SHABBAT GRATITUDE~RV Tagged & Long Drive Home

We were up at the crack of dawn; drinking coffee and noshing about this and that, as we shook the cobwebs and felt our bodies waking up and alerting to the excitement of finally being able to get the RV licensed and tagged.

We want to be enjoying the open road by the end of the month :-)

As we were passing through Clatskanie, my phone notified me of an incoming message: I did a double-take … my youngest sister. Hmmm.

Carla's 10 AM text.

It was good to be sharing convo with her … and know that she cares - and is interested in what I am doing. Holland was glad to see that at least one member of my family is reaching out to me: we don't talk that often; our life goals, and lifestyles, are so different.

But Carla is at least trying. It was a good start to this dawning Shabbat.

I am grateful.

We reached the Astoria DMV, and Holland went inside to get the transaction completed while I opted to stay in the 4x Beast with Bleu (we can't roll the windows down yet, until the shading film completely dries: Monday). He wasn't inside very long before he came back out to the truck and said, "We still can't get tagged." I just looked at him, speechless for a moment, before I said, "Why? We've jumped through all the hoops - what could they possibly be bitching about, now?" He said, "They said we couldn't get licensed because of this guy's name on the Title (he sowed me the name of the fella that sold us the RV), and that we need to contact him and have him sign a power of attorney waiver … and we need an odometer reading."

I counted to 10. Then I said, "This is utter bullshit. These people do not know what they are doing - or what they are talking about. We do not need a 'power of attorney';  - we do not need 'an odometer reading': we OWN the RV, and it WAS Licensed BY OREGON last week - it is AN RV … not a freaking car, or truck. I'm going inside, and they are going to stop this nonsense."

My eyes were shooting fire.

Holland said, "It won't do any good Baby; they won't listen to you. We'll just have to get ahold of the people in West Virginia that we bought the 5th Wheel from, and get a license plate from them - then get it tagged that way."

I said, "No - this run-around, is ridiculous. I am going inside here … and they are going to license and tag us here." Then, I looked up a the sky, and said, "God help me, because I am about to shake some teeth loose. Go before me and prepare a way of peace because I have fire in my eyes, and a storm brewing to set it loose. I am tired of all this jerking around nonsense. We've jumped through all the loops, and one way, or another, we are going home today with a license plate, and tags!"

I called Tina at PKB RV's in West Virginia and asked her a few questions that may help us with the Oregon process - she was as confused as us, but said she'd do what she could do to help us. She would call the Astoria DMV personally and walk them through the process they obviously are clueless about: the RV Dealer's Name was not the issue, the people working at Astoria's DMV were.

I gave the process between there and here about 20 minutes before opening the truck door. Holland said, "I'll go with you; a little while Bleu will be okay for." I'm sure he was thinking the fire sparking in my eyes would set the place on fire ;-)

We had a 30 minute wait before our number was called.

And Elohim was faithful - He prepared the way, and I did not have to unleash the fiery storm. The process was finally completed (our documents were accepted, & acknowledged paperwork was filed/stamped), and we left with license plate and tags ;-) 

I marched into that DMV Office with a storm brewing in my determined eyes …

My Guardian Angel's mindset. LOL

We were going to be coming home licensed & TAGGED, come Hell or high water; I pulled up the {needed} document and showed it to the clueless woman.

Cages were rattled from both ends (West Virginia; and me standing in front of her with eyes aflame)… and the deed was D.O.N.E. - with NO MORE nonsense.

We ate lunch at Astoria's DQ, down the road from the DMV; backtracked to the Astoria Column … then drove the long way home, over the back road that would drop us in Clatskanie - behind the Safeway Store.

This was a gift to me: love in action.

Holland had not seen the Astor Column - so we backtracked to it.

