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7-29-10 Greetings from Talpa, it may be that we are the Grasshopper Capitol of Coleman County. They love our gardens, trees and anything green. HM and I have been spraying and seem to be making a dent. Too late for the current gardens though. HM is planning to replant some things that might do well in August. To something more pleasant that everybody’s talking about is the rain we have been having. Not flooding streets like Abilene or Brownwood but showers that amount to one or more inches. Very welcome! This came from Karen Hicks last week and I send it to you with pleasure, “Bill and I just returned from a Mission Trip with Lake Ivie Baptist Association. We traveled to a Navajo Reservation located in Alamo NM close to Magdalene, NM. The group had VBS and help a basketball camp at Alamo and at the FBC, Magdalene. We had 60 people on this mission trip--39 youth and 21 adults. It was nice and pleasant during the day and very cool in the evening. It rained several times there and one evening it was in the 50’s! Bill served as the cook. He prepared three meals a day --the best was breakfast. Kids, as well as the adults, worked up an appetite each day. We all intermingled with the people in Magdalene and at the Navajo Reservation in Alamo. We met and made new friendships with the people there and in our group. We had several from Santa Anna, Coleman, Rockwood, Winters, Eden, Rochelle and Talpa. The weather was wonderful, the country is beautiful and the work we did will be with us forever. We thank God for this special blessing.” Happy Anniversary to Ricky Joe and Theresa Agnew! We wish
them many more. They were in San Angelo on Saturday, (celebrating?) and went to
Grand Prairie on Sunday to secure their granddaughter Haley Quinones. She will
be here in Talpa for the week. Ricky Joe left work on Monday to help fight the
fire raging north of Lake Ivie. I understand there was equipment and fire
fighters from Leaday/Voss, Valera, Talpa and Coleman at least, there may have
been more. You all are very appreciated! We saw Carroll and Addie Hinds there. Their name was drawn for a $25 gift certificate to Unique Treasures in Santa Anna. They went to Cisco on Saturday to attend the 50th birthday party for their nephew Josh Klassen. Carroll said about 50 attended. Dale and Arletta Herring were missing at the Co-Op Meeting as they went to the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association’s Meeting in Kerrville which was Thursday through Sunday. Jerry Don and Angelita Stephenson, James and Shelbi were there. I was surprised on Saturday to see a strange car in the driveway as I was coming home. It was a school mate from Mozelle, Louise (Sparks) Radle who lived in Eldorado until her husband Bill died and now lives at Rio Concho Terrace in San Angelo. She was accompanied by her daughter Norma Brawner of San Angelo. Their visit was short with promises to get together soon.
7-15-10 By Maureen Duncan Summer is here, the heat we‘re a’feelin.’ Fall or Spring are much more appealin.’ Winter days will again find us complainin’ But any season will do if only it’s rainin’. Maureen’s attempt at poetry. HM and I went to Sweetwater after church on Sunday and met up with Dan and Cathy Davidson at the Chinese Food restaurant. We enjoyed dinner together and celebrated Cathy’s birthday. We went to church at Immanuel in the evening where Loyd Hopper was showing a DVD about Israel with Jay Seculow. Loyd’s been finding some great and informative movies for Sunday evening . HM and I went to San Angelo on Tuesday for an appointment. We met Pat Musick for lunch and a visit. She has another great grandson and this one has the family name of Troy Jacob. Pat hasn’t seen him yet since he was an early arrival and had to be isolated at the hospital. He is now home and she plans to be seeing him soon as the traffic dies down. (everyone wants to see the little feller!) Rosa Baker wrote last week, “Our week started out on Saturday evening when Charles and Rosa took Zach and Marc Priddy to Ballinger for the fireworks display. On Sunday, James took them to Ballinger Pool for an afternoon of swimming, then to their favorite place to eat, Pizza Hut. On Tuesday Charles and Rosa took them to Brownwood to see "Toy Story III" at the theater and had dinner at Underwoods. Wednesday Gunner and Lisa Milligan got back from a family reunion. They had spent a week in Alabama and Florida. “Friday night we all went to Coleman for another fireworks display. We watched it from Chuck and Nancy Baker's driveway. We could see the Airport from there, and missed a lot of the traffic afterwards. Saturday night another fireworks show was held at the Milligans. After a wiener roast and smors were enjoyed, we had a fireworks display for over an hour. Those attending were Chuck , Nancy & Rebecca Baker, Miguel Quinonez, Elizabeth,Hannah & Olivia Jefferson, Tyler & Averi Ransberger, Paul, Shelly, Heaven, Evan & Jesse Bedell, Germann, Mandy, Lily Jo, Monica & Johnathan Cenceros and two of Lily's friends, Damara and Alysa Thomas all from Coleman. Charles, Rosa & James Baker, Gunner & Lisa Milligan from Talpa and Zach & Marc Priddy from Midland. Some of the other Talpa people enjoyed the fireworks viewed from their porches thanks to Gunner, Chuck, Paul and Germann. On Sunday the fourth, Lisa and Rosa met the boys dad, Levi, in Sterling City who took Zach and Marc back to Midland. They seemed to enjoy their stay with us as much as we enjoyed them.” Arletta Herring and I spent the week with the children at the 5 Day Club at Immanuel Baptist and both voiced our pleasure at being with the children each day and getting to know them. Arletta and Angelita Stephenson took Shelbi Stephenson to San Angelo on Tuesday to pick up her newly acquired pet, a brown and tan Chihuahua who she named “Tater Tot.” Carol Jones writes, “Xavier Jones attended and thoroughly enjoyed 5-day Good News Club last week. On Saturday Robbie and Lorna Jones came to Talpa to get Xavier for a little vacation in Sonora. While they were here, Carol, Robbie, Lorna and Xavier visited the grave of Brooke Jones and other family members. Xavier released a "Happy Birthday" balloon for his mom on her 32nd birthday while out there. Carol attended Church at Voss Baptist Church on Sunday morning.” ( Carol played piano for the Sunday School and Church Worship Service at Voss and we always appreciate her) Junior and Ricky Pas also attended the 5 Day Club and were heard to say they wished it would last all summer!
7-1-10 "What were you doing when the lights went out Sunday night?" That is the question asked by many out here after experiencing an outage. Several offered, "it was so dark!" Some were watching a movie, some asleep already and some getting ready for that time. Many were faithful and called to see if there was a problem, there was but it was resolved after awhile. Before I forget it, we will be having a 5-day Good News Club next week, July 5-9 at the Immanuel Baptist Church 5:00 to 6:00pm. We expect kiddos from k-6th grade, gonna have singing, stories, games and crafts, did I forget cookies and punch? Ricky Joe and Theresa Agnew had his brother Randy Agnew of Colorado Springs, Col for a visit last week. His birthday happened to fall while he was here so of course, Theresa and the children threw him a fine party including songs and plays performed by Haley, Junior and Ricky as they brought in his cake.. It sure sounded like fun! The grandchildren were treated to Water Park and skating on Saturday in Irving. HM and I went to the wedding of Bob Turner and Mona Wilson on Sunday afternoon. It was well attended and nice and cool inside the Gouldbusk Methodist Church. The church was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers and candelabra. Tables were set up for the reception and they were filled with guests enjoying the fine assortment of fruits, cheeses and finger foods. Beautiful wedding cakes took up a large part of another table, HM and I were pleased to see the Mozelle colors of purple and white, (actually it was more of a lavender, very pretty and put together by Sara's Neighborhood.) Those two popping up everywhere with cameras were Ralph and Judia Terry. Let me know how the one of Judia and I came out, Ralph. This might be a good place to tell a humorous story from my daughter Pam and Steve's wedding. A friend and I were setting up chairs for the reception and we thought it would be more conducive to visiting if the chairs were arranged in circles. After we left our artistic array, someone else came along thinking it was rather a muddled lot of chairs and set them up in very neat rows. When HM and I got married I specified the reception chairs were to be left in circles and they were!. Carroll Hinds tells us that Ral, Laura and Lisa Dees have returned from a trip to England where they had a good time visiting many places including London and Oxford. Linda Davis, her mother Juanell Robertson and daughters,
Becky Torres and son Stephen, Juanita Smith and sons Brandon and Christian
attended the Pringle Family Reunion which was held at Butman Methodist Camp near
Merkel. Dale, Andy and Sydney Herring and James Stephenson took a trip on Amtrak Railroad from Ft Worth to Chicago and back last week. They traveled with two sleeping rooms as it took about twenty four hours each way. They were in Chicago for two days and toured the city on Gray Line Tours. Dale says, "We took a ride on "The Mystic Blue" on Lake Michigan which included a delicious lunch in their very nice dining room. We viewed Chicago from the ninety-fourth floor of the Hancock Tower in their observation room. We saw the Sears Tower and the new Trump Tower." This trip was a gift from Arletta and Dale to the two oldest grandchildren that just graduated from the eighth grade. Arletta stayed home and kept Shelbi Stephenson, Cole and Allie Herring, the three youngest grandchildren. That sounds like a tour the grandchildren won't forget
both the ones who rode to Chicago on Amtrak and the ones who stayed here in
Talpa. Arletta is helping with VBS at the Methodist Church in Ballinger each
morning this week.
6-25-10 I just left HM washing windows on the back porch. They didn’t need it so much but the dirt daubers has started a condo and he wanted to discourage them. There’s hardly any place that I’d give them a permit to “go ahead”. If such a place existed, it wouldn’t meet their specs so it’s up to them to find a home for their babies. Yeah, I know they keep the spider population down. Rosa Baker sends this “We spent the week-end in Ballinger. Parked the motorhome at the City Park and participated in the Folkner Family Reunion. Lisa and Gunner, James and Chuck and Nancy Baker hosted the reunion and did lots of work before, during, and after to make it a success. We will have an item in the Coleman and Rising Star paper about it. We had lots of fun visiting with cousins, eating and playing with great grandkids. Crystal, Orlando Jonathan, Ciana and the newest grandchild, Orlando spent Father’s Day with Cameron, Ora and Austin Lewis. They enjoyed a barbecue together. We are glad to hear that Gaylon Hoelscher is home from the hospital. Emily stayed with her “Granny” Hoelscher in Rowena while he was in Shannon and even celebrated her birthday in Rowena. Xavier Jones spend Fathers' Day weekend with his Paw Paw, Robbie Jones, in Sonora. Xavier is attending an Art Camp in Ballinger this week. Images in the mirror are smaller than they appear: so says one of my favorite writers, Barbara Johnson (and she admits to borrowing it from some one else.) “Attitude is the mind’s paintbrush. It can color any situation.” when you look in the mirror, you can still see your smooth, unlined face just the way it was twenty or thirty years ago---unless, that is, you insist on wearing your glasses while you’re looking in the mirror! (Let’s face it, many of us have eyesight that’s deteriorating faster than our faces!) The point is, don’t be too hard on yourself. And look on the bright side. That’s the attitude of the woman who reported that she looked in the mirror each morning and said, “Thank You dear Lord, that wrinkles don’t HURT!”
