ALL IN~Self-Care; Coalinga-CA

It’s a season of restoration and the journey is just getting started! We are excited to walk together into what 2026 holds for us 💖

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"  Isaiah 43:19 📖

Every decision Holland makes; he considers me - he may not include my input into those decisions, but his considerations concerning my dream, hopes, and wants … are always in the decisions 💞 And if possible in any way,  he will go the extra mile to include those hopes and wants into a in-the-now-reality Dream unfolding.

Even though a decision may initially frustrate me 🤨 (because I am not clued in 🧩 - it's a 'wait and see' situation), I always find out later what he did was for my good 💕: just like my Father Elohim 💖

Because of Who Elohim is ☝️ … and because of how my husband considers his role 🤠 in our marriage: "all in" faith & blind trust is essential in both relationships 🙏

Drinking our morning coffees ☕️, and feeling the warmth of the sunshine 🌞 piercing the overhead clouds heavy with rain that will fall again, later tonight, Holland said, "I was thinking we need a drive some place - I know my flower, and she needs to get out into the sunshine; or she gets cranky." 🎯

He's beginning to understand his wildflower 😘

And I'm beginning to understand him, too.

Rinsing my coffee mug out, I shot him a sidelong smile, and said, "I'm figuring you out" 🤔 He looked at me, and I continued, "You're a very testosterones driven man - you like the thrill of the hunt, and the rush of the chase. When we get peacefully comfortable, you will pick a fight and create a huge scene, effectively putting distance between us 🤨 … just to double back, start your courting dance 💞, and close in for the make up. I think you like me kinda huffy - just so you can move in like a firehose hero 🤠 and put out the fire you started."

He laughed while putting on his shoes … but it's true, and he knows it.

Holland drove a backroad for a bit, before jumping on the freeway to Kettleman City for a hamburger:

Sunshine & birdsong; this morning is shaping into a  beautiful Day; Coalinga-CA

4-way Junction from Almond Tree Oasis RV Park-CA; 11 mins. Via W Jayne Ave, S Glen Ave

A heart-shaped cloud … and another, too.

From W Jayne Ave & CA-269 Junction to Kettleman City-CA; 16 min's. via CA-269, I-5 S

We enjoyed watching sheep in a far field - and cloud formations above our heads, as we ate our In-&-Out hamburger lunch 🍔😋

Holland drove another backroad home … and stopped this time for me to get a shot 📸 of the leafy mounds that intrigue me: the leaves look like geranium leaves - yet too thick to be cranesbill, & too tall to be cultured geraniums. They literally cover entire fields for miles into the horizon & they pop up in orchards to run the entire length of untrunked ground space: I can't find anything online to match it. It's a mystery 🤷‍♀️ 

He also stopped alongside a roadway to allow me a good frame shot of a regal looking Red-tailed Hawk 👌

We saw bee boxes set in place, and vibrating with busy bee behavior 🐝 - and we spotted his cousin Bruce's bee boxes 👀; I was glad we got to view his bee box locations, since this will more than likely be our last stint here, when we pack up and move in a couple weeks (that's the plan anyway; fickle weather fallout 💧⚡️🔥❄️could change all that).

A heart cut-out cloud formation.

From Kettleman City-CA to W Jayne Ave, 30th Ave; 18 min's

This plant looks like some sort of wild Geranium - this plant is everywhere, covering the fields, & roadsides, in tall mounds. It appears to be as invasive as kudzu … but, it is not a climbing vine like kudzu.

A Red-tailed Hawk, in an Almond Tree Orchard-CA.

Red-tailed Hawk: (https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-tailed-hawk) perched atop a Barn Owl Nest Box: (https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/hawk_perches_and_owl_boxes_for_biological_pest_management.pdf)

Bee Boxes in an Almond Tree Orchard-CA

Blossoming Cherry Tree Orchard-CA

From 4-way Junction to the Almond Tree Oasis RV Park-CA; 11 mins.

BIG heart cloud.

