BETWEEN THE RAINS

The snow that surprised our region is all but gone now (all of it should be gone tomorrow); so, needing fresh air, I went for an early morning walk this morning.

Rain showers was in the forecast some time today, so I plugged my ears with cotton to ward off ‘swimmer’s ear’: I have to be careful not to get excess water in my ear canal … or breezy winds in my ear canal. So, inside, I immediately wick my ear canals with Q-tips after washing my hair/showering (and I avoid swimming) – and outside, I protect my ears with a dab of cotton.

Snow mostly gone. Walking from the church end of the Trail.

Snow-less Trail.

Winter sun, this morning ...

Early morning; not another person on the Trail. Cotton in my ears

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g7ZvXo-qtA)

Some cinnamon-brown-headed ducks caught my attention, right off 😊

They were very striking – the pictures do not do them justice; but I did try to get some good ones 😉

Common Goldeneye Ducks; females.

Cinnamon headed ducks - Common Goldeneye, females.

The little cavorting Bufflehead duck, doing its perfect swan-dive had me chuckling.

Bufflehead Duck; female.

Swan-diving Bufflehead Duck; female.

I tried to get a shot of a Merganser Duck pair … but they were skittish and kept flying off …

Flying Hooded Merganser Ducks.

When I was finally able to get close enough for a good frame set – the male was absent.

Hooded Merganser Duck; female.

Along the walk, I spotted a lethargic fuzzy-wuzzy, sluggishly moving across my pathway. I was surprised to see it had survived the snow that was dumped on us this past week <:-O

I did some research on them after I got back home, and was equally surprised to read that they survive winter’s chill very well because their bodies have been designed to produce their own antifreeze enzyme; in this way, their body cells won’t rupture in freezing weather!

I am constantly awed by all the ways Creator Yeshua designed life on Earth 😊

Lethargic Fuzzy-Wuzzy caterpillar.

Weather patterns this morning.

Throughout the walk, I saw more Goldeneye ducks than any other; they were all up and down the short length of trail (from beginning to end) that I walked this morning:

Common Goldeneye Duck; female.

Mallard Pair.

Goldeneye Duck; female.

Goldeneye Duck Pair - male in the lead; female Merganser in the tail end.

Ring-neck Duck; Male. Blue bill, & bright yellow eyes.

When I reached the gate at the far end of the short portion of trail, I walked this morning – it was tempting to cross the street, and push on further; but it was beginning to drizzle, and I have been dealing with a cold this past week, so I reined myself in 😉

Reached the end of this portion of the trail with a few sprinkles, and I’m heading home. I don’t want to get sicker.

When I got back home, I checked my mail; and thought I’d get to it after I painted my fingernails.

When my nail were dried, I started going through envelopes and opening the important ones – setting the junk mail aside to be shredded.

As I pulled a statement from one envelope, I instantly saw red.

And reached for my phone.

What I read from the hospital billing department had steam rolling from my ears: my mood matched my red fingernails.

They were claiming they had not received payment and was ready to sic a collection agency on me.

I was directed to 5 different departments (all hospital related!) to try to get the snafu sorted and corrected – the bill had been paid January 13^th, 2021: I have documentation on my end to prove that fact.

The hospital drones need to get it straight on their end: it is not my problem that the post office has delayed the receiving of payment. It is not my problem that they are short-handed and may not have gotten to my payment yet. It is not my problem that they are jumping the gun with a threatening notice …

I told them I had mailed their payment off to them January 13^th – with a receipt of payment from the P.O. – and that “they should have received it well before needlessly sending their bullying statement, which I do not appreciate”.

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/01/chaotic-day.html)

3 hours later (and no closer to getting a direct answer from anyone), I was ready to slam heads together.

Hospital Office Drones!

Instead, I singed a few ears (and bared my teeth a few times) and ended up driving into town (between rains), to the post office – to repeat the same process I had done a little over a month ago: and this time, I better not get another shitty letter … or another BS-run-around >:-P

I was frustrated. I was angry.

I don’t feel good – I have a cold; it has me coughing and sneezing periodically: I do not need to be coughing and sneezing in a busy P.O., where I will be getting dirty looks from masked people living in fear that every damned thing is covid related.

People/businesses have gone covid crazy.

Seriously.

And they are picking a fight with a woman who isn’t afraid to fight back.

Covid is a convenient excuse …

COWEEMAN RIVER TRAIL HIKE

I went to bed last night thinking of the dike trail at Kelso’s Tam O’Shanter Park; so, when I woke up this morning, I decided to do that … I haven’t been there in 2 years; last time I was there, Bob and I walked it with our little grandson (who is not so ‘little’ anymore). I miss them both so much ☹

I also decided to pop in at Lowe’s and see what kind of drills would be available/suitable for me to use handily 😉

I found one!

