The Stone Rabbit

HE'S HOME

First, I want to thank all of you who left such kind and uplifting comments on my last post.  They meant so much to me and my family.  Your prayers were certainly heard, as our Grand Boy was released from the hospital last evening.

The spinal tap results did not show any problems and the areas of concern that caused the need for hospitalization appear to be within normal limits now. 

It was a frightening time for his parents and family, but with the work of the wonderful hospital personnel and the grace of God, he is home with his mom, dad and Big Sister.

Here he is, being held by my husband last evening---for the first time in several days.

Our house seems very still today.  Just me and the cats.  The liveliness of The Grand Girl is absent.

We had kept her since the hospitalization of her brother on Saturday, plus she was with us last week for a couple of days right after the baby's birth.

She was very good and easily entertained.  She keeps me moving, that's for sure, but she also keeps me laughing.   We had lots of time to play with the water hose and her "riding toy" and blow bubbles and color and go out to breakfast with my Monday Morning Breakfast Group and shop at Walmart  AND we even watched The Wizard of Oz movie---she loves it so.

So today, I'm gonna catch up on a little rest and put away the craft supplies from her projects. Yesterday afternoon, she made "cards" for several people and had a ball "gluing and cutting".  She was working like crazy, and had cranked out seven cards when we received the call that the baby was being dismissed from the hospital.  We just packed up her cards and all of her other belongings, and a little dinner I had thrown together and promptly headed to their house.

It's nice to be "back to normal" for a bit----we hope it's for a LONG time!!

Thanks again for your prayers-----they certainly worked.

DANA

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR GRANDSON. . . . .

Our newborn grandson was put in a local children's hospital yesterday afternoon.  He had to have a spinal tap last night.  The results will be back tomorrow. 

I know what great and caring people make up the community of bloggers and readers.  I ask that you say a prayer for our little Grand Boy---and for his parents and his Big Sister----and for us.

DANA

ANOTHER BLESSING!

On Wednesday,  we received "the call".

We knew it would be coming at any time, and yet I was still surprised when it came!!

Even though we had been living with the anticipation of the news for months, it just didn't seem real until I pulled up to this building and . . .

 

and saw this and. . . . .

and this----the  sweet bassinet in "the ready position".

Yes, Wednesday was the day.

Wednesday was the day our second grand baby was born!!!

 

It wasn't too long (well, it seemed longer to his mom!) until he entered our world- - - with a strong cry and beautiful PINK coloring and "maybe" just a hint of red hair---it's still a bit early to tell.

I had often secretly wondered just how on earth I could possibly  LOVE another Grand nearly as much as I love the little Red Headed Grand Girl who captured my heart three years earlier.  

Then I saw him for the first time.

Those thoughts promptly disappeared.  

I could feel my heart doing summersaults  from the sheer joy of holding him near  ---just minutes after he was born. 

There was NO doubt.  I was crazy about this little guy!

His Big Sister, who had been been on a "when we get the baby countdown" for weeks, was THRILLED to place a sweet welcoming kiss on his little head when she finally got to meet him, then. . . .  . .

 

she snuggled with Little Brother and mom for a bit.

I had the honor of placing a little heart on his PINK foot---as just one more bit of identification!!!  I also had the honor of drawing a heart on Big Sister's PINK foot just three years earlier,  shortly after she was born!

Yes, indeed----another little Grand for me to love and watch evolve into his own little unique self.  

What an amazing day......what an amazing week......what an amazing blessing.

I wonder what he will call me. 

I don't care......

I'll answer to whatever he calls me.   After all,

                   he's my little Grand Boy.

Of course, I had to get a couple of special gifts for the new Grand Boy and the 3 yr. old Grand Girl, so I raced right up to Luticia Clementine's on The Square in Independence, Missouri.  Sharleen, the owner, has the sweetest lines of baby items!!!

