Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, Smithwick, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Opening Day Of Deer Season

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I was probably no older than 13, but maybe 14. At least old enough to drive myself down in the pasture to kill a deer. We had company in from California. My mother’s youngest sister and her husband. Knowing I’d have better luck if I went across the fence that bordered us to the west. That was LCRA Property. There was no hunting allowed on the LCRA. To young boys, especially sons of Cecil Lewis, there were certain rules that we didn’t abide by. Especially that one. Either those same deer had just left our property or would be crossing … Continue reading Opening Day Of Deer Season

Construction, Crazy Times, On The JobLeave a comment

The Devastation Caused By Zebra Mussels

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Seeing a recent kvue article (link below) about the growing Zebra Mussel problem in several area lakes brought back memories from the winter of 2011-2012 when our company was awarded a large contract to clean up a water line up on the northern border of Texas at Lake Texoma. That was the first recognized Zebra Mussel infestation to reach Texas. Our contract was comprised of building appurtenances that allowed a huge rubber pig (a large cylindrical apparatus with an abrasive coating) that could be inserted in the lake end of an eleven mile six foot diameter water line. This would … Continue reading The Devastation Caused By Zebra Mussels

Amazing Things, Meeting New People, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Meeting Fine Folks Over A Meal

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I went out south of Bertram one Saturday morning back in 2014 to a Texas Ranger Cross Dedication. After the dedication we were invited back to Fort Croghan in Burnet for lunch. I got my plate of catfish and set down at one of the long tables. Seated across from me was a nice couple that I started chatting with. The Angora Chronicles was something pretty new at that time, so I told them all about it. Actually it was mostly the lady that I engaged with. I got her name and invited her to join us in our story … Continue reading Meeting Fine Folks Over A Meal

Crazy Times, Old Dog - New Trick, On The JobLeave a comment

The PreCast Concrete Venture That Exposed Me To A Ponzi Scheme

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The year was 1991. I had spent 20 years digging ditches and I thought enough is enough. The economy was in the crapper. The great real estate boom of the 80s was over and all the big water and wastewater lines had been constructed to the far reaches of the city and beyond in Austin. The future didn’t look so swell for our business. I needed a break. I thought it was time for some new scenery, so to speak. I had two groups of employees by that time. The old and the new. It was time for the old … Continue reading The PreCast Concrete Venture That Exposed Me To A Ponzi Scheme

Crazy Times, Smithwick, The Early Days3 Comments

The Race Was On

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The story of one of the greatest car races ever held in Smithwick. His name was Curtis “Brown” Parker. Brown Parker was how he was known. He was the person my Dad looked up to more, maybe than anyone else. Brown was several years older that Cecil Lewis. I believe that Brown help him become a man in more ways than one in his early days in Smithwick, Texas. In the 1940s Brown and Eula left Smithwick and moved to California, the same as a lot of people did during that period of time. They operated laundries in and around … Continue reading The Race Was On

Smithwick, The Early Days2 Comments

A Thanksgiving Feast With Charlie And Minnie

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I’ve written before about this couple. They showed up in Smithwick in the early 60s and became a part of the community. They had passed through the area back a couple decades before. They were content to live down in the pecan bottom on river back then. Everything they owned was in the back of an old car back then and when they returned in the 1960s their circumstances hadn’t changed much. After a few days Cecil Lewis invited them to move into the “Old House”. It had been sitting empty since my grandpa, Theron died in 1958. Nonie just … Continue reading A Thanksgiving Feast With Charlie And Minnie

Crazy TimesLeave a comment

My Crooked Nose

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I earned my crooked nose. It took me a long time to learn what to do to keep from getting punched in the nose. It was mostly all about keeping my mouth shut at the right time. Back in the mid 70s we were doing a project on the east side of Houston. At I-10 and Federal Rd. to be exact. The job keep me later than usual so well after dark I found myself standing at a pay phone outside of Jim’s Coffee Shop on Federal Road, probably letting Madeline know to not wait dinner on me. At the … Continue reading My Crooked Nose

Crazy TimesLeave a comment

My Nose Job

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I have always had a big nose by just about anyone’s estimation. I won’t declare that I’ve worn it with pride, but what’s a feller to do. It’s a good conversation piece with my grandkids. I’m glad I don’t get my feeling hurt easily. You know those little rascals can be mighty direct sometimes. Once when when I went to have lunch with my grandson Nathan when he was in Kindergarten, and he’s been out of school for a few years now, a little boy sitting across the table says “Mister, you got a really big nose“. It had very … Continue reading My Nose Job

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Harold Crider Was A Great Bulldozer Contractor

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He was honest, hard working and ran a really great operation. A man to be admired. Whether building a stock tank or pushing and piling brush, he could get it done. He had really great operators working for him. As much as I remember watching and looking up to him (even though you had to be fairly short to actually look up “to” him) there was one peculiar thing that I most remember. He always hauled his dozers around on a float type trailer (that’s a trailer that the bed is approximately 5′ off the ground) instead of a lowboy … Continue reading Harold Crider Was A Great Bulldozer Contractor