Triple G

Gabriele with Lou Ferrigno.Three reasons I adore this week's Grilled Grandma:

ONE: This long-distance grandma knows exactly how I feel. One example of her words that resonate to my very core:

"I try to be there for the big, important times, like birthdays and dances, holidays, etc. But to hear a knock at my door and have it be one of them, on just an ordinary day - would be a dream come true!"

TWO: She created what had to have been the most awesome raw food Thanksgiving feast ever!

THREE: The woman gets around. Folks wearing her exquisite hand painted designs run the gamut from Michelle Obama to Hilary Clinton to Nancy Grace to Paula Abdul, Kathy Smith and Lou Ferrigno to Harrison Ford, Joely Fisher and more.

Sound like an interesting woman? For sure!

And an incredible grandma? Without a doubt!

Meet Gabriele by reading Grilled Grandma: Gabriele (hence the Triple G post title). Then, get to know her better -- and view her beautiful artwork -- by clicking on the links to her blog and her website, noted at the end of her grilling. I have no doubt that you will adore her, too.

Holiday question of the day:

What has been the greatest blessing in your life since last Christmas?

Telling it like it is: This week's Grilled Grandma

This week's Grilled Grandma, Ellen, is straightforward, matter of fact, and to the point. And I love that, admire that. Mostly because I'm so not that way. I tend to take three times the verbiage necessary to get to the point of something, hemming and hawing all the way through.

So today I'm going to follow Ellen's lead and get right to the point. That point? Go check out Grilled Grandma: Ellen! It's worth it. Her words are worth it. Her photos are worth it. She's worth it. And a visit to her blog is worth it, too.

(How'd I do? Straightforward enough?)

Today is Dec. 1 and for the month of December I'll be posting holiday-themed daily questions. Some of the questions will come from holiday books or games I have, some of the questions will be made up. To kick things off, here is today's:

Holiday question of the day:

If you could magically return to Christmastime at any previous age, what age would you return to and why?

This ain't no turkey

While many have turkeys on the brain -- brining, roasting, deep-frying (or sculpting, as one healthy and amazingly creative grandma I know recently did) -- I'm leaving the turkey roasting to Megan this time around and grilling up a grandma instead. Just for the sake of the blog, of course.

This week's Grilled Grandma, Janet, is another of those huge-hearted grandparents who went through raising children and is now raising a few of the children of those children. It's a challenge I can't begin to fathom, but Janet -- and so many other grandparents in the same situation -- rise to the challenge and seem to focus primarily on the many perks of the position: the daily hugs, smiles, laughs they wouldn't otherwise have been privy to.

Check out Grilled Grandma: Janet to find out who she's raising, how she does it, what makes her smile and more. Be sure to leave her a comment to let her know you stopped by, too.

Also, if you know of a grandma who's ripe for grilling, don't hesitate to let me know. All I need is her first name and e-mail address and I'll do the rest. I'm a good griller that way. Far better at grilling grandmas than I am at deep-frying -- or sculpting -- turkeys!

Today's question:

What's on your mind today? What's making you happy, mad, joyous or sad ... or all of the above?

Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road

One of the interesting things about being a grandmother is that you have this feeling -- or at least I do -- that you're going through the grandparenting phase in a vacuum, with few others who know exactly how you feel, few others who think and do exactly as you do. I often think I surely must be the only one in the world so totally in love with my grandchild, so consumed with the desire to do and be the very best that I can be, for my kids, for my grandkids. Do you other grandmas feel that way, or is it just me?

This week's Grilled Grandma, Vicki, makes it clear that it's not just me, that my experience is one shared by many grandmas. The majority of Vicki's responses to my Grilled Grandma questions resonate and replicate what I think I might say ... and think ... and feel if I were answering such questions.

Read Grilled Grandma: Vicki to see if you agree and to learn great things about this special grandma ... who's so much like you ... so much like me.

Just gotta say: These Grilled Grandma profiles continually underscore that we grandmas are more alike than we are different. Clearly, when it comes to grandparenting, we're not alone. We walk this road together. And I love that.

I hope you do, too.

Today's question:

It's a Hump Day Free-for-All! What's on YOUR mind today?

Grilled Grandma/Hump Day Free-For-All

Grandmas share a deep, dark secret, one most of us don't like to admit to, one we hope others never learn. We're a little ashamed of it, but we can't help ourselves. This week's Grilled Grandma, Laura, has no qualms about admitting it, though.

What might that secret be? As Laura reveals in her grilling: "I'm not very good at sharing."

Now, Laura's not talking about sharing shoes or dessert or driving duty on long road trips. No, she's talking about sharing her grandchild ... with the "other grandma."

I'm willing to bet my briefs that's the case with most grandmas. It's certainly the case with me, and I applaud Laura for admitting out loud something I struggle with in secret. (Well, sort of in secret. I'm not that great at keeping such things secret, I've been told.)

I applaud Laura for lots of other reasons, too. She's a brave and interesting woman and you'll learn much about her in Grilled Grandma: Laura. But there's far more to her than what she lets on in her replies to my questions, so be sure to visit her blog -- which she's been writing for about SIX YEARS now -- to get the full story on Laura. It's a good one! You'll find the link to her blog at the bottom of her grilling.

As I've done the past few Wednesdays, today is yet another Hump Day Free-For-All when it comes to comments. What that means is you can let loose on anything that's on your mind. And today, the day after Election Day, you just might have lots on your mind, lots to let loose. Maybe? Let's hear it!

Today's question:

What's on your mind today -- good, bad, happy, sad, snarky, sweet or silly?

Dishin' and a grillin'

Wednesdays are made for grilling up grandmas and dishing up whatever's on your minds. In other words, today I give you the next Grilled Grandma and the Hump Day Free-for-All.

