My Grandma Vacation: New Projects

Now that the Memorial Day weekend is over, I’m taking a three-week break from blogging, returning June 17. While on vacation, I’ll be tackling some new projects to engage and entertain.

Although the U.S. is gradually opening up, Steve and I will continue to stay at home. I’ll miss traveling to an interesting destination for a real vacation. BUT…

I will not be bored. I’m making a list of all I hope to accomplish in the next three weeks. I just want a chunk of time to do them all, without distractions.

To check my progress on my new projects while on vacation, follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

New Project #1: Cleaning Out and Cleaning Up

This is a good time for sorting and discarding possessions. The pandemic has taught me that material things aren’t all that important. Actually, while I dislike housework, I love cleaning out drawers and closets. I feel such a sense of accomplish when the work is done.

• Photo albums: I’m tossing some of my mom’s albums–not the wonderful black-and-white shots, or her family pictures, but more contemporary ones from various vacations. If I don’t do it, one day my kids will have to. I’ll scan the best pics and also consolidate them into one album.
• iPhone photos: I have 27,500 photos uploaded to iCloud and even more on Google Photos. It’s time to do some digital housecleaning.
• Kitchen drawers: I know if I clean out kitchen drawers and organize the contents, I’ll cook more efficiently. Here’s one utensil drawer I’ve completed already.

• Bookshelves: We must have about a thousand books–fiction, nonfiction, art books, and hundreds of cookbooks. It’s time to weed them out and keep the best.
• Office files and work samples: I’ve saved select pieces from my work as a newspaper and magazine food editor, freelance writer for the Associated Press, and public relations materials for clients…who would ever look through them all?
• Magazines: I’ve saved a few stacks through the years. I’m determined to tear out relevant articles, file them, and toss the rest. Mostly these are food and Christmas craft pubs.

New Project #2: Pursuing My Interests

• Cooking and baking new recipes: All my friends are cooking and baking up a storm–especially beautiful breads from sourdough starters. I’m late to the game, but I’d like to try this, too.
• Fancy drinks: This seems a good time to learn to make fancy cocktails. BevMo delivers!

• Gardening: Taking care of houseplants in our atrium, as well as yard plants, is a satisfying way to nurture green and growing things.
• Making movies: I’d like to create movies with my travel photos and make other movies with photos of the grandchildren. I’m looking forward to mastering iMovie.

• Decoupaging eggs: A project I started years ago and plan to revisit, cutting images from high-quality papers and gluing to empty egg shells is a calming hobby. Mounded in a glass bowl, the decorated eggs make an eye-catching table centerpiece.
• Creating books: I plan to make a book of photos of our Christmas ornaments and tell their stories. We have hundreds of ornaments collected over many years. The kids won’t want them all, so a book will sustain those Christmas memories. I also want to make a book of my holiday table settings for Miss T.
• Sewing projects, including making face masks: I’ve made about a dozen face masks for my family, but will continue sewing them just in case they are needed by essential workers this fall.

New Project #3: Reconnecting with Friends

We used to have dinner parties with friends, until we began the tradition of Friday night dinners with the family. Then it became too much of an effort to host two dinners each week.

• Making greeting cards: Sent along with little notes, I’m using these cards to reconnect with friends, and let them know we are thinking of them.
• Zoom meetings: I plan to host a few Zoom get-togethers with long-lost friends.

How to make puppets from magazine cutouts, how to turn broken crayons into rainbow crayons, how to make a custom board book for your grandchild, and other easy craft projects.

Grandma Food

Elmo cupcakes, almost-instant sorbet with canned fruits, LEGO-shaped gummy candy, peanut butter cookies, and other recipes to make with or for your grandchild.

Grandma Says

How setting the table helps kids to develop good table manners, how long-distance grandparents can stay connected with grandkids, and other grandma thoughts.

See You in June!

In the meantime, keep safe. And I hope you are off to a great summer, despite the challenging times we are living in.