I showed  THE STONE RABBIT the gifts I'd purchased for the The Grands------a new PINK water bottle for The Girl and a little soft snuggle frog for The Boy, and to BOTH of them, a clever Bunny in the Box!!!

 

THE STONE RABBIT said he thought they were all great gifts, but if he had to pick a favorite, it would have to be that Bunny in the Box!  "Yeah," I told him,  "I still have the old Jack in the Box that my parents gave to my kids when they were little."  Then I added, "It used to drive me crazy after awhile, but the kids always loved it. . . . as did my little Grand Girl when she played with the one I gave them!" 

Some toys just don't go out of style!

 

Something else that doesn't go out of style is PINK SATURDAY!!!  It's hosted by our dear friend, Beverly.  Please visit her blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, to find lots of others who have PINKS to share!!

 

          DANA

Hmmmmmm. . . . . . . . .

Just today, THE STONE RABBIT and I were hungry for a little afternoon snack!

I told him we had some yummy chocolate chip ice cream in the freezer and he reminded me that we had some cones in the pantry!!

We pulled out the cone box and the ice cream scoop and . . . . .  .

I retrieved the box of frozen goodness and . . . . . .

THIS IS WHAT I FOUND WHEN I OPENED THE BOX!!!!!

THE STONE RABBIT was SHOCKED at the empty sight!!!!  "Who would have DONE such a cruel thing?  WHO would have put that EMPTY box back into the freezer?" he cried out!!!

"WHO?" I thought.  Well, I knew EXACTLY who had loaded up HIS bowl last night with piles of chocolate chip ice cream, then settled down in HIS chair, in front of the TV, and blindly shoveled spoonful after spoonful of that cold goodness into his mouth while he watched the Royals beat the Detroit Tigers. 

Yep, my husband was the culprit who had emptied that container and RETURNED it to the freezer!!!

THE STONE RABBIT, always with his "glass half full attitude", donned his cone and said, "Hey, it was a small price to pay if that's what it took for the Royals to win a game!"

Hmmmmmmmmm . . . . . .

DANA

PINK SATURDAY 4th OF JULY!!!!

My Sams are soooo excited about the Fourth of July!!!  They've been chattering about it for days!!!

They watched as I had gathered my Fourth supplies----the ones I need for the parade we always attend AND the scrumptious potluck that we gather for afterwards!

Oh, yes!!

First, I dusted off my folding flag chair. . . .  I always position myself up as close as possible to the actual parade in this patriotic beauty!!  Then I located my large read and white umbrella....it works fine for rain or shine--we're supposed to have rain this year!! Of course, my flag is ready to wave as the festive parade units march before me!!

My little yard bunnies are decked out in their Fourth of July ribbons---they have their very own parade planned while I'm gone---I'm so glad I have a bunny friend with a camera to snap a few photos of THEIR fun!!!

I have my food items ready for the yummy post parade pot luck!!

My  cooler is filled with water and other very "cooling" spirits!!!

I also found some really fun, sparkly flag rings to pass out and . . . . .

a patriotic fan JUST in case it gets warm when the rain stops!

THE STONE RABBIT said he loves all of the Red, White and Blue, BUT this IS PINK SATURDAY----he was just wondering about the PINK that, so far, seems to be missing in this post!!

I told him "not for long" as I  caught a glimpse of a little "party bus" motoring up our driveway!!!

"Whoa,"  he cried,  "I see some PINK now!!!!"

Oh my goodness---not only were we seeing PINK, but our PINK guests were waving flags!!

The Sams and THE STONE RABBIT were so excited about the bus load of Patriotic Pinks that had just  rolled up our drive and onto our sidewalk!!

They told the PINKS to "Please, come and join us!"

They immediately rolled off that bus and on to the porch!

The PINK guests  took their places on the two cake plates that had been arranged for them.

The Sams expressed their appreciation to the PINKS for making this particular July 4th PINK SATURDAY such a perfect day.

