HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

HALLOWEEN HORROR PICTURE #1



 

     HOMBRE HORAE

 

 

     Happy Halloween to all of you.  I hope you had a fun, safe day.  I was hoping for trick or treaters.  I had a porch light turned on, but the light next to my door wasn't working so I suppose people thought I wasn't giving out candy.  Halloween was the one day out of the year that my kids could eat candy for supper and eat as much as they wanted.  Yum.  Stomach ache.

 

     I had my own little horror experience today.  I went shopping for long drapes, 2 matching shower curtains and a kitchen curtain.  Yikes.  So much to look at.  So little that is just right.  It didn't help that my visual memory doesn't exist.  I finally picked out choices, brought them home and found the colors didn't match. 

 

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WHERE LAND MEETS SEA IN PNW

 

 



 

SUN THROUGH THE RAIN FOREST

 

 

 

 

 WALKING THROUGH THE RAIN FOREST

 WHERE FOREST AND OCEAN MEET...

....IN THE FOG

NORTH HEAD LIGHTHOUSE

  IN THE GLASS TOP OF THE LIGHTHOUSE(PART OF THE LAMP ON THE LEFT SIDE)

   

FRONT FOAMY WATER IS PACIFIC OCEAN

BACK DARKER WATER IS COLUMBIA RIVER

ENTIRE AREA IS KNOWN AS THE GRAVEYARD OF THE PACIFIC

(HUNDREDS OF SHIP WRECKS HAVE OCCURRED HERE)

 

 

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

 

      "Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man."  (Psalm 112:4)

 

 

 



 

 

     



Culture Fair.....

      I woke up to rain this morning.  It seemed so mild when thinking about what the people on the east coast are enduring.  My heart goes out to them, yet I cannot really comprehend what they are going through. 
     After getting myself to water aerobics I muddled through the day not accomplishing much.  I'm at a snag for getting the rest of the house settled.  Time to get back into disciplined work mode.  Some family are coming for Thanksgiving and I want to have the house in order by then---only 3 weeks away.
     My thoughts are also getting back to working on piano music.  I have slacked off since June and need to refresh everything---including my focus and motivation.
    

     This evening I attended the Culture Fair at Micaela's school.  She featured "German dumplings". She and Grandma Carole worked on the project Sunday evening while we were all at Deb's.  I had contributed by taking pictures of the dumpling process the last time I cooked them. 
     I was amazed this evening at how well all the students presented their projects and with all the cultural diversity.  Having moved here from a small community I'm not familiar with such variety. 

 

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                                     ASTORIA, OREGON TRIP......

 

 

RAINBOW....

look from lower left corner

the rainbow had a personal,peaceful meaning for me that day

British restaurant

Shepherd's pie and black bread

Our restaurant was also on pilings.  In earlier years the buildings had trap doors where unsuspecting patrons were dropped through onto ships and sent to Shanghai as "workers". 

Pilot boat used to guide ships up the Columbia River

Heading up the Astoria Bridge



Driving along the Columbia River

 

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HALLOWEEN HORROR PICTURE # 2

 



 

WISCONSIN MUTANT MAN

(TOO MUCH SOLAR PANEL EXPOSURE)

 

 

     This has been a good Cultural Fair day in the life of Grandma G

 

 

     "God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne."  (Psalm 47: 8)

 

 

Disappointment.....

Cape Disappointment, that is......

     I went on another senior day trip on Monday.  This one over the Astoria Bridge and on to.....
CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT........

Late Autumn in Vancouver, WA

North Head Lighthouse

 

Cape Disappointment in fog

 

 

 

Astoria Bridge over Columbia River 

 

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                                        Halloween Horror Picture #3

  

 

GHOSTGRAM 

   

 

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

 

     "Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed."  (Isaiah 49:23)

 

 



Let There Be Rain!!

     The rains have truly come to the Pacific Northwest.  It has been coming down in sheets and buckets.  The Locals told me this would happen.  BUT....the air is not cold.  I hear the wind is plenty cold back in Wisconsin. 
     As I was laying in bed early this AM I was trying to decide whether to go to water aerobics at 9 or just hurry to Fred Meyers to get all my bargains before 1PM when the extra sale stopped.  The next time I looked at the clock at 9:20 I didn't have to decide anymore. 
    Off I drove in the rain.  Home I returned in the rain, but had lots of bargains in the backseat. 
Angie, Micki and Jake were going to come visit at my house while their mom and dad were in Park Falls.  It turns out that Angie wasn't feeling well so called to cancel.  I decided to go to their house to  stay overnight.  Off I went again in the rain. (I hear that is what winter is about in the PNW.)  We spent a cozy evening watching The Tourist---very entertaining movie. 
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HALLOWEEN HORROR PICTURE #4

 

SINGING SANTAGRAM

 

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

 

     "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law."  (Ephesians 5:22 & 23) 

 







HOW WEIRD IS THAT?

