Stroll with a goal: 8 ideas for walks with grandkids

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Stroll with a goal: 8 ideas for walks with grandkids

Spring has sprung! So put on your walking shoes, gather up a grandkiddo or two, and hit the road—or sidewalk, as the case may be—for one of these springtime strolls with a goal.

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Rockin' PawDad's party

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Rockin' PawDad's party

The recent weekend in which my family was all together—a relatively uncommon occurrence even in the best of times—featured not only Robert’s baptism, as I previously shared, but a milestone birthday celebration, too. That milestone being Jim’s sixtieth birthday.

The birthday festivities, organized primarily by Megan, revolved around a rockin’ theme as …

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Unboxed: The First-Time Grandmother's Journal

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Unboxed: The First-Time Grandmother's Journal

I’ve never been a huge fan of “unboxing” videos. I know, I know. A blogger who promotes products provided free for review probably shouldn’t say such things, as brands do love to see #unboxing promos of their products. They just always feels so “Lookie what I got and you didn’t get one!” to me.

Until now. Now I do have an unboxing video I’m excited to share: the unboxing of my …

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Streamin' and screamin': My top 10 scariest films

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Streamin' and screamin': My top 10 scariest films

‘Tis the scary season—and no, I’m not talking about Covid and our political climate (though those are downright frightening, for sure).

No, I’m talking about Halloween time.

As folks peruse streaming services for scary stuff to watch in celebration of the season, I’d like to offer a few films that forever scarred, I mean memorably scared me, on the off-chance others may wish to be similarly scarred, I mean, scared.

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Backyard bliss 2020

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Backyard bliss 2020

The spectrum of fall colors in Colorado can range from brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows one hopes remain on tree branches all season to crunchy, crispy, brown disappointments offering satisfaction only once raked, bagged, and gone. It all depends on the when the first hard freeze arrives.

Despite most everything else about 2020 causing dismay and despondency, fall colors in Colorado this year are the best I recall in my forty-plus years in the state. Thanks to no hard freeze yet. (Knock wood!)

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Fall flavors: Sampler of six for the season

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Fall flavors: Sampler of six for the season

Apples and pumpkin, pumpkin and apples. The top two flavors of fall.

As fall is my favorite season and baking one of my favorite pastimes, it’s fairly easy to believe I would have a few recipes related to apples and pumpkin in my repertoire.

That I do!

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Summer 2020: What I didn't tell you

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Summer 2020: What I didn't tell you

July 25, 2020, marked the eleven year anniversary of Grandma’s Briefs. During many summers, I’ve taken a break from blogging from Memorial Day through Labor Day, to allow me time to enjoy summer fun without being obligated to publish anything.

This past summer, I chose not to take a break. I figured that with Covid restrictions and all, I’d have little to do and lots of time to write about the little I might do and see and ponder.

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On my big sister

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On my big sister

My big sister Becky (Rebecca to many) and her husband, Rick, visited me on May 28 ... despite minimal Covid restrictions in place at the time. We all felt safe about it; they’re pretty much part of our “pod.”

Becky brought me some homemade cookies that had relatively recently become a favorite of her kids and grandkids. She also brought me a jar of yeast. I’ve been baking bread nearly every single week for years, and the Covid craziness made it impossible to find yeast. But Becky found …

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Chopped!

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Chopped!

Well, I did it. I finally got up the nerve to get my hair cut. It’s only been <ahem> 8 months or so since I visited a salon.

I typically do go a very long time between cuts because, well, it’s just hair and ponytails are my friend. (Jim has no idea how lucky he is to have such a low-maintenance wife). This time, though, was an exceptionally long time from one cut to the next, thanks to Covid. First visiting a salon was impossible; now …

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