EVERYDAY GRATITUDE~Self-Care 2026; Castle Rock-WA

November 2nd: It was 36-degrees this morning 😑, when Bleu ran me outside to sniff & take care of his bodily functions 🐾 I pulled my old mitts out 🧤, and slipped my hands into them: this is my own 2020 design (no written pattern), and I haven't needed them since 2023, because we've been hunkered down in warmer climates down south; but here, in WA State, they are needed.

While Bleu was sniffing the scent of the feral cats 🐈 that make their rounds here, I noticed that mushrooms had popped up in a circle formation a few paces from Betsy's front bumper, where she is parked close to our front door, creating a fairy ring formation -  it was a full moon the other night & the chilled wet weather has been perfect for the sudden formation; so, I ran back inside Independence to grab my camera and snap a pic of it before he trampled it to bits 📸 There are several folklore myths about fairy rings … but, they are just interesting mushroom formations, to me 🧐

A hop, skip, & a jump from the fairy circle - was a couple of fleshy, large mushrooms, about the size of a medium feather pancake: and of course, he had to explore that area, too.

Behind Betsy's back bumper, & at the back end of Independence, Bleu churned up the rain-softened ground by running in frenzied circles 😵‍💫 … with a brief sniffing rest period before starting the frenzied circles again. When I stopped laughing at his antics 🤭, I promised him some off-leash time after Holland woke up & downed his morning coffee.

I could use some nature therapy, myself 😉

Morning vibrancy; Toutle River RV Resort, Castle Rock-WA

Fairy Ring in our space.

Large mushrooms, in our space.

Bleu's morning P & V burnouts.

Back inside & enjoying a mug of Caramel Apple flavored coffee, I surfed the internet pages I frequent 💻🌐👭, & smiled so big seeing Bleu featured on Stephanie's Blog Hop Link Party page - that the coffee I had just filled my mouth with, threatened to fall out & embarrass me by dripping down the front of my p.j.'s. tee 😁☕️😉

My Rivertrail walk with Bleu, was featured on Stephanie's Blog Hop @ (https://crazylittlelovebirds.blogspot.com/2026/10/the-crazy-little-lovebirds-link-party-164.html)

While I was putting my mug in the kitchen sink, Holland woke up - did some internet surfing himself while drinking his coffee 💻☕️; and suggested we take Bleu to run at the Gearhart Gardens Boat Ramp after we drop some boxes & bins off at the new U-Haul Storage in Kelso; that location would work.

He was a good little dog while we were shifting boxes & bins from Betsy to our storage unit … but he was not able to be off-leash at Gearhart, because he turned a deaf ear to mommy and kept wandering out of the boundary pillars, refusing to hear my voice - making me run after him on up-hill & uneven ground. My glutes were worked, & I got a cardio workout (that's a good thing), but neither one of us were happy when I finally caught him & snapped the leash in place 🤨 (he actually growled at me - but simmered down when I raised my eyebrows & gave him "the eye"). He learned some bad habits at Lana's - that's going to change. By the time we worked our way back to Holland, he was in a jovially mood, again. Maybe next time, he'll be better mannered & allowed to wander freely.

Gearhart Gardens Boat Ramp; Kelso-WA

A little fallen Fall pretty …

So MANY scents & new sounds to investigate.

Daddy patiently waiting at the bottom of the natural formed amphitheater hillside.

Typical Fall 'sunshine' in Longview-WA; seen at Gearhart Gardens, on the backside of Swanson Bark & Wood Products Inc.

