STAY GROUNDED ~WA Coast

September 9th: Everyone was off bright and early to view the cars in the Rod Run Show lineup.

Holland and I stayed behind - we were in no hurry to rise with the sun ;-)

I'm still wondering if we should even go to Arizona right now - or put it off until Holland's shoulder is tended to. But, Holland says he does not want to spend a cold winter in WA, when we can enjoy a warm wintering in Arizona's warm climate until March 2024, when we'll be driving back here for his annual 6-month Dr. appointment.

Plus, he knows my gypsy heart longs for the open road: it does … but, if Holland wanted to stay here and have shoulder surgery, I'd agree to that. I love him. I want him to be happy. I want him to have some kind of comfortable life, as pain-free as possible.

Despite my gypsy flightiness, I want our life to be grounded.

Mid-afternoon, everyone drove in - and Tav was pulling his project behind him; he's been working on this for a while. He's staying grounded ;-)

Tav's Square box Pickup - he's building it himself from 'tires up' piece by piece. I can't wait to see what it looks like, this time - next year ;-)

Holland joined everyone around the campfire again, tonight. It makes my heart happy that he has been so readily accepted.

MANIFESTATION ~WA Coast

September 7th: There was an early morning knock on the front door; and a couple hours of enjoyable convo followed :-)

It was good to make contact again after so much time had passed - we caught up on each other's lives, shared family photo's, had engaging convo's on couple travel (they have the want - we have the experience ;-)), a sharing of 'Bucket List' comparisons  … and Holland was included in all of it.

He also heard that marriages - even good marriages - often have several rocky-road-years; but everything works out in the end when two people love each other, and are committed to building a life together.

This morning's knock on the door was a timely knock ;-)

This morning's coffee chat led to an enjoyable afternoon, which ended with an companionable evening for everyone.

And I worked on another towel design while Holland and the other five gathered around the campfire pit (I stayed inside, away from the smoke) ;-)

MOD 'Liberty' Kitchen Towel Design; hemline.

PEACEFUL SANDBOX ~WA Coast

September 6th: We are not the only people set up on this lot - there are five more people here (2 more couples and 1 solo lobo): I've known all of them all of my life here in WA State. It is fun to interact and chit-chat with them all again. There is safer accountability with them; good and sound advice when needed, and friendly constructive criticism - also when needed ;-)

This is a good place to {sit} for a while.

And they like - and welcome - my new husband; they all knew Bob, and they can see that Holland makes me smile again after the empty years of missing Bob, after his body died.

Holland makes me happy, and enriches my life :-)

Another thing that makes for happiness is the headphones Holland bought: originally purchased so he could watch his favorite YouTube vids, and listen to his music: I don't particularly care for any of it … so, headphones were purchased.

But lately I've been utilizing them, because I've been getting up with Bleu at 5:45 A.M. (Bleu never deviates from this 'on-the-dot' timeframe), and listening to my YouTube and music choices ;-)

I used them today while working on a new towel design.

Using headphones makes for 'harmonious balance' ;-)

Keeping with the 'man in house' theme ;-)

Finished Set; MOD 'Chevron' Kitchen Towel Set.

And so … peace reigns in our home :-)

BEACH STAY ~WA Coast

September 5th: We pulled stakes before the sun dawned, and parked very early along Lake Sacajawea so Holland could keep his A.M. Dr. appointment before we head out of town.

The Plan following the appointment was to visit family and friends, too … but time wouldn't allow for that: Holland also wants to get the oil changed in the 4x, which means we will be heading to Astoria-OR where it can get done before the snow flies.

Holland got the X-rays I requested (results won't be in for a few days), and I texted everyone to let them know we couldn't have our coffee chats until March 2024, when we come back this way … and off we drove to the coast.

When we passed through Chinook-WA, I mentioned that we should watch 'The Guardian' movie after Supper, since we were in the general vicinity of the filming: and Holland added a little personal info to the thought ;-)

Holland's family was among the most prominent contracting companies in the PNW because of the specialty work they do; so he has worked on major job sites through the years - locally, and 'cross Country.

Holland has worked on some pretty interesting sites; 'The Guardian' Movie info.

House remodel for robert de niro stay during local movie filming.

The least de niro could have done was invite those who prepped for him to MEET him. JERK!

Once we had parked Betsy and set Liberty up on a friend's beach lot, our furry boys got reacquainted … and we enjoyed a nice cool drink ;-)

Beach relaxation before heading to Arizona …

A happy reunion; Bleu & Mac (alias 'Sonny') ;-)

David graciously gave us a ground cloth - to keep.

