Candy Cane Lane.....Post Views....21,494

AKA......Grandma G's latest obsessive, compulsive project.....

I MEAN.....Grandma G's latest unique, creative endeavor requiring intense mental concentration and physical persistence.... 

      With my freshly repainted deck looking so nice I figured this is the year to join the several outside decorated houses in the park.  

What to do?  What to do?  What kind of theme?  How does one fill up a rather large  almost empty front yard?

      One starts the Friday after Thanksgiving by browsing several stores for ideas.....that is, what do they have on sell for an economic price?  I don't know what I am looking for but I will know it when I see it....

 Freddy's had lots of "stuff" on sale for Black Friday...half price lawn ornaments, $12 large princess pines, large supply of Christmas decorations. (I think I blogged a few weeks back about aimlessly wandering around that store.)  I hauled the makings of a potential outdoorsy scene home that day,

On Saturday grandson Jake came over to get out what decorations I already have and to help clean leaves out of my yard.  He helped put together and hang a "ribbon" decoration along the porch.  

    Throughout the following week there were many visits to stores to check out possible additions to a woodsy scene.  First I had to create the "woods".  A clerk at Freddy's helped put 2 tall bushy princess pines into my vehicle.  How to get them out once I got home would be tackled once I got home. 

    On Friday Dec. 4 the weather was chilly but not rainy.  I set out the forest critters.  They looked isolated on my red rock yard.  

   I put on my handy-dandy knee pads and "planted" trees.  First I looked around hoping a strong gentleman would happen to be walking by and I'd ask him to haul the trees from my car. (But  there aren't too many strong guys walking around the park.  If  anyone of them would help me I might be looking at paying his back injury bills.)  So taking a deep breath and asking an angel's help I tugged on one to get it out and then used my leg as a lever to roll the tree and stand into place.  Yeah!  Now for the second one.  

Once set up I figured the weight of the dirt in the pot would secure them in place.  The small artificial trees weren't any problem but I did dig them into the rocks a bit.  Then with some garland things were starting to look woodsy.  

  

 Enjoying the PNW good life....snack time on the porch.....

Blue sky break in the clouds....about 15 minutes worth.   Looking back, that was the last such sky I have seen even to now on Dec. 16.  

     Friday night the rain and winds returned.....the mighty trees did not withstand the wind (the first time they fell forward)...hmm....now what....I will tie them to the side of the house.....(tip over #2)....now what....I had some thin iron rods...that should hold them into the ground....(tip over #3).....a trip to Lowe's to find heavy iron stakes to pound into the ground....so far the trees are still standing...lesson for next year....SHORT bushy trees anchored with heavy iron stakes..... 

My favorite find.....
a set of carolers (with nice looking faces) for $30 at a local consignment shop......
I was wanting something to fill in under my porch.....

     The next challenge was lighting around the yard.  At some point I decided on a red and white candy cane theme.  The perimeter is about 70 feet (I think).  That's a lot of lights and a lot of how to secure them and how to make red and white. And what is this LED stuff all about?  Off to go research all that.  At one retailer there were short shepherd's hooks.  I had already decided on LED lights in red and white.  They come in only a single color.  No problem, buy the red lights and alternate them white.. Yes problem.  LED are made so one cannot exchange bulb colors. OH...What to do?   Suddenly the red and white lights went on in my head.  Buy a string of both and simply string them together.  Hold them up with the short shepherd hooks.....( God put that thought in my head cause I didn't know how to manage all that.) 

Close-ups for my Indy Sisters.....

                                                                                                                               

         





           Santa Gnome

 One thing still needed....

A "Candy Cane Lane" sign
 Easy enough....NOT
Start with a wood plaque and white glossy paint.
Stick on some red and white stickers....
All good until you buy the stickers, cut them out....AND
Loose them....
Then go and buy another package.....


One downer to all this.....I have to go outside to the street to look at and enjoy Grandma G's Candy Cane Lane....
(And to plug in and unplug the lights....timer still coming)
Key word for today....Restraint....NOT ME....rather the impulse to fill in and light up the left side of Candy Cane Lane.....
Gotta save something for next year's OC project....
Still looking for a nice "just right"  nativity set...
Main activity for this non-rainy day....trip to 4 stores to return several "not gonna use" items...OH, YA.....with a quick walk through to make sure I didn't miss any "gotta have it" stuff.   

You all come for a cup of Christmas tea and a candy cane!

This has been a good several "Candy Cane Lane" days in the life of Grandma G.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  (Psalm 119:105)

And the Fun Goes On.....Post Views...21,426

      This has been a quite a party week...
a rainy, wet party week...

     Sunday afternoon I worked out in my front yard since the rain was limited to occasional drops.  The forecast was for a whole lot more all week.  But my Sunday afternoon work session story is for a soon coming post.  
     Monday is a forgotten day.  Literally I have forgotten what I did that day, other than give a 15 minute piano lesson....

     Tuesday was back to water aerobics after a no-show for a couple weeks.  Felt good to exercise and socialize again.  
     In the afternoon it was to Sophie's for a perm.  Good activity for a rainy day.  
     (I just remembered I spent a lengthy time on Monday making a decision on what to choose for Medicare supplement.  Chose one and will see what the new year brings.  The joys of the golden years.  Also stopped at the office to pay my rent.  The manager reminded me about our park Christmas dinner on Thursday evening.  Would I play piano for about 30 minutes while folks are arriving.  Sure...)
     Sophie and I chatted away for the 90 minutes or so.  She and her husband have bought an older mobile home in a neighborhood a distance from here.  She was telling me some of the details about the home and her new neighbors.  We shared some good laughs about an elderly neighbor who has already made his presence and personality known.  Sophie has a salon just down the street from me.  She moved here from Cambodia several years ago and has sisters with families still living there. 