6-16-2010 As usual, I can’t wait to tell you, dear reader, what HM and I did since we last talked. We went to Valera Baptist Church Fellowship Hall on Saturday where the folks had gathered for the Centennial School Reunion. He only went there through 8th grade at which time he transferred to Mozelle High School. Carroll and Addie Hinds were among the Talpa folks visiting with old friends. I’m not sure of other Talpa folks who went to that school. Carroll told me he visited with Ken Mulanax this week. Ken seems to be doing well but still has a few more treatments to finish off. Carol and Xavier Jones were in Coleman Thursday for Xavier to swim with one of his friends. On Saturday they attended the annual Clayton Reunion in Ballinger. After lunch Javier Nino came to Ballinger to get Xavier for the weekend in San Angelo. On Monday Javier and Xavier met Carol at the doctor's office in Ballinger. Xavier was ill with a tummy"bug" and temperature. Dale and Arletta represented their church, the First United Methodist church of Ballinger last week at the Central Texas Annual conference of the United Methodist Churches on Sunday through Wednesday. I really enjoy Ouieta Morris’ News from Talpa Community and I enjoyed reading the American Minute (she put us onto it). The one for today especially, as my Dennis has worked at NASA since well, I can’t remember when. He thoroughly enjoys his work but may not be too happy with my memory…or lack of it. American Minute for June 16th: The father of the American space program died JUNE 16, 1977. He developed the V-2 rocket for Germany before emigrating to the US, where in 1958, he launched America's first satellite. He was director of NASA and the U.S. guided missile program. His name was Wernher von Braun. Founder of the National Space Institute, Wernher von Braun stated: "The laws of nature that enable us to fly to the Moon also enable us to destroy our home planet with the atom bomb. Science itself does not address the question whether we should use the power at our disposal for good or for evil. The guidelines of what we ought to do are furnished in the moral law of God." Wernher von Braun continued: "It is no longer enough that we pray that God may be with us on our side. We must learn to pray that we may be on God's side." To the California State Board of Education, September 14, 1972, Wernher von Braun wrote: "Some...challenge science to prove the existence of God. But must we light a candle to see the sun?" In American Weekly, February 10, 1963, Wernher von Braun wrote: "It is difficult for me to understand a scientist who does not acknowledge the presence of a superior rationality behind the existence of the universe...Viewing the awesome reaches of space...should only confirm our belief in the certainty of its Creator." A-MEN
6-10-10 HM and I drove to Rockwood Cemetery on Saturday for the first leg of our family reunion which culminated in Brady. One of my favorite cousins who lives in Brady had left town to go to Ruidoso NM. Considering the extreme heat, we all went to her house rather than meet at Richards Park. I think it served her right (for leaving) but I did hope we didn’t leave a mess. We each brought a vegetable dish and dessert and ordered barbecue from “Rays”. My daughter Pam Gasper took first place for her confetti cookies. She got the recipe in Edmonton Canada where she goes for her job a couple weeks every month. I found a recipe online for Lavender Cookies and no one could guess the secret ingredient which I harvested from my flower bed. We did lots of visiting and played some ‘42. Everyone had a turn at playing with the youngest member, Brody Burleson, who is 6 months old. Linda Davis says, “Jessica and Christian came over last week and spent a couple of days with me and we really enjoyed the visit. We met Teresa (Agnew) in the Ballinger Park and let all 3 boys go swimming for the afternoon. Philip is looking forward to his vacation this next week, of course he'll still be working, can't slow that man down!” Xavier Jones attended Vacation Bible School at Valera Baptist Church last week. Carol attended Parent's Night and really enjoyed the sandwiches and homemade ice cream after. Carol and Xavier had lunch with friends in Ballinger on Friday. Kenny and Vivien Brookshire visited with Carol and Xavier on Sunday. They enjoyed hamburgers cooked outside and played games in the afternoon. Theresa Agnew, Junior and Ricky Pas went to the Metro Plex and brought Haley Quinones to Talpa for the month. Ricky had a birthday party, and HM and I were privileged to attend. We are amazed at the toys that 7 year olds like these days. Never mind, HM was sensible and saw to it that he got an earth moving CAT which we think a little boy would enjoy when he tires of trying to pronounce the names of the other creatures. Cameron and Ora Lewis took Austin and the grandkids Jonathan and Ciana to Hords Creek Lake over Memorial Day. Then they took Austin and Ethan Morris to Arlington to the Texas Ranger game and to Hurricane Harbor. Austin celebrated his fifteenth birthday on Saturday. Happy Birthday, Austin! He is working with Cameron again this summer. Carroll Hinds tells us that their granddaughter Lisa Dees has gone to Houston this week on a scholarship from the Right To Life Chapter. She will learn how to establish a Right To Life Chapter at San Angelo University where she will be studying this Fall. Thanks to Ouieta Morris of Novice for introducing us to The American Minute. American Minute for June 9th: Withholding taxes from people's paychecks began JUNE 9, 1943. Congress passed it as an emergency measure to get money to fight Hitler. The idea came from Beardsley Ruml, treasurer of Macy's and chairman of New York's Federal Reserve Bank. Called the "pay-as-you-go" tax, so much money came in with so few complaints that it continued after the war. John F. Kennedy told Congress, April 20, 1961: "Introduced during the war when the income tax was extended to millions of new taxpayers, the wage-withholding system has been one of the most important and successful advances in our tax system in recent times. Initial difficulties were quickly overcome, and the new system helped the taxpayer no less than the tax collector." But Americans weren't always so taxed. In his 2nd Annual Message, 1802, Thomas Jefferson wrote: "To proceed as we have begun in substituting economy for taxation." President Andrew Jackson stated in his 8th Annual Message, December 5, 1836: "There is no such provision as would authorize Congress to collect together the property of the country, under the name of revenue, for the purpose of dividing it equally or unequally among the States or the people. Indeed, it is not probable that such an idea ever occurred to the States when they adopted the Constitution." In his Message to Congress, May 27, 1830, Andrew Jackson said: "Through the favor of an overruling and indulgent Providence our country is blessed with general prosperity and our citizens exempted from the pressure of taxation, which other less favored portions of the human family are obliged to bear." Amen!
Talpa Talk 6-3-10 By Maureen Duncan Immanuel Baptist Church hosted the Fifth Sunday Singing and it was well attended. There were at least two harmonica numbers and one guitar solo, “America. My Home” by Ralph Howell. Lots of patriotic songs were sung accompanied by tear filled eyes as we thought of our brave military and the sacrifice they made and make even as we write. Rosa Baker and her son James went to Fredericksburg early Sunday morning and ate breakfast, then bought some peaches, fresh tomatoes and honey. We toured Fredericksburg a little and came back home. Didn't want their peaches to ruin, as much as they cost! Charles, Lisa and Gunner stayed home and got started on the new deck. Monday Rosa canned peaches. Later that evening James grilled steaks and fresh zucchini and Gunner and Lisa came over for dinner. Gunner had to work on the Holiday, so we grilled after he got home from Abilene. Today, June 1, is Charles and Rosa's 58th anniversary! While I’m wishing Charles and Rosa a Happy Anniversary! And 58th at that, I would also like to wish Ricky Pas a Happy Birthday!… seven years old. Ricky was on the AB Honor Roll at Panther Creek all year and received the AR (accelerated reading) award as did his brother Junior Pas. Congratulations to both of them. On Wednesday Carol Jones attended the Panther Creek Elementary field day at the PC football field. On Thursday she attended the Elementary Awards Ceremony. Xavier received one of the medals for being on the A-B Honor Roll for the entire year. He also received the 2nd Grade Reading Award, the Reading Comprehension Highest Percentage Award, and an AR (Accelerated Reading) Participation Award. In addition, Xavier was recognized for being the top fund raiser for the Jump Rope for Heart Event at $254 and also top fund raiser for the St Jude's Math-A-Thon with $310. Thursday night Carol and Xavier attended the Coleman Youth Assn. Little League Closing Ceremonies. Xavier's team, the Cougars, came in Second Place for the Minor League teams. Congratulations to Xavier on his accomplishments. Following a weekend of resting, Xavier is attending the Valera Baptist Church Vacation Bible School. Parents' Night is scheduled for Friday night.
Talpa Talk 5-27-10 By Maureen Duncan Dear reader, it doesn't get much better than this! Ready? We heard on Saturday that Dennis and Margaret Davidson of Houston would be coming on Sunday and bringing Jamie (granddaughter) Davidson of San Angelo and her friend Mark Baird of Ballinger so we decided to have lunch in Valera at the Grazin` Patch. It was also determined that Dan and Cathy Davidson and great grandson Brody of Snyder could join us, so there you have it. We anxiously awaited their arrival and the rest is history. Brody entertained us royally and saw to it that no one could have an uninterrupted lunch but we had expected that from his mother who I believe had not trained him in that area. He is 5 months and just starting to giggle. Carol and Xavier Jones traveled to Glen Rose this past weekend for the annual Cousins Reunion on Saturday. They saw several of their Texas cousins and a few Arizona cousins as well. On Sunday before coming home, Carol and Xavier and some of the cousins toured Dinosaur World and saw "lifesized" dinosaurs and other fossils. Monday Carol attended the Panther Creek Elementary picnic at the Coleman Park, and Monday night Xavier played in his last 2010 Little League game. Which they won 14-2 against the Cardinals. Yea Cougars! We are proud of you! Carol is very glad school will be out for the summer. She is looking forward to spending time with Xavier. Linda Davis writes, "I went to San Angelo for the Red Hats luncheon last Monday at Zookini's with mother. I helped her pot some plants Monday afternoon before spending the night with Jessica and the boys. I cleaned my Uncle Burl's house in Sterling City on Tuesday. Just did yard work as usual on the weekend, with this rain, it's every weekend."ť Rosa Baker says, "All we did this week end was YARDWORK.... Gunner laid a foundation for a new deck to put the bar-b-que pit on. James did some leveling with the tractor around Lisa and Gunner's bar-b-que area. We all pulled weeds and mowed; can't seem to keep up with these big yards. No complaints, though, we'll have dry weather soon enough and be praying for rain again."ť Dale and Arletta Herring attended the awards ceremony for her granddaughter Shelbi Stephenson at Coleman Elementary School this week. One of her awards was for being on"A"ť Honor Roll all through her school years so far. They will attend James Stephenson`s 8th grade graduation on Thursday evening.. Sydney Herring graduated last week from 8th grade in Franklin. All five of their grandchildren are A honor roll students. We are having new residents moving into Talpa but so far they are in the "cleaning and fixing up"ť stage so I hope to introduce them when they actually move here. Ricky Joe and Theresa Agnew have their grandchildren Raimey and Caiden Boren of Midlothian visiting them this week. Grady and Nona Fletcher attended a graduation celebration at the home of her nephew Daniel and Becky Motl of San Angelo. The Motl`s had a barbecue for their daughter Jessica who graduated from ASU with many honors. She plans to study forensics in Huntsville. Their son Sean graduated from Wall High School as Valedictorian. He plans to study Physical Therapy at ASU. Grandparents of the graduates are Ellis and Mary Motl of San Angelo and Mr. and Mrs. Skroner of Rockport who were there with their son, Donald. Others honored at the barbecue were David who is a friend of Daniel's who graduated from the Nurse's Program. Immanuel Baptist Church of Talpa will host the Fifth Sunday Singing this Sunday at 6:00pm and provide a supper afterwards for the guests. You are invited to join the singing and the supper. Valera Baptist Church has their Vacation Bible School starting Monday, May 31 (Memorial Day) and going through next Friday, 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.　 As Memorial Day approaches let us all remember those who have put in their tour of duty be it on the front lines of battle or behind a desk or wherever they served. Each one was important and we are ever so grateful for their sacrifice. Grandson Michael is in Afghanistan at present and it is a sacrifice made by our family also in that he won't be at our family reunion, multiply that by all of our military who miss out on events back home. Only One was greater and He gave His life so that we could be free from the penalty of our sins. Talpa Talk 5-20-10 By Maureen Duncan HM and I went to Mercury on Tuesday evening to attend the Lake Ivie Baptist Association meeting. It was a pleasant drive down, (Voss Pastor Dave Ellison went with us) and we were so surprised to find such an attractive little church out in the country. The Mission Minded Women tended to their business and announced a workshop at First Baptist in Brady on Saturday May 22 at 10:00 -2:00 to work on “Witnessing Dolls” which will be used on the Navajo Reservation when a team goes there on July 11-18. Another summer project was called a Storybook Project whereby incarcerated women can tape stories for their children to listen to. This sounds like a good ministry since we understand that prisoners who have the most contact with their family are less likely to be "repeat offenders". The supper was very good. I didn’t see anyone else going for seconds so I restrained myself and finished up with dessert. We saw Bill and Karen Hicks of Talpa. A young man from Ballinger, Bobby Boone told us about a church in Eagle Pass that was on the verge of closing it’s doors, (attendance got down to 3) when one man with a heart for God stayed in and the attendance is now in the 80’s . Our speaker was a delightful lady who had spent much time in the Middle East with her son who goes to needy places and asks her to go along with him. Her main thrust was, “when God calls you…go!” She spoke mainly of her ministry in Pakistan and I was impressed that she could serve there without any training, especially in the language. We came home noticing some fires in the Glen Cove area so while Talpa and Glen Cove communities were sleeping peacefully, the volunteer firemen were hauling themselves out of bed and tending to the fires. Thank all of you volunteers. We saw Valera, Talpa and Glen Cove trucks there. Grady and Nona Fletcher have been in the Metro Plex where they visited with family and attended the funeral of their granddaughter’s father-in-law. Ora and Cameron Lewis went to visit their daughter Crystal, Orlando and the grandchildren in Early on the week-end. Cameron, Ora and Austin when to the Panther Creek Sports Banquet on Monday. Ora attended the National Honor Society Awards at Panther Creek. Ora tells us her granddaughter Ciana just turned seven and she would like to wish her a Happy Birthday. Robbie and Lorna Jones of Sonora were in Coleman Friday night to watch Xavier Jones' little league game. The game was postponed after the first inning due to the lightning and approaching thunderstorm and rescheduled for Thursday, May 20 at 6 p.m. now we understand it is rescheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. Xavier went home with Robbie for the weekend. Carol med them in San Angelo Sunday to get Xavier. On Monday Carol met the Panther Creek AR group at Prime Time in Abilene for a fun-filled day. Tuesday Carol took Xavier to San Angelo for an appointment, then to Coleman for a little league game. Bill and Karen Hicks attended the Victory Life Sports Banquet in Brownwood on Saturday evening. Their grandson Tyler attends this school. They have been able to attend a couple of their grandson Austin’s ball games in Brownwood. They echo all of Talpa residents saying how much they enjoyed the rains we have had. It is a relief to know this, “The body can get tired while the brain never does!”
Talpa Talk 5-13-10 By Maureen Duncan HM and I met Louis Pittard and Annie Mae Brimer on Sunday at the Grazin’ Patch for breakfast. What an enjoyable time we had and finished in time for Sunday School at Voss. We had several missing at Church but had a wonderful time of worship just the same. No naps for me on Sunday. Nope, had to wait for the phone to ring and I wasn’t disappointed. All of my children came through with a Mother’s Day call. It was great! Theresa Agnew says she heard from all her family too and Ricky Joe cooked dinner for her and the boys. We are still hearing about the devastation caused by the flood in Nashville. HM’s daughter Vivian who lives in a nearby suburb is a self appointed flood relief distributor. She says, “I get this feeling every day that I’m not doing enough”. The Red Cross has stepped in to help as well as other organizations, Vivian mentioned Logans Roadhouse, Waste Management brought what they call the Dumpster Diner, (you gotta realize it never hauled waste), Tide brought in an 18 wheeler to do laundry, they have workers there to wash and fold. Mostly, the good people of Tennessee are there helping the folks of Nashville area who have truly lost it all. If there are any groups or singles, among our readers who would like a way to help, she says Wal-mart cards, Bibles, clothing (used, in good condition), towels, toiletries. are all welcome. An address to use is Westmont Baptist Church/ Flood Relief; 516 Cunningham Ct. Kingston Springs TN 37082. Meanwhile back in Talpa, we have had a couple very warm days causing us to apply water to the gardens. The warm days are accompanied by strong winds. Linda Davis was planning to “yard sale” on Saturday and she said the wind blew the things away as fast as she could get them put out. Solution? Cancel the yard sale. Charlie and Rosa Baker had the whole family out on Mother’s Day. They enjoyed burgers from the grill. Xavier Jones spent Friday night with his Nino family in San Angelo returning Saturday night. On Mothers' Day Sunday Carol and Xavier Jones had lunch at Alejandro's in Ballinger with Shon, Melissa, Taryn, and Shon (Jr) Jones of San Angelo. On Monday, Carol went on the Panther Creek Elementary Field Trip to the Abilene Zoo. The group toured the zoo for about two hours and then had lunch at the park adjacent to the zoo. Bill and Karen Hicks survived the State Track Meet at Baylor University on Saturday. The Victory Life Boys came in fifth on their mile relay. Bill had a good time with his grandson Austin (6)on his field trip. Don’t forget the Lake Ivie Baptist Association meets May 18 at Mercury Baptist Church. Executive Board and Mission Minded Women will meet at 5:00. A meal will be served at 6:00 and program at 6:45. Carroll and Addie Hinds enjoyed Mothers Day Dinner with Ral and Laura Dee’s . Linda Davis says she went to Angelo Civic Theater to see Camelot with her mother, Juanell Robertson and daughter, Jessica Smith on Mother's Day and had a very good time. When HM came home from Locker on Monday, there was a small fire heading towards becoming a larger fire just east of Talpa. However, it was put out shortly. A big thank you to our volunteer fire departments.
