Beneath the Wraps

             We always have opportunities to serve no matter where we live – there is community service, charity organizations, shelters, Red Cross . . . the list goes on.   When I lived in Salt Lake I would put in hours of service in various church projects such as the pasta plant, the dairy, the bishops storehouse, the cannery and Deseret Industries (2 nd hand thrift store) to name a few.   I lived within minutes of those buildings.   In Oregon we are located one and a half hours south of the nearest storehouse and one and a half hours north of the pear farm which I have mentioned in a few of my posts.           When I was attending church in my son’s ward in Utah there was an announcement made for volunteers to clean the Jordan River Temple which I have learned is the busiest temple in the world.   I felt impressed to volunteer if I could and offered my services.   I had assist...

                 A few days before our family’s arrival, Jenna pointed out the chickens in the cucumber garden.   No cukes this year!   Roland is mad!!! He decided that we would quit feeding and watering the chickens and return them to where they came from and pen them in so they cannot come on our side.   I told him to wait until after the kids arrived as I thought perhaps Randy could assist as he is tall.   Before we sent them on their way, I was hoping Devan would have at least one experience with feeding them and collecting eggs. Carrie enjoyed the free-range eggs and says it is something she will splurge on as the free-range are healthier than most of what is sold at the grocery store.   I personally don’t care about the cucumbers.   I couldn’t see Richard eating all that would grow – but now we will never know.   Not this year anyway. The chickens are still in the yard.   Levi’s dog had c...

          I don ’ t know how many posts I ’ ve created about the fowl creatures that come into our yard.  The turkeys were still around after Thanksgiving but seemed to disappear before Christmas.  The hens have seemed to multiply though their eggs have not.  I haven ’ t seen any roosters except for Mitch who seems to be the source of the “ pighen demon ” call.  Trying to sound like Bruce whom I thought had vanished but did see him the other day.  He ’ s not as annoying as Mitch.         Jenna was told by the owner ’ s son that the black rooster was named Bruce.   I don ’ t know if he personally gives the animal names or if they really do have names.   They are not pets after all – except for maybe Miss Piggy who looks like she could win tons of blue ribbons for the tons of weight she must have put on.   Roland ’ s special name for the pig is “ Chris P. Bacon ” though not an original...

  There was frost on the ground and so were the chickens.   I don ’ t understand the draw.     The roosters have gotten brave enough to approach us. They will look at us in the same manner as Bonnie asking, “ Why don ’ t you feed me? ”   At least Bonnie has an excuse to look at us that way.   She has been placed in our care after all.   The fowl are all trespassers.   They are not our responsibility. I have seen their owners feed them but evidently we have better grass, better bugs, better vittles somehow.   The roosters have discovered the bird seed carelessly fallen to the ground knocked over by greedy birds eating from the bird feeder.   Roland thinks it is his job to feed all of the stray animals except for the deer.   The fowl are welcome in our yard.   The deer are not.   Right now we don’t have anything that the deer would be inter...