Hello from Bend!
Things this week are fairly normal at the Bend; we are all praying for rain that’s for sure! I am starting to see some Bluebonnets pop up, but not as many as I have seen in some surrounding areas. I love taking Bluebonnet pictures each year with my kiddos; it’s one of our family traditions. I also love seeing others snapping pics and enjoying the beauty of nature as we travel up and down the roads. It is one of my favorite times of the year. There is one BIG thing that always needs to be mentioned though. For those who share this tradition, or are considering this annual photo op, please remember to watch your step!! Rattlesnakes are known to hide in Bluebonnet fields, as well as fire ants. In addition, you do not want to damage the Bluebonnets or any other wildflowers in order to find that perfect photo spot. Remember to NOT pick the flowers.
April Fool’s Day came and went. Hopefully none of you got pranked too bad. I came away unscathed from being a fool this year. Well, let me rephrase…. I didn’t get pranked, haha!!
Speaking of April Fool’s Day, my sister, Bethany Ramsey of Irving, Texas, celebrated a birthday on April 1st! Happy Birthday, Sissy!!! Bethany is also expecting baby #4, and I am excited to announce that I will have a new niece this year!!!
In other celebratory news, two of my absolute favorite people, Jackie and Charlene Brister, celebrated 26 years of marriage on April 6th! Congratulations, and may you be blessed with many more! Bend residence Jim and Orabeth Hicks (great grandparents), and Jimmy Hicks (grandpa), visited San Saba for a grand celebration. They attended a birthday party, along with many other friends and family, for their sweet little Macon Amthor who turned one year old on April 2nd. Happy Birthday, Macon!
Some of the “Bend Kids” (as I call them), who are growing far too fast, are keeping us busy with all of their extracurricular activities and school functions. Although we wish time would slow down, we could not be more proud of the kiddos here. Catherine Hicks visited Texas A&M on April 2nd with the Lampasas Livestock Judging Team. The team did not place, but it was a great experience and I know Catherine did a great job! This last week in a fun award celebration, Skylar Harris, Junior, was voted Cherokee High School Class Favorite, and Waylon Harris, Sophomore, was voted Funniest Guy in High School. *I’m taking total Mom Cred for those!
The Texas Extension Education Association (TEEA) Club will meet Monday, April 11th, at 2 p.m. at the Bend Methodist Church Annex. The program “A Shot in the Dark” will be presented by Toni Mayben. Club members are asked to bring old buttons for Carolyn McDowell to make a button jar for the Silent Auction District 7 Meeting (held in Burnet, Texas, on April 20th). All are invited to attend April 11th to hear Toni’s presentation. *The TEEA Club was formerly called Home Demonstration Club.
Thank you to all who have been so kind as to reach out, whether to share information for the Bend News or the kind words that I have received as feedback. I appreciate you all! Please continue to spread the word that the Bend News is back up and ‘runnin’ …errr…writin.’ You get my drift. *wink* Until next week…