KENNY ~ R.I.P.

Before I slipped under the sheets last night, I saw in the phone's news feed that Kenny Rogers had died earlier in the day.

5 decades immediately passed before my eyes; Kenny had been a part of my life even before Bob.

The following Youtube music video is my favorite Kenny Rogers song - he sang it with his band, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. Media sources keep saying Kenny was a country singer … and he was LATER IN HIS CAREER – but he was a rock and roll singer before he crossed over to country.

And much has been made of him singing with Dolly Parton too; BUT he also sang with Dottie West, and when they sang together it was pure magic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqLWIiuwu8U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_YpEYTMQdM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_ri8rsNr_4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K59sCjyv38

As a youth, and later a teen, I walked all over the Skamokawa valleys ... and later to Graysriver, Altoona, Pillar Rock, & Eden Valley: even into Naselle when Apello's Store relocated (I'd always buy a coke for my return trip back home in Skamokawa). I saved every cent I made babysitting, chopping/bundling kindling, picking blackberries-strawberries-cucumbers; I used that money to buy undercover cigarettes (though I think my mother figured out I was smoking), cokes for my weekend walkabouts, and even a little brown leather cased transistor radio & a pocket camera I used well into the 1980's when it was later replaced by a very spendy top-notch camera outfit, thank you, Babe!

And always - ALWAYS - Kenny was there. In the background; with his gravelly voice.

At one time, Bob even resembled Kenny with his long, wavy, should-length hair; and aviator shades. Bob would eventually grow a mustache & a beard too.

This song too: LOTS of memories with Bob when love was buring – lying together heart to heart; listening to lover’s whispers & the radio belt this song out while summer breezes made the open window curtains dance on the river breeze. And - now I am crying ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO1CqLpadAM

There was a time in our marriage when Bob worked away from home all week, coming home on weekends – and one December he got so sick with walking pneumonia that he didn’t get home for 2 weeks … and when he staggered through the door at home, I was scared: he looked like walking death. The kids were scared too – they cried to let him open their homemade Christmas gifts to him the next day; Stacey and Sara sat at his feet crying while his long fingers fumbled at the wrapping, and he smiled weakly, praising the kids when he saw their gifts – Bob loved kids, and he was a good dad. I took him to Dr. Avalon’s Office as soon as it opened Monday morning, and refused to let him go back to work until his lungs were clear. Bob had a good Boss that loved us like his own kids – Jimmy Durrah knew Bob’s family from waaaay back ‘when’; and didn’t want to lose Bob as his main employee: Bob was home for two weeks.

During those times of Bob’s absence from home, Cathlamet being the gossiping and cheating small town that it is, had a lot of rumors flying about Bob and me: and I think, based on what our children say, they believed those rumors. But BOB AND I KNEW what the truth was. We were not ‘separated, on the verge of divorce’: Bob was logging away from home. While working up the Toutle, he was camped in the back yard of our friends, Bill and Punkie Shelton; he was borrowing his parent’s pickup-bed-camper and living in that all week, coming home Friday nights after work – and leaving again Sunday morning. Another year, Bob worked in Glenoma, WA, and we bought a small Taurus travel trailer with that year’s Income Tax Return – he parked that in an RV spot until that job played out; again, coming home Fridays and leaving again Sundays. This went on for years – I eventually got my driver’s license so the kids and I could go see him once in a while. There was no separation … there was w.o.r.k. happening.

There was that one winter Bob was gone so long because travel had been hampered by the snowy weather in Glenoma: he’d let his har grow to keep his neck warm, and he’d grown a full beard too, to keep his face warm; and  when he was finally able to came home that Friday evening, I wasn’t home: Stacey and I were visiting Sharon and her kids, and when Bob showed up looking for me, Sharon answered her door and turned saying, “Val … there’s a strange man here asking for you.” I was mystified, but I went to see who it was – AND DID NOT RECOGNIZE BOB. I asked, “Yes? I’m Val. Why are you asking for me?” Bob laughed, and said, “It’s me, Val. I’ll be home for a while before going back.” We both had a good laugh, and agreed he needed a shave and a cut ;-)

But there was love. Always love. We trusted each other.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO5pKJWavv8

People who didn’t know us were always surprised to find out how long we’d been married. Even after 4 decades we looked into each other’s eyes when we spoke – we spoke as 1. We leaned into each other when we stood, walked, sat together; we held hands – Bob would drape his arm across my shoulders, and I’d lay my hand on his thigh. Even the ER teams, and his surgical team would smile and say. “You 2 are too cute together."

