1 YEAR AGO, TODAY …

One year ago, today, I posted this to my FB Page: Bob, had, at that point in time, been in the local hospital for 5 days.

It showed up in my “FB Memories” reminders today – and tears threatened.

BUT, I KNOW where Bob IS today: and Elohim is STILL on His throne.

And Bob is walking the streets of gold – up yonder, where there is no more pain, no more tears, and he is enjoying a brand-new body & life. I am happy for him.

**********

1 year ago

Valeria Hargand is feeling peaceful.

September 4, 2018 at 7:05 PM

Just had a hair-graying moment!

While talking with Shay around 2 p.m., Bob's doctor called me and said he had been moved to ICU with heart failure and difficulty breathing ... so I rushed to the hospital as legally as possible to make sure I was there with him IF he decided to walk the streets of gold; and his sister Merry called all his siblings and mother - I would have preferred Rose NOT be called because she is 80-something - downside of 80 - and I didn't want to send her into heart attack mode.

The skinny is this: he is critical and being kept in ICU overnight, BUT I talked to the doctor outside Bob's room and she assured me that while she "can not 100% guarantee that he is not dying; he is not dying right now". Relief time. So SIL called everyone back and told them to cancel plane tickets and take their shoes back off.

If he behaves in ICU and his body relaxes, he will be bumped back upstairs tomorrow. MORE days in the hospital. He is in SO MUCH pain and discomfort as 1 by 1 his organs go into shock and searing pain. Doc says the gall bladder still has to eventually go and that the liver, pancreas, and kidneys are "doing much better", but that the heart and lungs are struggling because the water they filled him with to rehydrate him sent THOSE organs into water-logged shock; and his lungs are filling up too (because he has been bed-ridden for 6 days).

HOWEVER, before I prepared to come back home because he was wanting to keep talking to me through the face mask and he isn't supposed to be talking or fidgeting, he asked me what I thought he should do. I said, "Please don't ask me that; I love you Babe. We have already talked about this (years of talking about this) and naturally I want 20 more years with you. But not in constant searing pain if you want to go meet Jesus. Don't worry about us - we'll be fine." And we will be: I KNOW where he is going. And I want him to leave, IF he wants to, with peace of mind and assurance that he won't be leaving any of us in a lurch IF THAT IS his CHOICE.

This has been the hardest day of my entire life.

But I know that Elohei has it ALL under control.

And I know that WHATEVER the outcome will be ... HE is still ON the Throne and Yeshua is on the Mercy Seat.

Help me Yeshua as I walk through the valley of death with my loved one ... comfort us as we face the unknown, and hold us up when confusion and uncertainty threaten to undo us. Amen.

MIND AT EASE …

After I came home Friday afternoon, following Bob’s Celebration of Life event, I was bugged about there being no actual marker to show specifically where Bob’s cremains urn-box WAS; so, this morning, I set out to rectify that – the headstones are set quite a way back from the actual location of placement; and I don’t want to lose sight of the actual location when the grass growth comes in, blends well, and hides it:

My backpack purse is right above Bob's Urn Box location - quite a ways away from the headstones. I wanted to mark the exact location today.

But first, I had to figure out how to let the back seats down. I went out and studied the seats … and could only set them down half way. I came back in the house and researched the Highlander “quick reference” books – NO GO; not helpful at all. Finally, in desperation, I drove across town and crossed the border into Kelso, driving into the Toyota Dealership service kiosk, and ASKED if someone could please show me how to set the back seats down: someone could :-D I paid attention, and now I know how to do it too. LOL

I also found out that there is a 3^rd row of seats behind the back-passenger seats; this Highlander is more like a minivan than a car – that was a surprise! But, that’s good to know, in case I ever need extra seats. I had the tires checked too; I noticed at the cemetery on Friday, that there was broken glass in the gravel – if my tire had been compromised, I wanted to know: they hadn’t. Thank you, Yeshua.

