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Brownstown-Sefton News

Homestead Address Change…for  the Chicken Roost, That is
The girls, Blackie and Rhonda (hens), moved over the weekend from the little pen to the big chicken pen with an adjoining suite, complete with two roosts of different altitudes, rain-proof roof  (and drop-side-walls when needed), elevated water pan (to keep dirt out of their water when scratching for bugs) and their favorite nest for laying eggs, which is an old foot tub/bucket.
They both would rather use it than the nice plastic, pretty pink crate we had bought for them.  
It was quite a chicken roundup Saturday when Bill tried to catch them for the transfer. Their winter quarters had a very narrow gate and really low ceiling, the better to keep them warm and safe.
Anyone who knows Bill knows he is pretty huskily-built, and it was quite a feat for him to stoop down enough low enough and wedge (or crawl, a better description) into the small opening, let alone back out of it while holding two full-size and squawking, flopping, indignant hens.
But he accomplished the feat with only minor wounds from encounters with the surrounding chicken wire.
Blackie would have probably been lured or driven to the new pen, but Rhonda is still skittish around us, and we were afraid she would run into the woods into the waiting jaws of a fox or Sneaky Pete, the wily wolf.
Once they got into the new big pen and checked out their suite. and found their laying-bucket waiting for them, they soon settled down to big-time scratching for bugs. They were even talking pleasantly to each other.
We did not anticipate eggs the next day, as we figured the rather traumatic move would interfere with the laying mechanism, but the next day, two big brown eggs appeared in the bucket.
The girls sent some of their eggs to Lucille Fisher and daughter Helen to help provide their family with their special homemade, noodles, made from homemade eggs!
SOS (Signs Of Spring)
“All this beauty, just given to us” were the words of the late Mayme Griffith, as her family took her for car rides around the area, and are engraved on her stone in Griffith’s Cemetery.
Those words came to mind as I looked out my kitchen window and saw the redbud trees in bloom, the bluebells getting ready to bloom, the little wild birds flying about and the green grass, sparkling with the raindrops in the sunshine. A bright yellow dandelion is even blooming in Josie’s little doggie yard.
Another sign of spring is the opening of the flea market on U.S. Route 40. We visited friends Ed and Bonnie in their shop, and then went to Marilyn and “Speed” Dial’s  “eatery corner” of the flea market, where we greatly enjoyed one of their unbeatably delicious and tender huge tenderloin sandwiches, plus a big piece of Marilyn’s homemade pies (choice of peach, lemon meringue or coconut cream).
We have several friends there now who have booths filled with just about anything you are looking for.
Another sign of spring is the rumbling sound of mushrooms pushing up through the ground (some people think they are hearing a low thunder).
We haven’t found any yet, but we are armed and ready to hit the timber mushroom trail.
Yet another sign are the cute, fuzzy little chickens in Rural King. Sharon, the R.K. Chickens gal, said that they were expecting a lot of them to arrive.
Important Plea for Help in Locating …
… addresses for the Brownstown graduates of the years 1993 and on.
Nancy Pryor said that those addresses have “dropped through the cracks,” and she is appealing to their parents, graduates and anyone who would know their addresses to contact her via e-mail at npryor@frontiernet.net or call 427-3592. (This happening is easily understood by anyone who has worked on a computer.)
Coming Events
• Monday – Fayette County HCE Board meeting at 10:00 am at the Extension Office in Vandalia;
• Tuesday – Golden Years potluck/meeting at the Golden Years Building in Brownstown.
• Thursday at Brownstown Schools – TDAP shots to be given. These are for tetanus, diphtheria and whooping coughs, and are required for students entering the sixth grade.
What you sow…
…hopefully will reap a harvest in the community. A Community garden is being planned on Charlie Reece’s garden spot, for participation by anyone in the community.
Coming & Going
Catching up with the Puleos and Debbie
Ken and Wanda Puleo and Debbie McDonald went to Dix on Sunday to visit with Wanda’s mother, Ethel Pittman. Phillip and Jaunita Bruce joined them. Ethel wasn’t feeling very well and in a lot of pain due to arthritis. Ken set out a new double knockout rose bush for her to replace the one that didn’t survive the winter.
Golden Years Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day
Eighteen members and five guests signed in on the register for the club’s St. Patrick’s Day potluck meeting.
Club President Charlie Reece gave the welcome and introduced the guests:  Helen Klitzing, Mark Evans, Louella Christensen, the Rev. Jim Dann and Morgan Pryor. Birthdays acknowledged were those of Phyllis Sarver and Lenora Parkison.
Following the blessing asked by the Rev. Don Thomas, the guests were invited to be served from the potluck meal first.
Stars on the St. Patrick’s Day meal included Donnie Smail’s (and Dr. Suess’s Cat in the Hat’s) “Green Eggs and Ham” and the traditional ham and beans with cornbread; Ina’s butter beans; Preacher Don’s custard pie; and  someone’s delicious homemade noodles.
Following Donnie’s Kitchen K.P. crew cleanup, Reece opened the meeting for a brief financial report, given by Treasurer Smail.
Lucille Fisher brought a poem written by her 7-year-old great-granddaughter, Rachel Analise. The poem, read aloud by Panzi Blackwell, was very pretty and also very profound to be written by a 7-year-old. Rachel Analise is the granddaughter of Helen Klitzing. Blackwell also read a poem telling the story of the Homestead chickens’ lives and times and presented Lucille Fisher with a dozen of the Homestead eggs. Helen Klitzing also contributed a very interesting and entertaining story concerning a past Illinois governor.
Preacher Don finished off the entertainment with several humorous readings and riddles.
The next Golden Years potluck/meeting will be held March 27, with all Fayette County seniors welcome to join the good meals and fun.
Brownstown United Methodist
The congregation of the United Methodist Church was greeted by Pastor Don Thomas as they arrived for the morning worship service.
Pianist Bette Stolte played, “He Lifted Me” as Jarin Evans and Elaine Voelker lighted the altar candles. Thomas reviewed announcements and prayer concerns, and led in the opening prayer, with sincere sympathy to the family of long-time member, Margaret Durbin. Jeff and Renna Kelly took up the offering. Pastor Don delivered the sermon and closed with prayer.
Zach and Jenna Townsend led the Children’s fellowship and worship. Flo Allen led the adult class.
Announcements
• March 25 at 4 p.m. – Wolf Creek Cluster Lenten Luncheon Service will be held at Fairview UNM Church, with the Rev. John Eisfelder bringing the message. Special music and finger foods will be provided by the host church.
• April 15 at 5 p.m. – A free community potluck dinner at Brownstown United Methodist Church. The public is invited to attend.
• The United Methodist Women are collecting items for Cunningham Children’s Home in Urbana and Lessie bates Davis neighborhood House in East St. Louis.
The Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham is asking for one-handle school bags and items to fill bags.
All items collected will be taken to the Embarras River District UMW Spring meeting on April 26 at the First United Methodist Church in Marshall. Representatives from the facilities will be present with reports.

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