How to Endure....

How does one productively live through two weeks of sick days? 
After an enjoyable week in San Diego, I have had to endure some miserable days.  
I thought I picked up a respiratory virus while travelling, but here in Vancouver several folks are sick. 
 I don't think I am influential enough to "influ-ence" so many. 

I do want to catch up to date on this blog.  Some days it is difficult to blog, but that doesn't mean there's not a lot of living happening!
I will give a brief run down and hoping fill the in the rest of the story soon.
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 (Here is the entry from awhile back) 

Today, Tuesday Oct. 17, is the 5 consecutive day of being annoyed with a respiratory virus.  Seems I brought an unwelcome, nasty companion home with me from my trip.  So far the only positive accomplishment is learning to spell "respiratory".

    Actually, today was interesting.  Chicken soup is suppose to be a great cure for sickness.  However, me lying in bed waiting to be served chicken soup ain't gonna happen.  Unless I happen to make the soup and take a bowlful into bed with me.  It didn't quite work that way.  
    I DID make chicken soup.  With not getting to the store since

returning home 8 days ago I rummaged through  my magic freezer (my grandkids call it Gram's overstuffed freezer) to find boneless chicken breast pieces; frozen carrots, zucchini slices, green onions and pea pods (stashed in there before going to San Diego).  Making a broth with the chicken and chicken base and various spices, including "garlic lovers garlic and herbs" and celery salt to make up for no celery, I dumped in the cut up frozen veggies.  After simmering for awhile, (the soup, not me) I dropped in teaspoon sized globs of flour dumplings.  
Ah....now do I go to bed and eat my chicken soup or sit on the couch to eat it while I watch Star Trek on TV?


     


 Seems to be the day for home cooking, even in Indianapolis.  My young adult nephew, Nick, called and then texted me after I didn't respond to his call. (Sorry, respero...respra....restper....respiratory 
virus) His Gram Kate wanted him to call for the recipe for stuffed bell peppers.  Inwardly I was impressed that Kate wanted a recipe since she really isn't into cooking.  We did have peppers while she was here so I figured her appetite led into this venture.
    We sent a few texts back and forth about how many peppers did she have, what kind of rice, does she have hamburger, tomato sauce, etc?  I needed to know because peppers is a dish I don't use a recipe for.....a little of this, a dash of that, a bunch of whatever....
     Nick answered all these questions by a few texts and told me they have 3 peppers and Gram Kate went to the store for hamburger.  
     I figured out portions for 1lb of hamburger and texted it to Nick. At some point I inquired about Kate being ready to mix all this, to which Nick replied that HE is making the peppers.  Oh, that sounds more realistic. 
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Sick Days Fun...

Sat. Oct. 14

Pumpkin Patch family outing

Sunday Oct. 15  Morning church service...

Sunday afternoon thru Friday Oct. 20...in the house, SICK....lots of coughing, TV watching, sleeping...some Lord of the Rings

Saturday, Oct. 21.... Feeling somewhat better....time to grocery shop, laundry, wash dishes, etc...some coughing and aching

Sunday, Oct. 22.... morning church service, 

Afternoon Portland outing 

First some lunch ....

Ginger Beer....

Jo, Angie and I anticipated viewing the Pompeii exhibit at OMSI.  We didn't anticipate so many others waiting for the last day to view also.  There was a 2 hour wait.  We decided not to stay.    We walked along the Willamette River and got close to the USS Blueback submarine.  Exciting forme to know that scenes from The Hunt for Red October were filmed in this submarine.  Some day I am going to enjoy it's guided tour. 

Angie took us to Voodoo Too since we had time.

Portland specialty DONUTS.....

We finished out a busy Sunday with pumpkin carving with Angie, Mic, and little Gracie at my house!!

pumpkin seeds to roast!!

Monday, Oct. 23, clean up day from Sunday. Evening at Jake's football game.  Beautiful fall weather.

Tuesday, morning Starbucks tea with a lady friend.  Home, watching TV the rest of the day.