After leaving Toyota, I drove further into Kelso, to Wilco, to find a windchime I thought would please Bob: he always liked windchimes, and I thought that would add a nice touch to the marker I had in mind to set up on our plot block. On my way back to the car, I saw a dime; so, I picked it up and felt very blessed thinking about the 10 pennies that make up that dime: it almost felt like Bob was approving of what I was about to do later on ;-)

When I thought about doing this, I had intended to be on the road by 9 a.m. … instead, with the drive into Kelso and back home; where I then loaded the wrought iron marker I wanted to use; hunted for the tape measure, pliers, needle nose pliers, ball-peen hammer; grabbed a solar light; shovel; and my little ladder … it was 10:19 a.m. Still pretty early, so I took my time: if cars riding my bumper wanted to pass me – I let them …

I settled in for a leisurely drive, and enjoyed the ride :-D

Ocean Beach Highway doesn't scare me, at all ...

There was a little bit of weather disturbance happening at Nasa Point, but it played itself out by the time I got past Cathlamet:

When I got to Eden Valley Cemetery, the ground was still soft enough to be worked, so I didn’t need the shovel at all – I just used the ball-peen hammer to set the wrought iron hanger in place (I used an old citronella lantern cup holder I had on hand): I set it alongside the placement. It went in easily – but the setting was solidly in place because I hammered it in well below the surface; and as the ground settles and wettens with the season, it will be set fairly hard, helping to keep the wrought iron hanger in place. And I noticed, that when I stood up, I could easily reach the cup to set the ivy in (silk foliage, so I won’t have to worry about it drying and dying: I brought this from home): it is over my head, but I can reach it with a stretch that doesn’t make me stand on my toes. I was able too, to hang the windchimes easily – this I did with the aid of the needle-nose pliers to securely fasten the added chimes holder to the cup’s open-work design. I figured the added sturdy chime holder, which I bought with the chimes, would be better than trying to fasten the chimes with baling wire (which I always have trouble tightening significantly – Bob did it perfectly. But, I am not Bob). I also pounded a metal pipe into the ground at the right-side front corner, to highlight the length and width of the placement. Then, I placed the solar light atop the pipe – the pipe does stick up quite a length out of the ground, but that’s okay with me: at least it won’t get sucked under when the ground begins to settle. I am happy with the result …

I used Bob’s tape measure to measure the accurate location from the top of the headstones, so if the groundskeepers move the things I set in place today – I will KNOW where the placement IS to reset everything. Sometimes the groundskeepers lift things to make mowing the grass easier ... and they don't reset them; they just leave them on the headstones. That can be a problem with Bob's placement location if it isn't properly marked, or noted.

I thanked Elohim for blessing my endeavors with decent weather and ease; and I spent a few moments at Bob's urn-box location – just remembering his handsome face and his infectious laughter, then I did a walk through.

Cemeteries don't bother me; and this cemetery is full of Bob's relatives, so I felt right at 'home'; maybe it's the Hungarian blood in my DNA ;-)

Old headstone - gothic in design.

Bob’s mother’s grandfather, Frank Smalley married Mary Matilda Olmstead – whose father was Allen Olmstead. Frank Smalley was Bob’s great-grandfather; his grandfather, Henry Smalley’s father …

Bob's relative, and a Civil War Vet. Family records have it that Allen’s real name was Oris Olmstead. He had enlisted in the confederate army – but got disillusioned, deserted & enlisted in the Union Army: he changed his name so that the confederate army could not trace him; his new name, Allen Olmstead is listed on the Civil War Union Army records; Company “A”, Seventeenth Infantry. The Olmsteads were Seventh Day Adventists. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_in_the_American_Civil_War)

I am GLAD to KNOW I did not marry into a confederate family! It did worry me when I found out his family came from Kentucky – I am dead-set against ANYTHING that smacks of confederate leanings or connections: I am Yankee, born and bred … and so was Bob’s grandmother, Myrtle Smalley.

JAMES SMALLEY. Frank Smalley’s father – Bob’s mother’s great-grandfather. Born in Mason County, Kentucky; married Martha A. McCann in Feather River, California; settled in Crooked Creek (Eden Valley), Washington

Henry Smalley’s father – Bob’s mother’s grandfather. Born in Tigard, Oregon; married Mary Matilda Olmstead – daughter of Oris Olmstead (Allen Olmstead) – in Crooked Creek (Eden Valley), Washington. Frank Smalley’s homestead on Crooked Creek, Eden Valley is recorded in Wahkiakum County book A099, Cert# 3364, Appl# 7331, July 1896. Bob’s Grandfather, Henry Smalley was born in the house on that homestead, October 13^th, 1900. Henry married Bob’s grandmother, Myrtle Goodrich, September 1^st, 1925. Henry was 81 years old when he died; I loved Bob’s grandparents: they welcomed me into the family with open arms when Bob & I were dating.

