Things are sure looking up for our fair area for this new year of

2011; we’ve gotten the 2nd rain in about as many weeks, and the one this past weekend was darned good. Most reports we’ve had seem to range anywhere from about 1.5" on up to a shade over 2", all over the County. Cole said they measured about 1.5" down at Holland Hill on the Bend Rd., and Will poured 1.80" out of our gauge at the Garvin on Johnny Brown Lane on Sunday. The gauge at China Creek, across from the Sam Isham gate showed an even two inches, and Ruben Almaguer reported right at two from Aunt Elva’s place at Harkeyville. I think they got about 1.5" out at the Ellis Ranch according to Lucille, and I heard that the Bend & Chapel might have been a bit over 2". It certainly was well received following the rain back a couple of weeks ago, but we could do with a little less of the cold snap that followed. I saw about 24 degrees this morning with most of the mud puddles being iced over and they are forecasting the mercury to dip below that the next night or so. I guess the folks that sell natural gas will be happy.

It’s Stock Show time the latter part of the week, so most of the

folks will be going down to the Show Barn to watch kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews exhibit their prize livestock. Feeding and caring for livestock

projects is one of the best educational projects that the 4-H & FFA members can participate with. Besides the fact of becoming a better judge of the different kinds of livestock, they learn responsibility of working and caring for the animals, as well as the financial experience of buying the animal, keeping records on the weight, cost of the feed, and hopefully, the eventual profit realized from the sale of the animal. Whether you have anyone exhibiting or not, you will enjoy going down to the show and watching the youth of our County in action. The concession stand always has some pretty tasty items, as well. You probably don’t have to be reminded to dress warm for the weather. Actually, the building is fairly well heated, if you happen to be old enough to remember when we had to show our animals in make-shift pens erected on Rogan Field. When it was too wet to show out in the open, they set up the pens in Barnes Lumber Co. and we got to show under the roof. Thomas Bowden can tell you, as we showed pigs in the Lumber yard one year.

The recent inclimate weather has not been very conducive for one to get out in the garden plot and make soil preparations for the coming spring planting. I have hauled a few loads of good top-soil to several of the more progressive gardeners, but I think most of those loads are still in a pile on the plot. There are some other activities one can tend to that can be handled in-doors. Make a plat of your plot and figure out where you need to plant each different kind of vegetable. You know, things like putting the sweet corn on the west row if you run your rows north & south. One other fact of kind and variety selection that I like to remind folks of is to select varieties of vegetable that do well in our area. An example would be to not plant spinach or onions that are better suited for New York. One other thing that always amazes me is that some folks will plant some kinds of vegetables they don’t even like. I guess they might have thankful neighbors. We received our Willhite seed catalog last week, so it must be time to think of ordering all kinds of neat seeds for the spring. Maybe we’ll remember to get Val Gene some of the Carole cantaloupe this season as that happens to be one of the best tasting as well as Lady Z’s favorite. The Mayor and yrs. truly sort of enjoy them as well, anywhere out around————Harkeyville!!!!!!!!