Sunday, September 15, 2013

Camp Grandma ~ July 26 to July 27, 2013

~ Angel/fairy garden cottages decorated with Mother Nature & a little bit of sparkle ~







First things first....dinner! Found the recipe for 'Stone Soup' online. Some alterations for the recipe were made as Anna scrubbed the stone thoroughly with 'anti-bacterial' soup (certainly a must do.). We also made tasty croutons for the soup. Our recipe for 'Stone Soup' turned out pretty tasty & the array of different veggies & pasta the girls brought were appreciated.  A lot of  washing and chopping went into our creation. Stone soup? In a nut shell the meaning of the story as I explained (in the very limited time on hand) everyone has something to give, to contribute. Read the story if you have a chance...it's very meaningful.

After dinner our grand daughters  shared the camp names they chose; which we called one another for fun during our camp time together. The campers then decorated their caps...very creative! Camp names...

Bubbles      Little Sis     Cookie     Big Sis   Blue Angel    Nintendo

Early evening with our butterfly net & clean jar w/punched holes in hand, everyone headed out into the lovely sun set evening to catch fire flies. Fun especially for the little ones. Some of the little dreamy fire flies were caught by hands. We didn't stay out very long...we didn't want to catch chiggers.  No thank you.

The surprise movie was 'Santa Puppies' a new/old flick for our six grand daughters  (they have probably seen every Disney movie under the sun more at least twice however not his one). A little Christmas in July 'so to speak' as our large window air conditioner blew at the highest setting in the front living room. A 'made up' bedtime story and soft relaxing music set the pace for a peaceful sleep for all the little ladies tucked in their sleeping bags in the fireplace room. 

Saturday Activities packed!  The weather was just perfect...mid 80's with lots of sunshine. For breakfast the menu was to have a 'Cowboy breakfast' of scrambled eggs with chopped up bacon, plenty of oven cinnamon toast & milk. Hum! There were plenty of fresh country eggs on hand that we purchased from our neighbor friend Sherry.

After breakfast some of the girls and I jumped into creating the Angel/fairy garden cottages. Their Grandpa Michael build the houses from wood and the girls brought them over painted green and ready to go. As you can see in the photos...we used all sorts of natural items such as sticks...seashells...different dried plants...rocks and other fun items available such as ribbon and gem stones. One really special item was the fairy dress the girls made... so realistic for one pf the imaginary friends.

Creating pray flags came next...to send a message into the wind! Oh they turned out so pretty! One painted with different colored flowers...read....Bloom Where You're Planted. Another with a big beautiful heart!

After a quick lunch...off to meet Sherry and learn about her many animals. The plan was to make it a hike however...with our full schedule I decided it best to drive the van. It was a wonderful visit with Sherry at her farm. So many different animals...they have a beautiful horse, two calves, rabbits, dogs, chickens, a rooster, cats, kittens and birds!
 

Next a long hike off  to the beach near our farmhouse...talking about the beauty of nature on the way. The sand castles turned out very pretty and we especially liked the sand angel created. A rest after returning...Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z

The fried chicken dinner turned out wonderful. Our special guests...Mama, Papa and Grandpa pa. One of my  favorite moments was going around the table listening to each one of the girls share what they discovered at Camp Grandma. While I was preparing dinner, I asked the girls to take a piece of paper from their 'A Charmed Life' art folder that I gave to each one of them and make a note of 'what they discovered'. You can imagine that I discovered quite a few new things myself. 

After dinner I gifted each of our grand daughters a special 'Camp Grandma' charm for a memory of our time together summer 2013. On the veranda all the girls held a talent show as I invited them to share some of the gifts God has given to each one of them. There was dancing, singing and silliness. We did...rock it with fun at Camp Grandma! My lovely daughter in law even performed a song called.....'Camp Grandma'.


"On the invitation...what to pack?....comfortable clothes, shoes and flip flops (we'll build sand castles at the beach near our Arkansas River) sleeping bag, can of veggies for our stone soup...we're going to "rock it" with fun all day long, a camera, you creative ideas and an open mind & heart."


Our beagle Benedict was in for all the fun!

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Happy 61st birthday Randy! We love you!

What a great time we're having celebrating Randy's birthday today! Our visit to Amy's has been so much fun! A few pictures to share...that's Cody our awesome grandson driving us to see the Community garden. So pretty!

Grand papa and Cody

Cody & Amy's garden
 
Indian pepper plants are quite colorful and plants were everywhere... re-seeded  each year with Mother Nature's help Amy was told.

Amy shared with me that Sabbu (one of the community gardeners) planted this row of corn so that everyone can have some at Thanksgiving. How thoughtful is that!
Yes, there was even a little butterfly garden. Just didn't get a photo.
The community 'Herb Garden' (pictured above) for everyone to enjoy. The Lemon grass smells so wonderful...I'm just not sure what to do with it. Any ideas?

A fantastic 'Seafood boil' birthday dinner! Oh my it was incredibly good. Randy said it was the best birthday dinner he's ever had.
 Crab legs, potatoes, sausage, shrimp, lobster, corn on the cob!
Our other handsome grandson Darian!
His favorite...chocolate cake. Complete with hugs, kisses, cards, birthday presents and best wishes.
How I love that man wearing the funny cap! Randy is such a great guy and I'm sure God danced the day he was born. Maybe some year we can vacation in the Bahamas, his choice for a dream destination trip. Oh yeah...count me in!!

Friday, July 5, 2013

2013 Ginda ~ Powell Family Reunion Memories

Ginda ~ Powell Family Reunion ~ June 2013

The Family Birthday Party Celebration
Six family birthdays where celebrated ~ Helen, Paul, Jason, Cody, Anna and little Alex
Brooke, Destiny, Helen & Paul
Jeanette Richard, Emily & Karen

 Amy & Nate
Ann and Michael
 Michael, Ann & Patricia Rose
Sleepy head! Too much fun!
Alex
Chris, Amy & Patty
Amy (explaining game)

Chris, Amy & Darian


Helen ~ 82 years "beautiful & young at heart"
Having fun!

Sister & Brother (Helen & Paul)
Helen with gift from Ann ~ charms created from her Grandmother's China.So awesome!!
 


 Darian's High School Graduation Party!
The good times rolled on & on...

Amy & Ann


Amy & Aaron (Greg's son)


Corn Hole any one? This was so much fun! Especially with family!
Darian, Helen & Randy
 

 Powell Farm 'family dinner'
Patty in the farm kitchen preparing...

 Family Tree Tea
Ann & Kari helped decorate for the tea at the farm house. Many thanks!!



"Ann" Really? Yes!




 Target Shooting at Powell Farm











My first Tea pot in photo above. I received it from my Mother when I was 12 years old.





Kira & Ann
Choose a cup that 'speaks' to you.





Ann brought me a gift. Thank you Ann!! This magazine is SO NEAT!

Amy & her 'very special' gift from Ann. A family treasured tea cup & saucer.

Priceless treasured memories to be savored in life.

Blessed,
Patty in Oz