Weather is often the primary topic of many conversations, whether around the coffee table, lunch counters, on the phone, or over the back-yard fence. We always have plenty weather, just varying grades of good, bad, or indifferent. Many of the local folks have been complaining quite a bit the past couple of months over the lack of moisture around the major portion of San Saba County. I’d offer that if one really would like to see plenty water, all they had to do was watch the news or weather channel on TV this past weekend, & we could see what it’s like to get more than is needed. Remember that quote I’ve mentioned in the past from the wise ol’ Judge: “———careful of what you pray for; you might get it”.

Anyhow, ol’ HS buddy Gene Hinyard has been sending me some shots from off the back porch of the “Bait Camp” down in Clear Lake, as well as one pic. Of the Kemah-Seabrook bridge right next to the Bay. Besides a lot of tree damage, trash & buildings blown around, there was a tremendous amount of water. Hinyard did get his electricity back on by Sunday p.m., so he was somewhat more lucky than many in that area around Houston. Katylee & her Mimi, stayed out the storm at her home in Bear Creek off Barker-Cypress and Lady Z & I have yet to hear from them. They had gotten a generator & were staying put, but I got word there was a lot of high water in that area, as well as the wind. Even though folks have cell phones, one need remember that when all the electricity is off, the towers are “down”. I guess one of the most amazing things I saw on the news was all the furniture & office materials that were blown out of the tall buildings out west of downtown. It will be quite a while before all that area comes anywhere close to normalcy. About the only amusing thing we saw during the whole event was when Giraldo got dunked twice in the surge while reporting off the Strand along the sea-wall in Galveston.

The temperature dipping down in the fifties the past few mornings has let us know that Fall is right around the corner. Our home energy bills should be a bit less for a few months, the lawn & ornamentals won’t requite as much supplemental watering, and things usually pick up economically around San Saba what with the hunters and all coming in. We usually have increased activity from Pecan harvesting, but I’m not quite sure just how that will be this Fall.

There has been a good bit of Dove hunting the past couple of weeks and we even have experienced some fairly good bags filled this season. Shaw, Barker, & friends have come close to limiting out on a few occasions and that has been near to non-existent the past several seasons. Son, Will, Jarvis, & yrs. Truly fixed a bunch of birds over at Daddy’s Sat. evening, frying & grilling enough that we even had a few left over. There was also quite a compliment of bacon wrapped stuffed Jalapenos on the side with some Okra fried with potatoes & onions, which went along very well with all the Dove birds. While speaking of Dove hunting, it might be wise to remember that this is the time of year the snakes start crawling looking for their winter dens. I happened to dispose of about a 3 ft. Ratttler on the China Creek Rd. last week right past the Sam Isham place before you get to the Harper Perry barn. I’ve always considered myself as pretty much of a Conservationist, but will admit to not suffering Rattlesnakes very well.

Looking at the Lawn & Garden scene, I’m noticing a number of lawns showing a lot of yellowing of the leaves in the turf. Several aspects of summer stress might add to this condition, but it would probably help to go ahead & put down your Fall fertilizer application any time soon. Mid to latter part of September is a good time for that application. The most advised application would be what we call a “complete” that has all three elements included of N,P & K,( Nitrogen, Phosphorus, & Potassium). An additional application of Iron might be advisable if your grass is very Chlorotic. Something in the neighborhood of “triple 13” or any analysis close to that should suffice depending on what W.D. or Riggs has on hand. Might be a good time to plant some Fall greens in the garden , as well.

Sept. is a good time for Birthdays around our Town as well. Sally M. Land will finally be catching up to the rest of our Class next week, and Daddy will be a way ahead of that come the last day of the Month. I seem to recall that Olena & Buddy Ray should have birthdays about this time. I do know that TL celebrated a birthday this past Mon. and Mr. Jones will be ‘bout my age for the next month. Other than that, I’d suppose that the Mayor & this humble scribe can probably try to take care of most things out around————Harkeyville!!!!