Greetings one and all. If you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin. With space at a premium in the “New AVA,” many columns are to be a little shorter for now, even one as popular as this one. Go figure. I wonder if the length of some of the long, less interesting ones will be the same? If so, I would think that (continued on page 74).
Moving swiftly on. As if anyone can forget, this coming Sunday, May 11, is Mother’s Day and while Hallmark and other merchants of crass commercialism have done their best to spoil such a wonderful celebration, they have failed, and it does give us an opportunity to sit back and think about how appreciative we should be of our mothers. after all, where would we be without them?.
Inevitably, this day results in some memorable Quotes of the Week. First let’s hear from President Kennedy who once observed, “Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president, but they don't want them to become politicians in the process.” And a thought from his wife, Jackie Kennedy, who said, “If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do well really matters very much.” And there is a Jewish proverb that states, “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” Here’s one to “set the cat among the pigeons” from the Greek philosopher Aristotle, “Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own.” And on the lighter side, from Milton Berle we have, “If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?.” These are the thoughtful words of journalist and author Maria Shriver, “Our mothers give us so many gifts. They give us the precious gift of life, of course, but they also leave treasured lessons that can guide us along our journeys even when they are no longer with us.” And I will finish with perhaps, given today’s world, the most relevant quote of this week, from British novelist E.M. Forster, who wisely commented, “I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars.”
Public Service Announcements. Calendars and pens at the ready. #215. The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will be making two visits to the Valley this month. The first of these is tomorrow, Thursdays, May 8 and as always the venue and times are the AV Farm Supply from 2-3.30pm. New customers are always welcome and for those who have been before you can call 462-8833 and the vets will bring your pet’s charts. Their next visit is on Thursday, May 22. #216. The AV High School’s Ag Department will hold its plant sale, featuring vegetable and flower seedlings, on Saturday, May 10 from 9am-Noon at the high school. please bring your own flat or box to carry your purchases home. And their spring Drive Thru” Dinner will be on May 22. details to follow. #217. On Saturday May 10, 2014, Stoney Bottom Gardens in Boonville will be open to the public to benefit the Garden Conservancy. This spectacular private 6-acre garden welcomes the public between the hours of 10am-4pm. Entry is a $10 donation and they are located at 13400 Anderson Valley Way, Boonville. Info: 707-895-9424 or go onto the Garden Conservancy website for more information. #218. The Valley’s annual Pinot Festival is just around the corner. May 16-18. #219. Lauren’s Restaurant has resumed it’s Summer lunch hours from 11.30am. 2.30pm, Thursday thru Sunday. Among the goodies available is the delicious salad selection (yes, this is Turkey Vulture speaking) that includes Sirloin Salad, Cobb salad, Garden salad, Curry Chicken salad, and the classic Caesar salad. Oh, and excellent burgers too! #220. Coq au Vin, offering delicious French country-style food at its location at The Floodgate, will begin its summer schedule on Thursday, May 15. That means local nights featuring a special menu and prices on Thursdays and Mondays, with the regular menu offered on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. #221. And while I’m on the topic, the popular local hostelry, The Buckhorn, Boonville, continues with their popular specials that include Mexican Margarita Mondays, Prime Rib Thursdays, and “The Valley’s Best Brunch” at the weekends from 10am-4pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
Here is the menu for the next week at the Senior Center at the Veterans Hall in Boonville. The Center asks for a $6 donation from Seniors for both lunches and dinners and charges $7 for Non-Seniors for lunches and $8 for the dinners. Tomorrow, Thursday, May 8, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Chicken Picata, Polenta, Green Beans, Ferro Salad, and Carmel Apple Cake for dessert. Then, next Tuesday evening, May 13 at 6pm, the dinner will feature Country Captain Chicken, Peas, Brown Rice, Rolls, Raspberry Gelatin, Tabbouleh Salad, and Triple Lemon Dessert for dessert. As this is the 2nd Tuesday of the month, the dinner will be followed by Bingo at 7pm. Hopefully you will be able to attend, and remember. ALL ages welcome! Hope to see you there.
The Three-Dot Lounge was closed this week as many customers went to, and are recovering from, the 18th Annual Beer Festival held last weekend at The Fairgrounds in Boonville. The reports are in and they are the same as always. “Great fun for many; excessive but gratifying drinking by some; ridiculous stupidity by a few.” For some old farts and curmudgeonly types at the Three-Dot it was a case of “done it, enjoyed it, but enough is enough.” The drinking of strong beers in the afternoon is not good for the wiser mind or older body.” On a related note, our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, went to the Festival and has not been seen since so obviously his words of wisdom cannot be shared this week. and if they could they’d probably be gibberish anyway.
I’m outtahere. So, until we talk again. Keep the Faith; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; and may your god go with you. A final request: “Let us prey.” Poking and stroking, and always humbly yours, Turkey Vulture.
Contact me with words of support/abuse through the Letters Page or at turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net. PS. On the sheep, Grace … Hi, Silver Swan. behaving yourself? Hopefully not! … Bobwhite Quail. keep up the knitting!
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