Tuesday, October 22, 2024

October Family and Fun!




Saturday, Oct 19, I went for a 2 mile walk around our neighborhood, soaking in the fall colors!
And reflecting on the enjoyable past few weeks.


I went from brilliant autumn rust and orange, 


to summer pink rose,


to Christmas holly berry red and green...

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But, to back up a bit!
Mikaela and I enjoyed outside lunch at the 
Hidden Bay Cafe along the Columbia River
early October.  Love the sail boats, blue sky, water, and low flying planes in and out of PDX.  Food was good too. Best was chatting with Mikaela!!


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Tuesday night, Oct 8, my brother John and wife Susie arrived from Indianapolis for 8 days of Big Fun in the Pacific Northwest!  They had never been out this way !


After time to rest...a day trip to the Columbia River Gorge

Checking out Latourell Falls...
John likes to take pictures



Multnomah Falls...

Cascade Locks


And a monkey tail tree
also known as a monkey puzzle tree


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Friday evening lasagna to meet and visit with the Couve family!



Saturday brunch at Bleu Door Bakery and Cafe
Best servers and food in town!! Mikaela and Angie 

With Debbie!


3 hour search in Old Glory Antique store...
found treasure trove of dolls and clothes sets...
enough to need to buy a large suitcase from Good Will for trip home!
John and Susie collect antique dolls.
Vacation complete!! Almost


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Sunday through Tuesday, Jake drove us to the Oregon coast


Seaside...end of Lewis and Clark expedition!!
Now a bustling tourist town!


Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach on a rainy, foggy day.


John likes to take pictures


John and Jake climbed 164 steps to the top of
 the 125 foot Astoria Column!


Susie and I waited at ground level!


One of several merchant ships waiting to travel up the Columbia River from Astoria to Longview, Vancouver or Portland

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A Quest for Elk!


John, Jake and I got up early (8AM) on our last day at the coast to go elk hunting in Gearhart.  I was eager to shoot a few, or at least one.
  OH, NOOOO!!!  

With my camera...

We didn't see any grazing around,
BUT...
John did spot one that had succumbed to the drifting sands

I will haunt and hunt the Oregon coast until I get my shot!!
Whadda you mean....haunt and hunt?
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Astoria Bridge over the Columbia River connecting Oregon and Washington.  
Jake drove us across, 4.1 miles!



John likes to take pictures...even in forbidden areas

North End lighthouse at Cape Disappointment, Washington.
Travel out to PNW to find why it is disappointing.







Jetty at Cape Disappointment...
to the outer right side is the Pacific Ocean; the Columbia River is on the near left side. In the middle the two meet forming the most hazardous waters in the country.  Called the Grave Yard of the Pacific.  The Coast Guard train their rescuers there. 


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Thursday, Oct 19...time to fly home
Goodbye to Vancouver and Gram G's!!  
Thanks for crossing the Rockies to come visit!!


Another full October Hunter's Moon over Vancouver!



REFLECTIONS  
I had a fun time with John and Susie.  It made me happy to see how excited they were to see the trees and mountains, how impressed they were with the scenery!  That made me appreciate what I have surrounding me everyday.  I'm glad John fulfilled a dream of visiting here.  I feel privileged this fall to have gotten two Oregon coast trips within a few weeks!  And it's so enjoyable to relive the adventures while viewing pictures!!

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

"Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.  Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth." 
 (Psalm 98:7-9)



Wednesday, September 25, 2024

6 Weeks Catch Up!!



 


WHERE has the summer gone?  
And Gram G in the past 6 weeks?
Well, Gram G hasn't gone anywhere but the time sure has! 

Actually, she has gone to Multnomah Falls 
With her 2 sisters and a niece!!
Stephanie, Betsy and Kate arrived from Indianapolis, close to
midnight Sept.11 for Big Fun in the Pacific Northwest
(And to visit me) 





During this time...
We ate homemade beef, vegetable, barley soup!




Made dumplings for 13 guests!

Enjoyed High Tea with Debbie and Carole!

While Angie served!


Adventured 3 days at Rock Away Beach!

Hot dogs and s'mores on the beach!

Campfire and full moon (before the clouds set in)


Foggy Tuesday...


With homemade chili and Labyrinth!!
They let me win.

A "THEN" (August 2012) and "NOW" photo!!


You can't come back if you don't go home!!

Big Fun was had been all!!

Ya all come back, ya hear!!

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But what about the other 5 weeks????

Late August our garden club visited 2 monasteries

an hour's south of here.  

One had a service going and we wondered why one brother didn't participate with the others...


He was as stiff as a statue!


Both monasteries were much smaller than I anticipated.  One made fruit cakes, the other yummy chocolates!! 

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Jake came over a few times to help with some heavy work.  I pay him by feeding him dumplings!!


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My 92 year of age friend, Nancy, and I finally got together for lunch!




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And then there were rugs!!  OH, the rugs!!

That is for another post!

Ya all come back to find out what!


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REFLECTIONS 
This has been a busy past 6 weeks!  I enjoyed planning, shopping and cooking for my family guests.  And especially enjoyed their pitching in to wash dishes!  I get lonely for my Indianapolis siblings and their families.  It was refreshing to hang out with them for the week.  Now is the fun of sorting through pictures and living the adventures all over again!  Thanks for coming, family!!

This has been a good 6 GeoGram weeks in the life of Gramma G.  

"Dear Friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."  1John 4:7