Reading material for the plane. I’m glad I saved these issues that Sara sent me months ago.
My favorite grilled cheese and the reason I now love a layover in Seattle. Also, a fun spelling of my name.
My last view of this backyard.
My mom had to go to the emergency room at the hospital Thursday night, and I went to. Happily, it was at that point before the Delta surge, and I was allowed to stay with my mom. When she got a room, it had this lovely view.
I also enjoyed this delicious sandwich, chips and chocolate.
After a few days, my mom was discharged and was on the mend after that.
We are in for some craziness the next few days. Even in the very hot summers of my Boise years, the temperature never got very far above 105 degrees. But Matt’s birthday forecast is 107 and the two days after are in temperature ranges I’ve never seen, ever.
Matt wanted spanakopita for his birthday celebration and so I got the recipe from my Aunt Pat.
Here is my spinach.
And here is the finished product. It wasn’t a winner. There was way too much moisture coming off of the pieces.
The diagnosis: don’t cook it in a 9×13 inch pan with sides (what I think of as a 9×13 inch pan) but use a flat cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. My aunt uses a nice round sheet.
No picture of the Anastas grave this year, but here is the Stenaros grave ready for flowers.
It was a nice sunny and good to see the MAunts.
Our second round at the drive-thru clinic did not include the endless wait times that the first trip did. And now both mom and Aunt Pat are fully vaccinated! (Though Aunt Pat needs to pull up her mask to cover her nose.)
By double teaming on separate computers, Matt and I got appointments for both my mom and my Aunt Pat at the drive-through vaccination clinic at the airport. My Aunt Carol was willing to go to the main clinic at the Convention Center, so we secured her appointment last week, thus giving us the skills to grab the coveted drive-through clinic slots.
It was very easy to find the clinic at the Red Lot at the Portland airport, and we were guided into place by many people in reflective vests waving batons. There were five lines with maybe 30-60 cards in each line. This photo was taken at 2:41, though I think we got there at 2:00 . Once there, we sat. And sat.
After quite a while with nothing happening one line at a time was moved forward. This was taken at 3:36 and we haven’t yet made it into the tent to check in.
From the check-in tent, we were guided on a very long U-shaped track that inched forward. The check-in tent is in the back left of the photo and this photo was taken at 3:47, so you can see how the line was moving.
We’ve made it to the tent where the shot would be given! Time stamp: 4:09
And now we’re done with shots. Time stamp, 4:16 p.m.
It was nice to have two out of three people in the car vaccinated.
Then we were directed over to a new line where we sat for 10 minutes. Neither patient had any reactions, so off we drove.
I drove them both home and my mom sent me off with some macaroni and cheese balls with meatballs in the middle. Delicious!
We later learned that this was an unusual day and the worst day for wait times. So we had not-great timing in that realm. But it was good to get two shots in arms.
This year, due to quarantine, the fam met briefly in my Aunt Pat’s garage so we could do stockings. This year, that meant putting things in a “stocking” that was really a bag with a name written on it. Then we brought our stockings home to unpack.
There were a lot of goodies in the stocking!
Plus, I had a fun present to open, so here’s another view of the spoils.
The stationary says, “Nobody writes letters anymore.” I love it!
These were my winners!
And check out this situation:
Though brief, it was nice to see everyone for a stocking exchange.
Times being what they are, we can’t gather for Thanksgiving like we usually do. So we each made a food item and brought enough to share.
Linda and Matt demonstrate the physical distancing. Matt isn’t usually in Portland for Thanksgiving, so this was a treat.
More distancing.
Mom brought mashed potatoes and gravy. (I think.)
Chris made Spanish Rice to go with Matt’s enchiladas.
Aunt Carol made soup.
Linda made squash.
I made rolls, and burned some of them, alas.
Aunt Pat made turkey, pumpkin pie, and whipped cream.
The pandemic has meant we have to get creative for Thanksgiving this year. We’ll still meet up, but outside, and just to exchange food. Matt is prepping chicken enchiladas for his contribution.
And here is his final product.
I made rolls and they are done, but I also made a German Chocolate Roll for the feast at the Orange Door.
With my birthday card, my mom sent along this picture of me with my Easter basket. When I posted it on social media, more than one person commented that they lived in a house with that exact same fireplace.
My Aunt Carol sent along these two phots from when we visited Molokai. I think that’s my Aunt Pat (since the photos came from Carol, I’m guessing she was behind the camera?) me, and my brother dodging the waves.
And here we are running into them. (Except Chris, who was still in dodging mode.) Molokai had the best waves.
That was a fun birthday surprise.
