Happy 50th B-day, Debbie!! Post Views....29,452

    Monday, Feb. 20, was my first born's 50th B-day!  
    Happy, Happy B-day, Deb!!

      This deserves a dumpling dinner party!





That starts with Gram G buying 4 loaves of good quality white bread, letting them dry out for a day, breaking up the bread, grating a bunch of potatoes, mixing it all together into baseballs and boiling them to eat with roasted pork, and sour gravy. Yum!  The Millers devour them...

     We have a game we play of guessing how many dumplings Gram made.  The closest guess gets a prize.  Three people guessed I made 50....in honor of Deb's B-day.  Now why didn't I think of that?  Nope, I didn't make 50, but B-day girl guessed 37 and that is how many I made.  She's a Winner!! of a one dollar bill.  

A plate, a glob of sauerkraut, a serving of fresh fruit, a dumpling and a blueberry....






With CARROT CAKE....homemade..



Oops!  wrong recipe

That's better....Awesome!


Gram G gets to wear her new dumpling making apron.....
Awesome    





Hubby, Keys, couldn't come. He popped his hip, wrestling with his son Jake, while they were at the beach for the weekend....Oh, My....

Love ya, Deb!!  Thanks for coming to be part of our family for these 50 years!!  I remember the day you were born.  Wonderful!
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Now to back up a week....

 On Monday, Feb 13, I had a first appointment with a physical therapist.   I have had back problems and muscles aches all my life. For the past 5 years I've had pain and limited movement in my right shoulder.  It would come and go.  I can recall 2 time where I could have injured it.  I was getting worried about needing surgery.
     Anyway, awhile back the chiropractor said he couldn't do much more for the shoulder pain, said a physical therapist could probably give me help and gave me a referral.
     After an initial check over and measuring she drew this picture for me.....one is me and one is not...Which one is me???? The right, you say?  Right is right. 

    Interesting....seems my heavy brain has pushed my head forward and rotated my shoulder blades.  Who would have thought that so much intelligence could do that????
    Well, maybe Michelle has a different interpretation.  At least she made me happy....  
     She said as we get closer to 90 and farther away from 20 we need to work harder at keeping our muscles strong.  She observes that it is generally the opposite....20 year olds work hard at keeping strong and 90 year olds sit a lot.  Hmmmm....never noticed that.  
Since I am closer to 90 than 20 I reckon I better start sitting.  What? Wrong?  I need to work harder at staying strong?  She also said that seniors need to spend more time being physical.... Oh, Sweetie, I wish....
     She gave me a couple exercises to do at home.  Then set me up for the start of follow up sessions.

     The day was mild with bright blue sky.  The area of the office gave a beautiful view of Mt. Hood.  
     After getting home it was a great afternoon for a refreshing walk.  1.66 miles, Baby!




     We celebrated Micaela's 18th B-day in the evening.





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 Valentine's Day was quiet as I worked on a blog entry.  Later I enjoyed watching The Notebook.

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      Today, Friday, Feb. 17 I had my first actual physical therapy session.  I didn't know what would proceed or if it would hurt.  A young man named Ryan was my therapist.  He had me rest on warm, wet packs across my neck and midback for 10 minutes. Next he massaged the back of my neck and base of my head.  Turning my head to the left and working on the right base of my head was the most painful, though he was gentle.  He slightly pulled between the shoulder and lower arm.  After that he showed me 6 neck flexing exercises to do at home.  The last segment was a large cold wet covering over my right shoulder and little electrical currents to stimulate blood flow to the area.
        When the hour was through I was pleased to realize my head was still attached, my heart was still in regular rhythm and my right arm didn't light up like a light bulb.  I asked about being sore tomorrow.  Basically he said, maybe.  Guess I am looking at about 10 sessions.  I am eager to experience how healing and strength progresses.  
       I was a bit light headed and unnerved, but the sun was trying to shine, the air warm and I had something on my mind.  Time for B-

day party shopping....50th B-day to be specific.  My oldest daughter, Debbie, was turning 50 on Monday.  Party time!! Since I was close I went on to Party City to make some purchases.  Took a long time to decide what to and not to buy.  
      On the way home I stopped to check out a Safeway store new to me.  Friday is a good sale day.  Spent a long time there, too,

exploring the store. Was presented with a little something to use more of my time. 
Gonna win me a million dollars! 

