I like to think of myself as a writer, and I sometimes entertain the idea that this thought is shared by others. I tend to dabble in the poetic stream of things rather than short stories or novels.  However, that could easily change.

I also consider myself to be an avid birder, yet don’t expect me to be able to recite the name of every single bird I see.  Only my mother could do that!  That goes for naming plants, flowers, trees, and grasses, too.  I enjoy viewing them all, but I am unable to identify each one like she could.

Speaking of my mother, I guess that is what I do best:  Mothering practically everyone I come in contact with.  I am so much like her!  I was her caregiver for quite a few years, and oh, what both a pleasure and a time-consuming job that was!  Before my nursing days with my mama, she, being a mother, was in a sense, the same to me, a loving caregiver.  That’s the way I see it.  What a blessing to be able to be a mother right back to your very own mama.

I relish my time spent collecting things:  Postage stamps, old coins, antiques purchased in some cozy and inviting out-of-the-way place, and especially artwork.  Yes, I am a bit of a pack-rat.  I must live in a home that includes some type of bottomless pit  just so I can keep my collectibles secured.   LOL!  I have always been this way.  I even have what I consider to be a little box in which I can store my thoughts and ideas. I simply refer to it as my  “Birdie’s Box.”  And out of my “Birdie’s Box” comes all of the words formed together by me to create something that is hopefully fun and interesting to read. With that, I invite you to “come on in, read, and listen for a bit with me.”  Welcome to The Ins and Outs of the South.