July!

July has been "planning" month. I've been mentally busy but not much to show for it.😏 Still energy intensive!

Over Labor Day weekend my 5 sons and lots of family are coming out to demolish the old deck and construct a new one for me! Much detail to work out!  But it will be Big Fun for all!!

Kahana invited me to join their backyard 4th of July picnic!

We ate ladies' lunch at La Provence 

Enjoyed a polenta eggs benedict with acorn squash and the hugest croissant ever! 

It was my sister, Kate's, Birthday so I HAD to purchase a large slice of Purple Rain fancy cake...ate it all mine own self!!

Some of us Garden Club ladies enjoyed an 11 hour adventure to the Oregon coast! Always a good time!

Ecola State Park 

Haystack Rock in background

Ending route of Lewis and Clark Expedition

Pacific Ocean in the back

Debbie and Keys took me downtown Vancouver

To watch Pomai in her first Hawaiian dance performance!!

A bunny sunny nap in my Hobbit garden!

My blue jay lookout guard!!

The elusive Washington banana slug!

They can grow to 10 inches

(Face Book photo)

Some of Burt's family white water rafting in Costa Rica!!

Gemma finding her roots in Germany!!

Great grandbaby #4 starting his/her roots in Germany!!  Arriving in January!!

Great grandbaby # 3 coming out to visit us over Labor Day weekend

And Family!!

Brian and Angie having High Tea with ghost of George Washington hanging around...

Chuck finally reached his BIG 5-0 Bday!!

REFLECTIONS  

July has come and gone.  It's been an unusual month. At this point it feels like summer is on the way out.  My mind is on Labor Day weekend, actually week, when family is coming out to redo my deck. I am discovering that keeping up a house as a single senior lady is quite demanding with lots of projects to accomplish. There's everyday "senior" living that is challenging as well. But I am grateful to be able to live on my own and have lots of family to love and to cheer on their adventures! 

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

"But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments."  (Psalm 103:17-18)

Joyful June

Thursday, June 5, Chuck came to visit for a few days!

Friday afternoon he drove us to the Columbia River Gorge

Viewing one of several waterfalls!

A stop at Hood River to watch "wind watersports" on the Columbia River

The trees know the direction and speed of the wind!

Mt. Hood in its glory!

A little relaxation before the work

Chuck  came also to replace a couple rotten boards on my back deck along with taking measurements and checking on supplies for the guys to come out over Labor Day weekend to demolish the current one and build a new one for me!!

Hate it when a tool falls through!

Tuesday, June 10, we accompanied each other from Portland to Denver!!

Mt. St. Helen's and caldera with Mt Rainier in background!  A beautiful new view for me.

The Strawberry full moon over Indianapolis

Four sisters... Georgia, Kate, Betty, Paula

And brother John with wife, Susie...

Gotta play dominoes!!

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Friday, June 13 I attended a fund raiser golf outing with Kate.  

No, I did not play golf... 

Kate with daughter, Stephanie, and granddaughter, Catherine and friend Ashley

 

Helping Catherine to sell mulligans!

Over 100 golfers heading out! 

Catherine getting a golf cart ride!

Gram G winning TWO raffle ticket prizes!!

Spending one for dinner!

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Saturday, June 14, I, accompanied by Stephanie and Kate, attended the Celebration of Life for my foster sister, Susan.  Susan was a month older than me and passed on in January.

This photo was taken 14 months ago at my last visit with her.  

Susie and Georgie First Communion photo...

7 years old?

I was a foster sister with the Sperry family for about 3 years in early grade school.

I plan to do a separate blog post about the positive impact of this foster family on me.

(Click on "I Will not leave you" tab for more reading) 

Family members performing music at Susan's celebration

I was included in the family's 50th wedding celebration of Jim and Marge!

Family home in the background

The farm was sold several years ago, but the silo is still standing!

Visiting the family homestead

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Indiana farm country

Corn storage silos in Indianapolis

near Kate's home

Time to go home!!  It's been fun!

Thanks, Steph, for driving us seniors around!!

3 hour, on the plane, thunderstorm delay in Denver.

They got to leave, why not us??

Hello, Mt. Hood, my old friend!!

Some nature for your blue days!!

REFLECTIONS 

June has been a prism displaying an array of activities and emotions. It's been a privileged time of family bonding, travel, dealing with medium-sized frustrations, plans for future events, figuring how to live a healthy senior lifestyle, being grateful to still be involved in life!  The summer solstice has come and gone, which for me is the turning point of the year.  We're halfway through and need to make the most of what is left, while still remembering to...relax!!

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

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."  

(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)