Cottage Grove Sentinel
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WEDNESDAY | NOVEMBER 25, 2020
Betty Kaiser: Chatterbox
Pet Tips
‘n’ Tales
Giving Thanks in Tough Times
Betty Kaiser
H
ere in the USA,
we happily set
aside one day every year
to join with family and
friends, eat too much
and count our blessings.
Normally, there’s a
whole lotta cooking go-
ing on, grandkids to be
hugged, family gossip to
be caught up with and
blessings to be shared.
It’s called Thanksgiv-
ing
This year is a little dif-
ferent. The meaning of
the day is the same but
this time, for many peo-
ple, it’s hard to find a
blessing to count.
Early this year, a pre-
viously unknown killer
virus — COVID-19 —
began making its way
around the world. In
spite of masks and social
distancing, things have
not gotten better. Peo-
ple are still getting sick,
dying and fearful uncer-
tainty abounds.
Then, to top it off,
hanging over our heads
is the most controversial
Presidential election —
ever! Tempers are hot,
name-calling is rampant
and common sense is ig-
nored.
What a year!
Looking back, I imag-
ine that’s how the Pil-
grims felt in 1621. They
were pretty excited as
they arrived on the
shores of the New World
in 1620. However, after
they endured the trip
across the ocean on the
Mayflower, more chal-
lenges and grief awaited
them than expected.
That first winter, more
than half of the new
Plymouth colonists died
from malnutrition, dis-
ease and exposure to the
harsh weather. The oth-
ers were helped to sur-
vive by the Wampanoag
Native Americans who
taught them how to grow
food and later made a
peace pact with them.
The Pilgrim’s first
Thanksgiving is believed
to be in the autumn of
1621. After a horrible
year of deaths and near
survivor starvation, the
remaining Pilgrims cele-
brated their harvest with
a festival as was the cus-
tom in England.
The now-50 colonists
were joined by about 90
Wampanoag tribesmen.
Historical accounts are
sketchy but it seems that
they celebrated together
with joy. For three days,
they ate their harvested
crops and venison from
the tribesman.
They
played
ball
games, sang, danced and
ate along with the Na-
tive Americans who had
helped them survive.
Each side prayed
and thanked their gods
during the three-day cel-
ebration. The Pilgrims
were religious separatists
from the Church of En-
gland and worshipped
one God. The native
tribe of Wampanoag was
also deeply religious.
They worshipped idols
and paid homage to
more than one God.
We celebrate this well-
known story as the first
Thanksgiving in the New
World.
Unfortunately, peace
didn’t last between the
English settlers and their
one-time Wampanoag
allies. There was a hor-
rible war in 1675 and the
natives were massacred.
A yearly blessing of
gratitude for harvested
crops has been in place
in most countries of the
world for centuries and
remains so today. How-
ever, it took the United
States awhile to make it a
federal holiday.
A woman is credited
with making Thanksgiv-
ing happen. Sarah Josep-
ha Hale, editor of Godey’s
Lady Book — a colonial
women’s magazine —
wrote letters over 36
years to five presidents
requesting the holiday
to unify the northern
and southern parts of the
country.
But it was her letter to
President Abraham Lin-
coln that convinced him
to support legislation
establishing the holiday.
In 1863, he proclaimed
a national Thanksgiving
Day each November.
Later, President Frank-
lin Roosevelt, signed a
resolution making the
fourth Thursday in No-
vember as the Federal
Thanksgiving holiday.
The date was formally
approved by Congress in
1941.
So, what are you
thankful for this Thanks-
giving? Some years it’s
harder than others to be
thankful: Times of war,
the loss of loved ones
and lingering illness, are
especially hard.
Perhaps we should
think like Pilgrims.
This year, for our pro-
tection, Governor Brown
has imposed rules to
keep us healthy to slow
down the coronavirus
pandemic.
Restrictions have been
put on everyday activ-
ities like shopping and
dining out. Limited so-
cialization with friends
and family is especially
hard to cooperate with.
Isolation is never fun on
holidays.
At our house, there will
just be two of us and the
Dachshunds to celebrate
Thanksgiving. There will
be no large family gath-
erings or feasting for
three days.
Probably no games
will be played unless it’s
Pinochle or UNO.
However, life will
go on. Dinner will be
topped off with pumpkin
pie. A deer or two will
wander around looking
for roses in the garden.
Squirrels will chase each
other up the trees; birds
will empty their feeders
and raccoons do whatev-
er they do!
Our gratitude will be
all about the basics. We
have each other, good
friends and neighbors,
live in a warm house,
have food to eat and
wildlife to entertain us.
Family will check in
from all over the country.
Just hearing their voic-
es will bring smiles.
Our biggest blessing
will be that we don’t have
— the COVID virus.
And our most fervent
prayers will be for those
who are lying in a hospi-
tal bed fighting for their
lives, mourning the loss
of loved ones or home-
less in the cold.
God help us all!
We can do this!
Have a happy memo-
ries Thanksgiving.
trict has counseling for
families and students in
person at either Apple-
gate Elementary or Crow
Middle/High
School
Monday through Friday
by appointment.
Call 541-935-2100.
• With so many of our
fall and holiday tradi-
tions being canceled, stay
positive. Find joy in the
small everyday things
that make you smile.
Think of one thing that
makes you happy. It may
be a bird in your yard,
your child’s or grand-
child’s laughter, a call
from a special friend or
relative, or just the joy of
another healthy day.
For information about
the Angel Trees loca-
tions, deadlines and
where to notify, vis-
it www facebook.com/
groups/202378264532/
permalink/101589606
63594533/?sfnsn=mo
• Once again, please
be careful on the roads.
Another accident over
the weekend near Terri-
torial and Jackson-Mar-
low Roads.
Also, roads have been
wet, so please slow down,
watch for the lights on
Stoney Point, and be very
observant of others.
• Stay safe, wear a mask
and keep the 6 foot dis-
tance.
Let’s do our best to stop
this virus!
Contact Betty Kaiser’s
Chatterbox at
541-942-1317 or email
bchatty@bettykaisr.com
LORANE COUNTRY NEWS
Contributed by
Lil Thompson
for The Sentinel
• The Lorane Grange
Ham Dinner fundrais-
er scheduled for Dec. 13
has been postponed until
early 2021 due to our vi-
rus numbers riding and
the current restrictions
by the govenor; it is the
Grangers desire to keep
everyone safe.
• The CAL School Dis-
QUALITY SENIOR LIVING IS EXPANDING IN COTTAGE GROVE!
Our new luxury suites are
now available for reservations!
Magnolia Gardens Senior Living has
completed construction of 37 new suites.
EXPERIENCE
EXTRAORDINARY
Reserve your
suite by
November 30, 2020
and secure your
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rate special
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We are a full-service Assisted Living
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Call (541) 514-2485 for
more information or to
schedule a personal tour!
Assisted Living, Memory Care & Independent Living
1425 Daugherty Ave., Cottage Grove, OR 97424
(541)-942-0054 • www.MagnoliaGardensSL.com T
By Mary Ellen
“Angel Scribe”
Know-better pets
Dana and her sons, Harlan (14) and Boone (13)
D
ana has always been immersed in pets’ lives. Her
mother was on the board of directors of their local
animal shelter. At 18 years of age, Dana trained as a dog
groomer and opened a pet shop.
“I noticed that animals fed a natural raw diet were
thriving with health benefits: energy, and shiny coats,
while those fed bagged/can foods had health concerns at
an early age,” said Dana. “Dogs on a natural diet’s health
versus processed food were like night and day; clear
eyes, shiny coats, alive personalities, exuberant energy
levels, and greater flexibility.”
Wanting better nutritional value for her pets, her fam-
ily purchased a supplement company created by a pet
nutritionist.
“We saw amazing results!” said Dana. “One client’s se-
nior cat’s diet was switched from kibble to natural with
our supplement added and now it has the strength to
jump on counters.”
As a skeptic, I began adding Dana’s product to my
18-year-old twin cats, Myster E. and Whyspurr’s food.
I read the literature that the product reduces litter box
odor, prevents diabetes and bladder crystals and for dogs
less backyard clean up, no doggie smell, arthritis etc. Not
expecting much, I was shocked because the results were
amazing.
The first day, the cats quit throwing up, they stopped
massive shedding, Myster E.’s cloudy eyes cleared, his
failing kidneys improved and with that his energy level.
He no longer sleeps on the floor because he can spring
onto the bed. He took interest in playing again.
It is a relief not to have to worry about pets’ health. I
mix Dana’s product in with cooked beef or chicken and
add warm water for easy absorption in to their senior
digestive systems.
“In the beginning it was difficult promoting a raw pet
diet as people were not open to the concept, but with
education and experiencing the health changes our
business boomed,” said Dana. “Imagine adding years to
your pet’s life! What we eat is important. One customer’s
18-year-old Sheltie had to be carried upstairs into their
home. After two days on the raw diet, he was running up
the stairs. A furless Labrador adopted from a shelter was
sporting a beautiful coat after three months. Reading
website testimonies (www.KnowBetterPetFood.com)
about pets regaining their health, having more energy
and their parents’ peace of mind, leaves me in happy
tears and determined to continue our mission of making
and posting human grade ingredients and recipes.”
The family currently has two rescues: Sally, a Taco
Terrier (Fox Terrier-Chihuahua mix rescued from
Romping Paws Rescue in Washington State), the life of
their household and Pea, a 16-year-old Jack Russell-Min
Pincher mix who has been on the raw diet from two
months of age. She still has all her teeth and hunts mice
and rats, although a little slower, but still successfully.
“Dogs are fun. Every day they bring a new joy into
our lives. Their sweet spirits keep ours up during the
pandemic. When Harlan, Boone and I went on vacation,
the dogs were with a pet sitter and we arrived home to
no pets. We discussed how, ‘A home without a pet isn’t
a home’. Our pets are family, and we want them to live
long and healthy. Animals have taught my children com-
passion, responsibility, love, empathy, joy and created
giggles. What animals’ gift to us ignites my passion to
give them health. I made the correct career choice and
am happy that my sons are following in the same paw
prints.” — www.Knowbetterpetfood.com
TIPS:
• Dana suggests, “A healthy pet treat is dehydrated
meat.”
• A Tips ‘n’ Tales reader wrote, “Last week, a little girl
came visiting dressed in a pretty dress, high heels and a
batman cape. She then dressed my dog in a dress with
ruffles and we went for a walk with our masks on. We
had fun and got plenty of smiles from everyone.”
I would love to do an article on your pet! email me at
angelscribe@msn.com, or visit Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on Face-
book at www.facebook.com/PetTipsandTales