According to the Farmer's Almanac, Dog Days came in on July 3 and will end on Aug. 11 and  last 40 days.  According to my Grandma, Genie Maude Wilson, if it rained on the first day of Dog Days, it would rain somewhere  close by  for the extent of the Dog Days.  As usual this slipped up on me, and I haven't been keeping track, but it seems that we or some people  near us have been getting showers or thundershowers for a good many days now.  We got three inches on Saturday, but down at Mama and Daddy's, who live almost to the Putnam County line, they  had only a sprinkle. But, they have gotten some good rain that we haven't gotten.  When it was raining on Saturday it looked like the whole county was getting a good soaking, but apparently they weren't.  Everything is a beautiful, lush green now.
This week all of the Tri-Bee community as well as my reading community and I want to wish a very special congratulations to a  very special  couple, Jimmy and Evelyn Bone, as they will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this Saturday, July 28.  Evelyn, the daughter of Thomas and Ivelyn Crew,  grew up here in the Bethany community, just down the road from Bethany Baptist Church.  Jimmy was a Morgan County boy, the son of Raymond and Annie Bone of  the Apalachee community.  They have been a hard-working couple who have raised three wonderful girls and have been a vital part of this community all these years and  are always there if you need them.   They were married at Evelyn's house, the Crew homeplace, 50 years ago.  Their two daughters, April and Debbie,  live in the homeplace now and have lovingly restored the house into a real showcase.  Their other daughter, Penny, and Johnny Ray Messer, along with their two grandchildren, J.R. and Katelyn, also live right next door.  Their children are planning a family dinner for them to mark this milestone in their married life.  All of us wish them all the best and many, many more happy years together.  Congratulations!
Rebekah Kilpatrick, Sarah Nell Craig and Stephanie Kenny hosted a baby shower on Saturday afternoon at the home of Janice Philippi on Porter Road for Jenna Philippi.  Jenna and Jonathan are expecting a baby boy in Aug.  She received a wide assortment of baby items.  As she opened her gifts, us oldsters that were there marveled at what all they have thought of these days for you to use when the baby makes this arrival.  I think it is safe to say that they have thought of everything.  I remarked that it is a wonder we all were able to raise a baby with as little "stuff" as we had back then.  One grandmother remarked that when she brought her baby home, the baby  slept in a drawer.  That's not the first time I have heard of that, either!  A delicious array of refreshments were served by the hostesses, and a  wonderful time was had by all.  We wish Jenna and Jonathan many well wishes on the safe arrival of their coming little boy who will be named Cooper.
Julia Gay Sabbadino of Greenville, S.C., was down for the shower as well as Nell Porter, who was able to come from The Madison House.  On Sunday all of the Porter children – Julia Gay, Dan, Sarah Nell and Janice –  enjoyed a Sunday lunch together at the home of Steve and Sarah Nell Craig.
We were sorry to hear that Betty Frank Tumlin Williams of Pierce Dairy Road is now a patient at Jasper Memorial Hospital where she is receiving therapy after suffering a stroke.  We are glad to hear that Reid Alliston is now at his home where he is receiving in-home therapy.  All of us send our best and get-well wishes to both of these fine people.
Bruce and I enjoyed having Buck and Linda Echols of Rayle visit with us Sunday afternoon.  Buck and Bruce are first cousins on his mother's side.
Mary and Frank Eaton took Matthew Maddox to Forsyth last Thursday evening to meet up with his father, Sandy Maddox, where they were going to travel on down to Cordele to help out Sandy's mother with some storm damage at her house.  They are all being kept busy with storm damage clean-up, that's for sure!  Mary and Frank appreciated their grandson's help greatly this past week.
Howard and Dale Thompson enjoyed having Claudia Giddens and her grandchildren, Kirstin and Hannah, from Haines City, Fla., visit with them last week.
Roger and Carolyn Bruce recently vacationed up in the New York and Rhode Island area and also attended a birthday celebration for Carolyn's cousins who live in Rhode Island.  Sherrie Bruce and Bob Moorhead flew up and joined them for the celebration.
Clay and Shannon Porter were in Illinois last week where Clay participated in his last Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Competition for the Lake Oconee Shotgun Team (LOST).  The team did not get to make it to the podium for one last time, but Clay shot his personal best in sporting clays with a 95 out of a 100.  His next national competion will be as an ABAC shooter.  Clay has competed for seven years with LOST and, in that time, he and his squads have won three national titles, three national runner-ups, and numerous state titles.  He also received a gold medal from shooting skeet in the Georgia Games, where he shot his first perfect round of skeet.  Congratulations to such a fine shooter!  We all wish him much success as he heads to ABAC for college. 
School is just around the corner for all these children.
Karalyn Clifton participated in the state swim meet this past week down in Tifton.  She received two fourth places and one second place. Congratulations, Karalyn!
Tommy and Raynor Cathey, and Jake Harris spent a few days up at Pigeon Forge, Tenn., recently.
Bethany Baptist Church reported a good turnout, around 25 children, for their mini-Bible School they held this past weekend.  The pastor and his wife, the Ventrellos, did an excellent job directing the school.  The children presented a wonderful program on Sunday morning for their parents and the congregation.
Trinity Baptist Church had an appreciation dinner for their pastor, Rev. Randy Davis, and his family on Sunday after the morning services.  Rev. Davis has resigned as pastor of Trinity to take a position elsewhere.  He and his family will be missed.
Don't forget the homecoming at Antioch Baptist Church to be held on Aug. 5 with  the Rev. Jim Bolton as the guest speaker.  A barbecue lunch will be served afterward in the church fellowship hall.  Revival will continue through that Wednesday, Aug. 6 -  8 at 7:30 p.m. each evening with the Rev. Jack Segars, the former pastor of Beacon Heights Baptist Church as the guest speaker.  They invite all to come and join them for these services.

Printed in the July 26, 2012 edition.