A Teenager Invades Grumpy's Castle!

It was inevitable: someday, Ramiro, our youngest grandson, would mature (well, at least "grow up") to be a teenager. It happened today -- this morning at Oh-hum-thirty, to be exact. That's when he got his "traditional" Breakfast in Bed!

Well, because his Papa, Adolfo, has been temporarily staying with us, Ramiro sleeps on the living room couch, so this has been re-designated as "Breakfast on Couch". A sleepy (at least pretending to be!) Ramiro is awakened by his Grandma ("Abuelita" -- endearing Spanish form of Abuela) singing the traditional "Happy Birthday" song, and being presented with his previously-requested breakfast on an aptly-decorated bed tray: pancakes heaped with strawberries and smothered in whipping cream!

After only a bite of this delicious breakfast (Grumpy can vouch for that, 'cause he had some later!) Ramiro was ready for his birthday presents. Earlier in the morning his Papa had given him a Zune pocket music/photo/video player; Ramiro insisted in showing it off to his Grandma and Grandpa.

Then Ramiro insisted that he see "the rest of his presents"!

"Wha-- Where-- ?", mumbled Grumpy.
"Behind you!", quickly responded Ramiro.

Ramiro was very pleased with the wireless, laser mouse. It would also mean Grumpy could reclaim the wired mouse he had loaned Ramiro a month or so ago. He was initially not as impressed with the USB keypad. It looked too much like it had something to do with schoolwork! However, it had two USB outlets, meaning he would have no net loss in USB outlets when using the keypad and mouse!

Later, however, Ramiro discovered that the keypad had a "page up"/"page down" capability which was more convenient for playing his computer games than the one on his laptop. We think he liked it better after he realized that it was not "so much like schoolwork!"

What Happens if you Honk at a Grandmother

I may have forwarded this one before by e-mail to some of you, but this version includes excellent audio, which the previous one did not. Make sure your volume is turned up enough at the beginning so you can hear the noise of the skateboards.

Just click on the little triangle above and ... Enjoy!!

A Special Day with Emileigh

One pleasant and sunny day, the Grand Mother and Grumpy drove up to the Everett Mall to join Emileigh, Mike and Jessie for a Sunday lunch. It is always a photogenic occasion when Grumpy has his camera and Emileigh is "on board", as these pictures will show.

The obvious mutual love and respect shown between Emileigh and her step-mother, Jessie, is always a joy for the Grand Mother and Grumpy to witness. So too is the love and adoration shown between Emileigh and her Great Grandmother. On this particular occasion however, Emileigh took a quite different and independent streak when it came to siding with Great Grandpa! She took great delight in finding that Great Grandpa could easily and quickly get in trouble with Great Grandma whenever he started teasing Emileigh, thus getting her to scream or laugh too loudly (it was a public place, after all!).

However, Great Grandpa finally got Emileigh to model her necklace that she so proudly wore for this "special occasion". It was a green frog configured using appropriately-shaped green jade to form the body and larger leg parts set in a silver-metallic framework.

We had an enjoyable lunch and Grumpy had to vow, in front of Emileigh and the group, to "behave himself" until we meet again.

We'll have to see it to believe it!!

A Walk Through Kubota Gardens

Within the city of Seattle, nearly hidden from public view, there lies a delightful garden called Kubota Gardens. As the name implies, it originated as the private garden of a Japanese horticulturist. Somehow it survived the ethnic injustices brought about by Pearl Harbor and the subsequent actions and epithets hurled against anyone of Japanese descent.

Recently, Grumpy was the proud escort of two lovely ladies in visiting this Garden while many of the various plants were in colorful bloom. Margaret and the Grand Mother braved a cool day with just enough sun to help one keep warm if they were walking briskly or were standing (or sitting) in a sunny area.

The Kubota Gardens were deeded to the City of Seattle to be preserved as a public park. Improvements, such as this granite boulder retaining wall, are being added from time to time as appropriate. Of course, there is a parking lot which has been added in recent years; it is just off of Renton Avenue South, about 100 feet south on 55th Avenue South.

This little arched footbridge over a Koi pond exemplifies the Japanese garden motif. Several natural springs stream flowing down from several locations on the hillside, insures that the water in the ponds remains clear and fresh. It was too cool to spot any of the Koi the day we were there. But Grumpy has seen them in the past; some are as much as 5 or 6 pounds, being nearly 18 inches long. At other places where the foot path crosses one of the streams leading into the ponds, there are hewn logs or discretely-placed stones on which the agile walker can cross without getting his feet wet.

