A Week of Cups #2 Cup #2

 NATIONAL PARK

BLACK HILLS, SOUTH  DAKOTA

 I bought this cup in June, 2012 when most of our family met together for a few days in South Dakota near Mt. Rushmore. (We try to meet as a family--31--every 2 or 3 years.)  I like the tall graceful shape.  Both righties and lefties can enjoy the bear painting.  Even inside the cup one can watch the bear and it's footprints---if one is LEFTHANDED.  Score one for us lefties.  When I drink from this cup I remember the wonderful family time we had in South Dakota.

                                                                                  IN A BEAR RESERVE 

                         GEOLOU SCHMIDTS FAMILY TOGETHER

                                                AND NEXT GENERATION

                         DEB AND MOM 

ON THE PLATFORM AT MT. RUSHMORE DURING CEREMONY HONORING MILITARY PERSONNEL---8 MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY HAVE SERVED--2 STILL ARE--(1 MEMBER COULDN'T BE THERE)

"WELL, GENTLEMEN, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THOSE SCHMIDTS?"

"WE THINK THEY ARE A VERY HONORABLE, PATRIOTIC FAMILY, TEDDY!"

TATONKA!!

BURROW KISS.....




DOUBLE KISSES....

         CAVING




PANNING
FOR GEMS


CRAZY HORSE

                                                  BEAUTIFUL  BAD  LANDS

_____________________________________________________________

     I got back to water aerobics after missing the past 10 days.  I was tempted not to go.  While soaking in the hot tub afterwards I asked the other 3 ladies which exercise of the several is their favorite.  One lady said that was the wrong adjective.  One has a favorite ice cream, a favorite movie, a favorite restaurant, but NOT a favorite exercise.  OK, which one do you like best?  I said my favorite was the "boxing" one--one can punch away at all her frustrations; second favorite is "play the piano".  Now that I can identify with.  So then the first lady said she did like making #8's with her arms.  It makes her feel graceful and like a ballerina.  A second lady said she liked the jumping jacks, otherwise she could never do them.  The third, a little more elderly lady said she was glad to come and do what she can.   It was a fun way to engage my new friends in conversation.  

    I feel like I am starting to develop some roots for belonging here in Vancouver.  Moving in new I felt (and still feel a little) "uprooted", not settled or thriving. But now I feel like roots are stretching out and taking hold.  

 I glanced outside late this morning and saw this Pacific Northwest rainbow.  The purple on the left was very vibrant, though it doesn't show here.

     This has been a good "getting rooted' day in the life of Grandma G

    "I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."

(Genesis 9:13)