Adorable Adopt-ee for November

Copper is just one of a a litter of gorgeous, playful kittens, about 3 months old: Jasper (a buff tabby), Copper (an orange boy), Garnet (black) and Nickle (soft blue gray). They’ve all been spayed and neutered and are ready for their new homes.  They are currently in foster care, but make regular appearances at the Longview Petco store on Saturdays.  They would all love a home for the holidays, somewhere warm and safe, where they could cozy up on a soft bed, or better yet, fall asleep in your arms.  Rescue pets make The Best Companions.
If interested in cats, dogs, or other pets available for adoption, please contact or visit us online:
Rescued Paws
1105-D, 15thAve., #118
Longview, WA  98632
www.rpaws.petfinder.org
360-673-7373  also on FB

Animal Ha-Ha’s

Animal Super Bowl
During the Super Bowl, there was another football game of note between the big animals and the little animals. The big animals were crushing little animals and at half-time, the coach made a passionate speech to rally the little animals.
At the start of the second half the big animals had the ball. The first play, the elephant got stopped for no gain. The second play, the rhino was stopped for no gain. On third down, the hippo was thrown for a 5 yard loss.
The defense huddled around the coach and he asked excitedly, “Who stopped the elephant?”
“I did,” said the centipede.
“Who stopped the rhino?”
“Uh, that was me too,” said the centipede.
“And how about the hippo? Who hit him for a 5 yard loss?”
“Well, that was me as well,” said the centipede.
“So where were you during the first half?” demanded the coach.
“Well,” said the centipede, “I was having my ankles taped.”
An Atheist
An atheist was walking through the woods one day in Alaska, admiring all that evolution had created. “What majestic trees! What a powerful river! What beautiful animals!” he said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. Turning to look, he saw a 13-foot Kodiak brown bear beginning to charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could down the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was rapidly closing on him. Somehow, he ran even faster, so scared that tears came to his eyes. He looked again and the bear was even closer. His heart pounding in his chest, he tried to run faster yet. But alas, he tripped and fell to the ground. As he rolled over to pick himself up, the bear was right over him, reaching for him with its left paw and raising its right paw to strike him.
“OH MY GOD! …”
Time stopped.
The bear froze.
The forest was silent.
Even the river stopped moving …
As a brilliant light shone upon the man, a thunderous voice came from all around…
“YOU DENY MY EXISTENCE FOR ALL THESE YEARS, TEACH OTHERS THAT I DON’T EXIST AND EVEN CREDIT CREATION TO SOME COSMIC ACCIDENT. DO YOU EXPECT ME TO HELP YOU OUT OF THIS PREDICAMENT? AM I TO COUNT YOU AS A BELIEVER?”
Difficult as it was, the atheist looked directly into the light and said, “It would be hypocritical to ask to be a Christian after all these years, but perhaps you could make the bear a Christian?”
“VERY WELL.” Said God.
The light went out.
The river ran.
The sounds of the forest resumed.
… and the bear dropped down on his knees, brought both paws together, bowed his head and spoke: “Lord, thank you for this food which I am about to receive.

Readers chime in with their stories

Your loyal Publisher had been trying to fill this empty space, and decided to ask a question on FaceBook: “I need a super sweet OR super funny animal story”, and readers responded!
It’s a Kitten. Really.
By Ronda Butterfield
I could write about the time when I was a little girl, and this momma kitty had kittens in our attic and one of them slipped between the walls and so we heard meowing from inside our wall.
My dad had to knock a hole in the wall to rescue the kitten, when he began to reach his hand in he pulled it out really quick.
I asked him what was wrong, and he said, “What if it’s a rat??”
I said, “Dad, rats don’t meow.”
LOL. He finally reached in and pulled out the skinny little kitten. He was my hero.

Boy Hamsters
By Dena Enyeart
So we bought 2 hamsters.
The pet store gal pulled them out and put one in a box for each girl.
I jokingly said they are both boys right?
She told me: “Of course they are both from the cage marked male hamsters”.
Silly me!
A few weeks later my daughter starts screaming as ‘Barry’ the hamster had weird things hooked to it.
So ‘Barry’ became ‘Pumpkin’,  mother of 10.

