Metallica - Nothing Else Matters | Teddy Swims - Lose Control Full Version Mashup:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lF4l7zd7_M)
We woke up to a chilly morning; so, both heaters were flicked on, while I waited for my morning joy juice to brew 😉 Holland told me last night that there's a cold front coming down from Canada. It has arrived.
Daily headlines are filled with Canada's bitching about keeping all their 'goods' out of America … who cares? We don't need any of it. There is absolutely n.o.t.h.i.n.g. in my Life with Canada's stamp on it. Not even a Road Gypsy neighbor - and this is probably the fallout of the Canadian boycott against America; about half of AZ's RVing income comes from Canadian RVr's escaping snow, that come down here for the warm winters.
But, I am noticing that they aren't keeping their cold weather fronts on their side of the border 😬 Granted that here in Arizona, the canadian freeze isn't as bad as the upper portion of America … but, it is still c.o.l.d. here, in the morning. The low-40's is cold, anywhere.
When Holland staggered out of bed, and sat down with his coffee mug, he opened the side window shade - and I saw a shade of pink tint the topside of an RV across the street … so, I ran quick outside, and saw a pretty pink sunrise: what a nice way to start this Sunday: "in the pink" and feeling good 😊
A shading of morning pink caught my eye …
Morning Sunrise. The Pit Stop; Quartzsite-AZ
Checking my FB Page … a Teddy Swims Reel came up - and I liked it; so, I showed it to Holland saying, "Hey Babe - give this a listen; I like Teddy's song, and he's blending it with that Metallica's song I like, too. I never listened to Metallica before you came into my life. But I do like that song. And I like Teddy's music, too."
We listened to that while we finished our coffees.
Then, I saw a 2 Be Better Podcast Reel and Holland heard it (I was recording it for future use 😉) - and he understood why thank him for what he does for me: his presence in my Life makes my life easier. His height makes my life easier. His quiet ways of getting me out of my head and out of house ... makes my life easier. His dinking around inside and outside of Independence, to make life on the road safe and worry-free, makes my life easier. Him agreeing to Road Gypsy with me, seriously makes my life easier. So, it is easy to thank him for all these things - and the other things he isn't even aware of that he does to make my life easier 😘
Under all the gruff bluster, and macho attitude, he really is a good man - and he deserves recognition for that. Elohim truly blessed me by pairing us together. And I am thankful ❤️
Acts of Service~Marriage
Aerosmith - 'I Don't Want To Miss A Thing' Lyrics: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o4kvBI5A98)
I've been blessed with 2 good men in my Life, who wanted to marry me; and make my life easier: I am grateful for both of those blessings, and I always made sure to thank them when they pitched in to help me. But, I never considered that courtesy of thanking them, to be an act of service on my part. That's just the way I was raised.
Live and learn.
Holland wanted to run down to Main Street, and said he wanted me to come with him; so we shut everything down, and settled into Betsy.
Before we pulled out, Holland said, "I uploaded this playlist just for you - my Baby likes old-school tunes; I thought we could listen to it while taking a little drive."
I had never heard this Bad Company song; what a nice surprise 😊
Bad Company - 'Easy on My Soul'~Previously Unreleased Version: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D1oYyoRwp0)
He planned this surprise drive with surprise tunes, before he came to bed, last night: he really is the best husband, for me 😁 He is always thinking of me, and finding new ways to make my life comfortably easy.
We drove the freeway a little bit before turning off towards Salome-AZ; the sun had decided to come out, which warmed things up some - and the drive was soothingly relaxing: listening to the {new} tunes, watching the scenery, and enjoying the company of my loving man ... the itching and burning angry red rash from the soles of my feet to the top of my thighs, caused by the AZ dustups, didn't seem so overwhelming. And the headache was abating some, too.
Holland was doing all he knew to do to help make my life easy in the moment.
And it was working.
When we got to Salome, he said, "I'll turn around in this lot, and head back home." And I said, "Can I have 10 minutes more? Can we go up the road a bit - so I can see the pretty colors of the artist community set up in the old motel complex? Since we aren't going to be coming back to AZ, I'd like to see that, again." He said, "I don't want to be on the road all day …" I said, "10 minutes; it's just around the corner there, the last patch of civilization for miles around - just 10 minutes away & no further." I wasn't sure of the timeframe, but I did know it was just a short pace up the road, because I could see the curve ahead - where it was located.
It was exactly 10 minutes up the highway: Holland was impressed I nailed the timeframe, and I was thankful it kept me honest 👍
Today's Daytrip Route; Quartzsite to Wenden & back, again.
Artist Community in Wenden-AZ
'Simple Man' song by Bad Co.Bad Company - 'Simple Man' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpBwF57XuOA)
On our way back to The Pit Stop, we saw some stone structures from the freeway … so, we decided to go check the location out.
We found the road leading to the structures, and there was no "No Trespassing" sign - so, we drove up to them: I like peeking into old houses - and Holland, having worked in construction (family owned, as well as Union jobs), likes to check out the construction features.
