TRAVELING THURSDAY ~ LAEL MOON NURSERY; Rochester Daytrip

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhm6X38bu7s)

This morning, I kept my Naselle Coffee Hour appointment with friends I haven’t seen since I considered looking for a new home – that new home plan has now officially been scrapped … so, I am freed up again, to spend time with my old-new friends 😊

Again, there was a misting rainfall as I left the carport.

But I was not going to be deterred: I intended to see my friends, and visit the Nursery.

The misting rain on the windshield was an annoyance – but there wasn’t enough rainfall to make the roadways dangerous.

Naselle from Heron Pointe; via WA-4 W - 59 mins.

Earlier this week; happily anticipating coffee with friends again, I also planned on a side excursion to Lael’s Nursery in Rochester after the last cup of coffee had been poured and everyone was pulling out of the driveway towards home. I haven’t been to Rochester since the last time Bob and I had passed through there on a daytrip drive – about 5 years ago.

Lael Moon Nursery from Naselle; via US-101 N - 1 hr. 42 mins.

The banana tree I read about in the traveler’s companion booklet I picked up in Randle, earlier this year … was the lure, today 😉

My Ambitions Jar is full of fun Daytrip suggestions gleaned from the Scenic Roadtrip Booklet

Leaving Naselle, I happened to notice the price of gas, driving by Johnson’s: WOW – I decided to gas up back on home turf.

And I also thought, ‘Maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t find a house in the country, after all …’: at these escalating prices, I wouldn’t be able to leave my country home, once I settled into it ☹

((((THANK YOU, YESHUA, for protecting me))))

Going to Lael's to check out their 10-ft. Banana Tree.

Address coordinates punched into GPS.

Gas prices at Johnson's 1-Stop, in Naselle.

I spend a lot of time in the country; I plan my daytrips around country roads – I will drive hours out of the way just to enjoy a relaxing drive on a backroad 😊

I spend a lot of time in the country, on scenic backroads.

The annoying misting rainfall was still mucking up the windshield.

I was hoping the sun would eventually make a showing: at least by the time I reached my destination.

I wanted to see that banana tree.

A little past Artic, I turned off on the Montesano-US 12 spur … then a brief freeway interlude, before turning off at the Oakville-Centralia turn to Rochester.

Montesano-US 12 spur.

A brief freeway interlude ...

Oakville-Centralia turn.

Immediately, while making this turn, I noticed the gray clouds were parting to allow blue sky to show through; and the Highlander was heavily scented with the warmed, sweet, aroma of sun ripened August blackberries: the big fat ones, the size of thumbs. These giant, Himalayan blackberries are the most pungent, juicy blackberries!

Blue sky showing through the clouds ... and the heady scent of sun-warmed blackberries filled the air.

My mouth was watering for a blackberry pie 😉

But dreaming of lip-smacking, mouth-watering blackberry pie was curbed by a traffic jam in Porter – of all places.

Traffic jam in Porter.

A heavy, smoke-belching, oversized white truck (it looked like a dump truck; or something along that line of work) & a slo-mo Puma travel trailer, were holding up a line of 14 vehicles (my vehicle, included in the line); the travel trailer eventually pulled over. The white service truck continued belching along.

I eventually parked myself at Lael’s 😊

The Nursery Owners’ Names are Larry and Bethany Lael: https://www.chronline.com/stories/business-profile-rochester-couple-turn-a-shared-hobby-into-a-living,129552

I was glad the misty rain had halted; the sun was shining, and the temperature was perfect to be walking through a Nursery.

I saw some interesting shrubs, flowers, and trees.

I don’t know what I was expecting by way of the touted Banana Tree … but it certainly wasn’t what I was pointed to: when I saw it, all I could think was, ‘That’s it?’.

I was anticipating a tree – what I saw was an overgrown bush.

Banana Tree, in bloom (not my picture; internet pic).

There were no bananas; it’s too cool in WA State for them to fruit.

But I did enjoy seeing all the other interesting/unique plants, too.

And they got me to thinking … and wondering if I could grow some in huge planter pots, at Heron Pointe 😉

I’ll have to give that thought, some thought.

Made it!

A nice day for a stroll.

Interesting leafed Hydrangea; I LIKE IT😊 'Munchkin' Oakleaf Hydrangea. Pretty cool.

(https://springmeadownursery.com/plantfinder/munchkin-40740)

An interesting Pine - kinda cushy spike leaves; and not sticky. Very nice.

(https://www.umbrellapines.com/)

Pretty bi-color pink Hydrangea - large blossoms. 'Star Gazer' Double Delight Hydrangea.

(https://www.newlifenursery1.net/products/star-gazer-double-delights-hydrangea)

An Australian Fern with a sturdy stem that looks like a tree trunk.

