Hurrah for the Sauerkraut!

     What does one do when there is no ice or ice pack when one needs one?  One reaches for the quart size baggie of frozen sauerkraut!
     My elbow was very painful when it came time for bed.  I tried getting comfortable, but after a sudden excruciating shooting pain down the arm I headed to the freezer.  The bag of kraut (double bagged) worked well to cradle the elbow--it was quite effective.  Surprisingly it stayed froze most of the night, though a slight odor of kraut permeated the room by morning.  

     Most of the day I worried about something funky like a blood clot or cellulitis  since the pain remained.  By mid afternoon the tension started to relax, and with a chiropractor adjustment, I think the elbow is mending.  Mysterious, what set it off.  


     Now...about yesterday.  Early last week I had emailed a short article to our local paper with an announcement about my new CD and a goodbye message to the people of the area.  
     The editor sent one back and said he wanted to have their reporter do a feature article on me.  Sure!  
     She came yesterday with her list of questions about how long have I've lived in Park Falls; what will I miss about the area; what inspired the songs I composed; what was the process involved in composing and producing the CD?  
     It was fun to converse with her.  She took this picture for the paper.  I hadn't intended to have a full blown article in the paper, but I am excited to see and read what she wrote.  


      I looked into and decided to go with a moving company from Wausau, WI.  This was VERY last minute.  They came in with a good quote that makes it possible to go easy on my sons.  They were willing to pack my things, drive 1,900 miles in 2 and 1/2 days, unpack, jump into an airplane to fly home the next day and be back to their jobs on Monday.  Thanks, guys.  I am grateful for this development.  Still need to continue to downsize and pack. (I found $50 while cleaning out a shelf.  Hope I stashed more---lots more.) 


     This evening was entertaining watching the summer Olympics while sorting out mounds of paper stuff. Go, team USA!!  We are proud of you!


     This has been a good "hurrah for sauerkraut" day in the life of Grandma G.


     "For God is the King over all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.  God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne."  (Psalm 47: 7 & 8)


     

It's MY Day! (Sunday)

       Today was my official farewell at my local (Park Falls) church.  Or as my pastor said, "This is my opportunity to kick someone out of the church".   

I had the privilege of thanking folks for the great acceptance they gave me for over 30 years.

 Pastor Terry spoke for a bit and then the deacons and missions board had prayer for my safe travels and continued Lord's care as I settle into life in Vancouver, WA.

 They presented me a plaque thanking me for many years of ministry to Family Worship Center.

      A great surprise for me was the Scripture and message for the morning.  Pastor was NOT aware of the Bible verse at the top of my blog. 
   
    I have been blessed with a wonderful church family for over 30 years.  I will miss everyone.  I told them I have already decided to come back to visit next summer.  I am comforted to know there are so many people who love me.
    Several friends signed my remembrance/autograph book.


________________________________________________________________________

     After church several friends took me to eat at the Chinese restaurant. There they surprised with an assortment of gifts--most of them home crafted.

My friend, Patti and her husband "wood burned" a sign for my new studio in VC

      Another friend, Joyce, painted a rock into a cottage.  Some said it closely resembles the upper half of Wisconsin.  HMMMMMM.  If you look at the upper center of the map where the straight border angles up you will see "Park Falls".  That is were I "used to" live.  Lake Superior is a mere 60  miles north from there.
     This little Wisconsin cottage will be a main attraction in my rock garden in Washington!
    

     Back at home it was back to work on sorting and packing. I also spent a chunk of time working on the itinerary for our 3 senior sister and a niece? cross country road trip.  My niece, Vickie, had left a message about a possible "meet up with you in Montana" plan since she couldn't get 2 weeks off from work.  I wanted to check travel routes to figure what would work.  I also needed to find out how far apart all our stopping points would be.  There are LOTS of miles to drive and lots of miles in between stops.  I think we are starting to pin down details. 

_______________________________________________________________________

     So today is really Monday.  Most of the day was occupied with sorting and packing.  I did have a fun new experience today.  BUT...that retelling will be for tomorrow.   

   One notable (actually two) development/s this afternoon was (is) a very painful, tight left elbow.  It started suddenly about 4PM.  I've heard of tennis elbow.  Is there such a thing as "computer elbow"?  I have no idea what brought it on.  I jerked my left arm badly in South Dakota, but that was 4 weeks ago.  Worse part is that I am left handed--armed, elbowed.  And there are LOTS of boxes to be packed.  Hopefully tomorrow it will be better.  Fortunately I already am scheduled for the chiropractor.  

