One certain constant on our weather situation the past few months is the factor of little change, at least in respect to any moisture. Recent travels around the County roads have added evidence to this factor with all the dry, dusty roads, grain fields struggling to stay a light shade of green, and many tanks, water holes & creeks that are either very low or already dry. I’m absolutely positive that it will rain again, but the big question is “when”! Anyhow, leave it to the ol’ Dutchman of the Bend, R.J. , to come up with most appropriate remark; “If it doesn’t rain soon, it’s going to get a lot drier”.

Seems like we just got through all the Holidays & here we find ourselves just about finished with the first month of ’09. I realize that a lot of the younger folks have no idea as to the speed of time flying by as we get on up in our years, but same as us, they will find out in time. The next 20 or so years probably won’t take very long. It is fairly easy to realize that here is hardly ever enough time for hunting & fishing.

One aspect of a lot of our chores that interfere with our outdoors time for hunting & fishing is that of yard work, or that of the garden and orchard. We had been needing to prune the Pecan trees out in the orchard over at Daddy’s for quite some time and the heavy load of last year’s crop, aided by some unusually windy weather, pretty well self-pruned the trees. That’s all well & good, but then you’re left with the problem of cleaning up all the limbs & sticks. Son, Will, has pitched in and did a banner job. Not only did he get the trees pruned properly, we have a good supply of fine Pecan wood that works well in the B-B-Q pit as well as being extremely fitting for smoking our ring sausage, Summer sausage, & Salami. John Begnaud tells us that there is still plenty time left for pruning in the orchards, bottoms, & landscape plants as well. It is also a good time to go ahead and order any trees that you might want to plant in the yard or orchard as well.

Looks like the 4-H & FFA youngsters put another San Saba Co. Livestock Show in the record books. I didn’t get to watch much of the showing, but did take time to see some of the market swine show. Duke & I watched Nikki show one of her pigs up to 2nd place in her class, as well as making the finals of the Senior Swine Showmanship. I got to take a couple of briskets down for the 4-H snack booth, and hopefully they had plenty for barbecue buns. Not getting to try one , myself, I’ve no idea how good they turned out, but Lady Z got one and said it was pretty fine. Reports of the premium sale were also in the plus column and I’m sure you can find the results of the placings & sale elsewhere in the “News”.

“Teaspoon” Tony Navarra is planning on coming up this weekend & give us a hand up at the Benton Appreciation dinner at the VFD in Richland this Sat. evening. D. Gibson is serving a big pot of Chili, along with a pot of Pintos. Tony & yrs. Truly will be helping him put on the finishing touch for the “Bowls of Red”. We’ll be looking forward to seeing all yall up there. Other than that, guess the Mayor & me will be seeing you out around———————Harkeyville!!!!!!!!!!!!!