Have a good story to share? Send it to us: editor@valleybugler.com

The one that got away

By Melvin Larsen
Since the beginning of time fishermen have been known for their outlandish tales about “The One That Got Away”. This month I would like to share with you a couple of stories about ones that didn’t get away but that – amazingly enough – were brought to net and logged on the catch record.
The largest salmon that I have ever caught in the Pacific Northwest was a gorgeous 40-pound chrome bright hen Chinook. I was not only fortunate enough to catch this fish but also to have witnesses to the event. A friend and I were back trolling plugs (Wiggle Worts) in a productive stretch of water below Castle Rock.
There was quite a bit of leaves and debris in the water and every few minutes a sharp jerk was needed on the rod to clear the line of leaves and grass. After a time it can be quite frustrating having to continuously clear your line so that the plugs would work properly. I was reaching that point of frustration when giving a sharp jerk the rod bent over double and it was fish-on!
The fish made a couple of powerful runs and then settled into the bottom of the deepest part of the river where it lay like a log, refusing to move. This is a sure sign of a large fall Chinook. We maneuvered the boat into slack water and the waiting game was on. If the fish remained hooked, sooner or later it would move one direction or the other and by expending its energy be worn out. It is at times like this that you are thankful that your knots are well tied and that you have been checking your leader continuously to be sure that there are no nicks in it!
After what seemed like hours but was only probably 20 minutes, the fish began to move out of the deep hole and struggle mightily against the gear onto which it was hooked. The first time it came close enough to the boat that we could see it I knew it was bigger than any I had caught around here previously. When it saw the boat it made another run back into deep water and the previously mentioned scenario was repeated. The second time we got it to the boat we missed with the netting attempt and the fish headed for the depths once again. The third time was the charm and the fish was netted and brought aboard. After an ample application of “Wood Shampoo”, along with high-fives and whoops & hollers we noticed something unusual about the way the fish was hooked.
Although originally hooked in the mouth, at sometime during the fight, the hook pulled free of the mouth but because the leader had become wrapped around the fish’s head the hook re-embedded itself in the gill plate of the fish. During the remainder of the fight the gill plate tore and the hook was nearly torn free when we finally got that fish into the net.
My next story is one that happened this fall to a friend of mine. (If the right person reads this, I hope they contact the Valley Bugler to verify this story as true!)
This guy and his son were fishing on the lower Cowlitz when they hooked a nice fish. The battle was long and arduous but the fish was finally brought to net and once aboard the boat the fishermen made an amazing discovery. Some one else had already caught this fish and put it on a stringer and it was that stringer that my friends’ hooks had become entangled in!!! I have no idea why the first person to catch this fish didn’t dispatch the fish first but for whatever reason they failed to do so and the fish was in perfect health. The stringer that was attached to this fish was a homemade unit consisting of blue nylon cord and an unusual method of attaching the cord to the fish. If someone knows of this “One That Got Away” they should contact The Valley Bugler and complete the story by describing how the fish was attached to the blue nylon cord.
Everyone please be careful during elk season and late buck season… dispose of your garbage properly and please pick up any discarded fish line that you see.
Good Luck Hunting & Fishing and above all, Be Safe.
Melvin Larsen, also known as Mountain Mel, enjoys anything and everything to do with the great outdoors, and possesses a vast array of knowledge regarding all things hunting and fishing. Comment online or to: editor@valleybugler.com

Links @ The Corner Restaurant set to dish up breakfast, lunch & dinner!

