Christmas Day -- and the Other Regret

Christmas Day 2013; Around the Sound ... still --

The youngest Daughter called me to "invite" me to take her out for a Christmas dinner. How could I refuse?

Finding the usual eating places like Applebee's closed for the day, we ended up at 1400 having turkey and trimmin's at a fine restaurant* in one of the better hotels. The dinner included a very large helping of turkey breast and dressing, garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potato, and mixed green vegetables. This was topped off with a piece of pie.

After this mid-afternoon feast, and after depositing Daughter back at her residence, I arrived back at the Castle where I got a call from Nancy Nurse (remember her? I had Lutefisk dinner there yesterday!). Nancy said she had a ten-pound Prime Rib Roast that would be coming out of the oven in about half an hour; would I be interested? How could I refuse?

35 or 40 minutes later, with the Lemon Meringue pie I had absconded with the day before and my normal needs in case I stayed overnight, I arrived just in time to sit down to a monster feast of Prime Rib, boiled potato and mixed steamed vegetables. Some similarity in the side dishes from the day before was to be expected.

For dessert, we had our choice of Apple pie (the kind that won the Blue Ribbon at the Evergreen Fair), Pumpkin pie, and of course my 2/3 remnant of yesterday's LMP. I checked with The Nurse as to whether she had Tums on board; she assured me that she was sure she did.  I inhaled the 2/3's "remnant" of the Lemon Meringue pie [... didn't want it to go to waste -- I'd rather have it go to my waist!]. I also had (to have!) a small slice of that Blue Ribbon Apple pie.

After watching a very interesting documentary about the Bible versus the Book of Mormon, I asked for a couple Tums so I could go to bed. This was for sure going to be a "Two Tum" night, after all of the food I had had this cay -- including 2/3's of a big Lemon Meringue pie.

Oops! No Tums in the house! Oh my!! Oh dear!! Oh, regrets!!!

Christmas Eve 2013 Festivities -- And Regrets!?

24 December; Around the Sound --

Let me begin by explaining the meaning behind the word "Regrets" in the Title of this Post. I had regrets on each of the two-day celebration which begins on Christmas Eve because I ate too much. With that qualification now out of the way, let us venture forth in this dissertation about a most memorable and happy Christmas for this Old Grump.

A few weeks before Christmas I inquired of my younger Daughter, "Nancy Nurse", as to whether she and Husband were planning on having their traditional Christmas Eve meal of Lutefisk and other Norsk delicacies. Nancy responded that, "No", they weren't planning on the traditional feast this year because, since they both worked, they would not be able to make the journey to "Snoose Junction" to pick up the Lutefisk. "Well", I thought to myself and out loud, "Since I go to Church in that neighborhood -- and, being retired, also am free to go and come almost anywhere and everywhere -- I will be glad to pick up the Lutefisk. Where do you get it and how much do you want?"

There was now no excuse for the festival feast not to happen. I had had a helping or two of Lutefisk many years ago when the Grand Mother and I partook of an opportunity to savor (and understatement if there ever was one when it comes to Lutefisk!) at a Norwegian-populated Lutheran church in our neighboring town. Mother, of course, and despite being of Norwegian ancestry, could not stand the look,smell or even thought of any kind of seafood. The mere thought of Lutefisk brought tears of memories of her growing-up years when she ha to endure the "flavor" of Lutefisk preparation in her home. [However, despite this aversion to seafood, she baked the best Salmon that my taste-buds have ever enjoyed! Oh, and let us not forget her Lemon Meringue Pies!!!] Anyway (back on the subject), I found that, being the poor German boy that I am, I actually kind of liked Lutefisk. The other traditional Scandinavian Yuletide foods, mostly-sweet things, are "icing on the cake".

So it was that I diverted on my way to or from Church on 15 December, to find the "Lutefisk Place" and a special Danish Bakery that made Julekake (a rich coffee-cake type of pastry), Boller (cardamom-flavored dinner rolls), and almond rings (which the Danes called "Kringles"). I placed my order for the bakery items and inquired what time they would be open on Christmas Ever. [I wanted the baked goods to be fresh when I brought them to the table!] 

On the following Sunday, 22 December, I picked up the amount of Lutefisk requested by Daughter Nancy and poured cold water all over it, as she had instructed, then placed it overnight in the refrigerator. Of course I took pains to seal the container in which the Lutefisk reclined/slumped/oozed [let the reader imagine the best adverb]. The sealing was to minimize the possibility of some "flavor" escaping and rendering that refrigerator into condemnation from ever again being used for "more delicately flavored foodstuffs".