     Wednesday was our "ladies' out to lunch" day. We gathered at a local Olive Garden.  We each contribute $2 for a kitty to pay lunch for whomever has a Birthday that month.  We also give a quarter and draw numbers for a chance to win all the quarters.  This day as I gave mine I announced I was going to win because I could feel it in my big toes.   Sure enough, my big toes didn't deceive me.  I WON all 11 quarters.  A couple ladies were very impressed.  

Thanks to OG's new table computers I found the answer to a profound question I've had for many years.  I answered "yes".

 Stand and sleep at the same time until troublemakers come along and tip them over.....





    Thursday was double party day...

Our Red Hat group went to lunch at the Clark County Skill Center and had gift exchange.

The Skill Center offers high school students practical training in culinary skills.  They attend regular high schools but also have a 3 hour class here for cooking, serving and waiting on customers.  They serve meals to the public 3 days a week.

They served us a buffet of turkey and all the trimmings,

including yummy desserts.

After the meal we had our gift exchange. Drawing numbers decided who goes first.

Make that Nancy # 1 and
Gram G #2.
I opted for "large" package.
A nice warm fuzzy blanket in black and white.
And nice tote.
(What's that camera doing at my place setting? Did we all get one?)






A good time was had by all.....






    Of course no adventure is complete without a little mishap.  I think it started when I drove to the clubhouse and realized I forgot to bring my gift to exchange. The lady I rode to the Skill Center with was nice enough to stop by my house so I could get it.
    The lunch gathering went fine.  When we got back to the park the lady dropped off one passenger and then drove to my house and dropped me off.
    I was inside busy fussing with something when I realized I needed an item from my vehicle. Out I went and was shocked to see Ted gone. (Ted is my truck.)  What happened to Ted?  OH....
He is parked down by the clubhouse waiting for me to pick him up.  Guess I better walk over and get him.  Nice there is a break in the rain.

Now this can be reasoned away by realizing that the day started out with water aerobics, then Red Hats and there was to be another social dinner in 3 hours. I needed to make the coleslaw and review some songs to play for pre-dinner entertainment.  Who has time for thoughts of Ted?

Thursday evening was our park Christmas dinner.  A great time with lots of food.  People enjoyed the music and gave me a round of applause.  NICE...
They even threw me a bone....

Not really.  When the dinner was over and mostly cleaned up I noticed there were 2 ham bones in a pan in the kitchen.  I asked if they were spoken for or if I could have one.  I was welcome to take one.    Pea soup!!  If only I had dry peas....

 Friday morning I visited my friend Nancy.  I wanted to see the sewing project I heard her talk to others about.

This is the 3rd set of doll clothes she has made for her great granddaughters.  She made the horse head, the shirt, vest, pants, skirt and neck scarf.
Nancy is 83 years old.....






So....Saturday dawns drowned in rain again.   Off to buy dry peas....




    They and the ham bone ended up in hot water....as did onions, carrots and celery....
YUM.....great for rainy days...

This past week Washington and Oregon have experienced torrential rains, wind, a tornado, mud slides, flooding, a sink hole in a major highway, rock slides, high surf on the coast.....
BUT, no snow in these lower elevations.....

    Just bought a half price hotel and meal deal for 2 nights in the San Juan Islands.  Good through the end of April.  Me thinks the Terrific Trio plus one will be adventuring in the early spring. The San Juan Islands have been at the top of my wish list for several years.  I think it is something about the name.

This has been a good 5 "the fun goes on" days in the life of Grandma G.

"All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast."  (Proverbs 15:15)

Berklee Fashion Hat Show....Post Views....21,295

  Miss Berklee's December 

Fashion Hat Show....

My mommy

and 

Grammy G

think I look

adorable in 

fashion hats... 

What do you think?

Yellow is my favorite.....

This one is too sporty....



I like classy....









Flashback....San Diego....November 1-3




Beach and daughter time on Gerry's B-day....

Uncle Gerry and baby Berklee.....



    Gram G walked from Gerry's to the beach.....2.04 miles...

walked by some birds of paradise.

Walked over the I-5 highway....if I walked 995 north I could walk right home to Vancouver, WA....

Walked by palm tree lined streets

Down 94 steps to the beach.....and UP 188 when it was time to go home.....

Beach life....

San Diego Sunset.......

     I ended up returning home to Vancouver a day earlier than I planned.   The airline had made different plans for me.    

     Monday evening I decided to check flight time for my Wednesday trip to make sure someone could pick me up from the airport.  My internet reservation info was showing me leaving on Tuesday afternoon......what???    Must be a website mistake.   Checked again and it was the same thing.  Called the airline.  They said I was returning on Tuesday... Can't argue anymore.   It would cost $124 to change the ticket.   Went home on Tuesday.   Must not have been paying attention when I bought the ticket.... 

     Seems like a long time ago since I was in San Diego...BUT....

The Millers are suppose to take me and Gram Carole along when they go down for Jake's LaCrosse tournament after Christmas.   Yae!  Won't be long before I get to see baby Berklee again!!  And Jude and Gemma, Gerry, Bill and Amanda!  Life is good on the west coast....

      

     This has been a good 3 "Berklee hat show" days in the life of Grandma G.

     "Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children."  (Proverbs 17:6)