Today is the last day of February. This second month of the new year feels like it needs to compete with Christmas/New Year's and Easter, so it has devised its own festivities! Like my Birthday...and many other special people...and sundry adventures!
Punxsutawney woodchuck is just as mixed up as the rest of us!
Early this month I had reason to clean up my house and make it orderly.
I wonder why? I found a recipe for home made oven cleaner. It actually works quite well!!
And the reason!!!
Can't let company know how messy mom is when no on is around.
Chuck ventured out from Wisconsin to hang out with mom and work remotely for a week. Nephew Zach is always excited to visit with his uncles.
Gotta cook the roast beastie we didn't have for Christmas...yummy February roast beastie!
A night out for dinner at Elements Restaurant downtown Vancouver
Gram G, Zach, Chuck, Angie, Debbie
Zach's first In and Out Berger!
Thursday of that week was a semi warm sunny day so Chuck took us to scope out Silver Falls State Park in Oregon.
It features at least 10 waterfalls. The longest loop
is over 8 miles. We did a shorter one but still saw gorgeous views.
The first one has a path behind it!
My favorite was one I saw only from a distance. (Cause I thought I was tired.) It also has a path behind it but has a much greater water volume. It is cause for me to go back again and venture the hike down! We did view 5 falls and walked almost 5 miles.
Saturday of that week Chuck and Zach were good guys and cleaned out my garage and built a few shelves from wood pieces left from my move 10 years ago!
I'm so excited to start cluttering it up again!!
We took time to celebrate Micaela's Birthday
Chuck took a Portland jog along memory lane! He lived out here a few years many years ago!
Super Bowl party at the Millers!
Tyson is still trying to become best buds with me.
Happiness!
No visit is complete without Gram G winning a game of Labyrinth!
Time to say goodbye! Come again to work remote next year!
Leaving 4AM on a snowy Valentine's Day...
Bye, Chuck!! Come again soon!!
3 3 generations of February Birthday ladies!!
And party ladies
What's February without a surprise snow visit the last days of the month?
Gram G moved to Vancouver so she didn't have to deal with this.
Baby, it's cold outside!!
..
"Nigel, you said we were going to Hawaii for my Birthday..."
Speaking of Birthdays....
Welcome great, grand nephew Mathias!
Born Feb 9 in Indianapolis to Nick and Thena
Chuck's up in the air again...
this time Wisconsin to Texas with Olivia for...
A Polo tournament
Olivia is the middle player.
!!While California Schmidt's visit the Virginia Schmidt's...and visit the National Mall
Kahana and I enjoyed our annual free Red Robin Birthday burger today...it only cost me $9. 49. One must purchase $4.99 in order to get the freebie. My drink and sweet potato fries upgrade was 50 cents short so I ordered a garlic aioli for 99 cents. Then there is a small tip. At least the carry out box was free...I think.
Kahana and I shared something else today, but you will have to check back "whenever" to find out what!!
I'm busy again "getting ready". For what you ask?
Check back "whenever"
I'm actually finishing this post not in Vancouver. But I can't say where. Well, I could but I won't.
So, I was at the grocery store this afternoon and the self-checkout station stated I should enter my alternate ID. I put in Frodo. They rejected it. They really didn't mean what they said.
REFLECTIONS
This has been a busy past few weeks, lots of family activity to occupy my mind and energy. It is good for me to have lots of family to care about and interact with. But I am realizing I need a life that I can call "my own"; that is built on me and not my family. Some of that manifested itself when I saw a lady I know from the park at the grocery. We chatted about the recent snow and cold weather and how it is difficult to get about in such conditions. Later a young piano student expressed how much he loves learning to play the piano. The mother of 2 sibling students expressed her concern of a few school matters. Today I was discussing with Kahana the random icy conditions of certain roads. I knew which ones she was talking about. Also today I casually chatted with my Cambodian hairdresser about her business and the health of her husband. I feel comforted and "at home" to be familiar enough with people and places to be able to identify with their particular circumstances. It is a good feeling.
This has been a good almost 3 GeoGram weeks in the life of Gram G.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they [us] may have life and have it to the full." (John 10:10)
