What is Your Worth?

        We have contacted landscapers throughout the years but have never been able to afford the asking price.  The last bid was at 8,000.  Uh, that’s twice the amount I was willing to go – though I thought it was still too high.  Since then Richard has been watching DYI videos on what we can do. 

        While we were watching the DYI landscape videos, we heard our censors go off to indicate that perhaps there was more presence than just the turkey in our yard. Two youth were at the door announcing that they were willing to do some landscaping work.  I let Richard know.  He ended up hiring the kid who said he would replace our pipe hose for 50 dollars.  That’s a lot of work for only 50 dollars – but Richard accepted his offer.  No written contract.  No credentials.  The kid is a high school drop-out.  But he did it.

        He weed wacked the hill in the back and offered Richard a hundred dollars to cut out beds so we can plant.  Richard told him he would not want to do it for a 100 but perhaps 100 per quarter and divided the land.  It’s been quite intensive labor – probably more than the kid had bargained for.  Richard has given him a few advances as we really are getting our money’s worth.  Perhaps Richard ought to offer more incentive - like twice the amount if you can get the project done by a certain date. 

        Thus far the kid has labored in our yard each day, but the amount of time seems to lessen each day.  He’s not what I would call dependable.  Fortunately we are paying him by the project and not by the hour.

        Richard had told Don (not his real name) to take Sunday off as he did not want to be responsible for breaking the Sabbath.  Only Don does not share our same standards and worked while we were at Church and took the day off on Monday.  On Monday Richard told Jaime and I to help him move rocks to cover the pipe. 

I hoped that Google would not come by to take pictures while I was bending over.

        I don’t know how often Google updates their maps and residential sites.  When we first moved into the house we currently live, I remember looking up our WV address on Google and seeing my neighbor bent over in her yard.  It reminded me of a yard decoration that some people might have in their yards.

They have updated the WV location since, but the address we have now has not been updated in the last six years at least as the house is white with blue trim and we have changed that to green trim.

        I remember taking a break and sitting down to create this post.  I was so tired that I couldn’t even think.  I ended up going to bed majorly early (like 6:00) and haven’t made the effort to even start the post until yesterday and it was only a start.  I knew that I would not get through everything I had at least had the sense to brainstorm on Monday.

        I don’t know what happened on Tuesday. I had a busier schedule today than on Tuesday but still found the time to get the majority of this post written – hoping I’d be able to proof read and add pictures today.  So there you go.  A half baked update on my life right now.

Fathers' Day

Fathers’ Day seemed to be a big deal in the last ward that I had come from.  Our first Sunday in Myrtle Creek shortly happened to be Father’s Day.  I don’t recall Father’s Day being mentioned.  The last couple of years the primary children (and our number is dwindling – count of 7 today) have been singing either Mothers’ Day or Fathers’ Day (depending on the month) in sacrament meeting.  Before it was in either RS or Priesthood.  Neither one of them were incorporated into a program.  Today we heard the first Fathers’ Day I’ve heard given in this ward. 

As we were on the way to Church Jai reminded us of this comic routine.  Very appropriate.  Tony called to wish Richard a happy Fathers’ Day and the three kids sang him (well, one sang, one echoed and the other was just there) 

Happy Father's Day and Happy Juneteenth.  

Well, it was on my agenda . . .

 Though not necessarily today – it had to be done.  Still isn’t complete, but it has now become a family project that will need our attention – especially if Richard thinks he’ll have to watch TV.

I have been aware for some time that we would need to go through our evacuation bags – in the event that we will need them.  Richard has packed them so full that they are so heavy – especially his as he has extra items – such as a square pan.  Though small, it still makes it a challenge for closing the bag.  Also heavy.  So it has at least two purposes.  Cooking or a weapon for clobbering – should we feel the need.

We were looking for something specific but as long as two of them were open I thought I would pull out everything!  Why in the world do we feel the need for that many clothes?  Why not make a separate piece of luggage JUST for clothes?  Though that would not work if we are not all together.  Jai will be moving to Ashland in the fall.  I am certain that there will still be smoke in the air.  I wonder if she will be taking her vac-bag with her.  It seems like it would be a good idea.  I never had a bug-out bug when I went to college.  But I understood the importance.

