Desert Messenger

10 www.DesertMessenger.com July 12, 2017 Traveling with Gypsy Jane by Jane Finley (1936-2017) Peanut Butter 9/01/04 Port Townsend, WA Read Desert MESSENGER ONLINE @ www.MyQuartzsite.com THRIFT STORE Benefitting the La Paz County Animal Shelter in Parker Supported by your generous donations! 455 E. Main St. Quartzsite Open Tues. thru Sat. 9-3 928-927-4223 Quartzsite Beauty Salon Perms, Colors, Haircuts. Men & Women HOURS 9-5 Monday thru Saturday Walk Ins Welcome! 250 E. Main Street Quartzsite, AZ 928-927-6664 Poems from the Road New Chamber president appointed One Sunday in August, I decided to park in one of my usual spots fac- ing the water in Port Townsend. It was walking distance to the co-op; I could get my daily walk in and save money on gas. I had time before the Sunday Unitarian Service at 10:00 a.m. to have a rare cup of coffee and hope for a half-price almond or pizza bagel (divine!), regularly $1. No bagel, but I did get a bonanza of marked-down produce, including a tomato that must have been fi ve inches across. After leisurely enjoying my cof- fee and baked good, I walked back to my camper. As I approached it, I saw something sitting on the ground by the front door of my truck. It was a huge jar of JIF peanut but- ter. "Oh, dear," I giggled to myself. "I must really look homeless." But let me tell you, I am nowhere near homeless enough to eat JIF peanut butter which is sweet and tastes like it might have a lot of hydrogenated fat -- although it was chunky. When I do buy peanut butter, it's always Adam's or any chunky peanut but- ter that contains only peanuts and salt. But the bottom line is, I don't buy peanut butter. Being a peanut- butter-aholic, I just can't keep it around. I just love it too much. I didn't want to carry this huge jar of peanut butter with me in my camper, and as luck would have it, an honest-to-goodness, authentic, homeless man walked by. "Sir," I said, "could you use a jar of peanut butter?" He replied, "Yes, thank you Mam." And that was the end of that. I didn't get the peanut butter, but I did get a good story to tell my friends later that day. LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT PEANUT BUTTER (from the Food Reference Website http://www.foodreference.com) • It was developed in 1890 by a St. Louis doctor for his patients with bad teeth. • Peanut butter accounts for over half of U.S. peanut production. • Americans eat almost 7 pounds of peanuts and peanut butter per capita. • People who become hysterical when peanut butter sticks to the roof of their mouth have arachibu- tyrophobia. • It takes about 550 peanuts to make a 12 ounce jar of creamy peanut butter. • Creamy peanut butter is preferred on the East Coast, Chunky on the West Coast. THE COWS OF MONUMENT VALLEY Early morning, and the cows of Monument Valley seem not to notice the magnifi cent rock sculptures. They amble along, eyes groundward, searching for the next mouthful in this arid landscape, unaware of its grandeur: castle-like rock formations with turrets, spires, and steeples appearing suddenly out of nowhere. While I am awestruck! I pull off to the side of the road to catch my breath in this land where beauty takes my breathe away and to write this poem to honor this place. The cows of Monument Valley con- tinue their search, as do I: around the bends, across the rivers, along the paths, searching always for the road less traveled. ~ Jane Finley Monument Valley, Utah 10/31/08 Quartzsite Area Chamber of Com- merce & Tourism announced Sha- nana Rain Golden-Bear has been appointed as its new president. Golden-Bear also serves as Mar- keting Director and was appointed during the monthly Board of Direc- tors meeting on July 6, 2017. The position became vacant after the resignation of former president Phil Cushman in May. "I'm excited to continue the tra- dition of collaboration within the Quartzsite community I've called home for the past 9 years," said Golden-Bear. In addition to publishing the Des- ert Messenger, Golden-Bear has a history of community involvement and serving on boards/committees and volunteering. "I look forward to increased value and services being offered to the lo- cal business community in the areas of economic growth and government partnerships, outreach, communi- cation, networking, and building long-term relationships throughout the community." She can be reached at QuartzsiteTourism@yahoo.com. Or stop in at the chamber's Net- working Breakfast 7am Friday, July 21st at Mountain Quail Cafe, 490 N. Moon Mountain Ave. Quartzsite. DEADLINE : WED. AUG 2 ND for the august 9 th edition Desert Messenger News Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com

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