Hi 👋 We're Val & Holland Redmill … living our Life Story as silver-haired Road Gypsies in our 5th wheel RV Home~40 months married & 60,000 miles traveled across America; covered in grace every Day & trying mightily not to lose our sanctification during the bad & ugly times. I post everywhere - about everything: and if what I post can help someone else, I'm glad for the experience. But from sunrise to sunset, we live our Life for US. Trusting Elohim every step of the way.
GOD KNEW I NEEDED YOU
Showing posts with label signs of Spring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label signs of Spring. Show all posts
March 21st: I had been planning to visit Calvary Chapel fellowship in Centralia … but this morning I woke up with thoughts running through my head that convinced me Elohim had checked me in that. My feet hit the floor knowing that He wanted me to stay local - so, I shared what was revealed to me with Holland 🔑 and he had some revealing of his own, to share with me; the Ruach HaKo'desh is rising & renewing our spirits.
It is all good ✌️, with both of us 💕
Holland brought up getting a gym subscription 🏋️♀️ - I readily agreed 👏 He called 📱 and got the price of a Day Pass 💰 to the Planet Fitness workout gym, at the Mall. If we like it, we'll purchase a Pass that is interchangeable in other States 🗺️ This is a win-win 🤝: home routines are fine and good … but we really need to be walking more, so the treadmill will be a major plus: I've been wanting a fold-up treadmill I can use/store in Independence, but using one at the gym makes more sense to Holland. I like that we will be working out together to get healthier and more fit 👌
Planet Fitness.
He also brought up checking out a Couple's Wednesday Bible Study ⛪️📖 at the Community Church in Castle Rock - we aren't interested in separate studies, staggered throughout the week; so, if they have such an archaic thing anymore, this will be the better choice for us. We can study/be on the same vibe together & if one of my asthmatic coughs starts … or Holland's pain level spikes; and we have to leave the meet early, we won't be disturbing a Sunday gathering - and one of us can drive us back home, if one of us is not able to do so. Wednesday's are low-key gatherings that work better for our needs.
The Ruach HaKo'desh is renewing our spirits; and our spirits are rising to the Call.
Castle Rock Christian Church; Holland has attended here, in the past. This will be a new experience for me - I've fellowshipped for 3 decades with Messianic Believers … to Sunday people, it seems I speak a foreign language. And to an extent, I do. Holland is a Sunday person - I will have to relearn things I've gotten a little rusty on.
We both agreed that we need to get it together in focusing on building US up 👩❤️💋👨 Grace began our story … grace sustains it … and grace will bring it all to completion - we heard each other out, and came to an agreeable middle ground. I shared my concerns & was heard - he shared his overviews & was heard. WE are more important than anyone or anything pressing on our time & nerves. Time is short, we are no longer spring chickens, & our remaining time on Earth needs to be redeemed ⏳🪔. Holland has medical needs that need immediate attention ⚕️: this is my major concern 🧐 & the main reason I agreed to come back to WA State 🤨 Also, we understand that we (together & individually), have tasks to do - personal tasks that we have been called to attend to, that have been entrusted to us to uphold & fulfil ☝️ ✝️ = these things need to be front & center in our life; everyone, & everything else, can take a number and wait until we can get to them 🤞
The air cleared 😘, and understandings clearly clarified 📣, Holland suggested we get out of the house, do a little light grocery shopping 🛒 & go for a short drive 🚘, when the wash cycle ended.
I was game 😊
Spring was in full swing …
Clear, blue skies - pink flowering trees & Evergreens; Toutle River RV Park-WA
White blossoming Weeping Cherry Blossom Tree.
An abundance of flowering trees line the entire Park boundary …
Cascade Select Market, Castle Rock-WA from Toutle River RV Park, Castle Rock-WA; (4 mi) 8 mins via I-5 S
Red Twig Dogwood; Castle Rock-WA
A personal Spring 'thing' & not available in any State of the lower portion of the USA
Camelot, Castle Rock-WA; the Cook Ferry Park, is directly behind & runs along the Cowlitz River, tying into Westside Hwy, CR-WA
2 houses showing across the way, on clear-cut properties; we're thinking in t he vicinity if Headquarters Road-WA
The sturdy, sunny, daffodils, the serene duck couple, the tranquil setting of the fishing shack - and the surprise ashy sand extraction refueled our drained spirits.
The sunny drive was just what was needed to lift our spirits.
Sunny daffodils showing brightly in the midst of weedy deadfall.
A Mallard & his Hen swimming a ditch across the street from the daffodil cluster.
I never knew this road existed; & Bob & I had driven up & down Cook Ferry Road for decades.
Of course, Holland has lived in this region of WA for 3/4 of his life; off-on 40 years, between Vader & Kelso.
Cook Ferry Road, Castle Rock-WA
A bench in the middle of nowhere … fishermen don't sit anywhere but on river banks.
A Robin - we saw several; this 1 stood still long enough to show it's photogenic side.
A Killdeer
Horses! And Holland is right - it's a 'she' - not a 'he' - guiding them forward.
The Sand Pit was something new to both of us; it's actually ash residue from the 1981 eruption of Mt. St. Helens.
