SPRING AT THE LAKE

I had breakfast with a friend this morning; and after our 3-hour chat, I decided to walk around the Lake. I found a spot to nip into, in the small parking turnout on Kessler, and started my hike at the Rhododendron Garden.

Rhododendron Garden at Lake Sacajawea.

I like lots of color in my life – and I got that in spades, this afternoon 😊

2-tone coral bell-shaped blossoms, with a brushed yellow interior w-brown spots.

Exiting the colorful mini-trail, I dodged geese that ambled the main hiking trail, in slo-mo mode, for a good 10 minutes.

And noticed parents with children going in and out of the restrooms: it’s about time the city opened those necessity rooms up.

Geese along the hiking path.

It's about time! These bathrooms have been closed for an entire year.

As I walked, I thought about all the political BS going on: it seems that the demonrats are very deliberately sucking the fun right out of life in any (and every) way they can.

It happens every time the demonrats seize power and run with it.

I truly believe the demonrat party exists to make life on Earth as cheerless as possible.

Gas is high, so I have to be more selective of where I go. Today it was local.

My wings haven't been totally clipped; but they've been weighed down with political BS.

This political BS happens every time there is a demonrat in the White House - it's their toxic M.O.

And, I also got to thinking about my recent citified driving experience.

I said I’d never drive that route again … but … there are going to be times during my adventuring forays that I may encounter citified areas: I have got to get comfortable in that type of situation.

So, I may drive that route a few more times again, just to push past that uncomfortable hurdle.

I have to bite the bullet and get used to citified driving.

I also received an invite to an upcoming BD-Reunion shindig; another important testing of my comfort zone … I like Bob’s Uncle Cliff, and he likes me too – but it will be difficult dealing with some other relative hostility.

But: I was invited: I have a right to be there.  

I'm going.

I will go to represent Bob; and Bob’s love for me. 

And I will enjoy the day.

Tranquility surrounded me; on every level, today.

In my thoughts.

In my heart.

In my forward vision (present & future).

I passed a beautiful large shrub.

White Lacecap Hydrangea.

A guy was mowing the grass and kicking up a dust cloud on the upper trail … so, I veered off to the lower trail.

I took the lower path ... and I'm glad I did!

Yellow Flag Irises were in bloom everywhere around the lake.

The red hued hedge bushes contrast beautifully with the Yellow Flag's. And I caught sight of Gus, the lake's resident Great Blue Heron, too.

He appeared to be preening.

But the nipping and scratching seemed to intensifying - like a dog with fleas.

Then, he flew towards me, and I thought he'd cross the hiking trail. But he didn't.

Imagine my surprise to see him set down so close! It was pretty exciting 😉

As I got closer, I saw a pretty large raw spot on his back. Was he injured - or does he have a skin disease?

I've never heard a Heron before; this afternoon, I did.

Nearing the upper end of the Lake, I was surprised again to see a small heron – its beautiful iridescent plumage sparking in the sunlight is what caught my attention.

I also saw a baby gosling; the gander stood guard, while the goose moved to put herself between me and the baby goose, who was still a little unstable on its feet. It was a sweet wildlife family moment.

I saw a turtle basking in the warm Spring sunshine.

I saw a beautiful variegated Columbine flower – obviously a hybrid.

And I saw a gorgeous hued rhododendron when I passed the Japanese Garden … which is still closed to the public.

Iridescent Rock Pigeons.

A Mallard and his hen.

Wren haven ... under the Louisiana St. overpass.

The white waterlilies are starting to bloom.

A little Green Heron.

(https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/green-heron)

Green Heron in flight.

Variegated Columbine.

Footbridge to the Japanese Garden.

A goose family; parents were very protective.

A turtle sunning itself in the 78-degree sunrays.

Yellow waterlilies are blooming.

Entrance door to the Japanese Garden; still closed ...

Blush pink rhododendron with a flame highlight on upper petal.

Then I was back where I had parked my car – and ready to come home.

It was an altogether enjoyable day 😊

MY GRANDMA BROCKWAY

 

We never went hungry at grandma's house. 

She had a garden every Spring well into the Fall season. Aunt Edna had chickens (before moving to WA in 1966, I lived on a familial homestead that had been in the family for generations - Aunts and Uncles on their own parcel of land; my father built our house a few feet from grandma's because they were getting up there in years).

