Mountain City Montage

by PAULINE TOM

Readers: Inadvertently, “Montage” missed print two weeks in a row. This column spans three weeks.

The buck stops here … and there … and yonder. All over Mountain City. Along with 39-59 of his friends and family.

It’s no wonder Axis deer herds in Mountain City grow larger each year. They breed year-round! First season females sometimes give birth! And, they live from 9 to 22 years, with the extremes determined by “wild” or “zoo’d”!

The leader of each Axis deer herd is an older, experienced doe – according to the online edition of  “The Mammals of Texas.”

That buck who stops will normally be in a herd with other males and females of all ages. I’ve also heard of white-tail herds of over 40.

Happy January 4th Birthday, James Polk! On your day, Ron and I saw bluebirds on the telephone wires behind the Church of Christ and recounted how you helped with the nestbox there ten years ago – that attracted nesting Eastern Bluebirds to our vicinity.

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We celebrated RonTom’s January 2nd birthday with a trip to Schlitterbahn’s Hill Country Christmas. Over a million cascading and layered and strung and dripping lights.

My face dripped as the air filled with the “Hallelujah Chorus”, the grand finale of the “The Greatest Story Ever Told” in Scripture and choreographed lights. We remained standing for a few moments afterwards, our air taken away.

The toboggan ride gave us a nice run for our money. And, the hot tub was cool on the cold night. The lights reflecting in the God-made Comal River sure beat the lights on the man-made River Walk, in my opinion. Lovely night with a 63-year-old handsome young fellow.

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During the first weeks of January, a handful of blue jewels have bathed in our birdbaths. So beautiful. Keep clean feeders up all year long. Boil one part sugar with four parts water. Cool.

Hummzinger feeder! So easy to clean and guaranteed for life. Every few years, I send some back with cracked plastic where the rod inserts. All year outside in Texas conditions is brutal on plastic! Roger Green clued me in on the Humm-zinger years ago. (I sure miss Jackie.)

In the next six weeks, Eastern Bluebirds will pair up for nesting season.
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Heads up! Loving Mountain City will collect for PAWS in February. Pause to ponder what you might add to your grocery list or find at home. Watch for details.

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I opined poorly on LED lights in early December. Our white LEDs mixed with white standard looked awful. But, the Garza’s lovely colored light display was LED. At our cul-de-sac party the week of Christmas, Mary said Roland chose the LEDs since 40 or more strings can be connected.

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I could sure use 40 or more connectable tidbits – from here, there, and yonder – all over Mountain City. ptom5678@gmail.com or 512-268-5678.
Thanks! Love, Pauline