I had gone to Ricks College. I was not yet in high school when the Teton flooded over Rexburg – but I had heard first hand events.  One was from a sister who had made quilts for charity.  She ended up donating one that she was not proud of.  She believed it was very ugly and was ashamed of having donated something that was beneath her standards.  When the floods happened on June 5, 1976, she, along with many neighbors, had evacuated their homes and were sent to higher ground to spend the night.  As the bedding was passed around, she started crying – probably for several reasons – but at the gratitude she felt for the quilt given to her was the very one that she thought was ugly and unworthy of her donation.

I told Jai that I didn’t think our clothes would fit us anymore.  We had to switch it out.  I noticed that one pair of pants I had saved needs to be washed.  But than again, if I have to use them, there are going to be several others in my same boat that may have only the clothes on their backs – which may be more soiled than the ones in my bag.  I certainly can’t do my nicest clothes – so I stick with the ugly ones – which fortunately I have never had to wear.  Not because they’re ugly but because I haven’t had need. We haven’t had to evacuate.  Others have. 

There are many who lost their homes back in 2020 when Corona stopped being the leading story because the fires were.  Not everybody has recovered still.  There are still people without homes.  Those who have lost all of their belongings – some that will never be replaced – like photos and other memorabilia.

I want the clothes on the bottom and all the heavy stuff on top.  The food needs to be rotated.  Some may need to be thrown out.  I don’t like that.  Some food can make it passed their expiration date.  I think water will always be good – but the containers will need to be replaced.  I feel fortunate that none of our bags are wet.

https://sopa.tulane.edu/blog/essential
-items-pack-hurricane-go-bag

What Strange Weather

 I feel like it is a safe guess

to say that my family has been

to Yellowstone at least 15 times

from the time I was born and up

until my father’s death. 

 

I remember fires having

closed Yellowstone Park –

but never flooding. 

This weather has been so strange.

I know that I mentioned

how tired I get

each time the wind blows. 

I don’t know why it has sent me

into a coma so often – like

I’m taking sleeping pills that

knock me out into another week. 

The fact that it really does happen

is strange.

 

I also get hot

whenever it rains. 

When I am sound asleep and

the rain is pounding

on the roof, it is not the

sound that wakes me up. 

 

It is the rising temperature

in my body. 

Why does it do that? 

Why would I get hot when

the rain itself is so cold? 

That is also strange.

 

I never referred to the summer

as “fire season” until

I moved to Oregon. 

The first exposure I had to it was

the year 2015 when

we first moved to Oregon. 

 
I don’t remember the fire marker

being set to low in

July through September.

I don’t recall our first exposure to

 smoke and haze until

August of 2015 when we

chose to explore Grants Pass. 

It has been smoky most Augusts that

we have assisted at the pear farm

in Medford.  Strange.

 

And now it’s wet. 

Wetter than I remember Oregon

being this late in June –

if at all. 

I don’t wish to see fire season delayed. 

I would like to not see it at all. 

Or smell it. 

Or breath it. 

 

https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/2017/
09/the_worst_wildfires_in_oregon.html

I want to stay safe. 

I want the weather to stay cool. 

I like the 50 – 60 temperatures. 

I don’t like the constant vacillation of

“today will be in the low 40s but may

end in the high 80s.”

  That isn’t nice!

Tony’s Family Vacation part 2

               Wednesday was a more relaxing day as the only driving was on the part of Tony who had loaded up the car and came on down to spend with us.  I had washed three loads of clothes before they got here and I think they ended up doing four.

          We played or started many games.  I think there were more games we hadn’t finished then there were those we finished.  Richard made fish for our lunch and decorated cupcakes with the kids.  I think Tony and family left shortly after 7:00 and decided to head toward Medford in order to see the temple.  They said they returned to Roseburg after 11:00.

Yesterday required more driving as we went to the Wildlife Safari. It seems each time I have gone to the park there seems to be less number of animals than the last time I was there.  We did see a group of staff members watching a cheetah in the parking lot.  That was cool.  Also was quite entertained at watching two emus in a heated chase.  Tony said that if he lived here he would be going to the Safari at least once a week.

The three year old drifted off as we were driving away and was sound asleep when we stopped our cars to feed the animals – mostly the deer and rheas.  Tony felt bad that Oliver was missing out on the feeding, but we did take the gang to Stewart Park afterward to feed the ducks and geese and Oliver was awake for that.