Much of the some 40 acres of plantings are on fairly level ground, with a well-maintained walkway wandering around through the planted areas. This dazzling white Rhododendron was particularly spectacular the day we were there.

While many of the plants within the Gardens are introduced or hybrid varieties, there are also many native plants growing there, all in a natural-looking setting. Grumpy is of the opinion that Kubota Gardens should be rated right up there with the Arboretum; admittedly a sort of miniaturized version but much closer to the residents of Renton and the South parts of Seattle. If you have never visited Kubota Gardens, Grumpy encourages you to try it -- you might like it!!

Attention Getter

Today was to be a "get-things-done" day at Grumpy's Castle. The trusty "BearCat" chipper shredder was all fueled up and rarin' to go! But first things first: put in those ear plugs!! Grumpy's hearing is bad enough as it is, without taking a chance of making it worse.

After shredding the wheelbarrow-full of prunings Grumpy had removed from the apple tree on a previous non-rainy weekday, Grumpy was just waiting for the stuff to finish re-grinding the coarse stuff that resulted from the first time through, when all of a sudden, there! On the ground. A piece of paper he hadn't noticed before. Oh well, pick it up and throw it in the shredder -- it's still running!

Oops! What's that? Grumpy hadn't noticed that before. Must have blown off the deck. A packaging from something we had bought for Grandson Ramiro the other day. Have to get after that kid for leaving his garbage on the deck to mess up the yard.

Whoa!! What the heck!? A brick!! Now that was not there before!!

Faint voice from "somewhere": "mm-bl-mmm- nch--dy!!"
Grumpy: "Oh, Grand Mother! What do you want?"
Faint voice, louder and now identified as the Grand Mother: "MM --bl - MMMM --NCH --dy!!!"
Grumpy: "What did you say? Just a minute until I get these ear plugs out. There. Now say that again?"
The Grand Mother: "Come and eat; your lunch is ready!"
Grumpy: "Oh, lunch is ready? I'll be right up."

By the way, thanks for missing my head.

A Belated Mother's Day

This day was resplendent with Mothers of all ages: Old Mothers, Grand Mothers, Great Grandmothers and New Mothers. Some Mothers were represented more than once on this list -- with the exception of the New Mother category, that is!

A special feature, besides celebrating the Day, that is, was a pair of Lemon Meringue Pies baked especially for Grumpy to insure that he would take the time from his (always!) busy day to take the long and winding road up to the #1 Granddaughter's home. Now, understandably the road can be much shorter and less winding, but that's only if Grumpy would only refer to his beloved GPS before he winds up on a dead-end street leading into a cul-de-sac.

The Grand Mother and Grumpy arrived at the festivities at approximately noon this past Sunday. Right on time, naturally -- and despite Grumpy's wandering about the neighborhood in search of "the road". Greeted at the door by two small Great Grandsons, Malachi and Amos, we were welcomed in, carrying the Grand Mother's gifts for the younger Mothers, as well as "surprise" gifts for each of the anticipated Great Grandgirls, Emileigh, Gracie-Mae and Elianna, as well as the host Great Grandboys, Malachi and Amos.

Soon a hearty meal was served and, after a "round table" blessing, orchestrated by young Malachi, we all ate and talked -- in that order. After filling our tummies completely adequately we were challenged with the offering of (not one but) two Lemon Meringue Pies!! Now Grumpy has never been one to turn down a Lemon Meringue Pie -- no matter how well he has previously been fed!

Some troubling negotiations immediately began between Grumpy and Malachi concerning who would NOT get the entirety of one whole Lemon Meringue Pie. Grumpy was, of course, of the firm opinion that the pie set in front of him, was intended only for himself. Grumpy finally conceded that a stomach ache would result if he ate the whole thing and so it was determined that it would be shared by all.

