A few weeks ago, I got a nice surprise in the mail. My sister-in-law, Liz Francis, sent me the Jones County Centennial cookbook (1905-2006). My hometown of Murdo is in Jones County, South Dakota. I read the book from cover to cover.

The neat thing about community cookbooks is the added color you get. This book had several comments from local people along with the many favorite recipes. Two of the remembrance of times gone by were from men who had worked for my dad. Paul Anderson and Gary Jorgensen. One was from my cousins, Andrea Miller Sheehan and Stephanie Miller Davis. The book was put together by Jody Lebeda and Dixie Warner.

Many of the names of contributors were of people I knew from Draper and Murdo. I couldn’t believe it since I moved from SD 50 years ago. It brought me back to my roots in Murdo.

I decided to try one of the recipes. I decided on the one called carmel-filled chocolate cookies. (I purposely left out the carmel part as I just wanted chocolate cookies.)

They turned out to be delicious. I did add peanut butter chips.

I’m sure I’ll use this recipe again as well as trying new ones from this well put-together cookbook. There is even a recipe for puppy chow!

I’ll add another post when I try one of the other favorites. What’s for dinner?

She’s turning 77 today. She’s past her jubilee. 77 is just a number and she wears it beautifully.

3 quarters of a century (+2) might seem old to some, but she looks like 45, and she acts like 21.

Her hair is long and flowing. No thinning going on. Her skin has yet to sag and her chin is still just one.

Her brain hasn’t lost a step. She’s still as sharp as ever. Just read her blogs and you will see she is still very clever.

Does she sound like she’s perfection? A little too good to be true? I swear by all I’ve said. She’s all this and much more too.

I love my aging cousin more than anyone could know. 77 is just a number dear so just go with the flow.

I hope your birthday is all you want and more. You’re such a special friend and Cuz. I wish you happiness galore.

My birthday’s coming up so remember all the good times. An ode to MG? Just make sure it rhymes.

I see another trip to Murdo in 4 or 5 good years. A parade is in our future. I can’t wait to hear the jeers…I mean cheers.

Happiest of birthdays dear Lav.

How Seniors Can Avoid Scams: Protecting Your Money, Your Identity, and Your Peace of Mind
Getting older comes with plenty of good things—more time for family, more freedom to enjoy life, and hopefully a little less rushing around. Unfortunately, it can also mean becoming a target for people who want to take advantage of your trust.
Scammers have become incredibly creative. They may call, text, email, or even show up at your door. Some sound professional and convincing. Others create a sense of panic so you don’t have time to think.
The good news? A few simple habits can make a big difference.
Remember: You Don’t Have to Decide Right Away
One of the biggest tools scammers use is urgency.
“Your account will be closed today.”
“Your computer has a virus.”
“Your grandson is in trouble and needs money.”
“Your payment is overdue.”
Stop.
Take a breath. You don’t have to make a decision just because someone tells you that you do.
A legitimate bank, government agency, or business will generally give you a way to verify what is happening. Hang up and contact the organization yourself using a phone number from an official statement, card, or website—not a number the caller gives you.
Be Careful With Unexpected Phone Calls
If someone calls asking for your Social Security number, bank information, passwords, or credit card number, be suspicious.
Even if the caller knows your name or some personal information, that doesn’t mean they’re legitimate.
When in doubt, hang up.
You can always call the company back using a trusted phone number.
Don’t Click Just Because You Recognize the Name
Scammers can make emails and text messages look as though they came from your bank, a delivery company, a government agency, or someone you know.
Before clicking a link, ask yourself:
Was I expecting this message?
Is it asking for money or personal information?
Is it creating fear or urgency?
Does the email address or phone number look unusual?
When you’re unsure, don’t click. Go directly to the company’s official website or call them using a number you already trust.
Your Passwords Are Valuable
Think of your passwords like keys to your house.
Don’t use the same password for everything. Use strong, unique passwords whenever possible, and consider using a password manager to keep track of them.
Turn on two-factor authentication for your email, banking, and other important accounts. It adds another layer of protection if someone gets your password.
And never give your password or verification code to someone who calls you unexpectedly.
Watch Out for the “Family Emergency” Scam
One particularly emotional scam involves someone pretending to be a child, grandchild, or other family member.
They may say they’re in jail, have been in an accident, or urgently need money.
Before sending anything, call the family member directly or contact another relative who can verify the story.
Don’t let fear make the decision for you.
Never Be Embarrassed to Ask for Help
Scammers count on people being embarrassed to admit they may have been fooled.
There is nothing embarrassing about being targeted by a professional scammer. These people do this for a living, and they know exactly how to create pressure and confusion.
If something doesn’t feel right, ask a trusted family member or friend to take a look.
Two sets of eyes are often better than one.
A Simple Rule to Remember
Here’s a rule worth keeping next to your phone:
STOP. DON’T RUSH. VERIFY.
If someone wants your money, personal information, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or access to your computer, stop before doing anything.
If they tell you to keep the situation secret, that’s another major warning sign.
Protect Your Peace of Mind
Avoiding scams isn’t about becoming suspicious of everyone. It’s about becoming comfortable with saying:
“Let me think about it.”
You don’t owe anyone an immediate answer.
Your money is yours. Your personal information is yours. And your peace of mind is worth protecting.
The next time an unexpected call, email, or text makes you feel worried or rushed, remember: a few minutes of caution can save you a lot of money—and a lot of heartache.
And if you’re ever unsure, ask someone you trust before you act.

