SMILEY DAY

Two things happened today that still have a smile on my face 😊

I was able to apply makeup this morning … and I was able to spend time with my Sleuth Sisters this afternoon 😉

I also thought I’d be able to drop off my Caring Pregnancy Box – but the place won’t be open for business again, until Tuesday or Thursday: both busy days for me, but I’ll make time to find time. The box is full, and the items are needed necessities.

Caring Pregnancy Donation Box, set out & ready to be delivered.

Finally able to wear makeup again – first time since my bruising & gashing fall, in July. I wore my cobalt blue mascara, to match my top.

As I was leaving Longview behind, I noticed frenzied activity across Ocean Beach Highway (in the Willow Grove vicinity); now I know why I was rudely woken up this morning; by wailing sirens flying down Ocean Beach Highway, past the Heron Pointe.

Now I know what all the early morning sirens were about: 6:30 AM first wailing fly-by, with several following at quick intervals; and seeing police vehicles, emergency responders, ect., lent credibility to 12:15’noon {it looks like a crime scene, to me} speculations.

Already my curious thoughts were going into detective mode 😉

I couldn’t wait to get to the West End of Wahkiakum County; to catchup on everyone’s weekly chit-chat news, arm-chair detective sleuthing, and bask in the warmth of friendship’s unconditional love.

Cooling temperatures, and a light rainfall began in Skamokawa … and continued throughout the day: Fall is quickly arriving.

My body was still a little stiff when I parked at Ramona’s, and slid out of the Highlander: I was definitely feeling the effects of yesterday’s all-day work outside. I was thankful for the ups and downs (helping with lunch prep, and the occasional ‘nature call’) that got me off the sofa to walk the smarting kinks out. My body was reminding me of my age.

Becky's newest slipper project; for one of her granddaughters.

Yesterday's garden area clean-up still being felt ...

We always end the crime sleuthing episodes with a light and humorous ‘Miranda’ episode. I like these, and I watched every one of them the first months of widowhood – I needed laughter in my life then, and I need laughter in my life, now. Ramona has watched all of them too, but they are new to Becky: and Ramona and I howl with laughter … no matter how many times we’ve watched them before 😉

BBC’s ‘Miranda’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQb36tuuSpk

Before I left, I was asked if I would be driving out to the cemetery in Eden Valley: my reply was a definitive “No”. Ramona already knew this. Becky did not.

Becky also does not know who “those people are” ... and she has lived in that area nearly as long as I’ve been in this State! I laughed aloud at the wonder of it (the smalleys have been in WA State – particularly in the West End – since the end of the Civil War era: it is refreshing to know their ‘southern royalty’ narcissism apparently hasn’t really penetrated any further than Eden Valley). Then I told her she was lucky not to know them – she isn’t missing much.

I’m still amazed that my loving, kind, insightful, and compassionate gentle giant – now enjoying a butterfly Life – came from such heartless, cruel, and uncomprehending caterpillar people ☹

I miss my husband. I do not miss his kin.

Enjoyable time well spent ... and more widowhood adjustments applied.

Leaving the crazies behind to eat my dust as I move forward.

‘Missing & Living Fully’ Post:

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/08/missing-living-fully.html)

I can step aside and let karma deal with heather - karma has a way of forcing crow down throats of shameless harpies.

Small-minded, caterpillar people will not get another moment of my precious time ...

The smalley mindset is so SAD.

Moving on 😊

END OF SUMMER GARDEN CLEANUP

I worked all day long in my garden area – tearing my limping garden out, and weeding overwintering plants. The veggies got into the garden late in the season due to the late snowfall and continuing freezing weather that didn’t let up until May; so, I knew planting veggies seeds was an act of futility. But today, everything came out of the garden beds.

I laid cardboard down in each bed. I’d used cardboard before in my other ground-plowed-gardens, and liked the results, so I see no reason cardboard should not work as well in raised veggies beds. By the time Spring sowing season arrives again, my beds will be ready and waiting 😉

These packing boxes I bought at Lowe's 5 years ago, will work well for what I intend to use them for today ...

Lining my Garden Boxes with cardboard 'mulch' to keep the weeds down until next year's Spring Garden; short sided boxes.

I don't have to fold the side flaps down when lining the tall sided boxes ...

While the cleaning-up bug was stirring strongly, I also cleaned up the plastic bins I store my Geraniums in, over winter.

I still have some Lot (my home sits on an urban city lot) chores to do, in preparation for the Fall & Winter months; but the big chore is out of the way 😊

Grape Hyacinths are already coming up - it's early, but here they are; shooting up.

I didn't pull this fiddle-head-fern; I like ferns. It will lend a 'country feel' to my urban Lot.

I might transplant these Dahlia's and highlight them at the front of the garden area next Spring.

Ditto with theses Calla Lilies, too. Right now, they are in the middle of the garden area - kinda hidden ... and they are outgrowing thier present container.

I also hosed these bins out, and left them to air-dry in the sunlight; I use them to overwinter my Geranium plants.

I spent 8 hours in the garden area, so I didn’t make the Jam Session – my feet, and legs, ached: I stayed home and kicked back to relax the muscles. Whether I feel up to joining my sleuth sisters for a day of arm-chair-case solving tomorrow afternoon (or not) will be determined tomorrow when I roll out of bed 😉

Won't be making Thursday Jam Session tonight ...

Hoping I feel up to meeting with my Sleuth Sisters tomorrow afternoon.

A BLESSED DAY

What a day! The blessings just came … following one after the other: it was like I’d won the lottery 😉

I was dressed and outside bright and early, getting the car washed; as soon as it was considerate to be outside making noise – I was 😊

Car washing day ...

