Flatwillow Homemakers met at Melody Whitcher’s home on December 10 for their December meeting and Christmas gift exchange. Birthdays celebrated in December were Linda Gershmel and Bonnie Moore. The Pledge to the flag was led by Linda. Melody read the thought for the day called “Life Recipe”. Roll call was answered with your favorite Christmas recipe.

Donna mentioned the table favors made by Luann and Ginger for the seniors. They were very cute and well received. Melody is working on a way to hang the quilt from Susan Sharkey in courthouse. She has sewed a pocket on the back for a dowel or a curtain rod to slide through to support this beautiful heavy quilt on the wall.

Sandi reported she got 4 names off the senior tree and purchased Christmas presents for them. She had two male names and two female names. Melody mentioned that for our end of season party in May, Gari King has offered to make a luncheon for us and give a tour of their home. We will work out the details closer to time. Florence won the blind pig. The next meeting will be January 14, 2020 at Sandy’s home. After the meeting, we had our gift exchange and a fun time keeping our gift or stealing from someone else. It was a fun Christmas party. Sandy and Arlene came from Billings and picked up Florence in Roundup. Donna, Raye Anne, Linda, Luann, Jean, and Ginger from Winnett all were there. See you next year.

***NEWS NOTE –

Our January Homemaker meeting is postponed from January 14 to January 21, 2020. It will still be at Sandy’s home. The weather is supposed to be bitter cold and we all agreed we didn’t want to be on the road in that bitter cold. Next week will be warmer so we will wait and have our meeting next week.

Jim Johnke and Melody Whitcher hosted their annual New Year Eve’s potluck and card party. They furnished the meat, everyone brought salads, vegetables, desserts and snacks. It was a fun way to usher out the old year. Butch and Phyllis Arthur, Jesse and Sandy Gonzalez, Don and Sunny Lageschulte, Tom and Diane Iverson, Tye, Raye Anne, and Donna Lund were all there. There were prizes for high, low and traveling prizes. Diane won the women’s high, there was a tie between Sunny and Phyllis for the average, and Raye Anne won the low prize. On the men’s side, Butch won high, Don won average, and Jesse won the low prize. Jesse also won the traveling prize for having the 100 aces, Raye Anne won the prize for a double pinochle, and Sunny won the family prize. Good friends, good food, and good fun was had by all. Thank you to Jim and Melody for hosting such a fun evening.

We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of Dolly Smith. She was Donna Lund’s sister-in-law, an aunt to Tye and Terrena. She passed away in Veteran, Wyoming after a battle with cancer. Her graveside services were in Lewistown. She grew up and graduated from Roy High School, had lived in Winifred, Grass Range, Shepherd, Pompeys Pillar, and several places in Wyoming.

On a personal note, I went to Dallas, TX for a week for my niece’s wedding. My dad and I flew down there the 2nd of January. I don’t think I will complain to much about Billings traffic after traveling in Dallas area traffic. It was a fun trip.

We enjoyed 60+ weather all week. When we flew home, we left Dallas in 60 degrees and arrived in Billings at 19 degrees. Now the forecast is for bitter cold temperatures all week. Need to forget about that nice sunny weather and remember this is Montana in January. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and has a blessed New Year.