ASTHMA ATTACK ~ Solo Lobo

I went to fellowship today – the early morning drive went smoothly.

I was feeling pretty good; there was a lot of pollen in the air when I walked to the car, so I used my inhaler to keep my lungs from seizing up. Then I drove to Baker’s Corner to top the gas tank off (just habit; Bob always kept the tank full, ‘just in case’ 😉), and grabbed a quick breakfast casserole to eat once I reached my destination … as well as a canned coffee drink (I didn’t have time to make a cup at home).

I am continually awed by the way Yeshua created Earth and everything pertaining to it - and us, humans.

Yeshua designed Earth and humans as a synchronized unit.

When I arrived at the fellowship building, I was early, so I ate my casserole and finished off the canned drink.

I was inside the building for about 5-10 minutes: and had to leave because I could feel a fit of coughing coming on – I was in full-blown asthma mode; and it surprised me because I had used my inhaler before I pulled out of the carport at home.

Synchronization with creation was out of step ☹

Fellowship inside the building was short lived ... I was hit with a hefty asthma attack.

The asthma attack was severe enough to override the albuterol inhaler – it’s a new inhaler, so it should have been potent enough to hold the attack at bay.

I wasn't asked to leave - I chose to leave to keep harmony among the Body.

The onset was confusing. 

It was uncomfortable: I was struggling to breathe, my heart rate was accelerating with the constraining struggle, and it refused to be controlled.

I don't question Elohim - ALL THINGS work together for the good of those who believe in Yeshua. 2 Corinthians 12:7 & Romans 8:28.

It was frustrating to experience solo lobo. 

I missed Bob’s presence. 

I trusted Yeshua’s presence. 

It could have been triggered by the May Day Bouquet I received yesterday, the visible pollen in the air – or by the caffeinated canned drink … or by the combination of the 3 together; there’s no way to know what brought it into play.

I was calmly contemplating my mortality. 

In a parking lot – counties from home.

While I was sitting in the car hoping to regain strength to make the drive back home; the pastor came out and asked if I was okay. I said I have asthma and had used my inhaler; but I was coughing as my lungs tried to settle down, and I didn’t want to alarm anyone who was concerned about covid. He said that no one would be concerned – and I was welcome to sit in the sitting room, off the foyer, and listen to the message … and cough if I needed to … without concerns being raised.

I was thankful!

It is good to be part of a Bible-believing (no fear) fellowship.

This morning was Communion morning – I wanted to participate 😊

The last time I had partaken of Communion was with Bob 4 years ago, at our Messianic Fellowship in Vancouver.

I have been missing it.

And, this morning, Elohei was mercifully faithful.

After fellowship, I took the short way home instead of going the long loop route. Passing through Rosburg, I saw a sign advertising a fundraiser lunch at the Rosburg Hall: so, I nipped in there.

I like lasagna; and I was hungry.

I like County Fairs; and don’t mind helping to keep the tradition alive and kicking, for the upcoming generation.

I don’t recall ever having seen bull riders at the Wahkiakum Fair: it sounds interesting.

While there, Aunt Frieda and Uncle John walked through the door … and we enjoyed a good 2 hour companiable convo with hugs, kisses, laughter, joking with each other, and catching up all around 😉

I am sure Bob was smiling, if he was watching us.

And the asthma settled down enough to enjoy the visit.

But it is still lingering, and making my chest ache.

THERE IS NO CURE FOR ASTHMA. Asthma can be controlled - but there is no cure.

I have talked to Elohim about it.

I have prayed about it.

I keep an inhaler on hand – I used it several times today.

I have entrusted my life to Yeshua. 

Whatever happens … happens. 

I have been ready to go Home since 1965. 

I am not flip with my life; I respect life. 

I understand seriousness of situations. 

And I trust Yeshua 100% with my life.

Whatever will be; will be.

2 STATE LOOP DRIVE

When I saw the sign Thursday, I wasn’t sure I’d check the Bazaar out.

I caught sight of this sign pulling out of the gas terminal at Napavine, Thursday.

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/04/traveling-thursday-sulkum-huff-and-puff.html)

When I woke up this morning … I knew I’d be driving back that way.

I want to experience as much as I can, when I can – while I have the ability to do so. I’m retired; and the only obligations I have anymore, are to myself.

But I drove a different ‘loop route’, today 😉 

Delameter Road from Heron Pointe - 16 mins.

Vader from Delameter Road - 20 mins.

Adna from Vader - 30 mins. 

The drive was enjoyable.

Free & Easy Down the Road I Go: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erqMKaSbI-U)

The GPS was accurate; the Grange was located on a road just before the Adna Floral Sale location 😊

The Adna Grange; I have never been here before - this is something new.

The Grange is pretty small – as far as Granges go (most are so large they echo even when packed), and the vendors were friendly and talkative.

