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Showing posts with label Camelot Shore & Cowlitz River-WA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Camelot Shore & Cowlitz River-WA. Show all posts

Monday, September 21, 2026

SUNDAY UNFOLDING; Castle Rock-WA

I woke up, looked outside … and went online to find out where the wildfire smoke ๐Ÿ”ฅ☁️ was originated from: then I plugged my little coffee pot in & got a mug of coffee perkily perking, & scenting the house with seasonal  vibe: this time of year always makes me sleepy - I needed full-strength coffee, so I bypassed the coffee pods & reached for the ground pumpkin spice. I don't care if my limping heart gets a vibrating jolt; my lungs need the liberating infusion, my heart could use the jolt, and my senses will thank me for the seasonal enthusiasm ☕️⚡️๐Ÿ๐Ÿ˜‰

It's 57-degrees here in Castle Rock-WA, with lingering wildfire haze, & 82% humidity ๐Ÿ˜ณ
The smoke drift is coming from the Wenatchee-Yakima region - crossing the mountain range ๐Ÿ”️๐ŸŒŒ
September skies beg for Pumpkin Spice.

{{On September 20, 2026, Castle Rock, WA was under wildfire smoke influence from active fires in north‑central Washington, with moderate‑to‑heavy density plumes dispersing locally and northeastward into Canada.

According to the Kitsap Sun’s wildfire smoke map, which aggregates NOAA and interagency data, fires in north‑central Washington State were burning on that date, producing moderate‑to‑heavy density smoke plumes. Light‑density smoke from these fires spread locally in all directions, plus northeastward drift into Canada.

WA Wildfire Smoke Map; September 20th, 2026

Safety note: On days with moderate‑to‑heavy smoke, sensitive individuals should limit outdoor activity and check local air quality alerts for health advisories.}}

While I sipped my morning joy juice ☕️, I watched Holland sleep - and was glad he was sleeping ๐Ÿ˜ด: sleep is hit-n-miss most of the time … and the recent COPD flareups have made his sleeping pattern worse. So, I am glad he is sleeping, in this moment of time. My heart was filled with grateful happiness for this new gentle giant, in my unfolding Life.

I love this man - he's so good for me in so many ways.

I checked my own lung power ๐ŸŒฌ️ & adjusted what needed tended to, in that regard.

I finished up the crochet book cover ๐Ÿงถ✂️๐Ÿ“˜ I designed the other night for November's reading engagements ๐Ÿ“…๐Ÿ๐Ÿฆƒ๐Ÿ“–

MOD CROCHET [TURKEY FEATHERS] PAPERBACK COVER~Pattern: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/09/mod-crochet-turkey-feathers-paperback.html)

And I thought about the changes we're going to be making in our life/lifestyle ๐Ÿค” A lot of things in our life, are changing ๐Ÿšช๐Ÿ’ซ: goals, mindset, lifestyle, friendships … the list goes on ๐Ÿ“œ Just like life ๐Ÿ’ฅ

Life continually moves forward ➡️ So does everything else that affects life ๐Ÿคท‍♀️ Some of the changes will be easy – those changes are already happening: some changes will be harder.

Holland was in ER twice in the past 2 weeks ๐Ÿฅ๐Ÿฉบ; I knew about his COPD before I married him ๐Ÿ’, so I am not alarmed when he has flareups - but this last flareup concerned both of us, and had him so seriously concerned that he started thinking about "getting things in order, just in case; I want to make sure you'll be okay". I assured him that no matter what happens, I will be okay ๐Ÿ‘ฉ‍❤️‍๐Ÿ’‹‍๐Ÿ‘จ Bob's graduation to life beyond the clouds 8 years ago, taught me the lesson of surviving and rebuilding a new life. I also assured him that though we are going through a difficult patch right now, "it ain't over 'til it's over - and neither of us have heard that message yet from the One Who makes that specific Call" ☝️ ✝️๐Ÿ™; we are both living with death sentences - COPD (him) & Asthma, coupled with a flakey heart pace (me). Neither of us are doing anything foolish or risky like some do ๐Ÿคช๐Ÿคก, when faced with death and dealing with uncertainties, but we are both - also determined not to let fearful [what ifs] get a foothold. We are taking 1 day at a time, doing what we can with the limitations, and giving the rest to Elohei – trusting in divine care, and resting in Yeshua's perfect peace that passes all understanding ๐Ÿ•Š️ We know that given the dicey situations of our personal lives & the Life we are building together, both of us are alive for a specific reason; and will remain so until our mission on earth is completed. For that we are thankful and bless Elohim every day ๐Ÿคฒ