Talpa Talk 4-6-10 By Maureen Duncan We put our heads on the pillows at night and settle down for a much needed rest. We then think of our “brothers” in Tennessee who have no pillow to sleep on, or a home for that matter, not even clothes, having left flooded homes with what they were wearing. HM’s daughter Vivian and family live in Kingston Springs just outside of Nashville. Their home is in the hills and wasn’t flooded. They keep us posted and say what we watch on TV is all true and more. It is so difficult to realize what has happened. Grandson Westyn (4)was overwhelmed at the devastation and summed it up when he said “it’s not amazing”. Vivian said one friend who had truly lost everything was thanking God for their very lives being spared. HM and I attended the annual meeting of the Voss Cemetery Association on Saturday. There were folks coming from as far away as Austin and Houston to visit the graves of loved ones and join in the fellowship meal and business meeting. Panther Creek Good News Club had it’s final meeting for the school year. The children got to spend their Good News Bucks at the “Store”. Each one also took home a helium filled balloon with GNC on it. We appreciate the efforts of parents to arrange for rides home for their children after club. Panther Creek School is a good distance for some of them. Jessica Smith and her boys came over on Sunday evening and spent the weekend plus a few days with her mom, Linda Davis. Linda and her mother Juanell Robertson are going to the Senior Spring Fling at the Coliseum in San Angelo on Thursday. Linda had a yard sale on Saturday . When we got back home from Voss, she was still going in full swing so I filled up a bag with treasures. Good prices! Linda plans another yard sale this Saturday. She has a little house for yard sales on the highway, you can’t miss it. A truck couldn’t either and broke down right in front of her store blocking her sign and merchandise for about an hour. Karen Hicks reports that the Ladies Luncheon held at First Baptist Church was very entertaining , (speaker down to earth and in touch with the group and good food. Karen and Bill’s grandson Tyler with his friends, Garrett, Gibson, Caleb are going to State with TAPS (private schools) running in the 400 meter relay. Bill went to school one day with Austin (6) for a field day trip. Lake Ivie Baptist Association will meet May 18 at Mercury Baptist Church. Executive Board and Mission Minded Women will meet at 5:00. A meal will be served at 6:00 with the program at 6:45. Thursday is the National Day of Prayer and, try as they may, to stop it, prayer is something that can be blocked only by us when we don‘t pray. There will be a program at 12 Noon for a couple hours. I’m not sure where you will find it in the media. Prayers for our nation, military, and leaders are definitely needed. You might want to go to PrayerTeam@presidential-prayer-team.org for more information.
4-22-10 HM and I celebrated on Wednesday, no, not an anniversary, but the annual mailing of our income tax forms to the IRS. We had lunch at The Owl and I mentioned to the cashier that I had lived in New Hampshire. She asked me if I was Trudy Rutherford. (I hope Trudy enjoyed that as I did). Then when I said I wrote for Talpa Talk also, she said I must be Maureen. Great grandson Brody paid us a visit on Saturday accompanied by his grandparents Dan and Cathy Davidson of Snyder. All the stories we had been hearing were true and we had a grand time playing with the 4 month old great-grandson. I decided the rain has stopped on Saturday so I left Talpa, enjoying the sunshine, and drove in to Coleman. Well, you might call it driving but about fifteen miles down the road found me sort of skating along with rain pelting down so hard that it distorted visibility. I was kind of nervous but after driving on snow and ice for some forty years in New England, I told myself it wasn’t really that bad. The sun came out when I came out of the grocery story so I finished my errands and came back to Talpa where it hadn’t really rained at all. HM and I will be going into town again tomorrow and one of the items on our list will be gas for the mower. He let some of the mowing go purposefully because of the wildflowers but the rest has plain gotten away from him because of the rains. Linda Davis and her mother, Juanell Robertson went to Red Hat Luncheon at Los Panchitas in San Angelo on Thursday, and to Lowe’s for plants afterwards. She and Theresa Agnew took in the yard sales in Coleman and Rowena on Friday. Wade and Jessica Smith (Linda’s daughter) and boys, Christian and Brendan came on Friday night to be ready to head out to the yard sales on Saturday. Wade left the sales early to get to the races in Dallas only to find they were rained out. Carol Jones was in San Angelo last Thursday, April 15 to observe her granddaughter, Taryn Jones, and three of her 1st grade classmates at Fort Concho Elementary as they competed in the finals of the Third Annual Texas Research Institute for Young Scholars (TRIYS) program. This competition is part of San Angelo ISD's Gifted and Talented program. This year's theme was "Global Issues" with over 300 students competing within San Angelo schools. The topic of Taryn and her classmates' (the Water Spouters) presentation was "Automatic Water Faucets". Their team was one of the 13 winning teams. Taryn in the daughter of Shon and Melissa Jones. Along with recognition, Taryn and her classmates won a trip to Sea World to "sleep with the sharks". Thursday evening Carol took Xavier to his Little League game that was cancelled due to the downpour in Coleman. On Saturday, Xavier's team, the Cougars, played a double-header. They won their first game against the Cardinals, 4-1, with Xavier contributing one of those points. The second game they lost, 9-3, to the MVP's. The Cougars are scheduled to play the MVP's again on Saturday at 2 p.m. Carroll Hinds saw his doctor on Monday and had a good report on his arm and shoulder. He reported that Immanuel Baptist had no church on Sunday evening because their pastor Loyd Hopper was ill. We’re glad to hear Loyd is better now. Lake Ivie Baptist’s Mission Minded Women have their annual vegetable seed collection to help the Big Bend Frontera Ministry supply seeds to the needy families along the border. Seeds are being collected at a Baptist Church near you during April. Dale and Arletta Herring attended the Talpa High School Reunion , class of ‘49 which was held at Fredricksburg last Thursday and Friday. Other Talpa classes had their reunions also. There were about 30 present. They left the reunion to attend the Commission on Archives and History, Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church in Fort Worth. Arletta said they traveled in rain from Wednesday through Sunday and had 1 ˝ inches in their rain gauge. The bluebonnets planted last year have been flourishing in their front yard. (we understand there is a beautiful pasture of bluebonnets at Braggs Corner on St. Highway 153.) James and Shelbi Stephenson will be in San Angelo on Wednesday on a judging team for 4-H Livestock. Nona Fletcher was looking in her freezer for something and came across a small sack containing a fruit cake. It was one I had made at Christmas and given to them. Anyway, she said it tasted right good with a cup of coffee. Thanks to Betty of Houston for asking for a repeat of the recipe for BBQ pecans. They are yummy! Take 2 cups of pecans, put them in a quart jar with 2 TBS apple cider vinegar and 1TBS honey and shake to coat. Put them in an oven at 325 degrees for 15 minutes, stirring a few times. Add 1 tsp margarine and 1 TBS Lowry’s seasoning salt, (I used Natures Seasons) and bake 15 minutes more. Now does anyone want my recipe for fruit cake? It freezes well.
4-15-2010 Linda Davis and Theresa Agnew made the rounds in Coleman on Tuesday and ended up having lunch at “The Owl”. Theresa had not eaten there before and was impressed with the friendliness of the girls and the cleanliness of the cooking area. Theresa once cooked at the Country Corner Store in Paint Rock so she would notice things like that more than the average diner. Linda says she and her daughters are heading for the yard sales in Coleman on Saturday. Xavier Jones’ baseball team, the Cougars got beat last night 7-0. His mom Carol Jones said it was obvious that the opposing team, the Raiders had been practicing batting much more. This is a problem that is going to be addressed at the next practice which is not until Monday. They have 2 more games this week--6 p.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. Saturday. Xavier spent the whole game on the pitcher's mound and did pretty good. Talpa is proud of you Xavier! Our church’s pastor Dave Ellison wanted to take a Sunday off to visit his sister in Kerrville. It really was a blessing that Bill Johnson, a speaker for the Gideons, had already asked to present their work this past Sunday. We enjoyed having Bill and Gayle at our church and are always impressed with the ministry the Gideons have on an International scale. The Gideons have presented Bibles to the children at the Panther Creek Good News Club each year. Thank you, Gideons! Maybe you have noticed, dear reader that news is not as plentiful as it could be so if you enjoy reading Talpa Talk and you live in this area, you might want to call me with your news and we could discuss other methods of getting your news to me via email etc. My phone is 325-365-3320. Xavier
Jones spent Easter weekend with Robbie and Lorna Jones in Sonora, coming home
Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday, Shon Sr. and Shon Jr Jones of San Angelo along
with Robbie and Lorna Jones joined Carol and Xavier for lunch, followed by the
big Easter egg hunt. Melissa and Taryn Jones had to stay in San Angelo as Taryn
was getting sick with what was later diagnosed as scarlet fever. She is much
better now. 4-8-10 Word has reached us this week of the death of our own historian, Vena Bob Gates. She was very ill for some time now so this was no surprise. I would just like to describe Vena Bob to you. If you expected someone who would agree with you on every topic you discussed, that would not be Vena Bob. She spoke her own mind and for the most part we were comfortable with it. She used to say she was glad I had learned to talk right after my moving to Talpa with some sort of a New England accent, (so she said). She was an avid football fan and any sport her grandkids were playing in and would travel a ways usually with Dulce Decker, to watch them play. She had stories galore about her life and others who lived in Talpa past or present. When someone had died who was from Talpa, she would write out their name and the family that I should send sympathy to in Talpa Talk. She had helped write the Coleman County History Books and sometimes if you asked, wanting a shortcut to information, she would say, it's in the bookť. She also helped compile the Coleman County Cemetery Inscriptions. It is not possible to say what she meant to me in the years I knew her. In the days before computers were so available to everyone, she would bring me her sister Mildred Pauley's news and visit for awhile as we conversed on many subjects. One of Vena Bob's favorite stories was concerning a cousin, Dale Herring. She and the boys attended the wedding of Dale and Arletta in DeLeon in June of 1964. She kept asking Dale where they intended to go on their wedding trip and told him she wanted to join them. Dale finally put an end to her joking by saying, I don't think soť. This was Arletta's first introduction to Vena Bob whom she hadn't known previous to then. Carol Jones says of Vena Bob, "She was almost a surrogate mother to me when my MOM was so ill. She referred to me as the daughter she never had. I loved her very much and she will be missed by all of her friends." The Catholic Church is having a prayer service at 9 a.m. next Tuesday at Old Valera Cemetery, then a Memorial Mass for her at 10 a.m. at the Church (503 College), followed by a covered dish luncheon and fellowship in the Church Fellowship Hall at 11 a .m. I'm sure all her friends will come out, Vena Bob, you loved us well. Andy, Kim, Sydney, Cole and Allie Herring of Franklin came to Dale and Arletta's ranch on Thursday and stayed until Sunday. Jerry Don and Angelita, James and Shelbi Stephenson were there throughout the week end with the grandchildren enjoying an Easter Egg hunt and just a good time in one another's company. HM and I attended church at Voss Baptist as usual on Sunday. Afterwards we went to the other end of Talpa where eggs had just been hunted, (didn't get to watch that one) but Jason was still cooking on the grill and we enjoyed fajitas and wings with the rest of the family. Joey and DeeDee Hollingsworth were here with their kids and Jason and Bobbie Ferguson and their entourage, which included 3 dogs, 1 small and 2 huge. They all headed back home to the MetroPlex area taking Hailey Quinones with them thereby saving Ricky Joe and Theresa a trip. Jody Rodriquez of Robert Lee and Carroll Hinds have been on a trip to Mexico where they distributed food and Bibles to 150 families and one orphans home in Ojinago. The families were in the villages of Los Angeles, Tubol, Los Alamos, San Carlos, Voquis, San Antonio, Nueva Lagitas and Escobea. They left a total of 24 thousand pounds of food in these remote places. One place took four hours for them to go 26 miles. Karen and Bill Hicks had a houseful of their children for Easter. Amy and her family and Angie with hers. They had the annual egg hunt and Karen said she found an egg after they had all left. They will be attending a track meet in Eastland on Thursday to see their grandson Tyler participate with the Victory Life High School of Brownwood. The Lake Ivie Baptist Association will host a Ladies Luncheon, Saturday, May 1. Registration begins at 11:00. The speaker is Beth Williams of Mason. Luncheon is at 12:30. This all takes place at First Baptist Church in Ballinger.