And we'd look into each other's eyes, smile - and say, "We love each other."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtPh-c-qh00

I love you, Babe.

Always ~ OX

Memories.

Of Bob.

Of Kenny.

Both men both left their impressions on my life; both are missed. A LOT.

Sleep took a loooooong time to kick in last night ... and this morning is a little soggy.

R.I.P. Kenny - thanks for the memories.

**********

I gotta stop tripping down Memory Lane now, or I’m gonna float away.

FIRST DAY OF SPRING ~ Shabbat Sunset

The first day of Spring 2020, started out nippy this morning with a 37-degree wake-up … and amped up to 67-degrees by the twilight hour.

The first thing this morning while I was tending to household chores, and preparing the castle to become my Shabbat Island of Rest, I saw on my phone’s newsfeed that Larry the Cable Guy had blasted celebrities for posting themselves singing john lennon’s imagine song – and I have to agree with him; it in bad taste considering that most of America, as well as 95% of the world, cannot hole up behind security walls and have curbside groceries delivered to them: calimexarabia alone – of ALL the States in America – has the largest homeless population: with tent cities everywhere and human feces piling up in the streets … and narcissist celebrities are posting pictures of themselves making fools of themselves singing a song of hopelessness (and doing it very badly! NONE of them could carry a tune), IN A TIME when most are feeling hopelessness. Grabbing for attention while people are actually dying for lack of real help (medical, physiological, spiritual), malnutrition, and unsanitary living conditions. Those rich morons, living their fantasy characters on screen/off screen … bitching about ‘the rich’ they claim to hate while amassing riches themselves; and ignoring the hopelessly poor amongst them, while baying about hopelessness in a song that amplifies hopelessness: they are clueless to ANY realities in real time.

Their hypocritical, ridiculous, and TRULY AWFUL ‘contribution’ is proof there is hell on earth. MPO (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sFLqGfSnVQ)

I also saw that Mitch McConnel was pushing for a final vote on the coronavirus aid spending Bill by tonight (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfAHqAJJbdE).

The politicians left the Capitol late in the evening, saying that progress had been made, but there are a several issues yet unresolved – planning to meet again tomorrow to hammer out the finer details: schumer is the fly in the ointment; as usual: he pushed for far too much, and holds everything up far too long.

“We need to deliver relief now,” McConnell said on the Senate floor, “We need to go big – and we need to move swiftly.” But it looks like the demoncrat bullies of the block are going to try to ram their pet projects through on the coattails of this proposed coronavirus driven stimulus Bill, and will continue to make life hard for everyone if their demands are not met … which will result in missing the deadline for the ‘largest economic rescue in American History. Moving swiftly will come to a screeching halt.

And President Trump told Americans that their Income Tax filings deadline has been rescheduled from April 15^th, 2020; to July 15^th, 2020:

Throughout the day, today, I did a couple loads of laundry, baked Challah loaves-dinner rolls-cinnamon rolls; and hopped in the car to watch the sunset – riverside.

Around 6 PM, I saw I was low on refrigerated butter, so I went out to the shed to grab some more out of the chest freezer … and found that the overhead florescent light has gone out. Permanently. At first, I was a little concerned, thinking maybe a breaker had been blown … but the compact chest freezer works fine, and the house electricity was okay; so, I knew it was only the florescent light fixture.  I gave my youngest BIL, Kerry, a shout, and he has agreed to switch it out for me when life gets back to normal (I am thankful! It’s 9 feet in the air, and I can’t afford to have an electrician do it) – we’ll take this one out and exchange it for an LED type of light fixture: he recently did that at his place. I was going to ask him if there was that kind of possibility, but he told me it was before I could even voice my question ;-) And the LED fixture is not that expensive either, so it’s totally doable. Kerry’s a good guy. I am blessed.

