AMBITIOUS DAY

I woke up missing my little grandson this morning.

I also woke up breathing easier, so I decided to go for a drive to change the direction of my thoughts.

Still a bit breathless, and a little shaky ... but, I am breathing easier.

The Naselle Coffee Hour worked for me today ...

I enjoyed spending time with my friends in Naselle; I haven’t seen any of them since last Fall, though I have texted back and forth since December, and had planned to drive that way next week.

I just bumped the visitation day up, this morning 😉

As I was leaving, Judy asked me if I was planning on visiting Bob’s gravesite on my way home … and I said, “Not today – next time, for sure. I’m feeling ambitious today, having been housebound the past two weeks; so, I think I’ll take a long country drive home via Raymond, Pe Ell, and Vader.”

It rained off and on during the scenic route.

There was a landslide, and road repair happening along a stretch of highway at Bone River – so, I slipped my cowboy music CD in the player, and prayed to God an impish ocean wind wouldn't whip up, and slip under the Highlander: this was not a good place to be stopped – the winds that blow through this stretch of highway, can be very dangerous ones. God was merciful; the music was relaxing, and the halt in traffic was blessedly short.

Road work at Bone River; the Cowboy Music CD fit the lazy, rainy day mood; Bone River, WA.

 (https://washington.hometownlocator.com/maps/bigmap,n,bone%20river,fid,1503473.cfm)

Running low on gas at Curtis; the Pe Ell-Boistfort-Wildwood Junction ...

Boistfort Store.

The antiquated pumps do work, but I was given friendly advice due to the high price quoted.

I decided to trust her advice ... after all people in farm country know what they are talking about mileage-wise.

By and large, my experience with country folk has always been enjoyable.

Everytime I drive the Wildwood Road, I find myself chuckling and thinking of Jim Stafford singing the Wildwood Weed song 😉

I also noticed that the road has been compromised, and is slipping; it isn’t treacherous yet, but it will need attention to be stabilized.

Turning off Wildwood Road, and driving a bit further down Highway 506 towards Vader, I actually laughed out loud when I saw oversized chickens standing in a front yard – the song was still echoing in my head 😊

Wildwood Road & Hwy 506, between Wildwood & Vader.

Colorful chickens along Highway 506 ... I laughed out loud, thinking of the fabled potency of the song’s wildwood weed seeds 😉

Jim Stafford – ‘Wildwood Weed’ Song -

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUc3X0-nMhw)

I did manage to get all the way into Longview without coasting up to a gas pump on fumes – I was thankful.

Sixty dollars, was what it ran me to fill the tank this afternoon ...

And I will make sure not to leave home again, for a long leisurely drive, without making sure the tank is filled to the brim: I know better. Being in a hurry to see friends, is no excuse to be lazy. I know me – I always end up taking side road/back road excursions … the tank needs to be full before I hit the road.

Leaving the gas terminal, I decided to drive downtown and grab some groceries at Winco. Standing in line, waiting to be checked out, I noticed something new being offered in Longview: I was surprised – and glad to see it, too.

It’s about time Longview got up to speed.

Something new at Winco.

Leaving Winco, I caught sight of the white hearse that has become a frequent sight lately. It’s not clear if the hearse is actually a business vehicle – or someone’s private vehicle (this contemplation is not as strange as it sounds).

I have seen this white hearse all over Longview.

Today was an enjoyable day.

Today was a nail-biting day.

Today was an interesting day.

And tomorrow is going to be a fun day too 😊

SPRING 2022

Spring 2022 is not very nice.

The trees and flowers are blooming … and pollen is spreading.

I’ve been housebound for 2 weeks: headache, coughing, sneezing, nasal drainage, ect.; watching life rejuvenate from behind glass window panes.

The car is in need of a serious washing too: but that is not going to happen as long as the tree limbs hanging over the carport are heavily blossomed.

The car will stay filthy a little longer ... blossom petals float by on the breeze.

Blooming tulips by the side carport.

The tete a tete daffodils are spent ...

And the dust bunnies, in-house, are prolificating while I wait for my body’s immune system to strengthen. Disturbing the dust bunnies would not be a wise move, yet.

Nothing is being accomplished because I can’t breathe easily with infected and inflamed bronchial tubes.

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/03/bronchitis-hijacked-my-week.html)

I was supposed to go to the dentist tomorrow morning – but I canceled, and rescheduled, this morning. It would be pointless to keep the appointment when coughing, sneezing, and nasal drainage is happening.

The rescheduled date is in June – maybe by then, my lungs will settle down and my life can get back on track.