Wednesday, Oct. 24, day road trip with friend, Jo, to northeastern Oregon.  That is for next posting!!



This has been a good 10 "respiratory virus" days in the life of Grandma G.

"Dear Friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."
(3 John 1:2)

But Wait! There's More.....

    ...Fun in San Diego!

I spent Friday and Saturday night (Oct.6&7) in Carlsbad with son Gerry and his family.

Saturday afternoon while grandson Jude enjoyed an 8 hour high school band practice and Gemma hung out with her dear friend Abby, from Australia, I visited Carlsbad Village for the first time.

The Village Faire was celebrating Octoberfest!  I was greeted by the music of "The Happy Wanderer" "Val-de-ri! Val-de-ra! Val-da-ra- ha, ha, ha!"  

 Finding my way to the musicians' platform I sang along for a bit.  I told the accordion player that I hail from northern Wisconsin.  "Oh, the real deal", he replied. 

After they played "Wooden Heart"  a lady dressed in German attire approached me and asked if I was from Germany. I replied no, but I lived most of my life in northern Wisconsin.  She informed me she is from Minnesota and a former accordion player until her shoulders gave out.  She then invited me to dance a polka with her, which I was eager to do since California and Pacific Northwest folks don't know what that is.  Later we tried a Strauss waltz.  Fun!!

   While the musicians took a break I browsed through a nearby gift shop.  The clerk asked me, "What do you think of that music?"  Having replied that I like it she quipped, "I don't get it.  I just don't get it."  California folk....

   The musicians graced me with "The Blue Skirt Waltz" and "Clarinet Polka" (played on a flute) among others before they closed for the day.  

    AHHHH....music to my former Wisconsin soul!  

The afternoon experience was somewhat International as I tried out homemade gelato (Italian).  

The best in the area according to Gerry.

 All that polka dancing gave me an appetite. 

A taste of the Himalayas sounded just right.

I was planning to sit outside, until I saw the inside.  

What better way to enjoy a Himalayan salad than to sit on a couch,while listening to eastern mountain music! 

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Ye Ol Slimemaker Master.....
Gemma!!

Late Saturday was time for me to watch the master at work...after Dad bought needed supplies.  Glue, Borax, shaving cream, contact lens solution, blue dish soap (maybe it was green).  Might be some water involved a well. Abby took lessons from the Master....


Start with a large glob of glue, add the shave cream, mix well, add the borax and somewhere in there stir in some contact solution...

Stretchy, gooey, non-drying green slime!! Life is good!!  One can even add sparkles!!  Oh, Ya!!




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 It's all about the pumpkins!

 On Monday Bill, Gram G and Berklee visited the Bate's Farm  while mom Amanda took a rest....

Along the eucalyptus trees 

And chocolate ice cream cones.

A hayride...

Cutest little pumpkin in the patch....Berklee...

Time to pick the perfect pumpkins!!
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Falafel Time!

Monday evening was Mediterranean dinner night...

Homemade falafels!!

Amanda mixed them and cooked them in veggie oil, then served them with greens mix, cucumber sauce and fried chick peas!! YUM!! (Falafel is mashed chick peas and seasonings.)

I ate several falafels while in Israel for 10 days some years back.  The tour guide said it was their fast food, their McDonald's....
Amanda sent a package mix home with me.  I will add falafels to my food repertoire! 

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One more sunny adventure Tuesday morning before returning to chilly, rainy Portland.
 
 A brief walk along Lake Poway.

GPS took us on a wrong turn and drive through scenic roads.   Amanda found a new family hiking park for future fun.

By late afternoon, Gram G was on her flight back to 48 degree PNW.

Flying over next summer's new notable adventure....The Channel Islands with granddaughter Olivia from Milwaikee, WI!!

This has been a good 5 "more fun in San Diego" days in the life of Grandma G.

"May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.  Then our land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.  God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him."  (Psalm 67: 5-7)