    The other more upbeat notable episode was this evening's episode of departures!  In this one, which was actually their very first, my Canadian travelling boys transversed Canada from the east to the west--Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean.  They drove through the Rockie Mountains, the ice fields and into the city of Vancouver, Canada.  It is all so beautiful that we have to drive that route as well on our trip.  It also showed that the highways are wide and passable.  (Some roads in the Colorado Rockies would be scary to drive, but this should be a breeze.)  I was excited to see where we will be travelling soon.  

    These have been 2 good "my time" days in the life of Grandma G.

     "Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."  (1 Peter 3:8)



      

Happy B-day and the Solution to A Problem....

       Happy 37th B-day, Chuck!!  He's not the problem.  He's my computer guru. He is also Santa Chuck who rides in the Milwaukee Santa Rampage each year. 

    I think he has a fondness for the color red.  After he graduated from high school he painted his room a brick red and then left for the air force. 
______________________________________________________________________

     Today was also the 4th day of my garage sale.  I didn't feel like facing another one, but once I got going the day went smoothly.  I had a few customers throughout the day.  One customer presented the solution to the problem of what to do with all the left over stuff.


          She was interested in and bought the "hands" frames.  She explained that she runs the day care at the Lutheran church here in Park Falls.  I offered to donate the leftover kids' items to the day care this week.  She went on to say that they have 2 large garage sales each year for fund raisers--one  is coming up next weekend.  After this weekend I will pack up all the remaining items and take them to the day care.  The end.  
(These frames hung in Chuck's brick red room after I repainted the upper half white and declared it "the grand kids' room".)


     I did make a fair amount of money with having sold some furniture--enough to buy the new bed set I want.  Yeah! 
     In between waiting on customers I washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen.  That might not sound like much, but when there is no more counter space or room to walk around, cleaning up the room is a big deal. 

    I was visited by 3 wasps  in the house this morning.  Later in the day the owner's husband  came by to take a look.  He sprayed the nest again and then knocked it apart.  I don't think the wasps will be hanging around any longer.
    I was glad for a chance to say goodbye to them. (the owners, not the wasps--though I was glad to say goodbye to them as well.)


     I'm still not settled on the method of transporting my belonging out to Washington.  My sons are willing to do it, but I am checking the cost of one more moving company in a city close by.  I think it would be so much easier on everyone to have a moving company do it.  Got to decide pretty quick!

    I got in a nice 30 minute walk early evening.  Then followed that with 40 minutes of stretches while watching the traumatizing movie, Independence Day.  One gets desperate for entertainment when one lives alone and the day gets late.   
     The walk was refreshing and the stretching relaxing, but I do admit my muscles have been aching a lot.   

    This has been a good last garage sale day in the life of Grandma G.

    "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."  (Proverbs 15:22)

Let the GAMES Begin!!

     Today is the start of the summer Olympics in London.  I am excited to watch the opening ceremonies this evening

                                                                   BUT!!!!!!

      I am more excited about something else! 

I SOLD MY FIRST DOWNLOAD ON CDBABY!!

     HURRAY!  YIPPEE!  GOOD SHOW!!  

WAY TO GO!!

              YOU DA MAN! (oops)  YOU DA LADY!! 

     Some day I hope to VISIT my FIRST internet FAN!!  

Where ever you are!

AND......

THE WIDGET IS HERE!!!

Check out the sound bites!  

Buy your favorite song/s or the CD.

Let your friends in on the secret of great, relaxing, fun music!!

     

     A little commercial!  

Changing of the Guard, Americana Style 

is just in time for ushering in and enjoying the Olympics from London!

         I have another CD, Healing Waters.  It is available by the CD.  Shortly it, too, will

be ready for downloads.  

         ** In order to see the widget your computer needs to equiped with Adobe player.  I apologize if the widget is not showing up for you.   You can still view, listen to, order or download music at

www.cdbaby.com.  The web site should come up when you click on this address.  Once there, type in Oh, the Places I've Been Georgia Schmidt or Healing Waters Georgia Schmidt.**

       _____________________________________________

     The bulk of this day was round 3 of a garage sale.  I dreaded getting up this morning, but once I got going it was OK.  There have not been many folks stopping.  Most of them are in Butternut, 6 miles north of here, enjoying Butternut Pioneer Days. Here up north the annual summer weekend festival is a big deal.  It's time to visit, party, go to craft shows and have a big parade.  Next weekend is ours---the 60th Flambeau Rama.  BE HERE.

    Anyway, the few customers that have come have made the effort worthwhile.  If not for money, a garage sale is a great social experience.  One gentleman told me he had a successful career as the artificial inseminator in the area.  Made good money and has lots of cows running around bearing his name.   Now his son has taken over the position.

    A lady sympathized with me for having a garage sale--told me she knows how hard it is to prepare for because she had one not long ago.

    One fellow bought my well used air purifier--bought it for $10---cost me around $300.  He is going to use it in his workshop when he runs his table saw.