Frank’s Smalley’s mother – Bob’s mother’s great-grandmother.

Bob's great-uncle, and great-aunt; his grandfather Henry's brother, and his wife. I knew of Vivian before I knew Bob's name ... Vivian baked cakes for everyone in Wahkiakum County - and those cakes were artistic creations. My mother bought birthday cakes and graduation cakes from Vivian. They also raised exotic meats, such as ostrich's - and we would drive out with our children to look at them.

I don’t believe there are any Bell’s in the Smalley or Olmstead lineage, so I am not sure where these folks figure in the cemetery; possibly community folk who lived in the Valley:

I wonder if I am related to these people. There are Bells in my mother's family lineage.

Coming off the KM, headed towards home coming into Skamokawa, I decided to take a turn out West Valley Road, just to stroll down another memory lane – I walked all over the Skamokawa valleys as a teen: the valleys hold a lot of memories for me. First off, I saw the Quigley House and memories of Mike Quigley made me smile and laugh – Mike had been sparking me before my family moved to Cathlamet (I liked Mike, but he wasn’t “the face”), and I laughed out loud when I thought of the time he came calling and I made him donuts that were hard as rocks … he teased me by bouncing them off the blacktop – we laughed about that for years; until he died much too young in a horrific work related accident.

One evening, after I married Bob, Mike came with David Almer to visit after work; and was asked to stay for Supper (Bob was never jealous of my guy pals – he knew I wouldn’t jump the fence): I made Spaghetti Dinner. It was a DISASTER … but my fellas ate it without complaint: their eyes laughed though as they ate the ice-cold noodles smothered in hot sauce (I followed the recipe exactly; but didn’t know to rinse the noodles again with warm water). My mother never taught me to cook – she thought I was too homely to ever catch a man’s attention, so she focused all her attention on teaching the show-pony daughter, Ramona, how to cook: I was taught to clean house and care for everyone – my mother figured I’d be the family spinster. She didn't know that Ramona was a party girl - guys would date her, but no one wanted to marry her. When she did get narried ... it was a shot-gun affair, And still miserable.

My mother never saw Bob coming ;-) Bob loved me for who I was – not for what my mother saw. Bob told me I was beautiful: imperfections included. And because HE BELIEVED IT, I believe it. We had 44 happy years together.

Bea NEVER imagined I would ever be loved, let alone happily and passionately loved by a man who treated me like a queen.

Anyway, back to the cold-noodle Supper …

When Supper was finished and I was embarrassed – Mike lightened the mood by telling Bob about the rock-hard donuts; and Mike and I started laughing so hard at that memory that we had tears rolling down our faces: my mind was off the disastrous Supper and set at ease. The cold Spaghetti paled in comparison to the rock-hard donuts, and Bob joined in the laughter. I eventually learned to cook real good – no more donut rocks, and no more cold noodles :-D

IT FELT GOOD TO LAUGH AGAIN.

A bit further up the road, I saw the field - to the left of the road - where Bob and I were driving one Spring afternoon; and at that time, the field was FULL of daffodils as far as our eyes could see. There had, at one time been a homestead there and field mice had, over time, carried the bulbs all over the field where they naturally naturalized. Bob knew I like daffodils, and waited every Spring for them to appear; so, on this day we were out for a drive, he stopped the truck and walked into the field to gather an ARMFUL of the daffodils for me: that is the kind of man my husband was. He loved me.

I wanted to push on towards Brookfield … but a truck is really needed for that; no telling what the road looked like past the “primitive road” warning: it’s been a while since we’ve been out that way. So, I turned around at the end of the blacktop, and headed back to the main highway. Towards home.

My mind was at ease when I pulled into the carport.

