Daughter was unable to conceive after years of attempts, so her mother stepped forward and into the role of surrogate mother for her daughter's children.  Twin boys born to 51 year old grandmother in Brazil.

In a strange little story, a 51 year old government health worker gave birth to her twin grandsons.  After her only daughter failed to conceive after four years of trying, Rosinete Palmeira Serrao agreed to receive embryos from her daughter, Claudia Michelle de Brito, and become a surrogate mother to her grandbabies. 

The twin boys were born by caesarean birth on Thursday in Racife, Brazil, two weeks before the anticipated due date because the surrogate mom was having trouble sleeping.  All parties, mother/grandmother and twin boys were released from the hospital in reported excellent health on Saturday.

In Brazil, the law gives permission for only close relatives to become surrogate mothers.  Since the 27 year old woman is an only child and her cousins were disinterested, the woman's mother agreed to lend a helping hand, or uterus in this case.

When developers agreed to undertake a retail project to fix up a rundown block in the Ballard neighborhood in Seattle, they had no idea they're biggest obstacle would be 86 year old Edith Macefield.

Along one of Seattle's oldest neighborhoods in a rundown block in the Ballard neighborhood.  That's right where you'll find Edith Macefield's house.  The 1 1/2 story dwelling, assessed at only $8,000, is worth everything to the woman who has spent nearly 60 years there. 

The once flourishing Scandinavian-rooted neighborhood with cottages surrounded by picket fences, Edith's landscape went from well maintained property to debris and graffiti with trash strewn on the empty lots surrounding hers.  Her home is the last standing on the block.

So developers had a vision.  They could fix up the area, make it useful and build a retail complex fit to serve as a fitness center, a grocery store and a parking garage.  They devised a plan, and put their idea into motion.  They would buy Edith's house, build her a new home with a wheelchair ramp, and pay for the woman's health care for the remainder of her life.  But 86 year old Edith said no to the buyout package. She says, "I don’t care about money.  I'm perfectly happy here and I don’t want to move".

What could they do?  Well, they did what any other reasonable developing company would do in this situation. They designed a five story retail complex to accommodate the little cottage; they would just build around it.

Now, shadowed on three sides by brick walls, tarps and chain linked fencing, the construction is in full force with Edith tucked into an alcove fit for her and her home. Amongst all the construction, Edith still throws seeds outside her door to the birds, just like every other day.

The woman doesn’t seem to mind the rumble of trucks or the constant noise of the construction.  She just turns her music up so loud you can hear it outside.  Edith likes opera.  "I went through World War II, the noise doesn't bother me," she said. "They'll get it done someday."

Construction workers say it's like having their grandmother at the job, and they tend to her well.  They even help her out a little by taking her to doctor's appointments and for the occasional rendezvous with the beautician.  They even bring her lunch.

But when asked what she thinks about Ballard today, the woman who speaks seven languages said "I liked the old Ballard.  The new one--you can have it."

The "Skinny Dip", a sandwich paid for by action and not money is bought by taking a skinny dip plunge from the establishment's dock into Maine's cool Moosehead Lake waters.  But the price is apparently a problem for one patron who doesn't appreciate the nudity. 

For the past three years, patrons have been enjoying the festivities at The Black Frog Restaurant in Greenville, ME.   The restaurant on Moosehead Lake has been providing some off the cuff fun entertainment, offering daring patrons the right to earn the free "Skinny Dip" sandwich.  The "Skinny Dip", made of sliced beef on a baguette roll, is to anyone who agrees to plunge from the dock into lake waters nude.

Owner Leigh Turner said patrons willing to take the challenge have been doing so steadily.  "We've had two or three a week," he said. In that time, only one patron felt it was an inappropriate action. 

But that free sandwich promotion might now be coming to an end.  The establishment's liquor license is up for renewal, and when the Town Manager presented it to the Selectmen, he also delivered the complaint he had received after being approached by one patron. That patron apparently complained about the nudity of the lake dives and felt it should be stopped. 

According to the menu section listed on The Black Frog's website, the atmosphere surrounding the establishment is built primarily on having fun.  The titled meals are a riot to read; you can order anything from "The Chicken that Didn’t Make It Across the Road" to "Looks like Steak, Smells like Steak, Must be Steak" and "Skunk Breath".  The online menu reads, "Sit back, feel free to make a fool of yourself, and have a great time".