I’M BACK ~ And Not A Minute Too Soon

As those of you who have been reading my Blog every day know … the window shade in the back room came down, Sunday morning – practically on my head (but for quick thinking); and yesterday I bought this cute little red drill to help me in getting it back up.

A few minutes ago, I stopped procrastinating ... and got to work :-)  

I took my step-stool-ladder into the back room; then gathered my charged drill (inserted drill bit required; practiced insert-withdraw feature: no pun intended), yellow plastic screw anchors (to stabilize screws in the compromised drywall), hammer (to tap anchors in place; prayed I would not tap too hard causing plaster damage) … and my compromised confidence (that seemed to have flown when Bob’s spirit left Earth) … and walked all this back to the back room, too.

Armed with my little red cutie, I took a deep breath and stepped up …

This is the bracket Bob put up in the summer of 2017.

It snapped the other day.

Broken bracket that needed replaced.

I handled my little drill like a pro; and the screws came out without causing wall damage  ;-) 

And I whooped with joy when I saw that Bob had had foresight.

THANK YOU, BABE!

I had thought I'd need to slip these things into place once I retrieved the screws from the broken bracket ...

I did not have to replace the screw anchors; and I didn’t cry when I saw Bob’s mark on the wall. My nose did burn – but the tears did not flow.

The newer bracket did not match up 'exactly' – so, I just switched screws and "got 'er done".

Brackets switched out. 

I did it! (((I))) D.I.D.I.T.

Blind back in place.

Thank YOU, Yeshua! The quick-fix-sheet curtain will come down; and the valance will go back up.

I was practically dancing on the top tier of my little step-stool-ladder. 

I felt like my old self.

Actually ... I DID feel like my old self.

I had been locked in a brain fog for 24 months, missing Bob – but, I’m back on track now.

I can feel ((((all)))) of ME returning. I gave myself a few mental high-5's ... not too prideful, but a little but prideful ;-)

I am glad the old me is returning - I've missed Me.

COWEEMAN RIVER TRAIL HIKE

I went to bed last night thinking of the dike trail at Kelso’s Tam O’Shanter Park; so, when I woke up this morning, I decided to do that … I haven’t been there in 2 years; last time I was there, Bob and I walked it with our little grandson (who is not so ‘little’ anymore). I miss them both so much ☹

I also decided to pop in at Lowe’s and see what kind of drills would be available/suitable for me to use handily 😉

I found one!

It may not look like much, but it will do what I need it to do 😊

I bought a little drill this morning.

Crossing the bridge from Longview to Kelso (near the Longview Courthouse), I saw a Bald-Headed Eagle sitting in one of the riverside trees watching the river; so, it is fishing the river, like the sea lions 😉

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/01/sea-lions-riverside-dike-hike.html)

I parked in the middle parking lot of Tam O’Shanter Park, and climbed the access trail to the dike’s graveled trail … and began to reacquaint myself with the sights, and sounds I have neglected these past 25 months of solo lobo adjustments.

And, seriously; no one I talked with, seemed to know which river this was … or what trail (though it is an actual 4 mile hiking trail) this was (I researched it when I got home to find out the correct river and hike 😉).

Though Bob and I had been coming here off and on for decades, I always referred to it as “the Tam O’Shanter Dike Hike” … and Bob never corrected me; though I am sure he knew which river this was.

Bob knew everything about Washington and Oregon: e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.

He never got lost – because he always knew where he was. All I had to do was describe where I wanted to go, and he would get me there – without my use of correct terminology 😉 He knew the landscapes. And he knew the correct names, because when he discussed them with other people, he would use the correct terminology.

Bob humored me – a lot: my quirkiness did not annoy him.

But now, I am learning how to get around on my own. And I am wising up as to what is what, and where that what is located.

I noticed that this river does not get muddy, like the Cowlitz, in Lexington, does.

That is a plus, in this hike’s favor.

Elohim blessed me, and I was able to start and end my walk without getting wet 😊

Bufflehead Duck pair.

Bufflehead duck. Male.

A fork in the river ...

The river fork.

A Mallard pair. And a picnic spot on the dike trail.

