A HAPPY LIFE; Fortuna-AZ

Building a Happy Life is doable.

We had a really in-depth convo yesterday afternoon. We're both on the same Page regarding where we want our Life to go, how to get there, how to safely navigate triggered moments … as well as alternative ways to enjoy a gypsy lifestyle.

I've always been a gypsy at heart - and it was good news to me to hear that Holland is also really getting into the gypsy groove, now. Even though he did readily join me on this adventure 21 months ago, I wasn't sure with the pain level he was experiencing that he was actually enjoying the ride, or just humoring me: he assures me that he's enjoying himself, too, and wants to "continue doing this until we can't anymore"; I like hearing that 😘

Last night, I also started a new kitchen towel set - my old ones (from my old Life) are wearing thin in places, and need to be replaced. I'm trying to design them around the PNW themes since the desert isn't working for us … I'm also working them up 'girlie' style, since I am making most of our meals, now. Holland still makes some meals, but by and large, I've taken over the kitchen: and Holland is liking what I'm dishing up 😉

Knocked off here, last night … my newest design.

Sand allergies are knocking me out lately … and I sleep the sleep of the drained so deeply that I don't even hear incoming calls or texts that come through on my watch, on my wrist, next to my ear when I'm laying down!

Afternoon text.

We love Arizona, but AZ weather is not doable for us.

Holland has a Plan for our progress forward 👍

First, we are going to be spending a few days in Quartzsite-AZ - then, on to Kingman-AZ, where we will be spending time with his Aunt Gaye; I really like her, so it will be a good visit 😁

After that visit, we will head North, towards Brookings-OR; where Holland doing research, says it's warm & pleasant weather, most of the year. We are also kicking around the idea of spending half the year in Brookings-OR & half the year in Ocean Park-WA; we do like Ocean Park … and Brookings will be a new experience for us; Holland says there is a lot for retirees to do there 👏

For the time being, we still have Independence - the only calls we've gotten so far, have been from 3rd parties who want to put her on their RV Lot: we don't want that. We want to sell her outright, without the middle man … and we can do that, provided our wants line up with Elohim's Plan for our Life. If we do sell her, we'' downsize to a large camper for traveling and live in a Park Model home in an RV Resort: staying fluid so we can pack up and move whenever we get the itch, don't like our neighbors, or need a change of scenery. If we don't sell her, we'll just continue doing what we're dong.

We hope she eventually sells.

But, we'll do what Elohim's Will is, as we proactively set about building our happy life ❤️

While Holland continued researching, I picked up my knitting project where i had left off last night, and worked on it some more while watching the Hegseth Confirmation Voting session (it went as figured); and also President Trump's visit to the wildfire ravages regions of CA. A lot of promises were made - time will tell if that plays out, or if nuscum politics derails what's best for the devastated people of his State. Personally, I think his political career is over - he set it on fire with his stupid ecological nonsense.

As far as I got, tonight ;-)

The periodic naps brought on by allergies, Trump's WEF speech, the Hegseth Vote, and Trump's CA visit pretty much ran the Day out.

I hope to get further, and do more, tomorrow.

TOUTLE RIVER: Castle Rock-WA

I didn't sleep very well this morning; painful memories crept unbidden into my thoughts in the wee morning hours, and Holland gently shook me awake when he heard me weeping.

Hard memories had come visiting when my guard was down.

I apologized for waking him, and told him that September through December will always be a a hard period of time, for me - I do not court the memories, but they come anyway. He pulled me into him, and held me until the tears stopped. We talked about half an hour: sharing memories along the same vein of thought that had sent the sandman packing. There are hard memories for both of us in WA State, it's a comfort to comfort each other.

I think we both finally fell asleep again, around 3 AM.

When we woke again … and fully shook the cobwebs; Holland suggested we go down to the river for a while.

Garth Brooks - 'The River': 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAgUQ7lMKOs)

He wanted to get me out of my head.

I agreed.

He took me to a different river!

It was a wonderful surprise :-)

This is a new memory I am sharing with my new husband: I am thankful for these blessings.

We drove off a spur by the  shooting range, to the river.

Toutle River; Castle Rock-WA

The water is very clear …

A couple leisurely walking, across the river.

Holland says the sand is new to this beach, since the eruption.

