Like me, I'll bet you all have enjoyed the last couple of posts relating JERRY EOFF's eulogy for GLENN SMITH.  As much as his kind words for GLENN, I enjoyed hearing about his and wife Shirley's new adventure on the Arkansas goat farm.

When JERRY referred to himself as a "goat herding cowboy", I emailed him and asked for a current photo - especially one with a so-called cowboy hat. We wrangled back and forth over my request. Consequently, I reviewed my pictures on file and managed to crop this one from the 2017 Class Reunion group photo. I told JERRY that he didn't look very happy to be there. (Not many others did either.) When I complimented him on his lack of wrinkles, he replied, "Too sunny to not squint (frown). Too fat to wrinkle." His good sense of humor always at the ready.

Not ready to let go of the goat phenomenon, I couldn't help but copy this from my Good News Network website: .."A research team from the Royal Society Open Science has found that goats can recognize human emotions in facial recognition tests – and they consistently prefer happy faces to sad ones." Smile, JERRY, and I'll bet you can get those goats to keep your yard cleared of tall grass and weeds on a regular basis.

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I saw this funny story on TV about a parrot cussing at a Firefighter who tried to rescue him. When I searched online, I ran across the whole story Potty-Mouth Parrot, and I thought about Ann Burton (BOB BURTON's wife) and her pet bird. I sent it to her and asked her about her African Gray, Boogie. She responded thus:
"My birds don't curse. But, my Grandfather John Jackson had a yellow-headed parrot that spoke just like him. His name was Shorty, and he was quite a bossy pet. He would call for 'John, John Jackson, you son of a Butch. Answer me!' We always slept on a pallet in front of the fireplace in the winter. Shorty would come and check us out and crawl in and out of the cover. He loved to sing to us, but all he sang were army songs. My granddad broke horses for the army. (One of my own grandfathers broke horses for the Forest Service in northern California!) After Granddad was killed, Shorty went to live with our Aunt Lois. He lived to be almost 60." 

Ann said she has had Boogie for 26 years! She's also taken in a cockatiel, but the two birds don't get along. Boogie would attack any other bird that dared to encroach on his territory. After all, he has seniority in that household! Therefore, it's only one bird at a time out of his cage.

I remember one time when I was visiting Ann in Flower Mound, we were sitting at a table talking. Boogie was out of his cage, and proceeded to sit on my shoulder. The next thing I felt was his beak pulling hair at my scalp! Ann stated that he loved brunette hair, and I guess he was "grooming" me. That definitely caused him to get a fast return to his cage.

Ann has been a member of our extended family for over 50-years now. She and my late sister Jean (also from BHS) were best friends most of those years, and we all shared many memories. Ann and I can still talk for hours when we finally visit after several years. Since daughter Carajean will be moving permanently to Austin in the next few months, we look forward to many more visits.

Ann and BOB were in Austin this past weekend. Our daughter, Carajean and her husband Branch celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary. (A side note - Ann  or "Two" - as the grandchildren call her, made Carrie's beautiful wedding gown.) They all came over to my place, and we had lively conversations and a wicked game of 5-count dominoes. It makes me grumpy to admit that BOB and Branch beat the socks off me and Carajean! I still allowed them to eat my "disappearing" chocolate chip cookies.

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I had a brief note from GENE ROUTH after I sent him a video of four mountain lions prowling around on someone's deck in Colorado. Those cats made themselves right at home. GENE said they haven't had any mountain lions on their property, but they have had a couple of bears! Oh, my.. The rabbits, squirrels, and occasional hawk in our area seem rather tame by comparison.  I am an extremely sound sleeper, so I haven't heard the coyotes howl at night like some of my neighbors have.. 

I've also heard from DOTTIE BISHOP ROGERS recently. She's been filling her house with her oil paintings. So much so that she resorted to selling them. I've asked her to please send me photos. 

Let me hear from more of you. I could chatter away on much more, but I would rather write about YOU! Let me hear the "good stuff" happening in your life.

Peace and Love,

Marilyn