Madie has been enthralled and inspired by the Terry Fox story. She's googled it and bought books and a documentary. And then decided she wanted to support his cause - to help keep his flame alive so to speak. With her mother's permission and help she taped a video and created her page on the TF website. She decided that in addition to donations she would have a yard sale, a lemonade stand and a car wash (in Grampy Dave's yard). Thanks to the donations of many family, friends, neighbours and passersby the yard sale was a smashing success! Her friend Jillian Grace and her mom made cookies to sell at the lemon stand which was a big draw at the yard sale.
Madie worked very hard helping to sort and price the yard sale items, and the morning of the event helped to lug all the items out to the driveway. She was a great little salesperson and in the end with everyone's help she netted $800 for the cause. No need for a car wash (Grampy was rather thankful for that!)
She had set a goal of $500 but in the end with generous donations she finished with a total of nearly $1700.
Then came Run Day. Mom suggested she do the 2.5 or 5K. Her response? "Terry Fox never did a 5K." Her mom said, how do you argue with that!
So with Mom and Mom's friend Sarah, they set the goal to do the whole 10K. Bless her heart (and theirs) they did it! I am so proud of her. Way to go Madie! Terry would have been very proud!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Bucket Listing
I don't really have a bucket list but if I did there would be a few things on it. One of those off-the-wall wishes like swimming with the dolpins. I just think it would be very cool and it was! David took me to Discovery Cove in Orlando where we were celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary with family. I love dolphins. I think they are so intelligent, mysterious and beautiful. I never expected to swim with them. Our session wasn't until the afternoon so we spent the day there swimming around and wading with the sting rays. When it was time, we were coached about the do's and don't's of interacting with the dolphins - not surprisingly they don't like you to touch their face (it's like walking up to someone you just met and touching their face). Use the blow hole as the line drawn for touching forward. They like long gentle strokes and tummy rubs. Best of all even trained dolpins do not do anything they don't want to - so if they don't feel like participating (everyone has a bad day), they just won't and are allowed to go back to the private lagoon. It's nice to know they have a choice. Also if they don't like the way you are interacting with them, they will shun you. Smart dolphins.
We first met Luna, a two-year-old born at Discovery Cove, who still has a lot of growing up to do. She was just like a puppy swimming all over the place and enjoying the attention. They are very careful to make sure she is out of the road when the adults swim into the meet-and-greet lagoon. There is a hierarchy among dolphins and the young are kept in their place.
Our dolphin was Cindy, the oldest at Discovery Cove. Normally they live to be about 25 in the wild but because these dolphins receive the best diet and medical care, she is over 40 and doesn't look a day over dolphin middle age! She was amazing. Her skin is smooth and silky but also spongy and sort of leathery to the touch. She flipped over and showed us her white belly and enjoyed some gentle pats and rubs. We each had our picture taken with her and she actually poses by raising her head and tail out of the water and grinning a wide dolphin smile.
We got to feed her fish and she would slap her tail to say thank you. Then we each swam out to the middle of the lagoon with a trainer and Cindy swam up beside us. I took hold of her dorsel fin with one hand and her side fin with the other and with a signal she was off. It was like waterskiing. The power lifted me out of the water until she levelled off and it was amazing to be pulled into shore with her. An absolutely amazing experience. At the end of the session, the trainers send the dolphins out into the middle of the lagoon a few meters from us and they all leap into the air together about three or four times. What a finale!
Strike one for the bucket list - a very BIG one! Thank you David!
We first met Luna, a two-year-old born at Discovery Cove, who still has a lot of growing up to do. She was just like a puppy swimming all over the place and enjoying the attention. They are very careful to make sure she is out of the road when the adults swim into the meet-and-greet lagoon. There is a hierarchy among dolphins and the young are kept in their place.
Our dolphin was Cindy, the oldest at Discovery Cove. Normally they live to be about 25 in the wild but because these dolphins receive the best diet and medical care, she is over 40 and doesn't look a day over dolphin middle age! She was amazing. Her skin is smooth and silky but also spongy and sort of leathery to the touch. She flipped over and showed us her white belly and enjoyed some gentle pats and rubs. We each had our picture taken with her and she actually poses by raising her head and tail out of the water and grinning a wide dolphin smile.
We got to feed her fish and she would slap her tail to say thank you. Then we each swam out to the middle of the lagoon with a trainer and Cindy swam up beside us. I took hold of her dorsel fin with one hand and her side fin with the other and with a signal she was off. It was like waterskiing. The power lifted me out of the water until she levelled off and it was amazing to be pulled into shore with her. An absolutely amazing experience. At the end of the session, the trainers send the dolphins out into the middle of the lagoon a few meters from us and they all leap into the air together about three or four times. What a finale!
Strike one for the bucket list - a very BIG one! Thank you David!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Hunger Strikes
Getting into my van after theatre school on Saturday:
Madie: Grammie, I'm hungry.
Me: Are you?
Silence for a minute.
Madie: So ... what are you going to do about it?
Madie: Grammie, I'm hungry.
Me: Are you?
Silence for a minute.
Madie: So ... what are you going to do about it?
Thursday, March 4, 2010
A Portrait in Detail
Madie likes to draw and she's actually pretty good. Recently she decided to draw a portrait of me. She asked if I would sit with hands folded and she worked to get every position just perfect. Then she picked up her crayons and paper and said, "Smile Grammie!" I did so and while she is intently looking at me to get all the details, she commented, "The lines on your mouth are deep when you smile." I replied, "Everyone has those lines, Madie. It happens when you use those muscles. Go look at yourself." She promptly got up and walked down the hall to the full-length mirror by the bathroom. Walking back, I said, "See? You've got them too." She shrugged her shoulders at least as in half agreement and then replied, "but now as deep as yours!"
