On the edge of the woods that led to the great open field sat a small brown house. It was a nice enough place for any woodland creature to visit, but what made it special was the pergola. Ah, yes, the pergola! It was covered in lush, green vines and proved to be a wonderful place for the birds to rest.

Any of these feathered friends could perch upon the lattice hidden beneath the vines, but the little brown sparrows seemed to like it best. They shared it with the wrens, the finches, and many other visitors, too.

The pergola seemed almost like an aviary, but its residents were free to come and go as they pleased, while the curious woman in the house gladly watched from her kitchen window.

All seemed well on that warm, summer day with the sun shining brightly and the flowers showing off their vibrant colors. But then came a loud shriek. A furry, gray animal jumped out of the shadows and surprised everyone: a cat!

Donna Myer was born and raised in the small town of Seneca, Illinois, along the Illinois River. She is a part of the now-diminishing baby-boomer generation, but as such, is grateful to have been part of a culture where mothers stayed home and raised their children, while the fathers were able to support their families with one paycheck. She attributes her love of learning, writing, and the arts to her parents of Italian, German, English, and French descent. While researching family ancestry, she discovered that Ann Dudley, the first female poet to be published in the United States, is among her direct ancestors. Now retired Donna has more time to write, paint, and draw which are her passions.