“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” James 1:19

Hello to you, Dear Readers. This looks to be a lovely warm day in eastern Colorado. I often remind my friends as we watch so many places on the television newscasts about the weather in other states and places where they are having flooding or tornadoes or even earthquakes, “Oh, we are so blessed to be living here.” Although we have been having a very dry spring and summer here in most parts of Kiowa County, we have had some little and some larger rains in different communities in different parts of our county. However, we are looking forward to the county fair and hopefully a plentiful harvest to supply the family needs.

My friend, Elizabeth Hulteen, is so kind. She knew that I was so longing to know more about what the last series of the Maine Street Bash was like. I didn’t feel I should go to this last major event of the summer because of my aching leg. This sweet lady drove slowly around the streets capturing photos and sounds of the last Maine Street Bash for me to see and hear! I was amazed! I had never seen that done before! I could hear the fine singing voice of Brady Nichols of Scott City, Kansas! Also, I could see that cars were parked all along the surrounding streets and side streets. And a loud cheer of triumph as she passed the Corn Hole Toss Game being played to help the Donte Sierra family with expenses they are having since he is battling cancer and having costly treatments. Oh, there were lots of people, food vendors, and of course my favorite place, the Maine Street Scoop Ice Cream Store. Thank you for your photos that warmed my heart! I love my hometown and all the people here and my sweet friend, Liz Hulteen.

She is also kind to others. For example, if you saw her Thursday leaving the Eads Senior Citizens’ Brunch, those food carriers and bags had leftover eggs, biscuits and gravy, blueberry pancakes, pastries, salads, and other delectable foods for two men who are her neighbors in Unity Village. They are disabled and don’t know people in our town, so she took them some leftover foods from our gathering. What a blessing she is to them.

Another lady in Eads who works — I mean “serves” — others all the time is Gail Voss. She, also like Liz, is a former beautician. Many people call upon Gail to cut and style their hair. They are so grateful to Gail. We too at the Senior Center are so thankful to have Gail plan and cook for us. The Senior Center takes a lot more work than it used to because so many events happen there. Some that I am aware of are noon lunch on the third Wednesday of the month, bingo on the first Sunday night, card playing, birthday parties, family reunions, wedding receptions, showers, baby showers, and other events.

Last Thursday at Senior Brunch, I visited with some of the nice men who have been cleaning up and clearing weeds, trash, and working some of the banks and hills where people like to fish and relax out at Jackson’s Pond. Those nice “servants” are trying to make life for others more enjoyable out at our wonderful giant pond — a go-to place for “peace” — Jackson’s Pond! These men are Steve Glode, Wayne Wilcox, Ken Wilcox, Charles Mondine, Ron Phillips, and Tom Olson. These men have kindly planted and replanted some plants and shrubs.

Friday afternoon, Brenda Leon and her teen assistant, Bailey Sierra, hosted a youth “water party” in the courtyard for us to participate in. Then only one of us was brave enough to go down with the youngsters, and that was former teacher and cowgirl, Donna Fell Eaton! She is really good with water squirt guns. We marveled at their joy and fun walking or running under a balloon rainbow of puffy cloud balloons that sprayed water. The noise settled down later when Bailey served them popsicles.

During the week people have been watching east of the hospital. The motors roaring and commands have been loud, but it surely is a wonderment to many of us: “Oh, I wonder what size of clinic that is going to be?”

Such a happy hour happened for me Saturday morning when my niece, Dreama Buck, brought her five grandchildren to visit me. They were Peyton, Wyatt, and Willa Mattuski, and Caroline and Lyla Buck. How delightful they are!

Phyllis (Foxworthy) Nelson enjoyed the company of her daughter, Kendra, and Rock from Tennessee. They spent a lot of time putting puzzles together, playing games, and doing handwork while spending time visiting with Phyllis. We extend our sympathy to the Foxworthy cousins’ family whose father, Dee, died last week.

Sunday found Weisbrod to be a lively place where we celebrated the 92nd birthday of Betty Kelly Crow. As we were gathering together in the large dining room, we enjoyed listening to or singing along with the melodious piano playing of Burl Scherler, who had come over from his farm northwest of Sheridan Lake. Betty was so glad to see and hear her friend. I understood Burl to explain their friendship was over the 40 years he was a County Commissioner and she was the County Clerk. What a blessing those two individuals were to Kiowa County residents. Likewise, we all got to see Betty’s children, spouses, and grandchildren.