The Third Week in July is Always the Hottest

I know there are millions of people who have worse heat this year than we have ever had in Oregon.  Even now, when I complain about the heat, we are not sweltering nor are having to go to the hospital due to the intense heat that many across the nation and throughout Europe are going through.  That saddens me that so many have to deal with the trauma.  I would personally have to deal with the aftermath of a hurricane or several feet of snow than to have to bear the heat that is so hot that eggs could be fried on the sidewalk.

from Fondos de Pantalla

          Tri City is an unincorporated area that shares a zip with Myrtle Creek.  My personal belief for the name in addition to Myrtle Creek, Tri City somewhat borders Riddle and Canyonville.  Each of the three cities have a celebration in the summer.  Riddle’s Sawdust Jubilee is held in the last Saturday in June.  Canyonville holds Pioneer Days Thursday, Friday and the last Saturday in August.  Between the two celebrations is Summer Fest held Thursday, Friday and the last Saturday in July – which seems to have been the hottest weekend each year we have been here.  This year’s temperatures have been in the early 90’s.

Jenna's favorite thing to draw is this cartoon dude

          Before this weekend, I had posted how humid it has been each morning and how the wind eventually blows the humidity out – but the wind  is not consistent.  It feels great when the wind blows.  At the same time it can be upsetting to some of the vendors to have their items blow in several directions. The temperatures have been below 85 for the most part – but not this weekend. And the skies have been pretty quiet overall – though I have heard more helicopters in the last couple of days.  And the river beds are dried out again.  But thus far we are not seeing the smoke that has lingered since our arrival in Oregon.  I believe the morning humidity has helped with the air quality.  At least we’ve been able to see the skies this year.

she also makes some really nice flowers

          Jenna, of course, wanted to be at the festival even before it opened.  She enjoyed recruiting people for the library booth two years ago and for Riddle’s Sawdust booth last year.  This year we left her with Summer who is not aggressive or loud.  Jenna grabbed an inflatable guitar and started singing.  Thursdays not the best day for sales.  The park gets a lot of looky-loos and a few spend money here and there (mostly on food) but by Saturday there are mobs descending at every booth and surrounding space.  Jenna enjoys “acting” but I think she secretly was trying to show up or steal away from the vendor in the next booth – a bunch of kids that she had known from Coffenberry who will be going to the high school in fall.

Here she is posing with one that Roland drew of her

On the Right Path

          When we lived in Kearns, there was a family in the ward that made up for a third of the primary.  I honestly don’t remember which of us moved out of the ward first, but I do know they have moved around many times – both within and out of the country.  I would guess that they’ve accounted for at least half to a third of their wards or branches (both geographical boundaries within the church – a branch is smaller in membership than a ward) in almost every place they live.  

She has a blog which I have read every once in a while as she only posts once in a while. 

          Right now they are living in New York.  I would have not known that if my daughter-in-law, Carrie, hadn’t told me.  She and Randy had gone out to look for houses.  While there, they went to the ward in the area where they plan on living.  I’m happy to learn that they now have ties to someone who is strong in the gospel.   I am excited for them.  I hope they grow and create strong memories for themselves.

Our Latest Fruit Project

                A friend of ours had dropped off some plums.  Though I did not count them, I would guess there were 40 – 50 of them.  I put all of the ripe ones in a steamer in order to remove the skin.

I don't know how many plums I steamed

It was helpful for removing the pits as well

I poured the plums into a colander in the sink

returned skins and pits to the other colander on the stove

         

The recipe had called for diced plums, however the step was not needed as the plums had turned to liquid after they were skinned and pitted

this was the product I kept

I started out using utensils as the plums were really hot, but still managed to get my hands dirty

of course I could take a picture of only one hand

Roland freaked when he thought I had scratched my arms.  Apparently I got some plum on my skin and hopefully not the other way around.

plum not scratches

I found a recipe for plum butter and chose to make it for a couple of reasons:

1)    Only three ingredients (plums, sugar and water) so we didn't have to make purchase

2)    I LOVE apple butter and figured it might be similar in texture

The recipe itself was a long process, cooking the plums for two hours

first low boil

Allowing the plums to  rest for two hours, repeat process and then leave 8 hours or overnight.

Repeat process.  The plums started to brown

final boil

But the mixture was off.  It was too thick. 

um . . . why's it sticking?

And so I added bot water. It seemed a bit runny when I put it in the fridge.  But this morning the consistency was just right.

looks like Vegemite, but trust me, it tasted much better

Dash #843 youth and TV

How do you believe the youth are affected by television?

