Proud GaGa Kathleen wrote to say that her 14-year old granddaughter, Julia won a bronze medal at the Junior Olympics in Omaha, Nebraska this month. In a four-way tie she cleared 5’ 3” in the high jump and finished 7^th in the country in her age group for the 2008 season. Julia began competing only two years ago because she’s been too busy playing soccer, basketball and baseball. Kathleen reported that on Julia’s first day as a freshman at Gunn High School, she was chosen for the varsity volleyball team. Kathleen sent this photo of her “tall, lean, happy shining beauty” wearing her bronze medal.

You might also like:

A Grandma Turns 60 and Discovers the Fountain of Youth My grandma friend, Jan, is in great shape. During the fifteen years we worked together, she ran the...

Grandma Shares Camping Adventure with Granddaughters It is the business of grandparents to create memories and the relative of memories: traditions...Ellen...

Happy Birthday, GaGa Sisterhood! I can’t believe you’re five years old today! I remember when you were just an infant and 15 grandmothers...

Be a Go-to Grandparent Whether You’re Near or Far On Saturday, November 21 I'm giving a presentation, “Learn how to be a go-to grandparent whether you’re...

My friends Ingrid and Joel are world travelers and doting grandparents. They’re always sharing tidbits of their adventures and the latest sounded like fun for the whole family. They took their grandchildren on an “African Safari” and only had to drive an hour to get there!

This unique family program called “Roar and Snore,” takes place at San Diego Wild Animal Park located thirty miles north of San Diego in Escondido. You bring your sleeping bag, pillow, and camera, and camp in tents near the Wild Animal Park’s Kilima Point overlooking elephants, tigers, lions and buffaloes.

In June they took their 8-year old granddaughter to “Beastly Bedtime” for families with children ages 4 to 11. They had so much fun they returned a month later with their 11-year old grandson and granddaughter.

The overnight includes an “animal encounter” with a naturalist who brings out some exotic animals for a closer look and a cafeteria-style dinner overlooking the African savanna where giraffes, rhinos and elephants graze. After dinner, visitors walk to see the animals, and have a campfire with a snack before going to sleep in the large tents. After breakfast the next morning, there’s another walk and a chance to feed the giraffes.

For more information check out their website:

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/calendar/wap_roar_and_snore.html

If you’re not planning to be in southern California and want a Safari experience that’s closer, there’s Safari West located ten miles north of Santa Rosa. Founded in 1978 as a sanctuary for rare and endangered birds and mammals from all over the world, 400-acre Safari West resembles the Serengeti Plain and houses over 350 wild animals that include wildebeest, zebra, sable antelope, springbok, cheetahs and lemurs to name a few. The primary focus of the preserve is wildlife conservation and education. Two-hour tours take place in four-wheel-drive safari vehicles and are led by naturalists. Though not geared strictly for children, they also offer overnights in new tent cabins right on the grounds.

Check out the website for all the details:

http://www.safariwest.com/

If you’ve taken a fun adventure with your grandchildren, please share it with us.

You might also like:

Grandparenting Class Aims to Enlighten New Grandparents Quincy Adams Harding gets my vote for the luckiest ten-month old in Silicon Valley. Three weeks before...

Run for the Seals on March 13 A friend who's a race director sent me information about an upcoming event that sounds fun for grandparents...

Whose Home for the Holidays? Where will you and your family spend the holidays this year? Who will be there and who decides the answers...

Take Your Grandchildren to the New California Academy of Sciences My husband and I visited the California Academy of Sciences to check it out before we bring our granddaughters....

Do you have a favorite food your grandma used to make?
On a recent trip to the Farmers Market I sampled a perfectly ripe peach, and a flood of memories came back. Suddenly, I had a craving for the “stewed” fruit my grandma used to make when she came over to our house on Thursdays.

It was a summer ritual I looked forward to with the arrival of the season’s bounty – peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, cherries and berries. My grandma and I would sit at our kitchen table cutting the stone fruit into chunks as the juice made a sticky mess of our hands. She let me have fun with the cherry pitter that pushed out the dark red pits in one simple motion. We’d fill a big pot with the cut fruit, pour in some water and bring it to a simmer on the stove. As the fruit softened, a thick, ruby red syrup formed. We’d peek at it often to make sure it didn’t boil over or get too mushy. When it was finally done, the sweet fragrance of the fruit filled the entire house. My mouth watered as I anticipated my first bite. Grandma carefully took a spoonful from the pot and blew on it so I wouldn’t burn my tongue. That first taste was heavenly and I could have consumed the whole pot. But we had to chill it in the frig so it would be ready for dessert that night.
Last week I called my mom and shared these memories with her. I invited her to come over and see if we could recreate Grandma’s recipe. After we put the pot of fruit on the stove, we went out to the garden to wait. I brought my Grandma’s white Mirro-matic kitchen timer outside with us. Just before the timer went off, I decided to check the fruit. The pot had boiled over and left a big red puddle around the burner.
I suddenly heard my grandma’s voice: “Dearie, you can’t cook in the bedroom!”
My mom and I laughed, cleaned up the mess and inspected the fruit. It was perfect – just like we remembered.
I didn’t even wait for it to cool off to taste it!

Recipe for Grandma Amelia’s Stewed Fruit

2 large ripe nectarines
1 large ripe peach
4 large ripe apricots
3 large red plums
1 small carton boysenberries
12 dark cherries, pitted

Cut the unpeeled fruit into 1 1/2” chunks and place in a 4-quart saucepan. Pour in 1 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and then simmer partially covered about 8 minutes. Watch carefully so it doesn’t boil over! Add berries and simmer another 10 to 15 minutes until soft but not mushy. Cool, chill and enjoy!

You might also like:

Blue Goo Fun Are you up for an art adventure that's messy but loads of fun and teaches a little science? On one of...

Grandma Amelia’s Charoset Recipe One of the best ways to pass on your family heritage to your grandchildren is to cook with them. I spent...

When Children Spell From the time Juliet was a toddler she's always been keenly observant. Even when you don't think she's...

Spending Equal Time With Your Grandchildren I only have two grandchildren, but at times I find it challenging to give them equal attention. I often...