STAY STRONG~Shavua Tov 2025; Coalinga-CA

Oh 😔

The first thing that came up on my laptop news feed this morning was another death notice:

Mark Volman, The Turtles Co-Founder & ‘Happy Together’ Singer, Dies at 78: 

https://www.mensjournal.com/entertainment/mark-volman-the-turtles-co-founder-happy-together-singer-dies-at-78

Mark was a clown - it wasn't surprising that he also was part of Frank Zappa's band members: Frank was decidedly weird, also.

Before there was the comic duo, Cheech & Chong … there was Flo & Eddie, who were the vaudeville pop rock comedians.

R.I.P. Mark; your antics kept us laughing, and your music kept us young.

The Turtles "Happy Together" on The Ed Sullivan Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3x56WQlG_0&list=RDh3x56WQlG_0&start_radio=1

The Turtles - You Baby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEmRgvhT6fE&list=RDIEmRgvhT6fE&start_radio=1

The Turtles parody themselves, 1968, nobody notices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhsmcL8Y57w

Flo & Eddie - You Showed Me / The Kung Fu Killer - 10/29/1975 - Capitol Theatre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoGbETzTCVY&list=RDMoGbETzTCVY&start_radio=1

Flo & Eddie - Cheap - live - 1978.avi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsFjAv2XF3E&list=RDfsFjAv2XF3E&start_radio=1

Zappa And The Mothers "200 Motels" - Mystery Roach / Magic Fingers (Bizu Mix): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAqaSXrykdc&list=RDqAqaSXrykdc&start_radio=1

Flo and Eddie - Alice Cooper Joni Mitchell Yoko Ono Jimmy Page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADufHrMVXzk&list=RDADufHrMVXzk&start_radio=1

Mark Volman (The Turtles, Flo & Eddie) Interview (2000): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie_HCZ4-4eU

After listening to a couple songs while finishing up my coffee … I got busy with self-care; today I stretched. That's it. But it's just as effective - and just as important 😊👌

As we age, the spine undergoes degenerative changes that can lead to conditions like osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis. Regular stretching helps maintain spinal health by preserving flexibility, promoting proper alignment, and reducing the risk of degenerative changes.

Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis: 

 https://spinehealth.org/article/neck-pain-spinal-senosis/

Muscle imbalances (when certain muscles are stronger or tighter than others) can contribute to spinal degeneration because they place uneven stress on the spine. Stretching targets both tight and weak muscles, helping to restore balance to your body and its structures. It also minimizes the wear and tear by countering the compressive forces on the spine and can help reduce the risk of conditions like disc herniation and spinal stenosis.

Here are 6 easy stretches that are shown to help alleviate and prevent back and neck pain. Incorporating these into your daily routine - especially if you sit for a lengthy time -  may be helpful to eliminating and preventing pain, while allowing for greater range of motion and mobility so you can live your life on your terms.

Hold stretches for about 15-30 seconds to allow muscles to lengthen.

Regular stretching can improve flexibility, which is key for proper muscle support and reducing injury risk. Gentle stretches can help correct muscle imbalances and improve your posture, a common cause of back pain.

As the primary hip flexor, the psoas connects the lower back to the legs. Prolonged sitting can shorten and weaken it, leading to pain because it pulls on the spine.

The paraspinal muscles are a group of deep muscles that run vertically along both sides of your spinal column, from the base of the skull to the hips. Also known as the erector spinae group and other smaller muscles, they are essential for maintaining posture, stabilizing the spine, and facilitating movements like bending, twisting, and arching your back.

Paraspinal Muscles - the muscles next to the spine. They support the spine and are the motor for movement of the spine.

Stretching exercises engage a variety of back muscles, including the latissimus dorsi (lats), trapezius (traps), rhomboids, erector spinae, and quadratus lumborum (QL), which are located in the upper, mid, and lower back regions. Stretches like the supine twist target the lower back and glutes, while QL stretches (side bending and rotation of the torso to target the deep quadratus lumborum muscle, which runs from the pelvis to the lower ribs) focus on the lower back muscles on the sides of the spine.

Listen to your body: Stay within a pain-free range of motion.

9 Stretches to Help Relieve a Tight Lower Back:

https://www.healthline.com/health/lower-back-pain-relief#hip-circles

Holland whipped up some of his healthy smoothie concoctions that are helping him with inflammatory pain - and I saved the lemon, orange, and lime peels to dry and use for cooking, baking, and medicinal purposes 😉 

Grated lemon peel, & orange peel; sliced Lime peel; drying for storage.

