In 1999, the United Nations voted to make today an international holiday called The Day of Vesak. Millions around the world follow the teachings of the Buddha and on the Day of Vesak commemorate the birth, the attainment of enlightenment, and the death of the Buddha. In the West, it is simply called Buddha Day! To commemorate, Paw and I will celebrate the First Noble Truth by watching Nick Cage movies and YouTube videos of Trump rallies. Happy Buddha Day!
Read MoreFor yet another activity, Sherlock and Watson continue to provide solid entertainment and puzzlement that tickles our Mind Castles. Here Paw is pondering the strange case of sweet Jaimie Banks. We will solve it. It’s been a great week so far at 221B Baker Street - and now, finally, the game is afoot!
Read MoreHere’s Keith heading out for the first car cruise of 2023. It takes both of us to get it running, but, somehow, we mange every year. Purrs like a lion! Click the image to see more photos.
Read MoreAfter another exceedingly jolly lunch at TJ’s Harbor Restaurant today, Carey and I decided we needed Samantha to join us at least quarterly. We made a plan to seduce her. As you can see, the CIA won’t be hiring us anytime soon. Here is the note we sent with the invitation: “Sam, Carey and I have been having sister lunches for awhile. It always feels like something’s missing. We thought it was our figure, our youth, our retirement savings, or our cognitive function. It wasn’t until today, we figured out it was you. Wanna have lunch in June with us? - Mary & Carey
P.S. Say yes.
Your dad and I are celebrating Sherlock Holmes Week. Our first activity was a Sherlock Kick-off Dinner. I was able to purchase his actual violin on eBay and used it for my centerpiece. (I started violin lessons in fifth grade and continued until I was a sophomore in high school. This is that same violin I started with and the same decrepit case too). The menu was Bloodstained Brats, Baker Street Beans, Moriarty Melon, Criminal Crudités, Prove-it Pickles, and Elementary Eclairs. Next activity: “Young Sherlock Holmes and The Pyramid of Fear” Movie Night. (Click to see more photos)
Read MoreWhat would Grandma Ada and Grandpa Bob think if they could see their little mischief-makers today. It has been one of life’s most precious gifts to me to know these men since they were children. The goodness just keeps growing.
Read MoreAll our love. All our life. Happiest of birthdays, Sweetheart! 🌷
Read MoreTen days left until the deadline for the Fabulous Family Photo Contest. I think it’s your turn to win!
Read MoreSent this to Carol and Leah:
"I thought you might be interested in this plant that grows in Maggie’s yard. Her husband Dan took this photo earlier today. It looks so alien. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. You both popped into my head because of the gorgeous flower photos you’ve submitted. I know you must love them and I hoped this might be something unique enough to give you a little thrill.
I hope you are thriving and enjoying some hints of warm weather. I look forward to your photos for May and, in the meantime, send my love." - Mary
Read MoreDear deer flies fly no more! Dan, you even see the artistry in carnage! You amaze me!
Read MoreMaggie was kind enough to forward a Twitter post about this 200 ft. bird sculpture. I got curious, didd some research, found some superb photos, and wrote a post for the Artesian Nature Center bird art section. You should put this place on your bucket list. I had no idea how magnificent this is! - Granny Here’s the link for more mind-blowing photos: https://www.lifeat240.com/anc-blog/jatayu-nature-centre
Read MoreWe used to have a honeysuckle bush intgertwined with forsythia in our front yard. Someone must have planted them together. Every Spring it was like a giant pink and yellow bouquet. I will have to visit this spot next time I am at the Artesian Nature Wonderland. Thanks for rekinddling the honeysuckle love in my heart, Dan. - Grann
Read MoreIn honor of Sytennde Mai, Paw and I are celebrating our Viking heritage today. To brighten your morning with thoughts of conquest and battle, we send you the Gunderfam mascot Paw invented and the poem I wrote about this amazing Viking. Take a moment to pause and feel your fierceness. Sending love always. - Granny & Paw
Read MoreIt was an unforgettable Mother’s Day. From the tiny flowers for my ears, a tulip cookie and song for my tummy and soul, pink lilacs to inhale, another year with my special Kid Mom, the cute tote Paw gave me (*wink-wink*), and a performance of White Choral Bells which pleased the fairies who watch over the lilies of the valley, it was spectacular from start to finish — and especially the carrot wrapping and loads of taped tissue paper. I feel very loved. - Mom. P.S. Ada, please thank Morgan for me. 🌷
Read MoreBetween Mollie leaving for the Bahamas today and my friend packing for two weeks in Norway, I was feeling way too provincial. I decided to start planning Bastille Day so I could look forward to a few hours in Paris. Usually we just have a champagne picnic in the park and do pleine air painting, so I decided I’d ramp it up a a few notches and go to a fancy French restaurant wearing all black and a beret. Google made fun of me. - Mom
Read MoreWho knew all those years of training for a Black Belt would pay off in cooking skills. The food will probably be so terrified, it will cook itself!
Read MoreMorgan seems like such a fantasy creature. He looks like he might live in a nearby tree and just stopped over there to visit his White Oak friend. Magical Nature Boy!
Read MoreYour dad and I have been unable to compete with the stunning Green Acres collection of nature photography excellence. Our dream is to take a photo that would be worthy of the Green Acres collection. Our three-day hunt around the neighborhoods of Southside Fond du Lac finally led to the discovery and capture of this ridiculously huge tree with gorgeous white blossoms less than two feet from the ground. It almost stands up to the Artesian Wonderland you inhabit, but is admittedly missing the wildness of your magical world. (If you want to see the tree in person, it’s on National Avenue, between Johnson and Marian, on the east side of the street.
Read MoreEven though she groans at stuff like this, I couldn’t resist the “You are Awesome” inspiration cards. To soften the blow, I stuck twenty bucks in the card and leftover May Day candy in the bag. You can guess who picked out the fancy apple. It’s so fun having a kid mom. When you are orphans, you really should consider having some child adopt you. If for no other reason, it is a delight to be so old and still shopping for Mother’s Day gifts. Happy Mother’s Day! See you later for more fun. I love you. - Mom
Read MoreAda is the winner of this year’s Golden Week Haiku Contest. She won $30 toward a sushi dinner. She is already planning to go to a restaurant called Sequoia with excellent selections. Her five haiku poems were so wise and insightful, they made me cry when I read them. I am so proud of my little poet. You can enjoy them too. Just click on the image to read them.
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