Taking You Back

When the Geiss Girls II (second generation) get together at Skippie and Garry's lake house we are out in the middle of nowhere. At least that is my opinion. No electricity. No water or sewage lines. No gas lines. No telephone lines. No restaurant. No service station. Skippie and Garry share a well, have gigantic propane tanks, solor and wind generators. I love it. I wish I could be so self contained. There is a 3 bay volunteer fire station. And it is in that fire station that a few followers of Christ meet on Sunday to worship. Can you guess who provided the music. You got it, the Geiss Girls. Tammy, on the right has been the choir director in the First Christian Church in Milton-Freewater, Oregon and fills the roll of our fearless leader very well.

Here we are, able to relax and smile after the services and our singing.

L to R Cindy, me, Skippie, Jody and Tammy

Dr. Garry was asked to be the "preacher" as their regular one was away. Well done Garry.
Practicing on the deck. We sang an old hymn I Come To The Garden Alone. Jody and I were unfamiliar with it but we really did practice alot and we all finally felt comfortable.

More practicing photos.

View off the deck of Lake Billy Chinook

and of course Skippie has the

Geiss Thumb.

Our delightful photographer is Skippie's daughter Tonya and here is her equally delightful granddaughter Natasha. She was really taking in all our song practicing.

We would all try to run out on the deck a sun set and watch the last half of the sun go down. Did you know that stimulates your pineal gland (click to learn more). Aren't we so avant-garde.

Sharing The Love...

...and Annette's vanilla syrup recipe with Ben and Jody. My last breakfast in Oregon and felt I needed to get them hooked on this delicious concoction. There were doubters at first but they were totally on board with this syrups goodness after a bite or two. Click here for the recipe. TRUST me, you will LOVE it.


Ben gave it a thumbs up...alright, I asked him to pose this way. And take a look at that shirt!!! Ed and Jody got it in 1973 in Hawaii on their honeymoon. I'd hold on to it too Ben. Plus it shows off your muscles.

I'd stripped the sheets off "my" bed and was packing for the flight home. Sassy got in my suitcase. Like Jody said, we don't know if I'll ever see this old cat again. She earns her name and we all love her in spite of that sassiness.

Home is hot.

Very hot.

Blast furnace hot.

What did I expect in July. Hold on for a whopper August. We'll be making a trip to Utah and maybe it will be a bit cooler there. Just reminding myself:

Arizona winters are the best.

And The Happy Couple Is...

LINNY AND JARED!!!

Just engaged this weekend. Now that's some "stuff" to be blogging about.

These photos were taken last week when they drove up for a quick visit in Oregon-before the kitchen was completly painted.

Some Farewell Photos

My last day in Oregon. Always sad to leave and yet good to go home. I'm sitting at the computer with the window open, birds singing. cool breeze but they are expecting 100* by Monday. Yesterday we were able to reload Jody's china cabinet with all of her beautiful china, crystal and treasures. It sparkles and shines in its place now that it's moved back after the painting. Jody is now getting ready for her darling Sylvia and 2 grands to arrive. It's always a fun and busy home here.

Here is the photo of the onion casserole Jody made a couple of nights ago. Give me a few days and I'll get the recipe on KITK. I'm wondering if I'd like this if I couldn't make it with

Walla Walla sweets?

Cindy, does this picture help with my description?

Yesterday our dear friend

Elder Wood

and his companion Elder Porter came by for a visit. You should see how Hanna lights up with these visits. She remembers Elder Wood from last summer when he was serving in her ward in Keizer. What a wonderful coincidence that our dear Arizona friend would not only serve a mission in Oregon but in our families wards and get to know them. It's really been nice.
We were still putting the dining room back together if you noticed the background in this photo.

Christie's recipe for the chicken kabobs was a hit but my grilling skills definitely need fine tuning. Bacon wrapped chicken pieces and fresh pineapple. Next time I'll add mushrooms and zucchini. I'll also put this on KITK unless Christie beats me to it!

Can you even tell what this is!!!??? I took a photo of Jody's photo of my dad, Papa exiting his airplane. I love this photo.

Jody told me about this flower in her garden which prior to yesterday was not blooming. She told me it was beautiful....well YES it is, and that the blossoms only last one day.