Grandma could shoot long shots and skin a deer in under an hour - have it hanging and choice bits cooking for Supper ... all before the sun was barely awake.

Grandma plucked chickens for supper and keep the feathers to stuff pillows with.

Grandma sewed, and showed her DIL's how to make store-quality clothing.

Grandma could make grown men behave with just one raised eyebrow, stop fights just by standing up, and stop gossip just by stepping into the room.

Grandma was a kind and gentle woman who also had a no-nonsense streak, rock solid determination, and a backbone of steel. I mangled my ankle one day doing what I was told not to do on the back spokes of my cousin's bike and had to go to the hospital - the doctor there was kinda uppity and did not stitch it; it was healing badly. When I was changing the bandage a few weeks later, my grandmother saw my ankle and was furious. But she calmly said, "George, get the car and drive me into town." A short while later, she was back with a slip of paper with a doctor's appointment on it. She had enough clout to raise hell at the hospital and get the doctor who did not take care of me 'properly' fired; and I saw the other doctor the following week - my scab was painstakingly removed and I was stitched before leaving that doctor's office.

I have a wide scar on my ankle, but every time I see it - I smile. My grandma loved me and did what she had to do to so my ankle would heal without undue complications.

My bike spokes scar; right down to the bone.

Grandma made each child feel special without singling them out for special favors or pampering them to the point of spoiling.

My paternal grandmother looked like a twin to granny from the Beverly Hillbillies.

Seriously.

Grandma Rachel Newman-Brockway; 60+ years old.

Grandma Rachel Newman-Brockway; as a 16-year-old Bride.

In case you can't tell ... I LOVED MY GRANDMOTHER.

And I do my best to imitate her every chance I can.

BABY BIRDS!

I have baby birds in the birdhouse Bob built for me 😊

I was pruning the decorative Maple tree – when I heard the unmistakable cheeping of baby birds.

BABY BIRDS!

I’ve waited years to hear that sound.

The bird couple that sets up house in that bird house every Spring since we moved in here in June of 2017 always laid eggs … but they were empty eggs (I’d find them when cleaning the bird house in the Fall). So, I am elated to know there is a bird nursery in effect this year.

Unmistakable cheeping.

I also weeded the front flowerbeds, placed my geranium pots on the front porch stairs, watered all the planter boxes: and met another new neighbor; they have actually been here a year, but have been following State mandates – today, I guess she just finally had enough of insleeze’s nonsense (our county is back to phase 2 again), and decided to cross the street and introduce herself.

She said, “I saw you out here today, so I thought I’d come and get to know you – my name is Gina”.

And of course, I was a mess … I’d been doing ‘spruce up chores’: I was wearing grubby {work} clothes, had dirt under my fingernails from weeding, and my hair was sticking to me (it was high 70’s). But, we talked for about an hour.

And Betsy stopped for a quick “hi”, too; on her way to downtown.

Tomorrow, I think I’ll start planting the rest of the garden boxes.

MEANINGFUL MONDAY ~ MCCORMICK PARK & Cornelius Pass

The sun made an appearance … and I pulled a slip of paper out of my ambitions jar.

Today's ‘happening’ ...

Exploring St. Helen's, OR.

McCormick Park, St. Helens, OR from Heron Pointe, WA - 39 mins.

Local advice was a little concerning - 12:21 noon.

Off I go ...

So far, everything is A-okay.

I'm liking this Park, straight off.

“It’s A Beautiful Morning”: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64uikGn-q3k)

The Park was well laid out.

It was a clean Park.

The hiking trail was a graveled 2-mile loop trail – it was fairly flat, and wider than a goat trail: very enjoyable.

There was a Frisbee Golf Course that intersected with the hiking trail, but everyone was courteous.

And friendly.

There were wildflowers in bloom everywhere.

But I did not need my inhaler.

And there were artistically painted garbage cans placed at intervals along the trail.

Tiny purple wildflowers.

Fringe cup saxifrage wildflower.

Tiny white daisies.

Blackberry brambles (large white blossoms) & wild strawberries (small white blossoms).

Thimbleberry blossoms.

Thimbleberry blossoms, closeup; & thimbleberry fruit; tart and velvety. Yummy!

Wild roses blossoms.