Meanwhile, I’ll just keep looking out the windows … and occasionally turning the front porch tulip pot 😉

Front porch potted tulips.

A strange phenomenon this year – the tulips are blooming ‘true colors’; last year these tulips bloomed as red Apeldoorn’s.

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/04/true-colors.html)

FATE STEPPED IN

Some people never experience that ‘once in a lifetime’ heartstrings pull.

And some people, like me, get to experience it … and live it 😊

48 years ago, today, I finally met the man if my dreams – and he became the wind beneath my wings for 44 years.

Love Walked In (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2020_03_27_archive.html)

That once in a lifetime experience can carry you through, for the rest of your life; because it is exactly that: a once in a lifetime experience.

I sure do miss Bob. And right now, that missingness is particularly poignant today … because today, 4 decades ago, was the beginning of it all.

When fate stepped in: and love showed up.

BRONCHITIS HIJACKED MY WEEK

I haven’t posted in about a week; hopefully I’m on the rebound, and can start getting out of the house sometime in the coming week ahead.

Bronchitis: https://draxe.com/health/bronchitis-natural-remedies/

This past week I noticed that my ‘get-up-and-go’ had pretty much dissipated: I was so tired, I was falling asleep while standing up; and I was as weak as a newborn kitten. I had aches and pains. I was light headed, I didn’t have a fever – but I was warmer than usual and had clammy gooseflesh prickles. All I wanted to do was sleep – and that’s basically what I was doing ‘round the clock.

When I was awake, all I did was cough, wipe my runny nose, and attempt to pick up my dragging tail. My throat was sore from all the coughing. My ribs ached with the coughing activity.

I heard myself wheezing, and I started hacking up/spitting foul-tasting, discolored loogies; I knew I had a bronchial infection. I hoped asthma would stay in its own lane, and not hitch a ride on the bronchial flareup. I can deal with one at a time, but the two together would have been trying – and I didn’t want to pay a visit to the local ER. Everything is being pigeonholed as covid: I refuse that diagnosis for things I’ve suffered all my life: bronchitis and asthma.

So, I just did what I’ve done all of my life: I rested. I drank water. I ate light (very light, most days my stomach rebelled against food of any type). I read. I watched movies. I did an occasional quick craft. I lost weight (yippie!).

Home Remedies for Adult Bronchitis: https://www.webmd.com/lung/home-remedies-bronchitis

I watched birds touch down at the bird feeder outside the livingroom window – pretty trilling Rosy Finches, shrill whistling Red-Winged Blackbirds, a tiny Hummingbird trying to find a way through the window glass, little brown Wrens setting up house in the birdhouse next to the feeder, a Steller Jay … a Mourning Dove, and a Robin.

And all around me, on every side, are trees in full blossom. They may look nice; but they only compound my lung ailments.

I miss my walks.

I miss being out-of-house.

I miss dinking around in the garden area of my small, town, lot.

I miss visiting with people.

I miss the country drives I enjoy doing on a weekly basis.

In short … I miss my life’s basic routines before Spring pollens and bronchitis hijacked my week.

MOD Crochet Book Cover

New Cover Finished; shabby chic 😉

I enjoyed a hot mug of lemon tea this morning; and watched Pt. 2 of Jesus of Nazareth … and worked up another of my own designs: I wanted a new book cover since books have become my main companion since Bob’s spirit stepped off Earth – I’ll probably craft a slew of them to match seasons, clothes, purses, ect.

I’ve become known as ‘the Book Lady’ around restaurants in town … and just as I wouldn’t wear the same outfit every week, my latest read shouldn’t be seen in the same cover, either: told’ya I’m weird 😉

I designed and crafted this book cover about 25 years ago; but I am working on a new cover, so I thought I’d share the pattern 😊

Original, decades old, MOD Book Cover.

It’s simple.

It’s quick.

It’s easily adaptable.

This book cover can be finished with a sc page marker … or a satin ribbon marker, sewed in place.

I am using my original chicken scratch written instructions, so I hope it will not be too confusing. Let me know if you have trouble, and I will answer your questions.

Materials: #10 Aunt Lydia’s Crochet Cotton Thread, #0 Crochet Hook, trims (optional), coordinating sewing thread if using trims, 11½” satin ribbon (optional), sewing pins, sewing needle, small amount of contrasting throw-away thread, tapestry needle.

Sts Used:

Ch = chain

Sc = single crochet

CC = contrasting

St = stitch

Ct = count

EO = end off/cut thread.

