Life at a "Swell's" pace

Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These Machines.

With the wildfire smoke getting a bit thicker the last few days. we've been running our window air conditioner on air purify and also utilizing our air purifiers from IKEA. Inside our home we have taken steps to help keep the indoor air quality healthier for us and our pets. You can get the air conditioner pictured, here. And, they air purifiers pictured, here. (Don't forget the filters)

2. This Sign.

On days we have off, Skylar and I like to take short day trips along the Oregon Trail roadways and explore the back areas that pioneers took. We've pretty much covered the entire trail system since first doing these short trips a few years ago. With our most recent day trip, we came across this sign along someone's land. Being horror fans we couldn't help but stop and take a picture. We just love seeing little things like this along our road trips. It makes the trips that much more exciting for us.

3. These Blankets.

We recently took a trip to Costco to grab a few things we've been needing. We don't normally make a lot of "on a whim" purchases and we really try to stick to a list, especially in Costco, but recently we've been seeing things we actually need. These blankets being one of those things. We love Pendleton blankets, especially the wool ones, but we definitely will be utilizing these this winter. Unfortunately, the house we are in isn't well insulated and every little bit of warmth helps in the colder months ahead. Eleven has been enjoying the warm Pendleton blanket, as well.

4. This Kid.

Since starting at Auto Zone, Skylar has been learning and growing. He was even promoted to Sales Manager this week and Jeff and I couldn't be prouder. He is hoping to learn as much as he can about diesels, too, so he can be on top of anything that happens to our bus.

5. These Skies.

Although the skies here are pink in the evenings with the sunset, it can't go without notice that they are that color because of the wildfires burning around us. Pink skies and red sunsets here are becoming a norm in the summer months, but sometimes they are so bright, they are almost worth taking note of the beauty of them. We hope the wildfires get under control soon, though, no matter how beautiful the skies are.

AND, Happy Fiftieth birthday to this guy.

We love you, Jeff! Happy Birthday, Dudu!

(Everyone always wears the 45 birthday hat. It's our family's inside joke)

Positive affirmations this week:

Have a nice weekend.

Hello.

Before getting into this week's five things, I would like to share something first:

My thoughts on Measure 114, from the mind of mental health struggles:

Please consider donating to the two victims of our state's recent mass shooting in Bend, Oregon, on August 28, 2022 (my forty-fifth birthday). Safeway is a great grocery store and no community should suffer with the loss of life through gun violence, especially those shopping for groceries on a Sunday evening. We all have our thoughts on gun control, but everyone can agree that guns in the hands of the wrong people is an issue in the nation that needs to be addressed. Please click on the links here and here to help out these families in the midst of their suffering. Bend is two hours from our current location in the Willamette Valley and it has hit us just as hard here as it has in Bend. Along with the mass shootings that have occurred here in Oregon since 1977, over 35 people have died by guns in the hands of the wrong people that should never have had a weapon in the first place. This latest mass shooting, although the gunman was stopped, his intentions were there and needed to be addressed.

Most of these gunman, if not all of them here in Oregon, as well as nationwide suffer from some sort of mental health issue/illness. As someone that suffers myself, there are currently measures in place to stop these type of actions in some of these shootings, but they aren't enough.

Our midterms are coming up in November and a measure is being pushed through to help with this. Measure 114 will help stop a loose loophole in our current gun laws that will help someone rethink their intentions in getting a gun to do harm to others, and themselves. My mental health issues are not those that want to hurt others, but definitely have disassociation to where I want to harm myself. Suicide is never an answer to any problem, but Measure 114 would help someone like me to rethink our intentions of suicide, especially by gun. While many people are thinking of themselves and their guns, and taking Measure 114 personally, law abiding gun owners should have no issue with the new measure being put forth to save someone like me from making a permanent mistake and taking my own life, because of how easy it is for me, right now to get a gun and give in to my suicidal thoughts. Please consider this when voting this coming November. And, if you still feel like the measure is not something you agree with, my question to you is, when does it become personal to you? What will it take to help you see that Measure 114 is very personal to me and my family, why isn't it personal to you and yours? Close that loophole and save mine and others lives from loose gun control that's killing people every day.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Although I am just one person, hopefully my words will affect someone enough to take into consideration this side of Measure 114. Gun ownership is a privilege and should be treated as such. No one needs a firearm to survive in this world, but everyone that owns one, should go through the proper steps to have and maintain that privilege.

Image below is from our local Safeway during our shopping

trip this week. I made sure to tell every employee I passed

that we are thinking of them and we love them.

And now, here are five things this week.

1. These Skies.

Smokey skies here have made the area look like a storm rolling in. Although, not as bad as the 2020 wildfires, it's still bothersome with smoke. Hopefully, it will clear up soon.

2. These Groceries.

Our grocery haul for this week is a hit, as always. You can sign up for these organic grocery options at Misfits Market here.

3. This Duck.

Quappy is sure loving her mirror. She's been sleeping in her box in the garage until we feel she's ready to join the other ducks in the big girl coop.

4. These Air-Dividers.

Skylar and I have been adding little perks to the Veloster slowly. With him working at Auto Zone we get to see the new car additions right away. He saw these air dividers and thought they would make the car look sportier. We like them so far. You can get some similar ones here.

5. These Smoothies.

We have been on a smoothie kick lately for breakfast. These are some of the best ones we've found. You can print them from Simple Green Smoothies.

Positive affirmations this week:

Always make sure the path you are on each season is supporting the life you want to create in the long run. Not caring what other people think about the path you're on is a top priority, too. If it makes you happy, that's all that matters. Each season reevaluate that path and make sure you're still focused on what's important to you.