          For the most part I would say that television has a negative effect on children - depending on what they watch, I guess.  I think if they are learning educational facts or self-esteem, it can be good for them.  I think it is wrong for parents to rely upon the television as an electric baby-sitter just to keep children out of their hair.  I also think it's wrong for parents to allow children to watch something violent - perhaps not even of their choosing, but what may be on to entertain said parent.

                Michelle had given birth to Melody five months before I had Jenna.  Michelle had decided that Melody would not be allowed to watch TV and asked those who’d be watching Melody to honor her wishes.  I, on the other hand, engaged Jenna in watching children’s programs.  I loved to watch her watch them and I loved that she learned.

            There were some programs that were more educational than others.  She liked the doll Molly from The Big Comfy Couch and thus we had added the program to our agenda. 

            She would work out with Luna and lay down and work with a pretend clock while Luna did her workout.  Jenna did this on her own as I had never even thought to have her follow along.

            I think her favorite part of the program was watching the dust bunnies who were not always a part of the show. 

She still smiles when I show her pictures.  She laughed as a child.  She has always had such a cute laugh.

            We discovered Laurie Berkner through Noggin.  Jenna would always do the march and actions along with Laurie.  I think her favorite was “We Are the Dinosaurs”

            Over time, Roland purchased two Laurie Berkner CDs for us to listen to

              Of course television did not replace my reading to her.  We spent countless hours at the library playing games and checking out books.  Many of the books we read were non-fiction because she would ask for them.  She'd ask lots of questions - for example about honey and bees.  We would look read the books together in order to answer her questions.  

            Melody was introduced to the television eventually, but has never loved it.  Jenna will rewatch programs from the past just to put a smile on her face.  But she could live without the TV now.

Music Makes a Difference

CD from Peggy Bird

          A month before Jenna was born, my former neighbor and second mother, Peggy had given us twelve children’s books and a CD. I had exposed Jenna to music early in life.  Before she was born I would put headphones around my stomach and let her listen to Classical Baby and primary songs.

        As she got older, we would go to the library and check out CDs featuring Ronno, Bill Harley, Eric Herman and Patty Shukla.  We learned rhymes, rhythm, laughter and more.  Jenna was always singing – she’d sing songs we had learned and often she would just make up her own words and tunes.  Jenna has always been a happy girl.  She has always been confident. 

scrapbook page of my sister and her husband with Jenna and Anna

As I had mentioned in this post, we had listened to CDs that we played in her childhood. When she made the comment about Ronno’s songs having good messages, I gave him credit for giving her those messages – though she may not have understood them at two and three, the words must have entered her brain and the lyrics sent a sublimely message that has assisted in sharping her into a well-rounded person.    

even the silly animal songs have great messages

Here are some lyrics to a few of the songs (titles in bold) we had listened to:

1.

I’m in control

Hey that’s  my goal

I’m in control of what I do

Only losers always lose it

I can choose to keep control.

2.

I wish I could promise you’ll always be free

And I know that’s the same thing that you wish for me

But whatever life holds as its destiny

This alone I can guarantee

Till the winter blows warm

Till we reach the rainbow’s end

Till the rivers run up to meet the sun

I will be your friend

3.

I can care, I can feel

This is how I know I’m real

I can care, so can you

We make miracles come true

When we care

I can care. Do my part

From the bottom of my heart

I can care. So can you

We make miracles come true

When we care

          You don’t have to be a child to enjoy the songs.  The messages still apply.  

           I know that music can shape our lives - so choose wisely.

More Homonyms

Ate is the past tense of Eat.  I Like to eat food.  I Ate food yesterday.  Eight is the number that falls between 7 and 9.

There is a joke that says 7,8,9  but there is a play on words instead of saying Eight (8) you are saying Ate

Pain means sore or achy.  A pane is a panel of glass used in windows. I feel pain when I step on a broken pane.

A Bell is a thing that I ring to get someone's attention.  A Bail is a temporary release of someone in jail - usually for a payment.  A Bale of hay is the same as a bundle.  I can also have a bale of money to pay my friend's bail when he was thrown in jail for ringing his bell too loudly.

A chute is a slide for laundry or garbage - an easy way to send from one floor to another without having to carry it down.  To shoot is light a cannon or send fireworks in the sky.  I may also shoot or release an arrow toward a certain target.

A principle is a truth or foundation.  A principal is the head honcho in the school.  I was once taught that a principal is my pal.  That is how I remember the spelling.