   I sold a few pieces of furniture.  I did get to say goodbye to a dear friend.

  I filled out the day with a walk, then dinner with my sister-in-law.  She challenged me to a game of "Upwards".  We ended in a tie.  Need to have a play off. 

    Later in the evening was the opening ceremonies of the London Olympics.  Let the games begin!

     This has been a good "let the games begin" day in the life of Grandma G.

    "Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us." 

 (Isaiah 26:12) 

Looks Innocent, Right?

     I started off the day not feeling well so decided to do paper and computer work. After writing notes in a spiral notebook for awhile it dawned on me (after 60 years and hundreds of notebooks) why left handed people are so stoic about discomfort and outright pain. I am left handed.


    Take this ordinary, everyday, run of the mill, typical, clean, smooth, flat, familiar notebook. Looks inviting and innocent, right?

IF you are RIGHT HANDED.

     If you are right handed you can hold your pen or pencil or crayon or marker or chalk or charcoal or whatever you want to hold and write smoothly with your hand and arm gracefully gliding across the paper while you pen or pencil or crayon or marker or chalk or charcoal or whatever your thoughts, insights and drawings onto the clean, innocent notebook. All in total comfort and ease.

IF you are RIGHT HANDED.

BUT.....

IF you are LEFT HANDED.....WELL....Good Luck.

     Forget smooth sailing, gliding, comfort or ease. With every stroke your fingers, hand, wrist, and arm must scrape against barbwire, push against metal, climb over hills . It's hard to have positive, uplifting, insightful thoughts when one's skin and nerves are rubbed raw. It's a wonder we lefties have any inspiration at all.

     I'll often start at the BACK of the notebook if I am writing something just for myself. Even then I don't get the privilege of gracefully flowing across smooth, cool, clean paper. Maybe the Oriental folks have the right (left) idea of starting at the back and working forward. Anyway, my point from the beginning is that we lefties are "trained" to take discomfort, awkwardness, backwardness as simply a part of life. We don't even question it---until 60 years and hundreds of notebooks later.

     (This actually is a pet peeve of mine and someday I will upload a post I wrote before I started publishing. Keep checking back! Let's hear from all you lefties out there!! Tell me and the world your story!!)

     Now I have a fun story--a true one from today. I called my cable/phone/internet carrier this morning to inquire about disconnecting service when I move. The young lady assisting me was friendly and one of her typical business questions was why am I wanting to discontinue service. I told her I was moving cross country to Vancouver, WA. AND.....she responded that is where she is calling from. We continued chatting and she asked how I picked VC to move to. Was it merely a random spot I picked? I told her my oldest daughter lives there. She responded that when her mom and dad moved out in 1991 it was one of two places (the other was Illinois) they simply picked on the map and choose VC. She is very happy there and assured me I will be happy there. Her place of employment is only a few blocks from where I will be living. I told I will stop in to say hello someday! Put that on my VC social calendar.

     Here's another fun event from today, though it doesn't involve me except that it was happening across the street from my house. This evening we had a hard rain. I heard voices outside and saw the commotion. 

 





     This has been a good left handed, fun stories day in the life of Grandma G.

     "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."( Proverbs 17:22)

Discovery Day....

     Today was a thunder/lightening rainy day.  It started during the night.  There is something soothing about rumbling thunder as long as you know it isn't severe.  And there was something soothing and cozy about the rainy day.
     I understand that thunder and lightening are rare in Washington.  When my daughter first moved out from the Midwest 14 years ago she would panic when the sky turned dark.  Here that could mean tornadoes.  Not out there--just a bunch of rain. 

   "Don't be scared, you're safe in here."












     The rest of the day was occupied with sorting stuff.  I did come across two things that are NOT going our west with me!

         I discovered I have about 30 picture albums.  Some are filled and some are not.  They all have to go along.  There are 3 large boxes of pictures.  They are all going along.  There is a box of souvenir scenery books---going along.  Memory "things" from Australia, Tasmania, Israel, Morocco, Alaska---going along.  There are large and small rocks from all over the world, including Park Falls.  They are going along for my front yard rock garden. (The rocks aren't really LARGE, just proportionally large.)   

     
       I came across a picture of Grandma G with her foster brothers and sister taken 60 years ago.  You can see the folds where I had it folded and in my wallet during my youth years. (Just we girls were showing.)  I got to hold the baby girl.  This wonderful family ended up with 13 children of their own.

      Another quirk about preparing to move----mystery meals.  Figured it is time to clean out the freezer.  Is it gravy with pork, beef or dark turkey?  I will find out soon!  I did find a loaf of yummy cranberry, orange, nut bread.  Yum!

   This has been a good discovery day in the life of Grandma G.

