BONES

Stripping things down to the bare bones concerning fellowship, and rebuilding by the Ruach HaKo’desh moving among/through us: this is a good thing!

Repentance & Restoration - Elohim is resetting the foundational bone work.

The message was good this morning – personal soul searching to keep us in line with Elohim’s purpose was touched on; accountability with the Body was touched on; sticking to the purity of wisdom found in The Word, instead of weaving worldly/cultish ‘knowledge’ through it was touched on; leaning on/in nothing but Christ – Christ alone is the bedrock of our salvation’s foundation 😊

It's always exciting to see the Ruach HaKo'desh on the move in the Body.

The pastor was pretty transparent this morning in repentance and asking prayer for his entire family – and his family knows Scripture: they can read it awesomely; I’ve heard his grandfather, cousins, and uncle, minister … this is a family of ministers: but they’ve all allowed worldly philosophies, and lifestyles, to mingle with it. And he’s acknowledged that, and is determined to turn things around.

‘O HELL NO!’ Post: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/10/o-hell-no.html

‘IF IT BE ELOHEI’S WILL’ Post: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/10/if-it-be-eloheis-will.html

Nothing else we try to keep our souls balanced, and our lives on a happy keel works … and it’s always polluted: it becomes toxic over time, and will lead us into spiritual death if we continue down the road of self-satisfying desires that may let us feel good for a brief period of time, but always lets us down eventually.

You know, Lucifer knows Scripture, and He knows how to tweak it to lure the unwary and unwise into a spiritual trap: we’re to use The Word to keep our spiritual self, strong and healthy, as well as to encourage/reprove/strengthen in love. And where there is love, there’s a willingness to maintain unity; and make relationship work. The Christian is in relationship with the Body, as well as with Yeshua, Himself.

This morning’s service was very good.

And … I went on a nice, long (4 hour), country drive. Just because 😊

The day was dry; no rainfall today.

The day was full of Fall overtones.

The day was perfect for ‘getting out and about’.

Today is a good day for a good drive.

Longview to Naselle-Raymond cutoff to Pe Ell-Vader-Castle Rock-Home; Loop Drive Route.

Ready to roll - coffee, chicken strips, and cola in the cubby. LOL

Bone River.

The 'curious george' bone in me was humming ...

1930’s Animated Skeleton Dance: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOGhAV-84iI)

I saw a lot of road kill along the route: racoons, possums, a deer – and carrion feeding. The furry corpses will be down to bones in short order 😉

Cutoff road from Raymond turn-circle ...

Main Street, 'Downtown' Pe Ell.

ACTION-PACKED DAY

Today was my Thursday Naselle Coffee Hour … so, I was up bright and early.

Longview to Naselle - 1 hr.10 mins.

Passing through Cathlamet towards Skamokawa, I noticed there were a lot of loaded logging trucks passing me in the opposite lane: I was wondering where they were coming from; they were following pretty close together, so I knew the logging site must be fairly close.

And it was – I was driving along, listening to Roddy Crowell (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiTqnpmPKRk&list=OLAK5uy_k0AxexO6cz9s1EMsZGw__lVzwWkuuIF3g) sing contemplative songs; when suddenly I was startled by a shovel operator in action, swinging the grips towards the highway: a little too close for comfort.

I was shown where the trucks hailed from: up close and personal.

Things had changed on this stretch of the highway since Sunday.

Shovel operating on a small scale (YouTube Vid): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmFgLkUdY9c

I decided, on the spot, to reroute my home route; following the coffee hour 😉

Logging on the downside of the KM.

It was a good country hour where coffee flowed, conversation was spiked with howling belly-laughs, and chocolate cake was enjoyed 😊

Driving through Pe Ell on the way home, I noticed a new addition to the little backcountry town…

New Cafe in Pe Ell; Tin Snug: 217 N Main St, Pe Ell, WA https://tinsnug.com/

MAP Tin Snug Cafe in Pe Ell from Naselle, WA; 1 hr. 15 mins via Raymond-Menlo.

