August2025
President
’s Message
Welcome to August at The Country. Although we are on “vacation” from our normal events, we, your board remain active.
Thank you to all who participated in the 4th of July PARADE and our annual ICE CREAM social. We served 79 bowls of ice cream at the social. Yeah! How fun.
August is our Social Club Membership Drive month! You should have a form in your tube for both new and renewing members. Please complete the form and return it with the $10.00 membership fee in the envelope provided. You can leave the envelope in the slot in the kitchen door or at Cherie Freese’s house, #13 Heyford Circle. We would appreciate it if you returned the form by the end of August.
Looking ahead, our Welcome Back BBQ is on September 20th at 5:00 pm. This is open and free to all park residents. The Social Club will provide hamburgers and hot dogs and all the fixings. PLEASE BRING A DISH TO SHARE. Look for the sign-up sheet in the clubhouse in early September. Let us know how many are attending and what dish you’ll bring.
Our recycling project continues and has been a GREAT benefit to the Social Club. Thank you, Becky & Steve Burmahl for gathering the recycled items each month and thank you to the volunteers who crushed and bagged the cans and bottles: Pat, Merrill, John, Irene and Bill.
Thanks also to Cathie Anderson who collects recyclables from people she knows outside of our community, takes the recyclables directly to the Recycle Center and brings the money to our treasurer. We average $300 per month, which offsets food costs for our meals and therefore allows us to keep brunch and dinner costs at a minimum.
COOKS NEEDED! As I mentioned last month, we are looking for several cooks to host brunches and a couple of dinners starting in October. Is that you? Check out the signup sheet on the bulletin board in the clubhouse. If you our experienced cooks will show you how purchased for the dinner and you and two helpers get that meal free.
Parking Lot sale. The parking lot sales for the last few years have been poorly attended. Few residents are reserving tables and even though we advertise the sale in all local publications, only a few dozen people come to browse. And, those who show up to browse are usually looking for specific items or don’t want to pay more than a few dollars for
The Country’s Social Club and Board 2025-2025
Items we are selling.
Therefore, the board is considering discontinuing the event. But first, we want YOUR input. Is the yearly parking lot sale important or necessary for you? Would it cause a hardship not to have it? Please leave us your thoughts in the suggestion box in the Clubhouse.
Remembering our departed neighbors: We would like to start an “In Memory” column in this magazine dedicated to those who pass on before us. Please let one of us on the board know if you would like to honor your neighbor or family member in this way.
Do you have a suggestion for the Board? A compliment? A complaint? We appreciate your feedback. Place them (signed) in the Social Club comment box in the Clubhouse.
Board Meetings: All are welcome to attend our board meetings that are now held on the first Monday of each month. Join us on August 4th, if d like.
Sincerely,
Linda Bello-Ruiz Social Club Board President
Beginning Balance
$4,547.29 Income*
Social Club Board Meeting
Monday, August 4th @ 6PM
All are welcome!
$337.02 Recycling
California State Law sets the speed limit within mobilehome parks at 15 MPH. Please slow down.
The free toilet program (grant) has resumed and is wrapping up. If anyone missed applying or had trouble applying, please call Linda Pereira @ (707) 280-1450
RECYCLE PICKUP DATE: Tuesday, August 5th
The recycle crew will be collecting the recyclable bottles and cans. Please place your bagged cans, bottles and wine boxes with bladders by the mailboxes on the morning of the first Tuesday of the month. Please make sure there is a CA-CRV on the item. Thank you!
If you use one of the umbrellas while enjoying the pool, please remember to close and secure the ties when you are done. When umbrellas are left open, they get broken by afternoon winds.
AugustBirthdays
A story untold is forgotten!
Learn how to put YOUR story onto paper for yourself or a loved one.
New session begins August 5th!
Award-winning author and The Country resident, Linda Bello-Ruiz is again offering a FREE writing class each Wednesday in her home at #4 Heyford Circle, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.
To reserve your space, contact Linda at (707) 708-2550, (707) 331-3684, or via email: Lmbelloruiz@gmail.com
HaveaPunderfulDay!
