VAL'S BEEF BASED HAMBURGER HELPER SUPPER Recipe; Quartzsite-AZ

Our space; The Pit Stop~Quartszsite-AZ

Today was a kick-back & relax, Day.

February 4th, 2025: Today was a 'kick-back & relax' Day: we just took it easy and relaxed our bodies from yesterday's activities of tearing down and setting Independence up again, when we arrived here in Quartzsite-AZ, yesterday afternoon.

MONDAY FREEDOM; Quartzsite-AZ: https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2025/02/monday-freedom-quartzsite-az.html

I checked FB messages … and quickly backed out before I could get caught in any on-going drama's: I'm really going to be making concentrated efforts to avoid endless looping hamster wheel topics, this year ✌️

And I posted to a Blog Hop - and saw that my crochet pot cover had been showcased there, too 😊

Stone Cottage Adventures @ http://www.stonecottageadventures.com/

MOD RUFFLED PLANT POT COVER; Fortuna-AZ:   (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2025/01/mod-ruffled-plant-pot-cover-fortuna-az.html)

Around 3:30 P.M., I got supper under way.

I decided to make another boxed meal: I'm not sure what this is supposed to be … Holland brought it home the other day; he says Goulash (doesn't look like goulash: my goulash is always paprika red), & I say Stroganoff (but that doesn't seem 'right', either; judging by the pkg. pic) - so, tonight I compromised, and added {extra's} that blend with either 😉

==VAL'S BEEF BASED HH SUPPER Recipe ~3 medium servings

1 boxed Hamburger Helper Supper * 1 pound Ground Beef * 1 large White Onion, sliced * 1 med Shallot, sliced * 2 cloves Garlic, minced * 3 TBS. Margarine * 1/2 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard * 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce * 1/2 tsp. ground Paprika * 1/2 tsp. dried Thyme Leaves * 1 med Bay Leaf * 14 med Brussels Sprouts, trimmed & stem's X'd * 1 lrg. Skillet w-lid * 1 steamer pot w-lid

1) In a large skillet - combine meat, onion, shallot, and garlic; brown meat, then simmer mixture for half an hour.

##In the meantime, get the steamer pot boiling; and bake the cornbread (I used the Jiffy mix type).

2) Read HH Box thoroughly and following directions, add to skillet … and then add the margarine, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, thyme, and Bay leaf and heat to boiling: reduce heat and continue cooking according to box directions.

Spicy 'extra's'

Supper cooking.

##The steamer pot should be at a rolling boil by now … carefully place the steamer basket in the pot, cover with lid - and steam about 10 minutes; they should be tender, but not mushy.

Beef-Pasta HH; sides of cornbread & Brussels Sprouts; not fancy, but satisfying.

After supper dishes were done and left to air-dry, I watched a vintage movie … and finished up the kitchen towel set I started a couple days ago in Fortuna-AZ:

'Moss Rose' Movie; 1947 w-Victor Mature & Vincent Price - I thought it would be interesting with the star line-up; that also included Ethel Barrymore 😁

I'm not particularly happy with the way it turned out; but it was a new design concept - and it will {do} in my kitchen 👍

I tried to mimic the concept in a scaled-back fashion ;-)

MOD Mushroom Kitchen Towel Set, completed.

MONDAY FREEDOM; Quartzsite-AZ

Carole King - 'Where You Lead' song: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFfOsY40SSo)

For the next few months, Holland is setting the paces - and making plans for the places we'll be traveling to: he has some ideas, and they are good ones.

This morning, we left the Fortuna Foothills this morning - and set up at The Pit Stop in Quartzsite-AZ, again 👍

Packing up in Fortuna-AZ, on the move to Quartzsite-AZ; it will feel very "freeing" to be able to take a breath that will not hurt. Thank You, Lord 😘

A welcome surprise! While packing Holland's laptop, I saw in the case pouch … what we have been turning the house inside out to find: we have been so miserable with allergies, lung burn, and headaches; that we cold barely think straight. The entire month of January passed in a brain freeze fog …

Moving is never easy 😬 No matter how many times you do it. Holland & I both said, at the same time, while packing up … "Just remember that no matter what is said or done today: I love you" ❤️ Thank God, today really was an "easy" day 👏

Independence is set up again; with everything where it needs to be for comfy living in the moment 👏

There is always a place for us, here. It does get dusty, here, too … but nothing like the Fortuna dustups 😲 I like it here; so it's no hardship to sit here a month 😁; The Pit Stop~Quartzsite-AZ

Another reason we like The Pit Stop ;-) & Noon temps … it was still 68-degrees at 11 PM.