A new exploration; Quartzsite-AZ
Saw this area from the freeway, and thought we'd investigate ;-)
Careful steps need to be employed - metal fence stake broken off & sticking up, ankle high.
Holland says this is like a mechanic's shop with a motor hoist, outside.
Outside of workshop …
Casag (?) Sweat Marker; Quartzsite-AZ
Main House structure; Quartzsite-AZ
Original wall … and add-on's.
House side view …
Backside of the house, seen from the freeway.
Tracy Byrd - 'Somebody's Dream' song:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KppLxQikU1s)
Holland says this is an electrical fuse box from somewhere around the 1940's.
Outlet box from the 1960's, or thereabouts.
Barbed wire is being pulled; and we saw that there is a For Sale sign on the far end of the acreage.
On the back end of the workshop, there appeared to have been a small RV Park area; we saw several water spigots sticking up out of the ground in marked out areas - and primitive electrical hookups. Someone, at some point, had utilized the back-end of the freeway-facing-property, for income purposes.
Leaving the old site, we could see in a Commercial For Sale Billboard sign in the distance - and pondered who would be considering purchasing it, and what they would develop it to be. But, since we aren't coming back this way once we leave … we'll never find out 🤔
Just before we reached our turn to where Independence is currently parked, Holland called my attention to the top of a pole, and said, "Look Baby, a roadrunner." That was a Sunday answer to a prayer I've had for 2 years 🙏 ☝️ I have seen images, artwork, and metal structures of roadrunners … but I wanted to see an actual bird: and now, Elohim was granting me my wish 😁
A bedraggled Roadrunner; an answer to a prayer.
Back home, and relaxing, Holland poured us another of his original juiced health drinks - and, as usual, it was delicious.
And, as usual, we drank it while watching the fast-paced RVing activity of The Pit Stop:
Holland's original juice smoothie - he makes the most delicious concoctions: garlic, honey, banana, organic cacao powder, cinnamon, turmeric, lemon, dates, water. SO GOOD 👌
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Holland said, 'It looks like the Partridge Family pulled in …'; he cracks me up ;-) Revamped Skoolie; Quartzsite-AZ
Partridge Bus video:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USb53HfTARk)
A Jackalope on one bus … and a mini portable hot tub, on the other; Quartzsite-AZ
Later on, for Supper, I dug out one of the 4Patriots prepper packets - and added meat and spices to it, to suit our tastes.
I have halved all the 4Patriot Meal packets, so if you use the whole packets, adjust recipe as needed.
==VAL'S REVISED 4PATRIOTS CHICKEN RICE w-VEGETABLES SUPPER ~ serves 3
We ate our fleshed out Supper over broken dark bread pieces - YUMMY!; steamed Brussels Sprouts & Carrots on the side.
1 Chicken Breast, cubed * 1 medium Red Onion, sliced * 1 Garlic clove, pressed * 3 large Cap Mushrooms, sliced * 1 half packet 4Patriots 'Creamy Rice & Vegetable Dinner' * 3-1/2 cups Water * 1/2 tsp. ground Marjoram * 1 tsp. Paprika * 1/4 tsp. ground Black Pepper * 4 oz. Cheddar, shredded * 4 sliced Dark Bread, broken (optional) * 14 Brussels Sprouts, stems trimmed and "X"d * 3 small Carrots, sliced * Cooking Spray * 1 medium Skillet w-lid * 1 Steamer Pot w-lid
Ingredients for 'Val's 4Patriots Chicken Rice & Vegetable Supper'
1) Spray the skillet with cooking spray, then sear the cubed chicken pieces …
2) Add onions and garlic - then turn heat down to medium, and continue cooking for an hour and a half; to tenderize onion and meat.
##Set the steamer pot to boiling.
3) Open the 4Patriots Supper pkt. - add the water, seasonings, and sliced mushrooms … stir to combine ingredients, and bring mixture to a boil: reduce heat medium-low, and cook until rice is softened and mixture has thickened.
##Carefully lift steamer pot lid and carefully place the basket with Brussels Sprouts & Carrots in place: replace lid over pot steam veg's for about 20 minutes.
Everything should finish cooking around the same timeframe.
4) Sprinkle chicken mixture with cheese - turn heat off; place lid over skillet, and allow cheese to melt.
5) Serve, and enjoy!
Following kitchen cleanup, my soul was happily eased as evening settled over our small corner of the world, lit beautifully by a fiery red sunset 😁
Sunset at The Pit Stop; Quartzsite-AZ
Bad Company-'Burning Sky' song:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGdIGa4n5cE)
We had so hoped to make AZ our home - but the constant stirred up dust inflames our already compromised lungs; and the related red rash issues is driving us to seek another warm-climate locale.
Everything about Arizona is appealing to me, but I know for sure the one thing I will truly miss, is the gorgeous and magnificent sunsets that light my soul on fire.
I will forever be thankful Elohim opened up this opportunity for this Bucket List want of mine … and I will forever be grateful to my husband for making this Road Gypsy wish an eased soul reality 💘
I am truly a blessed woman.
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