12 days of Christmas 3 times over.....

     I woke up to sunshine this morning.  Surprise!!  Even if "morning" was 9:15.  I needed to wake up quickly since 10AM was coffee time at the club house.  I haven't gone before but today was special.  We were going to decorate for Christmas and have a chili feed.  Fun and Yum.   


    Though there are close to 200 units in the park, only about 15 people were present.  It was a social time of eating and chatting, even before getting on with the work.

What happened?
1. someone passed out?
2. someone was laughing so hard he fell?
3. someone is fixing the tree stand?
4. a wife just bonked her hubby?

            He's still there......

 

     The office lady asked me if I was still willing to play piano for caroling after the Christmas potluck dinner on Dec. 13.  I said sure and asked for the songbook.  Bob, a fellow there, said he heard I give piano lessons.  He asked if he could start lessons the beginning of the year.  He plays guitar, knows the various chords, reads a little music and wants to learn piano.  Yeah!  After some conversation it was decided that he would accompany me on the guitar for the Christmas carols.  That should be lots of fun.  I told him, too, that I'd be interested in playing with a group as time goes on.  He also makes guitars.   

 

      After 3 hours of sociability I went outside to discover rather mild temperatures.  Great time for a walk before any rain moves back in.  So a walk it was.   Wind was a little strong, but it was not arctic cold.  
      By mid afternoon the rain did move back in but by then I was content to stay inside--excited to start playing Chirstmas carols, even if my piano is out of tune. 

     

     About the 12 days of Christmas 3 times over.......From today until I get back from a week in Wisconsin will be 36 days.  Tomorrow is the first of December.  Today was kick off of the 36 days---decorating the club house.  I will try to do "something Christmas" everyday until the final activity of return flight from Wisconsin on Friday, Jan. 3, 2013.  

 

        "On the first day of Christmas I helped trim the club house tree......
And ate a butter cook--ee." 



The 3 Senior Sisters
Kate, Betsy, Georgia
Christmas 2011
Indianapolis, Indiana



     This has been a good "start of Christmas" day in the life of Grandma G.

     "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."  (Philippeans 4:13)

 

Hodge-Podge...

     Today was Hodge-Podge day.  I woke up thinking about and missing my little music store in Park Falls, Wisconsin.  I enjoyed the interaction with folks and my music students.  But on deeper thought, I recalled all the work that went with it---and the snow and icy roads in the winter.  So I will relish the reminisce while being grateful for my new PNW life. 
     After another long night's sleep I attended the Red Hats 2013 planning meeting.  We came up with a year's worth of fun activities.  I just listened and agreed since, being new to the area, I had no suggestions and everything will be an adventure to me.  I think, though, that I had written a suggestion last month of visiting the Rose Garden (the garden not the sports arena) and that is down for June when the roses are in full bloom.  Yeah, one for me!

Enthusiastic Chatter.....

                                           Free Stuff....

 

      I was home by noon to figure out the rest of my life.  I thought about the movie I had watched the day before, Soul Surfer.  It is a 2011 film about surfer Bethany Hamilton who at age 13 had her left arm bitten off by a shark.  It portrays her story of recovery and determination to get back into surfing.  Wonderful, inspirational, motivational movie.  Anyway, it struck me that if one wants something to be accomplished one has to make it happen by purposely making it happen.  Therefore.....I am dedicated to getting the unorganized part of my life in order and to get on with the world of music performance.  It is SO easy for me to wile away the day and not have positive productivity.  Self discipline or the lack thereof.  (I do find it a challenge with living alone to keep a continual productive flow of activity going---that is, not sitting in front of the TV for hours at a time.)

 

     I told the story awhile back about the mail from Northwoods Flooring that keeps getting sent out to me. Last year at this time I operated at store in Park Falls, WI named Northwoods Music.   I used to live at 214 Sth 6th Ave Sth and had my store mail sent there.  The flooring store is situated at 214 2nd Ave. N ( I can see the overwhelming confusion, south and north are very close together, as are 2nd and 6th.)  At least I thought the flooring store was there.  Today I decided to look up the number of the store and CALL them to explain that I just re-received 8 pieces of their mail--ones I had sent back to their address last week.  It turns out that upon dialing that number one is informed that the store went out of business last May (earlier than mine did). Next move?  (not location, rather next try.)  Probably "return to sender".  See what happens.  You and me both.

 

     The remainder of the day included an hour of stretching, sorting out a bag of paper stuff (not done yet), laundry, finding pictures on the computer, playing and practicing piano 2 hours, and mentally scanning the next 4 weeks of Christmas prep.    

 

 

                       THANKSGIVING FLASHBACK

 

 

COUSINS

 

 

 BIG LEAF

THAT'S A LOT OF TURKEYS IN ONE FAMILY

        (THANKSGIVING DAY IN WAUSAU, WISCONSIN)

 

     This has been a good "hodge-podge" day in the life of Grandma G.

 

 

      "'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'."  (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

    

        

REST/FOCUS SHIFT

     Tuesday and Wednesday have been major rest days for me.  AKA lazy.  This is truly the first time I have "just lived" since moving out to VC.  Last Wednesday I was still scurrying around to get my house in order for company (and the way I want it).  Then there was 5 days of family BIG FUN here in the Pacific Northwest.  

(11/27) Still observing autumn colors.....

