Volume 12:  No. 5, February 2008

Loving Hands

            One lady sat at a sewing machine stitching brightly colored squares of cloth together into a three by four foot pattern of organized and dazzling hues for the top of a quilt.  There are two other tables, each with four or five women laying out backing, batting, and then overlaying the two with the bright and cheery top. The conversation in the room is as bright as the end product. Talk about friends and family brings smiles to the faces of the 20 Sunscape ladies who sew, stitch, fold, cut, and chat with the precision learned in raising kids… and husbands.

            Straight pins are used to secure the backing to the top, yarn is used to decorate the top, as well as to secure the batting from slipping around inside the new quilt. The quilt then goes on to another lady at a sewing machine for the final edging and folding. They then add the Sunscape Quilters’ logo label, and it’s ready for distribution.

            On this particular Thursday morning the quilting ladies in the Activity Center are turning out blankets that will end up at one of 24 main outlets in and around Casa Grande. Their general production level on any Thursday will be in the range of 20 blankets. “We did 17 last week,” said Donna Fredrickson, who, along with Elaine Anderson, serves as the chief organizer  of the group.

            They make double, single, twin, and baby blankets, depending upon requests they receive from various community groups, such as Hospice, Casa Grande Hospital Children’s Ward, Nursing Care Center in Casa Grande,

Eloy Women’s and Men’s Shelter, and the Betty Byers’ Homeless Shelter in Southern California, just to mention a few. They have also made “special” gift quilts for Sunscape residents when a need arises. “Everything is given away,” Donna said. “Since November we have donated 141 quilts.”

            Wow, 141 quilts, and still counting, amounts to a lot of yards of backing and batting. “Thrifty” becomes their key. They purchased their flannel backing the day after Thanksgiving at sale prices.  The cotton batting runs close to $45 per roll, and they will use about 6 rolls per year. “The $250 the park budgets for us really helps, but it isn’t nearly enough,” one of the ladies noted, “Any contributions we can get in the form of bedding, old sheets, or just about any cloth, as well as cash is just greatly appreciated.”

            How does this group of ladies help keep the homeless, disabled, and lonely kids warm on a cold night?  They give them a quilt built with their loving hands.

          Exercises to Avoid

·     Jumping to conclusions

·     Spinning your wheels

·     Throwing your weight around

·     Running down the other fellow

·     Climbing the walls

·     Pushing your luck

·     Carrying a grudge

·     Flying off the handle

Desert Oasis . . .

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble.” – Nahum 1:7

            Trouble is universal.  No one escapes it. You may be experiencing it today, but what do we do about it?  We can worry, panic, be fearful and feel sorry for ourselves, or we can commit our troubles to The Lord and trust Him to take us through it.

            Hear the prophet Nahum’s declaration. “The Lord is good.”  He is good because He is God, and as God He has a customized plan for our lives.  He works in our trouble, so that good will come out of it.

            Not only does He bring good from our trouble, but he also promises to be our stronghold through the difficulty.  “God is a stronghold for those who trust Him.”  He will never fail you nor forsake you.       Love you, G. H.         IYQ

If you aim for nothing, you'll probably hit it.

From the Desk of Sunscape Sunny

Advice Columnist

Dear Sunny,

     Did you know that dog feces attracts animals, such as wild cats, stray dogs, and the unpredictable coyote?  To those who walk their dogs on the south road and clean up after their animals, we thank you wholeheartedly.  To those who don’t, shame, shame.  All dogs have issues, such as heart worm, pancreas parasites, worms, and intestinal oddities.  Those who don’t clean up after their animal, they take a chance of spreading such problems to other animals. Plus, to add to this scenario, there is that ever present “odour.”

     For those who say, “It’s outside the park’s fence,” are missing the point (by choice).  Come on folks, let’s control this bad situation.                                                                                                                Big Jim

Dear Big Jim,

     Wow!! I thought we were going to get through this year without the “Dog Poop” problem. And I never thought about dog dooey attracting wild and dangerous animals. That may explain the story I heard about someone having blood and animal hair in his auto engine housing (Coyote had breakfast?) and the lady who couldn’t figure out why her garbage kept disappearing, then finding it in the desert. (I gather she put it in a plastic bag then set it outside every night)

     Jim, is it true that Doggie Dooey  also attracts BIG SNAKES, like Anacondas, Pythons, and Boas?  If so, that may be the final solution.  Just one big snake and I’m outahere!!  That blue streak you see going down the road is ME, Baby!! And I don’t have a dog!!  

                        Ole Sunny

(Even if it only attracts rattlers, I’m the red streak just ahead of Sunny.  Millie)

MARY'S MUSINGS

Can this be true?

             A wonderful gift has come our way and yet we must return it. This seems strange, but it's true. In order to keep this gift we must return it. There are no long lines at the return station.  Just reach out a hand in love and kindness and it is returned. Friendship is the awesome gift.... We are born into our families, but we choose our friends. Or do we? A very interesting question.

            The friendships I've received in my life so far are very meaningful. I have been blessed by having two wonderful sisters and many women friends. They are always there for me, as I hope I am for them. These are very special friendships. A smile given in friendship is a gift from the heart. What better way can we share ourselves than to give a smile to a stranger, and in turn maybe get a friend. I have a very special friend named Amy who, whenever she sees me at the Creative Cafe or at a local store, gives me a bright smile and a big hug.  I reap the rewards of this fleeting friendship As Emily Dickinson wrote "My friends are my estate." What a great legacy to leave behind. May all of you enjoy your friendships to the fullest. It will be the greatest kind of gift you will receive, or give.

            Friendships are enhanced by laughter.  These  are my favorite topics, and  I truly believe a friendship cannot exist without laughter in it.

