Wedding Song - God Knew That I Needed You

Showing posts with label Graysriver-WA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Graysriver-WA. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

SHAKIN' ALL OVER ~Daytrip/Eden Valley Cemetery

We went for a drive yesterday afternoon - I'll be driving to Graysriver Friday to spend time with my sleuth sisters … and I wanted to show Holland where I'd be holed up for three hours before heading back home. While we were in the neighborhood, I also wanted to show him the Eden Valley Cemetery where our bodily remains will be when our spirits are eventually released: the plots are paid for, and Holland will be there too if and when that time comes before The Rapture. After that show and tell event, I'd drive us back home via Raymond-Pe Ell-& Vader. Vader is Holland's familial stomping grounds; but it's been a while since he's been over the KM, through Raymond, or thru Pe Ell. This daytrip would be fun :-)

I dressed casual (very casual), and got my face on …

Prep Kit … Sparkly 'Pearl' for eyebrow highlight; Glittery 'Illusion' for eyelid color; Sparkly 'Navy' for eyelid accent & upper-lower liner; 'Auburn' Eyebrow Gel; 'Glam Black' Mascara; & Neutre 'Emflamme' Gel Blush. 'Tinted Lip Balm' & 'Pink Quartz' Lipgloss.
Ready to roll …
Neal McCoy - 'The Shake' song:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjXHfvgiNUc)

Then we gassed up at Baker's Corner, and stopped at Wal*Mart to buy a smaller cooler than the ones in the shed; we wanted to take some picnic stuff and didn't need the large coolers.

Small cooler; it's all we need for a daytrip.

There were snow patches along the KM, but the road was clear; so driving that way again Friday should be a snap 😉

When we got to Graysriver, I drove over the Covered Bridge Loop: I didn't think Holland has ever been there, so it was fun to show him something that I've enjoyed since my teen years. 

Holland did say later that he had never been over the Covered Bridge, so that was a fun {1st} :-)

We saw scads of Bald-headed Eagles - they were e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e., and Holland spotted them before I did.

Holland had never been to Eden Valley, either: another 1st.

What I saw at the cemetery had me shaking MAD.

Graysriver Covered Bridge Road ties into Barr Road-WA
Holland spotted these Bald-headed Eagles at Devil's Elbow - along the Altoona-Pillar Rock Road-WA
It was cold and windy; bare tree limbs & Eagle feathers were shaking all over.
3 more Eagles seen from Mattson Road, off Altoona- Pillar Rock Road.
Eden Valley Road & Eden Valley Cemetery; Eden Valley-WA
WTH! These are MY Shepherd Hooks & the floral arrangements I MADE for OUR PLOTS!

I was literally shaking all over when I saw the shepherd hooks with the flowers still in the memorial vases, with the flowers I had bought and arranged for our family plots still in them … stuck alongside headstones that were not Bob's Grandparent's - or Bob's Father!

I had been told by heather smalley, in August of last year, that "anything other than headstones were no longer allowed on gravesites"; the smalley's even removed the makers I had on our plot, and then told me I could not put them back up: a wrought iron stake to mark Bob's actual cremains placement, as well as flower arrangements I had made - as well as the shepherd hooks I had placed on Grandpa & Grandma Smalley & Bob Hargand Sr's gravesites.

And here we were faced with MY THINGS ON OTHER PEOPLE'S GRAVES. Obviously, the smalley's think it's perfectly okay to steal things off our plot and place them on others.

It's not only disrespectful, it's actually criminal.

Of all the freaking nerve!!

My '"Work A Miracle for Me Lord" Post: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/08/work-miracle-for-me-lord-eden-valley.html

Holland last year - during that hellish period of my life with the hellish smalley clan, had listened to my prayer concerning this distressing situation, and offered to drive me to the cemetery to lift Bob's cremains and move them as heather smalley demanded; heather also called me a liar when I said the shepherd hooks I had bought had been stolen. I didn't know Holland at that time (other than his obvious flirting 😉) so I politely declined his offer and handled the situation the only way I knew: I mentally flipped heather the flying bird, and permanently closed that chapter of my life.

Follow-up Post - 'Chapter Closed' Post: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/08/chapter-closed.html

It was a shock to see my hooks and memorial vases so brazenly showcased at other people's gravesites.

