FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE; Coalinga-CA

For Heaven's sake! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Again, the drive to Hanford did not happen 🙄 - I didn't sleep more than a few quick winks last night (cold weather aches & feral dogs barking), and Holland didn't fare much better than I did; he's breathing much better this week, praise the Lord 🙏 … but those trolling, barking feral dogs are not allowing anyone in the Park, a peaceful rest period 🐕🐾🤬

Our city drive scrapped; & knowing we'd both be catnapping 😴 off and on throughout the Day (Holland already slipped back into bed upstairs 🛌💤) - I put a bean soup 🥣 on slow cook ⏱️; did some body toning 💪 reps for muscle strength (also hoping for some refreshing alertness, for Heaven's sake), watched a vintage Clifton Webb & Edmund Gwenn movie for some good Heaven's Sake humor 😇😉 … and worked more rows on the little pink WIP, for Heaven's sake - in a positive way 💝🎁😘

An impromptu, hearty winter soup, to finish off last night's garlic bread. General Cooking from scratch, burns roughly 100-150 calories per hour (chopping, stirring, moving). Washing dishes by hand, burns approximately 75–180 calories per hour.

Count your reps as you do them as follows: (1-2-3-4, ONE; 1-2-3-4, TWO) aiming for a consistent pace & rest between each set for a 10 sec. break before going into the 2nd+ set(s): 3 rep sets = 100 cals.

Bicep Extensions Exercise: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5dfkW6w5qI)

Arm Scissors Crossover Exercise

Bodyweight Standing Phelps Chest Stretch

Stepper, slow and easy 10 to 15 mins; x3 reps = 90 cal's. The ideal frequency depends on your individual fitness goals, current activity level, and how your body responds, so listen to your body and adjust as needed.

Accurate raglan sleeve length, is measured the whole length = from neck to cuff end.

Accurate gown body length, is measured from armpit to hemline. Knitting can burn approximately 100-150 calories per hour.

For Heaven's Sake 1950 Clfton Webb, Joan Bennet & Robert Cummings:  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns8TXKJqp9c)

Supper was delish - a definite repeat 😊

Val's Slowcooker Winter Pinto Bean Soup:  (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2025/12/vals-slowcooker-winter-pinto-bean-soup.html)

FOGGY WANDERINGS; Long Beach Peninsula-WA

September 23rd: I was up before Holland, so I enjoyed 2 cups of Hazelnut Coffee to clear away the morning brain fog; and worked a few more inches on the little preemie gown I am designing:

 

MOD Knit Preemie Sleep Sack; 2 to 4 lbs.

When Holland woke up he said he needed to drive into Long Beach; and would I like to join him, and meander down Cranberry Road on the way back … yes, I would.

But, first I made some pancakes and bacon for breakfast - I used one of the 4Patriots Buttermilk Pancakes Mix: I spread my two with peanut butter and rolled them; Holland spread his with honey. They were good, either way ;-)

Driving into Long Beach this morning was kinda nippy - with a fog blanket hanging overhead, and pungent wood smoke in the air. We took our time moving forward in the dense fog.

The Long Beach Peninsula was shrouded in fog this morning.

After Holland got what he needed, we moseyed down to the beach via Cranberry Road, and the atmosphere there, reminded me of the 1980 John Carpenter movie, 'The Fog':

This patch of foggy beach, with the fella slowly walking up from the water, reminded me of the 1970's movie, 'The Fog' ;-)

I couldn't find the original movie - this is the only one highlighted on YouTube; it's quite a bit different …

The Fog (2005) Movie: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2UYk9HPz28)

While we sat and talked; and watched busy little sanderlings speed past us at the speed of feathered bullets, Holland mused that maybe foggy Tillamook-OR (or even Brookings-OR) may play into the picture, while we wander towards sunny Yuma-AZ.

I'm okay with whatever he decides.

I trust his decision on travel matters - I know he will calculate all the possible risks, travel distance, road and set-up expenses … and arrive at the best possible scenario for our best interest in the moment. He has literally spent the majority of his life on the road: I trust his judgments.

The white-topped waves blend into the low-lying fog bank.

Discussing the possibility of hunkering in Tillamook-WA a couple weeks.

Little Sanderlings were racing up and down the beach ...

Sanderlings: 

(https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sanderling/id)

I made a chicken meal for Supper, later in the day. I like simple, fuss-free dishes that don't chain me to the kitchen … but allows me to the freedom to provide healthy, yummy meals while I multi-task: and I'm happy to notice that Holland likes that, too :-D

The Supper fare was good - and will also be a repeat Supper.

Frying chicken smelled good ;-)

Getting more veggies into Holland. LOL

He liked it; it's a repeat meal.

Chicken and Vegetables with Milk Gravy Recipe:  (https://www.framedcooks.com/chicken-and-vegetables-with-milk-gravy/)

WINDS OF CHANGE~Indian Summer 2024; Ocean Park-WA

September 22nd: Summer is coming to an end on the Long Beach Peninsula; but this afternoon unfolded on warm winds of change as an Indian Summer lingered.

We drove to the closest beachfront - which is a mere 3 minute drive from our front door.

We watched the waves, enjoyed the winged wild life antics, and joked with each other about music preferences:

Ocean Park Beach Access from Ocean Bay Mobile & RV Park; 3 min (0.9 mi) via 261st Pl & Bay Ave.

Bird Lady; she was surrounded by gulls that flocked to her and her car.

Ravens feeding on Dungeness Crab remains.

A 'shooter wave' & sound of the ocean.

Tide rolling in, sideways.

The tide rushed in; and we backed Betsy up about 10 feet …

The tide just kept rocking our way ;-)

Holland downloads 1970's Playlists for me, to give my senses a break from his ear-piercing big hair bands … but I've never heard of this band.

UFO - 1979 Doctor Doctor: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pNOKQT29ag)

I do like the Scorpions … and a few Metallica tunes (which I never listened to before Holland), and that surprised Holland, as well as myself: normally, I would not have given them a listen, but things are different now - I want to be fair with my husband, who is doing his best to equal the balance. He said, "I thought you wouldn't like them because they are a big hair band." I laughed, and said, "Well, I do like what I am hearing … and I do not consider the Scorpions a 'big hair' band. Their music is kinda low key: no lycra pants cutting into their private areas causing them to screech in angry falsetto voices. When I think of big hair bands, Cinderella, Judas Priest, Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Guns and Roses, Poison, Ratt, and Kiss, come to mind: the kids listened to those groups, and I can't stand them - then, or now, I don't want their attitude or atmosphere bouncing around in my head. The Scorpions look like men - they sound like men. Metallica can be a little {much} with all the head-banging backbeat and aggressive growling, but there are a couple songs you've been playing, that I don't mind listening to."

Of course, all the groups mentioned in the previous paragraphs are bands Holland likes, and still listens too - mostly when he's in Betsy alone.

When the tide started rolling in rapidly, we turned Betsy towards home.

The incoming tide had surged behind us …

Surrounded on all sides, we decided to leave the beach.

And I started a new preemie sleep sack, after Supper:

MOD Preemie Sleep Sack.