ST. HELEN’S DAYTRIP

I woke up about 7:30 AM, this morning; and “St. Helen’s” ran through my mind before my eyes were even fully open … and I tried to put the thought off after I rubbed the sandman residue out of my eyes, and got up out of bed.

I ate breakfast/made the bed/swept the floors – but the thought was still with me at 9:30; so, I shrugged and thought ‘why not? Just do it Val, and see what the day gives you’ … I got dressed and hit the road.

St. Helens, OR from Heron Point, WA. 38 min (28.3 mi) via US-30 E 

The temperature as a sun-kissed 41-degrees when I got into the car and drove out of the Park; and the talking head on the radio was promising sunny days climbing into the 60’s until Thursday evening.

The day was looking very good, and the week appeared very promising 😉

Crossing the bridge and jumping the border into Oregon, I started getting excited: I was so ready for a day spent out of home and on the road! I’ve been hiking all the local trails, but I have been chomping at the bit for a lengthy drive and a change of scenery 😊

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLlown9_G3w)

First out-of-town daytrip since November 2020.

The roads were free of ice, and storm-blown debris – thank God. Traffic was light, too.

When I reached St. Helen’s, I did a little shopping: Spring themed things at the Dollar Store (the Dollar Store here, at home, carries a different stock of items) – and yarn at the Wal*Mart across the highway (a $7 difference in price, for the exact same yarn). I also bought a stackable shelving unit (I found out at checkout that it was on sale: score!): I know how to put this together … no tools required 😉

Stackable shelving unit.

Glancing out the windshield as I slid into the driver’s seat, in the Dollar Store parking lot; I saw the snowy sides of Washington’s Mt. Saint Helens, in the distance … and I didn’t cry when I thought of Bob logging that mountain’s timber, on and off, throughout the years of his adult life – and the many afternoons we spent enjoying the volcano before her 1980 eruption.

My heart is on the mend.

Feeling pleased with my personal progress, and my frugal bargains; and enjoying the sunny warmth of the day as I headed the car towards home … I caught a glimpse of cars parked in the parking lot of Noi’s Thai Kitchen Restaurant.

On impulse, I flicked my turn signal on and decided to join the car lineup 😊

Bob and I had always wanted to try this restaurant – but it was never open for business when we passed through St. Helens (we always missed the ‘open for business’ time slot); it was open today, and I was not going to pass up this opportunity!

Perhaps this was the reason getting to St. Helen’s today, was impressed heavily on my thoughts this morning …

St. Helen's, OR; Thai Kitchen OPEN!

Laid back interior; nothing fancy, but clean and friendly.

Thai Tea: YUMMY.

Pretty Jade colored floor tiles ...

Fried Rice w-Shrimp & Pineapple; very tasty. Bob would have enjoyed this dish, also. I also got Chicken Chow Mein to break down, and freeze at home.

Koi pond at entrance. 19 count! I used to have a yellow one, too, when we lived on Merritt Drive. It grew to the length of my hand before it died in a snap freeze.

I am so glad the restaurant was open this afternoon: the food was delish! And I ate it without tearing up, thinking of how much Bob would have enjoyed the place if he were still here. I like our local Thai restaurant too, but the food here was of a different flavor – I will definitely be stopping at Noi’s again when I am in that neck of the woods 😊

The drive back home was considerably warmer (I was regretting the sweater I wore), as the temperature had climbed to 59-degrees by the time I passed through Rainer; heading towards the bridge to pass back into WA, around 1:30 PM.

When I parked the car at home, I stuck the Dollar Store scroll-shaped-wire trellises in my potted roses, for updated support; kicked my shoes off when I got inside the house, and stashed the yarn skeins in my dwindling stockpile … then I portioned my delicious Thai meals into freezer pans: I am serious about shedding some more pounds – but I like to eat delicious food, too 😉

Freezer Meals - 1 Rice w-Pineapple & Shrimp; 2 Chicken Chow Mein.

Today was a good day, all the way around.

I am glad Spring has arrived … and Daytripping will be happening again; I have missed my road romances 😊

ENERGETIC WEEKEND

My ‘Island of Rest’ was a quiet space of bustling activity – here, in the PNW, we have to ‘make hay while the sun shines’: and that can be a tricky undertaking, as the sunshine in the PNW usually shines through briefly … and behind schedule 😉

I try to make sure all my weekly tasks are completed before Shabbat kicks in Friday evening; and I don’t plan on leaving my personal space (house and property) until Sunday rolls around – this is flexible, as this weekend proved 😊

I am a Messianic Christian, blending my Jewish heritage with my Christian Faith: I bend to the Will of Elohei, rather than to religious observances. Under the Law of Grace, I am not bound by the Shabbat ordinances … but I CHOOSE to incorporate the Shabbat ‘Island of Rest’ observance into my life for the refreshment it brings into my life: while, as a Christian, I have communion with Elohei 24/7/365; the Shabbat 24-hour period of rest is enjoyable, as well a necessary – during this span of time, time kinda stands still … passing in a slow pace, basking in Elohim’s favor, and reflecting on all God’s glory, faithfulness, love, and mercy.

I LIKE setting that 24-hour period of time aside to spend with my Father (Elohim) and my Husband (Yeshua): I am glad Yeshua thought of this ‘Island of Rest’ … taking time to make time for refreshing body, mind, and soul … concept when He had finished with Creation 😉

Friday morning blew in wet and stormy – getting out of the house was not going to happen; so, I did three loads of laundry … went outside to the shed, and pulled the eight metal trellises I use for pea supports in my garden area … and laced bird netting to them in preparation for my Spring garden:

Netting cut to fit trellis.

Securing bottom edge of netting against shifting, & lacing net to trellis.

