Mt. Vernon resident Billie Bullard, who turned 101 on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, celebrates her (almost) birthday with friends and family at the John Day Senior Center on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022.

JOHN DAY — A fun time was had by many on two occasions on June 5. Jane Kirkpatrick, an award-winning author and speaker, was at the Prairie City Senior Center at 10:30 a.m. to give folks insights into her writing. She was very inspirational to most of us with her positive thinking and her ability to find great stories in everyday life. She was also at Painted Sky at 5:30 and spoke about her reflections of the stories that inspired her as she wrote them. This was my first opportunity to meet an author and have her sign one of her books for me. This was great for me and hopefully for everyone who had the opportunity to hear her.We sure have a great group of volunteers who serve for us, help in the kitchen and deliver meals all over our community to folks who cannot be with us in person for a meal. Actually, it isn’t just a meal, it is great conversations with others we live near and other opportunities as well. We have great music on Mondays from 10 a.m. till lunchtime. Occasionally, we have a speaker, sometimes local and sometimes from out of our area. These can be informational and helpful.

Monday, June 3, Dave Pasko was our greeter and record keeper. No one came to assist, so Dave did a great job by himself. Elsie gathered all the information and did the announcing. We always pledge our allegiance to our flag before we even begin.

We had a great group of servers who represented the First Baptist Church: Meloni Cochran, Peggy Molnar, Mike Wyrick and LaDonna Pickett. This group stayed with their duties till the floors were swept and chairs arranged around the tables. Peggy asked the blessing before we went to the window to get our food. We are grateful for your service to our seniors.

Becky Reinhart, Pati Davis and Rick LaMountain delivered 54 fresh meals into our community. Thanks to each of you for your service to others. There were also seven takeout meals this day. Twenty-one people were seated together for conversation and a good meal. All told we had 82 meals that went from our kitchen this day.

I came by the center on Wednesday, and Shay was outside. He invited me in through the kitchen door and showed me his freezer that he had organized so well, and it was so nice, and the floor was even spotless. He detailed it all out to me, all the sections divided so he could find anything he needed in an instant. He made me a little jealous that I am not that organized at home. Good job, Shay.

Lonnie Davis won the Len’s card, and Shirley Dinsmore won the free meal. Congratulations to both of you.

On Thursday, June 6, Sonie Guttu and Judy Thomas were our greeters and record keepers. Elsie did the usual gathering of information and did the announcements, and Ron Phillips led our flag salute. The fire department delivered meals for us this day and served and did cleanup as well. The volunteers were Thomas Smith, Don Gabbard, Ron Phillips and Carl Metler. This was a great crew of men. I, for one, enjoyed their mingling and courtesy as they served drinks, cleared tables, swept the floor. They do this for us each year, and we so appreciate them. They even came in uniform, which was so professional. Thanks, all of you, for your service to our seniors.

There were 59 fresh meals and 36 frozen meals that were delivered throughout the community by some of the firefighters, and Peggy Molnar and Cindy Combs and Jeff and Jody Cyphers also helped with these deliveries. Thank you all for your compassion and service to others.

Jerry and Linda McLellan, the chefs at the John Day Golf Course, are relocating, so they are emptying their freezers and pantry and are donating the excess food to our center. Shay was so aglow with this donation he had to share with several of us. He is planning a Father’s Day meal of chicken-fried steak, and that was part of the donation from Jerry and Linda. Thanks, Jerry and Linda, for caring for our seniors and our center. We do appreciate all you have done for us.

Our annual business meeting, open to all, will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 13, right after lunch.

Darlene Nodine won the Chester’s card, and Nathan Moline won the free meal. Congratulations to both of you.

On Thursday-Saturday, June 13-15, at the Harney County Fairgrounds in Burns, it is the High Desert Music Jamboree. There will be jamming all day each day and a gospel show at 1 p.m. on Saturday. There will be dance bands on Friday evening. They will be having a barbecue as well, so this should be a great time to be had by all music lovers.

If you have pull tabs from drinks, vegetable cans, fruit cans or others, we save them for the Ronald McDonald House. One of our regulars and board member delivers them when they go out of town. Thanks in advance for remembering this.

The parole and probation system gathered wood to give to seniors who need it. If you got some last year and were signed up, you will be on the list to get some this year as well.

On Thursday, June 13, we will be having our Father’s Day meal. It will be chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, watermelon, and strawberry shortcake.

On Monday, June 17, lunch will be ham, lima beans, cornbread, garlic toast and strawberry pie. Yum yum!

