Reading Thinking and Resolutions

What a dynamite combination that is! Reading and thinking.

Too bad so many of us have put it aside for the incessant, increasing hubbub of life in general.

Me? I'm tired of making excuses for myself.

I want to grow up and activate that ancient vow of mine to arise every morning at 5am for the express purpose of reading and meditating for the first hour of each day * yawn/gasp! *

I want to be able to walk into my personal library unashamed for a change - hands on the hips - eyes surveying shelf after shelf of books all doggy-eared and dustfree!

I'd love for that Queen Anne's chair in the corner to lose its' pristine appearance.

I should

I would

I could

*sigh*

And now, for those smart people that DO make time for good reading - here's a blog post my daughter just sent me - wisely noting its appeal and kindly sharing it: Sister...show mercy!

... just one of the topics that never fail to stimulate vigorous discussion in our family circle.

And how I adore vigorous discussion.

She reads. Her husband reads. Her three toddlers read! A ton. Luv you kids. Tons more.

I think I'll be a more regular follower of this blog; it features a smorgasbord of thought provoking articles layed out in a highly polished format.

Fascinating.

So it's not a book! My laptop will superimpose nicely with it's metal spine and positioning as I lounge in that Queen Anne's chair creating a sinkhole like never before.

Should this confessional pledge of mine ever morph into a fast and furious habit, you'll be in the know, probably without even saying so.

Little packages are the BEST

Another summer sleepover to hang out with gramma. This time we had some special surprise visitors...

The first order of the day is the now standard breakfast from McDonalds on the back porch.

It's a tad surreal to walk into that local breakfast joint and see who's gracing the tables - all bespectacled retired folk in crowns of gray!

...I take mine to go.

This is Norman. Brother to black Benji. They dropped by with their owner, Auntie Pauline for a rousing session of socialization. Aunt Pauline is a highly favoured family relation whose popularity only pales slightly when accompanied by Uncle GERRY! Can you hear them squealing out his name?

A nippy morning dictates a pass through the cupboards to find some makeshift sweaters.

Barbie sports the same wild tousled hairdo and shades of her playmate for the day...

It took less than a minute to forge a bond with these two sets of siblings.

Somehow, I knew it wouldn't be long before their passive nature was exploited. This almost trumps Thomas the Train!

Norman's look of resignation is even funnier with Micah's mischievous countenance behind it.

Look gramma, he loves me.

Best friends - for the moment

Rachel cracks me up but...

...this kid just makes me howl. She insists on doing EVERYTHING her older siblings do and then some more. Her zest for life is infectious.

I coaxed him down, training the camera lens on his expression. He wisely predicted I wouldn't be able to catch him at the bottom and gave me the most hilarious look of betrayal when he landed in a heap on the grass.

Rays of sunshine bounce off the slide and light up a beautiful expression of my little elfin grand-daughter.

These three revel in the outdoors and teach me much about savouring the simple pleasures in this life.