California, time to go home

     As most of you may know, I am from Visalia, CA, born, raised, 3rd/4th generation to that area.  See the Jordan family.  I come down the John Jordan, Silas Tolbert Jordan line, very interesting history, enjoy.

     After leaving home, 6 years ago, it was time to go back for a visit.  My travel buddy, Ginger, in Visalia, offered me a bedroom to stay in, so, decided it was time.  I rented a car for the drive...did I say how long it took!!  Hours!!  Pretty scenery, nice easy drive. I left at 4:30 a.m., arrived to see my friend, Stef, in Modesto around 6:30pm.  Had dinner with her and her husband, nice visit, good food.  Proceeded on with my drive to Visalia arriving little after midnight.  Bed felt wonderful....

Ginger going out to spray, love this pic

     Up for breakfast and visit with Ginger.  Her home is in the country, around the corner from where I lived for 14 years.  It is my home away from home. Ginger has a great country home with lots of gardens, turtles, chickens, dog and cat.  It was sunny and warm...to us Oregonians that is great.

beautiful group of ladies from the 60's

     During my visit I was entertained by lunch with my  High School sweetheart (darn, now married), enjoyed feeling like "kids" again and reminiscing.  Had a "ladies reunion luncheon" small group of women who graduated Redwood High in 1967, this was fun, have not seen many since that time, we have all aged gracefully. We honored the memory of a classmate, who had passed with a brain tumor, again, lots of good memories. 

      Did a surprise visit to my "Missionary" bud, (we took teens to Mexico), another surprise with fellow H.S. graduate/4H leadership days.   She is recouping from chemo, doing good. 

     Lunch with friends in Tulare and had dinner with fellow secretaries from the Public Defender days, spend a entire day doing a "photo shoot" with best friend, Karen.  We made a trip to the Sequoia Park where I wanted to get pictures of the big Redwoods, 

tall trees

and we saw bears, mom with 2 cubs

Of course, spent time with my daughter, Kandi, and grands. My how the kids have grown!!  I made the mistake of visiting my grandson and daughter at their place of employment....Valley Oak SPCA....yes, I knew better...came away with a 6 month old, female pit/lab cross named Adele!!

relaxing on Auntie Ginger's lawn

doesn't miss a thing!

  Just look at the upside...I saved a life!!  She is Brindle in color, loves people, chickens and my cat. (requirement)  After the long drive home, she is a "seasoned" traveler too. She loves the bed that "auntie Ginger" sent home for her, as you can see:

   

Aslan "allowing" Adele to sleep in his domain.

     After 7 days I am home.  A friend from Redwood/College days said I am an adventuresome soul....we had lunch together on my drive through Sacramento on the way back home.  I think he is right...so, on to the next adventure...which will also include Adele...she may get her own blog spot!!

 

    

Back from Romania

I am sitting in front of my television, which I rarely do, and watching Lentl with Barbara Streisand....such a fun picture.

I discovered what "jet lag" is all about, it has taken me about 2 weeks to recover! The flight home was very long, the International flight was very nice, free movies and 2 choices for dinner.  With all the cuts on flights this was a nice surprise.

What a trip.....it seemed I arrived and then it was time to return to the States.  Upon arriving in Culj we were met and transported to our host homes in Alba Iulia. 

The drive was almost 2 hours, in the rain.  Enjoyed the drive, was travel tired.  We met our host family and homes, there was a total of 5 Americans in our home, where we were treated to wonderful hospitality.  Their home was very nice, they purchased it about 4 years ago and are slowly remodeling it as a bread & breakfast, to be able to host other Missionaries.

  

my bedroom, there is a patio outside each bedroom

First Monday we left early for Camp in the Carpathian Mts.

Camp Necrilesti was beautiful.

sunrise

and fun for all, Camp program was called The Amazing Race:

Worms to find

water games and shaving cream stuff

back the second week to cook for the construction team, we spent 3 days, and we cooked "American" food for the Romanian/American team there.

some scenes along the way

covered wood walkway, 173 steps, built in 1600's

and guess who was born here??

and home.