By Sandy Allen
What is that Phil Link up to now? Well, no doubt it has something to do with the Four Corners aka PH10 area in Castle Rock, Washington.
And if you were hoping it has something to do with food, good food, you are right!
Links @ The Corner Restaurant is the name and great food is the game.
Formally known as the Chop Shop, Link has transformed his building into an inviting eatery that will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“Only the freshest food will pass through our doors,” states Link.
Link possesses the culinary “know how” and understands the process of creating a quality food experience.
Open for breakfast at 5:00am, Link’s will offer fresh hand-made breakfast burritos, sandwiches and “hand-dipped” chicken fried steak.
The daily menu will sport “hand-dipped” chicken, chicken tenders, pork-chops & corn dogs. Made to order burgers, sandwiches & hand breaded jo-jos are also available.
Handmade pizza, baked in a double pizza oven (or take and bake, your choice) is another great option for those busy nights or parties with friends.
Link also plans to offer a “family dinner “to-go” special every night. What a great way to give Mom the night off!
Future plans include a huge outdoor covered deck w/ a Traeger BBQ Station and plans to serve beer and wine.
Phil Link says he is proud to have used only local labor in the construction process of his endeavor.
Special thanks must be offered to Gallow-Smith Plumbing, Jay Hooper, Mann Electric, Power Tech Electric, Hensley Construction & Denali Heating.
Link also noted that Tyler Johnson of Tyler Construction did an “especially outstanding job.”
Situated on PH10 and directly connected to Links Four Corners General Store, Links @ The Corner Restaurant will be opening soon at 4858 Westside Hwy, Castle Rock.
Questions or comments can be directed to Phil Link at Four Corners General Store – #274-8111

Business BUZZ – Rightway RV celebrates one year of business

By Sandy Allen
It was 10/10/10 when Brad “Bubba” & Kari-Jo “K.J.” Pearson opened Rightway RV in Kelso, Washington.
With 30yrs of combined experience in the RV business “keeping it fun” has been their mantra.
Word of mouth has been rewarding as they focus on building life long relationships with their customers.
Having 11,000 sq. ft. of inside, pull- thru work space, Rightway RV can accommodate any size of vehicle. From minor repairs to complete rebuilds, Rightway RV does it all.
Their one-of-a-kind Service Dept. boasts a “top-notch” service record with many customer testimonials under their belt.
Fully RVIA / RVDA certified, Rightway RV offers RV Parts and service, horse trailer repair and set-ups, RV mobile service & secured on-site RV & Boat storage.
The Pearson’s work ethic is second to none and they strive to treat every customer as though they are family, with honesty & integrity.
Giving back to the community has always been a passion of theirs. Not only do they donate financially to may local events and organizations, they donate their time.
Located at 1290 Walnut St. in Kelso, they are Kelso’s only propane fill station with pull-thru access.

Rightway RV also offers you a place to store and sell your toys. Bring your RV, Boat or Horse trailer to Rightway RV and they will put you in a secured spot on their lot. With great RV customer traffic, you can park it, put a sign on it with your information and asking price.
Potential buyers will only be dealing with you. All Rightway RV is providing is a month to month rented spot. During it’s stay, you can authorize Rightway RV to perform any service work or maintenance needed.
When you sell your RV, Rightway RV offers a Pre-Delivery Inspection along with any hitch work that the new owner may need.
As a special service, they will also list your RV w/ photo and information on their website and Facebook page.
Rightway RV is currently offering a Winterization Special for $24.95. Call (360) 636-1330 for appointment.
Hours are Monday-Friday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM, closed on Sunday  – Emergency after hours call 360-798-0667
If you have yet to meet the wonderful folks over at Righway RV, stop by for a cup of coffee and you’ll see why we are blessed to have RIGHTWAY RV apart of our Business community!