Gaelic window design; the Celtic knot.

Heron Point from Tin Snug Irish Cafe, Pe Ell - 1 hr. 11 mins; via Boistfort & Wildwood Road.

Leaving Pe Ell, and driving along the roadway between Pe Ell and Boistfort, I came upon a family of deer, leisurely walking the roadside.

While I was watching the deer, birds on the wing were darting about the passenger side window … so I started easing the car forward to evade the dive bombers.

That small stretch of road was filled with action. 

Mama Deer & twin fawns.

Bad Company Album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHdLk0hXeDE&list=PLrpyDacBCh7AaQbdD8PhgfpnEVXE5eC9E

It was here that I received a phone call inviting me to Supper on Coal Creek – I accepted, and told my friends there, I’d be pulling into their drive around 3 PM.

As the convo was ended, I thought about how various friends, in various places, had blessed my life this week: David invited me to breakfast Monday … and surprised me with his son, Tavis – who was also joining us for breakfast: I had not seen Tavis since his mother’s Celebration of Life gathering 16 years ago. Marla was my best friend for three decades, and our kids grew up together – it was a good surprise David sprung on me 😊 This Thursday, I was blessed twice by different friends in different counties: noon coffee hour in Pacific County … and Supper in Cowlitz County.

I am truly blessed, and always thankful for the friends Elohei has gifted my life with.

Our friendships are love in action. 

Just before I was dropping onto Coal Creek Road from Delameter Road, I saw a damaged car in the right-side-ditch.

Car wreck coming into Coal Creek off top of Delameter.

Apparently, someone else had an action-packed day, too.

Supper on Coal Creek (I arrived slightly before 3 PM) was enjoyable, as always.

I like that my married friends out Coal Creek Road, invite me into their family nucleus and treat me like a loved family member – there is no pretense of perfect family unity; there is no uncomfortableness when Bob’s Name is mentioned; conversation flows easily-joking is encouraged-love is present; laughter is the theme of their family – they are a family that laughs: I like that. I like that I am included in their family, as one of the family.

The best kind of action is the action of love in action. 

My day today, was all of that … and more 😊

TRAVELING THURSDAY ~ Sulkum & Huff-and-Puff

My furry nemesis is back, so yesterday I slapped some big bucks down to have it trapped (hopefully – there is no guarantee). I will keep the trap for a month before it will be removed from my lot.

But, it is here. It is baited. And this morning I “set” it before I left to have my coffee hour with friends in Naselle.

Morning w-friends & Salkum Timberland Library Daytrip.

The trap will be sprung tonight; and hand tripped in the morning if it is empty.

Naselle from Heron Pointe - 59 mins.

Leaving Naselle for Salkum.

Daytrip adventures are flexible.

Chehalis from Naselle - 1 hr.46 mins.

I followed a log truck at a snail's pace coming into Pe Ell – a Jerry Debriae log truck … it was a long way from home base; and shockingly, this cowboy driver was following the rules of the road. Debrae himself – nor his drivers ever behave.

This is why I prefer backroads; it engages the senses far more than freeway travel does.

Nearing Adna via the Pe Ell loop route, I saw a sign that advertised a County Park … so, I turned right and checked the locale out.

When I am on a Daytrip drive, I tend to dink around enroute 😉

This Park is supposed to be “excellent” picnicking, hiking, playground, volleyball, exercise trail, horseshoe pits; ect.

NO WAY!

From what I could see past the rusted metal gate blocking entrance, was a lot of neglect and overgrown areas. It was obvious it has not been used for years – possibly decades. It looked pitiful.

Rose Park - up close and personal - does not match the glowing reports on it.

Adna mountain view & Napavine pit stop.

Caught sight of this upcoming Bazaar Sign pulling out of the gas terminal at Napavine. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll be back here on the 1^st …

The google mapping showed a generalized idea of where Sulkum was located; I didn’t ever recall Bob & I going through (or past) a town named Sulkum. I knew where Mary’s Corner was, but I was not familiar with the stretch of highway google maps and the car’s GPS was prompting me to drive.