These were no ordinary, run-of-the-mill Lemon Meringue Pies, mind you! No sirree Bob!! These were made with love by Grandma Ducky, using goose eggs, duck eggs and with whole wheat for the crust. Why both goose eggs and duck eggs you ask? Well, according to the story overheard by Grumpy (he's awfully hard of hearing, you know!), the goose egg yolks were so big that when the peanut butter was added to the mixture with the lemon juice, corn starch, sugar and vinegar (see also http://www.lemonpiez.com/), the whole kit and kaboodle curdled, so Grandma Ducky threw out the whole double-batch of filling that she had mixed up and started over with duck eggs instead. This resulted in there being twice as much egg white as would normally be the case, so the finished pies had meringue that reached almost to the ceiling!! Why, Grumpy could hardly believe his eyes! Unfortunately, Grumpy was so overwhelmed by the enormity of the pies that he forgot to photograph these phenomena before he ate them -- well, most of them. Here is a photo of what was left of one of them. Grumpy was supposed to get to take the rest home with him, but a certain Son-in-Law stole into the kitchen while his "Keeper" was occupied elsewhere, and -- well you can see what happened.

(I hope he got a stomach ache!-- signed, Grumpy)

Another Day at Middle School

As my grown "kids" all admit (if they are honest), when they were in grade school or Junior High, and their Dad (today, known as "Grumpy") asked them cheerily, "What did you learn in school today?" their universal and unalterable answer was, "Nothing!" (or, more phonetically, "Nuttin!"). If the reader thinks this is an anomaly that only took place in the Zimmerfamily, then I challenge you to ask the same question of your 7-14 year-old child/grandchild/great-grandchild.Now, as most readers know, our soon-to-be 13 year old grandson Ramiro, pictured above, has stayed with us during his school years, attending the local elementary and middle school where our grown kids and a couple of our grandsons also attended in their day. This youngest grandson is not inclined to being a wallflower when it comes to volunteering to appear on TV. So, it is with great pride and pleasure that I invite the reader to click on the following weblink to view Ramiro's moment in the limelight: http://www.komotv.com/news/18670854.html?video=YHI&t=a

You will have to "put up with" a short commercial message and then the video clip comes on. Ramiro's interview answer appears near the end of the clip.

We had received a phone call from a close friend, who was watching the 4 o'clock news yesterday, that she thought she saw Ramiro. She called us, but by then it was too late. Ramiro got home a few minutes later and we asked him about what went on at school today. (for his answer, see discussion in paragraph one above.) Further prodding, encouraged the following responses:

Ramiro OK then, but you're going to have to let me tell it my way, OK?
G&G OK
R Do you want me to start from the beginning?
G&G OK
R OK. Well, I awoke at 6:30 and asked Grandma to fix me some French toast. Then ....
G&G Wait a minute! We mean, 'start at what happened this afternoon'.

R (Grinning fiendishly.) OK. Well, we were sitting in Language Arts class, see, and this girl said to me, she said, "Did you see the note from Mrs X that says you are to come to the Library?" (I thought to myself, "What did I do now? What kind of trouble am I in now?")

G&G Yes, yes. Go on!
Adolfo So, you got in trouble again, huh!?
R Shush!! You have to let me tell the story my way. Now be quiet!!
G&G OK. Go on.

R Well, when I got to the library, it was everybody from the Computer class. And then they asked for volunteers to be interviewed. So I raised my hand!

G&G What question did they ask you?
A Yeah. What did they ask you?
R Shush!!! If you don't be quiet and let me tell the story my way, I won't tell you anything!
A OK.
G&G OK.

R Well, they interviewed this other kid and then they interviewed me, and then they interviewed another kid and I just stood there and listened and then this lady told me to come over there and I said, "But I have already been interviewed!", but she said it didn't matter, so I got interviewed twice!

A Si, si!! What question did they ask you?
G&G Yeah, what did they ask you?
R OK. That's it!! You guys keep interrupting, so I'm not going to tell you; you'll just have to find out for yourself!

And so it was, as we rode home from a not-so-quiet Cinco de Maya dinner at La Fuente, that there were regrets muttered by the adult passengers and driver that the 6 o'clock TV news cast wasn't being recorded so we could find out the answers to our questions -- what question did they ask of Ramiro; how did he answer? Alas, we were too late to hear the beginning of the six oclock news and the one who endured wakefulness to watch the 11 o'clock news (the Grand Mother!) reported this morning that it wasn't on at 11.

But, thanks to Grumpy; he ventured to find it on the INTERNET, and the aforementioned link is proof of his success. Hope you enjoyed it.