MOUNTAIN CLIMBING~Self-Care; Coalinga-CA

When I got up this morning, Holland told me the temp didn't fall below 44-degrees at any time overnight 🦉 - that's good news. I wouldn't have known one way, or the other: I drank my cocoa last night ☕️, fell into bed 🛌 … and was out for the count 😴 until around 8:30 this morning.

Holland has not been feeling well: he's been lethargic 🥱, hawking up globs of mucus 😒, and cat napping 😴 most days 📅 The other morning, he said, "I don't know what's wrong Baby. I'm beginning to think I've got a devil 😈 riding my tail." And when he looked at me, he was serious. And I'm inclined to agree. I've been praying with him, for him … and over him throughout the day 🙏 - but he's got to want the healing bad enough, to ditch his hard core self-reliance so he can trust Yeshua 100%. He's not there; so, I'm hoping he will get in touch with his Dr. ⚕️ & order a total check over when we get back up North.

The Word of God is not delayed.

It’s not dormant.

It’s not waiting on perfect conditions.

It’s working. Right now.

Faith believes now.

Faith receives now.

Faith rests now.

Revelation 12:11 tells us, “And they overcame him (satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” ☝️ ✝️

Some - including my husband - say, “I’m a private person.” But if you want the devil defeated in your life, you need to tell 📣 someone what Yeshua did for you! 

Holland never talks 😬 to anyone about Elohim - or what has been done through Yeshua's beneficent touches on his life: he says, "I stopped talking to anyone about it because they would just get upset." Hmmm 🤔 - he's hanging with the wrong crowd. I'm thinking it's time he started culling the pack and surrounding himself with people who uplift, support, encourage, and come alongside him in prayer for daily strength and effective healing proprieties. There is nothing at all weak about recognizing the need for help if necessary 🙏☝️, and gathering godly, insightful people around himself for spiritual strength & general well-being ✝️🤝 - to bring out the best in him, for him. Proverbs 13:20 highlights the importance of choosing friends wisely, as our relationships significantly impact our character and life choices. This principle is echoed throughout the Scriptures, emphasizing that "bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33). I am praying that as 2026 unfolds - and he deepens his relationship with me … he will also gather new mentors or friends 🤞 who possess wisdom 🕊️ 🔥 , that mean him well; and will represent an active, ongoing, and intentional life journey throughout all the Days he is gifted to walk this earth.

And while I'm already in that frame of mind … I, too, want to leave space in my mind for the Ruach HaKo'desh to reveal things to my inner spirit 🕊️; my inner woman, if you please. I want to stay open to that 👂: I don't want to overthink life, too much. I want to be available for what Elohim wants to download into my brain cells 🧠 - and infuse into my spirit. I want to be ready for what 2026 has for me, personally; & for US, as a whole.

I want to remain open for Elohim's Plan for my Life.

And not overthink it.

Not over plan it.

Not overstep it.

I want to stay in step with Elohim's Plan for my life, so I can enjoy the maximum Life.

As I work my muscles and enjoy my workouts 🏋️‍♀️, I am mindful with grateful thankfulness that I am capable of enjoying workouts - some people are not.

Age-related muscle loss ⏳, known as sarcopenia, can be significantly reduced or reversed through consistent strength training. Start slow and progress gradually: Begin with low-impact exercises using light weights (5-lb or less) or resistance bands, focusing on proper form. Increase intensity over time by adding reps or resistance. Not only are toned arms achievable, but the process also leads to a wide range of health benefits, including improved balance, mobility, and bone density 🦴

Targeted exercise is crucial: Incorporate specific arm exercises 💪 like bicep curls, triceps extensions, and wall push-ups at least two times per week to build and tone muscle.

Diet and rest are essential: Support muscle growth and recovery with a protein-rich diet, proper hydration, and 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

Simply exercising isn't enough to see the best results; a healthy diet 🥗 is equally vital for muscle growth and recovery. As we age, our bodies become more resistant to growth signals, a phenomenon known as anabolic resistance, which requires a higher intake of protein 🥩 to overcome. A nutritious diet rich in lean protein, healthy fats, and fruits and vegetables is crucial for fueling your muscles and supporting overall health. Hydration and sufficient rest are also cornerstones of a successful toning regimen, allowing muscles to repair and strengthen after a workout.