Once again, Rochelle and I felt warn out by the end of the day and rested on the couch while the kids watched Toy Story Three.   We played more games and ate Hawaiian Haystacks.  Between eight and nine we said our good-byes.  They are going home a different route than their coming.

Tony’s Family Vacation part 1

         All three of the boys have said they would come visit – though only two have made it.  Randy brought his family over Memorial weekend last year. This year Tony said he would leave Salt Lake after Jaime’s graduation.  He left on the forth. They came by way of California so that they could see the Redwoods.  We did not realize that we lived so close. We had suggested to them that they could stop at the Vortex on the way here – but by the time they got there, it was almost time to close.  And then the GPS led them some funky way.  For they were only forty minutes out but took to hours to get to us.

        They chose not to stay with us as their middle child is allergic to dogs.  Though we did put Bonnie in the kennel on Monday morning, Liz still has allergies.  She remembered having been there before and was quite excited about her stay.  Jaime was not excited.  They do tend to miss one another when they’re apart.

                We played games for a few hours the first day they were with us.  They left after seven to check into the hotel in Roseburg 22 minutes away. Yesterday morning we took a squirrely way to get to Bandon.  Rochelle, my grandkids and I walked around old town Bandon while Tony, Richard and Jaime went fishing.  I led the other four around the pier.  The youngest two climbed on statues while the other two took pictures and after a while Liz whipped out her little camera and she started taking pictures. 

 

I was hoping that the trolley would be running, but currently is not because of budget cuts.  After we looked at a fish made of garbage we went back near where we had started and crossed the street over to the Washed Ashore museum and looked at more sculptures.  They enjoyed it.  And then we had lunch.

Richard had reserved three places on a charter.  Evidently there had been a lot of turbulence and both Richard and Tony got sick and threw up. But Richard did manage to catch one fish. Jaime, who hates seafood and fish, caught ten.

Four of the adults were tired.  Neither the 18 year old (Jaime) nor those belonging to Rochelle and Tony understand what tired it.  Tony, who had initially looked to be in worse shape than Richard, regained his color and ate some food.  Richard had some tea and ate a while after that.  He felt awful.  At least that’s the impression he gave.  It was too cold for the beach.  Don’t imagine those that had ridden the boat even cared.  I think the children had forgotten my mention of it.

We had parted ways and Tony and Rochelle took the kids back to Roseburg. It is so weird coming home and not having Bonnie at the door to greet us. I think all three of us went to bed earlier than usual.  Our agenda for to today is to just take things easy – play games while Tony and Rochelle take care of their laundry.

Photo Solitaire picture 171

         I don’t know how old my kindle is.  I am certain a relic according to Kindle standards.  A while back I would not be able to finish playing games as they would freeze up until I finally deleted them because really . . . what was the point of having a game take up space if I wasn’t able to play it?  It’s not as if I was all full up and lacking for space.  Turns out the games I’m playing are also relics – thought it is hard to label them as such because I feel that I am at least 4-6 times older than they are and I don’t consider myself a relic.

        Anyway there was a while there in which I had only six games to play and was getting bored as only three were word related.  The last couple of months have given me other game options – recycled games.  I know they are recycled as I continue receiving messages that this game will expire at the end of October (or some other month) – 2016.  Um . . . 2016 was a while ago.  "What are you talking ‘bout Willis?"

        One of the games I had added is called Photo Solitaire.  

Normally I don’t go for the photos as I rarely see all that the creator had – or the same thing with four different names (curtains, drapes, lace, fabric) and am horrible at figuring out the adjectives or verbs that aren’t as apparent.  I thought Photo Solitaire might be easier than the other picture puzzles as it offered a Mahjong twist. Each Mahjong game that I have played have dimensional pieces that have to removed from either left or right ends but not anywhere – unless the tiles are piled higher than those next to it.  But with Photo Solitaire any letter that is visible can be part of the word no matter its placement. 

        I must confess that I don’t always see everything on the list – especially the last few that I’ve looked at.  Fortunately there are cheats for some of puzzles that I have installed - Photo Solitaire being one of them.  First off the following photograph looked like a double exposure.  

I was able to punch in the words: “hands”, “prayer”, “board”, “flames” and “light”, but I was missing a few.  It didn’t dawn on me that “faith”, “hope” and “religion” were also words that I should have found – and did once I looked them up. 

