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Brownstown-Sefton News

Signs of Spring … Already?!
Yes! First reported Monday morning on Panzi’s Partyline show by our river-bottom reporter, DeeDee Diveley, then a confirmation of the phenomenon when Danny Donaldson mentioned (during an unrelated passing conversation later the same day) that he had seen already seen dandelions blooming.
DeeDee was taking the dogs for a walk when she saw  dandelions, and also said that she saw a small tree along the roadside with pink blooms on it.
She couldn’t identify the tree, but promised she would keep an eye on it to see what resulted from the blossom.
However, according to the weather predictions for February/March, the little blossoms will most likely not mature into their full potential.  
She had also seen a robin that was singing.
We know that robins do stick around in the winter (and this winter has been mild), but we hadn’t seen any around here.
In Response to Critter Inquiries
We have had several calls and inquiries about our critters and their safety since the Kaskaskia River flooding, and we are glad to say that we are not in the flood areas. However, we have had plenty of water due to the rains, and the barn critters have mud in their yards.
I don’t like to see them walking in mud, but a drive around the countryside showed us that many pastures and barnyards are in the same shape. I’ve been told that mud is actually good for their hooves, but …    
Bill cleans their barn floor and puts fresh, clean straw in the barn for their beds (as “Papa Bear” would have been expected to do), and he closes their doors when a cold wind is blowing from the south.   
The other outside critters, Betsy LongHorn and the rest of the “cowgirls”; the chicken-roost ladies, Blackie and Rhonda Hen; and Katie, the outside dog, all seem to be doing all right.
If it should get bitterly cold, Katie would probably come in the house, as she has done before. Katie is good when she comes into the house, but it is clear that she is an “outside” doggie, as she always seems glad to be back outside. She has a thick winter coat and she apparently is more comfortable outside.
Little Josie, the “senior citizen” doggie, is still puttering along, eating well and all systems functioning, but still gets confused and totters a bit when she first wakes up. She got a toenail trim/pedicure for Christmas.
News Needed
The holidays are over, and now, the clubs’ activities, meetings, announcements, etc., should pick up and get back on schedule.  
We have also had a lapse in the local church news, possibly due to the early holiday deadlines.
Now that we are back on regular schedule we need your news by early Monday afternoon, if possible, to have it in that week’s paper.
We appreciate your contributions (church and club news, announcements, trips, vacations, reunions, personal items, etc.) to the column.
You may call, mail, e-mail or drop your news items off in the black box (under the pink mailbox) on our mailbox post on the north side of U.S. Route 40, across from our location marker-1343 E. 1650 Ave., Brownstown, Ill. 62418.
The address marker is on Cora’s Corner with the little log cabin and various ceramic “critters” in the cabin yard.
 

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