RENG HUA; Castle Rock-WA

Today, we had to drive into Longview 🚘, to pick up one of Holland's blood pressure prescriptions 💊

I was feeling punk 😔 - but we are a team 🤝 … plus … when men have responsibilities, they do not get to stay home & pamper themselves, just because they "do not feel good": Holland doesn't [get] that mindset, but he doesn't know any independent women either, besides me, & I was raised independent = to carry my fair share of the Day's load. I am his responsibility (he keeps telling me, as a reminder of his raising 🤠) - and he, is mine (he is learning, because I keep telling him & I keep showing up to shoulder my end of the load 💞) - so, I manned up, got dressed, and went into Longview, with my husband.

I got up when my alarm went off - and left Holland to sleep a bit longer: he needs the rest.

I slipped out of bed around 5 AM to allow Holland to sprawl and relax his leg - to give some pain relief.

This I-5 Corridor seems to be very foggy every morning … of course, the Cowlitz River is pretty close.

When he woke up and was enjoying his morning coffee ☕️; I utilized the curling  irons, & put a little color 💄 on my face, too; for encouragement 😉 The gray clouds, dreary wet chill, and low-lying fog - I am tired all the time.

And it's been so freaking cold & wet here, I think maybe I have a chest cold, too.

Fueled by coffee …

War Chest arsenal that will add color to the coffee boost.

My workout today was every body movement🦶  & muscle group 💪 utilized in shopping 🛒:

Climbing in and out of Betsy x6, mimicked a Glute Step-up workout; her floorboards are as high as my waist & the bed side rails are eyebrow level, on my head. No joke. Betsy is a 4x beast.

7,000 steps by bedtime.

Stretching up & climbing grocery shelves for 1-1/2 hours, today.

Up & down stairs at least 3 hours of an 8 hour day

Driving through Castle Rock, towards home, we stopped at Reng Hua (a Chinese Restaurant) to pick up the meals we'd phoned in 📱🥢; before leaving Longview.

I hadn't visited Reng Hua in quite a while - last time I was there, was with Bob & we were living in Castle Rock, at that time. It's good chinese food  it's local. Local was a good choice today, for several reasons.

Reng Hua; #103 Huntington Ave N, Castle Rock-WA

Holland's Supper.

My Supper.

After supper, a headache came on - so, I drank a cup of coffee ☕️ & watched an old movie 💻🎬🎧 that can still make me laugh. I refuse to spend my entire time in WA State, in bed!

Coffee … coffee. I'm so t.i.r.e.d; my lungs are on fire & I can barely stay awake - for at least a week, now.

Henry Fonda & Lucille Ball in 1968's 'Yours, Mine, and Ours': (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnescGHDeSU)

Hopefully, tomorrow, I will feel much better 🙏

EXTREME~Self-Care 2026; Castle Rock-WA

Drinking my morning coffee ☕️, this 2025 memory posting ✍️ popped up in my FB feed 💻✍️ - and though we can both laugh now; but it wasn't so funny to to experience as 2023, 2024, & 2025, unfolded 🤨 … revealing untapped personalities people know nothing about 😱 until they start living together, under the same roof 🏠

{{When we were having our Fall & Winter Coffee Nights, back in 2022;  and Holland was trying to convince me a 2nd marriage would be a good idea … he said, "I like you - you're spicy; I like spicy women."

Fast forward 6 months down the road: I was "too spicy" and "can't be controlled!"

2 years down the road, and still looking for the remote he was sure he'd eventually find … Holland realized that his feral introverted extroverted baddie truly is his BFF (best friend forever) that has his back 24/7/365.

Walking into year 3, Holland had stopped hunting for the nonexistent remote control; and has settled on relaxing in the knowledge that I mentally scrolled through the {if} scenario's, and CHOOSE him … 

US~Newlyweds; January 2023

…so, leaving the remote control lost, he is focused now on becoming the GAF (give a flip = someone who cares) he promised me he was, when he bought me that first winter coffee and worked so hard to convince me, "if you marry me, you'll never be sorry" 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨}}

What neither one of us realized then 💞 … and we know, now 🧐 … is that both of us are at the furthest extreme of "baddie" - Holland is the most testosterone-driven- man 😎🤠 I've ever run across 😳 (and never before allowed into my personal space) & I'm more spice than he's used to 🤔 (I know this, because he constantly tells  me that).

