Mother's Day, full-boar birding and lantana planting

While strolling, I wondered whatever happened to Fred James.

Happy birthday to Novella Howell, Loren Eftink, Martha Felty, Sarah Reischman, Elizabeth and Elaine Sexton, Jeanette Hampton, Denny Graviett, Jewell Hampton, Martha Hamm, Mary Harrell, Al Friga, Michael Walker, Paula Moit, Malissa Powell, Ashley Graham, Matt Simmons, Danielle Morgan, Freddie Harrell, Heather Abernathy, George Robins, Kristin Bailey, Priscilla Hornbuckle, Dolly Kluesner, Lee McDaniel, Nancy Reese, Mary Duncan, Brenda Shield, Arlene Harrell, Jim Blevins, James McDonald, Steve Rose, David Bollinger and Roger Reisenbichler.

Happy anniversary to Bob and Alice Uhrhan, Josh and Kristy Pobst, Tim and Nancy Brown and Jack and Barbara Simpson.

Next Sunday is Mother's Day so you still have time to make those special plans to celebrate your mother and other special ladies in your life.

There was lots of bird activity on a recent hike around Tywappity Lake. We spotted an osprey high in the sky over the lake and in checking my 2013 journal, I noted that we had spotted one the exact day! We also heard then saw a scarlet and a summer tanager. Other birds present included rufous-sided towhees, Swainson's thrush, redheaded woodpeckers, warblers and kinglets. The following day, we saw our resident bald eagle on his hunt over the lake.

Potato/po-tah-toe.

We often comment on colloquial pronunciations and mispronunciations of words. With all the talk about the coyote sightings in New York City, it is interesting to note that the Yankee news people are pronouncing the word with three syllables. According to Webster's, that is preferred but southerners -- and especially in Texas where coyotes are a common sight -- it is pronounced with two syllables. Glad the Easterners got it right -- now if everyone could just say "safe deposit box" rather than "safety deposit box!"

The cool damp weather had planting on hold for many but I did set up my color box and after an extensive search, located Dallas Red lantana for the side of my porch. Even though we have to replant new lantana every spring, the drought tolerant and sun-loving lantana flourish during the hot summer. The hummingbirds and butterflies love, it but the Japanese beetles do not. The cool weather has also made for light hummingbird activity but we look forward to it picking up soon. A lady south of Scott City says she always puts her feeder out the first of April and she was blessed with her first hummer on Easter Sunday.

Lunch with the Kiehnes

Many of you remember Richard Kiehne, who taught Chaffee High School junior high and physical education and was later, principal of Chaffee elementary. We wondered about his whereabouts last fall and this past week Richard and I were able to enjoy the longawaited lunch with Mr. Kiehne and his wife Bev. We met at one of our and their favorite places, the Gordonville Grill, where we exchanged stories of past and current activities.

One of the funny memories was that of Mr. Kiehne's, when he and Fred James and spouses traveled to a game in Charleston. Mr. James was superintendent from 1962 to 1968. They were behind the Red Devil Pep Squad bus when a kid in the back made the less than bright decision to moon the car following them. Unbeknownst to him apparently was that car contained Coach Kiehne and Supt. James. Mr. Kiehne said they hung back and once they arrived, quickly walked to the back of the bus. Apparently, no one fessed up or tattled so we are wondering, who was that mooner?

For those of you traveling south this summer, construction is completed on Interstate 40 so all lanes are open between West Memphis and Little Rock.

Since we no longer have The Signal, several residents have asked if any new city council members were elected. We welcome Alan Cook who replaces Ryan Pennington in Ward 3.

Our condolences go out to the family and many friends of Betty (Burnett-Dooley) Mirly. As a lifelong resident of Chaffee, Betty contributed her time and talents to her church and community and was instrumental in the founding of the CHS Alumni Association and Chaffee History Society. She is greatly missed.

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 the driver ticketed for speeding in reverse.