Helena and Erica came to visit two weeks ago. It was wonderful to see them both. Helena is growing so fast and developing her own little personality. I can tell she has a lot to say about the world around her! When her Daddy was little, he also had a lot to say! His vocabulary was tremendous and he especially liked to try out new long words. One time when he was very young, probably around 4 or 5 he discovered the word "defecate." Its such a great word to say, it kind of rolls off the tongue. Of course it was even more fun when his friends, not knowing what that word meant, would ask him for a definition!
      Here are the latest pictures of Helena that Erica emailed to me. I couldn't decide which I like the most, so I am going post most of them. A friend of mine told me a while back not to worry about not seeing one granddaughter as much as the other -I'll love them both equally. She was right! Although, when I see these pictures of Helena I miss her and can hardly wait to see her again!

Love - Grandma Howard

This is the story of Tansy.
Tansy unexpectedly came to us one summer day in 2003. Grandpa came back from the barn from the morning feeding of the horses and said "You'll never believe this, someone dumped off ten cats in our barn!"

Its a sad fact that when one lives in the country, stray cats are common. We already had so many cats, most of them wild, that we couldn't name them all. A lot of the cats lived in the woods and came into the barn for the cat food that we provided.  The cats that were somewhat friendly  would receive their vaccinations, a neuter or spay operation and worm medicine. That cats that remained wild or feral would miss out on the needed medical attention. They looked scrawny and ill kept and occasionally we would find them lying dead in the yard or barn.

Immediately we knew that the new cats had to have been someone's pets. They were all friendly. It looked like there were three adults and seven kittens. The mother cat was very young with longish hair, the male cat was a black long hair and the third cat was a gray female. Within days, all the new cats started dying. The young mother did her best to feed her babies while she herself became thinner and thinner. We took as many as we could up to the vet in town. We told the vet to give shots and to neuter or spay all that he could. I didn't hear back from him for two weeks. I assumed that all had died. One day I got a call from him saying come pick up your cat. My cat? What cat? I thought they had died. All did except the young mother, and the vet had kept it all this time until she was strong enough to be spayed. 

 We brought the young mother home, named her Tansy and marveled at her will to live. She was practically a walking skeleton for months. Finally she regained her health. Tansy seems to know that we saved her. She is now a house cat, she has no desire to venture outdoors. She is always ready to jump in our laps and purr and show affection. When I look at her I see one of God's creatures that had fallen upon hard times, and through sheer will and luck has survived to live the life of luxury. God loves all his creatures great and small...even little kitties.

Love, Grandma Howard

Elizabeth spent Easter weekend with Grandma and Grandpa and the following pictures are all from that weekend. Suzy and Dave were busy with Suzy being taken in the Catholic Church, so everyone felt the best solution was for Elizabeth to stay with us. Grandpa loves to read stories to Elizabeth and she likes it too. She has two favorite books, "Itsy, Bitsy Spider" and "Good Puppy". She likes Grandpa to read each of them ten times in a row. One time, Grandpa got tired of the same books, so he bought some new books to read. Elizabeth took one look at the new books and shoved them aside and pointed to her two old favorites. Grandpa can probably recite"Itsy, Bitsy Spider" and "Good Puppy" in his sleep.

Here is Elizabeth trying to feed herself. Is she going to be left-handed?
Here is Grandpa feeding Elizabeth her lunch. Can you believe all the snow we had on Easter weekend? It didn't feel like Easter or spring.
Elizabeth is trying to make her first Easter cookies.
Elizabeth loves to take baths!
Elizabeth sleeping, she looks like a little angel.
Elizabeth in her Easter dress on Sunday morning.

Here is Helena at three months. I just love the picture where she is just starting to cry. Her Greatgrandma Howard would have said "A little birdie is going to perch on that lip!" I love that picture not because sweet Helena is going to cry, I love that picture because everytime I see it it, I just want to hug Helena!  Love, Grandma

Dear GrandChildren,
       Here is a cartoon that I found last Sunday. It reminded me of your Grandpa. He is good at making up really silly stories. Just ask your Mom or Dad. I'm sure they can tell some really, really silly stories that Grandpa used to tell when they were little. He used to tell stories about all our cats getting together at the old school house down the road and playing cards. That's one the things that I love the best about your Grandpa, he really has a good imagination!

Love, Grandma Howard

  
  What can I say about Dave? The Golden Retriever. I have to clarify that because Elizabeth's daddy is named Dave and there is constant confusion - we yell "DAVE, GET IN HERE" and sometimes wonder who might come running. Although lately, Dave the Dog isn't doing much running. He kind of totters. Dave is fourteen which is very old for a Golden Retriever.
    Even though Dave is fourteen, totters around and is likely to tip over if a hard wind hits him, he still remembers his doggy instincts. He likes to take a morning walk with Grandpa. There was a time when he would trot ahead of everyone else, with Grandpa trailing behind carrying his cup of coffee. Now it is the reverse. Grandpa is in the lead with Dave trailing behind taking frequent breaks. He'll lay down for a while, gaze around the scenery, and just when you think you might have to go back and help him up, he'll heft himself to his feet and continue on the walk.
    Lately, Dave particularly enjoys his morning walks, because each night a herd of deer grazes in our yard, and the wonderful smells that these graceful  creatures leave behind absolutely makes Dave's nose twitch with excited anticipation. One day last fall, on an afternoon walk, Dave suddenly veered off the path and headed into the woods. Grandpa expected Dave to fall down as he climbed over the fallen branches on the ground. Instead, Dave somehow managed to stay on his feet and walked deeper into the woods. Grandpa followed him in, wondering what Dave could be doing. When Grandpa caught up with Dave, Dave was standing over a newly dead full grown deer. A hunter must have shot the deer earlier in the day, and the deer made its way into our woods and then collapsed and died. 
    Dave proudly stood over the deer as if he himself had personally bagged the trophy. Grandpa had to take Dave by the collar and lead him back to our yard and into the house. The excitement must have worn Dave out, because he slept most of the rest of the day on the rug in the kitchen.
    Dave spends most of his time sleeping now, occasionally his legs twitch and with eyes still closed he'll make a muffled woof. No doubt he is dreaming of chasing deer and capturing the biggest one. Dave's doggy instinct still lives strong in spite of arthritic legs and slowed responses. 
    Fourteen is not a bad age for a Golden Retriever. Every morning brings the anticipation of a morning walk with Grandpa, with exciting smells to discover. Every afternoon is the sweet pleasure of a dream- filled nap, and finally at night a supper with grilled chicken that Grandpa makes especially for Dave on the grill.

                                       Stories from Patriot Farm

                                                       
The stories I am about to tell  you are about real animals from a real place called Patriot Farms. There really is a mouse named Harold, a cat named Max, a cat named Lucky and miniature horse named LIttle Rascal. Each of these animals and their friends have many adventures. The first story I'd like to tell is about a little mouse named Harold.

Hi Elizabeth, Helena and anyone else who might stop by! 
    Welcome to Grandma's House. We'll have fun together with stories, games, arts and crafts and updates on what is going on with all the critters here at Grandma's house.  Sometimes I'll post photos and when I learn how to use the new camera that I got for Christmas from Grandpa, I'll post videos also. I'm looking forward to having lots of fun with you both!

Love, Grandma Howard