Fly-fishing Fanny & Hump Day Free-For-All

This week's Grilled Grandma is a grandma destined to have a picture book written about her. It would be called "Fanny, the Fly-Fishing Granny," for that's exactly what she is.

I met Fanny through a press release I received about her latest offering: an instructional fly-fishing DVD for kids. The pictures in the press release and on her site showed a grandma loving life, a grandma begging to be grilled. So I approached Fanny with questions, and she graciously responded. Head on over to Grilled Grandma: Fanny to read all about it. She doesn't mention fly-fishing in her grilling, so be sure to visit her website afterwards to read Fanny's fish tales.

Last week I instituted the Hump Day Free-For-All and it went over quite well. So here it is again, your chance to let loose with whatever's on your mind. Happy, sad, pissed off or glad, today's your day to spill the beans!

Today's Hump Day Free-For-All question:

What's on your heart, mind or chest today?

Double feature: Grilled Grandma/Hump Day Free-For-All

Welcome to Wednesday, everyone, and the latest and greatest of the Grilled Grandmas. Before announcing who's fresh off the grill, I want to point out that I'm trying something new today, a double feature, if you will. So be sure to read to the end of this post for the details.

First up is, of course, Grilled Grandma: Sharon. You'll find her grilling where you'll find all the other grandma's I've grilled, over in the Grilled Grandma section.

Sharon's grandparenting experience is quite similar to mine so far, in that she has only one grandchild -- a boy, just over two years old. Just like me and my Bubby. One huge difference, though, is that Sharon is one of the lucky few who lives just a few houses away from her grandson and gets to see him any ol' time she pleases. Must be wonderful. (Like my Andie would say: "I know, right!?")

Check out Grilled Grandma: Sharon. And do leave her some comment love ... Grilled Grandmas do appreciate the comments!

Now for today's second feature, which I like to call the Hump Day Free-For-All. Because you'll be commenting to Sharon over on the Grilled Grandma page (right?), I'd like to institute free-for-all commenting on the front-page post on Wednesdays.

What do I mean by Free-For-All? Well, I'm glad you asked. Free-For-All commenting means this is your opportunity to share whatever's on your mind.

Fantastic news? We want to hear it!

Complaints about your life, job, cost of living and movies? We want to hear it!

Got a great deal on rutabagas at the farmer's market? We want to hear it!

Shout-out for a favorite blog or website? We want to hear that, too!

Like I said: It's a free-for-all! Simply say what you gotta say. And if someone else has left a comment that you want to respond to, go for it. Let's get a little conversation going here, ladies. After all, it's a free-for-all!

In that vein ...

Today's question:

What's on your mind today?

Grandma over easy

It's Wednesday, which means I'm serving up another Grilled Grandma.

This week it's Nezzy and I'd like to share with you her response when I asked her in September if I could grill her:

First and foremost is that if ya'll  are gonna grill this Ozark farm chick please be gentle ~~ I'm old.  Turn me over easy baby, 'cause  I'm kind of fragile today...fell off the deck yesterday.  Would ya grill me on low so I'm a nice even golden brown and not all burnt and cracked around the edges.  Heaven knows this rockin Grandma doesn't need any more wrinkles.

What more could I possibly add? THAT right there is Nezzy. Gotta love her!

And right here is her grilling: Grilled Grandma Nezzy. I betcha you're gonna love that, too!

Today's question:

Speaking of grilling, what's your favorite way to top grilled burgers? (Not that I'm, um, looking for ideas for dinner or anything!)

Off to New Zealand ... again!

One of the greatest things about writing Grandma's Briefs is the wonderful women I meet from all across the globe. I've been introduced to women in Malta, Canada, The United Kingdom.

Most surprising to me, though, is that I've met a handful of wonderful women either from or with strong ties to New Zealand. I've not only met them, I've grilled them.

First there was Grilled Grandma Sally, who lives in New Zealand. There there was Grilled Grandma Billie, whose granddaughter lives in New Zealand. And now there's this week's Grilled Grandma, Pauline, who hails from New Zealand, too!

(I think it's a sign I'm supposed to visit New Zealand. Maybe Jim's making secret travel plans for us. Maybe?)

