EASTER WEEKEND.....

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!!

     

      I have had a wonderful, busy visiting weekend.  

   Saturday family party.......

        





Sunday dinner with 5 sisters....



Sunday evening spaghetti meal cooked by great nephew Nick.

       This has been 2 good  Easter visiting days in the life of Grandma G.

     "The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here: he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay."  (Matthew 27: 5 & 6)

 

Meet You In Indy by way of the PNW.....

     Today was a major visiting day in Indianapolis.   I met up with my former neighbors from Park Falls, WI.  This is how the story goes.   I moved to Park  Falls from Indianapolis when I was 10 years old, married and settled there. These folks were my neighbors in Park Falls. for over 20 years.  I babysat Marissa when she was a baby.  Marissa grew up, met a fellow from Indianapolis, married him and moved to Indianapolis.  A few years later her mom and dad moved to Indianapolis.   A few years later I moved from Park Falls to Vancouver, WA.  Three days ago I came to Indianapolis for a family visit and today we met up here in Indianapolis.  Chase and Avery are cute new little friends for me to meet. 

 

Marissa, Chase and Avery, Cindy, Grandma G

 

     Then it was on to visit another one of my sisters and her husband, Rose and Frank.   Kate, Betsy and I took a fast food lunch to share with them.   We were busy discussing our latest physical problems and medical tests.  They were eager to hear how I like living in Vancouver, WA.  I assured them I am completely happy and contented.   

 

      Later in the afternoon we treated ourselves to a "cheap movie" at a theater providing  inexpensive movie costs----$1.75.    We viewed  Lincohn.  Betsy and I hadn't seen it yet.  Kate had.  I found it to be an excellent and inspiring presentation of President Lincohn.  It made me realize how little of our country's history I have forgotten or never knew at all.  I highly recommend the movie.  

 

      With that we ate out for dinner, went to Kmart to buy Easter candy, took Betsy home, went to a grocery store, came home, boiled eggs, fixed a bean salad for the next day, filled candy eggs for an Easter egg hunt,  chatted while I did my arm exercises and....finally...went to bed.     



 Helping the Easter Bunny....

Indiana Sycamore tree in early spring......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       This has been a good, busy visiting day in the life of Grandma G.

 

     "May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you."  (Psalm 33:22)

 

     

 

It's Indianapolis, Baby!

      
Wednesday it was off to the PDX airport for a flight into Salt Lake City and then on to Indianapolis.  The flights were good and I used up 10 hours in 7, arriving 10:30 PM  EDT
 

 Great Nephew, Nick, and Grandma G,

 Niece, Stephanie,  and Sister, Kate

 

        Thursday we were up and going by 7AM "my time", though 10AM "their" time.  I was feeling pretty peppy Wed. PM.....BUT.....now jet lag set in. 

 

SNOW  was NOT part of the package I signed up for......

 

         We headed out to Nashville.  Nashville, IN that is .   My oldest sister, 80, lives there with her 90 year old husband.  They put on a Sunday dinner for us on a Thursday.  

Katie, Sally, George

Georgia, Betsy, Sally, Kate, Stephanie, Katie

 

Four Sisters

 

        A brief walk around Nashville and dinner with niece, Annette,  completed our visit for the day.

 

Pottery shop run by my foster sister and her husband 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

      "If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."   (Psalm 37:

Grandma G is Slacking off......

    Sorry, folks, Grandma G has been slacking off....that sounds better than.....lazy.   Kind of like the old folk song, "The old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be".   BUT, neither is she done for yet.
Guess there was too much, "hanging out in the PNW".

    Sunday was a great day with a blessed church service at our new location and then a pot luck lunch.  This pot luck was an enjoyable experience for me since I now know most of the people and feel like I belong.  (I had attended one right before Thanksgiving, but was a "stranger" at that time.)
        I made Jamaican jerk pork.  I was so involved in cooking that I forgot to get a picture of the yummy cuisine.  Believe me, it is VERY yummy.  Buy a jar of Jamaican jerk seasoning and slather (scrumptious word) it on pork or chicken, cook and indulge.  YUM.  Don't forget to insert chunks of fresh garlic as well. I learned of the tantalizing flavor several years ago on a trip to Jamaica where my daughter got married.  No problem, maun. 

      Monday was so beautiful I had to take a 2 mile walk. The trees remain beautifully pink. 

 

          After that it was an hour of stretches while watching what trouble Dr. Michaela Quinn got herself into and out of in that same one hour.  

        Actually I have (had) other things on my mind.  On Wednesday I am flying east to Indianapolis. 
Yeah!   So there has been packing to do, dishes to finish, food to eat or freeze, emails to send, laundry to dry at Deb's house, an extension on my WI license plate to obtain so I have time to replace the title before getting a WA license plate, phone calls to make, 2 piano lessons to give.  Haven't been completely slacking off...  

       Next blog will be from Indy.  Check back in to see what adventures develop in the coming days.

 

3 Sisters on the 3 Sisters Mountains, Canada 

(Indiana sisters)

 

 

      This has been a good 3 "not really slacking off" days in the life of Grandma G.

 

 

      "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward."  (Colossians 3:23)

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Hanging Out in the PNW...

The PNW is in the PINK!

 

 

 

Literally, the entire neighborhood is engulfed in pink blossomed trees.   Absolutely gorgeous!

There are some rough areas, though.  The mountain range is still blanketed with snow.

 

And yesterday we were hit with a hail storm.  It lasted almost 5 minutes. 

 

 

      To get out of the harsh weather yesterday I went to Freddy's to look for some spring PNW  clothing.  That took 3-4 hours. The evening before I spent a few hours at Penny's in the Mall doing the same.  It's difficult for a 67 years old grandma to find outfits befitting a PNW mountain mama.   Hard life, but someone has to do it.   I did come home with a few flattering shirts, a skirt and 2 pairs of sandels.

