Lost Springs
By EVELYN STRECKER
Lost Springs correspondent
(785) 965-7169
Dec. 15-21
Winter has set in with snow and low temperatures. A freezing fog turned everything white today. Typical weather for Christmas. Did you know in Finland reindeers do pull sleds in the snow? Children gather in groups of three or four to form a human sled and slide down the hills. The snow we have is fluffy like feathers. I cleaned my sidewalk with a broom. I remember playing fox and geese in snow deeper than we have. Making ice cream from snow was fun.
I see a squirrel leaping from one branch to another and onto the ground where he is digging in the snow for a black walnut.
Fred and Marguerite Utech accompanied Junior and Jeanetta Hanschu Thursday night to Hillsboro to attend Jakob Hanschu's Christmas program at Hillsboro High School auditorium.
Robert and Debbie Burns of Wichita hosted a pre-Christmas dinner. Guests were Alex and Jean Stuchlik; Chris and Melissa Stuchlik, Thomas, Timothy, Quentin, and Charles of Lincolnville; Gary and JoAnn Stuchlik, Derek, Amanda, Zachary, Nicholas, Maria, and Abigail of Pilsen; Tom and Diann Ensz, Colton, Kyle, Jacob, Joseph, and Natalie of Keller, Texas; Kelby and Rita Schawe and Sara, Terese, Joshua, Michael, and Peter Burns, all of Wichita.
Bob and Carol Makovec had a pre-Christmas dinner Sunday at their home. Guests included Darren and Amy Makovec, Ellie, Shelby, and Ryan; Randy and Colleen Klug, Alison and Nicole, Troy and Robyn Heitfield, Madison and Taylor, and Mark Makovec and friend, Chanelle and Hunter, all of Herington; Jennifer Makovec and Paul Forrester of Salina; and Irma and Bob Reznicek.
Fred and Marguerite Utech went with Junior and Jeanetta Hanschu Friday night to Hillsboro to attend Lucky Ducks Preschool Christmas program at the Mennonite church. Their grandson, Jorge Hanschu was in the program. Jorge is the son of Jayson and Jan Hanschu of Hillsboro.
Tom and Diann Ensz and children of Texas spent a week with his folks, J.B. and Luella Ensz, Newton. They will be visiting Diann's parents, Alex and Jean Stuchlik from Tuesday through Dec. 23.
Larry Rudolph said there were coyote and pheasant hunters at his place this past weekend. The coyote hunters did get some.
Terry and Julie Deines hosted a chili and chili dog supper Sunday in honor of their daughter, Carly's second birthday. Guests were Carly's sister, McKenzie and brother, Dylan, Mervin and Leona Deines, Charles and Yvonne Miller, Weldon and Rosemary Deines and Catherine, and Tracy Alt and daughter, Emma, all of Herington, Jeff and Gayla Deines, Shelby, Justin, Jessica, and friend Dustin of Lincolnville, Ross and Debbie Coup, Samantha and Adam of Hope and Kristine and Macie. They served Winnie-the-Pooh cake and ice cream. Carly had lots of fun opening her gifts.
Junior and Jeanetta Hanschu and Fred and Marguerite Utech went Sunday morning to Salina to attend the Christmas program at Trinity Lutheran Church. Their granddaughter, Kelly Albrecht was in the program. Kelly is the daughter of Neil and Jolene Albrecht.
Larry and Connie Jenkins and mom, Selma Ingram went Saturday to Junction City and Manhattan.
Frances Stuchlik drove to Lehigh Friday evening to the home of Larry and Susan Stuchlik. That night they went to Hutchinson Community College where Susan received her LPN pin during the pinning service. Frances stayed overnight with them. Since it stormed that night, Larry and Susan brought Frances home.
I received a call Monday from Connie (Benda) Maronville of Northglenn, Colo. She said she didn't like to write so she called me to wish me Merry Christmas. She said she ground poppy seed in her coffee grinder and was cooking it to make kolaches to mail to her daughter in Wisconsin. She also was making some for Christmas Eve supper. She told me Ed and Marcella Bichler are now living in an assisted living center outside of Portland, Ore.
I also received a letter from Paul and Virginia Wagner of Twisp, Wash. Paul is a grandson of John and Josephine (Navrat) Pospisil. They flew their Cessna 210 to Tucson, Ariz., in late October where they visited with their England friends. Then they flew to Phoenix, Ariz., to visit with Japanese friends and with some of their children. En route home, after a stop at North Bend, Ore., they flew over the clouds and the newly snow-clad mountains including Baker, Glacier, Rainier, Adams, and St. Helens.
I want to wish everyone Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with peace.
