Brownstown-Sefton News
In Response to Inquiries
Lady, the sweet little senior mini-mare, is doing well, and staying snug and warm in the little barn she shares with Madricka, the mother donkey, and her son, Bucky. Of course, they have their own “apartments,” but share the window. The partition separating their living quarters is a wire cattle panel, which allows their body heat to benefit all three while they still have their own space.
Actually, Madricka and Lady have shared their space before without problems, but Lady is much older, and we feel that she is more comfortable with her own room.
The donkeys have their heavy, rather shaggy winter coats, while Lady has a thick, but smoother coat.
She is pretty with her dark winter coat. Her cost is much lighter and almost white in the summer.
She doesn’t look like Trigger or Champion, but she is very sweet and loveable.
She gets special, easily dissolvable feed, as her teeth are probably getting worn down, and we shred her carrots so she can eat them easily.
The donkeys both have strong teeth and crunch them right down, but we still cut them in shorter lengths.
Baby Bucky runs to the fence when he sees us coming, anticipating a carrot treat. He looks so cute with his fuzzy winter bangs above his eyes.
If we are a little off-schedule with their meals, Madricka will pace up and down the fence, with Bucky following her every step. Madricka also watches the back door in the mornings and will bray to get our attention when we step outside.
Lady just nickers softly to us when we are near her. She is too demure and lady-like to make loud noises, but when she sees the carrot treats coming, she comes to the fence to get hers.
Although we certainly can’t complain about our 2015 winter, I think all on the Homestead (namely, critters and humans alike) are looking forward to nice, sunshine-filled spring mornings.
Son Todd Blackwell designed and built a really nice deck, complete with a roof, on the back of our home just before winter set in, and I am anxious to start having my early morning cup of coffee on it.
I loved doing that when our daughter, Jill and her husband, Don, took us on vacation in Tennessee a few years ago. Our cabin was rather isolated, high on a mountain, and in the early mornings there, before anyone else was up, I would sit outside every morning and listen to a far-away rooster crowing and a couple of far-away hound dogs barking. They bought Bill and me Tennessee coffee cups, and I drank my coffee from mine in the early, beautiful Tennessee mornings.
After we came back home, I kept up the practice (when we were still in the woods home, and after we moved here, but before the new porch was built) until the weather got too cold. However, my cup recently got broken and I sort of (and then outright boldly) hinted, but so far no one has offered to take us back to Tennessee to buy a new coffee cup.
But the first not-too-cold Illinois morning, I will bundle up and sit on our new porch and drink my coffee from my Illinois cup with the pretty flowers and birds on it, listen to the neighbor’s rooster crowing and to Todd’s hound dog barking. Both are off aways in the distance and are like music to my ears in these beautiful early Illinois mornings.
Helping Hands Food Pantry Ministry
Food pickup will be Feb. 4 and distribution give-away will be at Brownstown United Methodist Church on Feb. 6 and 8, from 10 a.m.-noon. One box allowed per family. Sponsored by the Brownstown Ministerial Alliance.
Emanuel/United Methodist Sweetheart Potluck …
… will be held Feb. 12 at Emanuel Church at 11 a.m.
NOTICE
Anyone who has extra jars with lids and quart plastic bags, Helping Hands Food Pantry Ministry could use them to rebag bulk items.
Fayette County HCE Board Meets
Nine members attended the Fayette County Home and Community (HCE) Education Board meeting Monday, Jan. 25, at the Extension Office in Vandalia.
The club president, Flo Allen, called the meeting to order at 10 a.m., and led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Joyce Mueller, club secretary, gave the roll call.
Discussions during the meeting included:
• Anita Smith is to fill the office of international chairwoman, due to Shirley Klitzing’s withdrawal from the position because of health issues.
• The offices of family issues (Donna Blair) and community outreach (formerly filled by Anita Smith) will be combined.
• The board members gave reports regarding their offices. Allen shared correspondence received from Lighthouse Pregnancy Center of Vandalia; a thank you card from the Extension office staff; and a newsletter regarding the IAHCE conference, including a 2016 proposal from the bylaws/standing rules committee.
The IAHCE (Illinois Association Home and Community Education) annual state Conference will be held March 15-17 at Embassy Suites in East Peoria this year.
Allen read the proposal from the bylaws/standing rules committee and led a discussion regarding the proposals.
• Board members Ashley Davis and Debbie Segrist were elected to attend the conference as delegates from Fayette HCE. Davis is scheduled to say grace for the Wednesday luncheon during the conference.
Projects of Fayette County HCE Units
In the community-The highly successful collection of plastic lids, which are used to provide attractive and durable outside benches for nursing homes, churches, etc.
• And others – Donations to veterans’ hospitals, i.e., overseas military coupons and Christmas cards, current calendars, valentines, magazines, clothes, toiletries and coffee; SA.F.E., sweats and flip flops; autism-weighted blankets and pillows, sheets and shoes; Caring & Sharing; food pantries; Free Summer Lunches for Kids and Pack A Backpack for children; rehab center; nursing homes-bingo, skits, crafts and visits; like-new children’s books for health department, for Partners in Reading; libraries-books and magazines; hospitals and nursing homes-books, magazines, lap robes, wheelchairs caddies, pillowcases, teddy bears, plastic bottles, etc.; pregnancy center baby showers; veterinarians and animal shelters-old sheets, blankets, towels, toys, treats, food, collars, leashes, etc.; cancer-Yoplait pink tops; Ronald McDonald House-aluminum tabs; schools, Partners in Reading, baskets, Tyson Project A+label, Campbell Soup labels, Box Tops for education, Coke product caps, telephone books and used ink cartridges; missionaries-new and canceled postage stamps; Clothes for Africans; Lions Club-glasses and hearing aids, cell phones and Pennies for Friendship.
Displayed was a garment called a clothing protector, a potential project for a fundraiser. The protector, which goes just behind the neck, opens from the front, covering the front of the clothing in a long vest-like fashion, is easy to put on and take off, and can be made from choice of washable, attractive and durable materials, with print patterns, colors and sizes chosen appropriately for a man or woman.
• An invitation / was received regarding a program at Northside Christian Church on Wednesdays at 6 p.m., beginning Feb. 3 –“As We Look At The Religion of Islam’.
• Dates of future HCE Events – “Get Acquainted Day (April) and the
Fayette County annual meeting (June) – were tentatively discussed and will be announced later when confirmed.
The meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m. After the meeting, several of the members met for lunch at Denny’s Restaurant in Vandalia.
Brownstown United Methodist Church
Pianist Bette Stolte played the prelude as the congregation of the United Methodist Church gathered for Sunday services. Junior Williams and Jeff Kelly served as ushers.
Emma Laow, Jarin Evans, Courtney Arnold, Gavin Schnarre, Montana and Dakota Arnold lighted the altar candles.
Pastor Don Thomas greeted all, recognized the birthdays and anniversaries, shared the announcements, prayer list and requests, and led in prayer. The birthday song was sung to Mannie Orr.
Pam Orr led children’s worship, and served cakes and juice. Flo Allen led the adult class.
Announcements
• Feb. 10-Ash Wednesday, beginning of Lent.
• Feb. 1 at 1 p.m.-United Methodist Women will meet at Emanuel Church and observe call to prayer and self-denial with a special offering. This is rescheduled from the Jan. 21 meeting that was canceled.
• The Sweetheart Potluck will be held Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. at Emanuel Church
• Brownstown/Emanuel churches now have a website – www.brownstownmethodistchurches.com.