August has been a mixed month...perfect weather and extreme heat, health and painful teeth, beauty and ashes, unhurried days and eager anticipation.
PNW is the rose capitol of the world!
Gram G's everblooming rosebush!
Not roses, but lovely!
Recently I went to work outside, to enjoy a quiet Saturday morning pulling weeds out of my front lawn while the clouds shaded the sun and the temperature was mild.
In the quiet I saw and heard a few service trucks rumble by, a fufu dog yapping because its owner was gone, a baby crying, a chain saw sawing, someone running a leaf blower, and the sound of a cosmic drill shattering a tooth for about 10 minutes. Truthfully, I was gratified for the sound of surrounding life!
The rabbits have discovered that if they time it just right (the red pepper treatment has worn off) Gram G's lawn is an endless free buffet, outhouse and all night orgy. One late evening I looked out my window to see 2 on the lawn and another in the street. The result is a lawn blemished with brown patches. They are even too scrawny to make hasenpfeffer. Where are the resident coyotes
when you need them?
(photo from a Creekside resident)
Off on a rabbit trail...speaking of coyotes... there is a pack that live behind the park in a "wet land". Sometimes one can hear them howling. It is a spooky, unearthly sound. Shortly after I moved in here I saw one standing in a driveway in the daylight. A few years ago some of us were Christmas caroling, walking through the park. Soon about 3-4 coyotes starting "singing" with us!
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I don't normally post other folks adventures but this one is unique . My Indiana niece and her husband have finished Day 25 of The Camino de Santiago in northern Spain.
Susan is the daughter of my oldest sister, Joan, who passed away almost 2 years ago.
(I love the cow!)
The Camino de Santiago , or the Way of St. James, is an ancient pilgrimage trail originating in medieval times. Made up of a vast network of roads and paths, pilgrims travel these to arrive at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
For a prepared and experienced hiker, this route takes about 30 days start to finish, covering nearly
500 miles.
Burgos, Spain
I believe Eric and Susan plan to walk the entire 500 miles. They walk approximately 10 miles per day. I'm eager to follow them through their postings on Facebook. And keep updates here on the blog.
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Vancouver recently experienced a 3 digit heatwave. I had to feel the 106 degrees, the highest in my life. One minute or less was plenty before scurrying back into AC!
So what does one do when inside bound for 4 days.
How about gnome spa time?
So nice to have the family together again!
In case you need to cool off you can buy your Thanksgiving cards at Freddy's before they are gone!
There are local signs that there is a change in the air and weather!
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This is TROG, the tree frog! You may see more of him as time goes on! He has BIG plans!
Though he is quite small!
Where's Trog?
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Friday, August 18, I endured a 2 hour traumatic torturous dental procedure to remove an old permanent bridge and prep teeth for a new one. 😬 It involved the tooth that had the root canal 2 weeks before. The decay went deeper than the dentist thought. The past week has been one of recovering from physical, emotional and financial trauma...which means pain meds, home cooked chicken soup, naps, movies, naps, movies and anticipating fun family activities to come. I think recovery is on the horizon!
What is the fun family anticipation?
Well, it's still anticipation. Check back soon to find out what!
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My heart goes out to Kahana, her family and all the people of Maui.
West Maui is her home and she has lots of family there. They were protected and blessed for all the family is accounted for.
West Maui is her home and she has lots of family there. They were protected and blessed for all the family is accounted for.
I am grateful I was able to visit there last March and experience all the beauty.
Lahaina is where we boarded our whale watching excursion. We ate in one of the tourist restaurants, took pictures of the Banyan tree and I bought a shirt in one of the small stores on Front Street.
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A Late Summer Burger Outing...
Hidden Bay Cafe on the Columbia River
Owner's little girl liking the music!
REFLECTIONS
It's probably been 5-6 weeks dealing with this infected tooth and its consequences. It still isn't completely resolved. It drags me down and makes it difficult to accomplish anything.
So much is "in between". But life is more than teeth problems and accomplishments. This has made me slow down and simply live; to have time to consider what is important to me...what is the legacy I want to leave behind. (One starts pondering that when one is in her last quarter of life here on earth.) I know I already have a marvelous legacy of our "Magnificent Seven", their mates and progeny. But who am I as an individual? I have a few accomplishments in mind. I'm excited to see which one/ones come to reality!
This has been a good 4 weeks in the life of Gram G.
"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves." (Psalm 68:19)
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