I’m thinking that today might have some particular extra meaning, being as how it’s the first box on a whole pile of calendar pages. Oh, sure, it does happen to be my birthday, but that …

The “baby boy” was the driver, the “biggest boy” was the host, his lovely and talented bride of two years, the hostess, and Dad and I were guests. For our first, ever, …

The Texas Longhorns piled up the points on Jan. 1, 1946, setting a Cotton Bowl scoring record that stood for 29 years. Bobby Layne played 17 more seasons in college and the pros, but was never better …

With the beginning of each year, I begin thinking about all the exciting things coming up in the outdoors. Muzzleloader deer season opens in a matter of days, and I have my CVA .50 caliber Optima all …

The Texas Legislature made a host of major decisions in 2025, as The Dallas Morning News reported. Here are the highlights: •Homeowners received a break on their property taxes after approving …

The weather for the last few days before Christmas was awesome. It was foggy, but the temperature was above 70 degrees every day and days following thereafter. When you are my age, 70 degrees is …

It was a fairly quiet week last week, with everyone focused on Christmas with family, friends and volunteering to help others celebrate. Thank you to all those who worked through the holidays, first …

’Twas the week after Christmas and all through the house  Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse. The cookies I’d nibbled, the eggnog I’d taste At the holiday parties had gone to my …

As we say goodbye to the year 2025 and hello to 2026, many of us hope that things will be different for the better. We hope for health, prosperity, and an improvement in our own lives. Many …

Those were words of my younger brother on Christmas day. “Is this all we get?” We had a new electric train set and other gifts. And that wasn’t enough. A 3-year-old has a hard time …

My heart is broken this morning … for all the animals who are abandoned, cold and hungry. Of course this is not a new problem, but it is an unresolved problem in Tyler County, and there is a fix. …

The World Book Encyclopedia was the first challenge to my faith in Santa Claus. Its matter-of-fact description of Saint Nick as “mythical” had my father performing mental gymnastics. …

According to Wikipedia, “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” is a novelty Christmas song written in 1944 by Donald Yetter Gardner (1913-2004). I remember that song and lately I have …

If we will listen, we hear in the voice of the Psalmist a plea for the people whose wandering has once again led them to bondage, [80:3] “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be …

The reason is unclear, but at one point, the pregnant Mary and her husband, Joseph, traveled from Nazareth, ordered by Gaius Caesar ostensibly for a census for tax-related purposes. ( Article 1, …

I love spending time in the fall and winter woods hunting deer and venison, when properly handled in the field and prepared for the table, is one of my favorite meats. This season has been a …

Winter has officially arrived, and officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas say the Texas power grid is expected to hold up through most weather conditions, the Houston Chronicle …

A wonderful song from “Sound of Music” reminds us about a few of Julie Andrews’ favorite things — rainbows, kittens, raindrops, etc. We are all reminded as Christmas approaches about our …

Deciding the gravely wounded captain was a goner, a Confederate general gave George Littlefield a battlefield promotion to major on Dec. 26, 1863. The Littlefields had lived in Gonzales County …

When I see the Christmas tree it reminds me that God put a tree of life in the garden when he created the world and there is a Tree of Life in Heaven. When I look at the lights it reminds me …