 

     Today, Saturday, was busy.   I put a pork roast in the slow cooker to transform into yummy Jamaican jerk pork. (Tomorrow at church we are having a pot luck lunch after the first service in our new location.) Then I headed off to the local salon to get a hair treatment and nails done.  Hard life. 

 

 That was SO tiring I had to buy a smoked rack of ribs to take home for lunch. 
 I've never had smoked ribs before so it was a new cuisine experience.  Tasty.

 

      The sun was shining later in the afternoon so it was WALKING time. (Time to take several pictures of springtime scenery.)

 

      Burt called with news that put ME in the pink.  He is providing an airplane ticket for me to come to Wisconsin to hang out with his kids in May while he and Jen go on a reward trip to Porto Rico.  I call that a win/win  proposition.   Chances of snow in mid May are slim--but it has happened before. 

 

      This has been 2 good "hanging out in the PNW" days in the life of Grandma G.

 

     "The desert and the parched land will be glad;  the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.  Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy."  (Isaiah 35:1 & 2)

 

     

  

 

 

 

World Down Syndrome Day 3/21

      Today was World Down Syndrome Day.    Pictured is my niece, Stephanie, and her daughter, Katie.  Their family lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Katie is the second child of three. 

 

Down syndrome is also known as Trisomy
"Advocating" can mean be a walk on Washington or the decision to keep your child in the first place and all the actions required on a daily basis. I am proud to know and support people who advocate and take action to the best of their abilities!  (Words of Stephanie on Face Book.)

 

Mary, Stephanie, Katie, Ray, Little Ray,

Christmas, 2011

 

Stephanie, Katie, Grandma Kate

Dad and Katie dance

Ray working at golf outing for DADS,2012

(Dads Appreciating Downs Syndrome)

 

 

 

 

     My greatest admiration goes out to all their family for all the love, nurturing, dedication, fun, strength, perseverance, teaching, family time and outreach time they have invested all these years. 
Love you guys!!






     This has been a good "Down Syndrome Awareness" day in the life of Grandma G.

"For you created my most inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." 
(Psalm 139: 13 & 14)

Off Schedule......

     Must have been too much St. Patty's day.....woke up at 4:15AM and couldn't get back to sleep after going to bed at 11:15 the night before.  5 hours of sleep won't work for me.   So after a bowl of oatmeal I went back to sleep from 8:30 to 11AM.  Good sleep.  Off schedule day. 

     On Sunday after a good church service I got busy cooking a meal of stuffed green peppers and carrot cake for Deb and family.  Yum.  But before that I did have a guitar lesson for middle school girl.  I am so eager to get a full schedule of students.  Makes me be in my element.
     I was glad to have family come over and spend the evening with me.  We watched the movie, The Life of Pi. I haven't figured out yet what it is all about.  Mysterious and strange. 




       Back to today.   I had another guitar lesson this afternoon.  This student is a lady in her late 70's.  I admire her determination to learn something new.  She is an inspiration to me.  We talked awhile about the effect of music on our lives, particularly on older folks with dementia.  How music brings them back to life at least for a little while.  I told her about my brother, Nick, who has Picks disease and how he will sing along with his wife.  This lady talked how she was looking for a nursing home for her mom and she was dismayed that none of them had any kind of music going for the residents. 

     The sun came out later in the afternoon.  The call to WALK.   I am amazed that spring is here!

                                            ENJOY PACIFIC NORTHWEST SPRING....

 

         This has been a good "off schedule" day  in the life of Grandma G.

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

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY......

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!!!

 



Can you find the wee Leprechaun?

 













What I had LAST St. Patty's Day.  
 Made my stomach a little green.  

       Since this IS the start of St. Patty's Day I don't know what the luck of the Irish will bring me today.   Hope YOUR day is filled with the rainbow that leads to a pot full of fun and love and maybe a little fool's gold. 

       The past 2 days  have been off schedule a little.  I woke up feeling sick yesterday (Friday).  Don't know if it was a food allergy or a bug.  (That sure bugged me.)   I faithfully did my shoulder exercises before heading out to the chiropractor  mid afternoon.  From what I remember the day was quite warm, though cloudy.   Nice to be outside.  
        I went to Freddy's for groceries since I invited Deb and family and Carole over for stuffed peppers and carrot cake on Sunday. I am appalled how long it takes me to browse the aisles of a store these days.  It gave me a full afternoon into evening outing.   I did find the "perfect" chair for my studio and a set of luggage on a great sale.   And the groceries I needed.   

     Today, Saturday, I feel better, but used the "blahs" as an excuse to sleep in and not go to water aerobics.  The nice weather turned on us last night.  Today is typical March--rainy, windy and chilly.   A just right day to stay inside and mess up the kitchen with carrot cake creation---the most 
Awesome Carrot Cake---that's what the recipe stated.   So with down home blue grass Gospel music playing on the CD player, I did some down home cake baking.    Life is good! 

   









                                                Ready for the oven!!


       I did do the full scope of arm and stretching exercises today.  Took about 80 minutes.  Felt good.
Also had a long phone chat with a local lady friend.  Great.  Gave me a sense of belonging and fitting in and someone to identify with.    
        So with that, some piano practice,blogging and lots of dish washing, this Saturday has passed peacefully and domestically.  I as trying to NOT watch TV on Saturdays (starting last Saturday) just as a self discipline thing to let me know I don't NEED to be watching it to have a fulfilling day. 

      This has been a good 2 "sort of not feeling well" days in the life of Grandma G.

     "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  (John 14:27)