And then, I noticed that the clapper on the windchimes Bob & I had bought 2 decades ago had broken off. I figured I could fix it, so I did:

I am not going to throw these chimes away! They are really starting to show their age after decades of windy abuse, but I am tired of losing and/or replacing things Bob & I enjoyed together - I will keep this thing together!

I’m pretty confident the ‘fisherman’s tie’ Bob showed me how to do, will hold.

My mind was at ease ;-)

And I decided to pull the Summer porch décor too, and set the stage for Fall’s arrival …

Raven Wreath hung on the front door. Bob & I were at a Bazaar in Gobel, OR, one year where I was selling my handcrafts; and I saw this wreath ... and just had to have it ;-)

Scarecrow Rug laid at the front door entrance.

The Fall ‘Welcome’ Wall Plaque was hung by the front door entrance.

 I hung a decorative Scarecrow Broom on the windowed carport door.

And laid the Owl Rug at the carport entrance - this will have to be replaced, since there is only me here now: and I am no longer a 'night-owl'; I seem to have taken on Bob's slepping pattern ... early to bed/early to rise. It's weird for me!

It feels good to get back into the swing of things. Doing these simple things, mundane as they are, set my mind at ease.

It was a good day today.

I felt Bob's spirit all around me - all day long.

I love you, Babe.

Always.

OX

ACTION-PACKED DAY

My garden was lousy this year – the sun was hidden most of the growing season by heavy gray clouds (kinda like hovering sea fog), I am assuming were the result of the river so close. Added to those clouds was a thick humidity, and brutalizing strong river gusts that dried the garden growth as well as beat the garden with punishing blows: gardening just plain sucked this year:

While I was watering the tomatoes & peppers, Pam called and asked if I’d like to go walking with her & Frank around the Lake – I said I would. I like walking and walking partners, now that Bob is no longer here, are hard to hook up with; so, I was thankful they called. We had a nice walk, and good convo.

Frank's family lived next door to Bob's family in Cathlamet; Frank kinda idolized Bob - Bob was a good man to want to imitate ;-)

When I got home, I called Indy Way Diner to see if they had liver on the menu today; they did. So, I ordered a take-out meal of Liver w-onions, baked Potato, and Corn on the cob: I love liver with onions; and I need the iron liver provides.

I arrived at the diner early, so I sat out in my car and did a Word Search puzzle until 4 o'clock … and received the news that my sister, Iris, had died. I had been expecting it for weeks, but, when I got the call – it was hard news to hear. My heart, though I do not really know Rick (Iris's husband) other than talking on the phone, goes out to him: he is facing the hardest thing he will ever face in his life. His life has changed in ways he won't be able to grasp for months yet.

Iris and I weren't real close because we had only found each other about 7 months ago; but we became fast friends. And we loved each other. I will miss her sorely ...

My sister, Iris & her husband, Rick. They are Lutherans, and Iris confessed to me that she was "not a good catholic": I do not think she was saved - that was the impression she gave me when she talked about God and religion That means that we will never talk to each other again. That is hard to bear.

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/09/i-will-miss-my-sister.html)

I really hope this is the last death I will have to hear about, and face for a long time …

I WILL MISS MY SISTER

My older sister, Iris, died this evening at 5:30 CDT ... 5 hrs/27 minutes ago.

I always knew about Iris, since I was 10 years old - and heard the adults talking. I was always curious: I wanted to know about this person who was older than me.

I asked questions ... and was immediately shut down. The adults talked about her existence among themselves - but they didn't think "that" was something to be shared with "a child".

I don't know what would have happened had my parents not met, got married, and got pregnant with me. I know they were all caught up in wartime drama; and the result was electrifying.

But, since finding out about her, I always loved Iris - ALWAYS. There wasn't a day gone by since I heard her name mentioned, that I did not love her.

When I met my husband, and we started dating exclusively, I told him about my older sister; who I never met, but was aware of. I told him that I loved her; and I wished I could know her. I wondered what she looked like - where she lived (did she live in Germany, or did she live in the USA) - I hoped she had a good life.

And I always hoped we would meet someday.

Elohim was faithful :-D

That day came shortly after Bob graduated to his forever home above the clouds, December 14th, 2018 - Iris called me shortly thereafter. My youngest sister, Carla had done a 23nme DNA test and that is how we all connected.

