Columns/Opinions

The weather man hit the nail on the head last week with his weather predication. Wednesday night, the wind came in with a blast, lightening, thunder and rain. Different ones reported some wind damage. Some trees were blown over, some limbs broken off and some damage to roofs. Some of the old pecan trees along FM 580 going to Lampasas were blown down and the Highway Department had to be called out at 1:00 A.M. to remove the broken limbs from the road. Bobbie Morris reported that several post oak trees and mesquite limbs were broken off as well as some sheet iron blown around.

Jane Tinney is now living at Canyon Lake to be near her son, Gary Freeland and his family. She will be greatly missed by her many friends and her church family at the High Valley Baptist Church.

By Cathy Ledbetter

This past weekend we had what has become our Annual Family Party. A week before that, my husband and I were in College Station for our last Company E-1 Banquet and Fundraiser.

This brings to mind just how much effort it takes to get together with people whether they are family or friends. There are people we are around all the time at work or school, but apart from that, it takes considerable effort on everyone’s part to gather a group of people together.

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Thank heavens the first round of STAAR testing is over and we hunker down for the next round. Our kids are super kids and I sincerely hope they all do well. Some will not, simply because the pressure is just too great. As much as we all try not to place too heavy an emphasis on these tests, the simple matter is the state expects the students and the teachers to succeed on these tests.

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Being naturally more interested in what is going on outside than inside, I find myself gazing out the window at the vegetation and especially the critters out there. And, frequently one of those critters does something really interesting, surprising, or even funny. Here are a few of the incidents I have seen recently.

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By Carrie Classon

My friend, Andrew, will not use a credit card when paying for his groceries. Andrew is a curmudgeon and has been one for years. He lives alone and has been a dear friend for almost all my life.

“It’s none of their darned business how much broccoli I’m buying!” he tells me, as his reason for making these purchases in cash.

My husband, Peter, and I pay for all our groceries with a credit card in order to get points. One year’s worth of groceries (and other things) just about adds up to two airplane tickets to go on vacation, so we are fastidious about it. I have no concerns about the grocery store knowing how much broccoli I buy. (A lot, for those who are interested.)

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By Jo Price

This is no April Fools joke. . . it is cold outside this Monday morning.

Guess old man winter is not entirely through with us yet. The pecan trees have really been putting on leaves, but the old mesquite trees are just now beginning to put on some green, but not all just a handful, so we could still be in for some more cold. Keep your fingers crossed, hoping to not lose fruit on some of the early blooming fruit trees.

Bonnie Millican reported that the bluebonnets and the wild flowers are outstanding this year, even some of the yucca are blooming, but could use some rain. She reported that people all along the road to Fredericksburg were stopping and taking pictures. The flowers around the churches and hills are beautiful.

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After fighting a battle with eye surgeries and the Shingles (not the kind you put on the roof), but the kind that make you want to climb the walls, Jo has decided to pick up the pen again. So if for any reason you have a visitor, or have gone on a trip, thinking about planting a garden, throwing someone a birthday party, or just a party, have a thing about your neighbor (heaven forbid), send me an email at joretta@centex.net or call the only Price in the Bend Phone book.

Any kind of gossip will do. You would be surprised how many people like to know what you have been up to or have done. Can’t write it if you don’t tell it! For lack of news, it is sometimes better to just make up some sort of wild story--heehaw!

I hate to say it but I spent most of my spring break huddled up on the couch under a blanket. I had so many plans, but none of them came to pass. I did clean out some closets, wash floors and get rid of clothes that I had not worn in some time.

It was not until Saturday that I was able to get out and get some yard work done. It’s amazing how quickly weeds grow. Grass is an entirely different story.

I went and had my last colonoscopy done on Friday. It is done; I have a clean bill of health.

It’s time to put out the hummingbird feeders. I saw a post from the birders that someone had already had a visit from one of the little fellows. I bought a really cute glass one that I am anxious to put out.

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A lot of folks seem to think that the natural landscape or habitat isn't beautiful enough or interesting enough or different enough so they "improve it" by introducing exotic or non-native species. Some of these introductions are indeed harmless and create no significant problem in the native habitat other than taking up space that native species might otherwise occupy. And, here I am talking about both plant and animal species.

But the problem is that we usually don't know enough to predict the effect a given exotic species will have on a particular native environment. Here is an interesting story to illustrate the point.

You probably know that several years ago wolves were re-introduced into Yellowstone National Park. Until wolves were exterminated in the earlier part of the 20th century, they had been part of the Yellowstone natural habitat for hundreds, probably thousands of years.

I sprang all my clocks forward, but I didn’t notice a spring forward in my steps. I am intending to accomplish a multitude of chores that have needed help for months now. The Indian Wells tournament is underway, and I intend to watch as much as possible and still get the tasks done. I can wash windows while watching tennis through the clean glass.

My chickens have arrived thanks to Donna Taylor. They are lovely black and white striped creatures. I remarked to Donna that they were big enough to escape the hawks, but she laughed and said they were no match for the big hawks. That puts them in danger for sure. Of course, the more immediate danger is old Fuzzy. I’m not sure how that is going to work at all. They may have to be removed to the orchard, or he may have to be penned up during grasshopper season.