Bring On Springtime!!.....Post Views..31,105

 Springtime here in the PNW is a beautiful time.  Streets are lined with a glorious pink, pink, pink.
Here and there white blossoms punctuate the scene.  
Unfortunately the rain continues to fall.  But we are getting more "sunbreaks".
During some of those breaks I needed to get out in my little yard gardens to clean up what winter dumped.  The ground is still quite soggy, but now the green has a chance to recover.  The mild temps have allowed annoying weeds to thrive.  I will be gone for awhile so I am eager to pull them before I leave.  I need to do the south side of the house yet...a very long stretch but rain prevented that today.  

Last Thursday our Red Hat Mamas group went to lunch at tebo's

in Portland.  It is a cafeteria type hamburger restaurant. They are closing after over 60 years of business.  Strawberry shortcake is their signature dessert.  I am not a fan of shortcake, but a friend gave me a little of hers since the serving is quite generous.   












That evening we had a gathering at the Miller home to wish Micaela a safe, pleasant 3 week student exchange program in northern France.  

 Amanda, Debbie, Zach, baby Rosie, Jake, Angie, Keys, Micaela, nephew Zyan.

It is a rare occasion to get them all together for a photo. Unfortunately Gram G didn't do well on the lighting and they all look like they are staring into car headlights..... 

Saturday was a happy/sad day for me.  Friend, Kahana, was leaving to move to El Paso the next morning.  She marrying in June.  She gifted me with one last Vancouver outing.  

She obliged me to mix and fashion a "memory" stepping stone.   
When she engraved her name into the cement, the mixture kept filling in so we thought putting slips of paper in would keep the engraving open and we could pull out the paper in a few hours. (I won't tell her that the next day I read the instructions again and observed the directions said to wait 30 minutes before doing any printing.) 
 She drove us to Richfield to visit her friend's shop and eat at their little trendy restaurant, buckets.

 Kahana tried some kombachi while I stayed with the water.  We both agreed the kombachi tasted a bit like flat soda.  The store owner didn't like the vinegar smell.  

Ready to travel with all her worldly possessions!



Three hours later, digging out the stuck-in-cement paper.  We agreed that in time it will decompose.
 Thanks, again, Kahana, for your wonderful, kind, fun friendship! 
 I miss you already!

 Canyonlands NP in Utah


Kahana and friend made it safely to El Paso, Texas!!
(Kahana's photos)

Springtime brings out the boy in the man.....son, Gerry...Spartan Race

   Tuesday I became aware of a crop of weeds growing on the southside of my house.  By the time I was out and about for a few hours I was tired and it was chilly and rainy.  I decided I could do chilly, rainy, pully weedy better in the morning. 
Programmed into my head to have Wednesday morning tea outside while pulling weeds.  Yeah!  Morning was cloudy, but warmer and no rain!  8:45 outside....done by 9:50.  

     So I go around to the garage side of the house and.....freeze!   So do 2 intruders!  
Rabbits!  Chubby rabbits having breakfast of my newly growing plants and small scrubs trying to survive.  

No, I am not afraid of rabbits.  I didn't want to scare them off before I could get my camera.  One was rather petrified as it stuck like a statue for several minutes.  The other knew better and took off.  



Darn little darlings were back for a second helping 30 minutes later....they would look very tasty, dressed on my dinner table. 

   Anyway, I'm done with pulling weeds! And walk around the driveway to the house door.  
   Oh Look!!  More weeds!  More pulling!  Now, I'm done!  Maybe.

         This week at physical therapy they added another 2 exercises to my grueling daily routine.  The healthy young therapist tried to add one where I lay with my spine on a round foam shape and stretch out my arms.  After a bit of persuasion I convinced him that this Gram G is NOT ready to do that.  Now while I am away traveling the goal is to keep up this 60 minute plus routine everyday and be ready to get even more exercises when I return robust, muscular and standing straight with my shoulders flung back.  
      I found my way to a computer fix it shop, manned by tall, lanky, young smart techy fellows.   We discussed replacing my aging battery(the computer's not mine) and possibly a new updated hard drive.  We went on to talk about a package deal if I also purchase a refurbished newer smart phone.  After all that techy talk I really didn't feel very smart, but more so than when I first started conversing.  A return trip later this spring is in order.  First I need to talk to my own techy smart sons and get their input.  
     Still need to file taxes.  Pack.  Exercise.  Ready for spring break "back east".  

