Grandma Ree's letters

  Dear Family and Friends, Since my newsletters do actually cover the latter part of one month and first part of the next, I think they should be so labeled in order to make them more discernible. Thus this month’s date above. June was actually a rather busy month because of all the birthdays, graduations, Father’s Day and other things needing cards, both among friends and family and those of the Park, where I am their “Sunshine Lady” and send out appropriate cards (along with notes and a puzzle to match each one, of course) I like it. It keeps me in touch. Last month, I ended saying that our water problem would have to wait for this month to be noted. Well, one day True came from her bathroom saying that in her bare feet she felt some moisture on the floor. The next day she actually felt water oozing up between the tiles and thought maybe it came from around the toilet. In the Park there is a list of maintenance men who have been used by residents and highly recommended, so she ca...

 Dear Family and Friends, Well, this month’s letter is a bit more full of holidays and my puzzles about them. May began with Cinco De Mayo, honoring a Mexican holiday not much celebrated here, but I enjoyed doing a puzzle for it anyway. Mother’s Day, however, is well celebrated by everyone. And its puzzle this year, along with an attached pencil, was my gift to all the sisters at church that Sunday. As for myself, I received a lovely handmade card from my talented daughter True, along with a pair of hard-to-come-by pearl clip on earrings. Linda’s body soap and card were appreciated, as was the card from Dan and Cathy from Hawaii, except that Cathy ‘spilled the beans’ by writing “I hope you like the shoes.” It seems that all three had gone together to get me (and Buddy) a new pair of shoes. From the beginning, I have been wearing an athletic shoe from True that has served me well, but now seems to be cramping my toes and hurting me as I wear it. Thus, the gift of new shoes. Without ...

Dear Family and Friends,  IT’S ABSOLUTELY A-MAY-ZING ! At least in my estimation, that the dozen orchids that line our window sills and tables, which I carefully watched go from bud to blossom in late January and early February, are still as bright and beautiful today as the day they opened. I know eventually they will begin to lose pedals, but at this rate I’m sure it won’t be for another 3 or 4 months. Yes, True’s orchids are ‘truly’ amazing! I’m convinced it’s because of the special care they receive at her hand. True feeds each one its weekly diet of 2 ice cubes, she talks to them and tells them how beautiful they are. And she says that they like being placed with others because then they can talk to each other. I have a little trouble swallowing that one, but maybe it’s true because her delicate “hard to grow” orchid plants really thrive under her watchful eye. Anyway, I certainly enjoy having them available for my watchful eye, too. Yes, True is ‘truly’ amazing! She has a ver...

Dear Family and Friends,  Although Easter Day has come and gone along with April Fool’s Day, I will still ask you ... Did you find a hidden egg or get fooled? Of course not. But Easter Week did end with the Church’s two days of General Conference, where we were reminded by the Lord’s Prophet and others of the greatest gift ever given to God’s children - Jesus Christ - and His gift of Eternal Life to all those who will come unto Him and obey His commandments. Getting the broadcast on our TV at home was wonderful, but I still wore a Sunday-go-to-meeting dress. I wish I could stay inspired by the counsel of our spiritual leaders instead of just drifting along, because there are many things that I need to improve on. I need to be more diligent in using my “Buddy” for longer periods of time each day and to do more exercising of my other leg and arms, so as to keep them healthy and strong enough to support me and the extra weight I know I have gained. I’m afraid that my desire to work pu...

  Dear Family and Friends, I have been waiting for something exciting to happen so I could write about it in my monthly letter, but it hasn’t happened yet, so I’ll go ahead and share what I do have of the mundane things in my daily life. I‘m trying to use my Buddy leg more now that the sore on the end of the stump has healed. Mostly just going around in the house with my 3 wheel walker, but occasionally outside too. When I need to get into a car, I use the ramp but not with the walker because of the slick ramp surface. Instead, I leave it at the top and grasp the handrails and carefully walk myself down putting pressure on the heel of my Buddy to keep the knee from buckling under me. Then True or someone else has to bring the walker to the bottom of the ramp for me to use to get to the car. Sounds easy enough, but it’s tricky because the rails end a foot short of the end of the ramp, leaving me with two steps to do before I can transfer ...

  Dear Family and Friends,  SPRING HAS SPRUNG!! At least it has in Grants Pass. We have been having such ideal weather lately. A little bit of rain at night, then bright sunshine during the next day. Funny how Southern Oregon had good weather while the upper Northwest was in terrible difficulty because of icy roads and zero degree temperatures. Because of the good weather, things are already beginning to pop up outside. But our plants inside are doing even better and are spreading their bright blossoms of color all around. That is especially true of the living room and dining room areas where 15 orchid plants have been placed on the rooms window sills and their combined beauty offers such a delightful and inspiring sight to behold. True carefully tends to them with two ice cubes apiece once a week, and loving words telling them how beautiful they are. I’m sure that's what makes these delicate beauties grow so well for her, when others say they have a hard time getting orchids ...

 Dear Family and Friends, The Christmas and New Year celebrations are over and linger in our memories now. I hope you have some wonderful memories of 2023. Due to the kindness of different drivers, I was able to attend several nice activities that leave me with special memories.  At the Relief Society Ladies Luncheon, we were asked to bring a gift of something pertaining to a scripture in the Bible. I brought a bottle of soft soap and a hand towel to represent Mathew 13:13 which says Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Gifts were exchanged, so no one knew what they might receive. My driver, Vicki Wade, got a pair of glasses and ear wax remover in response to John 14:13 which describes those who have eyes yet do not see and ears but do not hear. I received a gift of lotions and creams for the feet, in response to “How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of those who bring good tidings.” So, now I can have beautiful feet, or my case, foot! It was good fun seeing what th...