Another breathtaking week under our belt! The race for year’s end is in full throttle and time is winning out! Can you believe we have less than sixty days until Christmas! I figure I must be old because they say time goes faster when you’re old. I don’t know what happened to this year but I’d like some of it back!

Our weather has been just about perfect. I say just about, because we haven’t had any rain. My grass is gone; the cows have chomped it down to the nubs. Unless we get a good rain it will be feeding time very soon.

Our friend CB is here to hunt, but I’m not sure he’ll see anything worth shooting. The deer should be fat since they have managed to eat all my plants, as well as the corn in the feeders, but they don’t look healthy to me. At any rate, I wish all the hunters good luck. They may not be fat deer, but there are quite a few of them around. Strangely enough, we have had two sets of twin fawns this year. I had a container holding a grapevine by my picnic table. It has survived three eatings, but this time it had hoof prints. I couldn’t figure out why a deer would step on my plant until I realized they were going after the acorns on the picnic table!

I’m enjoying the lower gas prices. I guess once the election process settles down they’ll go shooting back up.

The Coyotes had another winning week. All three teams won handily. Star of the game for Richland, Friday, was Dean King. Coach Burkhart gave him the chance to carry the ball and go for a touchdown. To the delight of family and friends, he made a terrific run. He didn’t score, but it wasn’t from a lack of trying. Ryan Soto also played extremely well. I believe I could hear a Mom behind me yelling for all she was worth! Santa Anna may not have scored, but I can tell you their band is the absolute best! The announcer read a long impressive list of awards they had received, including being the largest six man team band. We may not be the largest band, but I was extremely proud of our musicians. They continue to improve every week. I thank San Saba every week for letting us have Mr. Bishop for a while! I hope that while, becomes a long time; he has done wonders with our kids!

Next Sunday, Donna Stengel and Alan Taylor will be joined in marriage at the First Baptist Church in Richland Springs. They are both special people, and we pray they grow old with delight in each other. The ceremony will begin shortly after church lets out. At the conclusion of the ceremony, everyone will proceed downstairs to the fellowship hall, and enjoy a pot luck dinner.

The Stars and Stripes barbeque was a total success. Shirley Benton told me they ran out of food in two hours. The response from the community was tremendous and I’m told more such events will be held in the future. I can’t wait for the 4th of July event!

The Eastern Star Ladies had a bazaar on Saturday. There seemed to be a steady crowd of people entering the Variety Store. I’m not sure who the group was that were selling barbeque across the street. I’ll try to find out tomorrow.

Homecoming is this week. Nominees have been writing speeches and shopping for dresses. This is what I call a bipolar event. On the one hand you have all those positive feelings associated with this event. The flip side of those positive feelings lie in the fact only one person can win the crown. I hate to think of the heartbreak of losing. Mind you, I have yet to see a poor loser on homecoming day!

Whoever wins, a wonderful group of candidates was presented to the student body for selection. Good luck ladies and gentlemen. By the way, don’t forget to buy a ticket for the evening meal. Proceeds will go to the Junior Class.

PET ALERT!!!! One of our new teachers, Patsy Hall and her husband Grant, called today to ask if anyone has seen their cat. They were trying to get their long time pet familiar with its new surroundings, but it wandered off. The cat is a gray and black, long-haired tabby cat, that could be mistaken for a raccoon if you weren’t looking carefully. They live out towards Holt on CR 266. Please keep your eyes open for their pet. She can be reached at the school, should you have good news for her.

The Preservation Society Dinner Theatre is only one month away! Melanie Smith is hard at work getting it ready. She is stretched thin these days. She is assisting her son with the coordination of the UIL Competition. I’m pleased to say we have quite a few students signed up to participate. We may be little, but we work hard!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I wish I could remember to be thankful all year round instead of being reminded in November. I’m thankful for a gracious God who grants me mercy. I’m thankful for my wonderful family. My students are a blessing to me, as are my church friends. I praise God for this wonderful country and the richness of my life here. Bless you all. I hope you have a wonderful week.

We need to lift up our sick as well. Please pray for our country, our president, new and old, and our most precious troops. Please God, send us some rain!