PRAIRIE CITY — I took the plunge today and put the snow shovel in the tool shed. After all, it is the middle of May! One should be able to store the snow shovel now … Am reading a book that talks about Barrow, Alaska, and how winter lasts nine months and the sun goes down every year on Nov. 17 and doesn’t come back until Jan. 21. And we complain because we don’t have a “normal” spring … but we have sunshine every day! And even then we need to take a Vitamin D supplement. The Eskimos don’t. The whale supplied all necessary vitamins and minerals and even fiber and fat. Amazing animal.

So the contractor got all the flooring down in the dining hall by Wednesday night. Certainly looks nice, and will be so much more easily cleaned! Whooppee! It is all smooth surface, no artistic “divots,” as Pam says. Do you know what those artistic divots are good for? Catching dirt. That’s why I wanted my own new kitchen floor to be perfectly smooth. Guess what? They don’t make any flooring materials that are smooth. You have to special-order tile to get away from the divots. What happened to the old linoleum? It was smooth and no divots. Ah, progress.

In case you didn’t catch it, we did not have a meal today. Things look good to have one next week, though. So come and see what a shipwreck casserole is. That’s what’s on the menu. Seems like we’ve had that in the past, but I can’t remember what it consists of. Must be one of those senior moments …

We did have customers for the indoor yard sale in the hall last week. Too bad it was such a cool and rainy day. But that’s the way it is — you pick your day and cross your fingers. It was cool in the hall, too, because the heating stove had to be removed in order to do the flooring. I wore my flannel-lined pants, a T-shirt, a shirt, a jacket and a coat. Then I had an afghan over my legs and a little heater by my chair. Took me three hours on Friday night to get warmed up. We were able to open the front door for a while on Saturday and let some of the warm outside air into the building. We didn’t get wet!

I dug up the tulip bed last fall and covered the area with old bricks. Guess what came up through the cracks in the bricks … and they have lovely buds, too. Once more into the breach to try to remove them. They are a lovely color, but enough is enough. I don’t need a yard full of them. The peonies and hollyhocks are growing well. Have to start thinking about the garden plan soon: which seed goes where. And oh, yes, the Cow Pots! All kinds of new stuff to try out.

Then I look out the windows and groan. They need to be washed! Too late to do it today. And it might rain … (Ahem.)

Ezekiel 34: 25, 26, 27 I will make a covenant of peace / will bless them. … I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; …

JOHN DAY — It sure is nice to not need a coat when going outside for a little bit. The weather is still a bit confused, but it is warming up for sure. When all the nights stay above freezing is a sure sign summer is on its way. Spring is very nice too. Spring brought a lot of allergies this year that we have not noticed as much in the past few years.

On Monday May 8, Dave Pasko and Carol Roe were our greeters for the 16 in-house diners and the one takeout meal we had. Dave and Carol made sure that all the diners signed in and got their names in the drawings.

Elsie did the announcements and members of the St. Elizabeth Catholic Church were the servers for our lunch. One of the servers had four children with her, and they were so cute helping diners with their trays and bringing water and even picked up some dishes as people were done. It was so sweet to see. Father Christie was not with his group, so the children asked the blessing for our meal. How precious was that?

We dined on Salisbury steak, parboiled red potatoes and gravy, Monterey blend veggies, and Pop-Tart cookie bar for dessert. It was a great meal and thanks to our chef, Shay, and his assistant, Darla. We appreciate both of you.

Mike and Pati Davis, Deena Steach and Jim Maples delivered 57 fresh meals and 45 frozen meals all around the John Day area and Mt. Vernon and Canyon City. Thank you to all you drivers for this service of love. Jim Maples said this was his last day to deliver meals as he is retiring. He has been working too long already but he knows that is what keeps him from aging too fast.

Good for you, Jim. We appreciate all you have done for all the years you have helped at our center; we will need to pick up another volunteer to fill the void you are creating by retiring. I hope your retirement is good to you and you enjoy all the days of your life.

Someone donated an HP printer for someone who may need one. It is available on a table, so look at it and see if you can use it. First come, first served on this deal. Tuesday, May 9, was our first day to play bingo after COVID, and it was very nice. Several people that had signed up to play were not present, so we hope to have them join us on Tuesday, May 16.

Margie Conley won the Len’s card and Carol Roe won the free meal. Congratulations to both of you. Some 119 meals went out of our kitchen this day. Such organization by Shay is just amazing.

On Thursday, May 11, Sonie Guttie and Judy Thomas were at the desk to greet the 18 in-house diners and the 22 people that came in to pick up meals. We sure appreciate all our volunteers that work at the desk keeping track of everyone and everything.

Dave Pasko manned the 50/50 station for a little added event before lunch. Several people gathered there at the table where Dave was and had more than one conversation going for a while before lunch.

Darlene Nodine did the announcements. Elsie read a cute story for interest. The Cornerstone Christian Fellowship Church was represented by Pati Davis as our server. She was right on track all during lunch. She made some of us moms a mimosa (I had never had one), without the alcohol of course. It sure was tasty. Pati asked the blessing for our lunch.

We dined on seafood — there were several kinds of seafood; I had never seen some of those kinds of fish — and twice-baked potatoes, green beans, cantaloupe and strawberries, and blueberry surprise. It was a great lunch for all the mothers present. Bonnie Kocis made a little bag of goodies for each place setting. Very colorful and special. Thanks, Bonnie.

Mike and Pati Davis, Nancy Elliot and Rick LaMountain delivered 56 meals all around the John Day area. Thanks to each one of you for your service of love to other people.

Quite a lot of pull tabs are collected at the desk, so a big thank-you to everyone that brought some in. We could use some 8 ounce Cool Whip bowls to use for diners to take their leftover lunch home with them. Thanks in advance for bringing some to us.

We also could use some grocery bags for folks to take goodies home that are donated by Chester’s and at times other sources. Ray Marcin-Souva brought in fresh eggs for anyone who wanted some. I’m not sure I have his name spelled correctly. Thanks, Ray, for your donations to our center.

We want to say a belated Mothers’ Day wish to all moms. Hoping your day was honorable for you. Ninety-six meals went out of our kitchen today. Kay Cotham won the Chester’s card, and Mary Ellen Osborn won the free meal. Gregg Starr won a jigsaw puzzle, which he donated to Rhonda (I cannot think of your last name, Rhonda, I am sorry). I hope you enjoy that puzzle that features bingo. Joe Phippen won the 50/50. Congratulations to all of you.

It was told that you can fool all the people part of the time and some people all the time, but you can never fool your mom. Tomorrow, Thursday, May 18, lunch will be pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies, rolls and chocolate cake.

This meal is sponsored by Jeanette Julsrud and Pati Davis in memory of Curt Komning. Thanks, ladies, for this act of love. On Monday, May 22, we will dine on cherry-glazed pork loin, dressing, veggies and carrot cake. This sure sounds good.

Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

MONUMENT — Summer is finally here! Even though we have had the temperatures go down below 40 degrees Fahrenheit on some mornings, the daytime temperatures have been rising. On some afternoons, it has been downright hot! Praise the Lord for the sunshine, though, and I am thankful for each and every day that I get to wake up in the morning.

Our cooks, Terry Cade and Carrie Jewell, made for us fettuccini alfredo, garlic bread, a fresh green salad, and apple pie with oatmeal for our dessert. We thank our lovely cooks for their yummy meals.

Our greeters at the front table were Bob Cockrell and Sue Cavender. They checked in all the guests, collected and counted up the money. We thank them for their volunteer work. Bob led us in the flag salute and made the announcements. Yours truly prayed the blessing over the meal.

We have sewing on Wednesday, May 24. We also have Bingo night on Saturday, May 27. There is an emergency preparedness class going on in Grant County for Wednesday, May 24.

I think I have gotten a routine going on the feeding of the baby goats. The only ones that I am trying to allow to sit on my lap while drinking their milk is Victoria and Squeaky. Sissy was not very happy because I would not allow her to sit on my lap the other day while drinking. She refused to drink. So I relented and let her sit on my lap again but not for long.

Timmy and Tommy are getting quite large, and I am thinking I need to start the weaning process. The way they drink and gulp their milk may make one think they were starving to death! I give them a little hay and some grain. I noticed that they are eating and nibbling at it a little bit more.

I have been moving the adolescent girls around and tethering them to posts, and you know what? They are doing a great job of mowing down the tall grass from all this rain! Ha. The four wild goats, I just let roam around. They do not go too far from the ones that are tethered. At the end of the day, I rounded them up by getting a bit of grain in a bucket, shaking it, and then taking it to their pen. They all come running in to get some. There is no need for me to go chasing after them.

I tell ya, when they are put back in their pen at night, they got some big, fat and round tummies going on! Hahaha.

Friends Brian and Kathy Woodell came to get some raspberry canes. Brian gave me a great idea. He told me to put a garden where the girls had their pen all winter. I had moved them back to a bigger pen. This way, I would utilize all that goat poop! I am so excited! Maybe I will be able to grow some corn this year and some pumpkins!

Psalms 118:6, 8 The LORD is on my side, I will not fear. What can man do unto me? It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.