This has been a good 7 "bring on springtime" days in the life of Grandma G.


"See! The winter has past;the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance." 
 (Song of Solomon 2:11-13) 

Rambling On....Post Views...30,967

    This past week has been one of rain, rain, rain.  It is a good time to have a sit, snuggle in a blanket, fix a cup of tea (Yorkshire Gold my choice) and read this post as Gram G rambles on about everyday affairs. 
"Just a strummin in the rain...." (from Face Book)
    Friday I went out looking for a particular credit union not too far from my home.  I had deposited $25 with them shortly after arriving here, probably 4 years ago.  I never got back to continue banking with them.  Recently I decided to do business with them. How was I suppose to know that after a certain time with no "account activity" the account is closed and the money goes to Washington State's unclaimed monies department?  The kind lady said I might be able to reclaim the money by contacting the department.  I will if I don't forget.   
     Saturday was cloudy, but no rain.  After water aerobics, stretches and breakfast I headed to a few stores.  At one corner I caught a lovely view of Mt. Hood.  Our church was having a pot luck lunch after service on Sunday.  What to make?  It took me all week and a trip to Freddy's to decide on sausage, cheese and already made potato salad. 

I stopped at the local Dollar Tree store to look for new Sudoku books.  I like them but not enough to pay $5 a collection.   I was disappointed when there were all kinds of puzzle books but no Sudoku.  But then I saw this one lonely hard covered Hard Sudoku book.  Now if that doesn't make your heart sing, I don't know what will!  No need to skip over easy ones, medium ones and on to the more challenging ones!  They ALL(100) are "Demanding" or "Beware! Very Challenging".  Yeah! And $1.  Finding 50 cent greeting cards made for a perfect shopping trip.   
         My furnace has been making a whistling sound the past few weeks.  Saturday evening there was a loud, low pitched moan.  I thought it was time to look at the filters.  Sure enough, they were coated 3 times over.  Sunday I went back to Freddy's to get filters. Changed them when I got home.  Mr. Furnace is purring like a contented cat. Poor thing was probably suffocating.  The filters weren't past due date for changing, but I think with the damp, chilly weather and closed in house they absorbed a bunch of dust. I am thinking perhaps the dryer exhaust might need a cleaning when the weather outside is amiable.  

    Last week I signed up for "Metro Mile" car insurance.  It is designed for folks who drive less than 200 miles a week.  In the fall my current insurance jacked up its cost by $300. When I called to inquire why they said it is because there have been so many accidents in Washington.  (They were probably mistaking us for Washington DC.)  Anyway, this new insurance would bring my cost back down that $300.  One pays $35 a month and then 3.7 cents for how many miles.  It requires a device in the vehicle.  That device arrived yesterday and now I am reconsidering.  
    Monday, after 2 hour physical therapy session, I drove to the outer edges of Vancouver ( 192 street from 121st plus 2 miles

down) to the insurance agent to get a clearer understanding of house insurance on my mobile manufactured home and to inquire about earthquake coverage.  After a lengthy time of explaining everything I was satisfied and also decided to include earthquake insurance for another $120 a year.  Just in case of "the big one".   He then was quick to inquire what I have for car insurance and wanted his office lady to tell me what they have.  I mentioned the Metro-mile policy to which he responded they have something similar.  When I said I would look into it sometime, but now I hadn't eaten lunch and I was getting a bit light headed, the kind agent give me a cup of tea and a granola bar (plus the 2 tiny candies I had already consumed) and showed me to a chair to discuss car insurance.  Ends up they have something about the same cost and I don't have to plug in a little device which might require a "smart phone" app.  Since my outdated smart phone does not want to download apps there may be a problem.  Chances are the little device will be returned unopened and my insurance will be local.  Now, aren't you glad you asked about this? Another bit of info, the office lady was a lovely young person from India.  I said my dentist is from India and told her the name.  She smiled and said they were family friends.  World's not so big after all; neither is Vancouver.
      Since I was out that way and so is Kohl's and I had 20 "Kohl dollars" that had to be used in a few days I stopped in and got a good deal on a picture I wanted for my wanna be beach house.
      By the time I got home, a headache had set in. I ate some lunch and a 2 hour nap was in order.  PT days do that.  I have advanced in PT to strength building with stretch bands and weight lifting with soup cans.  Sometimes I can feel myself standing straight.   
      That evening I watched a Masterpiece Theater program I had recorded on Sunday. To Walk Invisible is a docu-movie of the Bronte sisters.  Very well done, a rather sad family life story, but intriguing how the sisters wrote their novels and poetry. 
      

