It looks like we’ve gotten the Ground hog out of the way as well as the lil’ Cupid fellow that makes us buy flowers, cards, & candy, and all the memorable Presidents as well. We are most certainly still serving our term of winter, and lots of places in the pastures are still too treacherous to transverse. I know that Daddy & Jr. have been feeding just inside the gates

of the places, as of late, in order to keep from getting bogged down.

Lady Z & yrs. truly had the opportunity of a road trip this past Lovable, Holiday weekend as we made our way by Harkeyville, Algerita, turned right in Richland and made it all the way up the pike to Brownwood. I pointed out the Shiloh Church to her as well as motioning back over my shoulder to where Pat Faught resided. I never pass the ol’ Luther Rainey

Nursery that I don’t pine for an orchard schematic of the trees and varieties. Mr. Rainy was always impressed with the tree qualities of the Mahan variety and propogated several seedling offspring of that variety that might warrant renewed attention, now-days. As we crossed the Wilbarger, I also went back in time, telling her of Daddy’s 1st venture in the cow business on the banks of the Wilbarger on the ol’ Wood place, katty-cornered from the Skeeterville store, back in the early Fifties. Anyhow, the main reason for the trip up to Browntown happened to be a reception at the ol’ Train Station Museum, celebrating Sue & Jimmy Harkey’s Golden Wedding anniversary. We finally spied the place out on E. Adams as we were standing in the parking lot of the Stuart & Margaret Coleman Visitor’s center across the way. True to form, Susie had made 3 very pretty & tasty cakes and the catering co. they had contracted did lay out a nice spread of seasoned Pork Loin, cheeses, crackers, breads, spreads, & dips. We didn’t dare do more than merely taste a few samples as we had plans to eat out in Early following the Reception. Really had a nice time seeing a number of the family members, with Jerry & Pat coming in from Leander, with most of their crew. Gene & Barbara Horn represented Shaw Bend, and V.C. even made it up from Spring Creek. Anyhow, the kids did a great job of setting up the whole thing, and the affair was not all unlike a mini Harkey Family reunion, with a large number of friends as well.

Carol & I stopped by the Chinese buffet place out in Early for a five o’clock supper and really did it up fine. The folks there are very friendly and efficient and we got out the door for a mere twenty dollar bill that included 2 buffet dinners, drinks, tip, etc. Needless to say, that we were so stuffed, there was no need for any more supper after we got back home. Will was in at Daddy’s, coming in from Nana’s at Sloan, and was in the process of frying Venison steaks, sided with gravy and biscuits. Daddy really dug into the fare, but I was still too full to even taste. It surely did smell good frying, though.

Looks like we’ve enjoyed a couple of days of sunshine earlier in the week, but still had a couple of nights of freezing temperatures. At least we’re not getting all the heavy snows of farther up North, as well as down through some of Dixie. We’re heading into the last part of the 2nd month right away, so it might be timely to be reminded that the last part of Feb.

& the 1st week or so of March is usually prime time for cutting, collecting, and storing scion wood, for grafting or budding of Pecans, which also coincides with proper pruning time. I might get the Mayor to help me with some of it, but I’ll have to see if he can stand the heavy labor as he turned another year on his calendar Wed., somewhere out around———————Harkeyville!!!!!!