A FROSTY PECOS MORNING YESTERDAY.

Pecos news?
There ain't any.
love, MarP.S. Credit Rosie Blount with the spider web photo.
I couldn't find one....go figure.

Excerpt from: GREAT ROUNDUP by Lewis Nordyke.

1895-In their quick action, the cowmen prayed the Governor and the State Legislature to stop the cutting of wire and the killing in Texas.
They hammered at this-co-operating with the other cowmen of Texas-until Governor Ireland, in January 1884, called an emergency session of the Legislature. The resulting laws-those recommended by the stockmen-made wire cutting a felony, and they also requied the frequent spacing of gates in all fences of any length, thus preventing the fencing in or out of anyone. This legislation, enforced by the Texas Rangers, eventually ended in strife, and for a time in Texas it was alright for a man to tote a cocked six-pistol. But if he were caught with wire nippers he was apt to land in jail.
Barbed wire had a partner that received a very different welcome, however, on the plains and hills of Texas-the windmill. It's coming brought hope to the land where long wet spells were inevitably followed by long, long dry spells. The clanking, whirling giant with it's stream of refreshing, cool water made habitable and profitable, to ranchers and settlers alike, many of the dry, arid spaces that had been avoided previously.
Windmill salesmen followed barbed wire salesmen, and the shining wheels on the tall stiltlike tower became one of the prettiest sights a tired old boy on the back of a thirsty horse could see as he rode across the range.
One cowboy who was used to to riding herd on cattle down in the south central part of Texas, where often there was too much water and always too many trees and an overabundance of underbrush, moved out to work on C.C. Slaughter's range, where dry acre succeeded another dry acre on section after section. About the only growth was the low growing grass and weirdly branched mesquite. This boy's job had been to dig mesquite roots for the camp cook's fire and carry him buckets of water from a nearby windmill. One evening after a busy day of digging and toting he formed an opinion:
"This is a helluva country-you dig for wood and climb for water."

200 MILES OF DEAD DEER.

Left Pecos Sat. a.m. at 8:50
Got to San Antonio at 3:15
Were there 18 hrs.
Slept for 8 hrs...that left 10 hrs. for loading and visiting.
We sold Yvonne's lawn furniture (for very little money) to Gene's friend Alonzo...so we hauled it home.
I think we'll be selling most of her things for not much money.

Between Ft. Stockton and Junction there are dozens and dozens of dead deer.
I got tired of looking at 'em.
Even the buzzards are tired of them and don't want them.
They fight over the few dead javelina.
These are big west texas mule deer....not the smaller hill country deer.
I'd NEVER drive that part of IH 10 at night.

We saw plenty of folks RV-ing.
A big group from Canada and others from Alaska, Georgia, California and New York.
They said "Hi" to Dan and Bobbie.

It sure looks and feels funny to go from the small towns of Pecos, Ozona, Sonora etc. into the big city of S.A.
We don't like it and probably won't go back for a few months...unless the trailer sells.
That was Gene's 4th trip there in 7 weeks.

I was shocked that the Dairy Go Round was empty of cows and the sign was gone.
That's a diary about 20 miles south of Pecos.
Possibly they couldn't afford to feed the bovines anymore and sold them off.
The drought is getting bad.

Huh.
There doesn't seem to be any probate in Pecos.
Some of our friends don't even know what it IS!

Last week a hawk flew by the front door....right onto the porch.
I looked out the window and he'd snatched a little sparrow and was killin' it with his talons and beak.
My cat Missy was watching and she said:
A. Wish I was that hawk.
B. Glad I'm not that sparrow.
C. Yikes!

RADIO HOTLINE:
For Sale-
300 movies.
A/C and firewood. (good combination.)
Cash register. (it's probably from some burglary)
Wanted-
Police scanner. ( to keep up with the burglaries? or so that burglars know if the cops are coming?)
Clip on neck ties. (you've GOT to be kidding me)
Lap robes for injured soldiers. (that's a strange one.)

Freezin' in the morning.
Fryin' in the afternoon.

That's all bloggers.
Please comment.
You know who you are.
Love, Mary

Course by the time I got my camera....he was gone...sparrow in tow.

WHO WILL BUY THIS MOBILE HOME?

Got an ad on Craig's List.
Got an ad online with the San Antonio newspaper.
Got an ad in print in the actual newspaper.
No calls.
No line.
No waiting.
This can be moved or can stay off of Military Dr. in S.A.
C'mon....it's a great 2nd home.