The ash created & washed down from Mt. St. Helens, changed the depth, width, and course of the Cowlitz River. He hadn't been down that end of the road in about 10 years, so the ashy sand pit was a surprised to him, too.
That was a fun excursion - I didn't know that road existed, so I was happy Holland drove out there to show me the fishing shack he always talks about - he was a fishing junkie ,🐟⚓️ and has fished wherever he could; all over the place: Vader, Castle Rock, Kelso, Longview, the Elochoman, Kalama, Woodland, Ridgefield, Vancouver & Rainier-OR … wherever there was water and fish.
Holland talked so much about CA, that I always assumed that was his hometown; but I have learned over the past 6 months, that though he has worked in nearly every State in the Union … he has actually spent half of his life living in WA (32 yo) … and has lived in the Vader-Castle Rock-Kelso region of WA permanently, since 1994. He's pretty tethered to WA State.
It was a good Day 😁
Our flagging spirits are rising: the Day ended well 👍
April 17th: Today we spent about an hour & a half on the beach at Cranberry Lane, in Ocean Park-WA; on our way home, we stopped at the grocery store … and I decided to walk back to Independence instead of riding 😉
Since we've been back in WA State, I've pretty much been housebound with a cold, and an allergy induced migraine - yesterday, I literally spent all day long in bed because the migraine was so hellacious: sunlight made my eyes ache; moving my head in any direction caused a painful zig-zagging throb that shot from one side of my temple to the other; my teeth ached; talking caused the tongue blisters on the back of my tongue to rub against each other, which made my throat more sore than it already was from sinus drainage (the reason for the acid-burn-blisters); I had been sneezing, going through boxes of Kleenex; trying mightily not to rub my itchy eyes - which would only make the itch worse; I ate a light supper last night, and was instantly sorry - it did not settle well; I had a fever; and that broke during the night, thank the Lord. I was so hot when Holland came to bed, that it concerned him … so he was relieved when I woke up cooler to the touch.
But, an asthma incident did not seize an opportunity while my immune system was compromised. Praise God, from Whom all blessing flow 🙏
The nasal drip has stopped too; so the nasal drip blisters are disappearing. I can swallow with ease, again.
I could move my head without moaning.
I could open the window shades without wincing from the sunlight.
I finished a full ☕️ without wanting to hurl it back up.
My body was on the mend 😁
So, when Holland asked if I felt like a short drive into Long Beach, I felt I was up to it 👍
When we got to the Pioneer Market & Deli in Long Beach, Holland bought a few BBQ burritos … they smelled so good, I finished one off: and it stayed put 😊
Then he asked if I felt up to a beach visit. I did, so off we went. We finished of the last 2 burritos while watching the waves:
Cranberry Road; Long Beach-WA
Spent a relaxing & refreshing time here, this morning.
On the way home, we made a quick stop at Jack's to grab a loaf of bread. I was feeling so good, and the sunshine was so warm, that I said I'd walk the short distance back to the RVPark. Holland thought the walk might be too soon after being laid low for pretty much the whole week that we've been back here from CA; he said, "I'm not sure you should be doing this. But if you aren't going to listen to me, at least make sure you take your phone with you. I don't want anything to happen to you." I grabbled my walking stick from the back seat area, stuck my cell phone in my back pocket, and I said, "I feel fine. I'll be fine. I need to walk, Holland; my body needs the activity, my lungs need the fresh air, and my skin needs the vitamin D … I have my phone and will call you if I feel I need your Prince Valiant rescue. I love you - don't worry; it appears to be only a 15 minute walk."
I blew him a kiss 😘 & started walking - and he headed home.
Neither one of us thought about the asthma inhaler that went home with him: but, as it turned out, it was not needed. Elohim was looking out for me, and Yeshua kept his healing touch on me ❤️
I crossed the street, & started my walk here …
Somebody's watching me: "I don't want anything to happen to you".
Chase Rice - 'Eyes On You' Lyrics:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD8d0VqKE5o)
I took my time; it has been a while since I've stretched my legs with a good walk - I was in no hurry to hurry things along 😉
My enjoyed the clean, ocean-scented air.
My body basked in the rejuvenating sunshine warmth 🌞
My eyes enjoyed seeing things Holland normally just blows past; I like to take my time looking at my surroundings. Things interest me - things do not interest Holland unless they are the ocean, tools, guns, or of a direct personal interest to him: flowers, interesting structures, colorful homes, fanciful lawn décor, and the like … do not interest him.
I took my time getting home: life goes by fast, and moments lost are lost. I was in no hurry:
Jack's Country Store; #26006 Vernon Ave, Ocean Park-WA
Pretty Wood Hyacinth, growing at the corner of Food Bank building.