The PINKS added to the excitement of the day by giving all of us a package of Black Cat Firecrackers, some sparklers and our very own punk!!!

The Waving Sam thanked The Pinks for the swell gifts, then asked THE STONE RABBIT to make a little speech.

While typically a rabbit of few words, he quickly said:

"May God bless our country on this Independence Day and those amazing military personnel who so bravely protect us."

He also added, "Don't forget to visit Beverly at, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, for many more links to Pink Saturday fun!!!!"

Have a safe and happy FOURTH!!!

DANA

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday!   Our theme this week is:

                                RED, WHITE, BLUE

 

Please visit our kind hostess, Dixie, of FRENCH LIQUE, TEXAS for many more folks who are sharing their Red, White and Blue!!!

DANA

WE'RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD!! Part 2 of 3

Isn't it amazing how things work out. . . how one fun event can lead to another?

Such an experience occurred when my husband and I took our little grand girl to the 70th Anniversary of Oz Exhibit held at the Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri, in February.  She became so much a fan of The Wizard of Oz that her mom thought it would be  fun to have that as the party theme for her upcoming third birthday!!   

The party plans officially started when my DIL took a couple of  her friends (one who is  a great photographer), their kiddos, and our grand girl back to the exhibit for a little photo shoot.  One of the pictures ended up being the basis for the birthday party invitations my DIL created!!

Our grand girl was dressed in a Dorothy outfit during this visit to the exhibit--complete with ruby slippers.  In this picture, she was standing on The Yellow Brick Road.  Beneath the ribbon is the script that told the party info.

I thought we needed an additional set of "ruby slippers" to add to the party decor, so I bought a "previously owned" pair of shoes at a local thrift shop. . . don't you just love the sweet scuff mark? :)

First, I covered the soles with that great friend of ours---blue painter's tape, then. . . .

sprayed away!!!

When the paint was dry, I applied Martha Stewart Glitter glue (thinned with water) and sprinkled on lots and lots of red glitter!

My daughter-in-law was on a Wizard of Oz roll with all sorts of great party ideas---one of which was to create some "ruby slippers" for the Wicked Witch! 

She found the perfect shoes at a garage sale, then I painted and glittered them, too! (They started out tan!)

I purchased paper mache'  O and Z letters at Hobby Lobby (on sale!) then painted and glittered them Emerald City Green!!!

My DIL used  "Dorothy Dress" blue gingham fabric for the dessert table!  This was actually the same fabric that my friends had used on the tables at the bridal shower they hosted for her a few years earlier----it meant so much to me that we could reuse it for our grand girl's birthday party!!

We didn't have Lollipop Kids, but we found big candy lollipops at Dollar General to add to our decor!!

My DIL ordered The Yellow Brick Road cake from a local Hy-Vee grocery store....half white and half chocolate and oh so delish!!  She had them create a rainbow on one side and poppies on the other. 

I  found the number three candle some time ago at a local surplus shop for a quarter.  The  Happy Birthday crown was purchased at the Dollar Tree.  The little characters were part of The Wizard of Oz series given away at McDonald's some time ago!!!!  My DIL actually purchased the entire set off E-bay for a birthday gift for her little princess!!  What a perfect party memory.

My DIL created the cute signs for the front door and entry. . . . you will also see the darling food signs she made on the 3rd and final Wizard of Oz post.

She used paper that was left from the invitations she made FIVE years ago for their wedding!!  Again, how perfect that it fit with the party theme!

She wanted flying monkeys, so we used what was on hand---a stuffed Curious George and some pink fairy wings, some nylon cord and----

a Nana who suspended the monkeys from the overhead stair rails in the entry and

we officially had Flying Monkeys!!  You'll see another shot on the next post that shows the other winged simians! 

This sign greeted little party guests and their parents as did. . . .

this one which was placed just above. . . . .

a little Toto on a picnic basket!

