Memories

Thanks for joining me in the library today. I know some of you are attending the Gideon convention this week and I'll see you there.

There are certain songs we will never forget, even when we have forgotten everything else. I experienced the memory of the elderly in action Sunday afternoon.

A retired pastor and his wife come twice a month to the complex where my mother lives. The couple bring their keyboard and guitar. They use a song book of a dozen old hymns, like The Old Rugged Cross, Onward Christian Soldiers and Amazing Grace.

I like to attend the gospel sing-along for three reasons. One, I love the old songs; two, the older men and ladies bless me as I watch them sing; and I get to sit beside my mother.

Some of the people are not able to follow along on the song sheet, but as soon as they hear the tune, they sing from memory. Some will close their eyes, tap their feet, smile or just hum. One lady in the room reclined in her chair and snored most of the time. Another lady looked totally confused with the page numbers (and didn't want me to help her). She didn't know what number followed a certain number, but she knew the songs.

It is sad to think how many people are effected with dementia. I read that half the elderly people will suffer with it. So between you and me, one of us will have a normal memory in our later years. Isn't that encouraging! Now I'm sorry I mentioned it. Anyone want to go for a healthy walk with me?

Happy Birthday, Aunt Leona !

Happy Birthday, Sharyn !

Proverb of the week:

          Proverbs 16:24 NLT

“Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

Juanita

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A New Feathered Friend

Welcome to my library and welcome to Autumn!

He made my day! I listened to his singing all week, but never saw him until today. My tea cup was empty and I was talking to the Lord when he landed in front of my library window. He was “up close and personal”. He flew off several times, spreading his eye-catching, short white tail feathers as he went vertical. (Just like on Touched by an Angel program) His graceful flight held my attention until he disappeared out of sight. Once he landed on the metal fence post near my nine-foot rose bushes. On the ground, he tried persistently to pick up the end of the fishing line I had tied to the fence posts to discourage the deer from eating my rose buds.

I have five different doves in my bird book, but only one, the morning dove, lives in Oregon. This bird with the black neck collar was NOT in my book. Another piece of exciting news! I learned from the Internet this bird is the Eurasian collared-dove. Now you bird lovers know two different doves live in Oregon.

When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John, the Holy Spirit in the form a gentle dove hovered over Jesus. Picture Jesus soaking wet, hair dripping, clothes clinging. I image the dove sat on his shoulder, then spread his white tail feathers and flew straight up as mine did today.

I love to listen to their sad song “ooahoo oo oo oo”. (Try to say that four times fast!) I believe they are sad because they remember their relatives' sacrifice on the altar in Jerusalem centuries ago.

Proverb for Your Week:

Proverbs 10:19 NLT

       “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”

If I knew your birth date, I would send you best wishes. Do you want to share it with me?

Love, Juanita

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Potpourri

Evening and too late for tea, but just in time for pear cobbler and milk!

It took me ten minutes to find the word potpourri in the dictionary. I couldn't even start the word. I knew it was French with silent letters. I almost called Nancy who studied that language. For you today, I made potpourri, a mixture of unrelated literary subjects.

The bull frog I showed you a couple weeks ago made itself right at home in the koi pond. The other day, I actually sat down (not working) to enjoy my garden. The frog sat in one of the iris-filled pond pots and croaked. I counted his croaks – 26 calls! He paused and took only one breath in between. He must have been desperate for attention. 

We both enjoy the music Mr. Frog provides in our secluded wing of my library, the pond area. This is Craig's favorite place to read his Louis L'Amour books. Did you know his real last name of LaMoore?

Do you recall old conversations, I mean really old, from when you were a child? My Uncle Jim just came to my mind. He was a school teacher in California in the '50's. My family visited his family every summer when I was in grade school and high school. I remember one particular conversation. He challenged me, “Juanita, why don't you ever say something?” As a kid, I preferred to listen to the adults talk. Now, I smile as I think, if he only knew what he started. Right, Harold?

Today must have been national Squirrel Day. Every squirrel in my yard celebrated—running across the lawn, jumping up and over the fence, tail flipping, chasing each other, almost flying off the neighbor's shed. Aren't the brown tree squirrels supposed to stay in their tree house?

Every day the headlines shout disaster, tragedy, hopelessness; but Jesus declared God gave His son to provide eternal life for all of us. Now that's news worth celebrating!

Happy Birthday, Jean & John !

Happy Birthday, Julie !

Happy Birthday, Shirley !

Thanks for the 66 visits last week!

Juanita

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Hanging by a Toenail

Good morning! Time for a cup of strong coffee while you read my sad note. I really wasn't going to tell you, but Harold, I had nothing else to say today.

Life is hard sometimes, especially for the birds. They mind their own business sitting on a wire and what does it get them?  Upside down – for the last time. This scrub jay experienced a dreadful end. The scene made me sad and I suppose you are now, too. 

                    "I should have kept both feet on the barbed wire!

                                 Why did I grab the electric wire too?"

