I'm A Playmate For Kids

On this coming Tuesday, I'm hired to babysit 12 toddlers for 10 hours. I will have some help, but I intend to get down on the floor and show them a good time. I don't plan on making them entertain me.
I derive a thrill from being a fun playmate for kids. Bring myself down to their level, enjoy their favorite things to do, be it: constructing buildings out of wooden blocks, playing dolls in an over sized dollhouse, or playing duck-duck-goose.
I intend to give this 10-hour day my all. At the end of this 10 hour day, I expect to go home and fall asleep in my supper.

Too Much Free Time???

The things people do with fruit...you do realize whoever did this had 'too much time on their hands,' as my sister often says.
I find having time on my hands is a good thing. I am not materialistic. I enjoy simple pleasures. Free time is one of the best simple pleasures I know.
In my free time I write romance novels, do arts and crafts, BLOG, read other's BLOGS, bake treats that I love to eat, pen pal with an aunt and old friend from school, watch home decorating shows, spend time with my niece and husband, and do anything else that trips my trigger.

Maybe some day I will attempt to carve Vincent Van Gogh out of a watermelon!!!

A New Job For Miss Lisa

It seems forever that I have been working at the family company: Tasker’s Well. Sixteen and a half years, in fact. With tough, economic times falling on everyone here in New England, across the country, and around the world, I, too, have been cut back in my hours. I find no fault or blame with my employers, I only ask that while I'm staying on two days per week to help with the office work, accounting, etc., that they attempt to accommodate my new part time job hours. They have always been so good at accommodating me! I try to always return the favor.

To offset my lesser hours at my 'first priority job,' I decided to find a part time, 'second priority job.' I wanted to earn money doing something I really enjoyed. Something that seemed more like play. I found my dream part time job as a sub. for the local daycare center in town. I’m acquainted with one of the owners. She's excited that I'm interested in the position. I had babysat her two children on a prior occasion and she and I hit it off quite well.

I had volunteered to go into the daycare center today to observe, without pay. I was supposed to hop from room to room - get acquainted with the children and childcare providers. Instead, they were short a person. I jumped right in. I was directed to the the Infant’s room. In the Infant’s room were providers C and C, mother and daughter. C, the mother, is one of the co-owners.

The Infant children are:
· newborn boy J,
· 6 month old boy C,
· 1 year old boy T,
· 1 1/2-year old girl S,
· 1 1/2-year old boy M,
· and another 6 month old girl who was absent.

I played with T, S, and M most of the morning. At some point I began to play with C, the 6 month old, changed his diaper, fed him, got him to sleep, and kept him happy with silly games. One of the women said I was C’s new girl. Apparently, he is spoiled at home. I could see that he liked to be held a lot. I continued to get him laughing by playing a couple of repetition games with him and a red doll I nicknamed "Red Doll." I really bonded with C, and he with me. I worked from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., a 6 hour day = $60.00. I will put the money in my savings account.

They need help tomorrow after I get out of work, so I’ll show up around 4:30. They close at 6:00 = $15.00. I will be helping in the Toddler room. There are about 12 Toddlers. It will be hard to remember 12 Toddler's names, but I'm willing to try. I'm told by C the co-owner that I will fit in well with the Toddlers since I like to get down on the floor and play, and clearly because I love kids.

Next Tuesday, I’m scheduled with the Toddler room to pull an all-day shift, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. = $100.00...WOW! TEN HOURS WITH 12 TODDLERS. I WILL, OF COURSE, HAVE TWO EXPERIENCED PROVIDERS HELPING ME, THANK GOD!

I believe this sub. position will be beneficial to me in several ways: it will give me extra money and it will fulfill an empty spot in my life that only children can fill. I am very excited. My husband is excited for me, too.

I'm really looking forward to the day when I know all the kid's names and they all call me "Miss Lisa!"

SOMEONE, SO SPECIAL

SOMEONE, SO SPECIAL, THAT WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH...

NICKI, SO SPECIAL, HER JOYS SHE SHARES SO MUCH...

NICKI,MY NIECE, WHO'S LAUGH ECHOS IN MY EAR...

SOMEONE, I LOVE, WHO GETS BETTER EVERY YEAR!

Heidi-Keke the Cat

I have a new cat. Actually, she's a kitty. Heidi-Keke turned one-year-old on the day we invited her into the Kennard family.

At Cocheco Valley Humane Society, in Dover, my husband, young niece, and I viewed several cats. The prerequisites: spayed female and friendly.

The first cat we looked at was white and named Sissy. We would have chosen her, except when I picked her up she hissed and attempted to scratch my face. A definite no-no.

Another cat interested us, but she didn't like children. Another no-no.

But Keke, now named Heidi-Keke, rubbed up against our fingers that we bravely put in between the bars on her cage, and she purred. A good sign. When let out of her tiny cage she jumped on the windowsill, looked out, and then jumped down. When I picked her up she was friendly.

I guess third one's a charm.