By Pat Swanson
Happy August. No Social Club events till the September Welcome Back dinner. But get together with friends in the pavilion for a potluck. There is a gas grill there, picnic tables, shuffleboard. Meanwhile here are my latest puns:
· My girlfriend and I often laugh about how competitive we are. But I laugh more.
· My wife wondered why I was wearing two jackets when I painted our house. I said “The instructions on the can clearly state – put on two coats.”
· Selling my sock puppet collection. Asking $100 to take them off my hands.
· Sad to hear they’re not making shortbread any longer.
· My housemate thinks our house is haunted but I’ve lived here for 500 years and haven’t noticed anything.
· If your bladder is full, urine trouble.
· Does anyone remember when I made a joke about chiropractors? It was about a weak back.
And one more, compliments of Irene Badaglia:
· The ‘inventor’ of the Ferris wheel never met the ‘inventor’ of the Merry Go Round . . . They traveled in different circles.
MeetTheNeighbors!
A reoccurring feature by Barbara Goodman, Welcome Committee Writer
Seed and their family moved into The Country at 54 Norfolk on June 1st. The family wasn’t shopping around for a place to move into, but they agreed, if they found a quiet peaceful home that fits their needs with enough bedrooms and within an affordable price, they would consider a move. They feel lucky as if the Country found them.
Originally Seed is from Staten Island, New York. At eighteen years old they moved to California to get away from the harsh winters. One winter, Seed remembers vividly, it snowed until May and as a result killed all the
buds. The name Seed has deep personal meaning from the love of nature and being a gardener. “Seeds hold much power and are at risk these days, endangered due to climate change and other natural but mostly man-made forces.” We are all encouraged to collect and keep seeds going.
Seed was a hypnotherapist for eighteen years and in 2011, had a life altering accident. Seed continues to recover, doing very well and excited about gardening and the next chapter of life. Seed has a 26-yearold dependent child named Forrest, who does not have full use of their arms and legs and requires twentyfour-hour care. Their older son, Sean is a full-time caregiver along with other helpers.
They enjoy making art and playing music together. What may have been used as a formal dining room is now designated as their art and music room equipped with turn table and records, guitars and a keyboard, lots of books and all kinds of art supplies.
Piper, their fifteen-pound blind and deaf Terrier mix also is very happy and feels fortunate to have a garden area for playtime.
Welcome to The Country!
Fig-Ricotta Cake
This fig ricotta cake has a moist and slightly dense texture with a sweet, buttery, rich taste.
Directions
Ingredients
• nonstick cooking spray
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups whole-milk ricotta cheese
• 1 cup white sugar
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 ½ teaspoons almond extract
• 4 fresh figs, chopped into 1/2inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 4 fresh fig slices
• 1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar, or as needed (Optional)
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray.
2. Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl.
3. Beat ricotta cheese, sugar, and butter in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, followed by almond extract. Beat in flour mixture on low speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl until combined; beat batter for about 30 seconds more.
4. Place chopped figs into a bowl, sprinkle with 1 tablespoon flour, and stir to coat. Fold figs into batter, then pour into the prepared loaf pan. Place fig slices on top of batter, down the center.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 45 to 60 minutes. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool, 20 to 30 minutes.
Cook’s Note
1. Four chopped fresh figs should equal 1 cup.
2. The baking time will depend on how wet the ricotta cheese is.
Corn and Zucchini Fritters
Unbelievably easy and outrageously delicious, these Corn and Zucchini Fritters are your ticket to a veggie-packed breakfast or snack that’s sure to impress. With a crispy golden exterior and a tender, flavorful inside, they’re a playful twist on your morning routine that even the pickiest eaters can’t resist.
Ingredients
• 1 cup grated zucchini
• 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 large egg
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil (for frying)
Instructions
1. Place the grated zucchini in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much moisture as possible. This step is crucial for crispy fritters.
2. In a large bowl, combine the zucchini, corn, flour, Parmesan, egg, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined; overmixing can lead to tough fritters.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. A drop of batter should sizzle upon contact.
4. Drop 1/4 cup portions of the batter into the skillet, flattening slightly with the back of a spoon. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.
