Beneath the Wraps

               I don’t know how many times Roland has cleaned up after the chickens which aren’t even ours.   I don’t mind them in the yard.   I really don’t.   But I do not care for arrogance or assumptions.   We purchased netting for the deer a few years ago and the chickens have gotten entangled in it.   I asked Roland if we could use it to surround the deck.   Last night we went out and he used a staple gun which is holding thus far, but seems like it would be easy to tear.              Roland decided to repurpose the green wire shelves that were once a part of our cheap greenhouse.   He had stapled those to discourage the chickens from getting under the porch.   Now it just looks more like we are trying to capture them and keep them – which isn’t the case at all.                Roland continues to feed them and we do collect the ...

               Roland has purchased several 3 pound jars of peanut m&ms over the years.   We all snack on them, but do so in moderation.   The candy will gradually go down to empty at which point we will refill with dog food and refer to the jar as “Bonnie’s m&ms”.      She is fine with our feeding her a handful of her "m&ms" while we are trying to eat our own food.    Catch is, we need to pour it from the jar onto the floor or give Bonnie her own plate.    Tastes so much better than eating it out of her bowl.    Yet she has no problem eating hearts or scrambled eggs from her bowl.              We had dropped some jelly beans on the floor which of course went into Bonnie’s mouth the second they hit the ground.   She is not the fussy dog that we had in West Valley.   She’ll eat almost anything – whether we intend it that way or not. ...

            I remember the weather when we first went into lockdown last year.   It was nice.   Jenna and I would walk around the neighborhood (or just our yard – pre the neighbors' arrogant chickens and Bonnies) and take pictures.   This year has been overcast, windy and cold – except when it’s not.   It’s like mother nature has a endless case of PMS and is wreaking havoc with the skies.   Sending awful turbulence and bleakness – at least in my neck of the woods.   Strange, but as I write this, the sun is shining like it has been there all this time.   Never enveloped with clouds or darkness.           I have blamed the weather for my being tired - though I have probably OD’d on sugar since Easter.   It did not help matters when yesterday after feeling bloated, Roland insisted I take some Alka-Seltzer -which would be fine but the only Alka-Seltzer we ...

          Every once in a while I will click on Ancestry just because it ’ s there.  For the most part I don ’ t know if the information is accurate or not.  My passion isn ’ t there to remember if Uncle Harold was born in one place or another.  I mean, I think I could narrow it down to state or region that I could figure out the inaccuracy such as knowing the birth took place in Utah although I don ’ t know exactly where in Utah, I think it is safe to rule out Texas or Florida should they come up.         Today when I went into Ancestry I noticed that there were hints for my dad.   Okay, I can do that.   I can break it down more easily than any of his uncles or cousins.   I clicked on the census and grave information.   Both were correct and I added to others as well.   And then I found my own name.   I clicked on my name – which came up as my maiden name.   Eleven hints. ...

                   It’s going to be cloudy today  except over there           What is it appearing on the horizon?   The sun The blinding sun coming to you from the east for two hours only but that is only if you live in Myrtle Creek   Over to the west you will see grey skies overlooking the Tri-City area Sunny skies just east of Myrtle Creek and possible showers for Tri City two cities sharing the same zipcode but hey . . . Let us give them different weathers.   Why not?   Cool to downright Cold winds wherever you may choose to walk Bonnie or rather wherever she may choose to walk you or attempt her own keen sense of direction And after you return home, Let us allow the sun to peek its head                    From the sky.   ...

          During the pandemic it has been up to each state government to lay down the law of mandating mask, social distancing, reopening, etc.   It wasn ’ t long before facebook became flooded with this message: “ Having some states lock down and others not lock down is like having a peeing section in the swimming pool ”.  Yet there are some companies that seem to be encourage traveling?   “ Hey, come and pee in my state!   We don ’ t have enough of it? ”   I am a guilty party as I traveled with my family to New York last June.   Did we bring some pee with us?   Not intentionally.  Did we bring it back to Oregon? Possibly. But not from New York. It had been our flight from Detroit and our stop at Salt Lake airport that felt the most concerning.          Roland had asked for some time off the end of this month as we have arranged to have our floors done (i...

            Jenna likes surprises and says she would like to be surprised for her birthday.  But things started showing up in the mail that she herself had picked out.  She knew the packaged CD was Panic at the Disco.  She recognized the stickers that Roland had asked her about.  I didn ’ t even bother telling her that her stylist had arrived and enclosed it in a CD case with a note about surprises.  I also opened her sticker package and did the same.  Then I hid her Panic at the Disco CD and wrapped the two CD cases along with a chocolate orange and a Tee Shirt that Roland had purchased.            I ’ m sure I could have wrapped the Hamm piggy bank that he purchased at a later time, but chose not to as she was in the house ever since we brought it home – except for going to seminary (I am pressed for time as it is – wrapping the bank would have lessened whatever time I gave myself to get ready)...

             I have memorized the hymn “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” as mentioned in this post.   David Butler from Don’t Miss This ( here ) created a simple outline for Easter ( here ) in which there are four headings    He Lives and         He Lives to           He Lives my          and    He Lives   If I underline the words in the hymn I have four that fall under the heading   He Lives and, eleven under He Lives to, seven under He Lives my and eight under He Lives .   But that is only from the hymn.   I printed off a total of five pages.   One for the hymn and one for each session of conference.   Thus morning session of Conference under the heading   He Lives and Gives us guidelines to prepare Teaches eternal truths Wants me to be happy...

  “Why I am so tired?” I look up to the sky I sense the wind is blowing. “Oh, now I know why.”   While living in Utah I would tire when winds blew But that hasn’t happened in Oregon Except a time or two.   Why would the wind make me tired When I am not even in the outside air? My mind disconnects from my body, A dimension not even there.   I could always blame the weather Like a 40 degree jump in one day. “What’s up with that, Mother Nature?” What havoc the weather games play.   This time I doubt it is DST. I’ve had enough time to adjust My sleeping habits went out the window When the pandemic came in like a gust.   Roland gave me an energy shot The taste made my mouth ache Though it pushed me just a little I’m still not fully awake.

 This desk was from my mom's house.  It came with one small drawer.  I got rid of it in November 2018 when Richard bought me another desk.  I meant to write a post about my new desk but appears I never got around to that. I had seen this desk at St. Vincent's.  It was only ten dollars.  Bigger than my mom's old desk (which was specifically purchased for the computer) more storage.  I had asked for it for Christmas but Richard set it up before Christmas.      This is bottom draw to the desk above. When Jenna and I have taken Bonnie for walks, I have taken pictures that capture spring This was one of many hidden eggs that Jenna found When we were at St. Vincent, I did purchase a purse to tote just three items on the days I have no pockets I took this picture as it appeared the flowers had been hand painted onto regular drinking glasses. Jenna's pandemic hair from behind a gift from last Christmas.  Tee shirt and socks (this was before...