Visible results typically require consistency over several weeks or months. Beyond physical improvements, the benefits extend to mental well-being, motivation, and confidence.

Always talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have chronic health conditions.

Spot reduction is a myth: Toning arms requires a combination of building arm muscle and reducing overall body fat through diet and exercise. It's important to understand that you cannot "spot reduce" fat from specific areas like the arms. To reveal toned arm muscles, a combination of building muscle and reducing overall body fat is necessary.

While targeted arm exercises will build the muscle underneath, overall fat loss through a balanced diet and regular activity will uncover those muscles.

I started my workout today, with a few stretching exercises:

Shoulder Shrug Warm-Up~12-15 total ct to loosen tight muscles.

The Standing Reach-Up Back Rotation Stretch primarily targets the erector spinae muscles, which are crucial for maintaining spinal alignment and stability. This exercise also engages the shoulder muscles and core muscles, contributing to overall flexibility and core strength. It is a beneficial exercise for anyone looking to improve their back mobility and reduce tension in the lower back.

Improving flexibility is essential for maintaining a healthy range of motion in your spine. The Standing Reach-Up Back Rotation Stretch helps to lengthen and stretch the muscles in your lower back, allowing for increased mobility and reducing the risk of injury. Additionally, this exercise can help alleviate lower back pain by releasing tension in the muscles surrounding the spine. As you rotate and reach up, you promote blood flow to the area, which aids in the healing process and provides relief from discomfort.

Support your back against a wall if necessary. Proper form is crucial when performing the Standing Reach-Up Back Rotation Stretch. Start by standing tall with your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your back straight and engage your core. As you reach up towards the wall or door frame, make sure to keep your shoulders relaxed and avoid shrugging them. As you rotate your torso, focus on maintaining a controlled movement and avoid any jerking or twisting motions. This will help protect your spine and ensure an effective stretch.

Standing Reach-Up Back Rotation Stretch~Hold the stretch for 20-30 seconds (a relaxed count of 20 to 30), focusing on maintaining proper form & stability in your lower body - and feeling the stretch in your back. Repeat this stretch 2-3 times on EA side.

Standing Reach Up Back Rotation Stretch Demo: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4p9tRkp7d0)

The Kettlebell Staggered-Stance Deadlift can be a safe exercise for a 69-year-old woman if she follows proper safety guidelines and techniques. Though primarily targeting the glutes and hamstrings, engaging the core, lats, and forearms as secondary muscles, this exercise is a compound movement that works multiple muscle groups at once, making it an effective workout for overall body toning and strength building.

The exercise also helps you stretch your back and strengthens your core and balance. Keep your core engaged throughout the movement to protect your lower back and maintain balance. Always maintain abdominal tension.

Kettleball Staggered Stance Deadlift~Aim for 1 to 8 reps per set = Try to do 8 repetitions per activity, which counts as one set.

Kettlebell Staggered stance Deadlift: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXzdtAeM1qk) 

The Darebee Tone Arms + workout is a resistance training workout that targets the upper body to help develop upper body strength; designed to be safe and effective for individuals over 60, including a 69-year-old woman. It utilizes bodyweight training, which is simple, safe, and accessible, making it suitable for those who want to feel stronger, and more capable. The workout includes bodyweight exercises that help reclaim strength, balance, coordination, and energy. Overall, the Darebee Tone Arms + workout is a great option for a 69-year-old woman looking to tone her arms and improve her overall fitness.

However, it is always recommended to proceed any exercise with caution, especially if you have any chronic health conditions. Additionally, it is important to listen to your body and adjust the workout as needed to avoid any potential injuries.

Muscles Used

UPPPER BODY~Aim for 12-15 reps per exercise set (4 reps x3 = 12 total ct or 5 reps x3 = 15 total ct); this range allows for effective muscle engagement while ensuring safety and proper form. It is important to listen to your body and adjust the rep range as needed to avoid overexertion or injury.Toned Arms Plus Workout How-To/One Set: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p63qPmCtSyo)

ALL IN~Self-Care; Coalinga-CA

It’s a season of restoration and the journey is just getting started! We are excited to walk together into what 2026 holds for us 💖

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"  Isaiah 43:19 📖

Every decision Holland makes; he considers me - he may not include my input into those decisions, but his considerations concerning my dream, hopes, and wants … are always in the decisions 💞 And if possible in any way,  he will go the extra mile to include those hopes and wants into a in-the-now-reality Dream unfolding.

