Transitions....

     With summer coming to a close and me still swimming in exhilarating memories of epic adventures I need to transition into "work mode", whatever that will look like.  Gram G needs an income.

     I was recently privileged to attend the 4 day  Oregon Christian Writers Conference here in my backyard....literally, on a world scale.  It was held at the Red Lion on the River Hotel in Portland, OR across the I-5 bridge, a 20 minute drive from my house.

    I was awed and excited to meet some high profile writers and speakers.  My learning sessions on writing memoirs were intense.  I will need weeks to sort through all the tips and strategies and organizing.  
    I met one dear lady who during the conference received copies of her first published book, a novel of friends lost in the mountains of Oregon, If We Make It Home, by Christina Suzann Nelson.  I am excited to read her novel!
    The main point I learned was that writing seriously is a demanding, disciplined lifestyle.  I will discover in the coming months if I have what it takes.
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      These past two weeks I have been reprogramming my digital media, or at least trying to.  Several hours have gone into re-establishing Grandma G's Studio website, updating Grandma G's Face Book page, giving my blog a new look, connecting with Linked In and experimenting with a potential new blog. The hardest part is the bare technology to program all this and to interconnect them.  I am one of these who jump right in the water, then realize I don't know how to swim, and frantically dog-paddle to shore. Exhausting and time consuming. Today after many attempts to merge two FB pages and thinking I had it all figured out, I merged them only to discover half of my efforts were permanently deleted. It was then I noticed the directions for "saving" material from the unwanted page.  Just now, after uploading several pictures for this post I tried uploading one more and lost them all.       
      The uptake is that I now consider me to be "working" when busy with my laptop rather than "idling away the hours".  
     So with that I will keep the deleted pictures and news for another post. I invite you to explore this blog's new look and features.  
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     My heart goes out to the victims of Hurricane Harvey.  I applaud the  first responders and the volunteers who have given go much. 

     Here in the Pacific Northwest there are over 1,300 wild fires burning.  Just tonight they have come close to home.  A large fire is burning in the Columbia River Gorge.  

Ash rained down on my car in the driveway.
An east wind will continue to blow through tonight and into Tuesday.  Our temperatures are running in the high 90's.  There has been no rain since early summer. It is a dangerous time.
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This has been a good 14 "transitions" days in the life of Grandma G.

"I have told you these things, so that in me [Jesus] you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  (John 16:33)  

Total Solar Eclipse Fun.......Post views....33,311

Some disappointment.....

Lots of fun...

Disappointment because my friend, Nancy, and I were scheduled for a senior trip to Salem, OR to view the total eclipse. It was canceled last Monday--the trip, not the eclipse-- because of traffic concerns, possible clouds and the van had gotten in an accident that day. 

     Because I was planning on the trip and was also busy at a conference most of last week I didn't buy any glasses.  By Sunday they were no longer available.

(Campers at Madras, OR)  

     I was glumy this morning and figured I would just watch the eclipse on TV.  But with this being almost a holiday I decided to drive to my family, the Millers, and hang out there.  

 They had 4 pairs of glasses for us to share...

Don't get in my way....

Looking to the sky....

As the eclipse  progressed

we were excited to observe it; things seemed quite normal at first.

          

 But then the little dogs in the house started barking and barking.  When we took pictures of the eclipse strange shapes and lights appeared.

As the moon passed and covered the sun 98%,  the day was replaced with "dusk" and we saw a large star.  The temperature dropped leaving a cold breeze. Carole said, "Listen!"  We didn't hear anything.  "That's it", she said, "the dogs are silent in the house!" 


(Computer photo...total coverage in mid-Oregon)

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On the greener side of life, Saturday I enjoyed a trip with a church group to the Japanese Gardens in Portland.

After the excitement of the solar eclipse, I invite you to a serene stroll through tranquility.  

The mindset is one of calm so green is the color of a Japanese Garden.  No flowers except cherry blossoms, and Japanese Irises since the narrow pointed leaves resemble the swords of the Samurai.  

 
 
Their artistic philosophy is one of "asymmetrical balance".  I can relate to that.  Another way of saying "artistic chaotic balance", the story of my life. 

 

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A final note of peace.  I was privileged recently to hear the music of John Doan from Oregon.  He is the pioneer of the 20 string harp guitar. This instrument is rare in the world.  He had this one designed and crafted.  His artistry and sound are soothing.  I am listening to it now as I blog.  












This has been a good 7 "solar eclipse fun" days in the life of Grandma G.

"Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights above. Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars. Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the sky."
(Psalm 148: 1,3 & 4)

Coastal HWY 101....Post Views....33,224

Doing the Coastal Highway....North...
The last 2 days of our Oregon road trip was mostly on Hwy 101 as we were welcomed back into Oregon.





Soon we were viewing the beautiful rocky Pacific coastline during intermittent sunshine...
Angie earned the title, Chappie, since she was our official chaperone and driver. Most of the time she was "Happy Chappie"; occasionally she was not.
When we started out from Cali on that Saturday morning she was elated and announced, "Let's play the alphabet game".  Tyler said nah and from the backseat I replied, No.  (I was tired, there weren't many signs around and I just wanted to sit in silence.)  She was first alarmed and then started laughing; said she always wanted to announce that and had never played the game; said she was deflated, but then we all laughed and laughed at our replies. 


T














The wind she was a-blown....

But that didn't stop the yoggies.

And 
oggie, yoggie....











Gram G's favorite place of the weekend....

We're not telling where cause we gonna keep it for ourselves!!

Yah, Baby, that's what I say....

Young folks adventure of the weekend....Dune buggy ride

Heading out to 20 miles of sand dunes....

Gram G checking out sand samples from around the world while waiting for the thrill seekers to return.

Looking over exotic rocks

They survived the sand....now Angie knows why the driver was completely covered with clothing.  She came back with sand on her where sand should never be....

Tyler and Angie gotta try sand boarding...oh, yah...

Harder than they thought....
board wouldn't slide.

There's a fine skill in waxing the board just right... 

Very exhausting trying to walk up the sand....




Sunday, our last night on the road....

We surprised a camouflaged bug on our motel siding at the Dublin House Inn...I think it is forever traumatized

Happy Chappie and cousin, Tyler

Heading cross country to Vancouver, WA





There and back again after 1035 miles!

But wait!!  There are a few more adventures for Tyler in the PNW.

Hanging out with the Millers for 3 days and several swims in waterfalls swimming holes...

Pizza and Uno photo at the Blind Onion                                  Grammy Tomato, Chappie and purple onion Tyler...                                

Creating a mountain stepping stone for Gram G

A foursome selfie at the Portland airport....


A last selfie with Gram G at the gate.....

Heading off alone, back to family in Wisconsin...

We had an epic Gram G/Tyler/and Chappie 1,035 mile Oregon Road Trip!  

Wonderful bonding with grandson, Tyler!   Gonna miss that boy!!
He waited and anticipated a trip to Crater Lake for the past 6 years.  Finally happened!

Back home with mom, dad and brothers after 16 days away...









This has been a good 7 "coastal Hwy 101" days in the life of Grandma G.

"I [The Lord] will certainly bless you [Abraham] and make your descendants  as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore." (Genesis 22: 17)