My Blogging Break – Part Two: Lady C’s Visit

A Blogging Break in April and May freed up time for me to spend quality time with visiting family members.

Last week, in Part 1 of this three-part series, I shared a few of the fun and memorable experiences with our two granddaughters who visited us for seven days over their spring break.

Several weeks after leaving our eldest granddaughter, Lady C returned.  She re-arranged her schedule after learning that Hubby was on the wait list for surgery when an available slot became available on the neurosurgeon’s schedule.

Rather than sitting around and waiting for the hospital to call with an admission date, Hubby encouraged us to use this time to do some fun things together.  He reminded me that, as the post-surgery caregiver, I would be housebound for weeks following his discharge from the hospital.

So in Part 2 of this series, I share some of the special moments spent with my eldest granddaughter, Lady C.

Pottery Painting

One of the things Lady C wanted to do was pick up the pottery pieces we painted during her last visit.  We had left them at the pottery gallery to go through the last firing process.

Both of us felt the pottery pieces looked beautiful after the firing.

Pecan Resin Xmas Figurine Painting

Inspired by how well the pottery pieces turned out, we wanted to do more painting.

I telephoned my son and asked him to dig out a couple of the unpainted Xmas holiday pecan resin figurines stored in the basement of our home in Wisconsin.  I had purchased them in North Carolina at a flea market more than twenty years ago.  He sent seven figurines and these are the two that Lady C and I decided to paint.

We had fun painting on the lanai — the soft breezes, birds singing, rustling of trees and sharing memories of past times together.  Especially, the two-year period that I lived in North Carolina and provided child care for her while my eldest daughter completed her medical residency and fellowship training.

Lady C, even as a 3-years-old, loved to watch me paint.  She would tell me what colors to use and whether it was pretty or not.  When she felt I had painted long enough, she would say, “No more ‘bellishments” rather than embellishments.

Lady C and Her Painting Project

This was Lady C’s first-ever attempt and my first attempt, after a 20+ year absent, at painting pecan resin figurines.  It will take us some time to finish our projects, but the goal is to have them on display when our family gathers in Florida for Christmas. Of course, I will share photos on this blog during the holidays.

Mustard and Turnip Greens

It has been a long tradition in our family to have mustard and turnip greens on the dinner table for special occasions; and, definitely every Christmas and Thanksgiving.

I picked, washed and cooked them until Xmas 2013 when the two daughters asked me to show them how.

On the day Lady C and I went to the Farmers Market, we came across a vendor selling locally grown mustard and turnip greens. And, she said, “I want you to show me how to cook greens, NanNan.”  We purchased enough for both Sunday’s dinner and to freeze for future meals.

Beautiful and memorable times are possible when we do the simplest things in the presence of our loved ones.  I connected and bonded with Lady C on an even higher level as she went through this new learning experience.

Dreadlocks Hair Styling Day

For more than two years, I have gone to this amazing Jamaican barber to cut my hair.  During most visits, I am entertained as I watch an awe a stylist in the shop who specializes in natural hair.  I am always amazed by the unique, complex and diverse art she creates on the heads of her clients.

I asked Lady C, who sports dreadlocks, if she wanted me to schedule her an appointment with the natural hair stylist.

She said, “Yes,” and off to the Jamaican hair shop we went.  While my haircut took 20-30 minutes, Lady C’s dreadlocks were under the care of this amazing natural hair stylist lasted for more than three hours.

Mother’s Day – Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens

I received the gift of spending Mothers Day with the eldest child of my eldest child in one of my favorite places, The Leu Botanical Gardens.

This is the grandchild who shares my name and birthdate.

This is the grandchild, who despite our almost fifty year age difference, I am able to connect and relate to on many levels  — mindfulness, yoga, nutrition, meditations, inner peace, self-love, etc.

With encouragement and tips from Lady C, I, confidently, shot photo after photo with my Nikon 5200 digital camera of towering trees, blooming flowers, green foliage, and tropical plants.

Using my Canon point and shoot camera, Lady C took these photos.

(Next Week – Part 3:  Hubby’s Surgery and Cousin’s Visit)