In this heat, the peels are drying very quickly:

Lemon peel packs a high amount of fiber and vitamin C, providing 9% of the daily value, in only 1 tablespoon fresh peel (or 1 teaspoon of dried). Additionally, it boasts small amounts of calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

D-limonene, a compound from citrus peels, has potential health benefits including supporting digestion, acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, and potentially aiding in mood enhancement and liver detoxification; and help with indigestion, acid reflux, and bloating. It can also neutralize gastric acid. D-limonene may help lower blood sugar levels, slow weight gain, and improve insulin resistance. D-limonene may act as a natural antiviral and antibacterial agent, supporting the immune system. Early research indicates that d-limonene might reduce triglycerides, lower blood sugar, and help increase "good" cholesterol levels, all signs of improved heart health. Lemon peel can also boost bone health due to its calcium content.

You can boost your lemon peel intake in a variety of ways, such as: adding gated lemon zest to baked goods, salads, or yogurt; sprinkling it on soups, drinks, dressings, and marinades.

You can also cut peels into strips and dehydrate them at 200°F (93°C); then adding them to tea.

Orange peel offers a variety of health and wellness benefits, including: rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant that supports immune function and skin health; Vitamin C in orange peels also helps boost collagen production, reducing wrinkles and improving skin elasticity. Vitamin C supports healthy blood vessel function. Orange peel promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, which can help reduce inflammation and improve digestion. The antioxidants in orange peels may help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, lowering the risk of heart disease. Orange peel also contains good amounts of provitamin A, folate, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin B6, and calcium.

Orange peels help increase your metabolism and burn fat from your body. Many medical experts recommend orange peels as a cure for weight loss.

Orange peels can help fight cavities and keep your breath fresh.

Orange peels are rich in vitamin C and A. This makes orange peels a natural antioxidant that helps boost your immune system and fight off germs and viruses.

Orange peels also help remove phlegm, and helps alleviate asthma inflammation.

Also, nearly 90% of the essential oils in orange peels are composed of limonene, a naturally occurring chemical that has been studied for its anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, including against skin cancer

Just 1 tablespoon of fresh orange peel (or 1 teaspoon of dried, grated orange peel) provides 14% of the Daily Value of vitamin C — nearly 3 times more than the inner fruit. The same serving also packs about 4 times more fiber

Lime peel contains various nutrients and bioactive compounds that provide several health benefits, including: the fiber content in lime peel promotes regular bowel movements and supports gut health. The flavonoids and essential oils in lime peel have anti-inflammatory effects, which may help reduce pain and swelling. Studies suggest that lime peel may improve cognitive function and memory. Some studies suggest that lime peel may help prevent kidney stones by increasing citrate levels in the urine. Lime peel contains pectin fiber, which can help support heart health

Other uses for lime peel, is that it can be used as a flavoring agent in various dishes; such as desserts, drinks, and marinades. It can be ground into a powder and used as a spice or garnish. 

Use a small amount daily = consider the fresh peel of half a lime (or 1 teaspoon of dried) as a general guideline. If you have a history of acid reflux or other gastrointestinal issues, pay attention to how your body reacts and adjust your intake accordingly.

Tomorrow morning, we'll be up early and on the road to Hanford-CA to visit with Holland's Harris relatives - these people I like. They are the total opposite of the redmill relatives. The Harris branch of his Family Tree love my husband. They have always been welcoming to my husband. For that reason alone, they get a passing grade from me. But, they are also very nice, and very friendly people. And they have welcomed me warmly. I like being around them; I like spending time with them.

Finishing laundry tonight, I smiled as I hung the hanging clothing to dry - I smiled because when I asked Elohim 🙏 for a traveling companion so I could indulge my gypsy bone desire to see all of America … I never dreamed of the added blessing 💘 that He would send into my Life. I never even entertained the thought of remarriage; I figured that at 66, romance was a thing of the past and I would live out the remaining years if my Life solo lobo, warmed by memories of a love that exited my Life in the winter of 2018 with Bob's physical death.

It never occurred to me that someone was waiting for me to show up and fulfil a 35 year old vision-promise 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 I wasn't aware of how my Life would be changed with a chance meeting.

But Elohim knew 💕

A direct answer to prayer - with a bonus blessing I never expected.