The Bazaar is something new for the Grange, too.

I am craftsy myself, so I didn’t really need/want most of what was on display; but I did make a couple purchases: for exactly $1 EA. 

My $2 haul.  

Leaving Adna, I caught sight of another road sign advertising am Estate Sale … so, I punched the address into the GPS, and followed the road 😉

I spent $6 there. 

Another small haul. 

Today I was not a big spender; hahaha.

When I left Adna, I decided to drive a loop route home through Naselle.

Just ‘because’. 

Naselle from Adna - 1 hr.37 mins.

Coming into Naselle from the Raymond/Longbeach junction, ‘Warrenton’ popped into my thoughts … so, I thought, ‘why not?’ – and turned left.

Decision to drive to Warrenton, OR.; Solo Lobo.

Warrenton, OR from Naselle, WA - 26 mins.

Just a spur of the moment thing.

Turning left meant driving across that hulking nemesis, known a ‘the Astoria-Megler Bridge’: I hate crossing that thing.

The winter slide area: more towards Naselle than Longbeach; the road is open, so Warrenton was a 'GO'.

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/02/cultivating-winning-mindset.html)

The slide area is actually quite a way from Dismal Nitch.

This Rest Area Stop is where Lewis & Clark camped on their Westward exploration.

Dismal Nitch from Naselle - 12 mins.

Facing my nemesis - I do not like the Astoria-Megler Bridge. The bridge is very near the Dismal Nitch Rest Area.

But, to get to Warrenton from the Washington side of the Columba River, it has to be faced and crossed.

I’d have to cross a smaller and shorter bridge too, to get to Warrenton once I touched down in Astoria, Oregon …

Crossing the short bridge into Warrenton.

…. but it’s only the Astoria-Meglar Bridge that freaks me out – that thing is very high, very looooong, and very busy.

Every time I cross it, I pray to God I do not get stuck in traffic at the very top of it.

Elohim has been merciful now that I am solo lobo – may He always be so gracious.

Time spent in Warrenton was fun.

And more than a little bittersweet: I’ve ever only been there with Bob.

And only to his Uncle Cliff’s home … never further than that – except in passing through to fetch/take home our first granddaughter when she’d come spend some time with us.

Warrenton was another ‘something new’. 

Warrenton exploration unfolded without a hitch - but, fledging is a little apprehensive. 

And it happened without tears. 

Things are balancing out, and I'm getting back to my gutsy self.

Warrenton may be a repeat thing 😉 

Every Storm Runs Out of Rain (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIbuXTgextU)

And when I got back home, there was a surprise waiting for me 😊

Heron Pointe, WA from Warrenton, OR - 1 hr.15 mins.

A May Day Flower Bouquet was hanging on the front porch door knob.

A nice surprise!

The flowers were fresh cut, so I placed them in a small jar of water on the kitchen window sill; I will see it all day long.

I’m pretty sure I know who made it/left it for me.

He’s a 6-year-old cutie 😉

It’s refreshing to know that some kids still know how to feel love, and be an example of kindness … while the {adults} in today’s society are fueled by bitter hatred, and raise hell at every opportunity.

There was news on the radio all day about the continuing blm-antifa chaos in Portland and Seattle.

There was news on the radio about the continuing biden lunacy; and the obamanite DC chaos.

I’m just done with all of it.

I had a great day.

I am ‘becoming’; and my unfurling gossamer wings are strengthening.

I wake up every morning determined to live the life Elohei gave me to the best of my ability – unimpeded, and to our satisfaction.

I have no trouble at all in sleeping, once my head touches my pillow 😊

TRAVELING THURSDAY ~ Sulkum & Huff-and-Puff

My furry nemesis is back, so yesterday I slapped some big bucks down to have it trapped (hopefully – there is no guarantee). I will keep the trap for a month before it will be removed from my lot.

But, it is here. It is baited. And this morning I “set” it before I left to have my coffee hour with friends in Naselle.

Morning w-friends & Salkum Timberland Library Daytrip.

The trap will be sprung tonight; and hand tripped in the morning if it is empty.

Naselle from Heron Pointe - 59 mins.

Leaving Naselle for Salkum.

Daytrip adventures are flexible.

Chehalis from Naselle - 1 hr.46 mins.

I followed a log truck at a snail's pace coming into Pe Ell – a Jerry Debriae log truck … it was a long way from home base; and shockingly, this cowboy driver was following the rules of the road. Debrae himself – nor his drivers ever behave.

This is why I prefer backroads; it engages the senses far more than freeway travel does.

Nearing Adna via the Pe Ell loop route, I saw a sign that advertised a County Park … so, I turned right and checked the locale out.