I would go again in a heartbeat. Such a blessing and so glad I was a part of this team.
 Interestingly, in Romania, when a student is in their Senior year, they take a test, if they pass it their college schooling is paid for....how behind we are in our thinking....this is the future of their country, what are we doing for ours??  What do I have, what do I really need to be happy??  Nothing like a foreign country visit to make you look at your life differently, and yes, appreciate all I've been given.  Hope you enjoyed the visit..... 

today I pack

     I have put this off as long as possible.   I leave my house at 3:30 a.m. tomorrow, I need to seriously think of what to put in my one....1....suitcase, for a 2.5 week trip out of the USA.
     In case I haven't said, I will be going to Romania on a Mission trip for 2 and a half weeks.  I am very excited that God has made this trip possible and will use me to His glory.  I will be traveling with 11 others, ages 13 to late 60's.  It is so exciting to see these young people going to minister.  Six of the group first went 2 years ago, so there will be some with experience in the travel. 
     We leave PDX at 7:30am, travel to Newark, then on to Munich, Germany, then into Cluj, Romania, where we will be met by a church van and travel to Alba lulia, (Alba Oolia). We will meet the Pastor and family there, and be introduced to our host families, perhaps a little site seeing. 
     The Plan...we will begin on Monday with travel to the Camp, a week long Vacation Bible School, titled The Amazing Race at Camp Necrilesti, at the base of mountains.  There will be over 50 teens coming to the camp from neighboring villages. We will give them all camp shirts and lesson plan.  As our "Romania" is treacherous there will be a translator, and body language is pretty universal!  I am attempting to learn..."thank you, please, where is the restroom" ....I should have it down by airplane touchdown.
     During the week we will sleep in tents for the guys and inside the newly constructed building for women.  Little rustic, bathe in the stream, water for drinking is brought in from underground spring.  I do not think there is running water, last time it was trips to the outhouse. We can do our laundry on the weekends at our host family's home. There will be a trip into Sighisoara and a trip to see Dracula's castle....interesting. 
      I pray for health for the team, rest,( the time is ahead of us 10 hours), Divine appointments to happen, new relationships to be made, fun, and God's love to be felt by all.
      I'm sure time will fly past, as it always does when you do not want it to. I will take pictures to help me remember the special moments. Journal, as I always do. We will have access to the Internet at the church, but, not knowing what that means at this point, I will probably only have time to send notes to family. If I have more time, I may Blog from there!!
      In the past few weeks I have enjoyed the company of my grandsons, Mason and Gunner. Mason doing Sports Camp one week and both boys for a week of VBS. I enjoyed the boys, and enjoyed the rest afterwards!!!    Keep me in your prayers........

and what do boys do when they win hammers??

face painting, Mason is an alien, Gunner is Iron man, of course

riding fun

   

    

Romantic Thymes: Summer is for Grand son and fishing

Romantic Thymes: Summer is for Grand son and fishing

Summer is for Grand son and fishing

  As we are now into July, summer has decided to arrive!!  "Welcome sun"
I had fun with my grandson, Mason, he spent the last 4 days of June with me attending Sports Camp each day, 9-1, and doing fun things in the afternoon.

  First day we put together a new raised garden bed in my front yard, Mason did all the work, I was his "helper."  He handled the battery operated screwdriver quite well, instructing me where to hold the pieces of wood together so he could put the screws in.  He was proud of his "20" screws he did.  Grand kids are such a joy. 
  We went to see the newly released Green Hornet, popcorn, coke and candy in hand, where I was brought up to date on this hero. 
Tuesday I purchased his fishing pole and my fishing license, (first since coming to Oregon).  We packed the car and headed for Trojan Lake




this one got away, try again





and did I say it started to rain...we are in Oregon, but, kids do not care!!

  It was so much fun giving instruction and watching him cast his rod in anticipation.  He got a bite, but, as fishing goes it got away, he was convinced it was "big silver" the trout of all times!!
Next day he ask if we could go again, and try to catch the one who got away...of course we did, even though weather was a little more daunting then the day before.  First we dug in the compost pile, finding  worms, (we filled the wheelbarrow with the compost, dumping it inito the new bed followed by the bags of soil, grandma knows how to incorporate work with fun).  Made peanut butter and banana sandwiches for snacks (Mason's request) with strawberries just picked for desert ( grand kids give us the permission to be kids too).

he caught one, look at that face!

  He originally wanted to catch and release, not wanting to eat fish, which he said he didn't like.  This one swallowed the worm and hook, so we kept him.  About 30 minutes later I landed a 14" Trout,  Mason was right there helping me get him..."Grandma, Grandma, keep him away from the water so he won't get away"....as he was trying to grab the slippery fellow....to cute.  (of course, due to the rain, camera was in the car)   We were both soaked to the skin, and the only ones left on the lake fishing...but, we didn't care, we caught our fish.  We left almost 8:00pm, coming home to clean and fry our fish. Mason watched as I fillet the fish, (its been many years since I attempted this), as I gave words of wisdom ..."my Daddy, your great grandpa, always said, if you fish, you also do the cleaning".....so by 10:00pm we ate our fish with strawberries on the side, he did say the fish tasted like fish nuggets....a great day of fishing was enjoyed and we both slept like logs.
  Thursday ended with swim at local pool and after his Mom came we did dinner and down to the waterfront for music and entertainment, he left for home around 9 that night, Mom told me he slept in the next day.
   I miss my little companion, but, on July 10th I will pick up Mason and his little brother (4) for a week of Vacation Bible School, 9-1 each day....I think I will uncork that bottle of wine that's been in the fridge for over a year, after they return home Friday....;^}

Romantic Thymes: Camping

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Camping

I went camping with my daughter, Amy, and grandsons, Mason and Gunner.  It was lots of fun. 