When we got here, Holland said, "Let's have Chinese for Supper - you like it, and you deserve it. No cooking for you, tonight ❤️" … I love it when he takes control. In a good way 😘Chicken Chow Mein; Quartzsite-AZ

I was people-watching while eating: I saw this from the livingroom window … a throwback from the Mad max Era 😉

Now, I'm gonna throw caution to the wind and enjoy the wonderful feeling of "freedom!" as the sun lowers itself over today's horizon.

OH! The wonderful feeling of liberating freedom 😁

Bread - 'Freedom' song: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs7C3VHwPcc)

Sundown; Quartzsite-AZ

SAY {WHAT}!; Fortuna-AZ

February 2nd, 2025: Tomorrow, we will pull stakes in Fortuna-AZ & set up in Quartzsite-AZ, again, for a couple weeks before aiming Betsy's nose towards Kingman-AZ; where we'll Park Independence for another couple weeks, before hitting the road for the PNW.

We probably won't be coming back to AZ - and Holland wants to do everything - and see everything, we can, before we leave AZ. When we get to Kingman, he's already making plans to pencil in several road trips, as well as quality time spent with Aunt Gaye.

Today, we went adventuring to see if we could find a Dam, that at one time had fed diverted Colorado River water from AZ to CA via mexico … into the Salton Sea. mexico eventually turned the tap off on their side, altogether. It interested Holland, and he thought it would be a nice historical tidbit for me to include in a Blog Post.

It was the first time I'd been out of the house in a few weeks - the dust has been so bad, I didn't want to risk lung inflammation that would hamper our anticipated move on Monday. But, today was a calm day, and I thought it might be a safe day to escape the 4 walls: so, while Holland tended to tidying things up outside (to make moving day tomorrow, easier), I quickly washed and blow-dried my hair, and put a little color on my face 👍

We drove around for 2 hours trying to find a vintage Dam from the beginning of the 1900's; we asked GPS for help - no help was forthcoming from that blond bimbo. She kept leading us to Old Town Yuma: we knew that wasn't right.

The Road Atlas was equally clueless 🤔

I asked my phone for information on a vintage Dam built in the Yuma-AZ/CA area … google directed us to the Laguna Dam, near the Imperial Dam: waaay off the direction being inquired about.

It was a bummer that we never did find what we went looking for, but it was a nice Sunday drive 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨, anyway - and we did drive to the Laguna Dam, just for fun; looping around the backside of the Yuma Proving Grounds, an back to where Independence sat in the Fortuna Foothills-AZ 😊

Along the route, we saw a border wall stretching along into the distance, and I asked Holland where we were (I knew we were no where near the border wall we are familiar with - it was in the opposite direction) … he said, "That's CA's border wall". He said it so calmly. I was speechless for a heartbeat, before asking in a heat, "Are you kidding me? CA has a freaking border wall?" He said, "Yes, that is CA's border wall." I saw red, "Those hypocrites! Of all the nerve!" I saw red because CA bitches nonstop about Trump's Border Wall in Yuma-AZ … and here I was seeing Calexico-CA's double barrier BORDER WALL near Winterhaven-AZ.

Holland said there is also a CA Border Wall in San Diego-CA.

No  wonder CA is on fire - it's a State resting sanctimoniously proud in their lies.

CA's Tortilla Border Wall! HYPOCRITES!!The Tortilla Wall is a 14-mile section of the border fence between San Diego and Tijuana. It was completed in the early 1990s, and runs about a mile and a half into the ocean.

