I’m not sure as to how much of an Astronomer you might be, but we’d be betting that you have certainly heard of the “Dog Days” of summer. I had never paid much attention to them until we happened to wind up down in Crystal City, Zavala Co., following a stint in the Army & Graduate school. Anyhow, it would suffice to say that they really know what the Dog Days are about down that way. Some wise ol’ star gazer related to me one time said something about when the Dog Star lined up with some other constellation which seemed to begin early in July and end up some time in late August. Whatever the period, we might be about half way through the dreaded part and , I , for one will be glad when the Dog Days are dog-gone! One other sad part of that period is that we’ve gotten a meager amount of measurable precipitation since those “Days” started. I was looking at the City National rain gauge over at Daddy’s earlier in the week and detected what appeared to be some weather cracks from the heat & dry rot. The San Saba is still flowing pretty good but the Colorado is starting to show a lot of Sand Bar up at the Goldthwaite crossing. It is still faring fairly well at the Red Bluff bridge & down at Flat Rock at the Bend. Cherokee Creek is still trickling through, Rough Creek looks good down at Park’s Mill at the Colony, but it’s been about a month since Richland Creek ran through at the Gaddy Crossing up in North Algerita. We’re surely fortunate to have all the spring fed flow that keeps the ol’ San Saba running. Quite a number of kin & friends showed up this past weekend down at the American Legion Hall in Mill Pond Park for the 24th edition of the renovation for the Harkey Family Reunion. I think Cousin Barbara Horn indicated listing about 57 folks that attended the Family fish fry Sat. evening and the covered dish dinner on Sunday. Several “new” sets of Family members attending this year included April Harkey Stol, and April’s Mom from up at Glen Coe, Okla.; Jimmy Harkey & wife, Elsie, of Augusta, Ga., and George & Bobbie Harkey from out at Nogal, N.M. Dale Maas, Estelle’s boy, made it in from out at Prescott, Ariz. & attended to some minor repairs down at the river Cabin on the ol’ Towerton Place during his stay. We had a spirited auction of the White Elephant sale following the Sunday dinner, with Barbara’s basket of jams, jellies, peanut butter, and cup towels bring the top price. Lady Z made a pretty good hand at the bidding with her top prize being a set of blue glass cannisters bringing a hefty price. I hear they came from out around Shaw Bend. Most mature prize went to Gladys Ruth Smith of Spur, Tx., while the youngest attending was lil’ Ella Owen from Cherokee. Kari & Nikki left early so 3-yr. old Eva Horn claimed the $25.00 prize. Everyone really enjoyed all the visiting, food & fun as well as all the different varieties of Watermelons & Cantaloupe, courtesy of B. Moore Farms out at China Creek. Lewis Smith bought the wicker basket of Cantaloupes in the Auction & also took a 50# yellow meated Melon back home to Spur. Harry Harkey of Dobbin will be serving as reunion President this ensuing year & closed the meeting stating that the Family reunion is set for the last full weekend of July, 2013. Son, Will made it in for the weekend and tended to some chores at the Ellis Ranch home while Lucille is recuperating at the Nursing Home. He also made it by the Fish fry Sat. evening and introduced his Lady friend, Jennifer Crayon, to the Harkey side of the Family. We’ve also had word that the Mayor is doing well and should be back at home helping yrs. truly with things out around––Harkeyville!!!!!!!!!!