One of many artistic themed garbage cans. This could be a salamander - or a newt.

There were several more ... but these 4 are the best 'art work'.

Wild Bleeding Heart – I thought of Bob when I saw this flower.

A little forest hidey-hole.

An enjoyable way to walk my kardashian ass off. LOL.

This Park is a clean Park - very nice. I will be coming back here.

Scotch Broom - here there was quite a large patch of it.

Larkspur.

NW Trumpet honeysuckle vine.

Blue wild Iris; when I saw this Iris, my thoughts immediately went to my sister: who died in the Fall of 2019.

After I left the Park, the day was still young; so I thought I’d drive over Cornelius Pass and get something to eat at the Greek deli Bob and I enjoyed.

Heading towards Cornelius Pass.

Cornelius Pass from St. Helens - 24 minutes.

I was hoping the Mad Greek Deli was still operating.

At the top of Cornelius Pass, there was county landscaping going on; the wait was lengthy.

The backup was pretty long before me.

And pretty long behind me.

And the air was pungent with fir scent as overhanging trees were pruned, and the pruning’s were shredded: it smelled good.

Tears did not threaten; even though the smell of fresh cut fir trees will always remind me of Bob bringing that lingering scent home with him after work: in his hair, on his clothes, and dusting his skin … and laughingly dusting me with it, too; with a teasing shake of his head as he bent to kiss me while dropping his lunch pail on the counter and catching Stacey up for a group hug before the door was closed.

Today, the memories did not choke me, or squeeze my heart painfully.

What did threaten to choke me was what greeted my eyes as I turned off NW Germantown Road and drove down NW 185^th to NW Union.

I thought I had taken a wrong road!

There were HUGE housing developments on both sides of the roadway – and the 2-lane road was a 4-lane road with turnouts going every which-way.

I was feeling a little apprehensive and uncomfortable … when I suddenly spotted Albertson’s and started breathing easy again.

Albertson's from Cornelius Pass - 7 minutes.

I knew the Mad Greek Deli was at the junction of NW 185^th and NW Union.

When I made the corner, the deli wasn’t there: all there was, was a large gravel lot: there would be no delicious sandwich for me today – or any day, anymore.

Apparently, the deli had been torn down while Bob was in the hospital November of 2018.

https://pamplinmedia.com/bvt/15-news/411773-312256-iconic-mad-greek-deli-in-rock-creek-comes-down-friday-afternoon

And when I drove to the Albertson’s entrance … I really was beginning to feel lost: the entire Albertson’s parking lot had morphed into a Mall that spanned 4 blocks!

Everything was changed! And not for the better in MHO.

Albertson's parking lot has morphed into a citified Mall!

There must be 150 businesses here now.

It was too much to take in all at once.

Too much has changed since I was last there with Bob; and that wasn’t that long ago.

Since I was there, I decided to grab some things from Albertson’s that isn’t available in Longview. There used to be an Albertson’s store in Longview when Bob and I were first married, but I think it was gone shortly after Stacey was born. I always like Albertson’s baked goods, so I got some today before I left.

And then I sat in the car for a few minutes, regrouping my nerves.

I don’t like big cities – and big city sprawl unnerves me.

I kept telling myself, “Well, Val, you got here okay … you can get out of here okay, too.”

And I wanted Bob.

It is a want that will never again be satisfied.

I learned how to use the self-check; I don't like it.

The road crew was still at it, so I had plenty of time to sit and unwind.

I'm a country girl; this citified experience was overwhelming.

The backroad looks like downtown Portland, now.

I am upset that that relaxing country drive has been turned into a citified jungle nightmare, now.

When I got back to St. Helen’s, it was Suppertime; so, I started looking for somewhere to eat. Every restaurant I tried had closed doors – their signs said they were open for business from 10 AM to 8 PM … but the doors were locked.

I finally found a Mexican place that was open, so they got my business; and I got a good meal with friendly chit-chat 😉

This was the ONLY restaurant open for business, in St. Helen's; just up the street from the Park – where I started this morning.

DELISH! I will be eating here, again.

Today was full of meaningful explorations.

Some fun, some nerve-wracking: ALL important.

**Meaningful Mondays ~ 2021:

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

==Traveling Thursdays ~ 2021:

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

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

==Sunday~Funday’s ~ 2021:

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

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