I think I am ready

It was over a year ago that my family started planning a gathering on the Oregon coast. Now it’s time. I leave tomorrow. Luis will be here at 4:30 for the trip to the airport. It takes about 2 hours and my flight leaves at 8:25.  I don’t like 4:30am and like even less getting up at 3:45. I am not, not, not a morning person. I have two alarms set but I will probably wake up every half hour for fear of oversleeping. I have one big suitcase packed full and there are no clothes in it. 

Chocolate chip cookies, brownies, date bars, dough gods, 10 jars of jelly and 2 of cranberry sauce. I have cooked wild rice, cooked chorizo sausage and cooked rice pilaf with vegetables. Those are frozen and will be in an insulated bag. I will pack that tomorrow morning.  I have a carryon full of clothes and my green bag with meds and another insulated bag for insulin and lunch. I will also pack lunch for Luis and include something to drink.

Otto is staying here while I am gone so I have food for him too. He is a vegetarian so I made the rice pilaf with vegetables for him. I also bought fruits and vegetables for him today. I have tortillas, chocolate chip cookies and told him to feel free to take anything he sees. He doesn’t do much cooking and likes what I make.

My brother, Gerry, and his wife, Donna, will meet me in baggage claim at Portland airport. My flight gets in at 9:10pm so by then I may not be able to keep my eyes open. Two nights at their house and then we head for the Oregon Coast for 4 nights. Some are staying at the house we rented, some camping and others staying in area motels. By Saturday we will be around or just over 40. Should be so much fun. We are a bit of a crazy bunch.

After the coast I have 2 more nights in Portland and then on to Heather’s. This seems to be a 2 night trip. At her house for 2 nights then off to St. Paul to visit my aunt. From there I am going to Hutchinson for - yup, 2 nights! Roz helped me arrange transportation on Friday and back to Minneapolis on Sunday. I am doing Megabus  to and from Madison. Regular rate is about $70.00 but they offer specials if it is far enough in advance. I got the tickets from Madison to St. Paul and Minneapolis to Madison for a total of $4.50. This time I have 3 nights and then back here. Busy trip.

I am anxious to show Roz parts of the blanket we are working on. I have squares from 4 ladies and the center which I did. It is turning into quite an interesting endeavor and thank heavens for my quality control, Ligia. She can see problems and has a Tica way of talking to the ladies and helping them. I just keep quiet as I have no diplomacy.

That’s it for now. More as my adventure continues.

The center of the blanket.

Our last gathering in Paraiso