Oregon's Columbia River Gorge

Some pictures from last week's trip up the gorge to enjoy the beautiful sights along our lovely Columbia River.

Here's Sophie, the Yorkie, looking around from some type of harness her 'mom' wears.

Grandson Elliot who declined my offer of a haircut very vehemently!!

Molly, looking a little windblown in front of Multnomah Falls.

High up on the old Columbia River Highway, sits the Vista House, from which the next few pictures were taken.

The far background in these pictures is the state of Washington
which borders the Columbia River on the north side!

Hope you enjoyed a few pictures from our beautiful Oregon!!

I Think I'm Back!

Its hard to believe it has been seven weeks since I last posted. I left you all with the list of things I had to do to "fix" my back......well, so far I have not heard from the rehab clinic!! So I have muddled on with the things they had me do at home, which only exacerbated the situation. Finally I stopped and things went back to my "normal".

I talked to them this week and they assure me it is just a matter of getting me in their schedule, but I'm out of the notion, I think. If I can keep moving with gentle exercise, i.e. my stationary bike, following a walking tape, and swimming, I think that will be as helpful as anything I could do by driving an hour each way to the rehab place.

Sooooooo......let's change the subject. I think I am going to come back to blogging, but hopefully with shorter posts! (I'm not sure that I can tell what I have to say with fewer words!!)

Today is the last day of Spring Break here in Oregon. I have had grandson, Elliot, for part of the week, and then his parents came yesterday with Molly, and have done some exploring. Today they are in downtown Portland, riding our Max train and having a good time in "fare less" square. I fixed them a good lunch, so hopefully there will be a dry part in the day where they can enjoy the lunch on a park bench.

It has been good for me to plan for them. I did some cooking and baking ahead of time and put in the freezer, so meals have been easy, but delicious!! They are all good helpers, so kitchen clean-up is a breeze.

I'm enjoying the quiet day with their doggie, Sophie, a little black Yorkie. She loves her "grandma" and comes to find me from time to time. She always looks as if she is saying, "What doing, Gram?"

In the garage is a guinea pig that Molly brought home from school for the week!!

Tonight we are planning to rent Fireproof, the movie starring Kirk Cameron.

Until later.......

Farewell for now...

Its with a real sense of sadness that I say good bye to blogging on this blog for now, as other things in my life will be taking up my time in the months to come. I have loved your visits, your loving and encouraging comments, getting to "know" many of you and just the fun and challenge of thinking of things about which to post!

As many of you know, who have followed my blog, I suffer from chronic and, at times, acute, pain in my upper back of over thirty years duration. The acute phases are happening far more frequently and I'm sitting more and more. A terrible cycle has continued in my body over these many years, in my muscle skeletal system and the time has come (way over due) to start repairing the damage that has been done.

Yesterday I was evaluated at a very long session (six hours) at a Rehab Institute which has had great success with pain management. Long story short, my life style is going to change dramatically in the next few months.

I will be meeting at the rehab institute one day a week for several hours of therapy.

I have therapy to do at home with "rubber bands".

I must ride my recumbent bike daily.

I will be in a specialized aquatic program three days a week.

I must keep a food diary daily.

I must get to bed between eleven and twelve p.m., instead of between two and four a.m.

This is a drastic life style change for me. I am hoping that I will have time to still make cards! I am going to continue with my card blog, hopefully, for now.

If you ever think about it, I would so appreciate your prayers, as this is going to be one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. The consistancy is a necessity, which will be difficult for me. (I am making a spread sheet for some accountability)

I plan to keep up with your blogs, but will not be as faithful at leaving comments because of these new time constraints.

Good-bye for now.

Its been a great ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Here's a night shot taken recently during our big snow event, no idea who took it, but to get that much clarity and depth of field they were good!! The Hawthorne Bridge is one of the several which crosses the Willamette river through the heart of the city. The river is very still in this shot, which is unusual, but for the small hours of the morning when river traffic is nil and the wind is quiet.

Enjoy!!

"Daddy's here."

Several years ago my grandchildren were baptized by their Dad one Sunday after the morning service at their church. As grandson, Elliot, stepped down into the water to join his waiting Dad, he was visibly shaking and his nervousness was very apparent. As soon as he was in the water, his Dad gathered him close to himself and through his mike we could hear him say to his son, "Its okay, buddy, Daddy's here." And with that Elliot's body relaxed into his Dad's.

As I heard this, of course, I was moved. I almost immediately thought of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. We tremble and shake over the courses of events which fill our lives, and yet when we will relax in Him, can't you almost hear Him say, "Its okay, child of Mine, 'Daddy" is here."

How often I forget the beauty and simpleness of it all. My Father, God, has everything about me wrapped in His love and in His presence. What a wonderful comfort!!

five pounds of stew meat

Some time ago I bought a package of stew meat at Cosco--five plus pounds to be exact. Usually I divide it into four-five packages, but for some reason (laziness, probably) I did not divide it and there it has sat--big huge package in the freezer.