Bachelor Drake. I teased him that he should fly over to the Pacific Way Trail on 48^th, in Longview, and find himself a mate 😉

The river forks again, by the picnic spot.

(https://tdn.com/lifestyles/the-tranquil-coweeman-has-a-unique-history/article_e195ab70-4993-11e3-8666-001a4bcf887a.html)

Duck Nesting Site.

A lot of geese swim this river; I’ll have to come back later on, and see if they also nest here.

Coweeman River Trail Locale layout.

Trying to figure out exactly which trail hike this is ... NO ONE seems to know!

The Three Rivers Mall, this side of the freeway.

I didn’t walk any further; I only did about a 2.5 mile walk this morning. If I had continued, the trail would have taken me past the Mall, across the freeway, past DQ … and under several I-5 overpasses before I reached the tail end at Talley Way N (which is an Industrial Business Park).

Bob & Precious, when we last walked the entire length: March 2007

I don’t think I’ll ever go that far on my own, again – not because I can’t, but because with all the transit evidence and graffiti on the overpass concrete that was evidenced the last time Bob and I went that far … I would not feel comfortable going it alone, without a being part of a group of hikers.

I no longer walk with a big, tall man – or a long, husky wolf.

I walk alone now.

Plus, as the trail passes under several I-5 overpasses – and flanks the busy freeway, the exhaust fumes would irritate my asthmatic lungs … that are 14 years older than the last times they had traveled that way.

Coweeman River Trail: lower end, on the way to Talley Way Industrial Park tail end.

I have to be more careful, now. 

Bringing my thoughts back from past memories, I pulled my eyes off the graveled trail fading into the near distance …

… left the graveled dike trail; and was lazily walking back to the car, when I spotted this gorgeous deep purple leaf on the sidewalk.

I love finding purple leaves; they are so rare in these parts.

A definite repeat.

When I got home, I searched the shed for screw sleeves (found some), and got busy charging my little drill.

Had an emotional moment at home digging through Bob's toolbox in the shed.

Also cleared the tool box of some things Kerry may be able to use.

Drill plugged in.

Bob had BIG drills, that were heavy and bulky (he was a big man with big hands); so, in the Spring of 2019, I cleared the shed of all Bob’s saws, drills, sledge hammers, axes, ect.: everything that was to heavy or bulky for me to use … and stuff I can’t use here in the Park. I felt a little like I was giving Bob’s life away – but I knew the things I gave to Kerry were going to a good home, where they would be used and appreciated. I don’t think Bob’s son, Alex, will use any of it; he just wanted it, so I gave him quite a bit before I said, “Okay, that’s enough now, no more. There is still Stacey, Alyna & Azariah to think about, too; they may want some of what’s left”. That pissed him off – and I haven’t heard from him since. The silence is golden.

Tomorrow, I’ll see if the drill has been charged enough – and if I am brave enough – to tackle the window shade, and get it in place. My main concern is somehow ruining the plaster on the wall, and making a mess of something that seems so simple to do.

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/01/i-can-do-this-i-hope.html)

I CAN DO THIS – I Hope

 

This morning when I woke up and started opening the blinds … the one in the spare back room, came crashing down on my head. I caught it on the fly before it nipped me.

I heard the rod end pop off and skitter across the floor; so, I assumed I just needed to retrieve that piece – pop it back in place – and reset the blind.

It wouldn’t be that easy (of course not!)

The rod end piece wasn’t the issue: the rod bracket was the problem – the end had snapped off.

Spare Room adjustments ...

Locating the flung bracket piece … and looking back and forth between blind and bracket end; I kept thinking, “what would Bob do”?

I actually knew what Bob would have done; but I was pretty sure I could not do what he would have done.

1) I have no drill (I gave them to Bob's son & youngest brother in 2019).

2) Even if I still had his drills … they’d be too bulky and heavy for my wrists to handle.

I needed an alternative.

I don’t pull the blinds in my kitchen, dining, or livingroom windows; but the blinds in the master bath window, and both the bedroom windows, are pulled at night. I needed to find a way to cover the window in the spare bedroom.

Bob would have replaced the bracket … or known of an alternative – and got right busy.

I am not Bob. 