Not is a negative word meaning "NO".  I am NOT a professional speller.  I am also not through with this post. A knot is the result of how something is tied.  It prevents a rope or cord from coming loose.  A knot is often made intentionally, but sometimes it's not.

Red is a color.  And read is pronounced two different ways.  When it sounds like "red" it is the past tense of read - which sounds like reed. Read is something I do or have done to books or texts or memos. Reed has several meanings. I won't list them all but a couple.  A reed is a plant found in wet or marshy areas.  It is related to the grass plant.  A different type of reed is used in some wind instruments like the oboe or clarinet.  When air is blown over the reed, it will vibrate which contributes to the sound that the woodwind instrument makes.

The toe can be found at the end of my foot.  I have five toes on each foot. To tow is to pull something. Usually, we think of cars being towed after a crash or because of unauthorized parking.  Many centuries ago, the cords or tow lines were made of white fiber.  Some people who have really light blonde hair are referred to as towheads as a reminder of the color used on tow lines.

Dear is a term of endearment.  Most people start their letters with the word DEAR.  Deer is a kind of animal.  Deer can be singular or plural.

A herd is a group of animals. Some people may use a microphone or megaphone so that they may be heard.

Your is possessive meaning it belongs to you. You're means "you are" and Yore is an old fashion term meaning long ago.

 Yon is short for yonder which could mean "far away" or "clear over there".  It may have been a more popular word at the same time as yore.  When I yawn I am expressing that I am bored or tired.  Words like "yore" and "yon" tend to make me yawn. 

Humid and Windy

                It’s been quite an unusual summer – not that I’m complaining.  I’M NOT!  I am definitely not.  I love this weather.  It has been a bit unpredictable, but really nice overall.

            Often the wind blows and so the outside temperature hasn’t often felt as hot as what it is.  Or else it will be overly humid, which I have not experienced a lot in this state, but had with I lived in Virginia.

            The humidity has kept the kept the fire conditions moderate which is a GREAT improvement from the smoke we had two years ago.

            Earlier I posted pictures of clouds.  Roland was taking a nap and I didn’t want to wake him, so rather than use my camera, I had taken pics with my cell phone – my flip phone.  Of course it didn’t capture the brilliance of what I actually saw.

            The last pic was the murky skies filled with humidity and not from smoke. 

            Jenna had waken me up at 4:45 anxious to get to the blueberry patch. She had invited her friend Marie to assist with picking.  I told her the gate doesn’t open until 6:00.  And I honestly thought it looked too dark to drive.  How did that happen?

            It has been overcast all day.  The girls paid no attention and kept busy.  When I returned for them six and a half hours later, they had picked 68 pounds of blueberries!  I will return them back to work tomorrow.

It hasn’t been especially hot today.  In fact, I wish I would have had a sock cap to cover my ears.  The heat will get to 80 by 6:00 and go back down.  Currently it is 74 degrees but feels at least ten degrees cooler. 

I love this weather.  This is what we came for.

Clouds

Allow Me To Back Up a Bit . . .

          We had made arrangements with a local photographer to take some head shots of Jenna; we had planned to meet at Millsite on Monday morning.  We arrived at the park about 8:45 to find it packed with Bible Camp participants.  We texted the photographer to let her know and that we were headed to another park.  She took several shots before we parted ways . . . well, sort of.  Each of us was headed to the library but arrived at different times.

          We assisted with the children’s reading program before Jenna and I left to return home. After six we drove to the blueberry farm as I believed Evelyn was expecting us.  We were told we could stay and pick and probably we should have stayed an hour at least, but we left and said we’d return the next morning.

          Neither Jenna nor I were in a hurry to go home and so stopped off at Millsite.  Something was going on.  Bible Camp still?  The bouncy house was gone, but State Farm had its awning stand set up and we could see five or six people sitting on lawn chairs on the grass closest to the stage.  Jenna thought she recognized Savannah in the distance.  I didn’t have my glasses on.  I didn’t know.  We walked in the direction.  She waved as we passed.  Once we had walked and were heading toward the car, I asked if she wanted to walk by Savannah’s family again but close enough to talk to them.

          Savannah’s youngest brother practically flew out of his seat. 

         

          “Jenna!” he gave her a hug.

          Turns out that there was a showing of COCO.  I was not to stay as the sun would have set before the movie ended.  Savannah’s mom and brother asked grandpa if he’d be willing to dive Jenna home and so I left her there.  I fell asleep before she returned home and Roland sent me to bed and waited up for her.