Then I came upon this recipe at Patty's Pantry, and I knew I wanted to make it. Patty has some wonderful recipes which I have used before. Her two sites not only feed the soul, but also the body!

I decided to make Patty's Barley-Mushroom soup! That would take one and half pounds of the mountain of meat!


Next I decided to make a double recipe of my son Jon's favorite recipe--Beef Burgundy. I am going to give you the single recipe I usually make--as you read through it think 'doubled!'
This is super easy and sooooo yummy!

Beef Burgundy
1 1/2 to 2 pounds stew meat
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 envelopes of Lipton Dry Onion Soup Mix
2 cups of red wine (alcohol cooks out)

Put in a soup kettle, dutch oven, or something with a lid. Put in oven and cook at 200 degrees for eight to ten hours!

Serve over brown rice! Delicious

Its right out of the oven. Rich brown gravy, and the smell is marvelous!


Here it is in a bowl--I always serve it on a dinner plate with the rice and then the gravy and meat over that. I don't have any rice made as this is going into the freezer in two big batches.


Enjoy!

Farewell, Mr. President

Although I voted for you.... twice..... I did not always agree with your decisions....... however, whether I agreed with you or not, I will say that you have always been a “class act”. You and Laura have displayed amazing dignity under the vitriolic hatred that has been spewed at you over the last eight years.

It can be said, without fear of serious argument, that no previous president has been treated as brutally, viciously, and as unfairly as you were.

You have endured a deliberate and planned assault on everything you stood for, everything you were involved in, and everything you tried to accomplish. Your enemies were willing to risk the country’s safety, its economic health, and the very balance of the democratic system of government in order to get at you. They have been out to bring you down at all costs, or at the very least, to destroy your personal and presidential reputation.

As the New York Times began jeopardizing national security by publishing secret security documents it had obtained, the fact that you were able to curtail any further attacks while the media, as a whole. was working to undermine your efforts, is a little less than miraculous.

In all of these attacks, you have exhibited nothing but serenity. You will be viewed by history as a man who picked up the worst hand of cards dealt to any president since Roosevelt...and you played it out better than anyone had a right to expect.

Other presidents may encounter the same level of mindless hatred and suffer comparable abuse--but we can be sure that no one will ever meet it with more equanimity than you did!!

Your breeding was never more apparent, than when you were under attack.

Your graciousness to the Obamas in helping them with their transition, has been admirable. I have appreciated your positive words, for the Obamas. I believe you show a genuine warmth for President Obama. I suspect you admire his sense of family, his relaxed and easygoing nature, and his character.

With this, I wish you well. .

I believe history will treat you much more kindly than your contemporaries have.

Farewell, George and Laura--God speed!!

Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory
that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4 : 17-18

********************************

I wrote this because, for the past eight years, the hatred I have heard expressed toward George Bush was more than anything I have ever experienced, having lived through many presidents. We have all had problems with presidents and their decisions, but this raw hatred, expressed by many of my liberal friends and acquaintances, wore me down. Along with this hatred was the implied stupidity with which the Republicans were viewed. If you didn't agree with "them" you were stupid and uninformed...and several of my friends seemed to be consumed with their hatred. It has not been a comfortable eight years for those of us who aren't liberal in our thinking. I have a right to my beliefs, as do they, without hatred and derision being so blatant!

As I watched the inauguration, hearing the jeering and cat calls towards George and Laura Bush made me sick...so if you have read this far, you know what brought this post on!!

. This will be my only post with political overtones, I promise. I am committed to praying for President Obama and supporting him in all that I can. The last eight years have taught me something--respect for the Office, regardless of what I may or may not agree.

The last scrapbook from the cedar chest!

...."and so 1956 begins"

is found on the front page of this scrapbook which contains a history of a very tragic event, yet a very triumphant and very meaningful part of our Christian history.


I began this scrapbook the day our daily newspaper had a headline about a Portland man, Jim Elliot, missing with four of his companions in Ecuador, as they were trying to meet with a stone age tribe of Auca Indians with whom they desired to share the love of God, through Jesus Christ.

Articles soon began appearing in periodicals and magazines--also the program from Jim Elliot's memorial service is on the left page.

LIFE magazine did a very large spread about the situation. I have chosen a few pages below to photograph. (double clicking gives you a better view)

'Letters to the editor' of Life on the left side and an article from Christian Walk on the right.

Moody Monthly covered the story with many pictures and personal stories
of the families involved.

Aviation Fellowship had a whole magazine dedicated as Nate Saint was one of their pilots. (I see the picture from the front had been cut out--probably for some report one of the kids did on something from that era)

Readers Digest had a condensed version of "Through Gates of Splendor"

And last, an article from The Sunday School Times--I don't even know if
that is around anymore.

This scrapbook went to school with many of the fifth graders in my home, as that is the year they studied South America....so the scrapbook is tattered and torn, but has been read and read by many, many people!

If you are interested in reading further how my own life was changed because of this event in our history you might want to read this post.