So, apparently, I’m 70-ish.
I say ish because somehow that makes it sound a little less official.
There’s something funny about turning 70. You still feel like yourself on the inside, but every now and then you catch your reflection and think, Who is that older woman? Then you remember… oh yeah. Me.
Being 70-ish is an interesting place to be.

You’ve lived long enough to know that life rarely goes exactly as planned. You’ve experienced the highs, survived the lows, made mistakes, learned lessons, lost people you loved, and collected memories you wouldn’t trade for anything.
And hopefully, somewhere along the way, you’ve learned that you don’t have to have everything figured out.
At this age, I care a lot less about what people think of me.
I’m not interested in impressing anyone. I’d rather be comfortable than fashionable, happy than right, and surrounded by people who make me laugh than people who make me feel like I have something to prove.
I’ve also discovered that “going out” has changed meaning.
Once upon a time, going out meant dinner, drinks, dancing and staying up way too late.
Now, going out can mean dinner at 5:00, home before dark, pajamas by 8:00 and being absolutely thrilled about it.
And honestly? That sounds pretty good to me.
There are things about getting older that nobody warns you about. Your body develops opinions of its own. You can hurt yourself sleeping. You forget why you walked into a room. And you can spend ten minutes looking for your glasses only to discover they’re on your head.
But there are also wonderful things about being 70-ish.
You know who you are.
You know what matters.
You know which battles aren’t worth fighting.
You appreciate a good laugh, a beautiful sunset, a phone call from someone you love and a day when nothing hurts.
You stop taking ordinary moments for granted.
And maybe that’s the greatest gift of getting older: realizing that ordinary is actually pretty extraordinary.
At 70-ish, I still have dreams.
I still have things I want to see, places I want to go, people I want to love, stories I want to tell and memories I haven’t made yet.
I’m not interested in acting my age.
I’m interested in living my age.
There may be a few more wrinkles, a few more aches and a whole lot more life experience, but I’m still here.
Still laughing.
Still learning.
Still loving.
Still becoming.
And if 70-ish has taught me anything, it’s this:
Getting older isn’t about counting the years you’ve lost. It’s about making the years you have left count.
So here’s to being 70-ish.
We’re not old.
We’re experienced.
And we’re just getting started.

https://maryfrancismcninch.com/2020/10/23/murdo-girl-seeya-in-the-city-2/

https://maryfrancismcninch.com/2025/07/11/murdo-girl-the-food-swap-ladies-2/

We began July with a trip to see the last two of our 4 kids and their families. We drove to Possum Kingdom Lake, about 200 miles from us and spent 3 days over the 4th. It was a great time.

We had lots of fun with 7 adults one of which is our granddaughter, along with 4 great granddaughters and 2 grandsons. It was hot so we were grateful to have the lake to float around in, a boat, and a jet ski.

We knew this summer was going to be our last RV experience. We began with the epic journey to see 3 grandkids graduate, one in Alabama and 2 in Wyoming. We also attended Gus’s 95th birthday in CA where we saw my brother, Billy, and his wife, Liz plus my niece, Erin and her boyfriend, Carlos. We also saw Cousin Val and her son Matthew, which was a real treat! We’ve seen all of our kids, their spouses and kids except for Heidi’s son, Mike and his family who live in New Zealand. We even saw Kip’s sister and my dear friend, Karlyce who met us for breakfast in Laramie, WY.

Driving home from Possum Kingdom Lake was bittersweet. We talked a lot about the time we got to spend with our family and felt sad about ending our motorhome days.

