Hi, back again!!

MIA (to coin a friend) time is over, time to renew friendships via this blog.

   What has happened since my last post??  First, my PT Cruiser engine blew up last November, using up all my meager savings for another engine, ( remember, my Viking Sewing Gallery had been closed on my birthday, newly unemployed and on SS).  The crank shaft oil seal blew out, dumping all the oil....it was not a pretty thing!!  Just before Christmas time too.  God is so good though, my church paid my high heating oil bill.  My 2 daughters went together to provide wood for my fireplace, I cried as I opened the door, son in law standing on the porch and the pick-up with wood parked in front, "where would you like this stacked Mom?"  Someone put money on my electric company account, and someone left money for me to pick up.   It was a prayerful, tearful, counting all my blessings time in my life. A time of wonderful testimony to share.  Giving all praise to Him who promises to take care of our needs, and we are so surprised when He does!!
     The end of March, past, marked my 1 year of being unemployed.  I have had the time to evaluate where I am, a new chapter, where do I want to go with my life, and the celebration of turning 63 and 13 years cancer free, another "thank you God" moment.  My birthday gift from my daughters, is a tattoo, I had talked about having done, Celtic cross (Irish background), Christ's crown of thorns, 3 roses growing around the cross, each in color of the daughter's birth color, over my heart....the most important things of my life. 
     Saving money has become an adventuresome challenge.  Not that there is much to save, and, by using the Internet, I discovered all the many fun things available, just gas money required, and time...which I have had an excess of!!

     I joined several "Meet Up" groups.  You can do a search for these, marking off your areas of interest and suddenly there's groups to join with your interests in mind.  I chose several, two photography groups, for my photography hobby, even though I still use a "film" camera, it has been fun.  Met new friends, while I learned about F-stops, depth of field, landmarks and places of interest, who would have thought Hippo Hardware would be such a blast  and hiking the 4T trail was considered a "photography" opportunity.

            
    For my water color hobby, a couple of groups.  One group I really love, an artist guild of people who share many different art mediums, and encouragement is given by all as we share our art work each month, over chocolate.  The other is a Plain Aire, painting outside, I discovered Ft. Vancouver. 

     There is the Over 50 and Fabulous, Anyone Can Join and Keep Portland Weird groups, each is self explanatory.  I have discovered great eating places, the history of Big Foot in Oregon, as he surprised my daughter, 

 the beauty of  Lone Pine Cemetery, how to paddle a Kayak and met some of the "colorful" people who make up our city.  The Art Museum group, visiting museums of interest while learning about artist. (love the Monet works and found Mary Hill in the middle of no where)
Urban hikers, Glass Fusion group where I have discovered the beauty of melted glass , and, not to forget... Dog lovers groups where Adele showed off her St. Paddy's Day attire.

     Adele has become my companion in travel.  We have discovered the "dogie park" in Scappoose and Hillsboro, where we have both made friends, McCall water parkway, a romp on the beach, walks around town where she meets and greets walkers and their companions. She is a good exercise inspiration for me. 

     Sewing, have done very little.  Gardens look great, have finally carpeted my hallway and found the perfect old fashion wood screen door, which I painted....are you ready.....bright yellow. (I know the color is a shock to some).

     Along with all this, I have discovered how to apply for unemployment benefits, file a weekly claim, look for a new job, apply, be turned down, or just ignored, and the daily jobs now offered to  become a "money collecting site" for people in foreign countries....all with the last name of Mr. Smith or Ms. Brown, and the opportunity of becoming a "Secret Shopper" after I open a warehouse of stock, with all my unemployment money.....all via the INTERNET.....do you believe????   My goodness, times have changed!! 
     I had the privilege of becoming a Costume Director for our church Easter play.  Wonderful time, talented people and a group of fabulous ladies as my seamstress team. 
      Oh, the latest turn, a phone call from the Manager of the Vancouver Viking Sewing Gallery.....would I please consider coming back to work for Viking??   I have, and another new chapter begins, I'm not the boss this time, and it feels okay    8^)
     This pretty well brings my life up to the present...so...on with my blogging. 
    

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.....