Ceramics, News and Heat Wave.....Post Views...19,327

             My friend, Kahana, texted over the weekend to invite me to join her for an outing on Wednesday.  It had been awhile since we hung out together.  Would I like to try painting ceramics with her?

I said, sure, though I am not very artistic.  

        So on Wednesday, after a sit and visit in my hobbit garden and with 100 degree temperature outside, we headed into Portland.  

        I have never worked with ceramics before so didn't know what to expect.  We looked around at white, chalk textured pieces.  Kahana selected a baseball mitt bowl and I chose a little puffy fish. (I plan to start an aquarium soon.)

      The lady had us set up at a table and told us to wipe the pieces with a wet sponge.  She directed us to the paints and explained how to proceed.  That we did.

What colors do I make a little round fat fish?
"Flounder" yellow and blue?
Kahana selected  brown, white and blue.

Making progress....

After painting, repainting and chatting a couple hours our creations were almost finished. The hardest part for me was fashioning little fish eyes. 





We left our items at the shop. There they will glaze and "fire" them.  Next Wednesday Kahana will pick them up.....all glazed, solid, shiny and ready for us to enjoy.  

We finished our afternoon with dinner from Noodles-  
Wisconsin Mac & Cheese made the International menu....

On Thursday with 102 reading on my phone weather, I stayed in doors....

spent part of the day watching local news....

 I am not endorsing either side but it is news at 103 degrees
There were 13 people who dangled from the bridge for over 30 hours to protest the Fennica leaving Portland and sailing to the Arctic for offshore oil drilling.  It was able to pass through the bridge at 5:55PM.

That evening Deb, Keys, Jake and Bentley came to sleep overnight. I have air conditioning. They do not.  A lot of houses do not have AC since excessive hot weather is unusual.  This summer we have had several days.  






Friday morning I was up to walk 50 minutes before the heat set in.  Already at 10 AM the sun was quite hot.  In front of our park is a pleasant street lined with shade trees.... 

That evening was a lovely view of the 
"blue moon".  I remember a popular song from my early years, crooning, "Bluuue  Mooon...".
 Had no idea what it meant.   Do you know what a blue moon is?
Won't be another one for a few years....




Also in the news this week.....
the rare and foul smelling "corpse flower" bloomed for a short time in a botanical garden at Berkeley University. CA 
It took "Trudy" 10 years to mature enough to bloom her stinky flower  
(website photo)

Some news from Park Falls.  

Al built a ramp so Grandma Rose could come visit Louie.  

 102 year old Grandma Rose and son, Ray 

Reunited and it feels SO good!!

This has been a good 3 "hot news"  days in the life of Grandma G.

"The Lord watches over you--the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night."
(Psalm 121:5 & 6)

I'm HOME.....Post Views...19,264

       After what seems to have been a year of almost non-stop "out of the ordinary" it is hard to define what "ordinary" is.  It is also hard to not go "non-stop".  It is difficult to settle back into a quiet "normal" routine.  Maybe mostly because even after being here almost 3 years I don't have an established normal routine.  But it is time to once again try to determine what that is and establish it. What am I saying?  Well, I am a bit disorganized, unfocused, bored, glad to not have commitments to keep yet wanting "somewhere to go".        

    Wednesday found me returning to the dentist with a continued ache from the permanent bridge which was put in last March. Unfortunately it had been a problem all during my trip "back East" (Wisconsin and Indiana) and remains a problem even now.  

      Thursday was a rare occasion for lunch out with my daughter, Debbie.  Don't know the last time we simply sat, ate and chatted....

After lunch, I "hung out" at the local Freddy's.  There I found 2 large plants and containers for my Hobbit garden.   Also found a "barnacle air plant" ....one simply sprays it once a week.  Great addition to my beach themed home! (Flying pig....compliments of a neighbor.)

 Upon returning home I realized after all that time I still hadn't done any grocery shopping....

     With being back in Vancouver I figured it is time to reconnect with lady friends here in the park.  I have been out of touch since late April.  Friday was an outing day for our Red Hat Mamas group.  A fitting time to get back into the loop.  

"Camas Days"  

Photobombed by aliens....

(seriously, this was not staged)

Grandma G has found her soul mate....

     "Just ducky"....

A walk through shady streets lined with crafters' booths

only way for a dog to travel....

Found more finishing touches for my little Hobbit yard.....




Tried some 
Fried Green Tomatoes for lunch
Not bad...something new


roasted beets, dried cranberry, feta cheese, candied pecans with mixed greens....yum...

Later that day found me home and content to be surrounded by messy surfaces, no place I had to go, no commitment to keep, free to stay up until 1:50 AM and sleep until 10 AM on Saturday.    

Then to leisurely enjoy the rain.
After several weeks of temperatures in the mid 90's and no rain, this day was a pleasant relief.      
                                                            Typical yard

Time to mash potatoes in anticipation of Sunday's meal....
Shepard's Pie                                            ....Yum! 


    Now it is time to get back to such things as water aerobics, walking, stretching, practicing piano, cleaning the house, figuring out how to advertise for piano lessons, deleting 5,000+ old emails, cleaning the garage and maybe even unpacking a few boxes that have been waiting for the past 3 years.   

Today....Tuesday....
A 50 minute walk before the mid-90 temperatures return for the next 7-10 days.

   A sit in the shade before the afternoon heat sets in. 

A Birthday phone call (message and song) to 40 year old Chuck in Milwaukee, WI.   

Prepping and baking a fresh peach and blueberry cobbler.....
Yummy....though a bit less yummy than I anticipated....


This has been a good 7 "I'm home" days in the life of Grandma G.

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down."  (Proverbs 14:1)

Afternoon Mountain Adventure....Post Views....19,133

         

     Grandson,Zach, is a connoisseur of the natural beauty of Washington and Oregon.  He has visited many sites revealing their splendor.  He is always checking out places he has not yet explored.  To him such ventures are soothing and restful.

      This past Tuesday was his day off from work and on Monday we talked about going somewhere for a "fun afternoon". It had been a few months since we enjoyed time and scenery together. 

     After sleeping in until noon he agreed with me that the day was too nice NOT to go adventuring.  (The weather has been in the 80's and 90s for several weeks. This day the temperature was hovering in the high 70's.)

       We chose to drive north of Vancouver into Mt. St. Helen's area, view the various reservoirs, make a loop and come back along the Columbia River Gorge.... 

A route of about 140 miles....though we didn't know it at the start.    

Overlooking a valley and river in the Cascade Mountains

   A stop at Yale Reservoir and willingness for one "timed" picture








A stop at the Eagle Cliff General Store for snacks...
Elevation 1000 ft from sea level (where we started).

A new Mt. St. Helen's viewing area for Zach

But one he will add to his favorites

Not much "snow on the mountain" because of lack of rain and hot temperatures....

1980 Eruption site on the back of the mountain.....

Making our way through the mountains to "the gorge".

But first a 20 minute wait while road crews are resurfacing the blacktop ahead 

And one-lane traffic

Finally..... an outdoor dinner at Skamania Lodge along the Columbia River...

 Time to admire the beauty of the Columbia River Gorge...
from the Cape Horn overlook

Wire veils on the cliff sides to prevent rocks falling on cars...

Beacon Rock....one can climb it through trails and then walkways that circle the upper part....
Don't know if this "One" will ever attempt that adventure, 
But maybe....

Zach and I both agree on the thrill of enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Northwest!


We both also agree that no photo captures the true majesty and deep character  of the PNW.   


This has been a good mountain adventure day in the life of Grandma G.

"Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.  Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."  (Psalm 90:1 & 2)  (Psalm by Moses)