Two of the reasons why I have successfully made it through the last 365 days. My sons.

Saturday, January 7, was the one year anniversary of Mama's death. Naturally I wondered how I would feel, how I would act.

So, in order to insulate myself in what I consider to be a healthy manner, I stopped by The Circuit NE Tuesday after work. No, I did not join Lamont and Leland in bouldering. Instead I said to them, "Let's go to lunch on Saturday after you've finished bouldering. You know it has been one year on that day." "Yes," and "Yes," they both said.

They came and got me around 1 p.m. I pulled a Grandma on them and was waiting in my apartment when they came to the door, purse in hand, my coat already on! We went to Cha! Cha! Cha! on SE Hawthorne. Good, inexpensive food. Then we went to JaCiva’s, also on SE Hawthorne, for some handmade chocolates. While I believe Mexican food and chocolate go hand in hand and made me feel pretty good on Saturday, it was being with Lamont (left) and Leland (right) that made me feel best of all.

Don't get me wrong, having the thoughts and prayers and love from y'all all over the USA and over in England has helped me endure and heal and go forth, but being able to see these two young men on a regular basis, to hug them and get hugs from them, to see their sparkling eyes and smiles, to be able to tell them face to face, thank you so much for the big part you played in making Grandma's last years on earth so special for her (and for me with her)--those things have taken me over the top.

I woke up on Saturday, wondering how it would go. By the time I had spent time on the phone with Milton and Kay and Howard, had been with Lamont and Leland and with Casey (who came over for while late afternoon), then had watched the Saints take care of Detroit on TV while I ate the supper I had cooked, I went to bed knowing I had made it one whole year. I feel stronger and more at peace than I thought possible. Now I am on my way into the next 365 days. Thank you, everyone.

Vacation, Day 9, 10/29/2009, Part 6

First, let me explain my recent absence. It's the same song, four-jillionth verse. Been too busy. Been too tired. The only new thing was a nasty allergy-induced crud which, thankfully, is on the way out. Well, maybe until something else blooms or leafs!

Back to vacation in Talladega, Alabama. Kay and her grandson Ian had a blast playing golf--I had a blast taking lots and lots photos. And if my little white iBook Honk weren't so-slow-to-go, I'd have had a blast putting these two photos through some special effects at Picnik. Enjoy!

Kay swings her club at the ball.


Ian makes a powerful swing that results in a long gone ball and a flying divot.


One of the beautiful scenes at the golf course.


Ladybugs swarmed now and then as we tootled around the course on the golf cart. I finally got one in a photo!


Go, Portland Trail Blazers! We're in the first round of the NBA Play Offs, seeded #6 in the West, first game some time on Saturday. Yippee!

Vacation, Day 9, 10/29/2009, Part 5

You can easily see why this house grabbed my attention as we drove back from Talladega to the campground.


Lovely scenic fence--I wonder what it encloses?


From Tuesday through Monday, we're local!


On the way back to Talladega so that Ian and Kay could play golf and I could ride along on the golf cart and take photos, I spied this abandoned barn.


We had a stop to make first, to get the best available pumpkin so that Ian could carve it for Halloween.

Vacation, Day 9, 10/29/2009, Part 3

Thursday continues. Ian and Kay ride off somewhere in the golf cart. Looks like the ghosts are about the fly off the canopy!


Milton's plastic basket drying rack, tied to the sink's metal frame with white cord.


The opposite end of the sink frame holds a piece of plywood, placed over the opening for the other basket. The S-hooks have been put to use, too.


Milton's at work to stop the cords from fraying.


Now he's pulling on each piece.


Snap!


Now that he has altered all of the strings that he needs, Milton has moved the plywood, put the things to drip dry in the basket at the opposite end of the sink, and goes about tying this basket into the frame.


In no time at all we're in the truck, heading into the town of Talladega, going to a grocery store, of all places!


The drive took us along several country highways.




This shot reminds of the Blue Ridge over east by the Appalachians.


Lovely home surrounded by trees. I held the camera at the window and clicked off four or five, pointing it to the right as we went by. I got this one, thank goodness.


Imagine our surprise when we came upon TM Cars on the outskirts of Talladega. You see, Milton's first name starts with a T, and at work everyone calls him TM!


We went by the clubhouse at the golf course before we headed for the grocery store. Kay and Ian planned to play later on, so they wanted to find out the hours.


"Reserved Drivers Road Test Only," that's what the blue, diamond-shaped signs read. Looking at the photo, I began to wonder about the building, so I Googled, "Talladega Alabama county." That's where I learned that the building is the Talladega County Courthouse. Isn't the Internet wonderful?