Even though a decision may initially frustrate me 🤨 (because I am not clued in 🧩 - it's a 'wait and see' situation), I always find out later what he did was for my good 💕: just like my Father Elohim 💖

Because of Who Elohim is ☝️ … and because of how my husband considers his role 🤠 in our marriage: "all in" faith & blind trust is essential in both relationships 🙏

Drinking our morning coffees ☕️, and feeling the warmth of the sunshine 🌞 piercing the overhead clouds heavy with rain that will fall again, later tonight, Holland said, "I was thinking we need a drive some place - I know my flower, and she needs to get out into the sunshine; or she gets cranky." 🎯

He's beginning to understand his wildflower 😘

And I'm beginning to understand him, too.

Rinsing my coffee mug out, I shot him a sidelong smile, and said, "I'm figuring you out" 🤔 He looked at me, and I continued, "You're a very testosterones driven man - you like the thrill of the hunt, and the rush of the chase. When we get peacefully comfortable, you will pick a fight and create a huge scene, effectively putting distance between us 🤨 … just to double back, start your courting dance 💞, and close in for the make up. I think you like me kinda huffy - just so you can move in like a firehose hero 🤠 and put out the fire you started."

He laughed while putting on his shoes … but it's true, and he knows it.

Holland drove a backroad for a bit, before jumping on the freeway to Kettleman City for a hamburger:

Sunshine & birdsong; this morning is shaping into a  beautiful Day; Coalinga-CA

4-way Junction from Almond Tree Oasis RV Park-CA; 11 mins. Via W Jayne Ave, S Glen Ave

A heart-shaped cloud … and another, too.

From W Jayne Ave & CA-269 Junction to Kettleman City-CA; 16 min's. via CA-269, I-5 S

We enjoyed watching sheep in a far field - and cloud formations above our heads, as we ate our In-&-Out hamburger lunch 🍔😋

Holland drove another backroad home … and stopped this time for me to get a shot 📸 of the leafy mounds that intrigue me: the leaves look like geranium leaves - yet too thick to be cranesbill, & too tall to be cultured geraniums. They literally cover entire fields for miles into the horizon & they pop up in orchards to run the entire length of untrunked ground space: I can't find anything online to match it. It's a mystery 🤷‍♀️ 

He also stopped alongside a roadway to allow me a good frame shot of a regal looking Red-tailed Hawk 👌

We saw bee boxes set in place, and vibrating with busy bee behavior 🐝 - and we spotted his cousin Bruce's bee boxes 👀; I was glad we got to view his bee box locations, since this will more than likely be our last stint here, when we pack up and move in a couple weeks (that's the plan anyway; fickle weather fallout 💧⚡️🔥❄️could change all that).

A heart cut-out cloud formation.

From Kettleman City-CA to W Jayne Ave, 30th Ave; 18 min's

This plant looks like some sort of wild Geranium - this plant is everywhere, covering the fields, & roadsides, in tall mounds. It appears to be as invasive as kudzu … but, it is not a climbing vine like kudzu.

A Red-tailed Hawk, in an Almond Tree Orchard-CA.

Red-tailed Hawk: (https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-tailed-hawk) perched atop a Barn Owl Nest Box: (https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/hawk_perches_and_owl_boxes_for_biological_pest_management.pdf)

Bee Boxes in an Almond Tree Orchard-CA

Blossoming Cherry Tree Orchard-CA

From 4-way Junction to the Almond Tree Oasis RV Park-CA; 11 mins.

BIG heart cloud.

It started raining as we got close to home base 💧 - and we saw that a driver unfamiliar with CA roads, made a wrong turn (probably following misguided GPS directions) and had seriously slid through the slick, gooey mud and ended up in someone's orange orchard 😲 That's gonna be a spendy retrieval 💸, and I hope he wasn't injured.

