Twins, what a blessing!

 Many years ago, a little boy wanted a doll.  He wanted to pretend to be a Daddy, and a wonderful Daddy to "Emily" he was... Except for the time he forgot Emily in the catalog department at JC Penney, but she was quickly found and reunited.  On March 15th, our son Jonathan, Emily's Dad became a real Daddy to two beautiful girls!

 Stevie Kristen and Irene Rose came into the world at 34 weeks. Beautiful Charlotte struggled to keep them for as long as she could, but when it became dangerous for Mom and babies, they were delivered/

 The girls came into the world tiny but mighty.  Within a few days Stevie was off the ventilator, and was not having the breathing tube.  She's strong just like the Grandpa she was named after. Stevie figured out that if she raises her arm to expose the temperature monitor, the heat in her bed goes on.  They can't keep her arm covered, she wants it free.  Jon is sure she knows exactly what she's doing.

 Irene is hungry.  She will finish her bottle and look for more.  She will lie on her Daddy, skin to skin and put her tiny face right in his chest.  Try to more her into another position and she returns to face first.  Maybe she loves the way Daddy smells.

I've known that Jon would be a good Dad, but the transformation was instant.  He told me he cannot imagine his life now without his girls.  Going home without them is painful for him.  It makes me so very proud of the sweet, sensitive yet strong son we raised.  Very much like his own Dad, and my dear Dad.  They are the best examples of Fatherhood, and Jon has learned from the best.

 Charlotte, the Woman of the Year!  Recovery from a C-section is no picnic.  Carrying twins to 34 weeks is heroic.  Charlotte is the sweetest Mom, and a fighter too. We could not be there for the births, but Charlotte's Mom was close by and got to see them very soon after birth.  Roseann is a special woman, and we will be a great Grandma team.

 We haven't seen the girls except on face time.  Grandpa had some severe health problems the same week that the girls were born.  We were in one hospital while the girls were in another miles and miles away.

 Auntie Kristen had food poisoning and was so sick at home. Kris felt so helpless, not being able to help Charlotte or Dad and Mom.  It was not a week I would care to relive. We were each on our own but connected by text messages.  When my dearest was admitted to the emergency room, Jon and Mike came to be with us.  That very night in a suburb an hour away, they decided to take the babies, but then changed their minds and set a time for the delivery on Friday.  Jon traveled back and forth that night.  We didn't know what was wrong with my hubby, or when the babies would be born, and if they were ready or when Kris would start to feel better.  It tested all of us, but, we're Willoughbys damn it, and we persevered.  (We use this phrase in the face of adversity, and it always makes us smile.)   

 To make this very long story short...
The babies are thriving.  They are breathing on their own and eating, gaining weight.  They still have a while to spend in the hospital, but Charlotte has been released. Kristen is fine.  She was able to finally see us the day my dearest was released from the hospital.

There is a Ronald McDonald House close to the hospital 

so that Charlotte and Jon can be close to the twins, and to each other. 

My dearest, after more tests and procedures than anyone should have to go through,

 is home with me, on the mend and doing so much better.  This conjuncture of events tested all of us. I could not be more proud of our kids who stepped up for their Dad and me, and for each other.  Only my sons could make us laugh in an emergency room so hard that I cried.  A tech came in and told us that everyone was talking about us, I thought we might be too loud, but he said everyone was saying how nice we all were.  Mikey came with us for tests, so I wouldn't need to wait alone.  Constant contact by texts with Jon and Charlotte, Mike and Amanda and Kristen and Doug kept up every ones spirits and added a bit of humor to even the hardest days. Our family has grown by two, but what those tiny girls have gained is immense.  A family that truly loves and cares for each other.  

Selfless and compassionate. 

Welcome to the family Stevie and Irene.  We already love you both so much.  Having three granddaughters surpasses all of our dreams. Penny is ready to lead the pack, and a wonderful example she is.  Fun, smart, kind and beautiful, inside and out, just like Stevie and Irene will be. 

 We are so very blessed.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny    

Sunshine and Shadows

 A long week and a quiet weekend. A visit from our girl on Friday.  We crafted and played.  She lights up the house.  Always busy, filled with great ideas and fun. It rained like crazy on Saturday and Sunday was long and quiet.  Usually my favorite day, daylight savings and all.  It wasn't till late in the day the sun came out.

 I followed the sun, upstairs and down.

 Outside, as the sun was setting.  At 7:00 it still was light.  Hooray!

 Even with all the rain, the ground is still frozen and covered in ice.

 This week the temperatures will warm.  This morning I heard birds singing.

 Spring is around here somewhere.

"Hope springs eternal in the human breast."-Alexander Pope

"A light exists in Spring, Not present in the year

at any other period

When March is scarcely here."

- Emily Dickinson

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny

Today was a good day...