Back home, we all relaxed in our own ways: Holland cruised the airwaves - checking out new home possibilities 🤔, planning future cross-country/road gypsy adventures ⛽️🚘🧳🗺️🏔️💞 , & enjoyed a short siesta 💤; Bleu sprawled at my feet & eventually crept closer and wiggled himself into a toe-massage position - he likes physical contact; I pulled together a steamed meal 🥔🧄🥕🥬🥓🍃 & scrolled FB reels while supper cooked - one reel caught my attention, making me feel gratefully blessed 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

Blue, getting cozy, with Mom

Gabby Barrett - "One Of The Good Ones" Lyrics: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEuddKEdXw4&list=RDKEuddKEdXw4&start_radio=1)

Holland, absolutely 👍

When my lungs were acting up - but I wanted to go to Fellowship Bible Study … he drove me the hour's distance, & waited in Betsy: "If you need me, I'm here & can have you at the nearest hospital asap". He would have broken every speed record  to get me there. The ladies thought he was being a man who had his thumb on me … but, he was just being my husband; a man who loves me 💕

When I want to go on a walk-about & my body is dealing with angina & bronchial flareups … he listens to me say where I want to be - drives me to the agreed drop-off point & patiently waits for me at the other end of the trail, saying, "Be sure you have your phone with you & I'll keep my phone on alert." We both know that this is simply a safety precaution: if anything serious happens, he won't physically be able to get to me … BUT, he will call 911 & give them my location 📱💬 And now, Bleu is back home, & that gives me a walking companion & eases his mind, too. If I go walking around the perimeters here, I will hear the same speech, BUT, HERE he will jump in Betsy and drive one of the intertwining roadways to where I am.

He doesn't put a thumb on me.

I'm fee to go anywhere I want to & do anything (within reason) I want to do.

At 70 - I'm learning how to deal with my my physical limitations. I don't like it 😒; but I'm adjusting to the slowing down walks, the angina vertigo (if I move too quickly, or get too active), & the increased asthmatic breathlessness. I'm learning that I am no longer an island onto myself.

He's just always in protection mode: "I don't want anything to happen to you, Baby. You're special." Depending on where we are in the moment in our relationship, [special] can have different meanings 😂🤣 But, no matter what meaning it holds … I know he's got my back 🤝

And that's a good feeling ❤️

November is a month to be grateful ☝️🙏, a month to count up all of the good things you are grateful for… maybe it’s the way your coffee tastes just right ☕️, or the warm oversized seasonal sweater you’re wearing; maybe it’s nuzzles & snuggles from your furry companion 🐕🐈. Maybe it’s the way the sunlight hits the jeweled-hued leaves ☀️🌳🍂🍁: or, the simple comforts of home 🏡🏰

Start with something that you are grateful for each day, and watch how beautiful November can be 😘

UNDER CONSTRUCTION~Self-Care; Coalinga-CA

Before falling into bed this morning 🛌💤 (6 AM, or thereabouts), I read on my newsfeed that jesse jackson died: PRAISE ELOHIM! Thank the Lord, that hypocritical 🤥, racist 📣🥊, devil 😈 finally died 👏 That's all that will be said on that matter.

Before anyone has a total melt-down and starts berating me - let me state that in my veins runs bloodlines that carry a DNA  "mutt" strain: Mother - Hungarian Jew, French, Spanish, English; recently in 2018, learned through my youngest sister's DNA Test result, that Upper Africa (Egypt) also ties in the the bloodline through the Jewish lineage - you know, when Jews "weren't slaves" in Egypt = sarcasm here. Father - German Jew, Dutch, Welsh, Irish, English, Blackfoot Indian. 10 blood strains run through my veins, all day. Every day. My stepfather was a Skagit Indian, my deceased BIL was Piute Indian, I have a Native American Grandson-in-law, and my current husband's bloodline carries Cherokee & Choctaw strains which is very evident in his relatives features.

Here's a dose of REALITY that the jesse jacksons, al sharptons, al green, barak obama and michael robinson (also the fringe American Indian pow wows, and jew hating sector of society) do not want to acknowledge because it does not fit their hate-filled narratives:

TRUTH

And yet black slavery seems to be the only narrative being pushed & pandered to.

The rest of the world moved forward and got a Life.

Life is hard for everyone.

BUT Let's not forget actual History - where blacks OWNED, abused, traded, and killed CAUCASIAN slaves - among other nationalities.

muslims had the largest ownership of land in the 600's: they also had the largest ownership of slaves that they sold openly and freely on the market - every skin color on the planet; including their own people. They still have slaves, today.

Chinese upper society had slaves - every skin color on the planet; including their own people. They still have slaves, today.

