just poured--luckily we weren't far from home when it pelted down but we were all soaked in no time. We stood on the concrete pad under our house and Brienne jumped in puddles with her Lady Bug Girl boots. (I really must buy some rubber boots for me. I think that I have always wanted some and these days they are cool even for adults.)
After last Fall's hurricane, the dunes were washed on to the street and under many houses that are on stilts. They gathered some of the sand and it is in piles along the beach--looks a bit like piles of snow after a storm at home. So starting April 10, they will replace all the dunes--six feet high and forty feet wide. Two truck loads of sand per linear foot. They must either stop or complete the six miles of dunes before the mother turtles come to lay their eggs for this year. Should be an interested event to watch.
The beginning of April weekend is a quiet one to get ready for company. We played with Brienne, cleaned, tidied, did some errands and spent lots of time at the beach. Unfortunately, the tops of George's feet got burned and they are as red as a cooked lobster. We are usually so careful about sun screen but sometimes these things happen. Good news today--we have the apartment reserved in the Lamplighter in Ottawa--the very building we wanted to live in when we return there. Georges main criteria for location was that it be within walking distance of 4 or 5 coffee shops. Yay. We are excited and delighted and I guess, our days of being Meaderthals will cease at least for a while starting July 1, 2017. Sad or glad? Who knows!
Tom and Betty arrived on Tuesday evening and we immediately had a walk on the beach. It was windy. Lovely to see them. Wednesday was our day at Myrtle Beach to mini-golf, have KK donuts and walk on the beach by the Atlantic Breeze which is our old stomping grounds. The day was overcast and finally rained as we finished our walk and then it poured with lots of rain and thunder and lightning while we were having dinner. George got 3 hole-in-ones but Tom had to buy the donuts. It was a fun day.
Brienne was over. It was too windy to stay at the beach--little needles of sand were blowing at us. So she had her LadyBug Boots and we walked around the block and Brienne jumped in the puddles. A friend of Claire's and her daughter joined us for dinner. We enjoyed a video of our golf game, other movies and saw a movie in Shalotte, had coffee and a tour of Southport. Betty and I had many walks on the beach and Tom and George played crib. Monday was Passover and Lynne hosted a Seder meal which was yummy and interesting--lots of special foods and traditions. We all read parts of the ceremony called Haggadah and Noah and Rebekah read in Hebrew.
Brienne thought Miss Betty was the best--which she is as she loves to play and she and Brienne had some elaborate games. One day they were talking about nests and Betty asked her if she had seen a nest. Well, the week before, I had discovered a bird's nest in a closed up beach chair and showed it to Brienne. So when Brienne thought about the idea of a nest she told Betty she saw a nest in "chair". In the South, well brought up children call adults Miss or Mr and then their first name.
We were sad to see Tom and Betty leave on Tuesday. We always have a great time with them. Some of the world's problems could be solved by Betty and I during our beach walks. Until next time
George and I have been walking on the beach in the mornings before breakfast. One day we stopped to sit. We were wearing red tops and our "twin" hats that we bought at Walgreens which is at the corner of Happy and Healthy near Southport. A woman stopped and said, "You look so cute, I would like to take your picture". We have become "cute geezers". The weather indicated much chair swimming so that is what we did all week. One evening we saw about fifty pelicans flying overhead. They moved like they were playing "crack the whip". Very cool. On Good Friday we spent the whole afternoon with our feet in the ocean and then went back to watch the sunset.
On Thursday, we took the car to Toyota in Wilmington to have the oil changed. Had a pleasant time wandering at a shopping centre while we were waiting. Suddenly, we heard calling "George, Pat" and there were Noah and Brienne who were going to buy shoes for Brienne. Imagine seeing someone we know on the sidewalk in Wilmington.
Our days seem to be: walk on the beach and chair swim, care for Brienne, Repeat, have a day off, Repeat again. She is learning so much so quickly. We feel fortunate to get to play with her. There are always lots of pelicans flying over when we are at the beach., Haven't seem any dolphins lately. The end of this time is looming. Claire's exams will be done by May 8 and her job search will be started and who knows what will be next for them.