What happens after Holland's next Dr. appointment will determine where we go from here … and how we move forward ๐Ÿ’ž That appointment ๐Ÿ“‹ has not yet been set in stone ๐Ÿ“ฑ๐Ÿ’ฌ, so exactly how long we will be here is still up in the air ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿป‍♀️๐ŸŽˆ So are whatever decisions, & adjustments, will have to be considered for our Days ahead ๐Ÿ’–

When Holland woke up and shook the sleepy cobwebs from his thoughts …

he said, "Things are gonna look different when we go back down there" - meaning the southwest region we are normally set up, in, this time of year.

{{La Paz County, including Quartzsite-AZ - experienced multiple flood events, including a minor flood advisory on Sept 12 and a severe flood warning in Maricopa County on Sept 17, with Tyson Wash reaching major flood stage in the area.

Heavy thunderstorm rain caused minor flooding in low‑lying and poor drainage areas, including Tyson Wash (September 18th, 2026: 3.60 ft stage), Smith Wash, Poormans Wash, Alamo Wash, Scaddan Wash, Cave Creek, Bouse Wash, Cholla Wash, La Plomosa Wash, French Creek, and Apache Wash. Quartzsite and Brenda were listed as affected. Residents were advised to “turn around, don’t drown” and avoid driving through flooded roads.

A Severe Flood Warning was issued for Maricopa County, as heavy rain affected rivers, creeks, and washes including Cave Creek, Beardsley Canal, Agua Fria River, Deadman Wash, Skunk Creek, New River, North Canyon Creek, and Apache Wash. This event was part of broader flooding in Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale, and other Maricopa County areas.

These events were driven by monsoon thunderstorms bringing heavy, short‑duration rainfall to central and south‑central Arizona. While Quartzsite saw minor flooding on Sept 12, the broader Maricopa County flood warning on Sept 16–17 was more severe, with multiple washes and rivers above alarm stage.}}

The red zones are places were usually set-up in; or visit regularly. We are thankful Elohim put His thumb in us and kept us out of harm's way this year.

He is still making plans to continue road gypsying ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿš˜๐Ÿ—บ️ - allowing for adjustments as Life deals it to us. He wants to experience places he never got to visit when he was rushing from job to job. He wants to take me to places I have dreamed about all my life - he wants to show me those places of my dreams that he has lived & worked in. He wants to live life, enjoying it as I have learned to do: free & untethered, in our waning years ๐Ÿ˜˜

And, God willing, we will be able to do ๐Ÿ‘ - until Father Time puts a serious crimp on that goal ⏱️๐ŸŒ

Then … he followed that news up, with, "Trump got Greenland".

๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘

THIS IS A GOOD DEAL!

The deal bars China, Russia and other non-NATO countries from establishing military bases or maintaining troops in Greenland. It also restricts adversaries from investing in sensitive sectors that could pose a threat to U.S. national security.

"This historic deal is a huge win for the United States and the American people," Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News Digital. "Thanks to President Trump’s vision and leadership, this historic agreement permanently guarantees U.S. security interests in the Arctic at zero cost to the U.S. taxpayer."

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP ๐Ÿ˜

Thank the Lord that President Trump boldly and firmly stands up for our great Nation, and has a total grip on the reins of rationality; turning the radical tide - and pulling America upright again.

