Beneath the Wraps

                 After Jenna got stung Roland told me to call an exterminator.   Normally when I Google something (such as pest control) I skip their first suggestion and move on.   Evidently Roland goes with Google’s first suggestion and had me call an overly expensive pesticide which uses a contracting system – only we did not know that until 10:30 yesterday morning. The agent was nice and obviously honest.   Each of us believed the Yellow Jackets were just a one time thing as we have lived in this house for more than four years and have never had a problem with Yellow Jackets – even during the time our deck was being built. So I called another company and an exterminator was sent out that afternoon.   He first approached us without protection but realizing how close the nest was to the driveway quickly changed into his protective gear.   Roland bravely watched him from the deck.   Not me.   The p...

              I got up about a quarter to three to visit the bathroom.   I noticed the moonlight spilling into our room.   The room was as light as it is at 7:30 p.m.   I could see it through the skylight on my return and then I drew back the curtain to check out the brightness.   It looked like a giant headlight in the sky.   I don’t remember ever seeing the moon shine so brilliantly.   It hurt my eyes to look at it directly same as the sun.

                   I remember “murder hornets” mentioned briefly in May.   I didn’t even know if it was a real thing or not.   Apparently they are twice the average size and will slaughter bees and hives within the matter of minutes.   I haven’t heard of any harmed human cases.           This morning Roland had given Jenna the assignment of filling one of the bird feeders – which she has done before but not with the dramatics that were felt today.   Both Roland and I heard her screaming and crying.   Evidently there is a hornet’s nest nearby and over a dozen had inserted their stinging swords into her.   It didn’t appear that they had attached her legs, but there was evidence of their vulgar action between both shoulders and neck, her arms (mostly by hands) her head and face.             She usually has he...

                   Jenna had attended a class and learned that our ward now has two sets of missionaries.  I met them today.  The one who has been in the area the longest had been called to serve a country in Asia.  I think he said his calling location was changed before he had arrived to the MTC.  His companion had served four months in Japan before being transferred to Myrtle Creek.    The other two elders were called to Spanish speaking missions: one to Mexico and the other to Peru.  Though they are no longer serving in those countries they are still on a Spanish speaking mission.  Interesting.             The ward counsel was told that church services would be starting up again.   This is the third time that’s been announced.   Would be nice to have it be the final time.   The plan is to restart on September 13 (a Sund...

            Too often when Jenna and I had gone walking she would want to pick up litter and collect treasures.  I wasn ’ t overly fond of having her touch all that she did but tried to make a habit of bringing two plastic bags for each walk – one for the garbage and one for the treasures.  It was her idea to beautify the earth and so I did not want to discourage her from trying to clean it up.  The litter she found mostly consisted of paper though occasionally we would find straws, wrappers, or sticks from suckers. Her treasures would include rocks, leaves, shiny things, clothing items (which would get washed before I ’ d allow her or her stuffed pets to wear them) and pine cones. Her thought process today is really not much different.   She ’ ll continue to collect things to be thrown away or whatever may grab her interest – including masks that have been left in the parking lot.   She hasn ’ t touched any of the disposab...

           B efore Jenna was born I started keeping a journal for her – writing it in first person as though she were writing it – guessing what she was thinking.   I ended up with 10 volumes from 2004 – 2013.   I had stopped printing pages the year that my mom passed.   I continued with scrapbook pages left in the computer and flash drives and continued our first year in Oregon, but then allowed her to take over - which she has discontinued. Anyway, we have been rereading through her books during this pandemic.   I appreciate having recorded what I did as there is much I have forgotten.   I remember myself having been uptight all of the time – but perhaps not as often as I had believed.   I had always felt blessed with such a happy girl and wanted to help her stay that way – trying hard to stay positive though not always successful and it shows in my writing particularly when her sisters would visit. I was not so much agai...

             Roland enjoys watching educational programming mostly to get ideas on how he might do things.  One of the programs he watches is Homestead Rescue .  We recently watched an episode called Under Siege ( here ) in which the Raneys go to Montana to help a couple that seem quite resistant (I personally would have just told them to forget it – but Raneys apparently have more compassion than I do).  The couple say they want free range pigs.  However their pigs have torn up the property in the process and the piglets don ’ t survive.  I was reminded of that show this morning when one of the younger pigs escaped into our yard again.   This time it was just the spotted one who did not have his companions with him (I ’ m guessing he ’ s a teenager who doesn ’ t do well with restrictions).   The pig is not our responsibility, but at the same time Jenna believes it is her calling to make certain the pig at least...

 Jenna found the pineapple mask had dropped between the passenger seat and shift stick.  I'm happy to know that I didn't contribute to the parking lot litter after all.

Just beyond exit 103 is a Winco warehouse but it is over 45 miles from there to the nearest Winco store, thus we do tend to go there often but would make it our primary store if it was as near to us as the warehouse.   It appears that before yesterday the last time we had gone to Winco was in December.             I had worn a pineapple mask that I had made for Jenna – or at least with her in mind.   We had gone to Riddle the end of last month to participate in a youth activity.   They were painting jeans and I had been invited to paint also as the turn-out was a lower count than the art supplies.             I had painted a pineapple on denim fabric.   While I waited for it to dry, I retrieved a plain white cotton mask from the car and pressed it over the pineapple painting to create a mirror image.   Jenna and I had both worn the mask for in-and-...

  I get sinus infections when the air is dry or polluted.   In addition I also have an eye disorder called Keratoconus.   According to Mayo Clinic it is the clear dome-shaped front surface of the eye that thins and gradually bulges.   Corey has the same disease.   I remember him showing off his eyes to various family members one Christmas.   We couldn’t see it by looking directly at him but if we looked to him at the side, we could see the eye bulging out   perhaps not as exaggerated as it appears in cartoons but that is what it reminded me of.       Walt Disney's Roger Rabbit   It is said that correction may occur with glasses or soft contact lenses. It had been strongly Corey to wear contacts, but I don ’ t think he ever felt comfortable with them.  He was able to get a cornea transplant, but I cannot.  My eyes are a weird shape  and not designed for laser surgery to work properly.  I don ’ t think it...

            I was at a class off some kind.  There appeared to be four to six students – each had at least one doll.  The doll was supposed to represent a baby that we had left at home.  We were sitting on couches with pillows and blankets.  I felt squashed between two students – one who was the only male participant.  And when I noticed the female student had left, I scooted over so that there was a space between me and the male student.  My vibrator seemed to get caught on his afghan – which in the dream was his afghan, but in real life it looked like one my mom had made.           Two of the students had built a tent out of their blankets and were sitting inside.   And then our instructor appeared along with several parts for a do-it-yourself-motorbike.    KMT It was my turn to build/ride first.   I remember a mechanic walking out and shaking his head, and...

            This last Saturday was the hottest yet since our move to Oregon.  Hotter than the last week in July has always been even thought Summer Fest was not held this year. Apparently it had bee 104 on August 28 last year.  I had forgotten. We had moved to Oregon for the moisture and weather consistency.  We have seen one of the two since our move here  – but neither all year round.  Three digit temperature – part of 2020 ’ s taunting.       106 Saturday and was suppose to be over 100 yesterday but only got to 90.  It was overcast most of the day.  We even felt a few drops in the morning.  Roland doesn't like to work outdoors when it's raining.  Jenna and I prefer  it.  If we're going to get wet anyway, why not with moisture from the sky than sweat through our bodies?       I had taken an allergy pill that knocks me into a coma – not that I wanted to be i...