Dee Hubbard

PRAIRIE CITY – Hey, summer finally arrived. And if you were waiting for all the snow to get of the Strawberry Mountains before you planted your garden, I don’t think that’s gonna work this year. I didn’t even bother to put in a garden this year because of the weather.

Ruth Casebeer brought fresh flowers from her garden today for our enjoyment. Thanks so much.

Sandi Rennels had on some unique earrings – zipper tabs. Wally Wedde put in an appearance. Zipped around town visiting before going home to John Day by use of the People Mover. Our servers today were Carolyn Bird, Jean Kline and Leone Meador, with Marj Harris taking care of the tea pot.

Tim Cooley announced that there will be a graveside memorial service for Zelma Woods on Saturday. Norma Rynearson presented a check for $500 to the seniors from the United Methodist Church thrift shop. Thanks a whole bunch. Buzz Harris led the flag salute, and Pastor Marvin Hatfield asked the blessing.

We had 16 takeouts today, and 50 were in the hall. (Soap box alert) Maybe we should just have everyone get a takeout and save the rent money. But that’s not what the mealsite is about. It’s about people getting out of their houses and meeting others and having a real face-to-face conversation at least once a week. And eating a delicious meal in the process. (Soap box alert ended).

So what did Iva and Helen cook up on Aug. 10? Something different, I think is their motto. Anyway, we had grape juice, orange jello, spaghetti and meat sauce, dinner rolls, and stirfry veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, onions, and zucchini, lots of zucchini). Then for dessert, we had a fresh fruit tart – strawberries, blueberries and raspberries on a whipped cream-like filling on a crust. Not being a cook, I don’t know what kind of crust it was. I do know that it wasn’t a pie crust or a bread crust. But it was good.

The Blue Mountain Nursing Home ladies, Lorna and Kellyn, brought Wayne Adams, Daphne Anderson, Carolyn Behrens and Ruth Garrison. They have some of their new tables and chairs for the activity and dining rooms. The new tables accommodate wheel chairs much better.

Our table conversation started off with Norma relating that she managed to hit her fifth deer in four years (or was it the fourth deer in five years … I can’t remember). She didn’t hit it too hard ’cause it jumped the fence and limped off. The car only sustained minor damage.

Then Bruce related how he had to jump on the brakes (which locked up) as he slid s-l-o-w-l-y up to the rear of a big buck. As soon as the bumper touched the hind legs, the buck sat down … on the hood of the Volkswagen he was driving. Said it left a big butt print’ in the dent in the metal.

Isaiah 32:20 – “Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.”

JOHN DAY – On Monday, Aug. 8, Redeemer Lutheran Church members served baked potatoes with all the fixings, ambrosia salad and homemade chocolate chip cookies. Thanks again to all of you who have willingly and graciously served our meals, and to our fabulous cooks who dream up such wonderful lunch ideas.

The flag salute was led by Francis Kocis, and the blessing was given by Pastor Roger Blesi, who also won the free meal. Corinne Stennett won the gift certificate at Len’s Drug.

Jan and Larry Sanderson, Carol and John Moore, and Joan and Jim Drewes came from Bend to visit us for lunch.

We would like to thank Chester’s Thriftway for their donation of baked goods that they supply each Monday and Thursday for our seniors. Just a reminder: If you use the refrigerator to keep your “goodies” while you are eating, please remember to take them with you when you leave.

Thursday, Aug. 11, the menu consisted of baked chicken, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, cucumber salad, rolls and birthday cake. The entreé was donated by the bingo players, and served by Cornerstone Christian Fellowship members. The birthday cake was donated by Driskill Memorial Chapel and Velvet Touch Car Wash. The flag salute was led by Kathy Stockdale, and the blessing was given by Pastor Levi Manitsas. He always has such funny stories to share.

Stan Beck won the Katrina’s Barber Shop certificate, and Bob Martin took the Chester’s Thriftway gift card.

The Senior Center is offering free jigsaw puzzles to anyone who is interested.

Rhonda and Carl Metler came and spoke to us about fire safety. Their main emphasis was on how to stay safe and prevent home fires.

Candles left too close to curtains or left unattended can cause fires.

Check batteries in smoke detectors twice a year. The batteries may still be good, so use them in other small appliances or radios.

Draw up an escape route and be sure all household members are aware of it. Identify a “meeting place” outside the home to go to in case of fire so that all persons can be accounted for.

Never return inside a burning house, regardless if there are pets still inside. The fire department will rescue them safely when they arrive.

If a fire should start, cover your mouth and crawl on the floor to the closest exit. Go immediately to your predetermined meeting place.

If a fire starts from a pan on the stove, do not put water on it. Cover the pan with a lid to smother the flames. It is always safe to keep a lid handy while cooking.

Keep wood-burning stove chimneys clean. They should be cleaned and checked for needed repairs annually. Also be aware of attic spaces and garages for fire safety.

Keep fire extinguishers current, in good repair and handy in case of fire.

If you report a fire, be sure to have the address of the fire’s location handy. Remember, cell phones don’t give an address or location.

If you need help changing smoke detector batteries or have any other fire related questions, call the fire department. They are there to help.

A survey was taken to see how many people would be interested in using the People Mover to get to certain locations and other senior centers. A grant was given to the People Mover for two years, for seniors and other people with disabilities. A suggestion for more transportation to more places at a subsidized cost has been presented for discussion.

“A sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use.” – Washington Irving

MONUMENT – We had 50 diners in attendance on Tuesday, Aug. 9, and we enjoyed hamburgers, trimmings, French fries, macaroni salad, and ice cream sundaes for dessert. Enjoyed every bit of it.

Our guests from out of town were Dorothy Warrington from Portland, Virgil and Jeanine Hall from Vernonia, and Lloyd and Sally Hall from Gresham.

The board had a meeting after lunch and since no one told me anything, then I will presume nothing dramatic was decided.

Thank you, Leonard Nelson, for the generous donation check. And also, thank you, Joe and Alice Duncan for your very generous check for the food bank.

The foot clinic will be in business on Aug. 16. So, be sure to get your name on the list, if you need to have your toenails trimmed. One easy sign is if you keep hearing a clickety-clacking when you walk across linoleum barefooted.

Everyone knows that if you put someone’s name on an article, and they are upset about it, they can seek revenge. Therefore, the following will be nameless.

Everybody knows who it is; their loving daughter made sure of that. And I won’t include the entire episode here, just a few words of advice. If you want, you can make a little sign of this and tape it on your dash or steering wheel.

“Did you bring your wife with you?”

“Is she with you now?”

I’m going to have a wonderful Monday, Aug. 16. We are having a “cousins reunion.” It isn’t all of the cousins by any means, but will be a goodly amount. They will be converging from Prairie City, Arkansas, Arizona, Prineville and La Grande. And it’s a year or two since I’ve seen some of them.

During the gathering we are going to have a picture taken that will be an erstwhile copy of one that was taken 76 years ago. Everyone said we were really cute kids, and I did have a sweet personality. It’s odd how things turn out, isn’t it?

It’s not long until school starts again, and doesn’t seem long since they turned out for summer. But time and tide awaits no man.