Mow – don’t rake fall leaves

Eco-friendly Landscape Tips for the Fall Season by Melinda Myers, gardening expert, TV & radio host, author and columnist.
Go green, or should I say brown.  Recycle fall leaves into compost, a soil amendment or a nutritious topdressing for the lawn.  It saves time, improves your landscape, and is good for the environment.
Shred fall leaves with your mower and leave them on the lawn. As long as you can see the grass blades for the leaf pieces your lawn will be fine.  Those shredded leaves will break down adding nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
It is also a good time to make your last application of fertilizer for your lawn.  Use a slow release organic nitrogen fertilizer, like Milorganite, that won’t burn the lawn. Plus, the phosphorous is non-leaching and recent research found when the micro-organisms break down this fertilizer some of the phosphorous and potassium tied up in the soil is released for plants to use.
Northern gardeners with bluegrass, fescue and rye grass lawns can make their last application in late fall before the ground freezes.  Those in the south growing Bermuda, St Augustine and other warm weather grasses can make their last fertilization about one month before the lawn goes dormant.  That’s about the time of the first killing frost.  Fertilizing later can result in winter damage.
Bag any leaves you don’t want to leave on the lawn and dig them into annual flower and vegetable gardens.  They will break down over winter improving the soil.
Use any remaining shredded leaves as mulch on the soil around perennials, trees and shrubs.  The shredded leaves help conserve moisture, moderate temperature extremes and reduce weed problems.  And once decomposed, help improve the soil.
Still leaves left?  Start a compost pile by mixing fall leaves with other yard waste.  Don’t add aggressive weeds or those gone to seed.  Leave insect and disease infested or chemically treated plant debris out of the pile.  Don’t add fat, meat and other animal products that can attract rodents. Moisten and occasionally turn the pile to speed up the process.  Soon you will have a wonderful soil conditioner to put back into your landscape.
Nationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening. She hosts the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment segments which air on 89 TV and radio stations throughout the U.S. She is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers hosted “The Plant Doctor” radio program for over 20 years as well as Great Lakes Gardener on PBS. She has a master’s degree in horticulture, is a certified arborist and was a horticulture instructor with tenure.  Myers’ web site is www.melindamyers.com

An anonymous Thanksgiving story

One Thanksgiving, Mom and I went to my sister Patty’s house for the traditional feast. Knowing how gullible Patty is, Mom decided to liven up the day and have a little fun. As it turned out, the joke wasn’t that funny.
First, Mom sent Patty to the store. When she left, Mom took the turkey from the oven, removed the stuffing, inserted a Cornish hen, re-stuffed the turkey and put it back into the oven.
At dinner time, Patty brought the turkey out and started to remove the stuffing. When her spoon hit something, she pulled out the little bird.
With a faked look of shock on her face, Mom exclaimed, “Patricia, you’ve cooked a pregnant turkey!”
Horrified, Patty burst into tears! It took the family half an hour to convince her that turkeys just lay eggs.

Crockpot Apple Butter Recipe

There’s nothing like the smell of baking apples or fresh made applesauce!
Here is a recipe sent to me from Lissa Gere in a recipe exchange, that takes a new spin off of that idea.
Not only will you have yummy Apple Butter, usable in almost any way applesauce is, your house will smell like a delicious eatery!
We hope that you try this recipe, and if you have recipes of  your own to suggest for our readers, submit them online at valleybugler.com – click on Features or search for the word “Crock-pot” and this article will appear.
Post your recipes, and we may choose to feature your special recipe in the next issue of the Bugler!
12 cups peeled, cored, and cut  apples
3/4 c apple cider
1c sugar
1tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
Cook apples in microwave till soft…run thru food mill…Put in a crock-pot with cider, sugar, cinnamon and cloves…cook on low for 3 or 4 hrs till thick…stir occasionally.
ENJOY!

The Lighter Side

MILK MONEY
An art connoisseur passed a little grocery in New York when he noticed a kitten on the front step lapping up some milk in a bowl.
The cat was mangy with one ear half chewed off and clumps of fur missing. What really caught the collectors eye was the bowl the kitten was drinking from. It was a rare antique worth thousands.
He walks in the store and offers $20.00 for the cat.
“He’s not for sale.” Says the store owner.
“That’s ridiculous!” Says the collector.
“He is one of the ugliest cats I’ve seen. He must be for sale. I’ll give you $100.00 for him.”
The store owner thought for a second and said “It’s a deal.”
The connoisseur hands the store owner the money, which he quickly pockets, and as he starts out the store asks, “For that price I’m sure you wont mind sending that old bowl with him. He seems so happy drinking from it.”
The store owner says “No way. That’s my lucky bowl. From that bowl I’ve sold 26 cats this week!”

LAST RESPECTS
At a motivational seminar 3 men are asked to come up to the stage.
They are all asked, “When you are in your casket and friends and family are mourning upon you, what would you like to hear them say about you?
The first guy says, “I would like to hear them say that I was the great doctor of my time, and a great family man.”
The second guy says, “I would like to hear that I was a wonderful husband and school teacher who made a huge difference in our children of tomorrow.”
The last guy replies, “I would like to hear them say…… LOOK!!! HE’S MOVING!!!!!”

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