But I can do what Val can do 😉

I looked at the window, and decided to cover it the best way I could until I could successfully replace the bracket – and rehang the blind.

I didn’t want to use a blanket: too tacky; I may live in a Mobile Home Park … but my home does not need to look like I live in a Mobile Home Park (like tessa’s decrepit house, next door, does).

Actually, this Park is very nicely landscaped with nicely kept homes (that was why we moved here in June of 2017); tessa’s is the only house (in 800+ homes) that looks abandoned and condemned: I really think she doesn’t even live in the house – in the 3½ years I’ve lived here, I only seen her a handful of times, and that tall-grass-yard-slimy/leaking roof-house never looks lived in. The car in the carport hasn’t been moved so much as an inch in all that time.

But, that aside … I do not want MY House to look unkempt.

I thought of the Spring Print sheet set that doesn’t fit the bed properly, and felt that would be an acceptable ‘okay’ solution, until I can do the thing right. So, I pulled the set’s top sheet out of closet storage; spread it out, cut it down to size – and opened the ends up for the curtain rod 😊

I went and got my little step ladder, and hauled it to the back room; I took down the valance … threaded the curtain rod through the large hemmed end: and hung it.

Spare Room 'quick fix'; a temporary necessity.

It’s not a ‘House Beautiful’ photo op … but it’s not ‘tessa trailer trash’ level either.

It’s workable, for the time being.

Sometime this new week, I will go into town to Lowe’s and see if they have little, light weight hand drills, a small woman like me can handily handle. Hopefully I will get a customer assistant that will actually be helpful, in an informative and exemplary way how to unscrew screws from plaster walls without pulling clumps of plaster with the retrieved screw … as well as how to screw them into the wall (I know I will have to lightly hammer a drywall screw sleeve into the unscrewed screw holes: I watched Bob) 😉

I am not a stupid woman: I CAN DO this without causing undue harm to the wall. 

I hope. 

And I am praying for new neighbors next door, too.

FRISKY FLIRTATIONS

I woke up around 4 AM this morning; everything was frosty outside – roofs, cars, street, ect. The black sky was clear though: the stars were brightly visible, and sparkling. While I drank my coffee, I thanked Yeshua for bringing me to where I am today; for easing the sorrow, for giving me something to look forward to – I know that since He has restored my hope, He’ll keep it alive and make sure I have something, every day, to look forward to: I thanked Him for the companion I know He’s sending my way. I thanked Him for giving me peace in these turbulent times; for helping me to let go (not to forget, just to loosen my grip on the past), so I can move forward.

I know also that He’ll help me find something to do with my time that is worthwhile and profitable (not necessarily in a monetary way). I thanked Him that he gave me enough self esteem to be comfortable in my own skin – that has been my saving grace since December 14^th, 2018. I thanked Him that He is always a constant … and a steady … in my life. I thanked Him, that even though some days get totally upended and stood upside down; they never get too hard to bear, because I know He’s always with me.

And I told Him that I also know I need to be in fellowship – and that I will go where He leads me to go, when He impresses me that it is time to go. We’re told to do that … and I haven’t done that since becoming a solo lobo.

I didn’t apologize for hanging back: I needed that alone time with Elohei – just me and The One; without any outside influencers, without any pressure from anybody to do things a certain way. I needed that time, alone with Elohei, to sort myself out – to get myself upright, again; and my spirit settled. I’m pretty sure I’ve reached that point, now, and I need to be fellowshipping: so, I’m asking now … I’m asking for direction. Like I said before, most churches are caught up in the vineyard doctrines, and I don’t want to have anything to do with that. It’s really hard to find a church that adheres to pure and basic Scripture, but I’ll stay open and ready to move when He say’s “Go”; there is power in fellowship.

As long as I stick with the 10 Commandments, I know I’m doing okay, and I know that Elohim has no problem with me. Other people may have a problem with me … I’m not always socially acceptable (I’m pretty upfront, and blunt), and what I say or do is not always “church appropriate”: the social church rules are pretty strict, like orthodox judaism. I’m not a strict kind of person; I’m not a very good goose-stepper. Most people get hung up on what you wear, how often you are in the church building, and how you talk – my talk, and jeans aren’t always acceptable: and there are times that Sundays just go a different direction than pew sitting. So, I’ve always felt, that if I’m reading my Bible and doing what I’m supposed to be doing (according to the 10 Commandments), I’m good to go – and if I’m not, He’ll let me know. Elohei has a way of getting my attention when no one else can.