Though we didn't actually meet face-to-face, our hearts did meet via a phone call and FB connection following:

I was excited! Elohim was answering a prayer decades old: He was favoring me with my sister's voice!

I wished Bob could have been here for that airwaves "meeting"!

Bob would have liked Iris too - she was SO EASY to like.

Iris & I talked several times - phone & FB; I cherished every convo.

She will be forever missed in my life.

I feel blessed to have had time spent getting to know her - brief though it was.

SUNDAY FUNDAY 2

I drove up the Toutle; it was a nice sunny day – just right for a Fall Funday Drive. Bob spent time up Toutle while growing up: his parent’s camped at Silver Lake; in his teen years, he and his pals spent a lot of time swimming on Tower Road, a spur off the main Toutle road; and his parents bought a piece of property near Silver Lake; right on the main highway, and Bob lived with them for a bit when he and Gloria were split up the first time. I spent time on the Toutle before I even saw, or knew, Bob: my Uncle Don Anderson, helped build the Spirit Lake Highway Bridge – and both families, his and mine, camped the summer on the Toutle while that bridge was being built: my cousin, Timmy, hunted big fat, long, night crawlers by flashlight – and sold them to the Silver Lake fish shack for summer money. Timmy also taught me how to fly fish that summer.

And Bob & I spent a lot of time in Toutle over our 44 years together ;-)

It was an emotional drive … BUT ALL the drives are emotional drives, because the drives I do are places Bob & I went for 44 years. I can’t stand being cooped up and penned in by 4 walls; so, I have to get out of the house quite a bit – and Bob understood that: we were taking drives almost every other day after he took early retirement 8 years ago. Sometimes we’d do really-really-LONG drives (like 16 hour round trip drives, or overnight mini vaca’s; sometimes we’d do a week long vaca. But mostly we just did quick short drives, like over the Delameter loop, and back home). I really needed this drive today.

And these emotional drives are getting better and better – I’m not shaky now when I get in the car, and I don’t feel like I am having a near heart attack when I go places without him next to me. It’s a bittersweet experience, & memory jog now. I’m happy I HAD those times with him, to remember; so, I don’t let those memory flashbacks bother me like they used to, when the loss of his presence was so fresh & raw. I still feel his absence in my life, but it’s not an acute missing – his absence doesn’t throw my heart into seizure mode now.

I know I want to get back into the mountains – specifically Mt. Rainier, but honestly, I am not confident that I CAN DO that solo – or even with Kerry as a traveling companion (I like to be on the road A LOT … and Kerry isn’t my husband; he will not want to go with me whenever I wake up with the ‘urge to surge’  - like Bob did. Bob loved me – Kerry doesn’t; Kerry will humor me; to a point). Mt. Rainier is a VERY LONG drive; and I tire easily now – there is no way I can do that drive on my own: Packwood, on the edge of the Mt. Rainier National Park, perhaps. And that’s okay … I like Packwood, and that would be a nice place to visit too; and it would keep the daytrip significantly shorter. I am thinking I may have to rethink day trips and keep them fairly local – like the trip I am doing today.

I was thinking, when I started out this morning, that the drive up the Toutle would be just a quick 1 hour drive: but it was quite a bit longer than that: I really have NO concept of how long the drives we did were because Bob always extended them for me because he knew I needed to be out of the house for a bit – so now I KNOW, for future references - that this round trip drive will take me 4-1/2 hours from start to finish; Packwood would be the same time-frame as today – so it is totally doable ;-)

From Longview to Packwood Map

Getting back to today’s daytrip … I went over Delameter from home, for a nice, leisurely country drive all the way around; and - as happens in a country setting - a deer passed in front of my car just before Ragland Road, up Coal Creek Road:

Map from Castle Rock to the Forest Learning Center - which was as far as I went this afternoon. It was a nice drive; the day was perfect for it.

