We probably need not remind ourselves that we are in the midst of the "Dog Days" of summer. It appears that the ol’ thermometer is doing a pretty good job of that. We received rains of decent measure back earlier in July from around the Independence Day Holiday weekend up through the next week that has proved to be a lifesaver for our fair Valley of the Pecan.

Areas of the County got anywhere from 3" up to around six inches, and it surely has made a difference around our area. The pastures and hay patches have really turned around with good greening for grazing and hay baling. The cattle are looking fat and slicked off and the deer have been venturing out in the middle of the day foraging on the tender fresh growth of the preferred plants. It even got enough moisture sprout the wheat seed that shattered off during the combining season.

Una May Hyatt had a great birthday celebration and party down at the Parkview Baptist Church this past Saturday afternoon. Douglas, Rodney, Ricky and their families did a great job with all the refreshments, big beautiful cakes, and friends all around. I never heard as to how many folks came by as it was sort of a come & go party, but I’d bet the count would be over 150 well wishers. I did have the opportunity to visit with Darrell Ketchum, whom I’d not seen but once since our ol’ Texas Dept. o Agric. Days. Una May had a ball.

I looped around upper China Creek late last week on my way to check the cattle at Algerita, taking time to go up by the Jim Circle place to pick some bush plums along the bar ditch there about the middle prong of the Creek. It didn’t take too long to fill a red Gandy’s ice cream bucket. Anyhow, not being much of a jam canner, I was lucky enough to make a trade with Martha Roe Terry to do up a good batch on the thirds. Anyhow, I came out with a few jars of wild plum Jam & Sharon was happy , as well. Maybe I can add a couple more jars to the stash at the family reunion this weekend, as Suzy Harkey is a very prolific jelly & jam canner.

If you happen to see a few more Harkey kin than normal around Town this weekend, it’s on account of the Harkey Family Reunion. The relatives will be gathered in and around the American Legion Hall down at the Mill Pond for the two days of festivities. The Saturday program will be capped off with the Famous Family Fish-fry and Sunday noon is a feast of a covered dish dinner, featuring a lot of recipes from the Harkey Family Cookbook. The daytime schedule covers a lot of visiting, fun, and fellowship with some music, games, dominoes, and passing a bunch of old pictures around. This will mark 155 years since the Harkey's settled on the banks of the San Saba close to the confluence of the River and Wallace Creek, one year prior to the organization of San Saba County. I think it has been around 20 years since Jerry Harkey got the Family together out at Wallace Creek for the 1st of the modern day reunions. In the earlier times, the Family gathered at the Taylor Bottom at Harkeyville, with the last of those I recall being held in 1955 for the Centennial Celebration that Olga organized. Any kin or friends is invited to come by and visit and you might see some folks you went to school with.

Son, Will and J. Shaw ran the lines last Sat. & took a couple of nice fish off the drop lines. An 8 lb. Yellow and 3 lb. Channel made up the catch, which afforded a nice mess of fresh fish that Will fried up out the Ellis Ranch following Church for Sunday dinner. Cheryl was reported to have enjoyed a fine Birthday weekend.

I had the opportunity to visit with Beebe Bagley in Jim Bob’s drug store yesterday afternoon and she gave me an update on Buddy’s situation with an eye malady recently. He’s in St. David down at Austin and she said they might be moving him to Marble Falls this week. I’m sure he’ll appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Other than that, I’m sure it won’t be too long ‘til the Mayor and yrs. truly will be back to tending business out around—————Harkeyville!!!!!!!!!!!