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 — Every Tuesday at 1 p.m., bingo is played at our center. We still have room for more players so if you are interested, you are welcome to join us. We start at 1 and it takes a few minutes to get your cards and organize your place. We’ll see you there.

When we open our doors to go outside in this season, we can feel the difference in the air so strong we have to take a breath to get the courage to step out into it. Our bodies really do need the sunshine, though, because our bones and skin thrive on vitamin D. We are thankful for the sunshine that nourishes our physical bodies.

Monday, July 8, the Grant County Jammers were playing and singing as people entered the building. Several people come to just bask in the sweet spirit that is felt as we listen to this good playing and singing. We seniors sure enjoy this good music, and the people doing it are pretty fun too. That is two blessings in one.

Our greeters took care of each person who came by the desk to sign in for lunch and put their names in the drawings for the day. After lunch, these greeters total up all the donations and ready them for the bank. Dave was the working greeter this Monday. Elsie gathered information for announcements and asked some people to do volunteer duties for the introduction to our lunch meal. Dave asked another board member to help with paperwork so they can both get the same answers to all the questions. It always is best to not be alone.

Our servers were from the St. Elizabeth Catholic Church: Barb Comer, Kay Gonzales and Sena Raschio. These ladies were very friendly and got busy getting water and juice and coffee to all diners. Thank you, ladies, for your service to our seniors. Dale Stennett asked the blessing for our meal of chicken strips, mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies and monster cookies, and they were definitely monsters.

Pati Davis, Barb Comer and Joanne Humphrey, and Rayme Lacey delivered 59 fresh meals into our community. Thank you, ladies, for your service of love for others.

Eleven meals were picked up by others who did not have time to sit and dine with the 26 diners today.

All told we had 96 meals served from our kitchen this Monday. Good Job, Shay, Alesa, Valeda, Nancy and Chris.

Staci Kopke-Hales won the Chester’s card, and Carl Swank won the free meal. Congratulations to both of you. Laura K. won a special door prize (a beautiful potholder and mitt set).

On Thursday, July 11, Dave and Darlene were at our front desk, greeting everyone who came by to sign in for lunch and put their names in the drawings for the day. Elsie gathered information and announcements for all to glean.

Vern led the flag salute to start our day before the announcements were done.

The Cornerstone Church was represented by Heather, Valeda, Stacie and Pati, as our servers. These ladies were fast and didn’t miss anything. When it was time to clean up, they had it done so fast we didn’t realize they were there. They were swift and efficient. Thanks, ladies, for your service to our seniors.

Rayme Lacey, Jeff ad Jodi Cyphers, Peggy Molnar and Cindy Combs delivered 65 fresh meals and 30 frozen meals into our community. Thanks to each of you for your service of love for other people. Thirteen meals were picked up by other people who didn’t have time away from work to spend with other diners. We are pleased that we could provide meals that could be gotten easily for them.

With the 32 in-house diners, 95 delivered meals and 13 takeouts, there were 140 meals that were served from our kitchen this Thursday.

The soccer club high school girls were having a car wash in front of Les Schwab. It was the big social talk at our center. Thanks for having the car wash, girls, our men’s vehicles really needed the cleaning.

On Monday, July 15, lunch will consist of ham and scalloped potatoes, fresh veggie salad, and spice cake for dessert.

Thursday, July 18, we will dine on pepper steak, rice, macaroni salad and butterscotch cookies.

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.

MONUMENT — Boy, oh boy, has it been super hot out over this side of Oregon! I feel like I am melting in this heat. I’m sure you all out there are feeling the heat, too. But you know what? I am thankful! It could be worse.

I know there are lots of people who have it way worse, and how can I be grumpy when I have a small AC unit that helps to keep the inside of my house fairly cool? The only really hard thing is to try and keep the animals outside from overheating. At least my tomato plants are liking the heat.