Astoria Column-OR: (1 Coxcomb Dr, Astoria, OR 97103; https://astoriacolumn.org/)

Located in Astoria, Oregon, the 125-foot-tall Astoria Column serves as a monument to the history Pacific Northwest. The idea for the column first came about in 1898 when the city thought to build an electrified tower that would rival the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. The column overlooks Astoria, and the Columbia River. Its observation platform offers a panoramic view for the many visitors who climb the 164 steps of its winding staircase.

Overlooking the Astoria-Megler Bridge, Astoria, ect.

Saddle Mountain, in the distance.

Saddle Mountain-OR:

(https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=140)

I had warned Holland beforehand that the road was 'very snaky in places', and he was game to drive it.

I pointed out various elk sighting places; Fish Hawk Falls, I like to visit once a year; and places I normally pull over to explore along the route.

I like country backroads; I like enjoying those scenic rides with my husband. But towards the end of that long winding road, he was looking a bit green around the gills, due to the medication he takes. I pointed out the speed limit sign and said, "We're almost off this road - you should see Safeway Store around that next corner." He said, "Praise the Lord". And I burst out laughing because the relief in his tone as so obvious.

Holland is a good husband to me. Every day, I am grateful.

He is a good man~he is a good husband for me :-)

I am highly favored, and greatly blessed.

I am grateful.

As the sun begins to set, we are grateful to embrace the Shabbat Rest.

APPRECIATION SHABBAT: From Meh to Amazing

Meh = uninspiring; unexceptional.

Amazing = wonderful, cool; great.

Gratitude = appreciation, gratefulness, thankfulness; positive reception.

I mentioned in an earlier post this week, that “happiness is a choice”: an actual decision (aka, a series of small choices made every day) towards fulfillment of your goal to live a happy life.

What we end up as, is a confirmation of every choice we have ever made – and we are constantly one choice away from change: we just have to decide to take that step forward towards the change we want.

I woke up this morning thinking that come Spring 2023, I want to be back to exercising every day. I want to have a toned body again (I am smart enough to understand that I’ll never look 20 – or even 30 – again; but I can be a toner 66 😉). I want a healthier skin color; I as telling Chrystal the other day, “I haven’t been outside much this year, and I’m starting to look {ghostly} – my skin is so pale”: and it’s true! Building “community” (network of friends across three counties) has not left me much time to be outside, soaking up the sunrays and strengthening my muscles. I need to get back to that in 2023.

So, that is my goal looking towards the New Year, should Elohim grant me another 12 months of Life.

As well as honing spiritual fortitude, a strong Friends community, and a healthy body structure … it is also necessary to absorb gratitude into our daily life.

Gratitude causes a shift in perspective: instead of languishing in a state of “meh”, you shake off the gray funk and reroute your thoughts to take steps in active decisions that will focus on the changes you want to see manifest in your life.

Shifting your awareness isn’t that hard, once you set your mind to do it.

So, while drinking my first cup of coffee this morning, I heard birds chirping at the birdfeeder – and glancing towards the front livingroom window I noticed the bright yellow leaves of the ornamental maple in the front of my home … and all the bright colors of my immediate surroundings inside my home: my thoughts were filled with appreciation. I like color in my small corner of the world 😊

Walking from the livingroom to the kitchen to rinse the coffee cup before refilling it, my peripheral vision caught sight of the rolled exercise mat laying against the bag holding my latest knitting project in progress; I felt my lazy bone being prodded to unroll it and get busy using it. I was home – now was a good time to kickstart afore mentioned {goal}. So, that’s what I did. I skipped the second cup of coffee which would have sidelined the prod … I set the coffee cup on the end table, unrolled the mat and did some quick sets of glute exercises. It felt good!

Then, feeling inspired to “go the extra mile” – literally as well as figuratively – I gave Chrystal a jingle and asked if she’d like to go for a walk with me: she would … so, we did 😊

Right off the bat, we saw a white egret; that was a good sign. White Egrets are known to represent blessing and prosperity (conformation of Chrystal’s prayer request). White Egrets are also symbolic of gratitude and contentment (thank You, Yeshua, for this Shabbat confirmation).

