Last One for 2021...Part 2

 Behold the picturesque Shenandoah Valley!

Tyler, Logan, Jen, Burt

    Monday, Oct. 11 was our sightseeing trip into the Shenandoah National Park to view the colored leaves...and the only day fog intruded on my visit!

     We did stop on our way to the park for warm, crispy apple donuts next to Dismal Hollow Rd in Front Royal, VA.  (Perhaps fog is a regular aspect of life here.)

The weather would clear intermittently 

A lonesome little sunflower overlooking the valley

The ambiance was a hobbit's delight!

Mary's Tunnel along Skyline Drive

The light at the end of the tunnel...

...Makes for a lovely framed scene!

    I will save 2 more adventures for Part 3

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Vancouver October Update....

Mic and Angie drive Gram G 42 miles

 to obtain a TSA precheck status!!

Historical hotel from 1923 era

Lunch at Grant's restaurant in the hotel 

Autumn rose in my yard...

Sausage, rice stuffed acorn squash!

(Tasty, but I doubt I'll make them again.)

Pumpkin carving with Rosie

Roasted pumpkin seeds!!

Homemade roasted red pepper, gouda soup!!

(Very tasty, but lots of fuss to make.  

Might do again on a cold, rainy winter day.)

"It's a gouda soup, Darling!

Autumn beauty

Need some lovin'?

(FaceBook picture...nobody I know)

REFLECTIONS

        I love visiting our national parks where trees abound.  I am at home in a forest setting.  My first memories of fun were roaming around the "back 40" with my foster brother, Jim, when we were around 7 years old.  My soul and spirit find rest in a rural setting.  I think what I like about living in Vancouver is that, though it is a large city, it doesn't feel like it.  There are no high rise buildings.  It is a patchwork of "small, tree filled rural towns" sewn together by busy highways. In my home, from my living room window, I see lots of green in my little hobbit yard. Green is good!!   

This has been a good 2 Geogram weeks in the life of Gram G. 

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth."  (Psalm 96: 11-13)

Last One for 2021...Part 1

Last one what??

Well....getting high...

In the sky...

Tuesday, Oct 5 I boarded 

a flight from Portland, OR

to DCA for Alexandria, VA

Burt and Jen gifted me trip for my 75th B-day.

  I anticipated this trip for several months!

Starting our weeklong adventure the next day with an Irish lunch of shepherd's pie, Guinness for Burt and a friendly chat with the owner sporting a thick Irish brogue.

Later in the afternoon Jen met us for a tour of the Air Force Memorial

And a drive around the Pentagon

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How about a visit to the National Zoo to view exotic animals?

Actually part of the Smithsonian museums

Tyler, Logan, Geo, Burt

Color coordinated

Panda Love..

Zoo Wildlife!!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

A colony of mole rats

Komodo Dragon

Exotic!

In case you need more panda love!

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Friday Burt and I drove to Annapolis to tour the Naval Academy

Andrew's air force/navy base water tower

Middleton Tavern established in 1750!

Bancroft Hall

Largest dormitory in America!

 

The bell from the Enterprise!

(naval sea ship...ancestor of Enterprise star ship!)

John Paul Jones' sarcophagus

Leap Frogs Navy Parachute team 

 Attending the midshipmen review parade!!

A stroll along Chesapeake Bay

I have a soon to be son-in-law who graduated from the Naval Academy.  Beautiful grounds and noble tradition!

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Saturday sightseeing drive...

Worth the read!!

Charming stone fences...

Sheep Hindsight...

Get thee to the Winery!!

Picnic lunch at Cana Vineyard

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Sunday afternoon on the Occoquan

Occoquan Historical Center

They have quite large spiders there!

Charming architecture and brick streets

We were there to cheer Logan on

in his crew race on the Occoquan River!!

They row a mile down and back...or maybe its up and back...

They have to carry their "shell" to and from the river.

I enjoyed observing an unfamiliar cultural sport.

Several crews of differing ages participated.  It looks like hard, energy demanding work to me!

Way to go, Logan! 

REFLECTIONS  

     I am privileged to fly from West coast to East coast! And back again! It is rewarding to have family both directions and in the Midwest! It is important to me to stay connected with all my family. They fill my heart and mind and soul. I am not lonely when I think about them and pray for their needs. And chat on the phone or text to keep current with their activities!  I love you, my family!

This has been a good 3 GeoGram weeks in the life of Gram G.

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever.  He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him: as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

(Psalm 103:8-12)