Myrtle and Creek

           The day we cleaned the shed two black chickens appeared – as though they had been living there and we destroyed their home.  They weren’t.  I have no idea where the two birds came from.  One was pretty much smaller than the other.  Normally Jaime has given names to all the animals that have come into our yard.  But she was not yet up.  Richard named the larger of the birds Myrtle and the smaller one he named Creek.

          We managed to keep Bonnie away from them during the morning.  I don’t know whose yard they had come from or why they chose to stay.  I let Bonnie out after 4:00.  I had forgotten about the chickens until I noticed her attacking Myrtle’s corpse. 

           Poor Creek seemed lost without her companion.  Richard would take Bonnie out and put her on a chain.  I don’t have the strength for the hook.  It has rusted over the years. I did manage to save Creek’s life a few times but failed today. 

           I feel bad at how their lives ended.  I feel helpless in the animal kingdom.  RIP Myrtle and Creek.

Maintenance

 

         For a week now we have been touching up our house.  The deck REALLY needed a make- over.  I don’t think it’s been painted/stained for two or three years.  It NEEDED a fresh coat of something.  And Richard was concerned about the trim facing west as it also needed a fresh coat of paint in his opinion.  Honestly no one is going to notice.  Nobody ever goes back there – especially to look at the shutters.  But whatever.  So here are some things we have done.

 

we painted the chairs after this photo was taken

clean up

          I thought I had posted about our make-shift shed that we made from the tarp of a greenhouse kit.  Richard built the frame to last – but the tarp did not.  It started out with good intentions but became more of an eye sore each time it was moved.  And so much junk accumulated over the years.  We took that down today.  It was a lot of work as Richard had built it to last.  Took us a couple of hours and whacking at it with a sludge hammer.   Made a trip to the dump.  It’s been exhausting.

JOY is an Acronym

 Jesus,  Others,  Yourself          -         in that order

Palm Sunday on Temple Square

 

Last night watched the most beautiful service spotlighting Palm Sunday.  An integration of faiths.

 I remember having gone to the tabernacle on Temple Square.  I didn’t visualize that I would have ever witnessed anything like this.  Pretty cool.

Conference Memories

                I think before the last two conferences (at least the October ones) Jaime has created Bingo cards that we might pay closer attention.  One year she picked a specific General Authority would wear a red tie.  I just had “red tie” on my Bingo card – no one specific.  I would not have even thought about the Bingo card except Dieter Uchtdorf was wearing a bright green tie which I liked.  I would have never guessed that a green tie would be worn.  Nor a lilac/orchid colored one with a circle/sun type pattern (that was worn by Gary E. Stevenson) followed by Amy Wright wearing a colorful orange suit.  I actually lost track after that – not that it’s important.  I didn’t lose sight of the message each had to convey.  It has been a really good conference thus far.

            Dale G. Renlund talked about being prepared and how the topic of the “last days” often make people uncomfortable.  I am one of those people.  Never have enjoyed of hearing about events that will take place.  But in my mind’s eye, I really thought I’d be on the other side.  I don’t like what Trump is doing to our nation.  Sign of the times.  But there are things he can’t control.  No matter how much he and his followers may want to deny evidence of global warming – he cannot control the weather. 

            I took comfort in his talk as I related in my own mind the events of resurrection – how the stone had rolled away.  It didn’t matter how many soldiers were placed to guard the tomb – the resurrection was going to take place.  The stone rolled away.  Those who were supposedly in charge could not change the elements or the events that occurred.  Same with the last days.  If we are prepared things will work out – maybe not the way we expect, but they will work out.

            Jaime is currently at a lake house with a group of her friends.  The nerds who graduated South Umpqua High in 2022.  I think it’s cool that they continue to make arrangements to hang out together.  It has been nearly three years since they left high school.  I enjoy watching conference with Jaime.  I miss having her here – but at the same time I understand.  She’s celebrating her 21^st birthday.  I hope she has an awesome weekend.

 

Preparing for Easter

 

Richard signed up for cookies for a refreshment after our Easter service.  Of course we had to trial run:

No More Dolls!