1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens:  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_eruption_of_Mount_St._Helens)

In the winter months, the river reaches the highlighted high-water mark.

All this will be under water, around November.

I was still tired, so I took a 45 minute rest after we got back home.

Around 4 PM, we drove into Longview and treated ourselves to yummy ice creams; the next two days are going to be busy ones - this moment is for enjoyment ;-)

A Baskins-Robbins treat ;-)

The day ended with a lovely pink sunset: no pics - Holland does not pull over while enroute anywhere (the other day's pull-over-moment, was truly a small miracle) and the  windshield was splotchy with bug guts.

You'll just have to take my word for it. I was lovely.

Back home, I worked a bit on the preemie sleep sack, before I turned in for good. Tomorrow will start early - and it will be busy. All day long.

I am glad for the comfort I received today … and I am glad that I can give comfort to others also needing an extended hand in kindness.

One sleeve finished …

FRIENDS CONNECTIONS

July 6th: Busy day (also very e.x.p.e.n.s.i.v.e. day) in Longview shopping - drove home to drop off foods that would spoil … drove back into Longview to grab some metal studs and some scrap lumber; then stopped at Pam and Frank's for a visit before we head out of Dodge on Friday. It was an enjoyable visit.

Got home, unloaded the metal and lumber, and relaxed for a while before 'getting back at it': Holland went to work on his project … and I went to work re-packaging the dehydrated food supply.

Around 10 PM, I called it a night and checked my messages: an invite from David to come stay with him at his beach property :-)

David's text …

July 7th: Up bright and early; house tore down … and we were "off like a herd of turtles" ;-)

Stacked kennels - coat draped, so the counter won't get marred.

Room Extensions pulled in; Kitchen & Livingroom.

I laughed as we pulled out of Castle Rock; with his bandana and sunglasses, Holland looks like a nijah turtle. LOL

Timeframe depends on traffic flow.

Team Spirit.

Trisha Yearwood & Garth Brooks - 'Where Your Road Leads' song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omlzz_k9vSU)

'Burger Lunch; Cathlamet-WA

The boys were stretching their legs, for half an hour.

Holland surprised me with a Twisty Ice-Cream Cone: it's the little thoughtful things that count ;-)

Low-tide Oyster Bed mudflats.

Reached David's Beach Lot.

And wouldn't you know it - there were german shepherd's barking their heads off, across the way!!!

But the fence was high … and David assured me that "in all the years I've been coming down here, those dogs have never gotten loose."

And then he and Holland went on and on praising the {good qualities} of those killer dogs. GRRRRR

doberman pinchers on Wednesday; and german shepherd's today: why the test of nerves, and what lesson am I failing, Lord???

And … there are FOUR German Shepherd's across the roadway!

Holland set things up outside (and found the pigtail plug-in needed - he has several 'just in case') - and I set things in place inside: then we drove to the beach to let the boys run free, before coming back home to visit with David for an hour or so :-)

My Shell Garland that swagged my bathroom mirror broke, so I need to buy some fishing line to restring it (Holland thinks he has some in his tackle box, if so - I'll use some of that).

Holland good-naturedly ribbed me. it's a good thing we had those extra pigtail plug-ins! I didn't understand why he had bought SO MANY … now, I DO.

Beachfront Access just minutes from our front door - thanks David, for the tip! Cranberry Lane, Longbeach-WA

The boys loved romping on the beach.

The sand was more interesting to them, than the Pacific Ocean …

Love.

Shania Twain - 'You've Got A Way' song: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n0tBhJOlSk)

Go Cart Challenge. LOL

Praying for Mercy …

Tomorrow is going to be fun!

Both of us intend to win, and neither of us know how to give quarter when a bet is on.

HINT: While we are married friends making a fun connection, and a honeymoon memory (remember a honeymoon lasts an entire year ;-)) … I am NOT going to be eating that crappy mcdonald's food ;-)

Tonight the boy's are staying inside all night long: black bears roam freely here.

LAZY SUNDAY

I was so exhausted last night that I was in bed before 9 PM (the fur-babies had kept me up most of the night, before); Holland stayed up for a bit with the fur-babies. There was train traffic off-and-on throughout the night and morning hours, but it wasn't disruptive. It was actually kinda soothing ;-)

Because I went to bed so early, I was wide awake by 5 A.M. So, I carefully got up so I wouldn't wake Holland - he needs the sleep.

