How Did This Happen?

Whoa!  What's this?

I must be in the clouds again!!

Is that Portland I'm leaving behind?

And Coronado bridge below me? 

 I must be in San Diego! In mid-August!

Granddaughter Gemma performed in the musical comedy, 

"Something Rotten!"...a scrambled up rendition of Hamlet, which the writers titled "Omelet".  It really cracked me up!

Bill, Amanda, Berklee and I enjoyed the late Sunday afternoon outdoor performance.

A more dignified photo of Gemma

Since everyone was busy on Monday with work and summer camp I took in the San Diego trolley tour for most of the day.

A drive over the bridge and into Coronado Island was included.  

So I enjoyed lunch and a few hours at the Hotel Del Coronado!

Back on the mainland, I hoped to spend the afternoon at Balboa park, having walked to the Japanese Friendship Garden.  The August sun and heat were too much so I sat under a shade tree to wait for the trolley to come around and carry me back to the starting point in Old Town where Bill picked me up. 

Koi fish at the Japanese Garden.

Tuesday Bill took us for a walk along Sunset Cliffs.

And my 3 day visit was over! Bill drove me to the airport Wednesday morning for a flight back to Portland via Oakland.  

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The last weekend of August grandson Zach, great granddaughter Rosie and I made an impromptu 

trip to the Oregon coast.

We checked out the playful sea lions,

And a curious octopus,

The Green Bay Packer Fire Hydrant!

An artist created huge shapes with soap bubbles.

Nothing like ending beach time with a campfire,  roasting hot dogs and marshmallows!

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As Summer morphs into Autumn

...a photo collection...

What sweet dreams are made of,

A "refreshing" overnight dirt shower on 

everyone's vehicle in the morning,

A heavenly feather or two,

 Thai lunch time with fellow gramma, Carole,

Love, Trog, the tiny tree frog,

A visit with my adopted grandkids,

Pomai and Ninoa

A dream come true!!  A large container of...

                                                                                 

CELERY FLAKES!!

A bit flaky??

Christmas lights for sale...

It must be Labor Day weekend!

REFLECTIONS

     As the summer season comes to an end I am astounded how quickly it has passed! Already the hours of daylight are dwindling rapidly and thoughts are turning to sweatshirts and pumpkin everything.  This has been a good, fun summer for me, though sad also with the passing of my sister, Rosie.  It's been harder to keep my energy and focus levels up now that I am in senior years.  But I am still in for an age appropriate adrenalin rush now and then...as long as I can sleep in the next day.

     September has settled in with a more serious mood of getting outdoor chores done, establishing a routine of piano and guitar lessons, practicing piano and guitar, enduring routine health screenings, exercising, conquering paperwork and financial concerns, interacting with church family.

     But have no fear!  There are a few September fun surprises on the horizon!  You all check back now, ya hear?    

This has been a good almost 4 GeoGram weeks in the life of Gram G.

"How many are your works, Lord!  In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number--living things both large and small."  (Psalm 104:24-25)

August! Yikes!!

      I am astounded that it is already mid-August!  I must have been having a great time these past spring and summer months for 

them to have slipped by so quickly! 

    After weeks of prepping for family and fun adventures I am now at home, forced to face needed, but unexciting chores to be done and concerns to be settled.  My "home alone" mode is not productive, but it needs to be...so I can prep for more fun adventures.  Oh, what a pitiful cycle!!  

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These past 2 weeks of August have been full of catching up with special visits.

I had an enjoyable, surprise weekend when my great granddaughter came to stay overnight!  She's been wanting to sleep over at Grandma G's house for a long time.

I went with her and Dad, Zach to the mall for her to bungee jump.

That evening I had a real hobbit playing in my hobbit garden for the first time!

We had Sunday lunch at Olive Garden.

It wasn't until the afternoon that I realized and appreciated the significance of her name.

She is Rosie!  My sister, Rosie, just passed from this world.

Here is the joy and promise of a new generation of Rosie!! 

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Kahana, Saul, Pomai and Nainoah came over one evening for dinner.  I haven't visited with them much with the virus going on.  It was fun to watch Pomai run around the house and then eat a can of olives with her dinner!  Nainoah is an inquisitive little guy of 4 months.

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Debbie and I finally went for brunch at Elements where Angie has worked and helped manage for a couple years.  Micaela joined the team a few months ago. 

It is a trendy restaurant downtown Vancouver. featuring locally grown ingredients and artistic cuisine by chef, "Chef". 

Beautiful daughter Debbie with her 2 beautiful daughters, Micaela and Angie

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A dinner out with grandson Jake before he returns to Westminster College in Salt Lake City...

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Recent, continual heat has plagued us.  Sad to see majestic green turn brown.

Hazy sky from wildfire smoke flowing up from southern Oregon or California.

Enjoy a little Creekside wildlife...

Haven's seen one of these in a long time...

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Meanwhile in Wisconsin...

Getting ready for Packer Season!!

WHOA! WHAT"S THIS?

Check back next blog...

REFLECTIONS   

 

     I am happy for quieter days at home, though at first thought and feeling, I am not.  It's easy to get revved up with lots of activity and then difficult to relax the mind and body.  But it is good for me to reflect that Vancouver is my home and I am responsible to define who I am as a single person.

I am happy for the friends I have found, for piano students, for church folks, for family in VC, for a yard to cultivate, for piano skill, for walks, for full nights sleep and our Lord who takes care of me.

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

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal."  (Isaiah 26:3-4)