4-1-10 HM and I went to a birthday party on Sunday afternoon. Linda Davis invited us to celebrate her husband Philip‘s. I’m not sure I can describe the cake that she made for him but the icing was fondant. She originated the decorations to go along with his work, (he is a painter). She had made a paintbrush and paint bucket for the top of the cake. Besides that, the icing was very tasty. We met Philip’s sister Clare Halfmann of Ballinger and her son Bill. Linda showed me some neat tricks on her computer as I now have a satellite server and a lot to learn. The Agnews have had their grandchildren Caiden and Ramiee Boren of Midlothia visiting for a couple weeks. Theresa took all her available grandchildren to play “putt putt”. The Baker’s started off Spring Break by having some of the grandchildren and great grandchildren out for a brisket dinner on Sunday, March 14. Chuck and Nancy Baker, Rebecca and Miguel, Elizabeth and Tyler, Averi, Hannah and Olivia came to visit from Coleman. They brought fried chicken, so a great lunch was enjoyed by the above plus Gunner and Lisa Milligan, Lilly Jo and Monica Ceniceros, Zachary and Marc Priddy. Zach and Marc’s mom, Tabitha Priddy brought them from Midland on Friday evening and visited awhile. Tyler and Zach spent Sunday night with the Bakers’ and Tyler’s mom, Elizabeth, came to bet him on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, Lisa and Rosa took Lilly, Monica, Zach and Marc to Brownwood to see “Alice In Wonderland”. they all ate at Underwoods after the show which was a treat for everyone. The weather didn’t co-operate the rest of the week. The kids made cookies, home-made pizzas and played Wii and watched videos. Lily and Monica had to go home on Friday to attend a birthday party. Zach and Marc made a trip to Walmart with Rosa and Charles on Saturday. Gunner and Lisa left early Sunday morning for Sterling City with Zach and Marc, where they met their dad who took them back to Midland. A great time was had all week by both children AND grandparents and now it’s back to school until Easter and Summer break. Lisa and Rosa have their hummingbird feeders out and saw the first hummer on March 22nd so Rosa says maybe Spring is here after all. Dale and Arletta Herring attended the funeral for Arletta’s aunt, Yvetta Nance in DeLeon on Tuesday. On Saturday March 13th, Xavier Jones celebrated his 8th birthday with a big party in Coleman City Park. Twenty two friends and family gathered to wish Xavier a happy birthday, play, eat pizza and enjoy a Bakugan themed cake. The next day, Carol and Xavier Jones went to Ballinger and had lunch at Alejandra's to celebrate Carol's birthday the next day. On Tuesday Carol and Xavier went to Abilene for two nights. They ate at Chuck E. Cheese's, went to the movies, and on Wednesday Ora and Austin Lewis joined them to go to Prime Time, an indoor amusement park. Carol and Xavier also shopped and dined out while there, returning to Talpa on Thursday afternoon. On the following Sunday, Kenny and Vivien Brookshire visited for several hours. They all enjoyed steaks cooked on the grill. This past Sunday, Carol, Xavier, Kenny and Vivien went to San Angelo for an appointment Xavier had. Afterward they dined at Lyn's Chinese Restaurant and shopped for baseball "stuff" and groceries. Xavier is playing on the Cougars Little League team in Coleman this year. Karen said the Hicks have been doing yard work as most everyone has out here. The grass is growing really fast, thanks to the rain. WOM (Women on Mission) of the Lake Ivie Baptists are gathering vegetable seeds for distributing to the churches on the border through the month of April. We extend our sympathy to Grady Fletcher at the death of his sister Roberta Arwood. We had a good turnout at our Good News Club party, “ A Shepherd For You”. We usually are winding up for the school year at this time, but now are planning to have 5 more clubs to finish the year. Arletta Herring made some neat cupcakes for our party and Glenda Gassiot brought cookies to round out the snacks. We actually ran short of our goody bags and one little girl who is having to wait for me to put more together and deliver them said, “why don’t you make 100?” We did have a few cupcakes left and when I stopped by Bob Dunn’s to see if he would welcome them, he was showing off his humming bird feeders where he had a number of them visiting. I got my nectar out today and they have found my feeders already. This came from Chuck Coulson, “This is a season of joy and victory, found not in the death of Christ, but in His glorious Resurrection. His empty tomb broke the cycle of sin and death forever. And now, we strive to break the cycle of crime and wickedness in His mighty name.”
3-17-2010
Two
weeks and much company and respiratory infections later, I join you in the news
and hopefully with some news. Ours is company, HM’s daughter Glenda Zepeda from
Castroville, his grandson Brandon Connell and two great grandsons from Lincoln
VT, HM’s daughter, Vivian McCall and her three, from Nashville TN, HM’s
daughter, Rhonda Harrell from San Saba . Pause a week for visiting relations to
leave and HM and I are beginning coughing and taking meds. Rhonda came to be
nursemaid and cook for much of that week, thanks Rhonda. On the flip side,
return Vivian and her three, oh and her husband Jeff. If you didn’t follow all
that, don’t worry, we got confused ourselves. Jeff was working two jobs with
Dave Ramsey, (his boss) both in Houston and San Antonio so he took a few days
off to recover from his personal type of bug and to visit which he almost never
does. All of the above with the exception of Rhonda caught one or the other of
what kind of bug Texas had to offer and rushed home to recover. I’m thankful
for Spring Break so I can recover from guests and housework. We do enjoy our
guests, we’d just rather have them to be in good health if you don’t mind. Charlie and Rosa Baker have some of their grandchildren here during Spring Break. More on this, she promises next week when they’re all back home. Grady and Nona Fletcher seem to be back in better health with Grady driving again and Nona breathing a bit easier following insertion of a stint to join two others that are about 12 years old and still in good standing.
Jerry Don, Angelita, James and Shelbi Stephenson spent last week in Houston
where both James and Shelbi made the sale. Shelbi had a 7th place with her fine
wool lamb and James a 15th with his cross bred lamb. Dale and Arletta Herring’s
granddaughter Shelbi of Franklin also entered the Houston Livestock Show and
won the Junior division in the Junior commercial steer feeding and management
show. She won a new computer/printer and $400 in prize money. Our
congratulations to these young people for their work. Karen Hicks says Bill is enjoying his retirement and doing what he wants to do each day which includes cooking breakfast. Since Karen is still at her job for Lake Ivie Baptist Association, we know she enjoys this aspect of his retirement. Sympathy to Karen at the passing of her uncle Vollie Pierce, age 80 of Winters. The Glen Cove Baptist Church will be having Revival Services on March 19, 20 and at 7:00PM, with Sunday's Service being a morning only service. Their pastor is Zach Ailshe and Matt McGowen will be bringing messages. Don Harmes will direct the music. They’d welcome any and all visitors to join them this weekend. Good News Club at Panther Creek will resume meeting after school on Monday, March 22nd. They will begin a new series on the Life of Christ. There will be a party on March 29th built around sheep and their shepherd to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, the Lamb of God.
3-4-10
Carol and Xavier Jones also attended the Birthday/Retirement party in Valera
Saturday for Bill Hicks. It was great to see everyone, especially his and
Karen's daughters Angela and Amy. HM’s family descended on us last week. First, daughter Glenda Zepeda of Castroville and her son, Brandon of Lincoln VT with his two boys Preston and Grayson. Next came his daughter, Vivian McCall of Nashville with her three, Bransen, Bailee and Westyn. We had a great time with all the children and could even enjoy their fighting over who got to sleep on the air mattresses. After all, they were our grandchildren. HM decided to come down with a bug of some nature which he proceeded to give to me. (they were all gone by then but I hope they didn’t take any with them.) I’m afraid to ask. Anyway, I had to cancel Good News Club on Monday and try to get over it. HM’s daughter, Rhonda came last evening to spend the night before her school in Abilene. I have been hiding out in the bedroom. One good thing about the computer, while it has viruses, none of them are contagious to us. 2-17-10 The Valentine Party at Good News Club was fun. The children drew a person using hearts for their arms, legs etc and then were judged on their drawing. There was some interesting art work. Carol Jones attended Xavier's Valentine Party at Panther Creek on Friday. Xavier spent the weekend in San Angelo with his father, Javier Nino. Carroll and Addie Hinds went to Abilene and did some shopping. Carroll said he would be busy tomorrow taking a grandson's cow to the sale. Sure is nice when the family can step in and help out. Linda Davis visited with her mother Juanell Robertson this week. They went to lunch with the “Red Hats” and also got in some shopping. She spent the night with her daughter Jessica and family before returning home. Karen Hicks went to an area basketball playoff in Dallas to watch their grandson Tyler’s team, Victory Life Academy. Karen says it was a good game, it is the third year for the Academy and their first year to advance in the playoffs. I will remind you of the Retirement Party for Bill Hicks at the Valera Baptist Fellowship Hall on Saturday at 2:00PM. We wish him well. We are glad to report that Junior and Ricky Pas are back in school this week after being out sick all last week. Lots of homework but Theresa had them finished with it on Monday afternoon when I stopped by from Good News Club with some treats from the party. I’m glad to report my great grandson Brody is out of hospital after having a bout of bronchialitis, (I’m told that is the medical term for baby bronchitis). Anyway, he is greatly improved and according to his grandmother, he is the cutest and smartest baby to ever hit Snyder. I can’t wait for the weather to improve and have a day to go and check on this little one. 2-11-10
All
of our country roads have been muddy and we braved the one to the Fletchers on
Friday night. They were brave souls also to put on a spread fit for a
governor, (we don’t have a king) and we enjoyed it as well as their company. I
wouldn’t want to sit with a pencil and pad but Grady’s stories are interesting
and doubtful if any of them will be passed on. Have you heard the one about his
being shot by his brother when he was eleven years old? His dad worked at an
oil rig about 30 miles away and was told his son had been shot, not even which
one or if he was alive. He was but his dad burned out the brakes on a borrowed
car trying to get home. (His own vehicle was loaded down with tools for the rig
and couldn’t be spared.) By the time he arrived the brakes were gone and he
kept going around the house to slow down. He finally stopped by running into a
tree. Grady’s Theresa Agnew took the boys on Friday and headed for Irving to visit her daughter , Bobbie and Jason Ferguson and Autumn. They got to visit with another granddaughter Haley Quinones while they were there. Carroll and Addie Hinds visited with Frank and Glenda Klassen in Coleman last week. Roy and Paula Burch from the Metro Plex were there. They were glad to see Paula was in good health again.
Carol and Xavier Jones met Robbie Jones in San Angelo Friday so that Xavier
could spend the weekend in Sonora with Robbie and Lorna. Carol got materials
(with Robbie's "expertise") for a TV-computer-homework center for Xavier's room.
When he brought Xavier home Sunday, Robbie sanded and assembled the "center"
which adds character to Xavier's room. A Senior Adult Rally will be held at First Baptist Church in Ballinger on February 17 at 11:00. A meal will be followed by a program which includes a speaker, Dr Thorn of San Angelo. Admission is free. On Monday, February 15, the Good News Club will be having a Valentine Party at the Panther Creek School 3:30PM. 2-3-2010 HM and I went to Coleman last Thursday and had lunch at the Senior Center. We made a few stops before getting involved in their “wind storm”. Nothing else was crossed off our list as the power was off and things were blowing every which way. We came home to a dark house here in Talpa and figured it was nap time. We went back to town on Friday and were amazed at the destruction of trees and signs etc but it was business as usual and we took care of our part of it.
Saturday’s weather was forecast as cold and freezing so we accepted Jim and
Julie Wall’s invitation to ride with them to the Gospel Singing held at First
Baptist in Bangs. It was a great night with my favorite gospel group The Brazos
Boys finishing out the program. It wasn’t that cold on Saturday night but
Sunday morning was another story. Frost and frozen fog was everywhere and so
heavy on the trees it looked like snow. Carroll and Addie Hinds went to B&B Honey House on Monday and picked up a couple gallons of honey. Mike Eckert and his family send an update saying he is recovering well from his accident on US 67 awhile back. They want to thank the Talpa Community for their support and prayers.
Karen Hicks tells us that Bill will have his 65th birthday on February 19 and on
the same day he will retire from his job with WalMart in Brownwood. Valera
Baptist Church will be the setting for another party for Bill on February 20th
from 2 to 4 PM. Everyone is invited to come and wish him well.
If
the ground hog went by our weather, we’d be in good shape for Spring. Alas, it
seems to depend on Puxatawny Phil who supposedly shows up in Pennsylvania, and
he saw his shadow up there… so we hear. 1-28-10 HM went out to open the garage door this morning and while the opener had often complained here lately, this time it refused to do anything other than grind. I knew it! That door opener was old when I first became acquainted with it and now it is very old. The model even said it was made by Sears Roebucks. After phone calls to the Sears folks, and pressing many, many numbers , (I was even connected with someone in Florida), we came to the conclusion that they weren’t making this one any longer. I called a garage door company in San Angelo and felt rather optimistic as we drove in to pick up the part but alas, when they saw the housing, the conclusion was, “it’s too old to fix!” Now we are waiting for a replacement which we are told will be soon. I have appreciated door openers ever since living in the Northeast. Before investing in new doors for the garage I could drive in the driveway on a snowy/icy day and skate back and forth while trying to get the door to open. Sometimes it was frozen shut too which didn’t help at all. We don’t have much snow or ice in Talpa but memory is strong and I feel that I need a garage door opener. Besides, our door is a double wide.