            Laughter is an instant vacation. So my friends, please join my very best friend (Johnny) and me for a funny little vacation as we travel around the country in our RV. Let’s read some of the  bumper stickers and laugh as we go along. Here are some of my favorite ones. Please enjoy.

Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math

Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot.

A flashlight is a case for holding dead batteries.

I.R.S....We got what it takes, to take what you got.

What is a free gift?...Aren't all gifts free?

"I is a college student"

A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Be nice to your kids...They will be picking your nursing home.

Our gene pool could use a little chlorine.

Now for my favorite bumper sticker!!!!

AS LONG AS THERE ARE TESTS, THERE WILL BE PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

            I leave you with an Irish toast my mother, who never met a stranger, taught to us. "In this new year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want."

Who’s in the Kitchen?

            Should the Sunscape kitchen that serves meals in the Club house be expected to turn  a profit, or should those meals be considered an amenity, just the same as the swimming pool, the pool room, and the card room?  Vera Glaze thinks the meals serve the same purpose as any other amenity. The meals give folks the opportunity to not only get a nourishing meal, but an opportunity to visit with friends and neighbors and catch up on the days rumors, stories, and general gossip. The meals serve more than just the financial coffers of the park.

            “As long as the kitchen breaks even it’s a great addition to our park,” she said. Vera noted that she has owned and operated a restaurant in Chemult, Oregon for about 15 years, so she knows the in and outs of food service, and she knows it is making a profit. 

            “We had a fleet of logging trucks in Oregon from the early ‘70’s, sold them in the early ‘80’s, and went into the food business with a family type restaurant, which was open from 6 a.m. until midnight.  It was great fun, lots of work, and very rewarding,” she said.

            Vera tries to keep everything fresh rather than precooked. “It just seems to have a better taste,’ she said.  She also tries to keep prices at a minimum. “That’s one of the secrets to getting good participation.”

            Her schedule runs like this”

Monday:        Dinner starting at 5 pm

Wednesday:   Lunch from 11:30 am to 1 pm

Friday:           Breakfast from 7am to 9 am

Saturday:        Cinnamon Rolls from 7am until they are gone

            She has special dinners, such as Christmas, New Years, and Easter.  She is also the Food Chairman for the Park Party.  She may be a busy woman, but things sure are running smoothly.  And they all taste good.

How many eggs can a peacock lay in an average week?

He doesn't - it's the peahen that lays the eggs

It Happened in Sunscape (?)

THE CATTLE DRIVE IS ON!!

            A cloud of dust, stirred by the hoofs of 2,000 head of burley long horns mixed with white faced Herfords and plain range stock, hung over the desert, just Southwest of Sunscape. A group of cowboys, in all lengths, shapes, and sizes, mounted on dusty, sweaty, and well worn range ponies trailed the heard.  “Ok, round them in,” came the yell of the trail boss, Nebraska Red, “it’s time for the second breakfast!!”

            Now, for all you Easterners who don’t know “Cattle Drive” talk, the “first breakfast” is for the drovers who head the heard out just before dawn and the “second” is mid-morning for all the hands. On this particular day, it’s 10 a.m., and the hands all gather at Rowdy’s Ranch where the food is served by Rowdy and The Kid from South Dakota, who also serves as the “trail scout” for the drive. Each of the drovers brings his favorite platter, biscuts and gravy from Sparky, an egg and potato dish from Crash, bacon from Hoss. An array of other foods and dishes fit for a trail drive are laid out for those young, adventurous cowboys.

            The breakfast gong is sounded by Catfish Jack, the “Law” on the drive (That means he arrests, judges, sentences, and executes the verdict for any offense committed on the trail).  He says a prayer, then the group sings “America the Beautiful,” and the breakfast begins.

            During the breakfast, the trail boss gives the drovers a little pep talk about staying out of the Casa Grande night life, especially those bars and nightclubs where unscrupulous ladies of the night can end up with all their pay. Some listen, some don’t.

             Stories are swapped, tales are told, some might even have a hint of the truth, plans are laid, and, in a little over an hour, the trail boss checks his six-shooter, makes sure the hammer is on an empty cylinder, dons his hat, and ambles toward his pony. Once mounted he yells,

            “Yaw! Hay!  Head‘em up boys!!! Cattle Drive Is On!!!”  And in a cloud of dust, they vanish into the northeastern horizon.

Don’t be left out again this year!

The Computer Club will publish

a new Summer Address Book in about two weeks and a new Picture Directory this fall.

When we published our first address book and picture directory, many of you were disappointed that you weren’t included. Don’t let this happen to you again this year!

To be sure you are in the Address Book

 either pick up and fill out a form at the Activity Office or get your information to Denis Couture (lot 416) at deniscouture@yahoo.com. And remember you only have a couple of days left to get your information to Denis.

            We will schedule only one or two more picture taking sessions. Watch for the times in the Sunscape Weekly Activity Sheet or contact Jean Hutson (lot 250) at 520-233-5667 (a local call) or jeanninehu@aol.com for more information.

Millie’s back!  I kinda had a vacation of sorts in February, but not a fun one I assure you.  This paper was planned to come out the first of February with another one the first of March.  Well, I have decided to get one more out toward the end of March.  Anything you want put in must be to me no later than March 18. 

Doves!  No way do I want them nesting on my porch light right by my door.  I was feeling well enough the other morning to go into action.  I know moth balls will work on skunks, but these were birds and I had no moth balls.  I opened my cupboard and the hottest thing I could see was the red pepper.  I grabbed it and rushed to the door to give the light a good dose of red pepper.  It wasn’t long until the birds were back.  They stayed about 10 seconds.  I haven’t seen them since