Went to MID-LAND today....95 miles each way.
That's how I say it: Mid (pause) Land....not "midlund".
It was a great time.
Dropped of Mother's T.V. that has been broken for about 9 months....nice guy....very efficient.
Went to Home Depot....bought halogen lightbulbs.
Then to Radio Shack....bought a phone.
Had the BEST salad ever at Johnny Carino's.
Now that might not ring a big bell with you....but....
1. you can't GET a spinach salad in Pecos...much less one with garganzola cheese, vinigarette and skinny fried onion rings on top....and hot bread to dip in the garlic-herb olive oil.
2. the waiter was good looking and attentive...but not overly attentive.
3. It's a place where you PAY AT THE TABLE....which is NEVER done here.
So, I felt like I was in a really high class place.
I hope I didn't have "small town hick" stamped on my forehead.
Was so excited....I left a huge tip.
Went to Target....bought fun sundries.
Now blog friends, Odessa has all those same places...EXCEPT the t.v. repair...which is why I went.
But it's just different in Mid (pause) Land.
People there look different, smell different and act different.
Whatever.

Love, mary

GENE, TONY and BOB.

Gene, the husband.
Tony, Yvonne's companion.
Bob, the brother.
New Year's Eve 2008.

It's 24 degrees here this morning.
All 4 pets were on my bed last night.
It was quite crowded and there was much jockeying for position.
Gene must've become a real west texas pioneer.
He never turns the heater on upstairs at night when he goes to bed up there.....unless we have guests staying up there.

I go out each morning and pour hot water in the birdbath because I feel sorry for the birds trying to peck through the ice.
I've been making homemade suet for the birds....they like it pretty well.
You're supposed to give it to them in cold weather cause it has alot of fat in it to keep 'em warm.
It's crisco, peanut butter, cornmeal, flour, oats and then you whatever else you have on hand....like raisins, old apples, nuts etc.

We are supposed to hear at the end of the month if the West Texas State School in Pyote will remain open.
Yeah, right.
I saw online last night that the Job Corps. in McKinney is looking for a Health teacher.
Gene taught Health at Gary Job Corps. in San Marcos for 17 years....but he's not actually certified.
We are trying to make a plan B.

We went for steak at the Social Lodge Friday night....great as always....George went too.
He's been our guest so often they might make him join.
The social lodge has been burglarized twice in the last five weeks....stupid junkies.
An arrest was made a few days ago but I bet they don't get prosecuted because our district attorney (Randy Reynolds) is an idiot.
The person who broke into Needleworks was caught and apparently isn't going to trial for it.
Jeez...if Gene's gets laid off from teaching...maybe he should just become a petty criminal.

I was doing some research at the museum last week.
It was a newspaper from 1930:
They had snow 30 miles from here in Balmorhea....IN APRIL!
"Bob Christian with a beard that would entitle him to take part in a Passion Play was down from the ranch this week. We sent him home all slicked up."
There's a column in the paper called "17 years ago today".
April 4, 1930-17 years ago today:
Officers Dotoy and Moorhead went to Saragosa today, to investigate the bank robbery at that place. W.H. Drummond and T.B. Pruett also went to visit the scene of the blowout."
Of course T.B. was the builder of our house.
His neice was married to officer Moorhead.
The bank was dynamited and I'm sure was big excitement in these parts.
April 11, 1930- 17 years ago today.
"Hon. T.B. Pruett made a trip to Toyah this week in the interest of his branch lumberyard at that place, and to wake up Charlie Jordan, who is managing that place."

RADIO HOTLINE:
For Sale-
5 or 6 person prom dresses. (What?)
Treadmill and shower chair. (That's an odd combination.)
Paddleboat. (That would be a fun thing to have.)
Wanted-
9mm handgun. (Yikes.)
Button orkey accordian. (I looked at that a long time and realized it was OR KEY not orkey.)

That's all dear bloggers.
Love, Mary

Yvonne Farley-Gene's Mom.

Passed away December 26th from a second stroke in 3 weeks.
Gene, Jamey and I were enroute to San Antonio when it happened...but we had spoken to her on the phone the day before.
Gene's brother Bob was with Yvonne as was her companion of 15 years...Tony.

We spent the past week in San Antonio tending to arrangements and taking care of other related business.

Gene had not seen Bob for four years and they had not spent a week together for fourty years.
It was a blessing that Gene, Bob, Tony and I all like each other so well...we had some good times woven in and out of the sad moments.

We will all miss Yvonne very much.

Love, Mary