Ricky Joe and Theresa Agnew went to Wichita Falls to see his dad Joe Bob Agnew
who is doing well following surgery for his broken hip. Before coming home to
Talpa, they drove to Sunset to put flowers out at the cemetery. Bill and Karen Hicks drove to Arlington on Monday to watch their grandson, Tyler’s basketball game. Now there’s a couple of dedicated grandparents, willing to drive the distance to support their grandson. Bill and Karen, may your tribe increase. Linda Davis says they have new renters in their other house so perhaps we can meet them here on Talpa Talk soon and find out where they’re from etc.
Carol and Xavier Jones were in San Angelo for an appointment on Wednesday.
While there they visited with Melissa, Taryn and Shon (Jr.) Jones. It was
Taryn's Seventh birthday and she had lots of packages to open from Xavier and
Carol. Thursday was Melissa's birthday and she had a couple of packages from
them also. After leaving their house, Carol and Xavier shopped briefly then came
home. That was excellent, Diana and thanks for sending it our way. 1-21-2010 Some Stock Show participants will be reported next week because I don’t know their awards today. We are proud of them all.
Austin Lewis showed his pig at Panther Creek Stock Show and earned a 5th At
Coleman he got 2nd in class I lightweight division.
Dale and Arletta attended the Coleman Livestock Show this weekend and their
grandson James Stephenson won Junior Showmanship Award. In the County Show he
had a Champion Prime Wool Cross lamb. Way to go, James! Carol and Xavier Jones went to San Angelo on Friday to watch "The Spy Next Door" and afterward they went to CiCi's Pizza for dinner before heading home. Dennis and Margaret Davidson of League City came to the ranchette and had lunch with HM and me on Monday. They had been to Snyder and brought more pictures of Brody, our newest. Theresa Agnew and the boys, Junior and Ricky dropped in to visit while Dennis and Margaret were here. Rhonda Harrell, HM’s daughter of San Saba also came on Monday afternoon so we could go out to San Angelo on Tuesday and shop together. HM and I went to the Lake Ivie Baptist Association meeting on Tuesday evening. We enjoyed First Baptist of Santa Anna providing a tasty meal and we heard a message from Dennis Parrott of Tyler on what the little churches around Texas can do to keep from dying. Whoa! I think everyone has opinions on that but his seemed well researched from the Bible. Bill and Karen Hicks went to a ball game in San Angelo on Tuesday evening. Their grandson, Tyler McDaniel played for his school Victory Life from Brownwood and Karen says they played a good game against a group of Home Schooled children who had put a team together. Ward and Lavonda Lewis went to Panther Creek Livestock Show. They saw projects of their grandchildren Austin Lewis and Chelsea and Faith Lewis. They had lunch and visited with a lot of old friends.
We
are glad to hear from Diana Kirsch, she sent a good one.
A
man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with
light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and
showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man
was to push against the rock with all his might.
1-14-10
HM
and I attended the funeral service for my cousin Skeeta Cooper at Rockwood on
Sunday afternoon. She was a precious lady and will be missed by her children,
and many grandchildren. Jeff Dean had a comforting message to the family as he
talked about how much the Lord meant to Skeeta and how she loved to serve Him
in any way she could. Gene Christian gave a solo on the violin, “Faded Love”
and I don’t think I’ve ever heard him play so sweetly. One of the young men
spoke of his memories of her and they were endearing. It’s a good thing to know
when “Meemaw” gave advice to a young boy it stuck with him. It made me wish I’d
known the family better. Our sympathies are extended to them all. Of course
you see other cousins and friends at such a time. I was pleased to see Ethel
Steward Horton and her son Johnny and his wife, Susie all of Brady. Also
another cousin James Steward of Rockwood and he mentioned how well he knows HM
and the geese from reading this column. James, it was great to see you and I
didn’t tell the geese you had referred to them as ducks. They are funny about
that, but not to worry, many folks say the same thing. Most people seem to
think “ducks” when they envision large birds swimming in the tank. In talking with Nona Fletcher, I heard about their visit from a rattler---this time of year! He was in their garage and they were trying to get some boxes out that had gotten wet from a leaking pipe (frozen and burst). Scotty Martin happened to stop over as he was fixing fence nearby. Nona said the snake could barely move as he was so cold. That’s the way we like rattlers if they have to be nearby. They felt Scotty was an angel when he helped to relieve the snake of it’s head. It seems lots of folks are working on water leaks these days. I heard Ricky Joe Agnew was glad to leave his plumbing problems and go fight the fire that was between Valera and Horn Hill on Saturday. Hailey Quinones has been here over the weekend to see her grandparents and brothers Junior and Ricky Pas. By the way, “Happy Birthday” to Junior who is now eight.
Charles Baker delivered this news from their family. “Our year ended on a happy
note. Zach and Marc Priddy and Nate Southerland spend a week with us and their
grandparents, Gunner and Lisa Milligan before Christmas. Quintin and Heather Lewis with their girls Chelsea and Faith, came to visit Ward and Lavonda on Saturday. Lavonda said they had a good visit. Bill and Karen Hicks had freezing water pipe problems too. At least they know they are not alone. Next Monday is the Stock Show at Panther Creek. There will be no school and therefore no Good News Club. I promised you a recipe for BBQ pecans. They are yummy! Take 2 cups of pecans, put them in a quart jar with 2 TBS apple cider vinegar and 1TBS honey and shake to coat. Put them in an oven at 325 degrees for 15 minutes, stirring a few times. Add 1 tsp margarine and 1 TBS Lowry’s seasoning salt, (I used Natures Seasons) and bake 15 minutes more. Isn’t that easy?
1-6-2010 Is this soup weather or what? Would you like a recipe for comfort on a cold day? I hope you try it, it came from Flylady.com.
French Onion Soup
2
tablespoons butter 12-31-09
I
am enjoying the Christmas Break from Good News Club and I’m sure the rest of the
staff are as well. As for the boys and girls, they are no doubt ready to get
back to the familiar routines of school. I haven’t actually checked. The Fletchers got off on their Dallas trip on Saturday and reported a good visit with their son, Rolph and Anne Fletcher and Don, Nancy and little Will Jennings. They hadn’t been up to Dallas for some time and noticed a lot more construction that tells us Dallas is moving closer to Talpa. Rolph watched the weather closely and suggested they come home on Monday. Ward and Lavonda had nearly all their children home for Christmas. They had a big meal and their “tree”. Juanell and “Red” Robertson of San Angelo came for brunch with Philip and Linda Davis on Christmas. They munched on finger foods the rest of the day and were joined by Wade and Jessica Smith and their boys. Another daughter Becky Torres and her boys Joshua and Stephen came from Dallas on Saturday and stayed over through Sunday. It took Jason and Bobbie Ferguson and family many more hours than usual to drive from the Metro-Plex to Talpa on Thursday. Ricky and Theresa Agnew had all their children, nieces and nephews to join them for Christmas. Somehow, Michael and Monica forgot Rainee and Caiden when they went home to Midlothian. Surely they will be back when they miss them. Theresa’s sister Sandy of Irving left early on Tuesday so she and her daughter Becky could get back before the roads got too bad. Theresa thinks everyone got home safely. Carroll and Addie Hinds gathered with their family at Steve and Danita Hinds for a Christmas supper on Tuesday and then with Ral, Laura and Lisa Dees on Christmas Day. Dear reader, this might be a good time for us to write down some of the highlights of 2009. One of mine was the arrival of Brody, the first great grandchild. I make no resolutions for 2010 ..maybe set a goal or two. Goals are great to look back on through the year to see if any have been reached. I will take this time to wish you “Happy New Year”. and if our wonderful Lord is willing, we will see you here in 2010. 12-16-2009 It surely is hard to make myself go outdoors when the weather is cold. Hardly fittin’ for a transplanted New Englander but the warm indoors with a cup of hot chocolate is how I like to face the cold outside. The weather doesn’t cooperate either with 70 degrees on Monday and 40 degrees on Tuesday. I really need to go down to my Good News Club “office” and put away the materials so I’ll pause now and get that done as it’s about as warm as it’s going to get today. The last time I tried to put them away on the same day, I managed a fall on the steps and got a sprained foot. I’m grateful that HM is an expert with ace bandages. Speaking of Good News Club, the party went well considering the kiddos are “wired” for Christmas and we were two workers short. Now we’re off until after the New Year and have a little time to do other things we’ve been putting off. Like baking, sending Christmas cards, answering emails and snail mail. I think everyone out here is busy checking off their “week before Christmas” lists. I hope it is all pleasant and enjoyable. Otherwise, Christmas gets to be a pain and not a time we look forward to. I confess to the latter some times when my energy runs out before my to-do list. Those of you who know HM know that he is not one to get in a hurry and that is a good thing for me. It helps me slow down and also remember the “Reason for the Season”.
Carol and Xavier Jones were in San Angelo Friday for an appointment. Afterward
they visited with Shon Jones at Mitchell Toyota while Carol's car was getting a
"recall" replacement hose. Shon also had Carol's car washed, only to have it
misted on going home. Bill and Karen Hicks went to a joint service of the Valera Baptist and Methodist churches for Christmas music and fellowship on Sunday evening. Tuesday they went to watch their grandson Tyler play and win their basketball game for the Victory Life Warriors in Brownwood.
Linda Davis has all her Christmas lights up and says she went to San Angelo for
a couple of days last Wednesday and Thursday to visit with the family. 12-10-09 We were plugging along doing the usual last week when all of a sudden we were faced with the loss of one of our own. Helen Laws had a stroke that resulted in her death on Thursday. She had written Valera News for the D-V for more years than anyone can remember. Her funeral was held on Sunday afternoon with burial in the Glen Cove Cemetery. What a loss to the community! We saw her at the Leaday Fifth Sunday Singing last week and she was fine. The smile and twinkle in her eyes were distinctively “Helen”.
Welcome to new readers Jim and Julie Wall in the Mozelle area. They attend the
Voss Baptist Church where he plays his accordion before the worship service and
sometimes a special during the service. Right now he is working on a new
number, “It’s A Miracle”. While I’m on the subject, the pastor, Dave Ellison,
at Voss Baptist is a truck driver who felt God’s call to preach and his
preaching takes the ordinary things of life and works them into the scripture.
Or maybe it’s the other way around. Olivia, has the church all decorated for
Christmas and we plan a family dinner on the 4th Sunday. You are invited to
come and worship with us any Sunday and welcome to share our dinner on the
27th. Xavier Nino-Jones spent this past weekend in San Angelo with his father, Javier Nino. While he was there, they toured the Christmas Light Display along the Concho River. Wanda and, Don Franklin of Azle spent Monday with Ward and Lavonda Lewis. Wanda is Lavonda’s sister. Karen Hicks says they had a big family Thanksgiving dinner at her mom, Loretta Pierce’s home in Winters. She and Bill are planning a family Christmas time on the 20th. Dale and Arletta Herring took the Oklahoma City Holidaze Tour last Thursday leaving Abilene early in the morning. They checked into their hotel in Oklahoma City and went to the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory which has 17-acres of gardens and just now decorated for the Christmas Season. Later in the evening the lights were beautiful as they passed by on their way to board the Water Taxi for an excursion along the winding, beautifully adorned Bricktown Canal in historic downtown. Once a warehouse neighborhood, Bricktown has been magnificently restored. On Friday, everyone on the tour made the drive to the Oklahoma City Memorial which honors the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were changed forever with the explosion of the Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995. The outdoor memorial consists of 168 chairs, one for each life lost, made of bronze, stone and glass. Next they visited the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Center formerly known as the Cowboy Hall of Fame. Founded in 1955, the museum is America’s premier institution of Western history and is dedicated to our Western pioneers with an extensive collection of artifacts and exhibits about American Indian and pioneer life in realistic settings. The group had lunch at the Museum before making their homeward journey. Here’s a nudge for those of you planning to help at the Holiday Hill nursing home in Coleman with the December Shopping Spree. This will take place on Saturday, December 12 at 2:00pm. Come with your goodies and/or gifts. Many of you might want to share a part of your Christmas with one of our service man or women by sending a card to a recovering soldier. There are many who won’t be able to make it home for Christmas so as you send your cards, you can make out one more to send to a recovering soldier who has made a personal sacrifice for us. Please address your card as follows: A Recovering American Soldier, c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20307-5001. 12-3-09 We joined the Thanksgiving family celebration with Rex, Stacy, Josh, Taylor, Nathan and Reagan Stephenson in San Angelo. Other family members attending were Dan, Cathy and Daniel Davidson of Snyder, Dennis and Margaret Davidson and her sister Ellie of Houston and Jamie Davidson of San Angelo and Mark Baird of Ballinger.
On
Saturday, we met Pam and Steve Gasper in Junction for lunch as it was my
birthday and we wanted barbecue at Coopers. The ride to Junction was
particularly picturesque with much of the foliage in Fall colors. We drove home
through Mason where we discovered a Craft Fair in the park. Went there.
Roadside fires had developed on 87 and 911 informed us they were on it and also
the next two fires but as we passed them, no one had made it out there. None of
the fires were out of control at that point.
We
were sorry to learn of the death of Mark Martin, brother to Scotty Martin and
Leslie Hoelscher. He died as the result of a car accident in Arkansas. Our
sympathy goes out to them and Mark’s mother Sybil of Santa Anna. Carroll and Addie went to Ral and Laura Dees on Thanksgiving Day. Grady and Nona Fletcher were in San Angelo with Mary Ann and Ellis Motl and their family on Thanksgiving Day. They also attended the memorial service for Mark Martin. Cameron, Ora and Austin Lewis spent Thanksgiving with Bennie and Olga Guererro in Coleman. Other family who attended were Bennie Joe, Chris, and Priscilla Guererro and her precious baby boy, whose name we cannot spell, Ora’s sister Sylvia DeLeon and sons Michael, Dustin and Ricky and his fiancee Carrie, of Santa Anna, Rudy and Vicky Guererro of Comanche, Natin, Mary and Moises Capuchin, of Coleman. Crystal, Orlando, little Orlando, Ciana and Jonathan Salazar of Brownwood had dinner with Cameron, Ora and Austin on Saturday. One of our readers asked about Xavier whose name appears frequently in this weekly column. Xavier is a bright little boy who was adopted by his “Grandmommie” Carol Jones when his mother Brooke died two years ago. He’s into soccer, cowboy boots and Good News Club to name a few. We appreciate Carol writing about their lives.
