Brownstown-Sefton News

Wild Game Attracted by Clover
Translation – Little Buddy Bunny and his family are enjoying the white clover blossoms in the lawn. They may be wild rabbits, but they are not “game” here on the Homestead.
We enjoy watching them, especially in the early morning. “Buddy” comes right up to the porch steps and seems unafraid of us. Probably the bird mothers, Robin and Wren, who built their nests on our porch, told him we were not hazardous to their health.
However, we are discouraging nest-building now, as they do not leave the nesting areas very neat when they leave.
Katie, the doggie, and Bill are both doing well after their recent incident.
Baby Bucky Burro and his mentor, Lady, the senior mini-horse, are tolerating the weather well, as they have a window fan in their barn window and plenty of water to wash down their good hay from friend, Josh. Bucky likes to lie in the sun, and runs and kicks his heels, even when it is so hot. We figure his ancestors who immigrated from the dessert regions, like the Holy Land, have some bearing on his ability to bear the heat. He also likes to just lie in the hot sun and nap.
The late little adorable Smoky donkey would also run and play with his barrel when the weather was so hot. Guess it is just their nature. Not so with Lady. She stays in her barn and enjoys the fan.
The longhorn cowgirls also like to lie out in the sun, instead of getting under their shade trees, where there is usually a breeze.  
Hope you all had a safe and happy 4th. Missed the church news this week, but I understand.
Announcements
Sefton Unit HCE gals’ special outing will be July 13. Meet at Brownstown High School parking lot at 10 a.m. and head for Cracker Barrel in Effingham for our regular July meeting. Please plan to attend, and we can shop before returning home.  
Statehouse Story Time …
… for children at our Vandalia Statehouse at 10 a.m. every Thursday, an educational, but fun time, with stories and crafts every Thursday morning in July. This Thursday is “Popcorn at the Palace” featuring homemade popcorn by Chris Jenkins, period cooking demonstrator, and a popcorn science experiment. (Sounds like fun for grownups too!)
Next week will be “Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt,” featuring stories from quilters. Make your own special quilt.
Coming & Going
Betty & Donna Travel To Branson
On Sunday, June 25, Donna Boggs of Vandalia and Betty Miller of Brownstown traveled to Branson, Mo., on a really beautiful travel day.
No problems and the ladies arrived in Branson mid-afternoon .
Since no shows were planned on Sunday evening, they drove around table Rock Lake and enjoyed the beauty of the Ozarks Mountains.
On Monday, they made reservations for the production of “Moses” at the beautiful Sight and Sound Theatre. Monday evening, they enjoyed the Presley’s Show, which was delightful as usual and very much enjoyed.
On Tuesday afternoon, they thoroughly enjoyed the production of “Moses.” It was good acting, beautiful music and had very well-trained animals.
Following the presentation of “Moses”, they had time to take in the “Baldnobbbers” show.
They started a leisurely drive home on Wednesday morning, arriving home late Wednesday afternoon. A good time and a safe trip home was enjoyed. Thee girls are always ready to go to Branson.
Also on a good note, they are adding on another lane on Route 66 and fixing a sidewalk along Route 66.
The Ole’ Homesteaders Travel North …
… to Decatur and then taken on to Springfield by daughter and husband, Don and Jill Jenkins. We stopped in a new place to eat, “Freddy’s,” in Springfield and enjoyed the food, especially the ice cream.
They then took us to a huge store, Scheel’s, which was almost overwhelming. The two level super store had an escalator, and a huge ferris wheel was operating right  in the middle of the store from the first floor on up to the high ceiling on the second floor. (I passed up that opportunity).  
There was also an overhead aquarium that had two glass columns down to the floor (rather like support  pillars), except they also were part of the upper aquarium and also contained beautiful, numerous fish.
There were also huge displays of (taxidermist) animals, birds, rattlesnakes of every description and variety on huge rock cliff formations complete with natural-looking vegetation. Deer, giant bears, mountain lions, etc., were also placed about.
It was so realistic – I thought for sure I heard the rattlesnake shake its tail.  
There was also a variety of merchandise, such as furniture, paintings, Cardinals and Cubs apparel, jewelry, etc., etc.  
Happily, I had my camera; unhappily, I discovered I that I didn’t have a memory card in it. (Probably the one thing they didn’t sell). However, they promised us they would take us there again.