 

Row 1: Begin by making an 85 st foundation chain of sc; ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Sc across row (84 sts); ch 1, turn.

Repeat row 2 for a total of 54 rows (or length needed for your book cover – some books are higher, some are lower). DO NOT CUT THREAD – loosely tie end, because you will be using it again.

With CC thread and tapestry needle; count 14 sts from each end, and fold those inwards for the cover lapels (to hold book in place).

If you plan on using trims, place a book into the cover – fold ends inward, and mark the fold with CC thread: also mark the front spine edge – being careful not to untie/unravel the loosely tied end-of-row thread: this will help you accurately place the desired trim where you want it (centered – or towards the front edge) without the trim being ‘off kilter’ when the cover is finished and your book is in place inside.

Shape markings ...

Once you are satisfied with the trim placements, if you use them, pin them in place and tack them down kinda loosely with a swing needle and matching thread – books tend to stretch the cover a bit, you want the finish to look tidy, not stressed.

Placement of trims.

Go back to the loosely tied end-of-row thread: pickup st, and sc through both top st’s of book cover … and the 14-ct. cover lapel sts.; then sc around entire cover (repeating lapel instructions for second lapel) – and making a **crochet marker** at the center, where the spine center would be: sl st back up the maker foundation, and continue to sc edging pickup point, and EO.

Weave in loose ends.

**Sew the satin ribbon marker to the center top of the book cover AFTER EDGING S COMPLETED, if using that option. **

Sc edging around entire cover: 2 sc EA corner edge.

Ta-da! All done: enjoy! 😊

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED ~Shabbat Service

For 2,455 years, far-flung Jews were expecting Messiah to arrive.

400 years after the prophecy was told, Elohim decided the time was right; and no one was expecting the way Messiah arrived. For 33 years, only Yeshua’s earthly family, a devoted cousin, a handful of disciples and a small gathering of Believers understood – then Elohim’s scheduled Passover arrived, which led to Yeshua’s appointment at Calvary, which led to His glorious Resurrection on which the Church was established: not a church building … but the Body of Believer’s, of whom Yeshua referred to as His Church (aka, His Beloved Bride; His chosen. His devotion. His own - His family).

And today – 2055 years past Yeshua’s Passover Supper/Crucifixion/Resurrection, too many who call themselves Christians are expecting "right now!" prophesies to unfold, and try to force Messiah into a contrived box of their own human dimensions: and far too many miss the point entirely, and arrogantly/ignorantly pass the blame of Calvary’s necessity on “the Jews”, instead of looking at the face in the mirror and seeing the entirety of the necessity. They do not recognize the fact that they, in their own piety, are as blind today as the pious Jews were then.

Everyone from time immemorial, to present day, is trying to limit a limitless God.

I try not to do that, but I am sure that at some point every day, I do exactly that without realizing it. I am human. I often fail to do the right thing … even while doing ‘the right thing’. That is why we need the love and grace of Yeshua’s salvation 😊

I was wide awake around 4:30 AM: prompted to get out of bed (I noticed I was feeling much better), showered/dressed, coffee in the travel thermos mug … and on the road by 8:15 AM. I reached Fellowship a full half hour before actual service. It was a Holy Week miracle 😉 No joke; I have been feeling miserable all of last week – and I still wasn’t feeling too swift last night when I fell into bed. Driving to Vancouver this morning was not slated for this morning.

But Elohim had unexpected Plans slated for me today. And I’ve learned to roll with the unexpected.

As soon as I entered the building, and sat down; the music team started running through their song service lineup.

This morning's musicians aiming for harmony ... Marty Goetz is the composer & original singer.

‘He Is My Defense’ song

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

I remember when this song was first sung – it was in the mid-1980’s, and Marty first sung it live on a televised Jewish Voice Ministries program: Bob had died his second death in the Fall of 1981, so this song had to have been conceived and birthed in 1982 or 1983 because Bob had gotten saved in 1981 and was watching Jewish Voice with me until it went off the air in the later 1980’s … and this was one of the songs Bob liked and memorized 😊

We eventually bought the cassette, and listened to it as we drove to, or from Messianic Fellowship in Portland, in the later 1980’s. When we became Grandparents, our granddaughter Alyna (1995) … and her younger brother (2014), sang to the cassette: yes! We still had it, and it sounded good as new because we took care of our stuff 😉 (I teared up hearing the music team this morning, but I didn’t choke up, or cry): Alyna loved messianic music so much, I thought she would be bilingual; she moved so easily between English and Hebrew. Remembering the sound of all their voices singing this song are good memories.