5. Transfer the cooked fritters to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil. Repeat with the remaining batter.
6. Golden and glorious, these fritters boast a satisfying crunch with every bite, revealing a moist and flavorful center. Serve them with a dollop of sour cream or a spicy aioli for an extra kick or stack them high for a fun and fussfree brunch centerpiece.
August Flower Lore:
Gladiolus and Poppy
Flowers, perhaps more than any other part of the natural world, are fascinating because of the many layers of meaning people have shrouded them in throughout history. There is a whole sub-category of etiquette surrounding which flowers are appropriate to give at what times, and to whom. The unending rules surrounding something so simple as a flower can be dizzying. There are designated flowers for each month of the year. August’s official flower is the gladiolus, also known as the “sword iris.”
History and Lore of the Gladiolus
The name gladiolus comes from Latin word for “sword,” so named because the flowers grow up a long sword-like shaft. The name is commonly used for any of about 260 species of flowers, all of which share a similar body structure. They come in a range of colors, including pink, red, purple, orange, white, and more.
To the ancient Romans, gladioli represented strength of character, sincerity, and generosity. Their sword-like shape caused them to be associated with gladiators.
The ancient Greeks believed the flower sprang from the ground from the blood of Hyacinthus, a lover of the god Apollo who was accidentally slain by a discus. This myth eventually became more general, and one popular belief was that gladioli grew whenever anyone was slain by a sword.
Gladiolus’ Health Properties
In parts of Africa, the gladiolus is believed to have magical properties. It has been used to cure everything from common colds to painful menstruation but is most effective for digestive disturbances, including diarrhea, and constipation. In cultures where dysentery is common, it is often used to ease the symptoms.
The Poppy: August’s Other Official Flower
Poppies are vibrant flowers with large, round, papery petals. Poppy plants produce one flower per stem, each with four to six petals, depending on the species. They come in a wide variety of colors, including white, pink, orange, yellow, and most commonly red, and often have dark centers.
Poppy seeds are a popular culinary ingredient, most
often used to top pastries. Opium poppies also contain compounds that are used to produce morphine and codeine, two powerful pain-relieving drugs. In ancient Egypt, doctors prescribed poppy seeds to patients as a pain reliever.
Poppy Symbolism
Poppies are rich in symbolism, having long been used as a symbol of sleep, peace, and death, due both to their deep red color, resembling blood, and their opiate properties. Poppies were used as offerings to the dead in ancient Greece and Rome, and were sometimes said to be a symbol of resurrection.
Today, poppies are most often associated with honoring soldiers who lost their lives at war, and are worn on Memorial Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada.
August Birthstone: The Peridot
Such beautiful stones emerge from our Earth, and the verdant green August birthstone—peridot— is said to have the healing powers of nature. But August babies get to choose from three birthstones (peridot, sardonyx, and spinel)!
Peridot’s Color
Best known for its lime-green color, the peridot receives its envious coloration from the composition of the mineral olivine. This is unlike many other gems whose colors come from impurities. It’s one of the few gemstones that comes in a single color, too. However, peridot can vary in shade from yellowgreen to olive to brown-green.
Peridots are made up of a chemical composition that includes iron and magnesium, and the color depends on the amount and type of iron that is present. Ferrous iron (FeO) creates the green color, while ferric iron (Fe2O3) is responsible for the more yellow shades.
Peridot is both a day stone and a night stone, keeping its shining color even under artificial lighting. For this reason, it is sometimes called “Evening Emerald”.
Peridot Meanings, Symbolism, and Folklore
It is unclear where the name “peridot” originated.
Some believe it is derived from the Arabic faridat, meaning “gem,” or from the Greek word peridona, which means “give in abundance.”
Given its resemblance to the color of money, peridot has often been associated with prosperity and good fortune. According to Hawaiian religious beliefs, peridots are said to be the tears of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes and the creator of the Hawaiian Islands.
Ancient Egyptians called the peridot the “gem of the Sun,” as they believed it protected those who wore it from the terrors of the night.
