Humphrey, the one-hump camel, came up the gravel path leading to the barn. 
    They saw him coming, noticing that Harriet, the pesky ostrich, followed close behind.  Such a rare visit from the Ft. Chiswell Animal Park raised curiosity among the barn denizens.  Tongues wagged faster than a cat’s tail in a room full of rocking chairs.

Thanks a lot scientists of the year 2006.
Before you rode in on Rocinante, penning some new definition of the word “planet,” life was easy. Back then there were nine planets. Even if we didn’t exactly, precisely and for sure and certain know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what we all meant when we said planet, we knew there were nine of them. Now we aren’t so sure. Worse, we don’t know what to say when our 6-year-old sons ask if there are eight planets in the solar system.

Again this week, it is my pleasure to call to attention the amazing amount of local artistic talent the young people of the Wytheville area possess.  On April 27, I was very happy to attend the final performance of the Wythe One Voice at the Wytheville Baptist Church.  Wythe One Voice is a collective choir consisting of a group of young people from several different churches in the area who come together annually to perform a praise and worship concert for the public, expressing their unified devotion to God.  The idea of this collaboration was the brainchild of Jennifer Mullins, wife of Wytheville Baptist Church Pastor Rusty Mullins who formed the group in May 2005.  As a result, a wonderful ministry led by some of Wytheville’s finest and most talented youth and young adult Christians was formed.

Ratchet Arnold broke the morning silence at the barn.
“Pope Benedict is coming,” he said.

We live in paradise. I noticed it on May Day, songbirds and creekbirds flitting through my little woods, butterflies floating over the flowers, fat bumblebees bumping clumsily into each other through the blooming bushes.

Fans of country music in general and the Carter Family in particular will want to see Barter Theatre’s “Keep on the Sunny Side” during the month of May.  Written by Doug Pote, it is the most-requested Barter show.

He sometimes – OK most times – doesn’t know when to run. And when he’s on second forget it.

On April 17th, I attended the final performance of Seussical Junior at the George Wythe High School.  This musical, performed by the school’s drama and choir students, is based on the cumulative works of Dr. Seuss.  Its story begins with the citizens of Whoville crying out for help as their planet, which is the size of a dust speck, becomes endangered as it floats aimlessly through the air.  Their cries are heard by Horton the elephant (Dylan White), who vows to protect them by carrying them safely within a flower.  As time goes on, the entire jungle considers Horton as crazy for talking to a speck of dust.  Gertrude McFuzz (Elizabeth Wassum), a kindhearted but insecure bird, falls in love with Horton because of his mutually warm heart and tries desperately to capture his attention.  All the while, she is the only one in the jungle who believes Horton is telling the truth. 

Sammy Veneziano came to the barn smiling.  On the way, he’d driven his A-Model past Greg Sayers’ store.  He saw that gas prices had gone up again.  That made him realize he was sitting on the most promising gold mine in Hootersville.

And the winner is…Pauline Vaught of Rural Retreat, who called in the closest answer in my “copper for carbon” problem of how many pennies I received from the sale of 17 calves earlier this month.