Engadine
By Julie Freeman 477-6959 engadinenews@sbcglobal.net

This turkey, photographed with columnist Julie Freeman, made an unexpected Mother's Day visit to the Freeman family.

It seems like the leaves popped out overnight, and the grass is greener on both sides of the fence. We mowed twice in one week. With the price of gas, I hope it slows down.

Lifelong area resident Hattie Comfort, 94, passed away Friday morning, May 11. Her kindness and smile will never be forgotten. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.

The Garfield Township Cemetery spring cleanup will be Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 19, at the Engadine and Naubinway cemeteries. Please bring your own rakes, garbage bags, or any other tools needed. Old wreaths and flowers that are not removed by Monday, May 21, will be discarded. For questions, call Garfield Township Clerk Linda Bennett at 477-6481.

Auditions for "You Can't Get There From Here," a play in two acts by Pat Cook, produced by the Curtis Community Arts Council, will be Monday, May 21, and Tuesday, May 22, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Curtis Park Center. Scripts are available for preview at the Newberry Library, Curtis Library, Curtis Service, and Engadine Library. Performance dates will be Thursday, July 19, Friday, July 20, and Saturday, July 21. For more information, call 586-9974 or 586-6384.

The 5th Annual Walleye Jamboree will be held Memorial Day weekend, Friday, May 25, through Sunday, May 27, on South and Big Manistique Lakes in Curtis. For more information, call (906) 586-3454 or (906) 586-3704.

The Paradise Community Yard Sale will be Saturday, May 26, and Sunday, May 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., sponsored by the Paradise Area Chamber of Commerce.

Feneley, McNeil, Nesbit American Legion Post 290 will be having an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast Sunday, May 27, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Engadine Township Hall. Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for children age 6 to 12, and free for children age 5 and younger.

Boucha-Draves-Raski VFW and Auxiliary memorial services will be held at the Mill Pond Park in Engadine Sunday, May 27, at 1:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.

There will be a benefit dinner for the Dimmer family, who lost their son and home to a fire in early April. The Dimmers did not have insurance of any kind, the home was a total loss, and surgery was required for Bill Dimmer. Please help this family by attending the benefit Saturday, June 23, beginning at 5 p.m. in the gymnasium of the St. Francis de Sales School in Manistique. All donations are gratefully accepted. A live auction will be performed as well as a mini raffle.

If you can help in any way, please call Kristen Seltenright at 450-5983 or 283-3214. Donations may also be dropped off at Southeastern Dedicated, 321 Deer Street, next to Midwest Sound and Security in Manistique.

Happy birthday to Lynzee Bigelow May 18, Bob Hanson, Jason Ott, Rudy Kleeman, and Don Clark Sr. May 19, Kacie Rutledge, Harold Frazier, and Koreen Troyer May 20, Amanda Paquin, Dolan Chaffin, Avery Dailey, Laura Frisch, Nicole Butkovich, and Darrell Williams May 21, Travis Weger, Jennifer Ketcher, Sandy Frazier, Steve Zimmerman, Ron Leveille, and my sister, Jan Pershinske, May 22, Tyler Butkovich May 23, and D.C. Beckman and Don Butkovich May 24.

Happy anniversary to Dave and Mary Frazier, Tony and Kari Frazier, and Don and Marilyn McArthur May 18, Wayne and Elizabeth Clemens May 21, and Jonathan and Diane Miller and Chuck and Susan Fosdick May 23.

Last Sunday, as I mowed grass, I noticed one hen turkey across the road heading toward town. The next thing I knew, she was coming back my way but now walking on my side of the road. I kept mowing the grass, and when I looked again, the silly thing was then back on the other side of the road.

Traffic was slow that day, thank goodness, but the funniest thing happened. I was making my last pass of mowing, and here comes the turkey walking across the road right toward me. The mower was running but the turkey kept coming. I turned the mower off, and it stood there right beside me, acting like it was going to jump in my lap.

I patted my leg to see if it would come up by me, then got off the mower, the hen looked at me and sat down on the ground. I still couldn't believe she was doing this. I reached down and began petting her back, with my surprise she let me pick her up and carry her up the side of the road into our driveway.

Our living room window was open, and my husband said to our son, "Mom's carrying a turkey!" I quietly told them to grab the camera and some bread. The turkey sat in my lap on the ground for a little while; she even tucked her head in beside me to rest. My son got the biggest kick out of it when she took her long neck and put it next to mine on my shoulder, as if she was giving me a hug.

My husband called me Dr. Doolittle, but the good size hen wasn't hurt. I guess she just wanted some company. I've always been fond of animals, but I have to say nothing like this has ever happened. It sure will be a Mother's Day I'll never forget.

Until next time, take care.