Monday, March 1, 2010
My Life in a Nutshell
I've been a busy grandmother. Madison is getting so grown up and Charlotte is actually working on her second tooth. I'm not finding free time much these days. But I have to start recording Grammie tales again - they're too priceless to miss. Stay tuned.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Welcome to the World
Charlotte Eve Kennedy fittingly arrived on Labour Day at 6:17 a.m. She weighed in at 8 pounds 1 ounce and is 22 inches in length. Grampy Dave says she's already as tall as her mother!
We took a family boat ride on Sunday, Sept. 6 and Angie was not feeling great so she decided to disembark early. She arrived at our house later for supper and was having back pain. I didn't tell her she was in labour but later that night we made the trek to the hospital. The Kennedy and Morell clans hung out overnight waiting for the grand arrival. Charlotte, Mommy and Daddy all did great.
She was bright-eyed when we saw her a half hour after delivery. And is now keeping Mommy and Daddy up nights getting adjusted.
Granddaughter number two is a delight even to granddaughter number one who wasn't sure about sharing her beloved grampy. But she's just too cute not to love.
Madie is already planning on teaching Charlotte lots of "stuff". Now there will be two little faces wiping themselves clean on Grampy Dave's shirt.
We took a family boat ride on Sunday, Sept. 6 and Angie was not feeling great so she decided to disembark early. She arrived at our house later for supper and was having back pain. I didn't tell her she was in labour but later that night we made the trek to the hospital. The Kennedy and Morell clans hung out overnight waiting for the grand arrival. Charlotte, Mommy and Daddy all did great.
She was bright-eyed when we saw her a half hour after delivery. And is now keeping Mommy and Daddy up nights getting adjusted.
Granddaughter number two is a delight even to granddaughter number one who wasn't sure about sharing her beloved grampy. But she's just too cute not to love.
Madie is already planning on teaching Charlotte lots of "stuff". Now there will be two little faces wiping themselves clean on Grampy Dave's shirt.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Where to Begin ... Again?
It's been quite some time, not that I'm sure anyone is reading these anyway. I won't complain about the weather this summer, what's the point. But despite the clouds and downpours, some very happy things have occurred. On our 34th anniversary in June, we celebrated in Moncton with Madison, Shelley, Mark, Angie and Charlotte. Yes, we got to see Charlotte Eve Kennedy at 6 months in the womb on a 3D/4D screen. Let me tell you, she was already beautiful. Despite first attempts to see her face and only got legs, feet and butt (yes SHE is a girl!) and poor Mommy having to go for a walk and eat something to stimulate her, we finally saw her dear little face and watched her move her hands around. She even sucked on her thumb (oh oh!) It was truly amazing and a miracle to see her for real. Thanks to Angie and Mark for sharing the occasion.
We also bought a pontoon boat with which we surprised the family by telling them we were going to the Beaverbrook for dinner and lo and behold, they got a picnic on UNBelieveable! Nobody complained. We've already had some great family jaunts to Middle Island and are looking forward to taking Charlotte on board before the boat has to be docked for the winter.
The baby's due date is tomorrow, September 5, which was my grandfather MacDougall's birthday. I think with the full moon tonight gravity may help her make her appearance this weekend! Our fingers are crossed and I know Angie is good and ready!
Sadie was the model dog for FLASH 2009 (Fashioning Love Access Shelter Hope), the fashion show with well-known Frederictonians and their canine friends. Sadie modelled a cowgirl dress and hat from Love Puppy while her handler for the night, Trevor Doyle, wore cowboy duds from North Stream Tack Shop. I was so proud of her performance! She was a peach. Thanks to my dear friend Penny for helping to look after her while I had to do my "thing" during the evening. It was a pleasure for the FSPCA to partner with the homeless shelters; it makes for a great fundraiser. We so appreciate everyone involved and especially those who turned out for a wonderful evening.
I can't believe September is here - my parents' 61st wedding anniversary has gone by - the FREX is next. Hey Angie, how about a ride on the Scrambler! ;-)
We also bought a pontoon boat with which we surprised the family by telling them we were going to the Beaverbrook for dinner and lo and behold, they got a picnic on UNBelieveable! Nobody complained. We've already had some great family jaunts to Middle Island and are looking forward to taking Charlotte on board before the boat has to be docked for the winter.
The baby's due date is tomorrow, September 5, which was my grandfather MacDougall's birthday. I think with the full moon tonight gravity may help her make her appearance this weekend! Our fingers are crossed and I know Angie is good and ready!
Sadie was the model dog for FLASH 2009 (Fashioning Love Access Shelter Hope), the fashion show with well-known Frederictonians and their canine friends. Sadie modelled a cowgirl dress and hat from Love Puppy while her handler for the night, Trevor Doyle, wore cowboy duds from North Stream Tack Shop. I was so proud of her performance! She was a peach. Thanks to my dear friend Penny for helping to look after her while I had to do my "thing" during the evening. It was a pleasure for the FSPCA to partner with the homeless shelters; it makes for a great fundraiser. We so appreciate everyone involved and especially those who turned out for a wonderful evening.
I can't believe September is here - my parents' 61st wedding anniversary has gone by - the FREX is next. Hey Angie, how about a ride on the Scrambler! ;-)
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