Elohim is faithful – He has provided willing helpers for me: willing to do for me what I cannot do for myself … and willing to patiently teach me what I can do on my own, once I am shown how to do it. I am a quick study ;-)

For now, I can use the flashlight when I have to retrieve something from the shed – even in broad daylight the shed is kinda dark because of the way it’s situated.

That snafu settled, I finished laundry and bread baking; and went for a sunset walk out at Willow Grove Park …

Plan on walking Willow grove trail and viewing river sunset.

A ‘Dumbo head’ cloud :-D

Something to do around the house while waiting this pandemic out.

Sun starting to slide over the horizon; 6:57 PM

Wondering about the stories this pumice could tell if I could hear it speak.

The setting sun looks like it is passing through the hill, rather than slipping down behind it ...

While watching the sun slide over the horizon, I found out that Willow Grove Park currently closes the Park gates at 7:30 PM (will close at 10 PM Summertime); but I did get to see the sunset – I’m happy about that:

Mt. St. Helens swathed in pink twilight.

A cargo ship sailing towards a topaz sunset lighting up the horizon.

An hour after arriving, I am leaving: entrance locked up. Same sky - different background.

All in all, the first day of Spring 2020 was off to a good start ;-)

L’Chiam!

I love you, Yeshua.

I love you, Bob.

Always ~ OX

EMPATHETIC v.s. ENABLER?

I have talked the past 2 days with people who are fearful … and even a little insensitive, because of their fear. At one point, I was asked if I fear for my children/grandchildren: I said, “I’m concerned – but, no, I don’t worry incessantly about them.” And I was instantly told, “Well, I worry about my children; you aren’t worried because you don’t get along with your children.” That was offensive, and very insensitive. And it tells me that that person does not know me at all.

While it is true, that my children have separated themselves from me; and I have not seen my grandchildren since December 16^th … it is NOT true that that decision is mine. It is NOT true that I wouldn’t be devastated if any of them were struck with this coronavirus – we are not speaking at the moment, but I certainly don’t want any of them to die!

I am only responsible for my thoughts and actions: I cannot control my grown children’s attitude and behavior towards me; and my grandchildren – with the exception of our little prince, who is 5-1/2 yo and his mother’s ward – are all old enough to call, text, or come and see me without their parent’s permission: two of the three adult princesses, have CHOSEN NOT to do so, based solely on their parent’s attitude and behaviors. Again, their decisions are not mine. Any conclusion by anyone to believe otherwise, is offensive and insensitive.

And it doesn’t do any good to get upset about the arrogant ignorance of the statement: it was said out of ignorance fueled by arrogant fear.

I can be empathetic without enabling the anxiety of fearmongers. I can understand the fear they feel about their own lives, as well as the lives of their children; without being sucked, myself, into the sweeping undertow of the uncertainty of the moment.

Meanwhile, today, inslee – WA State governor – has enacted a statewide 30 day moratorium on evictions for anyone who can’t pay rent due to this coronavirus outbreak; and the border between WA State and Canada has been shut down.

My point of view is this: we are all born with an expiration date … if it is my time to get my ticket punched: I’m okay with that. I know what my destination is, and I know that Yeshua and Bob are both waiting for me to arrive. If Elohim decides Earth needs me a little longer – He will protect me and make provision for me. If Elohim decides I need to make that journey beyond the clouds – nothing can forestall that appointment. I’m good either way.

