NEW YEARS AND RESOLUTIONS

The oldest calendar was a mesolithic arrangement of 12 pits and an
arc found in Aberdeanshire, Scotland. It was dated roughly 8000 BC and
was a lunar calendar. The twelve months related to the lunar cycles.
The first recorded celebrations of the New Year was 4000 years ago in
Babylonia. The new year began with the new moon after the Spring
equinox in mid March. Making resolutions also began then, but were called
new year pledges. These were made to the current king and the people
pledged to pay their debts and return any borrowed items. These
celebrations lasted twelve days.

In 45 BC Julius Caesar allotted January 1st as the first day of the new
year and began the Julian Calendar. It was a solar calendar and based on
three years of 365 days with an extra day in the fourth year.
In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar in an
attempt to address the problems with the Julian calendar. It too had three
years of 365 days with an extra day in the fourth year except when a year is
divisible by 100 and not divisible by 400. It is the most commonly used
calendar around the world today.

Making pledges 4000 years ago morphed into todays resolutions.
Today making resolutions is a start of new beginnings and aspiring to new
goals. Unfortunately most aren’t met due to unrealistic expectations. Top
resolutions include quit smoking, lose weight, stop drinking. By two to
three months 90% of resolutions are given up. Maybe we aim too high. We
think resolutions should be a big and sweeping change. Psychologists say
we should resolve something that is attainable and that we really have a
desire to attain.

Instead of resolving something we are sure to fail at, maybe we should
resolve to TRY to become a better person, less judgmental and more
accepting of others differences.. Be gentle with others, they are struggling
with this lifetime as much as we all are. We all have different views of
things but that doesn’t mean everyone else is wrong. We all make mistakes
and fail at times. Resolving to TRY is the best resolution we can make.
SOOO. if you are eating plenty of chocolate, avoiding the bathroom
scale, and taking plenty of naps you will be in a better position to be kinder
and more tolerant of others.

I wish you peace and happiness that you can share with others. Happy
New Year.

Ruby Bonham

Posted in Editorial, General Interest | Tagged | 5 Comments

“Cruise on the Danube River with Dennis Hellawell”

Dennis Hellawell is sharing the slide show of his 12 day river cruise on the Danube River. It was a trip from The Black Sea in Romania to Budapest, Hungary and included stops in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia and Hungary.

His slide show can be bound on our website under the Main Menu > Photos or use the link:  Cruise

 

Posted in Creative Work, General Interest | 3 Comments

Murder at Mistletoe Manor (Murder Mystery Dinner) – Photo Gallery

Thanks to all who attended and participated in making last night’s murder mystery dinner a huge success!

Over 60 attendees enjoyed a three-act-murder mystery while enjoying a delicious three-course-meal prepared by Chef Denis. Thanks again to all!

View photo gallery

Posted in Events, General Interest | 3 Comments

Water Use

We are perplexed about something…You can help. Why are we using more water than in previous years?

Picking a recent date of Dec. 17 just as an example, here are the gallons used and a
comparison to previous years. We would expect a use of 3,000 to 5,000 gallons per day in winter.

Dec. 17, 2023 we used 6750 gallons
Dec. 17, 2022 we used 5335 gallons
Dec. 17, 2021 we used 3815 gallons
Dec. 17 2020 we used 3540 gallons

This increase in water use costs Timber Valley an additional $600-800 per month! This is a hit to the Timber Valley bottom line.

Does anyone have any ideas why? We should all be on the lookout for hoses and hose splitters leaking, even on un-occupied lots. Please insulate your water supply hoses, and avoid “letting the faucet drip” to prevent freezing.

If anyone has any thoughts on why we are using more water please inform the office.

Thank You,
Your Water Monitor Team

Posted in Announcements, General Interest | 8 Comments

IT’S A WRAP!

Thank you to everyone who donated to Sutherlin’s Toy Drive.
The toys are now ready to be wrapped.
VOLUNTEER ELVES are NEEDED to help wrap the many gifts staged at the Sutherlin Fire Department.
GIFT WRAPPING is taking place in the Fire Station’s upstairs conference room on:
Tuesday, December 19 from 9am-1pm and
Wednesday, December 20 from 9am-1pm or until done.
Choose your time and day…help on 1 day or both days…for 1,2,3 or 4 hours
Whatever help you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Questions: Contact Dar Hoch – Lot #31 – 920-344-9914
(volunteers must be able to climb stairs to the conference room)

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Dennis Belfils Memorial

MEMORIAM Dennis Belfils

Dennis Belfils, lot 37, passed away December 12, 2023. Dennis was born in
Washington State and with his wife RVed all over the United States. They also
traveled to Alaska and Hawaii.
Dennis served in the Navy in Guam during the Korean War. He was a real estate
broker by profession. Dennis received his lot March 7 , 2023 and was in
Rosehaven at the time of his passing. He is survived by son Bruce, lot 48, who is
South for the winter. Our condolences to Bruce and family.

Posted in Announcements, General Interest, Obits | Comments Off on Dennis Belfils Memorial

Winter Safety Tips from Avista

Dear Customer,
Carbon monoxide can live within your home without you even realizing it. CO is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that is produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels, including charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, diesel fuel, coal, wood and natural gas. Because CO is undetectable to the human senses, it is important for people to know the signs of CO exposure.