          Yesterday I knocked on her door between 5:30 and 6:00. 

“Do I have to?” Jenna asked. “I want to sleep until 11:00.”

Wow.  Jenna rarely ever wants to sleep.  Getting up at 8:00 is sleeping in for her.

“If you want me to, I can call Evelyn and tell her we can’t make it until tomorrow.”

I think yesterday may have been better picking wise than today.  It seemed cooler because it was overcast.  But it was also muggy.  65% humidity.  What's up with that?  Last night I said I would take her this morning.  I also told her I would just stay with her.  

Meanwhile Roland had planned for us to go to the movie that they offer for the seniors on the third Wednesday of the month.  Dang.  I had forgotten!  But I did promise Jenna – though I guess I had agreed to go with him to the movies first.  I wasn’t about to take Jenna out and leave her there all day.  We stayed two and a half to three hours before returning home.  Roland was waiting in the driveway.

First time ever we had gone to the theater and the movie started right after we sat down.  We even had good seats.  I don’t know what interfered with my sinuses, but I was allergic to something!  Normally when my allergies act up, my right eye will be all itchy, sometimes the left – rarely both.  But both eyes were itching during the movie.  I was tearing up.  My nose was running.  I was sneezing uncontrollably.  It was as if someone had brought a bunch  of chrysanthemums to the theater.  There is a plant that doesn't agree with me (actually there are many but I believe that mums are the worst).  The overload of allergy sensation stopped somewhere between Winston and Myrtle Creek.  I haven’t had an allergy attack like that since living in Utah.  That was rough!

Dash #161The Proposal

          There was never a formal proposal on Roland’s part.  He said that he would get me a ring when he could afford one.  I told him that the ring was not important and he could just buy one from a vending machine.  So one day he presented me with a golden colored plastic band made of connecting hearts.  It was cute but made my finger turn green.  Eventually, I lost it.  I felt bad for sentimental reasons.

           Before the end of the year, Roland had purchased a simple gold band with a small diamond.  It was perfect.  When I had my tubular pregnancy, I had to remove all jewelry.  I was pretty out of it and had not bothered to put it back on – or maybe by that point, it needed to be adjusted.  I don’t know why I had left it in my jewelry box.  One of the boys had lost his keys and someone had found them and used them to break into our house.  My ring was stolen.

             Later after I got pregnant with Jenna, Roland decided he needed to replace my ring. Unfortunately, it was not as simple. My finger had swollen and having the ring on caused me pain.  It also made a permanent dent on my finger.  I took that off as well.

          After I had given birth, Roland presented with yet another ring – pretty much like the first but there were two diamonds – one quite smaller than the other.  One for me and one for Jenna.  It is the one I wear today.

I Haven’t Heard that Word for Three or Four Years

     I vaguely remember the facebook comments that were made after Devin Durrant’s talk given during the Sunday afternoon session in the October 2015 General Conference.  It was the first general conference we had watched after moving to Oregon.  I don’t know how focused I was on his talk.  I remember he used the word “Ponderize” though  I didn’t realize how often.  22 times according to this website.  Okay . . .

          I remember I had facebook friends who really liked the idea behind the word as it offered some sort of empowerment – 20% memorization and 80% pondering.  And then I had facebook friends who were overly irritated with the new made-up word.  How dare someone introduce as non-existing word into conference!  Would it be a trend?  I was indifferent and really didn’t care about the word one way or the other – although I may have leaned slightly toward those who were not in favor than those that were – just because my relationship with those that seemed to LOATHE the idea of PONDERIZATION were closer friends to me than the ones who seemed to love the new word.

          I hadn’t heard that word many times since – though I do remember the few times I did hear the word mentioned, I’d smile about the different comments made particularly from those who hated the word.  And then I forgot all about the very existence of the word until today.  The bishop’s wife used it in her talk.  I Googled the word to learn about where it had gone, not knowing a scandal had followed as a website was created within hours of Bro. Durrant’s talk.  The website was labeled as “Priest-craft” by some members.

          The Urban Dictionary (here) provides several definitions for the word “Ponderize” – the seventh definition is the one that had been used in conference.  Although it’s misfortune and most likely ego bruising, it’s the first definition that makes me laugh.  I must have a warped sense of humor.  I’m glad that Ponderize didn’t become the trendy word that I suppose it could have (I suppose because of the website scandal). I think if it had caught on, I would be rolling my eyes every time I hear it.