(https://www.monrovia.com/australian-tree-fern.html)

Lael's 10-ft. Banana Tree.

Dinosaur Plant.

( http://www.sunnygardens.com/garden_plants/gunnera/gunnera_1352.php)

The Dinosaur Plant is a marsh plant; grown here in a discarded Jacuzzi tub with soil mixture to mimic marshland.

A Dogwood blossom (?) bush. Hmmm.

Leaving the Nursery, I saw a sign for U-Pick Blueberries: this might come in hand! I love blueberries, and though my own bushes put out quite a bot of berries … they are dwarf bushes, and the berries I get – though significant, all things considered, is not enough to carry me through the Winter.

If I can get through the liquid fertilizer stench (very strong today!) of the farm fields without sucking the life out of my asthma inhaler, I may give this berry farm a try next Spring.

U-Pick Black River Berry Farm down the road from the Lael Moon Nursery.

(https://www.thurstontalk.com/2017/07/14/black-river-blues-farm-blueberry/)

I backtracked to Raymond, and took the Pe Ell route home.

And, passing through along the route, I was glad to see that the gravel turnout I occasionally use has been cleaned up: ((((YAY!)))) A couple weeks ago when I passed through that way, there was a charred truck – either abandoned and burned by rowdies … or stolen and destroyed by rabble-rousers: either way, I didn’t like seeing it along this peaceful drive route I always take. There was also strewn garbage along the chain link fence.

For the first time in decades of driving that route, I felt nervous about being alone on a backroad.

That feeling made me feel violated.

I felt violated because my sense of peace and wellbeing had been shaken by citified violence touching a quiet corner of the backcountry.

That pissed me off.

I don’t like to see city violence spreading to the country.

I don’t like to see places I frequent vandalized – it makes me feel violated and unsafe.

I drive the backcountry roads for the peace it promises; I drive backroads to escape city bullshit. Seeing that violent behavioral activity in off-the-beaten-track places of tranquility, was more than a bit unnerving.

I am glad it has been cleared away.

The charred truck and garbage have been cleared from the backroad turnout.

I hope they found the morons and slapped them silly with fines – jail time, too.

Nearing home, and glancing at the gas level on the Highlander’s dash, I thought I might stop at Lexington to top the tank and wash the bug guts off the windshield before sliding into my carport (the Highlander, and me, were tired) … but the gas prices urged me forward, into town – which would take me about 5 minutes longer to slide into my carport.

Lexington gas prices.

Tank topped off, and tail dragging; I nipped into Hart C’s Thai to grab Supper; it was a long day, and I couldn’t work up the energy to cook at home.

Thai. Combo Chow Mein; Crab Fried Rice; Stuffed Won Tons.

There was enough for 3 more meals.

3 Freezer meals for later on.

** Sunday~Fundays ~ 2021:

#21/=1 for 2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/04/sundayfunday-21soul-food-clandestine.html

#22/= 2 for 2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/05/sundayfunday-22olympic-peninsula-loop.html

#20/2020 – The last of the 2020 Sunday~Funday’s – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2020/09/sundayfunday-20-deep-river-eden-valley.html (plus 10^th thru 19^th SUNDAY~FUNDAY links)

#9/2019 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2020_04_27_archive.html (plus 1st thru 8th 2019 SUNDAY~FUNDAY links)** 

Meaningful Mondays ~ 2021:

#1/2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/05/meaningful-monday-mccormick-park.html

Wandering Wednesdays ~ 2021:

#1/2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/05/a-day-to-remember.html

Traveling Thursdays ~ 2021:

#3/2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/06/lincoln-city-thursday-solo-lobo-daytrip.html

#2/2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/04/traveling-thursday-sulkum-huff-and-puff.html

#1/2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/04/traveling-thursday-3-county-hopscotch.html

Freewheeling Fridays ~ 2021:

#1/2021 – https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/05/a-boarishboorish-day-centralia-daytrip.html

TRYING TO FIND BALANCE

My husband liked food.

All the Hargands’ like their food.

All of the Hargand’s (with the exception of Bob's mother, who, in MHO is seriously too thin) are seriously overweight … me included.

After Bob graduated to our celestial home on December 14^th, 2018, I noticed in February that I had shed a remarkable 25 pounds!

Even though I was eating every day.

My eating habits had changed – Bob liked his meat and potatoes type of meals with deserts; me, not so much. I am happy with soups, stews, and casserole type meals. I do like cookies & peanut butter on saltines though, and THAT would be my downfall no matter what I do to curb the weight and rein it in.

My double chin is gone and I don’t look like a chipmunk with stuffed cheeks anymore.