I also got a text from another friend, reminding me that there are angels around me. I don’t need reminding … but it was a friendly reminder from a loving friend, that I am not alone even when it appears so, to myself at times – or to strangers who see me out and about solo lobo. I texted him back that I appreciate his agape love, and I appreciate his brotherly friendship: Elohim is faithful to keep Christian companions in my new life, that encourages me always with positive vibes.

And when I parked at home, the evergreen tree across the way seemed to be signaling a “Victory!” sign 😉 

Matthew Ward – ‘Trust in You’ song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDhvVCTdGmk)

There was so much to be grateful for this Shabbat: a hot cup of coffee; bright color to boost the day’s mood; a body still agile enough to ‘work’, so it continues to work for me; friendship that gives – and generates – a smile; conversation that keeps the ‘lonelies’ at bay; nature that awes and soothes the spirit; a cozy home: my day was oozing with thankfulness.

L’chiam! To Life! Happy Shabbat 😊

With just a prod from my peripheral vision, my “ordinary” day of {just me, today; nowhere to go, no one to see} suddenly went from meh to great 😊

“GOALS ~2023 Kickstart” Post, earlier today: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/11/goals-2023-kickstart.html

SHABBAT

I’ve spent the past week in a busy whirl between home and family dustups; the busy whirl at home was to get my home ready for company … and I was really looking forward to that – no one has been inside my house for a lengthy visit since the covid lockdowns that scared everyone into staying away ☹ But family dustup dramas found me canceling the get together with gal pals, to try to mediate peace amongst the family brats members.

The dustup is still not settled; but my house is cleared of clutter, and ready to ride the Fall and Winter out in relative tidiness 😉

And I’m finding myself easing back into gentle home routines I have let slide since widowhood, and the busy need to rebuild an entire new life. This Fall, it has actually been pleasurable to let my days unfold gently; and I’ve even caught myself more than once, soaking up the quiet and comforting homey vibes I’ve been avoiding for the past three years.

Things are flowing easier, and I have friendships – local, and spanning two other Counties – that have taken root, and are prospering quite nicely.

Elohei has been very good to me 😊

While I was in town earlier this week, I saw (and bought) a bottle of Mogen David Concord Wine. It’s a very sweet kosher red wine. I bought it because I wanted something different – and also because it was a wine that was always in my parent’s home every Friday evening. When Bob and I were dating (and even after we married), and were out on the town shooting pool on Friday evenings … I’d always order a glass of Mogen David wine. Bob would grimace and ask me ‘why do you want that?’; and I always answered, “My parents always drank it on Fridays.” There were other signs that pointed to our Jewish roots such as special Friday meals, and the burning of Friday night candles – but I didn’t really know until well into my 30’s that both parents have a Jewish branch in their family genealogy records: Ashkenazi on one side, and Sephardic, on the other.

Anyway, I bought the wine and am drinking a goblet tonight 😉

I admit it’s an acquired taste: it’s very sweet.

There is nothing special about Shabbat wine, other than it is a sanctified symbol of joy and relaxation; so, sipping my small goblet of wine is a reminder to me, to always find a way to savor joy – and always find reasons for gratitude each week.

On Shabbat, we have the opportunity to appreciate the many blessings and wonderful people in our life.

On Shabbat, we also take the time to reflect on Elohim’s goodness towards us – as we think about the things of this past week, we’re leaving behind … and those things we look forward to, in the week to come.

So, tonight as I listen to the rainfall kick off the Fall Season here in the PNW, I am thankful I am adopted into the Family of God. I am grateful for all the blessings Elohim has showered me with. I am going to enjoy reading a new read … knit some love into a new baby item … and slowly enjoy my sweet wine. These small pleasures bring such a lot of joy into my days, and finish the week very nicely 😊

SHABBAT SHALOM!

