Happy 35th B-day......

        Today was my youngest child's 35th B-day.   William is number 7 of 7 children.  He was scheduled to be a girl.  When the babies were coming I had a brown eyed girl, a brown eyed boy and a blue eyed boy; then a brown eyed girl, a brown eyed boy followed by a blue eyed boy.  According to the established pattern # 7 would be a brown eyed girl.  Well, he had the brown eyes. 

                            Happy 35th B-day, William!  Billyrock! 
Glad you are a guitarist and computer man!  And a great son!   

 "You know, Ted, I've always thought highly of William."
 "I agree with you, Abe, he is rock solid just like us."

                                       GeoLou Schmidts in South Dakota             June, 2012
                                Debbie, Gerry, Burt, Chuck, William, Al, Angie, Geo, Lou


     I always like to do something special on the kids' birthdays.  Today I washed the inside and outside of my deck doors.  That is something I have never done before.  My very own deck and deck doors!  And William is coming for Thanksgiving.  I may have to wash them again by then. 

      Today was a "business" day.  I sorted out a bunch of paperwork and tried to write up a budget for my new life in the PNW.  (Three episodes of Star Trek this afternoon slowed me down a bit.)  I do have to get into work mode and recruit a number of piano students--just as soon as I get my studio set up.

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Banff  Flashback.....

The day my 70 year old sister out did me......

 Hiking the " Sunshine Meadows" trail.....
On Thursday morning Kate and Vickie wanted to do a "moderate" hike while Betsy and I stayed at the motel to do easier things. 
   The hike was quite spectacular and the bus ride up and down even more astounding---old school bus on hairpin turns.

   

     
                            

 This has been a good William's B-day in the life of Grandma G. 

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

Refreshing Day.....

       I took the day off (of worries and getting the house in order) to hang out with Debbie and Angie.  Angie picked me up at 10:30 to meet Deb at Clark College.  (I actually told Angie the fastest way to get to the college from my house.  Not bad, since I've been here under 3 weeks and she has lived here for 13 years.)

Soon to be student....

 (timer picture)

                                                       (self portrait)
     Today was a beautiful fall day--great for taking pictures!

                                                       Daughter and Mother

campus statues

 

                                              Campus "3 generations of thoughtful ladies" statues
Italian lunch in downtown "old" Vancouver

      





Guess who?



     The day included a doctor visit for Angie who is still enduring severe low back pain.  We also checked out some fun stores including Pier 1 Imports where I found colorful window panels to replace the drab brown ones.          

                                                    Just the right amount of pizazz!

       The day was really fun for me to simply be with Debbie and Angie since we couldn't before when there were 2,000 miles separating us.

    This has been a good "hang out with Debbie and Angie" day in the life of Grandma G.

     "May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, and may you live to see your children's children."  (Psalm 128:5&6)











New Friends....

     Debbie and Sissy had talked about coming over for the evening and to sleep over.  Sissy has some doctor appointments tomorrow and this is going to be a bonding evening.
     In anticipation I have cleaned my house--at least the first layer.  There were still boxes waiting to be emptied and then discarded, the bathroom tidied up, the kitchen cleaned and the guest room to be readied.  I am now ready.  
     Earlier today I attended the monthly ladies' lunch out.  There were 15 ladies.  I learned a few more names and hopefully am on the way to new friendships.  One lady was talking about forming a Canasta card group.  I remember playing that in my younger years.  I think I would enjoy playing that.  The ladies each give a quarter and then the waiter picks a number.  Whoever has that number wins the quarters.  I didn't win.  Each month's B-days are celebrated.  Marie had a B-day this month.  She is turning 93.  Hope to do that well and see 93 myself!
     Deb and Sissy did not make it over to spend the night.  They are picking me up in the morning to tour Clark College and to go to lunch.  (I am disappointed they didn't come, but am glad to have had a reason to clean my house.  Took a half hour walk and did some more cleaning this PM.)
     I had actually woken up a bit disturbed with personal problems, but the friendship and busyness of the day has erased those feelings.  It is good to have friends and to be busy.
     Enjoy a few "Kate's photos" of Lake Louise! 

 

    
    

     This has been a good out to lunch with the ladies/ house cleaning day in the life of Grandma G.

"The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend."  (Exodus 33:11)

Blame It on the Website.....

     I wrote up a blog for Monday, added pictures and then my website program started playing tricks on me----that is, I didn't know what to do with what it was doing that I didn't want it to do.  You understand.  
     Monday in brief.   I got myself to an appointment with a new chiropractor.  It went well.  I am just "an old lady" when it comes to anything new regarding my personal space.  I think the doctor and I will get along well.  We have something in common.  He hiked Machu Picchu 8 years ago.  My son, Gerry, hiked Machu Picchu 2 years ago. 
     After the appointment I treated myself to lunch at Baskin Robins.  Hot fudge sundae--a small one. Yum! Didn't have those in Park Falls.

 Number one grandson, Zach, met me at Fred Meyers to help with loading and unloading.  He was my handyman for the afternoon. 

(I did not buy the bears.  They were just for dramatic affect.)

 Zach's assignment.....
 My assignment......
 We got a few things accomplished.

                                                    Ended the day out to dinner.
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     Tuesday, Sept 11.   My respect and sympathy goes out to the families of the 9/11 victims of 11 years ago.

     Today I have been gone from Park Falls for 4 weeks. 

 Tuesday 8/14  2PM CDT

 3PM start of the 3 senior sisters cross country road trip adventure

       
                                                         Goodbye, Park Falls!!




   
  Tuesday, 8/21  Banff, Canada   3 senior sisters and a niece

     

 Tuesday, 8/28  Vancouver, WA.
 Last official 3 senior sisters photo.....

  

 Tuesday 9/4  exploring my new neighborhood
 

 Tuesday 9/11   A place to hang my hat.... 

                                                  
                                                 A Place to call HOME.......

      This has been a good "end of 4 weeks" day in the life of Grandma G.

     "He blesses the home of the rightous."  (Proverbs 3:33)

Win Some, Lose Some.....

      I woke up Sunday morning anticipating trying out a particular church service here in VC.   I gave myself enough time to find it.  Carole and I had driven past it a few days earlier so I knew where it was.  NOT.  I drove 15 minutes, then 20.  I figured I passed it by; turned around and knew I'd see it on the way back.  NOT.  Drove 20 minutes; decided it was closer to go home than go back.  Maybe next week----after I check map quest. 
     Angie called from Milwaukee, WI.  We talked quite awhile.  She is planning on coming out for Thanksgiving.  The Trans Siberian Orchestra is performing in Portland on Nov. 25.  We hope to go to that.  (Last Christmas season I TRIED to see their performance in Milwaukee, but a cancelled flight due to bad weather "up north" cancelled that as well for me.)
     A helpful couple delivered the table set I bought from Penny's.  It is beautiful! 






     Later in the day I decided to explore the blackberry patch folks told me about.  It was a pleasant surprise to find some open space (green space) right behind my community.  So an hour blackberry picking and a half hour walk lightened my spirit!

     Creekside Taxi   Service....






 






  


 Chuck called from Milwaukee.  He had participated in a "Tough Mudder" obstacle race on Saturday.  It was highly challenging, if not crazy.  He also talked about the Birthday party for Olivia and Louisa---they had a "bounce house" for party goers and neighbors kids.  I told him I am well except for felling alright in the city traffic.  It is comforting to talk with family from the Midwest.

   This has been a good "win some, lose some" day in the life of Grandma G.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him."  (Romans 8:28)