We also caught sight of last night's recent snowfall ❄️🏔️ in the higher elevation hillside that surrounds Coalinga. Freezing weather is expected tonight and through the weekend - it's possible we could get a light dusting down here, if the freeze lingers 🥶

Rain - as soon as we get to our home street …

Holland read the TX Plate, and said 'hot shot driver'; poor fella won't make any $ this trip - the tow fee will be astronomical.

We caught sight of overnight snowfall in the hills surrounding Coalinga-CA
snowfall in the hills surrounding Coalinga-CA

Text with David.

Today's workout was an "all in" undertaking, and it felt good 😁

The "I am In Charge" workout is a high-burn, streamline cardiovascular workout designed to engage your entire system, making it beneficial for overall fitness. It is a no-equipment workout that can be done at home, which is suitable for many individuals, including a 69-year-old woman. However, it is essential to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new exercise program, especially for individuals with pre-existing health conditions or those who are not used to physical activity.

Examples of how to do the Side Step Jacks & Side Jacks are posted below - in the exercise descriptions.

Muscles Worked

March Steps~10 ct in place x3; Side Step Jacks~10 ct total x3; Arm Circles~5 Front & 5 Back = total 10 ct x3; Side Jacks~5 EA side = total 10 ct x3

The March Steps exercise is generally considered safe for a 69-year-old woman, provided she is in good health and has a stable cardiovascular system. The march steps exercise involves walking briskly, which can be beneficial for cardiovascular health and overall fitness. It is recommended to start with a comfortable pace and gradually increase the intensity to avoid overexertion. Additionally, staying hydrated and wearing appropriate footwear can enhance the safety and effectiveness of the exercise.

In general, Side Step Jacks can be a low-impact exercise option for seniors. The safety of performing the Side Step Jacks exercise for a 69-year-old woman depends on several factors; Joint Health: If she has joint issues or has had previous injuries, she should exercise with caution and consider modifications to reduce impact. Balance and Stability: Assessing her balance and stability is crucial before attempting side step jacks. It is essential to listen to your body and stop if you feel any discomfort or dizziness.

Arm Circles are a safe exercise for a 69-year-old woman to do. This exercise is designed to improve shoulder mobility and strengthen upper back muscles, which are crucial for daily activities. Regular, gentle movement like arm circles, can help maintain independence and improve balance and coordination.

Arm Circles - keep arms at shoulder height.

The safety of Side Jacks for a 69-year-old woman depends on her overall health, fitness level, and any existing medical conditions. Side jacks are a form of aerobic exercise that can be beneficial for cardiovascular health and calorie burn. However, they may pose risks for seniors with joint issues, balance problems, or other health concerns. It is essential to listen to your body and stop if you feel any discomfort or dizziness.

Step Side Jacks

And with that … I'm calling it a night: I'm all done in 🥱 I'm going to enjoy a mug of cocoa, wrap up in a blanket (listen for the rain & pray Jack frost passes us up without a nippy visit; RV's are not draft-free regardless of how they are built - or by which company slaps their brand on them), and watch a short movie 💻🎬before going up stairs to bed 🛌💤

It could get pretty cold, tonight 😟

We are in the freeze zone (us = yellow dot).

UNDER CONSTRUCTION~Self-Care; Coalinga-CA

Before falling into bed this morning 🛌💤 (6 AM, or thereabouts), I read on my newsfeed that jesse jackson died: PRAISE ELOHIM! Thank the Lord, that hypocritical 🤥, racist 📣🥊, devil 😈 finally died 👏 That's all that will be said on that matter.

Before anyone has a total melt-down and starts berating me - let me state that in my veins runs bloodlines that carry a DNA  "mutt" strain: Mother - Hungarian Jew, French, Spanish, English; recently in 2018, learned through my youngest sister's DNA Test result, that Upper Africa (Egypt) also ties in the the bloodline through the Jewish lineage - you know, when Jews "weren't slaves" in Egypt = sarcasm here. Father - German Jew, Dutch, Welsh, Irish, English, Blackfoot Indian. 10 blood strains run through my veins, all day. Every day. My stepfather was a Skagit Indian, my deceased BIL was Piute Indian, I have a Native American Grandson-in-law, and my current husband's bloodline carries Cherokee & Choctaw strains which is very evident in his relatives features.