It may not look like much, but it will do what I need it to do 😊

I bought a little drill this morning.

Crossing the bridge from Longview to Kelso (near the Longview Courthouse), I saw a Bald-Headed Eagle sitting in one of the riverside trees watching the river; so, it is fishing the river, like the sea lions 😉

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/01/sea-lions-riverside-dike-hike.html)

I parked in the middle parking lot of Tam O’Shanter Park, and climbed the access trail to the dike’s graveled trail … and began to reacquaint myself with the sights, and sounds I have neglected these past 25 months of solo lobo adjustments.

And, seriously; no one I talked with, seemed to know which river this was … or what trail (though it is an actual 4 mile hiking trail) this was (I researched it when I got home to find out the correct river and hike 😉).

Though Bob and I had been coming here off and on for decades, I always referred to it as “the Tam O’Shanter Dike Hike” … and Bob never corrected me; though I am sure he knew which river this was.

Bob knew everything about Washington and Oregon: e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.

He never got lost – because he always knew where he was. All I had to do was describe where I wanted to go, and he would get me there – without my use of correct terminology 😉 He knew the landscapes. And he knew the correct names, because when he discussed them with other people, he would use the correct terminology.

Bob humored me – a lot: my quirkiness did not annoy him.

But now, I am learning how to get around on my own. And I am wising up as to what is what, and where that what is located.

I noticed that this river does not get muddy, like the Cowlitz, in Lexington, does.

That is a plus, in this hike’s favor.

Elohim blessed me, and I was able to start and end my walk without getting wet 😊

Bufflehead Duck pair.

Bufflehead duck. Male.

A fork in the river ...

The river fork.

A Mallard pair. And a picnic spot on the dike trail.

Bachelor Drake. I teased him that he should fly over to the Pacific Way Trail on 48^th, in Longview, and find himself a mate 😉

The river forks again, by the picnic spot.

(https://tdn.com/lifestyles/the-tranquil-coweeman-has-a-unique-history/article_e195ab70-4993-11e3-8666-001a4bcf887a.html)

Duck Nesting Site.

A lot of geese swim this river; I’ll have to come back later on, and see if they also nest here.

Coweeman River Trail Locale layout.

Trying to figure out exactly which trail hike this is ... NO ONE seems to know!

The Three Rivers Mall, this side of the freeway.

I didn’t walk any further; I only did about a 2.5 mile walk this morning. If I had continued, the trail would have taken me past the Mall, across the freeway, past DQ … and under several I-5 overpasses before I reached the tail end at Talley Way N (which is an Industrial Business Park).

Bob & Precious, when we last walked the entire length: March 2007

I don’t think I’ll ever go that far on my own, again – not because I can’t, but because with all the transit evidence and graffiti on the overpass concrete that was evidenced the last time Bob and I went that far … I would not feel comfortable going it alone, without a being part of a group of hikers.

I no longer walk with a big, tall man – or a long, husky wolf.

I walk alone now.

Plus, as the trail passes under several I-5 overpasses – and flanks the busy freeway, the exhaust fumes would irritate my asthmatic lungs … that are 14 years older than the last times they had traveled that way.

Coweeman River Trail: lower end, on the way to Talley Way Industrial Park tail end.

I have to be more careful, now. 

Bringing my thoughts back from past memories, I pulled my eyes off the graveled trail fading into the near distance …

… left the graveled dike trail; and was lazily walking back to the car, when I spotted this gorgeous deep purple leaf on the sidewalk.

I love finding purple leaves; they are so rare in these parts.

A definite repeat.

When I got home, I searched the shed for screw sleeves (found some), and got busy charging my little drill.

Had an emotional moment at home digging through Bob's toolbox in the shed.

Also cleared the tool box of some things Kerry may be able to use.

Drill plugged in.

Bob had BIG drills, that were heavy and bulky (he was a big man with big hands); so, in the Spring of 2019, I cleared the shed of all Bob’s saws, drills, sledge hammers, axes, ect.: everything that was to heavy or bulky for me to use … and stuff I can’t use here in the Park. I felt a little like I was giving Bob’s life away – but I knew the things I gave to Kerry were going to a good home, where they would be used and appreciated. I don’t think Bob’s son, Alex, will use any of it; he just wanted it, so I gave him quite a bit before I said, “Okay, that’s enough now, no more. There is still Stacey, Alyna & Azariah to think about, too; they may want some of what’s left”. That pissed him off – and I haven’t heard from him since. The silence is golden.

Tomorrow, I’ll see if the drill has been charged enough – and if I am brave enough – to tackle the window shade, and get it in place. My main concern is somehow ruining the plaster on the wall, and making a mess of something that seems so simple to do.

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/01/i-can-do-this-i-hope.html)