This is how The Wicked Witch appeared once the house landed on her---just before the Ruby Slippers became Dorothy's!   We used the garage door for our pretend "house". 

A melted Wicked Witch was outside the front door.  We created this little "vignette" with my daughter's college graduation robe and a Halloween witch hat.  The pail was borrowed from a friend and the broom was one I had  purchased at a garage sale last summer.  I'd planned on using it in a Halloween display, but I LOVE it that we used it for the OZ Party!!

 My pal Bonnie donated this great Wicked Witch poster (it had actually belonged to HER daughter-in-law who no longer wanted it---lucky us !).  We placed it in front of a vintage piece of Hallmark poppy wrapping paper we attached to the walls!!

I set up a Yellow Brick Road spray painting booth---what do you think about my shoe savers?

Some time ago, my son and DIL had removed these pavers from around their concrete patio (they had been placed there by the previous owners).  With a little yellow paint, they were transformed into the perfect "road" to the Emerald City. 

Here we were--- ready and waiting for The Wizard of Oz Party guests to arrive!!

THE STONE RABBIT loved the party invitation......he could hardly wait for the fun to begin!!!!

There will be one more post about the party---hope you will come back!!  DANA

PINK LOVE

When I was a kid, a really big deal for me and my siblings would be the day we selected our official shoes of summer. 

Yes, it was the day mom would buy us our THONGS!!!! 

NOTE:  For you young whipper snappers who are reading this post, we DID call them "thongs" in the olden days--- we didn't call them "flip-flops" until THONGS became the label for skimpy undies.

Anyway, the day we slipped our winter weary tootsies into those brand new, and still cushiony soled shoes,  was officially the start of Summer Vacation!!

The three of us kids could pick out ANY color we wanted---they just all had to be different colors to avoid any issue of ownership down the road.

We became quite adept at keeping those shoes on our feet while doing nearly anything.  We could ride our bikes, run races, dig for worms, chase after lightning bugs in the dark on dew slickened grass-----even climb a tree while keeping those shoes on our filthy summer feet.  

The sad day usually came, well before summer had ended, when the strap that went between our toes would pull out of the sole of one (or both!) of our "thongs".

We became inventive in ways to reattach the straps, but no way really worked that well for any length of time. 

It was at that point that, even with the color coding ownership technique in place, we would be forced to "borrow" the "thongs" of another sibling on occasion---even if it meant doing so without permission or concern about proper fit or the fear of sibling retribution.  We would get desperate!

Many a shoe spat ensued over "who took my thongs". . . . we soon learned to hide them if they weren't on our feet.  While the thongs were cheap when I was a kid,  money was usually very tight.  We had one pair per summer.  The end. 

These days, I have lots of those special shoes of summer.  The amazing thing is that now, when I don't really need more than a pair, that I have this pile.  The time when I needed the extra shoes was years ago--when I really put the wear and tear on them.....when I broke one before the summer had ended...when I had to wear my "school shoes" in place of the THONGS because they were the only shoes I had in my closet that would stand up to the rigors of "play"...and they were usually a bit too small because they had been purchased the previous fall, but they were what I had.......

Well, truthfully, I usually owned a pair of white tennis shoes, too, but I always liked them to stay looking as "new" as possible, so I didn't wear them except for "good".  And that leads my mind in a different direction....did any of you ever put white shoe polish on your white tennis shoes?  My sister and I did---after we would wash them and dry them in the sun,  there would always be a discoloration around the part where the rubbery stuff came up to meet the canvas (I think we didn't always get the soap rinsed out when we washed them).  Anyway, we solved that problem by applying white shoe polish to them to cover up the funky color.  Yes, the white shoe polish would soon be all over our ankles as we would touch our shoes to them inadvertently.  Ah, the memories of summer. . . . . .back to the topic. . . . .

Now, as an Elder Gal of Summer, I have Flip Flops with a patriotic look . . . . . .

and Flip Flops just to wear when I "garden"........