I only drove back there this afternoon to show Holland where our plot was, in case he has to ferry my cremains there some day - I am six years older than Holland, and there is a very real possiblity that if The Rapture continues to be delayed, he will have to ferry my cremains to the cemetery. There is room for Holland there, also, so we are planning towards that. The plots have been purchased and paid in full - one several years before Bob passed in 2018 … and I bought 3 following, in 2019. I basically bought up an entire plot block; I want Holland included in the Plot Block alongside me also, since I now carry his last name, and my New Name is hyphenated. New headstones will have to be ordered, rewritten, and replaced: Bob, Me, Holland.

Holland is a good man; he defused my anger and came up with a wonderful solution to the smalley small-mindedness. I cried with gratitude when my new husband told me how he intends to fix this cemetery mess concerning my first husband. Holland shows more respect for Bob than his family does and he never knew Bob (this new man of mine oozes love for me); and when he hugged me, my emotions were shakin' in a good way 😉 Elohim has been very generous in blessing me with Holland's love.

Which brings to mind something I read on a FB Page about love - it was put forward as "the 3 stages of love"; I have only ever experienced the 3rd stage, when it comes to love. I thank Elohim for protecting me, and only gifting my life with the best :-)

My first love crossed my path when I was 10 yo/he was 18 and didn't even know I was alive … he crossed my path again when I was 17 - and he was noticing me then 😍: we married 5 months later: none of the loves posted describe what we shared. We were married for 44 years before his physical death in December 2018. My second love is described in the 3rd Love posted below - and I married him this January 7th, 2023: I wasn't looking, and suddenly there he was. I am blessed beyond measure by this 2nd love of mine 

I do not recognized the 1st or 2nd {love} described. To me, love isn't infatuation; which always leads to disappointment: real, true, love is a wholesome knock-out-punch that hits hard and fast, and you are in deep before you even know you've been sucked in 😉 I've only known good love. Mindless lust, abuse of any kind, lies, betrayal, constant drama and painful damage (physical, emotional, or spiritual) is NOT "love". Just sayin' folks.

The 3rd Love is the ONLY Relationship Love I have ever been familiar with; thank Elohim! I've been blessed twice. Elohim has been very good to me.
Jack White - 'I'm Shakin' song:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkcGuZHPbKk)
Snowy hills in the distance; Altoona-Pillar Rock Road-WA
Eagles were everywhere this afternoon; Altoona-Pillar Rock Road-WA

We drove home via the Raymond-Pe Ell Route, laughing and talking the whole way.

When we got to the pullout where I usually stop and park awhile, I was glad to see that it was clear of trash and burned out cars. I didn't like seeing that last year - and being a woman alone, I didn't stop there again until now. Now, I am not a woman alone. Now, the pullout is being monitored and kept clean again. So, we pulled in and ate our lunch. And we walked around a bit to work out the kinks. Walking back to the Highlander over the loose gravel, I could feel my body bouncing in various places, and started laughing when that song 'Shakin' All Over' went through my thoughts 😉

Labam-WA.
A logging Shovel tower:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21n7l3oVeAQ)
Deer along the route …
20-mph speed limit crossover bridge; very tight width - very sharp corner.
Bouncing boobs as I walked; literally 'shaking all over'. LOL.
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates - 'Shakin' All Over' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM2WIi396Go)

As we passed through Vader, we decided to visit 'The Ranch' - the Redmill homestead. It's a nice country drive.

It's also high in the hills and was a bit on the chilly side while we were walking around the property: we were shaking all over before we got back to the Highlander.

'The Ranch' even has it's own road to it …

Driving up to our home later, I could see that Spring is showing itself despite the lingering snowy weather. I could also see that I need to stay home more this year, and tend to home chores 😉

My tiny Tete-a-tete Daffodils are blossoming; the cement rings need cleaning; or replacing.

Thursday, August 4, 2022

SISTERS

Today I enjoyed hours in the country with my sleuth sisters 😉

Chic & Sister Sledge – ‘We Are Family’ song:
Bruising all gone, but still can't wear makeup until the eyebrow slash heals completely.

It was ‘snack day’ … so I drove into town to purchase my contribution – and topped off the gas tank; the price for a gallon of fuel has gone down again, but it’s still spendy.

Another 30-cent reduction. Still NOT enough of a reduction.

While I was buying my snacks, I also bought another houseplant: since I’m staying in my house in Longview – and not on the road as much as I was in 2020 and 2021 – I think I can manage to keep living plants alive, now 😉

Wandering Jew plant; dropped it off at home on my way out of Dodge.
My contribution this afternoon; Hawaiian Bun Sliders & Cherry Turnovers; kept {safe} on ice, in one of the cooler’s from the shed.