Egyptian priests believed it held the power of nature, using goblets encrusted with peridots to communicate with nature gods.
Peridots were once used to help with respiratory ailments, insomnia, and bleeding. They were also thought to improve memory and ease labor and delivery.
For years, peridot beads and talismans were believed to offer protection and promote love, happiness, and wealth.
Where do Peridots Come From?
Peridot is the name given to gem-quality olivine, a mineral that forms deep in Earth’s mantle and is brought to the surface by volcanic activity. It is often found in volcanic rocks known as basalts. Rarely it can be found inside meteorites, with some crystals dating back more than 4 billion years.
Peridots were first recorded on Topazios, a small island in the Red Sea now known as St. John’s Island or Zabargad Island. Pliny the Elder, an ancient Roman naturalist, is among those who have written about the island and its gemstones.
In the 1990s, deposits were discovered in Pakistan, producing some of the finest peridots ever found.
Today, the San Carlos Apache Reservation in southeastern Arizona is responsible for the majority of the world’s peridot supply. The gem can also be found in China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Africa, and Pakistan.
Peridots in History
• Peridots have a rich history dating back to ancient Egyptian times when deposits were found on a small volcanic island in the Red Sea.
• For many years, the gem was often confused for emeralds. In fact, it is thought that a portion of Cleopatra’s emerald collection was, in fact, made up of peridots. And it is not the only time the gem was confused for an emerald: the 200carat stones that made up the Three Holy Kings shrine in Germany’s Cologne Cathedral were also found to be peridots!
• In the Middle Ages, peridots were worn to provide foresight and inspiration. Romans used the stones to protect against enchantment.
• In 2005, peridot was found in comet dust upon the return of the Stardust space probe.
• In addition to being the birthstone for August, peridot is also the gemstone given for a 16th wedding anniversary.
• The largest known peridot, weighing in at 310 carats, is part of the collection at
the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
Other Birthstones for August
The peridot has become the gem most often associated with those born in the final full month of summer, but there are two other birthstones tied to August.
A second birthstone is the sardonyx, which is has white bands of onyx and the reddish layers of sard that creates a reddish-white banded appearance. It’s long been viewed as a stone of protection. Ancient Greeks and Romans wore sardonyx talismans to the battlefields to harness courage, bravery, and protection.
Even more recently, spinel was added to the list of August birthstones. This rich red stone can look identical to a ruby. In fact, for centuries, spinel masqueraded as ruby in Europe’s crown jewels. The Imperial State Crown of England, which was once thought to hold an enormous ruby, actually holds an enormous red spinel.
Sardonyx
• The sardonyx is a combination of two types of chalcedony, sard and onyx. The gem is made up of alternating layers of sard and onyx, creating a yellowish-red to reddish-brown zebra-striped gem with bands of black or white. Just imagine the planet Jupiter as a gemstone!
• In ancient times, Greeks and Romans wore sardonyx into battle. It would be engraved with images of gods because they believed the stone could harness bravery and provide courage and protection.
• Sardonyx was also thought to invoke happiness and clear communication. Others believed a sardonyx gemstone in each corner of your home would provide protection against evil.
• Historically, it has been used in seals and signet rings, as wax would not stick to the sardonyx.
• The gem is found around the world, including in India, Brazil, Germany, Uruguay, and the United States.
Spinel
• Many have labeled the spinel as one of the most under-appreciated gems. For centuries, the gem was often mistaken for ruby and pink sapphire. In fact, some of history’s most famous rubies have actually been spinels, including the Black Prince’s Ruby and the Timur Ruby, both part of the Crown Jewels of England.
• It was not until the 18th century that the spinel was differentiated from the ruby due to chemical differences.
• Along with other red gems, the spinel was believed to be a remedy for blood disorders and inflammatory diseases. It has also been associated with joy and feelings of positivity and thought to inspire relaxation.
• In addition to its well-known red appearance, the spinel comes in a variety of colors cobalt blue, pink (bright and pale), purple, orange, black, yellow, and brown.
• The spinel has recognizable features that set it apart: its octahedral crystal makeup and single refraction.