 Finally back home at 4:10!  Time to sit and drink tea for a bit.   

This has been a good 7 "50th B-day" days in the life of Grandma G.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at days to come.....a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."
(Proverbs 31: 25 & 30)

Odd Predicaments...Post Views...29,225

      Happy Valentine's Day to all  my Valentines, known and unknown!  May the Lord bless and keep you, make his face shine upon you, and give you peace! 

      Today is a hazy-sunny day.  I can hear birds chirping outside, celebrating the start of PNW springtime. (Last evening the frogs in the wetland were in full chorus.)


                  crocus in too much sunlight... 

daffy down dillies waiting to explode....


     I want to catch up "to date" on my blogging...need to jump back a week to do that.

 Tuesday, Feb. 7
   I have been at home for the past 4 days, fighting a sinus virus....drinking eucalyptus tea, swallowing garlic and Vit C tablets, drinking buckets of black tea and enduring sneezing fits.  The sneezing was the worst.  I had to reschedule a dental and "new doctor" appointment. The next day was our ladies out to lunch day.  I called to say I hope to go but wasn't sure if I would be well enough.  

Wed. Feb 8.....
     Yeah!  I was well enough to go.  Jorge's Margarita Factory.

 I'm not totally fond of Mexican food, but this month the ladies celebrate my B-day and I wasn't about to miss that.   
I found an entree. 
Holy Moly, Mole! 





Ah! Mexican chocolate, peanut butter, cinnamon con pollo!

It's your Birthday!

        

      I had a small predicament those few days.  The rent was due while I was gone to San Diego.  I figured I would simply write a check on Monday and hand it in at the management office.             Unfortunately, with being sick on Monday I couldn't get out and forgot to call.  The manager called and left a message late in the day to say the check needed to be in by 9 tomorrow morning or it would be a $20 penalty and $5 each day after.  
     I figured I would write a check, take it down and slip in the mail slot at the office.  BUT......I was out of checks....completely out of checks.  How did that happen?  I rummaged through 2 drawers and 5 packs of check receipts, hoping there would be a lone, overlooked unused check.  Nope.  
    I called the office the next morning to explain and to state that I will bring in a check on whatever day I felt up to getting to the bank.  After a bit of a scolding the manager said he would drop the extra charges, but get it in as soon as possible.
   So....today (Wed.) after lunch I got into Ted and cautiously turned on the ignition hoping it would start. (Last time I left Ted for a week he wouldn't start. )  Yeah,  he started...
   Off to the bank to request some checks until I can get a new order.  Checks at the bank?  Well, normally, but... they are out and won't get any more for about 10 days.  Say, What?   Really?  Do you provide money orders?  No.  Where can I get one?  (No cash accepted for rent payments.)  Fred Meyers, you say?  Well, one stroke of luck, I need to go there anyway.  
   No big deal to get a money order at Freddy's.  Got my shopping done and headed home to drop it off at the office post slot.  
   End of the day....today was a great day.  I got out of the house after 4 days, had a fun free (well, prepaid through the year) lunch and visit with friends, got free checks ordered, my rent paid, bought a bag of "non genetic engineered" potato chips, my nose has stopped dripping and I'm snuggled into a warm house for the evening.  Ah, life is good!
    What do folks do when they don't have odd little predicaments in their life to spice up their days?
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     After a very rainy Thursday, Friday was a bit less rainy.  With a trip to the chiropractor and then a haircut I settled in for a quiet evening at home. Shortly after, Deb called to say Amanda was bringing Rosie over to their house and I was welcome to come over.  Headed over about 5:30.  

      First burgers on the grill of 2017.

 Hanging out with curious, balding active #1 great grand baby, Rosie....

"Whatta ya mean, balding?"

Ah, 5 dotting grandparents and one Rosie....

Lovely full "snow" moon to greet the night...

Fun, surprise evening out....




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Get Thee to the Nunnery!

       Late Saturday morning 10 of us ladies from the park set out the Columbia River Gorge for the annual Valentine's Day fund raiser salad lunch at the convent of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist.  

     It was somewhat unsure during the week if the sisters would have the lunch since the Gorge has been bombarded with snow, cold and ice.  But the recent warm up cleared off the roads and most of the snow.  

