Beneath the Wraps

                 I was volunteering at the library the other night and was given the assignment to find some missing books.  As I was searching the shelves I came across Heather Vogel Fredrick’s book – Pies & Prejudice from The Mother Daughter Book Club series. I grabbed it for the series title.  One of the books that Jaime and I had read at the library mother daughter book club was Pie by Sara Weeks ( here ). I did not see it as a play on words from the title “Pride and Prejudice” until later nor a book series.  Nor do I understand why something in the Juvenile section would have such a tiny font.  I have seen bigger fonts in the young adult.  So for the most part I have been reading with a magnifying glass.  That is getting tiresome.  Thus I may not finish.             I was also reminded of the Beehive Award when reading that this particular book is an Oregon award fi...

                 I had asked a friend if she would drive me to the airport yesterday.  I had changed the time of her flight and would have been able to drive myself but my friend was still willing – in fact looking forward to it – perhaps more than I.  Before the pandemic she had received a gift card to Red Lobster but has not used it in all of this time.  So after we went to the airport and picked up Jenna, our friend drove us to Red Lobster and used her gift card on overpriced food that really didn ’ t seem worth what we would have paid.  Jenna and I do love the cheese rolls – which she enjoyed more than I.  It probably isn ’ t the fault of Red Lobster but rather my taste buds (or lack thereof) that are to blame.   Currently Jenna is in Cottage Grove attending the high school football game – not that she knows anything about football or any other sport.   She has school spirit as many of those f...

I was on my computer Tuesday morning when I received a call from one of the schools.   It was 8:35 and the shift started at 9:00.   It was for the school that is farthest away, but I thought I could be there on time.   At that point I didn’t know if I’d be working with the elementary or middle school age children.   I wish it had been the older kids instead of the younger ones. I was over my sore throat but still had that darn dry cough, and because I was using my voice all day (except for recess) my cough became stronger and my throat started hurting again.   I did not work yesterday. The RS presidency meets once a week.   Initially they met on Monday but had changed it to Wednesday to accommodate me.   I don’t particularly enjoy working on Wednesdays as it is the short day and school lets out at the same time I get off.   I’d rather not deal with school traffic – which I don’t on any other day.   If I know there is not going to be...

                Wednesday is generally my busiest day with school.   Generally.   When the libraries reopened and had asked for volunteers, I said I could - however I couldn't be scheduled.   Sometimes Mondays will work for me, but not always.   I could volunteer on Fridays regardless of my scheduling - however, no one else can work that day; therefore, the library is closed.             I said I could substitute, which I have done before, but not for a long time.   I told them when I might be available and when I would not.   Wednesdays and Saturdays are definite NOs as I am trying to finish my schooling by Wednesday or Thursday and Saturdays are for family.             Wednesday is also the designated day for potluck luncheons on 2nd Wednesdays every month and...

            Myrtle Creek has a summer festival at the end of July or the weekend closest to July 25th.   We learned that our first year here when Roland had asked one of the members about Pioneer Days - a holiday celebrating the movement of the pioneers to Salt Lake City, Utah.   Our ward here does a service project the Saturday prior to the Saturday of summer fest.   The first year we had moved in, we had gone to Riddle to clean up the cemetery here .   I took several pictures though I was not yet familiar with the majority of members who appeared in each photo.               The following year we had painted the shed and spruced up the track and bleacher area at the high school.   I must have forgotten my camera that day.   I don't recall having taken any photographs.   I was hoping that my sister's family would be in town that...

                My appreciation for art is so-so.   There are certain paintings that appeal to me for various reasons - and perhaps on a subconscious level, it is the lighting and balance and whatever other techniques are used by the artist.   Usually, it is the subject of the painting.   That is what I am focused on, not the colors, tones, hues or layers for example.   All the detail that is put into a professional painting seems overwhelming to me and actually seems to detract from the beauty that I had seen there initially.             In college, I once took an art appreciation class - just to force myself to understand and hopefully appreciate it more.   It backfired. I was so put out by the symbolic gestures and the history, it's a wonder I didn't drop the class.   I would struggle with these foreign concepts and tri...