Hummingbirds head out, history museum hours, horseshoes and heroes

While strolling, I wondered whatever happened to Tommy Sands.

Happy birthday to Dylan Davis, Joy Baker, Angela Carlisle, Kailey Kilburn, Nate Pobst, Robert Coomer, Glenn Pobst, Murlin Moore, George Holland, Paige Holder, Renee Vandeven, Dane Horman, Jeremy Glastetter, Monica Harrell, Nikki Davis, Angela Hooker, June Cobb, Eric Eftink, Nick Swinford, Clyde Sietman, John King, Josh Pettit, Marvin Ralph, Samantha Muka, Julie McAlister, Amanda Lowery, Tommy Nunnally, Susan Slinkard, Gerald Dame, Barbara Freed, Mary Teegarden, Wilma Seyer and Alice McFerron.

Happy anniversary to Bob and Margie Kielhofner, Cliff and Bertie Evans, Bill and Elizabeth Hagan and Charlie and Doris Parker.

Skyward eyes

The supermoon eclipse created lots of excitement last Sunday for even occasional skywatchers. It was a nice finish to an afternoon of disappointing NFL football as we watched the Rams and the Cowboys lose.

Hummingbirds continue to migrate through our area, keeping us busy refilling nectar. We love God's little gems, hate to see them go, but always look forward to their return in the spring.

Pianists have put summer music away and are pulling out autumnal selections such as "Autumn Leaves." In my continued interest in sheet music, I recently ran across a piece at an estate sale that some of you Frank Sinatra fans may remember. Copyrighted in 1943, "Dear Mister Sinatra" is a song of affection for the popular crooner and refers to him as an angel from out of the blue.

Banquet time

Tom Davenport reports that 226 reservations are on the books for this Saturday's Chaffee High School Alumni Banquet. All the action starts at 5 p.m. at the VFW Hall on South Frisco with dinner at 6 p.m. A good time will be had by all as we catch up with friends and classmates.

City Hall reminds residents to not put glass in recycle bins.

The second annual Horseshoes 4 Everyday Heroes starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Friga Farm on Highway 77. It's a fun time, with proceeds benefiting RSVP/VIC.

Senior bingo is held the second and fourth Sundays of the month at the VFW. Doors open at noon with lunch provided by the Nutrition Center, and bingo starts at 2 p.m.

The Chaffee Historical Museum is now open Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Private showings are available by calling Barbara Arnold, Shirley Lee or Ron Eichhorn. Be sure to drop by and see all the interesting Chaffee memorabilia.

The Historical Society welcomes new members, and you can join for only $10 per year. Checks for dues can be sent to Chaffee Historical Society, 109 S. Main St., Chaffee 63740. Donations are always welcome, and on the morning of the CHS Alumni Banquet, there will be a roadblock benefiting the society and museum.

Jumping ahead to November, their popular bake sale is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in front of Food Giant. There are some great bakers in town, and items sell out quickly!

After writing about the plentiful pawpaws this season, I thank Janet Schuessler for her recipe for pawpaw bread. It sounds great, and I am looking forward to baking it as soon as I gather up some more pawpaws. Whether it is pawpaw bread or banana bread, nothing enhances the flavor better than black walnuts. My tree is once again loaded, so if any of you would like to pick up some black walnuts, give me a call.

California calamity

We have been seeing the destruction caused by the wildfires in California. One of Richard's fellow Indian fantail breeders lost his home and about 150 of his birds in Middletown, and now, Dorothy Dees of Scott City tells us that former Chaffee resident Jim Westrich lost his home there as well. Notified to evacuate, Jim left with his car, mobile home, pets and three sets of clothes, thinking he would be back in a couple of days. Dorothy says Jim has stayed in touch through the years with many of his St. Ambrose grade school classmates and Southeast Missouri friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jim, who lost his wife a few months ago and now his home.

Special words

Remember to tell those special people in your life that you love them -- those three words mean so very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are missing loved ones, our homebound, those in hospitals and nursing homes and those undergoing cancer treatments. 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 Burger King's Halloween burger on black buns.