Brownstown-Sefton News

‘Katy-Did’ – An All-Weather Doggie
As this was the first pretty deep snow in Katy’s young life, we wondered how she would take to it. No problem!
She went outside wagging her tail (behind her) and showed no distress or uneasiness as she went about her usual business.  She seems to be an all-weather dog, as she doesn’t mind the rain, either.
Although she has a nice igloo doghouse, she usually prefers to stay out in the rain. She does have a gazebo to get under, but the elements blow in on her. Bill put treats in her house at first, so she would associate it with something good, not frightening. We have seen her go in it occasionally, but she usually comes right back out.
She is the same with the snow. Like our precious Pyrnese dogs did, she lies right down in the snow, but under her gazebo. She is very smart and actually rather crafty.
When she was just a 9-week-old puppy and rowdy, she liked to jump up on us. I attempted a “tried and true solution” (which had worked well with our other dogs).
I would tell her to sit, and when she did, I’d give her a treat. The idea was to teach her to sit when commanded. She figured out right from the start how to get a treat.
Act rowdy first, then when she was told to sit, she would and get a treat. She just didn’t understand she wasn’t supposed to act rowdy first.
Then I began a new tact. Before she goes out early in the morning and is not acting rowdy, I am telling her to sit and then give her a treat when she does. However, she comes to me, but she sits before I can give the command. She seems to be a step ahead of me.
She doesn’t understand that she is supposed to respond to me, not I to her.
Her ability to hear is amazing. When she is out in her pen behind the house, she hears us if we turn on the water in the kitchen. Our faucet isn’t noisy. She hears us if we draw back the drapes a little bit, and she runs to the fence and looks at the drapes.
She is a good watchdog and barks in different “dialects” (??) when she sees something in the woods. She has a certain bark if she sees a deer, another type of bark when she watches the squirrels (she also wags her tail then), and she barks ferociously and the hair stands up on her neck and back if she sees or smells Sneaky Pete, the wily wolf.
She doesn’t seem to mind Josie, the 13-year-old “puppy,”  and Callie, the kitty, but watches them curiously. However after the “cat up the tree” episode early on in their relationship, we don’t know what she would do if she and Callie met up outside.  She might be a little less “civilized” then.
But the bottom line is: #1-she is sweet; #2-her first birthday is in April; and #3-she is now a family member of the Homestead Critter Clan.
Easter Egg Hunt…
… is Saturday at 2 p.m. in the village park for children ages 2 – 12 in the Brownstown community, sponsored by First Christian Church.
Open House for Alice Ward’s 75th Birthday
An open house and card shower will be held in honor of Alice Ward’s 75th birthday on Sunday, from 3-5 p.m. at the Golden Years building in Brownstown. Sandwiches, dessert and punch will be served. It is being given by her daughters.
Easter Services
• Emmanuel Methodist will join Brownstown United Methodist for sunrise services at 6:30 a.m. and breakfast afterward. The churches will then hold their regular Sunday services at their home church following breakfast.
• Liberty Christian Church will host First Christian Church for sunrise services and breakfast afterward. The churches will hold their own regular services.
Happy Birthday to Ilene Sidwell
Next Wednesday, April 3 is Ilene Sidwell’s birthday. She resides at Friendship Manor and is a charter member of the Fayette County Home and Education.
Announcements
Reminder to Sefton HCE’s ‘Golden Girls’
Skit practice will be held next Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Golden Years building. Please take your hats.
Village Election-April 9
The village board offices that will be voted on at the April 9 election are three trustees and village president.
Only two are running for trustee seats: Don Lovett and Virginia Wilbur. There is no competition for the current village president, B.J. Deal.
Sefton Unit HCE Plan Get-Acquainted Day
Eighteen members of the Sefton Unit HCE were present for the March 21 club meeting. Chairman Flo Allen called the meeting to order and led the pledge to the American flag.
Secretary Debbie Swain read called roll with the question, “What is your favorite fragrance?,” with “White Diamonds” cologne being the most popular answer, although some preferred simple everyday scents such as vanilla, cocoa and orange peel.
Swain then read the minutes of the last meeting.
Members brought items for the food pantry and shoes for the shoe project for third-world countries water supplies.
•Allen read the board notes and gave gifts of appreciation to Phyllis Pryor and Swain for extra time and service to the club.
• Allen announced that the recent bake sale that the HCE helped sponsor with the Golden Years Club, United Methodist Women and other individuals, was well-attended and a success. Proceeds from the bake sale went to the BES for a school project.
• The club discussed and planned for the Get-Acquainted Day brunch which will be held on Thursday, April 11, at the Golden Years building, in Brownstown. Registration will be at 9 a.m. and brunch is at 9:30.  The annual Make it-Bake it-Sew it-Grow-it fundraiser auction will be held. Entertainment will be an original HCE skit, presented by the Sefton “Golden Girls.”
• Dee Dee Diveley gave the lesson, “Make Your heart Feel Like Dancing,” which featured information about fruits and vegetables in your diet. Diveley passed out informational hand-outs which also contained recipes to everyone. As Diveley is a retired nurse, she also shared other tips and suggestions for a healthy diet.
• Shirley Klitzing handed out two pamphlets related to the lesson, “Food or Supplements? What is the Answer?”
She discussed the many supplements, their ingredients, when, why and how they should be used. She gave information on their vitamins and minerals food sources, RDA/adequate intakes and what the specific vitamin and mineral does.
• The skit for the HCE Get Acquainted Day was discussed and volunteers given parts.
• Practice day for the skit will be held next Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Golden Years building. Ladies are to take their hats.
• Following the lessons, Allen read an item on geese and how their habits and characteristics can be guidelines for human relationships.
A recipe for poncho casserole was shared by Carol Oldham. Shirley Mattes read a poem written by her brother about the NRA.  
Door prizes were won by Sharon Wilhelm, Delores Dukeman, Carol Oldham, Alice Scott, Marilyn Yakel, Sally Behrends, Helen Klitzing, Pryor and Shirley Mattes. Also present were: Swain, Elizabeth Kasten, Allen, Panzi Blackwell, Diveley, Betty Williams, Lucille Fisher, Shirley Klitzing and LaVonne Kramer.
United Methodist Church
Pianist Betty Miller played the prelude as the congregation of the United Methodist Church gathered for Sunday morning worship service.
Bradley Schwarm lighted the altar candles. Pastor Don Thomas shared the announcements, recognized the birthday of Marlys Thomas and led in prayer.
Jeff Kelly and Hubert Williams presented the tithes and offerings.