Do'en the Couve....Part 1...

      Angie and I had a mini fun day in city center, downtown "old" Vancouver.

                    SALAD LUNCH AT BEACHES RESTAURANT.....

 

 

                   BARGE ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER.......

             BARGE APPROACHING BRIDGE BETWEEN
                       VANCOUVER AND PORTLAND

    BRIDGE RISING TO ALLOW BARGE TO PASS
             (CARS HALTED ON BRIDGE)

                    
       This has been a fun, sunny "along the Columbia River" day in the life of Grandma G.

    "Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail...Their fruit will serve as food and their leaves for healing"  (Ezekiel 47:13)

 

Dumplings and PNW Snow....

      Sunday morning I found  my way to church service from Deb's house.  I stayed with the kids overnight.   I stayed up until after midnight and then was up by 6:30AM to get ready.
 



  After the service I went to lunch with some friends at a local Mexican restaurant.  I am not familiar with authentic Mexican cuisine so wasn't sure how to order.  It was yummy.








         I invited Deb's kids and Carole over for dumplings and sour gravy for dinner.  It is a lot of work and a lot of dishes.  They all love them, though, so it was my pleasure.   Took all afternoon to prepare. 
          By 8PM I was exhausted and simply sat for a bit.

         Monday I slept in till mid morning after being up overnight and having the short night before that.   Mondays are the one day I have piano and guitar lessons.  It is a reminder how much I enjoy teaching and that I need to advertise for students. 

          I went to Deb's to stay with the kids since Angie was not feeling well.   We just hung out, watched a movie, ate warmed up dumplings and worked on a puzzle.   We were shocked and saddened with the news of the bomb explosions in Boston. 
        

 

PNW SNOW....

(FALLEN TREE BLOSSOMS)

 

This has been a good 2 "hang out with the Millers"  days in the life of Grandma G

 

"It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night."  (Psalms 92: 1 & 2)

It's Lacrosse, Sweetie!

     A new experience for me today.  This morning I attended my first Lacrosse game.  Jake has played on a local team for 3 years.  The day was chill for the PNW but the game was exciting, especially since Jake's team won.

 

 

 

Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin, as early as the 12th century AD, played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick. It is a contact sport which requires padding such as shoulder pads, gloves, helmets, elbow pads, and sometimes rib guards. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh designed to catch and hold the lacrosse ball and can also be strung with hard mesh. There are many different styles like Canadian mesh, rocket pocket and normal mesh. Offensively, the objective of the game is to score by shooting the ball into an opponent's goal, using the lacrosse stick to catch, carry, and pass the ball to do so. Defensively, the objective is to keep the opposing team from scoring and to dispossess them of the ball through the use of stick checking and body contact or positioning. The sport has four major types: men's field lacrosse, women's lacrosse, box lacrosse and intercrosse.

     I spent the rest of the day with the Millers, enjoying a nap and then out to dinner and a movie with Micaela in honor of her B-day in February.  We had a yummy salad, soup, bread sticks, pasta AND dessert at Olive Garden and then on to the movies.  We viewed "42", story of Jackie Robinson, the first African American baseball player.  Very good and inspiring.
    The entire day was enjoyable as I was in a cheerful, happy mood.  Angie says, "Grandma, I like it when you are in a fun mood."

 

    This has been a good "first Lacrosse game"/ Micaela day in the life of Grandma G.

      "Then our sons in their youth will be like well nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace."  (Psalms 144: 12)         

       Tuesday was my younger brother, Nick's, 66th B-day.   He's suffered from Picks disease for the past 7 years.  I visited with him and his wife, Sandy, over New Year's weekend. 

       








It takes a little coaxing to get a smile, but there is one hidden there somewhere. 

HAPPY 66TH B-DAY, NICK!!

_________________________

    Wednesday it was out to lunch with the ladies.  I forgot to take my camera along.  We had a fun lunch and conversation.  As we were chatting one lady told of her trip to Banff.  Oh, Banff!  I've been there, just last summer.  Another lady next to me had also been to Banff and Lake Louise.  I told them that a trip to Banff was a life time dream of my sister,Betty, so that was a major stop on our cross country trip when I moved out here. 

                                          VIEW OF LAKE LOUISE
                      THOUGH A HOTEL WINDOW

                                               BETTY, GEORGIA, KATE AND VICKIE                

 

A MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN BANFF

 

       When we left "Sweet Tomatoes" restaurant we ran into a deluge of rain.  By the time we were home, 15 minutes later, the sun was shining through blue skies and fluffy clouds.  Time for a 30 minute walk around my neighborhood and a look at the latest blooms. 

 

 

 




      I spent the evening and overnight with Angie, Mic, and Jake
while their parents are gone a few days.  The next morning Angie drove me to downtown Vancouver to inquire about paying property taxes.   Another first here in VC.


  
        This day passed quickly as I took time to grocery shop, carry in (as a downpour came and left in 10  minutes time), put away, exercised, cleaned up and returned to the Millers house for the night. 

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

      "I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever.  Every day I will praise you and extol your name forever and ever."  (Psalms 145:1 &2)



 

Four Hours Sleep, Oh, My.....

    Hope its a once in a lifetime occurrence.  Stayed up watching TV movies Sunday evening until 11PM.  Remembered I had to take out the garbage--did that.  Decided to blog until 12:45AM.  Went to bed expecting to sleep.  Did not.  Got up about 4AM.  Ate oatmeal and drank Seepytime tea.  Looked at the clock about 5AM.   Went to sleep.  Woke up at 9:20.  Got up for the day.   UGH. 

     It is now 8PM.  Am looking forward to bed and SLEEP about 10PM.   The day actually progressed well and busy enough to not think about fatigue.

     I happened to call a friend (THAT sounds really good--to say I have a friend here in VC) to discuss something mid morning.  She said she and her sister were on their way over here to Creekside to check possible housing for her sister.  They would stop by to visit.  It was just what the doctor ordered.  I've been feeling lonesome since returning from Indianapolis.  The three of us had a wonderful chatty visit for an hour and a half.  

     It was then time for 2 music lessons.  Again, teaching the lessons filled a void and I felt "in my element".   At 3 o'clock granddaughter Angie came over to pick me up to ride into Portland with her to start physical therapy at the pain clinic.  We had a great time driving and chatting.  It was interesting to see her therapy regimen.  

    We were in a upbeat area of Portland near hospital complexes.  We walked around and took a ride on the air tram up to the hospitals and back again.  Then onto a stylish high rise we figured were trendy apartments with a little bistro in one corner.  Turns out to be senior living housing.  Bistro had a great turkey club sandwich with sweet potato fries.   

    The downer with all of this.   I did NOT take my CAMERA.  Angie did get pictures on her phone.  If all goes well there will be fun pictures for tomorrow's blog.  It's PORTLAND, baby. 

 

Portland, near the airport, April 6

 

 

     This has been a good "4 hours of sleep" day in the life of Grandma G.

 

     "I will praise the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.  I have set the Lord always before me.  Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."  (Psalms 16: 7 & 8)