I took this photo through the passenger window of the truck. Since I didn't know the name of the theater, I went to Google again. I learned that it was built in 1936 and used to be called the Martin Theatre. It has been restored and reopened as a multi-use community arts center.


I took this photo through the windshield. I can't remember the last time I saw this sort of traffic signal.

More of our tour of Talladega to come.

Vacation, Day 8, 10/28/2009, Part 2

Kay's one of those women who accomplish so much in what looks to be an effortless way. I've been in awe of her for years now.


Kay's breakfast biscuits, yummy. Oh, I need to explain something. When Kay and Milton go to Talladega, usually at least two groups of friends come in their own recreational vehicles which they camp nearby. For years they've shared in bringing the food for their get-together meals. This particular morning one of those people had not yet arrived, having decided not to drive over from Mississippi in the rain on Tuesday. That particular person was in charge of the majority of the breakfast food, although Kay always makes the biscuits so she had those ingredients with her.


She also had strawberry preserves and a bottle of Roddenbery's Northwood Lite Reduced Calorie Syrup.


Wing it, that's what we did, eating more of that delicious BBQ beef with the biscuits and jelly or syrup. Tasted great to me!

Vacation, Day 7, 10/27/2009, Part 6

Continuing to ready the toy hauler for our comfortable living space, Milton pulls out the awning--we're certain rain will return.


Ian and Milton continue to secure the awning's support system. Without these arms, we'd have to crawl beneath it and into the door.


The final step, from atop the stepladder which rode over to Talladega beneath the golf cart in the back of the toy hauler.

Standing in the bed of the pickup, Ian handed one of the gas tanks to Milton. This gas will be used for cooking while we're camped here.



To keep us from tracking bits of grass and/or mud into the trailer, Milton puts down a tarp.


Ian opens one of the collapsible trash cans.


Ian's working on his sleeping arrangements, up in the roof over the back end of the toy hauler.


Kay's a Jeft Gordon fan--#24!


Ian and Kay setting up one of the tables in front of a built-in couch.


The table is ready now. See the line to the left of the table legs? That is actually the same color as the rest of the carpet, as well as being a bit higher than the regular floor. It is the floor of the slide out, the one with the two built-in couches in it.


Wrapping up some Corky's ribs, readying them for the oven. We ended up eating ribs, shrimp and barbecued beef for supper.


Shrimp for later.


Kay had made this barbecued beef at home. It tasted great in Talladega!

After I downloaded some photos onto my thumb drive and plugged in the battery charger so that the used battery would be ready for the next day, I hit the hay. No photos of that, though.

Grapefruit, Revealed

Thanks to Tog of Coral Gables Photo for the information that this grapefruit is really a pomelo. According to Wikipedia:

The pomelo (or Chinese grapefruit, pummelo, pommelo, jabong, boongon, shaddock, jeruk Bali, or suha), Citrus maxima (Merr., Burm. f.), also Citrus grandis (L.), is a citrus fruit, usually a pale green to yellow when ripe, larger than a grapefruit, with sweet flesh and thick spongy rind.

Kay says the flesh was sweet, but not juicy. I didn't taste it; I just photographed it.

ABC Wednesday - E is for Enormous

Meet Kay, our bud from Mississippi with the enormous heart who has flown up here to stay with us until next Monday--all so that I can go to work every day and not worry about Mama! In Kay's left hand, she holds an enormous grapefruit that extraordinarily exceeds the expected size for a grapefruit. We got it Saturday evening at the local Fred Meyer. For the visual comparison, she holds a Granny Smith apple in her right hand.

Milton's Gourmet White Bread: It's Healthy!

When I saw this good-sized loaf on the shelf at Trader Joe's, I got so tickled. A lot of you met our best buds Milton and Kay at our going away cookout in from Byram, Mississippi. And you know that they drove all the way up here to Portland to visit us the last week of May. So, naturally I had to try this bread--I mean, look at the name! If I'd walked away, either the sight of the bread or the sound of Milton's own voice would have haunted me, at least until after Halloween!

The next morning after buying the bread, for that day's lunch I made myself a half sandwich which you see here on our kitchen cabinet, right before I folded it shut. Later on at lunch, I called Milton on the cell phone; I left a message and he soon returned the call, saying "Whatcha doin'?" Was he ever surprised when I told him I was eating a my lunch, a peanut butter sandwich on Milton's Gourmet White Bread. Not one to lose a chance for fun, he stepped right up and said, "Well, you like my fried fish and you like my Boston butt, and now you like my bread!" We laughed and laughed.

And I'm here to tell you, that's some good bread! And healthy, too.