Early on Christmas Eve I went forth to the Danish Bakery in "Snoose Junction" to claim my previously ordered baked goods. When I arrived, a half-hour before the time they had told me they would be open, there was already a line around the corner and up the street --with the store being completely packed by other early-morning shoppers. Well, I grabbed my spot at the end of the line next to a Genuine Norwegian and his lovely wife. For the next hour we engaged in pleasant conversation about Norwegian ancestry, BMW's, world travels and All Electronic Propulsion Control Systems. He said that there was no such thing as "100% Norwegian"; he explained that the sea-going Vikings (the only true 100-percenters) took care of that. He told about his travels to Iceland where he had found the beautiful Norwegian sweater that he was wearing. When I inquired about the "native" Icelanders, he described them as half-Norwegian. "Oh", I said, "So they found aborigines already living on Iceland?" 

He replied that the Vikings had brought along "bed warmers" as they sailed westward to Iceland. But their female companions were not from Norway;; they were "opportunities" that they had found enroute.

Finally arriving at Nancy's home in time for her to finish preparing and cooking the Lutefisk, the three of us sat drinking strong, black coffee and nibbling on a chunk of that rich delicacy called Kringle. Half thinly-rolled pastry dough and butter! Yummm!!!

Wobble: Awaiting his Christmas Eve feast of some of
the finest Western Montana grass hay.

But before sitting down to dinner later that afternoon, Husband and I drove out to the farm to feed the largest pet in the U.S.A. -- Wobble, the 1500 pound Buffalo. [He thinks he's a "people", so doesn't mind spending his time alone in one of the several lush pastures on this 70-acre grass-farm.] Wobble is now 21 (born prematurely on 31 May 1992); he has been to school (elementary school in his neighborhood; he has visited the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe and he has also "Done the Puyalllup". So he is both educated and well-traveled.

We sat down for Christmas Eve dinner at about 1600. I loaded my plate with a couple boiled potatoes, mixed steamed vegetables and took about a third of a pound of the hot Lutefisk. After pouring some melted butter over it and the boiled potato, I proceeded to enjoy once again this unique Norwegian dish.

After dinner, Nancy presented Husband and I with our choice of pies: Pumpkin, Apple, and Lemon Meringue. Of course I chose the LMP -- after having a small wedge of Pumpkin. Since no one was there who had an appetite for LMP except me, I was permitted to take a LARGE helping (one third!!) of this fine-looking pie.

I arrived back at Grumpy's Castle at about 2130 that evening and, taking a Tum (to tame down a stomach -- my one regret -- that I knew from previous experience would need taming down after over-indulging on that delicious LMP), I went to bed.

I obviously survived, so on to Christmas Day!!

A Newly Minted Great-Great Grand Pair Give Thanks

Thanksgiving Day 2013; At a Daughter's Home --

Having received an invitation to join her burgeoning family in the Northern wildernesses of another County, I gratefully and speedily accepted! And why wouldn't I? I would have an opportunity to see a significant majority of my 31 Great Grandchildren*, and -- even more exciting -- to see my first Great-Great Grandson together with a complete complement of his four generations of ancestors!!

Although the weather was good for flying, I chose to use the Red Rocket ground transportation mode for this visit in order to minimize the potential for interruption of the gala get together which the presence of free airplane rides might cause. [I'm going to have to endeavor to do something about my lack of recent flying time!! I might not have the luxury of the Mooney availability in the New Year.]

A Mutual Admiration of Great-Greats

A Newly-Minted Great Grandfather!

The Total Line-up: The Patriarch; His Oldest Daughter; Her Oldest Son, holding
the First Great-Great Grandson, focus of attention; and the New Mother,
 oldest Daughter of the Oldest Son

In this first photo the two new Great-Greats (Grandson and Grandfather) appear to be "sizing" each other up. Perhaps each considering whether or not this rather rare circumstance might be of some future value. A share in an inheritance for the youngster? A caretaker for the elder 15 or 20 years hence?

The fact that this "Old Guy" (left photo below) is now a Great Grandfather, made me realize that I am now the Father of a Great Grandmother!! Egads!! Only recently I was married to a Great Grandmother. Oh well, such is life if you live long enough. [I just wish the Grand Mother could have lived to enjoy this event as much -- or more! -- than I am. She would have been so proud of this young Mother and her choice of Husband. Of course she would also have participated handily in the inevitable spoiling loving of this handsome little boy.]