I don’t like how the fear sweeping across America is literally sweeping away our Rights also. In America, citizens have THE RIGHT to move freely, think independently, and behave individually UNLESS A REAL LAW EXISTS that states otherwise. I was concerned this morning when a friend told me an man had been kept inside his house by armed guards … so I tracked the story down because I couldn’t believe that could actually happen in America. Sure enough – fear dominated and overrode Rights. It’s crazy … it’s UNLAWFULLY okay to murder babies by the millions simply because of  PERSONAL SELFISH irresponsibility – but it is not okay to move freely around your own property because your neighbors (who probably support abortion, and uphold the ‘rights’ of baby murders) fear for their lives?

Society is out of control. Everyone seems to be freaking out about coronavirus, but no one is freaking about the murder of millions of innocent lives sacrificed at the behest of narcissism. Instead, enablers of baby killers are placating fear-mongers.

(https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/don-t-want-to-self-quarantine-the-sheriff-could-send-armed-guards-to-your-house/ar-BB11iGBz)

I am empathetic towards others; but I can’t/won’t allow their panic, fear, and hysteria unbalance my peace, hamstring my movement, or steal my joy in the moment. Life is for living … not cowering in frustrated fear; now quaking with anxiety.

I have never lived my life in fear: not even while holding/kissing my husband’s hand while his physical body was dying. We both knew Bob was going to a better place to enjoy a better life: a threshold where the Specter of Death can no longer cross.

I did not then fear facing the rest of my life alone.

I do not now, fear facing the rest of my life alone.

I do not fear my own physical death if that is my destined fate,

I do not give fear a foothold in my life.

And I do not think the governing officials should slap mandatory isolations on people – this thing could go into an 18 month period.

There are PLENTY OF PLACES to go where face-to-face is limited ... or not even evident.

I can't stand being hemmed in by 4 walls - I gotta get out of the house A LOT. I enjoy being in the great outdoors, enjoying Nature Walks - breathing in fresh air and enjoying the sunshine when the sun appears after the hovering gray clouds part.

That is MY RIGHT as an American: as an individual.

It is your right too.

If you can, find an open, sunny, naturalistic environment to enjoy during this time; and boost your immune system as well as your spirit ;-)

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4504358/)

Being forced to stay indoors indefinitely with unhealthy stagnant air is abusive. Our lungs NEED FRESH AIR to keep our immune systems healthy, our brain functioning properly, and our minds clear.

Be wise.

Be prayerful.

Be discerning.

Remember Historical accounts: this coronavirus WILL PASS.

Be happy enjoying your life while you have a life to enjoy.

GAME HENS WITH CREOLE GRAVY Recipe

I was up until 5 AM this morning – and wide awake again after a brief 3 hour snooze; so hopping in the car to go anywhere was out of the question: with nowhere to go, and the house already cleaned after days of weather and government imposed house isolations … I thought I’d thaw out the Cornish Hens I bought a few months ago, and bake them for Supper – I’d bought them on the spur of the moment one day while aimlessly wandering the grocery isles; Bob didn’t like these little birds … and that may have been what was behind them ending up in the castle freezer: I’m trying to break loose of my old routines and establish new ones in my new life.

Anyway; even though they are spendy little things, the hens came home with me that particular day – and today they are being baked ;-)

As with every recipe I make, and share … I tweak the directions a bit to suit my own methods, so my pics/videos may not line up exactly with the text … but I post the original recipe in its entirety for recipe purists.

MPO is that recipes are a guideline – not instructions set in stone ;-)

This recipe was delish! And the house smelled yummy while the hens baked :-D

Tonight’s Supper … and a freezer meal too.

GAME HENS WITH CREOLE GRAVY ~ 4 servings

Game Hens:

4 16- to 20-ounce Cornish Game Hens * ½ teaspoons freshly ground Black Pepper * ¼ teaspoon Hungarian sweet Paprika * ¼ teaspoon dried Thyme, crumbled * ¼ teaspoon ground Sage * 1/8 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper * ¼ cup (1/2 stick) Butter, melted

Creole Gravy:

2 Tablespoons all-purpose Flout * 2 cups rich Chicken Stock * ½ cup finely chopped Onion * ¼ cup finely chopped Green Bell Pepper * ¼ cup finely chopped Celery * ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce * pinch of dried Thyme * pinch of ground Sage * pinch of Cayenne pepper * chopped Green Onions

Instructions:

For hens: Preheat oven to 375-degrees.