Holland is exactly what I need. And he tells me that I am what he needs, too. Except for his TBI & PTSD that triggers my own PTSD dustups that are stirred every now and then, we are a perfect match.

My childhood abandonment issue traumas are not his fault. It's not his fault that Bob no longer walks this earth. It's not his fault that my children abandoned me following Bob's exit. It's not his fault that I had to resurrect anger to deal with widowhood adjustments. It's not his fault that I constantly feel like I am walking a tightrope with a risky balance.

Holland, also, is dealing with his own trauma issues that have nothing to do with me: sibling rivalry that resulted in severe head trauma, childhood abandonment issue traumas, sibling deaths - the most recent one, a month ago; none of these emotional battles are my fault, even though I feel the brunt of them when the black mood comes on him.

We both know these facts.

We both understand each other's struggles.

We are - in our own ways, working on handling the stressors better. There will be fireworks … but by relying on Yeshua's healing 🕊️, and leaning heavily on Elohim's grace to make polished diamonds from lumps of rough & gritty coal, our marriage does not need to go up in flames 😘

That said, while we are set up here in Coalinga-CA, we have decisions to make.

Holland has his hands full, juggling obligations - trying to stay present in all circumstances. Trying to look ahead and gauge the risks of moving in either direction. Trying to figure out what works best … and what will keep US safe on every level, in every situation.

I am learning to relax and let a man take up the slack - this is something I've never done before. I'm trying to stay focused in the now - not ignoring future infringements, but not wigging out about any of it, either. Holland is picking up, and running with, the heavy stuff: I'm doing my best to stay in [wife lane] & shore up support, honor his decisions, and stay true to bending to Elohim's Will in all of it.

I am learning to trust a man 100% - because the situation requires it.

Holland is learning to trust a woman (he's never done this before); and he is learning to trust Elohim 100% - because both situations require it.

REGAL PARTNERSHIP

I can (and have) "take care of business" on my own … but … it's nice to have giant back up 🙂

I remember the time I took the VCR Player back to Montgomery Ward to be fixed under Contract - the shrimpy big mouth jerk behind the counter sized my 5'2" (much thinner self) up … and started giving me a ration of shit. After about 20 minutes of back and forth, I finally said, "Ok; you can deal with my husband. Let me give him a call." I had taken the VCR into Longview because Bob had a hard work week and I was letting him rest easy. We lived in Cathlamet-WA at the time, and the drive back and forth was about an hour - hour and half drive. Bob listened when I described what was going on. He said he'd "be right there." He was not happy. The Contract was sound. The VCR was still brand new. He knew I could handle business on my own - so, if I was calling him for back up, a fight was on. I waited: the puffed up, chest-thumping shrimpy jerk, and me - a little banty hen with ruffled feathers, sharing glares. When Bob finally walked through the door, I struggled hard not to burst out laughing while watching that stuffy jerk literally shrink before my eyes: he took one look at Bob's 6'2" size. Then his unhappy face. The way he touched my shoulder in passing - signifying, "I'm here and I have you". The jerk started stammering and groveling; there was no snippy smart-ass remarks coming out of his mouth, then. The situation was handled without blood on the floor - it was a near miss. But Bob was a peacenik. His size threw people, but he was always a cool head as opposed to my red-head temperament.

Husband back up.

Then, there was the incident last year in Parker-AZ.  Over Bell Peppers, of all things! Minding my own business, doing wifey business; and 2 crazies decided to get in my face. The woman started hip-bumping me … and her stupid husband got mouthy with me: 2 black marks against them right off the get-go. But I stayed cool; I was a newlywed and wanted to wait a while before my new husband got a full example of me 😉 I set my jaw and coolly went about my business. The whole thing was ridiculous. I just wanted to grab some Bell Peppers for Supper and move along. The woman was showing her dumb ass, and her husband would soon learn that though she may buckle and cave into his bellowing … I would not. I'd had enough - as he stepped closer (still shouting at me), I prepared for a physical altercation; I set my gathered peppers aside, and was turning to return blow for blow … when I heard a calm - but strongly firm voice - say, "That enough, now". Holland, too, had heard the change in tone and seen the threatening move towards me. Maybe he saw the fire in my eyes too. At any rate, no blood was spilled: the ridiculous couple snapped their heads around to see who dared to intervene in their  bully tactics. Taking a look at my husband's 6'4" size, and the "you better stop the bullshit" look on his face … the hip bumping woman quickly scooted away from me, and the mouthy man, quickly zipped his lip and jumped backwards. I gathered my peppers and walked past them like a queen. Wall*Mart is an unlikely place for my King to hold court, but I was glad for his cool head and calming "I'm here; I have you" presence.

