JOHN DAY On Dec 2, Sylvia Warrick and Irene Gagnon of Blue Mountain Hospital Auxiliary delivered the meals and served the diners. We had spaghetti, green salad, garlic bread, and rolled cake for dessert. Veanne Weddle led the flag salute, and Ben Luethe asked the blessing. Ron Dowse and Gloria Kulis were at the desk.

Dan Ellison won the Lens Drug certificate, and Gale Heising got the free meal. There were no announcements.

The delectable aroma of roasting pork loin greeted us on Dec. 5. Ron Dowse and Billie Bullard seemed to be enjoying it at the front desk. Jim Spell delivered the meals and helped others from St. Thomas Episcopal Church serve.

Grandkids Inheritance sponsored the meal of pork loin, gravy, parsley noodles and green salad with rolls. Dessert was birthday cake provided by Driskill Memorial Chapel. Jim and Beth Spell led the flag salute and asked the blessing. Fred Stoltz won the Chesters Thriftway certificate, Deda Porter got the Valley View lunch for two and Balbina Escudero won the discount certificate from Katrinas.

Kim Chesley of Elderberry House decorated for the December birthdays. She brought in balloons and a candy bouquet. Teri Bowden of A Flower Shop and More provided a beautiful centerpiece bouquet of fresh flowers. We only had one person with a December birthday Nancy Wells-Elliot at lunch, so she got to take home all the goodies.

Kim and Teri will be doing this the first Thursday of every month from now on. Since this was our first Birthday Thursday, we havent developed a protocol for how it should work in the future. Would folks with a birthday in the current month like to all sit together at the birthday table, or would they rather take something from the table on their way out after lunch? Well talk about it on upcoming Thursdays and have a plan in place by Thursday, Jan. 2.

The center appreciates Karin Barntish for all the hard work and extra effort she put into our grant application to the Barbara Emily Knudson Charitable Foundation. We got the grant for $14,500 which will be used to purchase and install much-needed new ovens.

The meal on Monday, Dec. 9, was chicken pot pie. We will have chicken fried steak this Thursday, Dec. 12, so dont miss out. Judi does a great chicken fry with all the fixings.

PRAIRIE CITY Cold enough for you? Several were gathered around the stove early Dec. 4, trying to get warm. That little heater does amazingly well in that big room. It certainly is the easiest to operate. Of course, the first was a great big wood stove that it kept it warm in a radius of 10 feet. Then a modern oil stove was installed that required lots of tinkering and holding your mouth right to get it to go. So this stove is wonderful.

Iva and Helen had help in the kitchen, with sister Donna and niece Livy. They were instrumental in preparing a new entrée called frittata. Its like a clean out the kitchen omelet. Very tasty. Along with it we had orange juice, potato soup, kale salad, and marionberry oatmeal bars for dessert. Good meal for a cold day.

Our servers were Lois Bidasolo, Louise LaBaugh and Pam Howard. Livy poured the tea and coffee. Buzz led the flag salute, and Jerry Sheets asked the blessing.

Joan Phippen won the $5 from Prairie Drug and Hardware & Village Gifts. She was so excited; said she just loves to go in there and shop.

Ron Dowse announced the new AARP safe driver course will be in January.

The Blue Mountain Care Center ladies, Lorna and Kellyn, brought Dorothy Blasing, Lola Kastl and Joava Bjornberg. They invited everyone to their Christmas party at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20.

We had a visitor, Chester Willis, who has moved to the community. He went to school in Bates and the Redmond area. Welcome to the neighborhood.

We had 20 take-outs and 43 intrepid diners in the hall. Veanne Weddle, senior programs manager, dropped by. She said she was able to get up to 30 miles per hour a couple of times on the drive up from John Day.

Quote from a diner: Were not old, just more experienced. I like that.

Donna had her ceramic Christmas pieces on the tables for our enjoyment lots of angels, trees, etc. They sure are purty. Shed be glad to make you some, too.

Hold the presses! Something unusual happened. The government has cut down on my paperwork. I dont have to fill out the five-page monthly report that Ive been doing the last several years. Praise the Lord!

Dont you feel sorry for those people in the valley who have to deal with the terribly cold temperature of 20 degrees? The people in Seneca might think about putting on a sweater at that temperature.

Gen 8:22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and winter and summer, and day and night, shall not cease.

MONUMENT Sunday, Dec. 15, there will be a Christmas bazaar at the Monument Senior Center. Anyone interested in having a booth, can call Stacy Robinson-Cox at 541-934-2155.

Its Cookie Caper time. Bring your confectionery delights, cookies or other desserts to the senior center Dec. 15 before lunch, so there will be time to organize them for distribution. Sylvia Cockrell is asking for just two dozen cookies from each participant. For more information, call her at 541-934-2220.

May everyone stay warm during our very cold, below zero, temperatures.