I've Been Here Long Enough.....Post Views...13,573

      ......to accumulate "stuff" and stuff it in various locations.   I have also been here long enough to have time to start cleaning out those accumulations.....
       Self-motivation and carry-through is the biggest challenge I have with living alone.  SO easy just to sit and think about what needs to be done.  SO hard for me to get going and DO what needs to be done.  
       There is a saying I heard a long time ago and I reckon it is true.
"Wherever I go....there I am."  (Must mean that I'd be the same way wherever I would be living.)  
       Actually I am a bit jealous right now.  My sister, Kate, and 3 nieces from Indianapolis are adventuring in the Utah National Parks.  I was invited to go along, but could not make that happen. I'd so much rather be out exploring than be here at home trying to put order into my life. Sigh.  So... I am not there because I didn't go.....

 Last evening I gave into the overwhelming urge to clean something....(well maybe it wasn't overwhelming)

When plastic is too much....

 All back in order

      doing my civic duty
recycling the recyclables....






      I got back to water aerobics after an absence of 8 weeks.  I was tempted not to go because of feeling insecure with being gone for so long.  But go I did and it felt really good.  Some ladies asked about Louie and how everything was going.  A few didn't even realize I was absent for so long.  I felt like I was "back home".  The weather was cool and rainy, just like it is suppose to be this time of year.  The actual exercises felt good, though I was a little achy. The hot tub and social time was warm and refreshing.  Ah....back home. 















Early last week Carole and I went to a thrift store.   I found this M & M cup.  (You need to understand that I have been refraining from buying cups since I already am the proud owner of more than 55.  They are my little subculture.)  But this had "take me home" written all over it.  And 25 cents.    
                    I can use it on my right-handed,
                         "I'm confused" days.....

                                    Or my left-handed
           "I'm pumped and enthusiastic" days....





                                              OR, my
                         "I'm a blue dudette who don't                             take no guff" days....




      This has been a good 3 "here long enough" days in the life of Grandma G.

     "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."  (Proverbs 16:24)

     

    
                       



       




    

How Can Time Go By So Fast......Blog Views...13,489

     ............ without one getting much done?   That happens, though, at least for me.....
   I lose a certain (a large) amount of focused, enthusiastic energy when I am home alone.   It is SO easy to loaf away the day without really engaging in anything.   Sigh.... The piles of clutter build up on most of the surfaces...and I have plenty of surfaces.   There is no reason for them not to be cleaned up and out other than I just don't feel like it......Oh....it's a challenge that will linger if I don't learn how to deal with it.....Oh...Oh....Oh....
   On Thursday I had an outing with the Red Hat Ladies....the Red Hot Mamas...as we are called in our park.  It was my first interaction with folks since returning two weeks ago.  I was glad to get out with them and catch up somewhat on the latest here in our neighborhood.  We went to Troutdale, a tourist town at the entrance to the Columbia River Gorge.  



Got my new Red Hats bracelet from granddaughter, Angie...
My Red Hats earrings from a friend....
And my sparkly red hat cap from Wisconsin Dells....
Ready for Red Hat Adventure....

 What's a da matta?
Don't chu like my outfit?

It's not nice to maka......
 Red Hot Mama Mad.......

 

 Yummy turkey, cranberry, cream cheese sandwich...







     There has been some techie stress and victory for me.  Wednesday afternoon when I tried turning on the TV the directv box whirred and whirred, then TV stated there was no signal.  I tried various remedies and ultimately turned it off....deal with it later.   Later I did deal with it.  Same results.  Getting just short of panicky. Thought I would have to get a repairman out.  Then I had an idea.....see if there are controls on the box and see what those controls are.  Ha.....there was a power button.  Tried pushing that.   AND....the TV went on.  I don't know what turned off the power switch but I was glad to discover the easy fix.  Now if all my challenges resolve themselves so readily.