It started raining as we got close to home base 💧 - and we saw that a driver unfamiliar with CA roads, made a wrong turn (probably following misguided GPS directions) and had seriously slid through the slick, gooey mud and ended up in someone's orange orchard 😲 That's gonna be a spendy retrieval 💸, and I hope he wasn't injured.

We also caught sight of last night's recent snowfall ❄️🏔️ in the higher elevation hillside that surrounds Coalinga. Freezing weather is expected tonight and through the weekend - it's possible we could get a light dusting down here, if the freeze lingers 🥶

Rain - as soon as we get to our home street …

Holland read the TX Plate, and said 'hot shot driver'; poor fella won't make any $ this trip - the tow fee will be astronomical.

We caught sight of overnight snowfall in the hills surrounding Coalinga-CA
snowfall in the hills surrounding Coalinga-CA

Text with David.

Today's workout was an "all in" undertaking, and it felt good 😁

The "I am In Charge" workout is a high-burn, streamline cardiovascular workout designed to engage your entire system, making it beneficial for overall fitness. It is a no-equipment workout that can be done at home, which is suitable for many individuals, including a 69-year-old woman. However, it is essential to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new exercise program, especially for individuals with pre-existing health conditions or those who are not used to physical activity.

Examples of how to do the Side Step Jacks & Side Jacks are posted below - in the exercise descriptions.

Muscles Worked

March Steps~10 ct in place x3; Side Step Jacks~10 ct total x3; Arm Circles~5 Front & 5 Back = total 10 ct x3; Side Jacks~5 EA side = total 10 ct x3

The March Steps exercise is generally considered safe for a 69-year-old woman, provided she is in good health and has a stable cardiovascular system. The march steps exercise involves walking briskly, which can be beneficial for cardiovascular health and overall fitness. It is recommended to start with a comfortable pace and gradually increase the intensity to avoid overexertion. Additionally, staying hydrated and wearing appropriate footwear can enhance the safety and effectiveness of the exercise.

In general, Side Step Jacks can be a low-impact exercise option for seniors. The safety of performing the Side Step Jacks exercise for a 69-year-old woman depends on several factors; Joint Health: If she has joint issues or has had previous injuries, she should exercise with caution and consider modifications to reduce impact. Balance and Stability: Assessing her balance and stability is crucial before attempting side step jacks. It is essential to listen to your body and stop if you feel any discomfort or dizziness.

Arm Circles are a safe exercise for a 69-year-old woman to do. This exercise is designed to improve shoulder mobility and strengthen upper back muscles, which are crucial for daily activities. Regular, gentle movement like arm circles, can help maintain independence and improve balance and coordination.

Arm Circles - keep arms at shoulder height.

The safety of Side Jacks for a 69-year-old woman depends on her overall health, fitness level, and any existing medical conditions. Side jacks are a form of aerobic exercise that can be beneficial for cardiovascular health and calorie burn. However, they may pose risks for seniors with joint issues, balance problems, or other health concerns. It is essential to listen to your body and stop if you feel any discomfort or dizziness.

Step Side Jacks

And with that … I'm calling it a night: I'm all done in 🥱 I'm going to enjoy a mug of cocoa, wrap up in a blanket (listen for the rain & pray Jack frost passes us up without a nippy visit; RV's are not draft-free regardless of how they are built - or by which company slaps their brand on them), and watch a short movie 💻🎬before going up stairs to bed 🛌💤

It could get pretty cold, tonight 😟

We are in the freeze zone (us = yellow dot).

OVERTHINKERS; Coalinga-CA

September 30th: Fall is here (well not temperature wise because the temps here are a comfortable 80-degrees by noon 😉): apples & pumpkins are in season here as well as across America where there are 4 distinct Seasons … but here in Coalinga-CA, we get the blue skies and sunny weather too; how lucky are we?

It feels good to have the front door open most of the Day.

As we were finishing our morning coffee, Holland suggested we go to the Tractor Supply store in Coalinga, to grab a couple things - while there, I asked if he could drop me off at the Plaza, and pick me up on the other side: I have been wanting to explore this little bit of modern. The Plaza seems out of place in this nondescript little town that seems forgotten except for the oil riggers dotting the barren landscape of the back 40.

