High Points| from El Camino Real

Folks along El Camino Real got a good dose of cold wind on Saturday that put a quick stop to any outdoor plans. I’d rather be working outside in the rain than in a cold wind.
We got to keep our grandson this weekend, so I didn’t care whether I got anything done outside anyway. I did get him rocked to sleep in time to sit down and write your six bits worth of news. If he hadn’t fallen asleep I’d still be rocking and you’d be staring at a blank spot in your paper. A man has to have his priorities straight.
Beverly Hackney Jones died suddenly this past week at the age of 43. She lived here in Alto most of her life and her sudden passing at such a young age leaves a big hole in the hearts of her friends and family. Please keep her husband Michael, her son Charlie, and the rest of the family in your prayers as they mourn her passing.
We lost our friend Mary Germany on January 17. She was 80 years old. Mary has lived in Alto for the past 42 years and in those years she was always helping somebody. She was a big worker in the Catholic Church. Anytime Mary called me she was trying to help people.
She will be sorely missed in our community. Please keep her children Debbie, D.D., and Billy, and the rest of her family in your prayers during this time of loss.
2019 is the 120th anniversary of the Campground Baptist Church. They have been doing the Lord’s work at that little church for a long time. To kick off this year of celebration a new steeple was placed on the church.
The steeple has been erected in memory of Birda Parker who passed away in February of 2018. The steeple will be dedicated on January 27, 2019 to the glory of God and the memory of our friend Birda. I’ve talked to Pastor Jim Goforth on several occasions about the new steeple and the church is very excited about the new addition to their building.
I personally think every church needs a steeple, so I’m glad they are getting one. And you sure couldn’t find a better person to dedicate it to than Birda.
I want to wish a Happy Birthday to the Rev. Lee Ray Best who will be turning 84 on January 24. Bro. Best and his wife are two of the nicest people you will ever meet.
Happy Birthday Bro. Best.
I got a message from Vivian Cates on Sunday about her and Dan’s new grandson. Luke David Cates was born in Harris County. His parents are David Bradley Cates and Leigh Ann Cates of Santa Fe, Texas.
The little fellow weighed 8 pounds 10 ounces and was 22 inches long. That is a big baby. I don’t think I’ve seen the baby’s father, David since he graduated from high school here in Alto. The baby’s maternal grandparents are George and Lisa Woitena of Santa Fe, Texas.
Congratulations to the Cates family on their new bundle of joy.
We took our grandson Sawyer to church with us on Sunday to show him off and it felt pretty good to be holding a grandchild of my own in church. I’ve been holding Mindy and Kim Scott’s grandchildren for years, but its good to have one I can claim. Holding a grandchild in church isn’t as easy as it looks and you have to be really careful.
Fortunately, Sawyer went to sleep before I did during the service so I had a chance to lay him on the pew before I dozed off. If you go to sleep and drop a baby in church they’ll never let you hear the end of it.
I was just napping so I could stay up late and watch the super wolf moon and eclipse on Sunday night. I’ve always been proud of the fact that most of the great events that happen in the night sky happen right over Alto. Which confirms my belief that Alto is the center of the universe.
The stores have already got their onion sets and seed potatoes out for people that are trying to get an early start on their gardening. I don’t see how anybody could get their ground broke up with as much rain as we’ve had, and if you did manage to get your potatoes planted they would rot in the ground before they ever come up.
I don’t think you could raise anything now but rice or some kind of swamp plant like may haws. I just hope nobody has a heart attack when they see how much they are getting for one bunch of onions. I saw some that were nearly four dollars a bunch. I’ll eat store bought onions and save my money for tomato plants and watermelon seeds.
We aren’t through with winter by along shot, but it is nice to think ahead to warmer weather and homegrown tomatoes.
It looks like its going to be another boring Super Bowl, but it always is when there isn’t a Texas team in the mix. We all keep hoping but I’m afraid that a lot of us will be watching it on the television at the nursing home when it finally happens.
If something comes up that I need to know about be sure and let me know. I’ll see you next week!
And remember, You can get everything in life you want, if you help enough other people get what they want.