Coming off Delameter, and entering Castle Rock, I stopped at Select Market there and grabbed some fried chicken tender strips …

Passing Silver Lake, a memory of my cousin, Timmy’s smiling devil-may-care face flashed before my eyes:

Along the drive, I stopped by Punkie’s house and told her about Bob’s graduation to Heaven in December 2018. Bob had lived on Bill & Punkie’s property for a bit while his crew logged up the Toutle – their house was the place he died in, in 1981 – when he was dead for 25 minutes before Elohim resurrected him and scared everyone; before he was rushed off to St. John’s Hospital to be tested for 72 hours and leaving doctors mystified as to WHY he died. Punkie and I had a nice visit; I always liked Punkie. I think she is only about 75 years old; I have known her for 48 years, and love her like an older sister. So, that is another loose end that has been tied now.

After that visit, I drove over the first of MANY bridges on the Toutle – the first one was the one my Uncle Don built (I said 1970’s in the video, but upon reflection, I realize it was really the later end of the 1960’s) …

The logging road where our 2 families camped along the river during that time.

Kid Valley is rife with legends: Bigfoot & Harry Truman, among them. Driving through Kid Valley, Harry Truman immediately popped into my memories. Bob actually knew Harry Truman; personally. Bob told me some pretty colorful stories about Harry ;-) And what Bob said was true: Harry refused to leave during the evacuation; and he died when Mt. St. Helen’s blew her top:

Recalling Bob's recollection of Harry Truman, as Bob knew him.

Bigfoot Statue - not sure if Kerry did this one or not: we had heard he did a Bigfoot. Kerry did artistic stuff like this. And he was GOOD at it.

Helicopter Sight-seeing Rides over the crater.

I think another reason – and more than likely, the main reason – Bob didn’t want to finish the Aviation Course was because his wife at that time, Gloria, had slept with His Instructor, Bill Hudson; who was Bob’s friend at the time. Gloria slept with ALL Bob’s friends. It was her way of really digging the spurs in to hurt him, and it was really a rotten thing to do: and it showed the low characters of those questionable men too. When he told me that, I said, “Babe, those guys were NEVER your friends – friends DON’T DO THAT. If these guys were your friends, they would NEVER have slept with your wife.” Bob had a LOT of things to overcome when we were dating. He had really been betrayed, and hurt badly.

As the drive progressed, there was a definite nip in the air, the higher in elevation the road climbed. It was a nice crisp day – not cold: just right. I crossed another lengthy bridge spanning the gorge at about 1,000 feet. As the tires left the bridge at its other end, and touched down on the blacktop, I was thanking Yeshua; and thanking Bob for helping me do this: I could never have done this without knowing they were both with me during this journey.

Bob’s brother, Kerry, lives on the other side of that bridge. Kerry helped with the establishment of the ‘Eco Park’ – a ‘resort’ camp that is supposed to be eco-friendly in every way possible. BUT, because they really screwed my BIL, Kerry, over; I never promote them …

I have never been to Kerry’s home in the Mt. St. Helen’s area – but Bob was, several times. I think the video above is correct, though ;-)

Crossing the bridge, I spotted a definite ancient Cinder Cone. I wanted a picture of it, but I couldn’t just stop in the middle of the bridge … even if I WANTED TO; I could not have done it. Heights really bother me. So, I was thankful, when a few feet off the bridge, I noticed it showing through the tree foliage :-D

And THEN … the Bridge I KNEW I would HAVE to cross appeared! I girded myself, and prepared to meet it head-on. If Bob were in the car with me (actually in the flesh), I would have changed places with him and made him drive over it to get to the other side.

But, Bob is no longer here.

I was on my own. 'God help me’

That bridge was VERY HIGH, and the gorge bottom was very FAR BELOW. Even as a passenger, this bridge scares the hell out of me. But; it was time to ‘grab the bull by the horns’ so to speak; if I wanted to get from ‘here to there’. The bridge is 2,000 feet in elevation – and I literally cried with relief, when I made it to the other end without incident …

Crossing Hoffstat Bridge. Bob could never get me to drive across that bridge when he was with me. So, I was really THANKFUL to both Yeshua, and Bob, for getting me safely across that thing!

Coming up on the Rest Area & Viewpoint on the other side of the Hoffstat Bridge, the right side of the highway had cracked and slid quite a significant piece before settling. I don’t like that; that slippage means the road is unstable in that spot, so I don’t know if I’ll be going that distance again in the future. Stuff like that is worrying.