 This cold weather is getting me down, but there is still good everyday, even with a -14 wind chill.

My geraniums are blooming, such a pleasant contrast to the cold outside.  The sun is shining!

 It's so much easier to bear any burdens on a sunny day.

 This could be a root or could be a sprout on my orchid.  My SIL Elizabeth brings home all the orphaned plants from work, then shares them with her family and friends. Seems everyone has had a blooming orchid.  My green thumb only extends to the outdoors...with the exception of my geranium, who likes me. My hope springs eternal.

A few of the gardening gifts from my birthday, ready to go.  We still have all of March, all of April, and at least two weeks in May according to the zone 5A growing map. 

 By then, we will also have two little sprouts of the baby kind. 

We helped the parents to be with computer issues, (my dearest computer guy) and with getting the girl's room in order. Those girls have literally hundreds of socks!  Thanks to Grandma Roseann, a beautiful chest of drawers that will hold them, and all their other clothes.

 While my regular Monday chores wait, I started to paint a few boards.  Where this spurt of creativity came from, I don't know.  I hope to make a few signs, something I saw by a talented artist, but easy enough that I might be able to make also.  We will see.

 My darling babygrand insists on calling my dress form Esmeralda, when her proper name is Elise, like Elise McKenna in Somewhere in Time.  Funny, because my Dad called our Kris and me Esmeralda occasionally. I was putting these roses away and thought they would be a beautiful addition to my little vignette.  I have to clean my sewing room before moving Elise there.

 My eyes are bad and I do not see the frayed edges of the flowers until I look at the photos.

Soon new glasses! 

 Little spots of spring.

 After removing the Valentine's decorations, 

there is a cleansing moment, 

and a slow cleaning and decorating for Spring and Easter.

 Paper Source Peony Kit from a few years ago. It goes everywhere, including a stint on the front door.

It's just paper, but has not faded or come apart. 

 A gift from my daughter.  These succulents I will not kill, they are faux.  

Click on it to enlarge.

Have you seen this post on facebook?  It's been posted a few times, and I hope that you'll read it if you haven't already.  It's about attitude and perspective. When I read it first on Maria Shriver's page, I though, what's up?  She is always so positive and encouraging.  Then you get to the bottom.  Today was a good day!

 Elizabeth knows my affection for Smokey.  She found me this old comic. 

This Wednesday starts Lent.  Just weeks till Easter.

I have already had my first paczki.  

We wait for the Spring, most importantly for our girls safe and healthy arrival.

For the new parents to be, we've got your backs.  

The whole lot of us are baby crazy, and can't wait to help.

Jon and Charlotte are so ready. 

 They are experienced baby wranglers,

 and the sweetest, funniest and most loving couple.  

Grateful as always for our many blessings.

Thanks for stopping by and for your friendship.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny

The Birds, the Wind and a Monkee.

All the springtime I can muster right now.

 Whenever we get to share time with our baby grand we have fun.  Started the day with breakfast at Penny's pretend restaurant Schrammy's.  Penny made up the name years ago.  She always liked to pretend to be a waitress and take our orders.  We recently remembered Schrammy's and it's still fun.  This time I was the cook.  Penny woke up saying, remember that time you made me a big breakfast with bacon and hash browns...  Luckily I had everything on hand.  Grandpa enjoyed the menu too.   I had my oatmeal.  Like Bert from Bert and Ernie, I like mine plain, with a little salt. (Just because I was under the weather with a head cold.)

 I had the sewing machine up, working on some service projects.  I knew that Penny was just the right age to get a sewing lesson.  She really took to sewing, must be in her DNA.  First we sewed a pillow for her American Girl Doll.  I worked the foot petal and she guided the fabric.

Penny asked if I had stuffing, and of course I did. 

 She was very proud of her first finished sewing project.

The she eyed the bags of pillowcases, and started to work on those.  Penny sewed 7 pillowcases and unfurled them.  I think this is the start of something.  Penny said, all I need is a sewing machine.  I told her this WAS her sewing machine, since Kristen borrowed it to me when my machine wasn't working.  Penny loved sewing. It was a proud moment for both of us.

 We braved the rain and cold for a trip to our favorite nursery to see some owls and a beautiful kestrel.  The show was run by a local rescue.  We attended last year and this year Penny picked the first row to get a good look.  Then, Penny came back a row to sit with us when the 

Great Horned Owl looked at her.

This guy was big and not too happy.

This little guy was sweet not scary.

 We shopped the nursery after the show. 

Penny and Grandpa both thought we need this

 rocker on our deck at home. 

Since our girl is into technology,

 I was so happy when she pulled out the toys and pretended.

As the wind outside gusted to almost 60 mph, we were cozy and snug.  

A big pot of soup on the stove, and a great weekend with our  girl.

