The “Column” has been somewhat sporadic the past few months partly due to writer’s cramp on my part, some due to the lack of News, (as I see it), but on most part, the presence of this dratted drought. Though it is definitely not broken, the rainfall we received around most parts of our dear County was very well received. Rain might well be just about the most loved aspect of Mother Nature; right along with air & sunshine, that is. Sort of like the “Tears of mercy, that droppeth as the gentle rains of Heaven, upon the place beneath.” See, we never quite get all the way from Mrs. Harbuck, do we? Anyhow, we all are in a much better mood from the rains received this past weekend. Most folks around town got anywhere from .6” up to about one inch.

Taking a look at major, & minor, points around the County, we would say that just about everyone got some rain. Emmitt Lee said they measured about 1.1” just off Johnny Brown Lane & Neleva said that she had the same there by Simpson Creek.Chale Maldonado reported an inch out off Stingy Lane, and the LCRA station at the Goldthwaite bridge on the Colorado caught 2”. Ms. Sue at the Cherokee Store said they got right at an inch in town, and the folks out East of town received about 1.30. That must be a pretty popular number as Lovell Kuykendall said Potter Flat had right at 1.30”, as well. I heard that Richland got anywhere from an inch up to one & a half. Ms. Mae said they had about an inch up around Shiloh and a little McKinnerney girl said they got about the same over at Lake View. T.Noel reported 1.75 on the Creek just off the Cotton Belt and we had an even two inches on the Gaddy. I told Larry Howard that the gauge on the Duncan, there by the ol’ Algerita Cemetery, showed 2.2”. Trujillo turned in about 3/4 of an inch for Algerita. Bruce Moore reported one inch for China Creek. I think Jarvis said they got nearly 3/4” up at the Valentine just past Buzzard Creek. Weldon Buck said they had 1.1 inch right this side of Burnt Branch, while the gauges at the Towerton and Ragsdale down at the Colony both showed 1.05”. It was sort of an odd rain as some of it came pretty hard for a short while and ran more water than would be expected. Several tanks came up a good bit & the water holes on Richland Creek filled up. I guess we are all pretty well ready for the next rain as the County roads were already dusty by mid-Monday. I still refer to Joe Ellis’ quote on the rain: “If it will rain on the un-just, I can take a tea cup & pour it on the Just”.

I made it out to Shaw Bend last week to visit with Jimmy & Sue Harkey for a while. Jimmy & yrs. truly cut some sticks of Pecan scion wood and packaged & stored it for grafting & budding after the middle of April. Sue sent me home with a nice jar of her Plum Jam, which was always Daddy’s favorite. Olan Tisdale & I have visited a few times regarding our annual trip up to Womack’s Nursery at De Leon, but have yet to make it up there. Usually by the time we get up there, it’s time to plant the trees when we get them back to San Saba. Elmo Davis reports having already planted some of his Spring garden. Momma would have said that he might be a bit early as we’ve still got a couple of weeks to go ‘til Easter. Anyhow, the Mayor & yrs. truly might still be taking our time out around———Harkeyville!!!!!!!!