The word that continually came to mind while reading Pauline's grilling is lovely. She's a lovely grandma, with lovely grandchildren, living in a lovely place, writing a lovely blog sharing all of that loveliness and more.

But there's much more to Pauline than loveliness. Here are three of the many tidbits you'll learn about the latest featured grandma from New Zealand by reading Grilled Grandma Pauline:

Three of Pauline's granddaughters are the same age -- and they're not triplets!

Her seven-year-old granddaughter has a humorous explanation for why she simply cannot be a monster.

The reason why Pauline no longer plays Simon Cowell to her grandchildren.

After reading Pauline's grilling, be sure to leave her a comment or two on your thoughts about her and her little ones. (I bet the word "lovely" surely comes to your mind when thinking of Pauline, too!)

Today's question:

What one word best describes you today?

Grilling up an old friend

There's much to be said about old friends. Not old in terms of age, but in terms of being part of one's life a long time. This week's Grilled Grandma, Terri, is an old friend. And I have much to say about her.

Thing is, Terri hasn't actually been part of my life for nearly 20 years -- well, except for the exchanging of Christmas cards. Then Facebook brought us together again, and I'm oh-so glad.

Terri has always been one of my favorite people. She's also been the source of many memorable, off-the-wall compliments (she's just sweet that way). One I still think of often has to do with my daughters. Terri and my sister lived together and they offered to babysit the girls once when Jim won tickets to a concert. The prize package included a limo ride to the show. The limo arrived at the house to pick us up, but we asked the driver if he could first take the girls -- who were under the age of 10 -- for a spin around the block for their first limo experience. Terri and my sister went along with them. When they returned from their luxury ride, Terri commented that she was just amazed by how the girls converse with one another. She thought it was so cool Brianna, Megan and Andrea had a real conversation. With each other. Like little adults. I don't know why, but that struck me as funny -- and flattering that she thought my girls were interesting little conversationalists.

That's how Terri is: always flattering ... but in a unique way, saying unique things folks don't typically say. Now I'm flattered that my old friend and grandma let me grill her up here on Grandma's Briefs. In typical Terri fashion, she has a unique way of expressing her love and admiration for her grandchildren. They are so blessed to have her. Read what she has to say about the grandparenting experience in Grilled Grandma: Terri.

Today's question:

Who have you recently reconnected with thanks to Facebook?

A gran unlike any other

When you hear about a grandma named "Gran," whose the mother to three adult children and has her two grandchildren living with her (along with their mother, too), the picture in your mind likely isn't of a vibrant woman with the most beautiful red hair ever.

Which is why this week's Grilled Grandma, Sherri, is a gran unlike any other! She's all of those things yet just get a load of her picture to the right.

Isn't she gorgeous!?

Of course, there's far more to Sherri than just great hair and a sweet smile. Click over to Grilled Grandma: Sherri to read all about this red-haired grandmother and her adorable -- and funny -- granddaughter and grandson.

Today's question:

If you could have the hair of any celebrity, whose would you choose?

My answer: Susan Sarandon's, hands down.

Grilled Grandmas: The next generation

This week's Grilled Grandma feature highlights the mother of one of my previous Grilled Grandmas. I'm honored to have now grilled two sensational -- as well as beautiful -- generations from the same family.

(Of course, I did grill my own mother and my grandmother, but that's different.)

So here I give you Grilled Grandma: Billie and some of the interesting tidbits you'll learn about this active great-grandmother by reading her grilling:

1. As I mentioned, Billie is the mother of a previous Grilled Grandma. Any guesses as to who that former Grilled Grandma is?

2. Why were a vehicle's taillights once "the best thing" for Billie to see?

3. Who are the "outlaws" in Billie's family?

Once you're done reading of Billies' outlaws and more, take a moment to check out her website, mentioned at the bottom of her grilling.

Today's question:

Speaking of outlaws, what is one of the more unusual or interesting connections on your family tree?

My answer: Supposedly I'm somehow connected, on my dad's side of the family, to the founders of Yale University. In which case, I think I -- and my children -- should have been granted guaranteed admission with free tuition. Sounds reasonable, don't ya think?