When presented with the opportunity, I was never one to pass it up. Thus, when it came to pass that the Grandfather of the Fifth Generation Offspring arrived to complete the complement of the Five-Generation photograph, I took advantage of the occassion. Now I came to realize that, in addition to becoming the Father of a Great Grandmother, I am now the Grandfather of a Grandfather!!

Oh yes; a delicious Thanksgiving Dinner was prepared by the Woman of the House and gratefully eaten by those fortunate ones** who stayed to partake. That was the title-subject of this Post, but somehow it seemed more important to show what seems to be the real news of the year.

So that's what I have done.

*Unfortunately, the major contributor to Great Grandchildren reported that their family were suffering from some respiratory infections and would not be able to join the festivities. [I had especially shaved off my almost year-old beard to honor a promise I had made to my Great Granddaughter from this family.]

**Grumpy, Oldest Daughter (Woman of the House), Husband of the House, Pianist Granddaughter, "Nancy Nurse", "Nurse's" Husband, a Guy named Scott, and Andre "Son" of "Nurse".

Around the USA in a Mooney

10 September thru 10 October 2013; Various daily locations--

As part of this flight around the United States, Grumpy diverted to Turkey with Uncle Bob and his lovely wife, Adelaide. But that story will have to wait; tonight I want to tell you about Bob's and my adventure in the Mooney [his airplane, but with my newly earned "Complex Aircraft Certification", I got to fly it!]. We left the Mooney's home base here in the Northwest early on a foggy morning September 10th. We refueled in Billings MT and stopped for an overnight at Clyde Ice Airfield in Spearfish SD. While in Spearfish, we had dinner out with our cousin Bitsy. "My bad" is that there are no photos from that meeting.

The next morning, we took off for a relatively leisurely flight to Ankeny IA [near Des Moines]. Sister Hazel met us at the airport and we stayed a day or so at her house before catching the "midnight bus" to Chicago for our flight to Istanbul Turkey. The bus ride turned out to be almost an all night affair, as traffic and a blow-out tire on the bus conspired to delay our arrival at O'Hare airport until almost six o'clock the next morning, 12 September. We joined Adelaide at O'Hare where the three of us were to board our plane for Istanbul scheduled to depart about noon that day.

Seven days later, we arrived back at O'Hare after an exciting and eventful six days seeing the sights and experiencing the sounds, foods and smells of Turkey. Again we [Bob and I] took the express bus back to Des Moines where we spent a few days visiting with Sister Hazel. We wanted to convince Hazel to accompany us in the flight around the Eastern parts of the USA. She finally agreed when enticed by the promise of a visit with her daughter-in-law, Siv, and her Grandchildren in Champaign IL; also her younger daughter Kay in Blacksburg VA, as well as getting to visit her Niece Jane in MD, her Nephews David in NC and Ward in VA, and a "Mystery" cousin, Willa, whom none of us had ever met, in Savannah GA.

Uncle Bob visiting with Kari;
Aunt Hazel listening in background

We flew the Mooney on 27 September from Ankeny to the Champaign airport, where we rented a car for the drive into Champaign to meet Siv. [All flights for the remainder of this Post will be in the Mooney, with Grumpy as "Captain" and Bob as "Navigator".] We enjoyed a very pleasant evening dining and visiting with Siv, Kari, Sofie and Olaf. Bob and Kari seemed to have a particularly good interchange. Grumpy's hearing handicap prevented him from overhearing enough to comprehend the context of their discussions. We stayed this night in a motel about 50 miles West of Champaign; some kind of event at the U of Illinois had all of the nearby motels booked solid.

On the 28th of September we flew to Blacksburg (Western Virginia Tech Airport). Kay picked us up and we had dinner together. We also visited Kay's horse ranch where she has a large [larger than she would like, if you ask her!] number of horses. Most are "Pony of Americas" [a registered breed developed from Appaloosa and Welsh pony -- with a little Quarter horse stock thrown in], but several are Norwegian "Fjord" horses.If Grumpy had a larger acreage -- or had a fence around what he has! -- he would sure like to have a pair of the Fjord's! [I could sell the lawn mower, and not have to hire a kid to mow my lawn next Summer!]

The next day, the 29th of September, we flew to Fayetteville SC, where we rented a car for use for the next two or three days. First, we were to meet Bob's friend and sometime boss, Dr Daryush Ila. While waiting for Dr Ila, we toured some of the historic sites in the town of Fayetteville. 

After breakfast the next morning, 30 September, we drove North to Raleigh NC to have dinner with Bob's son David and wife Julie. After dinner, we drove back to our hotel in Fayetteville.