George has been working on a trip for us to Atlantic Canada for June. It is shaping up nicely. I completed a painting of the story of creation as depicted in the Freedom Park Museum, in Pretoria, SA. I am quite delighted with the results. It began with nothing, then, rock. fire and water. After the animals, the people walked out of the reeds. I put five people to represent we five, here in OKI.
Our landlord brought two more rocking chairs for our front deck. He has a very loud voice (110 decibels according to George). There was a lot of rain on Monday so we went puddle jumping. George bought rain boots so he could jump with Brienne. I refused to buy any because they only had black ones with green soles and I wanted some more like Brienne's ladybug boots. ( The old cut off your nose to spite your face!) It was really fun to watch them jump and the puddles were big. Brienne fell down and that was that.
We have been doing lots of chair swimming--usually for a couple of hours before a late dinner. We read while we sit. I must always be careful not to let my book get wet. Here is a lovely thought that says it all. "The ocean, stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings joy to the soul." Love that. I would also add that pelicans flying overhead make my heart soar. On May 3, we were chair swimming, the tide was coming in and as usual I was more in the water and George was at the edge of the where the water rolled over the sand. A large wave bumped me over and I fell into the ocean. I got up with no difficulty--just swallowed a bit of water.
We encountered a man gathering rocks along the beach today. He was putting them into his car. He told us he was using them for landscaping. Rocks on the beach are a problem because there are so many. The dune restoration is complete as far as it can be until after the turtles lay their eggs. We noted that an ATV drives along in front of the dunes every morning looking for evidence of laying of the nests.
It was a full moon so George and I went to the beach to view the beauty. The glow of the moon reminded me of the poem by Walter de la Mare called "Silver", Indeed the water and around had a silver glow. We laid on the sand and enjoyed the evening. Enjoying time on the beach has been a special part of this time.
May 12, 2017--we told Brienne that we were on an adventure and we were. This was convocation weekend in Raleigh--Claire had completed the course work for her Master of Engineering at North Carolina State University and we were there. First there were photos, Claire looked great in her cap and robe and hood. Then, ice cream at the Howling Cow on campus. Then a family dinner with the Klein clan at a yummy Korean Restaurant and that was Friday. Dennis had flown in from California to be part of the celebration. Here is a Claire Engineering joke: George had ironed her robe and couldn't seem to get the ironing board to fold up. Claire said,"Let me, I am an Engineer." Early Saturday, Brienne wakened still suffering from teething pain, so Noah stayed home to care for her while the other five went to the big graduation ceremony which was held in the hockey arena and it was packed. We were in the nose-bleed area but we had binoculars. The ceremony was to honour all the graduates (Phd, Masters, and Bachelors). It was so exciting to see Claire in her regalia. Unfortunately, the speaker didn't seem to know her audience and wasn't a tad inspiring.
We stopped at the "Cook Out" for a quick lunch. It is the restaurant of choice of students of NCState--the best thing I could say is it was fast and cheap. We then went to the smaller more intimate graduation for Masters degrees for Engineers. Claire's name was called and we enjoyed seeing her walk to the front of the room to receive her degree. Yay. She did very well and we all felt a part of this celebration because we had helped to care for Brienne over the past 2 years. The day finished with a lovely meal at the home of a friend of Claire's. What a day!
On Sunday, we had breakfast with all to celebrate Mother's Day. Brienne had cards for her Grandma and Granny. Noah and Claire took Brienne swimming--she is like a little fish. We drove on back to OKI and went chair swimming. A wave surprised me but didn't knock me over this time. We had face time sessions with Sheryl and Grant and that was Mother's Day 2017. Yay.
So on our last day, we had a fun morning at the beach with Claire and Brienne. Noah will join us for dinner after work. George and I are packing up to leave tomorrow, May 16, 2017. And so it goes.
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