American Indians owned slaves that they traded amongst the tribes - they can try to clean that dirty secret up all they want, by claiming, "our people were so good to them, they didn't want freedom", but they speak with forked tongues. No one [wants] to be a slave; everyone wants to be free to live their own lives the way they want to live. Hmmm: it would seem that the modern day demonrats are taking a clue from the American Indians in claiming that the American populace "wants" to be enslaved to have their lives controlled by DC savages. Sorry - but, NO.

Irish people were the first European slaves in the American Colonies - brought on ships by England landowners, before there was an America.

If people want to be taken seriously, then they need to be  real in dealing with actual facts instead of pushing their own twisted freeloader scenarios.

People, since the beginning of time owned, abused, traded, and sold slaves - and some of those slave owners were black; even here, in America. That's a fact.

I woke up a couple hours later ⏰ (10 AM) to the sound of groaning trees and rampaging wind gusts - there are good sized RV's on all sides of us that take the brunt of the forceful wind gusts … but every once in a while, a rouge wind will growl it's way down the spaces between, and Independence's footing will feel kinda ify 🤔 The rains came around noon.

The weather is rockin' & rollin' here, this morning; Coalinga-CA

Projections for this week … wet & windy 😒

We have plans to leave here around March 1st, but that could change 🤨 if the weather continues 🤷‍♀️ as it has been since November 😲

Whatever happens, I don't think we'll be coming back this way, again - Holland says his bloodline ties here ended with the recent deaths of his Uncle George, and his cousin Brenda. Everyone else from this side of his family tree moved on decades ago, scattered to the 4 winds.

I'm glad that family connections were made with the remaining first cousins during our 3-year Road Gypsy travels. I have enjoyed meeting the Harris relatives (his mother's branch). I have enjoyed listening to Holland & his cousins talking about the people the knew and loved:

Harris Side: Craftsmen Carpenters - built houses from start to finish 🏠; Cowboys - real cowboys that worked ranches & did the rodeo circuit 🤠🐎🏆; Bob Taylor branch's (Holland's Step-father & father to Holland's two youngest siblings) were Ranch Workers 🐮, Welder Journeyman, Driver & Mechanic for heavy equipment & Drag Cars, & Oil Workers 💰🏆 all over the USA - Holland did ranch work, worked in just about every American oil field, even signed on to a crew working an oil rig in Canada, for a while 🚘🗺️🧳

I'm not looking forward to the PNW branch; I hope and pray our time spent there will be short-lived - I can be cordial short term; but I am not a 24-7-365 kitchen table chat session person. People, in general, wear me out. But, my husband loves them … and I love him: so, I will be on my best behavior for as long as we are in the PNW. MPO is that these are not nice people. But, I am nice. And as long as I do not have to be at every kitchen table chat session, I can stay nice.

Nice 😇 will be a steady "under construction" process the entire time we are up there 😒🙏

Life is short. Mark is Holland's only living "full-blooded" sibling. It won't cost me too much to be nice, or cordial when our paths cross:

Redmill Side: Construction Contractors ✍️ & Craftsmen Carpenters 🤝 - built houses from start to finish 🏠, interior cabinets also, & drywall finishers = each family member (Holland included) had their own unique style/always in demand for high-end finish 💰

Scott & Holland designed & laid this Sunburst design, in Scott & Lana's house. I like the way it radiates outward from the center; this is their personal signature work & they have done it in other houses too, sometimes in a 2-tone pattern.

Mark's Brocade Fan Work; his personal signature work.

My husband comes from long line of red-neck, rough neck, "good ole' boys" on both sides of the family tree 😉 with a strong work ethic; they lived hard, played rough … and when they blew into town, everyone knew it: the local men lined up - ready to rumble, mother's hid their daughters, and law enforcement got busy laying drag nets. My husband must have been a magnificent beast in his heyday 🏋️‍♀️😎 - he's pretty noticeable now 😍, but … just sayin' 😉

I'm a little rough around the edges myself - I don't mind mingling with the rough side of town, but in my home I want peace to reign: the world can be a difficult, toxic, and increasingly hostile environment - the winds of life can tear things up outside these 4 walls - but inside, is sanctuary: a beacon of refuge and safety from the outside world; a physical relaxation, mental well-being, & spiritual healing. Allowing us to fully exhale and recharge away from the world's intrusions.

