The Misadventures of Grandma G.....

     I can't believe that I haven't posted for 4 days.  Grandma G must be either turning into a Grandma or is getting really involved in life in VC or just utterly disorganized.  At this point I don't know which. 
     Actually, between healing out 2 gnarly molars (on the right side of my mouth) and a neuroma in my right foot and almost healed out pulled right shoulder I don't know if I am still in my right mind.  I can declare that because I am left handed and science has proven that we lefties are in our right mind.  Don't know if I can say that about righties. 
      I think Wednesday I moped around not feeling well all over. 
    Thursday was a better day once I decided to get ready to join the Red Hats on their adventure to the Japanese Gardens and rose gardens in Portland.  It felt good to get my mind off of achy molars.  OOPS.  No beautiful, flowing, plume covered red hats on excited ladies were to be found at the club house.  Only my friend, Nola, was waiting there.  Turns out that the two of us DIDN'T get the memo that the Red Hat adventure was cancelled because it looked like rain.  RAIN?  REALLY.  Since when did that become a concern in Portland?  Nola resigned herself to return home to pull weeds.  She is 79 years old. Young, actually. Had been a California mountain resident and skier just a few years back.
With a little suggestion we agreed to do our own adventure since we were already dressed up.  So it was decided that AFTER we change out of Red Hat attire we'd head to Ft. Vancouver for a lunch in British style. And then a walk through the fort.  It was a British fur trading fort in the 1800's.  During WW II  some of the buildings on "Officer Row" were used for war strategy centers.     

 

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      Friday I stayed in my air conditioned bachelorette pad to escape the 90+ degree weather.  I had to venture out to get an insert inserted into my shoes and to a chiropractor appt.  Then it was on to the mall to look for new traveling shoes that would be roomy enough for my new inserts.  That took awhile and I don't know if I've found anything. 

      Today, Saturday, Debbie invited me breakfast with her and Angie and a drive into Portland.  And then it was for lunch since the day was getting away from her.  And then it was downtown Vancouver since the traffic was too congested going into Portland. Debbie, Angie, Micaela, Jake and I met for a lunch at an Italian café. 

      I went on to a few stores.  Found out that folks go ape over fireworks out here.

 

 

  It is 11PM and there has been a steady boom and bang of fireworks in the neighborhood the past hour.  I don't think they are coming from my little 50+ village.  If so, I need to go find those rocken folks and join the adrenalin rush.

I think I will get a job at a flower shop. 

 

       We are in the middle of a heat wave here in the PNW.  The temps are to hover in the 90's the next several days.  It is probably time for a trip to Wisconsin.  And that is what I will be doing come Monday morning. 

        I have been busy this week preparing for a message I am giving at our church service tomorrow.  It has been a good experience for me.  I feel like I have written a term paper.  (Don't know if that is what they are called these days.)  I will let you know tomorrow how I did.

 

       This has been a good 4 "misadventure" days in the life of Grandma G.

 

       "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."  (Proverbs 27:1) 

Much Ado about Family......

                                    
                                 HAPPY B-DAY, ANGIE!! June 25

NATIONAL GUARD TRAINING AND

"TREE OF LIFE" June, 2013

(hanging IV bags on a coat rack)

ANGIE WITH THE NG BAND

SEVERAL YEARS AGO

(Angie's in second last row , second from the left)

Grandma G and Sissy celebrating Angie B-day

                  Angie,
          Ryan and Austin

Ryan and Austin supporting Mom

CALIFORNIA SCHMIDTS UPDATE

 

 


 Gerry and Jude, last day of

5th grade, June 2013

GEMMA AND GERRY

 

GEMMA KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION



 

GEMMA AND JUDE VISITING IN MINNESOTA

                                              GERRY PERFORMING IN BALLET

  

CORY SCHMIDT IN DULUTH, JUNE 2013

(TALL GUY) FINISHING THE GRANDMA'S MARATHON

 

(JUNE 2013)

 

 

 

DOING A BACK FLIP ON A SUPERIOR, WI SKI HILL

(JUNE 2013)

 

HERE AT HOME.....

 

 

 

I ALWAYS FEEL BLUE WHEN LOOKING AT THIS HOUSE

 

MOTHER KILLDEER STILL SITTING ON HER NEST

 

     Grandma G is either moving slow or is lazy these days.  Also still recuperating from the "deep cleaning" on Friday.   Haven't felt well the past few days.  I have enjoyed granddaughter, Angie's company on Monday and Tuesday.  On Sunday I did spend the afternoon at Deb's house for a sandwich meal in honor of Key's B-day and Micaela being promoted to high school and Jake to 6th grade.  We watched Oz the Great and Powerful.   Entertaining.

 

 

     This has been a good 3 "family pictures" days in the life of Grandma G.

 

     "How great is the love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God!  And that is what we are!"  (1 John 3:1)

Dental Distress/And a Mother's Dilemma.....

