TOMATO / TOMAHTO

I say “toe-MAY-toe.” You say “toe-MAW-toe.” Tomato. Tomahto. I call it ketchup. You call it catsup. According to trusty Webster, “ketchup” is the correct name. Derived from Malay kechap. A fish sauce. And Chinese ketsiap. A sauce for meat, fish, etc. Especially a thick sauce. Which appeared in Europe in the 1600s when Dutch and […]

STARSTRUCK

Mother Nature. What a gal. What a wonderful world she gave us. Just look up at the sky some dark night. Who would’ve guessed what Mira is up to…up there. Mira being a star. Not a movie star. Nope. There’s no comparison to movie stars when it comes to the red giant Mira. Astronomers in […]

ROUND IT UP

Rollin’ rollin’ rollin’ Keep them cattle rollin’ Move ‘em out Bring ‘em in Head ‘em up Ride ‘em in Cut ‘em out Round ‘em up It’s Round-Up Weekend. EeeeeHAAAAAA. Saturday, July 8th. A Mason tradition for umpteen years. Fifty-three, to be exact. Parade. Floats. Candy for the kids. Horseback riders. The only thing missing is […]

FEEL FREE

Fourth of July. Just around the corner. Next Tuesday, in fact. Supposed to be in the 90s. Hot and dry. That’s Texas weather for ya. Hot-and-dry fits right in. After all, it IS summer. Celebrate outdoors. Parades. Picnics in the shade. Cold ice tea. Sweet tea. Cold soda. Cold Kool-Aid. Cold beer. Cold wine. Cold […]

Beef. It’s what’s for supper. Or dinner. Which is another name for lunch. Whatever. Eat beef. Manger le boeuf. After all, this is a ranching community. Raising cattle for more than 100 years. Angus. Brangus. Longhorn. And if you don’t raise your own, you can buy from those who do. There’s locally-grown, grass-fed, all natural […]

SHOP LOCAL

Ode to the Crape Myrtle: I think that I shall never see Anything quite so lo-ve-ly A tree that blooms while we sweat And summer isn’t here yet. A bush that looks Like a bouquet To make us forget That one day It will be hot And hot And hotter. Better pray for rain So […]

TIPTOE THROUGH THE GRASS BURRS

Coreopsis. Crowding the pasture. Careening through the draws. Crashing through the barbed wire. Advancing into every open space it can find. Celebrating. It’s good to be a wildflower. Especially with rain. Spring weather. Moisture. Heat. Cooler mornings. Cool enough for blankets. Indian blankets too. And Gayfeathers. Winecups. White prickly poppy. Yes, it’s good to be […]