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SIGNS OF FALL

There's a subtle difference in the feel of the air and a new look to the skies. Over the hills, there's a soft blue haze. The calendar says it's the beginning of fall - my favorite time of the year.

Around the first of September, swarms of hummingbirds, all hungry, arrive and my feeders are covered with the tiny buzzing birds all vying for a place at the food. My bird book says they gather in the fall and go on a feeding frenzy to fatten up before making their long trip across the Gulf of Mexico. I've never seen a fat hummingbird, but then, anything is possible, and I've done all I could to make it happen. However, after four big bags of sugar and gallons and gallons of the nectar mixture, those birds don't look fat to me!

I've enjoyed watching them and their antics. Though they do a lot of darting and dancing around, there's no fighting. When all the stations are full, some sit on the electric wire and some sit on the tips of the pear tree branches waiting their turn. I'm always amazed at the organization, cooperation, and sharing among nature's creatures.

After about three weeks of this urgent feedng frenzy, they were gone. Such tiny little birds on such a long trip. I wish them well, and that their instincts and Mother Nature is kind to them. Only one little bird stayed here. He looks so lonely. I wonder if he arrived too late to join the group or if he is an outcast.

While having my morning coffee in the sunroom the other morning, with a flutter of wings and leaves, a flock of Robins landed in the back yard under the pecan trees and began feeding on the leftover scraps and tidbits the squirrels had dropped from their thievery of yesterday. The ground was covered with the goodies and the Robins had quite a feast before they all had their fill. Some Killdeers and crows also arrived and an annoyed squirrel or two in the trees, barked their displeasure at the intruders before they all flew away.

This time of year, Blue Jays, Squirrels and Crows fill my big pecan trees with their noisy chatter, and bits and pieces of hulls and shells cover the ground below like a blanket. Night time brings a little possum and a couple or more coons scavenging for the morsels in the debris left from the day's assault.

Early mornings bring the sounds of flocks of wild geese honking greetngs as they wing their way to their winter home. I thrill to the sight of each flock and watch until they're out of sight.

With all this activity preparing for the coming winter, I'm wondering what I'm doing just sitting here watching, but I'm retired and I figure I've earned the right to just sit and enjoy life, but I wonder what old birds do. Do they retire and just sit? Do they keep moving and working until the end? Hmmm - I think I should get up and get busy before fall passes me by.

by Dorothy Miller Birdwell

THE CLEANSING

Bathing cleans the body,
Repenting cleans the soul.
Shampooing cleans the hair,
Prayer cleans the mind.
You clean your physical body daily.
Why not clean your spiritual body daily?

by Katrina Edwards