     Techie challenge #2.  The printer has not been responding (communicating) with the computer.  Hmmm.....these has been several weeks.  My techie son had told me that it probably needs to be reset after I changed internet carriers.  Easy for him to say.   HOW do I do that.  Yesterday I went into the computer control panel (yes, I did).  Found the printer info. Discovered it needed "trouble shooting".  Trouble shoot I did.  Found out that some connection with the internet had to be reset.  It told me how to do that.  That I did.   Yeah....the printer and computer are communicating with each other.  The wonders of machines.  My kids and I didn't always communicate well over the years.  Maybe there is a control panel for them, though it is a few years too late.

     Techie challenge #3. I am trying to program a digital photo album on a website.  Each time I go in to work on it the website declared "error" and unsaved album.  Frustrating since each attempt at working on the album was a couple hours.  I finally called for tech support.  Ends up that I need to use a different browser for it to work properly.  The "saved" albums are all there---all 3 instead of just one.   Such is our electronic age.....

    I have been exercising and walking.  That is a plus on my good behavior chart. This late afternoon was an enjoyable 45 minute walk.

 
  



late September  flowers....



How to build or rebuild a house or trailer house.....

 








      

Want to have a pleasant, peaceful and accomplishing day?

Keep the TV OFF for the day......

That is my Saturday rule....

Saturdays are pleasant, peaceful and accomplishing....

(I may have to add another day...)

    This has been a good 4 "how fast time goes by" days in the life of Grandma G.

    "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain."  (Psalms 127: 1)

     

Exciting Day!!!!......Post Views.....13,432

CD Baby sent you a payment!
On 09.21.2014 CD Baby sent you an ACH direct deposit for $29.40. It was CD Baby payment... it should appear in your account within the week
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                    Woo!  Woo!

                      Like the little tuft of grass
                                  In my pebble yard,
                             This could be the start of
                                     Something Big....

    This will pay for the $25 for new mailbox key I had to have installed.  My granddaughter was getting my mail while I was gone. She kept the key in her wallet which was left on a sidewalk in Portland and it (the wallet, not the sidewalk) was not there when she returned to look for it.......
     What I find interesting in the list of money sent is a series of 26 .01, 9 .02, a few .03 and .04 cents.   Being new at these high finances I will call and seek the explanation of this.... 
(Found out later that this is for "streaming" into internet radio. Now all I need is for folks to buy the music....)
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      I spent a LONG time trying to reinstate my piano teaching studio website since I unknowingly let it lapse from lack of payment in July....Darn....shows that one should pay more attention to emails that come in seeming to try to warn one about something.  Sigh...
I had to  buy a new small business site and  establish a new domain. Problem is it won't be available for 1-3 days.  So...don't know how that will all work out.  I need a teaching studio website for potential students to check out.   All part of business....Yes?

     Other than fun excitement and frustrating business this day rambled along.  The headache is still slightly there, but no Tylenol today.  I can sense the bad molar threatening to get worse if I don't get it out soon....Next week? 
     I got a new mailbox key---two actually.  I was excited because the postal service left a key for a larger box, which means I have a surprise package.  I like good surprises.  Turns out that it is addressed to a person with the last name of Schmit.  There are two addresses.  I was going to be a friendly neighbor and deliver it since the address was only a few houses from me.  (And because I didn't know what else to do with it.)  This person's house was somewhat open, only the screen door was shut.  I heard a radio playing, but no one came to the door.  Should I just leave it on the porch?  I took it home and then noticed that the address was actually a different street number.  So...it is sitting in my house and I still don't know what to do with it.  It think it will go to our park office and THEY can figure out what to do with the surprise package that wasn't for me.  Surprise....there is no surprise.

        Rain set in last evening as if on cue for the official start of fall. Another reason to just let the day ramble on.  The weekend is suppose to be nice and the three month forecast is for above normal warm dry weather for this area.  Yeah! 

                  Copper Falls state park, 
                     Wisconsin...

     
This has been a good exciting/frustrating business day in the life of Grandma G.   