Memories keep us grounded.

Closing my FB Page, I did an upper body workout … substituting wall planks for the floor planks - the concept is the same, just different application. Darebee's Mayhem Workout is an upper body strength workout that helps you build the right muscle balance for a stronger upper body. And, despite the the title given … this workout is not extreme at all 😉 The Air Punches are low-impact, which means they do not involve the same level of force and impact as traditional boxing, reducing the risk of injury.

#I have posted alternative Punch movements; and alternative Planks movements, below.

Muscles Worked

Aim for 20 ct. EA exercise.

Air Punches are a safe and effective exercise for a 69-year-old woman. They are a gentle form of cardio that engages the arms, legs, and core muscles, providing a low-impact workout that can be adjusted to suit individual fitness levels and abilities.

Air Punches~Aim for 20 ct = more, if possible.

Air punches can be performed seated or standing, making them suitable for various mobility levels:

#Sitting Air Punches~Aim for 20 ct = more, if possible.

Plank Holds can be safe for a 69-year-old woman to do, provided she follows proper guidelines and modifications. Planking is a low-impact exercise that can improve core strength, balance, and posture. Planking can be modified to fit an exercise routine for many different fitness levels, making it accessible for people of all ages and abilities.

For example, incline planks on a table or bench can also be performed safely to build endurance before progressing to floor planks. Wall Planks are also a good alternative.

For individuals over 60, the standard for plank time is to hold a plank for 15 to 25 seconds per side with good form. An above-average hold would be 30 to 45 seconds per side, while holding a plank for 60 seconds or more with stable alignment is considered exceptional for this age group. If planking causes discomfort, particularly in the back, shoulders, or neck, stop.

#Wall Planks Exercise~Aim for 20 ct.

Side Planks, or modified planks, are generally considered safe for a 69-year-old woman to do, provided she follows proper form and gradually increases the duration of the exercise. Here are some key points to consider - Core Strength: Side planks target the core muscles, which are essential for balance and stability. Your core is more than a set of abs. It serves as the foundation for almost every move you make. Whether you are walking across the room, bending over, standing up from a chair, or reaching for something on a high shelf, or bracing yourself to avoid a stumble, your core is always working. That is what makes the side plank such a valuable test. It shows whether your body has the stability and strength to carry you confidently into the years ahead. Proper Form: It is crucial to maintain a straight line from head to heels and engage the core muscles properly. This helps to avoid strain on the lower back and neck. Gradual Progression: Starting with modified planks and gradually increasing the duration and intensity can help a senior woman build strength and stability safely. For individuals over 60, the standard for plank time is to hold a plank for 15 to 25 seconds per side with good form. An above-average hold would be 30 to 45 seconds per side, while holding a plank for 60 seconds or more with stable alignment is considered exceptional for this age group. The side plank is safe for most people, but it’s best to avoid this exercise if you have shoulder, arm, or core pain. If you feel pain during the exercise, stop immediately.

Wall Planks Exercise = #High Plank a substitute for the Side Hold Plank.

Then, I touched down on a few Blogs 🌐 to read posts 📜, and check out what was shared ✍️

And that's all for today, folks - nothing extreme 👍

CONTEMPLATION SUNDAY~Castle Rock-WA

BRRR! 6 AM; Castle Rock-WA I-5 Corridor

Not very encouraging.

7:15 AM;  Cold, foggy morning; Castle Rock-WA

Easy Peasy Supper.

Val's Slowcooker Fireball Stew:  (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/03/vals-slowcooker-fireball-stew-recipe.html)

Your story - all that you’ve gone and lived through: all the struggles, the victories, the losses, every part of it; someone is where you once were and is waiting desperately to hear your story of how God brought you out of the darkness and into His marvelous light! Every day, when you wake up, pray this prayer: “God, give me a chance to tell my story today.” And when that opportunity comes along, take it! Tell them what Jesus did for you, and how He’s still working in your life and still writing your story. Your story matters!

VAL'S SLOWCOOKER FIREBALL STEW RECIPE; Castle Rock-WA

Val's Slowcooker Fireball Stew, over mashed potatoes - is delish! 

BRRR! It was freaking c.o.l.d., this morning 🥶

BRRR! 6 AM; Castle Rock-WA I-5 Corridor

7:15 AM; Looking out my Livingroom window while preparing Supper - I glimpsed fog so thick, the Space Age Truck Stop across the busy freeway was barely discernable.