          Before Richard and I went on our Las Vegas/Gilbert excursion, his brother had mentioned that a package was on its way.  It hadn’t occurred to me what he was sending.  Richard had asked for the return of a doll that he had sent his mom.  We didn’t know that Robert was going to send half of her doll collection.  

We did find homes for the first two,
possibly the one in the middle.  

Richard wanted just one specific doll – but all of these came in addition to a boxed set of Lucy and Desi dolls as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo (which Richard had also sent his mom – in addition to a Raggedy Ann doll that did not find its way back to us.  Shame.  It is the only doll that I liked.

 

         Actually I do like the Ricky and Lucy dolls as they remind me of Richard and me.  She is pregnant with Little Ricky.  I was once pregnant with Jaime.  Richard said I might use it as a door price but I said I wanted to keep it.  I didn’t know that would lead to the purchase of more Lucy dolls (Lucy, by the way, was the name of his mother who had passed last October) and would have benefited more from the collection than I.  Don’t get me wrong.  I do love Lucy.  But I am not a doll collector.

 

my favorite Lucy doll would
be the first one pictured

         Both my Aunt Eloise and Aunt Kristie had collected dolls which they displayed in doll cases.  I don’t have room for doll cases.  I have a doll collection.  Just a small one.  But they are buried on a shelf. Most are worthless but I keep them for sentimental reasons.  There is no sentiment in the Lucy dolls or this one 

which Richard had picked up in addition.  I like that it comes with all these accessories – including binoculars and canteen (not pictured because they fell to the bottom of the box.  They were part of a clearance/clean out due to the floods that took place last Sunday.  Business owner is through.

The Rains Came Down and the Floods Came Up

             Not only was yesterday St. Patrick’s Day but the 183^rd anniversary of the Relief Society.  Leaders received notification of this event as early as January. 

 

On Sunday we were supposed to congregate together and watch the broadcast. At first it was going to be on a stake level and then it was changed to wards.  So in addition to the broadcast meeting, Diane had called a last minute meeting for the presidency as there were some things that couldn’t wait for our next scheduled meeting (which honestly I don’t believe was scheduled with a specific date).

         Diane and Angie had each brought their lunch as it didn’t seem convenient for each of them to drive all the way back to their homes and back again.  Melanie had made a large pan of brownies (which could be cut into 48 if we had the turnout) and we had started presidency meeting 20 – 30 minutes after church ended.   

            The weekend provided severe weather for much of the nation.  Douglas County was no exception.  Roseburg was slammed much harder than Myrtle Creek.  The water was high – higher and faster than I’ve ever seen it. Our meeting was interrupted by individuals who had concern about the weather, by Douglas County emergency, and the stake strongly suggesting we cancel the meeting. 

 

By that time we figured it would only be the four of us who showed up anyway.  I told Jaime I would bring her home at least one brownie but ended up with almost half the pan (Melanie had cut about 32 quite large pieces for everybody to take home).  Each of us used our phones to text sisters in the ward to let them know the meeting had been cancelled.  We put a note on the door just in case – but honestly I don’t think anyone showed.  Some of the roads had actually closed due to spillage which I had never seen here in Oregon.

Almost everybody in South Umpqua lives near water – if not the river itself than a creek or a stream or an accidental water fall (see this post) or pond.  though yesterday they all appeared like rapid flowing rivers.  My daughter received a bunch of videos from one of her friends.  I have screenshot a few.

forks into main street and riverside

taken from Riverside

entrance to Evergreen Park March 16, 2025

Evergreen Park July 2016

Evergreen Park March 16, 2025

when the creek was at a normal level in 2017

Evergreen Park October 2017

Before our meeting the rain had turned to snow.  

Jaime did not have to go into work on Sunday. 

 It all seemed to vanish by yesterday morning.  At least from my perspective.  Jaime did end up going into work yesterday. The waters are still high but no spillage.

The Naughty Leprechaun

                Richard is always in a cooking or baking mood. On Saturday night he pulled 24 cupcakes out of the oven and decided that the three of us would decorate them.  I was planning on posting this yesterday but my pictures did not come through until this morning

 

Our frosting, you guessed it, banana.

