I've anticipated this epic event since the last partial Vancouver, WA eclipse in August, 2017!  A total solar eclipse Monday, April 8 at 3PM, passing through Indianapolis...  AND  hanging out with my family!!  Woo!  Woo!  Full March worm moon over the Cuv! (Opening event) Flying East on Tuesday, April 2! (Facebook photo) WELL!! Let's take a closer look! Official observers!! Stephanie, Catherine, Ray Moon taking bites out of the sun!! (Nick's photos) Growing Dim  Stars showing Porch lights coming on ..read more

 IT MUST BE A COSMIC DATE!! 02/24/24 GRAM G'S BIRTHDAY!! It all started a number of years ago...well, lets skip a number of years... Angie treating me to lunch and nails! A Bday surprise hint from Amanda and Amazon! Goodbye Mt. Hood! Hello San Diego!! Ye ol' orange picker, Bill! Fresh from the tree, oranges for breakfast! Heading to the Old Globe theater in Balboa Park Bday surprise...Play of Age of Innocence Birthday dinner at Parc Bistro-Brasserie French restaurant downtown San Diego! Amanda, Bill, Gerry, Jake, Jude, Berklee, Debbie May, Gram G, Debbie Rose Escargo ..read more

February in the PNW is a transition month that is eager to throw off the coat of winter and embrace the warm of spring...only in hints, though. I always enjoy walking through our park.  Hardy flowers share in the anticipation of warmer weather!   We even enjoy occasional blue skies! But recently I walked on a cloudy afternoon and got caught in an unpredicted shower! Even my olive tree, sheltering indoors feels the call of spring!   I wonder if there will be olives this summer! __________________________ February also hosts Ground Hog's Day, Vale ..read more

My son, Chuck, came out from Milwaukee, WI to visit, work remote and help me for 10 days.  We included some German cooking! Following the recipe for spätzle! Grating and boiling the spätzle! Frying the schnitzel! Enjoying schnitzel and spätzle with mushroom gravy, along with pickled red cabbage! YUM! YA VO!  ________________________________ Chuck is a fan of marbled ryebread.   Gram G is a fan of new baking adventures! The proof is in the eating! Chuck loved the bread!! Would I routinely make the bread? No. It is work intensive.  ..read more

  HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! We are already past the middle of the first month of this new year!  Here in Vancouver, I have gone from "I love the green grass in January, that's why I live here" to   One's outlook depends on if you are looking at the blue or the gray  to  Ready for Christmas 2024!  This coming weekend I should be back to "love the green grass in January".  Hopefully... Now to step back a few weeks to relive the Christmas holidays. I started to blog on Dec. 23 and that was it! ________________ Sat, Dec.23 Good Christmas Eve, Eve!  Exc ..read more

  Early November, Chuck and Anna invited me for  5 Days of Christmas in Milwaukee! It would have been rude for me to decline! But first some local Christmas fun! Formal luncheon with Creekside folks  prepared by the area  secondary catering/cooking school An invitation to sub for Bunco  Got a bunco and #9 notepad paper for  "random" winning number to regain my $10 fee!  Visit to a lady friend who is in hospice... A therapist was there playing this magnificent harp!   I decided to put outdoor Christmas on my back deck so I could enjoy seeing ..read more

November 2, Thursday, found me on an evening flight from Portland to San Diego for a four day weekend! Granddaughter, Gemma, had a lead part in  "PUFFS", a spoof play about the Hufflepuffs  in Harry Potter stories   Rebel, Megan Jones, who doesn't want to be a Puff Dad and Gemma Her adoring audience Saturday evening Debbie, Waffles and I took a 2.5 mile hilly trek to view  Mt. Calavera, an ancient volcano that erupted 22 million years ago. Mt. Calavera with evening sun glow   Sunset in Oceanside Sunday afternoon ride on the Coaster to Old Town ..read more

LET THE PARTY BEGIN!! Tuesday, Oct. 10 I once again boarded a plane to Milwaukee, WI  for the main family event of the year... Brian and Angie's wedding!! Thursday, some of us ladies tried out the "Salt Cave"... One relaxes in a cave room with Himalayan salt covered floor, listening to quiet music while breathing in salt infused air.  And infra red sauna...not me... ____________________________ Friday evening family dinner!! __________________________ Saturday morning flower bouquet project! "What are these flowers doing on my table?" Time to ..read more

Starting at 4 AM Friday, Sept 15! Mt. Hood at sunrise...  Stop over in Denver Hello, Burt, in Memphis!!  A nap, a good night's sleep and Saturday off to  the USA RAW NATIONALS  to cheer grandson Tyler as he competes in  power lifting!! My true love?? Excited Fans!! He gets his genes from me! Tyler was happy with his results and qualified for 2 competitions next year! Way to go, Tyler!!  Had to check out a few Memphis sites... St. Jude's children's cancer treatment hospital 9th largest pyramid in the world,  housing a hotel and huge ..read more

Rockaway Beach...a fitting way to "rock away" the summer But first a suitable ending to August! The Blue Super Moon over Vancouver... Lit up lovely cloud formations in the night In reality the moon had an orange glow to it. I recall, as a child, hearing and singing a song or two about "Blue Moon..."  I thought it expressed someone being sad. Just recent years I came to understand it meant a second full moon in a month. _________________ Saturday, Sept 2, Zach and I took a drive to Rockaway Beach, Oregon for the afternoon. Heading out of Portland Through Goose Hollow Tunnel ..read more