I drank a couple cups of coffee, spent time with Elohim, ran the pups out two or three times, and surfed the internet while Holland's body rested.

After Holland got up … I went back to bed for a bit.

I think this may become a routine. The pups need to relieve themselves in the early morning hours - and once Holland's up, he's up: he needs more sleep than he's been getting. I don't mind getting up with the pups and letting my husband sleep, and then going back to bed for a hour or so - Holland needs at least 2 hours to fully wake up anyway - and he doesn't like a whole lot of activity or chit-chat while he's clearing the cobwebs. This routine will work for everyone ;-)

When I woke up again and rejoined husband and pups, Holland said, "Why don't we just be lazy today; it's Sunday, and we're retired. Let's take a lazy day break. We'll take the dogs down to the river … how about we leave the kennels at home and let them ride in the back cab?" Then seeing my eyes widen: I was thinking that Sonny is not trustworthy yet; Holland said, "You have to let them grow up, Baby. Trust me - they'll be okay." I finally relented, but I insisted we take two beach towels to spread on the cab floor, {just in case}.

And both pups were very good on the way to the river … and on the way back home :-)

The boys were in the back - kenneless - and they were trustworthy: NO messes.

Sonny will be the easy-going one; Bleu is more cautious and territorial.

4-wheeling at Camelot Shore, along the Cowlitz River.

When we got back home, there were two FB posts for me - I'm going to make time to see these friends before we head South ;-)

Ramona's post.

Chrystal's Post; I'll collect the books & visit tomorrow morning.

And … I cooked my first Supper meal on the RV stove. 'What's the big deal', you may be asking yourself. Well - Holland has been doing most of the cooking since we got married five months ago (1) because he likes to cook (2) he likes to BBQ/grill (3) he likes to spoil me. But tonight, I pulled the Wife Card out and waved it around saying, "Just relax. Be lazy this Sunday, and let me spoil you for a change."

I also filled some reusable coffee filter cups: Holland likes the strong stuff. I like flavored coffees ;-)

We were feeling the unhurried newly married vibe. The whole day was a relaxing, peaceful, advertisement of domesticity :-)

Cooking for the first time on this gas stove … Holland normally BBQ's with the smoker-grill.

We are trying one of the Patriot Food packages to see if they are worth the money spent on them; this meal smells good. It was okay - it will do. Next time we will eat only half a package, and I'll add cooked hamburger bits to it.

Filling the reusable coffee filters for the K-Cup Coffee Maker.

Ready for Holland's morning coffee …

Bedtime shattered the peaceful atmosphere.

I had a severe asthma attack a few minutes ago; I seriously thought Holland would watch me suffocate to death on mucus (this is not a pretty sight to see - an asthma attack gives you a swollen face, uncontrollable tears as your body fights to stay alive, strain marks on face & neck from struggling to inhale, a sore throat from the coughing fit WHILE struggling to breath, and eyes that transmit a realization that you are dying).

Holland knew just what to do: he started praying for me; found an inhaler, and made me a strong cup of coffee. I have not had an attack in a looooong time, and I was surprised at this one showing up.

My bridegroom wants me to keep inhalers at hand at all times, now: he pulled his Husband Card out and gently waved it around, saying, "I am your Husband - you promised, of your own free will - to obey me. Obey me in this. I love you, and as much as you want to go Home … you are not going to die on me." He does not want me to be lazy with my attitude about asthma, anymore. So, I guess besides carrying an inhaler in my purse, there will be one in the bedroom/both bathrooms/livingroom/and truck - I do have enough inhalers to do as he says.

BUT … I still trust Elohim (not an inhaler) to keep me alive until He calls me Home beyond the clouds. An inhaler is worthless when I cannot draw air IN. It is Elohim's compassion towards us that opened my throat and lungs to inhale. Someday it will be time to go Home, and that will not happen; and I need Holland to understand that - and be okay with that. To have overwhelming peace when that day arrives.

I love my husband.

I love being married to my best friend.

I love this Chapter of my New Life.

But my ultimate Goal is to get Home: I'd just rather not know my body is dying. I rather Holland not watch my body die.