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Authors: Wanda E. Brunstetter
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way to the nearest feeder hanging from one of the shepherd’s hooks near the house.
Glancing down at the book, Leah realized that the hummingbird had probably been attracted to the red in the cover. She grinned, watching the tiny bird at the feeder dip its beak in and out to get the sweet nectar. Leah never tired of watching the hummers and wished they could stay all year. Since that wasn’t possible, she would enjoy them for the few months they were in the area. And next month, when Alissa came to band the birds, Leah would make sure she was available not only to watch the procedure but also to offer Alissa assistance if needed.
Pulling her gaze from the hummingbird, Leah set her drink on the table and opened the book. She’d only read a few pages when Priscilla rode up on her bike. Leah figured she was probably here for the foot treatment they had talked about working in.
So much for getting any reading done,
Leah thought. But then, she quickly corrected herself. Priscilla had complained of back pain, and if Leah could help, she would gladly set aside her free time to accommodate a friend.
Sparky ran out to greet Priscilla, although he didn’t bark.
“Hey, pup. How are you doing?” Priscilla bent down and scratched behind the dog’s ears.
“Mom and I did some more weeding after lunch, and now my back hurts even worse than it did before,” she said, joining Leah on the porch. “Would you have time to give me a treatment?”
Leah bobbed her head. “Of course; I told you I would.”
“Jah, but I don’t want to take you away from your book. It looks like you’ve been enjoying having some time to relax.”
“It’s fine, really.” Leah set the book aside. “Where’s your mamm? When you mentioned earlier that she was also sore from weeding, I figured she’d want a treatment, too.”
“That’s what I thought, but Mom said that she had some other things she wanted to get done today. If she’s still hurting tomorrow, I’m sure she’ll make an appointment to come see you.”
“Okay, let’s go down to the basement.”
After Leah finished working on Priscilla’s feet, she asked her to sit in the straight-backed chair so she could massage her neck and relieve some tension. “Oh my, you have some knots in there, too.”
“After all that yard work, I’m not surprised, but I’m feeling better already.”
Leah smiled. She didn’t always get immediate results with those who came to her for help, but when she did, it gave her a sense of satisfaction. But the ability to help others was her gift, and she reminded herself once more that it came from God.
“When we were outside, I couldn’t help noticing all the hummingbirds in your yard. They seemed to be flitting around everywhere. Some even went to the bee balm flowers you have near the porch,” Priscilla commented.
“They do love that bee balm.” Leah laughed. “But I think the main reason we have so many hummers is because of all the feeders we have out. It’s a lot of fun to watch them chirping at one another as they zoom in and out all day. You should hear all the commotion they make.”
“Makes me wish we had some feeders in our yard,” Priscilla said. “Is it too late in the season to hang them out?”
“I don’t think so, but the peak of the season for hummers in our area is just a month away, so if you’re going to try luring them into your yard, I’d suggest you get some feeders hung out soon. When I was talking to my neighbor the other day, she explained how the hummingbirds start migrating down here around mid-July, and that’s why it gets extra busy at the feeders. With our local hummers sticking around, as well as the migrating ones from up north, it’s like watching a swarm of bees.”
“Think I’m gonna get a feeder or two right away.”
As Leah started massaging the other side of Priscilla’s neck, Priscilla screamed and jumped onto the seat of her chair.
“What’s wrong, Priscilla? Was I massaging your
Glancing down at the book, Leah realized that the hummingbird had probably been attracted to the red in the cover. She grinned, watching the tiny bird at the feeder dip its beak in and out to get the sweet nectar. Leah never tired of watching the hummers and wished they could stay all year. Since that wasn’t possible, she would enjoy them for the few months they were in the area. And next month, when Alissa came to band the birds, Leah would make sure she was available not only to watch the procedure but also to offer Alissa assistance if needed.
Pulling her gaze from the hummingbird, Leah set her drink on the table and opened the book. She’d only read a few pages when Priscilla rode up on her bike. Leah figured she was probably here for the foot treatment they had talked about working in.
So much for getting any reading done,
Leah thought. But then, she quickly corrected herself. Priscilla had complained of back pain, and if Leah could help, she would gladly set aside her free time to accommodate a friend.
Sparky ran out to greet Priscilla, although he didn’t bark.
“Hey, pup. How are you doing?” Priscilla bent down and scratched behind the dog’s ears.
“Mom and I did some more weeding after lunch, and now my back hurts even worse than it did before,” she said, joining Leah on the porch. “Would you have time to give me a treatment?”
Leah bobbed her head. “Of course; I told you I would.”
“Jah, but I don’t want to take you away from your book. It looks like you’ve been enjoying having some time to relax.”
“It’s fine, really.” Leah set the book aside. “Where’s your mamm? When you mentioned earlier that she was also sore from weeding, I figured she’d want a treatment, too.”
“That’s what I thought, but Mom said that she had some other things she wanted to get done today. If she’s still hurting tomorrow, I’m sure she’ll make an appointment to come see you.”
“Okay, let’s go down to the basement.”
After Leah finished working on Priscilla’s feet, she asked her to sit in the straight-backed chair so she could massage her neck and relieve some tension. “Oh my, you have some knots in there, too.”
“After all that yard work, I’m not surprised, but I’m feeling better already.”
Leah smiled. She didn’t always get immediate results with those who came to her for help, but when she did, it gave her a sense of satisfaction. But the ability to help others was her gift, and she reminded herself once more that it came from God.
“When we were outside, I couldn’t help noticing all the hummingbirds in your yard. They seemed to be flitting around everywhere. Some even went to the bee balm flowers you have near the porch,” Priscilla commented.
“They do love that bee balm.” Leah laughed. “But I think the main reason we have so many hummers is because of all the feeders we have out. It’s a lot of fun to watch them chirping at one another as they zoom in and out all day. You should hear all the commotion they make.”
“Makes me wish we had some feeders in our yard,” Priscilla said. “Is it too late in the season to hang them out?”
“I don’t think so, but the peak of the season for hummers in our area is just a month away, so if you’re going to try luring them into your yard, I’d suggest you get some feeders hung out soon. When I was talking to my neighbor the other day, she explained how the hummingbirds start migrating down here around mid-July, and that’s why it gets extra busy at the feeders. With our local hummers sticking around, as well as the migrating ones from up north, it’s like watching a swarm of bees.”
“Think I’m gonna get a feeder or two right away.”
As Leah started massaging the other side of Priscilla’s neck, Priscilla screamed and jumped onto the seat of her chair.
“What’s wrong, Priscilla? Was I massaging your
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