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.

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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,

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Friday Social Hour 12/15/2023

 

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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

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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

Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease in Oregon

The recent rise in Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease reported to the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) includes:

  • Chronic mild to moderate inflammation of the trachea lasting six to eight weeks or longer, which is minimally or not responsive to antibiotics.
  • Chronic pneumonia that is minimally or not responsive to antibiotics.
  • Acute pneumonia that rapidly becomes severe and often leads to poor outcomes in as little as 24 to 36 hours.

Dog owners can protect their pets from respiratory illness by:

  • Reducing contact with large numbers of unknown dogs. Just like with other respiratory pathogens, the more contacts your dog has, the greater the risk of encountering a dog that’s infectious.
  • Reducing contact with sick dogs. This can be harder to determine but if a dog looks sick (coughing, runny nose, runny eyes), keep your dog away from it.
  • Keep sick dogs at home and seek veterinary care.
  • Avoid communal water bowls shared by multiple dogs.
  • Ask your veterinarian for advice on which vaccinations your dog should have. Common vaccinations include canine influenza, Bordetella and parainfluenza.
  • If it’s sick, consider having your dog tested with a PCR test to help determine the causative agent (viral/bacterial), if possible.

Thank you Dennis Hellawell for bringing this important matter to our attention.

For further information, see:
Oregon Veterinary Medical Association – Canine infectious respiratory disease in Oregon
American Veterinary Medical Association – Oregon dealing with respiratory illness incidents in dogs

 

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Propane Pumping Thanksgiving Week

The Office will be closed on Thursday and Friday, but propane WILL BE pumped on FRIDAY morning starting at 8:00 a.m. until they have no more tanks. Bring your tanks down for filling before the weekend!
Thanks!
~ Kim
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Soup on a Cold Day

What could be better on a cold, wintery noon than hot soup, homemade garlic toast, and crunchy oatmeal cookies??  Add in a beautiful travelogue of Italy on the big screen with soft Italian music.  That was this past Wednesday noon in our clubhouse. Did you miss it??

Almost every Wednesday our Chef Denis will be alternating soup and dinner both with music and travelogue presented by Richard Hickethier.  The Wed. before Thanksgiving there will be NO soup since Thanksgiving dinner will be a big hullabaloo. But the Wed. after Thanksgiving (Nov. 29) will be Chicken Adobo, the national dish of the Philipines. (Will Richard find Filipino music and pictures?) This will be a full dinner served at 2 p.m. That’s to get you all home before dark! Soups will be served at 12 noon.

Until further notice, every Wednesday after that, soup and dinner will alternate.  Be sure to put this on your calendar.  Everything is homemade (in our kitchen) and from fresh ingredients.

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Learn to Use the Timber Valley Calendar App on Your Smartphone or Tablet

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Expecting Guests Anytime Soon? Come to Social Hour on Friday at 3pm

So you are expecting a couple of friends or members of your family to visit you. Your rig is set up with a bed for you and your spouse, and you exchange the couch for different chairs and a loveseat. What are their overnight accommodation?

Well, there is a Motel 6 3 miles away. The cost is only $60 dollars a night, plus tax. The bed is reasonable, and after a shower and getting dressed, there is a restaurant nearby to walk to for breakfast or an additional $25.

Then there is the Best Western, also 3 miles away, for $145 plus the tax, and after you change from PJs to street clothing, you walk outside to the office area, and breakfast is free. Walking outside again, there is a pool house with a lukewarm hot? tub and a cool pool. No towels, but regular towels are available in the office. Persons not registered may not accompany you.

And then we have a spacious, well-appointed place within spitting distance of your rig for $94 plus tax. There is everything you need for breakfast, fruit, eggs, bread, a toaster, and even a bottle of great wine for an evening watching a big TV even while in bed. The hostess and host are great at making guests happy. The place is clean and comfortably furnished.

Attend the Social Hour on November 17th at 3 pm and learn more as they will be our guests for the hour.

Sharon Elliott #36

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