Now Heidi-Keke Kennard is our puss-in-boots and sports a milk mustache. She meows in greeting, plays with cat-toys, and sleeps at the foot of the bed at night. Heidi is our purrrfect companion.

Small-Town-Patriotic-Ways

One of the things I love about small towns are the townsfolk. One may be a butcher, one a baker, one a candlestick maker. Many are just working-class Americans doing the best they can to provide a safe, happy, positive atmosphere in their homes for their loved ones.

Some Americans are happy enough to follow the rules - some want to make the rules. Both types are needed and valued.

To those who are leaders, proactive, and choose to be in the rule-making role, I salute you. To those who are more private and like to follow the rules, you are to be saluted, too. It is our working together to make this world a better place that proves us to be compassionate humans.

The making and following of rules is the American way. To serve our towns, states, and country in whatever capacity we can is our small-town-way. I really love small town dynamics. Under the magnifying glass, we are little citizens with big, patriotic hearts.

Note:
Forum readers: To read more of my blog, please visit: http://www.blogginglisaslife.blogspot.com/
Lisa (Allen) Kennard
Nottingham, NH
LisaRayK@comcast.net

Cookie Swap Waistline

The women in my family have a cookie-swap each year to kick-off the holiday season. There are great bakers in my family. My waistline is the proof!

In the freezer my cookies call my name: "Lisa, EAT ME! EAT ME!!

It's useless to fight...I have no willpower! So I snack on cookies, half a dozen at a time. My tummy loves my binge, but my waistline cries in defeat!

I thought I would give my cookies away in goodie-baskets I was putting together for my husband's family. Earlier I'd had the grand idea of covering pretzels, potato chips, marshmallows, etc. in melted chocolate. I had a ton of mouthwatering snacks already made to give away...so I kept the cookies!

I did take a plate to a Yankee Swap party. I left them there upon my departure. That was a good move on my part. My next good move will be to lose the fifteen pounds I gained after I lost thirty.

Let us look on the bright side. I have successfully kept off fifteen of those thirty pounds. That counts for something!!! Next year, I may bring only a dozen or so cookies to the swap. I will only bring two of each of my sister's, mother's, and stepdaughter's cookies home.

My waistline will thank me.

Two Cats: SWE and PUM

Two cats came for a visit.

One is meek and mild, called Sweetie Pie.

One is jealous and spunky, called Pumpkin Pie:

SWE and PUM for short.

My young niece brought her two cats for a visit following our beloved dog's passing.

I believe it was a six-and-a-half year-old's attempt to comfort those of us left behind.

Those of us outwardly sadden by our departed pet Abby.

Two cats came to visit: they cheered us up.

DABBLING IN HO, HO, HO

YEARLY,
I STRIVE TO REMEMBER
THAT JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!
CHRISTIANS SING PRAISES FOR THE NEWBORN KING;
WHILE MALLS ARE PACKED WITH SHOPPERS
PUSHING AND SHOVING TO GRAB THE GIFTS
THEY BELIEVE WILL MAKE THEIR LOVED ONES HAPPY.
ONE YEAR I PLAYED SANTA AT THE HAIR STUDIO 'HALOS',
SO CHILDREN COULD COME AND
'HELP SANTA GET HIS HAIR CUT.'
HERE I AM HOLDING MY GREAT NIECE AND NEPHEW:
LYLA AND STEELEY.
STILL I REMEMBER THAT
JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON,
BUT ON RARE OCCASION I DABBLE IN
HO, HO, HO!

WONDERFUL YEARS LOVING ABBY

ABBY KENNARD – June 1994 – December 27, 2008
Prayer for Abby, Our Loyal Pet–14 ½ Years Old

Heavenly God, Creator of all things,
Thank you for giving us Abby, our loyal pet.
Thank You for letting Abby teach us about love.
Thank You for the wonderful memories
that we will remember to brighten our days.

We loved Abby’s shiny, soft, black hair with a bit of white.
We loved how she laid right in front of the refrigerator.
We loved how she came to the table and begged for food.
We loved giving her bacon and eggs snacks and leftovers.
We loved hearing Abby sing to the harmonica.
We loved taking Abby for walks in the doggy-park and woods.
Ray loved how Abby heard the sound of the truck tailgate go up then raced to the truck door to help make a firewood delivery. Ray loved taking Abby to McDonalds after a delivery.
We loved Abby’s kisses, howl, wet nose, and brown eyes.
We loved everything about Abby!

We loved Abby, and now we send her home to You, God.
Abby will keep You and Jesus company in heaven,
And we know that Abby is now happy to visit with:
Rosie the cat and Lady the dog,
Grammy & Grampa Kennard,
Grammy & Grampa Pearson,
Mom & Dad Kennard,
Grammy & Grampa Bousquet,
Nana, and all our other loved ones in heaven.

We know You love Abby, too, God,
because GOD spelled backwards is DOG.
Abby was our best friend. Now she can be Yours.
Thank You for giving us so many wonderful years loving Abby.

Amen.