Hen wings carefully secured with toothpicks; ankle bones tied together with string.

Mix salt, pepper, paprika, thyme, sage, and cayenne in a small bowl. Rub over hens. Brush with butter. Arrange hens breast side up on a rack in roasting pan.

My idea; in hopes of cutting out grease spatters on my recently cleaned oven.

Cook 20 minutes. Baste with drippings. Cook until hens are brown and meat thermometer registers 180 – about 1 hour … could be 1-1/2 hours, depending on the oven used.

After slipping the hens into the oven, I cleaned up: a LOT of paper towels, soapy hand washing, and bleach solution were used on hands and surfaces while getting the birds oven-ready – I am a clean freak with food prep. Especially with chicken and pork.

While the hens baked, I gathered gravy ingredients.

After an hour, the hens were flipped to brown the backsides; also, there was blood in the cavity drippings, so I added another 30 minutes cooking time.

Remove hens from oven and transfer to a heated platter and tent with foil.

Baked hens resting while I made the gravy; toothpicks were removed.

For gravy: Spoon 2 Tablespoons of fat from the roasting pan into a heavy medium saucepan. Heat over low heat. Add flour and stir until roux is light brown – about 4 minutes.

Degrease pan drippings; add stock to roasting pan with drippings and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Set aside. Add vegetables to roux and cook until tender, stirring occasionally – about 10 minutes. Whisk in pan drippings and all remaining ingredients except green onions. Cook, over low heat until thickened to consistency of whipping cream, stirring occasionally – about 20 minutes.

SMELLED SO GOOD!

Spoon some gravy over game hens. Garnish with green onions. Serve, passing gravy.

REDNECK CORONAVIRUS PROTECTION

2 HIKES IN 1 DAY

The media has whipped people into hysterical frenzies over this coronavirus thing.

America is practically shut down, political candidates and media host pundits are dangerously politicizing the ordeal, and I’ve heard from friends that families have actually gotten into divisional conflicts that ruin family unity: it’s like the frigging Civil War Era.

Parents of young children are scared, Senior Citizens are freaking out, Scientists and political candidates are spinning bullshit in a twisted frenzy of frustrated cluelessness that is meant to sooth … and only scares the hell out of those already hysterical with fear.

NO ONE KNOWS the answer – and yet, everyone seems to have an answer they insist President Trump implement asap.

And if they can’t get President Trump to listen to their fearful suggestions, they will attack anyone within earshot.

They are operating on fear.

Rationality has flown.

It doesn’t take much for someone to get their panties in a twist and start snapping like an enraged goose.

The argument started with a reply to an innocent and humorous post … and went south in a hurry when disagreement reared its head. Things went from ‘It's an unknown cold’ - to - ‘it’s mutated strand of SARS' - hmmm ... SARS is a mutated strand of the 1950's coronavirus, which is a bit more than a cold; the argument is loop reasoning which is illogical and aimless.

I replied with scientific facts that tied the two together – I can read. I can understand what I am reading. I can comprehend what is being stated.

But, what do I - an aging haus frau - know?

Apparently, nothing.

My husband died 15 months/2 days/13 hours and 39 minutes ago from stress induced-pancreatitis with MRSA and respiratory complications – both picked up in the hospitals. For all I know, Bob may have contacted a form of coronavirus in his Peace Health hospital room when a nurse roomed a desperately ill man with a case of pneumonia that had him destined for OHSU stat – that seriously pissed me off because Bob was in a very fragile medical state at that time: that man should not have been anywhere near Bob. I, myself, came home from OHSU after Bob’s spirit left this Earth, with a severe case of influenza.

So, I know WHAT these illnesses ARE.

