When I was young, things were sure different then they are now. I lived in a quiet little neighborhood that was made up of families with children about my age. I must have had at least 5 or 6 kids that I could play with. I also had a brother a year older and a younger sister; the Grasshopper, three years younger than me. They too had several kids around their ages to play with.
I remember in the evenings we would play hide-n-go seek until after dark. We played dodge ball and football in the street after school as well as an occasional game of baseball or woofle ball. We rode bikes, went to each other's houses, and ran through sprinklers and all the fun things of youth.
But one thing we never did, at least at our house, was draw with chalk all over the sidewalks. We could do it at other houses, but not at ours! My father, who is a wonderful father and grandfater, is Dutch and a meticulous gardener. He always had our yard looking great. He would even plant rye grass so we could have green grass in the Winter! He just always liked things to look neat and tidy. So, he did not like the sidewalks covered in chalk, it was just one of those things that bothered him; sort of like finger nails on the chalk board. He was a wonderful father and let us get away with lots of things he just didn't want chalk all over the sidewalk.
So of course, it was much to my dismay and surprise, when I returned from the Divine Mercy Novena on Easter Sunday that I would arrive to this:
And this:
And this:
And this:
And this:
There was not one stretch of sidewalk in front of the house that was not covered with writing, drawings, hop scotches and the likes. Two of the culprits were still in the act! The funniest thing is that the father that raised me, aka "Papa" was sitting in the front yard with the fathers of these children and watched it happen! He had no problem with them doing this it at all! What happened in the few years (ha ha) since my youth that has brought about this change? Maybe it is called becoming a Grandparent twelve times, soon to be thirteen, that mellowed him.
I will say that he had my nephew wash the sidewalk off the next morning, so all was new again!
I think the black and white finish makes the kids stand out more, especially when it is a single shot. I talk like I know what I am doing! Anyway I had fun playing with the ones that I posted yesterday and I think I am going to have them printed. The first one of my daughter and the last one of my son were my favorites.
Today is Divine Mercy Sunday and the conclusion of the Divine Mercy Novena. These past ten days have been very fruitful for me. It has been a week of quiet revelations that has brought me closer to my Lord. I pray that it has been the same for others.
This is my faithful friend, Chelsea. She has been my constant companion for fourteen years. She was my child before I had any. She was my friend and protector when I became single, and was out on my own again. She was there through the tears and through the happy times that followed. 
time and attention.
This one I thought turned out pretty good. It actually looks prettier in the picture then in the yard.
This is a dainty little flower that always looks so pretty.
Oh no, where did that come from! I guess I better stop blogging and start working out in the yard. The weeds are starting to look like flowers to me!
It did photograph well though, don't you think?
And this:
And this:
And this:
There was not one stretch of sidewalk in front of the house that was not covered with writing, drawings, hop scotches and the likes. Two of the culprits were still in the act! The funniest thing is that the father that raised me, aka "Papa" was sitting in the front yard with the fathers of these children and watched it happen! He had no problem with them doing this it at all! What happened in the few years (ha ha) since my youth that has brought about this change? Maybe it is called becoming a Grandparent twelve times, soon to be thirteen, that mellowed him.
