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 🕊️

BACKROAD DRIVE~Bouse-AZ

This morning we drove over the BLM Land flanking both sides of Plomosa Road; and through Quinn Pass to Bouse-AZ. There is a veg & fruit vendor that sets up there every Thursday & Friday.

We need veggies and fruits - the prices of these things are wildly expensive in Quartzsite … and though diesel fuel is spendy, too, the drive to Bouse is a nice way to spend a few afternoon hours 😁

Today is also the beginning of Shabbat, so I pulled a fancy top on before stepping out of Independence; no makeup though because my eyes - and nose, were just too runny. With dust devils racing across the landscape and causing allergy havoc, it would have been wasted effort. I still like to look nice though when I get out of house.

My husband likes my chubby hourglass shape, but I'd like to be thinner.

I'd also like more fluid funds in our Bank account.

And since neither of those things look likely to happen any time soon (my husband refuses to cut ties with fatty foods & our retirement checks are 'fixed' monies) … I just settled for pulling a fancy top on before shutting off lights and stepping off the last of Independence's steps 😉

Today is also the kickoff Day of National Marriage Week 😍; and I am happy to report that we are fully enjoying it, this year 😘

We took a slo-mo drive - enjoying the time out-of-house, enjoying each other's company, and just generally enjoying Life 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

Plomosa Rd from The Pit Stop RV Park~Quartzsite-AZ; 18 min (14.9 mi) via AZ-95 N and Plomosa Rd

Bouse-AZ via Plomosa Rd.; 14 min (10.4 mi)

Gallery - 'Nice to Be with You' song: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uvI2DSCgU0)

Kind of a vendor hawkers, flea market, Farmer's Market venue; Bouse-AZ

Vegetable & Fruit Stand - what we came for; Bouse-AZ

We came home with several shopping bags loaded … and Holland cooked Supper 👌

Before we left for Bouse this morning, he had mentioned he was going to get a cabbage to steam with bacon and potatoes. I had never experienced steamed bacon before, but I was curious.

It was good! 😁

Holland steamed bacon, cabbage, yam, carrot, & yellow summer squash. GOOD!

After Supper, I listened to some Shabbat Messianic Music, and worked some more on my new design …

MOD 2-tone knit Daisy Stitch

Joshua Aaron - 'Shema & Gadol Elohai' Lyrics: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlILURVJ5NE)

Today was a good day to reap Shalom blessings ❤️

RESURRECTION WEEK~Shabbat 2024, Long Beach-WA

I'm still taking things easy, resting my left arm: I'm hoping to get back to my crochet project sometime next week.

This morning, we had to make a run to the Pioneer Market, and planned to do some wave watching before coming back home.

Holland needs time to fully wake in the morning; so, I had time to polish my nails … and switch out my purse, before we walked out the door ;-)

My nails are finally 'polish length' again. LOL

My first Road Gypsy purchase; bought at a Love's Truck Stop in Utah, last May; my full-size Bible fits ;-)

Yesterday, Holland found the time to get Shay's 'Go Pro' Gift on Betsy's dash … we're trying it out, today.

Watching the waves on Cranberry Rd, Long Beach-WA; the one beach in WA, where you can drive right up to the water:  (https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/washington/drive-up-to-the-water-long-beach-wa/)

Fishing off shore! I've never seen this here, before.

Watching this 'surf fishing' was making me increasingly uncomfortable - Long Beach waves are dangerously unpredictable.

Long Beach-WA is a NO SWIM Beach:

 (https://www.visitlongbeachpeninsula.com/tips-tools/beach-safety-driving/ & https://seatemperature.info/united-states/washington/long-beach-waves-forecast.html)

3 fishermen; waves coming in fast, closer, and higher with each turn. I didn't want to watch, anymore.

We didn't stay long at the Cranberry Road beach - I was getting antsier and antsier watching the waves roll in and rock those fishermen; I finally asked Holland if we could go to another place to watch the waves.

I said, "Don't those men understand that the waves here are the most dangerous waves in the world? They may not look treacherous, but the rip tides are always present. These are killer waves; Long Beach is a "no swim" beach because the water is deadly." Holland was surprised, "Is that so?" I said, "Yes. There are signs up and down this beach warning about the waves - there are no lifeguards here. Those men are up to their thighs in greedy waves - I don't want to watch one of them die, Holland." And then, I choked up with a memory, and said, "You see beauty - I see danger. You've never watched a wave roll in and suck a person out to sea … I have: I watched a wave sneak up the beach, grab ahold of my granddaughter Alyna's little rubber boot (she was 3 years old, at the time), yank her off her feet and very speedily drag her into the surf: Tyson was barking madly at the wave, I was running after her as fast as my little legs could pump - screaming for Bob and hoping he heard my panicked voice on the wind. Scared to death to take my eyes off her little puffed coat and flailing legs. I was crying, feeling my lungs gasping for air, slowing me down - pleading with God to give me enough strength to keep after her. I finally saw a blurred Bob rushing past me on his long legs, and then he was bending down, and reaching out his long monkey arm to grab her puffed up coat. He yanked her out of that greedy wave in the nick of time. But, Holland! I'll never forget that awful sight. Or that feeling of hopelessness. I can't stay here, and watch those foolish men playing with their lives. And I can't imagine what kind of fish would make them want to risk their lives."