I do not need to be snarkily schooled by someone who empties bedpans and changes sheets in a nursing home.

I got the news of my husband’s physical decline from actual physicians and surgeons.

I watched my husband die.

I KNOW WHAT THESE ILLNESSES ARE.

‘Coronavirus and MRSA are completely different: one’s respiratory and the other is in the blood stream – I’m a health care worker, I’m pretty sure I know what I’m talking about and what we’re dealing with’. (MRSA of human coronavirus OC43 has been dated to the 1950’s – PLENTY OF TIME FOR A VACCINE TO HAVE BEEN MADE); but she was highly agitated and self-righteously upset … I gave her a pass, and signed off with love before things were said that couldn’t be unsaid.

Again … IT’S THE SAME VIRUS, morphing into separate attack modes. It’s a virus that acts like cancer.

I may not be a health care worker … but I do KNOW HOW to read and comprehend WHAT I am reading. {EX: ‘In humans, coronaviruses can cause respiratory tract infections that can be mild, such as some cases of the common cold (among other possible causes, predominantly rhinoviruses), and other infections that can be lethal, such as SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. There are not yet any vaccines or antiviral drugs to prevent or treat human coronavirus infections}. Even if she truly meant MRSA, which is a staph infection, only seriously ill people get struck with it … “seriously ill” as in weakened by lengthy hospitalizations, nursing home environments, and the coronavirus – loop argument, again. Plus, MRSA is treatable if caught in time: coronavirus is not; coronavirus jumps ‘cures’. And if a person is so weakened by the virus that their body does into shutdown, treatment for MRSA is moot.

Coronavirus is uncurable. Like cancer.

How long have scientists been working in a cure for cancer?

There is no cure because cancer mutates; cancer will always jump ‘cures’.

Science promises much more than it can ever deliver.

People do not want to face realities – they want to be lied to: lies are easier to live with that truths.

I prefer truth.

I don't put too much faith in the government/scientific low-downs laced with placating lies.

This coronavirus has been around since at least the 1950's. Basic hygiene, healthy meals, chewing raw garlic, drinking green tea ... and Kerry's always present Oil of Oregano, sunshine, and fresh air actually does work ... I already avoid as many people as possible; I'm good.

Other FB Pages were bitching about how capitalism is the plague that spawned the coronavirus; and socialism is the only cure.

FB is overrun by irrational ridiculousness. This coronavirus and how to tackle it is NOT ABOUT MONEY – it’s a fucking V.I.R.U.S. people! And it doesn’t care who it attacks: rich or poor … people are gonna die. It thumbs its nose at $$$$$$. Throwing $$$$$$ at it, and following a particular socialist politician won’t stop it.

ANYONE WHO ACTUALLY BELIEVES SOCIALISM IS THE ANSWER IS RETARDING THEMSELVES.

They may not like Capitalism, and that is their prerogative – in America, people have the right to be stupid and immature; but the willingness to retard oneself should not be foisted on the general public. It certainly should not be considered witty or enlightened.

Socialism is not the answer to what the world is experiencing. Viruses come and go – people die. That is sad, but a sad truth should not cloud a sad reality: in countries where socialism has gotten a foothold, people still die. And those that survive have NO HOPE OF REBOUNDING OR THRIVING.

ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION: If countries that embrace socialism are so damned wonderful … WHY ARE PEOPLE TRYING TO FLEE THEM TO COME TO AMERICA?

They are trying to come because they WANT WHAT WE HAVE.

THEY WANT WHAT ONLY CAPITALISM CAN GIVE THEM: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness (aka: a chance at making big bucks which led to a better life that socialism cannot give them). Isn’t it strange how the people who scream for socialism and cry about the evils of capitalism, crave wealth and prestige?

Don’t listen to politicians who are politicizing this horrible ordeal to hoodwink the clueless into a retarded mindset that will ruin lives and destroy our Country – that is what they want. Once they have you, they will use you-abuse you-and discard you. Ask those in socialist countries who are appealing to leave socialist countries.