• In Burma, the saying nat thwe, meaning “polished by the spirits,” is used to describe the gem.
• Spinels are found all over the world, including Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and the United States.
• Added to the list of August birthstones in 2016, the spinel is also given as a 22nd wedding anniversary present.
On the August Calendar
“After Lammas Day, corn ripens as much by night as by day.”
August 1, traditionally known as Lammas Day, was an old festival to mark the annual wheat and corn harvest. It was a sort of Thanksgiving (harvest time) in Britain. Lammas also marked the mid-point between the summer solstice and autumn equinox. Learn more about Lammas Day.
August 5 is a Civic Holiday in many parts of Canada. Celebrations and names for this holiday vary across the country. For example, in Alberta, it’s celebrated as Heritage Day; in British Columbia, it’s known as British Columbia Day!
August 10 is St. Lawrence’s Day. “Fair weather on St. Lawrence’s Day presages a fair autumn.”
August 11 marks the end of the Dog Days of Summer,
which began on July 3.
August 17 is when the Cat Nights begin, harking back to a rather obscure Irish legend concerning witches; this bit of folklore also led to the idea that a cat has nine lives.
August 19 brings National Aviation Day, chosen for the birthday of Orville Wright, who piloted the first recorded flight of a powered heavier-than-air machine in 1903.
August 24 is St. Bartholomew Day. “At St. Bartholomew, there comes cold dew.”
August 26 is Women’s Equality Day, which celebrates the 1920 ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment and, with it, women’s right to vote in the United States.
“
Just for Fun
”
Days
Have fun with these strange celebrations!
Aug. 1–7: International Clown Week
Aug. 3: National Watermelon Day
Aug. 8: National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day (Or, use up that bounty with our best zucchini recipes.)
Aug. 10: National S’mores Day
Aug 12: Vinyl Record Day
Aug. 13: International Left-Handers Day
Aug. 20: International Geocaching Day
Aug. 20: World Honeybee Day
Aug. 25: Kiss-and-Make-Up Day
Aug. 31: National Trail Mix Day
August Zodiac Signs
Your August baby will be a Leo or Virgo!
August’s zodiac signs are Leo (July 23–August 22) and Virgo (August 23–September 22).
Leos are represented by the Lion. They are ruled by the Sun and have natural leadership traits (whether that means a social leader or a thought leader). Some of our recent presidents were Leos (including Bill Clinton and Barack Obama).
Virgos tend to be the thinkers of the world and masters of reason. They are more pragmatic, organized, and logical. Everyone needs a Virgo in their life!
Interestingly, more babies are born in August than in any other month, and Leo babies tend to grow up a little taller. Could it be the August sunlight?
French Sites
BASTILLE CATACOMBS
CHAMBORD
CASTLE
DDAY BEACHES
EIFFEL TOWER
LASCAUX CAVES
LES INVALIDS
LOUVRE
NIMES ARENA
NOTRE DAME
OMAHA BEACH
PONT DU GARD
SACRE COEUR
SAINT MALO
SAINTE CHAPELLE
VERSAILLES
Across
1.“What ___ is new?”
5.Any doctrine
Expecting an answer
8. Greek earth goddess: Var.
9.On the ocean
10.Jobs
11.Responded in court
12.Con man
14.Souvenir
20.Wise one
21.Eagle’s nest
23.Early video game
24.Flower holder
25.“A Chorus Line” number
26.Greek god of love
Down
1.Breakfast fare
2.Secular
3.Sound of relief
4.Facilitate
5.Part of an archipelago
6.Soothsayer
7.“Spy vs. Spy” magazine
9.Likely
13.“___ we there yet?”
14.Atomic particle
15.Sea eagle
16.Coffee holder
17.Church section
18.Eye drop
19.About
20. U.S. document publisher
22.“I agree”
The headline is a clue to the answer in the diagonal.
August Sudoku
How to solve sudoku puzzles
No math is required to solve a sudoku. You only need logic and patience.
Simply make sure that each 3x3 square region has only one instance of the numbers 1-9. Similarly, each number can only
appear once in a column or row in the larger grid. The difficulty on this puzzle is easy.
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