Nonna has fun with pre-reading

Hi R
I forget what your granny name is.  Mine is Nonna and I'm getting a great deal of pleasure in that role.

My grandchildren don't live close  - a few hours away, but fortunately, with visits and calls, we get to spend quality time.
Here I am with OJ who is now 3 - he's ready for pre-reading activities and instead of just writing to my daughter, Elle, I decided to share it with you and perhaps others might be interested. 

 My teacher background, mothering,  nannying experience, tutoring  - in other words a lifetime of being with children, means that  I'm vitally interested in how they learn.

Maybe you have a few hints that you can add at times.
Love Nonna C


OK - Lesson 1 - Pre-reading.  OJ knows the name of the letters and sings the ABCDEFG  HIJK LMNOP etc. Now I know my ABCs.  Can you sing along with me.   Suggest you get out the  books which have the letters and pictures and ask him randomly what the NAME of the letters are.

Next step is to become familiar with the sound of the letters eg the sound of 'a' is as in  ant, 'b' as in bear  etc
So - distinguishing between the name of the letter and its sound.  Lots of fun ways to do it - like 'I Spy'

Work in lowercase at first - upper case can work beside lowercase or include later.

There are many great apps to start with but best to begin with books and incidental pointing out what letter SOUND a word begins with. 

Have fun!!  It's important to have fun and  that the learning is  incidental and without pressure.

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Families form the woven fabric of our times.

Hi Granny Renotta


Meet Aleksandra Renotta Foss born on June 19, 7 pounds 12 ounces, 18.5 inches long. Beautiful and healthy.
July 30 - Need update please. 
I love the fact that Aleksandra is passing on your wonderful significant name, as well as the other attributes. 
Also, she has a few choices re her given name which is lovely.

How is AJ coping with the new arrival?  What is AR going to be when she grows up?  Does she have a nickname?  In Australia we always try to change the name into, at best, a pet name or more usual, into a form of the name which suits the genre of the time or circumstance.  Rarely do we end up with the name with which we are christened.  Except for me - then I change it to Clara for my online name.  We don't initialise names as much as you do so my OJ is not usual nor is it encouraged. 

You are blasting the trail for me - now there are two, hopefully will happen - along with all that goes with it.

Much love to families since they form the woven fabric of our times.
Clara
 







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First Kiss. Was it worth it? Definitely!

Happy Valentines Day to all from Australia

Hi R and all
Valentines Day wishes to you.  I have included your post re First Kiss to fit in with the occasion.
Love from Clara
ps Do you remember your first kiss?

 "I just made it through the show (fashion) in the nick of time with a strange "scratchy" throat feeling. The next day I was in bed with the worst cold I have had in years. I know what you are thinking, over worked herself, not enough sleep etc. But actually, no that was not the case. A few days before I was babysitting little AJ who was sneezing. He's so sweet, so when he planted not one but two kisses on me, I knew right away what the consequences would be. Would I do it all over again? ABSOLUTELY. Was it worth it? POSITIVELY!"

R

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OJ turns one!

Hi R
Can you believe OJ is one?!!!!  It's amazing to observe children grow and develop.  I love watching them as they take on the world and develop their own style and relationships. 

OJ had a great time being the centre of attention.
Nonna Clara
ps - I wish OJ could meet AJ. 

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Look at me, Nonna!! From the warm fuzzy distance of grandparenting

Nonna tip - don't get the age wrong as I did once
but never   ever again!

Hi R and other grannies out there
It's wonderfully fulfilling to watch grandchildren develop - to witness the ages and stages, be able to give out treats generously, to have fun etc -  from the warm fuzzy distance of grandparenting. 

A big weekend sleepover which felt like Christmas where one's attention is scattered in many directions and the house is full of stuff. 

Now it's quiet and orderly - we return to normality with lovely memories of spontaneous hugs, Poppy makeovers and tricky questions. 
Nonna Clara - Facilitator of Clever Craft and Good Kitchen x

ps - Poppy's snoring was also recorded - something I have always threatened to do  but have never quite been courageous enough. 

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 clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au www.babyboomerconnections.com.au

Re - a great belly laugh!



Hi R 
 re my last post re dogs' performance,  you said, "Well, that was good for a belly laugh."