Is President Trump perfect? No

BUT, he IS perfect for this moment in our history.

THANK GOD

{{Trump declares victory in historic deal with Greenland as he secures 'permanent' US military rights

~Story by Morgan Phillips

FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump struck a sweeping agreement with Denmark and Greenland this week granting the United States permanent military rights on the strategically placed Arctic island.

The U.S. will now have permanent access, basing and overflight rights in Greenland, and the ability to establish additional military installations as needed, according to a senior U.S. official who outlined the deal exclusively to Fox News Digital.

The deal bars China, Russia and other non-NATO countries from establishing military bases or maintaining troops in Greenland. It also restricts adversaries from investing in sensitive sectors that could pose a threat to U.S. national security.

"This historic deal is a huge win for the United States and the American people," Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News Digital. "Thanks to President Trump’s vision and leadership, this historic agreement permanently guarantees U.S. security interests in the Arctic at zero cost to the U.S. taxpayer."

"Greenland will forever be part of the strategic defense area of North America and exclude any adversary from it and the surrounding area," Rubio said. "This deal permanently and completely addresses our national security concerns in Greenland.

The new agreement, which has no expiration date, stops short of transferring sovereignty over Greenland to the U.S. But administration officials still view its permanence as key to addressing the security concerns that drove Trump's push to acquire the territory in the first place.

"The difference here is we're not spending any money for the right," to expand the U.S. military presence, the senior official explained.

The deal is designed to remain in effect even if Greenland eventually becomes an independent country, they added.

Trump had repeatedly argued that control of Greenland was necessary for U.S. national security, pointing to the island's strategic location in the Arctic as Russia and China expand their presence and capabilities in the region.

The deal significantly expands on the longstanding U.S. defense relationship with Greenland. The U.S. already operates Pituffik Space Base and has maintained military access to the island under a defense agreement dating back to 1951.

Under the new agreement, however, Denmark and Greenland would not have approval authority over additional U.S. military installations. The U.S. would consult with them but would have the right to build new installations when it determines they are necessary without needing their buy-in, the official said.

The administration believes an expanded U.S. military footprint in Greenland could eventually play a role in Trump's planned Golden Dome missile defense system.

The deal only allows the U.S. and its allies to make "sensitive investments" on the island, such as telecommunications infrastructure, undersea cables, ports and critical minerals.

The administration is seeking to prevent Greenland from becoming another version of what it sees as the strategic vulnerability that developed around the Panama Canal, where Chinese commercial interests have fueled U.S. concerns that ostensibly civilian infrastructure could have national security implications.

"We're never going to face that in Greenland as a result of this," the official told Fox News Digital.

Officials from both Greenland and Denmark, which holds sovereignty over the self-governing island territory, initially scoffed at Trump’s insistence that the U.S. must ‘own’ Greenland.

But months of negotiations between Rubio, White House adviser Stephen Miller and officials at the State Department and National Security Council led to a deal that satisfied all sides, a second official told Fox News Digital.

Representatives from all three countries went through "various rounds of quiet negotiations that never leaked and never got out there" starting in February, as Denmark and Greenland came to see the agreement as serving their own security interests.

"They recognize at the end of the day that they have a national security concern here as well," Rubio said. "Denmark and Greenland understand that they don't have the financial means necessary to defend Greenland if it were to come under attack or be threatened. The United States has the power to do that."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/trump-declares-victory-in-historic-deal-with-greenland-as-he-secures-permanent-us-military-rights/ar-AA2cwA52?ocid=BingNewsSerp }}

The breeze outside picked up ๐Ÿ’จ … and that little bit of wind helped the smokey haze dissipate - so, we went for a short drive ๐Ÿš˜; with both of our lungs struggling, we didn't want to go too far afield.

We make the short Camelot Loop.