The 1st of October found us flying from Fayetteville to Savannah GA. We rented a Prius this time; Grumpy [the designated driver] was befuddled for several minutes before he figured out how to start this car without a key and how to shift gears with the seemingly unresponsive shift knob. With that confusion settled and after reserving motel rooms for the night, we phoned for directions from our Cousin Willa and ventured forth into the suburban wilderness to find where Willa and her husband Chuck live. 

Grumpy, Cousin Willa, Uncle Bob, Aunt Hazel
 Chuck Baisden

This visit with our "long-lost" Cousin Willa had the most surprises for us of any that we experienced on this entire trip! Her husband, Chuck, is a veteran (one of the last four living!) of the famous Flying Tigers group that flew out of Burma, over "the Hump", prior to our entry into World War II. Willa is a couple of years older than Grumpy, but she is a lot nicer than Grumpy ever was. 

Chuck is a few more years older, but is still able to navigate on his own. He authored a book* about his experiences as a Master Chief Sergeant in the "Flying Tigers" [the American Volunteer Group (AVG)] and its subsequent organizational names and assignments of duty. The artifacts from his affiliation with that group as well as other items he has collected as a hobby since retiring, fill an entire room in their house. It was a great honor and privilege to meet this man and a pleasure to finally meet our cousin, with whom Grumpy has been corresponding via e-mail for the past year or two.

Willa called a local eatery from which we enjoyed some of the foods for which Savannah is famous, including crab cakes. 

After a good visit and receiving an autographed copy of the book that Chuck authored, we drove the Prius back to the motel for our night's rest. The next morning, Grumpy recorded over 60 miles of driving and had to "click off" the gas pump four times in order to get it to take more than one gallon of gasoline.

Aunt Hazel, Neil, Ward, Jane, Uncle Bob

On 2 October, we flew northwesterly from Savannah to Fredericksburg VA where Ward met us and drove around most of the D.C. "going-home" traffic to get us to Frederick MD where we met Bob's daughter Jane, and husband Neil. We enjoyed dinner and a visit with them, and then stopped by their home and Jane's downtown studio for a look at some of her stained-glass artwork. She markets her glass art work under the name of Trilobite Glassworks. [Jane is a Paleontologist and a student of microbiology.] Some of her art features enlarged realistic images  of such things as microbes and malaria germs. [How would you like to eat your dinner on a plate in which were embedded images of typhoid larvae?]

Stratford House; birthplace of Robert E. Lee

After our visit with Jane and Neil, Ward drove us back around D.C. to his and Peggie's home near Colonial Beach VA where we were warmly welcomed, fed and watered. We stayed two nights in Ward and Peggie's home. Ward drove us to some historic sites which were not open due to the government shutdown. One memorable site that was open (owned and operated by a private foundation) was Robert E. Lee's birthplace. Ward also drove us to the site where John Wilkes Booth was captured (and killed); he and Peggie took us to an excellent restaurant in the village of Colonial Beach where we enjoyed crab cakes and other special seafood dishes.

The Mooney at Fredericksburg

On 4 October, Ward drove us back up to the airport at Fredericksburg where we departed for the 300-mile flight down to Huntsville AL, landing on the turf strip at Moontown. Bob had some things he wanted to drop off there, as well as some things that he wanted to pick up from there. Hazel stayed in the home of Bob's friends in Huntsville [which he "house sits" when he is in the U.S. and they are at their home in Brazil]; Bob and Grumpy checked into a motel nearby.

The Mooney at Moontown;
Time for an oil change

After breakfast on 5 October, Grumpy ferried the Mooney over to a paved runway about ten miles from Moontown. This was because Grumpy was uneasy about attempting to take off from the turf strip with the near-limit gross weight we would be carrying in the Mooney for the long flight to Ankeny IA. On the way from Huntsville to Ankeny, we had to dodge through a frontal system that was sweeping across the Mid-continent. With Bob navigating, including monitoring the lightning detector instrument, and directing Grumpy's flight path, we were able to negotiate the front without incident.

Bob and Grumpy spent a couple nights at Hazel's home visiting and helping collect fruit and vegetables for canning before setting out on our flight West to home base. We took advantage of this opportunity for viewing and photographing Hazel's cacti that were blooming in an outside cactus garden.