Leaving the Calexico/Andrade-CA Wall view behind us, and passing through Winterhaven, I saw the old jalopy "museum" I had driven past last year. I pointed to it, and said, "There is the place I have been telling you about; when I passed by it last year I thought to myself, 'that is something that would interest Holland.'" He pulled over to get a closer look at it … but not wanting to risk a lung inflammation, we just did a drive by looksee:

Cloud Museum; #1398 York Rd, Winterhaven, CA

We didn't walk the grounds, though; too risky with the dust.

It's c.o.l.d., and possibly snowing a little in Kingman-AZ, so, after chowing down on left-over fried chicken when we got back home … I finished up the pair of foot warming slippers for my big man:

The Tall Men - Vocal by Jane Russell: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEVZAG5rl9k)

While posting the pattern to a Blogging Blog Hop, I saw that my crochet plant pot cover had been showcased on my Israeli friend's Page 😁

https://www.creativejewishmom.com/ –  Craft Schooling Sunday

MOD RUFFLED PLANT POT COVER; Fortuna-AZ:  (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2025/01/mod-ruffled-plant-pot-cover-fortuna-az.html)

BEST HUSBAND EVER 👏❤️

SHOUT OUT to the men raised in a house with females in it:

Clothes don't fit? "I have some cash … go shopping if it will make things better for you" 👍

Her hair won't cooperate: "No problem Baby - take your time"; and he pours himself another cup of coffee 😘

The House is a wreck = he pitches in and helps tidy it up 🥰

Hungry - and no clue what will "fix it" … he grabs the keys, and comes back with tacos AND a crunch wrap 😍

BEST HUSBAND EVER 👏❤️

POLITICS & OTHER OBLIGATIONS

Regarding politics and other "obligations"  - I'm taking a hiatus.

I'm not even going to engage with Holland when it comes to politics and self-destructive people (family or friends, both sides of our "tree"): if he wants to moan about politics … or just feels the need to blow some steam off by aimless bitching - he can call his SIL Lana; she's always up for moaning and bitching.

I've already explained this frame of mind to my husband: I'm not upset. I'm not angry. I'm just not going to spin my wheels engaging in a bitching contest over things that are out of my control; things that really don't amount to a hill of beans in the grand scheme of things. I want peace and love and joy back in my life.

I've already put my family on notice that I can't be baited; and I'm clamping down on my itching fingers when it comes to media posts regarding politics. There was a new change of guard, thank the Lord - now, it's time to relax, and enjoy the peaceful vibes that piggy-back on the quick-paced law and order being set in place.

I am exhausted on all levels … emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually: staying alive is draining.

I am in no position to take on other people’s issues.

That is what Elohim is for: they need to go to Him.

Does that make me a selfish bitch?

Maybe.

I don’t know.

All I do know is that I’m going through my own life struggles - and I need a break from the constant shake-ups.

My hard and fast obligations are to Elohim, Yeshua, myself, and my husband. Regarding everything and everyone else … I'm taking a hiatus.

FORESHADOWING THE BEAST SYSTEM~The Olive Tree MInistries

Foreshadowing the Beast System~Jan Markell:  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B-GY9lD7Dg)

AGREEABLE MOMENTS; Fortuna-AZ

In the wee early morning hours of today, I spent 2 hours on the phone listening, soothing, and trying to give helpful suggestions to a family member bent on self-destruction. When the call was accidentally terminated on the other end, I went to bed with a prayer on my lips and a hurting heart - this person, who I love very much, will end up dying of alcoholism: they will die because they do not really want help. They want a sympathizer … and I cannot do that. I can listen to them. I can offer words of support and encouragement (I steer away from advise, because advise will lead to verbal combativeness); but I cannot - and I will not - sympathize. Sympathy will only complicate an already complicated situation; and I am not going to engage in endless looping arguments where someone tries to justify bad behavior. And I am also not going to rush anywhere to engage in adult babysitting activities with a person who wants to self-destruct.

I'm done with death: I'm not even doing the Angel Babies projects anymore - I stopped that a few weeks ago: all the contact info was deleted from my phones, online accounts, address books, ect. I.a.m.d.o.n.e.w.i.t.h.d.e.a.t.h.