Most of the people I know outside of fellowship are rough people; they have rough edges, but hearts of gold. They don’t use prissy language – and most pew warmers have a problem with my language … in particular, a specific 4-letter-word. Bob didn’t particularly like to hear me using that word either, but he knew that under certain times of stress … it would be used: it’s a safety valve for me, a stress reliever. It doesn’t mean anything other than I’m frustrated – and I feel trapped. This is nothing new, even though it was kinda controlled when Bob was still here – but now, Bob is no longer here, and it’s been peppering my convo’s in stressful situations and circumstances. Yeshua knows this about me: He created me with my character and personality; nothing I do surprises Him, or catches Him off guard. He has provided an escape route for me, called grace. And I am thankful for that.

I’m thankful for His kind of love that {get’s} me; that doesn’t judge me, or paint me into a corner to watch me squirm under rules and regulations that have absolutely nothing to do with the 10 Commandments (the only things Elohim demands of us).

So, fellowship – for me – is tricky. And if that’s for me … He’ll make it happen. And I’ll “fit” 😉

I know I was out of bed around 4 AM, because I checked my phone to check the time. And, also saw, that right on cue … the foreign bought media sources are trying to put it out there that ‘biden’s inauguration drew more viewers than President Trump’s did’: the obamanite cartel really knows how to use the manure spreader and they aren’t wasting any time fouling the air (and airwaves). They are trying too hard to make anything they say, stick. Everybody knows obama’s 3^rd coup is a sham (even THEY KNOW it). Everybody knows it wasn’t at all, legit. But they are going to try … and they will use the same obama tactics.

They are practically wetting their pants in their excitement to push harris forward as ‘the first female vice president/president’ … but that scenario won’t fly either: they did away with male/female genders in their mad rush to create 150+ alternatives! They have erased their big moment; the gender they are pushing no longer exists – in fact, that party of stoopids, have pushed forward legislation to make it illegal to even refer to anyone as male or female.

And, really all that is beside the point since harris, like obama’s ‘wife’ doesn’t look feminine – they both look like men in drag. The obamanites have shot themselves in the foot, and they can’t even limp across the finish line because they have eradicated their prize – the prize is no longer in play. The whole thing is ridiculous.

I turned my phone off, and refused to acknowledge any more {news}, that is actually false BS being spun in every direction like an agriculture fertilizer spreader.

A Lesson From 1930’s Germany – Beware State Control of Social Media:(https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2019/05/germany-war-radio-social-media/590149/?fbclid=IwAR3shfRSpy-bet-SGmGV8ESjfmiFHI1WT_N_aUyIgbdSY6TUNMI9_1LMkyk)

While I was enjoying my second cup of coffee, and working my way through cataloguing my Blog Posts; when I reached August of 2019, I decided to just put it aside and go for a walk. I’m still trying to find my solid footing, and those first two years without Bob were really hard. I was pretty lost emotionally in 2019 … and feeling the full impact of sorrowing, all of 2020. By the time I reached the August posts this morning, I was coming up on some pretty hard posts – it was time to take a breather by getting out of the house, and going for a walk.

A quick hair wash/blow dry – and I was out the door. I noticed my hair seems shorter and thinner after Wednesday’s cut: I’m going to stop asking for a shagged cut, and just show them what I want – I don’t want my hair thinned, or whacked off; I just want it layered in a long, shaggy cut.

Wednesday’s cut is fine, but it could be better next time 😉 I don’t like my hair cut back; I like length. And I don’t need my hair ‘thinned’ – it’s thin enough already, being baby fine, like it is. WHY do hair stylists think senior women need (or want) thin, short hair???

Not exactly a “shag”, but it’s the closest any hair stylist today got to what I was wanting. THIS cut is what I will be showing future stylists. 2019-07-25

My hair shagged Wednesday in Castle Rock: definitely shorter, and thinner. And the top layering cut was not as short as I like, for height (body texture) for my baby fine hair. 2021-01-20

On a lighter note: It’s been an interesting day of frisky flirtations.