Grumpy called our Cousin Bitsy, who lives in Spearfish, to check on the local conditions there, as this would be our first stop for an overnight before embarking on the long flight leg over the Rocky Mountains and Cascades.  Bitsy informed me that the Northern Black Hills had suffered a four-foot snowfall with winds which piled up drifts such that I-90 was closed from Chamberlain to Gillette WY! Clyde Ice field in Spearfish would likely not be open and, even if it was, there would be no ground transportation to enable us to get to a motel, and obviously we would not be able to visit our Black Hills cousins. 

Dahl Lungren, Uncle Bob, Cousin Barbara Lungren;
Mooney at Broken Bow

A "southern route", through Nebraska and southern Wyoming, was deemed more appropriate. Hazel informed us of some cousins who live in Broken Bow NE; Grumpy thought of his Granddaughter, Amy and family who live in Oregon! So it was that Bob and I took off on 7 October for the two-hour flight to Broken Bow. We met our heretofore unmet Cousin Barbara and her husband, Dahl Lungren. Cousins Darry and Marvin Weber, with their wives, Dolores and Gaylene, drove up from Arnold to visit with us also.

After our overnight stay in the Arrow Hotel in Broken Bow, Barbara and Dahl met us for breakfast the next morning and then came out to the airport with us. Dahl showed us his crop-spraying aircraft and a beautifully-restored Cessna that belonged to their son. He also used his on-field ATV to tow the Mooney over to the fuel station, thereby taking a strain off of Grumpy's still-healing back if we had had to push the aircraft over to the station.

"Great Grumpy" and newest
Great Grandson Samuel

We flew from Broken Bow to Boise ID for an overnight in a nearby motel. The next day, 9 October, we flew from Boise to Valley View Airfield near Estacada OR. An airfield resident spotted us after we landed and kindly gave us a ride to the Fox Motel in Estacada where we booked our room for the night. Amy's husband, John, picked us up on his way home that afternoon and we had the pleasure of a home-cooked meal in Amy's house, as well as a good, long visit with Grumpy's Great Granddaughter, Elianna and her four brothers, Malachi, Amos, Ezekiel and Daniel -- Grumpy's newest Great Grandson, Samuel, who Grumpy saw for the first time since his birth in early September, was sleeping and didn't have much to say even when he woke up later.

Daniel, Elianna, Ezekiel, Amy, Uncle Bob;
Mooney at Valley View Airport

On 10 October, we left Valley View with our intended destination being the West coast Mooney base. However, as we neared our destination, we could see that low-lying clouds made our approach and landing prohibitive [we are both VFR-rated pilots and in any case the visibility on the ground would have prevented an instrument landing given the equipment in the Mooney].  We turned back to land at the Troutdale airport where we remained overnight,  booking a motel on the other side of the field from where the Mooney was tied down.

On the 11th, after watching the satellite weather picture, hoping for a break in the cloud cover to the North, we finally decided to take off with sufficient reserve fuel to fly all the way to Arlington airport and then return if necessary to Troutdale. As we flew over the Seattle area we saw that the low cloud cover persisted. However, as we approached the areas further north, the cloud cover had been pushed south by the prevailing air currents and we were able to make a clear landing at Arlington. A quick call to daughter Susan got us a ride to her home where we enjoyed her usual hospitality of dinner and a place to sleep overnight.

The 12th of October dawned with the promise of good flying all over, so Bob and I took off for the last leg of our long and divergent flight home from "Around the USA in the Mooney".

*"Flying Tiger to Air Commando", by Chuck Baisden [Schiffer Publishing, Ltd]

Coming "of Age"; Five Generations!

23 August 2013 and 28 November 2013; Wetter'n Washington --

It had to happen eventually, especially if Grumpy lived to the (over?) ripe age of 100, as he declared he would do when a callow youth of about four years old. Of course, he declared some other things when he was a young sprout: "... he would never smoke", " ... he would never again touch beer" [this, after his persistent begging for a sip convinced his Dad to give him just a little taste from his bottle of home brew]; " ... he would not become involved with a female [he lost that one in the fifth grade when the red-head in front of him stabbed him with her freshly-sharpened pencil to repay him for pulling her long, red braids].

Gunner Alan, and Mom
23 September 2013

But I digress. What I want to report here, with evidence to support my journalistic endeavor, is the arrival of the Old Grump's first Great-Great Grandchild, a boy named Gunner Alan. Yes, at just over 86 years age, I am now a Great-Great Grandfather -- the Grandfather of a Grandfather; the Father of a Great Grandmother!! But I must pause here to acknowledge the most essential character in this historic event, Gunner's Mother, Joshlynn Nevada. [Sorry, Matt, but we Fathers never get the accolades that we deserve; heck, in "my day" fathers weren't even allowed in the delivery room!] Here she is, showing the Motherly affection that appears to come so naturally to Mothers.