So, we left.

Water makes me nervous, in general. The Toutle River, in 1966, nearly claimed my life when I was swimming with my cousin Timmy; he noticed I was in trouble, and saved me before I drowned. The ocean at Beard's Hollow, Ilwaco-WA, almost claimed my life in 1971 during a family picnic on the beach … and my new stepfather saved my life, that day. Water and I are not friends.

And both of my husbands (Bob was & Holland is) water babies who can't get enough 'water time'. Go figure. I tried - and do try, for their sakes; but water really makes me nervous. I can swim - I choose not to. Water and I are not friends.

Holland knows this about me; we've talked about this, many times.

So, we left: and aimed for the Ocean Park Access, on Bay Avenue. I want Holland to be able to enjoy his wave time - he goes out of his way to make time for things I enjoy. Holland physically relaxes (I can literally see the change come over him) when he is near water: a creek, a river, the ocean. Spending time around any of them, relaxes him.

Driving along towards Ocean Park, we saw a beach access sign we hadn't noticed before … and Holland make a backtracking U-turn to check it out:

Holland did a U-turn, and we tried a different beach watching approach …

Klipsan Beach Access Road - something new for both of us ;-)

Klipsan Beach-WA

James Gang - 'Funk 49': 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zENS6T_fZxA)

While Holland watched waves, I checked my phone - and saw an interesting article come up on the newsfeed …

New deep-sea species found: 

(https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article288010815.html)

When we got back home, Holland went back to Internet researching; and I watched a movie that fit this week's purpose :-)

The Life of Jesus | English | Official Full HD Movie:    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgUPt2KI08)

It's a pretty good movie - and stays true to Scripture: but, the acting was poor. The main character was quoting script by rote … and lacked soul depth; there was no emotional connection by any of the actors in trying to reach the audience, to be quite frank.

But the message is good, and accurate.

And the main thrust fits this holy week ;-)

L'Chiam! = "To Life!"; I added some red wine to my water - wine in the Scriptures symbolizes life, vitality, joy, blessing, and prosperity. In the New Testament, wine represents the blood of Jesus Christ.

DOWNTOWN TUCSON-AZ~Shabbat Eve

We decided to rise early and go exploring before the day advanced too far into the afternoon hours - there was one particular site we wanted to visit :-)

This building caught our attention when we entered Tucson, Thursday … we were mistaken about what it was.

Southern Arizona VA Health Care: 

(https://www.va.gov/southern-arizona-health-care/)

A BIG pink building.

'Maybe he's color blind …'

As we laughingly re-entered traffic, Holland treated me to downtown sights: he wanted to make sure "you get your pictures, Baby": we don't know what kind of freeze Tucson will experience this weekend - all we know is that whatever happens, will be unprecedented for this region; although higher elevations like Flagstaff annually get a significant snowfall … Holland has only known Phoenix to get a light snow dusting 37 years ago, when he was living and working there.

My loving husband wanted to ensure my week in Tucson isn't a bust, so he ferried me around downtown to see the sights, there … and I agreed if afterwards, he'd lay down and rest when we got back home ;-)

I could see his eyes were hot - that meant his lungs were on fire: he has a chest cold whether he wants to acknowledge that, or not. I'm going to pamper him, and pull the Wife Card when necessary: he needs to rest and heal. There's no time clock to be punched, and no real hurry to get anywhere until the backend of February.

Downtown, Tucson-AZ skyline.

St. Augustine Cathedral; Tucson-AZ

A colorful openwork arch on the Cathedral Plaza.

Openwork Band Shell: 

(https://tucson.com/news/local/tucson-oddity-flowery-covering-sets-stage-for-performances/article_21d0e5d4-7137-58cf-adc1-179ceb5e0e20.html)

St. Augustine Cathedral; Tucson-AZ: (https://tucson.com/news/local/watch-now-tucsons-historic-st-augustine-cathedral/video_a819e998-abb0-5dc1-b5c6-96c19474c885.html)

This little stucco church appealed to us; the Primera Iglesia Bautista (First Mexican Baptist Church in English) in the Barrio Viejo historic neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona.

The Primera Iglesia Bautista: 

(https://borderlore.org/inside-tucsons-primera-iglesia-bautista/)

When we saw this building, Holland said, "Look Baby - it's Jewish … I'm gonna pull over so you can check it  out - take your time."

Rose and Maurice Silverman Jewish History Museum Campus, Tucson-AZ

He's trying; and meeting me halfway. And I appreciate it.