That is good: VERY GOOD :-D

But my weight has been holding steady ever since then; if I could drop another 25 pounds, I’d be tickled pink: still overweight, but I understand that at 62, a little extra weight isn’t necessarily a bad thing: (https://www.theseniorlist.com/blog/four-reasons-extra-weight-older-adults/)

So: I am trying to find a balance.

I have started a calorie counting regime every day to tally the meals I eat … MORE discernment is needed in regards to what I eat, when I eat it, and how often I enjoy it: I can still eat what I enjoy, but I just have to spread it out a bit more throughout the months. That I can do because now that I am only 1, my meals get broken down into serving sizes and frozen for future meals. Thank God I have 2 freezers.

This is how I eat now, and how I also freeze future meals: 1/4 of my plate holds a palm-sized portion of protein (either animal meat or bean ‘meat’ based); 1/4 of my plate holds a fist-sized portion of whole grain food stuff (https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/whole-grain-foods#section14) – here I have to be very careful because my body does not digest whole grains, but rather causes internal damages: so I have to be very selective and very, very careful to break it down to safely eat it so it does not tear me up inside; the last 1/2 of my plate is piled with veggies (I love veggies – Bob not so much). Bob always 1/2 a plate of meat, and the rest of his plate was filled with a good portion of a desert and/or a fruit, and very skimpy on the veggies – unless, the vegetable was potatoes. LOL

Reportedly, women should also be getting at least 20-25 grams of fiber a day into their bodies (men shouldn’t?). Thankfully, there are food stuffs other than the dangerous “ify” whole grains, that I can actually eat … and that I actually enjoy eating ;-) (https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/22-high-fiber-foods#section23) That these foods are safe for me to eat, and safe to make their way through my body without causing havoc in their wake, is a mega plus. The idea is that fiber psyches the body into believing it is full – and that curbs the need to feed the ever-hungry-appetite.

But losing weight isn’t enough to be healthy.

Eating well, exercising, staying hydrated, & sleeping well are also important in staying balanced.

Well … I am eating well; and watching it closely in that area of my ‘balanced’ strategy.

And I am staying hydrated – I drink a LOT of coffee, which is a dehydrator, but I balance out my joy-juice cuppa’s with vegetable and fruit juices, as well as bottled waters. So, I feel I am good in that area.

Sleeping well is a bit of a struggle since Bob is no longer with me in the flesh. Since he left me behind, I figure I average about 3 to 4 hours of sleep a night, and sometimes (not always), I manage a short 1 to 2 hr daytime nap when my battery runs low and needs a recharge. So, I do know that I am lacking in the sleep department, but don’t know exactly how to remedy that besides asking Elohim to send Bob back to me. And THAT is never gonna happen.

I have taken major steps towards an actual exercising regime. I used to be an exercise maniac, but when Bob retired and was home all the time, exercise – except for our daily walkabouts and monthly mountain hikes – fell by the wayside. I settled into his sedentary habits. Now, he is no longer here, and I need to get back to giving my body a full body workout again.

SO …

I have started exercising to Senior Exercising Videos, and I called David this morning to draft him into a scheduled walking exercise routine. He agreed, and we begin tomorrow morning at the Lake across from RAL High School. David is an old friend of both Bob & I … and he is retired to now, so he was a natural choice. Still … picking up the phone and asking him to go with me was a HUGE STEP out of my comfort zone for me: had not Bob instilled in me confidence, I could not have done it. It is a beginning :-D

All my gal pals have had knee surgery and are scared to overuse their brand-new-knees. Go figure.

Several of my senior friends have told me they go to dance classes at the Senior Center, but I dance around my home to the background beat of golden oldies blaring from the speakers while I cook or do housecleaning chores, so I am good in that aspect ;-)

On the  other hand concerning exercise, I figure if I manage muscle (legs, hips, shoulders, chest, abdomen, and arms) strengthening exercises as exampled in the videos I use at 8 to 12 repetitions twice daily (as well as tacking on the climbing my porch stairs, and carrying heavy loads like groceries or gardening things) at least twice a week; and if I manage balance training exercises like walking heel-to-toe, standing from a sitting position (which I do constantly every day, all day), as well as the other recommended simple senior balance exercises (https://seniorsforseniors.ca/best-exercises-to-help-seniors-maintain-their-balance), I will be doing my body and myself huge favors that will pay off in dividends like a healthier life and the ability to continue living independently in our home until Elohim calls me home too.

Do any of these activities I do add up to the recommended 150 to 300 minutes of physical activity the medical field says seniors NEED? I don’t know … I never tallied up the time spent doing any of them. Maybe I will start keeping a tally sheet.

But WHATEVER I do, my goal is to shed some more pounds and get back to a healthy weight again (https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/average-weight-for-women#relationship-between-weight-and-height), using common sense; remembering that I am now 62, not 22 ;-)

Starving myself or driving my body beyond the limitations is not in the present notations … trying to find balance IS.