I'M A NEW GRAMMA!

Hi everyone!

I am a new "Gramma" as of Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 1:37am. She weighs in at 5 lbs. 14 oz. and is 19" long! A real cutie and I am getting ready to "meet" her for the first time this week. I will be traveling to my daughter's home I am beside myself with delight and happiness! :-) Will have lots more to tell when I get back!

The History of Aprons - Author Unknown

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a Potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, gramdma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegatables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER:

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

Batsto Village - A Walk Back in Time

Batsto. The name brings back many memories. When the children were small we were dawn time and again to the Batsto historical area near Hammonton, NJ. Close to home, it was ideal for Sunday picnics and strolls along picturesque Batsto Lake. (pictured above)
After a lunch of hot dogs and hamburgers we would walk up the sandy path and stop to exclaim over the iron ore barge that had been excavated from the bottom of the lake. Children would be tugging at our coat sleeves because the peacocks and hens and other assorted caged fowl would be waiting to be fed. Five cents got you a handful of corn to toss into the chickens (some fancy breeds, most domestic) that were scratching the dirt floors of their cages. On we would go, the kids knowing that once we got to the General Store in the center of the old, restored village, there would be ice cream for all.

Situated on the edge of the lake was the saw mill. Deep rumbling indicated that it had been restored to its former roaring glory. The floorboards vibrated and shook beneath our feet as we stood at the door and watched as logs were sawed into planks and shingles for use at other State restorations.

It was peaceful and quiet on the way to the Nature Museum up the woods-scented path that followed the meandering shore of the lake. An old log cabin had been turned into a treasure trove of artifacts from and about nature. Pieces of driftwood were displayed with arrowheads and bird's nests, articles clipped from magazines and newspapers on every conceivable subject dealing with nature or naturalists, quaint old tools that were used in the days when Batsto had been an important town in South Jersey. Many old relics attested to the fact that during the Civil War Batsto had produced many of the cannonballs so vital to the Northern Campaign.

As we left the Nature Museum, we knew that the most exciting part of the visit was still waiting - - the real, honest-to-goodness stage coach with real, honest-to-goodness horses! I can still see my two little girls' eyes grow big with awe as the powerful stage-horses came into view and stopped a few feet from where we were standing. Climbing aboard for the ride through the village had to rank as the highlight of the day.
Homeward bound after a long and exciting afternoon, the girls chattering about what they had seen and done, is one of my fondest memories.

Author's note: Built in 1766 by Charles Read, on the Batso River, it was called the Batsto Iron Works and was located near the site of the future village. Batsto Iron Works continued to be an important iron producing unit until after the Civil War in the Mid 1800's.

Ms. Daisy pics more flix

Here are some more of my "Favs and Blahs" (movie picks) that I describe in the short sentences known in the TV biz as "choppy copy." I also used plus signs on a scale of 1 to 5 to show my personal ratings. Let me know if you have seen any of these movies and tell me YOUR opinion.

Lars and the Real Girl PG-13 ****
"Extraordinary love story...and by that I mean love of, and for, our fellow man. Not at all what reviews would lead you to expect. Ryan Gosling is superb. You will be rewarded by this feel good movie."

The Painted Veil PG-13 *****
"I love stories and W. Somerset Maugham is a first-class storyteller. The 'twists and turns' are marvelous and will leave you, as I was, completely captivated. A must see!"

Click PG-13 **
"Terrible waste of time and it isn't funny...don't bother."

Red Eye PG-13 ***
"Suspend reality for an hour or so, then buckle up for a see-saw ride! This is when turbulence can be fun!"

Strictly Ballroom PG ***
"Okay dance fans...strictly speaking, this is a hugely tangled tango - highly predictable but great fun too!"

I Am David PG ****
"No sexual content, no foul language - what a concept. Made by Walden Media this is an excellent, heartwarming film and I recommend it highly."

Eight Below PG ***
"Good Old fashioned tale of animals vs. the environment. Longish, but engrossing enough to keep your interest."

Return to Snowy River PG ***
"...has a plot that's been rode hard but the scenery is drop dead gorgeous and, in the end, our hero gets the horse and the girl!"

The Snow Walker PG ****
"Great survival story. While marooned in the wilderness, cocky pilot learns many life lessons. Made me cry."

Impromptu PG-13 ****
"If you love period pieces, this is a must see. Loved Judy Davis striding about. Hugh Grant perfect as the sickly Chopin."

Dan in Real Life PG-13 ***
"Dan is someone I'd like to get to know in real life! Ending a little weak but don't let that keep you from quite a charming movie."

Just Like Heaven PG-13 ***
"Doesn't compare to 'GHOST,' of course, but very cute and easy to watch."

Rabbit-Proof Fence PG ****
"I enjoyed the spirit of the story, that courage, determination and strength prevail over almost inconceivable odds."

America's Keswick

"Where God Speaks To Hearts and Transforms Lives"


Even a few days away can give you a feeling of renewal and refreshment. Four of my friends and I attended this Christian retreat (our eighth year) in the Pines of Central New Jersey last week and we came away very well refreshed and renewed. It is hard to explain the atmosphere of getting away from the outside world and giving yourself over to
quiet and calm and hearing God's word at services mornings and evenings. Not that it is a monastery or anything...of course there are many activities during our free time. For me, I prefer the crafts room where I completed a quilted pillow and have developed quite an interest in quilting. (I will now be looking for some quilting blogs!) I also am a member of the bell choir (we call ourselves "The Ding-A-Lings!)

The music is wonderful with resident artists Robert, Joyce and Jordan Hayes singing playing and bringing God's word to us in their music ministry at every service.

"Seniors Week" is at the end of August and, for us, it is a fitting end to the summer.