NEO Grandparent

Nothing smells quite like fall as much as the sweet aroma of apples cooking in an old-fashioned, huge copper kettle over a wood fire! A special treat for the senses will be your reward as you attend a Northeast Ohio apple butter festival with the grandkids. ...

Playing with grandkids is more fun than reading about them, to be sure. But we're always up for books on upping the grandparenting game. If you're a grandparent, or know someone who is about to become one, we've found a few books you may like to read or pass along to mark Grandparents' Day (Sept. 12). ...

The annual flowers are at their peak! A fun art activity to do with the grandkids this time of year is flower pounding. Flowers and leaves can be hammered to release their vibrant natural dye onto paper or fabric. Great results come from flowers that are mostly flat and have a lot of color, such as rose petals, bright daisies, geranium petals, petunias and pansies. ...

Whether you live nearby or far away, you hold a special position in your grandchildren’s lives. Especially as they enter teen years and adulthood, members of each new generation sort out their identities and values, often in opposition to their parents. But grandparents can hold unique influence over their beloved grandchildren.  ...

Summer is, unbelievably, half over. A Christmas in July party may become your family’s new and much-anticipated summer tradition. Ho-ho-ho and Merry Christmas in July! ...

Why is it that children are so attracted to dandelions? Maybe it’s because of their bright yellow color and their round, fluffy seed heads that are so much fun to blow into the wind and make a wish. Whatever it is, grandchildren love these flowers that we adults consider only as pesky weeds! ...

Grammy on the Go Karen Shardrach adds to last month’s blog on magical playgrounds. She and her grandkids and have discovered several other unique and fun playgrounds here in Northeast Ohio that feature unexpected climbing structures, pathways, tunnel slides, bear bridges and even dinosaur bones! ...

It’s amazing how many waterfalls are located right here in Northeast Ohio. I was surprised to learn that there are about 100 waterfalls in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP). Most are located in the northern section of the park, but many do not have an established trail to follow. Other waterfalls can be seen throughout the Cleveland Metroparks Emerald Necklace. ...