Oh, What a Relief It Is!....Post Views 10,721

     My computer went Ape the past few weeks.....I must have down loaded something that had a bunch of monkeys (and apes and snakes and dancing smiley-faces and videos and warnings) on its back.  Ugh...Ugh....Ugh.....
     I had been contacting my computer tech the past 2 weeks but he was always busy with work, family, hockey and sleep.  Sunday evening we finally connected.  Not only he and I but my computer as well.  He is able to "take over" control....though with the "malicious adware" even his take over didn't go smoothly.  He was able to go in and delete all the rogue programs hiding in my hard drive, though it took a few frustrating tries.  After he had it all cleaned out he nicely admonished his mom not to click on junk ads that are expectantly waiting to dump bunches of more junk onto one's computer.  
     Thanks, Chuck, for being so smart and trained in techy stuff and for being a wonderful patient son!!  (Now, if he would read my blog he would know that I am complimenting him. Maybe his wife will tell him since SHE is a regular, gracious reader.....and fan.)

Skyping with Chuck and  his family



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       Earlier Sunday went well.  During church service I did not sing the song special I had worked on during the week because of other events going on.  I was invited to sing it next week. 
      After service I stopped at the grocery to pick up a few things.  I don't know if it is because I still don't know my way around the store or because there are so many fascinating unfamiliar food choices or because I don't know what I want to eat or cook for one person or I'm trying to be frugal or simply because I am slow that I spent 2 hours there to buy $27 worth of groceries.  Sigh.....
      I also stopped at the mall to take advantage of expiring coupons at my favorite clothing store.  Those with watching sale prices I bought $97 worth of clothing for $32.48.  Guess what Grandma G's latest obsession is?  
      After all that I went home and sat on the couch most of the remaining day.  Well, until my tech support son texted and then patiently waited until I was through watching a movie to help me with the computer mess.  (Curly Sue was a good entertaining movie.)

     This was a good Sunday day in the life of Grandma G.

     "A wise son brings joy to his father [and mother]." (Proverbs 10:1)


        

Rain, Rain, Go Away......Post Views 10,711

      I was warned there would be days (weeks) like this.....RAIN, RAIN, RAIN.......

    But WAIT.....there are also SUN BREAKS......
That is the official term used even by the TV weather people....

    We had a sun break this Saturday afternoon for about 4 hours.....

       We have had almost continual rain since Tuesday....record amounts in several areas.  

      What does Grandma G DO on very rainy days?    Glad you asked.

       On Tuesday I had an 8:20AM endodontist appointment a 30 minute drive from here.  Now to some people this is not a problem, but.....to some of us it is.   It worked out fine except that the annoying upper jaw pain is still a mystery.  The dentist said there is a small amount of infection around the root canal, but to wait a few months.  There is a surgical procedure that can be done to go in and clean it out.  We'll wait and see.  See?

         Going for Thai food lunch with the fellow mother-in-law, Carole, is another way of counteracting rainy weather.  Careful on the spice....even mild.....can be quite hot to one's palate.  I brought enough left overs home for 3 meals.....by the time it is diluted with bland rice noodles there will be enough for 7 meals....

  Then how about a stop with Carole at a local senior center to watch local senior musicians perform an Irish program.  (This was my first visit to any regional assisted living homes.)

Wednesday has already been documented with a rainy day trip to the Oregon coast. 

   Thursday was a great day to sleep in and loaf around all day....  I did make a fresh resolve to rehearse my piano music for a hoped for performance in May.  Positive, productive activity.  Also decided to work on a vocal song for Sunday service.   

    Ditto on Friday....almost....I did a few constructive chores, but can't remember what.  Oh, yah, watched a sappy, but sort of cute movie.  More music rehearsal during the day.  

     Today, Saturday, was a well used day.  I got to water aerobics....first in about 8 weeks.  The ladies were glad to welcome me back.  It was good to interact with all them again.

                                         "12 Apostles" southern coast of Australia.

        I spent some time at the computer trying to win a trip to Australia.  Frustrating, though, with all the annoying pop-up ads and videos.  I think the computer caught my virus and my tech-support son has not had time to remedy it yet. Anyway, I went to record my guess on the contest and it would not register.    Someday....Australia.....that is the contest.  Would love to go back

   

      Many hours went into polishing the song I plan to sing and play on the piano tomorrow at church.

      The highlight of the day was the......SUN BREAK....went for a 30 minute walk and then stopped at the mailbox to retrieve my soggy mail. 

     This has been a good 3 soggy days in the life of Grandma G.