Cook Ferry Park, known as Camelot,Castle Rock-WA from Toutle River RV Resort, Castle Rock-WA; 11 min (6.3 miles) via Old Pacific Hwy and WA-411 N

Watched fishermen fish the Cowlitz River ๐Ÿฆˆ

Ankle deep fishing … Camelot side of the River.
Lion's Park in Castle Rock - across the Cowlitz River-WA

We drove across a river rock "island" that was showing in the low tide.

Holland was happy to be sitting on this exposed patch of rock, again ☺️: he has fished this river since he was a boy.

Holland is happy to see the 1981 Mt. St. Helen's eruption ash is being swept away to reveal river rock, again; Cook Ferry Park, known as Camelot.
Our route~Old Pacific Hwy-Castle Rock-West Side Hwy-Camelot/Cook Ferry Park-Hoyer Rd., & back home thru Castle Rock-WA: short little loop, drive.

When we got back home, I started Supper: a 4Patriots dry meal packet that I added meat, veggies, and spices, to ๐Ÿฅฉ๐Ÿง„๐Ÿ ๐Ÿ…๐Ÿฅ’๐Ÿƒ The spice blend was pretty pungent, so we were surprised the cooked result was as mildly spiced as it tasted ๐Ÿฒ๐Ÿค”

Holland liked it, so it will be a repeat meal.

VAL'S 4PATRIOTS FIRESIDE STEW w-MOROCCAN FLAVOR: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/09/vals-4patriots-fireside-stew-w-moroccan.html)
Homemade Moroccan Spice Blend

The evening ended with Blog Hops scrolling, friendly content comments sharing, posting new posts to my own Blog … and hanging a string of festive LED lights:

MOD Hair Ties featured on Stephanie's Crazy Little Love Birds Blog Hop @ (https://crazylittlelovebirds.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-crazy-little-lovebirds-link-party-158.html) - hop on over there, and check other Blogger's  posts out; there is a wide variety of topics.
Holiday ambiance.

Today was a good Day; it started well & ended well ๐Ÿ‘

I am blessed ๐Ÿฅฐ

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

SECOND CHANCES

July 3rd: Holland is blessing my life in so many ways - his encouragements are helping me engage in things I've always wanted to do, but never had a chance to experience (for one reason, or another) with Bob. My life with Bob was good; but a lot of youthful activities fell along the wayside for both of us when parenthood took prominence, 9 months into our marriage. Parenthood was also good … but it also adds expenses that generally puts the kibosh on youthful activities.

In my New Life unfolding there is time now, for those youthful activities (using common sense, of course). And my new husband is a great encourager when I get an itch to scratch those dormant itches ;-)

Monday started out very busy … and ended very happily.

We both felt the day ended on an {accomplished} all the way around ;-)

Tasks were completed from morning to mid-afternoon:

Holland put foam wrap around the bed's rough edge. YAY!
I got busy with the food packages … and Holland got busy with the gates.
Re-Packaging for two, instead of 8 - will stretch this food further/cut down on waste.
Dividing these packages into two, instead of four; a half cup will NOT satisfy a full-grown man!
I love these retractable measuring cups; perfect for limited kitchen storage, and SO COOL.
Prepping for re-packaging.
This is pretty quiet; I feel accomplished with each scaled back & re-sealed package.
Holland set this gate up to keep the boys out of the bedroom; safer this way following the earlier asthma attack. And he set the other one to keep them out of the bunkroom; so they are confined to the LV-Kitchen area, only.

And youthful aspirations were fueled by Second Chance activities: we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon at the river :-)

Not bad for 66-1/2 … I can still rock short shorts ;-)
My first 4-wheeling adventure since September 1974. Holland was good about it: a very patient {teacher}, very encouraging.
A pretty location - the scare was worth it; Camelot Shore & Cowlitz River.
The boys enjoyed themselves … from one end of the beach, to the  other.
We were over there, yesterday; the Rock Pit Beach -  behind the Castle Rock 'Park' area. It's 4-wheeling entrance, too.
I am determined to DO this …
Praise the Lord!

Holland gets a bang out of my little excitements, and his love is igniting second chances in the New Life we are building together.