RABBIT!

Rabbits are so cute!

This morning, after posting the Crisp Waffles Recipe ~Chocolate Waffles post (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/08/crisp-waffles-recipe-chocolate-waffles.html), my right eye peripheral vision noticed a quick moving animal scurrying from the neighbor’s carport into my front yard. Hoping it wasn’t an unwanted nutria or muskrat (Heron Pointe Park is located near an inaccessible water dike that butts up against the northern edge of Park premises), I went to my front window and peeked out.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing: a wild rabbit!

RABBIT!

So, I grabbed the phone and took a few snapshots, and videos 😊

A brown wild rabbit entertained me this morning.

Little brown wild rabbit.

Resting; the outside temperature is only 61-degrees – but humidity has already hit the 93% mark.

Wild rabbits are so cute – and I haven’t seen one since we lived on Merritt Drive on Westside Highway; we had lively kamikaze rabbits, there that liked to live dangerously by leaping and diving across the headlight beams highlighting the driveway 😉

I was happy to see this little fluffy bit of wild nature in my front yard; and I’m hoping it will not become a beautiful, destructive nuisance (garden, or home destruction). I ignored that line of thought … and just enjoyed the moment, which stretched into an hour of voyeur delight 😊

A cute little trespasser.

Feeling secure enough to start getting real comfortable.

Winding down ...

After a bit, it started getting restless; and hopped into another front flowerbed. I carefully creeped into the laundry room and removed my flipflops (I did not want a repeat of falling down the stairs, again! Bare feet are the safest thing on these porch stairs) before inching the door open, and stealthily padding quietly to the front end of the house hoping to get a {close up and personal} picture.

Making itself small in another front flower bed ...

I was outside in my pj’s, sneaking around the corner of my own house; LOL

Watching neighbors were probably wondering ‘what is the widow doing now’; let them wonder 😉

It's not even skittish; I'm not that far away from it.

((((YES!))))

Thank You, Yeshua!

That cute little bit of fluff made my fading flowerbeds look peppier than they are; blossoms are drying, leaves are starting to fall from overhead tree branches, and the river breeze has a little Fall nip to it, recently. We had no Spring to speak of this year, and the Summer has been short.

Fall is a mere 6½ weeks off ...

And away it goes! But it sure made my day while it hung around ...

Rabbits are considered “a lucky sign” in many cultures. A rabbit seen in the wild is seen as a positive – and having one cross your direct path is considered lucky: good luck in love and family, abundance and prosperity, intuition/spontaneity/and wittiness are all associated with seeing a rabbit.

The lifespan of a wild rabbit is around 9 years. Rabbits spend most of their short life within the same 10-acre area. Relocating rabbits confuses them, causing them to get hit by cars or be killed by unfamiliar predators.

As long as this little rabbit behaves itself and doesn't cause property damages, I'll be okay with it sharing my town lot.

GRATITUDE ~Shabbat Eve

I’m planning a relaxing kicked back Shabbat 😊

Temperatures of 100- to 103-degrees are forecast for the weekend, so I watered my garden area and front flowerbeds deeply as soon as I woke up this morning.

After that was done, it was lunch time … and I was craving Chinese food from our favorite dine in/take out restaurant; so off to Kalama I went 😉

Tears didn’t spring to my eyes when I sat down in our booth. Since Bob was on my mind, I ordered what he would have ordered had he been with me – and I ate it without a choking lump in my throat.

I boxed up half of that lunch special, and took the long way home: up the hill and over Spencer Creek Road and Modrow Road, which drops down onto Kalama River Road. Road and culvert work on Spencer Creek Road has finally been completed – rebuilt, repaved, and no more runoff erosion happening; it’s very nice.

