The old weatherman was right on target once again, as the rain came as predicated leaving over 2 ½ inch of rain around the Bend. North of Bend on 580 reports of 1.8 inch was all that fell. The cool cloudy weather that followed was nice for the hunters as the deer seemed to be up and moving.

LaNell Daniels reported that Thomas and Sheila Smithhart donated a large Christmas tree to the Bend Community Center, complete with lights. There was talk at the Bend Community meeting Saturday of the need of obtaining a new tree for the center. You just never know when a need will be taken care off. Many thanks go to Thomas and Sheila for their generosity.

The community meeting went off as scheduled with a light crowd attending. The Mexican dishes that were served were really outstanding not to leave out the desserts which were also outstanding. The next meeting will be the big Christmas event on December 19th, and Santa Claus has already promised to be there for all the youngsters.

William Clark drove to Winters and met up with his son Boyd to pick up grandson Silas. Monday William will take his grandsons Silas Clark and Jordan Messer to Killeen to tour the museum on the base.

After church Sunday Toni Keeney and Pennye Pierce along with other members of the Clark family ate lunch at the home of William and Jane Clark and a surprise birthday party was held for Silas with a cake decorated with the theme of Indiana Jones which was made at the HEB. He was presented with an Indiana Jones Skull game. It seems Silas is really taken with Indiana Jones. After the birthday party Silas went home with Jordan Messer to spend the night.

Michael and Gennifer Brister had a huge family Thanksgiving party Saturday at their home. After the big rain the creek was up over the road, but it did go down and the 50 or more guests made it across just fine.

Gennifer had baked for several days making 6 pecan pies, 4 pumpkin pies, 4 buttermilk pies, 2 chocolate pies, all kinds of breads, puddings, candies and her Italian cream cake that she won grand champion with in the San Saba Pecan Food show years ago. Four turkeys and four hams were smoked as well by Michael. Guests from the "Grant side" of their family came from Irving, Georgetown, Salado, Austin, Gatesville, Caldwell, Belton, and Jarrell.

A special anniversary celebration was held for Gennifer’s parents along with the Thanksgiving dinner. They celebrated 37 years of marriage this month. There was lots of hunting talk between the men folk as well as the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Michael took some of the family members on a tour of the big city of Bend. The first stop was at Bad Bob’s Bend Store the one and only retail store and getting to meet the owner, "Bad Bob" was a treat.

Families around the Bend are getting ready for the big Turkey day, some will be going away to celebrate the day with family and some will be at home with family members coming from near and far to feast on turkey, hunt and generally just have a good time.

We should all be thankful for being able to do the things that we like to do, to be with family, our health and our friends and best of all being able to attend the church of our choice.

After eating all that turkey and goodies remember your family and friends at the Eventide Nursing home by attending the Family Council of Eventide held at the Rylander Library, Saturday November 28th, at 10:15 A.M.

Happy birthday greetings go out to Diane Gibson who will celebrate a birthday November 28th, to Nathan Poor whose birthday is November 29th.

Congratulations go out to Tom and Chee Chee Brockman who will celebrate an anniversary November 30th.