DIAMOND IN OUR POCKETS; Coalinga-CA

There’s something so joyfully content about that little longing we feel to shape a Life that feels inclusive, quiet, and uniquely ours 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 Creating a cozy little life isn’t about perfection - it’s about finding joy in simple routines, making our home feel like a sanctuary, and giving ourselves permission to slow down 🐌 enough to truly savor it. A warm drink ☕️🍵, a peaceful corner ✍️💻🎬📚, a moment to breathe 🕊️ … it all adds up to a life that feels beautifully lived.

I'm glad we are both taking space, and taking the time to hunker down and work on ourselves 🦋 for each other 🥰, for the benefit of the whole 💖

This week, the working has been in slo-mo: we've both been laid low 🛌 by the weather. The gray cloud overhang ☔️ hasn't been helpful, either.

But this morning, we felt well and chipper enough to drive into Coalinga for some 🍕 I didn't get too dolled up … but I did spiff up, a bit 😉

'Blue Mist' Mascara; 'Nude Burn' Crème Blush; 'Pink Sand' Crème Lipstick.

'Soft Brown' Brow Gel & 'White Diamonds' perfume; the scent Holland likes on me.

It was chill enough to pull my denim jacket out of hiding & slip it on.

Coalinga from the Almond Oasis RV Park; 15 min (11.2 mi) via W Jayne Ave-CA

Foggy morning on W Jayne Ave-CA

We ate a few pieces of pizza out of the box, in the parking lot, & people watched 👀 a while before we headed back to Independence.

Holland was treating me to the loop drive I like through Avenal … when he spotted a road sign and said, "I don't think we've been down that road yet. Have we been down that road?" I replied, "I don't think so, either. It's not a name I recognize." So, he turned around at the big barn; and backtracked to Sutter Avenue 👏😊

A short detour home on Sutter Ave.; 22 mins (19.5 mi) via #33-CA & W Jayne Ave.-CA

Laughing together; the best medicine available.

Sutter Ave., is a jump road between Hwy. #33-CA & W Jayne Ave-CA: there wasn't much to see, other than the normal open fields; 1 orchard, & 1 ranch acreage - but it was a nice country drive. I like country drives with wide open fields. And we enjoyed the entire drive to the backbeat of George Strait, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis & Kenny Rogers … this was a special concession & I appreciated Holland's attentive pampering 😎😘

We are diamonds in the making.

Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris - 'I Dug Up a Diamond' lyrics:  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q6N4fU5PXs)

When we got back home, I noticed Minerva is busting out all over with blossom 🌸 buds 😳😊

I snipped the stamen's out to halt allergic reactions. I'll get 4 blossoms out of this 1 bulb!

We ate a few more 🍕 slices … and had a slice of rolled strawberry cake 👍 for dessert:

This strawberry cake roll tastes like an oversized Zinger roll - without the cream filling.

Then Holland kicked back for a short siesta 😴 - and I did some toning exercises 💪: throughout November, I've been scheduling in some intermediate fasting days too, and I've dropped 10 pounds, as of this morning 😁 If I stick to the self-care practices 🙏, I should be a lot lighter, pretty toned, ✅ & a lot spiritually balanced ✝️ come Spring 2026. That is the goal, anyway 😉

Standing Toe Touches~20 repeats

Bodyweight Side Stretch~20 repeats each side

Bodyweight - Potty Squat with support~20 repeats

5 min = of continual repeats

The rest of the evening passed with relaxed, & relaxing activities, wrapped in contented domesticity.

WIP coming along …

Laundry catch-up.

The making of diamonds takes place under friction - that is true, but done correctly the result is a brilliant gem of immeasurable value.

Today was a good Day.

Happiness.

Well-being.

Exploration.

Contentment.

Diamonds in our pockets.

We are both diamonds in the rough, taking shape, to better enrich our union 💖