So happy to spend time on New Year's Day with good friend Jennifer and her family.
Spring has arrived! And with it, the wind. The wind has been blowing off and on since February, at times fiercely. I have continued to assimilate my new life in West Texas. I am continually amazed at the variety of birds. On a given day I see or hear such a great number as to marvel anew at creation, beginning, of course, with the ever-present doves whose calls never cease from dawn to dusk. Till now our weather (minus the wind!) has rivaled any beautiful mild day in Southern California, but soon the heat of summer will be upon us. We’ve been enjoying cool starlit evenings out front, sitting near our chiminea fires in our patio furniture that was recently repainted by Hot Rod. The winter wheat planted in front of our house has been mowed in neat rows and lays ripening in the sun until such time as it will be baled. Meanwhile the doves and quail have found generous bounty in the yellowing rows. The hummingbirds have returned, arriving just before the beginning of April.
The pecan trees were the last to bud out, so
late in fact that I was beginning to be a bit impatient in my
anticipation. By now the orchards are
filled with the fallen catkins, the feathery pollen-producing strings that
cause little newborn pecans. On the
other hand, hunting for tree squirrels will be far more difficult now that they
will be in cover of the dark leaves.
Squirrels: the scourge of the orchard.
When I grew up here in the 60’s through 80’s, there were no squirrels
around these parts. It is my
understanding that one squirrel can decimate $1000 of pecan income per
year. They don’t eat that many nuts, but
they do eat their fill, after which they continue to harvest far more nuts than
they could ever eat, after which they damage trees and limbs by stripping the
bark and killing branches.
I am happy to have
a bit of time and some inclination to write.
Things have begun to slow just a bit.
Beginning in January, we literally worked for the government all
month. You know that the average person “works”
for the government till May? Meaning
that is about the amount of income Big Brother takes from you in
taxes. But in business, apart from that,
we do most of our actual work for the government: accounting, calculating and
processing W-2’s for the employees, filing state and federal reports for
unemployment taxes and income taxes, and preparing the books for the accountant
to file income tax reports. These are
the longest, most arduous days in the office!
February brought the most delightful visit from Mando and Cathe! I was in heaven with my sister there to listen to me for hours on end! In return she watched me milk, helped me make scones and sandwiches for a shower, which she attended, and dubiously allowed me to drive her up to "the hills" in the jeep with Mando and The Millionaire, where Hot Rod joined us on the motorbike and we enjoyed God's expansive vistas with wine and cheese. We ended the beautiful affair on the levee, right where the border fence ends, and prayed the Rosary together. Wait! They still had a little time for target practice before going home! Thank you sooooo much, Mando and Cathe, for the beauty of your love.
This spring had brought with it some
frightening medical news regarding The Millionaire. However, Jesus had personally worked out all
the details beforehand, including lining us up with some of the best doctors in
the country through no fault of our own.
Measures were taken swiftly and positively, and miraculously. The Millionaire is, considering the
circumstances, in great health, and a cancer survivor! We have no idea why God is so good to
us! How can we return Him thanks for all
the good He has done for us?
Meanwhile, cousin
Chelsea generously and selflessly took over my homeschooling program and
WOW! Is she ever talented! Organized!
Motivated! Virtuous! Beautiful!
Aaaah – I'm in love with you, Chelsea. . . . Jesus hand-delivered you to us, or us to
you.
On to other news:
Hot Rod is at this moment in California soaking up time with
old friends before summer school. She’ll
be staying in Midland, TX over the summer, taking a class and working. Here in El Paso, jobs are more scarce and her
schedule was such that it was complicated to find employment. Midland, however, being in the middle of an
oil boom, has a “reverse” economic problem.
It sometimes boils down to one qualification to obtain a job: a place to
live. Businesses there are almost desperate
for workers, so we hope she’ll prosper over the summer as she completes a math
course and enjoys the fine company of her darling cousin, Nevada, and Warren
and Sara! She’s been accepted into two
Universities in the fall, so she’s got a big decision ahead, and I can’t help
mention how proud we are of her finishing her freshman year with a 4.0 grade
average.
A fun and mystical ride through deserts and pastures.
The Elf continues to flourish in archery. She won the last two competitions she
entered, and we are now shopping for a new bow that will more closely reflect
her growing ability. She continues to
shoot shotgun as well. And milk the cow. And be sweet and accommodating and
imaginative! She is so steady and
faithful that we have hired her to milk regularly. (Lady Moo is quite happy with the
arrangement.) The Elf’s plans for the
summer: she will be attending training camp for The Survivors in Silverado, CA,
two archery competitions in June, 4-H Congress in July, the 4-H State Shoot
right after Congress, and plans for mountain camping and fishing late in July.
The Elf!
Dead Eye, living up to his name, has done very well in
competitions, having finished first in team in the last two shoots (first,
second, and third lately!), and high point youth recently. The last competition he was just one point
away from high-point youth. And it was
on his birthday! I can’t believe he’s
fourteen already! He received a deer
rifle which he is VERY fond of. He’s
quite a bit taller than me now, and he’s courteous and gentlemanly. Also a very good scholar. His plans for the summer also include
Survivors camp, possibly Congress, if there are enough seats, and the state
shoot and camping.
A little about
Survivors: IMHO the best, most effective, and inspiring organization for young
people to get involved in the pro-life movement. As The Elf repeats: Are you pro-life? Yes? Then
what are you DOING about it? Go to this website and learn more. I think every pro-life teenager in the U.S.
should attend the training camps.
Besides the effectiveness of the training, the price for what you get
cannot be beat!
A little about 4-H Congress: 4-H is a leadership
program. It comes to us through the
university system as an extension program, and it is nation-wide. It is funded, but the kids also raise
money. They can learn about anything
from parliamentary procedure, to hunting, culinary arts, fashion design,
livestock, you name it. They also
compete. And in the process, they learn
to lead. If I'm not mistaken, each state
has a 4-H Congress in which members from each county act as state legislators
in session. They write bills, debate
them in committee, present them on the floor, and pass or decline them. Only in Texas, Congress actually is held at
the state capital. The Elf is busy
thinking of bills to write. (I suggested
they vote to repeal unnecessary laws, as there are already too many on the
books!) Since I will be near Austin
attending a pecan conference at the time, I hope to stop in and sit in the
gallery and watch my children legislate!
Today there
will be a team-roping competition in our back yard. Last time there were 14 teams competing. We look forward to seeing all the cowboys and
horses here! Dead Eye plans to go to the
range and practice with his new rifle.
Cousin Michael spent hours helping him sight it in and adjust it
perfectly – a very scientific process from what I understand. How blessed we are to have such a talent in
the family as Michael!
Happiness . . . .
Last but not
least: we’ll be arriving in Southern CA the 26th or 27th. San Diego first, to visit sister Linda, and
then to Sylmar/San Fernando around the 29th. Mando, Cathe, Joe, Cece, Bill, Kim, are you
ready for us? KRISTI, I'M ON MY WAY TO SEE YOU!!!
Another mysterious jeep ride with Uncle of the Corn.
(He don't give a dorn.)
Early spring
