October Tales...

 

AKA  THE GEOGRAM WEEKLY

October is a many varied month.  As leaves are tossed around in the wind, so daily weather and activities continually change.  Enjoy a colorful assortment.  

Gram G's latest gnome environment to enhance a corner space.

A mist covered view of the 

Bridge of the Gods in the Columbian River Gorge.  

Photo taken by grandson Zach when he visited there last weekend

Rosie checking out great grandma's electric fire

A burst of golden color...

"Whata ya think, Joe, is Christmas happen'en before Halloween this year?

"Don't know, Ed, this IS 2020."

 

A pan of lasagna cheers up and fills up any day!

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                                                                                  I went walking Thursday afternoon while the sun was shining very brightly.  The air was mostly warm.  Gonna try to store the experience for the coming rainy, chilly months!

While walking I noticed a couple trees had bark freshly stripped from them and tiny specks of glass on the sidewalk.  Later I observed this picture on Facebook. A lady lost control because of a health problem and rolled her car into the fence along the park.  She isn't a resident of here.  I heard that she is alright.

  

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 You might be able to interpret from these pictures that no major event has occurred lately.  I'm kind of muddling through the weeks, trying to get focused on a project, a purpose, a goal. "Waiting it out" to see what the future months will bring. The virus has shattered my piano business; a few students are returning or starting new.  Though there is ample time to play piano, to compose, I am not.  "My Story" is at a stand still cause I don't have photos to add to the narrative. I need to energize my brain.

BUT...relief is on the horizon!  Adventure is looming.  Check back next blog to find out what!

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Lately, I've been wanting to read a good book or watch a thrilling movie full of international intrigue, of national socialist plot to overthrow the government, of peaceful protests turned riots, of a nefarious virus circling the globe, economic collapse, restricted travel, mass masked faces of citizens, of alien jetpacks hovering over airports, of money and toilet paper shortages, censored social media and of a disturbed nature spewing hurricanes, floods, wildfires and toxic air.

OH!  WAIT...Never mind...that's just everyday life...

    Perhaps an outer space odyssey might be more satisfying...

    "In a galaxy far, far away, the Motharanian ambassador, draped in his royal cloak, stood to address the agitated assembly..." 

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I enjoyed a brief walk along the Vancouver waterfront Saturday afternoon with Zach and Victoria.  It's always fun to check out the newly updated downtown VC.

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I have it finished!!  What you have been waiting for!!  Chapter 10 of

I Will Not Leave You...click on "chapter 10" in the tabs....

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

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

Bring on Autumn...

 

AKA THE GEOGRAM WEEKLY

(I may have to change that to the Bi-Weekly)

By the way, here's one to try to wrap your head around....

"Bi-Weekly" can mean either every other week or twice a week! 

Ponder that...

(Disclaimer on photo arrangement.  Blogspot changed their format and it is very hard to work with...good that you cannot hear my exclamations.)

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Great way to start off the colorful month of October

Kahana invited me to an outing with her and Pomai to walk the 1.5 mile rustic trail around Round Lake about 15 miles from Vancouver. She didn't tell me that a portion of it was up hill!  She had forgotten about that part.

The lake has been around since pre-historic days.  I didn't take the time to read the info.

           

                                                        

Burgers at Top Burger.  We didn't have Maui burgers, though that is Kahana's home.

We couldn't get together in June for Pomai's Birthday, so I brought her a card and gift.

No, NOT the stick...

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Back on the home front...

George of the Jungle!   Zebra grass in my side yard!

I received the shipment of new high quality furnace filters!

Felt like Christmas had come early!!  Clean air in the house!

I haven't seen Trog around for a long time.  But he does have a sizable family...so probably a cousin...

These little beauties are hiding in my overgrown front lawn.  Three different lawn care guys have quit.  Got a new one coming tomorrow.  I'm trying not to take it personally.

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And back in Virginia...my son Burt and his wife Jen went for a camp out.  Sent a video to their kids

I texted Burt to see if they had a good night sleep.  He said, "Yes",

"In the car"...

Grandchild #20

Berklee turned 5 years old on the 5th.  

Great grandchild # 1 came for a short visit!

I went for a walk this evening and enjoyed the blue sky after days of smoke, fog and clouds!

A bit of autumn beauty...

This has been a good 2 GeoGram weeks in the life of Grandma G.

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."  (Genesis 8:22)

The Storm Passes...

   AKA  THE GEOGRAM WEEKLY...  

I got brave on Tuesday evening, the 15th, donned my N95 mask ventured out to the mailboxes to retrieve my mail since Wednesday the 9th.  The air quality had briefly dropped to

"very unhealthy" from "hazardous".  A silent, eerie gray coated what should have been a blue evening sky. Still there were no birds or small critters scurrying around.   

Filter This!!

     After a couple days of smoke I realized that the furnace filters probably need to be changed even though the time limit hadn't past.  I mistakenly thought I had another set in reserve. I did not.  (I had even briefly considered buying some a couple weeks back when I was at a store, but figured I had a set at home.)

  

After a few more days when the smoke lessened I checked at local stores for new filters. 

This is what happens when there are none to be had...a great assortment of orange storage bins!         I went online to find some.  Found some, but had to order sets of 4 and shipping would be a week.   OK, that would have to do. 

                                    

In the meantime I vacuumed the old filters in hopes of getting more use out of them.  Fortunately the weather is mild and the air has cleared.  

When the new ones hadn't arrived by Tuesday the 22nd I checked the web page.  Seems they were closed for a week because of the hurricane that passed through Florida.  Surprise.  Upon inquiry they notified me the filters should arrive in about another week.  They are high quality, potent

air cleaning ones.  I am excited!   I think...

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This past weekend we had a 4th B-day party for my great granddaughter, Rosie!   SO fun that she wanted to spend the weekend at Grandma Geo's house!  To me there is nothing more special than when a child likes you!!  

           

First grandchild, Zach, with first great grandchild, Rosie

             

Ready to bungee jump at the mall!

Princess Anna

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I've gotten out for a few walks as the air has returned to normal.  It's the time of year when weather is morphing from summer to winter and often doesn't know how to act!

Yesterday I went for a shorter walk in between a light rain.  It seemed a number of days I couldn't get out and its easy to get lazy.

Today we are having our first full day of heavy rain.  

But don't worry!  Next week it's sunny and 80's!! Need to finish some outdoor work and get some fall decorations up!

Bloom beautiful, even in difficult circumstances!


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 These past weeks I've worked on granddaughter, Gemma's, "surprise" digital photo album from our trip.  The "surprise" part is kind of a joke since all the grandkids expect that one will be coming.

I have fun working on them and reliving all the great times!  I'm a bit sad when the project is done, like good friends have ended their visit.  

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What better way to welcome the rainy weather than a fresh batch of homemade chicken noodle soup!

The latest emergency and endurance test has passed.  I would not be honest to say all is upbeat.  I struggle with finding a smooth rhythm to everyday life, along with a nagging headache the past few weeks...as well as trying to work with a new format for this blog...not going well.  

But I am comforted, knowing that life will plod along and there are more blessings to appreciate than problems to be solved!  And we have a Lord who helps us through it all.

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I'm observing the videocast of  "The Return" at the national mall in Washington DC.  It is a great day of prayer, repentance and reflection for our personal life and for our country.

This has been a good 2 GeoGram weeks in the life of Grandma G.

"Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says, 'Return to me', declares the Lord Almighty, 'and I will return to you', says the Lord Almighty."  (Zechariah 1:3)