1 John 4:15 Perfect love drives out all fear.

Our cooks, Terry Cade and Carrie Jewell, had prepared for us beef burritos, Spanish rice, fresh green lettuce, with all the fixings to make a taco salad if one wished it were so. We had many choices to put on our plate. I chose to put some onions, jalapenos, tomatoes, and lots of salsa and hot sauce. We also had different sponge cakes to make our strawberry shortcake with whipped cream for our dessert. We thank our cooks for our hearty meal. I sure was satisfied. Ha.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. Bob led us in the flag salute and made the announcements. Yours truly prayed the blessing over the meal. The winner of the free meal ticket was Jean Hammel of Spray.

We will be having our sewing day on Wednesday, June 12. The time will be from 9 a.m. to about 2 p.m. We share a potluck lunch together around noon. Hope you can come join us. We love to just sit and sew, visit and share our projects with each other. I love our little group. We are truly there to sew, because it is our passion, and share what we are working on. I love how everyone admires each other’s work and encourages each other. There is no jealousy. There is no competition. There is only pure joy in being in the company of women who share the same enthusiasm of the love of sewing. Ahh. But, just so you know, you can bring other projects too! LOL.

Ellie Asher had an announcement. Lisa Neuberger, resident of Monument and director of the Silent Wave Horse Rescue program, has helped us receive a grant of $2,000 to help residents of Monument, Kimberly and Long Creek to spay and neuter dogs and cats. Other nearby towns such as Spray may be considered on a case-by-case basis, determined by the Monument Senior Center/Community Center board. This grant has been provided by the Gorge Community Foundation. Effective now, anyone from the said towns may have one dog and one cat spayed or neutered for free. The funds will be available until the money runs out. Also, the grant is renewable. To apply or if you have questions, please contact Ellie at 541-934-2142. We thank Lisa for helping us receive this grant.

Well, folks, we are now in the month of June. How it happened, I have no idea. Not only that, the weather seemed like it suddenly changed, too! The days are growing hot and kind of humid right now. I come back in from doing my chores kind of sweaty. I guess one just has to roll with it. Personally, I prefer the winter months, I really do.

My little bottle babies are getting bigger than their siblings who nurse on their mamas! I am trying to wean them now by watering down their milk, along with feeding them only twice. Cutting that middle feeding out has been a relief, I can tell you that! Phew! Time to sell some goats.

Psalms 71:20-21 Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again from the depths of the earth, You will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.

PRAIRIE CITY — Our day started early with the fantabulous talk given by Jane Kirkpatrick on “Resilience,” and if you missed it, you really missed a blessing! We had lots of new faces in the building to hear her. And then 25 of those attending received for free one of her books. And I can tell you that the books did not go to people who did not want them! Some even brought their own copies of one or more of her books for Jane to autograph.

If you ever get the opportunity to hear this talk, by all means take it! It is well worth your time.

We thank the Roundhouse Foundation for the grant that Misty got to make this possible. I don’t know who they are, but we deeply appreciate the support that they have given us this year. May their tribe increase!

The trip to the John Day Fossil Beds was made. I got up sick that day so I did not get to go. The bus was about ready to head for home when it developed a sickness of its own. The participants had to call for help, and Pastor Brian went to retrieve them. One lady reported that the situation did not bother her because it wasn’t her vehicle and she wasn’t driving. So let others figure it out …

Ginger asked Brian Davis to lead the flag salute. The Len’s Drug $5 gift card went to Jim Sullens. Joel Coombs asked the blessing. We dined on beef stroganoff with noodles, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, macaroni salad, peaches, and welcome to summer! strawberry shortcake!

Our volunteers included Mary, Sharon, Carla, Jason, Teresa, Tom and Pam. Ginger reported that our faithful

Del Lake had another heart episode and is in Bend for treatment.

Tom took his quote from Mrs. Kirkpatrick, who heard it from a second-grader: “Powerful (resilient) is when you want to quit but you keep going.” What wisdom!

I just finished reading James Michener’s autobiography and was surprised to discover a fact that had escaped my attention. In the movie (and play and book) of “South Pacific,” the character Bloody Mary tells one and all that she is Tonkinese. Mr. Michener explained that she was from northern Vietnam and quite proud of it. Finally dawned on me that she was referring to the Gulf of Tonkin. Duh … and the notation on the inside cover says that I read that book in 2013. Don’t remember it at all. Oh, well.

News flash! I got most of the garden planted this week. And I learned how to run the string trimmer around the yard. Now have to figure out how to get the battery off of it and put on the charger. … News flash No. 2! The new roof is going on. The crew was very nice and did not make noise during the “Resilience” talk and dinner. Thank you so much, guys.

James 5:16 …pray for each other. … The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 2 Peter 1:3 (Jesus’) divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and goodness.