Tag: photos

Another Brain-Eating Project…. Done!

Dear Liza,

Just before Christmas, I started this 50 year scrapbook, as a 50th Anniversary gift for Grandpa Nelson, a fun project, and a way for me to revisit all these wonderful, busy years together.

I collected old photos, scanned and printed them, trimmed, collaged, typed and swore quite a bit. I typed the minimal text on Auntie Bridgett’s vintage Corona typewriter, shifting from third to first person as I went.

With all the cutting, I managed to aggravate a wrist injury so I am having to invent new ways of pouring coffee and folding clothes while it heals.

But I love it! It isn’t perfect; it is even missing (at least) one trip to Hawai’i. But it has served its purpose! It made Grandpa Nelson chuckle, let me play with paper, and fed my brain with re-visited memories.

And it got us all caught up and ready for whatever the heck comes next…. All while barely fitting in the recycled book it was built in!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Tuba Christmas and More!

Dear Liza,

The day after our anniversary celebration, we headed downtown to see all the pretties and hustle and bustle. Our first target was the Tuba Christmas at Pioneer Square, which is called The Living Room. This concert involves more than a hundred folks, ages 11 to 89, playing low brass instruments, like tuba, sousaphone, baritone, and euphonium.

This concert is so popular, we could only find spots to stand on the level above and hear the concert, rather than see it. Still, it was lovely. The music swells up and bounces off the buildings as pigeons fly around.

Around the corner and down the block we found some Dickensian carolers. Beautiful costumes and sweet four part harmonies made it really feel like Christmas, with smiling crowds and busy traffic.

Further along, we found Director Park. During the summer, the fountain here is great for splashing, but today it is better for running and climbing. Also at the park were cozy fire pits,

our old friend Jay Ringer playing music on his pocket trumpet and melodium,

and some young men making s’mores with Graham crackers, marshmallows and blow torches. Not surprisingly, they were exactly what we needed on this chilly day.

In the small building in the park was a whole shop of goodies from our local artist Mike Bennett. Stuffties, stickers, glasses, and lots of other delightful things were selling very well.

About this time, we realized that, even with the s’mores, we were pooped and ready to head home. We walked down Alder to the bus stop to catch the magic 15.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Downtown to the Sixties

Dear Liza,

My buddy Cynthia and I headed downtown last week to our Portland Art Museum. The remodeling work is still going on, so floor space is limited, but what they have on display is really interesting.

Upstairs, there is a collection called Psychedelic. Mostly, these are posters for rock concerts in San Francisco in the mid to late 1960s, when I was too young to go to rock concerts. Still, I knew the posters were cool even then.

Groups like The Byrds, Moby Grape and The Jefferson Airplane gave concerts at the Filmore Theater, and posters like these made sure everyone knew this was The Happening Place. We enjoyed the incredible colors, and wondered how they would react under black light.

There were also mannequins with fashions from the era standing about. Mini skirts in metallics and wild colors took me right back my days as a wanting-to-be-cool pre-teen.

Downstairs was a collection of photos taken by a very young Paul McCartney when the Beatles were on their first tour of America.

Since I was all of eight years old, I remember the mood of the time very well. Any news about the group was BIG news, and their music was in all of our ears.

Considering the frenzied energy that went wherever the Beatles did, Paul’s photos capture a more playful, relaxed mood.

Cynthia and I chatted about all sorts of things (as we always do), as we looked and remembered our own 60s journeys.

And when our tummies were empty and our feet were tired, we headed past a leafy church for lunch at McMenamin’s.

Days out with friends are good for the soul.

Love,

Grandma Judy

New Year’s Eve Silliness

Dear Liza,

Our New Year’s Eve was spent inside, as usual. It’s just cozier, and Grandpa is still down with Covid. But we did celebrate! Auntie Bridgett made sure the room was properly festive, using banners and garlands we have made over the years.

When it was time to eat, we walked up to Baby Doll Pizza, enjoying Christmas lights on the way. Their vegetarian is my favorite, but Bridgett prefers their cheese pizza on a gluten free crust.

After dinner, I wanted to remember the past year. I had been filling a jar in the kitchen with scribbled notes when good things happened, so I opened and read them out loud. “Nelson books tickets for European trip!” “Kitty, Mike, Isaac and Rhys Visit”. “First Roof Party as Jasper turns 14”.

We toasted the old year’s highlights, smiling at the memories and looking forward to making more. Bridgett and I played a few rounds of Bananagrams. She whipped me, for sure.

Since we were all sick at Christmas, we hadn’t lit (or eaten) the wonderful Christmas Pudding that Jofish Kaye sent up. I got brave, poured on some rum and lit it up, producing this lovely blue flame. PS..It was delicious!

Thanks, Jo!

A few years ago we started a tradition of making silly hats out of used wrapping paper, and it is always fun. I decorated mine with the celebration notes, going for a raccoon-hat sort of effect and missing entirely. It sure was fun, though!

Bridgett’s jester cap was more successful, though Mouse spent a long time figuring it out.

We watched some of the new Scott Pilgrim series and looked at Bridgett’s photos from last year, and at midnight, watched the fireworks over the Seattle Space Needle on TV. And just like that, 2023 was over. We headed for bed so we could see the new year in bright and early with the Rose Parade!

Love,

Grandma Judy