Margarita's coming up …

BABY GENERATOR MAKES HOME COMFORTABLE ~Longview-WA

September 4th: Holland's Dr. appointment is tomorrow, so we packed up and moved this morning. When we arrived in Longview, we wanted to try the new generator out, so we pulled into the Wal*Mart off Industrial Way and set up there - there was plenty of room to push the slide-outs out, so that's what we did. We'd only be there overnight, so it was okay with the store manager.

Holland's friend Tim, and his wife, stopped by to visit a bit with Holland and see the 5th wheel; and baby generator (used for the first time, boondocking in Longview-WA). I like Tim - and would have liked to have met his wife, but I stayed inside with Bleu because the dog frightened his wife: I get that; I was afraid of dogs for a loooong time before my first husband and I got our first one.

Set-up in the 7th Ave., Wal*Mart, Longview-WA; plenty of room to utilize the push-outs ;-)

The Baby Generator works wonderfully - and it's really quiet. BIG BONUS. We slid the generator under the slide-out at bedtime - in case it rained overnight.

We like this :-)

This way of life doesn't appeal to everyone - but it works for us.

We deliberately chose it :-)

And we'll be road gypsies as long as we can be, before setting roots again.

While the visiting was going on during the walk-around outside, I got busy designing and working up a new kitchen towel set. The ones currently in use are okay - but they are getting thin in places where the yarn is wearing with use.

Plus … I want new towels to represent my New Life with my new Husband. So, I am designing new towels using hem stitches that are more masculine in appearance, than the stitches I started using after becoming a widow.

Holland is appreciative ;-)

I got busy on working up some new Kitchen Towel Sets - current ones are getting worn.

'Bamboo St.' hemline; there's a man in the house, now ~ frou-frou won't work, anymore. LOL

FOUND IT! Holland's Collapsible BBQ ~Hoquiam-WA

September 1st: The entire day was a good start to a new Sabbath Rest :-)

First off, I called Becky, to see how's she's doing … and she mentioned the possibility of us getting together at this RV Park when we get back this way in 2024. That will be fun! We are full-time RVr's - and she and Bobby like to get out and use their RV when they can: Graysriver-WA is not that far from Hoquiam-WA. What a fun event to look forward to ;-)

Then, we drove into Aberdeen, to do some grocery shopping.

While there, I suggested we troll Wal*Mart aisles to see if we could find the BBO Grill Holland has been wanting - he saw a guy using it in Wyoming, and said he used to have one … and would like to have another one. He described it to me, and I'd never seen anything like it; so, I was curious ;-)

While we were trolling and talking, he spied it!

So, it came home with us :-)

You would have thought Holland had struck gold. LOL; Aberdeen-WA Wal*Mart.

On the way back to our 5th wheel, Holland stopped at the Office to see if the battery he ordered has arrived: it hadn't yet. We collected it later on in the day.

Holland picking up the battery for the Big Generator; we like this RV Park - we'll return, here.

Labor Day RVr's gone; there wasn't an empty lot over the weekend … we'll pack up & move on, Monday morning.

We like it here.

We will return, when we are back in this neck of the woods.

FINALLY! He's only been looking for this type of BBQ Grill, ever since Wyoming.

Holland BBQ'd steaks for Supper: YUM!

AGING

 

I will be 67 in December 2023

AGING....

You grow old, they told me; you are no longer you, you become distant, sad and lonely.

I didn't answer...

I don't get old, I get wise.

I stopped being what others like me to become, but what I like to be.

I stopped seeking the acceptance of others and accepted myself.

I have left behind the lying mirrors that deceive mercilessly.

No, I'm not getting old.

I just become more selective with places, people, customs and ideologies.

I have let go of attachments, unnecessary pain, toxic people, sick souls and rotten hearts... bitterness and unhappiness are not for me, I release them for my health.

I'm ditching party nights for learning and embracing insomnia.

I stopped living stories and started writing them, I threw aside the imposed stereotypes.

I exchanged wine glasses for coffee cups, forgot to idealize life and started living it.

I carry freshness in my soul, innocence in my heart, and it discovers me daily.

I have in my hands the tenderness of a cocoon that, when opened, will spread its wings to other places unreachable for those who seek only the frivolity of the material.

I have that charming smile on my face when I observe the simplicity of nature.

I carry in my ears the chirping of the birds that delight me and accompany the walk.

No, I'm not getting old.

I become selective, betting my time on the intangible, rewriting the story I've been told, rediscovering worlds, saving those old books I've forgotten half open.

I'm becoming more cautious, I've stopped the outbursts that teach me nothing, I'm learning to talk about transcendent things, I'm learning to cultivate knowledge, plant ideals and falsify my destiny.

No, I'm not getting old.

I begin to live who I really am ~

~Bianka Luz