JOHN DAY — This week was full of interesting facts for me since I was away for three weeks. Finally, we will be getting internet installed in our center on Thursday, Aug. 3.

Also, we will have four different phones that can be asked for, all on the one line/number so you can choose who you want to talk to when you call the center with the same number we have always had.

The new heating system is now being used for air conditioning and there was quite a bit of learning to do to get it to work correctly. A chat with the installer was very enlightening, so hopefully we will be able to keep the temperature in the building comfortable for everyone.

We are learning how to operate the watering system around the building to keep the plants happy.

Monday, July 24, Dave Pasko and Elsie Huskey were at the desk to greet the 12 in-house diners and the 12 people who stopped by to pick up their meals. Everyone was signed in and gave their donations for lunch and put their names in the drawings for the day. Dave led the flag salute and Elsie did the announcing.

Rachel Carpenter and her daughter Ella, Rick LaMountain, and Jeanette Julsrud delivered 56 fresh and 50 frozen meals to residents in our area who cannot get out to gather with us. Thanks, all you drivers, for your service of love.

The LDS Church was represented by Rachel Carpenter and her daughter Ella to serve for us this day. Rachel asked the blessing and then we dined on chicken teriyaki sandwich with Swiss cheese and pineapple, sweet potato fries, pasta salad and berry cobbler.

Joe has a nice garden at home and has many things to share with us. This Monday he brought a big box of zucchini and other squash, and it was all gone at the end of the day. Thanks, Joe. Charlene Morris brought in some eggs, and they were snatched up immediately. Thanks, Charlene.

Every Wednesday evening at 6 p.m., the Grant County Jammers play and sing at Valley View. It costs nothing to go and enjoy the music.

The residents of Valley View would enjoy having you there as well.

Gloria Kulis won the Len’s card, and Carol Roe won the free meal. Congratulations to both of you.

Altogether there were 130 meals that went out of our kitchen this day. Good job, kitchen staff.

On Thursday, July 27, Judy Thomas and Sonie Guttu were at the desk to greet the 23 in-house diners and the eight people who came in to pick up their meals. Each person was signed in and put their names in the drawings for the day.

Dave Pasko led the flag salute, and Elsie did the announcements.

Fifty-nine fresh meals and 10 frozen meals were delivered to residents in our area who cannot get out to meet with our group, by Pati Davis and her friend Jodie, Jeanette Julsrud and Kim Ausland. Thanks to all of you drivers for your service of love.

The Redeemer Lutheran Church was represented by Buzz and Bobbie Gilmore and their grandson Blaine as our servers for this day. Blaine did a good job bringing water to diners and picking up dishes. Buzz asked the blessing before we went to pick up our food. Thanks, Buzz, and Bobbie and Blaine, too.

A little misunderstanding about our library. Linda explained that just certain books will have a stamp in them as to where to return them to. If there is no stamp, you can keep them, share them, or bring them back if you wish.

Some 101 meals went out of our kitchen this day. That makes 231 for the week. That’s a lot of work, Shay and Darla.

Thursday, Aug. 3, lunch will be barbecue pulled pork sliders, mac and cheese, coleslaw, and birthday cake. It is Walt Hall’s birthday, so happy birthday, Walt.

Monday Aug. 7, lunch will be biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs and fruit. Join us. This sounds good.

An umbrella cannot stop the rain but allows us to stand in the rain. Faith in God may not remove our trials, but it gives us the strength to overcome them.

Psalms 19:1-2 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known.

MONUMENT —

Our cooks Terry Cade and Carrie Jewell made one of my faves! Yes, the hamburger steak (aka Salisbury steak), with onions and mushrooms, mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, and chocolate birthday cake for our dessert. Just telling you about it is awakening my tummy again. Ha. We thank our hardworking cooks immensely and we just can’t do without them!

Our greeters at the table were Bob Cockrell and Sue Cavender. They checked in all the guests, collected and counted up the money. Jan Ensign filled out the paperwork in the back. We thank all our volunteers. Bob led the flag salute and made the announcements. Dennis Abraham prayed the blessing over the meal.

