Monday, April 17, 2017

#SOL17 + #NPM17 - Poem 18 of 30





         Some of you know that I picked up Ingrid and Imogene Friday afternoon, took them to the zoo as part of a celebration; it was Ingrid's birthday. Her parents both had job conflicts so Ingrid thought it was okay that she, Imi and I would spend the day and overnight celebrating, then she would have her second birthday on Saturday. I introduce this because I learned again what's really important to kids -- PLAY!  We had a good time at the zoo, filled up with salted soft pretzels and ice cream, rode the Merry Go Round, loved seeing the penguins and the baby giraffe.
                But when we arrived home, though I'd planned also to take them out to eat, all they wanted to do was play. We had buttered pasta and applesauce for dinner and fruit for dessert. And they played. 

               Without leaving Imi out, I still wanted to do something special. The day before I created a treasure hunt in the house for the girls. Ingrid can read, and I had about eight clues with a tiny treasure in gold boxes at the end. I found these small glass animals at a nearby gift shop, inexpensive and they looked like treasure in those boxes! I didn't make it too easy, and it was lots of fun to see them run all over the house trying to solve the clues and find the next one. They liked it so much they made me promise to make another one after they went to bed. In the morning, hunt number two ended in chocolate!

                Fast forward to Easter morning when I went to their home for brunch. When I arrived, Ingrid and Imi were waiting, with a treasure hunt for me. It was clever and they stumped me a couple of times (I needed hints), but I found my treasure. Here's a picture of it, including a few clues and Ingrid's note. 

Tiny Treasure

a smile, a word
an open door
hugs and kisses
and there’s more

written clues
takes me next
to the other clues
of tricky text

what shall I do
where is the way
they think it’s fun
to make me play

at the end of my search
that was a pleasure
a tiny quartz rock
more than treasure
Linda Baie © All Rights Reserved


  1. What an exquisite day and an equally exquisite poem to commemorate the day! It's a keeper!

  2. What a lesson to take to heart. Play is better than anything. An absolutely perfect treasure.

  3. Reading your words is the perfect way to start my day, Linda. All kids should have a grandma like you. That note from your Ingrid is so priceless. Such sweet girls!

  4. I love everything about this post -- from the zoo, to the play, to the treasure hunts, to the poem. Fun, fun, FUN!

  5. It is more than a treasure. Love multiplies.

  6. Oh, how this made me smile. I bet that piece of quartz will have a special place on a shelf and in your heart.

  7. What a delightful narrative poem, and especially so knowing the backstory to it. I love the lines "at the end of my search / that was a pleasure" It is delightfully pleasing to enjoy such a reciprocation of love. You are blessed, Linda. And so too are Ingrid and Imogene.

  8. So often we forget that children want to and need to play. What a wonderful time you gave your granddaughters and they you. I'm sure that piece of quartz has a special place in your house as well as your heart.

  9. Yes - you have it right! What children want! Play, Grandma, treasure hunts, rocks, love, time together. So fabulous!

  10. Just love reading your posts about the time you spend with your grand daughters.

  11. Thank you everyone. I've been gone all morning, leaving again soon. Busy day. I suspect that I'm preaching to the choir about play. I know that it's something each of you value, too.

  12. Rocks are treasures in my estimation having just spent yesterday morning collecting my share from the beach, but from sweet grandchildren rocks become so much more. I love the playfulness of this post.

  13. Aww, so sweet! My mom made me a scavenger hunt for one of my birthday parties when I was little, and I still remember it as my favorite birthday party ever! How adorable they wanted to make one for you then! They sound so sweet!

  14. How splendid that the girls wanted their grandma to play along with them. Memories are made each week with your grandgirls, Linda.

  15. Love all of this, but especially the dinner menu and the after dinner activity: "We had buttered pasta and applesauce for dinner and fruit for dessert. And they played." Best day ever. And I love that they made a treasure hunt for you. Lucky girls! Lucky grandma!

  16. And this is a poem for them! Another treasure. How very lucky they are to have you....a most loving and enchanting grandma. xxoo


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