We are seeing a lot more smiling faces around town & County the past few days. The light cool front that followed the advent of Fall into our fair valley of the Pecan was right on time & wonderfully welcome. Some of the earlier ripening Pecan varieties are beginning to split shuck,as well as some of the Native or seedling trees. Most of the producers have been pretty busy the past few weeks prepping the orchard floor and bottoms for the up-coming harvest , shredding or cultivating for ease of the mechanical pickers. We’ve been pretty fortunatewith recent rains providing enough moisture in lieu of having to put on the last irrigation prior to harvest. The added moisture has sort of spread out Pecan weevil emergence in some areas of the County. It won’t be too long until we begin harvest of some varieties in order for our retail outlets to have some "new" Season nuts on hand. Fact of the matter is, they might already have some coming in from the Rio Grande Plain where ripening is usually a good bit ahead of our opening. Hunting season has, so far, consisted mostly of Dove hunting, as squirrel hunting has been somewhat on the decline in recent years, as a result of diminishing numbers of the bushytails around our orchards & bottoms, now-days. Not too many folks hunt rabbits like they did back in the days of our youth, when the Cottontail was preferred and the occasional Swamp rabbit, was really a treat, as well as filling more of the pot. Mixed reports on daily bird bag success have been a bit sketchy as some folks report having enough birds to get their limits, while it has taken Shaw, Son Will, & yrs. truly several days to fill one (1) bag limit. Maybe the recent cool front will move some of the big Plains Mourning Doves down and the Whitewings will get in swing, as well. I haven’t taken time to find the dates for the early Fall Teal season, but they are sort of in & out and rather hard to catch here during the short season. My hunting luck has been so sorry that I can’t even catch the squirrel that keeps cutting Pecans over in Daddy’s trees in the Home orchard. While speaking of hunting and all the various sorts of game that folks like to harvest, as well as prepare delightful dishes for the hunting camp or home, it might be good to think of the Fall Hunting Guide that the "News" prints each year the week of opening weekend. We usually have several recipes for Wildgame dishes or Hunting Camp cooking that is of interest to hunters or any folks that enjoy cooking and eating various Wild Game dishes. Anyhow, what I’m getting at is that the "Editress" thought it might enhance our efforts if any of you that have an interest might send us a copy of one of your favorite Wildgame recipes. While we cannot guarantee printing all of them, the Editor has to make selections based on space, as well as a variety of subject or main ingredient. They need to be in to the "News" in the next couple of weeks in order to make the deadline. The Robbins Family reunion was held this past Saturday down in Mill Pond Park at the American Legion-Senior Center with 23 family members attending. Those attending are the descendents or kin of the Wiley-Eula Robbins branch. Wanda Davenport was the only daughter able to make it, along with her sons, Dave & Dick and their families. Ronnie & Randy Gauny, came in with their families, representing Nina’s side, and Melba Holcomb wasn’t able to make it over from Goldthwaite. Lady Z & yrs.truly came in from Momma’s side, and Floydene was there as a cousin as well. Richard had a "chair" breakdown, but came in later as he got an old one from down in the barn. The group enjoyed visiting, games, and plenty to eat as several brought some great dips and chips,as well as a few desserts. A Barbecue lunch was served with all the trimmings from Gage’s Barbecue and was well appreciated by the way some of the group refilled their plates. The Senior Center-Legion Hall serves as an excellent site for such an activity and the kids enjoy fishing in Mill Pond and feeding the ducks.

Guess I’d better see if I can get this thing "in the can" and on down to the Editress in time for print deadline. Other than that I feel that the Mayor & yrs. truly will be enjoying the cooler weather while looking at the new crop out around————Harkeyville!!!!!!!!