I don’t know much else that went on because I was actually quite late in attending the lunch. Ya see, I had car trouble. My minivan broke down a mile or two from my house. When I say broke down, it broke down completely. The alternator went out and I lost all power.

The worst of it was that while I was trying to turn the car around to go back home, it died blocking half the road! We could not get it to neutral to push it out of the way. Yes, such is life.

Thank goodness D&D Repair’s Dallas Newton was able to come out and tow the car back home. He knew there was a “secret” button to push to get the car into neutral. My hubby remembered about it when Dallas showed him. Live and learn.

I am just praising and singing to the Lord that it happened close to home and not somewhere in the middle of nowhere. It could have happened in the late of night coming home from Bend or something! God is good, all the time! Our friend Josiah Martin is a mobile mechanic, and he is going to fix the minivan for us. It is not what you know but who you know. Ha. I think I rather believe that saying.

Well, my son and I took half a day to separate and move baby goats. I happened to be out there by the mamas and their babies when I saw one of the babies (really they are like 5 months old) run over and start suckling on its mama! I was horrified, to say the least! I was like, “No, are you kidding me?” Usually the mamas will wean the babies themselves, but obviously they were not. So I had to take matters into my own hands and separate them.

This was no easy feat. My son and I had to catch them, collar them and move them. They are next to my bottle babies in another pen. Those little boogers are fast! One jumped super-high and over a partition in the goat shed. Another one escaped into the field, jumping through a square in the panel. I am hoping to sell them in the next few weeks.

One can only hope. They are definitely good lawnmowers, though!

Psalms 145:1-3 I will extol Thee, my God, O King, and I will bless Thy name forever and ever. Every day will I bless Thee, and I will praise Thy name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.

PRAIRIE CITY —

Well, there were a lot of strange faces on display today due to Theresa’s call for photos of us at age 25. We really had some beautiful people back then! One was a runway model, one was Miss Sacramento County, and Jimmy told us that he was afraid of caves, as his “something that no one knew” about him. Come by next week and take a peek. Those who dine in will have their meal paid for by the Grant County Veterans Services Office. So find a vet and invite him or her.

Sharon led the flag salute, and Theresa asked the blessing. The $10 gift certificate for July birthday donated by Huffman’s Market went to Jean Kline. Our faithful volunteers included Sharon, Mary, Carla, Gwynne, Susanna, Chris, Theresa, Pam and another Theresa. (We must have run out of Pams. Tee hee!)

We enjoyed sweet and sour meatballs, scalloped corn, seabreeze salad and birthday cake.

This meal was in honor of Larry Wright. I had to make a run to Burns for a 1 p.m. appointment, so I didn’t get to my meal until suppertime. And I did enjoy it!

Forgot to finish the tale of the lemon pie. When I went to my old Betty Crocker cookbook, I did find a recipe that did not call for milk, but did use corn starch and lemon extract.

So I used that recipe and I was told by an older connoisseur who had a slice of the pie that it was the best lemon pie she had ever tasted. Well, how about that?

Whew. Thank you, Betty Crocker. By the way, did you know that that lemon extract is 83% alcohol? Wheeee …

On to the trivia: Birthdays included Stanley Kubrick, Mick Jagger, Dorothy Hamill and Sandra Bullock.

In 1788, they finally finished writing the Constitution of the USA; in 1917 J. Edgar Hoover became the first FBI director; in 1933 Joe DiMaggio had a 61-game hitting streak; and in 1952 Micky Mantle had his first grand slam. The question: which major league baseball player played only for the New York Yankees, missing three seasons to serve in WW II? Joe DiMaggio, of course.

He was Sgt. DeMaggio in the USAF. His job was a physical education instructor. He was given a medical discharge due to chronic stomach ulcers. So now you know …

Some funnies: How is it that we put a man on the moon before we put wheels on luggage? Why are you IN a movie but ON television? How come we choose between two people for president but 50 for Miss America? Does the reverse side also have a reverse side? Quote from Oscar Wilde: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Guess what? Some more carrots came up!! Will wonders never cease?!

I Chronicles 16:11, 12 Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced.