From her first birthday two years ago to the one we celebrate today, this little girl has been the icing on our cake whenever we see her. For Pretty and me, she is the gift that keeps on giving.
Molly’s first birthday cake (2023)
(maternal grandmother Gigi laughs at Molly’s first cake experience)
when you’re three years old, you can use your hands
big sister Ella and Mama Caroline help with gifts as Daddy keeps watch
Molly consoles her best friend who wondered why none of the gifts were hers
what could possibly be better for a party than the 2024 bounce house?
(two-year-old Molly and four-year-old Ella in their bare feet had fun!)
a petting zoo in the backyard!
the goat was in charge of gymnastics
Molly, Molly, how much do Nana and Naynay love thee? Let me count the ways – too many to count. You are priceless.
So you think you know snow? Ha. We are rolling in it in the sunny South. On January 22, 2022, I began this post with pictures of snow in our backyard.
only one dog outsidewith me three years ago: Carl
Carport Kitty reignedin the winter of 2022
(she died in October of 2022 – she never had to face a cold winter again)
Carport Kitty and Pretty have similar feelings about winter. Thankfully her heated pad keeps her toasty warm in the laundry room – Carport Kitty, not Pretty. Heh, heh.
The sun also rises, the snowflakes melt, and Pretty will leave me to work in her antique empire while I watch the disgraceful television coverage of the 2022 Australian Open this afternoon. Bollocks.
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Fast forward exactly three years to January 22, 2025. Old man Spike walks with me in the fresh snow around the pool in our backyard.
Carl still with us but prefers staying inside over his cold paws in the snow
to each his own, right?
The Australian Open is winding down to its inevitable close this weekend. We have three Americans in semi-finals this week, and not one of them is named Venus or Serena. Hm. Ben Shelton is in the semi-finals for men’s singles, Madison Keys is also in a singles semi-final, and Taylor Townsend plays doubles with K. Siniakova for the women’s doubles semi-final. Spoiler alert: at least one American will play in a final.
Between snow and semis, my sleep pattern is wrecked. I barely know what day it is on this continent – much less in Australia.
Vive la difference. Stay safe and warm. Please stay tuned. We enjoy your visits!
Once upon a time there were two little girls who lived in two different places with one common bond: their grandmothers. What to do with seven-year-old Collins who was visiting her grandmothers at Lake Murray and five-year-old Ella on a freezing cold day outside? Why, perfect day for an indoor field trip to the South Carolina State Museum!
granddaughters learn how rocks are made at State Museum field trip
(Saturday, January 11, 2025)
Naynay hovers over Collins and Ella at petting zoo in spring of 2023
Two years earlier the grandmothers had taken the girls to an exotic animals petting zoo at Eudora Wildlife Safari Park in Salley, South Carolina. They both loved the tractor with the huge tires.
granddaughters share ocean secrets late summer of 2023
Later that year the girls teamed up for a magical beach trip with their grandmothers at Folly Beach where they explored the waves crashing around their short little legs.
what a difference two years make!those little legs much taller!
tour guide Kaka brought State Museum to life for the granddaughters
grandmothers Kitty, Kaka and Naynay with Collins and Ella
at planetariumaurora show
the museum had a tractor tire, too, and we loved to play in it
the museum had four floors – where are the grandmothers?
so Ella, if we stand right here on this black thing,
the man in the submarine moves
Nana had to work in her antique empire the day of the Museum Field Trip, but Ella will be sure to tell her about her play date with Collins when she sees her this week. We all missed Nana who loves a good Field Trip.
Until we meet again…
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The wild fires in California have been catastrophic for so many Americans – we feel their pain as they return to a home that no longer exists, a life as they knew it is gone. We ask for clarity of thought and calmness of purpose for those experiencing losses as they make life changing decisions.
I'll Call It Like I See It 
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