BENEFICIAL SHOPPING; Castle Rock-WA

We had stuff to do today, across the river.

Before we left home - a quick targeted workout was done, a morning call was made to my dentist/an appointment set up for Wednesday: & Holland has a scheduled Dr. appointment in Chehalis next week, to discuss which procedure would be the best to move forward, to get relief for his bum knee.

Complete set reps as indicated, in this video.

Glute Stepup~In & out of Betsy x10 today.

Crossing the Columbia River to Rainier-OR, an appointment for a bank meeting, was set up for tomorrow morning. We shopped a little at the grocery outlet store on main street …

I was happy to find some mushroom powder that promises to be beneficial ⚕️ for us - certain mushroom species have been studied for their potential therapeutic effects on asthma symptoms. One such species is the Reishi mushroom, known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may help to alleviate asthma symptoms. Studies have suggested that Reishi may improve lung function and reduce the need for asthma medication in some individuals. Lion's Mane mushroom supports breathing and oxygenation primarily through its anti-inflammatory effects, which help soothe inflamed respiratory tracts, allowing for smoother airflow and more efficient oxygen exchange in the lungs; this beneficial mushroom, is particularly good for Holland's lung issues. Chaga mushrooms can help improve lung function by enhancing respiratory health through its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the lungs, Chaga supports better airflow and overall lung capacity. A clinical study showed that asthma patients treated with Cordyceps experienced an impressive 81.3% improvement rate, compared to just 61% with conventional antihistamines. The mushroom works by dilating bronchial passages and enhancing the relaxation effect of adrenaline on airways. Cordyceps may help improve COPD symptoms by: reducing airway wall thickening and inflammation. Modulating inflammatory cytokine production - cytokines are not just chemical signals ... they are whispers, screams, and symphonies in the molecular language of immunity. They are the difference between life and death in an infection. Cordyceps mushrooms are beneficial in that they enhance better oxygen exchange in the lungs. The Shiitake mushroom, has also been studied for potential therapeutic effects on asthma. This mushroom contain various bioactive compounds that may help to reduce inflammation, improve lung function, and support immune health. Ashwagandha is an evergreen herb shrub found in India, Africa and parts of the Middle East. It has long been used medicinally to stabilizes mood, sharpens cognitive function, improves sleep quality, increase energy, & reduce inflammation, pain, and anxiety. The Cortisol Connection - When the body encounters stress, the adrenal glands release cortisol. In short bursts, this is functional. But chronically heightened cortisol disrupts sleep, impairs cognition, increases fat storage, and slows muscle repair. Clinical research shows that Ashwagandha supplementation reduces serum cortisol levels by 15–27%, a range significant enough to produce real, noticeable shifts in how the body handles daily and cumulative pressure: this is great … Holland was just saying the other day that we need to work on our cortisol levels.

This powder will also be easier to store in Independences - RV refrigerators are small; and keeping produce & mushrooms at an even temperature gets tricky. Produce will sometimes get frostbite, & mushrooms will often get slimy in a short period of time. You can mess with the temperature from here to kingdom come … and it will always be a frustration. And I have not been successful in finding dried mushrooms at any store, in any State we've visited these 39 months of road gypsying. I was very happy to see mushroom powder, so I bought 2 👏

I was also happy to bring a colorful cupcake tin home with us - there are many things I have been wanting to bake … but foil cupcake [pans] are not very sturdy. I need the sturdiness, & I like the bright mustard color 😁

Shopping bags placed in the back seat space of Betsy's cab, she was then driven a mile or so up the highway & fed diesel before we turned towards home base. Crossing back over the Lewis & Clark Bridge, and driving down Oregon Way, Holland nipped into Don Pedro's Drive-thru for a couple burritos for him, and a few street tacos, for me. The taco's are wonderful; I love small, soft, street tacos!

Tracked 1 hour = 1 mile, this morning.

Street Taco's~Don Pedro's Mexican Restaurant; #437 Oregon Way, Longview, WA

2 good finds this afternoon at the Grocery Outlet; #215 W B St, Rainier, OR. The mushroom powder will be good to back down the inflammation of both our bodies.

Back home, stuff got put away and the evening wound down in a relaxed manner - Holland watched a movie & I posted to a few Blog Hops, noticing that one of my crochet plant pot covers had been featured on Angie's Blog:

MOD HOLD THE LINE FREEDOM 250 Plant Pot Cover (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/06/mod-hold-line-freedom-250-plant-pot.html), was featured on Angie's Blog Hop @ God's Growing Garden

And we will be tucked in cozy & early 😴🛌 thankful for another blessed Day; and the beneficial shopping (dentist, doctor, bank info, groceries, organic medicinals, fuel, lunch, and entertainment) we were able to get done this afternoon.