Even though it was a holocaust memorial building instead of a synagogue, I was thankful to see it today, on this Sabbath Day: the one day a week, we Jews (Messianic, as well as orthodox) determine to forgive-embrace love and peace-and invite whole-body rest, by declaring a truce between ourselves and the world :-)

Concerning the Sabbath … does it make any difference which Day of the week, we observe? Does the Bible establish Sunday as the Lord's Day? Was the Sabbath given for the Jewish people only - while Christians are commanded to keep Sunday as the Lord's Day?

I try not to get caught up in loop arguments that mean nothing at all in the grand scope of things. What I do believe, and say, is that Elohim ordained a specified Day of Rest (and as far as I can discern, that memorial has never been rescinded); so, every Seventh Day, I set my 24-hour Island of Rest aside: without all the orthodox traditions.

As Yeshua, Himself, exampled.

Personally, I start counting my seven days from the day I begin work (I'm retired … some days, I'm a lazy, laid-back thing ;-)) - so my Shabbat Rest can literally fall on any Day of any week, though I do generally rest on the Day most Jews across the globe, do ;-)

Stained Glass Windows & Gate Motif; Holland pointed both out to me as I got out of the truck to take pictures - "Look at the stained glass windows, Baby … and the gate."

Side view & parking lot.

Rose and Maurice Silverman Jewish History Museum Campus:

 (https://azjewishpost.com/2016/museums-prep-for-grand-re-opening-feb-21/ & https://www.tucsonlocalmedia.com/deserttimes/article_749f9df4-dffb-11e5-b432-87cc1bb4a9b9.html)

Barrio Arches; Tucson-AZ

Five Points Barrio Arches: 

(https://www.kold.com/2021/03/14/five-points-intersection-art-project-construction-complete/ & https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/midtown-news/five-points-why-tucson-began-in-the-barrios)

I pointed to the Cesar Chavez Arch, and asked Holland if he knew who Cesar was - Holland did not know the background history of Cesar Chavez; so I informed him ;-)

Cesar Chavez: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Chavez

I originally supported Cesar … but when he became more a messiah-complexed-politician, than a farm worker advocate … he lost his vision, as well as my support. But, he is still an important historical figure.

Colorful Tucson Barrio Homes: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60950-d561907-Reviews-Barrio_Historico-Tucson_Arizona.html

The Santa Cruz Catholic Church; Tucson-AZ: (https://tv.azpm.org/p/arts/2020/1/13/164301-santa-cruz-church/)

The advertising appeared to be a good deal …

Very expensive 3-gallon propane refill.

In the barrio district.

I just consider the overcharge a Shabbat tzedakah.

Tzedakah:

 (https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4203668/jewish/What-Is-Tzedakah.htm)

In Mexico, the word "barrio", can mean: (1) a slum neighborhood or a dangerous poor neighborhood (2) a new government program where they call "barrios mágicos" those beautiful historical small colonial towns trapped inside a big city.

Very pretty street curb mosaics …

Most of the church buildings we saw today were catholic, and I do not support the catholic religion … but, I admit, the buildings were very lovely - even though the religion itself, is not, and is basically paganist in nature.

What does the Bible really say about the Sabbath? It is generally assumed that Sunday is the correct day. 

Few people realize that the Sabbath vs. Catholic enforced Sunday controversy raged during the first three centuries of the Christian era, and thousands were tortured and put to death over this question both before and after the Emperor Constantine supposedly "resolved" the heated debate in his Sabbatical edict in AD 321.

If so many chose death over observing a man-made-day not commanded by God, could not this dispute be more significant than we may have thought?

Roman Catholicism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_the_Great#:~:text=Although%20Constantine%20lived%20much%20of,Church%20and%20the%20Coptic%20Orthodox

Was not The Law … "including the Sabbath - nailed to the cross" … when Christ was crucified? 

Is it possible that all of these churches are wrong on this fundamental doctrine?

And, does it really make any difference?

What about scriptures like Galatians 4:10 or Colossians 2:16: do they not prove that it does not matter which day we keep?

For me … I do what I am led to do concerning adhering to Scripture, and let Elohim sort everyone else out.

We enjoyed our drive.

It was fun to see all those historic buildings.

Holland did come home and rest :-)

And I had a cup of hot cocoa and checked upcoming weather reports (Holland is hoping to squeeze a trip to Tombstone in, before we leave this region).

A mug of hot cocoa with a heart-shaped marshmallow ;-)

Researching general Tucson Winter weather, I read that on the morning of January 7, 1913, the mercury bottomed out at a frigid 6° at the University of Arizona, then the official temperature location in Tucson. Based on newspaper reports some low-lying areas in Tucson did report temperatures as low as zero.

WOWSERS!

I hope, and pray, that the Winter of 2024 will not be a repeat of 1913.

A trip to Tombstone, doesn't look good, either :-(

Tombstone-AZ temperatures, this week …

Winter weather = Tombstone-AZ