Did I say it was not in a tent?  (also had access to a swimming pool with Jacuzzi)



and free "all you can eat" pancakes each morning 7-11am, that we did not have to make, we liked this too

we only got 6 clams, but, weather was pretty

and we explored an old ship wreck from 1906, boys loved it, especially all the barnacles!!  (This was the wreck of the Peter Iredale @ Ft. Stevens Park).

We later learned how to build a campfire, I do not ever remember it being this difficult!!  We had lots of help from the KOA staff and even a fellow camping neighbor (who noticed we needed help from all the smoke blowing into his cabin...LOL). 

Mason is giving Mom helpful advice.

 
    About 2 hours later, we got a very hot fire going, Amy's guy, Jim, showed up on his motorcycle, to spend the night.  Out came the hot dogs to be cooked over the open flames, I cooked potatoes with garlic and onions, Amy sliced the veggies and Jim surprised us all by retrieving 2 large crabs out of his saddlebag, given to him by a friend he visited on his way to our camp.  I did not hesitate to get the hot water going, and making a garlic and butter sauce for dipping...mmmm it was the best dinner!!
  The next day it turned into a typical Oregon day...rain...we didn't let it spoil our day. After breakfast, Jim helped us pack the car before he left, he was not looking forward to the long ride home, he was dressed for it, but, would be cold and wet upon arrival home. 
  We took our time coming home, going up the coast to Sea Side.  You will never guess, we stopped at a yard sale in town, (we love yard sales) and Amy bought 2 old wood green chairs for replacement dinning chairs. They were only $3 each, she quickly shifted things in the car and found just enough room, between the boys in the back seat....my goodness we looked like a redneck moving van. (no offense intended)   Stopping for lunch at Doogers (known for their sea food) and found that there was a "muscle car" show on the street, we enjoyed checking out all the old cars (memories of those days came back to me). 
  We ended with visiting the "bumper cars" Amy rode with Gunner, he took the wheel and she did the gas, I chose a bright red car, ramming my grandsons, who did not hold back on crashing into their "old grams", even at 4, Gunner did a great job finding me on the race track.....I laughed until I cried, haven't had this much fun in ages!! 

love the "thumbs up" sign from the little one

Mason was gearing up to rumble

  Slept in this morning, moving a little stiffly, don't know if it was the long beach walks, clamming, or the bumper car crashes, doesn't matter, it was fun.

Busy days

Saturday, I went to the Farmer's Market to work with the Mission crew in selling hot dogs, nachos and drinks with the money going to our trip to Romania fund.  I enjoy this, all sales are donations, people find this hard to believe, everything has a price, God is growing our funds. 

That afternoon I met my daughter and grand sons, we checked out some displays, grabbed late lunch, went to the Circus and afterwards, got ice cream cones, watched while the boys played on the Riverfront playground.  Beautiful day, ending with a street band made up of old timers, playing a mixture of old rock, jazz, country and fun, shared a pizza for dinner while listening, needless to say, the boys fell asleep almost the minute they left my house.  ;^}

Sunday, church and enjoying my gardens.

Iris

front corner

Yesterday, I got my hair cut, hurray, went to Garden Club, where we made flower arrangements to be delivered to various local business.  I delivered to the Police dept., Fire dept, City Hall and City Court.  Nice way to say "thank you."  Stopped by my church to pick up the recycle plastic, glass and cans.  (4.5 large black plastic bag fulls)  Next, met a group of quilters from my Guild, and helped do "hand" quilting.  Quick salad, off to Life Group, (small Bible study group).....bed, after watching The Rabbit Hole.

Today, quick loads of wash, off to redeem recyclables, and drove into Hillsboro to attend Helene Knott's "Veggie Kitty" class at Sharon's Attic til 5pm. Early bed time, tomorrow is Ladies Bible study. All Classical, PDX radio station, allclassical.org, started their fund raising yesterday, and called me to help tomorrow afternoon as someone is ill.  I've always wanted to help with the fundraising, answering phones, taking pledges, it will be such fun!!  I also will help Friday evening, the last day. This is my favorite radio station and it is always exciting to see how people support them as all funding comes from listeners. 

    

I have started to paint again, very rusty!!  I'll keep you posted.