DOMESTICITY IS A WILD ADVENTURE

Friday, June 6th: Domesticity may be a quiet & calm thing when you're flying solo lobo - but, when you hitch your wagon to someone else's wagon, the result is not always a smooth, or agreeable teamwork undertaking 🥰😘👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨🤝 … it more often resembles a wild adventure through unfamiliar territory, featuring stubborn mulishness and wild broncos 😳🤔😬😟😡🖕💔🤦🏻‍♀️🙏

I was up at 7:30 A.M., this morning.

I needed to go grocery shopping today: the closest place to accomplish that without a royal fleecing, was Warrenton-OR.

I would need to cross the Astoria-Megler Bridge; I've never done that on my own, in Beast Betsy. Betsy is big & wide. She is a turbo powered machine. I can drive the Beast, and I do dive her - but I do not like that bridge: I was not liking the prospect of driving her over that bridge by myself with the very real possibility of manhandling her through strong, gusting, winds blowing on off the ocean & slamming against her broadside. My first husband, Bob, in his 53 years of driving had driven across that bridge many, many times … and one time that I know of, in a semi blown sideways across both lanes.

No, I was not looking forward to that possibility. On good days, I do not like facing the prospect of driving across that bridge 😕

Holland offered to do the driving.

I agreed … provided we agreed to a truce until after the shopping was completed (peaceful vibes forever, would be a wonderful blessing). It would be a long day spent in 3 different stores - and a long evening putting things away when we got back: I did not want to fight about anything, at any time.

He agreed, pointing to the Bible he pulled from hiding last night, saying he was reading it (he was letting me know that he'd heard me a few weeks ago saying a Bible needed to be read & understood; not just put on display, or verses parroted) - and saying it was his mother's Bible.

Plus, neither of us are liking the way the Trump White House is leaning; paula white in the White House is not a good thing. Honing up on what Scripture has to say about this period of time,  is wise.

Apparently, Holland & I had the same petition 🙏 and hope ✝️🩹💕💯, while we navigate this wilderness period:

Don Williams - 'Lord, I hope this day is good' lyrics: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vou1a_br3yA)

Don Williams - 'I Would Like to See You Again' lyrics: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjS68CSKk8s)

Don Williams - 'My Heart To You' song: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCGrWz4Fn4M)

The day really did go smoothly; thank You, Lord 👌✌️🕊️

Warrenton-OR from Ocean Park-WA; 44 min (32.1 mi) via US-101 N and Sandridge Rd

Crossing the Astoria-Megler Bridge - on our way to Warrenton-OR

The lighter, deeper water in the distance, is 'the bar'; where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean.

From top of bridge - Astoria in forefront; bridge to Warrenton in distance.

Bridge to Warrenton-OR

Tide going out … entering Warrenton-OR, around 12.30'noon.

Shopping today was pleasant teamwork; no stress, at all.

Tide was still going out around 3.30 PM, on our way home - we were between tides coming & going, crossing Astoria-Megler Bridge: 5 hrs. for tide to go out/1 hr. slack tide = no current; water standing still/5 hrs. incoming tide.

First off once we reached Warrenton, was a quick stop at the Goodwill store, there. I found the Pyrex casserole dishes & pie pan I was wanting - I had all these, but Holland thought they'd add too much weight to Independence's weight allowance, so they went by the wayside. Now, he is understanding that foil pans are not the best way to go (spendy with the constant replacement, and very flimsy in general), and didn't kick up a fuss when I placed those new purchases in Betsy's back seat area.

Then, it was over to the Wal*Mart Superstore for groceries. I also gave into a $5 frivolity again, and bought a trailing perennial ivy plant; I like greenery in my home … and now that we have pulled Independence off the For Sale market (we're looking into another way to finance the slide-in camper we are hoping for); I want our home on wheels to look & feel like a cozy home - I believe the greenery will help sooth the senses and give off a comforting ambiance. Surprisingly, I did not get the slightest hint of an argument when I slipped the Heartleaf Philodendron snippet next to my purse in the shopping cart.

Back home - I put the groceries away, got Supper underway & served, put the ivy where it's trailing tendrils will not impede our closed quarters living space, & visited a few Blogs I frequent. Holland surfed FB & YouTube.

My latest frivolity, bought in Warrenton-OR's Wal*Mart; placed atop the kitchen slide out - it's the perfect spot for it. 😊 I had thought to place it atop the cabinet above the coffee pot, but Holland was afraid I'd climb my little ladder, stand on my tiptoes to lift it up and down for maintenance, and end up taking a tumble when he was gone, sometime …

My 2022 Rosburg-WA Fellowship 'freebie'; thriving happily and sending out more freebie baby 'spiders'. This plant is a good air purifier.

