April 03, 2014

Poems past, present and in celebration of National Poetry Month

April 03, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

I had the privilege as a seventh-grader to have an English teacher who encouraged his students to seek out poetry that moved them. One assignment from him was to write down a handful of favorites along with the reasons that we liked those particular poems.

teen binder

As this teacher understood that song lyrics were poetry that resonated with teens, my selections included several song lyrics — and far too revealing explanations on why...

March 27, 2014

You oughta be in pictures, kid

March 27, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

I take a lot of photos. Such a statement surely is no surprise to regular readers of Grandma's Briefs as I've shared thousands of them here since starting this site in July of 2009.

photo storage closet

Those are the photos on my blog. Then there are those I have saved on my computer, a collection that's at least ten times what I've shared...

March 25, 2014

Care for yourself: 16 ways grandparents should follow their own advice

March 25, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

We grandparents regularly show love and encouragement to our grandchildren. Yet how often do we turn that steady flow of love and encouragement on ourselves? If you're like me, not often.

Time for that to change.

Following are sixteen ways to nurture and care for yourself in ways you likely encourage your grandchildren to care for and about their selves.

boy walking dog

(15 more follow...)

March 20, 2014

Wherein six years seems a lifetime

March 20, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Six years ago — March of 2008 — there was so much that was so very different. Perusing pictures from one weekend back then highlights several of the changes.

For instance, my first grandchild had not yet been born (but soon would be)...

expectant belly

Mickey was our...

March 18, 2014

It's what we do

March 18, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

I simply cannot take part in one's death, I told my husband.

"Well... it's your choice," Jim responded. "I'll back you whatever you choose to do."

Ultimately, I chose to do the right thing: I renewed our daily newspaper subscription.

newspaper

I didn't want to. Really, I...

March 13, 2014

Mosh-pit Mom, or, How Grandma's career got its start

March 13, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

My writing career and where it's headed have been on my mind a lot lately.

So, too, has been where my writing career began.

mosh-pit mom

I've written and fantasized about being a writer for as long as I can remember. It wasn't until nearly 20 years ago, though, that I became...

March 11, 2014

9 things I wish were still around

March 11, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

I recently saw an advertisement for Jiffy Pop popcorn, and I thought to myself, THAT is something I need to pack in my grandma bag to share with my grandsons next time.

Considering their delight in watching air-popped popcorn pop — and attempting to sing the Too Pooped to Pop song while we watch — I imagine Bubby and Mac would get quite a thrill out of watching the Jiffy Pop foil top grow as kernels pop and puff up inside.

watching popcorn pop

Jiffy Pop has been around forever, it seems...

March 07, 2014

3 things I learned this week: The good, the not-so-good and the 'Breaking Bad'

March 07, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

Good Thing No. 1:

It was announced this week that Allegiant is once again offering flights from my place to (near) my grandsons' place. Twice a week. For pretty darn cheap prices, even figuring in the cost of paying to lug my Grandma Bag with me when I visit.

grandma and grandsons That's great news considering my third grandson will be born in June and I'll be visiting soon after his birth. Also great news because that...

March 06, 2014

My husband's mistress, then and now

March 06, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

When my husband and I first started dating, he had a mistress. Their relationship continued even once Jim and I were married. He simply could not give her up, and he definitely could not keep his hands off her.

child with guitar

She had no name — even way back then Jim and I felt the same regarding...

February 28, 2014

Goodbye, grocery store visits

February 28, 2014/ Lisa Carpenter

I did it! I told you I'd do it, and I did: I did my grocery shopping online and had the goods delivered right to my door. Right to my kitchen, in fact.

Let me first be sure to note that this is not a sponsored post. This is me being pleased as can be that I got all this...

groceries