Grandma's Gleanings
Words and Thoughts from Grandma
There is nothing quite as enjoyable for a grandma than to grab a good book, a comfy blanket, a cherished grandchild, and spend a few moments sharing a story together. I read Goodnight Moon to my granddaughter with such frequency that even my aging brain had the words memorized. But I dreaded when my …
Most times the news is so dreadfully depressing that it becomes a struggle to sit through the entire broadcast, but today I watched a story that made me giggle. It seems that the state of Florida has experienced a cold spell recently and some of the wildlife was having quite a unique reaction. Iguanas …
It’s a classic entry science experiment for kids, assembled thousands of time a year in classrooms across the country. A bit of baking soda, some vinegar, and a touch of food coloring and you have all the ingredients for some frothy, messy, hands-on fun for kids of any age…their very own volcano. But there …
An amazing thing happens when God’s Word is embedded in our hearts and minds, the Holy Spirit has a deep well of rich resources from which to draw when needed. That fact was refreshed in my mind after receiving a message from a dear friend. On a recent skiing trip, her son found himself …
The admonition to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes means that before judging someone, you must understand his experiences, challenges, weaknesses and thought processes. The complete idiom is: Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. Practice empathy; be sensitive to the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another. I gained appreciation …
In the course of my teaching career, I have been fortunate enough to have encountered a myriad of some truly gifted young people. I met one such student in the autumn years of my teaching career. This young lady was simply amazing; she could take a camera and not only capture what the camera saw, …
If one were to open a well-used cupboard in my kitchen, they would be greeted by a humorous picture dating back to the mid 1970’s. The photo depicts my hubby, before age had grayed his hair and increased his wisdom, holding onto a wing of our raw, first Thanksgiving turkey. That picture invokes deep memories …
Surrounding our small country cottage is a canopy of lovely, mature maple trees, providing us shade from the heat of summer and a beautiful tapestry of color in the fall. But there is that moment every year when I sincerely ponder having those trees felled to the ground. God provides the maple tree seed …
Run for Your Lives! On June 1, 1889, newspapers across the United States bore the news that Johnstown, Pennsylvania, had been ravaged by the most devastating flood in our young nation’s history. Johnstown, comprised of German and Welsh immigrants, was a growing and industrious community, well-known for the high quality of steel produced there. …
When we were youngsters, my dear sister was always on the lookout for creative expansion in our lives. She surpassed me in her boldness and adventure seeking, and thankfully, she would often drag her less outgoing, more reluctant, baby sister with her. I did learn a lot during the lets-try-ceramics phase of life, when …
This has been one weird winter here in western Pennsylvania! The past few days have been short sleeve/flip flop weather…downright balmy…tempting us with thoughts of spring. Our outdoor kitties are contentedly sprawled out on the deck, taking in every warm ray of sunshine. I’m sure that even one or two confused crocuses were tempted …
He was just a high school kid, trying to find a part-time job to help cover his college fees, car expenses, and provide a bit of spending money. Who would have known that years later, that job would morph into a living, as he would become the store manager of that establishment? This young …
Perched along the shore of freshwater Lake Michigan, Chicago is the third most populous city in the United States, and the fifth most populated metropolis in all North America. But in October 8, 1871, a huge conflagration, fed by a period of hot, dry, windy weather, and fueled by the wooden construction prevalent throughout …
Does anyone know where they go? How is it that a harried housewife can have ten socks go into the dryer, and only nine survive the process? Is there a secret escape hatch inside that metal cylinder that serves as a time-travel portal to a parallel universe where socks find a respite from smelly …
There is nothing quite so satisfying on a brisk winter night as a bowl of rich, hearty soup. My dad, a first-generation immigrant from Italy, was a pure master when it came to the kitchen, especially regarding soups and stews. One trip to the small garden in our back yard and he could throw together …