     So I have enjoyed 2 nights of 10 hours sleep each, a few movies, a Tuesday leisure walk in mild weather, picking up my mail for the past week, playing piano both days, stretching for an hour today, and  not yet washing dishes.  My excuse is that I am resting in order to fight off a cold or virus that has been bothering me for 8 days.  SIGH.
     This is also the lull between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  There will be plenty to do the next 4 weeks. (I am eager to find and play Christmas CDs.)  I have my flight ticket to Wausau, Wisconsin for the Schmidt Christmas gathering the last weekend of December. Yeah!  Except for potential SNOW.

               Pussy willows in late November
     
   


       The main focus of this week is a FOCUS SHIFT.  These past 3 months have been dedicated to settling in.  Now I need to give attention to an income.  OH MY.  To a comfortable or at least manageable routine.  To fostering friendships with new friends.  To finding social involvements.
To getting involved in the music world. To getting my studio set up. To visiting schools and  advertising for students.  I plan to start teaching after the Christmas break.  Check back to Grandma G's blog for all the latest updates.   

 

MT. HOOD FLASHBACK....

Mt. Hood in background before snowline



 Approaching Mt. Hood

Entering the snowline.....

 

Snow markers (so plows can find the road)  It is common to get 50 ft. of snow on the mountain in the winter

 Jude, Gemma, Gerry inside Timberline Lodge

 These are original drapes woven from WWI army uniforms.  Built during the depression, Timberline Lodge is mainly recycled material.  There are no iron nails in the building. 

 Grandma G, Jude and Gemma with Mt. Hood summit in background and end of tree line.

 Roadside mountain waterfall

 

     This has been a good 2 restful days in the life of Grandma G.

 

     "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  (Matthew 11:28 & 29) 

  

Time to Say Goodbye.....

 

 

     Today was the last day of family visiting.  At the Miller house, Angie was packing to fly out at 3PM.  Bill had stayed the night in Portland with Zach after attending a rowdy concert Sunday evening.  Bill had to fly out at 2:30.  Lou and I had breakfast at McDonald's and  went to Freddy's to buy tools to solve a plumbing problem---and then Lou fixed the plumbing problem.

     Eleven of us met up at my house to say goodbye to Angie and Bill before Deb took them to the airport. (Micki had gone to school for the day.)  Five of us headed into Portland to visit the Grotto.  On the way there Gemma asked what is a grotto.  Gerry, being the good dad and teaching dad that he is turned on his highly educated phone and  looked up the meaning of grotto.  He gave us all an in depth history of the word, what it is in various languages, the general meaning of grotto, the specific meaning of grotto and explained how all this led up to our present day word, grotesque.  Five year old Gemma will never be the same. (Deb, Jake and Jude met us after the airport drop off.)

     THE GROTTO here in Portland is a lovely spot of forest in the middle of the city.  It was built in the mid 1900's in appreciation of a particular priest's mother's life being spared.  (He wasn't a priest at the time, rather, a young boy.)  It is meant to be a place of quiet, reflection and tranquility.  And it is that, though a chilly tranquility today with the temperatures only in the low 40's.  

 

THE GROTTO

 

 

 

DECORATED FOR CHRISTMAS

VIEW OVER PORTLAND

FROM HEATED MEDITATION ROOM

 

 

 

MT. ST. HELENE'S FROM VIEW

THROUGH GLASS ENCLOSURE

 LATE NOVEMBER FLOWERS

 CONVENT AND A YELLOW ROSE

  A SIGHTING OF BIG FOOT(HE NEEDS TRANQUILITY, TOO)



 

PEACE OVER PORTLAND

 

     

     I had not been to the Grotto before, but Lou has.  It was his request that we go.  I am glad we did.  It is a beautiful place---one I will visit at my leisure in the summer when the tranquility is WARM.

 

     We had been planning to tour the zoo as a group this evening to view the Christmas lights.  But when evening came and we were all together it was unanimous to stay inside, watch football and eat delivered pizza.  That was the just right finish to 5 days of family time, now that family is tired, a bit sick with colds and needing to get up early for flights back home.  We are all contented and appreciative of this time away from daily routine and occasion to simply enjoy being family. 

 

 

ONE MIGHTY BIG LEAF

 

 

 

 

SAILBOATS, COLUMBIA RIVER AND MT. HOOD

 

 

         This has been a good "last family visiting" day in the life of Grandma G.

 

     "The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family."  (Acts 16:34) 



Dumplings/Mt.Hood.....

PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES

 

 

                     home made kraut
                from Park Falls








 Papa Lou breaking bread

How many dumplings?                                                  In 2 kettles? 

 

 

YUM!   Sour Gravy!

 

A few of 50 dumplings.....

 

 

 

The DUMPLING GANG.......

 

       Saturday morning brought a trip to Fred Meyers to pick a few needed items for me and for Lou.  It was much easier than Friday morning when there was NO parking spot in the huge 4 section parking lot. 

       Saturday morning also brought a dish washing session left over from our Friday Thanksgiving meal and a broken kitchen faucet.

       Saturday AFTERNOON brought a dumpling cooking frenzy for Grandma G....dumplings for 15 people.  YIKES.  15 people who consume LOTS of dumplings and crave sour gravy.  YIKES. 

 

_____________________________________________________________________



 MT.  HOOD....

 

ON THE WAY TO MT. HOOD... 

SNOW!!

Timberline Lodge.....

 

 

 

 

 

Waiting to play in the SNOW.....

 

 

 

First time playing in snow....

 

 

 Playing with
Mt. Hood snow in Vancouver

 

 

 

 

 

 MT. HOOD SUMMIT

VIEWED FROM TIMBERLINE LODGE

 

     This has been a good two "dumpling/Mt. Hood" days in the life of Grandma G.

 

     "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob."  (Micah 4:2)