The guy at the Minit Mart where I stopped to grab a burger to eat while I walked, started flirting with me. I have noticed recently, that when I go in there, he always makes sure he waits on me (he actually engaged in chit chat this afternoon – a low key frisky flirtation): he’s very nice (personally & physically), but I’m not interested. IF I was interested, I’d be interested … BUT I am not interested in dating, so engaging in convo with him is a dance step I’m clumsy at (I don’t want to send the wrong signals). I think I’ll find somewhere else to frequent for a while. I don’t want him to get the impression that I am ‘available’ – I’m not available. But all this guy knows about me is that I’m a nice person, and I was coming in with a man … and now I’m not: I’ve been going in there, solo lobo for two years. But be that, as it may, I am just not drawn to any man, other than the one I had – Bob is still my man 😊

While I was standing around waiting for my burger to be prepared, I saw these ‘things’ that resembled a cartoon bird’s head, and thought to myself, “what on Earth?” … so, I walked around the isle corner and checked them out.

SPRAY BOTTLES!

Heckle & Jeckle Crows – the first thing that came to my mind: I know … I’m a weirdo 😉

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIpTVU3Ddlo)

When I reached Lake Sacajawea, I walked the entire Lake Hike in 1 hour/45 minutes: it felt good to do the whole hike.

I never realized sea gulls were so BIG compared to ducks!

Completed Basketball Court that was going up, Oct. 7^th, 2020 (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2020/10/out-with-oldin-with-new.html)

Walking past the new Basketball Court, a frisky fella there, said, “Hey you! This is for you!” … and before my startled eyes, grabbed a basketball and aimed it at a hoop: it missed. That didn’t deter him – he grabbed another basketball, gave me a thumbs up; and said, “Here, let me try again; this is for you” – and missed again. We both laughed at the obvious overt flirtation, and I kept on walking.

GOOD SABBATH TO YOU!

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MALXpNR5c8)

2 flirtations in less than a half hour – and I’m nothing special 😉

Continuing my walk, I saw a strange sight: a white goose! I have never seen a white goose before; but with its dark eyes, it did not appear to be an albino goose.

I researched this goose at home, and learned this is a Snow Goose.

Rounding the lower end of the Lake, and making my way to the upper end, I was faced with a decision: what trail to take? I normally take the lower trails because they work my legs and lungs more … but this afternoon, I decided to remain taking things easy for a while more; so, I took the upper trail. Making it this far was an achievement: I did not want to set my body healing backwards by inflaming things with a strenuous uphill climb coming out on the other side of the lower trail.

There is time for that later in the year 😉

Washington Way Footbridge Loop Trails.

But I could not avoid the next lower trail; but the terrain here was relatively level. There was a light incline, but nothing like the previous lower trail – which usually has me huffing and puffing by the time I climb up the trail to flat ground.

Under overpass bridge at 15th Ave. Loop Footbridge.

Great Blue Heron

The moon.

I was pleased with myself that I had made it 3/4ths of the way around the Park, without any painful glitches. It appears I got my ‘Christmas Miracle’ 😊

((((THANK YOU, YESHUA!))))

The sign that has closed the Japanese Garden for 10 months is GONE!

A guy here, said the gate is always closed in the Winter time.

When I got back to the car, I was reaching for the door handle and slipped on a muddy patch … catching my fingernail somehow on the handle, painfully pulling it away from the nail bed. It did bleed a little.

I have mentioned that I am not a graceful female, right?

OW!

Nearing 48^th Street on Ocean Beach Highway, a frisky little brown dog ran out in front on my car, trying to get to the other side of the highway: I didn’t want to hit it, so I stopped – and didn’t care what the other cars behind me thought about that. But I was annoyed that people, living alongside Ocean Beach Highway, are so careless with their pets: this is not a country backroad! Ocean Beach Highway is a five-lane highway … pets will be killed on this road if they are running free.

I was glad to pull back in my driveway – I’ve had all the friskiness I can handle for one day 😉