I’m not sure how many of you watch the Ellen DeGeneres Show every day at 4 p.m.... Well, whenever Howard and I are home we enjoy it. Ellen is always advertising her makeup by Cover Girl, so one day Howard said maybe I should buy some (whatever that meant after 55 years of marriage). So I went and bought some... well we both tried in vain to open the jar with no success. We were at the Chinese Restaurant in Farmington so I went around to a few tables to see if anyone could open “the thing.” Finally a nice young man found the right combination... I will never close it. Ellen had received some complaints from people that it was impossible to get into the makeup and even offered instructions on her show... so you can bet I am writing to her.

What a wonderful time we had at Cally Brown’s recent birthday party held at Tufulluo’s. Hosted by Morgan Dunham, there was a party hat and balloons for the honored guest along with gifts and of course a special cake. What a special lady and of course we had a special waitress, Kressi Dyer, to top off the whole evening.

While at Tufullo’s, who should come in but Chris and Ashley Brochu who now live in Lincoln. They had their new three-week-old daughter with them, Charlotte Lew Brochu, who was born March 5. Charlotte also has a 22- month-old brother, Drouin, and a sister, Ella, three-anda half-years old. The proud grandparents are Adrian and Celine Brochu of East Madison and Jim and Joann Nickerson of Kingfield. Of course... Chris said he keeps up with all the news through the Irregular and looks forward to this column. So here you are Chris and Ashley!

I had gone over to the Salem General Store to do a wedding story on Chris Bracy, owner of the store, and his new bride, Brianna Thorndike, and asked if anything special happened during their wedding... nothing particular said Chris... and then he went on to tell me that when he asked Brianna’s father, Brian Thorndike, for his daughter’s hand in marriage, Brian said, “Sure if you bring me two goats.” Well, as the wedding approached Brian kept asking Chris where the goats were. So at the reception at the Forster Memorial Building, while Brian was having a dance with his daughter, in comes Chris with the two goats, much to Brian’s surprise.

Chris said that they are now serving soft serve ice cream at the General Store.

I don’t think I have ever had such a great compliment as last Saturday when I walked into the Highland Plantation Community Building and town official Basil Dunphy yelled at me “Well, here comes Kingfield’s answer to Farrah Fawcett!” Now I guess you can take that anyway you want to...

I know it’s a long time before Kingfield Days (July 16 to 18) but Sheila Panori and Shelly Poulin want everyone to get ready for the 2010 Kingfield Days Amateur Photo Contest and Show at the Grand Herbert Hotel. The entry deadline for all photographs will be July 15 by 6 p.m. Professional photographers are encouraged to enter one photo per category, which are: Humor, Landscape, Animals, Floral, Local Life and Travel. Each photographer can enter one work in each category. Photos must be 5x7 or 8x10 matted, no frames. Age groups are up to 16 years old and from 17 to adult. Ribbons will be awarded for first, second and third places as well as Best in Show. Please call Sheila or Shelly for more information.

Myra Coffin, Kingfield Days Committee Chairman, told me also that the festival will feature among others: Jason the Juggler, the Bad Penny Band, Maine State Trooper Matt Cassavant and his police dog, and a special friend who we just love, Sonny Perry and the Nashville Sound out of Benton (you just can’t tell him from Johnny Cash) —what an entertainer!

On Sunday, April 11 the Stratton-Eustis Lion’s club will be holding its Spring Fling at the Stratton Elementary School. There will be a noon ham dinner for a cash donation or food for the food bank. Anyone wanting to attend the event should call Arlene Flick at 246- 3129 or June Parsons at 246-2621. There will also be a fashion show of slightly used clothing. Reservations should be made by April 8.

On April 17 at 9 a.m. the New Portland-Kingfield Firemen’s Auxiliary will hold a food sale at Tranten’s Family Market.

On Tuesday, April 13 there will be a diabetes informational meeting on how to eat healthy with diabetes at the United Methodist Economic Ministry Center in Salem at 10 a.m. sponsored by the Healthy Community Coalition.

My prayers go out to the two wonderful children of Scott and Lorna Nichols, Airman First Class Kate Nichols who is serving in the Air Force Security Forces in Kurkut, Iraq and Scottie Nichols with the Security Forces in the United States Army in Afghanistan. They just seem to want to follow in their dad’s footsteps and I for one wish them a safe journey.