Need some ideas for patriotic crafts for the kids that look 4th-of-Julyish? Check out the article on the grandparents.com website.
Crafts for the 4th of July
July 2, 2009
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Indoor Activities | Tagged: arts and crafts, child, children, children's arts, children's arts and crafts, children's crafts, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, kids | 
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Posted by mygrandmasue
30 Essentials for Grandkids
July 2, 2009www.grandparents.com has great suggestions in “30 Essentials Every Grandparent Should Have” for safety, snacks, and fun. There are also good additional suggestions in the comments that follow from other grandparents.
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Posted by mygrandmasue
Reno Gazette-Journal on Granddads
July 1, 2009Oh, I loved the article In Honor of Granddads by Forrest Hartman for Father’s Day! It strikes the same heartstrings as Grandpa, Do It! I Do It, Too! does. There are so many special grandpas – some get recognition, some don’t. Some just do it because it is the right thing to do even if it is not appreciated. The memories the children have once they’ve grown remain with them always – both good and bad! So give them good ones! 🙂 Forrest has lots of examples in his article. Nice work, Forrest!
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Posted by mygrandmasue
Possible Plethora of Wildflowers
June 30, 2009Because of the late, cool spring rains, the wildflowers in the Sierra Nevada may be in bountiful bloom in a few weeks. The warm weather that is expected this week will start them on their way. Actually, we’ve seen blue lupine, white prickly poppies, pink, red and light purple penstemon, and California poppies along the road already.
Some of our favorite wildflower books for the high desert are Sierra Nevada Wildflowers by Karen Wiese and Great Basin Wildflowers: A Guide to Common Wildflowers of the High Deserts of Nevada, Utah, and Oregon and Wildflowers of the Eastern Sierra and Adjoining Mojave Desert and Great Basin both by Laird R. Blackwell. Laird Blackwell also has Tahoe Wildflowers: A Month-by-Month Guide to Wildflowers in the Tahoe Basin and Surrounding Areas for the Lake Tahoe area.
Our mode of operation on our car trips, mainly on Highway 395, between LA and Reno is for me to give the high sign that I want us to pull off to the side of the road so I can pull out the books and camera to identify and record the latest splash of color along the road. According to the books, Horseshoe Meadow and Onion Valley are showy places. Also off of Highway 88 on Blue Lakes Road is another super spot. The mountainsides along 395 on the other side of the road from the Walker River splash with color. Carson Pass is another good place to find different wildflowers.
3 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: child, children, Desert Flowers, family, fun, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, Great Basin, Green Hour, High Desert Wildflowers, hiking, Karen Wiese, kids, Laird Blackwell, Lake Tahoe, Places to Go, Reno, Reno area, Reno-Tahoe, Reno/Tahoe, Sierra Nevada, Walker River, wildflowers | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
Full Moon Hikes
June 29, 2009Have you ever hiked at night by the light of the full moon? Ok, with maybe a little help of a flashlight? In the Reno/Tahoe area there are two series of full moon hikes being offered by two separate groups.
The Tahoe Rim Trail Association is offering full moon hikes for members (Membership is $20 annually) starting at the Tahoe Meadows Trail trailhead. Per the event calendar: Everything changes after dark – the trails, the trees, and the lake. Experience the Tahoe Rim Trail in a whole new light with full moon hikes led by experienced hike leaders. Take in inspiring views of the lake as the moon rises over the Lake Tahoe Basin. Experience the peace, tranquility and beauty of the Tahoe Rim Trail at dusk. Expect casually paced hikes for all ages, while slowing down to enjoy the flora and fauna, current happenings in the natural world and nighttime senses.
TRTA Membership is required to attend.
Space is limited; please call the TRTA office at (775) 298-0012 or email katyw@tahoerimtrail.org to reserve your spot. Bring a flashlight, layered clothing and water. This may not be the best hike for children under 10. Please, to respect the night sounds and wildlife, no dogs this time! The dates are July 7, August 6, September 4 and October 4.
The Squaw Valley hiking center guided moon hikes begin at 6:30 p.m. at High Camp (accessible via cable car). The hikes are approximately three hours long and are moderate in level. The dates are July 6 and 7 and August 4 and 5. The cost is $15 for adults, youth and seniors and $5 for children. Bring drinking water and flashlights and wear warm clothing.
The Squaw Valley hiking center also has guided sunset hikes July 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 31 and August 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22. For more details call 530-583-6985 or click www.squaw.com
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Posted by mygrandmasue
Volunteer Vacations
June 28, 2009USA Today reviewed two books loaded with ideas for vacations where you can make a difference. Check it out!
The 100 Best Volunteer Vacations to Enrich Your Life, by Pam Grout and
Volunteer Vacations Across America by Sheryl Kayne
While on Amazon I also found:
Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures That Will Benefit You and Others by Bill McMillon, Doug Cutchins, Anne Geissinger, and Ed Asner
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Posted by mygrandmasue
The Great American Backyard Campout is TONIGHT!
June 27, 2009The Great American Backyard Campout is tonight. I wrote about this before. The Reno Gazette-Journal has an article here on Backyard Bonanza by Maggie O’Neill.
Do it! Have fun and take pictures! Send the best one in for a contest!
From the RGJ (Reno Gazette-Journal):
Send in a photo of your family participating in the Great American Backyard Campout for a chance to win a copy of Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Your photo could be published in the RGJ. Send submissions to moneill@rgj.com
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Posted by mygrandmasue
Dogs Move Too!
June 23, 2009If you know a family with children that will be moving soon, there is a cute book called Dogs Move Too! written from Max’s point of view that may help alleviate any fears the children may have about moving. Max is helped in telling his story by his ‘parents’ Anthony M.T. Majewski (Author) and Julie Majewski (Illustrator). Max is a five-year-old yellow English Labrador Retriever. He shares his thoughts, activities and photos as he makes his move with his human family. His conclusion is that if he can move, kids can move, too! Check out his website, too!
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Posted by mygrandmasue
The Bucket List
June 22, 2009Hmmmm…the buzz is beginning about Grandpa, Do It! I Do It, Too!. After the reading at Wayfarer’s Chapel last Sunday, one listener likened it to the movie “The Bucket List” in that you understand the deeper meaning contained within – when you ponder the simplicity of the situations and the significance they have later in life – given similar personal experiences you had yourself with your own grandparents. After the reading several people, most of them grandparents themselves, thanked me for putting into words all the kinds of experiences they had and their wonderful thoughts and memories they have of their grandparents.
The children at Long Beach Day Nursery also reacted very positively to the story last Friday. During the reading, most of them were very eager to share their own experiences with their grandparents or at least with static electricity – and the plastic slide! In fact, they voted to have me read it to them a second time!
Both readings were a lot of fun! NEW PHOTOS
1 Comment | Book Notes | Tagged: child, children, family, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, Grandpa Do It, grandparent, kids, Long Beach, Long Beach Day Nursery, Playing with Children, Rancho Palos Verdes, The Bucket List, Wayfarer's Chapel | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
Weekend is Over!
June 22, 2009I’m sad! Our quick, long weekend wth Austi and family is at an end! We just got out of the pool and now it is time for them to pack up and head back to the airport! We had so much fun in this SHORT period of time! We even made it to DISNEYLAND! Now we must plot the next visit! And it is hopefully soon!! Grandchildren are so special!!
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Posted by mygrandmasue
MyGrandmaSue 