  "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." 
 (Proverbs 14:23) 

Fall is Officially Here.....Post Views....13,408

     This evening marks the official start of the fall season.  I am again amazed at how quickly this summer has past.  We are now entering the months of colored leaves, pumpkins, apple cider, turkeys  and Christmas.  Hmmmmm.....
      My mind doesn't really know what month this is since it is still unwinding from a plethora of events.  I do know that I don't have to psychologically prepare for a harsh winter ahead.  It is nice to know that most living will continue at a steady pace, though maybe a wet one.   
     Saturday was pleasant in the morning.  That gave me the opportunity to clean up my pebble yard.  There's an annoying weed ground cover that thrives on the layer of rocks and hard dirt underneath.  I knew it would grow well while I was gone.  It did....
Needed to pull it out before the rainy season starts...

 

 cleaned up....





  
 I made a happy discovery while pulling up the weeds.......

                              I have grass in my yard........SEE.....
                       that little tuft might grow into something BIG.....

      The down side of working up a sweat in a hot sun and chilly air....after I was sweaty my new neighbor introduced herself and wanted to chat.  That cold breeze was chilling my back very fast.
The past two days I've walked around with a headache and stiff muscles.  Might be from another cause, but this is good enough to blame it on... 

       I was glad to replace the dried up plants with fresh fall blooms....some of these will survive the winter....Oh, Yah!

 


       








     Later in the afternoon I went with Deb, Keys and Jake to Jake's lacrosse game in Portland.  It was played in a huge "wind tunnel".....an air filled balloon type building.  Never was in anything like that before.  I could feel my ears pop as I went in and out....

Jake is the goalie dude....
He is quite serious and good at the sport

     On Sunday I played keyboard for the small church group I am trying out.  Practicing for that took a few hours of my time.  I will see as the weeks go by if that is where I will stay.  I was glad to meet more folks here, but also miss the ones I have already made from the other church group.
    Unfortunately all of Sunday was spent enduring a headache.

    Unfortunately, also, I will be passing up a trip to Utah National Parks this coming weekend.  Bummer....Guess one can't do everything.  Three nieces and Kate from Indianapolis are going for the week....


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

      "For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the works of your hands, and your joy will be complete."  (Deuteronomy 16: 15)

Change of Seasons...Post View....13,271.

     I woke up this morning (Wednesday) after a peaceful 8 hours of sleep and decided just to lay there for a bit as I mentally sorted through the past few months and transition into these last 3 & 1/2 months of 2014.   That "a bit" turned into another 3 hours of sleep and 30 minutes of  "sorting and transitioning".  But it was enough to allow me to restfully "start all over again". 
     Life has been full of self pressure since spring.....preparing for my piano program on June 1; planning and packing for a 2 weeks Jude and Grandma G's trip to Indianapolis and San Diego in mid June; landing in Portland on June 25 to be greeted with a text saying Lou needs open heart surgery; returning home to find out the little church I was attending was closing and I needed to find another home church; rescheduling my trip to Wisconsin from early September to August 6 in order to be with family for Lou's surgery; staying in Wisconsin for 5 weeks and now having again returned home a week ago.  Hello and Goodbye summer.....
      All that can drain a person.  It did me.  This past week has allowed me to process the past few months.  Lou is beyond his critical stage and is settled into a good recovery mode.  I am back home and "over the Rockies" before the harsh Midwest winter sets in. I am over jet lag and time change. My mind has accepted that the summer (and unaccomplished plans) is over as the autumn months set in.  That race is over and I finished it. Rested. And let it go.
      Hello new race.  There is still much unsettled in my life here in the Pacific Northwest, but I am ready to run the race with fresh energy and restful trust.  Check back as days go by to see how this new marathon progresses.  Parts of it might be a "tough mudder". First obstacle ......gotta get a lower back molar pulled....ouch.  
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      With having said that I wiled away the rest of the day.  I did get the chiropractor after a 6 weeks without.  My body is rather tight and achy....need to get back to stretches and walking again. I also need to get accustomed to driving in traffic. 
       There is a gray haze over the sky.  Above that the sun is shining...I know it is.  The smoke from the large wildfire in northern California is blowing up this way with the southern winds.  Tragic that it is the result of arson.  They say it will burn several weeks.  There is one burning to the southeast of us, but that one is mostly contained.
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    Today, Thursday, I did what I don't like to do.....stay inside all day.   Just out of sheer laziness.  Maybe it is still part of resting from the past several weeks.  Yes, I'm sure that is what it is.   
     I did do a lot of computer work (Ha, Ha)  Really.  I tried several times to upload a "widgit" to advertise and make my music available to buy through my blog.  Couldn't make it work.  Guess I'll have to invest more time in figuring that one out.  
     I also organized bills that need to be paid and let my mind wonder through job possibilities and tried to think of ways to make lots of money with minimal work....a lady can dream.....
     Oh, yah, also cleaned out the 1,000 plus emails in both my addresses.  Oh, Yah....
    So.....every blog post needs some pictures.....here is the result of 5 weeks of heat, a deck and no water on plants that can't fend for themselves...  