My After Christmas Visitor

My Molly girlie came for three days just before New Year's. We always have such a good time together. She is a true girlie girl and loves to visit....so we talk....and we make cards.....and she texts her friends in between! (Now that texting is another whole subject!!!)

Molly's Daddy wanted her to make him some thank you notes to keep on his desk at church, so he can send off notes to people he wants to thank. So she made some really nice ones for him. (Double click on the cards to see the details)

She made the decorative sack in which to put the cards. Her Dad was very pleased with them!

We got the time for a hair cut, which was a bit of a disappointment to her, as the hair dresser didn't cut her hair exactly like the picture she took with her. I thought she was adorable, but what Gram thinks is adorable, is not always Molly's idea of adorable!!!

Its hard to believe that she is going to be 14 next month!!

Next time it will be Elliot's turn. He was at a Christmas Camp at the beach for five days. With our snowed in time, there were very few free days to have them come this year. We do week-ends, though when they don't have sports, so I will nab him soon. As they get older, they aren't as available to visit Gram because of all of their activities and such.

I am a winner of a free giveaway!

Some time ago, Robin at Be still and know...had a giveaway. My name was chosen and she mailed my prize to me. It was this lovely cross.


I had a spot all picked out for it, but it didn't look right, so I put it on the wall in the family room, where I think it fits in beautifully. Thanks Robin, it looks just right and I like that it is beside the sheep!

I'm sorry it took me so long to post this, but with Christmas, I had to wait to try it after the decorations were all down. I have never had a cross for the wall and I am loving it. I think it is a great addition! Its wonderful and I feel blessed to have been the winner!!

Christmas Eve, 2008, is history!

As you know from the previous post, we were in the middle of a huge snowstorm on Christmas Eve. It was finally decided that we would meet, as usual, at my sister and brother-in-law's home for our buffet supper and gifts. (my nephew and family picked me up with chains on their pick-up)

We got there and were greeted by our hosts......


Shortly after we ate, the children began opening their gifts and a police car pulled up front....and soon another one joined it. It was my nephew and his wife, both on duty, but with a dinner hour to spend with the family. .....and so, with their arrival, we were complete!

(Can you imagine having to dress like that for work??? They wear bullet-proof vests under their shirts--it all looks pretty heavy and combersome to me!)

They had some WONDERFUL news to give us! They opened a gift and pulled out an OSU baby outfit! They are expecting a little boy baby June 16!!!!!!! This news created quite an uproar in the living room!! The shock and surprise…..

for they were adament about not having kids…..

Well, God has other plans for them!!!!! We are SO excited, to say the least! I am so thrilled that my nephew, who is a tender-hearted, gentle giant of a man, will have his own little baby.

He thinks he is too old, but age doesn't seem to matter any more. He is 45 and she will be 38 when baby comes. They will do just fine. They will have to adjust their life style, but it will all be worth it.....and they will come to realize that in time.

And so our night ended on that most happy note and we made our way home through the snow. My son, Jonathan and family came out here for the night. After stockings and breakfast, a little visiting, and just a happy, laughter-filled morning, I made a little lunch and sent them on their way, as it was snowing hard again. They live an hour's drive south of us, so needed to get on the road for home. Just one problem, they couldn't get their van out of the snow.

So after some digging, some pushing, and patience, they were on the move for a very good drive home without incident!

It was a happy time for all of us. As I age, I so love the time spent with family and realize what a blessing they all are to me. I am so grateful for our rich heritage given us by our parents and grandparents.

Some pictures from the storm of '08!

This will be a collection from the Portland area with which to remember this storm! (The worst in our area since 69) Hopefully, I'll get some of my area. I live on the East side of town and we often get it worse here because we are closer to the Gorge.

This is my high energy friend's driveway. She shoveled this space so her son-in-law would be able to pull in when he comes to put on her chains so she can get out! Pretty good for a 72 year old lady!!

My friend's home on the West Side. She hadn't done her driveway yet!!

This shows the iced up trees.

And from my cousins' home on my side of town near Troutdale,
where the Interstate 84 has been closed for three days for a stretch of about 75 miles.
The car is nearly buried, but the U. S. Flag is flying proudly in the snow!
Notice the lamp pole buried in the snow!
Looking out from her kitchen nook window. It IS beautiful, but my oh my,
how a collection of snowflakes can stop an area dead in its tracks!!

My brother in law's pickup!
Brother in law, Bill beginning to shovel out the walkway.
He is making progress...
Look at the depth of the snow where he has cut into the walkway!
Poor old fellow. that was a lot of work!!


To be added, some pictures from my front yard tomorrow, unless it is all gone by then! (I wish)

Well, Surprise!! It didn't melt!

From my garage to the right front yard
To the left is my six foot fence with drifts
house across the street
hope this tree stays where it belongs
to the back yard--my poor geraniums--all buried in that drift except for one pot
I think my hedge may have bitten the dust.
No baths for the birdies today!
According to the weather reports, five more inches tonight!!
I'm waiting for a pizza to be delivered!! Hope he makes it!!