     "Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."  (Luke 12:15)

Productive Day!

     Last night I resolved to get up before 8AM and go for a walk while the air was still cool.  I did get up around 8 but did not get walking right away.  I got engrossed with the computer.  After checking email and FB I scanned the websites for Banff, Canada. 
     Banff is THE destination of our upcoming 3 senior sisters--and a niece?--cross country road trip.  My youngest sister has long desired to visit there.  Another purpose of mine is that our dad wanted to retire in Canada but never made it.  We are going to pose on a mountain peak (or hill) and snap a photo in his memory.  Here's to Pop!!   Anyway, there are fun outdoor activities to do in the Canadian Rockies!
     I did receive an email from cdbaby stating they received my CD and that it will be ready for downloads in 5-7 days.  Sorry, folks.  Geoschmidt music should be ready to purchase in one more week! 


     I did go walking at 10:25.  The weather was perfect--in the high 70's and a cool breeze.  I took trusty camera along and got a few interesting pictures.  There is a tree that branches out from the ground in 6 major limbs.  Quite impressive.

     There were reminders of our city wide road construction.

 Kids were enjoying the St. Anthony's "Garden of Eat-un" while their moms were enjoying working the Garden of Eat-un. 

St. Anthony's elementary school is where both Louie and I attended school, our 7 kids attended school and now where 2 of our grand kids attend school.  The phrase on the front of the building has the old English that states, "Suffer the children to come unto me".  During our school years we thought we did a lot of "suffering". 

     This afternoon I determined to get 4 hours of sorting and packing done.  That I did, but also have discovered afternoon TV now that I am a stay at home in the afternoon person.  Fortunately the only program I like is Wind at My Back and it is just in time for lunch break!

       The gentleman who is going to rent this house after I leave stopped in for a walk through.  Seems it's a good indication that it is time for this renter to be moving on. 

     It is excruciating to sort and box "stuff".  There are so many books, pictures, albums, notebooks, frames, rocks. Which anticipated projects will actually become reality and which won't?  What do I haul out and what do I discard--and not regret it later on?   See the stack of notebooks?  In and out of the box?   I have been a note taker and journaler for years and years. The notebooks on the floor are now all empty pages since I tore out the used ones and collected them in the red binder.  The notebooks in the box are each 3/4 filled.  I have another stack in my bedroon dresser.  What does one do with all that?  All that insight written down.  I don't want to throw it all away.  Someday I may be grateful for all that insight. Sigh.  I wish I had just a little more insight to know what to do.  Until then, those notebooks are going with me.      

     "Hands" frames that had pictures of all the grand kids.  Pictures go along, frames stay behind.  

     Organizing the notebooks was a great project this evening while watching the final episode of Deadliest Catch.  Rough language, but rough job and good character study.

     This has been a good productive day in the life of Grandma G.

     "The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied." (Proverbs 13:3)

      

Clean Laundry Once Again!

     With getting so close to moving time I am willing to put up with some inconveniences rather than take the time to resolve them.  Having no working washer is one of them, although when it comes laundromat time I am wishing I had resolved the problem.

     Actually today was a good laundry time experience. I used a facility in the center of town instead of fighting the road construction to drive to the southside. While the machines were doing their thing I used the opportunity to bedroom furniture shop. With moving to a smaller house and rooms I need smaller items rather then the hefty ones I have. (They are great for the great northwoods.)

    I like this headboard, though it's metal.  You might say I am hung up on it.  Thought maybe the dresser would go nicely.  There is black metal trim in the upper part of the mirror.  One might suggest it will be easier to get something out in VC.  One must also remember I am still a small town lady and not secure about all that "city gettin around", though I need to learn pronto.
 

   While waiting for the drying cycle I walked over to the Pal Cafe for a lunch/snack.  The Pal is a renovated 50's cafe and a landmark of Park Falls hospitality.  I left feeling good.  There was pleasant atmosphere and I had made a healthy choice of sweet potato fries!  Yum!  

         Back at home I sat for awhile before getting on with the day.  I filled out an estimate list for a possible move by professional movers.  Right now I (and 2 sons) are planning to transport my "stuff" ourselves with a rented truck.  If the cost difference isn't too great I will opt for the professional move so my guys don't have to heave and hoe and drive 1,900 miles. 

     
     This evening I did stretches for 45 minutes while watching my Canadian travel boys on departures! What a great way for a mature lady to keep in shape and keep up with travel (and cute guys--they could be my sons).

      

      I also turned on my beloved Clavinova for the first time since April.  I need to send in a few songs for copyright and am deciding how to do that.  I miss the piano keys, but pressing issues need to take precedence for awhile.   

     This has been a good "clean laundry" day in the life of Grandma G.

     "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."  (Colossians 3:12)