Tomorrow is going to be another busy Day, with an early start ⏰

ALL ABOUT THE NEIS~4th Night Hanukkah; Coalinga-CA

Holland has had it with the cold weather - last night he said, "We need some sunshine, Baby - let's go back to Quartzsite: I'll wear a mask when the dust devils are kicked up". So, this morning as soon as he'd had his morning coffee ☕️, he called the Office here and told them we'd be checking out the morning the 30th … then he called the Skyline RV Park in Barstow-CA and secured a space for 3 days 🔒

While Holland was on the phone, I tried one of the new coffee pods - and scratched off my scratch cards, making a small win gain 😉

And I did a couple "fat targeted" exercises, so I can break out the sleeveless tops begging to be pulled from the closet & worn, again 🤞

2 flavors! I never noticed the Twix, before this morning; I broke even - these 2 winning cards recouped the $ forked out.

The cold snap here 🧦👕🧤🧣, in Coalinga-CA, is unusual 😱: and I agree with my husband that our bodies need the solar healing 🌞 effects of warming sunshine. Plus, the electric costs here are ridiculous 🧐: a fourth of our combined income is flying out the door 💸 in this cold weather 🙄

We'll be taking our time getting to Quartzsite, and that's okay with me: I like all the places we'll be traveling through & hunkering down in 👌 And I think we'll be exploring a new area 🚘🗺️, too, along the route.

I popped in and out of FB, checking PM's, visiting Friend's Pages … and listening to songs - this one 🎧🎶🕎🕯️, fit's today's mood:

The Maccabeats - All About That Neis - Hanukkah:  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wi1H3UnKhk)

We enjoyed a quick supper …

I Jazzed the Manwich sauce up with extra's; Anaheim's, shallots & garlic.

I did a couple loads of laundry 🧺; and started work on another preemie-newborn item: I would like to have a few more items to drop off in Hanford (besides the 2 sleeping gowns), before we pull out of here:

The night wound down with a quiet anticipation and heartfelt gratitude for all the blessings that have been showered on us 😘

4th night.

A TRANSITORY LIFE; Coalinga-CA

September 17th: This afternoon, we drove to the Save Mart grocery store in Coalinga: it's the largest grocery store in the town, kinda like an Albertson's store. We went basically for a loaf of bread (the kind my husband prefers - he really is a name brand person; if it's a house brand, he turns his nose up at it) … and came home with $170.00 of more - $25 dollars of that was a meat variety combo.

But before we went for that loaf of bread that morphed into a little bit of everything; we stopped at Taco Time for a couple crunch wraps, and pulled over alongside a side road curb to eat them. While munching, I watched a few locals enjoying the sunny day, visiting over fences, and car pooling … and I mentioned to Holland, "Every time I watch people that have grown up in the same town for generations interacting, I think how nice that feeling must be; I've never had that. There have been places I've lived in and enjoyed, throughout my life - but I never felt like any of those places were truly 'home'. Even Cathlamet-WA, where I lived for 3 years with my parents, and 18 years with Bob; and Longview-WA, where I lived with Bob for 23 years, & 4 years solo lobo. I always felt like like those places were transitory; there was no real permanency about those places. No real roots. I wonder about these people's connections to the towns they grow up in, live their whole lives in … and I can't identify on any level." Holland swallowed his bite, and said, "Maybe that's because, as a Christian, you know this Earth is not your home - it is transitory: this is not your Home."

I think maybe my husband has a point 🤔😘; I never thought of my transitory musings in that way - but, it makes sense.

A Coalinga local walking with an umbrella, to shade the 98-degree sunbeams.

A colorfully tiled house …

This conifer tree looks like overgrown dillweed - I don't know what it is, because nothing the internet was coming up with, matched it; Taco Bell drive through; Coalinga-CA

This tree with a pretty, frilly flower; is a Mimosa tree.

Yellow Trumpetbush & Fan Palm sprouting in a hedge - Taco Bell drive through.

Coalinga Save Mart (internet pic).

We walked 1.5 miles today - in the grocery store.

$25 Meat Combo - broken down at home.

