The days dwindle down to a precious few — church suppers

As options for the beloved dinner season gradually wind down, we take time to savor every mouthful of church food that the creation offers, and last weekend offered several opportunities.

First of all was the turkey dinner offered after the Friday Veterans Day program Nov. 10. The Perry High School has a great program, and I have been a part of recording or broadcasting it on Pegasus for several years. Now I take the day off of work so that I can record it.

They had a very good turkey dinner after the program. Some of the residents of the facility that I work at attended the program and dinner and greatly enjoying themselves, too.

Saturday morning was the Hy-Vee Veterans Day breakfast. I had a good breakfast. I always appreciate Hy-Vee sponsoring this. An Army Air Corps veteran sat by me and told me about how he trained pilots during World War II and about his experiences as a private pilot after the war.

I took in my pop bottles and profited $1.60. I always tip them the 1 cent a container that they ask for to help stay open. I see a lot of people who bring in several large bags and never tip. Where would we be without this service?

Then I caught a ride to Cedar Rapids to attend a gun show at Hawkeye Downs. We got there at around 11:15 a.m. They had a very good show, and I saw an item that I need to research more. The man I rode with got a good deal on a revolver.

We then rode down U.S. Highway 30 to Niland’s Cafe at Colo. We ate and left there around 2:30 p.m. I had the hot beef, which was great but filled me up. We got back into Perry just before 4 p.m.

A blessing that was also a curse at the same time was the fact that there was a Thanksgiving dinner being held at the Redfield American Legion starting at 5 p.m., and the soup dinner at the Minburn American Legion Hall also started at 5 p.m.

Usually Minburn has their dinner the evening before Veterans Day. This year they had it on Veterans Day because it was on a Saturday.

Also starting at 5 p.m. Saturday was the Rippey Lions Club Spaghetti Dinner held at the Rippey United Methodist Church and the Veterans Day soup dinner in Stuart hosted by the Boy Scouts.

The abundance of meals honoring veterans was the blessing. That I could not eat at each of the was the curse.

On my way back to Perry, I thought about all of the options and how I could get to as many as possible. I also remembered that the “Iowa Girl” sculpture dedication was going to be at 5:30 p.m. Saturday night.

The pressure was on, and I was filled up from Hy-Vee and Niland’s Cafe. I decided that I really should record the “Iowa Girl” dedication for Pegasus. This is exactly the type of program that should be on Public Access Television.

After that, I would attend the spaghetti dinner in Rippey. Most of the members also belong to the Perry First, Rippey and Fairview United Methodist parishes, and I should support them.

If there was time, I would also go to the American Legion in Minburn. Redfield was too far, and I had no time to get there.

Then I was going to the “Thor” movie at the theater.

I called Dan with my plan. He walked over from his house to Pegasus for the program. More people attended the “Iowa Girl” program than I expected. The weather was good by then. The “Iowa Girl” program was good except that I wish it was 10 minutes longer. It is hard to show a program that is only 15 to 20 minutes long.

Then Dan and I headed to Rippey. I drove. By then I was stuffed. The dinner was good, but I could only eat a part of it. I decided then that I had no business heading to Minburn for more to eat. If I had attended Redfield, I would have not been able to enjoy it.

Then I headed to “Thor,” which was a long movie.

After church on Sunday, there was also a variety of dinners to attend. The St. Patrick’s Knights of Columbus held their 16th annual turkey dinner. I remember back during the good old days when this dinner was hosted by the Perry Rotary Club. They used to hold this dinner at the Perry Elementary School and was catered by Hy-Vee.

I used to think that this was a high priced dinner because it used to cost $6 or $6.50. Rev. Jim Pemble, the former pastor of the Perry First United Methodist Church, was a Rotary Club member, and he used to give Duane and me tickets to attend this dinner. I think back then most dinners were $5.

I cannot say that the price is too high now. After 22 years, it has only went up between $1.50 to $2 and now costs $8.

After the Rotary Club dropped this project, the St. Patrick’s Knights of Columbus took it over. The Rotary Club started hosting their dinner and auction.

Also in Boone was the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Salisbury steak dinner, and there was a Veteran dinner in Adel.

After getting called into work after church, I chose the St. Patrick’s Knights of Columbus dinner since I know a lot of Knights of Columbus members. All good Perry Catholics attend this dinner and also we Protestants. This is held in the gymnasium of St. Patrick’s School.

They always have a good Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, green bean casserole, roll and dessert. I have a good time talking with the Knights of Columbus and their spouses.

After the night and not being able to attend the after-church snack time (it sounds more impressive if you call it fellowship), I was able to eat all of my dinner, which was great. In preschool and kindergarten they do not call it fellowship. It is snack time.

Then I went home and slept for five hours. I missed the Linden Library soup dinner that evening.

Saturday is another gun show in Fort Dodge with a dinner at Tom Thumb.

This weekend offers two more church dinners. The Penn Center United Methodist soup dinner near Earlham and the Adel United Methodist Church hamball dinner on Sunday. I am curious to see whether Dan will try all 12 soups at Penn Center.

Wednesday is the Christian Church Edge Youth Group Before the Turkey Soup Dinner. It is a blessed and bountiful time of year.

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