2026 will be a year of "under construction" contemplations, drafting of plans 💡, and moving full steam ahead to lay a firm foundation on which to build our dream life: we both know that dreams do come true 😁 - and now that we are finally both on the same page of our life's story 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨, building in the moment towards a future, can actually get underway 😘

Independence set up at the 'Almond Tree Oasis RV Park'; Coalinga-CA

I am so thankfully grateful that as time passed, Holland loosened up and let me start adding some homey items ✅ into our living space 💞: colorful, creatively crafted throws ✂️💥 to add some cozy, warming comfort, upstairs as well as downstairs; potted plants that create a settled, lived-in atmosphere … and every couple weeks, let me undertake a thorough tidying up of his cluttered personal space (I mean - our living space is small & I have to look at the tangled mess, too 🙄).

On another note …

We are both working on lightening up our body fat ratio via intermediate fasting & calorie count: and as you all know, I personally, am working on toning muscle 💪 I'm also considering a portable fold up treadmill. Holland thinks he can find one on the cheap by scrolling through Craigslist Ads.

Alternate Fasting Days; alternate between fasting days (very low or zero calories) and normal eating days (reducing calorie intake by at least 500 calories).

Meanwhile, today, in the now - the Darebee 7-Minute Leg workout is a blended standing leg exercise sets that sneaks up on you by never doing anything dramatic - your lower body moves through side raises right and left to light up the outer hips and glute medius ... then slides into a short calf raise movement that wakes up the ankles, and gives your balance system a job. From there you switch to back raises right and left, which pull the work into the glutes and hamstrings and make the whole back-of-leg chain feel “online,” then you return to calves again so your base stays springy instead of collapsing. The last section, front raises right and left, shifts the focus forward into the hip flexors and quads and makes your posture matter: ribs stacked, pelvis steady, no leaning back to cheat the range. The repeated 20-second calf raises are the thread that ties everything together, resetting your feet between directions so you can keep moving cleanly. Keep the reps controlled, keep the standing leg softly bent, and treat each minute like a form drill rather than a sprint, and you’ll finish feeling stronger through the hips, steadier through the knees, and lighter on your feet.

This workout focuses on building strength in the glutes, hamstrings, quads, and calves, which are essential for overall leg health and mobility. The 20-rep count is a good starting point for many exercises, as it allows for a good balance of strength and muscle growth. Muscle growth is beneficial for a 69-year-old woman. It helps maintain muscle tone, improve balance, mobility, and stability, which are essential for daily activities. Regular exercise can preserve muscle tone and counteract age-related muscle loss, contributing to overall strength and independence 👌 It's important to note that while muscle mass may decrease with age, muscle tone can be preserved and enhanced through appropriate physical exercise activities.

For a 69-year-old woman, it is recommended to perform the 7-Minute Legs workout for 20 seconds each side

As evening arrived, the rain picked up in tempo, and thunder was heard a mile or so in the distance. Independence was being rocked by furious gusts of wind, and Holland settled in for a cozy snooze 💤

And me?

I'm going to bed - and chase down the sandman's sheep 😴 that I ignored earlier, this morning. This old hen isn't a young chick anymore; I need more than 4 hours sleep to function at full capacity.

"COZY" & VAL'S 4PATRIOTS FOOD 'COZY CREAMY POTATO SOUP w-VEGGIES & BACON' Recipe; Fortuna-AZ

Throughout 2025, I'm going to be posting notes of encouragement at the start of every week: there are 52 weeks in the year. Today, I am posting this bit of encouragement because it fits our life in the moment. There are changes coming down the pike for us, and we are happily going with the flow. Those of you who read our Blog, know we are in a period of transition - and that can be a good thing. It is also a bit complex. But we know we'll end up where Elohim wants us to be.

Holland feels very strongly that we will be pretty much in the PNW in the unfurling months. But, for the moment, we are in AZ.