This week's Grilled Grandma is Camella. Besides having all kinds of wonderful things to say about grandmahood, Camella shares the most precious of photos of two little girls with some of the best little girl names I've heard of in a long time: Althea Clare and Dorie Jean. Sounds like perfect names for a picture book duo. Coming from a grandma with the lovely name of Camella, I'm not surprised by the unique names bestowed upon her sweet granddaughters.

Read about Camella, Althea Clare and Dorie Jean in Grilled Grandma: Camella. Don't be shy in leaving this special lady comments while you're there.

Next up is the Hump Day Free-for-All, where you can spout anything and everything that's on your mind today. Have at it, ladies! Cut loose and comment!

Happy Wednesday!

Today's question:

What's on your mind today? Confessions? Complaints? Compliments? Do dish -- we'd love to hear it!

Fly-fishing Fanny & Hump Day Free-For-All

This week's Grilled Grandma is a grandma destined to have a picture book written about her. It would be called "Fanny, the Fly-Fishing Granny," for that's exactly what she is.

I met Fanny through a press release I received about her latest offering: an instructional fly-fishing DVD for kids. The pictures in the press release and on her site showed a grandma loving life, a grandma begging to be grilled. So I approached Fanny with questions, and she graciously responded. Head on over to Grilled Grandma: Fanny to read all about it. She doesn't mention fly-fishing in her grilling, so be sure to visit her website afterwards to read Fanny's fish tales.

Last week I instituted the Hump Day Free-For-All and it went over quite well. So here it is again, your chance to let loose with whatever's on your mind. Happy, sad, pissed off or glad, today's your day to spill the beans!

Today's Hump Day Free-For-All question:

What's on your heart, mind or chest today?

Double feature: Grilled Grandma/Hump Day Free-For-All

Welcome to Wednesday, everyone, and the latest and greatest of the Grilled Grandmas. Before announcing who's fresh off the grill, I want to point out that I'm trying something new today, a double feature, if you will. So be sure to read to the end of this post for the details.

First up is, of course, Grilled Grandma: Sharon. You'll find her grilling where you'll find all the other grandma's I've grilled, over in the Grilled Grandma section.

Sharon's grandparenting experience is quite similar to mine so far, in that she has only one grandchild -- a boy, just over two years old. Just like me and my Bubby. One huge difference, though, is that Sharon is one of the lucky few who lives just a few houses away from her grandson and gets to see him any ol' time she pleases. Must be wonderful. (Like my Andie would say: "I know, right!?")

Check out Grilled Grandma: Sharon. And do leave her some comment love ... Grilled Grandmas do appreciate the comments!

Now for today's second feature, which I like to call the Hump Day Free-For-All. Because you'll be commenting to Sharon over on the Grilled Grandma page (right?), I'd like to institute free-for-all commenting on the front-page post on Wednesdays.

What do I mean by Free-For-All? Well, I'm glad you asked. Free-For-All commenting means this is your opportunity to share whatever's on your mind.

Fantastic news? We want to hear it!

Complaints about your life, job, cost of living and movies? We want to hear it!

Got a great deal on rutabagas at the farmer's market? We want to hear it!

Shout-out for a favorite blog or website? We want to hear that, too!

Like I said: It's a free-for-all! Simply say what you gotta say. And if someone else has left a comment that you want to respond to, go for it. Let's get a little conversation going here, ladies. After all, it's a free-for-all!

In that vein ...

Today's question:

What's on your mind today?

Grandma over easy

It's Wednesday, which means I'm serving up another Grilled Grandma.

This week it's Nezzy and I'd like to share with you her response when I asked her in September if I could grill her:

First and foremost is that if ya'll  are gonna grill this Ozark farm chick please be gentle ~~ I'm old.  Turn me over easy baby, 'cause  I'm kind of fragile today...fell off the deck yesterday.  Would ya grill me on low so I'm a nice even golden brown and not all burnt and cracked around the edges.  Heaven knows this rockin Grandma doesn't need any more wrinkles.

What more could I possibly add? THAT right there is Nezzy. Gotta love her!

And right here is her grilling: Grilled Grandma Nezzy. I betcha you're gonna love that, too!

Today's question:

Speaking of grilling, what's your favorite way to top grilled burgers? (Not that I'm, um, looking for ideas for dinner or anything!)

Off to New Zealand ... again!

One of the greatest things about writing Grandma's Briefs is the wonderful women I meet from all across the globe. I've been introduced to women in Malta, Canada, The United Kingdom.

Most surprising to me, though, is that I've met a handful of wonderful women either from or with strong ties to New Zealand. I've not only met them, I've grilled them.

First there was Grilled Grandma Sally, who lives in New Zealand. There there was Grilled Grandma Billie, whose granddaughter lives in New Zealand. And now there's this week's Grilled Grandma, Pauline, who hails from New Zealand, too!

(I think it's a sign I'm supposed to visit New Zealand. Maybe Jim's making secret travel plans for us. Maybe?)

The word that continually came to mind while reading Pauline's grilling is lovely. She's a lovely grandma, with lovely grandchildren, living in a lovely place, writing a lovely blog sharing all of that loveliness and more.

But there's much more to Pauline than loveliness. Here are three of the many tidbits you'll learn about the latest featured grandma from New Zealand by reading Grilled Grandma Pauline:

Three of Pauline's granddaughters are the same age -- and they're not triplets!

Her seven-year-old granddaughter has a humorous explanation for why she simply cannot be a monster.

The reason why Pauline no longer plays Simon Cowell to her grandchildren.

After reading Pauline's grilling, be sure to leave her a comment or two on your thoughts about her and her little ones. (I bet the word "lovely" surely comes to your mind when thinking of Pauline, too!)

Today's question:

What one word best describes you today?