    Tuesday was a great day to make beef stew.  Sometimes Gram  G needs cooking therapy.  I had a sweet potato to use and thought it might go well in a stew.  By the time it was ready the sweet potato was nowhere to be seen except for orange shreds.  Tasty stew... 
       A bit of PNW reality.  The window frame and surface above the kitchen sink became coated with mold these past weeks.  It would just keep growing until removed.  Did that today with a bleach solution. The plastic liner cracked up (couldn't keep it from laughing) so I simply threw it out. The window unit which projects out about 4 feet from the edge of the sink looks better now, but with awkward, hard work.  
     
      I've been on the phone and texting a lot making plans for our summer Schmidt gathering here in Vancouver and for a soon coming trip for me to Wisconsin, "back east" as they say out here.  Only thing west of here is 100 miles of land with a mountain range and the Pacific coast.  
       Now my thoughts turn to filing taxes, but some things one can't rush.  I am looking forward to a few coming days of sociability. And rumors of sunshine over the weekend.  Yeah!!

This has been a good 7 "rambling on" days in the life of Grandma G.

"A good name is more desirable than riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."  (Proverbs 22:1)

Rain, Rain, go away....Post Views....30,853

     I woke up Sunday morning and the sun was shining!
     I realized I had a stomach ache....
     I must be allergic to the sun....

Fortunately, on Tuesday, I went walking while the sun shined. No stomach ache.   

Yeah!  Sunday was simply a 24 hour flu.

     I am now a full fledged PNW citizen.  I went grocery shopping one day in the rain and didn't even think anything was abnormal.  
     This fall and winter, I am told by the news people, has been more rainy than normal and even seasoned folks are starting to complain.  There are some landslides and the Columbia River is almost at flood stage. Where I live things are wet but not severe.  There has been some damage in hobbit town.       Either the wind, a very large beaver or someone not skilled with a chain saw brought down a dead tree along the lot line.  There are several small branches in my yard so probably the wind did it. I did hear a chain saw going for about 15 minutes. 
Happily, at least for me, some hornets lost a very roomy house. 

Unhappily for me, this greeted me as I came into my living room.  (Spider doing acrobats in the doorway.)
Even more unhappily, his big brother was crawling across the ceiling.  Will the onslaught never end? 


Here in the park we didn't do an Irish jig to celebrate St. Patty's Day, but we did fill up on corned beef, proper veggies and plenty of desserts.  

 That's a plateful for Gram G 

This time of year I am reminded of when granddaughter, Angie, almost fell off the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland about a year and a half ago.  Sure am glad for the borrowed luck of the Irish that she is still with us to stand under a PNW rainbow and on a PNW picnic table!!
Oh to be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow..


And to dance a jig on a PNW picnic table....

So on Sunday after having gone to church service with a stomach ache and "buzzy" head, I spent the rest of the day on the couch watching profound movies...
2 Night at the Museum
2 Ice Age thrillers....
I did come across an older movie based on a true story of WWII...The Scarlet and the Black...highly recommend it.

Monday I was scheduled for physical therapy, but called to cancel because of sickness.  A number of Star Trek Voyager episodes helped me through that day. 

Tuesday morning I felt well enough to go to water aerobics, have lunch with a friend, and take a sunny, though chilly, walk in the afternoon. 

 There has been constant house construction along the side and back of our park for the past several months. Fortunately I am in the middle and away from the noise and crowding.  

I had rescheduled PT for today, Wed. but my stomach started paining again during the night....so...cancelled once again. (don't like doing that)  The exercises and stretches are a strain, but should be remedying my back and shoulder.  


     However, a slightly sick body did not keep this lady from a scheduled outing with fellow mother-in-law, Carole.  We had gift cards from Christmas that had not been used.  Lunch at Olive Garden and shopping at Kohl's. Yeah!

I bought a fresh supple of towels for my summer family guests to enjoy.

And with that, I need to keep reminding myself that it is already late March.  We are planning a Schmidt family reunion here in the Vancouver area. Grandson Tyler is staying on with me for 10 days.  I think a scouting out of southern Oregon, the Red Wood NP and Crater Lake is on the itinerary. 



This has been a good 7 "rain, rain, go away" days in the life of Grandma G.

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."  (Genesis 9:16)