Visitors

Started a new gate just outside of Whitsett. Great location, on a hill with cows, and several ponds.

I looked up yesterday around 10:30am and thought it was two dogs walking down the road. Nope, it was 2 coyotes.

They were heading to the pond for a drink.

Not a bad way to start the day off.

Weather in Whitsett

For the past 3 days we have had stormy clouds all over, but not much rain. Made for some great photo opportunities but we are still waiting on some showers on us!!

Another shower way out there

Looking like it might rain…maybe??

Wow, look at that shower…about 10 miles away

Looks to be headed our way, its right over the Karnes City area now.

Just outside of Whitsett at a new gate, never rained.

 

Fashing, Texas and Peggy, Texas

Ever wonder how towns get their names? Fashing Texas has some interesting history. Peggy Texas is just down the road.  Around 1920 residents constructed a one-circuit phone list. Fashing had no electricity until 1930 when the Karnes Electric Cooperative was opened. Less than 50 people live in Fashing now and around 20 in Peggy.

From the historical marker: Near the Old San Patricio Trail, leading from San Antonio to McMullen and McGloin colony, in area of Gulf of Mexico. In this vicinity were stage stops at Belle Branch, Rock Spring, Rountree’s, and Tordilla. Land was part of the Butler, Hickok, Tom and Rountree ranches. Town was platted in 1915 as “Hickok.” However, after the U.S. Post Office Department disapproved that name, the tag on a popular tobacco — “Fashion” — inspired adoption of the name “Fashing” for the town.

First schoolhouse was built in 1917; a second, 1921. The Methodist church, organized 1922, erected first house of worship (building moved in from Bastrop) in 1925. In 1934, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church was built. The Martin Luther Lutheran Church was erected 1948. Present school building was completed in 1952.

A center for mineral development. First local oil production was from Weigang Field, 1946. Tordilla Hill (5 mi. N) was site of first major uranium discovery in Texas in 1954. After further petroleum strikes in Fashing Edwards Limestone Field, 1958, gas and sulfur processing plants were built by the Elcor Chemical Co., Lone Star Producing Co., Sinclair Oil and Gas Co., and Warren Petroleum Corp. Currently, the only commercial uranium operation in Texas is near here.

The old store and post office in Peggy Texas

Farm machine shop in Downtown Peggy Texas

First called Hickok, then Hindenburg. The name Fashing, is from “Fashion” brand tobacco. It it also named after the German Fasching . Most all the first settlers were German decent.

The old Fashing school

Catholic Church in Fashing

The former Lutheran Church is now the Peggy/Fashing community center

Methodist church

Stockdale Texas Rodeo and Concert

We went up to Stockdale for the Watermelon Jubilee and Rodeo. Had a great time.

Great show by Max Stalling

Great crowd, it was packed on our side. Wonderful small town rodeo. We had huge pecan trees shading our seats with a nice breeze. Made it very nice to watch. We went to a Max Stalling concert after the rodeo.

 

My Working Buddy

Found this walking around this morning.

South Texas Tarantula.

Panna Maria, Texas

We have passed by this little community several times but never stopped. Recently we did and was amazed at what was here. Lots of history in the early days of Texas. Less than 100 people live here now.

Great looking church, but wait until you see the interior.

Making Walking Sticks

I started making walking sticks when we were out in the Big Bend area. Yucca was plentiful and made a lightweight sturdy stick. Since then I have made some out of pecan, oak, cedar, and working on some out of mesquite wood now.

This is a Yucca plant. It has a seed stalk that blooms and then dies. That is when you harvest the stalk.

Fresh cut stalk. Now I need to remove the top layer.

A sharp knife works great.

Smooth it all down with a rasp.

I use a palm sander to make them as smooth as glass before staining.

Here is from left to right, a cedar, yucca, and stained cedar.

This is a yucca that grew with a nice curve in it. One of my favorites, I gave it to my Dad later.

Applying the stain and 24 hours later I apply a coat or 2 of polyurethane.

 

My Dad with the curved yucca. Gave him some for his Birthday

Some of the latest ones I have finished, As you can see you can use for walking or hiking. I just give them to friends or family. I gave one to a friend who was very ill and needed some help getting out of bed and walking.

Here is some I have cut but haven’t started yet. I always have my saw with me and keeping an eye out for sticks to finish.

Rain and then….

Looked like we were in for a few storms. Just got a good soaking, and then a double rainbow that turned into the brightest one I have ever seen.

Watching the storm coming in was great

Beautiful formations that changes quickly

Here comes the rain!!

Then the rain stopped, and this appeared.

We are at the end of the rainbow.

Just finished grilling, then some rain, and finished up with this rainbow. Life is good!!

Gate Guarding on the Ranch

Just finished our 2 weeks on the ranch in Whitsett. Busy gate, but we enjoyed it.

Here is Laura checking in a long load. This was very common here.

We had a good rain a few days ago, almost 2 inches

Stormy skies

Staying at our park for now, may have some more gates over on this side opening soon. Stay tuned