ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — As school resumes and summer winds down I know that it won’t be long until my backyard nature garden will be barren. The first thing I do when I enter the kitchen in the morning is open the blinds to observe the early birds eating from the tall gazebo/totem pole bird feeder my son gave me for my birthday. So it makes me somewhat sad to see the brilliant pink high phlox in the backyard that have so generously fed so many beautiful butterflies and bees gradually fade and loose their blooms. These flowers serve as my butterfly garden as well as a variety of other blooming flowers that are endowed with abundant nectar. I am ashamed to let it be known that even though I think the Cardinal is one of the more beautiful birds I have never taken the time to buy a bird feeder and invite them into my backyard. However, this year I did purchase one and to my surprise I soon had a male and female cardinal and later got to observe their young as they began to stop by for their morning nourishment. Other birds such as bluebirds, blue jays, doves and small wren stop by but the cardinals let them know that this is strictly their territory.

Even my one little hummingbird that appears every year thrills me just to watch it enjoy the sweet water I hang out for him (or her). It is so tiny until I have to look closely at the clothesline to see if I it is Hummie or an old clothes pin left on the line. I was walking in the yard late one afternoon and spotted Hummie disappear inside one of the 8 foot tall white lilies. I watch the squirrels swing from limb to limb as they devour the young pecans from the tree and I know that we will have enough but God also provides for his creatures. Our colorful roosters that escaped the pen are always scratching for bugs or worms but I wish they would stay out of my flower beds. I walk around and see that the weeds are taking over in the verbena bed and wish I could pull them out. Oh, well, the first frost will kill the weeds and the day lilies will come back next spring. As I have my morning coffee I reflect on how blessed I am to be surrounded by all this nature and I give thanks.

Our children and grandchildren recently decided that they needed to do something for their dad on his 80th birthday. Down through the years we always gathered one Sunday in July to celebrate all the July birthdays, but John never had a special party of his own. The kids figured their dad had been through a lot after his knee replacement surgery and needed to be cheered up. So, our daughter, Twila, her sisters-in-law and her brothers started making plans for a celebration. They had a workday on Saturday when the grandchildren pitched in to help clean the yard and decorate the porch and house with streamers, balloons and banners. Pictures were torn from my scrapbooks and placed on a large poster board. Then they were off to purchase food to go with the plates of hundreds of cookies and squares. The day was very hot so Grandma kept busy making lemonade to cool everyone off and hot dogs to fill them up. When Sunday evening arrived they put a little decorated hat on John’s head, balloons over his chair brought out his cake decorated with homing pigeons made out of icing. John enjoyed greeting relatives and friends the rest of the day. He was very excited when one of his old friends, Lorren Perdue, who taught real estate classes and gave him his first job selling real estate, came in the door. I suppose there can be a lot of fun even if you now have to admit you are eighty years old.

Work is still going on as the members of Hamilton Baptist Church continue to finish the inside of the church sanctuary. The outside shell is up but there is still a lot of work to be done. There has not been much room to hold showers for new brides and new mothers-to-be so different women have hosted showers. Last Sunday there was a baby shower for Chassidy and Brian Singler at the home of Deborah Nelson. Their expected little girl will have everything she needs when she arrives. Her grandmothers saw to it that little Brently will have plenty of beautiful crocheted booties and blankets.

The Golden Ager Senior Citizen Club boarded Hamilton Baptist Church’s new van this month and took a trip to Pensacola to have lunch. They would like to thank Johnny Waters for chauffeuring them. Other guests met the group at the restaurant.

I was sorry to hear of the passing of Pat Wright who made Elsanor her home until she moved to an assisted living home in Fairhope. Pat was a faithful member of Robertsdale Methodist Church where she stayed busy and also was a longtime member of Elsanor Homemaker’s Club. We always felt welcome when the club members met in her lovely home and enjoyed her hospitality. Pat was a person who wanted to stay busy and make a difference.

I suppose I have chattered too much today so I will write more later if lightning does not get my computer again.

Bye, until we meet again, Jeanette.