Here's a dose of REALITY that the jesse jacksons, al sharptons, al green, barak obama and michael robinson (also the fringe American Indian pow wows, and jew hating sector of society) do not want to acknowledge because it does not fit their hate-filled narratives:

TRUTH

And yet black slavery seems to be the only narrative being pushed & pandered to.

The rest of the world moved forward and got a Life.

Life is hard for everyone.

BUT Let's not forget actual History - where blacks OWNED, abused, traded, and killed CAUCASIAN slaves - among other nationalities.

muslims had the largest ownership of land in the 600's: they also had the largest ownership of slaves that they sold openly and freely on the market - every skin color on the planet; including their own people. They still have slaves, today.

Chinese upper society had slaves - every skin color on the planet; including their own people. They still have slaves, today.

American Indians owned slaves that they traded amongst the tribes - they can try to clean that dirty secret up all they want, by claiming, "our people were so good to them, they didn't want freedom", but they speak with forked tongues. No one [wants] to be a slave; everyone wants to be free to live their own lives the way they want to live. Hmmm: it would seem that the modern day demonrats are taking a clue from the American Indians in claiming that the American populace "wants" to be enslaved to have their lives controlled by DC savages. Sorry - but, NO.

Irish people were the first European slaves in the American Colonies - brought on ships by England landowners, before there was an America.

If people want to be taken seriously, then they need to be  real in dealing with actual facts instead of pushing their own twisted freeloader scenarios.

People, since the beginning of time owned, abused, traded, and sold slaves - and some of those slave owners were black; even here, in America. That's a fact.

I woke up a couple hours later ⏰ (10 AM) to the sound of groaning trees and rampaging wind gusts - there are good sized RV's on all sides of us that take the brunt of the forceful wind gusts … but every once in a while, a rouge wind will growl it's way down the spaces between, and Independence's footing will feel kinda ify 🤔 The rains came around noon.

The weather is rockin' & rollin' here, this morning; Coalinga-CA

Projections for this week … wet & windy 😒

We have plans to leave here around March 1st, but that could change 🤨 if the weather continues 🤷‍♀️ as it has been since November 😲

Whatever happens, I don't think we'll be coming back this way, again - Holland says his bloodline ties here ended with the recent deaths of his Uncle George, and his cousin Brenda. Everyone else from this side of his family tree moved on decades ago, scattered to the 4 winds.

I'm glad that family connections were made with the remaining first cousins during our 3-year Road Gypsy travels. I have enjoyed meeting the Harris relatives (his mother's branch). I have enjoyed listening to Holland & his cousins talking about the people the knew and loved:

Harris Side: Craftsmen Carpenters - built houses from start to finish 🏠; Cowboys - real cowboys that worked ranches & did the rodeo circuit 🤠🐎🏆; Bob Taylor branch's (Holland's Step-father & father to Holland's two youngest siblings) were Ranch Workers 🐮, Welder Journeyman, Driver & Mechanic for heavy equipment & Drag Cars, & Oil Workers 💰🏆 all over the USA - Holland did ranch work, worked in just about every American oil field, even signed on to a crew working an oil rig in Canada, for a while 🚘🗺️🧳

I'm not looking forward to the PNW branch; I hope and pray our time spent there will be short-lived - I can be cordial short term; but I am not a 24-7-365 kitchen table chat session person. People, in general, wear me out. But, my husband loves them … and I love him: so, I will be on my best behavior for as long as we are in the PNW. MPO is that these are not nice people. But, I am nice. And as long as I do not have to be at every kitchen table chat session, I can stay nice.

Nice 😇 will be a steady "under construction" process the entire time we are up there 😒🙏

Life is short. Mark is Holland's only living "full-blooded" sibling. It won't cost me too much to be nice, or cordial when our paths cross:

Redmill Side: Construction Contractors ✍️ & Craftsmen Carpenters 🤝 - built houses from start to finish 🏠, interior cabinets also, & drywall finishers = each family member (Holland included) had their own unique style/always in demand for high-end finish 💰

Scott & Holland designed & laid this Sunburst design, in Scott & Lana's house. I like the way it radiates outward from the center; this is their personal signature work & they have done it in other houses too, sometimes in a 2-tone pattern.