     All my 7 children are in Park Falls and I am NOT.  How weird is that?   This is the first time all my kids have been in the same place and I am not there.  Usually I am the one working feverishly to get my brood together in one place.  
     Tomorrow is their Grandma Rose's 100th Birthday party.  Grandma Rose is Louie's mom so the Schmidt relation will be having a big blast.  It is the weekend for my kids to celebrate with Dad's side of the family.  I am alright with that.  

     I did talk with most of them this evening while they were huddled around a campfire at Lou's house.  (The temperature is in the mid 30's.)  I wasn't going to let them be without me completely.  Campfires were a major part of their growing up.  They would sit with Lou and play "When I go out west I am taking.....".  Deb and I apparently have taken that game to heart.  Actually Gerry and Bill did too since they live in southern California. 

     I spent most of my day SHOPPING!  Actually looking at items to buy tomorrow morning when there is additional sale % off.  I shopped for and bought myself a gift, but that is still a secret.  I had a little scare (could have been a big one).  I went to get my driver's license for identification and could not find the small purse I kept it in.   I fumbled through my large purse and it just wasn't there.  The really bad part is that this little purse held all my plastic as well as cash.  OH, MY.  I took a drive home and at first couldn't find it.  THEN.....looking under a few messy piles, I found it.  Good reason to not have messy piles.  Back I went to SHOPPING.   

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Senior Outing Part 3 and there ain't no more.  

We visited the Maryhill Museum.  Short history.  John Hill from Minneapolis, MN bought hundreds of acres in the Columbia River valley to develop a utopia settlement. He built a huge concrete mansion for his wife.  She didn't like the area.  She stayed in Minneapolis.  They had a daughter who was hospitalized.  He sold the mansion to be used as a museum and returned to the midwest.

The main room is dedicated to a royal Romanian family.  I don't remember the connection.  It is of interest to me because I am a bit Romanian on my dad's side.  Perhaps some of this royalty is in my blood.


 
                                                                                                                          





 

Queen's crown and Queen

This  display caught my attention.  The higher vessel is 3,000 years old.  I wonder if any of our artifacts will be around in 3,000 years.

"Stonehenge" monument to WWI veterans.

 

 

Bridge across Columbia River

(and wind farm in distant right)

 

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      Halloween Horror Picture #5



 

SCAREGRAM

 

       This has been a good "how weird" day in the life of Grandma G.  

 

     "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him."  (Romans 8:28) 



Fun Surprise Day....

     The day started off "normal" for me.  I got up and got myself to water aerobics.  There were only a few of us ladies there.  After the session a lady came up and reintroduced herself to me.  We chatted a bit and then she said she needed to go home and get ready for Red Hats.   HMMMMM.  I had forgotten about Red Hats.  In younger years I vowed I would NOT don a red hat and purple blouse and act immature for my mature years.  But.... I was young--er.  Now in my elder years it sounds....fun.  And what is more fun is that this month's excursion was listed as SURPRISE!  I like fun surprises.  So off I hurried home to get ready for Red Hats.
    I have secretly searched for a red hat to buy.  With my small head hats are difficult to fit.  The search is still on, but not secretly anymore.  I do have a red knit cap with a large white maple leaf on the front.  Souvenir of Canada, eh. Also had already bought my purple shirt. 


    I hadn't signed up to go so I didn't know if I would be welcomed or sent on my way.  I didn't know what the surprise outing was so didn't know what to wear.  But at 11AM I hurried back to the rec center to be welcomed by the other Red Hatters.  And welcomed I was.    We were going for lunch at a seafood restaurant.  Oh well, so what that I have a seafood allergy.  Hanging out with new Red Hatter friends was worth the risk.  One lady assured me they have other foods as well. 
  

"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple. With a red hat which doesn't go...." 

(Jenny Joseph)

 Can you find Elenore I and Elenore II?  Donna I and Donna II?  Georgia I and Georgia II?

     Georgia was kind enough to offer me a ride to the restaurant and then stop at a couple stores with me.  She also has a Canasta group at her house.  I haven't gone yet, but think I will. It is rather weird to talk to Georgia and have Georgia respond to me.  Fun.

      The day continued to be a pleasant surprise of sunshine and a sunny walk in the late afternoon.

     Today is my mother-in-law's 100th B-day back in Park Falls!  She still lives in her own home.  May we all be so fortunate.  She is old enough to wear purple with a red hat.                  Happy 100th B-day, Rose!! 

                                                                Grandma Rose and great granddaughter Angie  August 2011

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Senior Outing....Part 2..

 

(#1 monolith--- Rock of Gibraltar   #2 monolith---Beacon Rock   #3 monolith----Aryers Rock)

 

       Enjoy Views of Columbia River and Cascade mountains.....



 view from back left jump seat...notice bridge across the river (and the emergency exit sign)

 getting into desert environment......
we drove 100 miles east of Vancouver, WA

    Come back tomorrow for part 3 of Senior Outing...

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Halloween Horror Picture # 6

 

                              HAPPY GRANDMOOSE

 

 

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

 

     "Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you."  (Psalms 116:7)