Now, none of them are around; singing, or otherwise. But the sound of their voices still ring in my ears.

The shofars were blown before service kicked into full action.

I love to hear the shofar being blown.

The sound of the shofar calling us Home is a Believer’s expectation …

Our daughter – and her children, all listened to Lamb’s music; in house, in the vehicles, bedtime …

Yeshua is the final Passover Lamb; the expectation of salvation once & for all, for all that believe on Him. Joel Chernoff is composer & original singer.

‘Sacrifice Lamb’ song

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM_cD1LfkkI)

And Keith Green too.

Keith Green is composer and original singer.

‘O Lord, You’re Beautiful’ song

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJpJAsC-Frg)

None of them will ever be able to say they had not heard The Word; or been taught about Messiah. And I believe, that even living the lifestyles they currently are living (the adults anyway, Azariah is for the time being exempt because he’s only 7½), Elohim will be faithful to me. I may not live in the flesh long enough to see their salvation ... but I believe in Elohim’s faithfulness.

Service was good, as always. The message was about the Passover Holy Week, leading up to Calvary and the empty tomb.

Yeshua was fully God & fully Man; He was born in human flesh to fulfill a divine purpose; He is our example of Spirit over flesh.

As Believer's in Yeshua, we also place Spirit above flesh ... and determinedly set our 'faces like flint' in determination to win the race before us.

After service, I decided to attend the April Passover Seder this year … it has been a while since I attended one with Bob, and I miss that Passover festivity; so, I purchased my ticket … and made plans to watch the ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ movie later on, at home 😊

Jesus of Nazareth Movie – Full 6-hour Length (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z6IfzcUap8)

Then, still feeling rejuvenated, I decided to drive to Battle Ground. It was a sunny day, and I had the time – and the gas: I needed to alleviate the cabin fever affliction of being cooped up last week during the gray, rainy days, with a cold 😉

Decided on a side trip to prolong my Holy Week Daytrip, today.

On the 4-lane 'freeway' to Battle Ground; this type of freeway I don't mind - it's not a frenzied pace.

Sights like this, make my heart smile.

The Patriot Guard Riders were founded in 2005 to shield grieving families of fallen soldiers from those that would maliciously and disrespectfully disrupt funeral services (what kind of a heartless moron would do such a thing!). The Patriot Guard Riders have thousands of volunteer members that span all 50 States of the USA – they are a registered organization. The organization has grown, and so has the outreach: they also now honor first responders as well as military veterans.

It was raining off and on, but it was a muggy wetness. In no time at all, my baby-fine hair looked limp and stringy while it stuck to my humidity moistened skin ☹

HOT, MUGGY, day in Battle Ground!

I was glad to leave the humidity of Battle Ground’s atmosphere behind as I put my Albertson’s purchases in the Highlander; and headed home.

Green Mountain Road, Woodland from Battle Ground-WA; via WA-502 W and I-5 N. 27 mins.

As I drove through Woodland, and climbed up the lower end of Green Mountain Road … I decided to swerve onto the upper Green Mountain Road instead of battling the slipping and sliding Lane Road: it really was very rough this morning, and I wanted to avoid any serious mishaps of a road that is seriously dropping away. I’m adventurous, but I’m not given to foolishly playing with my life or vehicles.

So, on a hope and a prayer that the upper portion of Green Mountain Road would be a stabler roadway, I took it. I remember Bob driving that road, and it was in good shape. An older, skinner road; 2 miles of snaky curves and hairpin turns – but it was still waay more stable than Lane Road: and both roads drop onto Cloverdale Road, which would drop me into downtown Kalama. A hop-skip-and a jump from home.

Drove the upper part of Green Mountain Road on the way home; the road was definitely more stable than the lower Lane Road.

Upper Green Mountain Road; the car is filthy inside and out, but won't be washed until freezing temperatures are past.

Upper Green Mountain Road, Woodland to Martins Bluff, Kalama; via Green Mountain Rd and Martins Bluff Rd. 5 minutes.

Martin's Bluff, Kalama to Cloverdale, Kalama; via S Cloverdale Rd. 7 mins.

It was a nice drive; and the memories did not trip me up.

Back in Longview, I turned off onto Industrial Way, and decided to nip into the Indy Way Diner and grab a burger basket for Supper; I’d only had a travel thermos mug of coffee and 3 slices of deep-friend bacon for breakfast … I was hungry.

Indy Way Diner; my third time back here, in 3 years.

It looks like the stools and booths have been reupholstered; but other than that – and the fact that Bob is no longer around in the flesh – the place hasn’t changed much.