On
Tuesday, Carol Jones was at Panther Creek Schools to help second grade teacher,
Debbie Vance, as she demonstrated yeast-bread making to Xavier Nino-Jones and
the other second graders. Each student made their own mini loaf of bread that
they were able to take home, although rumor has it that some loaves never made
it home. They were consumed on the buses. The bread was yummy and drew
considerable attention from other teachers and students.
Chuck Baker and all his family came to the Charles Bakers’ for Thanksgiving. On
Saturday, Charles, Rosa, and James, Gunter and Lisa Milligan went to Midland to
have a Thanksgiving dinner with Levi and his family. Rosa says Zach who is in
fourth grade now goes to regular school three days a week and across town on two
days to a “Gifted and Talented” Dale and Arletta Herring spent Thursday in Abilene having dinner in town and afterwards seeing the movie, “The Blind Side” which Arletta says is excellent. Angelita, James and Shelbi went with Dale and Arletta to Franklin on Friday and spent the weekend with Andy and Kim and their children. Andy had just returned from Australia where he was doing research work for A&M. Arletta mentions being thankful for the rain falling today, (Tuesday). Now you know we are having a cold and drizzly day here in Talpa.
11-12-09 Dear reader, don’t you hate it when someone pulls a Snopes.com on you? My nearest son Dan Davidson in Snyder enjoys doing this. Last week it was my writing about the onion as a deterrent to the flu. What does he know or Snopes either for that matter? It could help. I haven’t had the flu yet but I noticed that I don’t know anyone in my age bracket who has been sick. Either it is because of the onion or we wash our hands more or have had it some years ago and are still immune to it.
HM
and I went to Louis Pittard’s 95th birthday party on Sunday. He wasn’t the
oldest there. A dear lady, Eris Gregg Jones Murrink, who had been a former
classmate in Santa Anna, was brought by her family from Corpus Christi. She is
97! She read about his birthday party in the Coleman paper. When we left,
Louis was still standing and greeting friends. I enjoyed his cake which had a
miniature John Deere tractor sitting in the field and a picture of Louis on his
own tractor right behind it. The cake was made by Carol Burroughs. His
children, Knox, Gary, Nancy and Robert saw to the details of the party and they
had it together just right. Ward and Lavonda Lewis had visits from their daughter Cassandra Lewis and grandson Dillon Weeks on Monday. Lavonda said they had a really good visit with them. Melissa, Taryn, and Shon (Jr) Jones of San Angelo were in Coleman on Saturday to see Xavier Nino-Jones play soccer. After the game, Carol Jones and Xavier took them to eat lunch. Dale and Arletta Herring and their grandson, James Stephenson volunteered at HEB’s Feast of Sharing in San Angelo on Sunday. The feast provided food for about eight thousand people with over eight hundred volunteering. Sounds like a very rewarding effort. Arletta said they had wanted to volunteer for several years and this was the year they made it. This reminds us we are winding down to Thanksgiving and whatever plans we have in mind. I hope yours are going to meet your hopes for family and friends to come together and celebrate the bounty and blessings we have.
Also, I’m sure you have been saddened by the violence that took thirteen lives
and wounded many others at Fort Hood. We can’t understand what would possess a
man to commit the crime that would harm so many.
11-3-09
This has been the week that we wondered who would have the flu next.
Fortunately, we didn’t hear of many cases. Two of them were Ricky and Junior
Pas and also Theresa Agnew. They are ok now and we are all very thankful. HM’s son in law Val Zepeda of Castroville was in Voss over the weekend with his bow and hoping to get a deer. He’ll be back with his rifle next week and hopes for better hunting. He stayed overnight in Talpa with HM and me. HM’s daughter Rhonda Harrell of San Saba stayed with us a couple days when she was in classes in Abilene and a “clinical” in Coleman. We enjoyed her visit. Linda Davis says, “Philip painted the outside of our house and Gunner and Lisa Mulligan’s house this weekend, all we need is the trim work done. They look real nice.”
Carol and Xavier Jones and Carla Campbell of Ballinger went to El Paso on
Thursday and spent the night with Carol's aunt, Margie Brookshier. On Friday
morning, Patrick and Evette Brookshier of El Paso went over and visited with
them so they could meet 1-yr old Ryan. Everyone then went to the mall to help
Margie shop. After she made a few selections, they all ate lunch at Olive Garden
before Carol, Xavier, and Carla headed back to Van Horn to visit with Kyle and
Nina Brookshier. Carroll Hinds accompanied his son David Hinds to Waco on Tuesday to pick up stones for David and Pam’s business, Precious Memories Monuments. Bill and Karen Hicks will celebrate their 43rd Wedding Anniversary on November 11th. Best wishes to both of them! Baptist WOM of Lake Ivie Association will meet at Coleman First Baptist on Thursday morning November 12 at 10AM to prepare their Thanksgiving Cookie Outreach. Ladies bring 2 dozen cookies, brownies etc and plan to stay to put the boxes together.
10-29-09
HM
and I met Steve and Pam Gasper Saturday morning in Ballinger and we went
together to Snyder where Pam and I attended a baby shower for granddaughter
Nancy Burleson. The men gathered at Dan Davidsons where they had brisket and
potato salad and watched a ball game. Linda Davis went this last Monday to Red Hat Luncheon with her mother, Juanell Robertson to Miss Hattie's and says they had a great time. She spent the rest of the day running errands with her mother and didn't get home until about 7 pm.
Carol Jones emails us, “I took Xavier to his soccer practices on Monday and
Wednesday and games on Saturday. The Roadrunners tied the first game and lost in
the shoot-off, but they worn their second game 4-1. Go Roadrunners! Sorry, Carol but it ain’t gonna happen. We cancelled Good News Club on Monday due to so many absences in Panther Creek School. Now the entire school has shut down,(Tuesday.) There's a story that came out on the internet that an unpeeled onion placed in the rooms of your house will attract flu bacteria and if you get the flu any way, chances are it will be a light case. I'm sure you can spare the onions for such a worthy cause. Rick and Theresa Agnew and the boys went to Grand Prairie on Saturday where they picked up Haley Qiniones who spent the weekend with them.
Jerry Don, James, and Shelbi Stephenson attended the Equine Horse Sale Day at
Stephenville on Tuesday. James and Shelbi helped with the Special Olympic Rodeo
while there. Rolph and Ann Fletcher came on Monday night to be here when his dad Grady had surgery. Grady came home from hospital on Friday, Rolph and Ann went home to Dallas. Nona’s brother in law Ellis Motl says the rattlesnakes are returning to their winter homes and Nona saw one in front of their garage door. It got away while she was going for Grady to take a shot at it. This is a warning as usual to watch out for the snakes. She also has a bird in their wood stove she said. He was pecking to get out so she waited until nearly dark and opened the front door and then the stove but it was too scared to fly out of the stove. This procedure will be repeated until the bird successfully gets away. Nona says this happens frequently. We had some rain on Monday, HM said our gauge had ˝ inches. This is a good year for our pecan trees and he keeps busy every evening cracking and shelling them. So far the blue jays have not invaded the trees and we haven’t seen many wood peckers who like to have a few pecans for their breakfast. Blessings on you , dear reader
10-22-09 Linda Davis was in San Angelo and visiting a couple of days with her mother, Juanell Robertson this past week. Her sister-in-law Cora Dillard came over Sunday from Santa Anna and they went in to Ballinger to visit with Walter and Mary Davis.
Carol Jones and Xavier were in Coleman for soccer practices Monday and
Wednesday. Tuesday Carol took a kitten to the Veterinarian in Winters and also
visited with her cousin, Charles Allcorn. Dale and Arletta Herring went to visit Vena Bob Gates at Holiday Hill on Sunday afternoon.
Carroll and Addie Hinds’ great granddaughter Jayden Hinds had her third birthday
party on Saturday. Her parents are Jimmy and Jennifer Hinds. The party was
held at the Coleman City Park. Carroll said it was a good party even though it
was cold as a wet dog.
Charles and Rosa Baker are enjoying the cooler weather and have been doing some
yard work. HM has been working on our mower and just when he finished, we are getting rain. We are happy to trade mowing for rain. All Talpa residents echo that sentiment.
10-8-09 Talpa’s fire trucks passed inspections and we are proud of the boys for keeping them up so well. They are working on the third truck which has a new pump to be installed. Carroll Hinds went to Waco with his son David on Tuesday to pick up memorial stones for David and Pam’s business, “Precious Memories Memorials”.
Ora
Lewis took Austin and his friend Morton to Fiesta de la Paloma on Saturday. The
freshman class at Panther Creek are selling raffle tickets for a
Carroll Jones and Xavier visited with Vena Bob Gates last week. Susie Stamper
and Carol Scott came in while she was there.
We
can thank Diana Kirsch for this next contribution,
10-1-09 The Mozelle Reunion was held on Saturday at the Bill Franklin Center in Coleman. Music was provided by Truitt Marshall, well known to folks in Coleman. Each class was recognized with the class of ‘58 having the largest number to attend. It was hard to ascertain an attendance as folks were coming in nearly all day. The history of Mozelle was given by Terry Nanny with a promise to mail a copy to any who asks for it. The Jones Brothers were recognized as outstanding citizens of the community. Rex Stephenson introduced former principal, coach, teacher, bus driver Charles Bryant amid much laughter but when Mr Bryant took the floor there were a few tears added to the laughter. It seems he was a favorite during his days at Mozelle. Those who had given up a portion of their school days to serve in the military during the wartimes were given special honor as were those who had passed since the last reunion three years ago. A silent auction was held in which they hoped for a sizeable amount to come in to the Reunion Committee. The former committee headed by Marion Wilson did a remarkable job for us and they will now low step down for a new committee. Coffee, tea and cookies were provided in the morning. I have no idea who baked the lovely cookies. Lunch was catered by Big O and his crew. As for the folks in Talpa, they are faring well. However, some have the flu or reasonable facsimiles. Carroll and Addie Hinds attended the Mozelle Reunion and afterwards went to Cisco where they attended the wedding of Carrolls nephew Josh Klasson. The bride, Carol Reed of Graham and her attendants arrived on a horse drawn wagon. The bridegroom and his attendants came in a Rubicon. (before you go to the dictionary, I did and it’s not in there) still, Carroll said that’s what they came in. Addie filled me in this morning that it is a “fancy” Jeep and it’s a new model which accounts for the reason it’s not in my dictionary. The reception was held in the Hilton Hotel in Cisco (the first hotel built by Conrad Hilton which has been restored and now serves for events such as weddings. Haley Quinones visited with Grandma and Grandpa Agnew, Junior and Ricky this weekend. Karen and Bill Hicks have been on vacation to Padre Island, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass and Rockport. The water was nice and warm, Karen said. Their grandson, Tyler is playing football this year and grandparents have to attend. His school is Victory Life Academy and the last game was against Coolidge. They won! Cameron, Ora, and Austin Lewis, Jonathan, Ciana and Orlando celebrated Crystal’s birthday at Hords Creek Lake on Friday. Ora wishes to say “Happy Birthday” to her daughter Crystal. They stayed at the lake through Sunday. First Baptist Church of Ballinger will host the Annual Meeting of the Lake Ivie Baptist Association on October 18. The meeting starts at 4:00pm with a meal at 5:30pm and evening session at 6:30pm. 9/23/2009
Two
really good things were happening in Talpa this week. The Good News Club that
meets at Panther Creek got started and we received 3 inches of rain on Sunday
night. It put some water in the tank and the geese have rediscovered how to
swim. It didn’t take them long. Ricky Joe and Theresa Agnew were visited by Rex, Stacy, Joshua, Taylor, Nathan and Reagan Stephenson of San Angelo last week. They were meeting with Mitzi Jones so Rex, Joshua and Taylor could take off for the Texas/ Tech game in Austin. Dale and Arletta Herring voiced their thankfulness for the rain we received. It does seem our hummingbirds are leaving early. There are just a few stopping by here lately. Carroll and Addie Hinds went to Winters for Hazel McClure’s 80th birthday celebration.
We
were sorry to hear of Carroll and Addie Hinds’ granddaughter Jennifer Hinds
losing both grandparents in the same week. We extend our sympathy. Another
granddaughter’s dad, Steve DeLarosa passed away. Nona Fletcher said their large tank filled to the brim and was running around. Linda Davis says, “My daughter, Jessica Smith and I hosted an 80th Birthday Party dinner and dance for mother, Juanell Robertson, yesterday, Sunday the 20th at Rio Concho Patio Homes Activity Center in San Angelo....about 65 to 70 people were in attendance and a wonderful time was had by all. Monday the 21st was her actual birthday and she and I attended the Red Hat Society Luncheon at Nacho's in San Angelo.”
