Two friends checked out a new restaurant in Waco. On the way home, they passed a new bar and grill on Highway 6 and invited me to join them for lunch there after the POG. One asked if two middle-aged and one old woman can go into a cowboy bar at lunch time and have a good time and a good lunch. My answer to the first question was yes, if there are cowboys--- and perhaps good food, but that’s probably secondary to cowboys. If I could talk a cowboy into teaching me to do the Texas Two-Step, that would be a plus. Zack claims his knees won’t participate, and honestly, we both have two left feet. Still, this is on my bucket list, and one day, I’ll find some brave soul to teach me.

The order has been drawn for eight proposed amendments to the muchamended Texas Constitution that will appear on the Nov. 2 ballot. The proposed amendments were approved by at least two thirds of both houses of the state Legislature. According to the Austin American-Statesman, they include:

I expected a rise in Guillain-Barre Syndrome cases after the massive amount of COVID vaccinations, although medical recommendations claimed new MRNA technology couldn’t cause it. GBS causes muscle weakness or paralysis. Recovery’s usually snail slow--- months or years. Initial treatments often occur in ICUs, followed by long hospitalizations, physical and occupational therapy. Most do well, but some never regain total function of small motor skills, experience lingering fatigue and weakness. Very few end up disabled, and even fewer die. Some develop a chronic variant. No one wants this.

I have always enjoyed canoeing so when I heard of a place along the Brazos where you can rent a canoe and paddle its scenic stream, I immediately made reservations and sweet-talked my daughter Andrea into joining me. She agreed, not realizing that the adventure under the sun would take close to five hours.

I expected a rise in Thus far in my career, I’m not known for being preachy. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t take the opportunity as publisher of these two great newspapers to talk about the growing concerns sweeping our nation with regard to COVID-19. The more I read and the more I hear about the highly contagious Delta variant, the more I become more and more concerned. It causes me pause when I look at the facts that this variant is so much more contagious than previous strains AND the fact that it is affecting young people AND that those affected who have not been vaccinated are getting more sick than previously seen. I’m the mother of two thirty-somethings, one of which is vaccinated and one of which is not. Add to that my four precious grandchildren and it’s not a surprise that my blood pressure is up. Worry does that to me and I’m sure some of you can appreciate this physical reaction to stress.

After 22 years, Rickey and Pam Countryman are retiring. We want to say thank you to everyone who has patronized Bunkhouse in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

Lemme tell ya ‘bout this barbecue pit. Good story, just a little slice of country life. Zack drives around the ranch most days checking on fences, fallen limbs/ trees, wild hogs, new critters, cattle, wildlife and so forth. Not too long ago he spied a bald eagle. He notices anything out of place or different, visits with neighbors and learns the latest news. One recent morning, he spotted what appeared to be a small trailer abandoned in one of our fields. Upon closer examination, it turned out to be a vintage, homemade barbecue pit with a blown tire and ripped fender.

Nearly 60 Texas House Democrats left the state last Monday for Washington, D.C. in an effort to stop passage of a Republicanled elections bill. This in effect blocks all legislation since the House doesn’t have a quorum present. As the Austin American Statesman and other media outlets reported, Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to arrest the absent lawmakers upon their return. While in Washington, the legislators have met with Vice President Kamala Harris and several Democratic senators to push passage of a federal elections bill that is currently stalemated.

It’s summer. If there’s a chance of rain, we’ll take it! Do not let me hear anyone complain about the cooler, wetter weather. Yes, it’s been humid. But you don’t know humid unless you’ve spent a few years in New Orleans or South Florida. I can speak to this subject. We’ve been terribly lucky this spring and early summer with our weather in Central Texas, and it’s definitely been cooler and wetter than usual. It may make up for that soon, but so far, so good. Our tank is full to overflowing, and my water bill’s lower than usual for this time of the year. I’ve barely had to water the garden. I feel terribly, gratefully lucky, especially with the memory of previous summers when I half killed myself watering gardens, new trees, bushes, shrubs and other plants in the heat. I’ll never forget that year the temps hit 100 in May and never went down.

The Texas Legislature convened in special session last Thursday and GOP legislators introduced a fresh set of voting bills after Democrats blocked an earlier attempt during the regular session by walking out in May, preventing a quorum.