July 15, 2020

Chopped!

July 15, 2020/ Lisa Carpenter

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 …

July 06, 2020

July Fourth during Covid

July 06, 2020/ Lisa Carpenter

I hope everyone managed to eek out at least a little fun over the holiday weekend, despite Covid restrictions continuing to muck things up.

Jim and I spent the Fourth of July with this little firecracker…

June 26, 2020

Blooms and birds: Sights that soothe Covid chaos

June 26, 2020/ Lisa Carpenter

Here we are several months into the pandemic, and Colorado seems to be faring relatively well. We’re one of the few states with falling or stable cases of Covid-19, thanks to (most) folks wearing face masks, adhering to social distancing rules, and refraining from congregating in large groups.

Stay-at-home orders have been gradually relaxed in my state, though not yet completely ceased, and staying home as much as possible is still recommended.

Which suits me just fine, considering the chaos far and wide on pretty much every front imaginable. I’m more than happy being confined to the …

June 01, 2020

Some grand news amidst all the bad news

June 01, 2020/ Lisa Carpenter

So much bad news surrounds us lately. Most of it beyond bad, in fact. Bad news about the pandemic, about politics, about inexplicable injustices and more batters our brains and hurts our hearts pretty much every single day beyond anything we might have imagined mere months ago.

Yet amidst all that bad news, I have some good news.

Some grand news.

May 25, 2020

Memorial Day 2020

May 25, 2020/ Lisa Carpenter

As is my tradition here on Grandma’s Briefs, there will be no GRAND Social this week in recognition of Memorial Day.

On this Memorial Day that’s unlike any other ever in our history, let’s together, express sincere gratitude for and remembrance of those who gave all for our country.

May 15, 2020

Refresh the grandkids' #stayhome game night options (review)

May 15, 2020/ Lisa Carpenter

While Covid-19 and all that goes along with it has had unprecedented negative impact on much of 2020 so far — and seems likely to continue doing so — there are a few positive things to come from the mess and distress. One of those is renewed interest in family game night and board games in general.

That said, as stay-home orders and advice will likely (for good reason) continue for some time to come, the stack of games our grandkids turn to for entertainment are in dire need of refreshing. Goliath Games and Pressman Toy come to the rescue with five new options, all sent to me free for review and to share my thoughts with you.

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April 29, 2020

Flat Stanley Part II

April 29, 2020/ Lisa Carpenter

Flat Stanley Part II

Long, long ago in the pre-coronavirus days (okay, March 11), I published a post here on Grandma’s Briefs about the super time I had showing Flat Stanley around Colorado Springs. Camden had sent the character to me as part of a school project, with instructions for me to introduce Stanley — and ultimately, Camden’s classroom via a presentation by Camden using all the materials I collected for him — to the highlights of my city.

I did show Stanley the best of the Springs then returned him — and loads of literature and pics of his visit — just as instructed, for Cam to create his presentation.

Then schools closed.