Again we are pleased to have a quote from Diana Kirsch in the form of a lovely
poem,
If
at times you feel you want to cry,
As
you travel on life's way,
Among the world's expensive things,
Happiness comes at times to all,
So
when friends have sadness on their face,
9-17-09 HM and I attended the funeral service for Ann Turner on Sunday. We had been impressed with her spirit,---such a valiant warrior fighting for her life as cancer threatened again and again. We have to note here that she kept a wonderful attitude through it all and was a sermon in shoes to everyone. Our sympathy is extended to Bob and their family. Panther Creek Good News Club will start on Monday, September 21st. The time is after school until 5:00PM. Permission slips are given out in the classrooms and must accompany each child who attends. We were blessed in Talpa with rain this week and the grass is greening up. HM planted some turnips and expects the rain to bring them along. Ricky Joe and Theresa Agnew fixed meals for the bird hunters all weekend. Theresa said the hunters got their limits. They, too are thankful for the rain. Dale and Arletta spent a rainy week-end in Lubbock. They were attending the Cowboy Symposuim. They heard an interesting and informative program about Quanah Parker. They came home to an inch and half of rain in the gauge. Carol Jones and Xavier Nino-Jones attended the surprise party celebrating the 40th birthday of Carol's son, Shon Jones Sr. in San Angelo on Thursday evening. Shon's wife, Melissa, held the party and also surprised Shon Sr. with tickets to the U.S. Tennis Opens in New York City for Sunday. Shon and Melissa left Saturday to attend. The party was held in a restaurant downtown and was well attended by Shon's employers, employees, his dad-Robbie and Lorna Jones of Sonora, and sisters-Kim and Jessica as well as Carol and Xavier. Shon was thoroughly shocked with the party and the trip, and everyone had a great time. Linda Davis’ mother, Juanell Robertson came on Friday night to visit with Linda and Philip. They hit the city wide garage sales in Ballinger on Saturday before Juanell had to go home to San Angelo in the evening.
Grady Fletcher is much improved following a surgical procedure for his back.
Brenda Darnell says, “Thank you God for the additional rain that we got this week at the Ranch. The Spring is now running again and that is always a blessing. As of Sunday evening Carl and I had received 3.25 inches of rain since Friday. Thursday evening started a rough weekend for me (Brenda). After dinner I felt sick and boy was I ever sick. For two days I couldn't eat or drink anything. On Friday night Karla came down with the same virus. Thank God again, Taylor didn't get sick. In case any of you get this stomach virus, Baby Percy is the way to go and you can find it at the Shoppin' Baskit. Sunday was a much better day. I was able to get out and go to church, even in the rain.” When I talked with Brenda today, we hear that Carl is the latest victim. Hopewell Baptist Church is planning a revival September 20 to 23, 2009. The Evangelist is Dr Jack Ridlehoover of Abilene. Mrs Judy Owen of Ballinger will be bringing special music. Dr Ridlehoover was long time pastor of Pioneer Drive Baptist in Abilene. Mrs. Owen served for a number of years as Minister of Music for First Baptist in Brady. Hopewell Baptist Church is in Crews Tx and located East on Texas 153.
9-17-09 Ricky Joe and Theresa Agnew and the boys went to Wichita Falls where they visited with Joe Bob Agnew on Saturday. They also went to the cemetery in Sunset to place flowers on the family graves. Cameron, Ora and Austin Lewis spent the weekend at Hords Creek Lake. They were joined on Saturday by Rudy and Vicky Guererro of Comanche, Juan Guererro of Abilene, Natin, Mary and Moises Capuchin , Silvia DeLeon, all of Santa Anna and Bennie and Olga Guererro of Coleman. On Sunday, the Lewis’ attended their grandson Jonathan Salazar’s 8th birthday party at Coggin Park in Brownwood. Grady and Nona Fletcher had visits from their grandchildren Don, Nancy and William Jennings of McKinney. Grady is recovering from his second back injury. HMs son in law, Val Zepeda of Castroville was here putting some fine tuning on his cameras at the deer blind. We got to see pictures of the blind on a twenty-four hour basis. Deer in abundance and some creatures we didn’t like known as feral hogs. Let us know if you are interested in those, for they are scaring the deer away and ruining the crops. He got a shot of a four wheeler too. Probably didn’t know they were on camera. They were welcome as it became clear who they were. Addie Hinds is recovering nicely from a back procedure called vertebraeplasty.
This news came from Brenda Darnell, “This past weekend all of the residents
(human that it) left the ranch for a mini vacation at Schlitterbahn. While we
were gone Carl and I got 4 inches of rain and Vinson and Karla Higgenbotham got
4.25 inches of rain. (must be the gauges, they live next door to each other).
Thank you God for the much needed rain. If the community will pay our way we
will leave every weekend so that everyone can get that much needed rain.
Karla is teaching school this year. She has started a private school in
The
weekend before last, Vinson and Karla went to Fort Davis on a Prayer
Hopewell Baptist church will be starting a revival on Sunday morning, Here are some words from Diana Kirsch and I know you will find them helpful.
In
Hebrews we read, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so
easily entangles.” Hebrews 12:1 When we come to Jesus, we come with the grave
clothes of a life of sin, pain, anger, self-pity, etc. Jesus gives us new life
when we are born again in Him – we are new creatures. Yet many people never
throw off the grave clothes of their old lives. It never does any good to wallow
in our past, when we have been given new life and a new future in Christ. This
verse in Hebrews exhorts us to throw off our grave clothes and live! Don't
wallow in the “whys” of your past, throw a pity-party, or remain in your misery.
You may not understand why God allowed and continues to allow adversity in your
life, but when we belong to Him, we can have total faith that He has a purpose
for us.
9-3-09 HM and I attended the Fifth Sunday Singing held at Harmony Baptist Church. Bro David Ellison of Voss Baptist came by for us. We then picked up Lorenza Dela O and Olivia Delos Santos in Valera. What an enjoyable evening. Mike Priddy couldn’t make it and Carroll Hinds led the singing for Talpa Immanuel. He also did a good job with a solo “God Will Take Care Of You” with Michelle Howell accompanying, We were served a delicious supper with a banana pudding on the dessert counter that was very popular.
Ward and Lavonda Lewis’ granddaughters Chelsea and Faith Lewis have returned
from Montana and enrolled in Panther Creek Schools. The grandparents are happy
to have them back.
If
you're always in a dither Thanks, Diana for reminding us.
8-27-09 Friday evening, Carol dropped Xavier off at Javier Nino's in San Angelo for the weekend. Javier brought Xavier home on Sunday afternoon. Xavier is very excited to be a second grader this year at Panther Creek Elementary. They started school Monday. Cora Dillard of Santa Anna stopped by to visit with Philip and Linda Davis on Sunday. Talpa’s children have started back to school and the remarks coming from the Paz boys is they love it, and are so excited to be back in school. In talking with Nona Fletcher, she related asking Grady who was mumbling something she couldn’t make out if he was talking to himself. He replied, “yes, I was and you interrupted me!” 8-20-09
I
neglected to mention attending the funeral of our friend and former pastors
wife, Lodema Jones. This funeral was so crowded, there was standing room only
at the First Baptist at Santa Anna. This was not only a tribute to her life but
to her dear husband Raymond and their children “Bubba”, Eddie, Wade and Darlene
and their spouses. HM and I enjoyed lunch at the Family Restaurant in Santa
Anna afterwards with Robert Lee Loggins and sat at the table with Bill Jack and
Carolyn Wilson who were gracious to invite us to their table. Another case of
“standing room only”.
Linda Davis writes, “I went to Red Hats with mother at Logan's Roadhouse Monday,
and then we ran some errands.”
8-13-09 Ricky Joe and Theresa Agnew took their grandsons on a trip to the MetroPlex over the weekend. They celebrated their granddaughter Haley’s birthday in Irving on Friday with the immediate family. They visited Theresa’s aunt Bobbie Cawley on Saturday before going back to Grapevine to eat at Uncle Julio’s. What a surprise, when they found their four children and spouses inside waiting for them. Richard and Monica Boren, Bobbie and Jason Ferguson, DeeDee and Joey Hollingsworth and Michael and Monica Boren. Twelve of their grandchildren, Cody and Chevy Boren, Jase, Jayden, Justin and Hanna Hollingsworth, Autumn Ferguson, Haley Quinones, Junior and Ricky Pas, Rainee and Kaiden Boren. Theresa’s sister Sandy Steward and friend Philip Matlock made up the crowd. They had been lured there to celebrate Ricky Joe and Theresa’s 25th anniversary. I can’t imagine how Ricky Joe took it as he is embarrassed when he receives even a card. I think he took it in stride telling himself it was for Theresa so he should endure it. Happy 25th to the Agnew’s.
Justin Lewis and his friend Keeli Blankenship of Bozeman Mt came to see his
grandparents Ward and Lavonda Lewis. He wanted to connect with his cousins in
the area as he works and lives in Montana. Ward and Lavonda really enjoyed
their visit.
Carol Jones and Xavier went to Kerrville on Wednesday to attend the surprise
birthday party of Carol's first cousin, Glenda Hart. On Thursday after they had
lunch, Carol and Glenda took Xavier to a gymnastics day camp with Glenda's
granddaughter and went shopping. Afterward they took the kids to play for
awhile, then to see the horse Carol gave them in June. Glenda's husband, Jim and
her daughter and son-in-law, joined them for dinner. Carol and Xavier returned
home Friday afternoon. I hope you are watching Mars grow bigger and brighter each night (except some of our nights lately have been overcast) until it reaches its peak on August 27 at which time it will appear as bright and big as the moon. 8-6-09 HM and I witnessed a rare sight on Wednesday night. It was the Space Shuttle Endeavor moving along overhead around 9:30 with the Space Station following. The Shuttle landed on Friday after a grueling ( so said CBS News) sixteen day mission. It returned bringing back the Japanese astronaut, Koichi Wakata who had been on the Space Station for four and one half months, the longest stint for a Japanese astronaut to have been on board the Space Station. Dale and Arletta attended the funeral of Dale’s cousin Alvin Spreen in Ballinger on Tuesday. They say the rain was such a blessing leaving everything lush and green, especially for August.
HM
is working on pulling out all the goat heads, prickly pear and mesquite before
he finished mowing the lower part of our yard in case you noticed it being quite
high.
Carol Jones and Susie Stamper went to Abilene on Thursday to visit Vena Bob
Gates at Hendricks Medical Center. Linda Davis writes, “Christian went home on Thursday. Philip and I did plumbing this weekend. We had to replace toilet and flooring. That seems to be going around, Linda, as we heard of others doing the same thing. I made a trip to San Angelo on Tuesday and had lunch with my granddaughter Jamie Davidson. We caught up on all the news and then her lunch break was over way too soon. We tried to plan for when Michael Davidson comes back from his overseas tour with the US Army but then both of us are going out of town towards the end of August so we’re hoping for his appearance before then.
Brenda Darnell sends news from the Pecan Springs Ranch, WE SURVIVED THE ALMOST
YANKEES. We had nine visitors from Virginia, nine friends and twenty-one family
members from Texas who attended the Wallace Reunion. My sister, Linda Southall
and her husband Max came from Virginia along with their daughter, Jill and two
of her children, Hannah and Hunter. Also from Virginia was Linda and Max's son,
Logan with his girlfriend, Brandi. Two other grandchildren also attended, Cynna
and EmiLeigh. From Texas we had my Mother and her husband, Louise and Cal
Bynum, Carl and I, our daughter Karla Higginbotham and her husband Vinson.
Karla and Vinson's eldest daughter Tatum was there with her husband Trennon and
two of their sons, Trenton and Travis. Their middle daughter, Jessica was there
along with her daughter, Taylor and son Landon. Vinson and Karla's son Carl Jr.
was also present. Our middle daughter, Cyndi Thomason was there with her
husband, Tommy. Their youngest daughter, Rose was there with her husband Kaci
and their two daughters, Tristian and KacLynne. Our son-in-law, Tony Johnson
was in attendance.
7-23-09 7-16-09
I
told you it was going to be hot last week. It was. This week is another
scorcher but we’re about to work ourselves out of it and will have a few (low?)
days in the 90’s. When I lived in New England, factories would be closed for
anything over 90. Well, mostly in those days, factories had no A/C. Can August
be far behind? Philip and Linda Davis went to San Angelo on Friday and visited Linda’s mom and stepdad, Juanell and Red Roberts. Philip's sister, Cora Dillard stopped by on her way home from San Angelo on Tuesday for a nice visit. Carol Jones and Xavier Nino were in Coleman Tuesday. On Thursday they went to San Angelo for an appointment Xavier had. After the appointment Carol dropped Xavier at his Grandma's house for the weekend. Javier Nino brought Xavier home on Monday. Ricky Joe and Theresa Agnew hosted a mini family reunion for the Paz family who gathered at their home on Saturday. Claudia Paz, Juana Morales, Israel, Avi, Carlos, Abel and Miguel A Paz came from Grand Prairie bringing much food. (Theresa says they are great cooks.) The younger generation rode on the go-cart and swam in the pool and Junior and Ricky thought they had the best time ever.
7-9-09 On Sunday night, we attended the Patriotic Musical that was held in the Family Life Center, First Baptist Church in Coleman. We were all given small flags as we entered the hall and everyone was proud to wave them as the program proceeded. More than 12 area churches were represented by the choir and they were appreciated for their efforts to bring us to our feet in honor of our God and our Country. Thanks to Truitt Mitchell who directed and organized the production. Linda Davis is grateful that Philip got to go back to work. It is a marvel that he is recovered so well. Carol Jones met Robbie and Lorna Jones in San Angelo to get Xavier after he spent three weeks vacationing in Sonora. Xavier also enjoyed 3 days in San Antonio at Sea World. Before meeting Robbie and Lorna, Carol had lunch with her friend, Norma Brawner and Norma's granddaughter Victoria. Mary Ann and Ellis Motl and the Motl family invited Grady and Nona Fletcher to a barbecue lunch on the Fourth. Arletta Herring says they averaged 50 children attending the VBS at United Methodist Church in Ballinger last week. She adds thankfulness for the .6 inches of rain that fell out at their place.