When I woke up this cold morning, I decided to make a beef stew 🤔: since it is March, I opted for an adaptation 👨‍🍳 of a hearty Irish 🍀 beef stew to warm the bones 🦴, tantalize the senses 👃, and make our taste buds happy 😋

I pulled the beef 🐮🥩 from the freezer, grabbed the veggies from the 'fridge in passing -  and reached for the Fireball Whiskey for the warmth it would add to the meal, all the way around 😊

Cooking a beef stew with whiskey can enhance the flavor - using a cinnamon flavored whiskey will add a savory depth as well as fill your kitchen with a delicious aroma. The alcohol content acts as a natural tenderizer, breaking down tough fibers and enhancing the meat’s texture. When crafting a whiskey-infused beef stew 🍲, it is important to use whiskey in moderation to avoid overpowering the other ingredients. Simmering a meal with alcohol for two hours can still leave about 10% alcohol behind … so, the longer you cook, the more alcohol cooks off: after 4 to 6 hours of slow cooking, there will be barely a trace of alcohol at all - so, it's unlikely to impair your faculties.

I am also trying something new: stew with mashed potatoes - kinda reminiscent of a tipsy-turvy shepherd's pie 😉

VAL'S SLOWCOOKER FIREBALL BEEF STEW ~4 hearty servings

2–½ lb. Beef steak, cubed * 1/2 tsp Olive Oil * 2 tsp. Bacon Grease * 1 lrg White Onion, sliced * 3 Garlic cloves, pressed * 4 carrots, sliced * 2 Celery stalks, sliced * 1 c. Frozen Peas (thawed - or not) * 3 TBSP Flour, all-purpose * ½ c Fireball Whiskey * 1-½ c Beef Broth * 2 TBSP Worcestershire Sauce * 3 TBSP Ketchup * ½ tsp Thyme, dried * 2 Bay leaves * Salt Substitute & Black Pepper, to taste * 1 4-oz. Pkt. Instant Mashed Potatoes (I used Baby Reds) *  2 c. Water

1 Lrg. Skillet * 8-Qt. Slowcooker Crockpot * 1 Tea Ball (optional) * 1 Sauce Pan w-lid * Paper Towels * 1 Cutting Board * 1 Lrg. Kitchen Knife * 1 garlic Press * Measuring Spoons * 1 Lrg. Pyrex Measuring Cup * 1 small Whisk * 1 Lrg. Cooking Spoon, slotted * 1 Soup Ladle * Soup Bowls & Spoons

Ingredients; veggies, liquids, & spices.

1) Prepare veggies; set aside.

2) Cut meat into bite-sized cubes - with paper towels, pat dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil & bacon grease in a skillet, over medium-high heat. Add beef & and brown well all over; remove from skillet & place in the slowcooker crock - along with juices & browned bits.

Olive Oil, bacon grease, & beef cubes.

Browning the beef.

Beef, juices, & Browned bits placed in slowcooker crock.

3) Add remaining ingredients (the liquid should just cover the beef and vegetables; if you need to add a bit more water to reach that level, do so).

Sliced onion & Garlic added.

Sliced carrot, sliced celery, & peas added to crock.

Stir veggies & beef to incorporate evenly.

4) Place all liquids into Pyrex cup; add flour 1 TBSP at a time = blend thoroughly after each addition:

Whisk until mixture is smooth.

Pour over meat & veggies in crock:

Pour liquid mixture over blended veggies & meat.

Add spices (crushed Bay Leaf in tea ball) + additional water, if needed = I added 2 c more.

5) Cover, set temperature to HIGH for about 2 hours; then lower heat to LOW & continue cooking for an additional 4 hours … or until carrot is fork-tender.

Place lid over 8-Qt. Slowcooker Crockpot; set to HIGH for 2 hours = reduce heat to LOW, for 4 hours more.

6) When stew is done, remove bay leaves & turn temp dial down to WARM while you prepare the potatoes according to the packet directions:

The Instant potatoes I chose for tonight's meal.

Then, spoon a serving of prepared potatoes into a bowl, ladling stew atop. YUM!

Val's' Slowcooker Fireball Stew

Husband says this is a definite repeat 👍