A lovely picnic

In spite of slight rain showers, an outdoor evening picnic for residents, family, and friends, in the park at the Barron Center, was a success July 18. Most of us took our umbrellas to be prepared, just in case.

Many tables and chairs were set up on the broad, green lawn, and the red and white paper tablecloths attracted us. In the gazebo, two women sang from 6-7 p.m., with recorded music accompanying them. They call themselves the Jubilees. Among the familiar songs were “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” “You Are My Sunshine,” “Ain’t She Sweet,” “Deep In The Heart of Texas” and “I’m Crazy Over You.” Occasionally those at the picnic sang along , too. It’s nice to hear those songs we all know.

As we enjoyed our meals, “Learnin’ Vernon,” teller of legends, lore and a whole lot more, walked from table to table, juggling sticks, which seemed to dance like magic. He is skillful. After we had a slight shower, he gave up the juggling, substituting a little puppet he held, and then placed it in front of guests,as he talked for the puppet.

We were interested in him and were pleased to receive his card, with more information about him. Vernon L. Cox (“Learnin’ Vernon”) grew up in Bar Harbo,r where his love of stories began. Raising his daughter in Orland, he told tales at campfires, and was a featured reader at the Bucks Memorial Library. He has been an Air Force medic, cook, custodian, mental health worker, electrician, volunteer firefighter, EMT and a lifetime member of Girl Scouts (think he’s joking?). These memories he draws on for his tales.

That is quite a career, and he is still a busy man. His card says he will always remain “Learnin’ Vernon.”

Now for the picnic menu. several tables were filled with the goodies, with hot dogs or sausages in buns, with onions and green peppers, hamburgers, potato and pasta salads, potato chips, and for dessert, watermelon, ice cream bars and sherbet on sticks. Beverages included lemonade or iced tea.

It was much more fun than eating indoors. We congratulate Tonya Heskett, recreation director, and her assistants for all the work they did, arranging all the tables and serving us all at the food tables, too.

On Saturday, when we stopped to see my cousin, Betty Stearns, at the center, there was more activity in the park, with balloons attached at the gazebo, and many residents, some in wheelchairs, waiting for rides being offered to them by the Harley Owners motorcycle group.

They were taking short runs along the grass, and there was no rain in sight. The Barron Center folks entertain with variety, and it is good for the residents to have these outings to look forward to.

A beautiful butterfly

I bought a copy of Peterson’s “Field Guide for Young Naturalists” (2002) recently, and I am enjoying it as much as the youngsters do. The butterflies are all in color, with brief but helpful descriptions.

The monarchs are beautiful, bright orange, with black veins and white spots on the black borders. They range from southern Canada through all of the United States, Central America and most of South America. They are also found in Australia, Hawaii, and other Pacific Islands.

My big interest in them is that their favorite plant is the milkweed, and we have several tall milkweed plants on our front lawn and on the esplanade. So each day I stand quietly near the plants and watch the monarchs, as well as several bumblebees and honeybees, as they sip nectar from the pretty lavender flowers.

The milkweed flowers are very fragrant, so I was surprised to read that these butterflies taste very bad after eating milkweed. “Their bright color warns birds not to eat them.”

But we who view them admire their beauty and their fluttering, as they perch on the milkweed flowers.

An unusable word

I wrote in the July 19 column that I would have to call the library to find out the definition of “dreck,” which I had read in a Boston Herald article about the Beatle, Paul McCartney.

An American Journal editor did know the meaning, and said it is a Yiddish word, meaning filth. I did call the Reference Room of the Portland Public Library, where the librarian found it defined in the slang dictionary: “dreck – excrement, trash, or junk,” and she said that it comes from the Yiddish work “drek.” So now I’ve got that straight, I don’t believe that I’ll want to incorporate it in my daily conversations.

A colorful salad

Today’s recipe is from “2003 Taste of Home” annual recipes, a handsome, large cookbook given me by Ellie Saunders. It is called a Christmas Salad, but it looks so pretty (all the recipes are pictured in color) that I can’t wait until December to make it.

CHRISTMAS WREATH SALAD

1 package (6 ounces) of strawberry gelatin

1 cup boiling water

1 can (20 ounces) of crushed pineapple

1 cup (8 ounces) of plain yogurt

1 cup chopped pecans, optional

1/2 cup red maraschino cherries, halved

Lettuce leaves, and additional cherries, optional

In a bowl, dissolved gelatin in boiling water. Refrigerate until partially set, about 30 minutes. Drain pineapple, reserving juice; set pineapple aside. Add enough cold water to juice to measure 1-3/4 cups; stir into gelatin mixture. Whisk in yogurt until smooth. Fold in nuts, cherries and reserved pineapple. Pour into ring mold that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray. Refrigerate until set. Unmold onto a lettuce-lined serving plate. Add additional cherries if desired. Serves 6.

Ramblings