The Uniblogger is back in the warm house

Taking a walk should be pretty easy, right? I mean, after all, those of us who do walk have probably been walking since we were....oh, I don't know....11 or 12 months old...maybe 13 or 15 months. So, walking really isn't anything to blog about -- or is it?
I headed out to do a couple of miles on my walking routine. Keep in mind that it's APRIL, people.
I got on my new sneakers and wore a Patriots hooded sweatshirt. "Should be sufficient", I told myself.
After about a quarter of a mile, I realized that I had severely underestimated the wind. The wind and the shoes. The wind, the shoes and the lack of string in my hood. Let's cut to the chase right here. The new shoes will NEVER, I repeat NEVER accompany me on another walk. They might be OK in a pinch for around the house...but on my walk? Never again. So, the feet were whining and nagging at me and the wind was so cold and so strong, that I put up my hood. Since I was facing the direction of the wind at this point, the only thing that that did was to give me a "parachute" effect. You know how on those funny car races they pop out a parachute to slow down the racing car? Ok, so where was the string that came with this stupid sweatshirt?
Aha! I remember. After struggling with it several times between the washer and the dryer and feeding it back into the hood through the holes and even double and triple knotting it, I snaked it out of the hood and tossed it. It's amazing how important a little thing like a string can be when you're suffering. A string and a comfortable pair of shoes....oh how we underestimate these things.
So, I made it around the block once and came home and changed into my old, comfortable, worn sneakers. I smiled.
I then reached into my closet and wrapped a scarf around my neck. I didn't really want the Unibomber look; but I then re-wrapped myself with the scarf OVER the hood, to keep it in place and to keep my ears and neck from freezing. Thank God it's April in New England.
So, anyhow there I was, wrapped up and ready to go. I headed right back out there and around the block again, this time smiling about my comfortable sneakers and my newly warmed neck and ears. Years ago, I wouldn't have ventured out and about looking like this. But, alas, age brings with it sensibility and an "I don't care" attitude". A few neighbors said hello as I passed by and as far as I know, no one called the FBI because of my Uniblogger look.
Even if they do, I.DON'T.CARE.

The Daddy of them all

Celebrating the Christening

Asleep in a houseful of noise


They're both cute and they both wear blue. They look a lot alike, too.
But today's blog is about fathers. The Daddy pictured here is the father of my three grandchildren. In case you haven't made the connection -- I would have NO grandchildren if it weren't for the Daddy pictured here.
My heart would be smaller and half-filled if he hadn't come onto the scene as the husband and father that he is.
My daughter changed her name because of him; and I also changed my name to Nana. My husband changed his name too! He's Grampa, and the domino effect also reaches out to my son, who now is Uncle and his wife, Auntie. What a far-reaching effect this one guy has.
One of the kids is already scientifically minded, and I wouldn't be surprised if all or a couple of them follow in their Daddy's footsteps as they grow up and start thinking of careers.

A doll with a sketchy past

Yesterday I was clicking onto other people's blogs and I came across a blog written by a woman named Dixie. What caught my eye was that she was working on a paper mache doll's head, and it reminded me of my doll.

She's very old.
I remember when I first found this doll. Aunts and uncles were cleaning out an old property that was purchased by my uncle. It was being cleaned out so that my grandparents could live there, on Pike Avenue in Attleboro, Massachusetts. As far as I can remember, I believe the date was around 1952 or 1953.
The cousins were mostly playing, but making an attempt at cleaning out an old barn/garage addition to the old house. I found this doll and showed it to my uncle. He said "You can keep it." I'm sure to this day, he doesn't even remember this. In any case, I knew even then that it was an antique. Since I have never done any research on dolls, I just packed her carefully away and thought maybe someday I would know more about her.
Then, when my own kids were young, we went to Edaville Railroad. In one of the displays there, I saw a doll with a head like mine. Evidently certain porcelain heads were popular or were created mainly during certain years. The one on display was supposedly from the late 1800s. Right around the time that my grandmother was born.
Anyhow, my doll, who still remains nameless, probably had a name at one point. By the looks of the primitively stitched doll and the clothing, I would guess that a young girl did the hand stitching herself. I guess it was a great thing back then to get such a porcelain doll head and create a body out of cloth, complete with a cotton slip, long cotton dress with one button in the back and tiny leather hands. She has a tiny collar of lace around her neck. She was dressed conservatively, as would be the style of the ladies back then.
No doubt the owner of this doll never imagined that one day softer, pliable dolls would drink, burp, talk, sing and blink.
But some little girl evidently spent hours dressing and playing with this doll.
I contacted Dixie (of the blog which I had been reading) and have since sent her a picture of my doll. Maybe she will be able to tell me something about this doll and the era. In the meantime, does anyone else out there know about these antique dolls? Drop me a line if you do! (markiesnana@yahoo.com)

So many relatives.......

Everyone wants to hold Xander.
Left: Auntie Rachel
Right: Auntie Kathy
Great Nana
We all witnessed his baptism today.
Kellee & Nana
Auntie Jen
Baby Xander was Christened today. There were lots of witnesses and lots of people who want to hold him. Pictures like these will show him that he is loved by family and friends who want the best for him.
Proverbs chapter 22, verse 6 says "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

The Easter bunny really did stop by!

The Georgia Guidestones

Never heard of them? Why not Google them and see what you think.
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Here's an interesting video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYRpIf2F9NA (just copy and paste in your browser)
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She's gentle with the kids.....

These American Mastiff dogs are noted for being gentle with the kids in the family. If a stranger tried anything: Watch Out! I must say that she is very attached to me; but when she's lying at my feet and does a big yawn....it's like looking into the open mouth of a big brown bear -- and it's chilling!