When I am on a Daytrip drive, I tend to dink around enroute 😉

This Park is supposed to be “excellent” picnicking, hiking, playground, volleyball, exercise trail, horseshoe pits; ect.

NO WAY!

From what I could see past the rusted metal gate blocking entrance, was a lot of neglect and overgrown areas. It was obvious it has not been used for years – possibly decades. It looked pitiful.

Rose Park - up close and personal - does not match the glowing reports on it.

Adna mountain view & Napavine pit stop.

Caught sight of this upcoming Bazaar Sign pulling out of the gas terminal at Napavine. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll be back here on the 1^st …

The google mapping showed a generalized idea of where Sulkum was located; I didn’t ever recall Bob & I going through (or past) a town named Sulkum. I knew where Mary’s Corner was, but I was not familiar with the stretch of highway google maps and the car’s GPS was prompting me to drive.

About 5 minutes into the unfamiliar territory, I passed the Tucker Road spur off Jackson Highway: and was into familiar territory again – but I was still mystified about Salkum.

Mary's Corner from Chehalis via Jackson Highway - 20 mins.

Salkum via Highway 6 at Mary's Corner.

Mt. Rainier.

Salkum Timberland Library from Mary's Corner - 10 mins.

I don't know how we missed this sign for years ... Sulkum is an eye-blink town.

Cool rustic Arbor. The woman in the vid is the Librarian; we talked for about half an hour.

After she went back into the Library, I strolled around the pocket gardens – I was there … and so were they; and my legs needed to be stretched.

Raised garden beds.

Pretty little flowering plant.

Pretty pale lilac tulip with a white base w-blue splotches, black stamens & bright yellow pistil.

This plant was pretty all over.

A strawberry plant with pink blossoms; unusual - and pretty, too.

(https://www.monrovia.com/toscana-strawberry.html)

Walking through the cozy pocket gardens area, I liked the rustic garden supports – I like rustic 😊

Rustic garden support.

Rustic garden support.

Rustic Ladder Trellis.

Done walking the pocket gardens, and knowing the library would not be open to walk through until June 1^st, I decided to hop across the highway and check out “downtown Salkum”: population 216.

The Librarian had clued me in. 

But I wanted {to see} for myself.

'Downtown Salkum' consists of 3 buildings; grocery store, P.O., and tavern.

Salkum Post Office.

Salkum's Brown Shack Tavern.

I don’t know how I have missed the Library as often as Bob & I drove this highway: the Library Sign is big enough. In my defense, I will say that we always had kids with us for 44 years … and they snagged my attention 90% of the time we were out and about; so maybe I was busy with one of them as we passed Salkum: it’s an eye-blink town with nothing to grab your attention as you sail right past it.

So far, I am not a fan of the ‘Traveler’s Companion’ handbook; I believe people who submit road travel info for booklets like this one, should be honest and prepare people of what to expect when visiting the destinations, they highlight.

I like small towns, and would be perfectly happy living in a ghost town – but, a ghost town should be advertised as a ghost town, not built up to be something else.

Just sayin’.

However, I do like the drive along this roadway: and that was a redeeming factor as I blinked my eyes and left Salkum.

Hungering for a Huff and Puff hamburger.

I knew the Tulip Bulb farm was along this route, too; so, I decided to nip in there and see what they had to offer. The place is wildly expensive, so I was going to be very selective if I walked out with a purchase 😉

I stopped at the DeGoede Bulb Farm along the way.

(http://www.degoedebulb.com/retail.htm)

Last time I was here with Bob was in 2017; we had Aza with us.

I bought a strawberry jar for the garden area at home, and fertilizer stakes for inside houseplants. I’ll start transplanting strawberry plants, mid-May.

My garden is my “peaceful place”.

Huff and Puff was still half an hour away ...

Delicious hamburgers here; worth the long drive.

I got an Elk burger; low in fat, high in protein. A Healthy 'burger.

The drive home was smooth and easy – I know it by heart.

Toledo from Salkum Timberland Library via Tucker Road & Jackson Highway - 20 mins.

Mt. St. Helens seen coming into Toledo off Jackson Highway.

GEE CEE'S Truck Stop, from Jackson Highway Airstrip - 13 mins: I stopped and got gas here, and washed bug guts off the windshield again; the kamikaze bugs are thick this time of year.

Paradise Cove from Gee Cee's via Imboden Rd & Barnes Drive - 11 mins.

Delameter Road from Paradise Cove via Old Pacific Highway - 15 mins.

Heron Pointe from Delameter Road. 16 mins.

Bob and I drove that highway for decades, and I drove it several times solo lobo, throughout 2019 and 2020.

Only the location of Salkum threw me … and that short stretch of highway at Mary’s Corner.

But that’s okay: I know now.

And these Daytrips are as much about learning the highways and byways, as they are about just enjoying a relaxing and adventurous road experience 😉