Same flower in the evening. All that beauty and for only one day. She just told me there are 3 blooming today. You can bet I'll be in the garden soon and admiring another of God's wonders.

Hanna loved her card from Elder Wood of Jesus and the children. THOUGHTFUL.

Thank you Jody and Cindy for all the sister fun and love. You've really filled my bucket. Thank you Skippie and Tammy for all the cousin fun and love. These times will be pulled out of my memory bank and will put a huge smile on my face. Thank you nieces and nephew, you added much joy to this vacation. Thank you Kathy for coming up, painting, staging and playing. Now someone in AZ knows just why I love it up here so much. My heart of so very full of love, thankfulness and gratitude and appreciation. May you be blessed for all you've done for me.

The Big Picture

Today was a most fun, picture snapping day. Cindy and I took off and saw such fun and delightful places. I started by driving to Cindy's and I had to show you some of her gorgeous flowers.

And yes, hydrangeas again but just look at these...thee best in town.

Cindy has wonderful success growing just about everything even in pots like these blue berries...

...pearl cucumbers...

...and this is just a small portion of her patio of flowers.

Next we went to the cemetery where Mom is "buried".

Cindy and I had a good long chat with Mom expressing

much love and appreciation.

Jody had to work, drats, but we included her in our conversation and she provided the fresh cut bouquet.

Mom loved flowers too

and this would make her smile.

Just so you can get an idea of where this vault is in the

Rose City Cemetery,

Portland, Oregon (there's a little genealogy info for you kids).

We next went to the Beaumont district and this is SLK's old stomping grounds area. Loved this stained glass window in a darling store where I would have bought just about everything (in my dreams). I actually bought nothing but left behind some drool I think.

I have never been in a small, neighborhood grocery market like this. It was crazy good.

Not only full of grocery stuffs but the cutest decorative items. I love all the fruit displayed in the silver buckets!

We went just next door for bagels and I fell in love with this big screen door. I have wonderful memories of childhood screen doors. This is such a smart thing for the balmy northwest summer days.

As a teenager and just moved to Portland I remember SLK raving about this restaurant Amalfi's. Never went there but I take his word for it's yumminess.

We next headed off for lunch and browsing at

McMenamin's Edgefield (click for more info)

in Troutdale, Oregon.

I'm told the McMenamin brothers have purchased many old buildings and turned them into restaurants, hotels, theaters etc.

The Cracked Pot event was going on and it involved repurposed crafts that amazed me (I hope I haven't already use that adjective). These long strands of paper with calligraphied inspirational quotes were hung on slender bamboo polls and moved gracefully in the slight breeze.

Vineyards and brewery on site. Aren't these grapes terrific.

We ate lunch outside in one of several restaurants, just splendid weather and good to be under an umbrella.

Loved these succulents,

"hens and chicks"

growing in an old rain gutter.

Half "whiskey barrels" filled with flowers everywhere to gladden our eyes.

Great old buildings, lots of hand painting on them and this wonderful ivy covering.

And you know I couldn't pass up blooming artichokes don't you. Lots of bees a buzzing around them.

Hollyhocks that reminded Cindy and I of the ones grown on Grandpa and Grandma Geiss' farm that we would turn into ballerinas.

Apple tree and more hollyhocks.

We parked right up next to this vineyard. I just wish my pictures could give you a fuller scope of all this areas grandeur.

And you can guess that

we talked nonstop,

laughed

and smiled bunches.

A great day.

I'm of course back at Jody's now and she making an onion casserole for dinner...of course she's using Walla Walla sweets. This batch might be a bit on the rough side as there is a whole lot of tearing going on in the kitchen. I bet soon you will find the recipe on Knights In The Kitchen. Sent with love and as usual wish you were with me.

Painted and Staged

Here are a few photos of Jody's completed living room.
What a fun project of love this was for Cindy, Kathy and me.

Everything was removed from the curio cabinet and all was cleaned and sparkles now. We also moved it by the window where it can be seen more and the light reflects well. The mirror is the one we found at a local garage sale last summer. It also reflects much outside light into the room.

Piano moved to a new wall.

Sofa moved away from under the window. This makes a really nice conversation area. Kathy gets the credit for most of this!!!

Don't you just want to come visit with Jody and clan!!!