 Here's a couple lovely roses in bloom 6 weeks ago....in my front yard.....








   

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

    "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 3:13 & 14)  

Park Falls Adventures....Post Views....13,235

      On Sept. 1 I finally got to head up to Park Falls.   Al came down to visit Lou and then drove me back to PF.  I felt a bit sick that day, but it passed by Tuesday.   That evening my 3 siblings from Indianapolis came up to join me for a few days.   

    Louie said I could drive his smaller sized red truck.  He had his house mate "clean" it out for me.  The cleaning left a little more to do, but I appreciated the vehicle.  There was one glitch......the heater was permanently on.  That was his choice since the heater/air conditioner didn't work.  It was cheaper to do some setting that kept the heater going than to repair whatever had to be repaired.  Anyway, winter is longer than summer in northern Wisconsin.  But......come 80 plus degree weather....it was imperative to keep the windows open.  All was fine except one morning I was driving it into town.  The weather was chilly so the windows were rolled up.  I drove a couple miles when a horrible smell something akin to rotten Limburger cheese wafted through the truck.  I quickly rolled down the windows.  It smelled so bad I thought maybe a little critter had rotted under the hood.  Having kept the windows open all the way into town, the smell had subsided by the time I met up with the lady friends I was having lunch with.  Gratefully, I didn't notice the odor the next few days.  The last day of being in PF I was riding with my brother as we passed the area where I experienced the awful smell.  There it was again!!  It was coming from the farm field....the soil in a particular level of decomposing.  Sorry, Lou, for suspecting your truck.....  

ENJOY A PHOTO STORY OF OUR VISIT.....   

John checking out the Flambeau River, flowing past Burt and Jen's cabin.

Waiting out one of two major storms.....

More damage in Park Falls....









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Taking a selfie on a windy day at Hines Park.....
my favorite place to walk in Park Falls.....

Five Siblings in a row.....youngest of 11

Kate, John, Georgia, Nick and Betty....

(Nick..sitting.. is enduring Picks disease)

Waiting for a wild game of Mexican Train Dominoes....

Louie's mom, Rose, at almost 101 years

                                                                                                            Old time washing machine....
Having dumpling lunch at what time(?) in a local restaurant....Us and Nick's wife, Sandy....

On cold winter nights when the wind blows from the north, visitors in this cabin may catch a glimpse of Katie ghost......

sitting, sitting, sitting....waiting to play Mexican Train Dominoes..

The original sign and business establishment I experienced when I first came to northern Wisconsin 58 years ago at the age of 9......in Fifield, WI.  We would hang onto our Uncle Mike's tractor when he would drive 5-10 miles from his farm into Fifield on Sundays.

An afternoon at Copper Falls State Park..

What became of my little music store?



This.....

Wisconsin country side.....

      It had been over a year since my last visit to Park Falls.  I didn't visit everyone I wanted to, but enjoyed the company of those I did.  This time of year is reasonably good weather.  So....here's to NOT visiting again until another winter has come and gone from the frosty north.  Make that early June, 2015.  

   This has been a good "recalling PF adventures" 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)