I finally reached the ‘Forest Learning Center’ & Gift Shop 
(http://www.mountsthelens.com/Forest-Learning-Center.html) – I was amazed I actually DID it ; Bob usually drove us this far because when we reached the Hoffstat Bridge, I would refuse to cross it – he would have to take the steering wheel if he wanted to view the Elk herd.

But, I HAD to cross today.

For several reasons.

I believe we were up here last, about a year and a half ago. We had our grandchildren with us – to show them the Elk herd. We also bought some things in the Gift Shop, but ran out of cash before I spotted the Bigfoot Coffee Mug; so, I bought that mug today ;-)

Ancient Cinder Cones

You don’t have to worry about Grandma, kids; I’ll do okay.

I decided not to push on to Spirit Lake – I only had ½ a tank of gas left, and wasn’t sure how much further up the highway the lake is: maybe another day, I’ll try. And I will leave the carport with a full tank of gas, instead of ¾ full. Just to be on the safe side. Bob would know how much further along the road – and how much gas would be needed: but, Bob is not here now; and I don’t know.

I went further up the Toutle that I thought I would go. And I accomplished crossing that Hoffstat Bridge! So, that was as far as I wanted to push things this afternoon.

So, I turned back towards home.

Catching sight of the Tower Road road sign, I decided to drive that way; it loops around to Spirit Lake Highway, and I knew I would have enough gas for that. I was looking for a specific bridge – the Tower Road Bridge – because Bob would tell me that he used to dive from the top of it. For some reason I assumed the bridge was one of those old green painted metal bridges, but all I saw was a concrete one … and people swimming in the waters below. So, I stopped and asked if this was the Tower Road Bridge. “It must be” is what I got from everyone – no one was a local, so they weren’t sure. I never saw another bridge along the Tower Road road, so it must be :-D

And, it COULD have been as I assumed, BEFORE the eruption (https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/51dd9727e4b0f72b4471d3cb):

Tower Road Bridge. I never saw Bob dive from this bridge (or the original bridge either; but I did watch him dive at other swimming holes, rivers, creeks, and swimming pools. He was awesome to watch – he swam like a fish. He taught our kids to swim too; and they also swim like fish ;-)

I grabbed some river rock to haul home, on my way back to the car. They are blue, green, and red ones. This picture does not do them justice.

The sky viewed through the sun/moon roof.

I may have to drive out here just to spend the day by the river; it’s not that far from home ;-)

Passing back through Castle Rock, on the way home, I saw a Farmer’s market in progress – so of course, I had to stop …

Turnips. I bought 2 bags; I like turnips in the Fall & Winter months. My garden fizzled out  this year.

Saw this sign in the Books & Pub window, when I passed it on my way back to the car from the street tents.

I only used a little over ¼ tank of gas; that’s pretty good for a relaxing drive.

The entire trip was done on backroads.

The best way to travel. MPO ;-)

My shoulders and neck hurts a little – but I am sure that is from the long solo drive; and I was gripping the steering wheel pretty tight going over those stinking bridges spanning the gorge. SIX OF THEM!

Bob would be proud of me.

I can almost hear him saying, “I always knew you could do it, baby; you just have to have faith in yourself.”

I love you, Babe.

Always.

OX

Gift Shop goodies

I know what I KNOW - I don't care if people think I a crazy. I know what we experienced. I saw our wolf's (1/2 Timber wolf/1/2 Gray wolf) fearful concern for out granddaughter's safety. I will never forget that wilderness experience. I will never forget that hauntingly eerie sound - it was unearthly. Bob & I are country people, and we NEVER heard any wild animal sound like that!

Tomorrow, I will start pulling things out of my garden boxes, and getting the boxes ready for their Winter downtime. I’ll drain the rain barrels too – and see if Mike can help me tip them so they empty completely before I store them, until Spring 2020.

Hopefully I can spend more time in the garden area next year instead of being tied up with legal business in town, like I was this garden season – and hopefully the sun will make a better appearance next year too: my garden suffered pretty bad this year because of those 2 factors, which I really had no control over at all :-(