Mountain City Montage
by PAULINE TOM
Remember the night of the recent lightning storms? Donna Helm wrote, “I am just checking in to find out if you heard of anything strange with this storm this evening. I had something happen to me and would like to know who can explain it. I opened my front door to see if it had started raining. It was sprinkling. I turned, shut the door, locked it and took a few steps. Thunder sounded and my lights flickered. Then my living room lights came on and my doorbell rang. No one was there. My computer, TV and oven were not affected. They stayed on. So… was I hit? Ask your readers. Donna”
Readers, was she hit?
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Also last week: Nancy Waddell told me to send word to you that Farmer Waddell had already picked his first squash. No need to squash her pride, but the next night at the Garraways I saw a pile of garden fresh squash. Kevin picked his first about 10 days earlier.
The Garraway’s broccoli has almost played out. Tomatoes will soon be ready.
Nancy wondered when to pick an eggplant. According to www.veggiegardener.com, when it’s quite shiny and a little larger than your hand, use scissors to cut the stem.
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Want to try a German restaurant in Central Texas? Pick Friesenhaus for quite an adventure in downtown New Braunfels. The Familie Dirks sold everything in Germany in 2005. With a one-way ticket, they came to America, the land of opportunities and freedom. Their restaurant gives diners the opportunity to choose authentic cuisine from regions all over Germany. On Friday and Saturday evenings, hear live music.
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Holly Cass brought me a large, blurry photo of a gorgeous little bird that splashed in her birdbath. Indigo, red, chartreuse. Clearly a male Painted Bunting. Breathtaking.
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Amy “Mountain City Fun” Hilton reported a squashed coral snake – clearly “red and yellow kill a fellow.”
RonTom almost stepped on a camouflaged full-bodied, 18-inch rattlesnake in our backyard when he carried wilted flowers to the compost pile. Coming back, Kiss’Me’ was high-yelping and jumping from all fours, drawing Ron’s attention to his near miss.
My little sister from Katy, Marsha, tried to shush Kiss’Me’ when he started a high pitch bark in our kitchen during our late dinner after two days at Schlitterbahn last weekend. “That’s his Scorpion Hunter bark.” “You’re kidding?” It took two of us to locate the small scorpion hidden under the cabinet’s ledge.
“I was on the lookout for a huge insect!” my niece Holly gasped as Ron showed off his catch in a pill jar.
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It’s clearly time to clear stuff out for the 1st Saturday in June garage sale.
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I’m clearly in need of tidbits to stuff into Montage. Email ptom5678@gmail.com or leave a message at 512-268-5678.
Thanks! Love, Pauline
