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Brownstown-Sefton News

First of All
Due to the holidays and extra activities, please get your announcements, church bulletins, news, etc., to me as soon as possible for the next two weeks.  Your cooperation is appreciation.
Homestead Critters Ready for THE BIRTHDAY
Christmas – the celebration of the birth of their Creator.
Bright red bows decorate pens of Katie, Bill’s outdoor doggie, and
a star is set over the window of the little barn window of Lady, the senior mini-horse, and little Buckwheat Burro and his mother, Madricka.
As Bill simply refuses to string battery-operated colored lights on the longhorn cows’ horns, a red bow near their waterin’ hole (water tank) will have to suffice again this year. It seems that Bill’s Christmas spirit extends just so far. He muttered something about not wanting to be in a body cast for Christmas.
There is a small, decorated, artificial tree set in the yard for the wild critters to enjoy and it is in full view of the Betsy Longhorn and her bovine family.
The bird feeder will be filled to the brim, along with a treat cake. The rabbits and other furry critters can nibble on the hay and what grass is still available, so every Homestead creature (including us human inhabitants) will have food for their Christmas dinner, along with their other blessings.
And Josie, the little senior doggie, has her bed just in front of the inside Christmas tree, under the angel, twinkling lights and baubles, and close enough (but not too close) to the fireplace for cozy warmth.
Josie is not getting around any better, but seems to just be unsteady. Not in pain or discomfort, her main focus seems to be on her food bowl and bed.
She barks when she wants to be fed or covered up with her blanket or when she needs to go outside, so although she has been diagnosed with dementia, she still has her basic instincts intact and she still is really cute in the face, like a puppy.
Sneaky Pete, the Wily Wolf, Sighting
Our good neighbor across the road, Debbie Ward, called to report that Sneaky Pete was visiting their back yard again last week. She yelled at him and waved her arms to discourage him from visiting with their ducks and cats during his noon meal. She said he went a little ways, then turned and looked back at her, then turned and continued on his way. No doubt, he was looking back to see if she really meant for him to leave or was waving to him to come on up to the house.
When he visited our house in the woods, he often came right on up near the house, and never hurried away when we asked him to leave. I miss seeing him, but I’m glad he is still OK.  Debbie said he looked good and healthy, although we don’t want him to bother her ducks and cats.
She and husband Danny also recently saw a big cat around their pond one night. They shined a strong light on it and saw its eyes plainly.  
As far as we know, the big cat hasn’t come across the road, but we are careful of little Josie when she goes out at night or in the wee hours of morning. We stay right with her with a flashlight, as she is too feeble to run away now. Katie would give us plenty of warning as she barks at any cat, big or little.    
She ran the late Callie, the kitty, up a tree once when we lived in the woods, and we don’t think she ever forgot that great feeling of doggie accomplishment.
Don’t Forget the Big Christmas Give-Away by the Friends of the Brownstown Library
Tickets are now being sold for the Library Friends’ Big Christmas Give-Away: first prize-5-cubic-foot freezer and $600 meat voucher; second prize-$300 meat voucher; third prize-$200 meat voucher; and fourth prize-$100 meat voucher.
Tickets may be bought at the Brownstown Library and DeerPark.
BES Family Reading Night
Brownstown Elementary School invites the public to attend the annual Family Reading Night this Thursday, from 5-6:30 p.m.  Activities will include pictures with Santa (picture packages will be available); Christmas cookie bake sale, $5 per dozen; stories read aloud, beginning at 6:30 p.m.; and a Junie P. Jones presentation.
Christmas Tidings
Sefton HCE Christmas party is Thursday at Mary Ann’s Restaurant, St. Elmo, at 11 a.m. Take a $2 gift.
Fayette County HCE Board Christmas party is Monday at Ponderosa in Vandalia at 11:15 p.m.
Christmas Programs
• Brownstown First Christian Church-Extreme Zone Christmas program, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 5 pm. Everyone is invited.
• “Bed, Bethlehem, and Beyond-Sunday, Dec. 20, 9:30 a.m.
• United Methodist Church-Christmas dinner, Dec. 20, with children’s program afterward.
• Liberty Christian and Brownstown First Christian Church-combined Christmas service, Sunday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m.
Cheers for Coach Joshua Behrends and the
Brownstown /St. Elmo Eighth-Grade Girls Basketball Team …
… which, at last tally, had 24 wins and no losses, and are headed for Effingham St, Anthony’s Junior High for the sectional tournament Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Coming & Going
Sisters and brother-in-law visit
Bill’s sisters, Ava Taylor of Mulberry Grove and Jane and husband Earl Pipes of Versailles, Mo., visited the Homesteaders (namely Bill and Panzi Blackwell) Thursday afternoon.
Jane brought a lovely gift for them, a beautiful afghan she had crocheted, in colors to complement the Homestead living room. She also brought one to Ava in different colors to blend in her home.  
Ava treated them all to supper at Denny’s in Vandalia. The Pipes stayed overnight at Ava’s Mulberry home, and on Friday returned home to Versailles, where Earl had promised to help cut wood for their church Saturday.
While at Denny’s, we were glad to see Carol and Dr. Bristow. Dr. B has made several trips to the Homestead over the years to take good care of our critters. He went the extra mile and then some, to try to save our late little Smoky, the adorable little donkey, but it was not meant to be. It was not for lack of effort and knowledgeable, attentive care on Dr, B’s part. The whole staff signed and sent a card with personal comments of condolences for the loss of Smoky.
Brownstown First Christian Church
The congregation of First Christian Church was greeted by Walt and Adrienne Kinney and welcomed by Pastor Kevin Bonifacius. The announcements and prayer concerns were shared.
Joann Strobel, Jack Shelton and Cameron Callaway led the congregation in songs of praise, accompanied by pianist Robin Lovett and guitarists Chuck Enlow and Walt Kinney.
Don Willms led the Communion meditation. Matthew Smith contributed special music, followed by the morning message, delivered by Bonifacius.
Also serving: Sunday school nursery-Ellen Willms; a.m. nursery-Cathy Smith;  toddlet worship-Ashton Smith and Bonnie Shelton; Quest-4-Christ-Q-4-C Team; and shut-ins-Matthew Smith and Don Lovett.
Announcements
• New Bible study-“Mid-Morning Manna,” studying Colossians, Thursdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m, and noon meal every fourth Thursday.  
• Leadership meeting-Monday, 7 p.m.
 

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