Is there a lesson learned here? Well, not for the bird. I showed Craig this bird on our neighbor's fence. He said it reminded him of a prank his neighbor boys played on a younger boy about sixty years ago.

The boys were walking down a red cinder road in Central Oregon near a cow pasture with an electric fence. Four of the boys slowly walked over to the fence and held hands. Billy was new to the trick and was caught unaware. As soon as Billy joined hands with them, the first boy grabbed the hot wire and Billy on the end received the jolt. I bet that only happened once to poor Billy.

My dad would have been one hundred years old this week.

Happy Birthday, Dianne !

Happy Birthday, Nancy B. !

Proverb for the week:

          “Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom.”   Proverbs 9:10

Thanks for checking in with me!  I enjoy talking with you.

Juanita
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Antique Roadshow

Happy Labor Day weekend to everyone!

This morning, a large colorful bouquet of yellow sunflowers (the remains of my last garden party) is visible from my library window. Very few birds to watch, but the young squirrels still entertain me. The signs and smells of autumn in the air have changed my view. The crabgrass in the lawn turned yellow and my roses have fewer blossoms. The busy honey bees completely cover the purple Russian sage.

Last week I showed you a new snowball in midsummer. The one lone flower on the bush has now become friends with nine others. If this wasn't so unusual, I wouldn't mention it. Maybe the Willamette Valley will skip wintertime and move right into spring before we realize what happened.

The Antique Roadshow on TV is not a program I watch, but we thought we possessed a few antiques. So we applied for tickets to the show in Seattle last week. Interesting experience! I will refrain from discussing the adventure of driving on one-way streets in Seattle trying to locate the convention center parking lot. You can use your own imagination of standing in four lines for a total of four hours.

The old treasures we took were a hand-carved goddess Diana cameo rimmed in 14-caret gold, a colorful yellow Japanese bowl, and small flannel sheets designed with Indian warriors which lined old tobacco tins. Our winner was an Amos 'n Andy wind-up toy taxi from 1929 valued at $500-$600. 

The best part of the trip north was visiting with Linda, Marlene and a new friend, Gurdi.

Happy Birthday, Ruth !

Happy Birthday, Mother !

Happy Anniversary, Betty & Gary !

Happy Anniversary, Brad & Dawnita !

Proverb for your week: “Never let loyalty and kindness

                                       leave you. Tie them around

                                       your neck as a reminder.”

                                                Proverbs 3:3 NLT

God bless you and America!

Juanita

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Alone on the Bush

 Hi, Friend. I'm glad you stopped for a visit.

One lone snowball exists on my snowball bush hidden among hundreds of green leaves. Did the flower forget to bloom in the spring or has it hung there all summer and I never noticed? 

We can be so familiar with a person or flower, we really don't see them until something good or bad happens to them. Several times I have wanted to mention this topic on my blog. Today's the day.

Be encouraged to look closer at people you know.

    Do they have friends? Be one to them.

    Do they usually keep to themselves? Invite them to an event or lunch.

    Do they enjoy reading books? Give, not loan, them one of your favorites.

    Have you talked on the phone with them in recent months? Now's the time to call, emails don't count.

They might be dying for a hug.

Be alert to those acquaintances who need a real friend like you.

Join me in being a better friend to someone this week and thereafter. We might make a huge difference in their lives and their future.

This is not deep psychology, just friendly advice.

"The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart . . ." Psalm 34:18

Belated Happy Birthday to Linda L. !!

Happy Birthday, Dawnita !

Happy Birthday, Nancy !

Happy Birthday, Kylee !

Happy Birthday, Craig !

Happy Anniversary, Mel & Marguerite !

Proverb for the Week: "As the beating of cream yields butter
                                     and striking the nose causes bleeding,

                                     so stirring up anger causes quarrels."
                                     Prov. 30:33 NLT

Love to all of you, Juanita

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Older is Better

Good morning, it's tea and toast time.

Replace the old with the older.  Sounds backwards.

My pop-up toaster lived a long time, until last week. One morning the toaster did not pop nor toast. What's a woman to do? A few phone calls informed me no small appliance repairmen exist anymore. I might fix it. My father was an electrician; therefore, I must be an electrician or at least a handyman. I also know I return half of the new items I buy. So, what's a woman to do?

I remembered my Paslay toaster from 1914 gathering dust. Does the antique still work? A quick electrical test proved it did, but I needed an old fashioned cord with wider pin spacing. Eugene has a hardware store that sells outdated items. A new cord arrived within the week and now I'm making toast once again. I burned one slice so far. A person must stand by and watch for smoke when making toast. I don't dare do two things at once.

Aunt Leona, when you visit us this summer, prepare yourself for a possible new experience making toast. But I imagine you will tell me Nana used a flip-flop just like mine.

Happy Birthday, Bobbi !
Happy Birthday, Gene !
Happy Anniversary, Lois Ann & Donn !

Love, Juanita

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Money Talks

My tea went cold while I was writing this. Join me in another cup.

If this election cycle lasts much longer, it will make me rich or at least give my husband coffee money. Everyday (except Sunday) I walk the one-eighth of a mile to my mail box and carry a load of mail back to the house, of which I throw away nine out of ten pieces.

