The Secret Pals met at Brenda Spencer’s great pole building on Friday afternoon. She and Mark have decorated walls with the beer mirrors, old tools, and other momentos and memorabilia. A fire was burning warmly in the wood stove, in the corner.

There is a big TV in the other corner and lucky is the person who gets to sit in the barber chair. Brenda had Halloween decorations on the tables. It was very festive.

Russ Nesberg took all the pals on a hayride throughout the woods. There was no wind and the sun was still up, giving us a wonderful view of the colorful fall leaves. Susie Nesberg and her sister, Sandy, provided liquid refreshments as we enjoyed the ride. Dot Glashaw was a beatnik with a very curly, black wig, black mustache and beard, and dark sunglasses. I was a deviled egg. As always, we had a variety of good food.

We revealed our secret pals and drew names for the upcoming year. Those attending were our hostess, Brenda Spencer, Dot Glashaw, Sharon Smith, Pega Kennedy, Lara Gustafson, Susie Nesberg, Sandy Sharp, Pricilla Revord, Jerri Rose, Joyce Gustafson, Lois Movalson, and a guest, June White. Pega couldn’t talk due to laryngitis; we missed her repartee.

Ann and Jim Dyer spent the weekend in Greenville visiting with Ann Wright. They ate at their favorite restaurant, the Huckleberry, which honors birthday celebrants with a dinner for the price of a penny per year. It was Ann Dyer’s birthday that weekend and I have sworn not to say what her dinner cost. Otherwise most of the time was spent visiting and shopping.

Brenda Spencer will have a gift shop in a new room built onto the pole building. We all had a tour on Friday. She also has a nice craft shop in the works.

Candy Humphrey and Jessie Humphrey of Traverse City are at their home on Worth Road this week. Jennie Humphry is home in Traverse City looking after the horses. Brother Matt just had four wisdom teeth extracted. He said the dentist told him he was going to have to “put him down” for the procedure. Maybe “put him out” would be a better choice of words.

Tim Dawson-Townson of Boston, Massachusetts, was a guest of Kenny and Sharon Smith last week. Tim has an interest in the plane Ken is building in his shop.

Bob Flora underwent successful knee replacement surgery to replace the first replaced knee, which was defective. He is doing well.

Mike Jorgenson was up north this weekend. He and his dad, Owen Jorgenson, put the sailboat up for the winter. They took one last sail on Saturday.

Jimica Diamond is anticipating her dog, Apache’s, forthcoming litter of pups. Jimica will be soon looking for “parents” for the boxer-mix offspring.

Dennie and Jackie Rippett have returned home to Brevort after a week’s stay in Royal Oak. While they were gone, their son, Colin and his wife, Kara, spent a quiet week at Dennie and Jackie’s condominium here in Brevort. The kids had dinner all ready for the folks when they returned Friday afternoon.

Micki Knowles had to travel to Marquette last Wednesday but could not take the family dogs, Annie and Grace, so I got to let the dogs out and visit with them for awhile. Annie and Grace are so personable and friendly it was a pleasure to spend a little time with them. I can’t forget the cats, so warm and ample and friendly also. You know what I meant when I said “ample.”

Lee Foster is back home after the honey harvest and collecting the honeycomb in Bliss.

June White was home on Wildwood Lane last week. June and Denny have bought a home in Indiana near their daughter and son-in-law.

Dot Glashaw attended the Red Hats meeting at the Masonic Lodge Thursday. On Wednesday she went to the community fund awards meeting at the library. Our local hospice is part of the community fund and the fund does award scholarships every year, some to students pursuing a career in the medical field. As it is called the community fund, it looks to the community for donations to make these awards.

Mary Carney and Warren Cunningham have returned from a trip out east, primarily to Mary’s family cabin on Portage Lake, way back in the woods. The weather was fine and the color was peak while they were there. Hurricane Wilma did cause the rivers to rise on their way home but stopped short of actually flooding the roads. It was the last few days of the moose hunt and they observed quite a few moose hanging from the poles. Mary celebrated her 65th birthday while on their trip. I’ve been there and done that. When Mary and Warren got home, Mary had to go to Indiana to appraise a private library of an acquaintance. She was a guest at their lovely old home.

Happy birthday to Ann Meier November 2, and to Pam Movalson November 4. Happy anniversary to Bill and Marge Borland November 6.