        I’m grateful that Kindle has brought some of these to life again.  I have enjoyed many of the games I have downloaded.  Thank you Kindle and to all of those who create games for the devises offered.

I’d Rather Be Wet By Rain Than Perspiration

               My Baby graduated high school last night. There were ten students representing the honors list.  If they had picked twelve – Jai would have been up front with them wearing golden sash.  Yet just having four year cords was pretty cool – again because she did not attend the school during 2020-2021.  But it sounded like a wasted year for all of them.

       Without meaning to, I had compared her graduation to my own and the HUGE differences between them.  The only similarity I saw was with the weather.  Both were overcast – though I don’t recall as much rain at my graduation as with hers. 

       She had called to ask if we would like to be seated in the very back so that I could lean against the wall or if we wanted to be the second row in front.  I was visualizing the bleachers and not three rows of chairs added to the front – which is still fine.  I would have rather been where I was than in the back which I would have had to climb – not only getting up but coming down.  I would have taken the coat I didn’t think I’d need in the bleachers but wished I had from where I was at.

 

June - a sign of umbrellas and parkas, right?

       So the differences – besides her graduating class being a sixth of the size – were in how the students were seated and returned to their seats.  Except for the honor students seated on the front row, they were seated alphabetically.  We had been seated according to height – except for the students in the very front row.  Shortest kids sat in front and crossed the stage last.  My graduating class started with the back row for students to walk across the stage. 

The staff passed out rolled up “diplomas” which were meant to appear like diplomas but were only paper saying congratulations blah, blah, blah . . . We did not return to our seats but continued walking passed those seated in the bleachers, up the stairs that led to the school.  Once inside we exchanged our robes for the real diploma  - or at least the case that held it.  I think our diplomas were mailed to us at a later date.  But that was a long time ago.

Last night there was a long lasting speech – too long.  I kept thinking “Don’t you remember what happened to William Henry Harris after he gave his long-winded speech? It cost him his life.”  Evidently Jai had been thinking the same thing.  I think that first speaker spoke longer than everyone else put together. 

The students that graduated last night would go behind the stage, walk across and then return to their seats.  But I suppose that’s easier to do with only 96 students as opposed to over 600.  They graduated June 3 while my graduation was at the end of May – I think a week before I turned 18. 

I wore a dress underneath my robe – though I didn’t see the point.  The robe was hot.  Shorts would have been more comfortable.  The students who graduated last night wore whatever.  Some were dressed nice with heels.  Others wore comfortable comfortable .  I saw one with exposed legs and sandals.  Awesome!  It sounded as if our diplomas would have been withheld from us if anyone in my graduating class dare think about wearing anything casual – let alone follow through.

Unlike the boring class of 1980, the students at Jaime’s school are encouraged to be silly and decorate their hats.  Jaime said she wasn’t planning on decorating (which surprised me – why would she not make her uniqueness shine through?) but ended up decorating after the button fell off her cap and she needed something to hold her tassel in place. Before I graduated one of the instructors was adamant about how the cap was to be worn.  It needs to be upright as though you are holding a glass of water on top.  DO NOT use bobby pins!  (And yet the staff – she included – were passing out bobby pins that night.  And yes they did look tacky.  At my high school, we just rented our robes.  They came in the school colors.  Green for boys, white for girls  (or whatever the school colors happened to be).  SUHS colors are black and gold, but all of the students wore black gowns which they purchased as renting wasn’t an option (perhaps it had been prior to covid?)

She has a busy day ahead of her today.  Attending various celebrations that others have planned. I am so happy that school was a positive experience for her unlike me.  I HATED school.  Wasn’t comfortable around the majority of my peers or had the circle of friends that she has been blessed with.

2020 -2021 School Year Does Not Count

 

         Cords are normally reserved for three and four year accomplishments – but there were many who received for just two and were credited for three.  Though Jai was credited for four we both know that she was only there in spirit during her junior year.  She did not attend a brick and mortar school in her junior year but was online with a charter school in a different district, different county.  And yet she received cords in both music and drama for her four year participation.  If she had pursuit her instrument in band, she could have received cords for that as well. 

    She could not take drama and choir that first year as they were at the same time. She wasn't able to sign up for an "all electives" year until this year.  It kind of makes me wonder how students receive many multiple colors when the electives option would have seemed limited in their lives just as much. Again, last year didn't count as it was an unusual year with COVID and masks.