     Grandma G had her appointment at the periodontist on Friday.  YIKES!  It was a bit more traumatic than she thought it was going to be.  Done her in, I tell you.  But she made it through.  She's trying to save 2 back molars, rather than going without or spending $3,000 on an implant.
     She got to take off the afternoon to nap (and dreamt she fell out of bed.  She didn't though.  Also dreamt that the Millers were here, but she wasn't sure if she was awake or not, but woke up in her dream and they were here.  Although Angie and Bentley dog really weren't here.  But they were ALL gone when she woke up for real.  I think.)  She had a good excuse to watch The Hobbit on Demand TV.  Also she's gonna find out if garlic tablets really do make a good antibiotic.   

  If you think the dream scenario is confusing, listen to this travel itinerary drama.  Grandma G is taking 2 grandsons on intersecting trips in July, involving 3 round trip flights.  I am flying alone to Wisconsin for a week.  Then bringing one grandson with me back here to Vancouver for a week.  After that week I am flying back to Wisconsin with 2 grandsons for a week.  Finally flying back here with one grandson.  I have a single round trip ticket.  Grandson #1 has a single 3 way ticket out of one city and into another.  Grandson # 2 has a "companion" ticket with me.  We need to get the 3 of us together on a full 767 flight into Atlanta, but have 2 different confirmation numbers.  The result? Grandson # 1 has no seat assignment on the 767.  They are full.  BUT with a confirmation # he is guaranteed a seat.  Does that compute?  Don't tell his mom he has no seat on the longest and fullest flight.  No worries.  

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       Now to a mother's dilemma.  

There is a frantic mother bird who made her nest in the gravel yard 2 houses down.  She is a killdeer.  Our yards are small and close to our even smaller streets and sidewalks.  I discovered her last week sometime when a frantic bird started all kinds of odd poses as I was walking by. 



Good that the only loose animals here are skinny rabbits.   I will keep watching this developing story!

 

       This has been a good 3 dental/mother's dilemma days in the life of Grandma G.

 

      "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So do not be afraid;  you are worth more than many sparrows."  (Matt. 10: 29-31)

 

Mt. St. Helens.......

 

 

WHY I MOVED OUT TO THE PNW......

 

       I moved out to Vancouver, WA to answer the call of the wild.....senior lady style.  There are so many places to visit.  And that I did on Tuesday with the 55+ travel.  A day trip to Mt. St. Helens.  There was a threat of rain in the forecast but the day was beautiful  with sunshine and mild temperatures.  Though at the peak the wind was strong and cold.  There was still snow on the mountain.  They say come July or August that will be melted.  

 

 AS CLOSE AS I WILL EVER GET TO A VOLCANO 

                             SMALL WILD FLOWERS RETURNING  

 


ASH COVERED ROOF OF VISITORS CENTER

  SPLINTERED TREE TRUNK ON DISPLAY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISTANT VIEWS OF THE MOUNTAIN

 OBSERVE THE STEAM COMING FROM THE BUILDING CALDERA

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     I am amazed, though not happily, how quickly I forget what happened a day or two past.  At this point your guess is as good as mine as to what I did on Sunday---other than attend a refreshing church service. 
     Monday, after sleeping in a bit Deb picked me up at the car repair where I dropped the car off for.......MORE REPAIR WORK.   Hard to believe, but that is true.  I think the rest of the day was leisurely spent not doing much.  I did enjoy a half hour walk without much foot pain.  Yeah!
   Tuesday was a full, fun day of senior travel to Mt. St. Helens.
    Today, Wednesday, I do remember.   An appointment at the dentist which ended with a recommendation to get back to the periodontist for a deep cleaning of an upper right molar ASAP.
(Guess what I am doing Friday morning?)  
    Angie came over early afternoon. After having lunch at Sweet Tomatoes we headed to the mall---through alternating sunshine and downpours--- to see a movie.  Man of Steel.  It was quite entertaining.  A modernized story of Superman. 
    So now after Bible study and a little piano practice, it is catch up on Blog time. 

     This has been a good 4 "involved in VC living" days in the life of Grandma G.

     "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you."  (Isaiah 54:10)

    

Fun Social Event.....

  

          Today I attended my first "invited to" social event here in VC.  My pastor's family hosted a 50th B-day party for him at the Hilton in VC.  The family is Samoan and the party reflected that.

 

                                     DINNER MAIN COURSE.....                                           

 

 

 

 
      

       It started as a live piggy in the past day or two.  Was roasted overnight for 7 hours.  On display for a bit this afternoon.  Cut up.  Devoured by hungry guests.   Very yummy, so thinks this guest.

 

 

      25 carrots cakes and 25 plates of cupcakes all handmade by Pastor's wife and a friend......

 

 


                           Chocolate fountain and strawberries.....
 
 
                                   Island music and dancing.....

 

 
 
 
                                THE "BLUE BRIGADE" 
                                                         (FRIENDS FROM CHURCH)

 

THE 2 ON THE LEFT ARE MARRIED; THERE WAS NO PREPLAN TO WEAR BLUE....

 

      This has been a good "first  VC social event" day in the life of Grandma G.

 

      "The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice."  (Psalms 97:1)