We send our most heartfelt sympathy to our dear Valley Home friends, Vicki and Austin Dickens on the passing of Vicki’s precious mother, and Austin’s devoted grandmother Mrs. Marjorie Reeves. Marjorie passed away late Friday evening March 26, 2021. Marjorie was born on November 15, 1931 and would have been 90 years old this year. Vicki shared a very special fact about her beautiful mother with us … Marjorie was known by many during her senior year at Oakdale High as the prettiest girl in her class! She was loved by all who knew her. Marjorie leaves behind two sons, Dan Reeves and David Reeves and her daughter Vicki Dickens. Marjorie also leaves behind to cherish her memory her beloved grandchildren Kristi, Kim, Jennifer, Stacy, Allen, and Austin. She leaves behind seven great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Marjorie was preceded in death by her loving husband Bill Reeves. Our Valley Home community sends our love and our prayers to Vicki and Austin’s entire family; may God bring comfort to each of you.

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With Easter this Sunday, we wish you all a very blessed Easter! I hope your Easter is filled with joy and much special family time. With spring in the air, here in Valley Home, the scent of lavender wisteria, deep purple iris, tall luscious Texas geranium, brilliant orange California poppies and an abundance of Valley Home wild flowers, we definitely know it’s Easter and time for Peter Rabbit to arrive! Springtime is a beautiful time in Valley Home. I need to stop here and once again say a special “Thank You” to my very dear Knights Ferry friend Carol Davis. Many years ago when my family were the proprietors of the Knights Ferry Ice Cream Parlor, I came in very early one morning to the sweetest surprise! Carol, overnight had brought my favorite flowers, sweet peas, from her garden, and had set them inside the ice cream parlor! The most delightful scent filled the ice cream parlor; I will never forget that day. Carol, thank you from the bottom of my heart! Now each year I try to grow sweet peas in Valley Home that smell as wonderful as Carol’s! I am blessed to live in this beautiful place and have such special friends all around me!

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Here in Valley Home folks are getting their gardens ready to plant. It is indeed a beautiful time of the year! For those of you who may not be able to put in a garden, I will be writing in early summer about how you can receive fresh vegetables on your doorstep. For those of you who are planting large gardens, please let me know if you might have extra to share. Let’s share our bounty! It’s going to be a wonderful year of sharing and caring.

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Our Valley Home students will soon be going back to class five days a week! Since early fall most of our Valley Home students have been attending school four days a week; excitement is in the air! It is wonderful to see that our Oakdale High School students are now able to attend in person classes; hopefully soon they will be back in class full time!

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I wish you all a happy and blessed Easter! As always you may reach me by telephone at 209-985-5233 or by email at winniemullins51@gmail.com. Until next time, “Happy Trails To All!”