NinaLewis.com

(NOTE: I have a new theme. Since it will soon be the 4th of July here in the United States, I thought that I would use a patriotic theme. I was patriotic before it was the in thing to be . . .)

The summer term is starting at the university where I work. New terms = class lectures. New terms = homework. New terms = quizzes. In keeping pace with the scholastic undertakings in my surroundings, I feel compelled to give my Readers a quiz. So, here goes.

Question 1
What are some search terms that a grandmother might use to locate information on the Internet about fun summer activities to do with grandchildren?

a. fun summer activities to do with grandchildren
b. Nina Lewis

Question 2
What are some search terms that a grandmother might use to locate information on the Internet about making home made play dough with grandchildren?

a. making home made play dough with grandchildren
b. Nina Lewis

Question 3
What are some search terms that a grandmother might use to locate information on the Internet about ideas for celebrating a grandchild’s birthday?

a. ideas for celebrating a grandchild’s birthday
b. Nina Lewis

Now, check your answers. You can correct your own paper. I expect you to be honest.

Question 1. If you answered a, you are correct. And pretty clever. If you answered b, go to jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.

Question 2. If you answered a, you are correct and are one downright smart gal. (You must take after Nina Lewis . . . ) If you answered b, wrong, wrong, wrong.

Question 3. If you answered a, not only do you get this correct, but your name will be entered into the SmarTease Hall O’ Fame. If you answered b, what — are you related to Nina or something??

The purpose of this little quiz is to bring to your awareness the types of words that grandmothers around the world might type in a search engine to find all sorts of activities that they could do with their grandchildren. Never would the thought even enter their mind to type my name. Unless you personally know me, are related to me, or have stumbled across my website.

So, to help grandmothers easily locate these ideas that I’m writing about, I have started another site. And that is Grandma Ideas. (Imagine that!) (Click on the words Grandma Ideas to go to that site.)

So, I’ll be ceasing and desisting any writing on this site about grandmotherly ideas. I will write them on Grandma Ideas. If you have bookmarked this site or made links to it, you’ll need to change the link to GrandmaIdeas.com. (This is a link, too.)

I have been diligently copying over to Grandma Ideas what I have on this site. Well, all that is except for some of the past holidays like Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter. I’ll post them when that holiday rolls around again.

I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. But I do hope that you’ll find your way over to Grandma Ideas (yet another link, here) to continue reading about things grandmothers can do to have fun with their grandchildren — and to strengthen their relationship with them.

See you over at Grandma Ideas! (This is the final link. Promise.)

Digi-Gram

Since I have started riding the public transportation to work, I have completed 9 books.  I’m in the process of reading 3 more.  I love it!!!  However, I must say on a hot ride home, my reading has been slow . . .  My sleepy eyes droop.  I battle to keep them open.  And focused.  With understanding of what is before them.

But, like a child successfully sneaking a cookie from the cookie jar, sleep flits in conquering my efforts and momentarily wins the fight.  I wonder how many more pages I could have read had I been a valiant warrior and won those battles . . .

One of my dear friends sent me an e-mail inviting me to view her book list on Shelfari.  I was instantly enthralled with Shelfari.  So much so that I have added a little widget on the right side of this site showing some of the books that I have read.

If you, too, are a reader, you might want to take a look at this list.  And, feel free to share the books that you have read or are reading.

Fighting battle fatigue and fatigue in general,
Digi-Gram

Sometimes I wonder where all my time goes. I look back on the past month or two and wonder what I have accomplished. How productive was I? What do I have to show for my time? Do I watch TV? Nay. Do I follow sports? Nay. Do I shop? Nay — unless it is for technology or books . . .

As I stood at my kitchen sink this morning, a few sore musics sang the blues to let me know what I did yesterday. Yard work. Maintaining some semblance of order on 2 acres is where I spend my time. Gazing out the kitchen window this morning brought peace and joy to my soul. I felt the desire to capture my view to share on my blog. (And, I had just finished viewing a couple of blogs where the folks had taken some fantastic pictures.)

Mentally, I reviewed my photographic skills. Zip. One way to improve was to take more pictures. Experience is what I need, I decided. And, what better time than this morning as the early light filtered through my favorite scene. I grabbed my camera and went outside — stil in my PJs.

Here is what the view looked like 21 years ago. (Click on the pictures to see a larger version.)

This is what our yard looks like now. I’m facing the same direction (east) as in the picture above.

These two pictures are facing south.

My sore muscles blues turned into the Hallelujah chorus of my soul. My heart sang for joy and peace as I drank in the beauties of my yard.

Fast forward to five thirty in the afternoon. I was in the kitchen fixing a bite of supper. You know, the dried crust of bread and tepid water that I am famous for. I glanced out the window to the south, and this is the site that I saw.

Oh dear. My initial response was delight. A deer. And so close. I grabbed my camera which was conveniently still laying on the table. I quietly and slowly went to the window. I didn’t want to startle him away before I got a picture of him. Snap. Snap. Snap. Not happy. When was the last time I washed my windows???

Away to the front door. Stealthily I crept outside and stood on the sidewalk. This time, not in my PJs. Thank heaven for the zoom feature on my camera.

He stood there for about ten minutes allowing me to snap, snap snap. Not through a dirty window this time. Then, my husband quietly joined me. “What’s HE eating??” he muttered. The soothing symphony my soul had been singing earlier about our lovely yard instantly halted. Kettle drums ominously pounded in my veins. During the winter, the elk had eaten several shrubs down to a bare minimum. At first, the outlook was grim. However, they have been nursed back into the land of the living. Now, a deer was in my columbines. What damage has he done??As if he sensed my change of attitude, the deer turned to go.

Oh deer! I know we live in the land where the deer and the antelope play. I don’t mind the playing. I just don’t want them to help themselves to a feast on all my hard work for the last 21 years . . .

A grateful-gardener-turned-wary-of-critters,
Digi-Gram