And, on the way back to Independence after buying our expensive [loaf of bread], we talked about our pick up & move to Brookings-OR the end of this month, with Holland saying, "I really don't know where else to go. So, we're going to Brookings … and we're gonna stay there until God tells us it's time to move on." I agreed, saying, "I agree: after all the research yesterday, it's really the only place that seems to suit our lungs. That's what internet wool gathering says, anyway." Then, Holland asked, "And if God says WA - you'll go?" I replied, "I know where you're going with this … and I already said I would do what God wants me to do; I'm not a Jonah - I'm not going to argue with Elohim's directive for my Life. But, I want to be sure it's His prompting, and not a redmill enforcement." He said, "You'll 'do what God wants'? You have the temperament of a goat …" And I interjected: "Yes, I am a goat - I was born in the Capricorn season, but I don't argue with Elohim. I won't like going back to WA; because I can't take an easy breath, there, that's a fact …. and I'll probably dig my heels in if He specifies that he wants me back in WA, but I'll go even while resisting the thought of returning. I don't have to like going Holland; but I will do it. I just want to be sure it's a God thing, and not a redmill babysitting thing - not a husband insistence thing. We're leaving here because you are seriously struggling to breathe here - all I'm asking is that you have the same consideration about my struggling to breathe in WA. That said, I'm with you in regards to not knowing where to go from here."

When we got back home, we ate a light Supper.

I relaxed by relaxing my body with toning exercises.

1 hr. workout combined with in-store walking.

And Holland petitioned Elohim for guidance, wisdom, and clarification 🙏 - we don't know where we'll end up after leaving here the end of the month: but, He does, & He will direct us to a place where both of us will be able to breathe comfortably at the same time 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 And in that we trust 🕊️

I have enjoyed out transitory Road Gypsy lifestyle - and my husband has been a good sport about ferrying me from place to place, making my 'Tour America' Dream, a Reality 💖

Neither of us control the weather - Yeshua has His own reasons for the dustups; and the demonrat governors 👹 will have to answer for themselves as to why they are letting their States go up in flames … either by poor eco-freak-text book-forest mismanagement, or by terrorist groups setting cities on fire in angry protests just for the Hell of it 🔥

Holland has actually even been enjoying the lifestyle himself, too: seeing scenery, and have adventures, he was never able to when he was a 9 to 5 working man; the retirement life was finally being embraced.

Even today, he said, "We can still be Road Gypsies, Baby - we just have to try a different approach." 

So, that's what we're going to be focusing on … a different approach 😎

*September 16, 2025~WAITING OUT DISASTERS; Coalinga-CA: https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2025/09/waiting-out-disasters-coalinga-ca.html

VAL'S 4-Patriots OATMEAL APPLE CRISP; Shabbat~Ocean Park-WA

While Holland was out-of-house this morning - running down an oil filter for our 4x in Long Beach, I pulled up a Messianic Music Album to fill the atmosphere with Shabbat blessing ☝️💗😇👌 … 

Joshua Aaron - 'You Are Holy' - FULL Album: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1TcU4Y_AAU)

Then, I got busy making my favorite Apple Crisp Recipe. The first time I made this Apple Crisp was in April 2019 - 4 months into widowhood; so, Holland is the only husband who will enjoy it, with me 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 😘 

I try to keep things in this marriage separate from my previous marriage: I want my New Life 💞 to experience new things - and we are doing that traveling America 😊

Betsy & Independence - learning all over again how to cook with an RV Propane operated oven; Ocean Park-WA

I have lived for a while in an RV with my 1st Husband when he was moving from job site to job site as a shovel operator for a logging company - but, it's been a while since then and I am having to learn how to use a propane stove again 🤔: using it is a cinch … it's the *cooking time that gets tricky.

I have a lot of 4Patriots food packets, so for this recipe I used one of the oatmeal packets … and added a little more sugar & cinnamon, because I don't know how [sweet] the oatmeal really is: I can't stand oatmeal and there is quite a bit. Little by little it will disappear in dessert recipes 😉

YUMMY!

*NOTE: Gas ovens take longer than electric ranges - keep checking about every 15 minutes past the 40 minutes cooking time stated below for an electric range oven. I like my apples cooked "apple pie soft", so my cooking time may not be the same as yours.

VAL'S 4-Patriots OATMEAL APPLE CRISP ~Serves 6

1 c. 4Patriots Granny's Sweet Oatmeal w-Brown Sugar dry mix * 1/8 c. Granulated Sugar * 1/8 c. firmly packed Brown Sugar * 1 tsp. grnd. Cinnamon * ½ c. Margarine * 4 extra-large Red Apples, peeled, cored, and sliced * ¼ c. Tangerine Juice * 1 TBSP. Fireball Whiskey * ½ tsp. Vanilla Extract * ¼ c. chopped Pecans * Vanilla Ice Cream or Whipped Cream, optional * 1 med. Mixing Bowl * 1 lrg. Mixing Bowl * Lrg. Oblong Glass Baking Dish * Butter-flavor Cooking Spray

I used these big, solid-fleshed Apples, harvested in WA State + 2 Tangerines.

