I have fond memories of going to my grandmother’s home in the country, a few hours drive from our home in the city. It was such a different setting. Everyone always felt so comfortable and loved at grandma’s.

(We have chickens. Kids love all animals!)

Pigeons Too!

My husband has been an avid Racing Homer fan since childhood. This is an exciting hobby, raising this specific breed of pigeon whose purpose is to take out and release and they fly back home. There is a wonderful story of how these very intelligent birds were used in WWII to get across enemy lines. They are a lot of fun and the kids are fascinated with them. Photo below is a baby pigeon.

PIGEONS….

Sharing the Love

The look says it all!

Stages of Life

As children enter the stage of life when school begins, they become exposed to things outside the home environment. They soon learn that the world doesn’t love them the way Mom, Dad, Grandparents or Guardians love them in an unconditional way. They learn that if they behave a certain way or excel in something they will get good feedback and bad feedback if the opposite is the case.

I think the purpose of Grandparents is to provide an environment free of expectations, one where they can come and just hang out in a safe environment where no one is judging them by their achievements and they know they are accepted not because of what they do but because they exist.

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

At this stage of my life, I’m more concerned about wanting my home to feel comfortable, where family and friends want to come. My “Dream Home” is not so much about the architecture or the furnishings (although that is still something I love) as it is about the PEOPLE who reside and visit here.

Of course, being in the interior decorating business (I had a custom paint/decorating business) I am concerned about the aesthetic appearance of my home and yard but creating a fun and safe place for my grand-kids to come is at the core of what I visualize for the best home/yard features.

I have visions of my home and yards being a big, sprawling Tasha Tudor Style environment, a place where kids can spread out and explore.

To visit a world apart from video games and high tech things, although, I have those things on hand and they come in handy for some quiet, down-time. I just hope I can lure them away from a steady dose of those techy things to the unique adventures, the “secret gardens”, awaiting discovery at Grandma’s House.

Outside Activities

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INDOORS

“…..doing things I used to do, they think are new…”

Dilly loves to play with my turtle collection. She spreads them all out on the floor and sets them all up “just so”. I remember doing this when I was a little girl at my aunt’s house, with her china knick-knacks, she trusted me with her special things and I was careful, just like Dylan is.

DRESS-UP

I had a big chest I would keep pretty fabric and dress-up clothes in. The girls loved to put on fashion shows, creating something even out of a big piece of silk fabric, etc. Often in a store, I would let them try on something easy and snap a photo. It was loads of fun!

Pretty in Pink

Mtn Man Rondy

Ten Gallon Hat

Adult Kids Years Ago

Creating Fun Spaces

When I moved into my mother’s home, to help take care of her in her 90’s, I had the whole upstairs to decorate as I chose.

The Art Wall

One thing I did was create a library/media/play room for when the grand-kids came to visit. One of my favorite aspects of this room was the “Art Wall”. My husband installed dry erase marker board (the white, shiny panels) across one whole wall. I wish I had put metal behind it so it could also have been a magnet board as well; later I will do this in my new place. This was such a fun place when various grandkids would come and sit and draw. Sometimes it was really hard to erase the elaborate artwork they had done, but I had to eventually so more could add theirs and it could be an ongoing activity. Here are some examples:

I had a hard time erasing this wall!

The Kid’s Outdoor Play Structure

A lot of family members pitched it and we built this piece by piece. A wonderful, large grapevine shaded the top in the summertime. The kids and the birds would stuff themselves with grapes. A sandbox was to the right of it at ground level.