VIENNA — I must start the first article of this new year with sad news. We lost our sister Betty West on New Years Eve. She was living in South Dakota with her daughter Kami Denet. Thank you, kids for taking such good care of her for us.
That leaves three sisters of the original seven. Thankfully their daughters and friends are stepping up to fill the empty places left by our loses.
This month is Lucy’s turn to host. However, because of her health problems her granddaughter, Mellissa Johnson, took over all the cooking and cleaning chores involved in hosting a sisters’ day. Thank you, Mellissa.
We gathered at Lucy’s apartment and Mellissa passed the first hurdle…the table was set and the coffee was waiting in the pot and the tea was made. We collected our drinks and pick our chairs at the table. Mellissa set out a platter of homemade cinnamon rolls and a bowl of sliced strawberries. A tasty light breakfast to begin our day.
Those present were Lucy Branson, Mary Jo Crider, Shirley Huffman, Linda Crider, Pam Hale, Sandra White, Susie Kleffner, Mellissa Johnson and Judy Kiaser. (my friend and chauffeur from Wardsville)
Brother Harold got a new great grand girl on the 5th of January. Her parents are David Zink and Kiesha Bridges and one very proud big brother King. Not to mention Aunt Linda.
Shirley told us about cleaning out her chest type freezer. If you have one you know how easy it is to lose things in the bottom of those. Well, like everyone who has one you know you find lots of buried treasure. She got everything out, sorted and organized except for one package of chicken. It was laying on the floor of the freezer nestled in a sheet of ice about an inch thick. After chipping, and melting and beating and a few choice words it finally came free. She was so fed up with the chicken she thawed it out and cooked it for supper. Problem eliminated.
I thought we could use another Leo story so here you are: Everyone knows how Leo loved to pass his wealth of knowledge on to the younger generations. He was going to show some of his grandkids how to roast wieners over an open campfire. Leo always demonstrated every step. First you have to cut your roasting sticks. Next you put your hot dog on your stick and hold it over the fire. Leo was talking and explaining the way to hold it over the fire to get a perfect roast. As he was talking, he let his stick sink to close to the fire. As he was talking, he heard a thump and look down to see his hot dog laying in the fire. He said now did you see that? That’s what happens when you don’t pay attention to what you’re doing.
Kenny’s wife has a dog grooming business. She shampoos a dog and ended up with scratches up and down both arms. Apparently, dogs don’t like to take bathes any more than little boys do. HA! HA!
The bridge work on Hwy 42 will make it a longer trip to get to Mary Jo house from Vienna and for her to get to Vienna for Sisters Day. However, my route will not be affected. If you know us you know that we will find a way to meet no matter what they do to the roads.
We talked about round abouts again. For people who don’t use them regularly or have to go through a new one they can be very confusing. Shirley calls round abouts, run abouts. If you’ve ever had to go around one two or three times to find the correct exit you understand what she means.
We got to talking about camping. Lucy, Shirley, Katie and their husband and kids loved it. The girls would put a pot of beans on the campfire to cook while they went fishing or some other camping activity. When they returned the beans would be done ready to eat. Well, one time they stayed out longer then usual and when they got back to the camp the beans were burned black. Yes, they had back up food to eat but sandwiches just don’t taste as good when you have your taste buds all ready for ham and beans.
The breakfast dishes were cleared away and the visiting continued.
Lucy’s daughter Karen from Idaho called to say hi which made a bright spot in our special day.
We had a visit from Alin Hett, the reporter for the Advacate. He had heard about the Sisters Day articles and wanted to see what the fuss was about. We had a very nice get acquainted visit. We got to know each other and how our articles fit with his job and how the subscribers like them. Alin left to continue with his work and we continued with our day. We all agreed He is a nice “young” man. Most of us have grandkids as old or older than he is. However, since we expect him to outgrow that…He will be welcome to join us any third Tuesday, if he can find us, we change locations every month.
We talked about spelling and grammar errors in the articles. I promise those old nuns taught me better. In my defense, it’s my old fingers and the computer causing the problem along with my proof-reading shortfall. I swear I proof read every one from top to bottom.
Lunch time rolled around and it became clear that Lucy’s cooking ability has pass down two generations at least. Lunch consisted of Ham and Beans and cornbread. I would tell you how good it is but I’m not supposed to talk with my mouth full. I will tell you it was a delicious combination with Mellissa’s homemade coleslaw. Dessert was a yellow cake with whipped frosting. YUM! YUM!
When the older sisters were children. Daddy fixed up an old motor to mom’s washing machine. The problem was that you had to stomp a peddle to get it to state. Mom would try and try and couldn’t get it to start so she would call daddy to come and start it. It took him several tries and He used a cuss word with each stomp until it started. Sometimes when daddy wasn’t around Katie would try to start it just like daddy did. She thought she needed to use the same words daddy did to get it to start.
Another wash day chore was hanging up the socks on the garden fence. With all those kids they had a bushel basket full of socks to hang up. The garden fence was the kind with the square pattern that meant one sock for each square. Can you imagine how many socks a bushel basket would hold. By the time Lois and I got big enough to hang up clothes we clipped the socks on the clothes line with the other clothes.
That’s about enough for this month. I hope you enjoyed the first article for 2026.
Thought: There’s a place inside the heart that only sisters know, it’s filled with trust and loyalty and over time it grows. And even when it happens that they find themselves apart, sisters never lose that special place inside their hearts
Fun Fact: As Deputy Barny Fife, he was so inept he had to carry his bullet in his pocket… As Don Knotts he was a veteran of the second world war who was awarded World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, (with 4 bronze service stars) Army Good Conduct Medal, Marksman Badge, (with carbine bar) and Honorable Service Lapel Pin. He was born in 1924 and We salute Him for the true hero he was.
