As I sat out in my front yard drinkin in the smells of summer--a gentle breeze was flowing smoothly across the grass in the yard. I really felt at peace just knowin that I was at my home with ole Calvin the cat, Lil Dumplin all settled in for the night at a motel awaiting her tomorrow morning appointments--in Kentucky. Peace, tranquility and good will abounds within the Gibson family and we're all lookin forward to another day with all the good things that come with it. Not much negativism here and for that I'm thankful.

One thing that really "ticks" me off is a common problem with everybody, that I know anyhow, who live in the country. SKEETERS! Those nasty things are so plentiful --I HATE'M and wish they would ALL die a VERY QUICK AND SUDDEN death. The trouble they cause can be massive from a simple "itchy" place that can quickly turn into a huge, throbbing running and infected sore [from all the scratchin]--all the way to Death of a human being! I know everything has a place on the earth but for the life of me--I just can't figger out what the skeeters lot in life may be----unless---BAT, HUMMINGBIRD AND MARTIN feed! I once knew a feller who said two things about the hummingbird.

#1--one little bird will eat a TON of skeeters a day!

#2.---If a humminbird stops "floppin" his'n little wings--his'n little heart will stop beatin and he'll die! I guess a body learns something every day!

Well, I seem to have gotten kinda sidetracted again but I guess that's normal for this old dude! Skeeters or not---NOTHING will stop the coming of Jesus Christ for His Church. The gates of hell itself will not prevail against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Are ya'll ready to meet Him? Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), June 18, 2001

Answers

I read somewhere that back in pioneer times, they used to press hummingbirds just like flowers and send them home as curiosities!

-- Elizabeth (Lividia66@aol.com), June 18, 2001.

I think that guy was wrong. Every day I can watch hummers at the feeder in front of the dining room window. Sometimes they hover, with wings flapping and drink that way. Lots of times they will sit on the perch with wings still along their bodies. Guess you can't believe everything you hear. Not critizing you, Hoot, just want you to know what I've observed.

-- ruth in se Illinois (bobtravous@email.com), June 18, 2001.

Hey, Hoot, my dear 92 year old Papa (my step dad) always says he would rather have a mosquito around than a fly. He says the fly will bug the daylights out of a person, for no purpose at all, whereas a mosquito has a purpose for bothering you, and once he gets his belly full, he will leave you alone. LOL

As to the hummingbirds, I also have seen the little things sit still. But not for long.

I love your posts, Hoot!

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), June 18, 2001.

Hoot, Why do you feel you always have to put CHRISTIAN MATERIAL on your posts? People who know you can tell your posts by the first sentence without ever seeing your name, and everybody that knows you thinks your great(at least on the forum that is). If somebody doesnt want t hear about what you have to say, they can go to another post. I think your great and have a lot of wisdom. Have a great day. Roxanne

-- Roxanne (Roxanne@143webtv.net), June 18, 2001.

He puts it there to warn those of us who don't like getting "ambushed" by prosthelytizing in an otherwise non-religious thread topic.

As to hummingbirds eating mosquitos? Since when? I thot all they ate was nectar. Bats and swallows eat skeeters tho.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), June 19, 2001.

I just hope the humming birds have got the story right!

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), June 19, 2001.

Hey Hoot.

I think it would be a good idea if tou sat back in the ol rockin chair and wrote a book about you and yours, How many of us would welcome such an idea?

From The Pines.

-- ron bulinda (rvbulinda@yahoo.com), June 19, 2001.

I've seen hummers at "rest" on the wires, waiting their turn at the feeder...with wings at rest...thhey didn't appear dead to me and didn't appear to not be moving their wings...as for skeeters...a good organic deterent is garlic wash....i gal. water with either rounded T. of garlic powder or steep (like sun tea) a clove of fresh garlic..it makes ya smell like Lil Italy..but works.. :-)...and while thhey're runnin' away..they feed the hummers and bats...

-- RoseH. (WoodsiGrl@hotmail.com), June 19, 2001.

My solution, if you can stand the noise is guineas. We have about 25 running around our place and I haven't had a mosquito bite this year. Also haven't had to use flea and tick medicine on our dogs. God bless the guineas foolish, noisy little hearts. Jo Ann

-- Jo Ann Weaver (hillfarm3@peoplepc.com), June 19, 2001.

This post referrin to how those little birds have to "flop" their wings and eat a ton of skeeters a day--are the ideas of an acquaintence of mine. As the rednekks say "he ain't wrapped too tight and anything he tells ya'll---well, take it with a grain of salt"!

Of course they don't fly all the time---and even if they did eat skeeters----a TON? Have any of ya'll ever seen a hummingbird nest? Cute little raskels. Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), June 19, 2001.

Hummers are carnivores... they just use the nectar to give them the energy to look for bugs,,, such as "skeeters"/ Trust me on that one :)

-- Carole (carle@earthlink.net), June 21, 2001.