Symptoms are similar to the flu and can include:

Headache
Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Nausea
Dizziness

Protect yourself and your family. Consider installing carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. These devices monitor CO levels and alert you should the gas reach dangerous levels – they’re even a legal requirement in some states.
CO detectors are available at most home retail outlets. We recommend you only buy UL-listed models and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and operation.

Here are some safety tips to get you started:

Do:
Install at least one detector in a hallway near your sleeping area.
Service your water heater and any gas, oil, wood or coal-burning heaters regularly.

Don’t:
Use portable generators, barbeques and charcoal grills indoors.
If you suspect you have been exposed to CO in your home, get to fresh air immediately and call for medical assistance from a safe place. Call 911,

Posted in General Interest, Safety | Comments Off on Winter Safety Tips from Avista

Friday Social Hour 12/15/2023

 

Posted in Announcements, General Interest | Comments Off on Friday Social Hour 12/15/2023

Caregiving

CAREGIVING

The hardest thing you will ever do in life is to become a caregiver.
Whether it happens gradually or suddenly, it is devastating to both the
caregiver and the loved one. No one ever expects it to happen to them. You
may start out is disbelief then your emotions will run a gamut. You will
become emotionally, physically and mentally exhausted. No two days are
the same as you try to learn how to navigate your way through this new
stage of life. You are on duty 24 – 7 with little respite. If you are lucky you
will have a support team of relatives, friends and medical. Even with help
you are still on alert. You don’t sleep well because you always have one ear
open. Crises may be a normal part of your life depending on your loved
one’s condition. You try to handle medical emergencies with outward calm
even when you are shaking inside. Your emotions fluctuate between
sadness, anger, despair, acceptance, denial and just plain overwhelming love
for the one you are trying to protect and support. Even so, you would never
choose a different path.
Your loved one is experiencing many of the same thoughts and
emotions. After the disbelief, they too go through stages. Some are
embarrassed or ashamed that they have put you in this position. Through no
fault of their own their lives have changed course, with no map to guide or
understanding why this event has changed the dynamics of your
relationship. No one is in control of this situation. You both struggle to
adapt to this new life and find some form of order in the chaos. In time you
start to adjust. Though you are still sad for yourself and your loved one, you
move forward in this new life. The love you share is still there. Touch is
important to hold the connection that has morphed into a new dimension,
especially when speech and memory are involved. A gentle touch tells them
you are still here, still in love and that you aren’t going anywhere. You
grieve the loss of the old life but you come to realize the one you so loved is
still there. You adapt and you grow from the experience. You are still
exhausted and sad but you find that inner strength that says you are OK.
You too are loved.
Ruby Bonham
10-20-2023

Posted in Featured, General Interest | Tagged | 2 Comments

Active Wait List

By Robin McFadden, Lot 195

August 2019 – Giddy with excitement I clutch the membership application receipt as I practically skip back to my rig.  My new friend Rick, tells everyone I am ‘on the waitlist’ and I grin as people congratulate me.

Year one goes by quickly as I get immersed into my full time RV life and travels.  It’s now 2020 and I ‘got a lot’ at the Rovers Roost SKP CO-Op in Casa Grande, AZ.  As Covid causes states to shut down, and RV parks and campgrounds close nationwide, I’m relieved and grateful to have a place to call my own, and hunker down for the duration.  Then the heat comes and it’s time to leave.  By then, the states have loosened restrictions, so me and my virus free mobile living unit head to cooler climes.

Year two and I check the active wait list on the Timber Valley website once every month or two.  It doesn’t feel like I have made much movement this year, but frankly I don’t remember where I started on the list.

Years three and four and I start to reconsider.  I go to other SKP parks, and weigh the options of buying a house or buying land and building.  So many choices. My pro/con list gets bigger and bigger.  I still have time to decide.

I get the email!  I’m 25th on the list.  Back to the pro/con list. More research.  I start checking the Timber Valley website several times a month.  I read and reread the rules and the bylaws.  I join the Facebook group.

I look at the various volunteer opportunities looking for options of how I can contribute remotely.  I check the Active Wait List weekly.  When a lot is posted for trade, I look at it and check its location on the park map, even though I am not yet at the top of the list.  I hope I’m not the only one who does this!

I’m now in the top 10 and it starts getting real.  Time to make sure my finances are in order.   I open a new checking account with the same bank that holds my money market accounts and am relieved to see I can transfer money instantly on line. I’m ready.

November 2023 –  4 1/2 years.  I’m at the top of the list!  I  email Kim to confirm she has my current contact information and address since I won’t be ‘home’ for two months.  She tells me if no one wants to trade for the lot listed on the website, it will be mine.

Today, less than a month after signing the paperwork, I’m enjoying my first stay on my lot.  It’s a short visit this time, however I’ll be back this summer for a longer visit. I’ve met my neighbors, and look forward to getting to know them better.

It was a long wait on the Active Wait List but it makes getting a lot that much sweeter. I’m looking forward to spending more time here and contributing what I can to Timber Valley, and making new friends.  See you all in the summer!

Posted in General Interest, Life at Timber Valley | 12 Comments