Holland drove into Yuma early this morning to return an item, and came back home with a loaf of garlic bread, and a package of thick cut bacon … and I instantly thought to make potato soup with some of the bacon 😉

The weather here is cloudy and nippy, with a rain forecast in it at some point: a cozy comfort food would be most welcome: Holland's thoughts were flowing in the same direction 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

So, I got it under way in the soup pot, while doing laundry upstairs 😁

Normally, I would use regular potatoes … but living in an RV - even an RV as large as ours, doesn't lend a lot of space; anywhere. Pantry and cooking space has been drastically curtailed. In the beginning of our Road Gypsy roundtripping, Holland bought 2 large tubs of 4Patriots Food Supplies - and I'm still working my way through them. Today, we are going to be sampling the Potato Soup, for the first time 🙏

June 2023~The dehydrated food packages seemed the wisest choice, for long-term food storage in an RV.

As I've mentioned in previous posts where I've used the 4Patriots Food packages - they are very basic and very simple: I prefer to add ooph to them when I use them; and my husband is enjoying the extra additions, too 👍

He spoils me with a life of travel I have always dreamed about 🥰 … and I, in turn, spoil him with tasty food dishes 😘

This basic 4Patriots supper soup was packaged as usual with a chicken bullion base - to that was added a dry cream-based thickener, and diced dried potato pieces: with the extra additions I added, it made up very nicely 👏

I also baked the garlic bread to serve with the soup.

4Patriots Potato Soup Packet.

==VAL'S 4PATRIOTS FOOD 'Cozy Creamy Potato Soup w-Veggies & Bacon' Recipe ~serves 8

Large Soup Pot * 10 ct. thick cut Bacon strips, sliced in pieces * 1 Red Onion, sliced * 3 stalks Celery (& some center celery leaves), sliced * 2 large Carrots, sliced into coins * 3large cloves Garlic, minced * Salt & Black Pepper, to taste * 1/8 tsp. grnd. Cayenne pepper * 1 pkt. 4PATRIOTS FOOD 'Cozy Potato Soup' * 8 c. Water (pkt. says 10 c; but we like our soup to resemble a chowder 😉)

1) Slice the bacon, and place in soup pot - cook slowly while you prep vegetable.

Sauté bacon pieces, on medium heat.

2) Slice onion & add to bacon; while these ingredients are slowly cooking, prepare carrot & celery - adding to soup pot as each is sliced into pieces: when celery is added last, turn heat down to a simmer and cook about half an hour.

My addition of 'extra' ingredients.

Carrot coins …

Sliced celery w-leaves.

Slow simmer bacon & veg medley until carrots are bite-tender.

3) When veggies are soft (not mushy, but tender), sprinkle with soup packet & slowly add water … blending thoroughly to dissolve powder lumps.

##Preheat oven according to Garlic Bread package instructions.

Turn back to soup mixture & turn heat up to medium; cook about 20 minutes - stirring frequently to avoid scorching. Soup thickens to a chowder-like thickness as it cooks (if you prefer a thinner soup, add another 2 cups boiling water to the mixture - cold water will significantly slow the cooking time down).

Blend all ingredients, and cook on med-high heat.

While soup is cooking, slip bread into oven; if bread gets done before soup is ready, turn oven off & leave bread inside to stay warm.

YUMMY!

I like this time in our Life.

It's good.

It's promising.

It's cozily purposeful.

It's graciously unfolding with intent.

Holland is enjoying retirement, and finding contentment in being a Husband.

I like that my husband is pleased with me … and finds me, at 68 yo, desirable 💘😍

Air Supply - 'The Power Of Love' Lyrics: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMiQ4e8Nzuk)

I like being a wife & homemaker.

I like being Holland's Wife, and making a cozy home for him; a relaxing refuge from the world's upheavals.

The kitchen radiates wonderful aroma's daily; gender roles have been agreeably sorted, & praises for individual strengths - as well as joint efforts, ricochet off the walls. Dwelling in unity is laying a firm foundation 🥰

Independence is pulsating with cozy love vibes 💝