Fitting top netting to curvature ... and FINISHED :-)

The last load of laundry finished drying as I tied off the last lacing knot on the last trellis 😊

I hauled the net-laced trellises back out to the shed – and walked the basket of laundry to the bedroom, and started folding/putting things away; and then settled in for a relaxing evening of Youtube black-n-white movies while I ate Supper.

After Supper dishes were washed and set to drip-dry, I finished up the preemie baby gowns I had started earlier in the week. Preemie babies have a special place in my heart.

I had a friend in high school who gave birth to a premature baby – that baby was so small, her adoptive father (the man who married my friend), could hold her in the palm of one hand: that little bit of humanity grew up strong and healthy … and is today, a mother, herself.

My youngest brother’s third child was a preemie – Jamie Lee was the size of a Barbie Doll when she was born … she looked so small and fragile in that incubator! Today she is in her thirties, is taller than I am, and weighs more than I do.

So, making these little preemie gowns brought back a lot of memories – and I knitted each one with love to honor the little warriors who will wear them.

Preemie Baby Gown - drawstring hemline; tiny sleeves .

Preemie baby Gown FINISHED.

Preemie Baby Gown FINISHED. Made for a Fall baby; Fall Button trims.

Starting 2 more preemie baby gowns ...

Saturday, the sun showed; so, I decided to get the primroses I had bought Wednesday, into the front garden beds:

Shasta Daisies cleaned up, and Primroses planted; 7 count between the 2 front flowerbeds.

Tete-a-tete Daffodils coming up amongst the Hens-n-Chicks at the base of the ornamental Maple.

The garden beds may not look so spiffy now, but they will look real pretty in a couple weeks when the dormant perennials spring to life in the warming weather. There are Cabbage-leaf Begonias, Shasta Daisies, Delphiniums, Calla Lilies (smaller variety), Carnations (mat type), Daffodils, Crocuses, Alliums (smaller varieties), and creeping Stonecrop sedum already established in each flower bed (I planted all those in 2017 after we bought this house – I brought those transplants from our previous home); the primroses will add early color to each front flower bed before the rest bursts forth with renewed life 😊

Also, when the rains let up, and the sun shines longer than an hour between rainy periods; I plan to tackle the moss issue on the flower bed decorative edges. People have suggested bleach to kill the moss … but I don’t want to damage my flowers. An internet search suggested using soda as a safe and effective moss killer, without damaging my plants: we’ll see – I’ll try that when I am assured the soda powder will have time to work its effects before the inevitable PNW rain showers wash it away.

Today – this Sunday, I am still enjoying my extended hiatus from socializing: either in person, or through social media; I am enjoying the solitude, and the rest from the world’s stressful madness.

CULTIVATING A WINNING MINDSET

It's been quiet in my small corner of the world all of last week, and half of this one. I hope my friends had it as easy 😉

Elsewhere, it's been a bit of a mess, with floodings in various regions, landslides in other regions, and roads literally coming apart & falling into the mighty Columbia River <:-O

Road erosion at Dismal Niche; the ground is so saturated.

So far, the landscape of 2021 doesn't look any better than 2020: and politically we are being gang-raped ... I don't say that flippantly: and YES, I DO KNOW what rape means; that is WHY I used that specific word. It fits >:-P

Let's hope that the next week comes at us a little easier, and a lot less messy.

I'm still being me 😊

Living my days day to day, trying to keep my "attitude" in check (some days, just saying, 'what the hell!' and letting it fly, dealing with the chips as they fall); and ducking my head when I leave the house to avoid all the flying crap (weatherwise, and otherwise).

I had an early morning appointment in town; so, before I came home, I did some shopping at Lowe’s in preparation for my Spring garden area. My ordered seeds still have not arrived, but I can clean up the front flowers beds and get things ready for the seeding of garden boxes when the seeds arrive – so that is what I started doing today 😉

This after noon I cut wire cages down, trimmed overwintered flower pots of old growth and dead foliage – giving the new growth space to come up healthy and strong, for pretty displays; and sprinkled Preen weed-n-feed in everything that is sending out new growth.

I used Bob's Wire Cutters to cut 6 tomato cages down to use in my flower pots.

Lower portion of tomato cage used in the Chrysanthemum pots; the wire support will be hidden as the flowers fill out, and grow upwards.

Tomorrow, I’ll bring the Geranium containers out of storage, and trim/fertilize them, too; so they are looking nice when set out on the front porch in a few weeks.

And Saturday … if the weather is nice like today, I’ll spruce up the front flowerbeds and get these primroses & a pot of daffodils I bought this afternoon, into the front flowerbeds where they will root and naturalize.

I will plant these Primroses Saturday, if the weather is like today. 7 ct.

I'm still not peopling - people are still fear-mongering, with a hateful vengeance; and I don’t want to be sucked into that.

I've been reading, plotting garden plans, working on designs again (while enjoying the occasional old black-n-white movies), and enjoying the peacefulness of solitude.

Currently, I am knitting preemie gowns and hats for the local Crisis Pregnancy Center; these gowns are for true preemies … not 7 to 8 pound full-term babies born a week ahead of schedule (those are not true preemies): the gowns I am working up are for babies 3 to 4 pounds, whose parents cannot afford the overpriced preemie clothing required for their hospitalized babies. Clothing to keep them warm. Clothing that will allow for life-saving tubes to be fed through clothing opening. Clothing that will allow their babies to look like babies that are loved and wanted. Clothing designed with hope, and made with love.

Preemie Drawstring Gown. 

My days, since I pulled back from the communism leaning social mediums … have been relaxing, peacefully played out, and happily productive.

It's been quiet in my small corner of the world.

And my thoughts are focused on a winning mindset 😊