grandchildren Archives - View from the Front Porch

14 07, 2023

Old Ladies

By judythemorgan|2023-07-12T09:14:37-05:00July 14th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

One of my favorite things about my job is getting to read to children. I have a vast collection of children’s books, most of which are songs. In almost every class I will read (sing) one to the students.

A friend of mine owns a children’s book and toy store in our town called Whimsy & Wild Emporium

I asked her if I could come read for Storytime during the summer and she said yes!

The first week I took my old lady puppet and sang “I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.”

The puppet includes all the animals that she swallowed so it is great fun. It has all the animals except the spider which “wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.”

I took it out to use it while singing “Spider on the Floor” and it must have crawled off. I explain to the children that we will have to pretend to make a spider with our hands. It is still great fun.

What was even more fun was introducing our grandson, Alex, to the old lady. He loved taking the animals out and then having her swallow them over and over.

It is like reading to my classes multiplied 1000 times. He particularly liked the “tickle spider” part.

Sometimes when I look at pictures of myself, I see an old lady.

Then I also see a grandchild – the greatest perk of getting old!

23 04, 2018

A Lizard Poem for National Poetry Month

By judythemorgan|2018-04-15T07:01:08-05:00April 23rd, 2018|A Writer's Life, Make Me Think Monday|3 Comments

The Academy of American Poets established April as poetry month in 1996 to encourage people about the pleasure of reading poetry. It’s all explained here.

In honor of poetry month, here’s a little story about poetry writing.

Years ago, my second oldest grandson and I were sitting at the kitchen table discussing his homework. He’s home schooled, and I’d promised his parents to work with him while he was visiting.

Like his daddy (my son), my grandson hated homework. The thought of poetry homework made the task even less appealing, especially when the swimming pool outside was calling.

He twirled his pencil and starred outside at the squirrel climbing the bird feeder. He ate a Pop Tart. He slipped away to play a game of chess with his Pepa. Next thing I knew the rascal was in the swimming pool.

I called him back to task.

Moments later, I caught him at the window. Again.

This time he watched a chameleon on the Maple tree by the kitchen window.

Before I could speak, he pointed to the laptop on the table. “I wrote the poem already.”

This is what I read on the computer screen:

Lizard Poetry

Lazy lizards leap from leaf to leaf

As green as a Sprite can

Lizards like to hide under the weather

Running, hiding, and sneaking around

Crazily, hastily, and hurriedly leaving their tails behind them

The miniature lizards are tiny compared to the big, blue sky

That grandson is off to college next year. I’m sure he’s forgotten about his lizard poem. I haven’t.

I learned a lesson that day about how little boys can multi-task when you think they’re playing.

13 05, 2012

Mother’s Day 2012

By judythemorgan|2017-05-04T15:57:24-05:00May 13th, 2012|Uncategorized|7 Comments

Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. ~Oprah Winfrey

Today is Mother’s Day. I’m swinging on the porch swing thinking I totally agree with Oprah’s quote. I’ve some motherly women in my life. Sad to say, most of whom are no longer with me and only one I called Mother.

First, the little four-foot six-inch Irish immigrant Oma Julia. Oma because she married into a strong German family who settled in Texas. She began the lineage.

Next there’s her daughter Helen, the one who birthed me:

Apologies to my brother born over a decade after this picture was made. I couldn’t find a picture of all four of us with Mother, which made me sad. (Note to self–take more pictures.)

Then there’s Rose, the Mom-in-love I inherited when I married. What a jewel she was!

She raised one fine son and for that, I am eternally grateful.

And last, but never least, my Aunt Bick, the one who always says, “The stork just left you at the wrong house.”
We’ve had some real adventures through the years. I love when you remember and we can relive those moments.

Can’t end a Mother’s Day blog without special thanks to these three who ushered me into the ranks of motherhood.

And all of theirs who crowned me grandmother.

Happy Mothers Day to them all and all of you. Hope everyone is having a fantabulous day.

6 05, 2012

CELEBRATION WEEKEND

By judythemorgan|2012-05-06T14:18:59-05:00May 6th, 2012|Uncategorized|6 Comments

May is always a busy month around my porch.

Temperatures are rising. Summer is fast approaching. The school year is winding down. There are track meets, field days, talent shows and award ceremonies aplenty.

This first weekend of the month was filled with FANTABULOUS happenings. I’m sharing two events I attended with fair warning that they’ll be other postings. May has only begun.

#3 grandson John and his friend Lainey performed in his school’s talent show. Sponsored by the Junior High Choir, the show was cleverly staged as The Faith Factor with teachers and parents playing judges Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul, and Nicole Scherzinger. Very well done. I especially enjoyed the audience on stage dancing between the category performances and awards.

John and Lainey’s performance was a flawless duet of Ode to Joy and Eagles Summit March. Check out their performance.

Judges’ call: FIRST PLACE. Even if I wasn’t the Nana, I’d have to agree!

And the best part, he won on my daughter’s birthday who also happens to be his mother. That’s her voice shouting “awesome” that you hear! A pretty awesome birthday gift wouldn’t you say?

Earlier in the week another granddaughter won 1st Place in the softball throw for her school district. Great throw, Riley. I think we have a future women’s track star emerging.

It’s certainly been celebration time on the front porch this weekend. Does your May burst with celebrations too?

12 04, 2012

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH, who knew?

By judythemorgan|2018-04-13T16:55:06-05:00April 12th, 2012|poetry, Uncategorized, writing|14 Comments

April is NATIONAL POETRY MONTH. I didn’t know. Did you?

Seems back in 1996 the Academy of American Poet established the tradition to highlight American poets and encourage people about the pleasure of reading poetry. It’s all explained on their website.

Though I’m not a poetry writer, I ♥ to read poetry. I’ve memorized many poems by my favorite American poets. I read poems to anyone, willing or not.

To further the observance of poetry month, I’ll be sharing some poems by friends and family. I’ll start with one written by my second oldest grandson.

I may not write poetry, but I am a storyteller so first a little story about how this poem originated.

We were sitting at the kitchen table discussing how he should be doing homework. He’s home schooled, and I promised his parents I’d work with him while he was visiting.

Unfortunately, like father, like son. I remember fighting many a homework battle with his daddy who also hated doing homework. The thought of poetry homework made the task even less appealing, especially when the swimming pool was calling.

He starred outside at the squirrel climbing the pole to the bird feeder. He ate a Pop Tart. He slipped away to play a game of chess with his Pepa.

I marched him back to table and the task at hand. No, I’m not your push-over Nana. Although resisting those big, beautiful brown eyes isn’t always easy!

Then I caught him at the window. Again.

This time he was watching a chameleon on the Maple tree.

I thought he was wasting time and prepared to pull out my mean teacher’s whip! Before I could speak, he pointed to the laptop on the table. “I wrote the poem already.”

And, this is what I read on the screen:

Lizard Poetry

Lazy lizards leap from leaf to leaf

As green as a Sprite can

Lizards like to hide under the weather

Running, hiding, and sneaking around

Crazily, hastily, and hurriedly leaving their tails behind them

The miniature lizards are tiny compared to the big, blue sky

Amazing I think, don’t you agree? How quickly I’d forgotten how little boys multi-task when you think they’re playing.

YOUR TURN: Share one of your favorite poems!