Putting More Fun into Fun

 

               Richard likes to go bowling.  For the most part we have gone to the Nickel Bowl in Myrtle Creek.  It is a convenient 5 minute drive compared to over 20 to Ten Down in Roseburg. 

 

But yesterday we chose to go to Roseburg – and it was fun.  New look, new appeal – at least to my eyes as I don’t believe I have ever been since before 2020.

           I loved the cleverness of their “pool ball” themed bowling balls and the filters used on photos each player provides for keeping score.  So here are some of the photos displayed as we bowled.

Another Sunday

 On Friday one of the counselors had called Richard about another matter but ended up asking if he could give a talk yesterday.  The theme for the talk was to be Doctrine and Covenants section 19 as this is the reading topic for last week’s Come Follow Me. 

Richard based his talk on one of Scott Woodward’s videos here*.  

I really enjoyed the last speaker’s talk.  She said she had wanted to speak on Section 18, particularly 9-16 (here) focusing on the worth of souls.  During the course of her talk she used two different parables. 

The first of these parables is found in Matthew 20:1-6.  It is one I’ve mentioned before in this post.  It doesn’t matter what hour we enter the vineyard, our worth is the same.   

She also mentioned the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10.  She read some and paraphrased some – never using actual names; she is not that kind of person to point fingers – and yet I heard them in my head.

³¹ Now by chance a priest – no, it was Donald Trump - was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. ³² So likewise a Levite – Elon Musk - when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 

 God sees us all (even the Levite and the priest, Trump and Musk) as having the same worth.  God does.  I'm still viewing this with the eyes of men. They may be worth more than their decisions.  Their decisions certainly don't represent the people.

*Three years ago Scott Woodward had created 15 Doctrine and Covenant overviews. This was the last one made. At least I thought it was;  several months after creating this post I discovered more.  So glad.

 

It was a great meeting.

Power of Tithing

          Tithing is definitely NOT a logical commandment.  But oh what tremendous blessings follow if we follow the promptings.

          Two examples of tithing shared in Testimony meeting last week.  The first is a recent convert who upon talking with his sister learned that his niece would be turning 11 on her next birthday.  She wanted a violin.  The speaker didn’t know why she had mentioned it as she was aware of his financial struggles and so of course a violin was out of the question.

          He wanted to pay tithing but did not have the finances to do so.  As he was headed out the door to go to church, he grabbed his piggy bank on an impulse.  He said he offered his tithing in all the change that the piggy bank held – about five dollars – maybe more.  It was all that he had. 

          On his way home he felt impressed to visit with a couple that he hadn’t seen in some time.  When he arrived he notice his friends boxing up items and asked about what was taking place.  They said they had been having a yard sale but decided that they were done for the day.

          The woman asked, “By the way, do you know someone who could use a violin?”

 

         Our friend was taken aback.  It was in pristine condition – still in its original casing as though it had never been used.  Our friend expressed his interest but said he did not have the money to pay for it – not even ten dollars.  The woman gave him the violin and told him he could give her ten dollars the following week.

          Wow.

          A couple (I’ll call them Michael and Brenda – though the names were not given) chose to get married during winter break.  Friends were away for the holidays – some on skiing trips.  They married without their all their friends being present. Those same friends had not bothered with gifts.  (It sounded like a crash course wedding)

          Later in the marriage, things were tight.  It seemed like they were stretching their paychecks until finally it came down to: Do we pay our tithing or our student loans? 

          They fasted and prayed about it and decided to use the money for tithing.  They would still owe on their student loans.  Out of the blue Michael’s friends (the ones who had not come to the wedding) had sent checks – a late wedding – I’m sorry I was unable to attend – gifts.  The amount of all the checks combined added up to exactly what was needed for the student loan.

          Of course we have our own tithing and financial stretching miracles.  Richard and I (together) had never lived in an apartment but were always able to keep/raise our children in a house.  We always had enough food to eat.  We had sufficient for our needs.  We always paid tithing because we needed to. 

          My son had used this example. Tithing is like God handing you a loaf of bread and then asking you if you can cut off the heal of the bread and give it back to him.  He will then give you another loaf of bread.

          I am grateful for the law of tithing and the miracles and blessings attained.