MONTGOMERY NEWS, week of March 3, 2024
Hello! Today is Sunday, March 3rd and we have 30F degrees here this morning. It’s so foggy I cannot see very far down the street. I headed out for Church at 7:45 am, as this has been a special day planned for several months. Today is the day, that we recognized four faithful people who have come to the United Methodist Church on Sundays to share their time and talents. Retired Rev. Robert Purvee has come the first Sunday of each month in 2023 to conduct a Service and serve Communion, Lay speakers John Gorton from Sheldon, and Merle Van Gieson have filled in at the pulpit alternating Sundays so there is always a Church service, and organist Patrick Evans, from Bakersfield, has kept our hymns sounding right on every note. Rev. Purvee had announced last Fall that his last scheduled Sunday would be December 3rd. Unfortunately, he was sick thus rescheduled to this Sunday.
For a special gift, Veronica deSaint Phalle painted a picture of our Church to present to Rev. Purvee. As Linda Van Gieson took his picture, he remarked, “It’s beautiful and I will treasure this forever.” Delicious refreshments were served for everyone to enjoy. Linda Elkins had made cheese cupcakes with a choice of strawberry or blueberry topping; Lois made doughnuts and cookies, and there were chocolate chip cookies with coffee, tea, apple cider, and milk. The fellows were all surprised and enjoyed every minute of talking with the members of the congregation and each letting them know how much they have been appreciated. God bless them always and forever.
Afterward, Veronica came up to our house for lunch. We had gotten her favorite sandwich at Jolley’s and we three ladies enjoyed our time at the family table eating and chatting. When our lunch was over Veronica, Penny and I went back to Church to clean up. Veronica had a few minutes before heading back to Johnson, so we played a game of cribbage. She has me interested in the game, it’s fun.
I was talking with my friend Morgan East who was married to Charles Pratt, a wonderful piano player, who played at many popular spots here in Vermont. Charles passed away three years ago, leaving behind his wife and Nicky his black kitty cat. Nicky was a rescue kitty who had been abandoned, and Charles and Nicky became great companions throughout the years. Nicky enjoyed being with Charles when he would sit down to play and Charles often recorded his playings. Since the death of Charles, Nicky sleeps on the piano, perhaps to be near Charles. When Morgan plays his recordings, Nicky comes nearby and stays put while the music is playing. Nicky was a remarkable hunter and kept the squirrels and mice away from their home. Morgan likes putting puzzles together, and she was missing a piece and looked, it seemed, forever for that piece, suddenly it appeared. Morgan wondered about the mystery — did Nicky hide it and finally bring it out in the open to be found? I love getting these precious true stories.
Just another little true story from my daughter Veronica while out walking her dogs this week. She saw a fluffy cat and a small skunk walking together, headed to a local barn in Johnson. She said they seemed friendly in their walk.
My next door neighbors, Marty and Alyso Vallender, are back from their ski trip in France, during the school vacation. Their young son Hudson visited their grandparents in Maine.
The regular school schedule will resume on Wednesday, and that will seem good for many since the windy and cold weather made it difficult to plan outdoor activities.
Happy Birthday to Kevin Scheffler, Beatrice Pressler 3/11; Cayden Stanley, Ryland Purrier, Cedric Lanphear 3/15; Annie Purrier, and Marshall Abramowitz 3/16.
• Q: Why are oak trees so forgiving? A: Because they turn over a new leaf every March.
• Q: Why is March the most popular month to use a trampoline? A: It’s springtime.
• Q: Why was the cow wearing a bell? A: Because her horns were broken.
—–M.L.T.A.