My January 12th, 2024 Post~AISLE TUSSLE; Shabbat Eve/Quartzsite-AZ: https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2024/01/aisle-tussle-shabbat-evequartzsite-az.html

There's a lot to be said for flying solo lobo.

There is also a lot to be said for walking through Life with a Partner who has your back 😘

TODAY I AM 68 YO~LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES LIE AHEAD

Today, I am 68 years old … so, I took some time to think on that😉

79 yo is the estimated time "medical experts" figure is the final year females make it to. Some, stubbornly push past that calculation. Maybe I'll be one of them; maybe not. Elohim, not a science devotee, has the final word 🙏❤️

Anyhoo - here is what I came up with based on the figures shifty Science throws my way:

68 yo means I have roughly 11 years of life on Earth left; 87% of my Life has already been played out. 

68 yo means I've got roughly 4,015 Days of Life left to live on Earth.

68 yo means I have roughly 572 weekends left to enjoy.

68 yo means I've got roughly 132 Full Moons to see in all it's glory … and a couple {bonus} Blue Moons to anticipate.

68 means I intend to live Life going forward to the fullest measure I can grasp with both hands.

Elohim has been graciously kind to me; my Life really has been a very GOOD Life, and I have every reason to believe it will continue to unfold beautifully until I cross the gap from here to there 😁

Some people say I have a princess attitude, but my Husband says I am Queen - so, that settles it. I can live with Queen status 😁

A faulty heart & struggling lungs could not keep this year from happening 😉

Classics are things of beauty & worth 👍

My Life is a compilation of everything and everyone I have experienced, enjoyed, and loved. My Life has truly been blessed ❤️

Yummy coffee … and some left over to welcome the New Year, too 👏

8 decades, 2 centuries, 2 & millennia may sound {old} … but in reality, I'm just hitting my stride and my Husband (lucky devil) keeps me purring like a contented kitten 😉🥰

Oh, yes: that "splash of sassy" & "dash of crazy" … Just keeps things interesting - partnering up with me, is never boring 😉 😂

There's something about a Rag Doll that makes for comfort 😉

You can't take {things} with you when you step off this planet, so SPEND your LIFE w.i.s.e.l.y. by enjoying the fattening foods, colorfully entering the rooms, lavishly loving those Elohim puts in your Life, and making time to travel & feast your eyes on as much of Yeshua's creation as you are able.

Time is worth more than a houseful of things that will eventually be left behind.

Time does not stand still - it flows through your fingertips whether you grasp it tightly, or spread it around like dandelion fluff.

Enjoy the ride; bumps, tummy tickling dips, and the smooth lanes - it's ALL "currency" 😊

TRUTH~How did I get here, so fast? And why do I feel younger now, than I did then 🤔

Me~December 2024; Fortuna-AZ; I never thought I'd be where I am … new Husband, Road Gypsy location, or age. Elohim IS GOOD - may I spend the rest of my Days praising ALL He has blessed me with, instead of gripping about the occasional pebble that gets into my shoe 👏😁

For sure! 👍

What is left behind is what eternally remains. Be wise in how you spend your Life: leave a legacy others can cash in on 😉

May the New Year reap a generous good report of the previous year 😁

KINDNESS = LOVE; Ocean Park-WA

September 29th: Holland wanted to go watch waves this morning … but I had a load of laundry washing, and I didn't want to leave it unattended; so, I encouraged him to go alone: "Go - go listen to your music while you wave watch waves, and relax your mind. I'll finish this laundry up while you're gone; and we'll have chicken for supper when you get back."

While the laundry was spinning, and drying the time away … I finished up the little preemie set I've been working on:

MOD Preemie Hat~3-4 lbs.

MOD Striped Preemie Sleep Sack & Hat~3 to 4 lbs.