Driving along Ocean Beach Highway on my way to the upper end of Wahkiakum County, I caught sight of an unexpected sight out of my peripheral vision: I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! So, I drove a bit further up the highway and turned around at Nassa Point, to backtrack and get a better view.

White Pelicans!

I like pelicans. And I’m not sure I can spare the gas to get to Chinook to see them when they fly in later this month … so I felt very blessed and highly favored this afternoon when I watched these ones. Elohim is so good to me 😊

White Pelicans! Sighted on Columbia River between Little Cape Horn & Nassa Point.
Spotted where the wind surfers hang out ...
Little Cape Horn & Nassa Point-WA; 3 minutes apart, via Ocean Beach Highway.

Nipping in at Cathlamet’s Minit Mart to grab a corn dog, I spotted a rich man’s ‘big boy’ toy … Cathlamet is not a sleepy logger/fisherman hamlet anymore; it has become a backwoods yuppie community.

Tracy Lawrence – ‘Time Marches On’ song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2vjI1V6lE8)

I’m sorry to see that, but time marches on. I’m glad I don’t live there anymore – I wouldn’t be happy without Bob; or with all the yuppyish changes.

Cathlamet Minit Mart - old picture; under new management now - and gas prices have doubled.
A Big Boy toy.

Traffic was slowed to a snail’s crawl in Skamokawa; and the KM has been scalped. By the time I reached Graysriver, I really needed to find a place to relieve myself – the coffee I had been drinking was making its effects known 😉

I sent an SOS heavenward as I turned down the Covered Bridge Loop Road: “Please God, let there be a honey bucket at the turnout!”

Traffic was slowed to a crawl for about 10 min's, near the Duck Inn ...
The KM has been scalped; top of KM, at the Transfer Station.
The KM 'mountain' is just really a big hill - but it would pass as a mountain back East.
Not sure what this tower is for because radio and cell service in Graysriver, is c.r.a.p.
GLAD to see that Honey Bucket!

My bladder happy again, I continued on my way to join my sister armchair detectives for our weekly {Whodunit} gathering, peppered liberally with personal/family updates; and a shared luncheon 😊

Swallows and dragonflies were everywhere, in abundance. Roadside trees, shrubs, and blackberry bushes had been thinned out and cut back; and I saw things I hadn’t noticed before. I love country backroad forays – soothing, scenic, and enlightening.

Swallow s& dragonflies were everywhere in abundance.
I've never seen this style of barn before; glad the roadside trees had been thinned out.

Becky wasn’t there: she isn’t feeling well. Linda was telling us about a recent incident between her car and a guardrail, and feeling bad about the incident … so, I told her about my recent (yesterday, actually) incident between a cement post and my Highlander’s back bumper, Ramona was telling us how to file a claim with our vehicle insurance policy holders. I think I’ll just pay for my damages out of pocket – they aren’t as extensive as Linda’s. I should be able to get my back bumper fixed in a few months; and if not, I guess my car will just look like a country gal’s vehicle 😉

Gretchen Wilson – ‘Redneck Woman’ song:(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82dDnv9zeLs)

People drive vehicles that look worse than a car with a dented back bumper.

And every time I feel bad about that dent, I remember how Bob handled the time I tore the aluminum flashing off the side of his pickup (another cement post incident – it really was the dog’s fault. Truth.): “Shit happens, Val. Don’t beat yourself up over it.”

Bob was a good man, with a good attitude. Thank God.

Memories are good things 😉

8-2-22; Backed into a cement post in Castle Rock (a pretty solid hit) - $1,500 worth of damages - thankfully the calibrators weren't damaged.

I had a blast with my sleuth sisters, and enjoyed an uneventful drive back home. When I got home; I collected the garbage and recycle bins from the curb, put the cooler back in the shed, and slipped my new houseplant into a ceramic pot I’d bought years ago at an Estate Sale Bob and I went to.

The only place in the whole house where 'defused light' fits; we'll see how well my new plant does here for the time being.

Bob isn’t wandering anymore … but I will smile and think of him when I watch that plant grow, thrive, and branch out 😊

My New Life is still making space for Bob’s essence in it. I am getting comfortable with both: my New Life, and the memories that are still very much a part of my Lifethe past, the present, and the future.

2003; Bob

The strengths in those memories get me through my days.

So does the love ties of friendship sisterhood.

E.v.e.r.y.s.i.n.g.l.e.d.a.y