The Coalinga Plaza was constructed in 1991, after the 1983 earthquake. It is a modern addition to the [downtown area] where so many founders commercial business buildings were destroyed.

Coalinga Earthquake: http://www.sjvgeology.org/geology/coalinga_earthquake.html

The Coalinga Plaza-CA

I walked the Plaza

A little Park; lots of rose bushes & an Information Plaque.

1983 Earthquake notification …

{{Dominique Bordagaray was born in France in 1876 and immigrated to the United States in 1893, arriving in Los Angeles in December of that year. Shortly after his arrival, Bordagaray began working with sheep farmers. In 1898, Bordagaray retreated into the nearby mountains of Millwood Basin for roughly two years, where he taught himself English. When he returned to civilization, his English was very good.

At the turn of the century, Bordagaray operated a hotel in Fresno, and soon branched out and began buying and selling sheep. He founded a sheep-shearing business in Coalinga and was the first man in the area to use modern sheep-clippers.  Among Bordgaray’s other business ventures were a store and a livery stable.

At the Bordagaray homestead just east of Coalinga, he farmed cotton, had several fruit orchards, and a vineyard. In the Coalinga's early years, he built a row of store buildings, including a French laundry, a theater, and a number of other businesses in the town. In 1917, Bordagaray started a tavern and rooming house on Fifth Street, which remained in operation until it was destroyed in the 1983 earthquake. It was often referred to as the “oldest bar in the West.”

Dominique Bordagaray was also the father of pro baseball player, Stanley “Frenchy” Bordagaray.

~Dominique Bordagaray: (https://theclio.com/entry/46387)}}

Town Info Plaque.

Then I saw these pillars - and decided to walk that way: a block to the left.

As I was crossing the street from the Park, towards the pillars … I saw out of my peripheral vision, a parked red truck that looked very much likes ours - and the arm casually draped over the drivers door from an open window, looked familiar.

It was our truck: Holland had not let me out of his sight. He takes his protection of me very seriously. I don't mind him watching out for me; I just wasn't expecting him to be parked in the Plaza: I was expecting him to be watching and waiting for me on the outskirts of the Plaza - I would walk through the Plaza, gawk at the modern construction, check out the Park … and meet him on the other side of the fancy 2 Block commercial metropolis. But, if my hawk 😎 would rather watch his chickadee up close and personal 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨, I'm okay with that, too 😘 

He takes his protection of me very seriously.

Holland had been watching from afar; saw my intent - and quickly followed.

Coalinga-CA City Hall Building.

And my husband; patiently waiting for the itch of my feet to be satisfied.

I walked 1.2 miles today. I was walking in sunshine, my brain was stimulated & my itchy feet were happy.

Climbing into Betsy's cab, Holland said, "How about some KFC - I don't see any mexican eats here besides Taco Bell." I agreed. I like fried chicken. I like mexican food, too, and find it really strange that since we've been road gypsying we have not been able to locate an authentic mexican restaurant serving authentic mexican food! We're just a couple miles from the mexican border, live (and have lived) in communities with large populations of mexicans, and we cannot find authentic mexican cooking anywhere. Very weird.

We got a KFC "Tuesday Special" chicken order, and headed back home. We never did get to Tractor Supply.

A pretty flower combo, on our way to KFC; Coalinga-CA

A heart-shaped cloud on the way home.

Back home, we ate some chicken; I worked on an extra large potholder, and listened as Holland started talking …

He is now wanting to stay here, in Coalinga, through the winter months 🙄; the weather has calmed, and wildfire smoke has backed off so we can both breathe without choking. I like it here, so I'm okay with that decision. What I am not okay with is the continual emotional roller coaster yo-yoing 😵‍💫 of 'should we stay or should we go'. Today, he is saying we are staying - tomorrow, he could be singing a different tune. The inconsistency is driving me crazy 🤦🏻‍♀️

MOD Ex-Lrg. Rectangular Potholder; Coalinga-CA: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2025/09/mod-ex-lrg-retangular-hotpad-coalinga-ca.html)

We are both overthinkers.