Mountain City Montage
by PAULINE TOM
Milk does not come from a carton. Water does not come from a faucet. The well in Mountain City dropped another foot in less than a month (and that was a month with Hill Country rain). Last week, “38 feet above the pump.”
The City’s web page (www.mountaincitytx.com) lists some of our Stage III Critical Drought restrictions:
• Cease ALL outdoor irrigation
• All vehicle and equipment washing is prohibited
The extended forecast calls for a drier than usual winter.
Jay Puckett hauls in water from a facility in Austin for his lawn and trees.
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The rain and cooler weather greened up the city. Breaking into bloom, new flowers appear every day.
James Polk tidbitted, “We are enjoying watching a pair of Nashville Warblers at our bird bath just outside our dining room window this week. Staying for a while before continuing south for the winter.”
It doesn’t sing country. Look for a somewhat plain yellow warbler with a grey breast and white eye ring.
James looked at my “Peterson’s Birds of North America” smart phone app. It narrows down possibilities to “Texas” and “October” (and much more). Most bird species include sound. 14.99 Five stars.
Readers keep asking me to report on our “40 Weeks of celebrating 40 Years”, which started in late March and goes to December 11. One adventure after another. Last month, tent camping, we traversed the 40 latitude in California, from Reno to the Lost Coast.
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Last week, RonTom and I travelled to Missouri’s Wine Country to return to Tuscumbia a gigantic 1904 diploma issued by Miller County Institute. It came as an auction treasure when we moved to Mountain City. A wide-screen replaced it on our bedroom wall last year. Now, it will hang in the model of the institute at the Miller County Museum.
We tent camped on the Katy Trail two nights of three, carting camping equipment through Southwest Airlines “bags fly free” provision. We have it down pat. 50.0 lbs for tent and gear. 50.2 lbs for cooking supplies and food. A huge duffel bag held my clothes and Ron’s bag. And, the wrapped and padded diploma (too large for carry on) made four.
Elaine Kiernan teased, “Is Missouri the 40th state?” No, but it was down in the 40s the two nights we tent camped.
Last Saturday (after a day staffing bluebird booth at a festival in San Antonio) we adventured to Tito’s Restaurant in the King William District of San Antonio, rather than a standard “favorite.” Five stars.
Please know, any report of any Mountain Cityian’s travels, far or near, is tidbit-eligible. Anything that has anything to do with Mountain City.
I laughed when a friend revealed, “You must be deluged with emailed tidbits.” Not hardly. Sometimes, weeks go by dry.
Will this be your week to sprinkle a tidbit, please? 512-268-5678 (phone) or 512-517-5678 (text) or [email protected].
