A Day with Elsa and Liam

 Elsa and Liam came to spend the day with me on Friday.  It brings great joy to my heart to have my grandkids here.  I was a bit concerned that Bob was not here because Liam usually spends his time with Grandpa,  But not to worry, Liam got into the Domino Rally tiles out and began to build incredible towers and lines of dominos which would all fall in a line when the first one is pushed over.  We had breakfast and then I suggested they might tie their presents on their Advent calendars.  The Advent calendar idea came from Helen Stork, a dear friend.  She would buy little gifts for her granddaughter Elizabeth and slip them into pockets on her Advent calendar.  When our grandchildren got old enough, I made big felt banners for each of them and sewed on small rings to tie the little gifts on.   None of the grandkids are ready for me to stop.  I start collecting small gifts in July and search for much of the rest of the year.  But it’s worth it.  They seem very happy.  This year Elsa told me about how it was when she was younger.  She told me with a laugh, she remembers taking lots of gifts off at one time and hiding under her mother’s desk to open them all up.  Liam was quiet.

We walked to the Lawrence Hall of Science, a 15 minute walk.  Liam told me jokes the whole way.  Elsa walked behind lost in thought.  It wasn’t crowded at all when we got there.  But this time, it was clear to me most of the hands-on exhibits were aimed at younger children, probably 5-7 year olds.  Nevertheless the two of them had a great time.  They are familiar enough with the layout, they knew which rooms to go to.  And the very best was watching them explore and play together so happily.  I don’t know if it was because they were at the Lawrence Hall or because Liam has grown much more articulate or Elsa more mature.  In the room where there were materials for them to design rockets or airplanes to be placed on large areas with airflow, they were creative as they slowly moved from exhibit to exhibit.  They paced themselves perfectly.  Even the inevitable trip to the Discovery Store was pleasant.  They could see that the items for sale were for younger kids.  How impressed I was with their creativity and cooperation.  We finally walked home after three hours there and I made us all lunch.  We played Board games and Spite and Malice for the rest of our time together.  At the very last moment, Liam and Elsa went outside and Liam pitched the volleyball to Elsa so she could practice hitting.  They were so happy until the ball rolled under the stairs going down to the back garden.  It ended up wedged in a space about as high as the ball was tall. They got all the long sticks we had and interestingly, it was Liam who crawled under the dark stairs and saved the day.  What a wonderful pleasure it was to watch them play together and to play with them for the day.  

Back in Berkeley

                                                                    

 Today is the first day in the two weeks I’ve been back in Berkeley that I have nothing on my calendar. I’ve been surprised by how busy I’ve been, but there is so much to do here in the Bay Area.  The passion of the red sunsets and the gentle pink sunrises have delighted me.  Aside from the usual work at the Botanical Garden twice a week, there has been an Art Exhibit opening of botanical art (very very beautiful to behold) and I’ve given a talk to docents on liverworts.  The Garden is especially beautiful now with the colors of autumn.  The streets of Berkeley are also beautiful with all the changing trees with red, gold and orange leaves.   On Sundays I’ve gone to church and also I made sandwiches for the homeless there.  I’ve been walking with friends which is always a pleasure.  I’ve been to a book group discussion which was lively and fun.  I’ve been to San Francisco where my friend Nancy took me to the DeYoung museum.  We saw two exhibitions —- Ramses II exhibit which I hurried through because I found it too crowded.  Nancy said it wasn’t nearly as crowded this time as it was when she went before.  And we also saw a wonderful thought-provoking exhibit of the artist Faith Rihngold.  We walked across the plaza to have lunch in the Cal Academy of Sciences where we thought correctly it would be less crowded.  There a former docent from the Garden recognized me and we had a wonderful chat.  

The live music I’ve heard in just the last two weeks has been outstanding.   I’ve been to three wonderful music performances.  The first was a string quartet at St. John’s Presbyterian.  Sharona and I were astounded by the joy and energy of the young performers. The Viano String Quartet was amazing and we felt blessed to hear their music.  After the concert, we walked to a little restaurant on College Avenue.  I enjoyed Salmon Tacos!  Sitting outside, gazing at all the lights, the people walking by and the dark blue sky, we agreed life is good.  The second concert was an afternoon one in San Francisco.  Sharona and I took BART to the Civic Center and walked to the Symphony Hall.  Emmanuel Ax was brilliant playing Brahm’s 1st Piano Concerto.  The second movement “Andante cantabile” gave me chills.  And Sunday,  I was invited to go to a Philharmonia Baroque concert in Berkeley at our former church.  Their clean crisp playing on original instruments was wonderful.   I was surprised because when I came to my seat, there was a present on it.   In a little purple bag was a chocolate bar, a CD collection of the Philharmonia’s music and a nice note thanking me for coming and inviting me to come again.  I felt blessed by all the music and the gift and seeing my friend.

Best were the several visits from Arne after his work.  He came to just keep me company.  And then yesterday Elsa came to spend the day with me.  I was honored she wanted to spend a day of her Thanksgiving vacation here with me.  We had a great time, doing art, planting wildflower seeds, playing Boggle, visiting the Art Exhibit at the Garden and my friend Sharona where Elsa helped chop up sweet potatoes.  I was impressed by her poise and politeness. She made me proud.  Returning home, she took a long nap.  I’ve enjoyed all the happenings here and now I’m looking forward to Bob returning next week. I’ve missed him.

    

Halloween 2022

 Halloween has always been a really big deal in the Winke-Stokstad household.  October 1, Paula brings out the strings of orange lights and the Halloween decorations and goes to town decorating their house and ours.  It sets the stage for all that follows.  She loves Halloween.  This year, like other years, Paula arranged for us to go to the Halloween Extravaganza at Greenfield Village.  And then in the past, there’s been some activity every day during the week before Halloween where the girls would don their costumes and go out trick or treating.  There was Boo in the Zoo at the Lansing Potter Park Zoo.  There was Sidewalk Celebration in downtown E. Lansing where all the kids in town came in costume and trick or treated at the various businesses.  The local B and B even had a Wizard of Oz event that the high school drama department put on.   The library had something, I’m sure. I remember a scary story time at Pump House Park across the street and of course the elementary school had parties in the classrooms ending with a giant parade of all the costumed children.  So many happenings!

This year, it was different.  The girls are older now.   Paula has put away most if not all of their childhood toys.  The big outdoor jungle gym is gone.  She has redecorated the downstairs play room into a giant media center with a beautiful new gray wrap around modular sofa in front of the big screen tv.  She encouraged Erika to have a Halloween party and so she did.  Five or six of her friends came over for pizza and then watched a scary Halloween movie or two.  Paula baked up a storm producing Halloween decorated cookies, cupcakes with chocolate frosting, caramel apples and more. I made brownies with pretzels in them.  Sonja went out trick or treating with her friend from down the street for what she said would be their last time to do it (since they’ll be in high school next year).  Bob and I stayed at our house to hand out candy.  Not so many trick or treaters came to our door this year. But we .loved seeing the costumes and the smiling faces of the neighborhood children who came.  The cutest was  a 7 month old boy in a chicken costume. 

Meanwhile in Palo Alto, Elsa made her own costume.  She was a tree.  I wondered if she’d color the leaves green or red, yellow or orange.  Her textured greens are inspired. She is clearly a California girl.  Liam was a hot dog, having the same costume as his Uncle Paul, here in Michigan and the sweetest smile going.