| 2012 Calendar
Date Host Presenter
July 15 Day One Jane Angelich
Sept 9 Sandi Sandi D.
Nov 4 Diane Rachel Eryn
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July 15 Meeting
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Free Subscription to GRAND
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Orange Scones
This recipe is from The English Rose Restaurant Cookbook by Marilyn Sheppard, the former owner.
Ingredients
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
grated peel of 1/2 orange
1/4 lb. butter, softened
3/4 cup currants or raisins
3/4 cup milk
juice of 1/2 lemon
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and orange peel.
3. Work in butter until fine crumbs form.
4. Stir in raisins.
5. Combine milk and lemon juice. Add to mixture.
6. Mix until well moistened.
7. Scrape dough onto floured board and knead 10 times.
8. Place dough into greased 9" pan.
9. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until lightly browned.
10. Sprinkle top with sugar and cut into wedges. |
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Greetings!
On June 24, twenty GaGas gathered for an afternoon tea party at The English Rose in San Carlos, CA. As the GaGas started arriving and greeting each other, I could feel the energy level rising in the quaint tearoom.
I prepared two discussion questions for the group in case of a lull in the conversation. I shouldn't have worried whether 20 grandmas would have anything to say to each other! I could barely get their attention to welcome everyone and explain how our tea party came to be.
In May, Judy Sheridan and I met for lunch at The English Rose and the new owner, Allan Dunham, came over to introduce himself. He gave us each a copy of The English Rose Restaurant Cookbook.
I told him it would be fun to have a GaGa Sisterhood tea there and he asked when we'd like to have it. One month later we were all sitting there sipping tea and enjoying freshly baked apricot-ginger scones with lemon curd.
Everyone who attended said how much they enjoyed spending two hours getting to know each other better. I'm sure we'll be making this an annual event!
Happy 4th of July!  |
What 3 Words Suit You to a Tea?
I'm always thinking of creative conversation starters. So I prepared two questions for our GaGa Sisterhood tea party and we had fun with them.
Question 1:
If your grandchildren are old enough to talk, what three words would they use to describe you? If they can't talk, what three words do you imagine they'd use to describe you?
Here are some of the GaGas' answers:
organic - traveler - fun
kisses - books - water
kisses - iPad - food
shopper - buddy - neat
fun - old - not a superhero
fun - crazy - funny
strict - funny - dancer
strict - why? - babysitter
strict - cuddly - loving
artistic - good cook - smart
I asked my two granddaughters this question and here's how they described me:
Juliet (9 years old): fun - kind - energetic
Amelia ( 5 years old): lets me use her apps - storyteller - nice
My husband and I thought this was such an interesting question, we spent an hour writing three words for all the members of our nuclear family. I encourage you to try it at a family gathering some time. You may learn some new things about yourself.
Question 2:
What was the last book you enjoyed?
A Bittersweet Season by Jane Gross The trials of caring for an aging parent mixes an account of her mother's difficult last years with a "hard-earned list of tips" on eldercare. Wild by Cheryl Strayed Her memoir recounts her solo trip hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 1995, when she was 26 years old and in a state of crisis, separated from her husband and grieving for her mother, who had recently died of cancer at 45. A Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness In this sequel to Discovery of Witches, Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont find themselves in Elizabethan London, facing a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew's old friends. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn The tale of a troubled marriage told from the perspectives of both husband and wife at different points in their relationship. A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers The story of one man's fight to hold himself and his splintering family together in the face of the global economy's gale-force winds. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett This novel of morality and miracles, science and sacrifice is set in the Amazon rainforest and tells a gripping adventure story about the difficult choices we make in the name of discovery and love.
The Cost of Hope by Amanda Bennett A memoir and love story of two unusual people, their complex marriage and deep devotion, and Bennett's quest to save her husband's life.
So here's my summer suggestion: Bake a batch of orange scones, brew yourself a pot of tea, and sit down with one of these GaGa recommended books! |
Grandparent Alienation Affects Many Families
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Programs for Our 2012 Meetings
The following programs are planned for the rest of the year so be sure to mark your calendar for these dates.
July 15, 2012
What's A Mother-in-Law to Do? Author Jane Angelich will read from her book and explain why she's called a "mother-in-law expert." She'll also share her perspective as a MIL and answer questions. September 9, 2012 Disposing of Your Sentimental Possessions will be presented by our host Sandi Dolmatch. Sandi will share some tips for downsizing collections and objets d'art, by deciding what to toss, donate or bequeath to family and friends. November 4, 2012 Intergenerational Communication will be presented by Rachel Eryn Kalish. Rachel will discuss how to have dynamic, open, honest conversations across generations about any topic.
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Making Toast Shows How to Live with Loss If one of your grandchild's parents died suddenly, would you be able to step in and fill their role?
Roger and Ginny Rosenblatt did exactly that when their 38-year old daughter, Amy, collapsed and died from an asymptomatic heart condition while working out on her treadmill. Amy was a gifted doctor, wife, and mother of three children, aged 6, 4, and 1. On the day of her death, December 8, 2007, Roger and Ginny drove from their home in Quogue, New York to Bethesda, Maryland where their son-in-law, Harris and his three children were in a state of shock. The next morning, six-year old Jessie asked her grandparents how long they were staying and Roger answered, "Forever." Rosenblatt has written a poignant memoir of their first year together titled Making Toast: A Family Story , which refers to the one daily household duty he has mastered: preparing the morning toast perfectly to each child's liking. Read more ...
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The GaGa Zone
Please continue sending me pictures and stories of you with your grandchildren for the GaGa Zone. |
GaGa Ricka and Grandpa Dave with their two sets of twin granchildren.
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, teaches grandparents how to rely on their own resources.