We love a good belly laugh.  I actually believe it is the basis of a real friendship when you share a similar sense of humour -  when you really really laugh!!!!!    And it feels sooooooo good.   
Being with babies, toddlers and grandchildren spark this fresh new insight into how we are -  and I adore them.  When my children were at this stage, I smiled so much I was afraid that I would develop eye wrinkles.  But I now know that those laugh lines on my face are an endorsement of my view of life.  So I embrace them.

When my daughter picked up her first phone (the first of many calls!!!!!) she said " BlahBlahblah  HaHaHa BlahBlahblah HaHaHa!!!!  which made me realise that her mimicking was of my phone habit.  Time moved on and phone manners morphed and swayed, but laughter always prevailed with my son and daughter.  It is the glue that holds us together during the good and tough times. With it we move forward with grace -  without it, we can get lost in a self centred focus.
http://www.videobash.com/video_show/baby-laughing-hysterically-15098This little girl knows this already!
Clara




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Grandmothers on roles / rolls on Mothers Day.

Hi R
I hope you had a happy Mother's Day - or shall I say Grandmother's Day. I had a lovely card expressing appreciation from my daughter who always seems to be able to find the best cards. It even has a butterfly on it, significant because that has been her symbol. Mine used to be the eagle but he has been put to rest to be replaced by the dragonfly which flits from one thing to another and has heaps of fun.

Hope you had as much fun with AJ as I had with OJ  - as you can see by the video.

I am off to spend http://www.timeintuscany.com/ so maybe will send a blog or two from there.
Clara
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Starting the new year with a change of pace

Hi R
Starting the new year with a jaunt in the sub-tropical north, catching up with those near and dear in spirit if not distance. 
A change of pace!!!
Nonna Clara
ps - another wonderful generous boy

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Reviving the Spirit of Christmas

Hi R and all you guys out there

I have to agree in principle with Fifi Box, in her article in the Sunday magazine from the Daily Telegraph,

"What we seem to have lost among the garlands of tinsel and the reams of wrapping paper is the spirit of Christmas. Yes, it may all seem a bit touchy-feely, but it's not the giving and receiving of material things that we should celebrate, it's the sharing of time and love with our family and friends. If, like me, you're exhausted by the exchange of meaningless, last minute presents and want to share your love in a different way there are alternatives...... Kris Kringle schemes, home-made presents or World Vision purchases of a goat or a duck which is delivered to a family in a Third World country."


Fifi concludes by "wondering how many of our carefully chosen presents end up in the temporary purgatory of the bottom drawer. Then after a respectable time lapse, of course, they find their ultimate resting place, either regifted or on offer at a garage sale."


And Fifi would most likely only be in her thirties, if that - a surprising viewpoint from a young person, perhaps we would expect this attitude from someone older. I have to say reluctantly, that I share her sentiments, and whilst I enjoy Christmas when it arrives, the brainstorming for the perfect gift is stressful, attempting to gauge the interests and desires of each person and reconcile that with the budget. We are up to our 13th grandchild, nearly 14th, (two marriages!), so have had to become more efficient at the process.


To conclude, a few words about opening presents and showing appreciation. As a single parent of two, one Christmas I was overwelmed by stretching the already stretched dollar and time factor, only to have toys etc strewn all over the house after Santa took all the credit for this enormous effort. The next year, things were different - Santa's stuff in the stockings (pillow cases), could be opened on waking, a quick breakfast, off to church to celebrate the religious meaning, then to sit around the tree to open other presents, one at a time, thanking and appreciating. It felt much better.


Clara

UNICEF cards help raise money for UNICEF is committed

to creating a world where children can grow up happy,
healthy ... and hopeful... where they can learn with pride
and live with dignity... where every child is free.....
simply to be a child.
http://www.unicef.org.au/

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Grannies - Spending time with grandchildren is our gift

R wrote in response to my food blog on avocados - While my creativity has blossomed in the textile arts with my project blog, all other aspects in my life have, alas, become a bit mundane, especially my meal planning.
There just isn't enough time in the day anymore to be a great cook, an avid exerciser, an entrepreneur and a granny. I'm concentrating on the grannie part as that is the most important part.

My meals lately have consisted of take out from the local market with some salads thrown in. Thank goodness it's a great market and has lots of healthy food to offer. October looks to be a calmer month and with your visit, I am looking forward to lots of creative time, in the studio, in the kitchen and all over our town. It will be great fun.