I’m glad Bob took me on these backroads all of our life together. I am thankful Elohim revived my memory and that Yeshua was my driving instructor when I set out to figure them out on my own, 18 months ago. I was missing them. I am filled with heart-felt gratitude that I can drive them solo lobo without crying now; even though the memory of Bob’s smiling face and gentle tone is always with me on these drives.

It was an enjoyable couple of hours spent away from home.

Pork Chow Mein, Sweet & Sour Pork, Fried Shrimp, & Jasmine Tea.

The story of my life since the wrapping up of 2018; I’m glad I’m able to balance the sweet and sour aspects of my life now …

More Road Work and County Upgrades – it's everywhere; which makes it easy to tell which mayor in WA, is working with the obamiden cartel. The monies can only be funneling in from DC favors to those sticking to obamiden Party lines since we are officially in a recession.

Modrow Road, Kalama-WA

Hilltop House; Kalama - beyond Modrow Road.

Pretty fancy Digs ...

Back in Longview, and cruising down Industrial Way (mere minutes away from home), I saw that the Reynold’s Building has been torn down and the debris is being cleared up.

The old Aluminum Plant has finally been pulled down.

It’s been a week or so since I’d driven this way … so I checked online to see what was happening.

Cleanup of Former Reynold’s Aluminum Plant: https://www.seattletimes.com/business/cleanup-of-former-reynolds-metals-site-in-longview-could-begin-in-2023/

Longview Reynold’s Plant: https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2014/07/toxic-battle-brewing-at-longviews-reynolds-plant.html

I instantly saw red when I read that a coal export facility was going to be built here. WTH! The eco-freaks have effectively shut down coal mining in WA State and put a lot of willing and able-bodied people out of work – how does that square up with building and establishing a {Coal Export terminal} on the site??? Are they going to import the coal our obamiden bootlicking governor refuses to allow Washington mines to excavate? It makes no sense whatsoever to import coal to Washington when coal can be mined in Washington State if allowed to do so.

Coal Mining in WA State: https://pugetsoundkeeper.org/2018/05/31/say-no-to-an-active-coal-mine-in-washington-state/#:~:text=Washington%20currently%20has%20no%20active,the%20equivalent%20of%2051%2C000%20cars.

I was needing to get home and enter into my ‘Island of Rest’ mindset: pronto.

When I got home, I deliberately shut the world out … and embraced the mindset of the Day.

I sat on the front porch – on Bob’s Coho Bench (I’m getting comfortable with doing that, now) – with a soft drink on the folding outdoor table beside me, and a light reading novel in hand 😉

Gratitude swept over me as I listened to the gentle tune of the dancing wind chimes as the cooling river breezes blew through; and I looked over the garden area Bob prepared for me before Elohim called him Home. People walk/peddle their bikes past, and wave or comment on the garden area; and I wave back, or say, “thank you, my husband built this for me.” Peace and joy surrounded me as I sat on my sunny porch and looked over my small domain; appreciating the tangible love Bob left behind. My Spirit was soothed.

Blue Skies as far as the eye can see ...

Birdy – ‘Blue Skies’ song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYw1e_99PUs)

The Geraniums are blossoming profusely now.

The corn is shooting upward ...

Isley Brothers – ‘Summer Breeze’ song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq4l8v7wm5o)

Gusty river breezes whip the corn around – that's the reason for the staking. I’m glad Bob fashioned these stakes for me.

The Apples and carrots are coming along fine.

Enjoying the cooling summer breeze and the quiet solitude of my front porch.

I will always love and miss my husband; but my heart is in a better place this year. My eyes do not feel like Niagra Falls this August. Elohim is faithful to blunt the pain of heartache – and I am grateful.

Elohim is faithful to soften that missingness as I forge a New Life; and Yeshua makes sure that I never feel the acuteness of being a solo lobo while I walk this Earth. My heart is filled with gratitude. I truly am greatly loved and highly favored as I enter this week’s Sabbat Rest 😊

James Block – ‘Psalm 103’ song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItbxkLqo3b8)