Only a few more days, then we are on the road again - YIPPIE!

Current set-up; Castle Rock-WA
Fresh Honey Holland bought on our way home over Coal Creek Road. YUMMY!
Something different Holland grabbed at the store; it's like Snapple Tea with a kick. A refreshing ending to a very good day :-)

Thursday, June 29, 2023

OUR GYPSY LIFE IS SHAPING UP ;-)

Last night, we got a message that we had boxes - 5 - waiting for us; so, this morning we got up early to fetch them :-)

I am not an early morning person.

Neither is Holland.

But we are a Team: and together (though at one point I did threaten to throw every male in the house into a kennel - including my husband; who laughed and told me I look cute when I'm angry ;-)), "got it together - and got it done" :-)

The boxes were picked up and stashed in the 4x bed, and the groceries, baby gates, and food storage vacuum sealer/bags; were placed in the back seat area with the fur-babies, who did very well in behaving and staying out of things that were not meant for them ;-)

On the way through Longview to Wal*Mart on 38th, a beauty was showing off, in front of our Beast. I love this color & the matching interior. I miss these old car colors.

As we passed over Delameter to Castle Rock, Holland suggested we take the fur-babies to Camelot Beach for a quick, refreshing dip in the Cowlitz River.

Camelot Shore; Castle Rock-WA
Feeling the freedom.
Holland and the boys cooling their heels …
Cool water on hot feet …
Sonny is getting tired of Bleu's bully tactics.
Twisted Sister - 'We're Not Gonna Take It Anymore' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xmckWVPRaI)
I pulled on end of the extra-large tarp up and over, to protect the groceries & yarn from 2 very wet puppies. Except for the river water today, this tarp has remained dry despite the free-roaming pups.
Time to get home and get these things taken care of …
Beach Driving Lesson, today. Holland was very patient; Camelot, Castle Rock-WA

When we got home and opened the boxes, we discovered that one was full of food packets - and one has to be returned because it is not ours (we will return it, tomorrow afternoon). I don't know who has what we ordered, but I am praying they will do the right thing and send it forward to us.

I'm going to break every food packet down into 2-person servings; vacuum them closed, and store them in larger bins set aside for that very purpose, in the RV 'Basement'.
We were surprised to get a 2nd food bin from Patriot Foods - then realized they ship each order in 2 steps.
K-Cup Coffee's; 5 varieties. It looks like a lot - but it really isn't; and it will be hit and miss grocery shopping once we hit the open road, so I am stocking up on the Joy Juice: these will all go into a specific bin in the RV basement. The Dark Roast is Holland's … the rest are mine; but, I'll lay a bet he'll be dipping into my batch ;-)

After dinking around with the food packets and coffee K-Cups, I got busy in the bathrooms.

If anyone tells you that toilet odors in an RV is a simple fix, they are liars: RV toilet odors are not an easy fix "with water - lots of water!", and with odor eliminating pods (which really does nothing). Frequent dumping's and thorough flushing's help, but more is needed, when the weather heats up. So, today I bought a few toilet bowl deodorizers … and tweaked them to suit my purpose. As close to one end of the deodorizer as possible, I cut the wire with a wire snipper - straightened the wire out and threaded it through the back edge of the seat; keeping the scented edge as close to the water jet as I could without causing water to spray over the rim edge. Then, I bent and secured the wire to the rim of the toilet bowl, and tucked the loose wire end under the toilet's back side; being careful not to snag the water hose.

We'll see how this works.

Over-the-rim 'Bowl Fresh' Bowl Deodorizer. It was broken in the package, so I just bent the wire to fit around the backside. Be wise about this - be careful not to puncture your water hose when you affix the wire.

This little, powerful smelling, toilet freshener is a quick and easy way to keep the tank odors at bay … and it won't harm the bowl, the plumbing, or the black water tank.

Tomorrow is going to be another busy day.

But, we are getting closer to the Goal, and our objective :-)