What is that shiney thing in the sky?

My gosh, it's so bright outside! There is sunshine just everywhere. Everywhere! Oh yeah, that used to be considered normal here, didn't it? Haven't we had some absolutely beautiful weather this past week? I went out on the deck to have a cup of coffee yesterday and didn't come in for three hours. I kept trimming something and sweeping something and dipping something and just sitting down to enjoy the mild temperature and the sweet breeze and the unfamiliar sunshine. And, yes, I spent a considerable amount of time sneezing until my antihistamine kicked in. Small price to pay for such beauty and wonder in my own back yard.

Paul and Cheryl Schwager have been honored with a visit from their son Michael this past week. They have been looking forward to this visit for a while and drove to St. Louis to pick him up at the airport and again to send him on his way. I think they were talking about the upcoming move to California where they will be able to visit more often. I still don't want them to move. Anyway, Paul and Michael were able to get in some golf and I can assure you the weather here was much more pleasant than in southern California right now and there is no smoke in the air either. Maybe it will convince Michael and the family to move here instead. Maybe?

I had a phone call from Gayla Bishop of Hargrave's Corner. She was telling me all about Chappy. You remember Chappy, the Akita dog that lives at Hargrave's Corner and used to walk into town to visit and spread good will. Well it seems that his excursions have been curtailed for his own good. Gayla now keeps him inside and only takes him out on a leash.

You can still see him sometimes when he and Gayla take their frequent walks along the roads and paths near Hargrave's Corner where he visits with his farmer friends. And of course she plans to take him to visit at the Gin as often as possible. He loves to be around people so much, she is afraid that he would be very unhappy if he didn't get to be part of the crew this year. Thanks, Gayla for sharing that with us.

In case you haven't noticed, Lane Wozniak is keeping herself surrounded with strapping young men these days. She is having some remodeling done and Householder Construction is doing the work. You will have to stop by when the trucks are all gone and have a look at her new bathroom. I am sure she won't mind.

I am having some help writing this column. My cat, Midnight, keeps wanting to put her two cents in. Fortunately she's never worked in her life so she doesn't have two cents so except for the paw prints on the computer screen she will remain invisible.

Billy Burt Bracken has been a Rector institution for many years. We are all saddened by his passing. He was a generous and kind man who seemed to like just about everyone. He will be missed.

Taxes are due next week, in case you forgot. And the blood drive is coming up next week too. I could make a lot of jokes about the similarities there, but I will leave that to you and your own creativity.

Well, I had better wrap this up. I want to get out and enjoy the sunshine some more. And I need a haircut and I have some shopping to do and oh my I really had better get going. Bye for now. Talk to you next week. Let me know what is going on with you. My address is 514 West 3rd St. Phone: (870) 595-3173 and email: porchswing@newwavecomm.net. Thank you so much for all your emails and phone calls. I look forward to hearing from you.

Pray for soldiers everywhere.