Wednesday, October 22, 2008

ABC Wednesday - N is for Necessity, the Mother of Invention

Y'all know Mama loves to do crossword puzzles. She subscribes to two of the little magazines. Being almost 83-years-old and left-handed, she has a huge need for the spine of said magazines to be pliable, to open back so that she can get to the spaces to write in her solutions.

I'll never forget the first time I heard her hammering away, in the kitchen. "What are you hittin'?" I asked. "My puzzle book," she answered. She's done it every time that the book proves itself to be too tightly glued for her comfort. I thought y'all would enjoy a series of photos depicting the process, blow by blow.

Inside ...
mama_hammer1
Outside ...
mama_hammer2
And a lot more inside, up and down the spine ...
mama_hammer3

mama_hammer4

mama_hammer5

mama_hammer6

mama_hammer7

mama_hammer8

Checking ...
mama_hammer9

mama_hammer11

She doesn't hit her fingers, just the puzzle book. Amazing! And she always does this during the day so as not to disturb any neighbors.
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21 comments:

  1. AphotoAdayOctober 22, 2008 at 7:40 AM

    Oh those whacky grandmothers...

    Mine died twenty or thirty years ago at the age of 99 and 11/12ths... She was a whiz at crossword puzzles -- but could write with either hand, so I never saw her hammering her puzzle books...

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  2. Bear NakedOctober 22, 2008 at 7:52 AM

    A very clever choice for the letter N on ABC Wednesday.

    Nice photos of her Hammering Hands.

    Bear((( )))

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  3. gogouciOctober 22, 2008 at 8:54 AM

    I love the photo series. Awesome subject matter, lighting and a little action too.

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  4. AnonymousOctober 22, 2008 at 10:17 AM

    She has beautiful hands. They remind me of my mother.

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  5. Richard LawryOctober 22, 2008 at 11:09 AM

    OK,you win the prize for the most memorable post of this weeks ABC Wednesday.

    An Arkie's Musings

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  6. photowannabeOctober 22, 2008 at 12:01 PM

    As Don said...what a whacky Grandma. Fun choice for the letter N.

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  7. Jane Hards PhotographyOctober 22, 2008 at 12:04 PM

    Totally mad post, but brilliant.o

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  8. Leslie:October 22, 2008 at 1:04 PM

    This is TOO funny! I do crosswords and sometimes buy those books, too. And even as a right-hander I find it annoying how tightly they're bound. I think I'm going to do what your Mom does and get that hammer out! LOL

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  9. Troop 1309October 22, 2008 at 1:37 PM

    That is a great idea! Nice photos!

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  10. NevaOctober 22, 2008 at 4:37 PM

    Lynette....I was laughing while I read this!!! Necessity and all that....what a hoot! I am glad she has found a way to make those books workable for her!!!

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  11. DeniseinVAOctober 22, 2008 at 5:32 PM

    My dear mother-in-law loved her crossword puzzles. These are great photos and good on your Mom for being so inventive to make the process easier for her to do her crosswords. Necessity definitely is the mother of invention.

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  12. brian stoutOctober 22, 2008 at 8:17 PM

    very nice photo series, lynette! my grandma's 82nd bday as yesterday (10-21), and she LOVES these puzzle books too... she can tell you pretty much any 3,4 or 5 letter word for any of those clues! =)

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  13. ~tanty~October 22, 2008 at 10:08 PM

    I love crossword puzzles too.
    Very nice photos.

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  14. Jim KlenkeOctober 23, 2008 at 4:29 AM

    See, a hammer can fix anything.

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  15. AnonymousOctober 23, 2008 at 5:26 AM

    I laughed at this, I think it's a great idea hammering away at a puzzle book! Lovely!

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  16. Steve BuserOctober 23, 2008 at 9:06 AM

    Lynette, I am still laughing. I think she missed her calling as a carpenter.

    How does the saying go? "give a grandmother a hammer and everything becomes a nail."

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  17. Chuck PefleyOctober 23, 2008 at 9:26 AM

    Peculiar way to do a crossword puzzle :))

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  18. AnonymousOctober 23, 2008 at 1:48 PM

    Good for Mama! I hate books that won't open properly too, but I've never thought of taking a hammer to them!

    Excellent! LOL!

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  19. KatneyOctober 24, 2008 at 8:10 AM

    It's a wonder what we will think of when we need to!

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  20. sonia a. mascaroOctober 26, 2008 at 9:07 AM

    Great post! Your Mom is very, very creative!

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  21. Kim from HiraethOctober 28, 2008 at 6:21 AM

    My favorite post of the week! Marvelous photography, wonderful subject!

    Bravo!

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