He was gone about an hour and a half, and when he returned, he came bearing gifts with a twinkle in his eyes, and a smile aimed my way; "Look in the bag - I got a surprise for you" :-)

What a guy! He must have searched hard, for these  - they can be hard to find ;-)

The Paris Sisters~1961 'I LOVE HOW YOU LOVE ME': (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQwVtLXAWTo)

Holland would know this song - sung by The Babys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiqAjKAwW2Y

We did have chicken for supper - but he changed the variety, saying, "I know you need iron, but I couldn't find any beef liver, so I got the chicken"; and I'm okay with that. Chicken liver is good, too (I like the way Holland cooks it, and it packs nutritional power, too) ;-)

Chicken Liver vs Beef Liver: 

https://ancestralsupplements.com/blogs/news/chicken-liver-vs-beef-liver#:~:text=Some%20Quick%20Key%20Takeaways,packs%20more%20protein%20and%20iron.

The day flowed smoothly - in every way, it was a blessing :-)

SLOW DOWN~My Ground Beef Shepherd's Pie Recipe; Long Beach Peninsula-WA

September 18th: My lungs have been hurting. I noticed the other night while brushing my teeth, that as I spit into the sink basin … dirty mucus had joined the frothy toothpaste spit: my lungs hurt because I they are in the throes of a bronchitis flareup. Bronchitis and asthma flareups are similar … but they are different lung ailments. Both cause difficulty breathing, and I have dealt with both conditions all of my life: 

Asthma is caused by environmental triggers like allergens, exercise, dust, pollen, mold, smoke, chemicals, and stress. No one is born with asthma, but people can be born with genes that cause weak lungs, which increase the likelihood of developing the lung ailment. There is no cure for asthma, and it can lead to death if not tended to properly. Bronchitis is caused by viruses or bacteria; or by long-term exposure to lung irritants like air pollution, smoking, chemical fumes, and dust. Both my parents smoked heavily - so did my first husband for the first couple years of our life together. I was a social smoker for a while. Acute bronchitis can usually be fully recovered from within a few weeks, though a cough may linger for a few more weeks. Chronic bronchitis, however, cannot be cured, but treatments can help manage symptoms and slow the ailment's progression, and reduce flare-ups.

Is It Asthma, Bronchitis, or Both?https://www.everydayhealth.com/asthma/bronchitis-or-asthma.aspx

I've been taking things easy and slow the past few days. My body has been tiring easily because it's busy fighting to keep me alive - so, I've been sleeping a lot: early to bed most nights, and waking later than usual.

This morning I was up around 7 AM, and had the stove-top-percolator coffee pot (we have a fancy drip coffee maker, but I prefer the percolator ;-)) humming, when Holland staggered out of the bedroom, to join me in my morning coffee hour.

The coffee smelled so good! I had bought coffee beans a couple weeks ago - and ground some of the beans last night; we were both looking forward to this morning's cup of delicious aroma coffee :-)

Coffee also helps loosen mucus in our lungs = morning coffee is a win-win situation, in our household.

After our coffee hour, Holland asked me if I felt up to getting out of the house for a bit. I really didn't - my lungs hurt, but I also didn't want my handicap to hamstring me and keep me housebound, either. Holland understands this about me. An hour out-of-house would be relaxing = relaxing would effectively slow me down; and that's what my body needs right now, to heal itself. There are things that need to get done, in preparation for moving on down the road … but healing needs to happen first.

Holland also offered to drive me to Rosburg tomorrow, if I want to go - but I said I better stay home tomorrow. I have been wanting to go to Bible Study and chat with the girls afterwards … but people are weird about uncontrollable coughing. So, I won't go until I can breathe without choking up: I hope that will happen before we leave the Long Beach Peninsula.

Elohim did well putting Holland in my life - in every way, he is perfect for me (pretty much, 'made to order') - and 99% of the time, he is good for me, and good to me. I'm glad he's decided once and for all, to stick around for a lifetime = it was touch-n-go for awhile, but he's {in for the long haul} now ;-)

We spent time on the beach this morning - but the atmosphere was very somber today; the tide was rolling in high and had swallowed most of the expansive beachfront, and aside from the beach combing birds, the beach was pretty deserted. Normally, there are people and dogs, everywhere.

I think we only saw four people the entire hour we were watching waves.

There were no dogs, but vultures were out today: today's tide was rolling in on higher waves than yesterday … and the beach was littered with clumps of sea weed and a couple dead seals.

Vultures - the beach scenery looked like a dreary Edgar Allen Poe background, today.

Another dead seal … and clumps of sea weed.

We had to drive near the dunes today, because the tide was rolling in high.

We drove the beach from Cranberry Road access, to the Klipsan Beach access = 11 min (7.9 mi) via WA-103 N/Pacific Ave

Ocean Park Beach Access in down by the kites … 2 miles further.