    "Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.  Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember my everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."  (Genesis 8: 15 & 16)  

  

There Ain't No Whales.....Post Views 10,687

 I got up at 5:30 Wed. morning to go whale watching along the Oregon coast.  (I thought I had this all planned out....went to bed 9:30 Tuesday night to get a good night sleep....that worked until I woke at 4AM on Wed.)


At 6:15 I picked up Nola, a friend from the park, and we headed to the senior center. There we discovered that another lady from the park was going on the trip also.   

 Whale watching observation station

The continual rain of the day helped me understand why this area is known as a temperate rain forest....Rain, rain, rain, ra....it did stop for about 45 minutes while we visited the museum and observation station. 
We were disappointed by what the managers told us.  Though this is the season the gray whales migrate back to the arctic, they pass by about 5 miles out.  A whale "sighting" consists of observing the water spout.  None had been observed the day before and only one earlier that day.  

We did see pictures of whales in the museum....and dinosaur eggs...

Oh, Oh......I thought this was a 

WHALE watching expedition....... 

     We were informed to return in August or September when the weather is guaranteed to be sunny and we are ALMOST guaranteed to see...and even pet.... gray whales from a safe rubber rescue raft once owned by the Coast Guard.  We were given tickets worth $3 off the $40 excursion.  

This is definitely on my "to do" list for August or September.  Woo!  Woo!

                                 Rain moving into shore

      From there we went on to New Port to "Georgie's" restaurant.  With a name like that the cuisine has to good exceptional.   

      I decided on their featured chili.....a rather unusual recipe

two of these ingredients do not belong.....what is your guess?
black beans, cubed prime rib, ale, tomatoes, cinnamon, dark chocolate, garlic, chorizo, cheddar cheese
Quite tasty.....

Marion berry cobbler topped with oatmeal and brown sugar, served with vanilla bean ice cream for dessert put me over the edge in satisfaction and fullness....YUM.....

(I did share...) 

     We were going to tour the Yaquina Head lighthouse but the gate attendant insisted on $25 per van of 8 people, rather than $7 for a van of 7 people and was not interested that we had 4 senior lifetime passes with us in the van.  Both our little "parks and recreation" shuttles turned around and went home.  

    Even with leaving the area early we arrived back in Vancouver at the designated time due to heavy rain and heavy traffic close to home.  

   It was a fun, though, wet day...

        (ingredients that didn't go into the chili.....cinnamon and garlic)

     This has been a good 2 "wet, but fun" days in the life of Grandma G.  

       "But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights."  (Jonah 1:17) 

Springtime Freshness....Post Views 10,659

Colors of 
Spring....

 May we all be like this small blossom.....
a little misplaced, but determined and lovely......

                                                    Mt. St. Helen's

      The past 3 days have been springtime beautiful....even with bunches of sneezes.  Today the temperature reached 70.  It sure was nice to get out and soak in the sunshine.   Come tomorrow it is back to rain and temps in the mid 50's. 
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     Sunday was a special day for our family.  Jake made the decision to live for the Lord and was baptized.  We all attended the church service.  It was a happy and blessed day for all of us.  

            Grandma G, Debbie, Micaela, Keys, Frank, Carole, Jake

    This has been a good 3 "springtime freshness" days in the life of Grandma G.

     "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
(Matthew 28:19)

       

Sea Lion Caves....Post Views 10,630

  My senior trip day started at 4:15AM  when I woke up and then got up at 5:30. It was still dark when I arrived at the senior center and part way through Portland.  

   The drive was about 4 hours to the southern coast of Oregon.  It went quickly since I sat next to a just-met new friend.  We knew from the start that this is a friendship meant to be.  

             
                   WHICH PAIR OF SHOES IS GRANDMA G?

       We drove through the Willamette Valley full of sheep farms, daffodils, geese, eagles, vineyards, grass farms (sod/not the other), rivers and distant mountain ranges.  It was eye candy to behold.  That is a way to describe it since none of my pictures turned out.    




GETTING CLOSE.......

Suisslaw River, Bridge and Sand Dunes...

 Southern Oregon Coast.....
Side view from restaurant .... 





Front view from restaurant.   

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              SEA LION CAVES, FLORENCE, OREGON

   200 FT. BELOW THE CLIFFS

(EARLY PICTURE OF SEA CAVES

 FROM WEBSITE)  

    The sea caves were discovered sometime in the 1800's by a fisherman in a small boat who rowed into the cave seeking protection from a storm.  He joined several sea lions already in there.    

   Tourists descend 200 ft by elevator and then walk a few more steps down to view the sea lions and the battering waves coming in.

Additional view from the caves......

Heceta Head Lighthouse....










      

     This has been a good "sea lions caves" day in the life of Grandma G.

     "How many are your works, O 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."  (Psalms 104: 24 & 25)