Mark's Brocade Fan Work; his personal signature work.

My husband comes from long line of red-neck, rough neck, "good ole' boys" on both sides of the family tree 😉 with a strong work ethic; they lived hard, played rough … and when they blew into town, everyone knew it: the local men lined up - ready to rumble, mother's hid their daughters, and law enforcement got busy laying drag nets. My husband must have been a magnificent beast in his heyday 🏋️‍♀️😎 - he's pretty noticeable now 😍, but … just sayin' 😉

I'm a little rough around the edges myself - I don't mind mingling with the rough side of town, but in my home I want peace to reign: the world can be a difficult, toxic, and increasingly hostile environment - the winds of life can tear things up outside these 4 walls - but inside, is sanctuary: a beacon of refuge and safety from the outside world; a physical relaxation, mental well-being, & spiritual healing. Allowing us to fully exhale and recharge away from the world's intrusions.

2026 will be a year of "under construction" contemplations, drafting of plans 💡, and moving full steam ahead to lay a firm foundation on which to build our dream life: we both know that dreams do come true 😁 - and now that we are finally both on the same page of our life's story 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨, building in the moment towards a future, can actually get underway 😘

Independence set up at the 'Almond Tree Oasis RV Park'; Coalinga-CA

I am so thankfully grateful that as time passed, Holland loosened up and let me start adding some homey items ✅ into our living space 💞: colorful, creatively crafted throws ✂️💥 to add some cozy, warming comfort, upstairs as well as downstairs; potted plants that create a settled, lived-in atmosphere … and every couple weeks, let me undertake a thorough tidying up of his cluttered personal space (I mean - our living space is small & I have to look at the tangled mess, too 🙄).

On another note …

We are both working on lightening up our body fat ratio via intermediate fasting & calorie count: and as you all know, I personally, am working on toning muscle 💪 I'm also considering a portable fold up treadmill. Holland thinks he can find one on the cheap by scrolling through Craigslist Ads.

Alternate Fasting Days; alternate between fasting days (very low or zero calories) and normal eating days (reducing calorie intake by at least 500 calories).

Meanwhile, today, in the now - the Darebee 7-Minute Leg workout is a blended standing leg exercise sets that sneaks up on you by never doing anything dramatic - your lower body moves through side raises right and left to light up the outer hips and glute medius ... then slides into a short calf raise movement that wakes up the ankles, and gives your balance system a job. From there you switch to back raises right and left, which pull the work into the glutes and hamstrings and make the whole back-of-leg chain feel “online,” then you return to calves again so your base stays springy instead of collapsing. The last section, front raises right and left, shifts the focus forward into the hip flexors and quads and makes your posture matter: ribs stacked, pelvis steady, no leaning back to cheat the range. The repeated 20-second calf raises are the thread that ties everything together, resetting your feet between directions so you can keep moving cleanly. Keep the reps controlled, keep the standing leg softly bent, and treat each minute like a form drill rather than a sprint, and you’ll finish feeling stronger through the hips, steadier through the knees, and lighter on your feet.

This workout focuses on building strength in the glutes, hamstrings, quads, and calves, which are essential for overall leg health and mobility. The 20-rep count is a good starting point for many exercises, as it allows for a good balance of strength and muscle growth. Muscle growth is beneficial for a 69-year-old woman. It helps maintain muscle tone, improve balance, mobility, and stability, which are essential for daily activities. Regular exercise can preserve muscle tone and counteract age-related muscle loss, contributing to overall strength and independence 👌 It's important to note that while muscle mass may decrease with age, muscle tone can be preserved and enhanced through appropriate physical exercise activities.

For a 69-year-old woman, it is recommended to perform the 7-Minute Legs workout for 20 seconds each side

As evening arrived, the rain picked up in tempo, and thunder was heard a mile or so in the distance. Independence was being rocked by furious gusts of wind, and Holland settled in for a cozy snooze 💤

And me?

I'm going to bed - and chase down the sandman's sheep 😴 that I ignored earlier, this morning. This old hen isn't a young chick anymore; I need more than 4 hours sleep to function at full capacity.