My Parker-AZ Wal*Mart 2024 Holiday indulgence; this pot of color will sprawl, and will need to be kept pinched back to keep it manageable & tidy in our compact livingroom.

The nice Warrenton-OR Goodwill casserole dish find, was quickly commandeered by Holland, for a fruit cache to keep his smoothie ingredients corralled 😉

I tried a new coffee … but I don't think I'll buy it, again. It gets bitter as it cools.

I posted a recipe to a couple Blog Hops … and noticed that my chicken recipe was featured on 'Full Plate Thursday's' Blog Hop 👍

Domesticity is a wild adventure; but it doesn't have to be a trial.

Today was a good Day.

We both know we aren't going anywhere - and we agree to make our marriage work; and if that means [space] - then that's what will happen (right now, I'm taking some 'space').

That will take some hard work; admittedly we are in a wilderness period … but regardless of the proverbial devil winds stirring up the proverbial dust … we'll be here, for each other, in the morning 💕

Don Williams - 'I’ll Be Here In The Morning' lyrics: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XyiBMdb42U)

RELAXING & CATCHING UP; Long Beach-WA

We pulled into Long Beach last night, set up … and crashed, enjoying a welcome rest period.

This morning, I shot a text to David to let him know we'd arrived; then we planned to drive to Warrenton-OR to grab a few groceries.

But first - a drive along the beach :-)

Holland loves the beach; we are thankful to have a friend like David.

Springtime display on Cranberry Rd.

Holland was feeling a little of the Spring Spirit too - and indulged in a 'doughnut' :-)

I generally avoid driving across the Astoria-Megler Bridge … Holland loves driving over that monstrosity; and it's the only way to get across the Columbia River to Warrenton's huge shopping Mall Complex.

So, off we went … with me grousing, and Holland laughingly teasing me.

Warrenton's location …

Crossing the Astoria-Megler Bridge; on our way to Wal*Mart, in Warrenton-OR

Astoria-Megler Bridge: 

(https://www.britannica.com/topic/Astoria-Bridge)

I don't mind the Warrenton Bridge, crossing Young's Bay-OR

Youngs Bay-OR: 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youngs_Bay)

Warrenton-OR from Long Beach-WA; 33 min (21.7 mi) via US-101 S

White Pelicans ;-) ~Young's Bay-OR

White Pelican: 

(https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-white-pelican)

Warrenton-OR: 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrenton,_Oregon)

Back home - again over the Astoria-Megler Bridge.

The day was so nice, and the drive was so pleasant, I had thought about asking my husband to take the long way home (I was also thinking about my late friend David Hargrove, whose resting place is not far from where we park when in Long Beach); so I was happily surprised when Holland - of his own inclination - decided to treat me … by taking the long way home, via Sandridge Road (where I pointed out to Holland the place my biker friend David's cremains, rest) - looping through Ocean Park to Home Base.

Ocean Park's  Big Ben ;-)

Super Tramp was playing on the radio station …

We both enjoy this band's music - and we were 'taking the long way home' :-)

Super Tramp - 'Take The Long Way Home' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C_g_IZASPM)

Back home, and groceries put away, I decided to engage in some  'Susie Homemaker' activities … Holland normally claims the kitchen, but tonight I'm giving him the night off.

I was hungering for meatloaf and baked potatoes.

And it makes me happy to have someone in my life to make a Home for, again.

It feels good that my Life has purpose again - instead of simply surviving.

We are going to be enjoying a couple months of flat-footed-domesticity ;-)

My favorite Meatloaf Recipe~2017 Blog Posting ;-)

YES! Allowable in my self-imposed Slim-down Plan.

After Supper, I thought I'd go online and find out if the girls were still meeting for weekly Bible Study in Rosburg-WA … and maybe I'd be able to squeeze a Kelso-WA Fellowship in, too; while we are in WA

Kelso is a lot further away, which means fuel costs will be higher. But I'd like to get there, if possible.

This is closer; and probably more attainable.

Making Plans ;-)

FB's {Memories} Feed tonight, had me reflecting on last year's 'TODAY'S DREAMS~TOMORROW'S REALITY' Blog Post:

 (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2023/04/todays-dreamstomorrows-reality.html)

Picking up where I left off a few weeks ago; I hope to have this completed soon.

I love my big guy - he is literally 'God's Gift to me'.

~Holland; Long Beach-WA

Spring Vibe is definitely in the air :-)

Elohim has been very good to me.