Nothing in life is for free.

Death comes to everyone.

Socialism will not stop death – but it sure as hell stops life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

And the squalor of socialism – as can clearly be seen in every sanctuary state, in forms of filthy living, and piling up feces in the streets, leads to unsanitary living conditions for everyone: and THAT leads to pandemics when illness and disease get a foothold.

I am not going to spend the remaining years of my life arguing with anyone – about anything … especially when they prefer arrogant ignorance to logical realities.

At this point in my life, when people start their ridiculous ‘I’m right – you’re wrong’ drama, I’ll practice what Bob used to do … go for a walk to cool off.

It’s not worth the engagement.

Fresh air.

Sunshine..

Getting away from the pandemic "rain".

I started my Pennsylvania Street Dike Hike at 2:00 PM; we always enjoyed walking here and watching the wildlife - ducks, otters, turtles, and herons.

Bob, me, and grandson watching a Great Blue Heron. July 28^th, 2018.

Otter. February 2, 2017

Bob pointed out turtles sunning, to us. April 21, 2018.

A fuzzy-wuzzy caterpillar. April 21, 2018.

Guy talk. April 21, 2018. 4 months later there would be no more memories to be made.

Babies! April 30, 2018.

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/10/begging-off-holidays.html).

All I saw today were a variety of ducks and some buzzards:

A pair of Hooded Merganser ducks.

A pair of Mallard ducks.

2 Male Mallard ducks.

2 Male Tufted ducks - they have blue bills; I don't know why the blue is not showing, but the duck bills are a medium baby blue color.

A family on the other side of the slough used to hang over their porch rail and chat with us while we fed homemade bread heels to the ducks; I haven’t been doing this hike for a while, so I’m not sure if the family still lives here – they may not recognize me without Bob, and little handsome.

Next time I walk the Dike Hike walk, I’ll have to bring that bag of bread heels that have been in the freezer since August 2018.

Bob won’t be coming back.

Neither will our little prince; he so enjoyed throwing the heels to the ducks and watching them gobble them up. But, those days are over now: now, it’s just me doing my solo lobo thing …

Just around the bend of the trail, a wild Crab Apple trees is in full bloom:

It was a beautiful day today; not a cloud in the sky. 54-degrees, and pretty warm while walking :-D

A bright orange bush – just a few paces ahead, I reached the end of the gravel trail, and turned to head back to car.

Around 2:30 PM, just as I reached the end of the gravel trail and started backtracking – Pam called and asked me to meet her at Willow Grove for the trail walk; I agreed … and started walking faster.

Coming into the final stretch near the car, a big dark bird swooping and swirling on the air waves caught my eye – I tried to discern what type of bird it was: it didn’t resemble an eagle … and it wasn’t a duck. It was too big to be a raven, too …

Saw an Eagle; I wasn't sure what it was, until I viewed the video later at home, and clearly saw the white ...

Buzzards.

Looks like the old mansion, off Old Pacific Highway, is being remodeled.

I was thankful when the car came into view – I haven’t speed walked in a long time – my hips, thighs, and feet were feeling the burn ;-)

I took the Old Pacific Highway backroad to Coal Creek, and crossed Ocean Beach Highway; getting to the Willow Grove Boat Launch parking lot at 3:10 PM.

Mt. St. Helens was showing herself today, against the blue and cloudless sky:

Mt. St. Helens. Seen from Willow Grove Boat Launch Parking Lot.

Mt. St. Helens. Seen from upper Trail loop at Willow grove.

The Willow Grove trail walk was as enjoyable this afternoon, as it was yesterday afternoon :-D

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2020/03/sundayfunday-8-willow-grove-trail-walk.html)

And it was nice to walk with a friend ;-)

Mt. St. Helens. Seen from Industrial Way Road & Willow Grove Road junction on way home.

By 3:45 PM., I was parking in my carport.

Yawning heavily and deeply by 8:39 P.M.

Trusting Elohei with my life, and sleeping like a baby at midnight ;-)