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 usual announcements. Yours truly prayed the blessing over the meal. Ellie Asher also made some announcements.

Our cooks, Terry Cade and Carrie Jewell, made us some pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, curly fries, and apple cobbler for our dessert. It was a very filling lunch. Our lunch was paid for compliments of Judi Bustardo of Spray. We thank her for her generosity and gesture of kindness and blessing to all of us. We thank our cooks for making our delicious meal.

Ellie announced that there will be a pre-rummage sale because there are some big ticket items that just need to move. The items are beds, a dining table, a folding bed, and a Craftsman radial arm saw. If you are interested in purchasing any of these items, please give Sylvia Cockrell a call at 541-934-2220.

The Buckaroo Fall Festival is just around the corner. Please mark your calendars for this event. The prices of the dinner will be the same as last year to help people out during this economy. You can eat a wonderful meal without breaking the bank. There will be live auctions and other events. You will start to see advertising posters all over the county.

There is a raffle for a quilt that is being sponsored by a couple of ladies from Spray. Jean Hammell and Juanita Newton have a quilt they are raffling off to generate some funds for a retreat they want to go to next year. The tickets are $5 or $10 for three tickets.

Well, to deal with the heat during the day, I have been either sewing some projects, doing dishes, cleaning or taking a nice siesta. I prefer the siesta or the sewing! LOL. Hope you all keep cool out there!

Remember to keep hydrated at all times and don’t go out in the hot sun if you can help it. Why risk getting overheated? Some things can wait to get done — it’s not worth getting heatstroke over it. I also wear a hat and maybe a wet hankie around the back of my neck. That helps to keep you a little cooler. Stay safe out there!

Psalms 34: 13-14 Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.

PRAIRIE CITY — Well, well, we have definitely reached the “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.” Hope all you people who were complaining about the cold weather four, five, six months ago are happy now. Remember, we live in the temperate zone. Not too hot or too cold. Depends on your definition of hot and cold, huh? And the temperature for the Fourth holiday was just perfect! The parade was a rousing success and those who had fireworks did them safely since I didn’t hear the fire siren go off …

We at the yard sale at the hall provided a public service to those in the parade by having restroom facilities available. You are most welcome. I’m glad the sale was then instead of this week! Our old swamp cooler just gave out. It worked last week when tested, but didn’t want to today. I have no idea how old it is. Hope to get a large A/C soon. But we made it through dinner and cleanup time before it got really hot in there, so all’s well that ends well, right?

Carla led the flag salute and Bob Perkins asked the blessing. Pam was at her desk and Teresa was giving out tableware and drinks. Carla, Gwynne, Sharon and Mary made their deliveries. The winner of the $5 gift card donated by Len’s Pharmacy was Carla Wright.

We dined on your choice of chili or cheesy broccoli soup, potato bar, fruit and veggies, and bread pudding for dessert. There is a change for next week’s menu due to the hot weather. We will have turkey and ham sandwiches. Will do the chicken fried steak when it cools down …

We had some odds and ends of cabinetry and boards at the sale that no one wanted to make an offer for, so we put them outside with a “free” sign Saturday afternoon and they were all gone Sunday morning. PTL. There is still an antique door available for anyone who can use it …

My garden so far consists of carrots, cucumbers and cantaloupes growing in their respective tubs. The stuff I added to the garden bed was not conducive to plant growth. Hardly any weeds came up!

So I had the bright idea to dig up more “lawn” and replant there. The only problem was that I did the digging this morning and acquired a mild case of heat exhaustion. Managed to get to dinner, count the money, and get home.

And that’s where I stayed until the next morning. Had to go to the bank and P.O. and stayed in for another day. And I remember working out in the hay field when it was this hot and not experiencing what I experienced on Wednesday. Hmmm … 60 years older wouldn’t have anything to do with it, would it? (Ahem.) So y’all be careful out there, ya hear?

Rev. 8:16, 17 The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb … will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water …