Happy 11th Birthday Katya!

Eleven years ago you were born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and you made me a grandma!

Let's go back to 8 months before that. I was out doing my annual day after Xmas shopping and came home to a message from your mom to call her. When I did, she gave me the big news that she was pregnant. I was jumping all around the kitchen as I was so excited and thrilled! She'd bought an at home pregnancy kit and it showed that she was. Back I went to Lord & Taylor the next night after work and bought two gingham Xmas stockings - one in pink and one in blue. Now the wait began.

I started unisex baby shopping immediately but had to wait another 4 months to get her call at work telling me, "It's a GIRL?" I think the whole dept. heard my screams of joy! I had been hoping, hoping, hoping for a granddaughter. Now the baby girl shopping and knitting began.

When I next saw your mother, it was about 2 months before you were born. I picked her up at the train from NYC and my eyes bulged out as she was BIG! Last time I'd seen her, she was a size 5.

We had a fun summer talking about the baby and the baby shower I gave her in one of the historic buildings at Miss Porter's School and soon it came to an end. The night before the shower your father had to take her to the emergency room with pains. Of course her being in a limbo contest while teaching ALPS at Dartmouth a few weeks earlier did not help. I told her I was having the shower with or without her as I'd paid the rental for the building and spent over $300 at the grocery store for food and had done lots of cooking. Fortunately it was a false call and they returned from the ER (after the doctor gave her a lecture about doing the limbo in her late state of pregnancy).

She flew back to Michigan the day after the shower and it was the last day she could fly according to the doctor.

I was getting nervous the last month and called her daily. Bet that doesn't surprise you. When you were born, it was so exciting and I couldn't wait to see pictures. Mom and Dad emailed them to me. You were a gorgeous baby with blond hair, blue eyes and perfect skin (and all the necessary parts). You came home in a white smocked dress I'd bought for you. See, I started with those smocked dresses from Day One. You also wore a baby blue fancy sweater that I had knit when I was pregnant with her.

Originally I was suppose to fly out a few days after your birth but I was sick all week and home from work with a sinus infection and bronchitis. I delayed my flight a week. I thought your father would come for me at the airport and what a surprise to also see your mom there pushing you in the stroller. I just looked at you in the airport and car as I didn't want to touch you until I washed and changed my clothes from the trip.

My stay was full of holding you, rocking you, taking you for walks, doing laundry (lots of it), cooking, etc. I hated to say goodbye to you but the trip came to an end.

I've loved every stage you've grown through and am so proud to be your grandma. You are a bright, lovely, talented girl and I can't wait to see what the future holds for you.

This Was After Four Glasses of Wine

Set the stage:

We're back at where we lived summers at our beach cottage. Many old friends that I've known all my life along with new friends here at the beach are making it like old home week. It's a small beach community on the CT shore. Mostly "New Englandy" style cottages and year round homes. My great grandfather built our beach cottage and it was in the family until about 12 years ago so we go way back on the Point.

Many afternoons lead into early evening and we are still on the beach. Tonight there were about a dozen of us with everyone contributing to happy hour that lasted for about 3 hours. After the big box of wine, people went up to raid their refrigerators for more wine. We had a spread from cheese and crackers to shrimp cocktail.

One of the friends' guest had her paddle board and most everyone was taking a turn on it. Natalia and Tami took right to it. After everyone had had their turns (and after my 4th glass of wine), I decided that I should try it as the next to the oldest on the beach. Well, I got up on my feet and paddled around before deciding it was time to paddle while kneeling. I never fell off so I'd say I am a cool grandma.

Enjoy the video.

Natalia took to it much more quickly; unfortunately I can't video of her to upload right now. More to come in the next days!

Highlights

Muscovites arrived two weeks ago and it's been so busy and hectic.

Last week Katya and I went to NYC for 4 days of jam packed tourist sightseeing. Wonderful time. Going with her is so special and she has such an interest in anything dealing with American history, science or intellectual that it is fun taking her to all the places and seeing her soak it all in.

The highlights of Ellis Island was when Katya found her great grandparents' names engraved on the wall. They came together from Holland and Germany as newlyweds to start their lives here in the great US of A. I took several pictures of their names.

Katya went off to overnight camp last Sunday for two weeks. She just loves it at camp and could not wait to go. This is her second summer there. I went for many summers there as did my father. Legacy! Natalia will join her sister there next summer and my daughter will have some well deserved time to herself.

The two cars are PACKED to the gill with everything but the kitchen sink. I even brought a small air conditioner. We are off to the beach. Tami rented a cottage for two weeks. I'll be there for the first week and then go back for the last night. My SIL arrives on the 22nd so he'll have a full week there with them. They get Katya from camp next Saturday morning so she'll have her week at the beach too. This is the same beach where my family had a beachfront cottage since my great grandfather built it. Unfortunately it was sold about 12 years ago.

Surprise!

Aliens have landed! Stranger things have happened... Such as a PHOTO—no, make that TWO PHOTOS—appearing in this blog!

Here's a guest post by the daughter with the camera... These two are so darn adorable together... They're now snuggled up while we read...

The Big Apple

Grandma Streusel (moi) and Katya are off in the early AM to NYC for 4 days of sightseeing.

What I've been up to....

• Weeding


• Planting


• Transplanting


• Shoveling mulch into the wheelbarrel and them spreading it in perennials beds and shrub beds


• Cleaning


• Sweating big time


• Taking 2 Advil after the above


• Cleaning


• Why you ask? The Muscovites arrive on Friday night!!!!!!!!

H & H

I hate heat and humidity and it's due to be 97 today and 100 tomorrow. Not my thing. Give me the weather we had on Saturday asI loved it. It was in the high 70's or low 80's, dry air, full sun and always a good breeze - perfect. Guess I'll be staying inside the next few days in the A/C.

Thank you to the person that invented A/C. He/she was probably like me and hated heat and humidity.