It seems that most of the Family was told that the new parents wished for privacy with their new baby for a week or so. Somehow, Grumpy was not informed of their desire, and so hearing that the Event had happened, he ventured forth the following morning to go to the hospital and, having the experience to be able to find his way around hospital wards in general, and maternity wards in particular, easily came to the nurses' station by the new family's room. After being given permission by the Nurse in charge, Grumpy knocked on the door and was welcomed in for this memorable picture of the elated Great-Great Grandfather proudly holding his first Great-Great Grandson at one day old.

A year or so ago, Grumpy had the opportunity to capture some photos of Four Generation groups among his descendants. They are reported on and shown in this BlogPost.

Five Generations: 28 November 2013 

Now Grumpy pursued the chance to get a Five Generation group photo. Finding all five of the necessary individuals at the same place and the same time was the hard part. It finally arrived this Thanksgiving Day at the Great Grandmother's home. 

Here is the Proud Grandfather

While the principal characters were present, Grumpy took advantage of the opportunity to snap these added historic photos:

The first one features the young and proud Grandpa D. This guy also happens to make Grumpy the Grandfather of a Grandfather!

And here, the Proud Great Grandfather

The next is the also young -- but not that young! -- and just as proud Great Grandpa D seeing eye-to-eye with Gunner.

Great-Great Grandson & Grandpa

And finally, this photo of the new and aging Great-Great Grandpa Z, seeming to share a mutual admiration moment with Gunner, his first Great-Great Grandson.

Incidentally, it was in November 2001 that the Grumpy's 103-year old Mother was the elder of another Five Generation photo. With the Grumpy One a "mere" 86 years old, he can anticipate a few more Five Generation opportunities! But the first one is always an occasion to especially boast about, and Grumpy is not one to miss out on the opportunity!

What Else Did Grumpy Experience in Virginia?!

19 August 2013; Castle of the Grump, South King County --

Continuing with the delayed narrative (with pictures) of the saga of Grumpy in Virginia, this post will show evidence of some of the dangers of venturing into the wilderness created by the transposition of the oldest of Grumpy's children from Florida to Virginia.

One of the days that Grumpy visited his 64 year-old Son, he was able to take these photos of a couple of "Missionaries" who dared to come into the jungle clearing representing the aforesaid Son's Native domain. Their "mission" was unclear -- they couldn't explain why they came or who sent them. Their names are unknown, but their initials were J and D.

 

The "Missionaries" soon found themselves in "hot water"! The "Native" [presumably cannibalistic] prodded and poked them down into the "boiling" water -- insuring their being evenly "cooked". Their futile efforts in trying to avoid their plight were without results.

Then, alas!! The one who dared photograph this unspeakable scene was himself a victim of the same fate!! [Apparently the "Native" acquired the camera belonging to this latest "victim".]

What Did Grumpy do while in Virginia?

19 August 2013; Castle of the Grump, South King County --

It has been awhile that has elapsed since Grumpy has posted anything on this BLOG. In fact, it may be noticed that he hasn't mentioned anything about his recent wanderings to Virginia and Iowa, both of which occurred in rapid succession during the early part of August. The intent of this posting is to dispel this oversight.

The visit to Virginia originated as an opportunity to see my Florida-residing Grandson J, and at the same time celebrate my #1 Son's 64th birthday -- I thought we could squeeze my birthday in there, too, somehow.

As the day to depart neared, Grumpy received word that the memorial service of a favorite cousin in Iowa would take place on the 10th of August. This provided the added motivation of diverting my return trip to a stop-over in Des Moines, with the added pleasure of visiting my sister, H, whom I hadn't seen since way back in June when we concluded the Alaska Adventure! An easy negotiation with Southwest Airlines took care of the necessary changes.

The first impressive sight in Virginia was a visit to the Smithsonian Aviation exhibit at Dulles airport. On display here is the only remaining Space Shuttle, Challenger, complete with its scorched tiles survived from its last mission re-entry from space. The original Boeing jet transport aircraft, "367-80", is also in this museum [how did the Boeing Museum of Flight miss this one?].

Grumpy enjoyed the display of many other vintage airplanes [including the "Yellow Peril", his U.S. Navy nemesis in which he logged nearly 200 hours learning to make precision landings and some aerobatics -- including the thrilling and memorable "outside tailspin"!].

