Goodbye to January!

 

January has come and gone!  Most of it was spent recovering from Covid...4-5 weeks. I wasn't down in bed but daily routine was greatly hampered.  It was a great time to have a lazy life and get plenty of sleep. But that gets boring after a bit. This sickness has frustrated me since I was scheduled to visit San Diego January 26 for a week, but had to cancel because the Ocean Beach Schmidts were recovering from omicron.

I got out for a few walks when the weather would tease us with spring during the day and winter at night.  I so enjoy the hardiness of January blooms and the boldness of daffodils defying the winter months. 

This is especially true when I observe the weather forecast for my old stomping grounds.

I had a fun cross cultural experience on Sunday, January 30.  A friend from church invited me to her Vietnamese church's New Year's celebration!  

Sticky rice with chicken boiled in banana leaves 

and bitter melon soup...I couldn't finish the soup...

it was too bitter.  Ha, Ha

The cabbage soup with chicken meatballs 

was just right!

_________________________________

Also on Sunday my son who lives in 

Oceanside, CA experienced a hard 

earthquake jolt!  I am grateful there was no damage and that it wasn't stronger.

________________________

Saturday, January 29, grandson Tyler

made family history by competing and winning

first prize in adolescent weight lifting!  He qualifies for national championship but will be gone to Germany for his brother's wedding.

Congratulations, Tyler!!

You da man!!

_______________________

I still have a few slices of my homemade  multigrain bread.

I will make another loaf in about a week.  This time add more salt, a dash of molasses, sun flower seeds and hazel nuts.  Check back next blog! 

_____________________________

NOW!  What you have been waiting for!!

Chapter 11 of Gram G's life story!!

"Storm Clouds Gathering"

Check it out on the pages tab at the top of the blog

REFLECTIONS

Recovery from being sick has been slow but most of daily life has been able to go forward.  I've gotten back to piano practice, some lessons, walks, church and a little socializing.  Winter months have always been difficult for me.  But here in the PNW winter is much milder then northern Wisconsin! This is time to kick back and not make demands on myself, to think about and plan for summer adventures and fun!  And to get back to writing my story.  It is easy to have goals, but much harder to persevere and see them through to accomplishment. 

This has been a good two GeoGram weeks in the life of Gram G.

"Therefore if anyone is Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!"  (2 Corinthians 5:17)