If you happened to have been paying attention a bit better than have I, then you’ll realize it has been quite a spell since we last visited. It still amazes me, somewhat, as to how a lot of things seem to get in the way of our scheduled activities as we get past middle age. When we were in our school years, getting out for the summer seemed like a really big deal. Then as we got into our younger years of adult hood, this special time was barely noticed. As we had school age kids of our own, it was definitely noticed again. Now days, it’s not nearly as significant, except seeing the kids lolly-gagging around in small groups trying to figure out what they might get into. I really haven’t checked down at the Mill Pond, but I’d bet there is considerable activity down at the Pool. If your kids have been going down to the River to swim, you might want to check with local health officials to see if it’s safe, as the San Saba and Colorado are both at a very low ebb.

The low river flow and the earlier than usual high temperatures can combine for a possible health problem.

We’ve also noticed a lot of irrigation pumps running up and down the River. Lack of rainfall in our area as well as most of the State has prompted pumps to run on Pecan orchards and hay fields. The Pecan set looks fairly good on the trees I have checked and seems like we didn’t have a very heavy infestation of Pecan Nut Casebearer so far this season. Most of the producers seemed to have sprayed during the 1st generation period. It won’t be too long until we need to start scouting for 2nd generation as it usually comes around about 45 days following the designated period of the first generation. Networking with fellow Pecan producers and checking with the County Extension office is probably most advisable. If the hot droughty

weather cycle maintains, we shouldn’t have much of a Scab problem. See; there is a sunny side to just about any adverse situation. No pun intended.

Looking at the yard and garden, we might be reminded that proper and timely irrigation might well be your most important cultural practice now.

Apply enough water to wet the soil to a depth of at least six inches. For best production, most gardens require about an inch of rain or irrigation per week during the growing season. Light, sandy soils usually need to be watered more often than do the heavier, dark soils. If you use sprinklers, water in the morning so plant foliage has time to dry before night. Ted Red uses a drip irrigation system on his garden, so as to maximize water conservation, as well as properly irrigating his vegetable plants. Skeeter

Grumbles waters down the row and does a good job. Jarvis Shaw shows that above ground mulches are also good for conserving water as well as retarding weed growth. Hopefully our long spell of windy weather is just about done.

The Parade and Rodeo were reported to have both been a huge success, Flag day is done and lots of Dads will probably have a good weekend. Will should be coming in from Waco to cook steaks and maybe even bait the lines if Shaw & yrs. truly have any luck trapping Perch. Lady Z has been trying to get me to open her present for a week, now, so we should be able to get all that done by the end of the weekend. Added to all the other ammenities of Father's Day, Aggie Dads (& Moms) can tune in to the College World Series baseball tournament and watch A&M wind up the last game of the opening round on Sunday evening. The Longhorns also got to the CWS.

Surely the Mayor and this humble scribe will tend to all of that somewhere out around——————Harkeyville!!!!!!!!!!!