About 5 minutes into the unfamiliar territory, I passed the Tucker Road spur off Jackson Highway: and was into familiar territory again – but I was still mystified about Salkum.

Mary's Corner from Chehalis via Jackson Highway - 20 mins.

Salkum via Highway 6 at Mary's Corner.

Mt. Rainier.

Salkum Timberland Library from Mary's Corner - 10 mins.

I don't know how we missed this sign for years ... Sulkum is an eye-blink town.

Cool rustic Arbor. The woman in the vid is the Librarian; we talked for about half an hour.

After she went back into the Library, I strolled around the pocket gardens – I was there … and so were they; and my legs needed to be stretched.

Raised garden beds.

Pretty little flowering plant.

Pretty pale lilac tulip with a white base w-blue splotches, black stamens & bright yellow pistil.

This plant was pretty all over.

A strawberry plant with pink blossoms; unusual - and pretty, too.

(https://www.monrovia.com/toscana-strawberry.html)

Walking through the cozy pocket gardens area, I liked the rustic garden supports – I like rustic 😊

Rustic garden support.

Rustic garden support.

Rustic Ladder Trellis.

Done walking the pocket gardens, and knowing the library would not be open to walk through until June 1^st, I decided to hop across the highway and check out “downtown Salkum”: population 216.

The Librarian had clued me in. 

But I wanted {to see} for myself.

'Downtown Salkum' consists of 3 buildings; grocery store, P.O., and tavern.

Salkum Post Office.

Salkum's Brown Shack Tavern.

I don’t know how I have missed the Library as often as Bob & I drove this highway: the Library Sign is big enough. In my defense, I will say that we always had kids with us for 44 years … and they snagged my attention 90% of the time we were out and about; so maybe I was busy with one of them as we passed Salkum: it’s an eye-blink town with nothing to grab your attention as you sail right past it.

So far, I am not a fan of the ‘Traveler’s Companion’ handbook; I believe people who submit road travel info for booklets like this one, should be honest and prepare people of what to expect when visiting the destinations, they highlight.

I like small towns, and would be perfectly happy living in a ghost town – but, a ghost town should be advertised as a ghost town, not built up to be something else.

Just sayin’.

However, I do like the drive along this roadway: and that was a redeeming factor as I blinked my eyes and left Salkum.

Hungering for a Huff and Puff hamburger.

I knew the Tulip Bulb farm was along this route, too; so, I decided to nip in there and see what they had to offer. The place is wildly expensive, so I was going to be very selective if I walked out with a purchase 😉

I stopped at the DeGoede Bulb Farm along the way.

(http://www.degoedebulb.com/retail.htm)

Last time I was here with Bob was in 2017; we had Aza with us.

I bought a strawberry jar for the garden area at home, and fertilizer stakes for inside houseplants. I’ll start transplanting strawberry plants, mid-May.

My garden is my “peaceful place”.

Huff and Puff was still half an hour away ...

Delicious hamburgers here; worth the long drive.

I got an Elk burger; low in fat, high in protein. A Healthy 'burger.

The drive home was smooth and easy – I know it by heart.

Toledo from Salkum Timberland Library via Tucker Road & Jackson Highway - 20 mins.

Mt. St. Helens seen coming into Toledo off Jackson Highway.

GEE CEE'S Truck Stop, from Jackson Highway Airstrip - 13 mins: I stopped and got gas here, and washed bug guts off the windshield again; the kamikaze bugs are thick this time of year.

Paradise Cove from Gee Cee's via Imboden Rd & Barnes Drive - 11 mins.

Delameter Road from Paradise Cove via Old Pacific Highway - 15 mins.

Heron Pointe from Delameter Road. 16 mins.

Bob and I drove that highway for decades, and I drove it several times solo lobo, throughout 2019 and 2020.

Only the location of Salkum threw me … and that short stretch of highway at Mary’s Corner.

But that’s okay: I know now.

And these Daytrips are as much about learning the highways and byways, as they are about just enjoying a relaxing and adventurous road experience 😉