Photo Fest....Post Views 9929

     
   
The weather report talked of high waves and a "beach hazard" through noon today. Gerry and I went to the beach around 11AM.  Most of the high waves had already happened but they were still impressive to me. 

I had an hour and a half photo fest of "all things beachy"..

                                    ENJOY......

 A Platoon of Pelicans......

     A selfie and rough waves.....

Beach flower....

Coast Guard......

Blue sky coming through....

How many tiny birds can you count?

Pebble and sand art......







      This has been a good beach photo fest day in the life of Grandma G.

      "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them.  Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand."  (Psalm 139: 17 & 18)

Hanging Out in San Diego....Post Views 9914

     Today I found out that reality, as well as sunny beaches, lives in San Diego.  Nothing traumatic, just reality.  I found out that I still need to do my exercises and stretches if I hope to be able to bend.  I found out that techy stuff on the computer fouls up and one loses one's "projects" not just once but twice.  I found out that I totally enjoy texting and can get dependent on it.  I found out that it DOES RAIN in San Diego.  I found out that one can receive sad news of a friend's serious illness.  And I found out that the
 best part of being here is not doing
touristy things, but simply hanging out with family and entering a little into their lives.




summer 2013 Gerry, Bill and Mom

             Jan 29, 2014


              



     This has been a good 2 "just hanging out with family" days in the life of Grandma G.

      "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who live in it, for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters."  (Psalm 24:1 & 2)

It's San Diego, Baby!! Post Views...9897

    Tuesday, Jan 28.... Welcome to San Diego!!    It's chilly here, but that is probably because I am expecting mid-summer weather. So chilly is about 62 with a cool breeze.  

      My son, Bill, picked me up after a great flight. Actually I was quite tired so I dosed the 2 hour flight.  I had a nice experience at the Portland airport.  I was able to proceed through the "prescreened" aisle. Really great.  No taking off shoes, coat, computer. Yeah!  The sensitive "walk through" detected something on my hands.  They should have asked me.  I had just applied hand lotion.  It only delayed me about a minute.  

     Bill and I had a late lunch at a beach side cafe.  The door was open and a little freeloader stopped in for a snack.

A walk out on the longest pier in San Diego, if not the entire west coast.......        

Ocean Beach coast line from the pier....

Catching a wave......







      

     After a little socializing with Bill and Gerry, Jude and Gemma it was off to early bedtime for all.  That is after a hard core game of  "Hedbanz".  I was a "crab" but couldn't guess it until the other players kept declaring Grandma G gets crabby when she isn't winning.  They told me I was something to eat and lived in both water and land.  ????  
     
    This was a good travel to San Diego day in the life of Grandma G.

    "Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.  Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep."  (Psalm 36: 5 & 6)

San Diego Birthdays....Post Views 9881

     Tomorrow I am flying to San Diego.   I my younger years I never dreamed that I would be casually saying that once or twice a year.  I had an aunt who was a navy nurse during WWII era who was stationed there for several years.  My Aunt Emma whom I grew up with would talk fondly of her one trip there, probably in the 40's.  In those days San Diego seemed to me a mythical, tropical paradise that I would never be privileged to visit.  
     Now I have 2 sons and 2 grandchildren who are California kids.  A flight there from Portland is 2&1/2 hours.  

  

Jude's 12th B-day was Friday, Jan 21.  He was born in England and was properly named, Jude Fitzgerald.  His mom, and dad wanted to grace him with an British name.  "Fitzgerald" (son of Gerald) fit perfectly since he is the son of Gerald, his dad. 

 Gemma was born in California 7 years ago today. Born through C-section she was immediately whisked away to surgery as she was discovered to have a disconnected esophagus, and liquids draining into her lungs.  She spent her first month in neonatal intensive care and her first year nourished with a feeding tube.  

     Seven years later, thanks to God, excellent nursing care, devoted parents and warm California air she is a perfectly healthy, active, engaging young girl.  

     Jude and Gemma with mom, Gretta, on a whale watching boat.

    Tomorrow I am going to visit with them for a week.  Woo!

    This has been a good 2 "get ready for San Diego" days in the life of Grandma G.

     "Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children."  (Proverbs 17:6)

Dumpling Dinner!....Post Views 9853

      Yesterday (Friday) I felt like my old self-----dumpling maker.  Dumplings---bread and potatoes--- have been a major staple of our family for the past 48 years.  I learned the skill from my mother-in-law when I was first married.  

 
First you need to dry out the bread and then break it into small pieces..... 

 then grate raw potatoes....these days that is done in a blender....in the "old days" it was by hand grater...which out for scraped fingers. 

Next comes "squishing" up the mixture until the texture resembles playdoh.  

All ages can get involved....even get artistic...

                                                                                                                    

Today I mostly use bought sauerkraut. Back in Wisconsin we frequently made homemade kraut in the fall and froze it in plastic bags for use throughout the year.  It is not as sour as store kraut.

Add roasted pork and gravy and one has a feast fit for a king.....

     or a grinning grandson.....












   Unless you are the Millers.....then one needs to add "sour gravy".

 That originated also from my mother-in-law.  In early years venison ribs were boiled with onions and salt and the broth then thickened with flour browned in lard---finished with vinegar and allspice.  
     Today I start with bought beef broth, but then finished the traditional manner.  Labor intensive?  Why, yes!  A labor of love...  

   Hey, Jake, have a dumpling....or four.....

    Grandma G's dumplings have been enjoyed from Wisconsin to Washington....and....Shepparton, Australia.  

    Grandma G....

Making dumplings
"down under"

"I came all the way to Australia to make dumplings?"  Kate...

                       First dumplings for the Kellehers....

   ___________________________________________

     And, today, Saturday?   A major rest day....besides laundry and packing for San Diego. Woo!  Woo!

This had been a good 2 "dumpling cooking" days in the life of Grandma G.  

    "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man [and woman] who takes refuge in him."  (Psalm 34:8)