Anticipating the hummingbirds' arrival, and migrating feathered friends

While strolling, I wondered whatever happened to Mary Catherine Schlitt.

Happy birthday to Kori Grossheider, Kirk Hemingway, Tom Cunningham, Gary Hester, Elizabeth Hartman, Kevin Dudley, Sherrin Rains, Lindsay Phillips, Daniel Pepple, Janet James, Diane Curry, David Little, Terry Boese, Mark McKinley, Layton Tenkhoff, Anna Schmitt, Andy Proffer, Gladys Eifert, Mary Snider, Zachary Wachter, Debbie Mirly, Richard Hinkebein, Angela Rehm, Mary Hagan, Patsy Tenkhoff, Shannon Dannenmueller, Ann Ingram, Kim Shell, Delores Wilburn, Roberta Grojean, Steve Whitaker, Jeff Dacus, Tammy Eifert, Paul Keller, Florence McBride, Shirley Tomlinson, Betty Walton, Robbie Coomer, Jennifer Vandeven, Celeste Shields, Joann Hess, Georgia Smith and Gretchen Davie.

Happy anniversary to Charles and Marcella Westrich, Jim and Janie Fowler, Don and Kathy Leggett and Jake and Renee Hitt.

Yard-sale thanks

Susie Pobst of the Senior Center thanks everyone who donated and bought items at their annual yard sale last weekend. They made $2,294.50, $1,000 of which was matched by Modern Woodmen.

This is National Volunteer Week, and we thank all of you who volunteer your time and talents to make our community a better place.

For those who have not filed your taxes yet, you have until midnight this Wednesday.

We remind pet owners that the Rabies Clinic will be held April 24 from 3 to 5 p.m. behind City Hall.

Next Saturday kicks off National Park Week through the 26th and you can enjoy fee-free days, next Saturday and Sunday, at national parks.

Nature, take a bow!

It is such a beautiful time of year with trees budding out and flowers popping up everywhere. We had a light frost Sunday, which is right on schedule according to the Missouri Department of Conservation Calendar, which lists the last frost date for southern Missouri as April 5!

Many bird lovers are on watch this week for the return of one of God's amazing creations -- the ruby-throated hummingbird. Get your feeders cleaned, filled with nectar and out so you can enjoy them. Let us know when you spot your first hummer. Baltimore orioles and scissor-tailed flycatchers also begin to arrive.

We are also on watch for birds migrating through our area such as various warblers and the stunning white, black and red male rose-breasted grosbeaks; the females are brown but interesting. They are drawn to black-oil sunflower seeds on platform feeders. Let us know what new beaks you spot at your feeder!

The last time we hiked General Watkins, the birds were pretty quiet, but, now that spring is here, there should be lots of activity. If you enter from Highway 61, the trail is wide, level and shaded. Now that the snakes are coming out from their long winter rest, watch where you step. Most snakes have no interest in you if you leave them alone, but we will carefully step around the big stump at Lake Tywappity where we saw a large copperhead last fall.

Chatter continues somewhat about the return to Daylight Saving Time in March. By now, most folks have adjusted to the change. Why not stick with Central Standard Time year round. After all, do we really have to get up in the dark just for more daylight in the evening?

Head games

Several of you comment from time to time on the clever headers which my editor creates for Chatters. Last week the "chat with Carolyn" caught one of my sister's attention with her thinking that it was our sister Carolyn, puzzled that I had not mentioned it to her. After further reading, however, she discovered it was Carolyn (Oliver) Ronza of Humble, Texas, about whom I had previously wondered.

A young man with a Southeast Missouri connection was killed last week in Dallas when he was hit by a car while crossing a busy street. The 20-year-old Paul Miltenberger attended Southlake Carroll High School and was a sophomore at Mizzou. I thank Al Wilson for letting me know that Paul's family is originally from Kennett and his dad, Lewis, is a practicing attorney in Southlake just outside of Dallas. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.

Special words

Remember to tell those special people in your life you love them -- those three words mean so very much.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are missing loved ones, with our homebound, those in hospitals and nursing homes. Email your news and comments to darbuck2@airmail.net or leave a message at 573-887-6430 or 214-207-7839.

And then ...

Then there was Norah Jones who said she became a musician so she wouldn't have to get up at six in the morning.