Another morning call came just before noon - when we both woke up; when the call ended about half an hour later, I asked my husband to pray with me for devine intervention, protection, and safe keeping … and sent out a Prayer Line S.O.S. Then, Holland went after a bucket of chicken for supper. He is a good husband.

And we have worked out an agreeable solution to melding our life together: there will be times when we, in our togetherness journey, will feel the need for some personal solitude - and red-head-hot-tempered angst does not have to be the catalyst (we have both had red in our hair, before our heads started sporting all this silvery-threaded-grey 😉)

I have no problem being alone. I was alone much of my life before Bob was a part of my life; and I was alone many times throughout that 44 marriage when job contracts took Bob away from home for 23 days most months - for months on end, several years running.

I was alone much of my life before Holland was part of my life; and I have been alone a great deal of the 2 years we've been married - because Holland had a hard time adjusting to what married life actually means.

Personally, when pain is not spurring the solitude, I enjoy intervals of solitude; so, now when Holland (or I ) feel pressed on by 4 walls and cabin fever … we'll agreeably claim a day or two of solitude, where I will retreat to the spare room. Anger is not the catalyst, anymore - but a building migraine pressing either of our temples, will eventually lead to verbal sparring 😤 Retreat is a good move in that moment of time ✌️

It's an agreeable moment 🤝

Thank the Lord we have finally reached this place 😁

Life is so much better when understanding is understood 😘

The room suddenly feels larger (it isn't, actually; but there is 1 less body in it 😑). Chatter is silenced. He can listen to his head-banging angry degenerate "music" - and watch his chosen YouTube selections … and I, likewise, can listen to my low-key, toned down, love and peace vintage 1960's-70's music … and watch vintage blank-n-white movies that actually have storylines that do not include the 1990's genre of aimless and clueless ho's and ho-down's. I do occasionally watch a vintage 1970's movie, but really by the 1970's, movies were becoming more of a political soapbox arena rather than an entertaining genre. I am selective in what I run past my eyes and through my ears: if I want to be depressed or fill my eyes with bloody gore, I'd skip movies entirely and just surf the {news} channels, like Holland does.

That agreeable moment has put the "happy" back into our relationship ❤️

It's not that I want to be ignorant - I don't: I stay "updated" enough to know what's going on … BUT unless the current "news flash!" specifically involves US, or our current physical location … I'm no longer interested in feeding at the daily news swill bucket that keeps the masses at a constant fever pitch, ready to rumble at the slightest disagreement 🤥 😤 😒 😭

I like a tranquil, peace-vibe, cozy-home environment.

I the comforting companionship of quiet evenings at home. 

I like a laid-back togetherness Day; either a mutual "let's stay home and veg all day" … or a spontaneous "my Baby needs to get out of the house" Daytrip.

I like the companionship of planning fun, care-free, exciting, adventurous, exploratory, & informative places to visit; that become amazing experiences to live on in memories: Holland does extensive internet searches; and finds the most interesting things for us to do 😁 👍🥰

But, I also like bumming around the house all day; bare-faced, and in pajamas with my husband – just because we can 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

Agreeable moments are liberating experiences.

Today is National Freedom Day - I also like that; I like that We, The People have with the 2025 Presidential Election Vote reclaimed our National Freedom. And, I keep in mind that Elohim is still in control 😁

At the beginning of this week, I posted the first of 52 notes of encouragement for 2025 (1 note for the start of every week). This morning's phone call started this past week's contemplations:

{{This Week: Transition = opportunity to trust Elohim/grow in Faith; Change = Holy; Pray = bold & specific prayers/listen for Elohim's guidance; make diligent Plans = flexible spirit to include Elohim's agenda/His ways higher than mine; nourish my spirt with Ruach HaKo'desh = unconditional agape love; Praise Elohei for my current Season = proclaim hope for the next; accept Elohim's favor, peace, & rest in my life}}

I believe 2025 will be a very good Year, in very good ways, for a very special purpose ❤️‍ ☝️