 

We arrived early for our 1 PM lunch so David, our greeter, took us up the back hill to view Coopy Falls.  He didn't know how that name come about, but the falls was fun to observe and photograph.  

My favorite whatever tree...

With a touch of sunshine...   








Ready to win my grand prize!


   

                                                  My grand prize...

At some point when Sister was calling out prize numbers she also announced that there was an accident on Hwy 84 blocking the return to Portland.  The road was closed; folks need to go back on the old historic highway.
       My friend. Sue, and I rode out together and so we headed out along the old road.  It took us past Vista House lookout high above the Columbia River.  Oops....there is a sign that states, "ROAD CLOSED".  Ooops....
Now what?  There actually was no choice.

After a photo op,we had to return to where we started, continue on past and continue farther down to cross the Bridge of the gods and backtrack on the Washington side of the river to return to Vancouver.  The GPS lady was still saying that traffic is stopped on Hwy 84 west.  
      Along we drive about 8 miles, arriving at Multnomah Falls and continue west to the bridge.  Oooooops, the road is closed. 
CLOSED.   Now what?   There is no choice except to get on 84 with the stopped traffic.  That we did.  The result?  The accident had been cleared and the traffic flowing just fine by the time we arrived at the questionable location.    
     Moral of the predicament....better to drive back and forth  viewing scenery than to sit an hour in stopped traffic.  

This has been a good 7 "odd predicaments" days in the life of Grandma G. 

      
"Above all, love each other deeply, for love covers over a  multitude of sins." 
 (1 Peter 4:8) 

I Wanna Go Back....Post Views...29,176

Saturday morning, Feb 4,  it was time for me to return to rainy Vancouver after a great, sunny week in San Diego.  
Bill, Amanda and Berklee live down there to the right of the pier.  Ocean Beach, Baby!!



Approaching chilly, rainy, Columbia River and Portland....

  Unfortunately on Friday morning I woke up with a sinus virus.  However, that did not keep me from the final adventure of the week.  

      But today is Sunday, a very rainy Sunday; a good day to stay in, rest between sneezing fits, do a little laundry, check in on the Super Bowl, and try some new techy stuff.  

 "Streaming" Victoria from OPB on my computer.  New to me.  I wanted to see last week's episode which I thought was recording on my TV.  A new one is on this evening.
After all, Gram G isn't beyond a little romance...especially a historically successful one....


Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of England


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Now back to my last sunny San Diego adventure...

What does one do when she wakes up with a drippy nose?   Well, how about a brisk, windy, rocky, wavy boat tour to whale watch?

    Having asked Gerry on Thursday evening if there was an excursion he would like to do with his mom on Friday, he got out his trusty cell phone and started searching away.  

 







"Sea Ahoy, Maties!"

 Point Loma....the most south/westerly point of the United States...

 





Point Loma lighthouse...


the sailing ship one would take in the summer to view blue whales..bucket list..

Gram G pics on the left

Gerry 
pics on the right 

 

"Thar she blows" and

"footprint"

We actually saw only 2 whales which we followed...they surfaced several times...one went under the boat but I got only a glimpse of it.

SHIP in the MIST

 
whale watch
sister 
boat.... 

San Diego Sky Line

 Coronado Bridge

Gerry liked the cool Navy stuff...



















aircraft carrier Nimitz sailing into port  

.   

 Youngest and Oldest sons, 
Bill, Gram G, Gerry...
San  Diego Men....wish they didn't make me look so short....

Time to say goodbye to my San Diego family.....

I wanna go back.....

     I first heard of San Diego 60 years ago when my Aunt Emma would talk of her one trip to San Diego to visit her sister Betty who was a Navy nurse.  How fantastic and fairy tale those memories sounded to me at 11 years old and living in the north woods of Wisconsin.  One might as well been talking of flying to the moon. (Mars these days.)  Little did I imagine that this many years later I would casually pack up to fly 2 and 1/2 hours back and forth between Vancouver, WA and San Diego  2 or 3 times a year!  

This has been a good 4 "I wanna go back" days in the life of Grandma G.

"He [Jesus] will proclaim peace to the nations.  His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth." (Zechariah 9: 10)