SISTERS

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

Chic & Sister Sledge – ‘We Are Family’ song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lx2NUmxTQ0)

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.

White Pelican: (https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-white-pelican &  https://www.birdadvisors.com/pelicans-washington/)

Spotted where the wind surfers hang out ...

Little Cape Horn & Nassa Point-WA; 3 minutes apart, via Ocean Beach Highway.

‘Nassa & Nassa Point, Washington:(http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/nassa_point.html)

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 Life – the 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

ASTHMA & CONTACT EYEWEAR DO NOT GEL

Monday afternoon, had picked my contacts up at the optometrist office in town.

Contacts.

Tuesday morning, I slid them into my eyes for my 4-hour trial adjustment period.

The contacts were fine for distance.

But after an hour, I was still having trouble with blurriness “up close”, like hand-held things (cell phone: contacts, notifications; books, ect.), laptop keyboard tabs … anything that was not distance related; and that’s a big factor because I like to read my Bible, and read patterns for handcrafts. Plus, I’m a designer, I work with my hands on “up close” handcrafted items, and I put my pattern instructions into print format. Most of my friends are texters: reading and typing are important in my daily life.

I called the optometrist’s office, and the technician said the blurriness may correct itself. Then she added, “If, however, things do not improve today or tomorrow – you may have to get another prescription to put over the contacts”. Uh … NO: that would defeat the purpose of the contacts! I already have glasses coming (ordered the same day I ordered the contacts), that should arrive in a week or so; I do not need another pair of glasses to wear with the contacts!

After my 4-hour morning “adjustment” period was over, I removed the contacts and put my glasses back on.

This morning I suffered another severe asthma attack (first severe attack was Christmas Eve, 2021) – compounded by chronic bronchitis: by the time my lungs had cleared and I could actually suck breath into my screaming lungs, tears were running down my face, soaking my pj top; and I had visible red strain marks on my face from brow to chin … my eyes were running nonstop, and swollen: getting contacts in them was not feasible.

(https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324449#takeaway)

So, when my tortured body settled back into an easy rhythm after it’s Red Zone experience; and I could talk without sounding like a gasping fish out of water, I called the optometrist’s office again and told them to cancel the Contacts Order. The contacts will not work for me. Whether my eyes “adjust”, or not, is no longer the issue. The frequency and severeness of the asthma attacks are the issue … and I am not going to pay good $$$ for a product my body will not be able to fully utilize. I have worn contacts before with success – but in this season of my life, they just won’t work. Letting contacts eyewear fall by the wayside does not send my entire life into a tailspin.

When I ended the convo with the peeved receptionist, I noticed that there was a break in the weather from 11 AM to Noon, so I pulled on some jeans and tied on my hiking boots.

Whenever possible, I do not allow asthma to handicap me 😉

I may not be able to wear contacts to help lessen the blinding effects of sunshine and headlight glare … but I can still enjoy my daily walks when the weather allows 😉

An adjustment not foreseen ...

I have glasses coming ... and that will be my future outlook on life's scenery.

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/04/2-year-eye-exam-2022.html)

Swallows were thick ... and quick, this afternoon along the Pacific Way Trail.

Mama Duck had a busy outing with her babies – all TWELEVE of them; she must be a veteran at successfully raising hatchlings 😉

Ring-neck Duck; male.

Nature's 'Chat Room'. LOL

A clump of Calla Lilies.

When I got back to the parked Highlander, I saw that there was enough time to make the Keenagers gathering; I hadn’t been there for a while, so I decided to go – even if I was dressed in my hiking grubbies.

I was still reasonably presentable 😊

Turning off Pacific Way, and onto Huntington, I was momentarily hung up by landscaping activities.

Landscaping holdup - Huntington Place jump road off Glenwood Drive, ties in with Laurel Road.

Keenagers (across from Montessori) on Columbia Heights, from Huntington Place Road; 3 mins.

I had been missed, and everyone let me know it, with squeals of “Val!” and enthusiastic hugs all around. I enjoyed myself, and when asked what I’ve been doing … I answered truthfully with a smile: “staying alive”.

And I laughed when that song, ‘Staying Alive’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNFzfwLM72c) sung by the Bee Gee’s ran through my mind 😊

When I got back home – barely in the door – my phone rang: another friend needed some time outdoors and asked me if I wanted to go for a walk: I said, “Sure, I’m always game for a walk; do you want to meet out at Willow Grove, or should I come pick you up?” I went to pick her up. We had a nice leisurely riverside walk, shot the breeze on a variety of topics, and enjoyed being together.

Outside.

Soaking up the skimpy sunrays 😊

Kindness, sown in love, is a comfortable 2-way street that always leads to a happy disposition 😉

And I saw, when I got back home and kicked my shoes off … that a snippet of the Angel Wing Begonia plant I hauled home from an Oregon Grange Garage Sale … Bob and I had stopped at on one of our daytrip ventures nine years ago; had finally burst into blossom.

That memory made me smile.

Angel Wing Begonia Blossom; it’s been a looong time coming 😊

So, my day, that started out so precariously amended; ended happy, and on up notes as the day unfolded.