Cardinals Opening Day, an update on Muffy the pigeon and remembering Woody Proctor

While strolling, I wondered whatever happened to Phyllis Hubbard.

Happy birthday to Jennifer Vandeven, Robbie Coomer, Betty Walton, Celeste Sheilds, Gretchen Davie, Georgia Smith, Joann Hess, Anna Williams, Angie Dees, Denice Jackson, Chris Kerber, Jeremy Hahn, Zahara Ressel, Hunter Teegarden, Gaytane Gardner, Brent Wessel, Toshi Darby, Zelma Bridwell, Clyde Eichhorn, Mary Dannenmueller, Dorothy Statler, Linda Uhrhan, Jennifer Eichhorn, Gabriel Seabaugh, Jeremy Schlitt, Reba Davenport, Mike Mirly, Linda Lindy, Jenny Miller and Betty Watts.

Happy anniversary to David and Terra Owens, Jake and Renee Hitt, Larry and Marilyn Mott, Mike and Linda Senciboy, Mark and Tina Pobst and Lee and Marlene Powers.

Congratulations to Bob Burnett for receiving the Chamber of Commerce Residence of the Month for April! We often see Bob on his daily bikes around town and at the Chaffee Drive-In. In mentioning our resident eagles, he said he had the perfect afternoon after biking in Cape. While lunching in the courtyard at Cup 'n' Cork, he got to see an eagle fly over.

Fantastic flyover

A terrific flyover by two U. S. Air Force T-38s was on the schedule during Monday's pregame ceremonies at Busch Stadium's home opener. It's always a big event with the capacity crowd watching the Clydesdales making their round, and this year, the Hall of Famers and the ceremonial first pitch by 78-year-old Lou Brock. There are many improvements this year and the Cardinals got off to a great start in early innings, winning 10-1. What a glorious day it was in St. Louis!

It was a great change of events, since fans of golfer Jordan Spieth were licking their wounds Monday after his stunning loss at last Sunday's Masters Golf Tournament.

Bird is the word

Chatters reader Steve Duniphan adds that nothing brings on spring like baseball and birds!

He may have been speaking more of redbirds, but let us know when you see your first hummingbird of the season or any new birds at your feeder. This week in nature, we can listen for whippoorwill calls and the gobbling of wild turkeys. Chimney swifts return, and watch out for turtles crossing the highways. Feed and water the birds!

Muffy the pigeon update

We have a couple of white crowned sparrows in our yard in Dallas. I like hearing their calls every morning at dawn. We think they have a nest nearby. While I tend to the songbirds, Richard stays busy with his Indian Fantail pigeons and Mookies. I mentioned some time ago about his losing half of his brood after a pigeon show in Oklahoma. We rescued a very young squeaker after both parents died. Richard hand-fed the little fella and we named him Muffy.

Muffy is now a handsome bird, and we soon discovered "he" is a female when another bird started courting her. Her resistance has not dampened his enthusiasm. While perched on Richard's arm the other day, the pursuer immediately perched on Richard's head, flew off, then returned to perch on his head again in protest. Richard placed Muffy on a ledge, only to watch her fly to the top of the house to escape her suitor. She is still too young, but he pursues and she continues to resist.

The Mookies Richard added to the flock are feeding their second pair of young ones. The brown birds with the white heads are cute, and the parents are very attentive and protective of their young.

City reminder and a Bloomfield fire

An animal clinic will be held April 29 behind city hall from 3 to 5 p.m. Rabies shots are $10. Don't miss this opportunity to have your pets vaccinated.

Does anyone remember a big fire in Bloomfield, Missouri, many years ago?

Woody Proctor remembered

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Woody Proctor in their loss of the 98-year-old. Many of us have fond memories of Woody and Katy and can picture them in their white uniforms and caps eagerly taking our orders at the Dairy Queen, which they owned and operated in the 1950s. They also, along with their daughter, Brenda, and son, David, were active members of the First Baptist Church of Chaffee. The Proctors moved to Cape Girardeau in 1964, but all these years later, we often get to see Woody's brother, Joe, and Brenda at the Chaffee High School Alumni Banquets.

Final thoughts

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

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 the bumper sticker that read, "Going the wrong way? God allows U-turns."