November Adventures!

   November brought a plethora of  adventures...

 Still plenty of autumn color!!

Turning to Christmas red and green!

First days of November started out in San Diego,

celebrating Gerry's Birthday

 And enjoying Bigfoot meatloaf

High above Oregon

Viewing the Crater Lake celestial pumpkin pie!

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 A few days after returning home I enjoyed an alphabet soup meal and visit with Kahana's family!

Gram G with Nainoa and Pomai

Over the years I've heard of getting one's air ducts cleaned...in the house that is. Never decided if it was necessary. The internal air has seemed dry, dusty and irritating.  I found a promotion for duct cleaning so had it done.  Interesting to watch.  The air does seem fresher.  Glad I had it done!! 

Mid month brought the full, large and lovely Hunter moon over Vancouver.  

An annual challenge rolled around again.  

The Great American Song Writing Contest!

Last spring I gave up on the dream of my song getting any notice.  I tried to wow the judges 3 consecutive years and was  discouraged by almost being good enough.  I was done.  Besides, my small home recording equipment wasn't working properly

BUT...something drives me on when I think there is an achievable goal.  This summer I changed a section and  recorded it by phone video.  Still wasn't going to enter again....But...the day before the deadline I had the urge to try one more time.  Problem! I needed to figure out how to convert a phone video into a MP3 file. Got it submitted at 11:59PM on final day!  Now it's waiting time until March to see what develops.    

Got Thanksgiving cards sent out to all my favorite turkey families!

November brings all weather transitions into one moment of time!

Where's Gram G???

OH!  There she is!!

Thanksgiving pot luck here at Creekside

All the busyness and activities of the holiday season!

Let the games begin!

I was graced with a visit from Kim and Joe Kronberger from San Diego! 

 They came up to share Thanksgiving with her sister who has lived here in Vancouver for over 20 years.  Since Kim and Joe grew up with my kids in Park Falls, WI we had a fun time reliving simpler days in the home country. 

A lovely bouquet from Kim and Joe!

Time to harvest and process those fall decorative pumpkins! 

Roasted seeds!

A favorite of the Miller family! 

And then it's time for 

THANKSGIVING at the Millers!

Angie's first turkey carving experience!

Well done!!

Miller Family

Keys, Zach, Jake, Debbie, Angie, Micaela, Gracie

It's become my tradition to sleep over

 Thanksgiving night.

Jake let me beat him at Labyrinth

Saturday evening, last day of November

A walk around the Zoo with the Millers to view Christmas lights!

Just cause he's so good looking!

First grandchild...Zach

First great grandchild...Rosie

REFLECTIONS  

November is a baffling month.  Daylight gets shorter everyday, the temperatures vary from 70 to 20, rain returns, trees explode with color and then lose their leaves, the year is getting old yet busyness and excitement (or dismay) grows for the holiday season.  

I'm grateful for this blog post because the pictures are proof to me that my November was very productive and satisfying.  My memory would have told me it was boring and not remarkable.

This has been a good 3 plus GeoGram weeks in the life of Gram G.

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, Oh Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night."  Psalm 92:1-2