Driving along, we stumbled upon a beach approach we weren't aware of, between Klipsan Beach & Ocean Park - so, we turned into it, and drove to the main highway. That was a nice change of scenery.

When we got home, I started Supper; which was a 2-step process … but it is not a hurry-hurry process, so my body was able to prepare supper in slo-mo activity - which is fine with Holland: he likes to eat late in the day, anyway ;-)

Portable Hot Plate.

The electric appliances are what we cook with when parked at an RV Park (the propane cook stove is used when boondocking); and I use aluminum foil pans for baking because they will not break when we are on the move … and they will not rust like metal or heavier tin-type baking pans.

Plus, the aluminum cooking pans fit my small ovens.

This is a recipe I last made on September 16th, 2018 in my previous life, for my first husband - I have modified it to fit my new life circumstances with my new husband. Holland likes it, so it will be a repeat :-)

In modification, I used 2 Angus Beef patties - broken down (Holland prefers Angus beef, they stack better in the little freezer, and the meat is economical in patty form); and I added peas & garlic, too (just because ;-)).

==MY GROUND BEEF SHEPHERD’S PIE Recipe ~makes 4 servings

This comfort casserole dish is perfect for heralding Fall days :-)

12 ounces ground Beef * 1 cup Beef Broth * 1 teaspoon Salt (salt substitute works fine, too) * Dash grnd. Black pepper * 2 bay Leaves * Dash Thyme leaves * 2 whole Cloves * 1 cup sliced carrots * 1 cup sliced mushrooms * 1 cup diced Celery * 1 cup diced Onions * 1/4 cup Peas * 1/4 cup all-purpose Flour * 1 pound peeled, COOKED Potatoes - mashed * 1 Tablespoon Margarine * ½ cup skim Milk * 3 ounces grated Cheddar cheese * 1 Tablespoon chopped Parsley * 8" Foil baking pan * Cooking Spray

Tonight's Supper Ingredients.

Prepare and boil potatoes. When potatoes are fork tender, mash with margarine, milk, parsley, and cheese. Place in a bowl, and refrigerate.

In a medium saucepan, on medium-high heat, brown the beef until it is no longer pink; drain the cooked beef on a plate over paper towels to eliminate some of the fatty residue.

Breaking the Angus Beef patties down …

Browning & wicking fatty grease from the beef.

Wipe the pan clean, and pour the beef broth into it - along with the seasonings. Add carrots, mushrooms, celery, and onions. Simmer 1 hour (or until veggies are just tender).

Broth, flour, spices, & veggies.

Simmering the beef pie filling …

In a small bowl mix flour and some of the hot beef broth; stirring constantly to form a smooth paste – add to beef and veggies; simmer 5 minutes longer.

About 45 minutes into the simmering beef & veggie; remove the mashed potatoes from the ‘fridge, and allow to soften at room temperature while the shepherd’s pie filling finishes cooking & thickening.

Lightly spray foil baking pan, and spoon blended beef mixture into it.

Top beef mixture with potato mixture: leaving space along the pan edges for steam to escape so there will be no oven messes to clean up.

Mashed Potato mixture spooned & leveled atop the beef pie filling.

Bake at 375-degrees F for 10 minutes - or until heated through … and the potato topping is lightly browned.

CAREFULLY remove casserole from oven (foil pans are not as sturdy as metal or glass pans) - so, to make transfer from oven to countertop easy and safe … slide a dinner plate under the hot foil baking pan to move it from the oven to the hot pad, on the counter top.

PER SERVING: 373 calories; 26 g protein; 17 g fat; 30 g carbohydrate; 916 mg sodium

After Supper dishes were done, I paced myself while I worked on finishing the sleeves to the little preemie sacque I started a few days ago:

Working these little sacque sleeves 'in the round' using 4 DBL point needles.

24 rows 'in the round' - 10 sts-10 sts-10 sts to EA needle.

Today was a good day :-)

I was tired when I woke up - I am still tired as I post this Blog Post; but I am also glad Holland got me out of the house for a bit … where my painful, struggling lungs, could soak up fresh air. And I am thankful Elohim has graced me with the strength needed to comfort my husband with a satisfying meal … and strength to end the day in a favorite relaxing way.

I have a good God.

I have a good husband.

I have a good Life.

All is well with my soul, and my Life is good.