On the way home with Mom and Dad, she lost the tooth that had been hanging by a thread all weekend.

Now about that Monkee.  Peter Tork, died last week after a long illness.  I was saddened by his passing, a part of my youth I enjoy remembering.  A wall full of posters of the Monkees decorated my early teen bedroom.  My Dad made a special trip to a music store downtown to buy me a tambourine, just like Davy played in the group.  All the albums, the TV show and the songs.  I have a few favorite songs from the guys on my itunes and a few CDs since I have no turntable.  Not that the records would play...we used to stack pennies on the tone arm so the records wouldn't skip.  I'd bring my record player out to the front porch.  A long extension cord coming from the second floor so we could listen to Monkee music with our friends.  

We recently saw Michael Nesmith at a concert in Chicago.  Mike mostly played his own music, but at the end when he played a song from the old days, everyone sang along.  Now Kris and Doug enjoy the Monkees and Penny is a fan too.  She even went to see Micky and Mike with her Mom and Dad. That's how we ended up seeing Mike in concert.  Kris was so sorry that I wasn't at the concert with Mike and Micky, she kept on saying, Mom should be here.  When after quadruple bypass surgery Mike went back on the road, Kris and Doug bought us tickets and that's the concert we saw together.   Another memory, so sweet.  I remember that girl I was then in the sixties, she's still in me.  Still loving music, cute boys (now I have one) and knee high fringed boots like Peter wore.  RIP Peter.

One last thing, did everyone love the duet by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper on the Oscars last night?  I've been listening to the soundtrack for weeks, but haven't seen the movie yet.  It was so romantic.  This morning I played Shallow for my hubby as he showered.  The foolishness he puts up with.  Anyway I am a fool for love and romance, and that performance last night was priceless.

Thanks for stopping by and for your kindness.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny

Will you still need me, when I'm 64?

Like a broken record, we had MORE snow.  It's so beautiful, especially in the sunshine. We had a thirty day stretch that every day we had either rain or snow, or everything in between. Still I'm a winter girl.  Nothing is as beautiful to me as the combination of sunshine and snow.

It was Valentine's week which also is my birthday week.

 My dearest really surprised me with this metal dress form.  When we go to sales and thrifts, I am always on the lookout for a dress form.  The reason, this dress.  It's a Jessica McClintock, Gunne Sax.  All the rage in the 70's.  When this giant box arrived I could not imagine what my sweetheart ordered.  Then, he said it was for me!  As soon as I realized what it was, I let hubby handle the construction as I ran upstairs to get THE DRESS!  It was a perfect fit!  Do you have that one dress, that special dress you felt beautiful in, that really was YOU?  Well, that's what I thought about this dress.

 I didn't have a photo of me in it.  Even my BFF Sue looked in her vast archives of our youth and couldn't find one.  I posted the photo of the dress to Facebook and my oldest niece Michele posted this pic. How groovy were we?!  Circa 1975.  I have no recollection of the place or the occasion, and my niece doesn't know.  It was a great surprise in a birthday filled with fun and wonderful surprises.

Just for comparison, we still look exactly the same...a least to each other.

That's true love!

 Penny and Aunt Elizabeth frosted and decorated the cupcakes Penny and I baked.

We celebrated all the February family birthdays.  Son Jonathan and son in law Doug and I share this birthday month.

Penny picked the menu.  We were going to order out, then Penny suggested lasagna, so that's what we had with coleslaw that was requested by my dearest and our darling daughter Kristen, meatballs for Jon and my brother Greg.  Cupcakes and magnum bars for dessert.  (Penny's favorite.)  Everyone ate except our dear Mom to be Charlotte.  Tomatoes do not agree with her right now, but Charlotte and the girls enjoyed dessert. (The babies are especially active when Charlotte has a treat!)

 I had some flour sack towels I silk screened for the girls. I got so many visits, cards and beautiful gifts. I had a very happy birthday.  Showered with hugs, kisses and love, my favorite gifts.

"Friends are forever, you might lose them but you'll never forget them."

Last week I lost a friend, a Guild Sister, our Angel Adeline.

Adeline was our oldest member.  We shared our Polish heritage and shared memories of some really happy times. 

Adeline and Ed on their wedding day.

A beautiful couple, together forever.

"Don't be dismayed at goodbyes.  A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or a lifetime, is certain for those, who are friends."

-Richard Bach

 I recently found this pillow at the thrift.  About 20 inches square, down filled.

I love a bargain! Kris has a new sofa and rug for their living room.  

The sofa is navy and the rug is mostly orange.

She loved the pillow. 

 Back to reality.  The bed is already stripped and made with fresh sheets and pillowcases.  The first load laundry should be done.  Valentine decorations to be put away and springtime pops of color to replace the red.  So grateful for...everything! Thanks for stopping by and for your kindness.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny