A10
SENIORS
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
GRANT COUNTY SENIORS
John Day
Seniors
Dusty Harris
I trust that everyone’s
weekend was splendid? It
sure was a beautiful week-
end, despite the rain! I can’t
believe that we are mid-
April and Easter is Sun-
day. I hope all of you have
blessed Easter’s surrounded
by friends and family.
On April 8, our greeter
was Ron Dowse, whom
we are always so happy to
see. There were 40 regular
and 40 frozen meals deliv-
ered by Step Forward and
Francis and Bonnie Kocis.
Thank you so much for your
dedication to our center. Our
meal was served by volun-
teers from the Redeemer
Lutheran Church, and the
meal consisted of spaghetti
with angel hair pasta, zuc-
chini sticks with marinara
sauce, garlic bread and
vanilla cherry tarts for des-
sert. As always, our lovely
cooks dazzled our taste buds
with their delicious home
cooked meals. We thank you
for this.
On April 11, our greet-
ers were Jeanette and Dave,
whom we are also very
happy to see thanks to their
welcome arms and genuine
smiles. There were 39 total
meals delivered by the crew
at Step Forward as well as
Joan and Joel Tayles. This
time our meal was served
by the wonderful volun-
teers from the Cornerstone
Christian Fellowship, and it
was donated by Hotel Prai-
rie. Thank you very much
for all your compassion and
generosity.
The meal was chicken
with sweet red pepper pesto
over pasta, spring veg-
etables, frog eye salad,
baguettes and old-fashioned
molasses cookies for des-
sert. It’s fun when our cooks
venture into different parts
of the cookbook to help us
try new things. It seems they
always find something that
I have never heard of, let
alone tried! I honestly can-
not express how thankful we
are to have such lovely peo-
ple helping us. The winner
of the free meals was Don
Porter with the free sundae
donated by Dairy Queen
won by Marie Station.
This week we have sev-
eral individuals to thank
including
Tracy,
who
donated eggs for the meal
again, and Don and Deda
Porter, who wash the silver-
ware every day. I bet their
hands are smooth.
There are so many won-
derful angels in our commu-
nity who are always so will-
ing to make our lives easier
by volunteering their time,
mental capacity and muscle.
As the weather gets warmer,
I can’t wait for new things to
start happening and for the
constant sunshine keeping us
warm and happy. I don’t really
think people understand how
dampening the cold, dreary
weather can be on someone’s
mood. Hopefully most by
now have learned to see the
silver lining in all situations,
because that’s what I have
learned to do, and it makes
life a whole lot better.
Philippians 4:8 “And
now, dear brothers and sis-
ters, one final thing. Fix
your thoughts on what is
true, and honorable, and
right, and pure, and lovely,
and admirable. Think about
things that are excellent and
worthy of praise.”
Prairie City
Seniors
Rose Coombs
The old saying about April
showers certainly held true
for Grant County so far this
month! Monday night’s jour-
ney to YAP class was slowed
by two bridges across Can-
yon Creek being closed off,
but we had almost every-
one in attendance! Anyone
who had to get to Bend had
to take a longer detour. Have
you ever thought about the
scarcity of escape routes we
have? We have to be prepared
for any eventuality, whether
fire or flood.
Juan led the flag salute,
Jack asked the blessing and
Carlos and Jay made the
home deliveries. Louise
LaBaugh was the winner of
the free meal donated by Val-
ley View Assisted Living.
The table centerpieces
today were rabbits and baby
chicks, i.e. Peeps. The table
with a blue Peep went first
to the serving table, and what
were they served? Maca-
roni and cheese, chicken ten-
ders, green salad and a roll,
with pickles and olives on
the tables. Our head cook,
Amber, brought out the des-
sert first, which was peach
cobbler, so those who were
waiting could eat their des-
sert first! Ha, ha, it was deli-
cious! Those who had to be
gone surely missed a great
meal.
We regret to inform you
that our assistant cook, Bar-
bara, is leaving to assume the
same position in John Day.
We thank her for her excel-
lent service to us here and
wish her much success in her
new position.
The piano man, David
Seacord, has returned for the
summer and came and played
“dinner music” for us. As
he was playing, I was think-
ing about how that partic-
ular piano came to be here.
In the late ‘60s, Bible Bap-
tist Church (as it was known
then) was offered this piano
by Robert (Bob) and Donna
Kimberling. I played it for
years in the old sanctu-
ary until it got moved to the
Teen Center, and then it was
donated to the senior citizens.
It still sounds good!
We made two trips out of
town for medical appoint-
ments and had to drive
through snow flurries over
Dixie both times! The snow
measure pole still shows at
least 3 feet on top of the pass.
April — the month of any
kind of weather. We drove
through rain, almost hail,
snow, wind and sunshine on
the way back from Ontario.
The big news from that trip
is that I finally had to submit
to progress, get out of the car
and fill up my own gas tank.
After 60 years of driving, I
guess that’s a milestone. The
paradox is that when gas was
30 cents a gallon, there was
all kinds of service. Now at
$3, there is none. Something
isn’t computing in that equa-
tion. Then I saw that the day
I did that was “walk on your
wild side” day. No comment.
Some trivia for your con-
sideration: Inventor and busi-
nessman Thomas Edison only
received three months of for-
mal education, no comment.
Babe Ruth held the record
for most home runs, but he
also held the record for most
strikeouts. Ponder that.
Psalm 111:2 “Great are
the works of the Lord; they
are pondered by all who
delight in them.”
EO Media Group file photo
Guided wildflower hikes are planned on Mother’s Day at
the Painted Hills.
Ranger-led wildflower
hikes planned at Painted
Hills for Mother’s Day
Wildflowers at Painted
Hills typically peak in
mid-May, just in time for
a Mother’s Day hike. The
heavy winter snows and
deluge of spring rain may
make this wildflower sea-
son at Painted Hills one to
remember.
Ranger-led hikes will
take place on Mother’s
Day, May 12.
“The channels within
the hillsides will be
abloom with yellow riv-
ers of wildflowers includ-
ing the golden bee cleome
and John Day Chaenac-
tis,” Superintendent Patrick
Gamman said in a press
release. “Take a guided
hike this Mother’s Day to
revel in these views.”
Wildflower photogra-
phy enthusiasts can join a
walk from 7-9 a.m. with
frequent and potentially
long stops.
Ancient Oregon’s past
will be the focus from
10 a.m. to noon, with des-
ignated stops along the
path for discussion and
discovery.
Both hikes will journey
through areas of the park
that are normally off-lim-
its to the public. This free
program takes place along
uneven terrain with varying
surfaces. The trail gains 400
feet in elevation, traverses
steep, vegetated hills and
is about 2 miles in length.
Children should be at least
5 years old to attend.
Participants are encour-
aged to wear long pants
and sturdy shoes with ankle
protection. Bring plenty
of water, sun protection,
snacks and a camera. Pets
are not allowed on these
guided hikes, and children
cannot be carried or pushed
in a stroller.
Each walk is limited
to 20 people, and spots
can be reserved by calling
541-987-2333 or e-mailing
joda_interpretation@nps.
gov. Last year, both hikes
filled to capacity.
The summer’s full
schedule of daily walks
and talks begins on June 1.
Additional special events
are planned throughout the
summer. Visitors should
check the monument’s
website at nps.gov/joda
or call the visitor center
at 541-987-2333 for more
information.
Church Services In Grant County
Tuesdays at 6:30PM
Use Main Entry Front Doors
106280