Hopefully early spring not followed by late February

By Darla Buckhannon

Happy birthday to Andy Obermann, Sarah Gordon, Vickie Taylor, Reggie Seyer, Faye Dukes, Pam Wilson, Charles Hemingway, Jaimie Ralph, Marty Moore, Sheila Richardson, Taylor Friga, Danny Lindy, Sam Burnett, Whitney Horrell, Susan Hampton, Ruth Briggs, Charlene Johnson, Norma Mawhinney, Margaret Cahill, Belinda McMurry, Ken Schlitt, Cindy Gadberry, Freddie Wicker, Jim Haney, Mayme Cobb, Ronnie Senciboy, Jeannie Chapman, Sheila Gilmer, Martin Scheffer, Brianna Hibdon, Melanie Glubb, GP Glueck, Johnny King, Chris Kirn, David Tuller, Bobby Sexton, Dale Tenkhoff, Harry Imhoff, Ruth Anne Glency and Ruth B. Welborn.

Happy anniversary to Larry and Deana Grey, Andy and Adrianne Obermann, Ron and Tammy Eifert, Butch and Lisa Davis and Danny and Sarah Gordon.

With these swings in temperature, we are wondering when the temp will stabilize. One reader I've heard from is hoping with spring in February, we won't have February in spring. My sister Ruth often reminds us that many a March birthday party was canceled due to snow.

Wildflowers and trees are popping out here and there, and we remind photographers about the photo contest at The Painted Wren Gallery in Cape. The theme is "Anything Flowers," and the entry deadline is March 31. To submit an entry, call (573) 579-1000 or drop by the gallery at 223 S. Plaza Way (1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday).

Watching out for birds

A large flock of robins were in our yard in Dallas recently, and we are certain they were headed for Missouri! Some birds are courting and others are nesting. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation calendar, bald eagle chicks begin hatching. Did you know the bald eagle got its name from an old English word "balde," which means "white-headed," not "hairless"? The scientific name is Haliaaetus leucocephalus, which describes the species as the eagle with the white head. The sight of these majestic birds is breathtaking. It is hard to imagine shooting at one of these birds, much less killing one. Yet, that is what happened in south Texas when a young man did exactly that. He even confessed to taking several shots with a pellet gun to kill the eagle. Unbelievable! Wildlife agencies climbed 100 feet to save the young eaglet left in the nest.

Under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, eagles are protected by federal law, and killing, hunting and disturbing an eagle, their nest or eggs is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $10,000 or both. Remind those testosterone-filled males in your family! If you witness anyone attempting to harm an eagle or disturb its nest, contact the Missouri Conservation Department or a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent immediately. Birds of prey, such as hawks and owls, are also federally protected; yes, even those Cooper and Sharp-shinned hawks frequenting the neighborhood!

Chillers, thrillers

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Tomorrow, regulars will be in line to get their favorite treats when the Chaffee Drive-in opens for the season! I do enjoy an occasional Jack and Jill. We will miss the opening, but Richard bought Blue Bell's new flavor -- "Ice Cream Cone." It is like eating a Drumstick in a bowl -- cone and all! Most of us can remember the ice cream man who came down the streets pushing his cart. Now, kids are beckoned by the ice cream truck and its repetitious "Hello." But back in the day, the ringing of the bell had us scrambling for change to buy ice cream; Fudgsicles were popular, but Drumsticks were a rare treat since they cost more.

Reminders

Ash Wednesday marked the start of Lent. Catfish Fridays are back! The Chaffee Elks Lodge 1810 serves its Lenten fish and chicken dinners from 5 to 7 p.m. every Friday. All-you-can-eat dinners are $11 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 12 and free to children 5 and younger. Eat in or take out. Enjoy the delicious cooking by the Elks and socialize with friends and neighbors.

Tax season is here and we remind seniors that AARP tax help is available at the senior center from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays. The senior center thanks the VFW ladies for donating a new U.S. flag.

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 me at darbuck2@airmail.net or leave a message at (573) 887-6430 or (214) 207-7839.

And then ...

Then there was the lady who gave up adult beverages for Lent, but just at her house.