4Patriot's Oatmeal Mix = 1 cup

I use margarine because my body is lactose intolerant; margarine tastes just fine, but it can be a little soft & sticky, in the blending of ingredients.

1) Preheat oven to 325-degrees.

2) Mix tangerine juice, whiskey, and vanilla extract in a small bowl: blend. Set aside for now.

3) Combine oatmeal, sugars, and ground cinnamon in a medium bowl. Cut in margarine.

Thoroughly blend oatmeal mixture & margarine.

4) Place prepared apple slices in another large bowl and pour blended juice mixture over apple mixture; sprinkle with half the oatmeal mixture.

Peel, core, and slice apples …

I used Fireball instead of Rum; the cinnamon flavor will taste good ;-)

Mix half the oatmeal mixture with the flavored apple slices.

5) Butter the oblong cooking dish; transfer apple blend to prepared baking pan.

Place apple mixture into a  buttered (I used buttered cooking spray) oblong baking dish.

6) Sprinkle the remaining oatmeal mixture over apple blend, and sprinkle the chopped pecans over entire top of apples and oatmeal mixture.

Top with remaining oatmeal-butter mixture.

Sprinkle with crushed pecans, &  bake - it will fill the air with deliciousness baking aroma.

7) Bake until juices bubble and topping is dry – about 40 minutes. Serve crisp warm with ice cream if desired.

Husband says, "repeat" 😁👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 😘

The perfect way to usher in the Shabbat Rest 🕊️

A HAPPY LIFE; Fortuna-AZ

Building a Happy Life is doable.

We had a really in-depth convo yesterday afternoon. We're both on the same Page regarding where we want our Life to go, how to get there, how to safely navigate triggered moments … as well as alternative ways to enjoy a gypsy lifestyle.

I've always been a gypsy at heart - and it was good news to me to hear that Holland is also really getting into the gypsy groove, now. Even though he did readily join me on this adventure 21 months ago, I wasn't sure with the pain level he was experiencing that he was actually enjoying the ride, or just humoring me: he assures me that he's enjoying himself, too, and wants to "continue doing this until we can't anymore"; I like hearing that 😘

Last night, I also started a new kitchen towel set - my old ones (from my old Life) are wearing thin in places, and need to be replaced. I'm trying to design them around the PNW themes since the desert isn't working for us … I'm also working them up 'girlie' style, since I am making most of our meals, now. Holland still makes some meals, but by and large, I've taken over the kitchen: and Holland is liking what I'm dishing up 😉

Knocked off here, last night … my newest design.

Sand allergies are knocking me out lately … and I sleep the sleep of the drained so deeply that I don't even hear incoming calls or texts that come through on my watch, on my wrist, next to my ear when I'm laying down!

Afternoon text.

We love Arizona, but AZ weather is not doable for us.

Holland has a Plan for our progress forward 👍

First, we are going to be spending a few days in Quartzsite-AZ - then, on to Kingman-AZ, where we will be spending time with his Aunt Gaye; I really like her, so it will be a good visit 😁

After that visit, we will head North, towards Brookings-OR; where Holland doing research, says it's warm & pleasant weather, most of the year. We are also kicking around the idea of spending half the year in Brookings-OR & half the year in Ocean Park-WA; we do like Ocean Park … and Brookings will be a new experience for us; Holland says there is a lot for retirees to do there 👏

For the time being, we still have Independence - the only calls we've gotten so far, have been from 3rd parties who want to put her on their RV Lot: we don't want that. We want to sell her outright, without the middle man … and we can do that, provided our wants line up with Elohim's Plan for our Life. If we do sell her, we'' downsize to a large camper for traveling and live in a Park Model home in an RV Resort: staying fluid so we can pack up and move whenever we get the itch, don't like our neighbors, or need a change of scenery. If we don't sell her, we'll just continue doing what we're dong.

We hope she eventually sells.

But, we'll do what Elohim's Will is, as we proactively set about building our happy life ❤️

While Holland continued researching, I picked up my knitting project where i had left off last night, and worked on it some more while watching the Hegseth Confirmation Voting session (it went as figured); and also President Trump's visit to the wildfire ravages regions of CA. A lot of promises were made - time will tell if that plays out, or if nuscum politics derails what's best for the devastated people of his State. Personally, I think his political career is over - he set it on fire with his stupid ecological nonsense.

As far as I got, tonight ;-)

The periodic naps brought on by allergies, Trump's WEF speech, the Hegseth Vote, and Trump's CA visit pretty much ran the Day out.

I hope to get further, and do more, tomorrow.