Hometowns
I have just finished enjoying the first part of the three-day marathon trip touring parts of the Hill Country Trail and Forts Trail regions along the Texas Heritage Trails [“The Magical History Tour,” May 2012]. So nice of you to cover such interesting parts of Texas, right here at home. We are planning several day trips. I always look forward to Texas Co-op Power. Thank you for many interesting stories.
Glynda Carpenter, Hamilton County EC
The Inner Egg
I enjoyed the article on Mary Ellen Walls and the beautiful Ukrainian Easter eggs. [“Egg-xacting Hobby,” in Co-op People, May 2012]. I have made many painted eggs over the years but have always blown the insides out. Her process begins with a raw white egg and the writing tool. If one were dropped and broke, I would imagine it would be a terrible smell if they are not to be eaten and only collected.
Donna Matson, Cooke County EC
From the Heart
Your May 2012 magazine [featuring the cover story “Come Together,” about what makes the electric cooperative model so special] is so interesting, I read every word, from cover to cover. I could almost write a book about how I truly feel about Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative. Moving to Moody in 1986, I had lived 30 years in West Texas, south of Lubbock, and my electric company was Lyntegar Electric Cooperative. So I was blessed to have the chance to really feel at home from the beginning with the same kind of electric service.
Mattie Dee Kinnison, Heart of Texas EC
Tall Oaks from Little Acorns
I enjoyed Martha Deeringer’s article about the Treaty Oak [“Treaty Oak: Rooted in Courage,” Footnotes in Texas History, April 2012]. A postscript to the article: We have a baby Treaty Oak on our property near Burton. It is from the first acorns produced by the Treaty Oak after it was poisoned. Its history goes well with our 110-year-old farmhouse.
Beth Elston, Bluebonnet EC
Keyhole Garden Rocks
Your great article on keyhole gardening [February 2012] inspired me, and my wonderful neighbors, Gay and Gary Burgess, hauled and placed these rocks for my keyhole garden! I’ve since planted seeds and veggies in it, but am having a problem with insects, lots of grasshoppers, but we’re not giving up! Love the concept! This was completed without any expense, as my place “grows rocks.” We used mulch that I also had on hand from clearing the land. I put seeds from cantaloupe remains in it, and now those seeds are growing cantaloupes! Thanks for a great magazine—love those recipes, photos and the interesting articles.
Rachel Ridder, Pedernales EC
‘San Antonio Romeo’
I enjoyed Lori Grossman’s article on Bob Wills and his famous song “San Antonio Rose.” But no history of the song is complete without mentioning the delightful sequel, “San Antonio Romeo” by San Antonio native Tish Hinojosa. Rose swings back into town wondering if her cowboy is ready to settle down—perhaps a happy ending after all.
Mary Hendryx, Pedernales EC
Big!
I was reading through the latest issue and saw the picture of the kid with the stack of pancakes in front of him [“Everything’s Bigger in Texas,” Focus on Texas, May 2012], and I recognized those pancakes. I live in Lewisville, and they are from a restaurant called Jackie’s Ham N Eggs. That picture actually makes them look small because I would swear those pancakes are the size of hubcaps!
Denise Stokes, Lewisville
I loved seeing the photo of Zarey’a Bonner and the 3-pound turnip from her grandparents’ garden [“Everything’s Bigger in Texas”]. My kindergarten class always has fun acting out the short story titled “The Big, Big, Turnip” about a farmer who gets lots of help from his family and farm animals in order to pull his very large ripe turnip out of the ground. They were amazed when I brought in your magazine and they saw a little girl their size who really had done it! You can be sure I will keep that picture and show it again each spring for many years to come.
Laura Pope, Temple
Saddle Up
I find your articles captivating and relatable to rural living. I especially enjoyed the feature on modern-day cowboys [“The Cowboy Way,” May 2011] since I am sandwiched between 30,000 acres of cattle land, and seeing cowboys work on horseback is a daily occurrence. I have always wondered about their lifestyle, and your feature fulfilled my fascination.
Hollye Davis, Bartlett EC
