MidWest.....

Sat. July 28, I found myself at the Portland airport ready to head "back East"....meaning the Mid-West to PNW folks.  It had been 1 and 1/2 years since I visited family and friends in Park Falls, WI. 


Jelly fish display in the airport.



Vancouver is shown on the en route map to Minneapolis.....

Flying through high fluffy cloud formations....

Over miles of small family farms in northern Wisconsin.



Sunday morning worship with grandson, Devin, leading on the guitar...
grandson, Tyler practicing on the drums..

Three fine grandsons,
Devin, Cory (from Anchorage),
Tyler....



Northern Wisconsin living....empty roads, full plates.....

Full moon over steamy river...
accommodations for 10 days at son Burt's and Jen's cabin on the river.... 






Early morning steam rising from the Flambeau River....

Morning tea from deck....

"Hummer" coming in for a drink....

Deer enjoying the water..



Mural of memories from Park Falls past

This week was been busy with visiting several friends over lunches and dinners.


Enjoying a sing along with friend/sister-in-law Betty at assisted living facility.

Connecting with special friend, Diego, and family.  Maria and Diego took piano lessons from me many years ago.  Their family is hoping for a road trip to Portland/Vancouver in the next 2 years!  Diego has endured a crippling disease since his birth 21 years ago.  He is keen on history, math and Sci-fi. 


Family weekend at the cabin....



Where's the fudge??

Bacon by the 5 lbs
A game of 
Balderdash...

Three of five sons 
Burt, Al, Chuck

A few of several grandkids...and Gram G

 Main industry of Park Falls....

A walk across "The New Bridge".  I walked the "old" bridge a hundred times in past years...

Maples starting to turn colors...time to start preparing for winter...

A walk along the Flambeau River in Hines Park. 

Home Grown Local Art

This time of reconnecting with friends and family has been refreshing to me.  I have special folks that I want to know how they are doing.  This time here I felt like a visitor who has settled into living far away.  I enjoyed the familiarity of everything but know this is not my home anymore.  It is the home of many friends and that will never change.

I have "miles to go" before returning to Vancouver.  I am sometimes off the grid.  You all come back, now, you hear!  Find out where travels take me!

This has been a good 10 Mid-West days in the life of Grandma G. 

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his life, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, have the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."  (Philippians 2:1-4)