Later in the visit, we traveled to the birthplaces of George Washington and Robert E. Lee. George Washington was born in the middle eastern part of Virginia -- not at Mount Vernon. His birthplace was burnt to the ground sometime in the distant past and all that remains are the outline of the original home and some artifacts collected by archeologists in the past century or so.

A walk around the grounds revealed some wild life [a grumpy-looking Blue Heron] -- and a life that no longer is as wild as it was in the past [The real Grumpy one!].

Robert E. Lee's birthplace was much more impressive. However, his father was apparently not a good manager of finances or farming and lost Robert's birthplace to foreclosure on a mortgage. The building is currently owned by a private non-profit group who are in a long-time process of restoration to its documentable original design.

Note the four chimneys on each end of the building; each of these chimneys serve four fireplaces. Yes, there are sixteen fireplaces in this house! Imagine keeping firewood supplied for all of these! [Maybe that is partly responsible for the elder Lee's losing this beautiful estate.]

Other wild adventures in Virginia will be forthcoming in a subsequent post.

Four Generations

August 2013; Virginia Countryside, USA --

Grumpy is part of an unusual family. He met his maternal Great Grandmother Miller when he was 10 or 12 years old. She died a few years later at 97 years old. Grumpy's maternal Grandmother died when she was 94 years old -- in an automobile accident [one of my Aunt's was driving]. Grumpy's own Mother died at 103 + 3 months! So four generation photos are not uncommon in this family.

In fact, here is a five-generation photo taken a few years ago on an occasion when Grumpy's Mother [the Great Great Grandmother on this occasion] visited us [When #2 Son's #1 Son L. got married]. Grumpy's #2 Son, Grandson "Stretch", and oldest ZGreat Grandson are shown here with Grumpy and his Mother. [In fact, Great Great Grandmother N. celebrated her 103rd birthday here a day or two later!]

Grumpy, now being the oldest member of his generation in this family, proudly presents some four-generation photos from his lineage.

The first one I happened upon was this one, taken a year or so ago, shown here with Grumpy, Grumpy's #2 Son, that Son's #2 Son [Grumpy's tallest Grandson], and #2 Son's Grandsons, J. and A. [Grumpy's Great Grandsons]. These are the same two Great Grandsons who accompanied Grumpy on the Great Prairie Safari!

Grumpy found this two-year-old four-generation photo while looking for something else. How could I leave this one out? Two gorgeous blonde Mermaids in this one, previously included in a POST entitled Second Annual Four Generation Expedition.

On this trip back to "Ol' Virginny", Grumpy had the opportunity to capture photos of two more four-generation groupings. The first one included Grumpy's name-sake Son, Son's youngest son R., R.'s son A and of course the Great Grumpy himself.

The second opportunity happened just these past two days when said name-sake Son's oldest son -- also a namesake of Grumpy -- visited at the Virginia Palace of said name-sake Son -- with two boys of ages 12 (J) and 14 (D). 

Grumpy has at least one more four-generation photo to take before beginning on the first of his anticipated five (5)-generation photographs! But the five-generation stuff will be for another BLOG posting. This Post will be updated sometime in the future with at least one or two (or three!!) more four-generation photo's that Grumpy can boast about.

Oh, the work that poor Grumpy had to put forth to cause all of this!

What's for Dinner -- in the Jungle

5 August 2013; At the Jungle Outpost of a Native Virginian--

On this day, celebrating the anniversary of a "Native" Virginian's birthday, Grumpy came upon an unusual sight: Two "Missionaries" in hot water. The water is obviously boiling, as you may notice in the center of the "pot". The lower parts of these two hapless guys have apparently been cooked to the point that they can no longer lift themselves out of the hot water.

Soon the "Native", whose cannibalistic tastes placed these two in the hot water in the first place, comes along with a big fork or ladle to stir them around so they cook more evenly. The one Missionary struggles futilely against the Native's determined efforts.

Looking again, we see that another guy has fallen prey to this heathen Native. His agonizing screams pierced the jungle loudly. Lions trembled with fear; elephants stopped their foraging. Other tribes counselled among themselves about  "moving to a different neighborhood".

But no one came to help.

The Grass Short-Field Landing and the One Hundred Dollar Lunch

27 July 2013; Landing on Grass --

I invited my #2 Son to fly with me this Saturday to visit the people that live in the Straw House, "Fort Bale". Without hesitation, my Son enthusiastically accepted my invitation. Little did he know what he was to experience!

