News from Island Falls

On Sunday, Feb. 3, Clara Hathaway was honored by her church family on the occasion of her 101st birthday. Following the church service, she was guest of honor at a coffee hour and received many cards and good wishes along with the birthday cake which she thoroughly enjoyed. She was accompanied to the service by her daughter, Mary Sherwood, who has since returned home to the Bangor area.
    Clara also enjoys playing Bridge which she does every Tuesday. On Tuesday, Feb. 5, she was again honored on her birthday by her many Bridge friends who play cards with her every week.
A beautiful cake, made by Alice Briggs, was presented to her along with many cards and good wishes. The game continued after the cake was enjoyed.
I received some good news recently from my neighbor and friend, Clayton Varney, who said that he received a phone call from George Banton, former resident of Island Falls now living in Florida. Both he and his wife, Marie, are doing well even though the are under the care of their doctor there. He misses his hometown and friends, but is unable to travel the distance to visit.
Well, the snow is a bit higher now and getting closer to my cedar tree where I hang my bird feeders. I looked out the other morning, about 6:45 a.m., and there was one of my deer family very busily feasting on the branches of my cedar while perched on top of the great mound of snow by the tree. She was there quite a while and my birds were not happy about it.
I got a call from a lady about the mixture of peanut butter and lard that I use for the birds and she is going to try it. That will make all her feathered friends very happy, I’m sure.
The parade of deer did not occur the day after the snow storm, but I put out their treats anyway and it was gone in the morning. So, they are still around and I will still look forward to seeing them as they very slowly trudge through their path to where the goodies are.
The first Lenten breakfast was held Feb. 10  in the vestry of the Whittier  Congregational Church and was well attended. Chef Candy McKellar was assisted by master bacon maker Sam Sewall, Sharon Grant, Verna Boone and Marion Hoar did the waiting on while Don McKellar was the pancake maker. The menu was orange juice, coffee, blueberry pancakes, home made Anadama bread, toasted, eggs and bacon. These breakfasts are very popular and all are well attended, especially by our Catholic friends, and every one looks forward to the good times and conversations every Sunday.
I have  recently heard from our friends in the sunny south, Dick and Claudette Delong. It has been a bit coolish there they say, but at least, they have no snow to put up with.
Today, after this past storm, I am finally housebound. My driveway is a sheet of ice so will have to wait until help arrives with sand so I won’t be slipping and sliding all over the place. I can’t even go out and feed the birds, who are flocking to what is left in the feeders. I saw the little red squirrel running up and down the cedar tree, looking quite desperate as he looked for seeds. I haven’t seen the deer family yet  and am hoping help will arrive so I can get out to give them their goodies. There is a hard covering of ice on the snow that will make it hard for them to parade through their trail and up to the house.