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Welcome to one of the fun Party Blog posts for the Sandwich Generation here at SandwichINK. Today we are joining in with My Desert Cottage as various bloggers, including "moi," show off our creative workspaces for her third annual, "Where Bloggers Create" Blog Party for 2011. Without further adieu, let's head off on the SandwichINK grand tour.
"Tour," you say? "I thought you were going to show me where you work?"
Ah, yes. Well, as a Sandwich Generation granny nanny, dealing with the issues of caring for elderly parents and babysitting grandchildren, that's a little more complicated than you might think. You see, I do my best creating AND blogging…
EVERYWHERE!
I guess you could say one of my mottos is "Have Laptop, iPhone, and Toshiba netbook, will travel." 🙂
My dining room table is a favorite for my grandkids and me. We've had a lot of fun making a wide variety of crafts here including these cute Christmas foamie projects. Plus, it's easy for me to set up my laptop on it to play Webkinz games with them or work while I supervise their fort-making projects utilizing all of my couches and pillows. Quite enjoyable!
Then there are my grandkids' dining room tables! Here are the autumn wreaths one set of grands and I enjoyed creating:
While these plates are full of the sweet and easy sugar cookies my other set of grands and I worked on. And yes, when they're napping, I'm often typing away at either of these tables, preparing a new post for SandwichINK…
Then, there are the picnic tables where we've enjoyed our easy crafts for the grand kids (not to mention us seniors) as well as ball tag and bubbles activities for grandparents and grandchildren.
Of course, in the winter, we don't use these too much. Hmmm, then again, maybe next year we should have a mini-snowman-making contest. What do you think? But NO netbook here in the winter! 🙂
There's also the TV tray at the home of one of my cute granddogs. It works well for either of my computers and I get to enjoy sweet granddog company while working on projects. I have to admit, I don't do much in the way of crafting with him, but I do take a lot of fun photos with my easy to use digital camera which then go into other kinds of granddog blogging and crafting projects. And he's great for making sure I get regular exercise by taking him out for a walk. 🙂
Would you believe, I can even work away from home – at comfy wifi AND grandkid friendly places like Panera, McDonald's, and Chick-fil-A.
Sometimes I'm alone, working while I wait to head over for a busy afternoon babysitting grandchildren. Other times, I may have a grandchild with me. While they are playing on the playland or working on homework, you might spot me taking pictures, typing on the netbook, and creating a Bible Memory verses project using my favorite cute country clipart.
The library is another of my special places and how I appreciate everyone there, not to mention all the great craft books they have full of easy crafts for the whole family – from kids to seniors. I have found the cutest ideas there and my grandson even discovered a great nature craft book for me to order for projects this coming fall.
Probably the most hectic of "my spots" is at the hospital. As a Sandwich Generation granny nanny, caring for my multigenerational family – which has included dealing with different special needs over the years – I've spent more time than I'd like in hospitals – waiting rooms, visiting rooms, patient rooms, and emergency rooms.
Nowadays, it's great that most hospitals have free wifi. That, along with my trusty iPhone and my Toshiba netbook (both being handy dandy and pretty tiny computers), allow me to be writing, blogging, and yes – even creating in the hospital when my loved ones are napping or off being tested.
No matter where I am, I'm trusting God, loving my family, learning, creating and writing – a goal I've had for decades that I'm thrilled to be exercising fully right now. Yes, I'm often a writer…interrupted, but I'm learning to deal with that in a proactive and positive way, making this yet another great season of life, as I watch God at work in my life and the lives of those I love.
For more fun peeks into bloggers and their creative spaces, be sure to visit My Desert Cottage. Based on last year's event, not to mention Monday's adorable computer cover she made, it should be a fun and fascinating party blog post for those of us in the Sandwich Generation to enjoy and garner creative new ideas. 🙂
Amen, Sister to the ‘trusting God’ part of your post! Visiting via the Blog Party and enjoying self greatly. Too much time spent in hospitals, talking and arguing with doctors who may know the illness but not the person, trying to fit in life amidst dying but I’m in Good Hands, bless His name forever!
Amazing.
Granny Nanny is a term I hadn’t heard before but I knew immediately what it meant. Bless you, I am amazed at all you do and still create time and space for yourself.
Thak you for sharing all of these wonderful creative spaces.
Warm regards,
Cathie
Love your post! Thanks for visiting my place today where I create! 🙂 Glad to hear you are a fellow Writer! Never enough of us! 🙂 I often say that my pen in hand is my paintbrush, and the paper I write my words on is the canvas! 😉 Be blessed today and everyday! Smiling with you~ ~CC Catherine
You have great creative talent. To me the best is what you do with the children.
I participated in Where Bloggers Create twice…the first time was in my office with my old computer. I shared that limited space as my creative area as a blogger. Last year, I shared my craft room (which is huge, but not decorated in any way shape or form…it’s purely functional for what I do). During the two years I was part of this creative blogging share, I saw so many gorgeous “places” that folks were eager to share. They had spent a lot of time getting things in order so we might enjoy their creative spaces and decorating talents. However, none impressed me the way this post of yours just has…….for YOU are truly a creative soul who shares so much of your life with your family doing things that truly matter. I think it’s wonderful that your showed us the true areas where you “create” with your loved ones….and how you turn even the most unexpected spots (ie waiting rooms, etc) into opportunities to put your talents to use.
May God continue to bless you. Happy Pink Saturday along with a great time with Where Bloggers Create. Dana
Amen, Sandra – to trusting God AND to some of the difficulties that come with caring for elderly parents. It’s never easy, but GOD IS GOOD ALWAYS! 🙂
Hi Cathie 🙂 I just found out about it about a year ago and immediately said, “That’s me!” 🙂 It’s definitely a constant juggle, but it’s so well worth it. Thanks so much for popping in. 🙂
Love that quote of yours, Catherine! And so very true! 🙂 Thank you! 🙂
Thanks so much LaVoice! I do have fun with those. 🙂
Oh Dana, thank you! I cannot tell you how much this sweet encouragement meant to me! 🙂 And what a fun time you and your grandchildren enjoyed complete with Stone Rabbit and cute Charlie Brown. Isn’t it so fun to be blessed with those special moments. 🙂 Have a lovely and blessed month! 🙂