Fresh produce, German Days and remembering Elvis Presley

By Darla Buckhannon

While strolling, I wondered whatever happened to Gary Bouge.

Happy birthday to Chris Mayberry, Shirley Owens, Keith Hamm, Jessie Lee Evans, Shirley Foulk, Stephen Buck, Deloris Newman, Leyton Hanback, Marilyn Benton, Koby Pobst, Amanda Cannon, Pam Cooper, Andrew Horrell, Jared Walker, Janae Eskew, Cinda Hall, Mike Lee, Becki Scheeter, Nan Charleston, Ann Whistler, Joe Dysinger, Stan Hahn, Tyson Proctor, Virginia Garner, Jerry Snider, Jim Hindman, Wendy Wilson, Taylor Laxton, Steve Seyer, David Massey, Jennifer Nolen, John Stroder, Austin Carroll, Kent Duniphan and Jerry Evans.

Happy anniversary to Kenny and Debbie Davie, Kenny and Paula Chapman, John and Geralyn Siebert and Dennis and Stephanie Scheeter.

Today is Friendship Day and Sisters Day, and Thursday is the first day of school for Chaffee, Missouri, students!

August is National Catfish Month, National Eye Exam Month, National Picnic Month and Peach Month.

We bought some delicious peaches at Diebold's and also picked up some "doughnut" peaches at the farmers market in Jackson. They are small and white, but especially sweet! We later found out they are called Flying Saucer White Peaches. Everyone is enjoying fresh produce!

Watermelon craze

Aug. 3 was National Watermelon Day, and did you know 4.7 billion pounds of watermelon were consumed in the U.S. last year? According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, watermelon in the U.S. dates back to 1796, when the recipe for pickled watermelon rind was featured in the first published cookbook. Thinking back to those days of wonderful black diamond watermelons we enjoyed as a kid, who can resist one in adulthood? We bought one at Diebold's and it was as juicy and sweet as I remember!

Gooseberries gone

I thank the gentleman from Old Appleton who called after reading about my abundance of gooseberries. Unfortunately by then, the remaining small berries had succumbed to the heat and the birds.

German Days approach

This weekend is German Days at Frisco Park. The deadline for the German Day Pageant is 4 p.m. tomorrow (Monday). The deadline is firm. Entry forms can be picked up at city hall and the Bank of Advance in Chaffee. German Days are always lots of fun, with plenty of food offerings. Don't forget the mosquito repellent!

Fish fundraiser set

The Chaffee Senior Center will serve its catfish fundraiser dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday. It is all you can eat for $10, or $6 a plate.

Meteor shower continues

There also is excitement for sky watchers! The Perseid meteor shower continues through the 24th, but will peak around midnight on Aug. 12.

Remembering the King

Elvis Week is Aug. 10 to 16 and an especially big "celebration" is being planned for next year to commemorate the 40th year of Elvis' passing. The event is always well attended and done with much reverence. Richard and I always tune into Sirius XM Channel 19, the Elvis channel, on Fridays. It is fun to listen to his old pal George Klein interview various artists who knew and played with the King.

George recently was talking with songwriter Billy Swan, a native of Cape Girardeau. He played keyboard for many years with Mert Mirly and the Rhythm Steppers and went on to tour with Kris Kristofferson and other artists. George Klein mentioned Rockabilly Hall of Famer Mert and his band as well as Billy and Cape Girardeau. Billy's big hit single was "I Can Help." Should he be on the flood wall mural in Cape? It was an interesting interview and always fun to hear Cape Girardeau or any surrounding communities and names of locals on national radio or television!

Local development possibilities

With the purchase by Centurion Development, we are thrilled with the possibilities for what formerly was Woolworth's in Cape! There are lots of great memories we can share when it was a five-and-dime back in the day, whether it be the lunch counter, the aquariums, the candy section and the other sights and smells as you entered the store.

Final thoughts

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

Our sincere condolences go out to Joe Mohorc, his son Tony and daughter Billie Jo in the sudden loss of his brother and their uncle Daniel Mohorc in a boating accident. He was born in St. Louis, attended Southeast Missouri State University and lived in Arlington, Texas. Our thoughts and prayers are with others who also have lost loved ones.

Please 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 first instant messaging: the turn signal.