Can hummingbird nectar go bad? More than a month ago I had whipped up a batch — a quarter cup of sugar to one cup of water, right? The I filled the colorful feeder and hung it up. We soon had one fluttery little guy poking his long beak into the hole. A few days later a second bird arrived. But shortly afterwards, both disappeared. Poof! Gone for weeks. And the feeder hung there untouched, unloved, slighted. And yes, I worried.

Then yesterday a hummingbird showed up on the opposite side of the house, sipping from a begonia in the flower box. I had mixed feelings. I was glad to see him, but felt as if I had cooked a meal that was spurned by my dinner guests.

So I threw out the old nectar and replaced it with a new batch. Same recipe. But hey, both boys are back at the feeder, morning, evening and throughout the day. And I have forgiven them.

Birds remind me, of course, of Soo Whiting, who has arrived at Quenames for the season. The day before Soo was scheduled to travel here from Florida, somebody slammed into her car. So she has spent her first Vineyard days dealing with insurances agents, filling out forms, shuffling papers.

The eighth grade class will fly north and east Saturday, May 30, for the group’s almost-annual trip to England, with a quick stopover in Reykjavik before landing in Manchester Airport. The students will visit a castle in Chester, and an amusement park, and re-visit English friends they met last fall when the reverse trip took place.

Prudence Whiting and her parents Will and Ozge came from Rhode Island to see Prudy’s cousin Nora Ruel in her dance performance at the high school on the holiday weekend.

Katryn Yerdon has left for a trip to Bermuda with several women friends, leaving her husband Rob Gilbert and the family dog to fend for themselves for a week or so.

Stephanie Brothers drove her daughter Annabelle to Logan Airport Sunday for the first leg of her overnight flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Chloe Maley went along for the ride.

The Island’s diverse Brazilian community will entertain us with its Festa do Brasil on Sunday, June 1, from 11 a.m until 5 p.m. at the Agricultural Hall. The festival promises plenty of music, dancing, farm animals, food, games and a joyful joint celebration of Brazilian traditions and the Vineyard’s rural ways of life.

Town officials have announced plans for our summertime pleasure. The annual town picnic will take place at the Grange Hall on June 14, from noon until 3 p.m. Stickers for Lambert’s Cove Beach go on sale June 15 by the tennis courts at the school.

Happy birthday to Linda Alley on Monday, June 2. And best wishes for a joyous birthday celebration to George Hartman, Stephanie Brothers and Bea Phear all on Wednesday, June 4.

Congratulations and happy wedding anniversary to Frank and Caroline Flanders on Tuesday, June 3.