We began with a little class C motorhome back in 2013. We had a ski boat back then and just took weekend trips to different lakes. From that we graduated to a class A motorhome and that’s when we began to really travel. 3 years ago we sold that motorhome and bought a little bit newer one. We even lived in it full time for a year.

As I said we traveled all over the United States visiting every state except Florida and Iowa. We love RV travel for so many reasons. We traveled with our dogs and never had to impose on anyone. We could retire to our own bed and had our own towels and sheets rather than having to be in a motel room. We could travel at our own pace and really see the countryside. We got to see some friends and family members that we hadn’t seen in years.

There are downsides…we broke down more than once and the nightly spot rentals really went up in price over the years. Nevertheless, we made some beautiful memories that we wouldn’t trade for any car trip or European vacation.

I’m so glad I had the blog throughout the RVing years as I can now look back and relive our wonderful times spent on the road.

Now, we will get it ready to sell. We’re at the age where it has become too much work to drive all those miles and set up and tear down. Now that I’m well into my 70ish years and Kip is into his 80ish years we need to be smart about our means of travel. We’ll have a different kind of fun now and years left of enjoying our dogs and our lives.

We’re home now, but I want to back up to our stay at Bonelli Bluffs RV park. We included CA in our trip because we wanted to celebrate Gus’ 95th birthday with him and also SIL, Liz’s birthday which is also on 5/30. We arrived at Bonelli On Tuesday and had a repairman come on Wednesday to fix a plumbing issue. On Thursday, we went to spend some time with Gus. He had bought us steaks at the Legion club, prepared and ready to grill. On Friday, we met Gus and a dear friend, Sharon, for an enjoyable lunch at Andy’s which is a place we always love to go to when we’re visiting Gus.

Saturday was Gus’ birthday so we took him to another family favorite, Roberta’s, for a scrumptious breakfast. Saturday evening, we met brother Bill and Liz, niece, Erin and Carlos, Gus, and a friend of Liz’s for a birthday dinner. We sat out on their patio. It was a beautiful evening

.

My cousin, Valerie drove from San Juan Batista in central CA to her son, Matt’s in LA. They drove to Bonelli Park on Sunday where Kip and I hosted a family picnic. It was a very enjoyable day.

We were sad to leave Bonelli on Tuesday. It’s a place we love to stay while visiting CA. The dogs loved the long walks we took everyday on the scenic trail. I don’t have pictures because Kip didn’t go with us do to a sore foot and I needed both hands for the dogs.

Next, I will write about our trip home. What an amazing time being able to see three grandkids graduate and spend time with family.

We’re now getting ready to leave Barstow KOA. We spent two days here catching up on things like laundry and grocery shopping. We’re glad to leave the hot desert and go on to Bonelli St. Park in San Dimas, CA. It’s near Gus so we have reservations for a week. The temperatures have been in the 70’s. I sure hope that holds.

We’re taking our time this morning as we only have about 100 miles to go. We are going to fill up with propane here before we leave. We already went for a walk with the dogs and let them play in the dog park for a while. They have been unbelievably good travelers. The hardest thing for all of us has been adjusting to the 2 hour time change. Every clock in this rig has a different time on it and the TV shows we watch come on 2 hrs earlier.

I’m watching out the window as the other campers are also getting ready to leave. RV travelers are generally really nice people. It’s fun to talk to them about where they’ve been and where they’re going. Many are traveling with dogs who for the most part, are friendly too.

We’ve been to Bonelli several times and we love it, even though we’ll pay the most there of any campground. We’ll fill up with gas before we leave Barstow and being in CA, that will cost a pretty penny as well.

Well, we’re off!!! We’re really enjoying this trip.

We had a wonderful time in Laramie and Gillette! We got to see one grandson, Mason Jr, graduate from the University of Wyoming and one from Campbell County High School in Gillette, WY.

While in Gillette, our son, Mason took us to Buffalo where he’s building a house to sell. It was a beautiful ride and a beautiful house. We’re so proud of him. He also cooked us dinner 3 nights in a row. It was so much fun spending time with the family. Mason’s wife, Amy, is super special!

We headed out Thursday morning and made it as far as Rawlins, WY before it started to sleet and got really cold. We stopped and got groceries and gassed up and then spent the night at a KOA. We got started at 8:00 this morning so we’re making up for lost time. Oh, I forgot to mention we got our levelers fixed while in Gillette, so that’s good.

We have so enjoyed our trip so far. Now on to CA for Gus’s 95th birthday.