Clara -  My visit to Wisconsin to catch up after 30 years is very special - our base was combining young children with creativity, being entrepreneurial, exercising, while offering healthy food and lifestyle.  Now being a good granny, and still combining the above, is I believe, exactly where you need to be, and you are fortunate to be close enough to have a regular cuddle.    

Allocating time is still the issue:  with modern grannies, mothers and working women - or in fact anyone who chooses to do all you say.  R, there never was enough time to do all of that, no matter your age and stage!  Germaine didn't raise a family, then have the joy of grandchildren - in fact, after all her protestations on women wasting time in kitchens looking after men and families, has herself become a little bit foodie. 

Women, as you know, have always had to juggle family interests with other aspects of a fulfilling life;  having been a single parent, I know this well: our mothers, with the advent of modern appliances and post wartime values,  were only on the brink of being able to combine other interests, let alone a career, while nuturing a family. 

Which is why a great motto  'Carpe diem',  Live the Day,  expresses how your creativity has  'Blossomed' in the textile arts, at the same time  embracing the importance of being a great granny.  If we don't grab the moment, it will be gone - bonding happens early and is for a lifetime.  Also it happens through contact not bloodline.
Also, at the same time, this is our time too, and if we don't grab it and express ourselves now, then when ?

Meanwhile, throwing together a selected takeaway, combining it with fabulous quick salads, is a perfect answer.  I adore warm

Where have the years gone?

salads for instance which is just what you are describing. 
So much to catch up over a glass of wine.

Other simple healthy solutions and methods are available from http://fitinyourjeanscuisine.blogspot.com/


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 http://www.babyboomerconnections.com.au/ with foodie archive

Anthony's Book is special

Anthony - How beautiful am I - so new to this world.

I am very fortunate to have Granotta - who creates wonderful things for me, like this book which I will read in the future and know how much I was loved.

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 http://www.babyboomerconnections.com.au/

Simple Grandparenting Activities still the Best!

CUFF LINK FENCE...April 16th

 
 

      

Pewter Cuff imprinted with yarn.

 

COLLARFUL...April 15th

Pewter collar looks good on stone or bark
 
 
TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANITE...April 14th

Ancient granite, amazonite and brass bead
 

Clara -Where have I been whilst you have been creating these lovely pieces? School Hols - One of the techniques I have used with children is printing or etching with string or wool which seems to be what you have done here. Sometimes the simplest techniques are the most effective. Like the simple activities that grandparents often do with the little people in their lives, like going on a ferry ride to the city. We did this, taking along a cut lunch, sat on upturned milk crates and watched the street entertainment at Circlular Quay. Another world opens up for the children and we are young again looking through their fresh eyes.

Love Clara

Is there more time in the Northern Hemisphere?

Lost and Found...April 13th

R Wrote - I started this piece 14 years ago, sewed thousands of beads onto a cord and then lost interest in it. Recently I found it again and finished it with this removable bead tassle. The tassle was reconstucted from a broken necklace that sat in a bag for years as well. Lost and Found.
Benchmark...April 12th
Double strand necklace with vintage carnilian pendant

Clara - Polar Opposites -  I have to ask a somewhat philosophical  question.  ie R, Is there more time in the Northern Hemisphere?  I ask this in relation to your amazing creative energy and how much you fit into one day.  Of course, I know the answer, having spent time with you, sometimes 24/7. More re this dynamic on http://www.fitwithmyjeans.com/. tomorrow (G is back, has set the table and keeps coming into my office to enquire as to the progress of dinner)

Your fragrant tagine is cooking (in the oven of course),  G has harvested the last of the Basil and Rocket with Perpetual lettuce still going.  The day began happily with 'Mother of the Bride' (Me) trying on the alternative earings (too glam but that's OK with me) which have been superceded with a new set for the Bride to Be. The  word earings looks and  sounds wrong (and most likely is spelled wrongly).  What is the term today?  Ear Piece? These are very glamorous Vintage drops.

My day moved on to being a Nonna / Granny, and seeing 'Nanny McPhee', which was great, the small theatre comprising almost totally of others of the same Genre (Grannys and Grandchildren, it  being School Hols).  By the way Nanny McPhee was big on the greens.

Great days, busy, feeling useful but there remain bits and pieces in my bottom drawer which need restringing, revamping with intention etc. 
You create something of beauty  everyday and that is why I ask my question.

Love Clara