Home Again

What can I possibly say about our week away that will interest any of you? Recent memories of our visit to #2 son and his girls have been careening through my mind for days. I wonder if you would like to know about . . . Lillie.

She’s eight and doesn’t care if the haircut I got a few days before we flew out is a little wonky. And it bothers her not a bit if I’m not sporting the most trendy shoes or earrings. No – Lillie cares about my knowledge of all things Harry Potter and is more than willing to fill in any blanks in my understanding. And there are a lot of those. So many, in fact, that we watched four HP movies while we were there and I have to say, I’m coming along. Still, I was told as we sat in the fort we built together, that the spell she was looking up in her Book of Wisdom (her own creation) was of too high a level for a beginner like me. But that’s okay. I’d rather sit with her in the fort she named The Green Acorn than in most places on earth because Lillie cares about the important things in life and she's bringing me along.

Or I could tell  you about the blueberry bushes that line the driveway as you approach Blaine’s house. Four of them loaded to bursting. I picked some every day and managed to make three fat pies while I was there. The first was gobbled up in no time, the second went to the landlord, and the third was for remembrance. I told Lillie and her big sister, Elaina, that I hoped they’d think of me and Grandpa while they polished it off. Lillie reminded me that blueberries are a fruit that makes you poop – and at my age that’s a good thing to know! 

 

We cooked. I taught Elaina, who’s fourteen, to make crispy chicken strips. She, Lillie and I commandeered the kitchen one night and served up a right tasty meal for Dad and Grandpa. Nobody went away hungry – well, maybe one little space down at the bottom for pie. 

Oh – and then there was the Rheinlander, an excellent German restaurant in Portland. We’d been there on a previous visit and hubby suggested it for my birthday. Wonderful food, accordian playing fella in lederhosen, and desserts to die for. I even quaffed some German beer. The fella played Happy Birthday and then he and our waitress sang a birthday song in German for me. What fun! Here’s a photo of us and Elaina’s dessert, a fancy sort of Napoleon. And the fella. Isn't he cute?



Blaine, Lillie, Grandpa John, Elaina, Grandma Sue

I need to read myself asleep most nights and Elaina would tiptoe into the living room to see if I was still up. At fourteen she’s of the opinion that eleven o’clock at night is way to early to hit the sack. I love it that she feels comfortable enough to share bits of her life with me even if some of them are troublesome. I believe listening is more helpful than advising at times like these, but of course I did offer a word or two. Grandmas just can’t stop themselves sometimes.

Blaine took us to his office, where he designed the impressive control room with multiple computer screens keeping track of wind power across the country – simply amazing. We hiked in Lewis River County Park - spacious and beautiful. The girls and I played Uno and Yahtzee. We visited OMSI – the Oregon Museum of Science and Technology. Had to cross the Columbia River from Battle Ground, Washington, to get there, but it didn’t take too long. We made several trips to Albertson’s for groceries where they sell Umpqua ice cream in red containers with the chief in a headress pictured on the carton. Visiting regional grocery stores is a weird passion of mine. Also went to Fred Myers; a Ginormous full service store where I got ten pairs of white sox for hubby for mere pennies (okay about a thousand of them) – and some groceries. We don’t have either of these stores in New York. Loved shopping in both of them even though we couldn't find the girls Otter Pops in Albertson's.

And then, somehow, suddenly, it was time to leave and I had the luggage on the waterbed (yeah – first time we’d ever slept on one of those) packing back up. Hubby popped his head in the door and said, “It seems like we just got here.” Didn’t I know it.

Back home now and unpacking the memories, the sox, the clothes I took way too much of and picking a little pebble from the park out of the treds in one of my sneakers.

But we're looking forward to the end of this month when #2 son and his girls will visit us. Yay – their turn to pack! Just doesn’t get any better. Maybe we'll hit the races at Saratoga.

And I’m putting aside time for advanced studies of Harry Potter – I’ve got nearly three weeks!



Making Gargoyles for the fort. Fun!