This seems to be one of those mornings when I do everything wrong but it started well. I’m late with this column but I’m sending it anyway.
I just had a great conversation with Mr. Huet Hebert, (and yes, he said it was ok to use his name) of Cecilia. Mr. Huet told me the hummingbird feeders he bought are working well and attracting lots of hummers. Mine is not, but that’s mostly my fault since I forget to fill it even though it hangs right outside a window where I can see it clearly.
Anyway, Mr. Huet and I learned that we had some mutual acquaintances in Stephensville and that he had been an electrician, had I think he said three dogs. We also found we were about the same age I’m a little older but not by much.
It is nice to chat with him and hope he continues.
Meanwhile, this morning I also got a text from my sister in Michigan, directing me to check out a website on Helmer’s Castle, a building in Jackson, Michigan where I was born. The castle wasn’t really a castle but it was made of stone and sat way up atop a hill in the Jackson countryside in the middle of a forest surrounded by fences festooned with NO TRESPASSING signs. So, you guessed it, a friend and I were bike riding in the country once and could just see the tip of the stone tower of the castle way up above and we decided to investigate. Of course we knew we shouldn’t and I wasn’t a risk taker but somehow this was irresistible. We climbed under the fence, walked up the two track drive (in broad daylight) and got to the top where we could see the “castle” a really neat house made of stone with a tower. I guess we were deciding what to do next when a door on the bottom level opened and a very big dog bounded out right toward us. We turned around, thought we shouldn’t run and the trees were all small so we walked slowly but steadily down the drive with the dog right behind us - never touching but close. At the bottom we scrambled under the fence, got on our bikes and headed for home. The dog turned around and went back up to the tower.
There were all sorts of stories about a “crazy man” living in the tower, none of which were true but we never went back. My sister found a site where you can now pay $400 for a private steak dinner and tour of the castle. The place was for sale once and she and I joked about pooling our resources and buying the place. Not happening. But it was fun to remember that time.
Bingo for Seniors went well on Sept. 2. Not a huge crowd but plenty to have fun. The new person to run the games, Deborah Gaspard could not be there so two of us pinch hitted this time. Attendance will get better now that people know the Bingo games will once again be held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, from 10 to noon, same as always. And the people who come are all so nice and helpful. It’s just fun. Come on over!
Teche News’ Lower St. Martin correspondent, Linda Cooke, can be emailed at lindacooke1939@ gmail.com.