One mail delivery lady told me, “Junk mail is our job security.” Yikes! Will we receive more unwanted mail just to save the Post Office from bankruptcy?

Every Wednesday, an elderly man with a speech impediment, probably my age, delivers a local valley newspaper full of Hollywood news and local grocery ads. My least favorite topics! I don't have the heart to inform him to skip my house. Someone pays him five cents for every paper he delivers, so I save the unopened papers for the Eugene Mission.

To get my attention before I throw away the mail, “they” place a penny, nickel, quarter, and then today, a Kennedy half-dollar in the window of the envelope. Now, who wants to throw that mail away without first retrieving the money? They ask me to hold the coin in my hand while I read their urgent letter. I never heard of these men or organizations who want my money to support their cause. I admit I do feel guilty disposing of their postage-paid return envelope. Is it legal or moral to cut off the stamp for my personal use?

Last year I received an 'important' letter with a one dollar bill inside. I placed the money in my wallet, said “thank you” and put the advertizement in the bulging burn sack.

Today, do you see a new side of me? I'm trying to say, “No one can pay me to support their cause.” This post sounds similar to an Op Ed piece in The Register-Guard. Yikes, again!

Morris, you're right. I always have an opinion.

                     No, the picture is not up side down. 

                                I'm laying in the hammock today.

Happy Birthday, Loretta !

Juanita

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Rusty Red Dragonflies

This afternoon two rusty-red biplanes chased each other around and around the pond, north to the waterfall, through the fir trees and then back to the pond. These sporty dragonflies preformed for a couple hours. I saw several near misses and enjoyed their performance. They flew so fast I couldn't take their picture. Today was one of those rare times that I sat and relaxed in the garden instead of trimming plants and pulling weeds.

Some of you know my mother. We went for a walk this morning before the temperature became too hot. We held hands as we toured the neighborhood and enjoyed a nice conversation. This is Mother on her 92nd birthday at the Hilton Restaurant last year.

To you in Oregon, try to stay cool on Saturday. We are expecting temps in the high 90's, first time all summer. My opinion: Oregon is the best state! I have another opinion: Chick-fil-A is welcome in Oregon anytime!

Happy Birthday, Patty !

Happy Birthday, Barb S. !

Juanita

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Bad Dog

Oh Happy Day to you!

I am an organized person, even with my yard work. I have a Gorilla wagon that contains all my large and small garden tools, gloves, fertilizers, etc. I park it by the back door. Last Thursday night it was stored too close to Dear Daisy Flower's chain.

In the middle of the night, Daisy decided to wrap her chain around and around and around the axle. Next, she tried to chew off the tire. Les Schwab sold me a new tire today. She chewed the house wall in two places. All this in the dark! I could tell you more, but you can stop laughing now. It was time the clean out the wagon anyway.

For Daisy's punishment today, Craig gave her a long bath. And I made a chocolate cake with chocolate pudding and cherry pie filling, topped with whipped cream. Not for her!

"I don't know who did it!"

Happy Birthday, Sharon O.

Love, Juanita
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Advertisements

Good morning!

 A polar bear now guards the driveway to our 'estate'.  My auction trophy! 

I've learned to read the bad news on-line instead of watching TV because of the many, many distracting commercials. Commercials are a waste of my time. 

But in my opinion, Geico has the best TV ads. At least, with that company, I can determine what they are selling, even if I can't understand what the little green guy is saying. Have you seen their pet possum hissing at the little boy and girl? Possums really do hiss when cornered. I know!  I wonder if it was the same one I baked in the oven thirty-two years ago at Brad's request?  Showing their sharp ugly teeth becomes their warning to step back from the animal or else.

With some commercials I never do know what product I need to buy before the ad is over.

Does anyone else have that problem?

I noticed yesterday Motel 6 is airing commercials again. They still have the light on after fifty years!

A billboard at a certain business in Springfield has a thought provoking statement for all to read. I had to drive by twice to make sure I read it correctly. It states, “You don't have to shop here, but we will bill you if you don't.” They must be Republican, you think?

The bumper sticker, “Don't follow me. I'm lost” makes me smile.

Do you have a favorite ad to share?

Happy Birthday, Tinsley !

“The Lord be with you all.”

Juanita

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Bogs and Creeks

      Good morning! After two cups of tea, I thought of something to say.

      A creek and a pond provides more areas for landscaping. Experience has made us a so-called expert. We have volumes of free advice if you want to tackle another project. We enjoy four bogs in our seventy-foot long creek. Our pond holds 6,000 gallons of water, eight beautiful koi, and too-many-to-count gold fish plus those little black fish that eat mosquitoes. The pond contains a variety of plants also.

      Are you tired yet? Actually, there is less work in water than in dirt gardens. Today, I'm excited to show you two flowering plants in our bog.

Chinese Iris

Happy Anniversary! Barb and Hal

Happy Birthday, Barb!

Belated Birthday wishes to Corlyss!

Love ya all, Juanita

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