DOABLE~Self Care 2026; Castle Rock-WA

Just a quick post tonight; we're kinda exhausted. There is a lot going on in our life, right now.

One of the [big] things took place this morning …

The Dr., Holland saw this morning, was good - and good to him 👌

The appointment was successful ⚕️; she was knowledgeable, and he has a new prescription that will be more effective to help him breathe much easier  🌬️ And, of course, in addition to what doctors and medications can do … he has things he must do also: (1) Avoid secondhand smoke: everyone he knows, smokes - & I am glad the Dr. added her voice to this issue, as I have done throughout the years (2) Avoid other things that might irritate your lungs: we already do this as much as we can - and we know the States to avoid when traveling 🚘🧳🗺️; EX - we both love AZ, NM, & TX 🌵🌴 … but our lungs do not like the flying dust 💨 Visiting has become risky, & we have learned that we can never live there, as was our hope. Also, common sense things, like staying indoors when wildfires rage; which we already do (3) Exercise: he needs to actively be engaged in cardio activity … I can help with this by including him in my daily exercise routines; the bulk of my exercises  are pretty simple, basically straight forward, and can easily be done seated when his knee pain flares up. Plus, I have weights he can use, too - from 2-lbs. to 10 pounds 🏋️‍♀️, 10 being max for both of us with our back issues (4) Control the body weight: again, I was glad to hear the Dr. echo what I've been saying for years. And, he will learn to like weight watcher meals 👩‍🍳 … I've cooked them for decades: they are good, healthy, tasty, and include "man food" 🥘🥧 that is not "rabbit food"  🥗 The snacking will be the main glitch. Holland is a junk food, sugar lover, snacker. He is a die hard "junk food junkie" 🍦🍨🍪🧁🎂🍰 🍩: this will be the hardest hill to scale.

He HAS to DO these things, if he intends to live a reasonably good & long Life with COPD 3. He claims he does.

SO

He has heard the prognosis - and we have both agreed to further exams & follow ups measures 👂

Less stress & more added "Life edge" with peaceful vibes 🕊️

He has me on his side 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

I have Elohim on my side ☝️

We both have Yeshua rooting for us 🤲

THIS IS DOABLE 👍

GO TEAM REDMILL! 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨😘

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

The next [big] thing happens tomorrow - we're hoping and praying a good report with that, too 🙏💝

RIVERFRONT TRAIL WALK~Self-Care 2026; Castle Rock-WA

September 30th: Today, I got out for some sunshine & a much needed, and greatly missed trail walk:

Sunshine ☀️

Birdsong 🎶

Fresh air 🌬️

A spunky squirrel, that ran across the trail in front of me - jumped from the trail's blacktop onto a low-hanging branch … & scampered up the tree: all so quick, I didn't have time to shoot a video 🐿️👀

Autumn color 🌳🍂🍁

A good stretch of the legs & light cardio 🚶‍♀️; I was so excited to be walking an actual trail, in the sunshine … that I forgot to track my route.

Angel protection ☝️💥 & covered by love; every step of the way 💖

Enjoyed an hour long ⏱️, dilly-dallying, glorious Day 😁

After morning coffees, Holland suggested we get outside to enjoy the limited sunshine & drove me into Castle Rock 🚘, to walk the trail there ☀️🚶‍♀️📸 - and he cracked me up, by patiently waiting me for at every turn of the bend along the way, always saying, "keep your phone close - I can be where you are, in a heartbeat" 📱💬🦁: he doesn’t just say he loves me - he shows it in a thousand little ways every day 🍁💎👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

And THAT is how you KNOW 🥰

Riverfront Trailhead: where I'd begin my 1.7 mile paved walk … and finish at the Lion's Pride Park - where we normally sit & watch the river; Castle Rock-WA

Holland dropped me off at the Riverfront Trailhead - and drove off to wait ... for what would be my 1st arrival, so he could breathe easy seeing I was "okay" 😉

Drifting fishermen; Cowlitz River, in Castle Rock-WA

I always speed walk; it humored me to see that I was outpacing the drifting fishermen.

The fishermen caught up to me here, at this Information Plaque

River Traffic Information Plaque

Castle Rock's Al Helenberg Memorial Cowlitz Boat Ramp & Kayaking Launch = same place as the original pioneer docking.

Castle Rock's 4 Bridges~History Plaque

Castle Rock's present bridge - which I will be walking under … shortly.

Curious about where this side spur goes …

People in the PNW take their river watching every seriously.

Interesting - don't know how it fits into the river - but, it's fanciful & colorful.

Castle Rock's Dog Park; doesn't look new - but, it's new to my eyes.

Castle Rock Bike Skills Park, along the Trail.

1st Wait~My knight patiently waiting for me, in his fiery red steed 😂🤣

The Bike Skills Park is pretty extensive, & used, by the local daredevils.

I'm gonna walk on - he said, "I'll be parked around the bend" … he worries about me 💎🦁, & will wait a bit further up the trail, for my 2nd arrival. Asthma & advancing age: he is as concerned about these 2 things concerning me, as he is about his COPD; and he doesn't think I get concerned enough. I do, but I am not going to be handicapped by my physical limitations. You only get 1 chance at Life on this planet. I am going to live my Life without being hemmed in by health fears.

Apparently we will be playing Leap Frog the entire way to Lion's Park: he is determined to wait every couple mileage markers, for me - & I let him. It eases his mind & warms my heart 🤭

I try not to tease him too much - it's his right to be concerned about me, no matter what I am doing.

Coming around the corner, a couple minutes later - I see a basketball court … & my 2026 knight sitting out a 2nd Wait~Arrangements were made to meet him at the end of the Trail.

YUK! castle Rock's Sewer Treatment area.

Flood Timelines for Castle Rock-WA

Snowberries & Ferns. I love ferns - this is the shady portion of the trail & ferns are very prolific, here.

I like the Fall vibe …

The backside of Castle Rock's namesake.

The trail that goes to the top of the [Castle Rock].

A pretty purple-hued Ivy leaf.

Bright red bramble leaves ushering in the Fall season.

Colorful Beech tree leaves overhead …

This is the end stretch.

And there he is 💎🦁; I love this guy 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 I'm so glad Elohim blessed us in finding each other - Holland is a true Godsend gift.

A small patch of Bunnytail Grass, coming into Lion's Park - along the Cowlitz's riverbank; Castle Rock-WA

Tomorrow morning, Holland has a 9 AM appointment with a lung specialist for an exam, and to have his medical file updated - we are aiming for a reasonably good report ⚕️🙏