Up on the Hill 8-3

August breaks in with sweltering days of sunshine! Nevertheless, I love August and the end of berry picking and fig gathering.

All the birthday celebrations my family enjoys is the real reason. I am already into several days of celebrating.

It’s a milestone year for granddaughter Sherri Beth, she and I are separated in age by 50 years.

I gathered my daughter, her three children and their seven children around me like a mother hen to celebrate my 80th birthday early, before the grands are in school.

One son is in Iraq and the other is traveling abroad representing his company, minus two families, but joyful over those present at the Florala Lake House Bed & Breakfast from Friday to Sunday.

On Friday evening, my brother Ray and Mary Beth, their daughter Laurie, grandson Michael, granddaughter Allison (another August celebrity), and sister-in-love Karoline Howell, gathered with us at Country Folks Seafood Buffet for a great time.

Grandson Greg and family spent the first part of the week at our house doing chores and going to the beach. They hail from Griffin, Ga. and have three angelic children.

If anything could add more to the abundant joy of this month, it was found in the services of Carla Standridge. She recently moved to Laurel Hill and is the owner of Alpha & Omega cleaning services. I will be bragging about her services in our home from now on! She is professional, efficient, and speedy. Carla has a couple of women who work with her, provides all cleaning supplies and equipment needed to make your house sparkling clean! For more information, give her a ring at 850-546-1225.

Hope Destiny Standridge is Carla's 9-year-old daughter, looking forward to her 5th grade class at Laurel Hill School. Her favorite subject is reading and she has spent many happy hours at the Crestview Library with her grandmother. She looks forward to becoming a little Hobo cheerleader.

Welcome to the neighborhood from Mrs. Rogers!

Our 62nd Laurel Hill High School class of 1945 reunion was the smallest in attendance, but not in spirit; J.S. and Floyce Steele from Baker, Zelma and Leon Tyner, from Pensacola, Cassie Rogers, Doug and I from Laurel Hill.

Hobo Festival plans are underway for a great time the first Saturday in October at the Gene Clary City Park. There will be lots of vendors, good food and live music. The best part of the Festival is meeting friends and neighbors you haven't seen in a long time. Mark your calendar! For more information call Wilma Jones.

Happy August Birthdays to: Carlie Strickland celebrated Aug. 1 (90-plus); Morris Rogers, Aug. 5; Janet Flynn, Aug. 7; Janet Twitty, Sheila Powell, Aug. 10; Thomas Gordon, Aug. 11; Rhonda Martin, Renee Bell, Aug. 12; Faye Jackson, Aug. 13; Ryan Simmons, Robbin Raines, Aug. 14; Gene Simmons, Earl Campbell, Aug. 15; Grady Gordon, Estelle Rogers Aug. 16; Pat Johnson, Aug. 18; Sylvia V. Bryan, Margie Edwards, Aug. 19; Sherri Beth Tucker, Aug. 22; Marion Brannon, Farren Cox, Aug. 23; Josh Steele, Aug. 26; Janice Locke, Abbie Moore, Aug. 27; Tasha, Allison Lazear, Aug. 30; Charles Lennard, Elijah Teboe, Aug. 31.

Yesteryear flashback: The best music in July and August began when the song of the old salt-stained wooden ice cream freezer turned custard into mouth watering sweetness. At our house, vanilla wafers were served with the fresh made ice cream. After about two bowls per person, the freezer was left to sit until later, and that was never very long.

Churns of ice cream are still served at the Rogers' clan celebrations on the 4th of July. There is still time in this month to dust off an old freezer and taste the goodness of an electric churn!

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21, NIV