We had agreed to meet early in the morning; as experienced pilots know, the cool, calm air of the early morning is favorable for aircraft performance as well as beneficial in the ride comfort department. We arrived at the home field (home to the Mooney, that is) a little after o7oo; the code-secured gate was open!

After preflight-checking the aircraft to ensure its airworthiness, and refueling with twenty or so gallons of low-lead aviation gasoline, Grumpy continued with the in-cockpit preflight check list and, after running up the engine to check that both sets of sparkplugs were firing clean, he radioed for take-off clearance and pushed the throttle to the firewall. The 180 horsepower Lycoming pulled the little airplane down the paved runway and we lifted off into a beautiful blue sky towards Rainier.

As we climbed in the cool morning air, Grumpy pointed out the procedures required to maintain proper engine operation (keep cylinder head temperature below 400: add more air speed); lean mixture as density altitude allowed; adjust throttle to maintain intake manifold pressure in inches equal to engine RPM in hundreds. And be sure that the "far hoizon" is rising relative to the "near horizon". That's to be confident that our climb rate is sufficient for us to clear the jagged terrain that comprises the near horizon.

Grumpy's initial course was a little to the left of Rainier. He had flown this route several times before and knew that the view of this snow-enshrouded queen of the Cascades would be spectacular from the East and South sides at this time of day. We were soon at our cruising altitude of 10,500 and on the Southeast side of Rainier. From here we could see Mt Adams, Mt St. Helen's, Mt Hood and Mt Jefferson (both the latter in Oregon).

As we rounded Rainier, staying near the boundary and at a "respectable" altitude so as to not interfere with the wilderness experience of those people on the ground below, Grumpy set his course for the destination field, "Cedar North" in southeast Battle Ground. This course took us on the southeast side of Mt St. Helen's -- close enough to easily detect the topography of the ridges and ash flow paths down this side of the mountain. We could also see Spirit Lake beyond St. Helen's.

As we passed St. Helen's, we could see nothing but a "sea" of clouds covering the landscape to the South and West. Grumpy had been advised of this situation before we left, but he figured that it would either be thin and broken, or be breaking up as the sun's warmth dissipated the clouds. Neither situation greeted Grumpy's eyes as he gazed across this puffy surface of low-lying clouds; however he saw what looked like a "hole" in the cloud cover somewhat to the North and West of his destination. He checked his Aviation Chart to confirm that the land area in the area -- and all the way South and East to his destination -- was at and below 1000 feet msl (mean sea level).

As we neared the "hole", it appeared to be only a depression in the cloud tops; Grumpy opined, "This doesn't look good." He added throttle to stop his descent and considered his #2 alternative: continue southwesterly to the far edge of the cloud cover (roughly at the Columbia River) and then drop down and fly back toward Battle Ground underneath the clouds.

But as we flew over the depression, we both could see terra firma beneath! Grumpy readjusted the throttle for a continuing descent as he made a gentle turn to his left to remain within the hole clear of the surrounding clouds. The bottoms of the cloud cover was at about 2000 feet msl, so once we were below the clouds, Grumpy set his course direct to "North Cedar", the grass strip on which he planned to land.

"Trees are not as far away as they appear to be!"

The field was not easily identified since there were no aircraft or obvious hangars on the site. But Grumpy discerned a mowed strip about 2000 feet long that he realized was what he was supposed to land on. Making the perfunctory radio communications (with non-existing other aircraft!) he lined up his approach to land on "runway 26". As he neared the threshold he beheld a couple of tall trees; a little power to keep from hedge-clipping them and then a 70 knot airspeed to achieve a steep glide path to touchdown. 

"That's not as far down to the end as it may appear!"

As soon as ground contact was made, maximum brakes were applied to stop us at the far end of the runway. [Grumpy later found that over-run provisions included a filled ditch and a continuation into an Alfalfa field on the other side of a narrow, paved driveway.]

Grandson "Stretch" was there to meet us and take us to the newly-developed "town center" where we later met the Swede and Grumpy's two tall, blond Great Grandsons.

We had a delicious lunch in the local "Public House", with Great Grandson J having the "Steak of the Day" [a big -- according to our server; not according to this Porterhouse-eating young man! -- 8 ounce flat-iron steak] and everyone else getting their choice of items on the menu. Grumpy had invited this gathering for lunch, so of course he paid. [The biggest expense, though was the cost of the flight down here! But it was also part of the pleasure.]

Swede, Stretch, GGs A., GGs J. (on wing), #2 Son, Grumpy

Number 2 Son and his Dad are already plotting their next flight adventure.