Then, having finally saved enough $$$$ to reorder the same glasses I smashed to pieces, six weeks ago; I drove into town to get that order placed, and got a real nice surprise: the girl said that since they were practically brand new (I got them in May) when I broke them, she would “just warranty them out, and it won’t cost you a thing to have them replaced.”

((((THANK YOU, FATHER!))))

So, I put half of what I’d diligently saved, into savings … and kept the other half for gas money – and grocery/miscellaneous money.

Ordered my new glasses – again (the exact same style) – and then I was off to Warrenton-OR, to go shopping!

My glasses will be replaced for FREE!

Blessings are good.

I drove to Warrenton, Oregon. No particular reason other than I haven’t been there since last summer, and this summer is practically gone: so, I went because it’s a nice drive, and the Mall Complex there is fun to kick around in 😊

While I was store hopping, I bought some bottles and teething rings to tuck into the boxes I'm preparing for the Caring Pregnancy Center; and I saw that there were several pairs of colorful jeggings in just the colors I have been hoping to find. So, I bought them – half of them were on sale. When I bought my first few pairs of jeggings, I wasn’t very happy that that was all the stores were stocking during the covid lockdown hysteria … but after wearing them for a year-and-a-half, I find that I like them better than regular, straight-leg-jeans. They’re comfy; and I don’t look frumpy in them. Some people may wonder why I wear them with the curvaceous shape I have, but I dress for me: if their eyes are offended, they can look elsewhere.

I’ve got curves front and back, and the loose clothes I wore in the past made me look shorter and fatter than I actually am. MPO is that body-hugging/stretch jeggings seem to have a slimming effect on curvy women; especially petite ones, like myself. Regular leg, regular cut straight-leg pants are not my friends.

I also snagged a handful of mascaras I’ve been looking high and low for, for years 😉 Again, people may wonder ‘why?’ … but I don’t care. I dress for me, and I like the colors.

After my laps around the Warrenton Mall Complex, I decided to try a new Thai food restaurant. I heard about it last year, but never found the time to make time to visit it – this afternoon, I made time 😉

What a treat! The pineapple rice is delicious … and it tastes like it’s been charred. SO GOOD! I ate two fried spring rolls, and half the pineapple rice before the ‘crying tiger’ dish arrived; so, I asked that to be boxed up – and I’ll have it for Supper tomorrow.

Learning my way around ...

Something NEW 😊 Nisa’s Thai Kitchen, in Warrenton-OR. A definite repeat!

Thai Fried Spring Rolls, Thai Tea, and Pineapple Fried Rice - SO GOOD!

'Crying Tiger' dish; marinaded steak with Special House Sauce - tomorrow's Supper.

I also stopped at a thrift store on my way home to grab some costume jewelry. I can’t have metal on my skin. Elohim was gracious and merciful when it came to wearing my wedding ring; but wearing glasses can get tricky when the metal arm hinges touch my skin – there have been times when removing my glasses also removed a patch of skin along the sides of my face: the metal acts like acid on my skin, and literally peels skin away when the metal is lifted off my face, neck, wrist, or earlobes (I eventually just let my ear piercings grow back solid); I had spendy solid gold ear studs on my earrings, but my ears still swelled up, oozed, and peeled … if I risked wearing them on the few occasions we went out after becoming parents (I wasn’t keen on babysitters for our daughter), Bob would end up carrying them home in his shirt pocket. My body just can’t tolerate metals on, or in, it ☹

I found some nice-looking bracelets, and a necklace with a sliding leather neck band.

I can’t wait to start wearing everything I purchased! I’m on the downside of 60, and 70 is coming up fast – I am going to be outrageously colorful as long as I carry it off.

I like color in my life. Lots of it.

ALL the colors I have prayed to find! Thank You, Lord!

No metal, & very colorful ...

This chunky necklace has a slip-cord to loosen, or tighten, the necklace.

My day today – from start to finish – was truly blessed.

LAUGHTER

I’ve been spending a lot of time out at Oak Point; I’ve made friends there, and we get together three times a week: Monday afternoon, Tuesday afternoon, and Sunday afternoon; Thursday, I spend time up Spruce Creek – sitting in on Jam Sessions. I like country people, and I really enjoy my country friends.

Love, laughter, and hugs flow freely.

Convo is interesting, informative, inspiring, and always interesting; sometimes light, sometimes deep – but always friendly.

We don’t have to tone ourselves down; we’re a rowdy bunch of misfits (in a good way 😉), we don’t care who laughs too loud, speaks to loud, or who interjects a point too boisterously.

We understand each other’s personality (we're all smartasses in one way, or another) – and make space for it; we are friends.

I’m making the most of my time with them because when Winter sets in, I won’t be driving that way again until Spring thaw – it’s only about half an hour away from home … but the highway get icy along the river, and the climb uphill gets dicey. So, I sit the winters out at home ☹

But this afternoon, I went; and had a thoroughly enjoyable time 😊

Tonight, I began the final work of a baby item I’m thinking will be finished tomorrow after the car gets washed, and I start pulling garden plants.

Finishing up work on a donation baby item.

The car is so dusty it’s hard to tell what color it is (I’ve been on a lot of dusty, gravel, country roads this week) – and my garden got a late start with the late-season snowfall that fell in April (!): I didn’t think it would {take}, but I had to try; tomorrow, everything will be pulled, and the plant cages, trellises, and other gardening things will be put away until next Spring.

That is The Plan anyway. Only tomorrow knows what will actually happen tomorrow … but I know laughter will be a part of it 😉