         Though drama, band, and choir classes had been offered in 2020-2021 there were no performances.  The first concert to happen after almost two years took place during Jaime’s senior year.  Her instructor was so excited that they were able to perform.  They sang behind their masks.

         Jaime took her first drama class this year but has been performing each year that she has attended the high school.  Still active in the community theatre.  My baby graduates tonight and will be starting college in the fall.  She’ll be living an hour and a half away from us. 

         Jaime is awesome!!!

CBQ#684

 Have you ever broken or spilled something in someone else’s home?

My family had been asked to join Peggy’s family for the annual Bird pageant.  We were gathered in the living room where Peggy has displayed her many nativity sets for many years (but not as many as the pageant) and Peggy was digging through a box of BC looking clothes and passing them out to the children.

I had been experiencing dizzy spells and had lost my balance and knocked over a table that where one of the sets was displayed.  I think two of the pieces broke.  I think Peggy thought it was Jaime that had knocked the set over  but I told her that it wasn’t Jaime but it was me who had lost my balance.  I apologized and did feel bad as I wasn’t even able to replace the set that had come from another country.

not the actual set; I couldn't find one that I think I remember

Humanizing Gideon and Samson – in a nutshell

        I started watching clips of the Bible Project when I was teaching Valiants in primary.  I never shared the illustrations with the class though I am fascinated by the short videos.  The book of Judges (here) is referred to as disturbing – which it is – as we explore in this week’s reading of “Come Follow Me”.  As we are limited on time and to spare all the gore (and there is A LOT of it) it has been suggested to study only certain scriptures (which still contain gore, stupidity, arrogance, violence, murders, and so forth)

https://meetinggodinthemargin.com/2017/06/02/first-
reading-of-judges-11-12-jephthah-his-daughter/

       Chapter one gives us the account of the land of the twelve tribes – a recap if you will.  Where mortal corruption and child sacrifice is acceptable.  Chapter two gives the account of the cycle that each generation experiences starting with sin, oppression, repentance, deliverance and peace only to sart the cycle all over again but with a set of different judges (or delvers).  Some judges are mentioned by name.  Chapter three gives us a small account of a judge named Othniel followed by Ehud.  Chapter four gives us an account of Deborah and Barak and Jael. 

Chapter 5 sums up the accounts in poetic form.  The English Bible writes in poetry form which doesn’t seem so gruesome when compared to the rest of judges.  But it is not required as part of the reading.  So while all the judges thus far share chapters, Gideon has four chapters just by himself. We learn of humility and the ability to follow God’s plan and what miracles may come.  Weapons used?  Lanterns and horn blowing.  That was it.  It was a scare tactic that worked like a charm.  A somewhat gruesome charm – but that was on the Midinites.  Gideon and his people shed no blood. 

Gideon’s story reminds me so much of others that we have already read.  Called to serve but with reluctance reminds me of Moses and the Battle with horns – though not wall crumbling – does remind me of Joshua.  And faith almost like Abraham because even though he seems reluctant still abides. That covers chapters 6-8.  That is what we are expected to read or study.  Chapter 9 is not a part of the reading.  Gideon apparently becomes weak and turns to idolism.  That part reminds me of Aaron – giving in to the weakness of the children of Isreal.

We skipped over the three chapters that introduce Jephthah and go right into Samson.  Hollywood has made countless movies about Samson.  What an idiot.  That’s what I thought about him the first time I heard about him in primary.  Every four years I have found a new reason to dislike the dude.  I roll my eyes each time I hear his name.  But perhaps we need to learn about him to remind ourselves that the world is full of imperfect people – even leaders.

I am certain that Hollywood has taken liberties with every Bible story that is portrayed.  Though there was still a lot of violence (because let’s face it, an R rating Bible would still not do justice for many parts) I did appreciate how this 2018 version did try to incorporate humaneness into the Samson character who would sin, oppress, repent, become humble . . . well, to a degree.  

He started out trying to do the right thing but would give into temptation when he was bullied.  He would lash out and try putting others in their place . . . just went about it the wrong way.

I told Richard to focus more on Gideon and less on Samson – and to remember to teach the fourteen year old youth and not be focused so much on the lesson.  Incorporate a lot of prayer.  What do the class members need to learn – not what wild mistakes do we pick up from reading about all these clueless people?

So that’s my take on Judges in a nutshell.  Aren’t you glad you read this post?