The
Ward Lewis’ report one, and one-fourth inches out at their place West of Talpa.
HM says that was the amount in our gauge. Carroll Hinds said their daughter Laura Dees had gum surgery and is doing very well. Congratulations to Lisa Dees on her new career with Avon. We are settling in for another hot week here in Talpa and thankful that the A/C is working.
7-2-09 Dale and Arletta visited with Vena Bob Gates in Abilene Regional Hospital again this week. They are thankful for the ˝ inch of rain that came Tuesday. Shelbi Stephenson will attend VBS at First United Methodist in Ballinger next week. Angelita and James Stephenson will head up the crafts and Arletta will have the nursery. We are enjoying the rain and cool weather.
Pat
High of Mertzon stopped by to see Theresa Agnew on Saturday. Ricky and Theresa
took to boys to see T-Bone Ranch’s fireworks. HM and I also sat on the hill and
watched them from the pick-up. It had cooled down a bit and occasionally even a
breeze.
Samantha Lynn is the newest member of the household of Whitney and Sean who are
presently staying with Scotty and Sherry Martin. We hear she is delightful and
hardly gives anyone any trouble. Congratulations to all the family. Voss Baptist will not be holding worship services this Sunday as Bro Dave and Tonya Ellison are taking a much needed holiday to go to Kerrville and visit his sister. Did I hear there are auto races going on? Others of the congregation will be out of pocket also.
We
do wish for you a safe Independence Day Weekend. Savor those traditions that
remind you of Fourth of July. Remember the blessings that our country has
experienced in days gone by and be thankful for our country, our military and
our families. 6-25-09 6-18-09 Cameron, Ora and Austin Lewis and Austin’s friend, Moises Capuchin have been in Granby Co on a work/play trip. Ora said it was cold a lot of the time, even snowing the day they finished the job. Austin celebrated his 14th birthday while they were away. They stopped to see the Royal Gorge on the way home. On Friday, they took the grandchildren, Jonathan and Ciana Salazar and went to Hords Creek Lake. Ora’s neice Tiffany Guerrero joined them with her daughter Hagen Cavanaugh who celebrated her third birthday on Saturday. Dale and Arletta Herring represented the First United Methodist Church of Ballinger at the Central Annual Conference last week. The conference was held at White Chapel United Methodist Church in South Lake. Carroll and Addie Hinds have been to Alabama where they attended the Hopper Reunion.
On
Friday, June 12, Carol Jones legally adopted 7 year old Xavier Nino. She has
raised him since before he was two years old. His birth mother, Brooke Jones,
passed away in 2007 and this makes Xavier Carol's legal son. His legal last name
now is Nino-Jones. They were in San Angelo for the proceedings and afterward had
lunch at Shon and Melissa Jones' home with Melissa, Taryn, Shon Jr., Robbie, and
Lorna Jones.
HM
and I went to Brownwood on Friday. After keeping an early appointment, he took
me to breakfast. We went shopping and then quickly home as it was the hottest
day so far. Alonzo Gonzales and Cassandra Christian of Harrisonburg LA are visiting their grandmother Lorenza DeLa O this week. I understand a lot of Monopoly has been played but one still has not gotten to be the winner so the games must continue.
This came from Diana Kirsch, “Mistaken Identity" A man was being tailgated by a
stressed-out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just
in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk,
After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door.
She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was
waiting with her Thanks, Diana for the reminder that our actions speak the true attitude of our heart . Talpa Talk 6-11-09 We had a nice weekend here in Talpa ,,,not as hot as we had expected. The sound of mowing is heard throughout the community. HM is waiting for some round-up he applied to winter grass and ragweed to take hold before he finishes mowing. Grady and Nona Fletcher attended the wedding of Amy Boatright and Greg Motl which was held in San Angelo on Saturday at the First Methodist Church. A reception for the bride and groom was held in the Young Future Farmers of Texas Barn in Miles. Nona said the Barn was all decorated for the occasion and looked very festive. Barbecue was served to about 150 guests including many small children who enjoyed playing on the large floor in the middle. This served as a dance floor after the meal. Bill and Karen Hicks were in Winters on Sunday afternoon and called on “Uncle” Kenneth and then spent time with Karen’s mother, Loretta Pierce.
HM
and I went to the Steward Family Reunion on Saturday in Brady at Richards Park.
There was the usual visiting and 42 games. A dessert contest was held which I
entered. All 3 winners were desserts made with chocolate. My pecan pie
squares didn’t stand a chance. Next year I’ll know. On Sunday, the Steward
Reunion made the yearly trip to Rockwood. Starting at the cemetery, we had a
time of devotions before proceeding to the Rockwood Community Center for lunch.
Linda Davis writes, “Philip, Joe, Kevin, and Rick all worked on the store Saturday and Sunday....trying to get a roof on it and framework for an awning....Thanks for the help, guys! Sunday night our kids from Irving, Becky & Ray, Josh and Stephen Torres came in and spent the night. They left for home Monday. Then our San Angelo kids Jessica, Wade and Christian Smith came and spent a few hours visiting.”
Ricky and Theresa Agnew went to Midlothian where they dropped off Raimee and
Caiden to their parents Michael and Monica Boren . Next stop was Grand Prairie
to get Haley Quinones who finished the week of VBS with Junior and Ricky Paz.
Ricky Joe says “Hats off to Valera Baptist and everyone affiliated with the
VBS. The boys and Haley learned a lot and the crew did a great job.” Theresa
enjoyed Tuesday afternoon with Linda Davis when they went to keep an appointment
and also to get Linda’s poodle groomed.
Talpa Talk 6-4-09
I
told you about the 5th Sunday singing that was going to be at Glen Cove Baptist.
We went and it was well attended. All the churches present participated with
Talpa's Immanuel Baptist adding a solo by Carroll Hinds and he also gave the
background of the song, It Is Well With My Soul before singing it. A special
treat was Jim Wall bringing his accordion and playing several selections.
Another unusual presentation was by Leslie Ailshie who gave her impression of a
medley of Christian songs. Did I mention we shared food prepared by the Glen
Cove Baptist folks? We are glad to hear Philip Davis is recovering from his stroke. Here's what Linda had to say, "Went to San Angelo for rehab yesterday, he drove the van for the first time....it seemed to go quite well. His therapists say that he is progressing faster than they expected him to...so he seems to be on the road back to recovery. Can't keep him still. My mother, Juanell Robertson and Uncle Burl Pringle came out to visit on Saturday.....Philip and my Uncle went out to the horse sale for a little while." Christine Howe has returned home to Ogden Ut after spending several weeks with Grady and Nona Fletcher.
Carol Jones attended the Panther Creek elementary picnic Monday in the Coleman
City Park and the elementary field day Thursday at Panther Creek. On Wednesday
she was in Winters and Ballinger. She also attended the Panther Creek Elementary
Awards ceremony Friday morning. Ricky and Junior Paz came home from the awards ceremony at Panther Creek with a handful of awards. We are proud of them and all our students from Talpa.
I
enjoy reading Diana Hirsch’ devotionals each week. This week she included
something good about a Real Home for parents to consider with the summer
vacation starting.
A
REAL HOME is a workshop. Pity the child who is
A
REAL HOME is a forum. Honest, open discussion
A
REAL HOME is cooperative. Households flourish
A
REAL HOME is a school. Many of life's most
A
REAL HOME is a temple, where people are loved Is your home, A REAL HOME? 5-27-2009 HM took me to lunch on Sunday and as we were coming home we drove through a downpour of rain just past Valera where water was gushing down the roadsides. It didn’t last until we got to Talpa though. We still are thankful for what was received out here. I was coming home from a Celebrating Home Party at Lake Ivie on Tuesday evening when I encountered another downpour this side of Valera which slowed me down a bit. This time we received some running water and measured at least one and a half inches. Michael, Monica, Ramiee and Caiden Boren visited with Ricky and Theresa Agnew on Tuesday and what’s this? They left Raimee and Caiden behind for the week. Not even any tears at bedtime, I hear.
Shelbi Stephenson received many honors and certificates at the Coleman
Elementary Awards Program. The one most prized by her grandparents Dale and
Arletta Herring was being on the “A” Honor Roll for the entire year. Bill and Karen Hicks are having a family graduation party to honor their granddaughter Alyssa Hamilton who actually graduated last winter ahead of her class . Karen says they got 2 ˝ inches of rain and some small hail at their place.
Carol Jones was in Coleman Tuesday. On Wednesday she and Susie Stamper visited
with Vena Bob Gates at Hendricks where she is recuperating from brain surgery.
Mission Minded Women of Lake Ivie Baptist Association will be meeting at 1:00 PM on June 1st at First Baptist Church, Ballinger so put together kits for a Vacation Bible School in Allende, Mexico. These children will enjoy the handcraft while they learn about the Lord. Ladies, bring your scissors and willing hands. Fifth Sunday Singing will be at the Glen Cove Baptist Church this Sunday, May 31st. Following the singing at 6:00 PM a meal will be served. This laptop is good at losing my articles and it did it again. I do hope I remembered all the news that was given me…as it was given.
5-21-09 On Monday, Linda Davis wrote, “Philip came home from the hospital Friday after a week. He had several little strokes and is a bit wobbly on his feet yet. Dr says he will get back to normal with a little rehab and some meds. Philip bought the materials and was going to get a roof on the store on the highway and now he can't do it for a while....think we could get a group of volunteers to help get the roof up and dried in? He has the stuff but he is afraid what he has up will get damaged by rain before he can get the rest up.” (All volunteers form a line to the store, or call Philip).
Carol Jones visited Vena Bob Gates at Holiday Hill Tuesday
afternoon. Also on Tuesday, Carol had lunch with Danita Hinds. Nona Fletcher’s sister and her son brought a phone system to blend in with the one they have and now they have phones all around the house when it is necessary to answer one. Grady has recovered wonderfully from his surgery after his fall. Christine Howe of Ogden Ut is still with her sister Nona and has been invaluable in helping since Nona has had surgery as well.
Ricky and Junior Paz spent the weekend in Grand Prairie with
relatives. Ward and Lavonda celebrated their 50th Anniversary with cake and punch for all the relatives. Those attending were Cameron, Ora and Austin Lewis, Shelby and Carrie Lewis of Lipan, Cassandra and Dillon Lewis , Carmen and Morris Cox, of Coleman, Heather Lewis, Chelsea and Faith of Mozelle, Jason Bloomer and Robin of San Angelo, Crystal Salazar, Jonathan and Ciana of Brownwood, Candace Staggs and Cloe of Winters, Jesse Guererro and two daughters of Bangs, Lavonda’s sister Wanda and husband Don Franklin of Azle. Lavonda said they had a good time. Lisa Dees won five awards at Coleman High School. First Places in Spanish II and Ag Communications, Fourth Place in Ready Writing, sixth place in Literary Criticism, she was on the All Year “A” Honor Roll, and Honor Roll for 10th grade. Lisa’s grandparents, Carroll and Addie Hinds are proud of her accomplishments and we add our Congratulations! This Too Will Pass Away
If I can endure for this minute 5-14-2009 HM and I went to Coleman on Saturday to “Walk For A Cure” Cancer Walk in honor of Ann Turner who has fought the disease valiantly for a number of years. She is a determined lady whom we admire and respect greatly. Did I mention love? The proceeds from the Walk will go to the CH Hale Prostate Cancer Foundation and be used to fund prevention and educational awareness programs. We visited for awhile and listened to the teen-age musical group, “Adopted”. Barbara Brown welcomed us and explained the rules. Ann was given a bouquet of flowers and then got to ride in the golf cart with Miss Coleman County, Rachelle McKinnon. At 9:00 sharp the signal was given and the walkers hit the road looking to me like the Boston Marathon and it was not too long before HM and I became those two stragglers at the rear. We reached Walnut Street where I could hold out no longer and convinced HM we should head back to the Owl for breakfast.
Carol Jones was in Coleman Monday and Tuesday on
business. On Tuesday she and Susie Stamper visited with Vena Bob
Gates at Holiday Hill. On Saturday, Ward and Lavonda Lewis went to Cameron and Ora Lewis’ 25th Wedding Anniversary which was held in Santa Anna at the National Guard Armory. They got to visit with family and friends, Lavonda said. Dan Davidson showed up from Snyder on Saturday bringing a Mother’s Day corsage. He had taken Cathy to the Airport for a Florida flight to visit with her mother who is in hospital there recovering from a stroke. I received flowers from daughter Pam shortly afterwards.
Granddaughter Jamie Davidson called on Sunday to
wish me a happy (grand)mother’s day. Dennis called en route to Cape
Kennedy where they were planning to watch the Space Shuttle
lift-off. Karen and Bill Hicks’ children Angela and Austin , Amy , Alyssa and Tyler came on Sunday. After dinner they watched videos of the grandchildren and laughed at how much they had changed. They watched while Tyler participated in Tapps State Track Meet held at Baylor U last week. He entered in the Triple Jump and placed 7th. Good for a freshman! The Kenneth Baker family of Burkett hosted a family dinner on Saturday night. Rosa had worked all day with CARR and was glad she didn’t have to cook . They went to granddaughter Elizabeth’s on Sunday evening for another family meal. Elizabeth had fixed Chicken Fried Steak with all the trimmings.
Diana Kirsch didn’t write last week as she had taken
an overdue trip to visit her children and grandson in St. Louis
Mo. 5-7-2009 HM and I met our
Snyder family in Sweetwater on Monday so we could celebrate Dan
Davidson’s birthday without either having to drive the distance. It
was a beautiful afternoon. We totally enjoyed the trip and being
able to get together for a meal and fun conversation.
4-30-09
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