Wood Hyacinth, aka Spanish Bluebell: (https://gardenerspath.com/plants/flowers/grow-wood-hyacinth/); a bit further down the street more pretty Spring color was making my eyes happy: Redstem Stork's Bill, aka Erodium cicutarium: (https://bplant.org/plant/2410); & Miniature Daisy, aka Bellium minutum: (https://www.wintergreenhouse.com/plants/miniature-plants/bellium-minutum/p-10073/?srsltid=AfmBOoq5M-F548bHLWkciWoFjGHw_zNRY7MA5xgu2gfDIknAJojoOCx8)
Repurposed Wooden Sea Captain & Wooden Pirate (or Light House Keeper minus lantern); standing on the porch of the Re-Max Real Estate Office, Ocean Park-WA
Spring color showing through the evergreens … a towering Rhododendron Tree - no longer a bush.
WA's State Flower~The Pacific Rhododendron: (https://interpretivecenter.org/washingtons-state-flower-the-pacific-rhododendron/)
At first glance, I thought this was a 'Snowball bush, but it grew UP instead of round & DOWN …
This big, old, house has caught my eye for 47 years (45 with Bob, & 2 with Holland), when we drive past it … today, I got to stop and get a good looong look at it.
The picket fence is always trimmed with simple seasonal swags.
Historic Whalebone House; #2101 Bay Avenue, Ocean Park-WA
This house has always drawn my eye - so today I took time to study it, as I walked past it. I researched it when I got back to Independence.
This is what I found online: {{S.A. Matthews built this lively looking house in 1891. He designed the house from the memory of a home he enjoyed in Maine. Mrs. Matthews loved to grow flowers on her front porch and eventually had it glassed in to protect her plants. Louise Rice restored the house and named it Whalebone since her husband, Roy, collected whalebones while beachcombing in the 1950’s, and the name seemed to fit. This place is on the Washington State Register of Historic Places.}}
The house was built in 1889 … and it seems to be up for Sale through Redfin Realty: (https://www.redfin.com/WA/Ocean-Park/2101-Bay-Ave-98640/home/40394321)
Whalebone House location; Ocean Park-WA
Keeping on along my walking route, I smiled when I saw a jaunty shell-crusted cement cast seal with a black Naval telescope ;-)
An interesting private home structure …
I thought these were yard decorations - UNTIL they moved. So, I watched the lounging deer, for a few minutes.
The walk didn't take long - even with all the lollygagging.
When I turned towards our front door, I saw that the outside door was open - and the screen door was being used by Holland 😳 He never uses the open screen door because he is always saying that he is cold. Hmm 🤔
Home Sweet Home … until July 2025, when we Road Gypsies will start traveling, again; Ocean Bay RV Park; Ocean Bay-WA. My short half-mile walk, was actually closer to a 25 minute walk; I started the timing late because I was busy gawking.
Whatever the reason for the door being open, I was thankful 💗 I like my house open; with refreshing breezes flowing through it, in the Springtime 😊
Around 4 PM, I started Supper; using one of the 4Patriots packets.
While I was getting things started in the kitchen, Holland was dinking around online, and said, "Hey Baby! Here's Betsy & Independence in this YouTube video! Remember those people I told you about … those ones that full-time RV, like us? Look - here we are." So, I looked; and sure enough, there we were - parked at the Zuni RV Park in Kingman-AZ; and I had posted in one of my Kingman Blog Posts, about Holland seeing them, and talking with them.
Holland spotted Betsy & Independence in an RVing YouTube video made in Kingman-AZ
The Rvr's are close relatives of Tom Hanks - yes, the mouthy, Trump-hating, actor.
Holland talking with The Hanks, at the Zuni RV Park in Kingman-AZ, in March of 2025.
Then, I went back to cooking Supper - I'm still working my way through the 4Patriots Meal Packets Holland bought for our use, in 2023. I served canned kernel corn & canned biscuits on the side:
1 packet Ma's Hearty Bean & Chili Mac Supper * 1 lb. ground Hamburger * 1 Yellow Onion, sliced * 2 Celery stalks, diced * 2 cloves Garlic, coarsely chopped * 3/4 c. Crimini Mushrooms, diced * 4 c. Water * 1 c. shredded Cheddar Cheese * 1 can kernel corn * 1 can Flakey Honey-Butter Biscuits
1) Place hamburger in a large skillet. Add onion, celery, garlic, and mushrooms - cook on medium-high heat until meat is browned and veggies are soft.
2) Add the 4Patriots dry-mix mac & seasoning packet, with 4 cups boiling water; cook on medium-high until boiling - then turn to low heat and cook for 20 minutes.
4Patriots Ma's Hearty Bean & Chili Mac' Supper; which I halved & vac sealed for our needs. This serves 3 hefty portions.
At the same time, pour the corn into a small pan and cook on medium heat.
Also, get the biscuits in the oven and cook according to container directions.
About 5 minutes before everything is finished cooking - sprinkle cheese on the macaroni mixture, and cover with skillet lid to hasten cheese melting process.
Serve & enjoy.
As the sunshine faded and the sun slipped over the watery horizon, the local frogs came out to ramp up their Spring courting 🔊🎼💞
And I settled into my warming blanket cocoon to pickup where I left off in the story I was reading off and on, between 💤 yesterday:
I read 18 chapters yesterday …
Today was an enjoyable Day.
The serenading frogs - and the lively Clive Cussler novel, is making my evening enjoyable, too.
Life is good in my small corner of the world. I am blessed 💖
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