Approach life gently. Treat life kindly. Live life fully and with enthusiasm.
Respect life--always.


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Not So Out of Touch

IMG_0859[1]The Internet has been down, here at Neskowin Creek RV Resort, but it really hasn’t been an issue. Not for me, anyway. I see some people acting like addicts in search of their next hit, as they ask in the office and then ask random people if they’ve gotten on lately.

For me, it has been so peaceful. I have wanted to log on and write a post or two. It just wasn’t in the cards.

In the time I’ve not been spending online, I've had many actual conversations with real flesh-and-bone people and I've learned so much about myself and others in the process. Plus I haven't laughed and smiled this much in a long time.

I’ve also had time to work on editing my book. In a few weeks’ time, I should have the final edit finished, and my manuscript will be ready for publishing. Yes, I realize I’ve been talking about this book off and on for the past several years. I thought I had it finished two years ago. I really did. I had Office Depot print copies, and I handed them out to a few friends, family, and trusted others. I really thought I was ready. But God said, “Not yet.” He was basically telling me the book wasn’t finished because I had one more Major, dare I say Super Major, test to go through. Having now finished that trial, I feel the peace that I believe means I can now finish and publish.

IMG_0778[1]Plus, Ken and I have had time to just relax without stressing about anything other than not being organized full-timers yet.

This past week has been good, very good. Maybe God’s been using this time to reinforce the last trial He put me through.

Thank heaven for limited internet!

We should all go net-less once in a while.

Peace, love, and joy to you all!

I'll be checking out again!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Neskowin, Once Again

P7220603Well, here we are on leg two of our journey of a lifetime. We decided to make a side excursion westward to say goodbye to some travel buddies. They are regulars here at Neskowin Creek RV Resort, coming and going often during the year. We’ve been here a few days already, and we’ve hardly seen anyone we know. Well, there is Hank, but his wife had to stay home this trip. The staff seems to have changed, as well.

I could be a bit lonesome, if it weren’t for the community room, and as I hang around, writing, drawing, or working on a puzzle, people wander in, and conversations and laughter are always not far behind.

Today I was working on the preliminary drawings for a painting I have in mind, and a young girl, maybe 13 or 14, asked to watch. I asked if she wanted to draw, and so we shared wonderful chit chat as we sketched together.

There’s a peacefulness around this place. Sometimes I wish we could live here fulltime, but I know my body cannot handle this climate for much longer.

Besides, the Southwest is calling.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Providence

IMG_0842[1]The weather has been mighty hot this past week. So painfully hot, especially with our high humidity. After we settled in to our spot here at Pheasant Ridge in Wilsonville, I ascertained that Ken had indeed hooked us up to electrical, and I switched on the AC. I waited patiently, knowing she’s an old system, she’s an old Raven, produced in 1996, the last year Firan was in business.

I waited patiently a little longer, and longer still, but the best she could do was tepid air. I so desired my sweaty body to put forth goose bumps in response to her chilly breath, but I was sadly disappointed.

Poor Tinker Belle was suffering more than we humans, though. Pugs are notorious for not tolerating the heat, or the cold for that matter. When a dog pants, she is quickly forcing air across her palate the entire length of her snout, and this helps cool her. Dogs cannot sweat. Being a brachycephalic breed (smashed face), Pugs are at a major disadvantage because they do not have a snout, nor a lengthy palate, to help in the cooling process.

Round about the time I became most worried about my little girl, I had been icing my leg. I had a major fall last week. One heck of a goose egg right away, and now a smaller goose egg (but still sizeable) and major bruising from my knee down.

IMG_0818[1]Simply dampening Tinker was not cooling her. She gulped water until her belly bulged. I feared she might go into another seizure or have a heart attack. I asked Ken to hand her to me, and I laid her across my icepack. Surprisingly (or not) she chose immediately to stay on that icepack, and she stayed there for a few hours, until my homemade icepack finally melted.

With the rest of the week threatening to stay in the humid 90’s, we chose to take Tinker back home, where Trevor could care for her with our two other dogs and without me worrying about losing my precious pup to the heat.

IMG_0839[1]Today we had to take the Raven in to have a new AC installed. The mobile repairman, who came out promptly the first day of our crisis, said that with its age, replacement was about our only option. This Raven, I love her, but she’s a greedy beast. Laurelhurst Heating and Air Conditioning in Portland did an awesome job, on time, and saved us money, to boot.

I love it when God’s divine intervention helps us. That is, when we actually listen. God’s providence put us close enough to home to resolve our problem with little stress. The Holy Spirit’s whispers also guided me not to purchase tickets for Friday’s rodeo event. I had no idea why, but my gut was telling me to leave Friday open, and so I purchased tickets for only four of the five days. And Friday just happened to be the only opening the repair shop had to install our new AC.

Be still and listen, and you too may hear the Whispers of the Holy Spirit gently guiding you.

096Even though I know my son will take good care of my Tinker, I miss her terribly. So the part of Tinker Belle this week had to be played by my newest Pug stuffie, Rorie.

Blessings and joy to you,

Jenni

Here’s a special bonus: My Homemade Icepack Recipe

Pour a 16 ounce bottle of rubbing alcohol into a gallon sized Ziploc bag. Add 32 ounces of water to the rubbing alcohol in the Ziploc, seal securely, give it a little sloshing, and place within another Ziploc, just for good measure. Then stick it in the freezer until firm. It can be used over and over, just refreeze.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

TRAVELERS, AT LAST

DSC04518Hooray!

We’ve finally made it to the scenic highways and byways of our magnificent country.

Well, actually, we haven’t gone all that far . . .

Wilsonville is only a stone’s throw from our hometown of Portland, Oregon. Why, you may wonder, would we drive less than an hour to our first destination? It would take us two lifetimes to see all we want to see, at that rate.

DSC03127Every Fourth of July, St. Paul puts on this absolutely amazing rodeo. Now, St. Paul is only a stone’s throw further south of Wilsonville. We could not stay any closer to St. Paul because,as I hinted, this rodeo is a huge happening around these parts, and RV spaces fill up fast. I made our reservations a good two months early, and this was the best I could do, proximity-wise.

DSC03453I suggested, and Ken agreed, that we go to the St. Paul Rodeo as an awesome kickoff for our great adventure, our new life, so to speak.

And so, a few pictures from the first day, which was Professional Bull Riding only, and the second day, which included just about everything, including fireworks at the closing of both days. Can’t imagine what tomorrow’s fireworks show might include, being the Fourth and all. The past two shows were great.

Enjoy!

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Here, Ken is trying to earn a Marines t-shirt. They said that if he managed three, at age (almost) 75 and a year after shoulder surgery, he could have his choice of whatever they had to offer. Well, he didn’t quite make one, but as you can see, he did pretty darned well for his age and the condition of his shoulder. The young Marines were impressed all the same, and shook his hand with pride, knowing Ken to be a veteran. It’s too bad he didn’t get a t-shirt. I really wanted the one that said, “Pain is injury leaving the body.” Profound for a bunch of jarheads, eh? Kidding, kidding. They were all super nice and I wanted to hug them all for their service.

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These are massive animals, and yet they jump around as if they were kittens.

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How high can a horse fly ? ? ? ?

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Yes, the clown is in that barrel.

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This fine young cowboy forgot to put the quarter in for his horsey ride.

Bless you all, and a special prayer and blessing for the families of the firemen lost in the Arizona fires this week.

I’ll write again soon. Oh, it feels so good to be back writing. I hope you enjoy what I have to offer.

Love, Jenni