Mending Crafts

Happy New Year!!!

While there were many wonderful travels and visits with family and friends in  2017 for me, I was so sad at the end of November to get a call from my oldest sister, Carolyn, in Sonoma, California, asking me to come be with her after she had emergency colostomy surgery. I have been in Sonoma since December 3, 2017.

I recently saw and purchased these two books and hope that as I read them they will help me focus on mending and creating even through difficult puzzling times.  Carolyn and her oldest daughter just finished putting together the puzzle pictured above.

I took two days to drive from Portland, Oregon, south through Crescent City, California, where I stopped briefly to take this photo of the Crescent City lighthouse on the island. Do you see the seal admiring it?

A few days after Christmas my older sister, Margaret, came north to Sonoma from Burbank to visit until New Years Day.  During that time, Carolyn experienced some difficult side effects from the five days of chemo she had just finished, but we enjoyed distracting ourselves by putting together puzzles.

One night after Margaret went home to Burbank, my niece gave me an extra ticket she had to attend a folk concert by John McCutchen at the Sonoma Sebastiani Theatre.  He plays the piano, guitar, autoharp, hammered dulcimer, fiddle, other instruments, sings and tells interesting stories as well.  My niece and I thoroughly enjoyed his performance!

Since I last checked in with you I crocheted a little silver heart, painted a card, knit a few rows on a dishcloth, and I have done some mending, including mending some seams of this quilt.

Last week Carolyn's oldest daughter and two of her grandsons flew in from Nebraska for a few days visit and we had a wonderful time!

Last Saturday we drove to Bodega Bay and saw this fabulous view.

Here, my great nephew, Phillip is looking out for whale spouts from Bodega Head.  At the beach, he and his brother, William, dared to get in the water, flew a kite and ran around enjoying sun and surf.

Today if Carolyn's white cell count is okay she will start another five day round of chemo at a lower dose that we hope will bring her healing without painful side effects.

I am so sorry that I have not managed to stay in better touch with you, and I hope to do so in the days ahead.

May you and yours know the Lord's blessings!

Gracie :)  xx

Meandering

My youngest son, Tim, visiting from NJ, and I started meandering  from  Vista Point along the Columbia River in Oregon,  where Tim took this photo with the Washington shore pictured behind us.

We meandered by Multnomah Falls, and up Mt. Hood,

and along the Sandy River at Dodge Park,

and then to Blue Lake Park where you can see Joy and Molly splashing,

and where Uncle Tim and Rosie had a serious consultation,

and Uncle Tim gallantly guided Joy balancing on a log.

Meandering around our home after Tim flew back to NJ some of the family picked the first of our crop of apples.

Hayley asked for help learning how to crochet a blanket for her mom.

I knit some dishcloths for my friends, Teresa, Betsy and Taci, and my oldest daughter picked some of her lavender to share with them.

Then I meandered south to Crescent City especially to visit my dear 83 year old friend, Donna, and my wonderful friends in the Windy Weavers group.

Donna and I ate dinner here and played a game of Scrabble, too :)

Right after I left Donna in Crescent City, after a delightful visit with her, she suddenly had a heart attack and then a stroke and died...a shock I am still processing while celebrating her beautiful creative life filled with teaching, playing piano, making and appreciating art, and being a champion Scrabble player who trounced me nearly every time we played.  We shared faith in God, both graduated from San Jose State University and had a loving friendship that made light of the 20 years that separated us in age.  I am so grateful to have known her.

From Crescent City I meandered further south to Sonoma, CA, to pick up my oldest sister, Carolyn, and we then drove north to the high desert land of eastern Oregon.

Just south of Bend, OR, we saw this fabulous sunset at Waldo Lake.

We had hoped to go swimming with Teresa and Dayle in Waldo Lake and see 140 feet down in the clear water, but thunderstorms prevented that :( and Carolyn had a migraine headache so was not able to enjoy the delicious dinner of baked potato, corn on the cob, and filet mignon that Teresa and Dayle fixed for us. I also got to meet and enjoy a visit with Teresa's brother and sister-in-law, and one of her other sisters.

The next day, Carolyn, who felt better, and I meandered further north by the three Sisters Mountains, had lunch in the charming Western themed town of Sisters, OR ,and drove back to my home in Gresham.

We meandered out to eat several times in the next few days, and my youngest daughter, Elisabeth took this interesting photo at Tad's Chicken an' Dumplins along the Sandy River where we had  memorably yummy meals.  Then tomorrow we meander to the Portland, OR, airport PDX, so that my sister can fly home to Sonoma, CA.

Where have you been meandering?

Gracie xx