I even have a black pair with sparkly sequins on the straps  for those festive summer outings. . . .

and some with fluffy stuff wrapped around the straps to slip on after a bath or shower.....

THE STONE RABBIT listened intently as I shared my tale about flip-flops, then . . . . .

he reminded me about the day I sat outside with my little grand girl.......

and cuddled and snuggled as. . . . . .

she showed me her first pair of flip-flops. . . . .

and they were PINK. . . . with sequins.

Then I realized how great it is that she and I, while separated by 50+ years in age, have yet another bond . . . .  the love of Flip Flops.  Especially PINK ones.

For more PINK SATURDAY fun, visit Beverly's at How Sweet the Sound!!!!

DANA

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

This week our theme for Wordless Wednesday is "BLOGGER'S CHOICE"!  I choose:

                                       HEAT WAVE!!!!

Please visit our hostess Dixie, at FRENCH LIQUE, TEXAS, for many more Wordless Wednesday posts!!  It'll be a day FULL of surprise topics!!

DANA

WE'RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD! Part One

What ended up as the theme for our grand girl's recent third birthday party actually started in February, with an outing to the "70 YEARS OF OZ" exhibit held at The Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

It was actually my husband's idea, her daddy's daddy, who read about the exhibit which was celebrating the seventieth anniversary of the motion picture release and was featuring an extensive collection of memorabilia from local Oz enthusiast, Jane Albright.  He thought it would be a great idea for us---her grandparents here in town---to take her to it.  I, her daddy's mama, was a bit afraid that it might "scare" her......you know with the green faced wicked witch and the flying monkeys, and all.  She was just a BABY---- four months away from her 3rd birthday at the time!!!! 

We ran the idea by her mom and dad---I promised if I saw anything I perceived as "scary" that I would promptly cover the eyes of our sweet little grand girl and whisk her OUT of that place.

It took about 12 seconds for us to obtain permission to have her for a few hours and expose her to The Land of Oz...........

Dorothy, Glenda and Toto were waiting for us as we entered the exhibit.

Her Grandfather was fairly quick to yank her little hand from Glenda's dress----the sign clearly said "Please Do Not Touch Dorothy or Glenda".  That's oh so hard for a little non-reader to know---or understand!   Glenda said it was OK and that the little one just needed to "Follow the Yellow Brick Road!!!!"

OH MY!!!!!

And  the little one DID "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" !!!!

She saw The Scarecrow, who only wanted a brain!!!

She saw The Tin Man, who was hoping for a heart!!!

Then she saw The Lion, who wanted some courage!!!

Oh my goodness, they all passed through the Poppy Field-----

until they found The Wizard of Oz!!!

Several of The Munchkins were "working away"---trying to help the Grand Girl "find her way home to Kansas!"

First, she had to climb up into The Wizard's palace and zooooom down the magical slide!!!

When she reached the bottom, The Wizard had arranged for a balloon ride back home. 

When the balloon "landed", the little girl loved looking at the amazing collection of Oz items!!!

After a quick lunch to regain her strength from all of the excitement of visiting The Land of Oz, her Grandpa took her outside to the fountains......

for a little exercise and........

pure joy! 

It was a gorgeous day in FEBRUARY---in Missouri!!

While they were outside, I visited one of my favorite shops inside Crown Center!!!

They had lots of Oz stuff for sale--including the sweetest little Dorothy dresses and "ruby slippers".

When we arrived home that afternoon, I shared with THE STONE RABBIT our Oz Adventures at Crown Center.....then I read the story to him about Dorothy, The Wizard, the Scarecrow, the Lion, the Tin Man, Toto, the Wicked Witch, Glenda the Good Witch.......he LOVED every word.

As he hopped off to share the story with his little yard ornament friends, he turned to me and said, "I hope I can hop down a Yellow Brick Road someday!"

"Maybe you will", I told him,  "Maybe you will!"

DANA