Linda's Art

Every now and then, we have a guest join us at Breakfast Club. On this day, Linda P's daughter Kim was visiting from Texas.

Although our conversations are always fascinating -- on this day Kim had a bonus -- cousin Linda K. brought a mini-art show.

Linda is a wonderful artist. This particular project is a birthday gift for her sister Jackie. She recycled a pair of really hot Lucite heels into bookends....OMG
This is my best picture of Linda and her latest mixed media piece...she has always been drawn to a woman's face...and I love what she did with this piece. It's very dimensional...

Our other guest on this day was Linda's Mom -- Aunt Ada to everybody else at the table...

Her girls were ALL very creative. And Aunt Ada should have been an interior decorator. She still gets up at 4:00 AM some days, just to rearrange the furniture in her living room....

Maybe that's the secret, eh? NEVER, EVER QUIT DOING WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO...

Jen & Joe's Baby Gift

Here's what I love about Bert's family events. Usually -- the men do all the kitchen work. (with a modicum of supervision, of course)...
Jen is opening my baby gift. A knit receiving blanket...the center is a recycled t-shirt motto...it says, "Mom Likes Me Best"...(remember -- it's her first baby!)

The blanket was packed into a blinged-up-diaper bag...I chose leopard fabric and ribbon to complete this safari-themed gift.

The finished bag was quite dapper, if I do say so myself...(there was also a small leopard cooler inside)...

Jen's daughter-in-law, Sue, and her two girls were in charge of the GAMES....which you can imagine, I LOVED. In this one, we were all instructed to write down our best "new mothering" advice...
I wrote down, "don't leave the hospital until they give you a girl..."

Congratulations, Jen!! You will be a wonderful mother -- because you had a wonderful example.

The Family Reputation

When my niece Kelcy gave birth to her second child -- Myla Joyce -- there were, of course, a few early fussy moments in the hospital.

Andy, the optimistic soldier/husband/Daddy, did everything he could -- delivering food and-- well -- lots of important other things...

The day his sister was being born, Mason was playing at my house...completely oblivious to how much his quiet, perfect life had changed....

Myla Joyce is the most beautiful baby you will ever see...

But on my most recent visit, Kelcy said, "she only does three things, Aunt Rita. She sleeps, she eats and she cries..."

Remember those days? Wow. When Kelcy said that, it took me back...all those sleepless nights. The frustration of not being able to quiet or calm your baby...

At one point, Andy said, "I think she is the fussiest baby in the world." And my sister Deena replied, "in this family, she'll have to go some to get that title. But she's definitely off to a good start."

For the record -- my son ELLIOTT holds that family title.

Happy Fourth of July

This is the latest episode of "Aunt Rita's Adventures".

In my ongoing effort to spend a one-on-one day this summer with each of my great nephews (and Memphis)-- Cale was next on my list. Last summer, I took him to a Mark Twain theater event. He is eleven years old now -- a quiet, studious type.

Amy did not tell him where we were going. John and I picked him up at 5:00 in the afternoon -- and went to a family restaurant for dinner. (The only time he's ever been there was the OTHER time I took him...lol...)


At 6:30, we arrived at the Adler Theater in downtown Davenport.

The event was the Army's "Soldier's Show". I didn't know much about it. It was a free concert, and I thought the evening would be a good chance for Cale to visit with Uncle John. Which is exactly what happened. During dinner, Cale and John talked about the Navy, basic training, submarines, the cold war, etc. Cale asked astute questions -- and his math ability was stunning.


The evening was a musical review -- to honor the soldiers, past and present, their families and the places they've served. It was an accomplished cast of performers -- with singing and dancing. The highlight for me was the Toby Keith song, "The Red, White & Blue" ...a real tear jerker with two big screens showing video of soldiers and the World Trade Center. Cale loved the Lady Gaga number (I don't know what that was about). But John definitely enjoyed the finale -- when all the performers were in their uniforms, and they introduced themselves in formation, saluting and saying what unit they were serving with. The last song was, of course, "America"...and it got a standing ovation.

At some point, during today's Forth of July celebration -- we should think about the soldiers and sailors who serve...

And always remember that freedom is never free...

Cootie Game: Then & Now

Thank goodness my sister Ronda decided to come over to my house every day to help me get BACK ON THE TREADMILL...We try to walk 2 miles. We call it our "walk & talk".

Sometimes, she brings her grandkids with her. Maybe Memphis...one day, it was both Landon and Memphis.

To keep the kids busy, I thought Ronda and I could take turns -- walk on the treadmill, or play the cootie game with the little ones. First, I had to make a table out of a big picture and a plastic tub...

Cootie is the only game our Grandma Dodds had at her house. As kids, both Ronda and I remember playing it for HOURS and HOURS...and I hope that at some future time in their lives, Memphis and Landon will remember it fondly as well...

Please note Memphis's stylish shirt. She chose the dinosaur herself. The fringe was my idea...

Landon's favorite thing to do is to take pictures with my digital camera. I am only able to post this because Ronda does not have the internet at her house.


Landon has taken some really interesting pictures here. Maybe I should put together a slide show. Gee. THAT'S A GREAT IDEA...

You're doing great, Ronda...let's KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK...

Val's Primary Caretaker -- Plan B

So, after six days in the hospital, Val is home and her fiance, Michael, is going to take care of her.

It's the perfect plan...

Except that, on the first day, Michael took a nap in the bedroom, and Val, immobile in her new chair in the living room -- had to pee. And she absolutely could not wake him up. She broke the clanger in the bell...he wasn't answering his cellphone...and screaming didn't work...she was at her wit's end...

Going to Plan B -- Val called me on my cellphone and 30 minutes later, I arrived at her house and helped her GO TO THE BATHROOM.

At that point, Val was frustrated and hungry -- so I suggested we eat first (I had fresh chicken dinners from Riefe's). Afterwards, I would back to the bedroom to wake Michael up.

Val: What if he's dead?
Me: That's all the more reason we should eat first. In my experience, it is not possible to enjoy a meal one you know for sure there's a dead body in the house.
Val: you're right -- I'll have white meat...

The next day, I delivered a baby monitor. Genius, eh??

Well, not so much. The monitor isn't loud enough -- and Michael clearly isn't getting enough sleep at night -- then, during the day, his naps turn into comas.

My son Ross had the best idea yet. Here's Val's ace-in-the-hole...

Ross suggested one of those electric shock-collars...the kind you use to train your dogs...

OH MY GOD. I'm telling you...I am still laughing...

Jen's Baby Shower

My friend Bert has two sons and one daughter. Jenny is her baby -- now having her own first baby. So, THERE WAS A BABY SHOWER. Of course. With games and gift and tons of food. On this day -- we had a theme. Believe it or not -- they played right into my hands. With guess what? A SAFARI THEME...Here's Jen with her two nieces...(who were running the games)

And this is a picture of Bert's husband, Ron -- taking care of the FOOD part of the day...

Ron made an origami stork for each place setting...

And this is my FAVORITE RON contribution of the day. He made rice crispy squares with sprinkles (soo cute) -- then, stuck them on a Popsicle stick and into a cellophane bag. They were SO CUTE -- and COMPLETELY DELICIOUS...

Obviously, I was loving it. Ron always brings his own special touch to every family event...

And on this day, he went above and beyond. Now -- aren't you wondering what kind of safari-theme-baby-gift I came up with??

hummm....